theverge--2020-01-30--Facebook is putting a surprising restriction on its independent oversight board

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One of the year ’ s biggest stories at the intersection of technology and power is the Facebook Oversight Board .
For the first time , a tech giant is seeking to give some of its power back to the people — in this case , in the form of an independent 40-member board that will serve as a kind of Supreme Court for content moderation .
This week , Facebook announced that the board would likely begin hearing cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person who will lead the board ’ s staff , and released suggested bylaws .
So , what are people saying about the news ?
At Wired , Steven Levy speculates that the board is likely to hear a case about Facebook ’ s policy against sending political ads out for fact-checking .
A complaint by a target of a bogus political ad is bound to come before the board eventually , which will certainly take on the case .
Or Facebook itself might send the issue to the board .
After all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors listed by Facebook itself when assessing important cases .
( A subset of the board ’ s members will sit on a selection committee . )
According to an explanation of the board ’ s charter written by Facebook , these include severity ( “ the content reaches or affects someone else ’ s voice , privacy or dignity ” ) ; public discourse ( “ the content spurs significant public debate and/or important political and social discourse ” ) ; and difficulty ( “ there is disagreement about Facebook ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy or policies ” ) .
It ’ s almost as if the whole project was created specifically to rule on Zuckerberg ’ s stance on political ads .
Nick Clegg , the former UK deputy prime minister who is now Facebook ’ s head of global policy and communications , confirms this .
“ I think this political ads issue of how do you treat political speech is exactly the kind of thing where it would be very interesting to see how the board thinks , ” he says .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a say here .
It will have the authority to remove ( or leave standing ) individual pieces of content , as well as issue policy advisory opinions .
Key word : advisory .
And while an opinion by the board that Facebook should fact-check political ads would have some weight — and could provide political cover for Facebook to reverse course , should it decide it wants to — ultimately the decision will likely still remain with Zuckerberg .
At Lawfare , Evelyn Douek zooms in on one of the more peculiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at launch : it will only review cases in which an individual believes their content was removed in error .
If a post was allowed to stay up in error — a piece of viral misinformation about a health crisis , for example — the board will initially have no jurisdiction .
( Facebook says that it will get such jurisdiction in the future but won ’ t specify a time frame . )
Douek writes : Limiting the board ’ s jurisdiction to take-down decisions stacks the deck somewhat .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make calls more accurate but allowing players a review only when balls are called “ out ” and not when a ball is called “ in , ” no matter how erroneous the call seems .
For those in favor of longer rallies — which probably includes the broadcasters and advertisers — this is a win , because only those rallies cut short can be appealed .
For those in favor of more accurate calls generally , not so much .
Indeed , on a press call , Facebook made this bias toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambit of operations to start is “ due to the way our existing content moderation system works , and in line with Facebook ’ s commitment to free expression ” ( emphasis added ) .
Maybe so , but it is a disappointing limitation and represents an uncharacteristically incremental approach from a company famous for “ moving fast.
” It is important to hold Facebook to its commitment that this will be changed in the near future .
It all feels rather like ... an oversight .
If Facebook expands the jurisdiction to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the board ’ s operation , I don ’ t think this omission is that big a deal .
Much longer than that , though , and I ’ d say Facebook has a problem .
Then there ’ s the issue of how long Facebook might take to review a case .
The wheels of justice aren ’ t known to spin particularly fast in any legitimate court , but it ’ s worth noting that this board has not been designed with rapid interventions in mind .
Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you are a new mom and your photo of you breastfeeding your child has been removed in error , and you appeal and the board decides to hear your case as part of a landmark decision about global nipple viewability standards , you can probably stand to wait three months to have your answer .
But if you are a business whose ads have been removed because they promote products that contain CBD oil , even though CBD oil is now widely legal , that three-month delay could mean the difference between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , it ’ s worth noting that even this three-month process is far superior to the current system of justice , which involves filling out a form , sending it in , and praying .
( The new system will also involve filling out a form , sending it in , and praying , but there is now a chance that an independent board will ask you to make your case more formally , consult with experts , and render a binding opinion in your favor . )
I ’ m glad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest quasi-states has evolved to include a judicial system .
It ’ s worth noting , though , that this system has been set up explicitly to redress the complaints of individual users .
It won ’ t be asked to “ fix Facebook ” broadly — to make judgments in service of the health of the overall user base , or the world they inhabit .
That remains at the sole discretion of the executive — Facebook ’ s CEO .
And at a company where the CEO has majority control over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative branch .
Facebook is taking the boldest approach we ’ ve seen yet to establishing an independent mechanism of accountability for itself .
But as the board prepares to name its members , it ’ s worth keeping our expectations in line with what they ’ ll actually be able to do .
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms .
Trending up : Pinterest is banning misinformation about voting and the census ahead of the 2020 election .
It ’ s the latest example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially dangerous online content than its peers .
Trending down : Amazon ’ s Ring doorbell doesn ’ t just let people surveil their neighbors — the company also uses the app to monitor its own customers .
A new investigation found the app is packed with third-party trackers that send customer data to analytics and marketing companies .
⭐ President Trump ’ s re-election campaign is focusing most of its efforts on digital ads designed to capture data about potential voters .
The Guardian did a deep dive on how that strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Here ’ s Julia Carrie Wong : Republicans have been warming up to Facebook as attacks from Democrats become more frequent .
The trend could be a result of the social media giant hiring more Republican-leaning lobbyists and doubling down on free speech messaging .
( It also just hired a former Fox News executive to head up its news video efforts . )
( Christopher Stern / The Information ) Facebook continued to run an advertisement for a conservative media company disputing the link between climate change and Australia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were debunked by the platform ’ s own fact-checking partner .
( Cameron Wilson / BuzzFeed ) Elizabeth Warren unveiled a new plan to fight disinformation .
Her goals include implementing harsher laws against spreading misinformation with the purpose of suppressing voter turnout .
Would that be constitutional ?
( Russell Brandom / The Verge ) Clearview AI , the facial recognition company that claims to have a database of over 3 billion photos , faces calls for bans and mounting legal threats following investigations from the New York Times and BuzzFeed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Logan McDonald / BuzzFeed ) Anti-vaxxers are finding new audiences on Instagram by using popular tags like # maga2020 and Joe Biden ’ s favorite slogan , “ No malarkey !
” The strategy has allowed them to evade detection from Facebook , which has been trying to block anti-vaxx hashtags since last year .
( David Uberti / Vice ) ⭐ Facebook ’ s Vice President of Engineering Jay Parikh announced he is leaving the company .
Parikh was considered to be instrumental in creating the data center infrastructure on which Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salvador Rodriguez at CNBC explains what ’ s next : The new Off-Facebook Activity tool shows users just how much information the social media giant has on them .
But the volume of data makes it almost impossible to derive meaning from .
( Kaitlyn Tiffany / The Atlantic ) US colleges are trying to install location tracking apps on students ’ phones .
The technology is supposedly going to be used to track attendance .
( Sean Hollister / The Verge ) The CEO of Match Group , Mandy Ginsberg , announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parent company of dating services including Hinge and Tinder .
( Dan Primack / Axios ) The BBC is still struggling to connect with younger audiences .
A podcast aimed at under-25s has fallen flat , and the network continues to ignore newer formats like TikTok .
Never ignore TikTok !
( Sarah Manavis / The Guardian ) As we talked about yesterday , the coronavirus epidemic has led to the spread of misinformation around the web .
I don ’ t know why any of you smart people would turn to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health tips here , but just in case — absolutely do not .
Here ’ s Will Sommer at the Daily Beast : So there you have it : don ’ t drink bleach .
Tell all your friends !
Send us tips , comments , questions , and your nominations for Facebook ’ s legislative branch : casey @ theverge.com and zoe @ theverge.com .

One of the year’s biggest stories at the intersection of technology and power is the Facebook Oversight Board. For the first time, a tech giant is seeking to give some of its power back to the people — in this case, in the form of an independent 40-member board that will serve as a kind of Supreme Court for content moderation. This week, Facebook announced that the board would likely begin hearing cases this summer — it also named the person who will lead the board’s staff, and released suggested bylaws.
So, what are people saying about the news?
At Wired, Steven Levy speculates that the board is likely to hear a case about Facebook’s policy against sending political ads out for fact-checking.
A complaint by a target of a bogus political ad is bound to come before the board eventually, which will certainly take on the case. Or Facebook itself might send the issue to the board. After all, this issue satisfies almost all the factors listed by Facebook itself when assessing important cases. (A subset of the board’s members will sit on a selection committee.) According to an explanation of the board’s charter written by Facebook, these include severity (“the content reaches or affects someone else’s voice, privacy or dignity”); public discourse (“the content spurs significant public debate and/or important political and social discourse”); and difficulty (“there is disagreement about Facebook’s decision on the content and/or the underlying policy or policies”). It’s almost as if the whole project was created specifically to rule on Zuckerberg’s stance on political ads. Nick Clegg, the former UK deputy prime minister who is now Facebook’s head of global policy and communications, confirms this. “I think this political ads issue of how do you treat political speech is exactly the kind of thing where it would be very interesting to see how the board thinks,” he says.
I’m less certain the board will have a say here. It will have the authority to remove (or leave standing) individual pieces of content, as well as issue policy advisory opinions. Key word: advisory. And while an opinion by the board that Facebook should fact-check political ads would have some weight — and could provide political cover for Facebook to reverse course, should it decide it wants to — ultimately the decision will likely still remain with Zuckerberg.
At Lawfare, Evelyn Douek zooms in on one of the more peculiar features of the board, at least at launch: it will only review cases in which an individual believes their content was removed in error. If a post was allowed to stay up in error — a piece of viral misinformation about a health crisis, for example — the board will initially have no jurisdiction. (Facebook says that it will get such jurisdiction in the future but won’t specify a time frame.) Douek writes:
Limiting the board’s jurisdiction to take-down decisions stacks the deck somewhat. It is like introducing video appeals to tennis to make calls more accurate but allowing players a review only when balls are called “out” and not when a ball is called “in,” no matter how erroneous the call seems. For those in favor of longer rallies — which probably includes the broadcasters and advertisers — this is a win, because only those rallies cut short can be appealed. For those in favor of more accurate calls generally, not so much. Indeed, on a press call, Facebook made this bias toward leaving things up explicit: The limited ambit of operations to start is “due to the way our existing content moderation system works, and in line with Facebook’s commitment to free expression” (emphasis added). Maybe so, but it is a disappointing limitation and represents an uncharacteristically incremental approach from a company famous for “moving fast.” It is important to hold Facebook to its commitment that this will be changed in the near future.
It all feels rather like ... an oversight.
If Facebook expands the jurisdiction to include takedowns within the first few months of the board’s operation, I don’t think this omission is that big a deal. Much longer than that, though, and I’d say Facebook has a problem.
Then there’s the issue of how long Facebook might take to review a case. The wheels of justice aren’t known to spin particularly fast in any legitimate court, but it’s worth noting that this board has not been designed with rapid interventions in mind. Here’s Kurt Wagner at Bloomberg:
Facebook’s proposed Oversight Board, a group of people from outside the company who will determine whether controversial user posts violate the social network’s rules, could take months to make these decisions — indicating the panel won’t play a role in quickly stopping the viral spread of misinformation or abuse on the service. Instead, the board will take on cases that “guide Facebook’s future decisions and policies,” the company wrote Tuesday in a blog post. “We expect the board to come to a case decision, and for Facebook to have acted on that decision, in approximately 90 days.” The company also said it could expedite some decisions in “exceptional circumstances,” and that those would be completed within 30 days, but could be done faster.
Now, if you are a new mom and your photo of you breastfeeding your child has been removed in error, and you appeal and the board decides to hear your case as part of a landmark decision about global nipple viewability standards, you can probably stand to wait three months to have your answer. But if you are a business whose ads have been removed because they promote products that contain CBD oil, even though CBD oil is now widely legal, that three-month delay could mean the difference between life and death for your company.
Still, it’s worth noting that even this three-month process is far superior to the current system of justice, which involves filling out a form, sending it in, and praying. (The new system will also involve filling out a form, sending it in, and praying, but there is now a chance that an independent board will ask you to make your case more formally, consult with experts, and render a binding opinion in your favor.)
I’m glad that one of the world’s largest quasi-states has evolved to include a judicial system. It’s worth noting, though, that this system has been set up explicitly to redress the complaints of individual users. It won’t be asked to “fix Facebook” broadly — to make judgments in service of the health of the overall user base, or the world they inhabit. That remains at the sole discretion of the executive — Facebook’s CEO. And at a company where the CEO has majority control over voting shares, there is effectively no legislative branch.
Facebook is taking the boldest approach we’ve seen yet to establishing an independent mechanism of accountability for itself. But as the board prepares to name its members, it’s worth keeping our expectations in line with what they’ll actually be able to do.
The Ratio
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms.
🔼 Trending up: Pinterest is banning misinformation about voting and the census ahead of the 2020 election. It’s the latest example of the company taking a harder stance against potentially dangerous online content than its peers.
🔽 Trending down: Amazon’s Ring doorbell doesn’t just let people surveil their neighbors — the company also uses the app to monitor its own customers. A new investigation found the app is packed with third-party trackers that send customer data to analytics and marketing companies.
Governing
⭐ President Trump’s re-election campaign is focusing most of its efforts on digital ads designed to capture data about potential voters. The Guardian did a deep dive on how that strategy works — and why it scares Democrats. Here’s Julia Carrie Wong:
An ad that ran after the impeachment inquiry began used images of Joseph Stalin, Fidel Castro and members of the fringe group the Revolutionary Communist party burning an American flag to suggest that Democratic candidates were “destroying American values”. “Only one man can stop this chaos,” the ad announces, before Trump appears under blue skies. But it’s not just doom, gloom and fearmongering. Many of Trump’s ads are the kind of cheerful, patriotic marketing that one would expect from a discount furniture showroom’s Fourth of July sale. These ads may not be getting under the skin of Trump’s Democratic rivals, but they appear to be helping to drive the re-election campaign’s substantial fundraising. Facebook ads are designed to induce online actions, and almost all of the Trump campaign’s ads are clearly intended to produce one of four: donating money, attending a rally, buying campaign merchandise, or providing the campaign with a user’s email address or mobile phone number.
Facebook continued to run an advertisement for a conservative media company disputing the link between climate change and Australia’s bushfires for days after the false claims were debunked by the platform’s own fact-checking partner. (Cameron Wilson / BuzzFeed)
Elizabeth Warren unveiled a new plan to fight disinformation. Her goals include implementing harsher laws against spreading misinformation with the purpose of suppressing voter turnout. Would that be constitutional? (Russell Brandom / The Verge)
Clearview AI, the facial recognition company that claims to have a database of over 3 billion photos, faces calls for bans and mounting legal threats following investigations from the New York Times and BuzzFeed. (Ryan Mac, Caroline Haskins and Logan McDonald / BuzzFeed)
Anti-vaxxers are finding new audiences on Instagram by using popular tags like #maga2020 and Joe Biden’s favorite slogan, “No malarkey!” The strategy has allowed them to evade detection from Facebook, which has been trying to block anti-vaxx hashtags since last year. (David Uberti / Vice)
Industry
⭐ Facebook’s Vice President of Engineering Jay Parikh announced he is leaving the company. Parikh was considered to be instrumental in creating the data center infrastructure on which Facebook built its many apps and services. Salvador Rodriguez at CNBC explains what’s next:
David Mortenson will replace Parikh in leading Facebook’s infrastructure organization, a company spokesman told CNBC. Mortenson has been at Facebook since 2011. Parikh’s other responsibilities will likely be divided among several engineering leaders, he added. [...] “A lot of what we’ve achieved over the past eleven years just wouldn’t have been possible without you,” said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a comment on Parikh’s post. “I don’t think we even had a data center when you joined, and now we share our designs so the rest of the world can catch up!”
The new Off-Facebook Activity tool shows users just how much information the social media giant has on them. But the volume of data makes it almost impossible to derive meaning from. (Kaitlyn Tiffany / The Atlantic)
US colleges are trying to install location tracking apps on students’ phones. The technology is supposedly going to be used to track attendance. (Sean Hollister / The Verge)
The CEO of Match Group, Mandy Ginsberg, announced she is stepping down. Match is the parent company of dating services including Hinge and Tinder. (Dan Primack / Axios)
The BBC is still struggling to connect with younger audiences. A podcast aimed at under-25s has fallen flat, and the network continues to ignore newer formats like TikTok. Never ignore TikTok! (Sarah Manavis / The Guardian)
And finally...
As we talked about yesterday, the coronavirus epidemic has led to the spread of misinformation around the web. I don’t know why any of you smart people would turn to the pro-Trump conspiracy army of Qanon for health tips here, but just in case — absolutely do not. Here’s Will Sommer at the Daily Beast:
The substance — dubbed “Miracle Mineral Solution” or “MMS” — has long been promoted by fringe groups as a combination miracle cure and vaccine for everything from autism to cancer and HIV/AIDS. The Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly warned consumers not to drink MMS, last year calling it effectively a “dangerous bleach” that could cause “severe vomiting” and “acute liver failure.” But those warnings haven’t stopped QAnon devotees—who believe in a world where Donald Trump is at war with shadowy deep-state “cabal”—from promoting a lethal substance as a salve for a health crisis that speaks to the darkest recesses of fringe thought.
So there you have it: don’t drink bleach. Tell all your friends!
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theverge--2020-01-30--Punxsutawney Phil should be replaced with AI groundhog, says PETA

Since 1887 , the residents of Punxsutawney , Pennsylvania have maintained the belief that an immortal groundhog name Punxsutawney Phil can — and will — predict the end of winter .
As popularized in the film Groundhog Day , each year on February 2nd , Phil is coaxed from his home in a tree stump and displayed to a baying crowd .
If Phil “ sees his shadow ” there ’ ll be six more weeks of winter , say the top-hatted elders ; if not , then an early spring is due .
A robot groundhog would be more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it ’ s time for Punxsutawney to stop terrorizing an innocent rodent , says animal-rights group PETA .
Instead , says the organization , Punxsutawney Phil should be replaced with an animatronic groundhog that uses AI to actually predict the weather .
“ Times change .
Traditions evolve .
It ’ s long overdue for Phil to be retired , ” PETA president and founder Ingrid Newkirk , wrote in a letter to the The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club .
“ By creating an AI Phil , you could keep Punxsutawney at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more progressive way .
Talk about taking your town ’ s annual tradition in a fresh and innovative direction !
” One of PETA ’ s core principles is that “ animals are not ours to use for entertainment.
” The group argues that groundhogs are nocturnal creatures who hibernate through winter in the wild .
Punxsutawney Phil , by comparison , is kept awake over the holiday period in a habitat attached to the local library , from which he ventures out to tour local schools .
“ As a prey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” writes Newkirk .
“ Being in close proximity to the public causes these animals great stress .
When Phil is dragged out of his hole and held up to flashing lights and crowds , he has no idea what ’ s happening.
” “ Gentle , vulnerable groundhogs are not barometers , ” added PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman in a press statement .
But speaking to The Washington Post , Punxsutawney Groundhog Club president Bill Deeley said Phil is treated well and enjoys his routine .
He ’ s fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperature-controlled ; and his burrow inspected by the Department of Agriculture every year .
“ If he ’ s so fearful of the cameras , if he ’ s so fearful of us and of the crowds , why doesn ’ t he make an attempt to run away ?
” Deeley told the Post .
AI is surrounded by enough mystery to make a fine replacement PETA ’ s suggestion is that Phil should get a well-earned retirement , and that the Groundhog Day tradition should be updated for the 21st century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job just as well , they say , and with the help of AI it could make more accurate predictions about the weather .
Right now , the business of whether or not Phil “ sees his shadow ” is decided in advance by Punxsutawney ’ s elders , but PETA is right that AI could probably do a better job .
Just this month , Google shared new research that uses machine learning to predict rainfall much faster than traditional computer systems .
And considering the amount of suspicion and misinformation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning could be as mysterious and as unusual event as enlisting a real rodent .
“ Today ’ s young people are born into a world of terabytes , and to them , watching a nocturnal rodent being pulled from a fake hole isn ’ t even worthy of a text message , ” writes Newkirk .
“ Ignoring the nation ’ s fast-changing demographics might well prove the end of Groundhog Day .
”

Since 1887, the residents of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania have maintained the belief that an immortal groundhog name Punxsutawney Phil can — and will — predict the end of winter.
As popularized in the film Groundhog Day, each year on February 2nd, Phil is coaxed from his home in a tree stump and displayed to a baying crowd. If Phil “sees his shadow” there’ll be six more weeks of winter, say the top-hatted elders; if not, then an early spring is due.
A robot groundhog would be more humane and more accurate, says PETA
But it’s time for Punxsutawney to stop terrorizing an innocent rodent, says animal-rights group PETA. Instead, says the organization, Punxsutawney Phil should be replaced with an animatronic groundhog that uses AI to actually predict the weather.
“Times change. Traditions evolve. It’s long overdue for Phil to be retired,” PETA president and founder Ingrid Newkirk, wrote in a letter to the The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
“By creating an AI Phil, you could keep Punxsutawney at the center of Groundhog Day but in a much more progressive way. Talk about taking your town’s annual tradition in a fresh and innovative direction!”
Punxsutawney Phil is 134 year old, claim his handlers, and kept alive by drinking a magic “groundhog punch.” Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
One of PETA’s core principles is that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment.” The group argues that groundhogs are nocturnal creatures who hibernate through winter in the wild. Punxsutawney Phil, by comparison, is kept awake over the holiday period in a habitat attached to the local library, from which he ventures out to tour local schools.
“As a prey species, groundhogs actively avoid humans,” writes Newkirk. “Being in close proximity to the public causes these animals great stress. When Phil is dragged out of his hole and held up to flashing lights and crowds, he has no idea what’s happening.”
“Gentle, vulnerable groundhogs are not barometers,” added PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman in a press statement.
But speaking to The Washington Post, Punxsutawney Groundhog Club president Bill Deeley said Phil is treated well and enjoys his routine. He’s fed a healthy diet; his habitat is temperature-controlled; and his burrow inspected by the Department of Agriculture every year. “If he’s so fearful of the cameras, if he’s so fearful of us and of the crowds, why doesn’t he make an attempt to run away?” Deeley told the Post.
AI is surrounded by enough mystery to make a fine replacement
PETA’s suggestion is that Phil should get a well-earned retirement, and that the Groundhog Day tradition should be updated for the 21st century. An animatronic rodent could do the job just as well, they say, and with the help of AI it could make more accurate predictions about the weather.
Right now, the business of whether or not Phil “sees his shadow” is decided in advance by Punxsutawney’s elders, but PETA is right that AI could probably do a better job. Just this month, Google shared new research that uses machine learning to predict rainfall much faster than traditional computer systems. And considering the amount of suspicion and misinformation that often surrounds AI predictions, using machine learning could be as mysterious and as unusual event as enlisting a real rodent.


theverge--2020-01-30--Nintendo Switch overtakes SNES with more than 52 million sold

Nintendo had its strongest Switch quarter ever this holiday season , moving 10.81 million units to reach a total of 52.48 million sold as of the end of 2019 .
That means it ’ s now overtaken the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to become Nintendo ’ s third best-selling home console of all time behind the Wii and the NES .
The 16-bit SNES was released in 1990 in Japan and the following year in North America , achieving a total of 49.1 million units sold worldwide .
Pokémon Sword and Shield were a huge hit over the holiday season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s almost 4 million more than Super Smash Bros .
Ultimate registered in its launch quarter a year ago , although Pokémon went on sale about three weeks earlier .
Luigi ’ s Mansion 3 was another big success , selling over 5 million copies .
Nintendo ’ s Switch hardware sales are up about 15 percent year-on-year , which the company attributes partly to the launch of the cheaper Switch Lite while also noting the December launch in China — though that ’ s unlikely to be a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is now officially a non-factor with just 260,000 consoles sold even in a holiday quarter .

Nintendo had its strongest Switch quarter ever this holiday season, moving 10.81 million units to reach a total of 52.48 million sold as of the end of 2019. That means it’s now overtaken the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to become Nintendo’s third best-selling home console of all time behind the Wii and the NES. The 16-bit SNES was released in 1990 in Japan and the following year in North America, achieving a total of 49.1 million units sold worldwide.
Pokémon Sword and Shield were a huge hit over the holiday season, moving more than 16 million copies. That’s almost 4 million more than Super Smash Bros. Ultimate registered in its launch quarter a year ago, although Pokémon went on sale about three weeks earlier. Luigi’s Mansion 3 was another big success, selling over 5 million copies.


theverge--2020-01-29--Japanese billionaire decides not to find girlfriend to fly around the Moon after all

E-commerce billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has backtracked on his bizarre plan to find a girlfriend to take into space by way of reality TV show .
Maezawa , the founder of Zozotown , made a significant downpayment on a private SpaceX flight around the Moon and had initially planned to take several artists with him , but later announced plans to solicit a romantic partner for the journey and beyond through an AbemaTV documentary to be called “ Full Moon Lovers.
” Now those dreams are dead , as Maezawa has requested the show ’ s cancellation citing “ personal reasons.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ determination toward the show , there was a part of me that still had mixed feelings about my participation , ” he writes on Twitter .
“ To think that 27,722 women , with earnest intentions and courage , had used their precious time to apply makes me feel extremely remorseful to conclude and inform everyone with this selfish decision of mine.
” “ I understand that I have disappointed many people — the applicants and all the staff from AbemaTV who were involved in the production — and I apologize to everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.
” Maezawa is no stranger to stepping back from ostentatious plans .
In 2017 Zozotown shipped millions of free skintight suits that were supposed to be able to help measure customers ’ body measurements so they could order clothes with the perfect fit .
A little over a year later , though , Maezawa had to admit that the scheme was an expensive failure , and the company was soon forced to close its US and European operations altogether .
The stock price continually plummeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September after selling the company to SoftBank ’ s Yahoo Japan .

E-commerce billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has backtracked on his bizarre plan to find a girlfriend to take into space by way of reality TV show. Maezawa, the founder of Zozotown, made a significant downpayment on a private SpaceX flight around the Moon and had initially planned to take several artists with him, but later announced plans to solicit a romantic partner for the journey and beyond through an AbemaTV documentary to be called “Full Moon Lovers.”
Now those dreams are dead, as Maezawa has requested the show’s cancellation citing “personal reasons.” “Despite my genuine and honest determination toward the show, there was a part of me that still had mixed feelings about my participation,” he writes on Twitter. “To think that 27,722 women, with earnest intentions and courage, had used their precious time to apply makes me feel extremely remorseful to conclude and inform everyone with this selfish decision of mine.”
“I understand that I have disappointed many people — the applicants and all the staff from AbemaTV who were involved in the production — and I apologize to everyone for my unfavorable actions. I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.”


theverge--2020-01-29--Netflix continues anime land grab with live-action One Piece series

Netflix has ordered a live-action show based on One Piece , the colossally popular Japanese manga and anime franchise , as first reported by Deadline .
It ’ s said to be a ten-episode series from publisher Shueisha and Tomorrow Studios , the studio also working on Netflix ’ s forthcoming Cowboy Bebop show .
Steven Maeda ( The X-Files , Lost ) is reportedly the showrunner as well as writer and executive producer , with Matt Owens ( Luke Cage , Agents of SHIELD ) also writing and executive-producing .
Further executive producer credits go to One Piece creator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adelstein and Becky Clements .
Plans for the series were first announced in 2017 , though Netflix wasn ’ t on board at that point .
“ I know I announced the production of this back in 2017 , but these things take time , ” Oda says in a handwritten note posted to Twitter .
“ Preparations have been slowly progressing behind the scenes , and it seems that I can finally make the big announcement : Netflix , the world ’ s leading streaming entertainment service , will be lending us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so encouraging !
How far will the story progress over the 10 episodes of Season 1 ?
Who will be cast ?
!
Please be patient a little longer and stay tuned !
” I ’ ve somehow never watched or read any One Piece-related content , but it and its characters are truly ubiquitous in Japan .
From what I gather , it involves pirates , treasure ( the titular One Piece ) , and a cute reindeer named Chopper .
The manga series holds a Guinness World Record for the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a further move by Netflix to court manga and anime fans .
The company has already produced live-action adaptations of properties like Death Note , made high-profile acquisitions of the rights to Studio Ghibli movies ( outside the US ) and Neon Genesis Evangelion , and produced its own series like Aggretsuko and Castlevania .
Just this week Netflix released the first trailer for its new CGI version of Ghost in the Shell .

Netflix has ordered a live-action show based on One Piece, the colossally popular Japanese manga and anime franchise, as first reported by Deadline. It’s said to be a ten-episode series from publisher Shueisha and Tomorrow Studios, the studio also working on Netflix’s forthcoming Cowboy Bebop show.
Steven Maeda (The X-Files, Lost) is reportedly the showrunner as well as writer and executive producer, with Matt Owens (Luke Cage, Agents of SHIELD) also writing and executive-producing. Further executive producer credits go to One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda and Tomorrow Studios’ Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements. Plans for the series were first announced in 2017, though Netflix wasn’t on board at that point.
“I know I announced the production of this back in 2017, but these things take time,” Oda says in a handwritten note posted to Twitter. “Preparations have been slowly progressing behind the scenes, and it seems that I can finally make the big announcement: Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service, will be lending us their tremendous production support! This is so encouraging! How far will the story progress over the 10 episodes of Season 1? Who will be cast?! Please be patient a little longer and stay tuned!”
I’ve somehow never watched or read any One Piece-related content, but it and its characters are truly ubiquitous in Japan. From what I gather, it involves pirates, treasure (the titular One Piece), and a cute reindeer named Chopper. The manga series holds a Guinness World Record for the most copies ever published.


theverge--2020-01-29--Samsung hopes 5G will save its slumping profits this year

Samsung Electronics just released fourth-quarter earnings that told much the same story as the rest of 2019 .
Revenue was more or less flat year-on-year — up 1 percent to 59.9 trillion won ( $ 50.7 billion ) — while operating profit slid 34 percent to 7.1 trillion won ( $ 6 billion ) .
The primary reason for the decline remains the fall in prices of memory chips , Samsung ’ s biggest profit driver in recent years .
The display panel business also saw profits fall year-on-year due to weak demand .
The mobile division , on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ago , with Samsung calling out “ solid ” flagship sales and the profitability of phones like the Galaxy A series .
Samsung is hoping that the wider adoption of 5G in 2020 will improve its numbers more or less across the board .
The 5G upgrade cycle is likely to help the mobile division , of course , but Samsung notes it should be able to increase memory sales to handset manufacturers and data center companies .
The company also plans to develop integrated 5G chips for mass-market smartphones , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-resolution phone camera sensors to increase .
Samsung cautions , however , that the “ actual pace of 5G expansion … remains to be seen , ” which probably isn ’ t the last time we ’ ll hear that in a tech company ’ s forecasts this year .
How that shakes out in practice is going to have a major effect on Samsung in particular over the next year , since so many areas of its business are involved directly or indirectly .

Samsung Electronics just released fourth-quarter earnings that told much the same story as the rest of 2019. Revenue was more or less flat year-on-year — up 1 percent to 59.9 trillion won ($50.7 billion) — while operating profit slid 34 percent to 7.1 trillion won ($6 billion).
The primary reason for the decline remains the fall in prices of memory chips, Samsung’s biggest profit driver in recent years. The display panel business also saw profits fall year-on-year due to weak demand. The mobile division, on the other hand, did better than a year ago, with Samsung calling out “solid” flagship sales and the profitability of phones like the Galaxy A series.
Samsung is hoping that the wider adoption of 5G in 2020 will improve its numbers more or less across the board. The 5G upgrade cycle is likely to help the mobile division, of course, but Samsung notes it should be able to increase memory sales to handset manufacturers and data center companies. The company also plans to develop integrated 5G chips for mass-market smartphones, and expects demand for its OLED displays and high-resolution phone camera sensors to increase.


theverge--2020-01-29--Overwatch League cancels February and March games in China following coronavirus outbreak

The Overwatch League ’ s plans for a truly global e-sports league have taken a major hit .
Today , Blizzard announced that the China-based games taking place in February and March planned for the 2020 season have been canceled following the outbreak of the coronavirus .
In a statement posted this evening to Twitter , the league explained that the decision was made to “ protect the health and safety of our players , fans , and staff.
” “ We hope fans have a safe and happy Lunar New Year , and we remain incredibly excited to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , ” the statement reads .
“ We ’ ll share more information about when and where the matches will take place at a later date.
” The 2020 season of OWL was set to be the first in league history where each of the 20 teams hosted matches out of their home cities .
The league features teams based in Asia , Europe , and North America , and there are currently four Chinese clubs — Shanghai , Chengdu , Hangzhou , and Guangzhou — each of which was expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first was slated for the second week of the season , starting February 15th in Shanghai .
Prior to today ’ s news , most of the teams released their own statements outlining their plans for dealing with the outbreak .
Both the Guangzhou Charge and Shanghai Dragons , for instance , moved their preseason operations to South Korea for safety reasons .
The Overwatch League regular season is slated to kick off February 8th with games in both Dallas and New York .
OWL isn ’ t the only e-sports league dealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The League of Legends Pro League — arguably the biggest professional gaming circuit in the world — recently announced that it would postpone the competition “ until we can ensure the safety and health of our players and fans .
”

The Overwatch League’s plans for a truly global e-sports league have taken a major hit. Today, Blizzard announced that the China-based games taking place in February and March planned for the 2020 season have been canceled following the outbreak of the coronavirus. In a statement posted this evening to Twitter, the league explained that the decision was made to “protect the health and safety of our players, fans, and staff.”
“We hope fans have a safe and happy Lunar New Year, and we remain incredibly excited to play Overwatch League matches in China later this season,” the statement reads. “We’ll share more information about when and where the matches will take place at a later date.”
The 2020 season of OWL was set to be the first in league history where each of the 20 teams hosted matches out of their home cities. The league features teams based in Asia, Europe, and North America, and there are currently four Chinese clubs — Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou — each of which was expected to host at least two events. The first was slated for the second week of the season, starting February 15th in Shanghai.
Prior to today’s news, most of the teams released their own statements outlining their plans for dealing with the outbreak. Both the Guangzhou Charge and Shanghai Dragons, for instance, moved their preseason operations to South Korea for safety reasons. The Overwatch League regular season is slated to kick off February 8th with games in both Dallas and New York.
OWL isn’t the only e-sports league dealing with the fallout from the coronavirus. The League of Legends Pro League — arguably the biggest professional gaming circuit in the world — recently announced that it would postpone the competition “until we can ensure the safety and health of our players and fans.”


theverge--2020-02-04--The Mandalorian season 2 arrives this October

The Mandalorian ’ s second season will premiere on Disney+ in October , Disney CEO Bob Iger said today on @ @ @ @ @ earnings call .
The show has been a huge hit for Disney ’ s new @ @ @ @ @ just because of the adorable Baby Yoda — the show itself was pretty good , @ @ @ @ @ likely part of the reason Disney+ has surpassed 28 million subscribers since launch .
We @ @ @ @ @ exactly when in October Disney will release the second season of The Mandalorian , but @ @ @ @ @ deal it ’ s been , the company is sure to heavily promote its ( @ @ @ @ @ ) return .
Iger also teased potential Mandalorian spin-offs : Disney has a lot of @ @ @ @ @ up for Disney+ in the coming years as well , including a show staring Rogue @ @ @ @ @ ( played by Diego Luna ) and a new series about Ewan McGregor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Obi-Wan show is reportedly facing some production delays .

The Mandalorian’s second season will premiere on Disney+ in October, Disney CEO Bob Iger said today on the company’s quarterly earnings call.
The show has been a huge hit for Disney’s new streaming service, and not just because of the adorable Baby Yoda — the show itself was pretty good, too. Its success is likely part of the reason Disney+ has surpassed 28 million subscribers since launch.
We still don’t know exactly when in October Disney will release the second season of The Mandalorian, but with how big of a deal it’s been, the company is sure to heavily promote its (and Baby Yoda’s) return. Iger also teased potential Mandalorian spin-offs:
Disney has a lot of other Star Wars content lined up for Disney+ in the coming years as well, including a show staring Rogue One’s Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna) and a new series about Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, although the Obi-Wan show is reportedly facing some production delays.


theverge--2020-02-04--Amazon is helping brands build custom text-to-speech voices for their Alexa skills

Amazon announced today that it will now work with brands to help them make custom text-to-speech voices for their Alexa skills .
Imagine , for example , that you ’ re ordering KFC using KFC ’ s Alexa skill , but instead of the default Alexa voice replying to you , it ’ s Colonel Sanders himself .
That ’ s what Amazon ’ s going for here , and it ’ s something that Amazon and KFC actually developed .
The brand voices are offered through Amazon Polly , an Alexa service that previously supplied neural network-based text-to-speech services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voices to their Alexa skills .
Now , though , Amazon is offering its neutral network-based TTS technology to create custom voices for a specific brand based on recordings of voices of an actor or actress picked by the brand in partnership with Amazon .
It ’ s similar technology to what Amazon used to make the Samuel L. Jackson Alexa voice that it introduced in September .
Jackson didn ’ t record every single phrase that he can say as Alexa — instead , he recorded audio of his voice that Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into natural-sounding responses .
With today ’ s announcement , it now seems as if any brand that wants to work with Amazon can build an Alexa skill with a custom voice .
Colonel Sanders ’ voice in the KFC skill is actually pretty impressive , if you were wondering — you can hear a snippet of here .
Hopefully somebody makes a Kool-Aid Man-voiced Alexa skill next .

Amazon announced today that it will now work with brands to help them make custom text-to-speech voices for their Alexa skills. Imagine, for example, that you’re ordering KFC using KFC’s Alexa skill, but instead of the default Alexa voice replying to you, it’s Colonel Sanders himself. That’s what Amazon’s going for here, and it’s something that Amazon and KFC actually developed.
The brand voices are offered through Amazon Polly, an AWS service that previously supplied neural network-based text-to-speech services for companies to use to add realistic voices to their applications. Now, though, Amazon is offering its neutral network-based TTS technology to create custom voices for a specific brand based on recordings of voices of an actor or actress picked by the brand in partnership with Amazon.
It’s similar technology to what Amazon used to make the Samuel L. Jackson Alexa voice that it introduced in September. Jackson didn’t record every single phrase that he can say as Alexa — instead, he recorded audio of his voice that Amazon’s neural text-to-speech models can translate into natural-sounding responses.


theverge--2020-02-04--Snap keeps making innovative products, but at a cost

Snap continues to grow its user base with the release of innovative product features , but those features have come with a steep monetary cost .
In its latest earnings call , Snap disclosed that it lost $ 241 million this past quarter on $ 561 million in revenue , compared to only $ 192 million in Q4 of 2018 on $ 390 million in revenue .
It did manage to grow its daily active user base by 8 million this quarter , to reach 218 million .
However , it ’ s asking for investors ’ patience while it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profitability , although Snap highlighted that it achieved adjusted EBITDA profitability this quarter .
In prepared remarks , Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said he ’ s confident in the company ’ s “ long-term growth and profitability , ” particularly as the company invests in “ supporting real friendships on Snapchat , ” expanding globally , augmented reality , and more content .
He also points out that he believes the platform is “ still extremely under-monetized ” and that the company has a “ large volume of high-quality advertising inventory ” available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team either isn ’ t effectively selling Snapchat as a valuable marketing opportunity , or that advertisers don ’ t see the worth when they have other social media platforms as options for ads .
Spiegel says the team is investing in ad technology that ’ s more effective in targeting ads to specific users .
Generally , Snap has introduced neat product features , far ahead of other social networking platforms .
It ’ s given users the ability to 3D paint on their selfies ; is creating content based on users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building its gaming features .
The company is also working on ad products , like one it initially launched with Coca-Cola and McDonald ’ s that allows users to scan either of their logos for an AR experience .
Instagram gives advertisers fewer and less flashy ways to reach people , but its scale makes up for that , giving them access to up to a billion users .
Snapchat needs to scale if it wants its product features to make money .

Snap continues to grow its user base with the release of innovative product features, but those features have come with a steep monetary cost. In its latest earnings call, Snap disclosed that it lost $241 million this past quarter on $561 million in revenue, compared to only $192 million in Q4 of 2018 on $390 million in revenue. It did manage to grow its daily active user base by 8 million this quarter, to reach 218 million. However, it’s asking for investors’ patience while it works on making its way to annual profitability, although Snap highlighted that it achieved adjusted EBITDA profitability this quarter.
In prepared remarks, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said he’s confident in the company’s “long-term growth and profitability,” particularly as the company invests in “supporting real friendships on Snapchat,” expanding globally, augmented reality, and more content. He also points out that he believes the platform is “still extremely under-monetized” and that the company has a “large volume of high-quality advertising inventory” available, which could suggest that the sales team either isn’t effectively selling Snapchat as a valuable marketing opportunity, or that advertisers don’t see the worth when they have other social media platforms as options for ads. Spiegel says the team is investing in ad technology that’s more effective in targeting ads to specific users.


theverge--2020-02-04--An experimental antiviral medication might help fight the new coronavirus

The first patient in the United States with a confirmed case of the new coronavirus was given an infusion of an experimental drug as a part of his treatment at a hospital in Washington State .
One day after taking the drug , the patient started to get better .
Four days later , his fever was gone .
A single case study isn ’ t enough to prove anything .
It ’ s not clear if the medication , called remdesivir , actually helped the patient , or if his improvement was a coincidence .
But it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a combination of anti-HIV drugs , that doctors think might help patients with the new coronavirus .
Remdesivir was developed by the pharmaceutical company Gilead as a treatment for Ebola .
It ’ s a broad-spectrum antiviral drug , and it blocks the activity of a protein that helps coronaviruses make copies of themselves .
Research groups identified the drug as a potential candidate for the treatment of coronaviruses in the aftermath of the 2012 MERS outbreak , when another new coronavirus spread through the Middle East .
In cell models , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( a 2002 coronavirus ) , and other coronaviruses that are found in bats .
Tests on the new coronavirus show that remdesivir blocks its activity , too , at least in the lab .
That result , coupled with the positive outcomes in the Washington patient , were enough for Gilead to launch a larger clinical trial of the drug in new coronavirus patients .
The company will test it in a group of 270 patients at China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing — one group will be given the drug , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The drug isn ’ t approved by the Food and Drug Administration or by any other regulatory body .
However , it already went through safety testing during the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and 2015 .
That ’ s why Gilead is able to test it in sick patients immediately .
“ The drug has already been used in humans for Ebola .
It ’ s safe , even though it didn ’ t do much , ” says Florian Krammer , a professor and vaccine development expert at the Icahn School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ebola epidemic also illuminated a new road map for drug testing during an outbreak .
Another clinical trial , of a combination of two anti-HIV drugs , is also underway in a Chinese hospital .
Chinese experts recommended that the two drugs , lopinavir and ritonavir , be given to coronavirus patients .
They ’ ve also helped a handful of coronavirus patients in Thailand — including a 70-year-old woman , according to Thai doctors .
“ This is not the cure , but the patient ’ s condition has vastly improved .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our care , after applying this combination of medicine the test result became negative within 48 hours , ” Dr. Kriangsak Atipornwanich , a lung specialist at Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok , told Reuters .
The combination of lopinavir and ritonavir appeared effective in a handful of patients with SARS , back in 2002 and 2003 , and blocked the MERS virus in animal studies .
The importance of those previous studies was emphasized by Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , in a press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting from zero because work over the past two decades tested drugs in cells , animals , and individual patients .
Now , researchers who have devoted their professional lives to this work face new urgency around the most important question : if the drugs actually work in people .
“ There ’ s no proven therapy for coronavirus infections , ” Fauci said .
The results from the remdesivir trial aren ’ t expected until the end of April , and it could turn out that none of the drugs under investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But that there are options available — and available so quickly — is a testament to all the research that ’ s been done before .

The first patient in the United States with a confirmed case of the new coronavirus was given an infusion of an experimental drug as a part of his treatment at a hospital in Washington State. One day after taking the drug, the patient started to get better. Four days later, his fever was gone.
A single case study isn’t enough to prove anything. It’s not clear if the medication, called remdesivir, actually helped the patient, or if his improvement was a coincidence. But it’s one of a few drugs, including a combination of anti-HIV drugs, that doctors think might help patients with the new coronavirus.
Remdesivir was developed by the pharmaceutical company Gilead as a treatment for Ebola. It’s a broad-spectrum antiviral drug, and it blocks the activity of a protein that helps coronaviruses make copies of themselves. Research groups identified the drug as a potential candidate for the treatment of coronaviruses in the aftermath of the 2012 MERS outbreak, when another new coronavirus spread through the Middle East. In cell models, it blocks the activity of MERS, SARS (a 2002 coronavirus), and other coronaviruses that are found in bats.
Tests on the new coronavirus show that remdesivir blocks its activity, too, at least in the lab. That result, coupled with the positive outcomes in the Washington patient, were enough for Gilead to launch a larger clinical trial of the drug in new coronavirus patients. The company will test it in a group of 270 patients at China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing — one group will be given the drug, and one group will be given a placebo.
The drug isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration or by any other regulatory body. However, it already went through safety testing during the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and 2015. That’s why Gilead is able to test it in sick patients immediately.
“The drug has already been used in humans for Ebola. It’s safe, even though it didn’t do much,” says Florian Krammer, a professor and vaccine development expert at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The Ebola epidemic also illuminated a new road map for drug testing during an outbreak.
Another clinical trial, of a combination of two anti-HIV drugs, is also underway in a Chinese hospital. Chinese experts recommended that the two drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir, be given to coronavirus patients. They’ve also helped a handful of coronavirus patients in Thailand — including a 70-year-old woman, according to Thai doctors.
“This is not the cure, but the patient’s condition has vastly improved. From testing positive for 10 days under our care, after applying this combination of medicine the test result became negative within 48 hours,” Dr. Kriangsak Atipornwanich, a lung specialist at Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok, told Reuters.
The combination of lopinavir and ritonavir appeared effective in a handful of patients with SARS, back in 2002 and 2003, and blocked the MERS virus in animal studies.
The importance of those previous studies was emphasized by Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in a press conference last week. Researchers aren’t starting from zero because work over the past two decades tested drugs in cells, animals, and individual patients. Now, researchers who have devoted their professional lives to this work face new urgency around the most important question: if the drugs actually work in people. “There’s no proven therapy for coronavirus infections,” Fauci said.


theverge--2020-02-04--Hulu targeting 2021 for international rollout, says Disney CEO

Disney+ might be Disney ’ s streaming priority right now , but rolling out Hulu to international markets is still a primary goal , with the company aiming for a 2021 date .
CEO Bob Iger said the international rollout on Hulu took a backseat to Disney+ ’ s launch , but the company is still working on the deals and license agreements to bring Hulu to international markets .
Iger said it ’ s likely that 2021 will be when international markets get Hulu , but that could always change .
It ’ s unclear whether Disney will offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to US subscribers , but it seems likely .
On the international front , Disney also announced that Disney+ would launch in India on March 29th .
CEO Bob Iger said the international rollout on Hulu took a backseat to Disney+ ’ s launch Hulu ’ s generated quite a bit of news recently , starting with CEO Randy Freer announcing he was stepping down .
The move comes in the wake of Disney announcing that Hulu leadership would now report to Disney ’ s direct-to-consumer division , which is overseen by Kevin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to help “ rapidly grow our presence outside the US , ” according to a company press release put out Friday .
Iger and Disney executives first started talking about bringing Hulu to global markets in 2018 , after the company secured majority ownership of the streaming service .
Expanding into European markets means the company will have to ensure that its content offering matches new impositions from European regulations .
That means more original content for international foreign countries could be on the way , but it ’ ll take a @ @ @ @ @

Disney+ might be Disney’s streaming priority right now, but rolling out Hulu to international markets is still a primary goal, with the company aiming for a 2021 date.
CEO Bob Iger said the international rollout on Hulu took a backseat to Disney+’s launch, but the company is still working on the deals and license agreements to bring Hulu to international markets. Iger said it’s likely that 2021 will be when international markets get Hulu, but that could always change. It’s unclear whether Disney will offer a version of the Disney+ bundle available to US subscribers, but it seems likely. On the international front, Disney also announced that Disney+ would launch in India on March 29th.
CEO Bob Iger said the international rollout on Hulu took a backseat to Disney+’s launch
Hulu’s generated quite a bit of news recently, starting with CEO Randy Freer announcing he was stepping down. The move comes in the wake of Disney announcing that Hulu leadership would now report to Disney’s direct-to-consumer division, which is overseen by Kevin Mayer. The goal with the reorganization is to help “rapidly grow our presence outside the US,” according to a company press release put out Friday. Iger and Disney executives first started talking about bringing Hulu to global markets in 2018, after the company secured majority ownership of the streaming service.


theverge--2020-02-04--Google Fiber is dropping its TV package to focus solely on high-speed internet service

Google Fiber announced today that it will be dropping its TV package option to focus solely on providing high-speed internet service .
It will still provide the service to existing customers who pay for it , but the company says “ customers today just don ’ t need traditional TV ” anymore when so many options are available online through over-the-top TV services and streaming platforms .
“ As of today , Google Fiber will no longer offer a linear TV product to new customers .
For our current TV customers , we know you have come to rely on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide you with traditional TV service , ” the company said in a blog post .
“ And we ’ ll be happy to help everyone explore other options to get their favorite programming the way TV is watched now — over the Internet , with the virtually unlimited choice and control online viewing provides.
” Google Fiber will still provide the TV service to existing subscribers who pay for it Google says it is partnering with FuboTV , an over-the-top provider that specializes in sports programming .
That way , new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside an internet subscription .
Google says this is in addition to YouTube TV , its own pay-TV service that has some similar benefits to Fubo .
Google Fiber , which exists under the Access division of Google parent company Alphabet , is positioning this as a liberating choice for consumers to take control of their media-viewing destinies .
But it ’ s not quite that simple .
The truth is that Google Fiber was forking over huge licensing fees to carry traditional TV channels , including big-name cable and sports networks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was paying was not the same as what competitors like Comcast and others pay to bundle traditional cable with internet service , due to legacy deals and vertical integration between internet service providers and cable companies .
( For example , Comcast operates both its Xfinity cable and internet service while also owning NBCUniversal . )
According to The Washington Post , “ the cost of acquiring video content was ‘ the single biggest impediment ’ to Google Fiber ’ s wider rollout , a top Google Fiber executive , Milo Medin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more established service providers , Medin said , Google was paying twice as much for video rights.
” There are other issues , too .
Google Fiber was offering a TV option — specifically an IPTV option and not cable or satellite — particularly so it could entice more traditional double- and triple-play customers in the Midwest and other midsize American cities , where Google Fiber was focusing its efforts early on .
But the company has struggled over the past five years to make inroads in those markets as the cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the challenge of beating out incumbents like Comcast became increasingly costly .
Google Fiber has had a rocky road over the last few years In 2016 , Google Fiber paused its rollout to nine additional cities amid a restructuring and a round of layoffs , after the company became a separate business unit under Alphabet proper and no longer existed under the core Google umbrella .
( Moving Fiber outside Google meant it had more stringent financial obligations to turn a profit and not excessively waste money . )
Google Fiber has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deliver high-speed internet not through fiber optic cables , but with over-the-air transmission technologies .
( In one market Webpass was deployed , Boston , Google eventually pulled the plug on that operation , too . )
The company has also slowed its overall expansion considerably .
As it stands today , Google Fiber is only available in 18 markets throughout the US .
Last year , Google Fiber suffered yet another public defeat after it had to permanently suspend operations in Louisville , Kentucky after attempting a method of fiber installation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have sped up its deployment time , but that failed to hold up over time due to how close to the surface the cables were lying .
Instead of starting over from scratch , Google Fiber decided to end service on April 15th of last year .
Google Fiber is now paying back the city of Louisville close to $ 4 million for botching the whole project .
So it makes sense that , in 2020 , Google Fiber doesn ’ t quite need a TV service that it pays a fortune for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working to make its internet service an attractive option for consumers and a financially sound one for its parent company .

Google Fiber announced today that it will be dropping its TV package option to focus solely on providing high-speed internet service. It will still provide the service to existing customers who pay for it, but the company says “customers today just don’t need traditional TV” anymore when so many options are available online through over-the-top TV services and streaming platforms.
“As of today, Google Fiber will no longer offer a linear TV product to new customers. For our current TV customers, we know you have come to rely on Google Fiber TV and we will continue to provide you with traditional TV service,” the company said in a blog post. “And we’ll be happy to help everyone explore other options to get their favorite programming the way TV is watched now — over the Internet, with the virtually unlimited choice and control online viewing provides.”
Google Fiber will still provide the TV service to existing subscribers who pay for it
Google says it is partnering with FuboTV, an over-the-top provider that specializes in sports programming. That way, new Fiber customers can sign up for Fubo alongside an internet subscription. Google says this is in addition to YouTube TV, its own pay-TV service that has some similar benefits to Fubo.
Google Fiber, which exists under the Access division of Google parent company Alphabet, is positioning this as a liberating choice for consumers to take control of their media-viewing destinies. But it’s not quite that simple. The truth is that Google Fiber was forking over huge licensing fees to carry traditional TV channels, including big-name cable and sports networks.
In many cases, what Google Fiber was paying was not the same as what competitors like Comcast and others pay to bundle traditional cable with internet service, due to legacy deals and vertical integration between internet service providers and cable companies. (For example, Comcast operates both its Xfinity cable and internet service while also owning NBCUniversal.)
According to The Washington Post, “the cost of acquiring video content was ‘the single biggest impediment’ to Google Fiber’s wider rollout, a top Google Fiber executive, Milo Medin, told an audience in 2014. Compared with more established service providers, Medin said, Google was paying twice as much for video rights.”
There are other issues, too. Google Fiber was offering a TV option — specifically an IPTV option and not cable or satellite — particularly so it could entice more traditional double- and triple-play customers in the Midwest and other midsize American cities, where Google Fiber was focusing its efforts early on. But the company has struggled over the past five years to make inroads in those markets as the cost of deploying fiber internet was astronomical and the challenge of beating out incumbents like Comcast became increasingly costly.
Google Fiber has had a rocky road over the last few years
In 2016, Google Fiber paused its rollout to nine additional cities amid a restructuring and a round of layoffs, after the company became a separate business unit under Alphabet proper and no longer existed under the core Google umbrella. (Moving Fiber outside Google meant it had more stringent financial obligations to turn a profit and not excessively waste money.)
Google Fiber has since experimented with its Webpass subsidiary to try to deliver high-speed internet not through fiber optic cables, but with over-the-air transmission technologies. (In one market Webpass was deployed, Boston, Google eventually pulled the plug on that operation, too.) The company has also slowed its overall expansion considerably. As it stands today, Google Fiber is only available in 18 markets throughout the US.
Last year, Google Fiber suffered yet another public defeat after it had to permanently suspend operations in Louisville, Kentucky after attempting a method of fiber installation called “shallow trenching” that would have sped up its deployment time, but that failed to hold up over time due to how close to the surface the cables were lying. Instead of starting over from scratch, Google Fiber decided to end service on April 15th of last year. Google Fiber is now paying back the city of Louisville close to $4 million for botching the whole project.


theverge--2020-02-04--Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser is leaving the company

Dan Houser , co-founder of Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games , will leave the company in March .
The news comes from an SEC document registered by publisher Take-Two Interactive ( via @ Nibellion on Twitter ) .
This move comes after an “ extended break ” taken by Houser that started in the spring of 2019 .
Rockstar Games was founded in 1998 , and Dan Houser contributed prominently to the company ’ s successful franchises , including Grand Theft Auto , Max Payne , Red Dead Redemption , and more .
Take-Two Interactive is the holdings company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t officially announced the departure yet .
Here ’ s the snippet in full , straight from the document : After an extended break beginning in the spring of 2019 , Dan Houser , Vice President , Creative at Rockstar Games , will be leaving the company .
Dan Houser ’ s last day will be March 11 , 2020 .
We are extremely grateful for his contributions .
Rockstar Games has built some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful game worlds , a global community of passionate fans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on current and future projects .
Dan Houser co-founded Rockstar Games with his brother , Sam Houser , who is currently the president of the company .
In a statement , Rockstar Games said that “ Sam Houser ’ s role with Rockstar Games , which he founded in 1998 , remains unchanged , ” but did not elaborate further on Dan Houser ’ s upcoming departure .

Dan Houser, co-founder of Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games, will leave the company in March. The news comes from an SEC document registered by publisher Take-Two Interactive (via @Nibellion on Twitter). This move comes after an “extended break” taken by Houser that started in the spring of 2019. Rockstar Games was founded in 1998, and Dan Houser contributed prominently to the company’s successful franchises, including Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, Red Dead Redemption, and more.
Take-Two Interactive is the holdings company for Rockstar Games, and it hasn’t officially announced the departure yet. Here’s the snippet in full, straight from the document:
After an extended break beginning in the spring of 2019, Dan Houser, Vice President, Creative at Rockstar Games, will be leaving the company. Dan Houser’s last day will be March 11, 2020. We are extremely grateful for his contributions. Rockstar Games has built some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful game worlds, a global community of passionate fans and an incredibly talented team, which remains focused on current and future projects.
Dan Houser (left) Photo by PATRICK MCMULLAN/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Dan Houser co-founded Rockstar Games with his brother, Sam Houser, who is currently the president of the company. In a statement, Rockstar Games said that “Sam Houser’s role with Rockstar Games, which he founded in 1998, remains unchanged,” but did not elaborate further on Dan Houser’s upcoming departure.


theverge--2020-02-04--LG Electronics is withdrawing from Mobile World Congress due to coronavirus

LG Electronics , the division of LG Corporation responsible for mobile phones and other consumer tech , says it will be withdrawing from the upcoming Mobile World Congress expo in Barcelona , Spain due to the coronavirus outbreak .
LG ’ s decision follows ZTE ’ s cancellation of its MWC press conference earlier today .
“ With the safety of its employees and general public foremost in mind , LG has decided to withdraw from exhibiting and participating in MWC 2020 later this month in Barcelona , Spain .
This decision will prevent needlessly exposing hundreds of LG employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts have advised , ” an LG spokesperson said in a statement given to The Verge .
“ In lieu of its participation in MWC , LG will be holding separate events in the near future to announce its 2020 mobile products.
” MWC , a smartphone-centric conference , is held annually every February in Barcelona , and it ’ s a primary destination for Asian consumer electronics manufacturers to showcase new phones and other tech on a world stage .
The conference ’ s organizers , trade group GSMA , have said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned ” and said just earlier this morning that there has been “ minimal impact on the event thus far ” due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Yet GSMA has also issued a number of measures to try to mitigate risk , including a no-handshake policy at the show and more aggressive hygiene measures around speaker microphones and demo booths .
The latest numbers on the coronavirus , which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan , include 400 people killed and more than 20,000 sick , as well as substantial restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business operations within the country .
It ’ s unclear whether the Chinese government plans to advise people to return to work once the extended Lunar New Year holiday ends on February 10th .

LG Electronics, the division of LG Corporation responsible for mobile phones and other consumer tech, says it will be withdrawing from the upcoming Mobile World Congress expo in Barcelona, Spain due to the coronavirus outbreak. LG’s decision follows ZTE’s cancellation of its MWC press conference earlier today.
“With the safety of its employees and general public foremost in mind, LG has decided to withdraw from exhibiting and participating in MWC 2020 later this month in Barcelona, Spain. This decision will prevent needlessly exposing hundreds of LG employees to international travel, which most health experts have advised,” an LG spokesperson said in a statement given to The Verge. “In lieu of its participation in MWC, LG will be holding separate events in the near future to announce its 2020 mobile products.”
MWC, a smartphone-centric conference, is held annually every February in Barcelona, and it’s a primary destination for Asian consumer electronics manufacturers to showcase new phones and other tech on a world stage. The conference’s organizers, trade group GSMA, have said the 2020 show “will proceed as planned” and said just earlier this morning that there has been “minimal impact on the event thus far” due to the coronavirus outbreak. Yet GSMA has also issued a number of measures to try to mitigate risk, including a no-handshake policy at the show and more aggressive hygiene measures around speaker microphones and demo booths.


theverge--2020-02-04--Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Buds Plus will make big improvements to battery life and sound quality

Samsung ’ s Galaxy Buds Plus will improve upon the company ’ s original true wireless earbuds on multiple fronts , according to a specs page tweeted by Evan Blass .
Battery life is perhaps the most significant one , with the Buds Plus lasting for 11 hours on a single charge ( up from six hours on the previous Galaxy Buds ) .
Combined with the juice in the charging case , Samsung says the new set can last up to 22 hours versus the 13-hour max runtime of the older pair .
The leaked specs comparison also reveals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woofer and tweeter drivers in each earbud , whereas the previous model just had one speaker in each .
Samsung has also added a second outer voice mic for a total of three .
Voice call quality is one of the weaknesses of the Galaxy Buds , so it seems the company has done some reengineering in hopes of fixing that .
Visually , the two sets of earbuds look identical and share the same dimensions , though the Buds Plus weigh slightly more .
In addition to volume and track controls , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to immediately open Spotify on your phone .
That ’ s the latest example of the ongoing partnership between Samsung and the streaming music service .
Finally , the Galaxy Buds Plus will be able to simultaneously pair with multiple devices at once , getting rid of the single-device limit from the first Galaxy Buds .
Samsung ’ s comparison sheet lists the price for the Galaxy Buds Plus , which we ’ re expecting to see debut alongside the Galaxy S20 lineup , as $ 149 .
They ’ ll be available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and blue .

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Plus will improve upon the company’s original true wireless earbuds on multiple fronts, according to a specs page tweeted by Evan Blass. Battery life is perhaps the most significant one, with the Buds Plus lasting for 11 hours on a single charge (up from six hours on the previous Galaxy Buds). Combined with the juice in the charging case, Samsung says the new set can last up to 22 hours versus the 13-hour max runtime of the older pair.
The leaked specs comparison also reveals that the Galaxy Buds will have dedicated woofer and tweeter drivers in each earbud, whereas the previous model just had one speaker in each. Samsung has also added a second outer voice mic for a total of three. Voice call quality is one of the weaknesses of the Galaxy Buds, so it seems the company has done some reengineering in hopes of fixing that.
Image: Evan Blass / @evleaks
Open Spotify directly from the earbuds
Visually, the two sets of earbuds look identical and share the same dimensions, though the Buds Plus weigh slightly more. In addition to volume and track controls, the exterior touchpad can apparently be used to immediately open Spotify on your phone. That’s the latest example of the ongoing partnership between Samsung and the streaming music service.
Finally, the Galaxy Buds Plus will be able to simultaneously pair with multiple devices at once, getting rid of the single-device limit from the first Galaxy Buds.


theverge--2020-02-04--Disney announces release dates for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision on Disney+

Marvel Studios ’ big Disney+ series finally have release dates , with the first series hitting in August .
More specific dates are expected to be announced in the coming months .
CEO Bob Iger confirmed on a call with investors during the company ’ s first quarter earnings report that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will debut in August , with WandaVision premiering in December .
Iger did not give a release date for Loki , but the show is expected to premiere in 2021 .
Teasers for both shows were shown off during a Super Bowl spot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that WandaVision would receive a 2020 release date , moving up from its original 2021 window .
Both WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will tie into the Marvel Cinematic Universe .
WandaVision will also play into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , which is expected to be released in 2021 .
All eyes will be on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Marvel ’ s first big Disney+ series .
Since Disney has launched Disney+ , behind-the-scenes changes have shed light on how important the integration between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be going forward .
Kevin Feige , the visionary behind the MCU , now oversees all of Marvel Entertainment .
Prior to the Disney+ launch , Jeph Loeb oversaw the various Marvel shows on various Disney networks and streaming services like Hulu and Netflix .
Lucasfilm ’ s The Mandalorian will also return in October for a second season , Iger confirmed on the call .

Marvel Studios’ big Disney+ series finally have release dates, with the first series hitting in August. More specific dates are expected to be announced in the coming months.
CEO Bob Iger confirmed on a call with investors during the company’s first quarter earnings report that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will debut in August, with WandaVision premiering in December. Iger did not give a release date for Loki, but the show is expected to premiere in 2021. Teasers for both shows were shown off during a Super Bowl spot on Sunday.
The company previously announced that WandaVision would receive a 2020 release date, moving up from its original 2021 window. Both WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will tie into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. WandaVision will also play into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is expected to be released in 2021.
All eyes will be on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Marvel’s first big Disney+ series. Since Disney has launched Disney+, behind-the-scenes changes have shed light on how important the integration between the MCU and the TV shows will be going forward. Kevin Feige, the visionary behind the MCU, now oversees all of Marvel Entertainment. Prior to the Disney+ launch, Jeph Loeb oversaw the various Marvel shows on various Disney networks and streaming services like Hulu and Netflix.
Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian will also return in October for a second season, Iger confirmed on the call.


theverge--2020-02-05--Spotify’s paid subscribers accelerate as podcast listening grows 200 percent

Spotify ’ s continued investment in podcasts appears to be paying off , after the company reported that podcast listening has increased by 200 percent year-on-year in its fourth quarter earnings today .
The company says it now has over 700,000 podcasts on its platform , and that over 16 percent of its users now listen to podcasts .
Spotify says the amount of users paying for its premium tier increased to 124 million .
Despite the increase in podcast listening , Spotify couldn ’ t help but slide back into the red , making a €209 million ( around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sat in stark contrast to its third-ever quarterly profit from Q3 last year .
The company says it expects these losses to continue for the rest of 2020 , which it ’ s calling an “ investment year.
” These investments will include the purchase of The Ringer and its collection of around 30 podcast titles .
Spotify hopes to end 2020 with around 150 million premium subscribers , and over 300 million active users .
The company thinks podcasts are going to be instrumental in attracting more paying subscribers , Spotify ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing body of evidence showing that there are significant benefits to engagement , retention , and conversion of users from Ad-Supported to Premium stemming from consumption of Podcast content .
We have seen benefits to retention on the order of several hundred basis points , which is a material change on a retention curve , for users that engage with spoken word content relative to those that haven ’ t , and early data indicates that these users are more likely to convert to Premium over time .
Spotify has made numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquired the podcasting companies Gimlet , Anchor , and Parcast and announced a partnership with Barack and Michelle Obama ’ s production company last year .
Part of its plans to monetize these podcasts includes targeted ads served using its new Streaming Ad Insertion technology .
It is also promoting new podcasts using its algorithmic Your Daily Podcast playlist , launched earlier this quarter

Spotify’s continued investment in podcasts appears to be paying off, after the company reported that podcast listening has increased by 200 percent year-on-year in its fourth quarter earnings today. The company says it now has over 700,000 podcasts on its platform, and that over 16 percent of its users now listen to podcasts. Spotify says the amount of users paying for its premium tier increased to 124 million.
Despite the increase in podcast listening, Spotify couldn’t help but slide back into the red, making a €209 million (around $230 million) operating loss which sat in stark contrast to its third-ever quarterly profit during Q3. The company says it expects these losses to continue for the rest of 2020, which it’s calling an “investment year.” These investments will include the purchase of The Ringer and its collection of around 30 podcast titles. Spotify hopes to end 2020 with around 150 million premium subscribers, and over 300 million active users. The company thinks podcasts are going to be instrumental in attracting more paying subscribers, Spotify’s most lucrative customers:
We have a growing body of evidence showing that there are significant benefits to engagement, retention, and conversion of users from Ad-Supported to Premium stemming from consumption of Podcast content. We have seen benefits to retention on the order of several hundred basis points, which is a material change on a retention curve, for users that engage with spoken word content relative to those that haven’t, and early data indicates that these users are more likely to convert to Premium over time.


theverge--2020-02-05--StaffPad, a stunning Windows music writing app, is now available on iPad

StaffPad launched as a truly unique app for Windows-based tablets nearly five years ago , allowing composers to scribble notes on a screen and convert the handwritten music into a typeset score .
At its launch , StaffPad was described as “ groundbreaking ” by professionals that had been waiting for such an app , but it was only available on Windows .
That ’ s all changing today , as StaffPad debuts on the iPad with some big improvements .
Handwriting recognition for music notation is the big selling point of StaffPad .
That ’ s now being complimented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play your score with the realism of a full orchestra , and a separate free Reader app that anyone can use to play a score on Windows tablets and the iPad .
StaffPad has partnered with Spitfire Audio , Orchestral Tools , and Cinesamples to offer these sound libraries as in-app purchases that range from $ 19.99 for steel drums all the way up to $ 99.99 for percussion , strings , and brass .
That means you can have your score sound like a full orchestra is playing it , if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been so complicated to try and achieve , ” explains David William Hearn , co-founder of StaffPad , in an interview with The Verge .
“ You ’ d need Logic Pro or Pro Tools , a sampler like Kontakt , a MIDI keyboard , an audio interface , and all of this expertise .
All of that is too complicated , I want to press play and hear my flute part and it sound like a real flute.
” While the new sound libraries will undoubtedly wow musicians , another big change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s a free app that ’ s designed more for musicians rather than composers , and connects back to StaffPad to display the individual parts of a StaffPad score in real-time across multiple iPads and Windows tablets .
Imagine an orchestra replacing their paper scores with tablets that automatically follow the conductor ’ s score .
This new Reader app is available on iPad or Windows , and also includes a $ 12.99 in-app purchase that will enable the playback of StaffPad ’ s built-in sound libraries .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to practice their individual role as part of a bigger orchestra then that ’ s now possible .
It opens StaffPad up to many more uses cases , especially in education and even the potential for composers to share scores they have written for others to download and play .
StaffPad ’ s iPad app is identical to the Windows version , and the company has rewritten it entirely to be cross-platform for iPadOS and Windows .
Both Windows and iPadOS apps are now priced at $ 89.99 , and the Windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers .
StaffPad will even support Microsoft ’ s new Surface Pro X device with an ARM64 version of this updated app .
Since StaffPad ’ s launch nearly five years ago , competitors have slowly emerged to fill the iPad gap thanks to Apple ’ s Pencil support in 2016 .
Apps like Komp and Piascore have emerged , but reviewers like Scoring Notes have found “ StaffPad is much more accurate and reliable in its recognition than any of the competitors.
” Hearn originally gambled on Windows 8 to launch StaffPad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years working on bringing it to iPad .
“ We were looking at the iPad and thinking it was great for browsing the web or reading magazines , but it ’ s too small to work on really , ” says Hearn .
That all changed with the iPad Pro in 2016 , and now modern larger iPads all have some form of Apple Pencil support .
Apple wants apps like StaffPad in its App Store , and Hearn reveals that “ Apple took me into a room with security guards and revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple Pencil , ” ahead of the public unveiling .
This all kicked off the journey to bring StaffPad to the iPad , and rebuild the app to be cross-platform .
There aren ’ t many professional Windows apps that are built using Microsoft ’ s UWP platform and also available on iPad , which makes StaffPad a rare outlier .
Thousands of StaffPad users have actually purchased Surface hardware just to get StaffPad in the past , Hearn tells me .
That obviously won ’ t happen in the same way with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a much bigger potential audience .
StaffPad debuts today in Apple ’ s App Store for $ 89.99 , and the updated Windows app is also available in the Microsoft Store .
If you ’ re interested in a full review of StaffPad and its new features , I ’ d recommend reading Scoring Notes ’ extensive analysis of the app .

StaffPad launched as a truly unique app for Windows-based tablets nearly five years ago, allowing composers to scribble notes on a screen and convert the handwritten music into a typeset score. At its launch, StaffPad was described as “groundbreaking” by professionals that had been waiting for such an app, but it was only available on Windows. That’s all changing today, as StaffPad debuts on the iPad with some big improvements.
Handwriting recognition for music notation is the big selling point of StaffPad. That’s now being complemented with new sound libraries that let you play your score with the realism of a full orchestra, and a separate free Reader app that anyone can use to play a score on Windows tablets and the iPad.
StaffPad has partnered with Spitfire Audio, Orchestral Tools, and Cinesamples to offer these sound libraries as in-app purchases that range from $19.99 for steel drums all the way up to $99.99 for percussion, strings, and brass. That means you can have your score sound like a full orchestra is playing it, if you want. “Previously this would have been so complicated to try and achieve,” explains David William Hearn, co-founder of StaffPad, in an interview with The Verge. “You’d need Logic Pro or Pro Tools, a sampler like Kontakt, a MIDI keyboard, an audio interface, and all of this expertise. All of that is too complicated, I want to press play and hear my flute part and it sound like a real flute.”
While the new sound libraries will undoubtedly wow musicians, another big change to StaffPad is the new Reader app. It’s a free app that’s designed more for musicians rather than composers, and connects back to StaffPad to display the individual parts of a StaffPad score in real-time across multiple iPads and Windows tablets. Imagine an orchestra replacing their paper scores with tablets that automatically follow the conductor’s score.
This new Reader app is available on iPad or Windows, and also includes a $12.99 in-app purchase that will enable the playback of StaffPad’s built-in sound libraries. So, if you’re a musician that wants to practice their individual role as part of a bigger orchestra then that’s now possible. It opens StaffPad up to many more uses cases, especially in education and even the potential for composers to share scores they have written for others to download and play.
StaffPad on the Surface Pro X StaffPad
StaffPad’s iPad app is identical to the Windows version, and the company has rewritten it entirely to be cross-platform for iPadOS and Windows. Both Windows and iPadOS apps are now priced at $89.99, and the Windows update will be available free to existing customers. StaffPad will even support Microsoft’s new Surface Pro X device with an ARM64 version of this updated app.
Since StaffPad’s launch nearly five years ago, competitors have slowly emerged to fill the iPad gap thanks to Apple’s Pencil support in 2016. Apps like Komp and Piascore have emerged, but reviewers like Scoring Notes have found “StaffPad is much more accurate and reliable in its recognition than any of the competitors.” Hearn originally gambled on Windows 8 to launch StaffPad, but has spent the last three years working on bringing it to iPad.
“We were looking at the iPad and thinking it was great for browsing the web or reading magazines, but it’s too small to work on really,” says Hearn. That all changed with the iPad Pro in 2016, and now modern larger iPads all have some form of Apple Pencil support. Apple wants apps like StaffPad in its App Store, and Hearn reveals that “Apple took me into a room with security guards and revealed the iPad Pro to me and the Apple Pencil,” ahead of the public unveiling.
StaffPad being used by musicians StaffPad