theverge--2020-03-23--Coronavirus is changing my relationship with the internet, and I bet it’s changing yours, too

It ’ s the second week of our collective , voluntary quarantine and everything is online now .
The spread of coronavirus has upended the rest of society in drastic ways : many high school and college classes are entirely virtual , for example .
Prisoners across the country are being released early , and in New York , where I live , mortgage payments are being paused ( though there ’ s not yet widespread rent relief ) and evictions have been suspended .
On a personal level , I ’ ve found the changes to my own life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t leave the house anymore , not really , and because of that I spend a lot more time online .
Most every other white collar worker I know is in the middle of their own internet realignment ; their jobs , which previously weren ’ t remote , have now moved to a semi-permanent work-from-home state .
I ’ m spending more time online because that ’ s how I socialize now .
That ’ s where my friends are .
My social life hasn ’ t dwindled so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hangs at bars are now Zoom-hosted happy hours ; podcast recording sessions are now Discord calls ; going over to a friend ’ s house is now joining a Playstation party ; any IRL party I ’ d host is now my daily Twitch stream .
Life looks a lot different now than it did two weeks ago .
( And obviously it ’ s for the best .
Got ta flatten that curve . )
Now that my screentime is up 1,000 percent , I ’ m starting to see more of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise wouldn ’ t : they ’ re streaming activities on Twitch and going live on Instagram at rates that , prior to this pandemic , I would have found a bit concerning .
People are beginning to use internet platforms in exactly the manner they were designed to be used , and those platforms are taking up more space in everyone ’ s media diets .
What remains to be seen is whether this change in people ’ s internet consumption habits becomes the new normal .
Because , really , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a glimpse of the old future that was imagined for the internet — the promise of frictionless , instant connection across all borders .
I guess , all things considered , it ’ s not that weird that it took a global quarantine to make that happen .
It ’ s hard to make the case for exclusively virtual socialization if there ’ s the option to meet in person .
But there is a heft to online relationships : they can carry just as much feeling as IRL ones .
I mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touch with you lately just to check in ?
And how many people have you reached out to who you might otherwise have left a double-tapped heart ?
I ’ m weirdly grateful that so many social platforms exist ; I ’ m doing more reaching out myself .
While we ’ re required to be alone , we can still be together .
I guess that was always the promise of the internet .

It’s the second week of our collective, voluntary quarantine and everything is online now. The spread of coronavirus has upended the rest of society in drastic ways: many high school and college classes are entirely virtual, for example. Prisoners across the country are being released early, and in New York, where I live, mortgage payments are being paused (though there’s not yet widespread rent relief) and evictions have been suspended.
On a personal level, I’ve found the changes to my own life to be no less dramatic — I don’t leave the house anymore, not really, and because of that I spend a lot more time online. Most every other white collar worker I know is in the middle of their own internet realignment; their jobs, which previously weren’t remote, have now moved to a semi-permanent work-from-home state.
I’m spending more time online because that’s how I socialize now. That’s where my friends are. My social life hasn’t dwindled so much as it’s just changed. Hangs at bars are now Zoom-hosted happy hours; podcast recording sessions are now Discord calls; going over to a friend’s house is now joining a Playstation party; any IRL party I’d host is now my daily Twitch stream. Life looks a lot different now than it did two weeks ago. (And obviously it’s for the best. Gotta flatten that curve.)
Now that my screentime is up 1,000 percent, I’m starting to see more of my friends do things online that they otherwise wouldn’t: they’re streaming activities on Twitch and going live on Instagram at rates that, prior to this pandemic, I would have found a bit concerning. People are beginning to use internet platforms in exactly the manner they were designed to be used, and those platforms are taking up more space in everyone’s media diets. What remains to be seen is whether this change in people’s internet consumption habits becomes the new normal.
Because, really, what all this feels like to me is a glimpse of the old future that was imagined for the internet — the promise of frictionless, instant connection across all borders. I guess, all things considered, it’s not that weird that it took a global quarantine to make that happen. It’s hard to make the case for exclusively virtual socialization if there’s the option to meet in person.


theverge--2020-03-23--Newly approved novel coronavirus test gives results in 45 minutes

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first rapid test for the novel coronavirus over the weekend .
The test , made by the biotechnology company Cepheid , returns results in around 45 minutes and does not need to be processed in a lab .
But the test should primarily be used in emergency rooms and hospitals , not in doctors ’ offices , David Persing , chief medical officer of Cepheid , told Stat News .
In a hospital , it could help streamline care for sick people — knowing someone has or does not have COVID-19 quickly will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is needed to treat them , for example .
“ This is not a test for the worried well , ” Persing said .
Machines that run the new Cepheid tests are already in some health care facilities in the US .
Like the tests already in use at public health labs and hospitals , this new test looks for bits of the virus in patient samples .
The company says it will start shipping tests this week .
After a long , costly delay , the US is finally testing tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus .
Those tests , though , require that doctors swab a patient ’ s nose or throat and send that sample off to a lab with specialized equipment and technicians .
At the fastest , turnaround time can take a few hours ; in the US today , it ’ s taking days to receive test results .
Tests that can be run outside of a lab and can give doctors answers quickly are critical in the fight against a fast-spreading pandemic virus like the novel coronavirus .
Engineers have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not as widespread or well-established as the slow methods labs are relying on to test people who suspect they have COVID-19 .
For example , there are only around 5,000 Cepheid systems in use in the US — the systems that run the standard , slower tests are much more ubiquitous .
Testing in the US needs to expand even more than it has been , and be done more quickly , in order to bring the pandemic under control .
Systems like Cepheid ’ s that bring tests out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re limited , are an important step toward that goal .

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first rapid test for the novel coronavirus over the weekend. The test, made by the biotechnology company Cepheid, returns results in around 45 minutes and does not need to be processed in a lab.
But the test should primarily be used in emergency rooms and hospitals, not in doctors’ offices, David Persing, chief medical officer of Cepheid, told Stat News. In a hospital, it could help streamline care for sick people — knowing someone has or does not have COVID-19 quickly will let doctors decide how much protective equipment is needed to treat them, for example. “This is not a test for the worried well,” Persing said.
Machines that run the new Cepheid tests are already in some health care facilities in the US. Like the tests already in use at public health labs and hospitals, this new test looks for bits of the virus in patient samples. The company says it will start shipping tests this week.
After a long, costly delay, the US is finally testing tens of thousands of people a week for the novel coronavirus. Those tests, though, require that doctors swab a patient’s nose or throat and send that sample off to a lab with specialized equipment and technicians. At the fastest, turnaround time can take a few hours; in the US today, it’s taking days to receive test results.
Tests that can be run outside of a lab and can give doctors answers quickly are critical in the fight against a fast-spreading pandemic virus like the novel coronavirus. Engineers have the technology for rapid testing, but it’s not as widespread or well-established as the slow methods labs are relying on to test people who suspect they have COVID-19. For example, there are only around 5,000 Cepheid systems in use in the US — the systems that run the standard, slower tests are much more ubiquitous.


theverge--2020-03-24--Instagram will let you browse posts with friends over video chat to promote social distancing

Instagram is ramping up its efforts to combat coronavirus-related misinformation on its platform while also giving people tools to promote healthy behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic .
These new measures are in addition to the company ’ s existing misinformation policy , which Instagram has been actively enforcing alongside parent company Facebook over the course of the virus ’ s worldwide spread over the last two months .
Part of this new effort includes a new feature Instagram is calling Co-Watching that will let you browse posts with your friends over in-app video chat .
The feature can be accessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instagram Direct messaging tab and tapping the photo icon in the bottom left of the video chat screen .
It lets you look at saved , like , and recommended posts together as a group .
The new misinformation measures include a new educational alert at the top of search results for connecting users with World Health Organization ( WHO ) resources ; stickers promoting accurate and verifiable information from health authorities ( like a “ Stay Home ” sticker to promote social distancing ) ; more aggressive removal and moderation of coronavirus-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downranking of content in both the Instagram feed and in Stories that doesn ’ t meet the bar of third-party fact-checkers .
“ If posts are rated false by third-party-fact checkers , we remove them from Explore and hashtag pages , ” an Instagram spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge .
“ We also remove false claims or conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organizations and local health authorities as having the potential to cause harm to people who believe them.
” Prior to this new set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking action against coronavirus-related misinformation in the form of banning misleading ads for products claiming to offer cures or prevent people from contracting COVID-19 as well as temporary bans on ads and branded content promoting medical supplies like face masks and hand sanitizer .
Earlier this month , Instagram removed the ability the search for COVID-19-themed augmented reality effects unless they were created in partnership with a “ recognized health organization , ” such as the WHO .

Instagram is ramping up its efforts to combat coronavirus-related misinformation on its platform while also giving people tools to promote healthy behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. These new measures are in addition to the company’s existing misinformation policy, which Instagram has been actively enforcing alongside parent company Facebook over the course of the virus’s worldwide spread over the last two months.
Part of this new effort includes a new feature Instagram is calling Co-Watching, which will let you browse posts with your friends over in-app video chat. The feature can be accessed by starting a video chat through the Instagram Direct messaging tab and tapping the photo icon in the bottom left of the video chat screen. It lets you look at saved, liked, and recommended posts together as a group.
Image: Instagram
The new misinformation measures include a new educational alert at the top of search results for connecting users with World Health Organization (WHO) resources; stickers promoting accurate and verifiable information from health authorities (like a “Stay Home” sticker to promote social distancing); more aggressive removal and moderation of coronavirus-related content from the Explore tab; and downranking of content in both the Instagram feed and in Stories that doesn’t meet the bar of third-party fact-checkers.
Image: Instagram
“If posts are rated false by third-party-fact checkers, we remove them from Explore and hashtag pages,” an Instagram spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge. “We also remove false claims or conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organizations and local health authorities as having the potential to cause harm to people who believe them.”


theverge--2020-03-24--Apple iPad Pro review 2020: small spec bump, big camera bump

Apple ’ s tagline for the new 2020 iPad Pro models is “ Your next computer is not a computer.
” It ’ s a cheeky way of addressing the tension that ’ s at the heart of most iPad Pro purchases : they cost as much or more than many laptops but may not be able to replace your laptop .
The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $ 799 and the 12.9-inch model starts at $ 999 , but in both cases , a more realistic cost is at least a couple hundred dollars more : you should factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the anemic 128GB of base storage and the price of a keyboard case .
iPad Pro buyers will quickly spend as much or more than the cost of a good MacBook Air or even a MacBook Pro — hence the tension .
Unfortunately , you can ’ t spend the extra $ 299 or $ 349 for the new Magic Keyboard case that Apple announced alongside these new iPads — they won ’ t arrive until May .
Brydge is selling a more traditional clamshell attachment for $ 199 or $ 229 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until next week .
The internet has been arguing whether the iPad can replace your laptop for years now .
And over those years , Apple has slowly filled in the software gaps , but not all of them .
I ’ ll just lay my cards out and say that , yes , the iPad Pro is a computer .
It ’ s just one that works differently than you ’ re used to and sometimes stymies your efforts to achieve certain tasks .
If you were hoping these new iPads would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I think a more interesting question is what “ pro ” means in the iPad context .
The real tension isn ’ t between the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air , but between the iPad Pro and other iPads .
The 2020 iteration of the iPad Pro is essentially a minor spec bump over the 2018 models .
There are really only three things that are new here : the processor , the camera array , and the microphones .
Oh , there ’ s also the trackpad support you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s going to be available to any iPad that supports the latest version of iPadOS .
Apple ’ s Magic Keyboard accessory also isn ’ t available to test yet , either .
That ’ s one reason I think the real tension is with other iPads .
Trackpad support might be the most important feature to come to the iPad this year — I say that not even knowing what Apple has planned at its digital-only Worldwide Developers Conference .
But since it ’ s coming to all iPads , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this iPad Pro .
Maybe the Magic Keyboard will change that calculus , but there will likely be plenty of trackpad options for less expensive iPads .
Apple has already partnered with Logitech on a trackpad case for the various 10.5-inch iPad models out there , for example .
All the things you expect from an iPad are here Anyway , the bright side of the iPad Pro changing so little from the previous generation is that there is a lot of stuff you don ’ t have to worry about .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and color accurate .
The hardware quality is still top-notch , but outside of a case I still feel that there ’ s something a little antiseptic about it .
Battery life is all-day for me — though now that I ’ m using it full time for work , the eight to ten hours I can pull out of a charge really only does manage a single day for me instead of not worrying about it for several .
There ’ s still just the one USB-C port awkwardly placed on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locked down than it was before iPadOS .
And I ’ m still going to point out the lack of a headphone jack because it is more of a pain here than on phones .
I use regular headphones on my laptop all the time because of their reliability : no lag , no awkwardly messing with Bluetooth settings at the start of a Zoom call while your colleagues patiently wait .
Let ’ s go through the new stuff , starting with the processor .
Strangely enough , Apple isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ll find on an iPhone 11 Pro .
Instead , this is the A12Z Bionic , a step up from the A12X Bionic found in 2018 ’ s iPad Pro .
The “ Z ” doesn ’ t stand for anything ( Apple says it ’ s just “ more than X , ” ) but what it means is that the GPU has been beefed up this year to 8 cores .
Apple says that should help with games that run at 120Hz , 4K rendering in video editing apps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am sure that ’ s all true , but I ’ m not so sure the majority of iPad Pro owners will ever notice a speed difference .
This iPad feels very , very fast but so does my 2018 iPad Pro .
There ’ s potentially an argument to be made about processor headroom and future-proofing here , but not an especially strong one .
For the sake of completeness , I ’ ll note that on a Geekbench 5 Pro GPU compute test , the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro scored a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9138 ( the CPU tests were about the same ) .
What does that difference of 800 mean to you ?
Probably nothing .
To me , the key thing is that unless you know exactly what pain point this processor is addressing for you , you shouldn ’ t upgrade just for it .
The biggest change is the new camera system .
You can ’ t miss it .
The camera bump on the back of the iPad Pro is a big old square now , with two regular camera sensors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll come back to that LIDAR sensor in a minute .
Apple has put in a 12-megapixel main wide sensor with an f/1.8 aperture , which takes good photos but isn ’ t able to match the low-light performance of the iPhone 11 Pro .
New this year is a 10-megapixel ultrawide sensor at f/2.4 with a 125-degree field of view .
As with all ultrawide sensors , the point is more the fun it provides than the extra crispy image quality .
I am on team “ it ’ s okay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPad , ” but context matters .
I think that it makes more sense as something you might use in a studio for specific uses rather than out in the field ( or , and I can ’ t emphasize strongly enough that you should never do this , at a concert ) .
The “ studio ” context also applies to the microphones , which Apple also dubs “ studio ” quality .
They ’ re quite good , but maybe not quite good enough to use for a professional podcast .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 24 , 30 , or 60fps and combined with those microphones I think the intention is to give filmmakers an interesting set of options for all-in-one shooting and editing .
The cameras are all pretty good , but the camera placement for video conferencing is not I say I think because while I ’ m all for taking photos with a tablet in the right situations , for myself I would rather use a phone .
If Apple sold a version of this iPad Pro with a mediocre camera on the back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d buy that version in a heartbeat — especially if it cost a little less .
The more important camera to me is the selfie camera because I use the iPad Pro as a work computer and it ’ s the camera pointing at my face for video calls .
It can take 7-megapixel photos and shoot 1080p video .
It ’ s miles better than the camera on any MacBook in terms of quality and miles worse than any MacBook in terms of placement .
I don ’ t know why Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FaceID sensors and selfie camera on the “ top ” of the iPad Pro when it ’ s held in portrait .
Maybe it ’ s the last vestige of Apple ’ s desire to keep the iPad Pro a “ tablet-first ” experience , but I and everybody I know primarily uses the iPad in landscape mode in a keyboard case .
That means the camera is off to the side so your eyes are always looking away from it .
Apple added some augmented reality effects to fix your gaze in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help with work conference calls .
As long as I ’ m on the rant , the other problem with using the iPad Pro for conference calls is that in iPadOS , Apple doesn ’ t allow apps to use the camera unless they ’ re active in the foreground .
That ’ s nice from a peace-of-mind perspective but absolutely terrible for video conferencing .
The truth is that people need to open other apps when they ’ re on a call , and merely pulling out a Slide Over window to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the iPad ’ s camera off during a Zoom call .
The net result is your camera is constantly toggling off and on again .
The iPad Pro is the perfect machine for making your coworkers think you ’ re ignoring them .
If there ’ s one standout hardware feature on the 2020 iPad Pro , it ’ s the LIDAR sensor .
It uses lasers to near-instantly detect depth and create a spatial map of a room .
And anytime a tech product utilizes lasers , the company that makes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up because lasers still seem futuristic .
So Apple says it “ operates at the photon level and at nanosecond speeds.
” Yes , that is how light works .
Anyway , the reason for including LIDAR is for radically faster and more accurate augmented reality .
And it really works — but it ’ s only the foundation for great AR experiences , not a guarantee they ’ ll come .
It improves some current apps for free , but there aren ’ t any third-party apps that take full advantage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where I need to disclose that my wife works for Oculus , which makes virtual reality products . )
The main benefit AR apps will get right away is that LIDAR is able to nearly instantaneously map the surfaces in a room .
Instead of having to wave your iPad around until the cameras can recognize objects , the LIDAR just measures them directly .
That spatial map is also more accurate — so the Measure app , for example , can show a ruler when you get in close to a line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate benefit you get is with something called “ occlusion.
” That ’ s when something gets in between your iPad and the virtual object you ’ ve set on the floor or table or whatever .
If somebody walks in between you and the virtual chair and the chair doesn ’ t get partially hidden , it breaks the illusion .
Older iPads and iPhones can pull off occlusion with people , but they can ’ t do it with arbitrary objects .
LIDAR means this iPad Pro can — though it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a perfectly sharp line .
Still , as you can see in the images above , it ’ s able to tell when something ’ s in front of the virtual object .
Developers should get those benefits for “ free , ” but doing anything more advanced will require specific coding .
Apple is releasing those APIs to developers today , but it will take some time before apps take advantage of them .
If and when they do , they ’ ll be able to use a more advanced spatial map @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coffee table coasters on .
Apple ’ s new APIs also are supposed to be able to more accurately identify objects like chairs , windows , tables , and so on .
They ’ ll also allow virtual objects to be placed anywhere on the map instead of only on flat surfaces .
In short , the LIDAR on the iPad Pro seems quite advanced but built for a software future that hasn ’ t arrived yet .
Beyond home decoration , some shopping , and some games , it ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand for all this technology yet .
The most widespread use of AR right now is face filters , and LIDAR doesn ’ t do much for that yet .
I reviewed iPadOS last October , and most of what I said then stands today .
Apple ’ s willingness to add a lot of complexity to the OS for power users has ... added a lot of complexity .
It ’ s simply not easy to naturally and intuitively learn how to do everything just by using it .
Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition of trackpad support doesn ’ t really change that dynamic much , though it does make it much easier to work with text .
It ’ s clear to me now why Apple changed the way the cursor and text selection works in iPadOS : it was designed with a mouse or trackpad in mind .
There aren ’ t any keyboard cases with trackpads available at launch I have a lot more to say about trackpad support on the iPad , but here ’ s the short version : I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible .
Scrolling feels natural and the way the mouse cursor changes shape to match buttons is weird at first but I think I like it .
There is some intuitive strangeness in pushing the cursor up against the edge of the screen to bring up the dock , notification center , and Slide Over apps , though .
I ’ ll have more to say about the trackpad in a later article .
For the purposes of this review ( and absent the forthcoming Magic Keyboard ) , the thing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be updated to the latest version of iPadOS is getting this feature , so it ’ s not really a differentiator for the iPad Pro .
iPadOS is also slightly less buggy now than it was at launch — but there are still maddening issues from time to time .
This week it ’ s been text-focus with the Smart Keyboard .
Sometimes I have to fully force quit the app and restart it in order to type into it .
As I used the iPad Pro this week , I kept coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use but as a concept .
It ’ s a powerful and interesting sensor and Apple ’ s total control over software and hardware means that it “ just works ” to improve existing apps .
But as powerful as it is , I ’ m not super sure a lot of users will be able to take advantage of it — it ’ s an extra thing they may not even use .
And that ’ s the story of the iPad Pro in a nutshell , isn ’ t it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ featured incredibly powerful and beautiful hardware alongside software that has struggled to take advantage of it .
I started this review by talking about the tension between iPads .
The core of that tension is that for most people , the iPad Pro is overkill .
Unless you ’ re quite sure what you are going to do with these cameras , that LIDAR , or the faster processor , chances are you ’ d be equally served by the much-less expensive iPad Air — or even the base iPad .
Neither of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardware perspective .
But if you don ’ t need the extra power , saving hundreds of dollars is also nice .
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Apple’s tagline for the new 2020 iPad Pro models is “Your next computer is not a computer.” It’s a cheeky way of addressing the tension that’s at the heart of most iPad Pro purchases: they cost as much or more than many laptops but may not be able to replace your laptop.
The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 and the 12.9-inch model starts at $999, but in both cases, a more realistic cost is at least a couple hundred dollars more: you should factor in the price of a storage bump over the anemic 128GB of base storage and the price of a keyboard case. iPad Pro buyers will quickly spend as much or more than the cost of a good MacBook Air or even a MacBook Pro — hence the tension.
Unfortunately, you can’t spend the extra $299 or $349 for the new Magic Keyboard case that Apple announced alongside these new iPads — they won’t arrive until May. Brydge is selling a more traditional clamshell attachment for $199 or $229, but it’s not shipping until next week.
The internet has been arguing whether the iPad can replace your laptop for years now. And over those years, Apple has slowly filled in the software gaps, but not all of them. I’ll just lay my cards out and say that, yes, the iPad Pro is a computer. It’s just one that works differently than you’re used to and sometimes stymies your efforts to achieve certain tasks.
If you were hoping these new iPads would resolve that tension, they do not. I think a more interesting question is what “pro” means in the iPad context. The real tension isn’t between the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air, but between the iPad Pro and other iPads.
8 Verge Score Apple iPad Pro (2020) $ 799 The Good Great display
Fast
Trackpad support The Bad Paying for LIDAR you may not use
iPadOS limitations still grate
No headphone jack $799 at Apple$800 at Best Buy How we rate and review products
The 2020 iteration of the iPad Pro is essentially a minor spec bump over the 2018 models. There are really only three things that are new here: the processor, the camera array, and the microphones.
Oh, there’s also the trackpad support you’ve heard so much about, but that’s going to be available to any iPad that supports the latest version of iPadOS. Apple’s Magic Keyboard accessory also isn’t available to test yet, either.
That’s one reason I think the real tension is with other iPads. Trackpad support might be the most important feature to come to the iPad this year — I say that not even knowing what Apple has planned at its digital-only Worldwide Developers Conference. But since it’s coming to all iPads, it’s hardly a differentiator for this iPad Pro. Maybe the Magic Keyboard will change that calculus, but there will likely be plenty of trackpad options for less expensive iPads. Apple has already partnered with Logitech on a trackpad case for the various 10.5-inch iPad models out there, for example.
All the things you expect from an iPad are here
Anyway, the bright side of the iPad Pro changing so little from the previous generation is that there is a lot of stuff you don’t have to worry about. The screen is still beautiful, tack-sharp, and color accurate. The hardware quality is still top-notch, but outside of a case I still feel that there’s something a little antiseptic about it.
Battery life is all-day for me — though now that I’m using it full time for work, the eight to ten hours I can pull out of a charge really only does manage a single day for me instead of not worrying about it for several.
There’s still just the one USB-C port awkwardly placed on the side, but its functionality is less locked down than it was before iPadOS. And I’m still going to point out the lack of a headphone jack because it is more of a pain here than on phones. I use regular headphones on my laptop all the time because of their reliability: no lag, no awkwardly messing with Bluetooth settings at the start of a Zoom call while your colleagues patiently wait.
Let’s go through the new stuff, starting with the processor. Strangely enough, Apple isn’t using the same generation chip as what you’ll find on an iPhone 11 Pro. Instead, this is the A12Z Bionic, a step up from the A12X Bionic found in 2018’s iPad Pro.
The “Z” doesn’t stand for anything (Apple says it’s just “more than X,”) but what it means is that the GPU has been beefed up this year to 8 cores. Apple says that should help with games that run at 120Hz, 4K rendering in video editing apps, and improved AR performance.
I am sure that’s all true, but I’m not so sure the majority of iPad Pro owners will ever notice a speed difference. This iPad feels very, very fast but so does my 2018 iPad Pro. There’s potentially an argument to be made about processor headroom and future-proofing here, but not an especially strong one.
For the sake of completeness, I’ll note that on a Geekbench 5 Pro GPU compute test, the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro scored a 9981 while my 2018 11-inch scored a 9138 (the CPU tests were about the same). What does that difference of 800 mean to you? Probably nothing. To me, the key thing is that unless you know exactly what pain point this processor is addressing for you, you shouldn’t upgrade just for it.
It’s very fast. Don’t sweat the details.
The biggest change is the new camera system. You can’t miss it. The camera bump on the back of the iPad Pro is a big old square now, with two regular camera sensors and a new LIDAR sensor. We’ll come back to that LIDAR sensor in a minute.
Apple has put in a 12-megapixel main wide sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, which takes good photos but isn’t able to match the low-light performance of the iPhone 11 Pro.
New this year is a 10-megapixel ultrawide sensor at f/2.4 with a 125-degree field of view. As with all ultrawide sensors, the point is more the fun it provides than the extra crispy image quality.
I am on team “it’s okay to take photos and video with your iPad,” but context matters. I think that it makes more sense as something you might use in a studio for specific uses rather than out in the field (or, and I can’t emphasize strongly enough that you should never do this, at a concert).
The “studio” context also applies to the microphones, which Apple also dubs “studio” quality. They’re quite good, but maybe not quite good enough to use for a professional podcast. The iPad Pro can shoot 4K video at 24, 30, or 60fps and combined with those microphones I think the intention is to give filmmakers an interesting set of options for all-in-one shooting and editing.
The cameras are all pretty good, but the camera placement for video conferencing is not
I say I think because while I’m all for taking photos with a tablet in the right situations, for myself I would rather use a phone. If Apple sold a version of this iPad Pro with a mediocre camera on the back and no camera bump, I’d buy that version in a heartbeat — especially if it cost a little less.
The more important camera to me is the selfie camera because I use the iPad Pro as a work computer and it’s the camera pointing at my face for video calls. It can take 7-megapixel photos and shoot 1080p video.
It’s miles better than the camera on any MacBook in terms of quality and miles worse than any MacBook in terms of placement.
I don’t know why Apple maintains the weird legacy of putting the FaceID sensors and selfie camera on the “top” of the iPad Pro when it’s held in portrait. Maybe it’s the last vestige of Apple’s desire to keep the iPad Pro a “tablet-first” experience, but I and everybody I know primarily uses the iPad in landscape mode in a keyboard case. That means the camera is off to the side so your eyes are always looking away from it. Apple added some augmented reality effects to fix your gaze in FaceTime, but that doesn’t help with work conference calls.
As long as I’m on the rant, the other problem with using the iPad Pro for conference calls is that in iPadOS, Apple doesn’t allow apps to use the camera unless they’re active in the foreground. That’s nice from a peace-of-mind perspective but absolutely terrible for video conferencing.
The truth is that people need to open other apps when they’re on a call, and merely pulling out a Slide Over window to check a message is enough to turn the iPad’s camera off during a Zoom call. The net result is your camera is constantly toggling off and on again. The iPad Pro is the perfect machine for making your coworkers think you’re ignoring them.
If there’s one standout hardware feature on the 2020 iPad Pro, it’s the LIDAR sensor. It uses lasers to near-instantly detect depth and create a spatial map of a room. And anytime a tech product utilizes lasers, the company that makes it can’t help but hype it up because lasers still seem futuristic. So Apple says it “operates at the photon level and at nanosecond speeds.”
Yes, that is how light works.
Anyway, the reason for including LIDAR is for radically faster and more accurate augmented reality. And it really works — but it’s only the foundation for great AR experiences, not a guarantee they’ll come. It improves some current apps for free, but there aren’t any third-party apps that take full advantage of it yet. (Here’s where I need to disclose that my wife works for Oculus, which makes virtual reality products.)
The main benefit AR apps will get right away is that LIDAR is able to nearly instantaneously map the surfaces in a room. Instead of having to wave your iPad around until the cameras can recognize objects, the LIDAR just measures them directly.
That spatial map is also more accurate — so the Measure app, for example, can show a ruler when you get in close to a line you’ve measured.
The other immediate benefit you get is with something called “occlusion.” That’s when something gets in between your iPad and the virtual object you’ve set on the floor or table or whatever. If somebody walks in between you and the virtual chair and the chair doesn’t get partially hidden, it breaks the illusion.
The 2020 iPad Pro with LIDAR can occlude objects like this drummer boy figurine quite well behind people. It does fairly well with other other mammals, too. Without LIDAR, the 2018 iPad sometimes struggled to get occlusion right when somebody walks into the AR scene.
Older iPads and iPhones can pull off occlusion with people, but they can’t do it with arbitrary objects. LIDAR means this iPad Pro can — though it’s not quite able to draw a perfectly sharp line. Still, as you can see in the images above, it’s able to tell when something’s in front of the virtual object.
Developers should get those benefits for “free,” but doing anything more advanced will require specific coding. Apple is releasing those APIs to developers today, but it will take some time before apps take advantage of them.
If and when they do, they’ll be able to use a more advanced spatial map to put their virtual roller coasters or coffee table coasters on. Apple’s new APIs also are supposed to be able to more accurately identify objects like chairs, windows, tables, and so on. They’ll also allow virtual objects to be placed anywhere on the map instead of only on flat surfaces.
In short, the LIDAR on the iPad Pro seems quite advanced but built for a software future that hasn’t arrived yet. Beyond home decoration, some shopping, and some games, it’s also unclear whether there’s a real demand for all this technology yet. The most widespread use of AR right now is face filters, and LIDAR doesn’t do much for that yet.
I reviewed iPadOS last October, and most of what I said then stands today. Apple’s willingness to add a lot of complexity to the OS for power users has... added a lot of complexity. It’s simply not easy to naturally and intuitively learn how to do everything just by using it. Here’s how I put it then:
It is easier than nearly any other computer in history to start using. But when you start trying to get the same sorts of capabilities out of the iPad that you’d expect from a high-end laptop, that curve hockeysticks.
The addition of trackpad support doesn’t really change that dynamic much, though it does make it much easier to work with text. It’s clear to me now why Apple changed the way the cursor and text selection works in iPadOS: it was designed with a mouse or trackpad in mind.
There aren’t any keyboard cases with trackpads available at launch
I have a lot more to say about trackpad support on the iPad, but here’s the short version: I think Apple came as close to nailing it as possible. Scrolling feels natural and the way the mouse cursor changes shape to match buttons is weird at first but I think I like it. There is some intuitive strangeness in pushing the cursor up against the edge of the screen to bring up the dock, notification center, and Slide Over apps, though.
I’ll have more to say about the trackpad in a later article. For the purposes of this review (and absent the forthcoming Magic Keyboard), the thing to know is that every iPad that can be updated to the latest version of iPadOS is getting this feature, so it’s not really a differentiator for the iPad Pro.
iPadOS is also slightly less buggy now than it was at launch — but there are still maddening issues from time to time. This week it’s been text-focus with the Smart Keyboard. Sometimes I have to fully force quit the app and restart it in order to type into it.
As I used the iPad Pro this week, I kept coming back to that LIDAR sensor. Not to use but as a concept. It’s a powerful and interesting sensor and Apple’s total control over software and hardware means that it “just works” to improve existing apps. But as powerful as it is, I’m not super sure a lot of users will be able to take advantage of it — it’s an extra thing they may not even use.
And that’s the story of the iPad Pro in a nutshell, isn’t it? The iPad Pro line has always featured incredibly powerful and beautiful hardware alongside software that has struggled to take advantage of it.
I started this review by talking about the tension between iPads. The core of that tension is that for most people, the iPad Pro is overkill. Unless you’re quite sure what you are going to do with these cameras, that LIDAR, or the faster processor, chances are you’d be equally served by the much-less expensive iPad Air — or even the base iPad. Neither of those iPads is as nice from a hardware perspective. But if you don’t need the extra power, saving hundreds of dollars is also nice.
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Agree to Continue: Apple iPad Pro (2020) Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we’re going to start counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate. Much like the iPhone, to use an iPad Pro, you have to agree to: The Apple terms of service agreement, which you can have sent to you by email
Apple’s warranty agreement, which you can have sent to you by email These agreements are not negotiable, and you cannot use the phone at all if you don’t agree to them. The iPad Pro also prompts you to set up Apple Cash and Apple Pay at setup, which further means you have to agree to: The Apple Cash agreement, which specifies that services are actually provided by Green Dot Bank and Apple Payments, Inc, and further consists of the following agreements:
The Apple Cash terms and conditions
The electronic communications agreement
The Green Dot bank privacy policy
Direct payments terms and conditions
Direct payments privacy notice
Apple Payments, Inc, license If you add a credit card to Apple Pay, you have to agree to: The terms from your credit card provider, which do not have an option to be emailed Final tally: two mandatory agreements, six optional agreements for Apple Cash, one optional agreement for Apple Pay
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy .


theverge--2020-03-24--Yelp is adding donate buttons for local businesses, promises to match first $1M

You ’ ll soon be able to donate to local businesses struggling with coronavirus-related closures via their Yelp pages , the company announced today .
As well as asking the public for donations , Yelp and GoFundMe are promising to match up to $ 1 million placed in donations through the service , and they ’ re working with other companies to contribute to the matching fund over time .
“ COVID-19 has made it tough for local businesses and their employees .
Share your support in these difficult times by donating , ” the message placed on business pages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ All proceeds go directly to the business.
” The donation buttons will automatically be added to Yelp pages for a variety of businesses including restaurants , nightlife spots , beauty parlors , and fitness centers .
Tapping the donate button will redirect users to the location ’ s GoFundMe page .
However , Yelp is keen to emphasize that the fund is meant for local businesses , which will need to have fewer than five locations to be eligible .
Businesses are already setting up GoFundMe pages to get through the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurrence as local businesses are forced to close as a result of the global pandemic .
Our friends over at Eater have compiled lists of campaigns , which include GoFundMe fundraisers , across Chicago , Austin , and Philadelphia .
The advantage of Yelp ’ s initiative is that it ’ s placing the donation links in a location where customers are likely to see it .
Eligible businesses will be automatically opted into having a GoFundMe fundraiser , a Yelp spokesperson confirmed .
If a business wants to opt-out , Yelp says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraiser page before they can delete it .
The donation button will then disappear from their Yelp listing , and any donations will be returned to their original donors .
The $ 1 million fund will be distributed in grants of $ 500 for businesses that raise at least $ 500 through the platform , Yelp says .
This is just the latest new feature that Yelp has promised for businesses hit by the pandemic .
Last week it announced a range of new features to help businesses adapt , such as enabling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like tax offices or yoga studios make the switch to new online services .
It also launched a $ 25 million relief fund for businesses in the form of waived advertising fees and free Yelp products and services .
The new donation buttons are rolling out across the US over the next two days , starting with the hardest hit areas today .
Update March 24th , 8:15AM ET : Updated with additional details from Yelp .

You’ll soon be able to donate to local businesses struggling with coronavirus-related closures via their Yelp pages, the company announced today. As well as asking the public for donations, Yelp and GoFundMe are promising to match up to $1 million placed in donations through the service, and they’re working with other companies to contribute to the matching fund over time.
“COVID-19 has made it tough for local businesses and their employees. Share your support in these difficult times by donating,” the message placed on business pages will read, before assuring users that “All proceeds go directly to the business.”
The donation buttons will automatically be added to Yelp pages for a variety of businesses including restaurants, nightlife spots, beauty parlors, and fitness centers. Tapping the donate button will redirect users to the location’s GoFundMe page. However, Yelp is keen to emphasize that the fund is meant for local businesses, which will need to have fewer than five locations to be eligible.
Businesses are already setting up GoFundMe pages to get through the pandemic
GoFundMe campaigns have become an increasingly common occurrence as local businesses are forced to close as a result of the global pandemic. Our friends over at Eater have compiled lists of campaigns, which include GoFundMe fundraisers, across Chicago, Austin, and Philadelphia. The advantage of Yelp’s initiative is that it’s placing the donation links in a location where customers are likely to see it.
Eligible businesses will be automatically opted into having a GoFundMe fundraiser, a Yelp spokesperson confirmed. If a business wants to opt-out, Yelp says they’ll need to claim their fundraiser page before they can delete it. The donation button will then disappear from their Yelp listing, and any donations will be returned to their original donors.
The $1 million fund will be distributed in grants of $500 for businesses that raise at least $500 through the platform, Yelp says.
This is just the latest new feature that Yelp has promised for businesses hit by the pandemic. Last week it announced a range of new features to help businesses adapt, such as enabling “contact-free” delivery or helping businesses like tax offices or yoga studios make the switch to new online services. It also launched a $25 million relief fund for businesses in the form of waived advertising fees and free Yelp products and services.
The new donation buttons are rolling out across the US over the next two days, starting with the hardest hit areas today.


theverge--2020-03-24--The right shape for big-screened, portable computers

Last week , Tom Warren argued that Apple finally admits Microsoft was right about tablets by adding trackpad support to the iPad .
I knew he was working on this piece when I wrote last Thursday ’ s newsletter , so I didn ’ t want to step on his spot , but now that it ’ s out it has me thinking about the right shape for portable , big-screened computers .
I largely agree with Tom ’ s points , but want to put special emphasis on where he ends : “ Now that Apple and Microsoft are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of hardware , the battle between PC and iPad will shift toward what both do in software.
” Pointing out that the iPad is about to work a lot more like a Surface isn ’ t about Nelson Ha Ha-ing Apple ’ s change .
That ’ s fun for a day or two — but Tom knows , I know , and you know that the differences between the two are still quite real .
The iPad is still working to emerge from its iPhone stage while the Surface is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind .
What I have been thinking about now that I ’ m working from home all the time ( besides the obvious things like checking in with people I care about and seeing what I might do to help those who can ’ t work from home ) is that there ’ s a fundamental rightness to the tablet plus keyboard deck with trackpad idea .
And I ’ ll throw Chrome OS in that mix as well — many Chromebooks also have convertible form factors , though few have detachable keyboards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home office , so instead I ’ m picking different places in my apartment to work — and having a device that can conform to the space I ’ m in is a boon .
Sometimes it ’ s at the kitchen table , sometimes a chair , the floor , the couch , the bed .
It ’ s helpful for me to switch it up a bit , and computers that let me bounce between touching the screen or using a trackpad just feel like they fit better .
In short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or at least hide away the keyboard so you can just interact directly with the screen increasingly feels like an essential feature to me .
As does having a trackpad for moving a cursor around the screen when you want to be in a more productive mode .
It could be a detachable like the iPad and Surface , or a convertible like many Windows or Chrome OS laptops .
This is no great revelation , but I ’ m just appreciating it more these days .
And although my MacBook is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most productive on , it ’ s the one that feels most out-of-step with the times .
I don ’ t want to rehash the arguments about how touch doesn ’ t belong on the Mac , but I do think if you step back a bit you can see how they ’ re starting to feel like rationalizations for a shortcoming , not justifications for a choice .
What to do when you ’ re home all day ┏ The Verge Guide to Working at Home .
┏ Half-Life : Alyx is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Excellent review from Adi Robertson , which includes this incredible line : “ Playing a great VR game is often like visiting a Michelin-star restaurant where the waiter continuously pokes you with a fork.
” ┏ Subscribe to Home Screen : a newsletter to brighten your inbox .
My friend TC Sottek is launching a newsletter : ┏ Disney is releasing Onward on digital platforms today , Disney Plus on April 3rd .
┏ Google and YouTube launch new resources to help teachers and families educate students at home .
┏ Virtual F1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left by canceled races .
I love it so much when you see a story and are like “ huh I wonder if that ’ s a thing ” and it turns out to be a huge , deep , fascinating thing with lots of great stories to tell inside it .
Sean O ’ Kane has some of them here : ┏ Fashion influencers are rethinking their curated aesthetics because they can ’ t leave their houses .
Fascinating story from Ashley Carman .
┏ Netflix will reduce its European network traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ┏ Disney Plus and Facebook are also reducing streaming quality in Europe .
┏ Amazon and Apple are reducing streaming quality to lessen broadband strain in Europe .
Big tech ’ s attempts to help out ┏ Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company is donating “ millions ” of masks to healthcare workers .
┏ Mark Zuckerberg ’ s philanthropy groups work to bring at least 1,000 coronavirus tests per day to Bay Area .
┏ Microsoft to prioritize cloud access for first responders and emergency services .
┏ Verizon gives all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
┏ Snap rolling out ‘ Here For You ’ mental health tool early with focus on coronavirus .
┏ Dish is letting the major US carriers borrow spectrum during quarantine data crunch .
┏ New study aims to use health data from a smart ring to identify coronavirus symptoms .

Last week, Tom Warren argued that Apple finally admits Microsoft was right about tablets by adding trackpad support to the iPad. I knew he was working on this piece when I wrote last Thursday’s newsletter, so I didn’t want to step on his spot, but now that it’s out it has me thinking about the right shape for portable, big-screened computers.
I largely agree with Tom’s points, but want to put special emphasis on where he ends: “Now that Apple and Microsoft are aligned on what a tablet can offer in terms of hardware, the battle between PC and iPad will shift toward what both do in software.”
Pointing out that the iPad is about to work a lot more like a Surface isn’t about Nelson Ha Ha-ing Apple’s change. That’s fun for a day or two — but Tom knows, I know, and you know that the differences between the two are still quite real. The iPad is still working to emerge from its iPhone stage while the Surface is still working to leave its desktop legacy behind.
You are reading Processor, a newsletter about computers, software, and tech by Dieter Bohn. Dieter writes about consumer tech, software, and the most important tech news of the day from The Verge. You can read an archive of Processor newsletters here and subscribe to all of The Verge’s great videos here! Subscribe
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What I have been thinking about now that I’m working from home all the time (besides the obvious things like checking in with people I care about and seeing what I might do to help those who can’t work from home) is that there’s a fundamental rightness to the tablet plus keyboard deck with trackpad idea. And I’ll throw Chrome OS in that mix as well — many Chromebooks also have convertible form factors, though few have detachable keyboards.
I don’t have a home office, so instead I’m picking different places in my apartment to work — and having a device that can conform to the space I’m in is a boon. Sometimes it’s at the kitchen table, sometimes a chair, the floor, the couch, the bed. It’s helpful for me to switch it up a bit, and computers that let me bounce between touching the screen or using a trackpad just feel like they fit better.
In short, being able to remove, stow, or at least hide away the keyboard so you can just interact directly with the screen increasingly feels like an essential feature to me. As does having a trackpad for moving a cursor around the screen when you want to be in a more productive mode. It could be a detachable like the iPad and Surface, or a convertible like many Windows or Chrome OS laptops.
This is no great revelation, but I’m just appreciating it more these days. And although my MacBook is the computer I’m still the most productive on, it’s the one that feels most out-of-step with the times. I don’t want to rehash the arguments about how touch doesn’t belong on the Mac, but I do think if you step back a bit you can see how they’re starting to feel like rationalizations for a shortcoming, not justifications for a choice.
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What to do when you’re home all day
┏ Half-Life: Alyx is a satisfying return to City 17. Excellent review from Adi Robertson, which includes this incredible line: “Playing a great VR game is often like visiting a Michelin-star restaurant where the waiter continuously pokes you with a fork.”
┏ Subscribe to Home Screen: a newsletter to brighten your inbox. My friend TC Sottek is launching a newsletter:
Today, I’m announcing my own little love letter to the internet: a new newsletter called Home Screen, which I’ll be sending out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It’s going to be filled with fun links, happy internet happenings, and other curiosities from the World Wide Web. It’s not quite Upworthy, but I do hope it will be uplifting — something to brighten our screens while we’re stuck at home.
┏ Virtual F1 and NASCAR events are filling the gap left by canceled races. I love it so much when you see a story and are like “huh I wonder if that’s a thing” and it turns out to be a huge, deep, fascinating thing with lots of great stories to tell inside it. Sean O’Kane has some of them here:
The race went off without much of a hitch. There were a few more wrecks than you’d find in the eNASCAR series. And yes, at one point (and while fighting for the lead, no less), Pike said Kligerman’s computer tried to force a Windows update, sending him straight into the wall.
┏ Fashion influencers are rethinking their curated aesthetics because they can’t leave their houses. Fascinating story from Ashley Carman.
Do people still want to see cute outfits during a recession? How do you take a studio-quality photo when the only photographer available to you is your husband? What happens when you feel mentally and emotionally exhausted? The curated aesthetic people have railed against — which has defined much of Instagram up until now — might slowly disappear.
European streaming video gets throttled


theverge--2020-03-24--UK asks carriers to send coronavirus alert as emergency system was never finished

The UK government has turned to mobile carriers like EE , o2 , Vodafone , and Three to send an emergency coronavirus alert today .
It ’ s the first time all UK carriers have been instructed to send a message to customers on behalf of the government , amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
UK citizens are being asked to stay at home and only go outside for food , health reasons , or essential work .
The alert asks people to stay at home , and links to the official UK government coronavirus response website .
It comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson introduced drastic measures to ban gatherings of three or more people .
The UK government has been forced to work with UK carriers to distribute the message as an emergency alert system , trialed nearly seven years ago , was never finished and put into place .
Lord Toby Harris , former chair of the National Trading Standards Board , has accused the UK government of bickering about which department should be in charge of the alert system .
“ It ’ s fallen between government departments as to who is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to lead on it , and all sorts of issues , ” says Harris in a statement to The Guardian .
The UK government is also in talks with mobile operator EE to use phone location and usage data to monitor whether people are actually staying at home or not .
That raises a number of privacy concerns that will need to be addressed before data is used to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .

The UK government has turned to mobile carriers like EE, o2, Vodafone, and Three to send an emergency coronavirus alert today. It’s the first time all UK carriers have been instructed to send a message to customers on behalf of the government, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
UK citizens are being asked to stay at home and only go outside for food, health reasons, or essential work. The alert asks people to stay at home, and links to the official UK government coronavirus response website. It comes just hours after UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson introduced drastic measures to ban gatherings of three or more people.
The UK government has been forced to work with UK carriers to distribute the message as an emergency alert system, trialed nearly seven years ago, was never finished and put into place. Lord Toby Harris, former chair of the National Trading Standards Board, has accused the UK government of bickering about which department should be in charge of the alert system. “It’s fallen between government departments as to who is going to pick up the bill, who’s going to lead on it, and all sorts of issues,” says Harris in a statement to The Guardian.


theverge--2020-03-24--Popular European banking app Revolut is launching in the US today

Mobile banking app Revolut , which has more than 10 million customers in Europe , is launching today in the US , the company announced .
Like Monzo , a UK-based banking app that made the jump to the US last June , Revolut is entirely app-based and doesn ’ t operate any brick-and-mortar locations .
That means you can sign up for an account and a debit card in just a few minutes right from within the app .
That account is insured for up to $ 250,000 by the FDIC .
Mobile-only banks like Monzo and Starling have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as has Revolut across Europe .
Monzo has taken a slow approach to its US launch , rolling out gradually across the US , but Revolut is available for everyone in the US starting today .
Revolut itself is not a bank in the US , though — like Monzo , Revolut offers technology that interfaces with another bank ’ s services .
Revolut ’ s partner is New York-based Metropolitan Commercial Bank ( MCB ) .
The Revolut app is well-designed , with separate tabs that track your accounts , spending , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has some neat features , like the ability to send and request money from your friends right through the app , similar to PayPal-owned Venmo , and it sends you notifications whenever you make a purchase .
You can also exchange foreign currency right in the app , and Revolut won ’ t take any extra fees when you do so .
If you need to withdraw money from your Revolut account , you can pull it from one of the from more than 55,000 ATMs in the Allpoint ATM network .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of $ 300 per month at a time without incurring a 2 percent fee — though you can withdraw more if you sign up for one of Revolut ’ s premium subscriptions .
The $ 9.99 per month premium subscription gives you the ability to withdraw up to $ 600 per month from an ATM without fees , as well as a disposable virtual card , global travel insurance , access to airport lounges via a LoungeKey Pass , among other benefits .
And a $ 14.99 per month “ Metal ” subscription @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will let you withdraw up to $ 900 per month without fees and gives you 1 percent cashback on all purchases made on your Revolut card .
( You ’ ll also get a debit card that ’ s actually made of metal . )
Revolut ’ s app has been in beta in the US since June 2019 , and Revolut tells The Verge it has 60,000 beta testers .

Mobile banking app Revolut, which has more than 10 million customers in Europe, is launching today in the US, the company announced.
Like Monzo, a UK-based banking app that made the jump to the US last June, Revolut is entirely app-based and doesn’t operate any brick-and-mortar locations. That means you can sign up for an account and a debit card (which will be a Mastercard for US users) in just a few minutes right from within the app. That account is insured for up to $250,000 by the FDIC.
Mobile-only banks like Monzo and Starling have been hugely successful in the UK, as has Revolut across Europe. Monzo has taken a slow approach to its US launch, rolling out gradually across the US, but Revolut is available for everyone in the US starting today.
Revolut itself is not a bank in the US, though — like Monzo, Revolut offers technology that interfaces with another bank’s services. Revolut’s partner is New York-based Metropolitan Commercial Bank (MCB).
The Revolut app is well-designed, with separate tabs that track your accounts, spending, payments, and cards. The app has some neat features, like the ability to send and request money from your friends right through the app, similar to PayPal-owned Venmo, and it sends you notifications whenever you make a purchase. You can also exchange foreign currency right in the app, and Revolut won’t take any extra fees when you do so.
Image: Revolut
If you need to withdraw money from your Revolut account, you can pull it from one of the from more than 55,000 ATMs in the Allpoint ATM network. However, you can only withdraw a maximum of $300 per month at a time without incurring a 2 percent fee — though you can withdraw more if you sign up for one of Revolut’s premium subscriptions.
The $9.99 per month premium subscription gives you the ability to withdraw up to $600 per month from an ATM without fees, as well as a disposable virtual card, global travel insurance, access to airport lounges via a LoungeKey Pass, among other benefits. And a $14.99 per month “Metal” subscription that’s “coming soon” will let you withdraw up to $900 per month without fees and gives you 1 percent cashback on all purchases made on your Revolut card. (You’ll also get a debit card that’s actually made of metal.)
Revolut’s app has been in beta in the US since June 2019, and Revolut tells The Verge it had 60,000 beta testers.


theverge--2020-03-24--It’s time for a regular Amazon daily coronavirus briefing

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No one has it easy during the COVID-19 pandemic , but Amazon has it particularly hard .
Google , Facebook , and Netflix all deliver their services over the internet , and a healthy amount of that work can be done from home .
Amazon , by contrast , has taken on the job of delivering physical goods to our homes .
At a time when tens of millions of Americans are isolated in their homes , Amazon has become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But over the past several days , Amazon has begun to struggle under the weight .
The most significant news so far came Sunday night , when Jason Del Rey broke the news that Amazon ’ s famous two-day shipping for Prime members would now be delayed up to a month for “ non-essential ” items .
Del Rey writes : At least Americans can still get non-essential items .
( Which is to say , items outside the following departments : baby products ; health and household items ; beauty and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , scientific , and pet supplies . )
That ’ s not true in France or Italy any more , Krystal Hu reported at Reuters .
The company has temporarily stopped taking orders for non-essential items that are shipped through its fulfillment service while it focuses on getting more important items to customers .
The company also suspended Prime Pantry , a service for getting rapid delivery of discounted grocery and household items , amid a surge in demand .
And — at the request of local governments — it downgraded the quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an effort to reduce the strain on the internet .
To be clear , Amazon has nothing to be ashamed of here .
The company is navigating an extremely difficult period fraught with unpleasant trade-offs , and for the most part its supply chain has held up .
The crisis has also spurred the company to ( finally ) recognize the everyday heroism of the workers in its distribution and delivery networks , who continue to put themselves at risk to keep America stocked up with necessities .
As of Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour — and is offering double pay to workers who spend more than 40 hours on the job each week .
And on Monday , the company finally agreed to provide paid time off for tens of thousands of warehouse employees .
Amazon has also said it will hire 100,000 new workers to help with increased demand amid the crisis , offering an equally important lifeline to a nation staring down the barrel of double-digit unemployment for the first time in recent memory .
In a memo to employees made public on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is fully committed to addressing the COVID-19 challenge : One thing that could be helpful in this time is for Amazon to regularly brief the public on the health of its distribution networks and its expectations for any service interruptions in the immediate future .
The company has historically worked to keep the media at greater than arm ’ s length , communicating primarily by press release .
But the current crisis is changing the company ’ s service so frequently , and with such high stakes , that a different approach is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that of Facebook , which over the past couple years began hosting regular briefings on subjects in the news .
( There have been a lot about Russia , misinformation , and election security , for example . )
Last week , the company held a briefing on its coronavirus response , and CEO Mark Zuckerberg took questions from the press .
If it undertook similar measures , Amazon could build confidence in its services .
The alternative — a torturous drip of news about service disruptions , delivered at odds hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a response back from the company ’ s public relations team — has made for a grim status quo .
It is not an approach that bears the hallmarks of customer obsession .
If you pay for Amazon Web Services , the company sells you guaranteed uptime — if the service fails more than 0.01 percent of the time , you get a discount on future service .
Already , some are speculating that Amazon will offer similar discounts to those affected by the understandable disruptions caused by COVID-19 .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , and it has the virtue of being basically free .
It could regularly tell all its customers what ’ s happening today , and what to expect tomorrow .
If Bezos is right that “ things are going to get worse before they get better , ” as he told his employees , then his customers could use as much time as possible to begin contemplating their alternatives .
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms .
⬆Trending up : Apple is donating millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move comes amid a critical shortage of supplies needed to respond to the global coronavirus pandemic .
⬆Trending up : Facebook is donating 720,000 medical masks and 1.5 million gloves to Bay Area medical workers battling the coronavirus pandemic .
⬆Trending up : Yelp is committing $ 25 million to local restaurants due to the novel coronavirus .
The money will take the form of free advertising .
( Anthony Ha / TechCrunch ) ⬇ Trending down : Google is still showing ads for masks next to coronavirus stories after promising to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FTC , lawmakers complained that the company is contributing to the medical mask shortage .
Big Tech could emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever .
While the industry faced a growing backlash prior to the coronavirus outbreak , people are now more dependent on the big tech platforms .
( Daisuke Wakabayashi , Jack Nicas , Steve Lohr and Mike Isaac / The New York Times ) Related : Over the past few weeks , Facebook has launched a series of initiatives to help governments , emergency response organizations , small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users with the coronavirus pandemic .
The company ’ s quick response could go a long way in restoring its reputation .
( Salvador Rodriguez / CNBC ) Facebook plans to downgrade video streaming quality on its platform and on Instagram in Europe .
It ’ s the latest US tech giant to do so after EU industry chief Thierry Breton urged streaming platforms to free up bandwidth for healthcare workers and remote learners .
( Foo Yun Chee / Reuters ) It took a global pandemic to make us forget about our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abandon again , this piece notes .
( Joanna Stern / The Wall Street Journal ) In the United Kingdom , roughly 300 coronavirus support groups have popped on Facebook up to help people cope with the crisis .
( John Harris / The Guardian ) Facebook Messenger partnered with developers to provide free services to government health organizations and UN health agencies .
The goal is to help them use the messaging platform to scale their response to the COVID-19 crisis .
( Messenger ) The World Health Organization is partnering with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
When you text “ hi ” to +41 79 893 1892 over WhatsApp , you ’ ll receive back a text from the WHO that includes a variety of menu items for the latest information , like novel coronavirus infection rates around the world , travel advisories , and misinformation that should be debunked .
( Lily Hay Newman / Wired ) People are organizing coronavirus aid on Google docs and through Facebook groups .
So many groups have popped up in the past five days that there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nextdoor and Facebook to try and track them .
( April Glaser / NBC ) Google ’ s coronavirus website launched .
The company also rolled out enhanced search results for people who look for terms related to the coronavirus .
These include information tabs for symptoms , prevention , global statics , and locally relevant information .
( Dieter Bohn / The Verge ) Google Maps now displays a warning for people searching for doctors , telling them to call ahead if they think they are infected with the novel coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s website .
( Ashley Carman / The Verge ) Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sent an email to employees , calling the coronavirus pandemic “ uncharted territory.
” He said he shares their personal anxieties about the virus .
( Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times ) Apple pulled an app that allowed Chinese users to bypass censorship of coronavirus information from the Chinese version of its App Store .
“ Boom the Encryption Keyboard ” is an app that encrypts text into emojis that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s device .
( Adam Smith / PCMag ) On Twitter , a @ coronavirus account has existed since 2009 .
It ’ s only tweeted four times — always about computer operating systems .
But as the COVID-19 pandemic grew this week , people began finding it and fighting with it .
( Scott Lucas / BuzzFeed ) IBM launched a consortium with the White House and the Department of Energy , among others , to give coronavirus researchers access to supercomputers .
( Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat ) Telegram has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus outbreak .
The app has features like channel broadcasts and optional chat encryption that have helped people stay up to date amid heavy censorship on WeChat .
( Xinmei Shen / Abacus ) As regular people struggle to get tested for COVID-19 , the rich and powerful are jumping to the front of the line .
This is a very old story playing out in a new way .
( Max Abelson , Scott Soshnick , and Emma Court / Bloomberg ) Dating under social distancing is complicated .
But staying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and dating apps are responding by adding new video chatting features .
( Georgia Wells / The Wall Street Journal ) Fashion influencers are rethinking their curated aesthetics because they can ’ t leave their houses .
Their accounts might never be the same after the pandemic ends .
( Ashley Carman / The Verge ) As people are stuck indoors , a wave of dance parties hosted on Instagram and Zoom staves off coronavirus anxiety .
( Zoe Schiffer / The Verge ) Derrick Jones , a.k.a .
DJ D-Nice is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party for thousands of people stuck at home .
Mark Zuckerberg stopped by a recent set .
( Jelani Cobb / The New Yorker ) Internet service providers are scrambling to add more capacity as they cope with unprecedented usage amid the coronavirus outbreak .
( Nick Bastone / The Information ) Rihanna ’ s Fenty Beauty house is shutting down temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Five TikTok stars were staying there and making videos .
( Amanda Perelli / Business Insider ) As coronavirus surges across the US , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide services no longer available through businesses .
It ’ s turning the network into a decent place to be .
( Alex Kantrowitz / BuzzFeed ) People in Wuhan and Italy have been making TikToks of life in isolation , and are showing the rest of the world what ’ s to come .
( Rebecca Jennings / Vox ) ⭐Despite a series of decisive victories in Florida , Illinois , and Arizona , Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign is struggling to move forward .
Campaigning online and staying relevant during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Here ’ s Marc Caputo at Politico : Facebook is close to reaching a settlement with a group of content moderators who developed post-traumatic stress disorder while working to remove disturbing content from the social network .
In a court filing this week , lawyers for the plaintiffs said the parties had reached a tentative agreement with Facebook on February 7th .
( Casey Newton / The Verge ) ⭐Instagram has prototyped an unreleased ephemeral messaging feature that clears the chat thread whenever you leave it .
It looks a lot like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Josh Constine at TechCrunch has the scoop : Instagram is facing a wave of hackers breaking into accounts to then extort their owners .
Some victims are turning to white hat hackers to help .
( Joseph Cox / Vice ) Snap has seen a 10-fold surge in downloads for its tool that allows people to use augmented-reality filters on Zoom calls and Google Hangouts , since the beginning of the month .
( Sarah Frier / Bloomberg ) Twitch has become an increasingly valuable way for electronic musicians to connect with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign that the streaming platform has moved well beyond gaming .
( Cherie Hu / DJ Mag ) Discord banned 5.2 million accounts between April and December last year , according to the company ’ s second transparency report .
The most common reasons for account bans were spam and exploitative content .
( Jon Porter / The Verge ) Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine .
TikTok has a full slate of evening programming coming up this week featuring some of its biggest homegrown stars .
Instagram also has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and posted a story promising free upcoming live shows from the Bon Apetit crew , Miley Cyrus , and Diplo , among others .
Send us tips , comments , questions , and the Amazon metrics you ’ re most interested in : casey @ theverge.com and zoe @ theverge.com .

No one has it easy during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Amazon has it particularly hard. Google, Facebook, and Netflix all deliver their services over the internet, and a healthy amount of that work can be done from home. Amazon, by contrast, has taken on the job of delivering physical goods to our homes. At a time when tens of millions of Americans are isolated in their homes, Amazon has become a critical lifeline delivering food and supplies. But over the past several days, Amazon has begun to struggle under the weight.
The most significant news so far came Sunday night, when Jason Del Rey broke the news that Amazon’s famous two-day shipping for Prime members would now be delayed up to a month for “non-essential” items. Del Rey writes:
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to Recode on Sunday evening that the new April 21 delivery dates are not the result of a technical bug or error; they accurately reflect Amazon’s current reality. “To serve our customers in need while also helping to ensure the safety of our associates, we’ve changed our logistics, transportation, supply chain, purchasing, and third-party seller processes to prioritize stocking and delivering items that are a higher priority for our customers,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “This has resulted in some of our delivery promises being longer than usual.”
At least Americans can still get non-essential items. (Which is to say, items outside the following departments: baby products; health and household items; beauty and personal care; groceries; and industrial, scientific, and pet supplies.) That’s not true in France or Italy any more, Krystal Hu reported at Reuters. The company has temporarily stopped taking orders for non-essential items that are shipped through its fulfillment service while it focuses on getting more important items to customers.
The company also suspended Prime Pantry, a service for getting rapid delivery of discounted grocery and household items, amid a surge in demand. And — at the request of local governments — it downgraded the quality of streaming on Prime Video in Europe in an effort to reduce the strain on the internet.
To be clear, Amazon has nothing to be ashamed of here. The company is navigating an extremely difficult period fraught with unpleasant trade-offs, and for the most part its supply chain has held up. The crisis has also spurred the company to (finally) recognize the everyday heroism of the workers in its distribution and delivery networks, who continue to put themselves at risk to keep America stocked up with necessities. As of Saturday, the company increased wages by $2 an hour — and is offering double pay to workers who spend more than 40 hours on the job each week. And on Monday, the company finally agreed to provide paid time off for tens of thousands of warehouse employees.
Amazon has also said it will hire 100,000 new workers to help with increased demand amid the crisis, offering an equally important lifeline to a nation staring down the barrel of double-digit unemployment for the first time in recent memory.
In a memo to employees made public on Saturday, CEO Jeff Bezos said he is fully committed to addressing the COVID-19 challenge:
My own time and thinking is now wholly focused on COVID-19 and on how Amazon can best play its role. I want you to know Amazon will continue to do its part, and we won’t stop looking for new opportunities to help.
One thing that could be helpful in this time is for Amazon to regularly brief the public on the health of its distribution networks and its expectations for any service interruptions in the immediate future. The company has historically worked to keep the media at greater than arm’s length, communicating primarily by press release.
But the current crisis is changing the company’s service so frequently, and with such high stakes, that a different approach is needed. One model Amazon might consider is that of Facebook, which over the past couple years began hosting regular briefings on subjects in the news. (There have been a lot about Russia, misinformation, and election security, for example.) Last week, the company held a briefing on its coronavirus response, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg took questions from the press.
If it undertook similar measures, Amazon could build confidence in its services. The alternative — a torturous drip of news about service disruptions, delivered at odds hours across various news outlets who manage to get a response back from the company’s public relations team — has made for a grim status quo. It is not an approach that bears the hallmarks of customer obsession.
If you pay for Amazon Web Services, the company sells you guaranteed uptime — if the service fails more than 0.01 percent of the time, you get a discount on future service. Already, some are speculating that Amazon will offer similar discounts to those affected by the understandable disruptions caused by COVID-19.
But there’s something else the company could do, and it has the virtue of being basically free. It could regularly tell all its customers what’s happening today, and what to expect tomorrow. If Bezos is right that “things are going to get worse before they get better,” as he told his employees, then his customers could use as much time as possible to begin contemplating their alternatives.
The Ratio
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms.
⬆Trending up: Apple is donating millions of masks to health care organizations. The move comes amid a critical shortage of supplies needed to respond to the global coronavirus pandemic.
⬆Trending up: Yelp is committing $25 million to local restaurants due to the novel coronavirus. The money will take the form of free advertising. (Anthony Ha / TechCrunch)
⬇ Trending down: Google is still showing ads for masks next to coronavirus stories after promising to take them down. In a letter to the FTC, lawmakers complained that the company is contributing to the medical mask shortage.
Pandemic
Big Tech could emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever. While the industry faced a growing backlash prior to the coronavirus outbreak, people are now more dependent on the big tech platforms. (Daisuke Wakabayashi, Jack Nicas, Steve Lohr and Mike Isaac / The New York Times)
Related: Over the past few weeks, Facebook has launched a series of initiatives to help governments, emergency response organizations, small businesses, and its own employees and users with the coronavirus pandemic. The company’s quick response could go a long way in restoring its reputation. (Salvador Rodriguez / CNBC)
Facebook plans to downgrade video streaming quality on its platform and on Instagram in Europe. It’s the latest US tech giant to do so after EU industry chief Thierry Breton urged streaming platforms to free up bandwidth for healthcare workers and remote learners. (Foo Yun Chee / Reuters)
It took a global pandemic to make us forget about our privacy concerns and start using Facebook with abandon again, this piece notes. (Joanna Stern / The Wall Street Journal)
In the United Kingdom, roughly 300 coronavirus support groups have popped on Facebook up to help people cope with the crisis. (John Harris / The Guardian)
Facebook Messenger partnered with developers to provide free services to government health organizations and UN health agencies. The goal is to help them use the messaging platform to scale their response to the COVID-19 crisis. (Messenger)
The World Health Organization is partnering with WhatsApp to give people trustworthy information about the coronavirus pandemic. When you text “hi” to +41 79 893 1892 over WhatsApp, you’ll receive back a text from the WHO that includes a variety of menu items for the latest information, like novel coronavirus infection rates around the world, travel advisories, and misinformation that should be debunked. (Lily Hay Newman / Wired)
People are organizing coronavirus aid on Google docs and through Facebook groups. So many groups have popped up in the past five days that there are now master spreadsheets circulating on Twitter, Nextdoor and Facebook to try and track them. (April Glaser / NBC)
Google’s coronavirus website launched. The company also rolled out enhanced search results for people who look for terms related to the coronavirus. These include information tabs for symptoms, prevention, global statics, and locally relevant information. (Dieter Bohn / The Verge)
Google Maps now displays a warning for people searching for doctors, telling them to call ahead if they think they are infected with the novel coronavirus. Tapping through on the warning brings up the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website. (Ashley Carman / The Verge)
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sent an email to employees, calling the coronavirus pandemic “uncharted territory.” He said he shares their personal anxieties about the virus. (Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times)
Apple pulled an app that allowed Chinese users to bypass censorship of coronavirus information from the Chinese version of its App Store. “Boom the Encryption Keyboard” is an app that encrypts text into emojis that can only be decoded by the receiver’s device. (Adam Smith / PCMag)
On Twitter, a @coronavirus account has existed since 2009. It’s only tweeted four times — always about computer operating systems. But as the COVID-19 pandemic grew this week, people began finding it and fighting with it. (Scott Lucas / BuzzFeed)
Telegram has become a refuge for WeChat users during the coronavirus outbreak. The app has features like channel broadcasts and optional chat encryption that have helped people stay up to date amid heavy censorship on WeChat. (Xinmei Shen / Abacus)
As regular people struggle to get tested for COVID-19, the rich and powerful are jumping to the front of the line. This is a very old story playing out in a new way. (Max Abelson, Scott Soshnick, and Emma Court / Bloomberg)
Dating under social distancing is complicated. But staying indoors is making many people crave partnership, and dating apps are responding by adding new video chatting features. (Georgia Wells / The Wall Street Journal)
Fashion influencers are rethinking their curated aesthetics because they can’t leave their houses. Their accounts might never be the same after the pandemic ends. (Ashley Carman / The Verge)
As people are stuck indoors, a wave of dance parties hosted on Instagram and Zoom staves off coronavirus anxiety. (Zoe Schiffer / The Verge)
Derrick Jones, a.k.a. DJ D-Nice is hosting Club Quarantine, a virtual dance party for thousands of people stuck at home. Mark Zuckerberg stopped by a recent set. (Jelani Cobb / The New Yorker)
Internet service providers are scrambling to add more capacity as they cope with unprecedented usage amid the coronavirus outbreak. (Nick Bastone / The Information)
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty house is shutting down temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic. Five TikTok stars were staying there and making videos. (Amanda Perelli / Business Insider)
As coronavirus surges across the US, people are using Nextdoor to offer help and provide services no longer available through businesses. It’s turning the network into a decent place to be. (Alex Kantrowitz / BuzzFeed)
Virus tracker
Total cases in the United States: 33,404
Total deaths in the United States: 400
Cases reported in California: 1,709
Cases reported in Washington: 1,996
Cases reported in New York: 15,168
Governing
⭐Despite a series of decisive victories in Florida, Illinois, and Arizona, Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is struggling to move forward. Campaigning online and staying relevant during the coronavirus pandemic are two major hurdles. Here’s Marc Caputo at Politico:
Stuck at home because of coronavirus precautions, Biden also can’t meet with donors at fundraisers — which, in turn, may become less lucrative with an economy that’s sinking into recession or perhaps worse. “It’s a tough position,” said Matt Littman, who’s hosting a virtual fundraiser for Biden next month that the candidate and donors will attend through tele-conferencing software. “It’s harder to raise money when there’s no face-to-face meeting and personal contact,” Littman said. “And some of the normal people I have to raise money from I can’t count on. They have their own concerns. They have to keep their houses. The universe of people who will donate money will be smaller.”
Facebook is close to reaching a settlement with a group of content moderators who developed post-traumatic stress disorder while working to remove disturbing content from the social network. In a court filing this week, lawyers for the plaintiffs said the parties had reached a tentative agreement with Facebook on February 7th. (Casey Newton / The Verge)
Industry
⭐Instagram has prototyped an unreleased ephemeral messaging feature that clears the chat thread whenever you leave it. It looks a lot like Snapchat’s most popular feature. Josh Constine at TechCrunch has the scoop:
Instagram Stories caused Snapchat to start shrinking at one point, but now it’s growing healthily again. That may signaled that Instagram still had more work to do to steal Snap’s thunder. But Instagram’s existing version of ephemeral messaging that is clunkier, Facebook scrapped a trial of a similar feature, and WhatsApp’s take that started testing in October hasn’t rolled out yet. That’s left teens to stick with Snapchat for fast-paced communication they don’t have to worry about coming back to haunt them. If Instagram successfully copies this feature too, it could reduce the need for people to stay on Snapchat while making Instagram Direct more appealing to a critical audience. Every reply and subsequent alert draws users deeper into Facebook’s web.
Instagram is facing a wave of hackers breaking into accounts to then extort their owners. Some victims are turning to white hat hackers to help. (Joseph Cox / Vice)
Twitch has become an increasingly valuable way for electronic musicians to connect with their fans. It’s yet another sign that the streaming platform has moved well beyond gaming. (Cherie Hu / DJ Mag)
Discord banned 5.2 million accounts between April and December last year, according to the company’s second transparency report. The most common reasons for account bans were spam and exploitative content. (Jon Porter / The Verge)
Things to do
Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine.
Instagram also has a full slate of programming this week, and posted a story promising free upcoming live shows from the Bon Apetit crew, Miley Cyrus, and Diplo, among others.
And finally...
Talk to us


theverge--2020-03-24--The Redmi K30 Pro is Xiaomi’s new price-performance champion

Xiaomi has announced the Redmi K30 Pro , its latest high-spec-low-price contender .
It ’ s the sequel to the K20 Pro ( in Asia ) / Mi 9T Pro ( in Europe ) , one of last year ’ s most buzzed-about phones — at least in the regions where Xiaomi actually sells phones .
Unlike the K20 Pro , the K30 Pro is visually quite a bit different from its non-Pro predecessor , which was launched in China in December .
There ’ s a circular camera module with four lenses arranged in a square , and Xiaomi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camera as opposed to the regular K30 ’ s hole-punch cutout .
The K30 Pro has a Snapdragon 865 processor , which means it also offers 5G support .
The 6.67 inch screen is a 1080p AMOLED panel with HDR10+ , although it looks like the refresh rate is a standard 60Hz , which puts it out of step with most 2020 flagship phones .
The camera system has a 64-megapixel primary sensor , a 13-megapixel ultrawide , a 2-megapixel macro camera , and a 5-megapixel telephoto that also has macro capabilities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability of that last camera , though a higher end “ zoom edition ” of the phone swaps it out for a telephoto that can shoot up to 30x hybrid zoom .
Other specs include 8K video recording , a headphone jack , IP53 water resistance , NFC , Wi-Fi 6 , a 4,700mAh battery , and 33W fast charging over USB-C. Xiaomi also claims the K30 Pro has a much better haptic feedback system powered by a linear motor , which should help fix one of the drawbacks of the K20 Pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China first and should come to India later .
It may well see an eventual release in Europe , too , but if the K20 Pro is any indication it could be rebranded as the Mi 10T .
In China , the range starts at 2,999 yuan ( $ 425 ) for a K30 Pro with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage , with multiple configurations priced between that and the 3,999-yuan ( $ 565 ) 8GB/256GB K30 Pro Zoom .
That should set it up as a capable competitor to Realme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless the lack of a high refresh rate is a dealbreaker .

Xiaomi has announced the Redmi K30 Pro, its latest high-spec-low-price contender. It’s the sequel to the K20 Pro (in Asia) / Mi 9T Pro (in Europe), one of last year’s most buzzed-about phones — at least in the regions where Xiaomi actually sells phones.
Unlike the K20 Pro, the K30 Pro is visually quite a bit different from its non-Pro predecessor, which was launched in China in December. There’s a circular camera module with four lenses arranged in a square, and Xiaomi is also bringing back the pop-up selfie camera as opposed to the regular K30’s hole-punch cutout.
The K30 Pro has a Snapdragon 865 processor, which means it also offers 5G support. The 6.67 inch screen is a 1080p AMOLED panel with HDR10+, although it looks like the refresh rate is a standard 60Hz, which puts it out of step with most 2020 flagship phones.
The camera system has a 64-megapixel primary sensor, a 13-megapixel ultrawide, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 5-megapixel telephoto that also has macro capabilities. Xiaomi is particularly talking up the magnification ability of that last camera, though a higher end “zoom edition” of the phone swaps it out for a telephoto that can shoot up to 30x hybrid zoom.
Other specs include 8K video recording, a headphone jack, IP53 water resistance, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, a 4,700mAh battery, and 33W fast charging over USB-C. Xiaomi also claims the K30 Pro has a much better haptic feedback system powered by a linear motor, which should help fix one of the drawbacks of the K20 Pro.
The K30 Pro will launch in China first and should come to India later. It may well see an eventual release in Europe, too, but if the K20 Pro is any indication it could be rebranded as the Mi 10T.