theverge--2020-03-16--Here’s how Xbox Series X removable storage will work

Microsoft revealed some key details about the next-gen Xbox Series X console today .
Along with clock speeds , new technologies , and much more , the biggest news is that the next Xbox will support removable storage , thanks to 1TB expansion cards .
Microsoft is using a special proprietary expansion card , and it has teamed up with Seagate to launch 1TB expansion cards for the Xbox Series X .
The cards simply slot into the rear of the console and are used as a quick way to extend the built-in 1TB NVME SSD .
Microsoft is using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal NVME SSD and external SSDs , meaning the speeds are designed for next-gen games .
It also means that games that are optimized for the Xbox Series X will need to run on the internal SSD or these expansion cards .
“ You can continue to use your existing USB 3.1+ external hard drives on Xbox Series X and you can run Xbox One , 360 and OG Xbox games directly from the external USB HDD , ” explains a Microsoft spokesperson .
“ Games optimized for Xbox Series X and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the internal SSD or the Expandable Storage Drive.
” So if you ’ re looking to extend your storage on the Xbox Series X , you ’ ll need an expansion card for all of the newer games and titles that will gradually get updated .
Microsoft has not yet revealed exactly how much these cards will cost , though .
External USB storage drives come in a variety of forms right now and are often a lot less expensive than equivalent NVME SSD drives .
Seagate will be the exclusive launch partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ At launch , the Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X will be the only Expansion Card available , ” reveals a Microsoft spokesperson to The Verge .
“ We look forward to sharing more details in the future.
” It ’ s not clear whether Microsoft will have its own branded expansion cards or just how many other third-party drive makers will be able to create expansion cards .
More providers will increase competition and drive prices down for consumers , so it would be surprising if Seagate is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansion card support and built-in NVME SSD will mean significant improvements in load times .
Microsoft demonstrated a 40-second improvement over the Xbox One X today , showing just how much SSD storage will impact gaming on the next-gen Xbox .
It also allows Microsoft to enable multiple game resumes from standby or even after the console is rebooted for an update .
Microsoft simply caches whatever is used in RAM by a game straight to the SSD , allowing the console to resume titles instantly .
Microsoft isn ’ t saying exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quick Resume in total , but a minimum of three will be supported .
As each game has different RAM requirements , the actual number could vary depending on how much space the Quick Resume feature takes up .
We need more information about the Xbox Series X expansion cards , but what ’ s clear right now is that they will inevitably become the only way people will extend storage on the next Xbox once games are updated .
Here ’ s hoping this proprietary solution isn ’ t too pricey .

Microsoft revealed some key details about the next-gen Xbox Series X console today. Along with clock speeds, new technologies, and much more, the biggest news is that the next Xbox will support removable storage, thanks to 1TB expansion cards. Microsoft is using a special proprietary expansion card, and it has teamed up with Seagate to launch 1TB expansion cards for the Xbox Series X.
The cards simply slot into the rear of the console and are used as a quick way to extend the built-in 1TB NVME SSD. Microsoft is using PCI Express 4.0 connections for both the internal NVME SSD and external SSDs, meaning the speeds are designed for next-gen games. It also means that games that are optimized for the Xbox Series X will need to run on the internal SSD or these expansion cards.
Related Microsoft unveils full Xbox Series X specs with 1TB expansion cards
Xbox Series X Storage Expansion Card.
“You can continue to use your existing USB 3.1+ external hard drives on Xbox Series X and you can run Xbox One, 360 and OG Xbox games directly from the external USB HDD,” explains a Microsoft spokesperson. “Games optimized for Xbox Series X and the Velocity Architecture need to be run from the internal SSD or the Expandable Storage Drive.”
So if you’re looking to extend your storage on the Xbox Series X, you’ll need an expansion card for all of the newer games and titles that will gradually get updated. Microsoft has not yet revealed exactly how much these cards will cost, though. External USB storage drives come in a variety of forms right now and are often a lot less expensive than equivalent NVME SSD drives.
Seagate will be the exclusive launch partner for these expansion cards, too. “At launch, the Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X will be the only Expansion Card available,” reveals a Microsoft spokesperson to The Verge. “We look forward to sharing more details in the future.” It’s not clear whether Microsoft will have its own branded expansion cards or just how many other third-party drive makers will be able to create expansion cards. More providers will increase competition and drive prices down for consumers, so it would be surprising if Seagate is the only manufacturer after launch.
This new expansion card support and built-in NVME SSD will mean significant improvements in load times. Microsoft demonstrated a 40-second improvement over the Xbox One X today, showing just how much SSD storage will impact gaming on the next-gen Xbox. It also allows Microsoft to enable multiple game resumes from standby or even after the console is rebooted for an update.
Xbox Series X rear ports
Microsoft simply caches whatever is used in RAM by a game straight to the SSD, allowing the console to resume titles instantly. Microsoft isn’t saying exactly how many games will be able to Quick Resume in total, but a minimum of three will be supported. As each game has different RAM requirements, the actual number could vary depending on how much space the Quick Resume feature takes up.


theverge--2020-03-16--Universal will release films currently in theaters as $20 rentals starting Friday

Universal Studios is planning to release some of its newest films that are still in the middle of their theatrical runs — including The Invisible Man , The Hunt , and Emma .
on digital platforms to rent for $ 20 starting this Friday .
Furthermore , the upcoming Trolls World Tour , which was set to release in theaters on April 10th , will now also be available to rent on demand the same day it hits theaters , via Deadline .
The announcement comes after a historically poor weekend at the box office across the board , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 55.3 million — the worst numbers for this week of the year since 1995 .
Of Universal ’ s current theatrical films , The Invisible Man and Emma .
saw 60 percent and 72 percent drops , respectively , compared to last weekend , numbers that will likely get worse this coming weekend as an increasing number of states ( including New York and Maryland ) set to shutter all theaters entirely to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Major chains like AMC and Regal are also planning to cap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are open .
That studios would cut short a theatrical run of a movie in favor of digital rentals — even at $ 20 , which is about five times as much as the nearly standard $ 3.99 price on Amazon , iTunes , and other digital retailers — is nearly unprecedented in Hollywood .
The reason is simple : movies make far more money in theaters than they do through sales and rentals .
It ’ s one of the main reasons movie theaters as an institution exist at all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film directly to customers .
For an idea of how big a paycheck Universal is potentially missing out on , the original Trolls made over $ 346 million at the box office in 2016 .
Early projections estimated the sequel to fail to bring in quite those numbers , but Universal is still likely to lose money compared to a normal theatrical run .
Sales and rentals of DVD and digital copies of movies account for just a fraction of the revenue brought in by a theatrical run .
Last year alone saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combined $ 9.3 billion across digital and physical formats , per a report from DEG : The Digital Entertainment Group , compared to the record $ 42.5 billion generated by the worldwide box office in 2019 .
The move from Universal in releasing these films early is the latest major impact that the coronavirus — and the measures to try to prevent the spread of the virus — has had on the film industry .
Multiple films , including massive blockbusters like Disney ’ s live-action Mulan remake , No Time to Die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie , have already been delayed due to the virus .
Multiple film and TV productions from Disney , Warner Bros. , Netflix , and other studios have also been put on hold as the virus continues to spread , which could result in delays for future films , too .

Universal Studios is planning to release some of its newest films that are still in the middle of their theatrical runs — including The Invisible Man, The Hunt, and Emma. on digital platforms to rent for $20 starting this Friday. Furthermore, the upcoming Trolls World Tour, which was set to release in theaters on April 10th, will now also be available to rent on demand the same day it hits theaters, via Deadline.
The announcement comes after a historically poor weekend at the box office across the board, one that saw overall figures bring in just $55.3 million — the worst numbers for this week of the year since 1995. Of Universal’s current theatrical films, The Invisible Man and Emma. saw 60 percent and 72 percent drops, respectively, compared to last weekend, numbers that will likely get worse this coming weekend as an increasing number of states (including New York and Maryland) set to shutter all theaters entirely to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Major chains like AMC and Regal are also planning to cap attendance by 50 percent in locations where they are open.
That studios would cut short a theatrical run of a movie in favor of digital rentals — even at $20, which is about five times as much as the nearly standard $3.99 price on Amazon, iTunes, and other digital retailers — is nearly unprecedented in Hollywood.
The reason is simple: movies make far more money in theaters than they do through sales and rentals. It’s one of the main reasons movie theaters as an institution exist at all, as opposed to simply just releasing every film directly to customers. For an idea of how big a paycheck Universal is potentially missing out on, the original Trolls made over $346 million at the box office in 2016. Early projections estimated the sequel to fail to bring in quite those numbers, but Universal is still likely to lose money compared to a normal theatrical run.
Sales and rentals of DVD and digital copies of movies account for just a fraction of the revenue brought in by a theatrical run. Last year alone saw movie purchases and rentals accounted for a combined $9.3 billion across digital and physical formats, per a report from DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, compared to the record $42.5 billion generated by the worldwide box office in 2019.


theverge--2020-03-16--Apple is reportedly making a 5.5-inch entry-level iPhone

Apple is reportedly planning to launch a new 5.5-inch entry-level iPhone , according to evidence found in iOS 14 by 9to5Mac .
It has been rumored for some time that Apple would soon release a new 4.7-inch LCD phone that reuses the iPhone 8 design with updated internals , but this is the first indication that Apple may release a “ Plus ” version — and given the apparent 5.5-inch screen size , this new phone will presumably reuse the iPhone 8 Plus ’ design .
The new phones will also apparently have a solid state home button like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rely on Touch ID instead of Face ID , and come with Apple Pay ’ s Express Transit feature , which lets you just hold your phone near a transit terminal to pay for transit .
The new phones will also apparently be able to scan NFC tags without requiring a user to open up an app , a feature that ’ s only currently available on the iPhone XS , iPhone XR , and iPhone 11 .
The new 4.7-inch entry-level iPhone will start at $ 399 , will be available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storage , and will come in gray , silver , or red , according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo .
It ’ s unclear what the pricing of this new 5.5-inch model will be , but previous “ Plus ” -sized phones have cost $ 100 more than the comparable 4.7-inch version .
Kuo said in October that Apple will launch the new 4.7-inch entry-level phone at the end of March , and this rumored 5.5-inch model would presumably launch at the same time .

Apple is reportedly planning to launch a new 5.5-inch entry-level iPhone, according to evidence found in iOS 14 by 9to5Mac. It has been rumored for some time that Apple would soon release a new 4.7-inch LCD phone that reuses the iPhone 8 design with updated internals, but this is the first indication that Apple may release a “Plus” version — and given the apparent 5.5-inch screen size, this new phone will presumably reuse the iPhone 8 Plus’ design.
The new phones will also apparently have a solid state home button like the original iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, rely on Touch ID instead of Face ID, and come with Apple Pay’s Express Transit feature, which lets you just hold your phone near a transit terminal to pay for transit. The new phones will also apparently be able to scan NFC tags without requiring a user to open up an app, a feature that’s only currently available on the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and iPhone 11.


theverge--2020-03-16--YouTube will rely more on AI moderation while human reviewers can’t come to the office

YouTube will rely more on AI to moderate videos during the coronavirus pandemic , since many of its human reviewers are being sent home to limit the spread of the virus .
This means videos may be taken down from the site purely because they ’ re flagged by AI as potentially violating a policy , whereas the videos might normally get routed to a human reviewer to confirm that they should be taken down .
Human moderators usually work from specific offices that are set up for the review process .
Particularly for a large company like YouTube , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a tightly controlled corporate environment risks exposing sensitive user data — and making it easier for moderators to reveal what they see day to day .
That means , if staffing is being reduced at offices , human moderation is necessarily going to have to slow down .
“ We recognize this may be a disruption for users and creators.
” Because of the heavier reliance on AI , YouTube basically says we have to expect that some mistakes are going to be made .
More videos may end up getting removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not violate policies , ” the company writes in a blog post .
Other content won ’ t be promoted or show up in search and recommendations until it ’ s reviewed by humans .
YouTube says it largely won ’ t issue strikes — which can lead to a ban — for content that gets taken down by AI ( with the exception of videos it has a “ high confidence ” are against its policies ) .
As always , creators can still appeal a video that was taken down , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be delayed because of the reduction in human moderation .
In a separate blog post , Google said that it ’ s handling staff reduction by changing the timing of shifts , limiting how many people are working at once , and increasing the amount of space between people .
Support times for “ non-critical services ” will also be delayed across Google .
“ We recognize this may be a disruption for users and creators , but know this is the right thing to do for the people who work to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” YouTube writes .
The shift to more AI moderation shouldn ’ t impact monetization , YouTube says .
The company began allowing some creators to run ads on coronavirus-related videos last week , after initially having a flat demonetization policy .
Facebook was still requiring moderators to come into offices to work last week and as recently as this weekend , according to reports from The Intercept and The Irish Times .

YouTube will rely more on AI to moderate videos during the coronavirus pandemic, since many of its human reviewers are being sent home to limit the spread of the virus. This means videos may be taken down from the site purely because they’re flagged by AI as potentially violating a policy, whereas the videos might normally get routed to a human reviewer to confirm that they should be taken down.
Human moderators usually work from specific offices that are set up for the review process. Particularly for a large company like YouTube, allowing this work to be done outside of a tightly controlled corporate environment risks exposing sensitive user data — and making it easier for moderators to reveal what they see day to day. That means, if staffing is being reduced at offices, human moderation is necessarily going to have to slow down.
“We recognize this may be a disruption for users and creators.”
Because of the heavier reliance on AI, YouTube basically says we have to expect that some mistakes are going to be made. More videos may end up getting removed, “including some videos that may not violate policies,” the company writes in a blog post. Other content won’t be promoted or show up in search and recommendations until it’s reviewed by humans.
YouTube says it largely won’t issue strikes — which can lead to a ban — for content that gets taken down by AI (with the exception of videos it has a “high confidence” are against its policies). As always, creators can still appeal a video that was taken down, but YouTube warns this process will also be delayed because of the reduction in human moderation.
In a separate blog post, Google said that it’s handling staff reduction by changing the timing of shifts, limiting how many people are working at once, and increasing the amount of space between people. Support times for “non-critical services” will also be delayed across Google.
“We recognize this may be a disruption for users and creators, but know this is the right thing to do for the people who work to keep YouTube safe and for the broader community,” YouTube writes.
The shift to more AI moderation shouldn’t impact monetization, YouTube says. The company began allowing some creators to run ads on coronavirus-related videos last week, after initially having a flat demonetization policy.


theverge--2020-03-17--Sony to reveal new PS5 details in a ‘deep dive’ on March 18th

Sony is planning to reveal more about its PlayStation 5 hardware in a special event on March 18th .
Today , the company announced an upcoming “ deep dive ” on the next-gen console where system architect Mark Cerny will talk about the “ PS5 ’ s system architecture , and how it will shape the future of games.
” The event will be broadcast on the official PlayStation blog .
The special event follows Sony ’ s confirmation of the PlayStation 5 name back in October , and details about the power of the console earlier in 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( which will be based on AMD ’ s third-gen Ryzen line ) and a custom GPU based on AMD ’ s Radeon Navi hardware .
Sony is also supporting 8K resolutions , 3D audio , 4K gaming at 120Hz , a lower power consumption option , and it ’ s including an ultra-fast SSD inside the new console .
Sony ’ s event comes just days after Microsoft revealed the full specs for the Xbox Series X console .
Microsoft ’ s next-gen Xbox will include a custom AMD Zen 2 CPU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU with 12 teraflops and 52 compute units clocked at 1.825GHz each .
The console also includes 16GB of GDDR6 RAM with a 1TB custom NVME SSD storage drive and the ability to expand storage with 1TB expansion cards .

Sony is planning to reveal more about its PlayStation 5 hardware in a special event on March 18th. Tuesday, the company announced an upcoming “deep dive” on the next-gen console where system architect Mark Cerny will talk about the “PS5’s system architecture, and how it will shape the future of games.” The event will be broadcast on the official PlayStation blog and on YouTube at 9AM PT / 12PM ET Wednesday.
The special event follows Sony’s confirmation of the PlayStation 5 name back in October, and details about the power of the console earlier in 2019. The PS5 will use an eight-core CPU (which will be based on AMD’s third-gen Ryzen line) and a custom GPU based on AMD’s Radeon Navi hardware. Sony is also supporting 8K resolutions, 3D audio, 4K gaming at 120Hz, a lower power consumption option, and it’s including an ultra-fast SSD inside the new console.
Sony’s event comes just days after Microsoft revealed the full specs for the Xbox Series X console. Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox will include a custom AMD Zen 2 CPU with eight cores clocked at 3.8GHz each, a custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU with 12 teraflops and 52 compute units clocked at 1.825GHz each. The console also includes 16GB of GDDR6 RAM with a 1TB custom NVME SSD storage drive and the ability to expand storage with 1TB expansion cards.
How to watch the PS5 announcement live
The PS5 deep dive event will stream on YouTube. You can watch it here or in the video embedded above.
What time is the PS5 announcement


theverge--2020-03-17--Nintendo’s Switch Online service is currently experiencing an outage

Nintendo ’ s online service is experiencing outages , the company confirmed today .
We ’ ve verified that the @ @ @ @ @ down for Switch users in both the US and UK , and Mario Kart 8 @ @ @ @ @ was failing to load in the UK .
Nintendo ’ s network status page noted @ @ @ @ @ as of 1:56am PT , but did not give any detail on when service might @ @ @ @ @ s online service isn ’ t the only gaming service to have suffered an outage @ @ @ @ @ , Xbox Live went down for over two hours , while gaming chat service Discord @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s bad news for anyone who ’ s currently staying home in @ @ @ @ @ against the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Outages have also affected at least one @ @ @ @ @ , which suffered an outage yesterday .
The outage came just as Europe ’ s @ @ @ @ @ as much of the continent logged on to start working remotely .

Nintendo’s online service experienced a nearly nine-hour outages, according to the company’s network status page. “All network services” were affected from 4:56AM to 1:45PM ET. During the outage, we found that the Nintendo eShop appeared to be down for Switch users in both the US and UK, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s online functionality was failing to load in the UK.
Nintendo’s online service isn’t the only gaming service to have suffered an outage this week. On Sunday, Xbox Live went down for over two hours, while gaming chat service Discord has also been experiencing difficulties. It’s bad news for anyone who’s currently staying home in an attempt to self-isolate themselves against the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Outages have also affected at least one non-gaming service, Microsoft Teams, which suffered an outage yesterday. The outage came just as Europe’s work hours were beginning, as much of the continent logged on to start working remotely.


theverge--2020-03-17--The UK’s largest chain of phone shops is permanently closing all 531 standalone stores

UK phone retailer Carphone Warehouse is closing its 531 standalone stores , its parent company Dixons Carphone announced today .
Although the company said 40 percent of the retailer ’ s employees will be reassigned within the business , the move is expected to result in the loss of 2,900 jobs .
The company ’ s phone sales will move both online , and to Carphone-branded areas within the company ’ s larger Currys PCWorld shops .
In its announcement , Dixons Carphone blamed changing consumer habits for the shift , and expects its mobile division to lose around £90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Its customers are reportedly replacing their phones less often ( carriers in the US have reported a similar trend ) , and they ’ re also buying them unencumbered by carrier contracts or as part of flexible bundles .
The company added that customers also seem to want to shop in bigger electronics stores , rather than the small high street shops that were Carphone Warehouse ’ s staple .
The COVID-19 outbreak was not blamed for the closures The company said the restructuring is likely to cost it around £220 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobile business will break even by the 2021/22 financial year .
The COVID-19 outbreak is likely to make this a difficult time for any affected employees to find new jobs .
“ There ’ s never an easy time for an announcement like this , but the turbulent times ahead only underline the importance of acting now , ” the group ’ s chief executive , Alex Baldock , said in a statement .
“ We ’ ll pay enhanced redundancy , any bonuses , honour their share awards , and help them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” While the closures are not the result of COVID-19 , the company says that it expects the outbreak to have an impact on its business going forward .
The worst hit area is likely to be its airport-based Dixons Travel stores , which sell electronics to travellers .
However , the company added that it expects to sell more domestic appliances and laptops as people start spending more time at home .

UK phone retailer Carphone Warehouse is closing its 531 standalone stores, its parent company Dixons Carphone announced today. Although the company said 40 percent of the retailer’s employees will be reassigned within the business, the move is expected to result in the loss of 2,900 jobs. The company’s phone sales will move both online, and to Carphone-branded areas within the company’s larger Currys PCWorld shops.
In its announcement, Dixons Carphone blamed changing consumer habits for the shift, and expects its mobile division to lose around £90 million ($109 million) this year. Its customers are reportedly replacing their phones less often (carriers in the US have reported a similar trend), and they’re also buying them unencumbered by carrier contracts or as part of flexible bundles. The company added that customers also seem to want to shop in bigger electronics stores, rather than the small high street shops that were Carphone Warehouse’s staple.
The COVID-19 outbreak was not blamed for the closures
The company said the restructuring is likely to cost it around £220 million, and eventually hopes that its mobile business will break even by the 2021/22 financial year.
The COVID-19 outbreak is likely to make this a difficult time for any affected employees to find new jobs. “There’s never an easy time for an announcement like this, but the turbulent times ahead only underline the importance of acting now,” the group’s chief executive, Alex Baldock, said in a statement. “We’ll pay enhanced redundancy, any bonuses, honour their share awards, and help them find new jobs through an outplacement programme.”


theverge--2020-03-17--The Xbox Series X specs look impressive, but that’s not enough

It has been about twenty years since I sent my last newsletter , which I sent way back on Friday , March 13th .
Since then , the coronavirus pandemic and various governmental responses to it got very real and this week it ’ s likely going to get more intense .
As always , you can find our coverage on this page .
But as the global economy has a look in the mirror and tries to decide if it ’ s going to shut down or what , tech companies are moving forward with announcements they would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and/or press briefings .
The clearest example of that is Microsoft , which has revealed significant new details about the Xbox Series X ’ s specs and how it will support 1TB expansion cards yesterday .
Tom Warren has all the details in this post , but the one that stands out to me is how easy it will be to add storage expansion .
The Xbox Series X will allow for removable storage , but only with proprietary cards .
At first I bristled at the idea of proprietary removable storage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but not as much as you might expect .
That ’ s because Microsoft at least has a good reason — to get load times and gaming performance up to where it wants on the Series X , it needs to ensure storage meets the spec .
Seagate has the exclusive , which is fine but also I would like to see other companies involved if only to make me feel better that this won ’ t be overpriced over time .
In the meantime , standard USB 3.1 drives will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what the Xbox Series X is promising is beyond the capabilities of your television : 8K and variable refresh rates are definitely things you ’ ll be looking for the next time you want to buy a high-end set .
So beyond “ our graphics , they ’ ll be fancy , ” Microsoft needs something else to lure new customers in .
Normally , that thing would be exclusive games .
But Microsoft is already on record saying that the Xbox Series X won ’ t have exclusive games at launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a demo showing them to be radically faster than on the Xbox One X — though to me it ’ s more of an indictment of how games are designed to force you to wait through them .
Anyway , it ’ s a boring demo because half of it is just watching a loading screen , but that ’ s kind of the point .
I ’ m also interested in the Quick Resume feature , which as I ’ ve mentioned before allows multiple games to be resumed instantly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bounce between a few different games in a given week , and so this would be important to me .
Here ’ s how it works : Microsoft has assured Xbox fans that the Series X is , in fact , smaller than a fridge .
I don ’ t trust the image , could be photoshopped .
Got ta see it for myself in person .
More importantly , I want to know how hot this thing runs in its box , how effectively airflow moves through it from the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and how loud it all gets .
Basically , I hope that Microsoft has carefully thought through the thermals for all of this .
The original “ VCR ” Xbox One X was a loud , hot , gigantic box .
A big-ass fan may be able to move a lot of heat out the top , but I hope it doesn ’ t do so at the expense of noise .
This all sounds great , but it also sounds not all that differentiated from what Sony has promised for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to load times .
So as with a lot of consumer tech these days , the real answer to what you ’ ll get when you buy an Xbox isn ’ t going to be about the hardware , it ’ ll be about this : Microsoft ’ s ecosystem of services .
┏ Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft board .
End of an era .
┏ Microsoft to hold Office press event on March 30th .
Don ’ t expect new hardware .
┏ Microsoft hits its goal of 1 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way longer than I expected , another sign ( if you needed one ) that so much of the action is on phones .
I do wonder what percentage of this number is Xbox consoles .
Also Microsoft ’ s Insider program — essentially an ongoing beta testing program — is low-key one of Microsoft ’ s best assets .
Apple has closed US retail stores and all others outside China until March 27th , which means you ’ ll get a grace period for returns .
Of course , Apple announced an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The leaks are coming out for the products we ’ ve long been awaiting for the spring , though .
┏ Apple regulatory filings hint at a new iPad possibly coming soon .
┏ Apple is reportedly making a 5.5-inch entry-level iPhone .
Color me surprised Apple is making a Plus model of the rumored iPhone 9/SE2/whatever it ’ ll be called .
There is a large market for big yet inexpensive phones , but I would have assumed that some version of the iPhone XR or 11 would fill that gap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.2 billion fine by French antitrust authorities .
That ’ s not a small fine !
┏ Beats Powerbeats review : reliable wire .
Good review from Chris Welch .
Not gon na lie : this made me break out my old BeatsX neckbuds .
Since I ’ m working from home , it ’ s awfully convenient to have headphones at the ready at all times — and since I ’ m at home nobody cares how silly I look with them dangling around my neck .
Well , one person cares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I am .
Of course , they mysteriously stopped working , which is the fate of all BeatsX headphones .
┏ AMD announces Ryzen 9 4900H and 4900HS mobile chips .
AMD going hard at Intel on laptops this year .
These chips are gaming laptop-focused and we need to see if these results are really real , but this fight is one to keep an eye on .
┏ Motorola Edge ’ s curved display shown off in leaked images .
Yeah , I don ’ t think the lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been waiting on there , Motorola .
It ’ s camera and build quality .
Hopefully those are just as fancy and advanced as this screen .
┏ LG ’ s new V60 ThinQ 5G launches on March 20th for $ 799.99 on T-Mobile .
Similar specs to the S20 , but for less money .
Can ’ t wait to see the camera .
┏ Tesla Model Y deliveries begin in the US .
┏ Animal Crossing : New Horizons is a chill , charming life sim that puts you in control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement to ask Nintendo to release this game a week early now that so many people are on lockdown .
Okay maybe quarter-jokey .
Okay I am so serious Nintendo release this game now I can not wait to be in hock to Tom Nook the evil capitalist mastermind of Animal Crossing who is actually maybe beneficent because he never seems to actually do anything about your loans .
Stuff to do when you ’ re sheltered in place A few services are offering free or reduced access to their content .
Movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with regard to when you can stream their films .
Here ’ s a small sample : ┏ Headspace is now free for health care professionals because of the pandemic .
┏ Moog and Korg are offering synth apps for free while we ’ re all stuck at home .
┏ There is hope for Westworld , but you ’ re going to have to stick it out .
I hated season two .
I sort of felt like I was hate-watching much of season one , if I ’ m perfectly honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about shows that are complicated and mysterious for the sake of being complicated and mysterious that I find completely off-putting .
I ’ m sure I ’ ll hate-watch season three anyway : this HBO subscription ain ’ t gon na justify itself .
┏ Universal will release films currently in theaters as $ 20 rentals starting Friday .
Historically , every attempt to charge this much money for a rental has basically bombed .
I think it ’ s because people just think that a rental should cost less than six bucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today ’ s context , it could work .
┏ This website lets you relive Apollo 13 in real time through historical transcripts , footage , and audio .
┏ Disney bringing Frozen 2 to Disney Plus three months early amid coronavirus pandemic .
┏ Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker is available to buy now , a few days earlier than expected .
Wow they really rushed this out without really thinking through much because they were so worried about fan service .
I ’ m referring to the purchase date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did you think I was referring to ?
I spent much of the weekend trying to untangle just what kind of website Verily was making ( and getting attacked for it alongside other journalists ) — we know now and it ’ s starting out as something relatively modest .
Last night literally as I was writing this paragraph I had to pause to write the story that Google is delaying the launch of its informational website .
I have very little desire to rehash it all again other than to say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy fix for this situation , they ’ re surely lying .
I ’ m glad big tech is working to engage the problem but , as my colleague Casey Newton wrote in his newsletter , “ None of it is a replacement for a competent government , and the hardest days are surely ahead.
” As everybody begins working from home , the pressure is on for online services to meet the increased load .
Not all of them have maintained their uptime .
Microsoft in particular had a rough go of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going offline for a couple hours and Microsoft Teams going down just as Europe logged on to work remotely .
Not Great Microsoft Bob .
Discord had a service hiccup , too .
I hope everybody figures it out real quick .
Steam seems to have , at least !

It has been about twenty years since I sent my last newsletter, which I sent way back on Friday, March 13th. Since then, the coronavirus pandemic and various governmental responses to it got very real and this week it’s likely going to get more intense. As always, you can find our coverage on this page.
But as the global economy has a look in the mirror and tries to decide if it’s going to shut down or what, tech companies are moving forward with announcements they would have otherwise made at their big tech conferences and/or press briefings.
The clearest example of that is Microsoft, which has revealed significant new details about the Xbox Series X’s specs and how it will support 1TB expansion cards yesterday. Tom Warren has all the details in this post, but the one that stands out to me is how easy it will be to add storage expansion.
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The Xbox Series X will allow for removable storage, but only with proprietary cards. At first I bristled at the idea of proprietary removable storage. Actually, I’m still bristling, but not as much as you might expect. That’s because Microsoft at least has a good reason — to get load times and gaming performance up to where it wants on the Series X, it needs to ensure storage meets the spec. Seagate has the exclusive, which is fine but also I would like to see other companies involved if only to make me feel better that this won’t be overpriced over time. In the meantime, standard USB 3.1 drives will be compatible for older games.
A lot of what the Xbox Series X is promising is beyond the capabilities of your television: 8K and variable refresh rates are definitely things you’ll be looking for the next time you want to buy a high-end set. So beyond “our graphics, they’ll be fancy,” Microsoft needs something else to lure new customers in.
Normally, that thing would be exclusive games. But Microsoft is already on record saying that the Xbox Series X won’t have exclusive games at launch.
Which leaves load times. Microsoft has a demo showing them to be radically faster than on the Xbox One X — though to me it’s more of an indictment of how games are designed to force you to wait through them. Anyway, it’s a boring demo because half of it is just watching a loading screen, but that’s kind of the point.
I’m also interested in the Quick Resume feature, which as I’ve mentioned before allows multiple games to be resumed instantly, even after a restart. I like to bounce between a few different games in a given week, and so this would be important to me. Here’s how it works:
Microsoft simply caches whatever is used in RAM by a game straight to the SSD, allowing the console to resume titles instantly. Microsoft isn’t saying exactly how many games will be able to Quick Resume in total, but a minimum of three will be supported. As each game has different RAM requirements, the actual number could vary depending on how much space the Quick Resume feature takes up.
Microsoft has assured Xbox fans that the Series X is, in fact, smaller than a fridge. I don’t trust the image, could be photoshopped. Gotta see it for myself in person. More importantly, I want to know how hot this thing runs in its box, how effectively airflow moves through it from the bottom up through the vent on the top, and how loud it all gets.
Basically, I hope that Microsoft has carefully thought through the thermals for all of this. The original “VCR” Xbox One X was a loud, hot, gigantic box. A big-ass fan may be able to move a lot of heat out the top, but I hope it doesn’t do so at the expense of noise.
This all sounds great, but it also sounds not all that differentiated from what Sony has promised for the PlayStation 5 — notably when it comes to load times. So as with a lot of consumer tech these days, the real answer to what you’ll get when you buy an Xbox isn’t going to be about the hardware, it’ll be about this: Microsoft’s ecosystem of services.
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More Microsoft news
┏ Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft board. End of an era.
┏ Microsoft to hold Office press event on March 30th. Don’t expect new hardware.
We’re expecting to hear more about Microsoft’s future Office 365 plans, including some new apps and services that are focused on productivity. This will likely involve consumer subscriptions for Microsoft 365, under a potential “Life” branding. Microsoft has been working on a “for life” version of Microsoft Teams, which includes features like sending locations, shared family calendars, and document sharing. Previous rumors have also suggested the subscription may include a password manager and Office.
┏ Microsoft hits its goal of 1 billion devices running Windows 10. This took way longer than I expected, another sign (if you needed one) that so much of the action is on phones. I do wonder what percentage of this number is Xbox consoles. Also Microsoft’s Insider program — essentially an ongoing beta testing program — is low-key one of Microsoft’s best assets.
This number includes PCs, laptops, Xbox One consoles, and HoloLens devices running Microsoft’s latest operating system. It means Microsoft has now hit its original goal of a billion devices running Windows 10, albeit two years later than it originally expected. Microsoft is also revealing that it now has 17.8 million Windows Insider testers.
Apple News
┏ Apple is reportedly making a 5.5-inch entry-level iPhone. Color me surprised Apple is making a Plus model of the rumored iPhone 9/SE2/whatever it’ll be called. There is a large market for big yet inexpensive phones, but I would have assumed that some version of the iPhone XR or 11 would fill that gap.
┏ Apple hit with record $1.2 billion fine by French antitrust authorities. That’s not a small fine!
French authorities say that Apple is guilty of a series of anti-competitive practices. First, Apple and two of its wholesalers agreed to not compete with each other. Second, it stopped its premium resellers from being able to lower their prices, meaning that pricing was identical across almost half of the Apple retail market. Finally, Apple is accused of unfairly treating its premium resellers, in some cases limiting their supply compared to its own stores. These practices are said to have applied to products like the iPad, while the iPhone was unaffected.
Product launches and near-launches
┏ Beats Powerbeats review: reliable wire. Good review from Chris Welch. Not gonna lie: this made me break out my old BeatsX neckbuds. Since I’m working from home, it’s awfully convenient to have headphones at the ready at all times — and since I’m at home nobody cares how silly I look with them dangling around my neck. Well, one person cares but she accepts me for the nerd that I am. Of course, they mysteriously stopped working, which is the fate of all BeatsX headphones.
┏ AMD announces Ryzen 9 4900H and 4900HS mobile chips. AMD going hard at Intel on laptops this year. These chips are gaming laptop-focused and we need to see if these results are really real, but this fight is one to keep an eye on.
┏ Motorola Edge’s curved display shown off in leaked images. Yeah, I don’t think the lack of a curved display is what people have been waiting on there, Motorola. It’s camera and build quality. Hopefully those are just as fancy and advanced as this screen.
┏ LG’s new V60 ThinQ 5G launches on March 20th for $799.99 on T-Mobile. Similar specs to the S20, but for less money. Can’t wait to see the camera.
┏ Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a chill, charming life sim that puts you in control. There’s been a half-jokey movement to ask Nintendo to release this game a week early now that so many people are on lockdown. Okay maybe quarter-jokey. Okay I am so serious Nintendo release this game now I cannot wait to be in hock to Tom Nook the evil capitalist mastermind of Animal Crossing who is actually maybe beneficent because he never seems to actually do anything about your loans.
Stuff to do when you’re sheltered in place
A few services are offering free or reduced access to their content. Movie studios are rushing to change their plans with regard to when you can stream their films. Here’s a small sample:
┏ There is hope for Westworld, but you’re going to have to stick it out. I hated season two. I sort of felt like I was hate-watching much of season one, if I’m perfectly honest. There’s just something self-congratulatory about shows that are complicated and mysterious for the sake of being complicated and mysterious that I find completely off-putting. I’m sure I’ll hate-watch season three anyway: this HBO subscription ain’t gonna justify itself.
┏ Universal will release films currently in theaters as $20 rentals starting Friday. Historically, every attempt to charge this much money for a rental has basically bombed. I think it’s because people just think that a rental should cost less than six bucks. But maybe this time, in today’s context, it could work.
┏ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is available to buy now, a few days earlier than expected. Wow they really rushed this out without really thinking through much because they were so worried about fan service. I’m referring to the purchase date moving up, of course. What did you think I was referring to?
Online services during the pandemic
I spent much of the weekend trying to untangle just what kind of website Verily was making (and getting attacked for it alongside other journalists) — we know now and it’s starting out as something relatively modest. Last night literally as I was writing this paragraph I had to pause to write the story that Google is delaying the launch of its informational website.


theverge--2020-03-17--New leak is the clearest look yet at the Motorola Edge Plus

Motorola ’ s unannounced flagship , the Edge Plus , has leaked again , this time in a series of alleged press renders from Evan Blass .
Given the amount of information that ’ s already spilled about the handset there ’ s not too much we can learn from the new images , but it confirms some previous details such as the 108-megapixel camera , curved hole-punch display , and 3.5mm headphone jack .
From the new renders , it seems that the new handset will be available in red and blue .
Internally , we ’ re expecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Snapdragon 865 processor , 8 or 12GB of RAM , and a 5,000mAh battery , based on a recent report from XDA-Developers .
Alongside the 108-megapixel sensor seen on the back of the phone , the handset is expected to have two more cameras , a 16-megapixel wide-angle camera and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera .
As well as the Edge Plus , Motorola is expected to announce a step-down model called the Edge , featuring less powerful hardware and a 64-megapixel main sensor .
Unfortunately there ’ s still no word on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phones , although each of the renders displays a date of April 3rd , which could give an indication of either an announcement or release date .
The speculation was that the company had planned to announce them back at MWC 2020 in February , before the trade show was cancelled over the novel coronavirus outbreak .
With the now-pandemic still causing problems around the world , it ’ s unclear when the coast might be clear for Motorola to make its big announcement .

Motorola’s unannounced flagship, the Edge Plus, has leaked again, this time in a series of alleged press renders from Evan Blass. Given the amount of information that’s already spilled about the handset there’s not too much we can learn from the new images, but it confirms some previous details such as the 108-megapixel camera, curved hole-punch display, and 3.5mm headphone jack. From the new renders, it seems that the new handset will be available in red and blue.
Internally, we’re expecting the Edge Plus to be powered by a Snapdragon 865 processor, 8 or 12GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery, based on a recent report from XDA-Developers. Alongside the 108-megapixel sensor seen on the back of the phone, the handset is expected to have two more cameras, a 16-megapixel wide-angle camera and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera. As well as the Edge Plus, Motorola is expected to announce a step-down model called the Edge, featuring less powerful hardware and a 64-megapixel main sensor.
The images show a handset with a 108-megapixel camera and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Image: Evan Blass
Related Motorola returns to flagship phones with the Edge Plus


theverge--2020-03-17--Facebook reveals overhauled Oculus Quest system UI

With the Game Developers Conference not taking place as planned , Facebook is instead making a series of Oculus-related announcements this week through what it ’ s calling the Game Developers Showcase .
The first big news , however , is mostly about Facebook ’ s own software : the Oculus Quest is getting a major UI overhaul that the company says represents “ a step toward VR becoming the next computing platform.
” Right now , the Quest ’ s main UI involves a somewhat confusingly arranged floating menu system that appears in a virtual living room whenever you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ menu looks to be stripped down and easier to navigate , and it can also be brought up right inside apps to access system functionality without returning to the home interface .
Oculus is also adding multi-window support for the Quest , beginning with the built-in web browser .
You ’ ll be able to open , close , and rearrange windows around you , like having three giant floating monitors — Oculus suggests , for example , watching a gameplay video in one , reading news on the next , and ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updates on the other .
Support for other apps like the store and Chats will come later .
“ The VR platform of the future must enable people to multitask easily , navigate between apps seamlessly , stay connected with others , and quite simply do more , ” Facebook says in a blog post .
“ From gaming to media and entertainment , from social experiences to getting work done , VR as the next computing platform will support the full spectrum of uses that people expect from their devices , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oculus Quest is primarily a self-contained games console right now , though , and Facebook is also highlighting its success in that regard .
More than 20 titles have brought in over $ 1 million in revenue just on the Quest alone , according to the company , and 90 percent of people who started using the headset over the holidays hadn ’ t owned an Oculus product before .
Facebook says it ’ s “ thrilled to keep welcoming new people to VR.
” The new software updates will start rolling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to switch them on yourself in the Experimental Features section of the settings menu to get them first .

With the Game Developers Conference not taking place as planned, Facebook is instead making a series of Oculus-related announcements this week through what it’s calling the Game Developers Showcase. The first big news, however, is mostly about Facebook’s own software: the Oculus Quest is getting a major UI overhaul that the company says represents “a step toward VR becoming the next computing platform.”
Right now, the Quest’s main UI involves a somewhat confusingly arranged floating menu system that appears in a virtual living room whenever you push the Oculus button. The new menu looks to be stripped down and easier to navigate, and it can also be brought up right inside apps to access system functionality without returning to the home interface.
Oculus is also adding multi-window support for the Quest, beginning with the built-in web browser. You’ll be able to open, close, and rearrange windows around you, like having three giant floating monitors — Oculus suggests, for example, watching a gameplay video in one, reading news on the next, and (of course) checking in on Facebook updates on the other. Support for other apps like the store and Chats will come later.
“The VR platform of the future must enable people to multitask easily, navigate between apps seamlessly, stay connected with others, and quite simply do more,” Facebook says in a blog post. “From gaming to media and entertainment, from social experiences to getting work done, VR as the next computing platform will support the full spectrum of uses that people expect from their devices, like phones and laptops, today.”
The Oculus Quest is primarily a self-contained games console right now, though, and Facebook is also highlighting its success in that regard. More than 20 titles have brought in over $1 million in revenue just on the Quest alone, according to the company, and 90 percent of people who started using the headset over the holidays hadn’t owned an Oculus product before. Facebook says it’s “thrilled to keep welcoming new people to VR.”


theverge--2020-03-16--Google is delaying the launch of its coronavirus information website to later this week

Google has made the call to slightly delay the launch of its informational coronavirus website to “ later this week.
” The site , which the search giant had not planned on making until last week , has been at the center of a swirl of contention between President Donald Trump , Google , and the press since the president first said a site where people could check symptoms , arrange a test , and get test results was coming from Google , but was actually referring to a much more limited site from Google sister company Verily .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company wants to take a little more time to fill out the features of this new informational site .
It ’ s also true that so much has happened in the past 24 hours that Google wanted to ensure that it had up-to-date information on things like recent calls to shelter-in-place .
Google wants to take a little more time to fill out the features of the site It still seems unlikely that Google ’ s site will live up to the comprehensive , national screening features that the White House has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that Jared Kushner overpromised what Google would deliver when he described the site to President Trump last week .
Google now claims that the site will “ surface authoritative information for people in the US , including on screening and testing.
” ( Emphasis ours . )
If and when Google ’ s site does link to a screening tool , it ’ s likely to link to something provided by the CDC .
As testing sites become available , Google says it will also include official information on their locations both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products — including Google Maps and , of course , Search .
Google provided this statement on the delay : Verily launched a pilot website late Sunday to counties in the Bay Area , and is working with authorities to scale this effort further .
With local and national guidance evolving rapidly , Google will continue working with relevant agencies and authorities to roll out a website later this week that will surface authoritative information for people in the U.S. , including on screening and testing .
Google says that its intention is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will start with US English , though Spanish will follow as will a more international rollout .
Google says its intention is to pull information from the WHO and the CDC .
It currently has a simple information card at the top of some coronavirus searches and has joined with other big tech companies in a promise to “ jointly combat ” misinformation .
Google ’ s sister company , Verily , launched a screening website that only served the Bay Area and which quickly had to stop offering new services as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .

Google has made the call to slightly delay the launch of its informational coronavirus website to “later this week.” The site, which the search giant had not planned on making until last week, has been at the center of a swirl of contention between President Donald Trump, Google, and the press since the president first said a site where people could check symptoms, arrange a test, and get test results was coming from Google, but was actually referring to a much more limited site from Google sister company Verily.
Now, a Google spokesperson tells The Verge the company wants to take a little more time to fill out the features of this new informational site. It’s also true that so much has happened in the past 24 hours that Google wanted to ensure that it had up-to-date information on things like recent calls to shelter-in-place.
Google wants to take a little more time to fill out the features of the site
It still seems unlikely that Google’s site will live up to the comprehensive, national screening features that the White House has promised. Earlier today, Vanity Fair reported that Jared Kushner overpromised what Google would deliver when he described the site to President Trump last week.
The new coronavirus is spreading through the US, and several states have made emergency declarations. The World Health Organization has declared it a pandemic. Here are the basics: Everything you need to know about the coronavirus
Google now claims that the site will “surface authoritative information for people in the US, including on screening and testing.” (Emphasis ours.)
If and when Google’s site does link to a screening tool, it’s likely to link to something provided by the CDC. As testing sites become available, Google says it will also include official information on their locations both on this website and on its other products — including Google Maps and, of course, Search.
Google provided this statement on the delay:
Verily launched a pilot website late Sunday to counties in the Bay Area, and is working with authorities to scale this effort further. With local and national guidance evolving rapidly, Google will continue working with relevant agencies and authorities to roll out a website later this week that will surface authoritative information for people in the U.S., including on screening and testing.
Google says that its intention is to make this informational site available nationally and will start with US English, though Spanish will follow as will a more international rollout. Google says its intention is to pull information from the WHO and the CDC. It currently has a simple information card at the top of some coronavirus searches and has joined with other big tech companies in a promise to “jointly combat” misinformation.


theverge--2020-03-16--Major tech platforms say they’re ‘jointly combating fraud and misinformation’ about COVID-19

A group of the biggest technology companies in the US say they have banded together in a commitment to fight coronavirus-related fraud and misinformation .
The group includes Facebook , Google , LinkedIn , Microsoft , Reddit , Twitter , and YouTube .
All seven companies sent out a joint statement Monday evening announcing the effort .
“ We are working closely together on COVID-19 response efforts , ” the joint statement reads .
“ We ’ re helping millions of people stay connected while also jointly combating fraud and misinformation about the virus , elevating authoritative content on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordination with government healthcare agencies around the world .
We invite other companies to join us as we work to keep our communities healthy and safe.
” It ’ s unclear what the joint effort will involve ; not all of the participating companies initially said what they ’ re committing to doing or how this might effect existing moderation policies .
But coronavirus-related misinformation has been running rampant on internet platforms since the outbreak began last December .
Tech companies have been proactive than usual in taking down hoaxes cracking down on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gouging and fake coronavirus cures , but the issue has proved unprecedented in its complexity and scope .
Last week , representatives from Silicon Valley companies met with the Trump administration to discuss measures they could take as an industry to combat coronavirus misinformation , according to the Washington Post .
Representatives from companies including Facebook , IBM , Microsoft , Twitter and Cisco spoke with the administration , but not all of these companies signed onto Monday night ’ s joint statement .
Twitter told The Verge that it will start providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health campaigns and warned that their elevated moderation efforts could result in some enforcement “ mistakes.
” Earlier today , the White House was forced to debunk a rumor circulating on social media that President Donald Trump was considering a national lockdown to halt the spread of COVID-19 .
Other fake rumors have included a shutdown of the NYC subway system and a fake list of medical tips purporting to be from Stanford University , among a wave of near-constant misinformation , hoaxes , and fake coronavirus cures spreading across Amazon , Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platforms .

A group of the biggest technology companies in the US say they have banded together in a commitment to fight coronavirus-related fraud and misinformation. The group includes Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube. All seven companies sent out a joint statement Monday evening announcing the effort.
“We are working closely together on COVID-19 response efforts,” the joint statement reads. “We’re helping millions of people stay connected while also jointly combating fraud and misinformation about the virus, elevating authoritative content on our platforms, and sharing critical updates in coordination with government healthcare agencies around the world. We invite other companies to join us as we work to keep our communities healthy and safe.”
It’s unclear what the joint effort will involve; not all of the participating companies initially said what they’re committing to doing or how this might effect existing moderation policies. But coronavirus-related misinformation has been running rampant on internet platforms since the outbreak began last December. Tech companies have been more proactive than usual in taking down hoaxes cracking down on fraud and other abuses, like price gouging and fake coronavirus cures, but the issue has proved unprecedented in its complexity and scope.
Last week, representatives from Silicon Valley companies met with the Trump administration to discuss measures they could take as an industry to combat coronavirus misinformation, according to the Washington Post. Representatives from companies including Facebook, IBM, Microsoft, Twitter and Cisco spoke with the administration, but not all of these companies signed onto Monday night’s joint statement.


theverge--2020-03-17--GitHub’s new mobile app is now available on iOS and Android

Microsoft-owned GitHub released its new mobile app today as a free download for iOS and Android .
The app for @ @ @ @ @ is primarily designed to help developers manage projects while away from their PC , letting @ @ @ @ @ feedback on issues , respond to comments , and review and merge pull requests .
@ @ @ @ @ an inbox that looks like many email inboxes , and you can swipe tasks to @ @ @ @ @ as complete : You can also react to comments with emoji , which could be @ @ @ @ @ moving if someone is relying on your feedback : The app also lets you view @ @ @ @ @ the below screenshot from the app ’ s App Store page , but you can @ @ @ @ @ code within the app : The app first launched in beta on iOS in November @ @ @ @ @ .
Microsoft announced it would acquire GitHub for $ 7.5 billion in June 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ October 2018 .

Microsoft-owned GitHub released its new mobile app today as a free download for iOS and Android. The app for the popular code repository service is primarily designed to help developers manage projects while away from their PC, letting them organize tasks, give feedback on issues, respond to comments, and review and merge pull requests.
GitHub notifications show up in an inbox that looks like many email inboxes, and you can swipe tasks to either save or mark them as complete:
Image: GitHub
You can also react to comments with emoji, which could be handy to keep a project moving if someone is relying on your feedback:
Image: GitHub
The app also lets you view code, as shown in the below screenshot from the app’s App Store page, but you can’t actually edit any code within the app:
Image: GitHub
The app first launched in beta on iOS in November and on Android in January.


theverge--2020-03-17--Google employees demand better treatment for contract workers amid coronavirus crisis

A group of Google employees has sent a memo to company leadership demanding stronger commitments to protect the more vulnerable members of Google ’ s workforce , primarily its contract workers , during the ongoing coronavirus crisis , according to a report from Business Insider .
The memo is written by both full-time employees and contract workers , otherwise known as “ TVC ” employees for temporary , vendor or contractor .
Google has a longstanding reputation for employing a massive number of contract workers it treats as second-class employees to cut costs and avoid having to foot the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , including access to certain transportation and dining options and other benefits like stock options , paid vacation time , and premium healthcare plans .
Google has long been accused of employing a ‘ shadow workforce ’ of contractors These workers aren ’ t just cafeteria employees , security guards , or those who drive the company ’ s many commuter shuttle buses .
The contractor workforce at Google includes programmers , graphic designers , human resource employees and all manner of other office workers , as well .
The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation last year as Google ’ s “ shadow workforce , ” which has grown in recent years to roughly the same size as the company 's full-time employee count .
The coronavirus pandemic is now making the division between full-time Google workers and contract ones even starker .
The memo circulating internally on Tuesday includes a list of demands .
The memo writers want firm work-from-home policies for all Google offices and a guarantee of paid time off in the event workers are forced to stay home due to self-quarantine measures or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or in the event their job involved a service that can not be offered due to office closures and other disruptions to Google ’ s operations .
The memo notes that some Google contractors , like those in the company ’ s Pittsburgh office employed by an independent company called HCL Technologies , have been forced to come into the office , even as full-time Google employees were first allowed and then instructed to stay home .
According to Business Insider , some HCL contractors wore black in a protest at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The participating workers , who are unionized through HCL , publicized the protest ahead of the memo ’ s circulation through their local chapter .
“ We know that leadership clearly values the health and safety of our workplaces and communities , ” the memo , which began circulating on Tuesday , reads .
“ But when it comes to our ‘ extended workforce , ’ Google and its contracting agencies are falling short.
” The memo goes on to say that “ entire offices full of TVCs have no [ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved , and they are asked to come into the office while this is pending .
In a statement to Business Insider , HCL said , “ Specific to our Pittsburgh-based employees , we have already communicated a work from home option in consultation with our client , Google .
We are enabling a remote working model to keep their health and safety as the priority in line with our other global efforts around the COVID-19 situation.
” Google also said it has approved HCL workers for remote work , but only did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re working closely with all our vendor partners to increase the ability for their employees to work from home by rolling out remote access as quickly as possible , ” a Google spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement .
“ HCL employees in Google Pittsburgh were approved for remote access today and no HCL employees will be required to come into the Pittsburgh office starting tomorrow .
”

A group of Google employees has sent a memo to company leadership demanding stronger commitments to protect the more vulnerable members of Google’s workforce, primarily its contract workers, during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, according to a report from Business Insider.
The memo is written by both full-time employees and contract workers, otherwise known as “TVC” employees for temporary, vendor or contractor. Google has a longstanding reputation for employing a massive number of contract workers it treats as second-class employees to cut costs and avoid having to foot the bill for the benefits it provides to full-time workers, including access to certain transportation and dining options and other benefits like stock options, paid vacation time, and premium healthcare plans.
Google has long been accused of employing a ‘shadow workforce’ of contractors
These workers aren’t just cafeteria employees, security guards, or those who drive the company’s many commuter shuttle buses. The contractor workforce at Google includes programmers, graphic designers, human resource employees and all manner of other office workers, as well. The New York Times referred to these people in an investigation last year as Google’s “shadow workforce,” which has grown in recent years to roughly the same size as the company's full-time employee count.
The coronavirus pandemic is now making the division between full-time Google workers and contract ones even starker. The memo circulating internally on Tuesday includes a list of demands. The memo writers want firm work-from-home policies for all Google offices and a guarantee of paid time off in the event workers are forced to stay home due to self-quarantine measures or shelter in place orders from local government, or in the event their job involved a service that cannot be offered due to office closures and other disruptions to Google’s operations.
The memo notes that some Google contractors, like those in the company’s Pittsburgh office employed by an independent company called HCL Technologies, have been forced to come into the office, even as full-time Google employees were first allowed and then instructed to stay home. According to Business Insider, some HCL contractors wore black in a protest at the Pittsburgh office’s cafeteria on Monday. The participating workers, who are unionized through HCL, publicized the protest ahead of the memo’s circulation through their local chapter.
“We know that leadership clearly values the health and safety of our workplaces and communities,” the memo, which began circulating on Tuesday, reads. “But when it comes to our ‘extended workforce,’ Google and its contracting agencies are falling short.” The memo goes on to say that “entire offices full of TVCs have no[t] yet had their remote access requests approved, and they are asked to come into the office while this is pending.
In a statement to Business Insider, HCL said, “Specific to our Pittsburgh-based employees, we have already communicated a work from home option in consultation with our client, Google. We are enabling a remote working model to keep their health and safety as the priority in line with our other global efforts around the COVID-19 situation.”


theverge--2020-03-17--Facebook is marking legitimate news articles about the coronavirus as spam because of a bug

Facebook appears to be marking some posts linking to information and articles about the coronavirus and COVID-19 as spam , as observed by one Verge reporter and many users on Twitter on Tuesday evening .
The issue is due to a “ bug in an anti-spam system , ” according to Guy Rosen , Facebook ’ s vice president of integrity .
Rosen says the company is fixing and bringing all of the posts back .
We 're on this - this is a bug in an anti-spam system , unrelated to any changes in our content moderator workforce .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bringing all these posts back .
More soon .
— Guy Rosen ( @ guyro ) March 17 , 2020 Here are a few examples of affected Facebook posts : .
@ Facebook -- Oh wow and then three in a row !
How is @ TomHanks being okay be SPAM ?
And again this is from @ Upworthy not exactly a new publication .
All I did was share it .
pic.twitter.com/SYhYknzJ9Z — Kristine Schachinger ( @ schachin ) March 17 , 2020 Something is going on on Facebook .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past couple hours saying their posts about coronavirus were marked as “ spam ” .
And one of them is an epidemiologist .
Then my link to the Canadian gov ’ s website about EI was removed too .
# COVID19 pic.twitter.com/tFAUqLzHus — Aylan ( AY like Day - LAN like LandBack ) Couchie ( @ AylanX ) March 17 , 2020 The company previously announced that it would remove false claims and conspiracy theories about coronavirus in January .
Facebook also joined Google , LinkedIn , Microsoft , Reddit , Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement yesterday committing to fighting coronavirus-related fraud and misinformation .
A new report published by Ranking Digital Rights argued on Tuesday that Facebook ’ s current approach to moderation may not be able to address the issue of coronavirus-related misinformation on its platform .

Facebook started marking some posts linking to information and articles about the coronavirus and COVID-19 as spam, as observed by one Verge reporter and many users on Twitter on Tuesday evening.
The issue was due to a “bug in an anti-spam system,” according to Guy Rosen, Facebook’s vice president of integrity. Rosen said the company began working on a fix as soon as discovering the issue.
Here are a few examples of affected Facebook posts:
Following publication of The Verge’s report, Rosen said Facebook had resolved the issue and restored the affected posts. “We’ve restored all the posts that were incorrectly removed, which included posts on all topics — not just those related to COVID-19,” Rosen explained. According to Facebook, the issue was with an automated moderation tool and was not related to any changes to its moderator workforce.
The company previously announced that it would remove false claims and conspiracy theories about coronavirus in January. Facebook also joined Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube in publishing a joint statement yesterday committing to fighting coronavirus-related fraud and misinformation.
A new report published by Ranking Digital Rights argued on Tuesday that Facebook’s current approach to moderation may not be able to address the issue of coronavirus-related misinformation on its platform.
Update March 17th, 8:07PM ET: Added context from Facebook.


theverge--2020-03-17--Medical company threatens to sue volunteers that 3D-printed valves for life-saving coronavirus treat

Medical company threatens to sue volunteers that 3D-printed valves for life-saving coronavirus treatments

A medical device manufacturer has threatened to sue a group of volunteers in Italy that 3D printed a valve used for life-saving coronavirus treatments .
The valve typically costs about $ 11,000 from the medical device manufacturer , but the volunteers were able to print replicas for about $ 1 ( via Techdirt ) .
A hospital in Italy was in need of the valves after running out while treating patients for COVID-19 .
The hospital ’ s usual supplier said they could not make the valves in time to treat the patients , according to Metro .
That launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ print a replica part , and Cristian Fracassi and Alessandro Ramaioli , who work at Italian startup Isinnova , offered their company ’ s printer for the job , reports Business Insider .
However , when the pair asked the manufacturer of the valves for blueprints they could use to print replicas , the company declined and threatened to sue for patent infringement , according to Business Insider Italia .
Fracassi and Ramaioli moved ahead anyway by measuring the valves and 3D printing three different versions of them .
So far , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients as of March 14th , according to Massimo Temporelli , the founder of Italian manufacturing solutions company FabLab who helped recruit Fracassi and Ramaioli to print the replica valves .
“ [ The patients ] were people in danger of life , and we acted .
Period , ” said Fracassi in a Facebook post .
He also said that “ we have no intention of profit on this situation , we are not going to use the designs or product beyond the strict need for us forced to act , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Here ’ s a good look at the valves , shared by Italy ’ s Minister of Technological Innovation Paola Pisano on Twitter .
Italy has more than 31,500 confirmed infections of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , and more than 2,500 confirmed deaths .
Both figures trail only China .

Update, March 18th 5:30PM ET: A group of Italian volunteers distributed 3D-printed versions of a vital medical device — but it doesn’t appear that the original manufacturer threatened a legal crackdown. As we reported earlier, Cristian Fracassi and Alessandro Romaioli used their 3D printer to create unofficial copies of a patented valve, which was in short supply at Italian hospitals. Business Insider Italia quoted Massimo Temporelli, the Italian professor who recruited the pair, saying that the device maker threatened them with an infringement claim.
But in an interview with The Verge, Romaioli denied they’d received threats. He said the company had simply refused to release design files, forcing them to reverse-engineer the valve. “I talked to an operator who told me he couldn’t give me the files, but after that we didn’t receive anything from the original company — so I can assure you we didn’t get any threat,” he said. “They said they couldn’t give us the file because it’s company property, but that’s all.” While earlier reporting said the original valve cost over $10,000, Fracassi also told Fast Company that this number was inaccurate.
Temporelli gave The Verge a more ambiguous account of the call, which he says he wasn’t directly involved in. “The group we asked for the files refused and said it was illegal” to copy the valves, he said. He stopped short of calling the statement a threat. “Let’s say the risk to be sued exists since they bypassed a patent, but that’s it.”
Manufacturing company Intersurgical says it had no intention of making a threat. Managing director Charles Bellm issued a statement to The Verge:
Just to confirm that recent reports from Italy are totally incorrect, we were contacted at the end of last week for manufacturing details of a valve accessory but could not supply these due to medical manufacturing regulations, we have categorically not threatened to sue anyone involved. The valve is an accessory supplied as part of a CPAP Hood system which alone costs a few euros. Our Italian company has been doing their utmost to supply the hospitals at this time and have been supplying these free of charge in many cases to use with the CPAP Hoods. It is very disappointing that in the current climate this incorrect information is circulating, our focus as a company is to be able to supply the hospitals that require these and many other vital products and we are making every effort to ensure we can do so.
Romaioli and Temporelli have emphasized that both devices serve a purpose: the official product is the better long-term solution, but for now, hospitals can use this printed alternative to fulfill a sudden, drastic demand.
The original article follows below.
A medical device manufacturer has threatened to sue a group of volunteers in Italy that 3D printed a valve used for life-saving coronavirus treatments. The valve typically costs about $11,000 from the medical device manufacturer, but the volunteers were able to print replicas for about $1 (via Techdirt).
A hospital in Italy was in need of the valves after running out while treating patients for COVID-19. The hospital’s usual supplier said they could not make the valves in time to treat the patients, according to Metro. That launched a search for a way to 3D print a replica part, and Cristian Fracassi and Alessandro Romaioli, who work at Italian startup Isinnova, offered their company’s printer for the job, reports Business Insider.
However, when the pair asked the manufacturer of the valves for blueprints they could use to print replicas, the company declined and threatened to sue for patent infringement, according to Business Insider Italia. Fracassi and Romaioli moved ahead anyway by measuring the valves and 3D printing three different versions of them.
The new coronavirus is spreading through the US, and several states have made emergency declarations. The World Health Organization has declared it a pandemic. Here are the basics: Everything you need to know about the coronavirus
So far, the valves they made have worked on 10 patients as of March 14th, according to Massimo Temporelli, the founder of Italian manufacturing solutions company FabLab who helped recruit Fracassi and Romaioli to print the replica valves.
“[The patients] were people in danger of life, and we acted. Period,” said Fracassi in a Facebook post. He also said that “we have no intention of profit on this situation, we are not going to use the designs or product beyond the strict need for us forced to act, we are not going to spread the drawing.”
Here’s a good look at the valves, shared by Italy’s Minister of Technological Innovation Paola Pisano on Twitter.


theverge--2020-03-17--Fox buys Tubi for $440 million as it attempts to join the streaming wars

Fox Corporation has acquired ad-supported streaming platform Tubi for $ 440 million , bringing more than 20,000 movies and shows to the platform .
Tubi , which partners with top-tier studios and networks to provide people with thousands of films and TV shows , currently has 25 million users .
Fox Corporation , which is separate from 21st Century Fox ( the part of the company Disney acquired in 2019 for $ 73 billion ) , doesn ’ t have its own popular streaming platform .
“ Tubi will immediately expand our direct-to-consumer audience and capabilities and will provide our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audiences at scale , ” Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said in a press release .
“ Importantly , coupled with the combined power of FOX ’ s existing networks , Tubi provides a substantial base from which we will drive long-term growth in the direct-to-consumer arena.
” “ Tubi will immediately expand our direct-to-consumer audience and capabilities.
” Cable customers can stream some forms of entertainment on Fox ’ s website , but in terms of a platform that can compete with other free , ad-supported streamers including Pluto TV ( owned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Crackle ( Sony ) , Tubi is now it .
An interesting tidbit within the acquisition : Fox primarily used the sale of its stake in Roku , another massive company within the world of free ad-supported streaming , to purchase Tubi .
Fox plans to continue running Tubi as an independent service , according to the press release , meaning it won ’ t come with a new Fox name .
Still , Fox will use Tubi to offer a large number of its older TV shows and movies for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also looking to expand the type of content that Tubi can provide to subscribers through national and local news , alongside sports programming .
Tubi is not going to suddenly get into the originals business .
Essentially , don ’ t think of it as a competitor to Disney Plus , Netflix , Apple TV Plus , or Hulu .
It ’ s a good market to be in .
The ad-supported video streaming market saw a 38 percent growth in revenue between 2018 and now , and that number is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investors last month that Pluto TV touts more than 22 million monthly users — a growth of 75 percent year over year .
As ViacomCBS grows its streaming footprint ( the company also offers CBS All Access and Showtime to customers ) , having a free , ad-supported service like Pluto TV helps .
Bakish also expects that number to hit 30 million by December 2020 .
Similarly , Xumo has 5.5 million active monthly users , and Comcast sees it as a good asset to have in the streaming wars .

Fox Corporation has acquired ad-supported streaming platform Tubi for $440 million, bringing more than 20,000 movies and shows to the platform.
Tubi, which partners with top-tier studios and networks to provide people with thousands of films and TV shows, currently has 25 million users. Fox Corporation, which is separate from 21st Century Fox (the part of the company Disney acquired in 2019 for $73 billion), doesn’t have its own popular streaming platform.
“Tubi will immediately expand our direct-to-consumer audience and capabilities and will provide our advertising partners with more opportunities to reach audiences at scale,” Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said in a press release. “Importantly, coupled with the combined power of FOX’s existing networks, Tubi provides a substantial base from which we will drive long-term growth in the direct-to-consumer arena.”
“Tubi will immediately expand our direct-to-consumer audience and capabilities.”
Cable customers can stream some forms of entertainment on Fox’s website, but in terms of a platform that can compete with other free, ad-supported streamers including Pluto TV (owned by ViacomCBS), Xumu (Comcast), and Crackle (Sony), Tubi is now it. An interesting tidbit within the acquisition: Fox primarily used the sale of its stake in Roku, another massive company within the world of free ad-supported streaming, to purchase Tubi.
Fox plans to continue running Tubi as an independent service, according to the press release, meaning it won’t come with a new Fox name. Still, Fox will use Tubi to offer a large number of its older TV shows and movies for free to subscribers. The company is also looking to expand the type of content that Tubi can provide to subscribers through national and local news, alongside sports programming. Tubi is not going to suddenly get into the originals business. Essentially, don’t think of it as a competitor to Disney Plus, Netflix, Apple TV Plus, or Hulu.


theverge--2020-03-17--Why we’re seeing some severe COVID-19 cases among younger people

COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , has been much deadlier in older people — but more anecdotes are popping up of young , healthy people getting critically ill and even dying of the disease .
What do these cases tell us about the disease ?
Two 29-year-old health care workers became seriously ill in Wuhan — only one survived , a report in The New York Times detailed .
Other stories about people under 50 coming down with serious symptoms are making the rounds on social media , along with questions about whether seemingly healthy young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What do these cases tell us about the disease ?
There are reasons for people in every age group to be cautious , health experts say , but not because our understanding of who is most vulnerable to the virus is changing .
Just because older people are more likely to develop a severe case or die from the disease , it doesn ’ t mean some young people won ’ t .
That smaller number of severe cases among young people still doesn ’ t disprove the data that shows that seniors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will likely see more young people get really sick over the next several weeks simply because the pandemic is still growing .
Days can pass before someone starts feeling the symptoms of COVID-19 .
So experts anticipate a jump in the number of cases in the US as those who have been in incubation periods start feeling ill and more people get tested for the virus .
“ I think it ’ s almost a math problem in some ways , right ?
” says Benjamin Singer , an assistant professor of medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University Feinberg School of Medicine .
“ Even with a lower likelihood of younger people getting critically ill , a certain percentage will get critically ill , and since the denominator is growing and growing these cases are popping up more and more.
” Underlying health conditions can also make younger people susceptible to a severe case of the virus .
“ Where you find severe cases or even death in young people , we don ’ t really have full information on these patients , ” says Lee Riley , chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of California , Berkeley .
It ’ s possible that some of those people might have had medical conditions that we just didn ’ t know about .
Chronic conditions that can affect young people , like diabetes , can make it more difficult for someone to recover from the disease .
“ We can ’ t do this without the young people cooperating.
” Even younger people who feel perfectly healthy need to take the pandemic seriously because they can spread the virus even if they ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said .
“ Don ’ t get the attitude , ‘ Well , I ’ m young , I ’ m invulnerable.
’ ” Fauci said at a press briefing today .
“ You don ’ t want to put your loved ones at risk , particularly the ones who are elderly and the ones who have compromised conditions .
We can ’ t do this without the young people cooperating .
Please cooperate with us .
”

COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has been much deadlier in older people, but more anecdotes are popping up of young, healthy people getting critically ill. Among the first reported cases in the US, around 40 percent of the patients that required hospitalization were between the ages of 20 and 54, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Meanwhile, tragic stories of young people getting gravely sick and dying are starting surface. Two 29-year-old health care workers became seriously ill in Wuhan — only one survived, a report in The New York Times detailed. Other stories about people under 50 coming down with serious symptoms are making the rounds on social media, along with questions about whether seemingly healthy young people ought to be more concerned. What do these cases tell us about the disease?
There are reasons for people in every age group to be cautious, health experts say, but not because our understanding of who is most vulnerable to the virus is changing. Just because older people are more likely to develop a severe case or die from the disease, it doesn’t mean some young people won’t. That smaller number of severe cases among young people still doesn’t disprove the data that shows that seniors are the most vulnerable.
The CDC data highlights that the young are not immune to getting seriously ill, with 38 percent of hospitalized patients between the ages of 20 and 54. However, the data may not be entirely representative of what’s happening in the United States. The CDC report analyzed the first 2,500 reported cases in the US, and the first wave of cases is likely going to be the most severe since testing has been extremely limited in the country for some time. Patients who had the most prominent symptoms are the ones who got tested first, so it’s possible people with lesser symptoms went unnoticed. Still, the data confirmed what we’ve learned from other countries: the risk of dying from COVID-19 increases drastically with age, with 80 percent of deaths in persons over 65 years old.
The US will likely see more young people get really sick over the next several weeks simply because the pandemic is still growing. Days can pass before someone starts feeling the symptoms of COVID-19. So experts anticipate a jump in the number of cases in the US as those who have been in incubation periods start feeling ill and more people get tested for the virus.
“I think it’s almost a math problem in some ways, right?” says Benjamin Singer, an assistant professor of medicine in pulmonary and critical care at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Even with a lower likelihood of younger people getting critically ill, a certain percentage will get critically ill, and since the denominator is growing and growing these cases are popping up more and more.”
Underlying health conditions can also make younger people susceptible to a severe case of the virus. “Where you find severe cases or even death in young people, we don’t really have full information on these patients,” says Lee Riley, chair of the division of infectious disease and vaccinology at the University of California, Berkeley. It’s possible that some of those people might have had medical conditions that we just didn’t know about. Chronic conditions that can affect young people, like diabetes, can make it more difficult for someone to recover from the disease.
“We can’t do this without the young people cooperating.”
Even younger people who feel perfectly healthy need to take the pandemic seriously because they can spread the virus even if they’re not feeling any symptoms, Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said. “Don’t get the attitude, ‘Well, I’m young, I’m invulnerable,’” Fauci said at a press briefing on the 17th. “You don’t want to put your loved ones at risk, particularly the ones who are elderly and the ones who have compromised conditions. We can’t do this without the young people cooperating. Please cooperate with us.”