theverge--2020-10-10--Fiido D11 folding electric bike review: $999 and worth it

Not everyone can afford a premium electric bike with prices that usually start at $ 2,000 .
But what if you could spend half that and still grab yourself a good-enough e-bike that ’ s suitable for long urban commutes and flexible enough to toss into the trunk of your car , roll onto a train , or carry home to your fifth-floor walkup ?
That ’ s what I hoped to find with the newest folding e-bike from the Chinese brand Fiido , which recently started selling directly into the European and North American markets .
The Fiido D11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s available for as little as $ 999.99 , has a claimed range of up to 100km , and folds into a tiny transportable package .
It also looks nice .
But is it any good ?
Prior to the D11 , Fiido bikes were difficult to get outside of China .
But the company recently setup international operations so that buyers wouldn ’ t have to pay expensive import duties that could easily add a few hundred dollars to Fiido ’ s budget e-bike prices .
It should also help get parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America more quickly when they need service ... and they likely will based on my testing ( more on that later ) .
Unboxing a direct-to-consumer e-bike that ’ s only been viewed on the two-dimensional pages of Indiegogo sets the mood for everything that comes after .
The Fiido experience started off well enough : I was surprised by how tiny the D11 box was upon delivery .
It ’ s especially small compared to the full-size e-bikes I usually receive .
Opening it up , however , revealed a box full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaging materials that immediately sullied my already tempered expectations .
The unboxing experience was certainly well below the high bar set by VanMoof ... usually , but the D11 also costs half as much .
Freed from the shackles of polystyrene garbage and a dozen or so tie-wraps , I was immediately stumped by how to raise the handlebar stem .
The English assembly instructions are meager at best , and following them sequentially would have snapped a brake cable .
Fortunately , I noticed that the handlebar had rotated en route ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brake line to pull taut .
Rolling it back into position with a flip of the quick release latch created enough slack in the line to smoothly raise the handlebar into place .
Next , I attached the pedals and tightened everything up .
Then I charged the battery .
The novel thing about the D11 design is the giant seat post that houses a rather beefy 418Wh ( 36V 11.6A ) battery for such a diminutive bike with 20-inch wheels .
The battery charges from zero to full in a slow seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs more than twice as much as the D11 , is fitted with a slightly smaller 360Wh battery that charges in just 3.5 hours .
The speed difference is likely explained by Cowboy ’ s use of more advanced 21700 lithium-ion battery cells that pack more energy into less space but also cost more .
That long battery creates a very long seat post , which should make the D11 adaptable to a wide variety of rider heights .
But ... no .
The battery is marked with numbered gradations so that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each time .
If you obey the max and min insertion marks , then the Fiido D11 is only suitable for tall riders — something the company fails to mention .
I ’ m six feet ( 183cm ) tall and when the seat is at its lowest setting , I can barely touch both toes to the ground .
In my opinion ( I could be wrong ! )
, it ’ ll safely lower another four centimeters ( 1.5 inches ) before the battery juts out of the protective frame , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the depth I tested the seat post at because it was just right for my height .
In other words , the D11 ’ s not really suitable for anyone under six feet tall .
( Fiido doesn ’ t list a min / max rider height for the D11 — it only gives a vague “ saddle height ” range of 80cm-110cm .
For what it ’ s worth , my saddle height measures 98cm from the ground . )
The battery / seat design does allow the D11 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be shoved through the frame , nearly to the ground , instead of sticking up like a flagpole .
Other , more expensive folding bikes make you carry the battery separately when collapsed , or require a few extra steps to reposition and secure the seatpost to reach minimum volume claims .
There ’ s also no easy way to lock the battery / seat even with an external bike lock .
That means you either take it with you when parked outside a shop or cafe , or risk having someone flip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battery / seat , which would be an embarrassing and costly ride home .
Once the battery is inserted , you still have to connect the small pigtail cable hanging off the bike to the battery near the top of the post , just below the power button and integrated tail lamp .
Now the bike is ready to go .
Assembled , the blue D11 looks rather nice .
Sure , it ’ s not iconic like the $ 3,499 Brompton Electric , but its folding mechanism is superior .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a GoCycle , but you can outfit a family of five with Fiido D11 e-bikes for the price of just one GoCycle GXi .
A short press of the power button causes the D11 to spring to life .
But the 250W motor isn ’ t ready to begin assisting your pedal strokes until you click and hold the upper left button on the display .
I was all smiles during my first ride — it rode better than I had expected .
Yes , the D11 is limited to just 25km/h ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine because this bike is made for European city commuters .
The D11 speed limit can ’ t be bypassed with a cheat code either , unlike the Fiido D4 , for example .
Fiido ’ s clearly hoping to avoid tangling with regulators with the launch of its first international bike .
The D11 offers three pedal-assist modes as well as a throttle that doesn ’ t require any pedaling at all .
Pedal-assist mode 3 ( max ) was my preferred setting as it best augmented my aggressive riding style .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not bad ( I ’ ve definitely heard worse ) , and power delivery can feel slightly jerky at times , even in the lower pedal-assist modes .
That ’ s because the D11 uses a cadence sensor instead of a more expensive torque sensor that helps smooth out the power delivery .
The seven-speed Shimano gearbox shifts smoothly , allowing for quick starts off the line and speeds well in excess of 25km/h as long as you don ’ t mind your quads doing the work .
Holding the throttle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but only after it reaches the maximum motor-assisted speed .
You can then release the button and just enjoy the ride .
You can pedal faster , and the motor will eventually re-engage when you slow back down .
It ’ s a super handy feature .
Unfortunately , the D11 ’ s motor is pretty weak , even compared to other 250W motors common in Europe .
It ’ s fine in the flats , but the small Xiongda rear-hub motor really struggles against minor hills and even moderate winds .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off at 24km/h , according to the bike ’ s display , not the stated 25km/h .
But it felt even slower than that , so I measured the pace against a Garmin smartwatch which read 22km/h .
If I had to guess , I ’ d say the Garmin was more accurate .
Nevertheless , that motor provides enough torque to get my 82kg ( 180-pound ) body moving from a standstill to top speed on level surfaces in about 12 to 15 seconds using nothing but the throttle .
Some other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49km ( 30 miles ) during my range test over mostly flat city bike paths .
My lazy riding was probably 90 percent throttle usage and 10 percent pedal-assisted .
Fiido claims a range of 40 to 50km ( 25 to 31 miles ) in electric-only ( throttle ) modes and 80 to 100km ( 50 to 60 miles ) in pedal assist modes , which sounds about right .
• The rear light integrated into the seat post / battery is also a brake light that brightens and then flashes when pulling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dual mechanical disc brakes , electric horn , and kickstand come standard , but mudguards do not .
Those fenders will add $ 29.99 / €25.79 to the total price .
• The handlebar stem can ’ t be extended , which makes the riding position more sporty than upright , especially for taller riders .
• Grips are hard , transferring road bumps directly into your hands .
• Saddle comfort is fine for short trips or the occasional long commute .
• The display is fine at night but quickly washes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not something you need to be constantly checking .
So , you do get a decent set of features for your money with the Fiido D11 .
But you also give up many of the things enjoyed by premium bike owners : • The D11 weighs 18.5kg ( 40 pounds , 13 ounces ) which isn ’ t even close to being “ ultralight , ” as claimed by the Indiegogo campaign , since you ’ re not going to be riding it without the battery / seat .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 11.9kg ( 26 pounds ) , for comparison , while the Brompton Electric folding e-bike is just 14kg ( 31 pounds ) .
• Features like folding pedals or locking mechanisms that hold the handlebar and frame tightly together are missing on the D11 , making it unwieldy to trolley or carry one-handed when collapsed .
• High-end e-bikes have clean designs with cables that snake through the frames .
The D11 has lots of exposed cables that look ugly and risk snagging .
• The D11 has a Shimano seven-speed shifter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and internally geared motors .
• The D11 has a messy , exposed chain and derailleur that require more maintenance than the simple belt drives found on higher-end electrics .
• Premium e-bikes often include theft protection in the form of integrated locks or GPS / GSM location tracking and recovery services .
But at least you can carry your Fiido into the house or office at night .
• Everything from the D11 ’ s packaging , to the thick welded seams , to the tire selection , to the chosen battery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality associated with bikes above $ 2,000 .
• The better e-bikes have homegrown apps that track your trip history , help the company remotely monitor the bike ’ s health , and allow the owner to fine-tune ride settings .
Fiido doesn ’ t offer any app at all .
• Premium bikes offer better after-purchase support , over-the-air software fixes , and first- or third-party arrangements that can even service or repair the bike right where it breaks down .
Cowboy owners are even offered a free crash detection service .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheap for an e-bike you might use every day , but it ’ s still a big bundle of money that sets an expectation of durability .
Unfortunately , this is where I have some concerns .
I already have a problem with the saddle after just two weeks of testing : whenever I hit a bump , the seat abruptly , and uncomfortably , tilts upward a notch , despite tightening it as much as I can .
And because the saddle is integrated into the battery , the mount is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any old bike shop .
The rear wheel also rubs with a slight metal-on-metal sound .
It doesn ’ t appear to be a disc brake alignment issue , so I ’ m guessing it ’ s something to do with resistance introduced by that rear hub motor .
It ’ s audible when pushing the bike , and then heard only periodically when riding as a high-pitched squeak that comes and goes .
When I reached out to Fiido to report the issues , my messages to the company bounced , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These are the same Fiido.co.cn employees who arranged to send me the test bike .
I still wasn ’ t able to reach anyone at the company by publication time , four days after losing contact .
As a newcomer to the international market , making warranty claims on the motor , controller , and electronics , and getting replacement parts on the Fiido D11 would likely be a challenge even in the best of times .
The pandemic complicates things further since the high demand for generic parts used on e-bikes like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and couriers are overwhelmed with deliveries .
I ’ ve learned to live with the things that need to be serviced on my test D11 , but I wouldn ’ t be so calm had I paid $ 1,000 and needed support for my two-week-old bike .
Taken at face value , the Fiido D11 is a fine little folding e-bike , made better by its €859.99 / $ 999.99 price tag .
But like most things in life , you really do get what you pay for .
Vox Media has affiliate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
For more information , see

Not everyone can afford a premium electric bike with prices that usually start at $2,000. But what if you could spend half that and still grab yourself a good-enough e-bike that’s suitable for long urban commutes and flexible enough to toss into the trunk of your car, roll onto a train, or carry home to your fifth-floor walkup? That’s what I hoped to find with the newest folding e-bike from the Chinese brand Fiido, which recently started selling directly into the European and North American markets.
The Fiido D11 ticks all the boxes: it’s available for as little as $999.99, has a claimed range of up to 100km, and folds into a tiny transportable package. It also looks nice.
But is it any good?
7 Verge Score Fiido D11 $ 999.99 The Good Good value for money
Throttle with cruise control
Good range from high-capacity battery
Folds quickly and compactly The Bad Build quality and after-sales support a concern
Battery could be an impact risk for shorter riders
Battery / seat can be easily stolen
Weak motor, even by European standards $1000 at Geekbuying How we rate and review products
Prior to the D11, Fiido bikes were difficult to get outside of China. But the company recently setup international operations so that buyers wouldn’t have to pay expensive import duties that could easily add a few hundred dollars to Fiido’s budget e-bike prices. It should also help get parts to Fiido bikes in Europe and North America more quickly when they need service... and they likely will based on my testing (more on that later).
Unboxing a direct-to-consumer e-bike that’s only been viewed on the two-dimensional pages of Indiegogo sets the mood for everything that comes after. The Fiido experience started off well enough: I was surprised by how tiny the D11 box was upon delivery. It’s especially small compared to the full-size e-bikes I usually receive. Opening it up, however, revealed a box full of haphazardly packed foam and other environmentally damaging materials that immediately sullied my already tempered expectations.
The unboxing experience was certainly well below the high bar set by VanMoof... usually, but the D11 also costs half as much.
Freed from the shackles of polystyrene garbage and a dozen or so tie-wraps, I was immediately stumped by how to raise the handlebar stem. The English assembly instructions are meager at best, and following them sequentially would have snapped a brake cable. Fortunately, I noticed that the handlebar had rotated en route (or at packing), causing the brake line to pull taut. Rolling it back into position with a flip of the quick release latch created enough slack in the line to smoothly raise the handlebar into place. Next, I attached the pedals and tightened everything up. Then I charged the battery.
The novel thing about the D11 design is the giant seat post that houses a rather beefy 418Wh (36V 11.6A) battery for such a diminutive bike with 20-inch wheels. The battery charges from zero to full in a slow seven hours. The Cowboy 3, which costs more than twice as much as the D11, is fitted with a slightly smaller 360Wh battery that charges in just 3.5 hours. The speed difference is likely explained by Cowboy’s use of more advanced 21700 lithium-ion battery cells that pack more energy into less space but also cost more.
The battery / seat post can be inserted at an unsafe depth.
That long battery creates a very long seat post, which should make the D11 adaptable to a wide variety of rider heights. But... no. The battery is marked with numbered gradations so that you can insert it to the same depth each time. If you obey the max and min insertion marks, then the Fiido D11 is only suitable for tall riders — something the company fails to mention. I’m six feet (183cm) tall and when the seat is at its lowest setting, I can barely touch both toes to the ground. In my opinion (I could be wrong!), it’ll safely lower another four centimeters (1.5 inches) before the battery juts out of the protective frame, creating a potential impact hazard. That’s the depth I tested the seat post at because it was just right for my height. In other words, the D11’s not really suitable for anyone under six feet tall. (Fiido doesn’t list a min / max rider height for the D11 — it only gives a vague “saddle height” range of 80cm-110cm. For what it’s worth, my saddle height measures 98cm from the ground.)
The battery / seat design does allow the D11 to fold nice and compact since it can be shoved through the frame, nearly to the ground, instead of sticking up like a flagpole. Other, more expensive folding bikes make you carry the battery separately when collapsed, or require a few extra steps to reposition and secure the seatpost to reach minimum volume claims.
There’s also no easy way to lock the battery / seat even with an external bike lock. That means you either take it with you when parked outside a shop or cafe, or risk having someone flip open the quick-release latch and stealing the battery / seat, which would be an embarrassing and costly ride home.
Once the battery is inserted, you still have to connect the small pigtail cable hanging off the bike to the battery near the top of the post, just below the power button and integrated tail lamp. Now the bike is ready to go.
The pigtail cable must be connected to the battery to power the bike. Lots of exposed cables to snag.
The bike collapses into a small package. Steering is quick, not twitchy.
Assembled, the blue D11 looks rather nice. Sure, it’s not iconic like the $3,499 Brompton Electric, but its folding mechanism is superior. It’s not as sleek or innovative as a GoCycle, but you can outfit a family of five with Fiido D11 e-bikes for the price of just one GoCycle GXi.
A short press of the power button causes the D11 to spring to life. But the 250W motor isn’t ready to begin assisting your pedal strokes until you click and hold the upper left button on the display.
I was all smiles during my first ride — it rode better than I had expected. Yes, the D11 is limited to just 25km/h (16mph), but that’s fine because this bike is made for European city commuters. The D11 speed limit can be bypassed with a cheat code, just like the Fiido D4, for example.
The D11 offers three pedal-assist modes as well as a throttle that doesn’t require any pedaling at all. Pedal-assist mode 3 (max) was my preferred setting as it best augmented my aggressive riding style. The motor does whine, but it’s not bad (I’ve definitely heard worse), and power delivery can feel slightly jerky at times, even in the lower pedal-assist modes. That’s because the D11 uses a cadence sensor instead of a more expensive torque sensor that helps smooth out the power delivery. The seven-speed Shimano gearbox shifts smoothly, allowing for quick starts off the line and speeds well in excess of 25km/h as long as you don’t mind your quads doing the work.
The paddle switch with ridges is the throttle.
Holding the throttle down eventually engages a cruise control, but only after it reaches the maximum motor-assisted speed. You can then release the button and just enjoy the ride. You can pedal faster, and the motor will eventually re-engage when you slow back down. It’s a super handy feature.
Unfortunately, the D11’s motor is pretty weak, even compared to other 250W motors common in Europe. It’s fine in the flats, but the small Xiongda rear-hub motor really struggles against minor hills and even moderate winds. On my review unit, the motor cuts off at 24km/h, according to the bike’s display, not the stated 25km/h. But it felt even slower than that, so I measured the pace against a Garmin smartwatch which read 22km/h. If I had to guess, I’d say the Garmin was more accurate. Nevertheless, that motor provides enough torque to get my 82kg (180-pound) body moving from a standstill to top speed on level surfaces in about 12 to 15 seconds using nothing but the throttle.
Some other things to note:
I managed 49km (30 miles) during my range test over mostly flat city bike paths. My lazy riding was probably 90 percent throttle usage and 10 percent pedal-assisted. Fiido claims a range of 40 to 50km (25 to 31 miles) in electric-only (throttle) modes and 80 to 100km (50 to 60 miles) in pedal assist modes, which sounds about right.
The rear light integrated into the seat post / battery is also a brake light that brightens and then flashes when pulling either brake caliper.
Lights, dual mechanical disc brakes, electric horn, and kickstand come standard, but mudguards do not. Those fenders will add $29.99 / €25.79 to the total price.
Steering is agile without feeling overly twitchy.
The handlebar stem can’t be extended, which makes the riding position more sporty than upright, especially for taller riders.
Grips are hard, transferring road bumps directly into your hands.
Saddle comfort is fine for short trips or the occasional long commute.
The display is fine at night but quickly washes out even in overcast conditions. But it’s not something you need to be constantly checking.
Previous Next
1 / 8 Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge Previous Next
1 / 8 Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
So, you do get a decent set of features for your money with the Fiido D11. But you also give up many of the things enjoyed by premium bike owners:
The D11 weighs 18.5kg (40 pounds, 13 ounces) which isn’t even close to being “ultralight,” as claimed by the Indiegogo campaign, since you’re not going to be riding it without the battery / seat. The full-sized $4,599 Gogoro Eeyo 1S weighs just 11.9kg (26 pounds), for comparison, while the Brompton Electric folding e-bike plus battery / bag combo weighs 16.9kg (37 pounds, 4 ounces).
Features like folding pedals or locking mechanisms that hold the handlebar and frame tightly together are missing on the D11, making it unwieldy to trolley or carry one-handed when collapsed.
High-end e-bikes have clean designs with cables that snake through the frames. The D11 has lots of exposed cables that look ugly and risk snagging.
The D11 has a Shimano seven-speed shifter, while premiums often have automatic transmissions and internally geared motors.
The D11 has a messy, exposed chain and derailleur that require more maintenance than the simple belt drives found on higher-end electrics.
Premium e-bikes often include theft protection in the form of integrated locks or GPS / GSM location tracking and recovery services. But at least you can carry your Fiido into the house or office at night.
Everything from the D11’s packaging, to the thick welded seams, to the tire selection, to the chosen battery cells is inferior to the superior build quality associated with bikes above $2,000.
The better e-bikes have homegrown apps that track your trip history, help the company remotely monitor the bike’s health, and allow the owner to fine-tune ride settings. Fiido doesn’t offer any app at all.
Premium bikes offer better after-purchase support, over-the-air software fixes, and first- or third-party arrangements that can even service or repair the bike right where it breaks down. Cowboy owners are even offered a free crash detection service.
Fiido says it’s ready for Europe. Hopefully that’s true.
At $999.99, the D11 is cheap for an e-bike you might use every day, but it’s still a big bundle of money that sets an expectation of durability. Unfortunately, this is where I have some concerns. I already have a problem with the saddle after just two weeks of testing: whenever I hit a bump, the seat abruptly, and uncomfortably, tilts upward a notch, despite tightening it as much as I can. And because the saddle is integrated into the battery, the mount isn't a stock part I can get from any old bike shop. The rear wheel also rubs with a slight metal-on-metal sound. It doesn’t appear to be a disc brake alignment issue, so I’m guessing it’s something to do with resistance introduced by that rear hub motor. It’s audible when pushing the bike, and then heard only periodically when riding as a high-pitched squeak that comes and goes.
The email addresses no longer exist
When I reached out to Fiido to report the issues, my messages to the company bounced, saying the email addresses no longer exist. These are the same Fiido.co.cn employees who arranged to send me the test bike. I still wasn’t able to reach anyone at the company by publication time, four days after losing contact.
As a newcomer to the international market, making warranty claims on the motor, controller, and electronics, and getting replacement parts on the Fiido D11 would likely be a challenge even in the best of times. The pandemic complicates things further since the high demand for generic parts used on e-bikes like the D11 are in short supply, and couriers are overwhelmed with deliveries. I’ve learned to live with the things that need to be serviced on my test D11, but I wouldn’t be so calm had I paid $1,000 and needed support for my two-week-old bike.
Taken at face value, the Fiido D11 is a fine little folding e-bike, made better by its €859.99 / $999.99 price tag. But like most things in life, you really do get what you pay for.
Correction: The Fiido D11 speed limit can be bypassed by a cheat code like many Fiido e-bikes. The code was discovered on Fiido forums after this review was originally published.
Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge


theverge--2020-10-10--Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission delayed until November

NASA has delayed the launch of the SpaceX Crew-1 mission until early- to mid-November , the agency announced Saturday .
The mission eventually will bring three NASA astronauts and an astronaut from Japan ’ s JAXA space agency to the International Space Station .
Originally scheduled for October 31st , the planned six-month mission was delayed to allow time to resolve issues with the first-stage engine gas generators on the Falcon 9 rocket , NASA said in a statement .
When it does launch , American astronauts Michael Hopkins , Victor Glover , and Shannon Walker , plus Japanese astronaut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s first operational crewed mission to the ISS .
Crew-1 is among six planned missions SpaceX plans to send to the ISS under a contract with NASA , awarded in 2014 as part of the Commercial Crew Program that brought private sector companies into the US space program .
SpaceX ’ s first Crew Dragon flight , the DM-2 , or Demo-2 , was a test mission that brought NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the ISS in May for a two-month visit .
The Crew Dragon docked with the ISS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2nd , giving NASA the data it needed to certify regular trips to and from the ISS with astronauts aboard in the future .

NASA has delayed the launch of the SpaceX Crew-1 mission until early- to mid-November, the agency announced Saturday. The mission eventually will bring three NASA astronauts and an astronaut from Japan’s JAXA space agency to the International Space Station.
Originally scheduled for October 31st, the planned six-month mission was delayed to allow time to resolve issues with the first-stage engine gas generators on the Falcon 9 rocket, NASA said in a statement. When it does launch, American astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, plus Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi will be aboard SpaceX’s first operational crewed mission to the ISS.
Crew-1 is among six planned missions SpaceX plans to send to the ISS under a contract with NASA, awarded in 2014 as part of the Commercial Crew Program that brought private sector companies into the US space program.


theverge--2020-10-10--Huawei tweets it will debut its Mate 40 devices on October 22nd

Huawei has tweeted that it will reveal its Mate 40 series on October 22nd , likely the last of its phones to have Kirin chips— at least for the foreseeable future— due to the ongoing economic pressure from the US .
Richard Yu , CEO of Huawei ’ s consumer business unit , said at a conference August 7th that “ this year may be the last generation of Huawei Kirin high-end chips.
” The US has accused Huawei of building backdoors into network infrastructure , ostensibly to aid Chinese government spying efforts .
Huawei has denied the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration placed Huawei and 114 of its affiliates on its Entity List in May 2019 , which meant US firms were unable to sell technology to the company without explicit US government approval .
It also meant Google was barred from doing business with Huawei , preventing Huawei from obtaining an Android license , and keeping Google apps off Huawei devices .
In May , the US Commerce Department issued an amended export rule to block shipments of semiconductors to Huawei .
That export rule prevented foreign manufacturers of semiconductors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations from shipping their products to Huawei unless they first obtained a license from the US .
The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. ( TSMC ) , the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the world , reportedly halted orders for Huawei ’ s HiSilicon unit in May following the new US rule .
There ’ s no word yet on when the Mate 40 devices will ship to customers , but rumors suggest Huawei will introduce Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro editions .
The Mate 40 Pro is expected to have a 6.7-inch screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 6.5 inches .
Android Authority says the devices could be priced between €1,200 and €1,300 ( or $ 1400 to $ 1500 ) .

Huawei has tweeted that it will reveal its Mate 40 series on October 22nd, likely the last of its phones to have Kirin chips— at least for the foreseeable future— due to the ongoing economic pressure from the US.
Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s consumer business unit, said at a conference August 7th that “this year may be the last generation of Huawei Kirin high-end chips.” The US has accused Huawei of building backdoors into network infrastructure, ostensibly to aid Chinese government spying efforts. Huawei has denied the Trump administration’s accusations of spying.
But the Trump administration placed Huawei and 114 of its affiliates on its Entity List in May 2019, which meant US firms were unable to sell technology to the company without explicit US government approval.
It also meant Google was barred from doing business with Huawei, preventing Huawei from obtaining an Android license, and keeping Google apps off Huawei devices. In May, the US Commerce Department issued an amended export rule to block shipments of semiconductors to Huawei.
That export rule prevented foreign manufacturers of semiconductors who use American software and technology in their operations from shipping their products to Huawei unless they first obtained a license from the US. The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the world, reportedly halted orders for Huawei’s HiSilicon unit in May following the new US rule.


theverge--2020-10-10--After two whiffs, Razer’s latest Tomahawk PC cases look practical enough to actually exist

Last January , we showed you Razer ’ s awesome-looking Tomahawk Elite desktop PC case , with its gull-wing doors and auto-lifting lid for excessive heat .
This January , I told you about the stunning Razer Tomahawk prebuilt desktop , with slide-out upgradable Intel NUC Element modules and space for the latest GPUs despite its tiny 10-liter frame .
As far as we can tell , no product called the “ Razer Tomahawk ” has actually ever shipped .
But that isn ’ t keeping Razer from trying again today with a pair of practical-looking PC cases for rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 199 Razer Tomahawk A1 ( ATX ) and $ 179 Tomahawk M1 ( Mini-ITX ) are fairly standard if quite flexible cases with a few features that set them apart — primarily , a pair of tempered glass panels with rear hinges so they can swivel backwards like suicide doors , and can also be lifted right off .
While the image above says they ’ re made of aluminum , Razer ’ s website says they ’ re made of steel .
We ’ re trying to get clarity on that now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RGB lighting underneath , and they ’ ve also got creature comforts like dedicated drive bays and mounting spots for 2.5-inch SSDs , lots of cable management , and — in the case of the ATX version — space for a 360mm radiator up front and up to a 240mm radiator up top .
Each case comes with a USB-C port up top with 3.2 Gen 2 speeds , dedicated mic and 3.5mm combo jacks and two USB-A ports , and a magnetic dust filter at the very top .
At 356 x @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t win any awards for being particularly small — despite only supporting Mini-ITX/DTX motherboards and SFX/SFX-L power supplies — but it should fit most Nvidia RTX 3080 cards on the market with its 320mm of graphics card room .
Razer ’ s Mini-ITX chassis is available for preorder today at Razer.com , shipping in November , with the ATX version coming sometime this fall .
I wouldn ’ t expect to ever hear about the Tomahawk Elite or Tomahawk NUC again : as of yesterday , the NUC was just listed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s website , and nearly two years later , the Elite was still a “ notify me ” product .
Razer says it 's also working with motherboard manufacturers to integrate Chroma RGB lighting , with the first AMD boards from ASRock coming in Q4 .
Update , 4:50 PM ET : Razer ’ s briefing materials said the cases were made of aluminum , but the company ’ s website now says they ’ re steel .
We ’ ll let you know .

Last January, we showed you Razer’s awesome-looking Tomahawk Elite desktop PC case, with its gull-wing doors and auto-lifting lid for excessive heat.
This January, I told you about the stunning Razer Tomahawk prebuilt desktop, with slide-out upgradable Intel NUC Element modules and space for the latest GPUs despite its tiny 10-liter frame.
As far as we can tell, no product called the “Razer Tomahawk” has actually ever shipped. But that isn’t keeping Razer from trying again today with a pair of practical-looking PC cases for rolling your own system.
Image: Razer
The new $199 Razer Tomahawk A1 (ATX) and $179 Tomahawk M1 (Mini-ITX) are fairly standard if quite flexible cases with a few features that set them apart — primarily, a pair of tempered glass panels with rear hinges so they can swivel backwards like suicide doors, and can also be lifted right off.
Image: Razer
The cases feature Razer’s Chroma RGB lighting underneath, and they’ve also got creature comforts like dedicated drive bays and mounting spots for 2.5-inch SSDs, lots of cable management, and — in the case of the ATX version — space for a 360mm radiator up front and up to a 240mm radiator up top.
Each case comes also with a USB-C port up top with 3.2 Gen 2 speeds, dedicated mic and 3.5mm combo jacks and two USB-A ports, and a magnetic dust filter.
Razer has also confirmed to us that the new cases are made of steel — not aluminum like the company’s marketing materials originally said. Here’s the correct spec sheet:
At 367.2 x 206 x 321.5mm, the Tomahawk Mini-ITX won’t win any awards for being particularly small — despite only supporting Mini-ITX/DTX motherboards and SFX/SFX-L power supplies — but it should fit most Nvidia RTX 3080 cards on the market with its 320mm of graphics card room.
The Tomahawk Mini-ITX. Image: Razer
Razer’s Mini-ITX chassis is available for preorder today at Razer.com, shipping in November, with the ATX version coming sometime this fall. I wouldn’t expect to ever hear about the Tomahawk Elite or Tomahawk NUC again: as of yesterday, the NUC was just listed as a “concept” on Razer’s website, and nearly two years later, the Elite was still a “notify me” product.
Razer says it's also working with motherboard manufacturers to integrate Chroma RGB lighting, with the first AMD boards from ASRock coming in Q4.


theverge--2020-10-10--Razer’s newest Blade Stealth 13 has 11th Gen Intel chips and an OLED screen option

Razer ’ s Blade Stealth 13 is one of the best portable gaming laptops you can buy .
Today , the company is giving it a refresh : it just announced a “ late 2020 ” model of its 13-inch rig .
The only really big change from the Blade Stealth 13 that came out earlier this year seems to be the processor .
The upcoming Blade is powered by a chip from Intel ’ s newest generation , the Core i7-1165G7 .
That comes with a GeForce GTX 1650 Ti , 16GB of RAM , and 512GB of ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s “ up to 2.7 times ” faster in content creation and “ more than 20 percent faster ” in office productivity than the previous generation .
The other noteworthy change is that there ’ s now an FHD OLED touchscreen option , which Razer says will cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 space .
( This would be for content creators who need accurate colors , rather than anyone who wants to play serious games . )
Like its predecessor , this Blade can also come with 120Hz FHD non-touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can get on a 13-inch laptop .
Finally , Razer says you ’ ll see an upgrade in audio quality .
The previous Blade Stealth 13 has decent audio , but I found that it lacked strong bass in our testing .
The new Blade comes with a new audio app from THX that allows you to toggle preset audio profiles for different scenarios ( movies , gaming , music , etc . )
or to create your own .
Many laptops have audio options like this , and effectiveness can certainly vary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seeing how it sounds for myself later this year .
The new Blade Stealth 13 will be available in October starting at $ 1,799 ( the same price as the earlier model ) on Razer ’ s website .
Razer says it ’ s coming to “ select retailers ” later in the fall .

Razer’s Blade Stealth 13 is one of the best portable gaming laptops you can buy. Today, the company is giving it a refresh: it just announced a “late 2020” model of its 13-inch rig.
The only really big change from the Blade Stealth 13 that came out earlier this year seems to be the processor. The upcoming Blade is powered by a chip from Intel’s newest generation, the Core i7-1165G7. That comes with a GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of (upgradeable) storage. Razer claims that it’s “up to 2.7 times” faster in content creation and “more than 20 percent faster” in office productivity than the previous generation.
Image: Razer
The other noteworthy change is that there’s now an FHD OLED touchscreen option, which Razer says will cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 space. (This would be for content creators who need accurate colors, rather than anyone who wants to play serious games.) Like its predecessor, this Blade can also come with 120Hz FHD non-touch panel — the highest refresh rate you can get on a 13-inch laptop.
Finally, Razer says you’ll see an upgrade in audio quality. The previous Blade Stealth 13 has decent audio, but I found that it lacked strong bass in our testing. The new Blade comes with a new audio app from THX that allows you to toggle preset audio profiles for different scenarios (movies, gaming, music, etc.) or to create your own. Many laptops have audio options like this, and effectiveness can certainly vary, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it sounds for myself later this year.
The new Blade Stealth 13 will be available in October starting at $1,799 (the same price as the earlier model) on Razer’s website. Razer says it’s coming to “select retailers” later in the fall.


theverge--2020-10-10--Razer’s first gaming chair is a curvier Secretlab Omega / Titan with fancy lumbar support

For its very first gaming chair , it looks like Razer decided to largely copy one of today ’ s oft-cited favorites : the new $ 499 Razer Iskur is a dead ringer for the similarly-priced Secretlab Omega and Titan .
You can compare the design , the recline mechanism , the stitching — heck , just look at those nigh-identical 4D armrests below — and the inspiration is plainly clear .
And yet Razer explicitly tells The Verge it ’ s not a collaboration with Secretlab , saying the chair was “ designed and developed in-house.
” Perhaps they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Razer is also clearly pitching the Iskur as a step ahead of Secretlab in terms of spinal support , as you can see in this thinly veiled comparison image : Aside from being a distinct hybrid of the Secretlab Omega ’ s smaller bucket seat and the Titan ’ s larger , more accommodating frame ( the Iskur supports gamers up to nearly 300 pounds and 6.2 feet tall ) , the biggest differences here are a curvier back and the large adjustable lumbar support .
It ’ s true that the Omega @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s internal adjustable lumbar haven ’ t exactly gotten rave reviews .
We ’ re curious if the Iskur ’ s jut-out-at-an-angle lumbar pad , which looks a bit like a snake ’ s belly , will be better : That said , plenty of gamers swear by Secretlab ’ s chairs for back support with or without the lumbar — mine was great for my back , but I sold it because of a sore butt .
The Omega and Titan have another thing going for them , too : you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t quite so garish and doesn ’ t come embroidered with a company ’ s trademarked slogan .
The Iskur is available to preorder today at Razer ’ s website , with more retailers coming later this year .
Secretlab makes some pretty good chairs ; we ’ re looking forward to giving this competitor a try .
Update , 3:10PM ET : Added Razer confirmation that the Iskur is not a collaboration with Secretlab .

For its very first gaming chair, it looks like Razer decided to largely copy one of today’s oft-cited favorites: the new $499 Razer Iskur is a dead ringer for the similarly-priced Secretlab Omega and Titan.
You can compare the design, the recline mechanism, the stitching — heck, just look at those nigh-identical 4D armrests below — and the inspiration is plainly clear. And yet Razer explicitly tells The Verge it’s not a collaboration with Secretlab, saying the chair was “designed and developed in-house.” And Secretlab tells us it doesn’t share a production facility with Razer or any other manufacturer, though it isn’t currently calling out Razer beyond this tweet.
Razer is clearly pitching the Iskur as a step ahead of Secretlab in terms of spinal support, as you can see in this thinly veiled comparison image:
Image: Razer
Aside from being a distinct hybrid of the Secretlab Omega’s smaller bucket seat and the Titan’s larger, more accommodating frame (the Iskur supports gamers up to nearly 300 pounds and 6.2 feet tall), the biggest differences here are a curvier back and the large adjustable lumbar support.
It’s true that the Omega’s removable pillow and the Titan’s internal adjustable lumbar haven’t exactly gotten rave reviews. We’re curious if the Iskur’s jut-out-at-an-angle lumbar pad, which looks a bit like a snake’s belly, will be better:
Image: Razer
That said, plenty of gamers swear by Secretlab’s chairs for back support with or without the lumbar — mine was great for my back, but I sold it because of a sore butt. The Omega and Titan have another thing going for them, too: you can easily buy one that isn’t quite so garish and doesn’t come embroidered with a company’s trademarked slogan.
Image: Razer
The Iskur is available to preorder today at Razer’s website, with more retailers coming later this year. Secretlab makes some pretty good chairs; we’re looking forward to giving this competitor a try.
Update, 3:10PM ET: Added Razer confirmation that the Iskur is not a collaboration with Secretlab.


theverge--2020-10-10--Peloton appears to have removed QAnon-related hashtags from its platform

Peloton has removed several hashtags related to the QAnon conspiracy theory from its virtual exercise platform , Business Insider reported .
The move followed a tweet from a Washington Post editor earlier in the week that showed several hashtags— which allow people taking the same online fitness classes to connect with each other— using variants of QAnon ’ s “ where we go 1 we go all ” hashtag .
A Peloton spokesperson told BI the company has “ a zero-tolerance policy against hateful content ” and removed the QAnon hashtags for violating that policy .
QAnon is a false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things , that President Trump is secretly planning to arrest high-profile Democratic politicians and celebrities for pedophilia or cannibalism , and that he sends them coded messages about his plans .
It grew across social media platforms , and several QAnon followers have been accused of violent acts .
Other social media platforms have also tried to keep QAnon content from proliferating .
Last week Facebook completely banned QAnon and labeled it a “ militarized social movement , ” and Etsy banned all QAnon merchandise saying the products violated its policies against promoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cracked down on QAnon content .
With gyms closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and more people working out from home , Peloton has seen sales of its exercise bikes and treadmills surge year over year , although the company has sometimes struggled to keep up with demand .
Peloton did not immediately reply to a request for comment Saturday .

Peloton has removed several hashtags related to the QAnon conspiracy theory from its virtual exercise platform, Business Insider reported. The move followed a tweet from a Washington Post editor earlier in the week that showed several hashtags— which allow people taking the same online fitness classes to connect with each other— using variants of QAnon’s “where we go 1 we go all” hashtag.
A Peloton spokesperson told BI the company has “a zero-tolerance policy against hateful content” and removed the QAnon hashtags for violating that policy.
QAnon is a false conspiracy theory that claims, among other things, that President Trump is secretly planning to arrest high-profile Democratic politicians and celebrities for pedophilia or cannibalism, and that he sends them coded messages about his plans. It grew across social media platforms, and several QAnon followers have been accused of violent acts.
Other social media platforms have also tried to keep QAnon content from proliferating. Last week Facebook completely banned QAnon and labeled it a “militarized social movement,” and Etsy banned all QAnon merchandise saying the products violated its policies against promoting hate and violence. Twitter also has cracked down on QAnon content.
With gyms closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and more people working out from home, Peloton has seen sales of its exercise bikes and treadmills surge year over year, although the company has sometimes struggled to keep up with demand.


theverge--2020-10-10--Trump’s COVID-19 experience doesn’t prove anything

President Donald Trump says he ’ s recovered from COVID-19 .
Outside doctors say it ’ s too soon for him to return to public events , he ’ s coughing on Fox News , and he ’ s taking a potent steroid that can mask symptoms — but Trump says he ’ s not sick anymore .
And he ’ s crediting that recovery to an experimental drug made by the company Regeneron , which he said on Wednesday was a “ cure.
” “ They gave me Regeneron , and it was , like , unbelievable .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a video recorded at the White House .
There ’ s no evidence that the Regeneron drug had anything to do with how good Trump did or did not feel .
There ’ s hardly any data that the drug , which is a cocktail of artificial antibodies against the coronavirus , works at all .
So far , all we have are a few bits of information on a small group of patients that were published in a press release .
Trump was also given two other drugs , the antiviral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no reason to believe the Regeneron drug — which is actually named REGN-COV2 ; Regeneron is the name of the company that produces it — was the thing responsible for how he said he felt .
For a single patient , there ’ s no way to tell for sure .
Antibody treatments could be a good way to treat COVID-19 .
The strategy is similar to convalescent plasma , which contains coronavirus antibodies generated by recovered patients .
Instead of an unpredictable mixture of antibodies in blood , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few specific antibodies that seem to be particularly good at blocking the virus .
Another pharmaceutical company , Eli Lilly , also has an antibody drug in development .
But neither drug has been tested thoroughly enough to say if it helps , hurts , or does nothing at all .
Trump ’ s wild claims about Regeneron ’ s candidate could make finding answers harder .
That ’ s what happened last time he talked up a treatment strategy — remember hydroxychloroquine ?
Trump ’ s constant promotion of the anti-malarial drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made people reluctant to enroll in clinical trials that were designed to figure out if it actually worked .
Trump also pressured federal agencies to quickly push out hydroxychloroquine .
Experts worry that something similar could happen with Regeneron ’ s antibody therapy .
Trump is already pushing the Food and Drug Administration to authorize it quickly .
The circumstances of his treatment also could skew the clinical trial process : he got the drug under compassionate use , which makes untested and experimental products available to people who are seriously ill. Heralding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if we know more about it than we actually do , while simultaneously leaving the impression that VIPs like the president can skip the line , while the rest of us run the risk of getting a placebo in a clinical trial .
In reality , though , we still don ’ t know if someone who gets the drug is better off than someone who gets a placebo .
That ’ s what a trial is for .
Hopefully , the drug works — but anyone who claims to have answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Here ’ s what else happened this week .
Nearly One-Third of Covid-19 Patients in Study Had Altered Mental State In one group of over 500 hospitalized COVID-19 patients , nearly a third had some kind of confusion or delirium .
These sorts of mental problems show up in other viral infections , as well , and could be triggered by inflammation .
( Pam Belluck / The New York Times ) Researchers around the world are taking pictures and building models of the tiny , destructive virus .
The images are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and makes copies of itself .
( Carl Zimmer / The New York Times ) COVID-19 Is Now the Third Leading Cause of Death in the U.S .
The virus is killing more people than stroke , Alzheimer ’ s , diabetes , kidney disease , and most other conditions that end up fatal .
Right now , only heart disease and cancer are deadlier .
( Youyou Zhou and Gary Stix / Scientific American ) Pharmaceutical companies have to track vaccine clinical trial participants for at least two months before they ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their candidates , new guidelines from the agency say .
This all but guarantees there won ’ t be an approval by election day — and could give people more confidence that the vaccines are being carefully evaluated .
( Sydney Lupkin / NPR ) Eli Lilly says its monoclonal antibody cocktail is effective in treating Covid-19 Like Regeneron , Eli Lilly published a press release showing that its antibody drug can keep some people with COVID-19 from needing to be hospitalized .
But the benefits were small , and the data isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Matthew Herper / Stat News ) ‘ I Won ’ t Be Used as a Guinea Pig for White People ’ In the US , Black people are more likely to be hospitalized with and die from COVID-19 than white people .
Because of historic mistreatment by the medical community , though , they ’ re the least likely group to trust a vaccine and are reluctant to sign up for clinical trials .
Community leaders are trying to encourage participation to ensure that the vaccines aren ’ t only tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ / The New York Times ) He ’ s fought COVID-19 for months .
Can he ever really beat it ?
Former Indiana State football player Larry Brown was on a ventilator for 50 days .
He ’ s been in rehab for months .
He doesn ’ t know if he ’ ll ever be the same again .
“ Right now , I ’ m just trying to understand the new normal , ” Brown told the Associated Press .
( Tom Murphy / Associated Press ) Only one of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posed a new threat : The virus .
Isaiah Marquez-Greene ’ s sister was killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown , Connecticut .
He wasn ’ t sure if his parents would be able to endure sending him back to his boarding school during a pandemic .
( John Woodrow Cox / The Washington Post ) To the more than 36,933,166 people worldwide who have tested positive , may your road to recovery be smooth .
To the families and friends of the 1,068,995 people who have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US — your loved ones are not forgotten .

President Donald Trump says he’s recovered from COVID-19. Outside doctors say it’s too soon for him to return to public events, he’s coughing on Fox News, and he’s taking a potent steroid that can mask symptoms — but Trump says he’s not sick anymore. And he’s crediting that recovery to an experimental drug made by the company Regeneron, which he said on Wednesday was a “cure.”
“They gave me Regeneron, and it was, like, unbelievable. I felt good immediately,” he said in a video recorded at the White House.
There’s no evidence that the Regeneron drug had anything to do with how good Trump did or did not feel. There’s hardly any data that the drug, which is a cocktail of artificial antibodies against the coronavirus, works at all. So far, all we have are a few bits of information on a small group of patients that were published in a press release. Trump was also given two other drugs, the antiviral remdesivir and the steroid dexamethasone. There’s no reason to believe the Regeneron drug — which is actually named REGN-COV2; Regeneron is the name of the company that produces it — was the thing responsible for how he said he felt. For a single patient, there’s no way to tell for sure.
A newsletter highlighting the COVID-19 research, developments, and stories that matter. Subscribe here!
Antibody treatments could be a good way to treat COVID-19. The strategy is similar to convalescent plasma, which contains coronavirus antibodies generated by recovered patients. Instead of an unpredictable mixture of antibodies in blood, though, the drugs are concentrated cocktails of a few specific antibodies that seem to be particularly good at blocking the virus. Another pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly, also has an antibody drug in development.
But neither drug has been tested thoroughly enough to say if it helps, hurts, or does nothing at all. Trump’s wild claims about Regeneron’s candidate could make finding answers harder. That’s what happened last time he talked up a treatment strategy — remember hydroxychloroquine? Trump’s constant promotion of the anti-malarial drug, and the controversy around it, made people reluctant to enroll in clinical trials that were designed to figure out if it actually worked.
Trump also pressured federal agencies to quickly push out hydroxychloroquine. Experts worry that something similar could happen with Regeneron’s antibody therapy. Trump is already pushing the Food and Drug Administration to authorize it quickly. The circumstances of his treatment also could skew the clinical trial process: he got the drug under compassionate use, which makes untested and experimental products available to people who are seriously ill. Heralding it as a cure makes it seem as if we know more about it than we actually do, while simultaneously leaving the impression that VIPs like the president can skip the line, while the rest of us run the risk of getting a placebo in a clinical trial.
In reality, though, we still don’t know if someone who gets the drug is better off than someone who gets a placebo. That’s what a trial is for. Hopefully, the drug works — but anyone who claims to have answers right now is just making things up.
Here’s what else happened this week.
Research
In one group of over 500 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, nearly a third had some kind of confusion or delirium. These sorts of mental problems show up in other viral infections, as well, and could be triggered by inflammation. (Pam Belluck / The New York Times)
Researchers around the world are taking pictures and building models of the tiny, destructive virus. The images are helping them understand how it attacks cells and makes copies of itself. (Carl Zimmer / The New York Times)
The virus is killing more people than stroke, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney disease, and most other conditions that end up fatal. Right now, only heart disease and cancer are deadlier. (Youyou Zhou and Gary Stix / Scientific American)
Development
Pharmaceutical companies have to track vaccine clinical trial participants for at least two months before they ask the Food and Drug Administration to authorize their candidates, new guidelines from the agency say. This all but guarantees there won’t be an approval by election day — and could give people more confidence that the vaccines are being carefully evaluated. (Sydney Lupkin / NPR)
Like Regeneron, Eli Lilly published a press release showing that its antibody drug can keep some people with COVID-19 from needing to be hospitalized. But the benefits were small, and the data isn’t published in a medical journal. (Matthew Herper / Stat News)
In the US, Black people are more likely to be hospitalized with and die from COVID-19 than white people. Because of historic mistreatment by the medical community, though, they’re the least likely group to trust a vaccine and are reluctant to sign up for clinical trials. Community leaders are trying to encourage participation to ensure that the vaccines aren’t only tested on white people. (Jan Hoffman / The New York Times)
Perspectives
Former Indiana State football player Larry Brown was on a ventilator for 50 days. He’s been in rehab for months. He doesn’t know if he’ll ever be the same again. “Right now, I’m just trying to understand the new normal,” Brown told the Associated Press. (Tom Murphy / Associated Press)
Isaiah Marquez-Greene’s sister was killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. He wasn’t sure if his parents would be able to endure sending him back to his boarding school during a pandemic. (John Woodrow Cox / The Washington Post)
More than numbers
To the more than 36,933,166 people worldwide who have tested positive, may your road to recovery be smooth.
To the families and friends of the 1,068,995 people who have died worldwide — 213,795 of those in the US — your loved ones are not forgotten.


theverge--2020-10-10--How to find the best deals during Prime Day 2020

Aside from Black Friday and Cyber Monday , Prime Day has become one of the biggest shopping moments of the year .
It ’ s a two-day stretch wherein Amazon Prime members will likely find some of the best prices yet on popular tech products like games , gaming consoles , laptops , 4K TVs , phones , PC accessories , and more .
And with Prime Day 2020 happening so close to the year ’ s end , this week could be a good time to snag some gifts .
Of course , not all of the best Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many other retailers , including Target , Best Buy , Walmart , and many more will also run competing deals you ’ ll probably want to know about .
You can count on us to publish the best deals that you need to know about , but if you want to be among the first people to know about price drops on products you ’ re interested in , you ’ ll want to get set up with a price-tracking site .
We ’ ve included a few of our favorite examples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help you track deals in slightly different ways , with their own special features .
All of them are free to use , and once you ’ ve added products that you ’ re interested in , you can rest easy knowing that you don ’ t need to take any extra action until it comes time to make a purchase .
CamelCamelCamel is the best tracker for Amazon products CamelCamelCamel tracks the price of every product sold on Amazon and can send you alerts when they fall as low as you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a desired price you ’ ve set or lower , you ’ ll get an email about it .
This price tracker works only for products on Amazon , so you ’ ll need to use a different one below if you want to track price movement on Walmart , Best Buy , and others .
To track prices and get alerts via email , you ’ ll need to create a free account .
Also , I suggest installing the site ’ s browser extension , called The Camelizer , which lets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis and allows you to set your desired price without navigating away from Amazon .
It ’ s fantastic and easy to use .
As soon as one of the products falls below the amount set on your price alert , you ’ ll instantly get an email .
And if you already have a wishlist saved on Amazon , you can import it to CamelCamelCamel .
Like CamelCamelCamel , the Honey browser extension can track the prices of items that you ’ re interested in , and it will alert you when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlike the price-tracking site above , Honey will also scour each site you visit for offer codes that can be applied to your checkout total to save you even more money .
Honey works with Amazon and many other retailers , and you can add items to your “ Droplist , ” which is basically just a wishlist .
On Best Buy , for example , the option to add an item to your list pops up on the product ’ s image , and you can select the price watch duration as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re looking for .
Slickdeals aggregates some of the best deals around the internet , as discovered by its team and community of users .
Its site also allows you to create deal alerts based on keywords , but they work a little differently on Slickdeals than they do with the above sites .
You can type in a product name , like “ Nintendo Switch ” or a retailer ’ s name , and once it ’ s added to your list , you ’ ll be notified of a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can set it to alert you to literally any deal relating to your keyword , or you can filter out deals so that you ’ ll be notified if , for example , the deal is popular enough to make it to Slickdeals ’ front page or if it earned a high rating from the community .
As you might have guessed with the name , PC Part Picker helps you pick PC components that are compatible with each other , making the already daunting task of piecing together a DIY PC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself makes it a crucial tool , but it ’ s also an excellent price tracker , showing you a detailed graph that illustrates the current and prior movement in price for a particular component .
It lets you build the PC of your dreams , and it can alert you via email to price drops from big retailers like Amazon , Best Buy , Newegg , B & H Photo , and more .
That way , you can , say , choose to wait to buy everything until that processor or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price you know it ’ s hit before .
Look outside of Amazon Prime Day is a huge event that shows off Amazon ’ s retail presence , so naturally , other retail chains take notice .
You can sometimes find better deals from Best Buy , Target , Walmart , and Newegg .
We ’ ll be compiling the best anti-Prime Day sales once they arrive .
If Amazon ’ s sale doesn ’ t have everything you want or if you just want to make sure you ’ re getting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re a discerning bunch here at The Verge , so don ’ t fret if you ’ re going into Prime Day 2020 without any prep .
We ’ ll be corralling the best deals on tech and keeping our coverage up to date with new Lightning sale items while eliminating old ones to avoid any disappointment .
So mark October 13th and 14th on your calendar , bookmark our coverage , and maybe start putting aside a little spending cash .

Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest shopping events of the year outside of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with this year’s festivities kicking off on July 11th and running through July 12th. The two-day shopping affair will likely grant Prime members access to some of the best prices of the year on Amazon devices, as well as products from Bose, Sony, and other well-known brands. This applies to items spanning a range of categories, including gaming peripherals, laptops, 4K TVs, phones, PC accessories, and more.
As always, you can count on us to publish only the best deals during Prime Day — including those featured at Walmart, Best Buy, and other competing retailers. That said, if you want to be among the first people to know about price drops on products you’re already interested in, you’ll want to get set up with a proper price-tracking tool.
We’ve included a few of our favorite examples below, pointing out how each can help you track deals in slightly different ways with their own special features. All of them are free to use, and once you’ve added products that you’re interested in, you can rest easy knowing that you don’t need to take any action until it comes time to make a purchase.
Leverage a price-tracking tool or deal aggregator
CamelCamelCamel’s extension helps you keep tabs on historical price trends with useful graphs like these.
CamelCamelCamel tracks the price of every product sold on Amazon and can send you alerts when they reach the price that’s right for you. Once a product reaches the desired price you’ve set or lower, you’ll get an email about it. CamelCamelCamel only works for products on Amazon, however, so you’ll need to use a different one below if you want to track price movement at Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and other retailers.
To track prices and get alerts via email, you’ll need to create a free account. Also, we suggest installing the site’s browser extension, called The Camelizer, which lets you see pricing trends on a product-by-product basis and allows you to set your desired price without navigating away from Amazon. It’s fantastic and easy to use.
As soon as one of the products falls below the amount set on your price alert, you’ll instantly get an email. And if you already have a wishlist saved on Amazon, you can import it into CamelCamelCamel.
Like CamelCamelCamel, the Honey browser extension can track the prices of items that you’re interested in, and it will alert you when it finds a deal. However, unlike the price-tracking site above, Honey will also scour each site you visit for offer codes that can be applied to your checkout total to save you even more money.
Honey works with Amazon and many other retailers, and you can add items to your “Droplist,” which is basically just a wishlist. At Best Buy, for example, the option to add an item to your list pops up on the product’s image, and you can select the price watch duration as well as the percentage off you’re looking for. As an added convenience, Honey will also automatically add items you frequently browse to your Droplist, thanks to its so-called “Smart Droplist” feature, which can be turned on and off at your discretion.
Slickdeals aggregates some of the best deals around the internet, as discovered by its team and community of users. It’s a great place to check out to find a curated set of deals on things you might be interested in. The site also allows you to create deal alerts based on keywords, but they work a little differently on Slickdeals than they do with the above sites.
You can type in a product name, like “Nintendo Switch” or a retailer’s name, and once it’s added to your list, you’ll be notified of a deal alert if it meets your criteria. You can set it to alert you to literally any deal relating to your keyword, or you can filter out deals so that you’ll be notified if, for example, the deal is popular enough to make it to Slickdeals’ front page or if it earned a high rating from the community.
Keepa is another handy tool you can use to track and compare Amazon prices over time. Like CamelCamelCamel, Keepa provides charts that track pricing trends and will alert you when it finds a deal. You can also import any wish lists you’ve previously saved on Amazon.
Unlike CamelCamelCamel, however, you don’t necessarily need to create an account in order to track prices with Keepa. You just need to install the extension, and Keepa will automatically add a price history graph to supported product listings. The embedded extension features different tabs as well, one of which showcases pricing history and another that allows you to specify various pricing details. Once you’ve set your desired price, you’ll then receive price alerts via email, push notification, Telegram, or RSS.
Set up deal alert notifications through Alexa
If you’re a Prime member who owns a fourth-gen Echo speaker or a newer model, you can also request that Amazon send you deal notifications up to 24 hours ahead of time on products you’re interested in. Amazon can alert you of price drops on eligible products in your shopping cart or wish list, as well as anything you’ve marked as “saved for later.” To enable the feature, tap More > Settings > Notifications in the Alexa app and then tap Amazon Shopping. Then, scroll down to Shopping Recommendations and enable Deal Recommendations. Once done, you’ll receive a notification on both your device and your Echo speaker (the latter in the form of a yellow ring) notifying you of the deal.
Sign up for Amazon’s invite-only deals
This year, Amazon is going to let Prime members sign up in advance for deals the company anticipates will sell out quickly. Amazon has already previewed some of these deals — including a whopping $300 discount on the 43-inch Fire TV Omni— but we anticipate more deals to follow as we get closer to the main event.
To sign up for one of Amazon’s invite-only deals, just click the yellow “Request invite” button located in the upper-right corner of the product page. If you’ve been selected, Amazon will notify you during Prime Day and provide you with instructions on how to complete your purchase.
Look for deals outside of Amazon
Prime Day is an event that shows off Amazon’s huge retail presence, so, naturally, other retail chains take notice. Because of this, you can sometimes find better deals at retailers like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and more. At the very least, they may be able to match Amazon’s prices if you ask.
If Amazon’s upcoming sale doesn’t have everything you want, or if you just want to make sure you’re getting the best deal, shop around a bit. Once again, you’ll be able to find all of our deals coverage in and outside of Amazon here.
Trust the experts
We’re a discerning bunch here at The Verge, so don’t fret if you’re going into this without any prep. We’ll be corralling the best tech deals and keeping our coverage up to date in the run-up to the main event. So mark July 11th and 12th on your calendar, sign up for Amazon Prime, bookmark where our future coverage will reside, and maybe start putting aside a little spending cash.


theverge--2020-10-11--xCloud is an unfinished but inspiring glimpse of how we might game in the future

Share All sharing options for : xCloud is an unfinished but inspiring glimpse of how we might game in the future The first time you boot up an Xbox One game on an Android phone can be surreal .
Earlier this month , I opened the Game Pass app on a Pixel 3A phone , connected an Xbox One controller via Bluetooth in the device settings , and tapped the “ play ” button on the page for Halo 5 : Guardians .
After a somewhat lengthy loading time , there I was on the menu screen , ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I left unfinished back in 2016 .
It surprised me that my save file was intact and accessible in the cloud , letting me pick up right where I left off .
The best part : I didn ’ t even have to unpack the Xbox One where I originally played the game .
It ’ s sitting unplugged in a box , exactly where I left it since moving back to the East Coast at the end of the summer .
xCloud is a rough draft version of the state-of-the-art platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and began playing once again , the lag a bit noticeable but not game-breaking and the graphics sharp enough for playing on a small Pixel screen .
With a $ 15-a-month Game Pass subscription and a $ 15 PowerA MOGA controller clip , I now have a comfortable mobile game console I can play anywhere in my apartment — with Halo 5 and dozens of other games , including ones I never owned and some I wasn ’ t even aware of .
It feels like having a work-in-progress version of the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ease with which Microsoft ’ s new cloud gaming beta slots into its existing Game Pass service and broader Xbox vision obscures the fact that xCloud is very much a rough draft .
It ’ s a very early version of the kind of state-of-the-art platform the company will need to forge a stronger , more resilient gaming business going forward .
In its current state , xCloud works well enough and brings enough unique benefits to convince us Microsoft has a coherent comeback plan after seven years playing catch-up with Sony .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ if xCloud is going to earn its place in the company ’ s $ 15-a-month subscription service and compete with more fully-formed services , like Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now , both of which are already available on multiple platforms .
How xCloud works , and how well it works xCloud is a deceptively simple product in its current form .
You don ’ t need much to use it — an Android phone running version 6.0 or later is enough , plus a minimum 10Mbps internet connection and hopefully a 5GHz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably want a Bluetooth controller .
Touch inputs are currently limited to a single game , Minecraft Dungeons , with plans to support a small slice of the Game Pass library some time in the future .
( Also , playing with a touchscreen on a cloud gaming service has generally been a miserable experience . )
You ’ ll also need to pay $ 15 a month for a Game Pass Ultimate subscription , but xCloud isn ’ t the only benefit : it gives you access to over 100 games on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games to your phone .
The Game Pass app itself is easy to use , responsive , and well-designed .
There ’ s a coherent arrangement of lists that are easily maneuverable with a Bluetooth controller , so you don ’ t need to search for a specific game .
There is a dedicated list of flagship games up top like the recently added Doom Eternal , a “ jump back in ” section for games you ’ ve played before , a list of recently added games , a “ plays great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most popular leaderboard .
xCloud may get faster in the future when Microsoft upgrades the hardware it runs on Tapping any one game will let you know if it ’ s able to be played via streaming , or if it can only be downloaded to a paired PC or Xbox .
( We have a breakdown of the pricing and various subscription tiers for Game Pass here , as well as an xCloud how-to guide here . )
Microsoft is running the service on custom server blades using Xbox One S hardware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the platform to Xbox Series S/X grade hardware to improve performance down the line .
We don ’ t necessarily know exactly what that means , but a source familiar with Microsoft ’ s plans tell The Verge it ’ ll include the speedy solid-state drive in the Xbox Series S/X , which could improve load times and provide other performance enhancements .
Right now , however , xCloud load times and lag are quite noticeable , and fall behind those of Stadia and GeForce Now .
Even with an upstate New York-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a 5GHz Wi-Fi network , games like Gears 5 and Halo : The Master Chief Collection had some noticeable sluggishness to them that needed accounting for when the games required precision and fast reflexes during high-intensity firefights .
But I will say that the less graphically intensive a game was , the better it felt to stream .
Ori and the Will of the Wisps played almost flawlessly compared to the experience on my PC .
As for load times , with modern Xbox One and PC games like Gears 5 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at load times of around one to one and a half minutes to get past the xCloud loading screen , the game ’ s own loading screen , and to the point when the in-game menu registers an input .
That ’ s a bit awkward on mobile given you can ’ t do anything else but stare at the screen and wait for the game to load — switching to another app or exiting to the home screen suspends the loading process .
Stadia loads much faster on mobile , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more platforms On Google Stadia , we ’ ve seen games load two to three times faster , with full-fledged console titles like Destiny 2 or Shadow of the Tomb Raider often taking just 20 to 30 seconds on Stadia ’ s Android mobile app .
Mortal Kombat 11 , one of the few games available on both services , loads into its menu on Stadia after just 30 to 35 seconds or so , compared with the more than a minute of time it takes to boot up on xCloud .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same amount of time to load on both platforms ( and retains your PC save file on Stadia ) , I found playing on xCloud to be much choppier .
I tested xCloud load times with 15 of the most popular Xbox One titles Game Pass subscribers might want to stream , and compiled the results in the chart you ’ ll find below .
Keep in mind these are estimates based on my experiences — your results might vary .
These aren ’ t awful loading times , but they are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resting my controller with the Pixel attached to my couch and just browsing on my iPad or laptop while I waited for a game to load .
And because different games load at different times , you never quite know what to expect .
The inconsistency and inconvenience sounds minor on paper , but it does noticeably detract from the overall experience in a way a full-fledged , non-beta product won ’ t be able to afford .
Microsoft has ways to potentially reduce load times and lag , including the servers it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But arguably a bigger differentiating factor between xCloud , Google Stadia , GeForce Now , and the upcoming Amazon Luna is the business model — how they intend to make money and sustain themselves , what they have to offer game manufacturers to convince them to hop aboard , and which games each can actually offer to players like you .
Google charges Stadia players for individual games , regardless of whether the user is on its free tier or paying for a $ 10-a-month Stadia Pro subscription , which grants you 4K @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free titles similar to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold .
GeForce Now only costs $ 5 a month ( it does have a very limited free tier ) , but only allows you to stream games you already own and purchased via Steam , and only if a publisher has agreed to allow Nvidia to redistribute them over its cloud platform .
The popularity of cloud gaming will depend on which business models catch on with consumers PlayStation Now , Sony ’ s streaming service that has quietly operated since 2014 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , providing more than 800 games for a $ 10 a month subscription .
But it doesn ’ t typically include very recent Sony games , doesn ’ t let you download games for offline play like Xbox Game Pass , and doesn ’ t have a mobile app ( though it is on Mac and Windows PC ) .
It ’ s best designed as a service running on a PlayStation console you already own , as a way to experience games you ’ d rather not buy and wait to download @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as the fact that neither Google nor Nvidia are publishers with access to their own game catalogs ( yet ) , mean cloud gamers are getting different software libraries with different levels of access .
Some game makers , like Destiny developer Bungie , will make their games available via Stadia Pro , while others like Larian Studios ( creator of Baldur ’ s Gate 3 ) will only sell their titles at full price on Google ’ s platform .
Some game makers like Epic will opt to be a part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Activision Blizzard won ’ t let Nvidia stream their titles no matter what .
Depending on who owns what , your access to a cloud game could be revoked at any time , just as movies and TV shows come and go on Netflix , Hulu , and other video streaming services .
The same is true for Sony ’ s PlayStation Now , which has plenty of the company ’ s first-party titles , but only offers access to whatever third-party games Sony can license .
Microsoft , like Sony , does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large swath of the game industry ’ s biggest developers , and it most recently added the massive library of Bethesda Softworks to its roster .
That gives xCloud a big boost , but the architecture of Game Pass happens to give xCloud a distinct edge over PlayStation Now because Game Pass games can be downloaded and played on an Xbox or PC with the added benefit of carrying your save progress across devices .
And unlike Sony , Microsoft has committed to bringing its very latest games to Game Pass instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titles .
That ’ s where we start to see the true promise of xCloud .
You can start playing the hottest new Microsoft game locally on your Xbox , resume playing that same title downloaded to your PC via Game Pass Ultimate , and then stream on-the-go via xCloud on Android .
With cross-buy and cross-progression , everything is synced in the cloud .
The true power of xCloud is taking your games and save files , all of it synced in the cloud That ’ s a scenario you can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it ’ s Microsoft ’ s big selling point for xCloud right now , even if the likelihood of any Game Pass subscriber actually taking advantage of all of those perks remains slim .
The promise of what this could mean in the future is still there , and it ’ s exciting .
Microsoft will no doubt improve the experience as it upgrades its network infrastructure and introduces hardware and software efficiencies to smooth out the process .
And no doubt games over xCloud will feel and play much better on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support smart TVs / streaming set-top devices , browsers , and dedicated desktop apps .
But it needs to do those things to be competitive , and Microsoft hasn ’ t yet detailed when and how it ’ ll make these things happen — though we now know it has plans to bring xCloud to iOS via mobile browsers while it works on a proper PC version , too .
For now , the Android-only beta is just a small-scale way to enjoy the benefits of arguably the most forward-thinking cloud gaming service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not a compelling enough reason right now to spend $ 15 a month on Microsoft ’ s Game Pass Ultimate all by itself .
But a beta is all xCloud really needs to be at the moment .
We ’ re a month out from the next-gen consoles arriving and ushering in a new , uncertain era for gaming hardware and software distribution .
Google , Amazon and others are betting they can entice you away from the prospect of a shiny new box with only a few new games , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screen using the cloud — but Luna hasn ’ t launched yet and Stadia is still struggling to build consumer trust nearly a year after launch .
Meanwhile , Microsoft is offering an entire library of games you can play on its new Xbox for $ 15 a month , and it ’ s throwing a substantial taste of cloud gaming for free .
The company is still trying to earn back the trust of a generation of gamers it lost through a series of corporate misfires , marketing whiffs , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ console strategy its primary competitor Sony was simply better positioned to pull off .
Microsoft is still trying to earn back the trust of a generation of gamers it lost during the Xbox One era A lot of lapsed Xbox gamers , myself included , left the Xbox brand and built core networks of friends and a library of games on the PlayStation platform , and it ’ ll be difficult for Microsoft to win those consumers back .
xCloud and Game Pass could help Microsoft get there , though .
These tools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compete with Sony the way it tried for the last seven years , even if a Bethesda acquisition gives it more resources to play Sony ’ s game if it likes .
I was a devout Xbox fan during the years of the Xbox 360 , and I ’ ve been looking for a reason to return .
Thanks to xCloud , I ’ m confident Microsoft will forge a path forward in which I can migrate my library and save files to whatever screen I like .
That might be reason enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if it means my games come with me wherever I go .

The first time you boot up an Xbox One game on an Android phone can be surreal. Earlier this month, I opened the Game Pass app on a Pixel 3A phone, connected an Xbox One controller via Bluetooth in the device settings, and tapped the “play” button on the page for Halo 5: Guardians. After a somewhat lengthy loading time, there I was on the menu screen, ready to play the exact same Halo 5 campaign that I left unfinished back in 2016.
It surprised me that my save file was intact and accessible in the cloud, letting me pick up right where I left off. The best part: I didn’t even have to unpack the Xbox One where I originally played the game. It’s sitting unplugged in a box, exactly where I left it since moving back to the East Coast at the end of the summer.
xCloud is a rough draft version of the state-of-the-art platform Microsoft needs
I dropped into Halo 5 and began playing once again, the lag a bit noticeable but not game-breaking and the graphics sharp enough for playing on a small Pixel screen. With a $15-a-month Game Pass subscription and a $15 PowerA MOGA controller clip, I now have a comfortable mobile game console I can play anywhere in my apartment — with Halo 5 and dozens of other games, including ones I never owned and some I wasn’t even aware of. It feels like having a work-in-progress version of the future playing out on my phone.
The ease with which Microsoft’s new cloud gaming beta slots into its existing Game Pass service and broader Xbox vision obscures the fact that xCloud is very much a rough draft. It’s a very early version of the kind of state-of-the-art platform the company will need to forge a stronger, more resilient gaming business going forward. In its current state, xCloud works well enough and brings enough unique benefits to convince us Microsoft has a coherent comeback plan after seven years playing catch-up with Sony.
Yet there is much that needs improving if xCloud is going to earn its place in the company’s $15-a-month subscription service and compete with more fully-formed services, like Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now, both of which are already available on multiple platforms.
Photo by Nick Statt / The Verge
How xCloud works, and how well it works
xCloud is a deceptively simple product in its current form. You don’t need much to use it — an Android phone running version 6.0 or later is enough, plus a minimum 10Mbps internet connection and hopefully a 5GHz Wi-Fi network, and you’ll probably want a Bluetooth controller. Touch inputs are currently limited to a single game, Minecraft Dungeons, with plans to support a small slice of the Game Pass library some time in the future. (Also, playing with a touchscreen on a cloud gaming service has generally been a miserable experience.)
You’ll also need to pay $15 a month for a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, but xCloud isn’t the only benefit: it gives you access to over 100 games on Xbox and PC in addition to streaming games to your phone. The Game Pass app itself is easy to use, responsive, and well-designed.
There’s a coherent arrangement of lists that are easily maneuverable with a Bluetooth controller, so you don’t need to search for a specific game. There is a dedicated list of flagship games up top like the recently added Doom Eternal, a “jump back in” section for games you’ve played before, a list of recently added games, a “plays great on mobile” collection, and a most popular leaderboard.
xCloud may get faster in the future when Microsoft upgrades the hardware it runs on
Tapping any one game will let you know if it’s able to be played via streaming, or if it can only be downloaded to a paired PC or Xbox. (We have a breakdown of the pricing and various subscription tiers for Game Pass here, as well as an xCloud how-to guide here.)
Microsoft is running the service on custom server blades using Xbox One S hardware, but the company plans to transition the platform to Xbox Series S/X grade hardware to improve performance down the line. We don’t necessarily know exactly what that means, but a source familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge it’ll include the speedy solid-state drive in the Xbox Series S/X, which could improve load times and provide other performance enhancements.
Right now, however, xCloud load times and lag are quite noticeable, and fall behind those of Stadia and GeForce Now. Even with an upstate New York-based Spectrum download speed of roughly 110Mbps and over a 5GHz Wi-Fi network, games like Gears 5 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection had some noticeable sluggishness to them that needed accounting for when the games required precision and fast reflexes during high-intensity firefights. But I will say that the less graphically intensive a game was, the better it felt to stream. Ori and the Will of the Wisps played almost flawlessly compared to the experience on my PC.
As for load times, with modern Xbox One and PC games like Gears 5 and The Outer Worlds, you’re looking at load times of around one to one and a half minutes to get past the xCloud loading screen, the game’s own loading screen, and to the point when the in-game menu registers an input. That’s a bit awkward on mobile given you can’t do anything else but stare at the screen and wait for the game to load — switching to another app or exiting to the home screen suspends the loading process.
Stadia loads much faster on mobile, and it has the benefit of working on more platforms
On Google Stadia, we’ve seen games load two to three times faster, with full-fledged console titles like Destiny 2 or Shadow of the Tomb Raider often taking just 20 to 30 seconds on Stadia’s Android mobile app. Mortal Kombat 11, one of the few games available on both services, loads into its menu on Stadia after just 30 to 35 seconds or so, compared with the more than a minute of time it takes to boot up on xCloud. And while Destiny 2 takes about almost the same amount of time to load on both platforms (and retains your PC save file on Stadia), I found playing on xCloud to be much choppier.
I tested xCloud load times with 15 of the most popular Xbox One titles Game Pass subscribers might want to stream, and compiled the results in the chart you’ll find below. Keep in mind these are estimates based on my experiences — your results might vary.
xCloud Beta Performance Xbox One Games xCloud loading time (minutes) Doom Eternal 1:03 Gears 5 1:24 Ori and the Will of the Wisps 1:25 Halo: Master Chief Collection 0:51 Halo 5: Guardians 1:06 The Outer Worlds 1:42 Forza Horizons 4 0:53 Minecraft Dungeons 1:19 Mortal Kombat X 1:01 No Man's Sky 0:43 Sea of Thieves 0:49 Ark: Survival Evolved 1:19 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard 1:31 Overcooked 2 1:51 Grounded (preview) 1:24
These aren’t awful loading times, but they are a definite delay: I often found myself resting my controller with the Pixel attached to my couch and just browsing on my iPad or laptop while I waited for a game to load. And because different games load at different times, you never quite know what to expect. The inconsistency and inconvenience sounds minor on paper, but it does noticeably detract from the overall experience in a way a full-fledged, non-beta product won’t be able to afford.
Photo by Nick Statt / The Verge
Beyond load times and lag
Microsoft has ways to potentially reduce load times and lag, including the servers it’s already promised to upgrade. But arguably a bigger differentiating factor between xCloud, Google Stadia, GeForce Now, and the upcoming Amazon Luna is the business model — how they intend to make money and sustain themselves, what they have to offer game manufacturers to convince them to hop aboard, and which games each can actually offer to players like you.
Google charges Stadia players for individual games, regardless of whether the user is on its free tier or paying for a $10-a-month Stadia Pro subscription, which grants you 4K streaming and access to a library of free titles similar to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold. GeForce Now only costs $5 a month (it does have a very limited free tier), but only allows you to stream games you already own and purchased via Steam, and only if a publisher has agreed to allow Nvidia to redistribute them over its cloud platform.
The popularity of cloud gaming will depend on which business models catch on with consumers
PlayStation Now, Sony’s streaming service that has quietly operated since 2014, is the closest to xCloud in theory, providing more than 800 games for a $10 a month subscription. But it doesn’t typically include very recent Sony games, doesn’t let you download every one of its games for offline play like Xbox Game Pass (although it did add the feature for select titles in 2018), and doesn’t have a mobile app, though it is on Mac and Windows PC. PS Now is best designed as a service running on a Sony console you already own, as a way to experience games you’d rather not buy and wait to download.
Those various business models, as well as the fact that neither Google nor Nvidia are publishers with access to their own game catalogs (yet), mean cloud gamers are getting different software libraries with different levels of access. Some game makers, like Destiny developer Bungie, will make their games available via Stadia Pro, while others like Larian Studios (creator of Baldur’s Gate 3) will only sell their titles at full price on Google’s platform. Some game makers like Epic will opt to be a part of GeForce Now, while others like Activision Blizzard won’t let Nvidia stream their titles no matter what.
Depending on who owns what, your access to a cloud game could be revoked at any time, just as movies and TV shows come and go on Netflix, Hulu, and other video streaming services. The same is true for Sony’s PlayStation Now, which has plenty of the company’s first-party titles, but only offers access to whatever third-party games Sony can license.
Microsoft, like Sony, does have the added benefit of owning a large swath of the game industry’s biggest developers, and it most recently added the massive library of Bethesda Softworks to its roster. That gives xCloud a big boost, but the architecture of Game Pass happens to give xCloud a distinct edge over PlayStation Now because Game Pass games can be downloaded and played on an Xbox or PC with the added benefit of carrying your save progress across devices. And unlike Sony, Microsoft has committed to bringing its very latest games to Game Pass instead of limiting the cloud platform to mostly older titles.
That’s where we start to see the true promise of xCloud. You can start playing the hottest new Microsoft game locally on your Xbox, resume playing that same title downloaded to your PC via Game Pass Ultimate, and then stream on-the-go via xCloud on Android. With cross-buy and cross-progression, everything is synced in the cloud.
The true power of xCloud is taking your games and save files, all of it synced in the cloud
That’s a scenario you can’t replicate with any other service — and it’s Microsoft’s big selling point for xCloud right now, even if the likelihood of any Game Pass subscriber actually taking advantage of all of those perks remains slim. The promise of what this could mean in the future is still there, and it’s exciting.
Microsoft will no doubt improve the experience as it upgrades its network infrastructure and introduces hardware and software efficiencies to smooth out the process. And no doubt games over xCloud will feel and play much better on a wired connection when the platform does support smart TVs / streaming set-top devices, browsers, and dedicated desktop apps.
But it needs to do those things to be competitive, and Microsoft hasn’t yet detailed when and how it’ll make these things happen — though we now know it has plans to bring xCloud to iOS via mobile browsers while it works on a proper PC version, too. For now, the Android-only beta is just a small-scale way to enjoy the benefits of arguably the most forward-thinking cloud gaming service we have to date. But it’s not a compelling enough reason right now to spend $15 a month on Microsoft’s Game Pass Ultimate all by itself.
But a beta is all xCloud really needs to be at the moment. We’re a month out from the next-gen consoles arriving and ushering in a new, uncertain era for gaming hardware and software distribution. Google, Amazon and others are betting they can entice you away from the prospect of a shiny new box with only a few new games, by letting you play anywhere on any screen using the cloud — but Luna hasn’t launched yet and Stadia is still struggling to build consumer trust nearly a year after launch.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is offering an entire library of games you can play on its new Xbox for $15 a month, and it’s throwing a substantial taste of cloud gaming for free. The company is still trying to earn back the trust of a generation of gamers it lost through a series of corporate misfires, marketing whiffs, and a failure to keep pace with an exclusive-driven console strategy its primary competitor Sony was simply better positioned to pull off.
Microsoft is still trying to earn back the trust of a generation of gamers it lost during the Xbox One era
A lot of lapsed Xbox gamers, myself included, left the Xbox brand and built core networks of friends and a library of games on the PlayStation platform, and it’ll be difficult for Microsoft to win those consumers back.
xCloud and Game Pass could help Microsoft get there, though. These tools mean Microsoft doesn’t have to compete with Sony the way it tried for the last seven years, even if a Bethesda acquisition gives it more resources to play Sony’s game if it likes. I was a devout Xbox fan during the years of the Xbox 360, and I’ve been looking for a reason to return.