theverge--2020-09-11--Why ‘Cancel Netflix’ is trending

Why ‘Cancel Netflix’ is trending

Groups of conservative provocateurs , QAnon supporters , and others on social media have jumped on the release of the French coming-of-age film Cuties and a trending “ Cancel Netflix ” hashtag to associate the company with pedophilia .
This isn ’ t the first time that people have tried to cancel Netflix .
Republicans tried it in 2018 following Netflix ’ s confirmation that it had signed a multiyear deal with Barack and Michelle Obama to produce a series of titles .
Earlier this year , people threatened to cancel Netflix over 365 Days , a movie that petitioners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And , at the same time that people are calling for others to cancel Netflix over Cuties , there ’ s a petition from fans of shows like Jessica Jones , The OA , and Anne with an E , hosting a “ cancel Netflix ” campaign to try to bring attention to their favorite series that have been canceled .
But while some of those cancel campaigns are pretty direct — Republicans don ’ t like the Obamas , Jessica Jones fans just want more Jessica Jones — the Cuties situation gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from people being upset about the way young girls were positioned on a poster in a marketing campaign to QAnon supporters using this as proof that their dangerous conspiracy theories are real .
Directed by Maïmouna Doucouré , Cuties is a French movie that critiques society ’ s sexualization of girls .
The movie follows an 11-year-old Senegalese girl living in Paris who dreams of joining a local dance clique .
She decides to protest her parents ’ strict household and join the other girls in dancing their way through competitions , trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuties uses “ uncomfortable images to provoke a serious conversation about the sexualization of girls — especially regarding girls of color , the policing of a girl ’ s sexuality , double standards , the effect of social media on kids , and how children learn these behaviors , ” one critic wrote on Roger Ebert .
Doucouré ’ s intent is to show “ that our children should have the time to be children , ” she told TIME magazine this month .
In using imagery about exploited youth , Doucouré wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , and how much it ’ s taken for granted today .
The film even won the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award at Sundance Film Festival this year , and it was widely praised for its depiction of the pressures of girlhood .
Netflix secured the global streaming rights to the film , with Variety noting at the time that Cuties would be translated into more than 40 languages .
Under the Netflix umbrella , the film would stream in 190 different territories that Netflix operates in , excluding France where it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie began before people had even seen the film .
Criticisms lobbed against Cuties and Doucouré came from people who saw a poster and assumed the film was one thing , and as the backlash grew , it became apparent that criticism was disingenuous , based on preconceived notions of what the movie was without having sat down to watch it .
Which is why Netflix only made it worse .
Despite the film existing for some time , it wasn ’ t until August that people really became aware of it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the movie ’ s release date that came with a new poster .
Designed by Netflix ’ s team , the new poster seemed to present a different type of movie than the one Doucouré made .
The original French poster framed the main cast of girls as that — young girls , walking through the streets of Paris , waving around shopping bags and having fun .
Netflix ’ s now-deleted poster positioned the girls as older characters , similar to posters for other dance movies like Step Up .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long after Netflix tweeted the poster , including descriptions of the movie as 11-year-old Amy becoming “ fascinated with a twerking dance crew , ” tweets sprang up calling Netflix to take the poster down .
Those tweets then snowballed into a few different Change.org campaigns decrying Netflix ’ s decision to carry the film , garnering tens of thousands of signatures .
Within a couple of days , Netflix had removed the poster and used different artwork for the film on its platform .
“ We ’ re deeply sorry for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a statement posted to Netflix ’ s account on August 20th read .
“ It was not OK , nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance.
” A statement and removal of the poster didn ’ t clear everything up .
By September 3rd , a Turkish media watch group demanded the film be banned from Netflix in Turkey over concerns that the movie promoted child exploitation , Reuters reported .
Several high-profile , conservative commentators picked up on the story , too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” children and arguing that it ’ s “ pedophilia soft-porn.
” Former NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch demanded Netflix “ remove the film ” entirely .
The accusations lobbed at Netflix also found their way to Doucouré who told Deadline she received countless death threats .
“ I received numerous attacks on my character from people who had not seen the film , who thought I was actually making a film that was apologetic about hyper-sexualization of children , ” Doucouré said .
“ I received numerous attacks on my character from people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doucouré received some support from celebrities and high-profile Twitter users alike , including Tessa Thompson , who noted she was disappointed by Netflix ’ s marketing campaign .
Thompson added she understood people ’ s response to the post , “ but it doesn ’ t speak to the film I saw.
” Again , much of the complaints at the time were coming from people who hadn ’ t seen the movie , while defenses came in from people who had .
As Rolling Stone ’ s critic wrote in his review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context , the girls ’ outfits look questionably flashy and trashy ; seen in context , as the costumes for a hip-hop dance troupe competing for a grand prize , you understand how they function in regards to a bigger-picture message that Doucouré is trying to get across.
” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos called Doucouré to personally apologize for the poster the team created .
She ’ s currently working on another project for Netflix and told Deadline that despite the negativity associated with the poster , she had many back-and-forth conversations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future .
The “ cancel Netflix ” trend picked up again on September 9th alongside Cuties ’ release .
But unlike the original controversy a few weeks prior , attacks online became far more aggressive and targeted .
The fact that Cuties is streaming on Netflix , a big entertainment company with deep tech roots that ’ s perceived as “ liberal , ” also plays into this equation .
Tech companies with liberal-leaning policies have found themselves at the center of anger and discourse from right-wing and conservative groups .
Netflix deciding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature easily lends itself to those critics .
Posts went around Twitter and Instagram tagging critics who reviewed the film positively , calling them out as promoting dangerous material , but it was also a way to mobilize harassment against those writers .
Conservative provocateurs like Steven Crowder and conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones dedicated videos to calling out the “ leftist media ” that praised Cuties .
Writers and personalities from conservative publications like The Daily Caller and Breitbart also criticized the film ’ s content .
Actress Evan Rachel Wood posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film ’ s use of child exploitation .
Republican Senator Josh Hawley commented that Netflix might “ like to come talk this over before Congress , ” retweeting a Daily Caller columnist .
Senator Ted Cruz called Netflix carrying the film “ deeply disturbing.
” On Rotten Tomatoes , the film was review bombed , with plenty of audience reviews calling the film sick and twisted .
Attacks online became far more aggressive and targeted Unfortunately , a marketing attempt to promote a coming-of-age movie took on a life of its own beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about deep-rooted pedophilia rings in Hollywood — a popular theory within QAnon circles — grabbed hold of the story .
Supporters of QAnon , a group that believes Hollywood is controlled by a cabal of pedophiles , seized on the backlash .
Tweets littered with hashtags like # SaveTheChildren — known for its connection to the group — started populating , and soon it was a perfect storm of anger centered on Cuties that had nothing to do with the film itself .
Not all of the criticism came from people who openly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuties an easy target for QAnon supporters to spread conspiracy theories .
The focus has shifted away from the actual movie , including its purpose and contextual uses of certain scenes , because of the resurgent backlash .
But as a critic wrote in his Rolling Stone review , Cuties is not “ a salacious bit of pedo-bait designed to appeal to baser instincts rather than better angels.
” Alongside all of the criticism and backlash that led to # CancelNetflix trending , there ’ s also been a show of support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tweeted positively about the movie and the director , alongside their own published reviews .
Their words echo the message that Doucouré worked to show in her film : giving the audience a chance to experience what it ’ s like “ to become a little 11-year-old girl in today ’ s society and not judge her , ” as she told film site Shadow and Act .
Netflix also issued a statement decrying the criticism and supporting Doucouré ’ s film .
“ Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson told The Verge .
“ It ’ s an award-winning film and a powerful story about the pressure young girls face on social media and from society more generally growing up — and we ’ d encourage anyone who cares about these important issues to watch the movie.
” Cuties ’ message can get lost in the sea of backlash , online rage , and conspiracy theories that have found themselves attached to the film , but Doucouré wanted to tell a story that was close to her own life .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s expressed hope that people will watch the movie before they make a decision about whether they think it ’ s good or bad .
“ My one message would be that childhood is precious and we all have to protect our children , ” she told Shadow and Act .
“ We all have to come together to figure out what is best for our children so that we can give a beautiful space to our children to grow up safely and peacefully , so that they can have the freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the best version of themselves .
”

Groups of conservative provocateurs, QAnon supporters, and others on social media have jumped on the release of the French coming-of-age film Cuties and a trending “Cancel Netflix” hashtag to associate the company with pedophilia.
This isn’t the first time that people have tried to cancel Netflix. Republicans tried it in 2018 following Netflix’s confirmation that it had signed a multiyear deal with Barack and Michelle Obama to produce a series of titles. Earlier this year, people threatened to cancel Netflix over 365 Days, a movie that petitioners argued glorified sexual violence against women. And, at the same time that people are calling for others to cancel Netflix over Cuties, there’s a petition from fans of shows like Jessica Jones, The OA, and Anne with an E, hosting a “cancel Netflix” campaign to try to bring attention to their favorite series that have been canceled.
But while some of those cancel campaigns are pretty direct — Republicans don’t like the Obamas, Jessica Jones fans just want more Jessica Jones — the Cuties situation gets very complicated very quickly. It moves from people being upset about the way young girls were positioned on a poster in a marketing campaign to QAnon supporters using this as proof that their dangerous conspiracy theories are real.
Alright, let’s back up.
What is Cuties?
Directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, Cuties is a French movie that critiques society’s sexualization of girls. The movie follows an 11-year-old Senegalese girl living in Paris who dreams of joining a local dance clique. She decides to protest her parents’ strict household and join the other girls in dancing their way through competitions, trying to make a name for themselves.
Cuties uses “uncomfortable images to provoke a serious conversation about the sexualization of girls — especially regarding girls of color, the policing of a girl’s sexuality, double standards, the effect of social media on kids, and how children learn these behaviors,” one critic wrote on Roger Ebert. Doucouré’s intent is to show “that our children should have the time to be children,” she told TIME magazine this month. In using imagery about exploited youth, Doucouré wants to hit home just how important innocence is, and how much it’s taken for granted today.
The film even won the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award at Sundance Film Festival this year, and it was widely praised for its depiction of the pressures of girlhood. Netflix secured the global streaming rights to the film, with Variety noting at the time that Cuties would be translated into more than 40 languages. Under the Netflix umbrella, the film would stream in 190 different territories that Netflix operates in, excluding France where it had domestic distribution.
Attacks on the movie began before people had even seen the film. Criticisms lobbed against Cuties and Doucouré came from people who saw a poster and assumed the film was one thing, and as the backlash grew, it became apparent that criticism was disingenuous, based on preconceived notions of what the movie was without having sat down to watch it. Which is why Netflix only made it worse.
Netflix’s gaffe
Despite the film existing for some time, it wasn’t until August that people really became aware of it.
In August, Netflix tweeted a teaser for the movie’s release date that came with a new poster. Designed by Netflix’s team, the new poster seemed to present a different type of movie than the one Doucouré made. The original French poster framed the main cast of girls as that — young girls, walking through the streets of Paris, waving around shopping bags and having fun. Netflix’s now-deleted poster positioned the girls as older characters, similar to posters for other dance movies like Step Up. Here’s a side-by-side comparison.
Not long after Netflix tweeted the poster, including descriptions of the movie as 11-year-old Amy becoming “fascinated with a twerking dance crew,” tweets sprang up calling Netflix to take the poster down. Those tweets then snowballed into a few different Change.org campaigns decrying Netflix’s decision to carry the film, garnering tens of thousands of signatures. Within a couple of days, Netflix had removed the poster and used different artwork for the film on its platform.
“We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Cuties,” a statement posted to Netflix’s account on August 20th read. “It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance.”
A statement and removal of the poster didn’t clear everything up. By September 3rd, a Turkish media watch group demanded the film be banned from Netflix in Turkey over concerns that the movie promoted child exploitation, Reuters reported. Several high-profile, conservative commentators picked up on the story, too. They started tweeting about Netflix “grooming” children and arguing that it’s “pedophilia soft-porn.” Former NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch demanded Netflix “remove the film” entirely. The accusations lobbed at Netflix also found their way to Doucouré who told Deadline she received countless death threats.
“I received numerous attacks on my character from people who had not seen the film, who thought I was actually making a film that was apologetic about hyper-sexualization of children,” Doucouré said.
“I received numerous attacks on my character from people who had not seen the film”
Doucouré received some support from celebrities and high-profile Twitter users alike, including Tessa Thompson, who noted she was disappointed by Netflix’s marketing campaign. Thompson added she understood people’s response to the post, “but it doesn’t speak to the film I saw.” Again, much of the complaints at the time were coming from people who hadn’t seen the movie, while defenses came in from people who had.
As Rolling Stone’s critic wrote in his review of the film, “Out of context, the girls’ outfits look questionably flashy and trashy; seen in context, as the costumes for a hip-hop dance troupe competing for a grand prize, you understand how they function in regards to a bigger-picture message that Doucouré is trying to get across.”
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos called Doucouré to personally apologize for the poster the team created. She’s currently working on another project for Netflix and told Deadline that despite the negativity associated with the poster, she had many back-and-forth conversations with Netflix to avoid this happening in the future.
A new wave of attacks
The “cancel Netflix” trend picked up again on September 9th alongside Cuties’ release. But unlike the original controversy a few weeks prior, attacks online became far more aggressive and targeted.
The fact that Cuties is streaming on Netflix, a big entertainment company with deep tech roots that’s perceived as “liberal,” also plays into this equation. Tech companies with liberal-leaning policies have found themselves at the center of anger and discourse from right-wing and conservative groups. Netflix deciding to carry an evocative film of this nature easily lends itself to those critics.
Posts went around Twitter and Instagram tagging critics who reviewed the film positively, calling them out as promoting dangerous material, but it was also a way to mobilize harassment against those writers. Conservative provocateurs like Steven Crowder and conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones dedicated videos to calling out the “leftist media” that praised Cuties. Writers and personalities from conservative publications like The Daily Caller and Breitbart also criticized the film’s content.
Actress Evan Rachel Wood posted a series of Instagram stories about the film’s use of child exploitation. Republican Senator Josh Hawley commented that Netflix might “like to come talk this over before Congress,” retweeting a Daily Caller columnist. Senator Ted Cruz called Netflix carrying the film “deeply disturbing.” On Rotten Tomatoes, the film was review bombed, with plenty of audience reviews calling the film sick and twisted.
Attacks online became far more aggressive and targeted
Unfortunately, a marketing attempt to promote a coming-of-age movie took on a life of its own beyond Netflix and Doucouré, as conspiracy theories about deep-rooted pedophilia rings in Hollywood — a popular theory within QAnon circles — grabbed hold of the story.
Supporters of QAnon, a group that believes Hollywood is controlled by a cabal of pedophiles, seized on the backlash. Tweets littered with hashtags like #SaveTheChildren — known for its connection to the group — started populating, and soon it was a perfect storm of anger centered on Cuties that had nothing to do with the film itself.
Not all of the criticism came from people who openly support QAnon. But the backlash makes Cuties an easy target for QAnon supporters to spread conspiracy theories. The focus has shifted away from the actual movie, including its purpose and contextual uses of certain scenes, because of the resurgent backlash. But as a critic wrote in his Rolling Stone review, Cuties is not “a salacious bit of pedo-bait designed to appeal to baser instincts rather than better angels.”
The support
Alongside all of the criticism and backlash that led to #CancelNetflix trending, there’s also been a show of support for Doucouré and Cuties. Several film critics have tweeted positively about the movie and the director, alongside their own published reviews. Their words echo the message that Doucouré worked to show in her film: giving the audience a chance to experience what it’s like “to become a little 11-year-old girl in today’s society and not judge her,” as she told film site Shadow and Act. Netflix also issued a statement decrying the criticism and supporting Doucouré’s film.
“Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children,” a Netflix spokesperson told The Verge. “It’s an award-winning film and a powerful story about the pressure young girls face on social media and from society more generally growing up — and we’d encourage anyone who cares about these important issues to watch the movie.”
Cuties’ message can get lost in the sea of backlash, online rage, and conspiracy theories that have found themselves attached to the film, but Doucouré wanted to tell a story that was close to her own life. In interviews she’s given, she’s expressed hope that people will watch the movie before they make a decision about whether they think it’s good or bad.


theverge--2020-09-11--New Nest Thermostat hits FCC with 60GHz radar, hinting at Pixel 4-style Project Soli gestures

Google appears to have a new Nest Thermostat in the works , according to new FCC documentation .
It could be equipped with Google ’ s Project Soli radar motion controls , in what would be a first for the company ’ s home products , as spotted by Droid Life .
There ’ s very little to go by in the current crop of documents , but the new Nest Thermostat ( model G4CVZ ) does have an interesting addition : not only will it offer 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 , it ’ ll be equipped with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one already used by the Pixel 4 for its Motion Sense gesture controls .
That ’ s particularly interesting , given that those Motion Sense features would actually make a lot of sense on a wall-mounted home thermostat .
The ability for the thermostat to detect when you ’ re actually nearby and looking at it before turning on the display could help save power , and the gestures could be used to adjust the thermostat or swipe between menus from farther away .
Google is also long overdue for an updated Nest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cheaper Nest Thermostat E , was released in 2017 and the current third-gen flagship in 2015 .
While it ’ s not clear when Google will announce the new product , the company does typically hold a hardware event in the fall , meaning that it could appear alongside the already announced Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 5 .

Google appears to have a new Nest Thermostat in the works, according to new FCC documentation. It could be equipped with Google’s Project Soli radar motion controls, in what would be a first for the company’s home products, as spotted by Droid Life.
There’s very little to go by in the current crop of documents, but the new Nest Thermostat (model G4CVZ) does have an interesting addition: not only will it offer 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, it’ll be equipped with a 60GHz radar transmitter, similar to the one already used by the Pixel 4 for its Motion Sense gesture controls.
That’s particularly interesting, given that those Motion Sense features would actually make a lot of sense on a wall-mounted home thermostat. The ability for the thermostat to detect when you’re actually nearby and looking at it before turning on the display could help save power, and the gestures could be used to adjust the thermostat or swipe between menus from farther away.


theverge--2020-09-11--Democrats call on telcos to lift overage fees for students

A group of Democratic senators is calling on the telecom industry to lift their limits and fees associated with heightened broadband use for students in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
In a letter addressed to the CEOs of telecom companies including AT & T , Comcast , Verizon , and T-Mobile Friday , senators like Mark Warner ( D-VA ) , Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) , and Ron Wyden ( D-OR ) requested that the telecoms temporarily suspend data caps , overage fees , and throttling as students across the country begin remote schooling .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciation for internet service options that enable remote learning , but are also concerned with ongoing data limitations and continued lack of service for many households , ” the senators wrote .
“ In many situations , online learning activities require additional data allowances beyond plans readily available for students.
” In July , the Federal Communications Commission announced its Keep Americans Connected Pledge , a voluntary promise telecoms could make ensuring that they would continue to provide service and lift overage fees during the pandemic .
That pledge ended this summer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ uphold this pledge with their customers .
As the pandemic started to move schooling online in the US earlier this year , school officials noticed that students who attended wealthier schools tended to display better attendance rates compared to those students from less-wealthy backgrounds .
This could be due in part to the wealthier students having more access to broadband and technical equipment .
“ Our offices have fielded numerous complaints from parents and educators frustrated by usage caps and limited bandwidth , which prevent daily video calls needed to learn and work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And those who have no other option find themselves buried in overage fees .
”

A group of Democratic senators is calling on the telecom industry to lift their limits and fees associated with heightened broadband use for students in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter addressed to the CEOs of telecom companies including AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and T-Mobile Friday, senators like Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) requested that the telecoms temporarily suspend data caps, overage fees, and throttling as students across the country begin remote schooling.
“We have heard from public schools who express appreciation for internet service options that enable remote learning, but are also concerned with ongoing data limitations and continued lack of service for many households,” the senators wrote. “In many situations, online learning activities require additional data allowances beyond plans readily available for students.”
In July, the Federal Communications Commission announced its Keep Americans Connected Pledge, a voluntary promise telecoms could make ensuring that they would continue to provide service and lift overage fees during the pandemic. That pledge ended this summer. In some cases, providers failed to uphold this pledge with their customers.
As the pandemic started to move schooling online in the US earlier this year, school officials noticed that students who attended wealthier schools tended to display better attendance rates compared to those students from less-wealthy backgrounds. This could be due in part to the wealthier students having more access to broadband and technical equipment.


theverge--2020-09-11--Behind the scenes of our Microsoft Surface Duo intro shot

Here we are again : it ’ s that time of year when every company starts announcing and releasing their amaze-o flagship phones , and we like to go just as big when we review them .
For our iPhone 11 Pro review last September , we made one of our most ambitious and artistic opening shots ever .
So unfortunately , that means we have a brand-new baseline of production quality .
Tough for us , good for you !
Our Microsoft Surface Duo review came out yesterday , and for obvious reasons , we didn ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toys , so we had to get creative .
The end result was this shot : a composition of a 3D re-creation and practical footage , created in tandem on both sides of America in the space of just a few days .
While our iPhone 11 Pro opening shot was all practical , this time , we decided to blend a practical shot with 3D .
Without extremely expensive equipment , some movements are just impossible to film — and an unfolding , floating , spinning phone is one of them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ show you how it was done .
The first thing I like to do when planning a shot like this is pre-vis , or visualizing what the shot will look like .
Planning the shot in Cinema 4D before filming makes having a conversation with team members about what we need to accomplish a whole lot easier .
It lets us plan our shot lists and make sure we get everything needed for the final composite .
It also gets me comfortable working with whatever model and texturing we ’ re using if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ composite 3D / practical shot .
Another nice bonus is we can actually plan out these shots before we even get the device in hand .
Next is practical shooting .
Vjeran Pavic , our fantastic senior video director , shot this on a skeleton set in San Francisco — basically just a wooden desktop , lights , and some reflectors .
I had a list of things he needed to get for me to be able to seamlessly blend a 3D render of the Surface Duo into a real practical shot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focal length , and f-stop .
There ’ s an entire industry of talented professionals whose job it is to build assets for others to create with , so we were able to purchase a model from an online marketplace rather than re-creating the Duo from scratch .
Along with a ton of reference photos , one of the most important things I needed was a ( mostly ) 360-degree photo of the set that I could use to re-create the lighting and reflections of the scene .
The key to planning out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know where you want to end up , and getting there is easy .
So we shot the Duo in its landing position so that Vjeran could flip it closed and pick it up .
After matching the starting position of the model to the first practical frame in C4D , all I had to do was map the original shot ’ s textures directly onto the model so the two would be indistinguishable when laid on top of each other , and we ’ d almost be there .
The last 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most difficult — and also when you may have the most self-doubt .
“ Will this work ?
” “ People are going to obviously see the transition.
” “ It ’ ll never work.
” One of the most difficult aspects is re-creating the imperfections of reality : camera movement , drifting focus , etc .
But after some perseverance and painstaking After Effects magic to match the color , film grain , blur , and motion , you finally get there — and it feels great .

Here we are again: it’s that time of year when every company starts announcing and releasing their amaze-o flagship phones, and we like to go just as big when we review them. For our iPhone 11 Pro review last September, we made one of our most ambitious and artistic opening shots ever. So unfortunately, that means we have a brand-new baseline of production quality. Tough for us, good for you!
Our Microsoft Surface Duo review came out yesterday, and for obvious reasons, we didn’t have access to our usual set of cool toys, so we had to get creative. The end result was this shot: a composition of a 3D re-creation and practical footage, created in tandem on both sides of America in the space of just a few days.
While our iPhone 11 Pro opening shot was all practical, this time, we decided to blend a practical shot with 3D. Without extremely expensive equipment, some movements are just impossible to film — and an unfolding, floating, spinning phone is one of them.
Let me pull back the curtain to show you how it was done.
The first thing I like to do when planning a shot like this is pre-vis, or visualizing what the shot will look like. Planning the shot in Cinema 4D before filming makes having a conversation with team members about what we need to accomplish a whole lot easier. It lets us plan our shot lists and make sure we get everything needed for the final composite. It also gets me comfortable working with whatever model and texturing we’re using if it’s going to be a composite 3D / practical shot. Another nice bonus is we can actually plan out these shots before we even get the device in hand.
Next is practical shooting. Vjeran Pavic, our fantastic senior video director, shot this on a skeleton set in San Francisco — basically just a wooden desktop, lights, and some reflectors.
I had a list of things he needed to get for me to be able to seamlessly blend a 3D render of the Surface Duo into a real practical shot, including the camera ISO, lens, focal length, and f-stop. There’s an entire industry of talented professionals whose job it is to build assets for others to create with, so we were able to purchase a model from an online marketplace rather than re-creating the Duo from scratch.
Along with a ton of reference photos, one of the most important things I needed was a (mostly) 360-degree photo of the set that I could use to re-create the lighting and reflections of the scene.
The key to planning out these shots is to work backward: know where you want to end up, and getting there is easy. So we shot the Duo in its landing position so that Vjeran could flip it closed and pick it up. After matching the starting position of the model to the first practical frame in C4D, all I had to do was map the original shot’s textures directly onto the model so the two would be indistinguishable when laid on top of each other, and we’d almost be there.


theverge--2020-09-11--Motorola stealth launches the Moto G9 Plus in Brazil

Motorola has quietly released its new budget phone , the Moto G9 Plus , in Brazil .
As leaks previously mentioned , the new smartphone includes a 6.81-inch display screen , a quad-camera setup on the phone ’ s back , plus a 5,000mAh battery .
The Moto G9 Plus is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G — the same chip used by Google ’ s recently released Google Pixel 4A — plus 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage .
On the front of the screen , the Moto G9 ’ s 6.81-inch screen includes a 1080p display with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the screen ’ s upper-left side .
The quad-camera setup on the back includes a 64-megapixel main sensor , an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera , a 2-megapixel macro sensor , and a 2-megapixel depth sensor .
No word on when Motorola will release the G9 Plus in other markets or if the company will go with a sneaky release like it did in Brazil .
The Moto G9 Plus color variants include rose gold and indigo blue , priced at $ 2,500 Brazilian real ( about $ 470 USD ) .
Still , pricing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recent leak on Orange Slovakia ’ s website listed the phone ’ s price in Europe at €255 ( about $ 300 USD ) .

Motorola has quietly released its new budget phone, the Moto G9 Plus, in Brazil. As leaks previously mentioned, the new smartphone includes a 6.81-inch display screen, a quad-camera setup on the phone’s back, plus a 5,000mAh battery.
The Moto G9 Plus is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G — the same chip used by Google’s recently released Google Pixel 4A — plus 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. On the front of the screen, the Moto G9’s 6.81-inch screen includes a 1080p display with a 16-megapixel front hole-punch camera located on the screen’s upper-left side. The quad-camera setup on the back includes a 64-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 2-megapixel macro sensor, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.


theverge--2020-09-12--Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Plus are just $100 for one day only at Woot

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
At Woot , Amazon Prime members can pick up a set of Samsung ’ s very good Galaxy Buds Plus wireless earbuds for $ 100 .
We ’ ve seen this $ 50 off discount only once before , back in July , but it ’ s back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you don ’ t have Prime , your checkout price will be $ 105 , so it ’ s not too harsh of a penalty .
This sale is happening for one day only , so don ’ t expect it to be available if you ’ re checking this out on Sunday or beyond .
The Galaxy Buds Plus are worth checking out if you value long-lasting battery life , superb sound quality , and solid microphones for placing calls .
Beats Solo 3 wireless on-ear headphones are down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you use the code VERGESOLO in at checkout .
These usually cost somewhere between $ 150 and $ 200 , depending on the color you want , and Daily Steals ’ selection truly stands out beyond the standard colorways .
It has the Club Collection colors of Beats ’ Solo 3 lineup , containing “ club red , ” which mixes red and navy blue ; “ club yellow , ” which mixes yellow with sky blue ; and a few others .
These are new units with a full one-year manufacturer warranty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shrink-wrap that ’ s applied in the factory .
If you ’ ve been on the lookout for a nice deal on the Apple AirPods Pro , you ’ ll want to check in on Sunday as early as you can : 3AM ET is when Staples will knock $ 50 off , making them $ 200 .
This matches the best price that Staples set early last month .
Deals this good on the AirPods Pro are rare at this point , and while the sale technically lasts from Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock will likely sell out before then .
Several Nintendo Switch games that I ’ d recommend to just about anyone are up to $ 20 off at Walmart .
Even a few games that rarely drop below their usual $ 60 price are seeing $ 10 discounts .
These deals are available online and in store , and they ’ re for the physical cartridges , not the digital versions .
Here ’ s a full list : • Animal Crossing : New Horizons is $ 50 ( usually $ 60 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Wild is $ 50 ( usually $ 60 ) • New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe is $ 50 ( usually $ 60 )

At Woot, Amazon Prime members can pick up a set of Samsung’s very good Galaxy Buds Plus wireless earbuds for $95. This is the lowest price yet. If you don’t have Prime, your checkout price will be $100, so it’s not too harsh of a penalty. This sale is happening for one day only, so don’t expect it to be available if you’re checking this out on Sunday or beyond.
The Galaxy Buds Plus are worth checking out if you value long-lasting battery life, superb sound quality, and solid microphones for placing calls.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus (new) / Was $150, now 36% off for Amazon Prime members. 33% off without Prime. $95 at Woot
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Beats Solo 3 wireless on-ear headphones are down to just $103 at Daily Steals when you use the code VERGESOLO in at checkout. These usually cost somewhere between $150 and $200, depending on the color you want, and Daily Steals’ selection truly stands out beyond the standard colorways. It has the Club Collection colors of Beats’ Solo 3 lineup, containing “club red,” which mixes red and navy blue; “club yellow,” which mixes yellow with sky blue; and a few others.
These are new units with a full one-year manufacturer warranty, but they don’t have the shrink-wrap that’s applied in the factory.
Beats Solo 3 wireless on-ear headphones / Was $200, now 48% off $103 at Daily Steals
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
If you’ve been on the lookout for a nice deal on the Apple AirPods Pro, you’ll want to check in on Sunday as early as you can: 3AM ET is when Staples will knock $50 off, making them $200. This matches the best price that Staples set early last month. Deals this good on the AirPods Pro are rare at this point, and while the sale technically lasts from Sunday, September 13th, through the 19th, stock will likely sell out before then.
Apple AirPods Pro / Was $250, now 20% off starting Sunday, 9/22 $200 at Staples
Several Nintendo Switch games that I’d recommend to just about anyone are up to $20 off at Walmart. Even a few games that rarely drop below their usual $60 price are seeing $10 discounts. These deals are available online and in store, and they’re for the physical cartridges, not the digital versions. Here’s a full list:


theverge--2020-09-12--SoftBank is reportedly preparing to sell ARM to Nvidia for more than $40 billion

SoftBank is reportedly is preparing to sell chipmaker ARM to Nvidia as early as next week in a deal worth more than $ 40 billion , The Wall Street Journal reported .
Rumors of the deal began circulating in July , and Nvidia has been reported to be the only suitor in concrete discussions with SoftBank .
The deal , if it goes forward , would be one of the largest ever in the chip sector and would likely face intense regulatory scrutiny .
According to the WSJ , the companies have been in “ exclusive ” talks for weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 31 billion .
The British company ’ s chips power mobile device processors for companies including Apple , Samsung , and Qualcomm .
ARM has likely only increased in value since the SoftBank acquisition , with Microsoft making an ARM-based Surface and a version of Windows for ARM , and Apple planning to switch future Macs to ARM-based chipsets .
Nvidia is the leading maker of GPUs , which ARM also designs , but other than its Tegra line of mobile chipsets used in devices like the Nintendo Switch , Nvidia doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of CPU design or mobile hardware .
An ARM acquisition is likely to change that .

SoftBank is reportedly is preparing to sell chipmaker ARM to Nvidia as early as next week in a deal worth more than $40 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Rumors of the deal began circulating in July, and Nvidia has been reported to be the only suitor in concrete discussions with SoftBank. The deal, if it goes forward, would be one of the largest ever in the chip sector and would likely face intense regulatory scrutiny. According to the WSJ, the companies have been in “exclusive” talks for weeks.
SoftBank bought ARM in 2016 for $31 billion. The British company’s chips power mobile device processors for companies including Apple, Samsung, and Qualcomm. ARM has likely only increased in value since the SoftBank acquisition, with Microsoft making an ARM-based Surface and a version of Windows for ARM, and Apple planning to switch future Macs to ARM-based chipsets.


theverge--2020-09-12--Borderlands 3 is getting a free PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrade — and four-player splitscreen

Borderlands 3 is the latest game to adopt an encouraging trend — giving gamers a next-gen upgrade without making them pay for it — and in this case , it ’ s one that ’ ll be extremely welcome to console gamers who have 4K TV sets .
The image above ( and embedded in the tweet below ) has all the details , but just in case you can ’ t make out the fine print the primary news is this : on PS5 and Xbox Series X , the game will now run at 4K resolution at 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoother than any console can run Borderlands 3 today .
Last year , Digital Foundry found that even the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X only managed to run the game your choice of 3200 x 1800 resolution and 30 fps , or 1080p at 60fps , making you sacrifice either resolution or a smooth frame rate , and performance wasn ’ t necessarily consistent even then — so a true 4K60 campaign could make quite the difference .
Gearbox isn ’ t making the same promise to would-be owners of the cheaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , since that console that ’ s generally targeting 1440p resolutions instead of 4K .
But the other news today is a brand-new splitscreen mode that supports 3 or 4 players on the same TV , letting you bring along three friends to play on a single console .
That one is coming to the Xbox Series S , as well as the X and both PlayStation 5 models .
And if you ’ re planning to keep on trucking with a current gen PS4 or Xbox One , you get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon be able to split your current two-player splitscreen mode vertically instead of horizontally , perhaps to get a better view of the game ’ s desolate skies .
Other games getting free next-gen upgrades : The Witcher 3 , Destiny 2 , and Dead by Daylight , and — on Xbox , anyhow — any game that signs up for Microsoft ’ s Smart Delivery program , including Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla and Cyberpunk 2077 .
Games that will make you pay include Call of Duty Black Ops : Cold War @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Borderlands 3 is the latest game to adopt an encouraging trend — giving gamers a next-gen upgrade without making them pay for it — and in this case, it’s one that’ll be extremely welcome to console gamers who have 4K TV sets.
The image above (and embedded in the tweet below) has all the details, but just in case you can’t make out the fine print the primary news is this: on PS5 and Xbox Series X, the game will now run at 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, both higher and smoother than any console can run Borderlands 3 today.
Last year, Digital Foundry found that even the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X only managed to run the game your choice of 3200 x 1800 resolution and 30 fps, or 1080p at 60fps, making you sacrifice either resolution or a smooth frame rate, and performance wasn’t necessarily consistent even then — so a true 4K60 campaign could make quite the difference.
Gearbox isn’t making the same promise to would-be owners of the cheaper $300 Xbox Series S, of course, since that console that’s generally targeting 1440p resolutions instead of 4K. But the other news today is a brand-new splitscreen mode that supports 3 or 4 players on the same TV, letting you bring along three friends to play on a single console. That one is coming to the Xbox Series S, as well as the X and both PlayStation 5 models.


theverge--2020-09-12--Google Groups rolling out redesign that includes improved mobile site

A Google Groups Material Design revamp that ’ s been in beta for several months will become the default for @ @ @ @ @ , the company announced in a blog post .
The new interface , which has @ @ @ @ @ , ” according to Google , includes a new mobile design , updated collaborative inboxes @ @ @ @ @ categories in groups with labels .
The mobile redesign of Groups will do away with @ @ @ @ @ look and give it an appearance closer to the desktop version .
It also will @ @ @ @ @ and search for groups on mobile , manage membership settings and read group conversations .
@ @ @ @ @ filter and search for messages in a group .
The update to collaborative inboxes , @ @ @ @ @ a Google Group as an email list , will add filters and quick searches so @ @ @ @ @ find conversations in a group .
The new Google Groups will be available to all @ @ @ @ @ begin rolling out September 15th .

A Google Groups Material Design revamp that’s been in beta for several months will become the default for all users starting next week, the company announced in a blog post. The new interface, which has several “highly requested features,” according to Google, includes a new mobile design, updated collaborative inboxes, and replaces tags and categories in groups with labels.
The mobile redesign of Groups will do away with the old and surprisingly outdated look and give it an appearance closer to the desktop version. It also will make it easier to browse and search for groups on mobile, manage membership settings and read group conversations.
Labels will allow users to filter and search for messages in a group. The update to collaborative inboxes, which allow teams to use a Google Group as an email list, will add filters and quick searches so users in a group can find conversations in a group.


theverge--2020-09-12--Smart home platform Wink suffering widespread outage

Smart home platform Wink is having a widespread outage , just over a month after it implemented a paid subscription plan for most of its previously free features .
First reported by Android Police , the outage appears to have started Thursday .
Users started getting email notices from the company on Friday apologizing for the outage , and Wink tweeted Friday afternoon that it was aware of an issue , and not under any kind of attack .
An update at 10:15PM ET Friday said the company had “ implemented a fix for wink.com and are continuing our work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online.
” As of noon ET on Saturday , however , Wink ’ s status page was showing its main website online , but its core API and integrations for Nest , Alexa , Google Home , Ring , and others were still suffering a “ major outage.
” Wink announced earlier this year it was implementing a monthly subscription fee .
Its parent company was having financial problems as of last year ; and in May , Wink said in a blog post that “ long term costs and recent economic events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The company said in another May blog post that it “ had no other way to continue the Wink service as it is currently known ” without a paid subscription .
The monthly subscription of $ 4.99 took effect July 27th .
Wink did not immediately reply to a request for more information Saturday .

Smart home platform Wink is having a widespread outage, just over a month after it implemented a paid subscription plan for most of its previously free features. First reported by Android Police, the outage appears to have started Thursday. Users started getting email notices from the company on Friday apologizing for the outage, and Wink tweeted Friday afternoon that it was aware of an issue, and not under any kind of attack.
An update at 10:15PM ET Friday said the company had “implemented a fix for wink.com and are continuing our work to bring the rest of the services online.” As of noon ET on Saturday, however, Wink’s status page was showing its main website online, but its core API and integrations for Nest, Alexa, Google Home, Ring, and others were still suffering a “major outage.”
Wink announced earlier this year it was implementing a monthly subscription fee. Its parent company was having financial problems as of last year; and in May, Wink said in a blog post that “long term costs and recent economic events have caused additional strain on our business.” The company said in another May blog post that it “had no other way to continue the Wink service as it is currently known” without a paid subscription.
The monthly subscription of $4.99 took effect July 27th.


theverge--2020-09-12--This Clash of Clans animated short is a first step toward a bigger fantasy universe

Supercell ’ s mobile games , Clash of Clans and Clash Royale , are massive : together , the pair has been downloaded more than 3 billion times , according to the developer .
Now , the Finnish studio is bringing them together with a new Clash animated short , a 12-minute piece called Lost & Crowned .
It ’ s gorgeous and funny but also part of a broader strategy to make the overarching fantasy world something bigger and more enticing .
“ When it comes to storytelling , we feel it ’ s important to expand beyond what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Christina Lee , who oversees story and franchise development at Supercell .
This isn ’ t technically the first animated short set in the Clash of Clans universe .
That distinction goes to Clash-A-Rama , a YouTube series penned by a trio of Simpsons writers that debuted back in 2016 .
Lee says that the series was a big success , particularly when it came to expanding the fictional world of Clash .
The games themselves have very little narrative , instead focusing almost entirely on combat .
But Clash-A-Rama showed what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding a newfound depth to that world .
It made Supercell want to do something even bigger .
“ Relatability is really key for us.
” “ While Clash-A-Rama was a big success , we always saw it as exceptional fan fiction , and decided that it was time to tell Supercell ’ s take on the world and the characters , and that ’ s why we set out to do this animated short , ” says Lee .
That original series featured a bright and approachable 2D art style , whereas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more in-keeping with the games and CG commercials and trailers .
One look , and it ’ s clear it ’ s set in the Clash universe .
It was developed in collaboration with animation and design studio Psyop .
The studio has previously worked with Riot on a League of Legends short , and it even turned a Travel Oregon commercial into a Studio Ghibli-style anime clip — and Lee says the main goal , aside from bridging the world of Clash Royale and Clash of Clans , was to focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the driving principles for our team is to make our characters feel like real people , particularly people you can relate to , ” she says .
“ That relatability is really key for us.
” This kind of storytelling is something of a trend among popular multiplayer games .
Titles like Overwatch and League of Legends don ’ t feature much storytelling inside of the actual game , but there are copious animated shorts , comic books , and other content that flesh out their fictional worlds .
Lee heads up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of external storytelling for Clash .
And while Supercell isn ’ t ready to announce anything beyond Lost & Crowned , it ’ s not hard to foresee a future where more animated clips , or even things like comics , further flesh out Clash ’ s fantasy realm .
“ We ’ re in the process of evaluating other opportunities for storytelling , ” says Lee .

Supercell’s mobile games, Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, are massive: together, the pair has been downloaded more than 3 billion times, according to the developer. Now, the Finnish studio is bringing them together with a new Clash animated short, a 12-minute piece called Lost & Crowned. It’s gorgeous and funny but also part of a broader strategy to make the overarching fantasy world something bigger and more enticing. “When it comes to storytelling, we feel it’s important to expand beyond what’s in the games,” says Christina Lee, who oversees story and franchise development at Supercell.
This isn’t technically the first animated short set in the Clash of Clans universe. That distinction goes to Clash-A-Rama, a YouTube series penned by a trio of Simpsons writers that debuted back in 2016. Lee says that the series was a big success, particularly when it came to expanding the fictional world of Clash. The games themselves have very little narrative, instead focusing almost entirely on combat. But Clash-A-Rama showed what the characters did in their off-time, adding a newfound depth to that world. It made Supercell want to do something even bigger.
“Relatability is really key for us.”
“While Clash-A-Rama was a big success, we always saw it as exceptional fan fiction, and decided that it was time to tell Supercell’s take on the world and the characters, and that’s why we set out to do this animated short,” says Lee. That original series featured a bright and approachable 2D art style, whereas Lost & Crowned has a 3D look more in-keeping with the games and CG commercials and trailers. One look, and it’s clear it’s set in the Clash universe.
It was developed in collaboration with animation and design studio Psyop. The studio has previously worked with Riot on a League of Legends short, and it even turned a Travel Oregon commercial into a Studio Ghibli-style anime clip — and Lee says the main goal, aside from bridging the world of Clash Royale and Clash of Clans, was to focus on a character-driven narrative. “One of the driving principles for our team is to make our characters feel like real people, particularly people you can relate to,” she says. “That relatability is really key for us.”


theverge--2020-09-12--Facebook launching poll worker recruitment push this weekend

Facebook is launching a recruitment drive for poll workers this weekend , putting messages into users ’ News Feeds with links to poll worker registration sites in their state .
CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a post announcing the drive that it was part of the company ’ s larger voting information campaign , which has a goal of helping 4 million people register and vote .
“ Voting is voice , and in a democracy , it ’ s the ultimate way we hold our leaders accountable and make sure the country is heading in the direction we want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media giant also will join dozens of other companies offering paid time off to employees in the US who work the polls on Election Day , according to Zuckerberg ’ s post .
Voting rights groups have been warning for months that the US could be facing a shortage of poll workers in November .
Many , if not most , poll workers are senior citizens who may decide to stay home on election day due to the coronavirus pandemic .
It can be long hours , but the job is fairly straightforward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registration , and guiding them to a voting booth .
Anyone over 16 can register to work at the polls , but more than 70 percent of states and jurisdictions were having difficulty staffing the jobs even before the pandemic .
Last month , Facebook launched a voting information center , which will shift its focus as Election Day approaches , providing information about registration and poll worker recruitment , and later moving to specifics about the voting process and eventually , election results .
Facebook has taken other steps to avoid further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company said earlier this month it would stop taking new political advertising in the US in the week before the election , in an attempt to protect against election interference .
And it ’ s apparently paying some users to log off its platforms ahead of the election , as part of a research experiment .

Facebook is launching a recruitment drive for poll workers this weekend, putting messages into users’ News Feeds with links to poll worker registration sites in their state. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a post announcing the drive that it was part of the company’s larger voting information campaign, which has a goal of helping 4 million people register and vote.
“Voting is voice, and in a democracy, it’s the ultimate way we hold our leaders accountable and make sure the country is heading in the direction we want,” Zuckerberg wrote.
The social media giant also will join dozens of other companies offering paid time off to employees in the US who work the polls on Election Day, according to Zuckerberg’s post.
Voting rights groups have been warning for months that the US could be facing a shortage of poll workers in November. Many, if not most, poll workers are senior citizens who may decide to stay home on election day due to the coronavirus pandemic. It can be long hours, but the job is fairly straightforward and involves greeting voters, checking their registration, and guiding them to a voting booth. Anyone over 16 can register to work at the polls, but more than 70 percent of states and jurisdictions were having difficulty staffing the jobs even before the pandemic.
Last month, Facebook launched a voting information center, which will shift its focus as Election Day approaches, providing information about registration and poll worker recruitment, and later moving to specifics about the voting process and eventually, election results.


theverge--2020-09-12--AstraZeneca resumes coronavirus vaccine clinical trials, but only in the UK

A big vaccine trial halted this week after a participant experienced serious neurological symptoms .
It was one of the first known bumps in the road for the highly touted vaccine candidate , which is being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford .
AstraZeneca said Saturday it had resumed phase three trials in the UK only , after receiving confirmation from the UK Medicines Health Regulatory Authority that it was safe to do so .
The company said in a blog post it could not reveal any medical information , saying only that the “ standard review process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was working with health authorities in other countries to determine when other clinical trials may resume .
Hitting pause on a promising vaccine candidate may be jarring , especially during a deadly pandemic .
But it ’ s not unexpected , and it ’ s exactly the kind of thing that large-scale clinical trials are for .
In clinical trials , researchers carefully monitor patients for any kind of bad reactions to the drug or treatment .
If something goes wrong , they can pause , investigate , and then keep going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so .
“ You take any group of 30,000 people , and you watch them over the course of two or three months , it ’ s likely somebody is going to have an illness that you didn ’ t expect , ” Francis Collins , head of the National Institutes of Health , told NBC .
“ And until you ’ re sure that it was not connected to the trial , and you need to put it on clinical hold.
” “ It ’ s likely somebody is going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect ” The hold was first reported by STAT , which later found that the halt was triggered when a patient in the United Kingdom was hospitalized with severe neurological symptoms .
The symptoms were apparently similar to those found in people with transverse myelitis , a kind of inflammation of the spinal cord .
The patient — who is expected to recover — apparently got the vaccine as part of the trial , but that doesn ’ t mean the vaccine caused the illness .
During a call with investors , AstraZeneca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually the second clinical hold on the trial , according to STAT .
The first pause was reportedly caused by a different person who came down with neurological symptoms — but in that case , they were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis , something unrelated to the vaccine .
To figure out what happened in this new case , researchers will have to dig into the data , a process that could take some time .
In the meantime , other trials are looking for evidence of similar symptoms that might have cropped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t skip steps of the research process if we want to end up with a safe and effective vaccine Again , this is normal .
We can ’ t skip steps of the research process if we want to end up with a safe and effective vaccine .
It ’ s also a pretty common , even for trials that have already made it through multiple , smaller rounds of testing .
But you don ’ t have to take my word for it .
Back in 2017 , the Food and Drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picked out 22 different case studies showing when a promising drug , treatment , or vaccine candidate just didn ’ t make that final cut .
In 14 cases , the therapies weren ’ t effective .
In one , it was unsafe .
And in seven cases , they were both unsafe and not effective .
These were all devices , drugs , and vaccines that had done great in the lab , and some were even approved to treat other conditions .
But the human body is complex .
And as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of failed tests shows “ how logical presumptions without corroborating clinical evidence can be unreliable.
” In developing a vaccine to fight this pandemic , we ’ ll need to avoid past presumptions and pitfalls , and focus on the evidence — even if that means taking a moment to stop and wait for the science to catch up .
Here ’ s what else happened this week .
New Research Shows Disproportionate Rate of Coronavirus Deaths in Polluted Areas A new peer-reviewed study by both ProPublica and SUNY found that there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industrial air pollution .
( Lylla Younes and Sara Sneath / ProPublica ) The Sturgis Biker Rally Did Not Cause 266,796 Cases of COVID-19 This is a good analysis of a study modeling virus transmission that got a ton of attention this week .
It digs into exactly why the attention-grabbing numbers from the study are worth a skeptical look .
( Jennifer Beam Dowd / Slate ) As states lift restaurant restrictions , CDC report links dining out to increased COVID-19 risk People who tested positive for the coronavirus were more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who didn ’ t , according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The study surveyed 314 people across several states and did not distinguish between indoor or outdoor dining .
( Erika Edwards / NBC News ) A third of Americans might refuse a Covid-19 vaccine .
How screwed are we ?
Once we get a COVID-19 vaccine , it will only help curb the spread of disease if people actually take it .
Right now , people in the US are skeptical .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign vaccine safety pledge People ’ s skepticism of the vaccine development and approval process prompted several companies to sign a pledge promising to put safety first .
( Mary Beth Griggs / The Verge ) China Injects Hundreds of Thousands With Experimental Covid-19 Vaccines Meanwhile , in China , hundreds of thousands of people received experimental vaccines , according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal .
These vaccines have not yet completed phase three trials .
( Chao Deng / The Wall Street Journal ) 8,000 jumbo jets needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warns After a vaccine gets developed , it has to get from production facilities to population centers .
That ’ s going to require a lot of logistical power , including air power .
To illustrate the challenge , a trade group calculated the amount of cargo space that would be required to transport a single-dose vaccine to 7.8 billion people .
They came up with 8,000 jets .
A few important notes : this is all hypothetical , it ’ s still early days , and vaccines could potentially travel by land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellyatt / CNBC ) How Many 9/11 Survivors Have Died of COVID-19 ?
At Least 42 — and Likely Many More Yesterday , on the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks , a nonprofit news organization called The City reported on the dozens of people who survived the 9/11 attacks , only to die of COVID-19 .
More than 1,300 survivors contracted the disease .
This story is part of “ Missing Them , ” an effort by The City to recognize and remember every person in New York City who died of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muylaert / The City ) To the more than 28,287,928 people worldwide who have tested positive , may your road to recovery be smooth .
To the families and friends of the 911,591 people who have died worldwide — 192,616 of those in the US — your loved ones are not forgotten .
Thanks for joining us this week , and stay safe , everyone .
Update September 12th , 10:12AM ET : Adds that AstraZeneca has resumed clinical trials of its vaccine in the UK

A big vaccine trial halted this week after a participant experienced serious neurological symptoms. It was one of the first known bumps in the road for the highly touted vaccine candidate, which is being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford.
AstraZeneca said Saturday it had resumed phase three trials in the UK only, after receiving confirmation from the UK Medicines Health Regulatory Authority that it was safe to do so. The company said in a blog post it could not reveal any medical information, saying only that the “standard review process triggered a voluntary pause,” adding it was working with health authorities in other countries to determine when other clinical trials may resume.
Hitting pause on a promising vaccine candidate may be jarring, especially during a deadly pandemic. But it’s not unexpected, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that large-scale clinical trials are for. In clinical trials, researchers carefully monitor patients for any kind of bad reactions to the drug or treatment. If something goes wrong, they can pause, investigate, and then keep going once it’s safe to do so.
“You take any group of 30,000 people, and you watch them over the course of two or three months, it’s likely somebody is going to have an illness that you didn’t expect,” Francis Collins, head of the National Institutes of Health, told NBC. “And until you’re sure that it was not connected to the trial, and you need to put it on clinical hold.”
“It’s likely somebody is going to have an illness that you didn’t expect”
The hold was first reported by STAT, which later found that the halt was triggered when a patient in the United Kingdom was hospitalized with severe neurological symptoms. The symptoms were apparently similar to those found in people with transverse myelitis, a kind of inflammation of the spinal cord. The patient — who is expected to recover — apparently got the vaccine as part of the trial, but that doesn’t mean the vaccine caused the illness.
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During a call with investors, AstraZeneca head Pascal Soriot said that this was actually the second clinical hold on the trial, according to STAT. The first pause was reportedly caused by a different person who came down with neurological symptoms — but in that case, they were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, something unrelated to the vaccine.
To figure out what happened in this new case, researchers will have to dig into the data, a process that could take some time. In the meantime, other trials are looking for evidence of similar symptoms that might have cropped up during their tests.
We can’t skip steps of the research process if we want to end up with a safe and effective vaccine
Again, this is normal. We can’t skip steps of the research process if we want to end up with a safe and effective vaccine. It’s also a pretty common, even for trials that have already made it through multiple, smaller rounds of testing.
But you don’t have to take my word for it. Back in 2017, the Food and Drug Administration came out with a report that picked out 22 different case studies showing when a promising drug, treatment, or vaccine candidate just didn’t make that final cut. In 14 cases, the therapies weren’t effective. In one, it was unsafe. And in seven cases, they were both unsafe and not effective. These were all devices, drugs, and vaccines that had done great in the lab, and some were even approved to treat other conditions. But the human body is complex. And as the FDA report notes, this sample of failed tests shows “how logical presumptions without corroborating clinical evidence can be unreliable.”
In developing a vaccine to fight this pandemic, we’ll need to avoid past presumptions and pitfalls, and focus on the evidence — even if that means taking a moment to stop and wait for the science to catch up.
Here’s what else happened this week.
Research
New Research Shows Disproportionate Rate of Coronavirus Deaths in Polluted Areas
A new peer-reviewed study by both ProPublica and SUNY found that there were more coronavirus-related deaths in areas with high industrial air pollution.
(Lylla Younes and Sara Sneath / ProPublica)
The Sturgis Biker Rally Did Not Cause 266,796 Cases of COVID-19
This is a good analysis of a study modeling virus transmission that got a ton of attention this week. It digs into exactly why the attention-grabbing numbers from the study are worth a skeptical look.
(Jennifer Beam Dowd / Slate)
As states lift restaurant restrictions, CDC report links dining out to increased COVID-19 risk
People who tested positive for the coronavirus were more likely to have gone out to eat than people who didn’t, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study surveyed 314 people across several states and did not distinguish between indoor or outdoor dining.
(Erika Edwards / NBC News)
Development
A third of Americans might refuse a Covid-19 vaccine. How screwed are we?
Once we get a COVID-19 vaccine, it will only help curb the spread of disease if people actually take it. Right now, people in the US are skeptical.
(Brian Resnick / Vox)
Pharmaceutical companies sign vaccine safety pledge
People’s skepticism of the vaccine development and approval process prompted several companies to sign a pledge promising to put safety first.
(Mary Beth Griggs / The Verge)
China Injects Hundreds of Thousands With Experimental Covid-19 Vaccines
Meanwhile, in China, hundreds of thousands of people received experimental vaccines, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal. These vaccines have not yet completed phase three trials.
(Chao Deng / The Wall Street Journal)
8,000 jumbo jets needed to deliver coronavirus vaccines globally, IATA warns
After a vaccine gets developed, it has to get from production facilities to population centers. That’s going to require a lot of logistical power, including air power. To illustrate the challenge, a trade group calculated the amount of cargo space that would be required to transport a single-dose vaccine to 7.8 billion people. They came up with 8,000 jets. A few important notes: this is all hypothetical, it’s still early days, and vaccines could potentially travel by land or sea, too.
(Holly Ellyatt / CNBC)
Perspectives
How Many 9/11 Survivors Have Died of COVID-19? At Least 42 — and Likely Many More
Yesterday, on the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a nonprofit news organization called The City reported on the dozens of people who survived the 9/11 attacks, only to die of COVID-19. More than 1,300 survivors contracted the disease.
This story is part of “Missing Them,” an effort by The City to recognize and remember every person in New York City who died of COVID-19.
(Ashley Rodriguez and Beatriz Muylaert / The City)
More than numbers
To the more than 28,287,928 people worldwide who have tested positive, may your road to recovery be smooth.
To the families and friends of the 911,591 people who have died worldwide — 192,616 of those in the US — your loved ones are not forgotten.
Thanks for joining us this week, and stay safe, everyone.


theverge--2020-09-12--Sony announces PS5 event for Wednesday September 16th

Sony is holding a special PlayStation 5 event next week .
The company will broadcast a 40-minute “ digital showcase ” on Wednesday , September 16th that will include updates from first-party Sony game studios and third-party partners .
Sony is pitching the event as “ one more look at some of the great games coming to PS5 at launch ( and beyond ! )
” before the console launches .
It ’ s also likely we ’ ll get a release date and price for the PlayStation 5 .
Microsoft was originally planning to announce its Xbox Series S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pricing next week , before the $ 299 price of the Series S leaked .
Sony opened up pre-registration for PS5 preorders last month , but the company still hasn ’ t shared a date for official preorders or pricing and release date information .
It looks increasingly likely that we ’ ll find out the price of the PS5 on Wednesday , especially given that Microsoft is opening up Xbox preorders on September 22nd .
Microsoft ’ s Xbox Series X console is priced at $ 499 , but Sony has two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital edition PS5 and the regular PS5 .
We could be about to witness some competitive next-gen pricing , especially given Microsoft ’ s $ 299 Xbox Series S. Sony ’ s PlayStation 5 event will take place on Wednesday at 4PM ET / 1PM PT .
Stay tuned to The Verge for all the latest PS5 news on Wednesday .

Sony is holding a special PlayStation 5 event next week. The company will broadcast a 40-minute “digital showcase” on Wednesday, September 16th that will include updates from first-party Sony game studios and third-party partners. Sony is pitching the event as “one more look at some of the great games coming to PS5 at launch (and beyond!)” before the console launches.
It’s also likely we’ll get a release date and price for the PlayStation 5. Microsoft was originally planning to announce its Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X launch plans and pricing next week, before the $299 price of the Series S leaked. Sony opened up pre-registration for PS5 preorders last month, but the company still hasn’t shared a date for official preorders or pricing and release date information.
It looks increasingly likely that we’ll find out the price of the PS5 on Wednesday, especially given that Microsoft is opening up Xbox preorders on September 22nd. Microsoft’s Xbox Series X console is priced at $499, but Sony has two prices to provide for both its disc-less digital edition PS5 and the regular PS5. We could be about to witness some competitive next-gen pricing, especially given Microsoft’s $299 Xbox Series S.


theverge--2020-09-12--Astra’s first attempt to reach orbit ends early after rocket fails mid-flight

The first orbital mission for rocket launch startup Astra ended without its Rocket 3.1 reaching orbit .
The rocket successfully lifted off from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska at about 11:19PM ET Friday , but the company said its guidance system “ introduced some slight oscillation into the flight , ” which caused the rocket to drift from its planned trajectory .
The flight safety system shut down the engines , and the rocket fell back to the ground .
It wasn ’ t carrying any payloads .
A spectator caught the launch on video , showing the rocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the rocket ’ s engine shuts off mid-flight and a few moments later , you can see flames as the rocket hits the ground .
The company ’ s stated objective with this flight was to have a nominal first stage burn , which apparently didn ’ t quite happen since that ’ s when the engine shutdown occurred .
But Astra wasn ’ t planning to reach orbit with this launch .
And it says its preliminary data showed the rocket performed very well .
“ We didn ’ t meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did gain valuable experience , plus even more valuable flight data , ” the company said in a blog post Saturday .
“ This launch sets us well on our way to reaching orbit within two additional flights , so we ’ re happy with the result.
” Astra is a very small team — small enough that it says it doesn ’ t have a video production crew to broadcast its launches— and says its launch system was developed by six people in less than a week .
Astra says its Rocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch in the next few months .

The first orbital mission for rocket launch startup Astra ended without its Rocket 3.1 reaching orbit. The rocket successfully lifted off from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska at about 11:19PM ET Friday, but the company said its guidance system “introduced some slight oscillation into the flight,” which caused the rocket to drift from its planned trajectory. The flight safety system shut down the engines, and the rocket fell back to the ground. It wasn’t carrying any payloads.
A spectator caught the launch on video, showing the rocket’s ascent. In the footage, the rocket’s engine shuts off mid-flight and a few moments later, you can see flames as the rocket hits the ground.
The company’s stated objective with this flight was to have a nominal first stage burn, which apparently didn’t quite happen since that’s when the engine shutdown occurred. But Astra wasn’t planning to reach orbit with this launch. And it says its preliminary data showed the rocket performed very well.
“We didn’t meet all of our objectives, but we did gain valuable experience, plus even more valuable flight data,” the company said in a blog post Saturday. “This launch sets us well on our way to reaching orbit within two additional flights, so we’re happy with the result.”


theverge--2020-09-12--Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Plus are just $95 for one day only at Woot

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
At Woot , Amazon Prime members can pick up a set of Samsung ’ s very good Galaxy Buds Plus wireless earbuds for $ 95 .
This is the lowest price yet .
If you don ’ t have Prime , your checkout price will be $ 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harsh of a penalty .
This sale is happening for one day only , so don ’ t expect it to be available if you ’ re checking this out on Sunday or beyond .
The Galaxy Buds Plus are worth checking out if you value long-lasting battery life , superb sound quality , and solid microphones for placing calls .
Beats Solo 3 wireless on-ear headphones are down to just $ 103 at Daily Steals when you use the code VERGESOLO in at checkout .
These usually cost somewhere between $ 150 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color you want , and Daily Steals ’ selection truly stands out beyond the standard colorways .
It has the Club Collection colors of Beats ’ Solo 3 lineup , containing “ club red , ” which mixes red and navy blue ; “ club yellow , ” which mixes yellow with sky blue ; and a few others .
These are new units with a full one-year manufacturer warranty , but they don ’ t have the shrink-wrap that ’ s applied in the factory .
If you ’ ve been on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Apple AirPods Pro , you ’ ll want to check in on Sunday as early as you can : 3AM ET is when Staples will knock $ 50 off , making them $ 200 .
This matches the best price that Staples set early last month .
Deals this good on the AirPods Pro are rare at this point , and while the sale technically lasts from Sunday , September 13th , through the 19th , stock will likely sell out before then .
Several Nintendo Switch games that I ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 20 off at Walmart .
Even a few games that rarely drop below their usual $ 60 price are seeing $ 10 discounts .
These deals are available online and in store , and they ’ re for the physical cartridges , not the digital versions .
Here ’ s a full list : • Animal Crossing : New Horizons is $ 50 ( usually $ 60 ) • The Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild is $ 50 ( usually $ 60 ) • New Super Mario Bros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 60 ) Update September 12th , 10:03AM ET : Woot 's price for the Galaxy Buds Plus is actually $ 5 cheaper than it had originally advertised , so I 've updated the pricing .


theverge--2020-09-13--Facebook says it will remove false claims about who started wildfires in Oregon

Facebook will remove from its platform false claims that the wildfires in Oregon were deliberately started by certain groups , according to policy communications director Andy Stone .
The decision is consistent with Facebook ’ s efforts “ to remove content that could lead to imminent harm , ” Stone said on Twitter Saturday , adding that the platform was taking the action following confirmation from law enforcement that the rumors were “ forcing local fire and police agencies to divert resources from fighting the fires and protecting the public , ” Stone tweeted .
He did not indicate how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The FBI ’ s Portland division tweeted Friday that “ reports that extremists are setting wildfires in Oregon are untrue ” and urged people only to share information from trusted , official sources .
“ Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away from local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control , ” FBI special agent in charge Loren Cannon said in a statement .
Officials in Oregon said they have been inundated with calls about the false online rumors that members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been arrested for starting the fires , a rumor which was promoted on social media by followers of the right-wing QAnon conspiracy theory .
“ Our 9-1-1 dispatchers and professional staff are being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on an UNTRUE rumor that 6 Antifa members have been arrested for setting fires in Douglas County , ” according to a Facebook post from the Douglas County Sheriff ’ s Office .
Authorities in Oregon warned Saturday they were preparing for a “ mass fatality incident ” as the fires that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and burned nearly 5 million acres along the west coast of the US left many people still unaccounted for .

Facebook will remove from its platform false claims that the wildfires in Oregon were deliberately started by certain groups, according to policy communications director Andy Stone. The decision is consistent with Facebook’s efforts “to remove content that could lead to imminent harm,” Stone said on Twitter Saturday, adding that the platform was taking the action following confirmation from law enforcement that the rumors were “forcing local fire and police agencies to divert resources from fighting the fires and protecting the public,” Stone tweeted. He did not indicate how many posts or accounts would be affected.
The FBI’s Portland division tweeted Friday that “reports that extremists are setting wildfires in Oregon are untrue” and urged people only to share information from trusted, official sources. “Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away from local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control,” FBI special agent in charge Loren Cannon said in a statement.
Officials in Oregon said they have been inundated with calls about the false online rumors that members of the loosely organized left-wing protest group antifa had been arrested for starting the fires, a rumor which was promoted on social media by followers of the right-wing QAnon conspiracy theory. “Our 9-1-1 dispatchers and professional staff are being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on an UNTRUE rumor that 6 Antifa members have been arrested for setting fires in Douglas County,” according to a Facebook post from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.


theverge--2020-09-13--Apple’s AirPods Pro are back down to $200 at Staples

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
Staples is once again discounting Apple ’ s AirPods Pro earbuds to $ 200 , knocking $ 50 off the usual retail price from now until September 19th .
The retail chain held a similar weeklong promotion in August , but inventory sold out within a day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ earbuds have seen , this deal will likely sell out quickly .
The AirPods Pro offer a customizable fit that includes three different silicone tip sizes , making the earbuds more flexible compared to the standard AirPods , which have a hard plastic design that fits “ most ” ears .
Unlike the standard AirPods , the Pro variant also includes active noise cancellation , improved sound quality , plus a wireless charging case .
If you own any Apple products , these earbuds are the best in the market , says my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding a sale on the standard AirPods for $ 130 , knocking $ 30 off its standard retail price .
But , if you are looking to charge these earbuds on a wireless charger , you should spend an extra $ 35 and buy the AirPods with a wireless charging case , which is $ 165 right now .

Staples is once again discounting Apple’s AirPods Pro earbuds to $200, knocking $50 off the usual retail price from now until September 19th. The retail chain held a similar weeklong promotion in August, but inventory sold out within a day. Because this is the lowest price the earbuds have seen, this deal will likely sell out quickly.
The AirPods Pro offer a customizable fit that includes three different silicone tip sizes, making the earbuds more flexible compared to the standard AirPods, which have a hard plastic design that fits “most” ears. Unlike the standard AirPods, the Pro variant also includes active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, plus a wireless charging case. If you own any Apple products, these earbuds are the best in the market, says my colleague Chris Welch.
Apple AirPods Pro / Was $250, now 20% off $200 at Staples


theverge--2020-09-13--Oracle reportedly wins deal for TikTok’s US operations as ‘trusted tech partner’

Oracle has reportedly won a deal to manage TikTok ’ s US cloud operations .
Oracle had been rumored to be part of the bidding process to acquire TikTok , but The Wall Street Journal reports that the company has been selected as a “ trusted tech partner ” instead .
This is different from an outright sale , and appears to suggest Oracle will be helping run TikTok ’ s US operations with its own cloud technologies .
News of an Oracle deal comes just an hour after Microsoft revealed it was no longer acquiring TikTok after its bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Microsoft had been pursuing a deal to buy TikTok ’ s operations in the US , Australia , Canada , and New Zealand .
It ’ s clear talks have swayed away from a full acquisition , with Oracle reportedly winning the bid to be a technology partner instead .
President Trump signed an executive order August 6th blocking all transactions with ByteDance , and the order demanded an American company purchase TikTok ’ s US business .
The EO was intended to take effect within 45 days , but the president signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sell or spin off TikTok in the US .
That order was a result of an investigation of the company by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US ( CFIUS ) , which oversees foreign acquisitions of US companies for any potential security risks .
Oracle has a history of collaboration with the US government , making its partnership with TikTok a strategic move amid the growing undercurrent of Chinese opposition running through the White House and Congress .

Oracle has reportedly won a deal to manage TikTok’s US cloud operations. Oracle had been rumored to be part of the bidding process to acquire TikTok, but The Wall Street Journal reports that the company has been selected as a “trusted tech partner” instead. This is different from an outright sale, and appears to suggest Oracle will be helping run TikTok’s US operations with its own cloud technologies.
News of an Oracle deal comes just an hour after Microsoft revealed it was no longer acquiring TikTok after its bid was rejected by TikTok owner ByteDance. Microsoft had been pursuing a deal to buy TikTok’s operations in the US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. It’s clear talks have swayed away from a full acquisition, with Oracle reportedly winning the bid to be a technology partner instead.
President Trump signed an executive order August 6th blocking all transactions with ByteDance, and the order demanded an American company purchase TikTok’s US business. The EO was intended to take effect within 45 days, although the president later signed a follow-up order giving ByteDance 90 days to sell or spin off TikTok in the US. This does not supersede the original deadline, though. As Department of Commerce secretary Wilbur Ross told The Verge: “Per the 45-day period outlined in the Executive Orders, the Department of Commerce is operating under a deadline of September 20th.”
Oracle has a history of collaboration with the US government, making its partnership with TikTok a strategic move amid the growing undercurrent of Chinese opposition running through the White House and Congress.


theverge--2020-09-13--Samsung announces September 23rd event, likely for Galaxy S20 ‘Fan Edition’

The last few weeks have seen the release of Samsung ’ s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Note 20 , Galaxy Z Fold 2 , Galaxy Z Flip 5G , Galaxy Watch 3 , a couple tablets , and more — but the company still isn ’ t finished with events just yet .
There will be yet another Samsung Unpacked virtual presentation on September 23rd at 10AM ET .
This one is titled “ Galaxy Unpacked for Every Fan , ” which is a fairly obvious hint that it will mark the official reveal of the rumored Galaxy S20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unannounced phone was found on Verizon ’ s website by Android Police .
Leaks and rumors have suggested it will retain some hardware specs of the standard S20 — like a 120Hz display and Snapdragon 865 processor — but will make downgrades elsewhere ( like a 1080p resolution ) to help drive down the price below the flagship .
As for exactly what that price will be , we ’ re not yet sure .
Verizon still has a rotating view of the S20 Fan Edition on its website in several colors : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pink , and mint green .
As is often the case with Samsung , the phone might be offered in different colors across various carriers and regions .
Samsung ’ s official invite shows the dark blue and mint options .
You might remember the “ Fan Edition ” branding from back when Samsung did a redo with the troubled Galaxy Note 7 .
It ’ s unclear why Samsung has revived it after launching “ lite ” versions of the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 , but perhaps the company doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a watered down S20 when it retains so many of the core specs .

The last few weeks have seen the release of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Note 20, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Galaxy Watch 3, a couple tablets, and more — but the company still isn’t finished with events just yet. There will be yet another Samsung Unpacked virtual presentation on September 23rd at 10AM ET. This one is titled “Galaxy Unpacked for Every Fan,” which is a fairly obvious hint that it will mark the official reveal of the rumored Galaxy S20 Fan Edition.
Most recently, the unannounced phone was found on Verizon’s website by Android Police. Leaks and rumors have suggested it will retain some hardware specs of the standard S20 — like a 120Hz display and Snapdragon 865 processor — but will make downgrades elsewhere (like a 1080p resolution) to help drive down the price below the flagship. As for exactly what that price will be, we’re not yet sure.
Verizon still has a rotating view of the S20 Fan Edition on its website in several colors: there’s red, dark blue, pink, and mint green. As is often the case with Samsung, the phone might be offered in different colors across various carriers and regions. Samsung’s official invite shows the dark blue and mint options.


theverge--2020-09-13--Nvidia is acquiring Arm for $40 billion

Nvidia is acquiring Arm for $40 billion

Nvidia said Sunday it is acquiring chipmaker Arm from SoftBank for $ 40 billion .
Arm will operate as an division of Nvidia and will remain headquartered in the UK , and , will “ continue to operate its open-licensing model , while maintaining its global customer neutrality , ” the company said .
But the deal is still likely to face intense regulatory scrutiny .
SoftBank bought Arm in 2016 for $ 31 billion .
The British company ’ s intellectual property helps power mobile device processors for companies including Apple , Samsung , and Qualcomm .
Arm has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SoftBank acquisition , with Microsoft making an ARM-based Surface and a version of Windows for Arm , and Apple planning to switch future Macs to Arm-based chips .
Nvidia is the leading maker of GPUs , which Arm also designs , but other than its Tegra line of mobile chipsets used in devices like the Nintendo Switch , Nvidia doesn ’ t do much in the way of CPU design or mobile hardware .
Speaking to Forbes , Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said that his first priority after the acquisition would be to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s vast network.
” However , that doesn ’ t necessarily mean that Arm will change its current licensing model .
Bloomberg reports that “ Huang said Nvidia is spending a lot of money for the acquisition and has no incentive to do anything that would cause clients to walk away.
” Perhaps to underline that it intends to keep Arm a neutral provider of technology in the short term , the deal stresses that Arm will continue to be headquartered in Cambridge , UK and Nvidia says it will invest in building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nvidia is positioning the acquisition as setting up the next stage of AI computing .
Both Nvidia and Arm see opportunities for growth in enabling AI software that can run on Arm ’ s chips from those on tiny smartphones to huge servers .
Nvidia once had big ambitions to make CPUs for phones but had little success .
This acquisition could obviously change that , but it appears that at least initially the focus will be on data centers .
“ What will change is the rate of our roadmap .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clouds are clamoring for the Arm microprocessor , the Arm CPU , ” Huang tells Forbes .
“ Energy efficiency directly translates to computing capacity , computing throughput , and the cost of provisioning service.
” The news underscores just how successful Nvidia has been in the past five years , focusing on areas like GPUs , self-driving cars , and AI .
The acquisition will of course face regulatory scrutiny in an environment that ’ s less friendly to mergers than at any time in recent memory .
However , the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly compete could be helpful in navigating that process .

Nvidia said Sunday it is acquiring chipmaker Arm from SoftBank for $40 billion. Arm will operate as a division of Nvidia and will remain headquartered in the UK, and, will “continue to operate its open-licensing model, while maintaining its global customer neutrality,” the company said. But the deal is still likely to face intense regulatory scrutiny.
SoftBank bought Arm in 2016 for $31 billion. The British company’s intellectual property helps power mobile device processors for companies including Apple, Samsung, and Qualcomm. Arm has likely only increased in value since the SoftBank acquisition, with Microsoft making an Arm-based Surface and a version of Windows for Arm, and Apple planning to switch future Macs to Arm-based chips.
Nvidia is the leading maker of GPUs, which Arm also designs, but other than its Tegra line of mobile chipsets used in devices like the Nintendo Switch, Nvidia doesn’t do much in the way of CPU design or mobile hardware.
Speaking to Forbes, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said that his first priority after the acquisition would be to “bring Nvidia technology through Arm’s vast network.” However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Arm will change its current licensing model. Bloomberg reports that “Huang said Nvidia is spending a lot of money for the acquisition and has no incentive to do anything that would cause clients to walk away.”
Perhaps to underline that it intends to keep Arm a neutral provider of technology in the short term, the deal stresses that Arm will continue to be headquartered in Cambridge, UK and Nvidia says it will invest in building a new AI research center there. Nvidia is positioning the acquisition as setting up the next stage of AI computing. Both Nvidia and Arm see opportunities for growth in enabling AI software that can run on Arm’s chips from those on tiny smartphones to huge servers.
Nvidia once had big ambitions to make CPUs for phones but had little success. This acquisition could obviously change that, but it appears that at least initially the focus will be on data centers. “What will change is the rate of our roadmap. We know for sure that data centers and clouds are clamoring for the Arm microprocessor, the Arm CPU,” Huang tells Forbes. “Energy efficiency directly translates to computing capacity, computing throughput, and the cost of provisioning service.”
The news underscores just how successful Nvidia has been in the past five years, focusing on areas like GPUs, self-driving cars, and AI.