theverge--2020-08-15--Musk says Tesla two-factor authentication “embarrassingly late” but coming soon

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Friday that two-factor authentication for its app is “ embarrassingly late ” but apparently is now on the way .
Musk didn ’ t provide a timeline , but said on Twitter that two-factor authentication — which adds an additional step to verify a user ’ s identity at sign-in— is in “ final validation.
” Judging from Musk ’ s tweet , Tesla ’ s 2FA will be available via SMS and authenticator apps , which are generally considered more secure .
Musk said last year that Tesla was working on “ foundational upgrades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system and would be introducing 2FA shortly after .
Tesla ’ s app basically serves as a key for the company ’ s latest models , allowing remote locking and unlocking , among other options .
Tesla vehicles are generally considered pretty theft-proof , as they include always-on GPS which lets owners track their vehicles .
The company introduced PIN code entry for its cars in 2018 .
But adding 2FA , which requires entering a code generated from a separate device ( usually a smartphone ) , will add yet another layer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Musk did not say when Tesla ’ s 2FA would be available .

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Friday that two-factor authentication for its app is “embarrassingly late” but apparently is now on the way. Musk didn’t provide a timeline, but said on Twitter that two-factor authentication — which adds an additional step to verify a user’s identity at sign-in— is in “final validation.”
Judging from Musk’s tweet, Tesla’s 2FA will be available via SMS and authenticator apps, which are generally considered more secure. Musk said last year that Tesla was working on “foundational upgrades” to Tesla’s core operating system and would be introducing 2FA shortly after. Tesla’s app basically serves as a key for the company’s latest models, allowing remote locking and unlocking, among other options.
Tesla vehicles are generally considered pretty theft-proof, as they include always-on GPS which lets owners track their vehicles. The company introduced PIN code entry for its cars in 2018. But adding 2FA, which requires entering a code generated from a separate device (usually a smartphone), will add yet another layer of security for its keyless entry systems.


theverge--2020-08-15--Mozilla and Google renew Firefox search agreement

Mozilla and Google have extended their arrangement to keep Google the default search engine within the Firefox browser until at least 2023 , ZDNet reported .
The companies have not formally announced the deal , which ZDNet estimates is worth between $ 400 and $ 450 million per year , but are expected to announce it later this fall .
The current arrangement was due to expire at the end of 2020 .
“ Mozilla ’ s search partnership with Google is ongoing , with Google as the default search provider in the Firefox browser in many places around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly said in an email to The Verge .
“ We ’ ve recently extended the partnership , and the relationship isn ’ t changing.
” The move comes as Mozilla just announced plans to lay off 250 employees , representing about a quarter of its workforce .
Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker wrote in a blog post that the coronavirus pandemic had “ significantly impacted our revenue.
” In the blog post announcing the changes , Baker wrote that the company would focus on building new products “ that people love and want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on community , and identify new revenue streams .
Mozilla also laid off about 70 people in January .
Most of Mozilla ’ s revenue comes from search engine companies like Google— as well as Yandex in Russia and Baidu in China— that pay for their search engine to be the default option in Firefox .
Over the past decade , Firefox ’ s share of the browser market has declined , and in that time , several larger products , such as a Firefox phone , and a Firefox OS , never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday .

Mozilla and Google have extended their arrangement to keep Google the default search engine within the Firefox browser until at least 2023, ZDNet reported. The companies have not formally announced the deal, which ZDNet estimates is worth between $400 and $450 million per year, but are expected to announce it later this fall. The current arrangement was due to expire at the end of 2020.
“Mozilla’s search partnership with Google is ongoing, with Google as the default search provider in the Firefox browser in many places around the world, Mozilla spokesperson Justin O’Kelly said in an email to The Verge. “We’ve recently extended the partnership, and the relationship isn’t changing.”
The move comes as Mozilla just announced plans to lay off 250 employees, representing about a quarter of its workforce. Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker wrote in a blog post that the coronavirus pandemic had “significantly impacted our revenue.” In the blog post announcing the changes, Baker wrote that the company would focus on building new products “that people love and want to use,” renew its focus on community, and identify new revenue streams. Mozilla also laid off about 70 people in January.
Most of Mozilla’s revenue comes from search engine companies like Google— as well as Yandex in Russia and Baidu in China— that pay for their search engine to be the default option in Firefox. Over the past decade, Firefox’s share of the browser market has declined, and in that time, several larger products, such as a Firefox phone, and a Firefox OS, never came to fruition.
Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.


theverge--2020-08-15--9 new trailers to watch this week

9 new trailers to watch this week

Last weekend , I watched An American Pickle , the new Seth Rogen film and one of HBO Max ’ s first originals .
It ’ s the perfect kind of streaming-first movie — interesting enough to check out since I ’ m already paying for HBO , but not something I would have paid specifically to see in theaters .
The movie is surprisingly quick and focused .
There are really only two characters in the whole thing , and they ’ re both played by Rogen — one an app developer in Brooklyn , the other an early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the present day after being frozen in pickle brine for a century .
Rogen does a great job setting the two apart , and it ’ s fun watching him play off of himself .
It ’ s strange , though , just how narrow the film is .
We don ’ t get to meet the modern character ’ s friends or see either of them interact all that much with other people .
It limits our view into who they are , and it seems to limit the ridiculous possibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end , it still feels like we ’ ve barely met them .
Check out nine trailers from this week below .
Dear White People creator Justin Simien is back with a horror satire about a Black woman who feels pressured into getting a weave to succeed at work , and whose weave then starts to kill people .
There ’ s a really classic horror vibe to the way it ’ s all shot , and it ’ s clear just from this trailer how creepy Simien is able to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on October 23rd .
Lamorne Morris stars in a new Hulu series about a Black cartoonist who starts seeing objects come alive and talk to him after he ’ s assaulted by a white police officer .
The character is based on artist Keith Knight , who ’ s also one of the show ’ s creators and writers .
It debuts September 9th .
The Devil All The Time Netflix has the next movie from Christine director Antonio Campos , and it looks like a similarly gorgeous , slow-building , and tense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in here and the very classic film quality to them .
The movie comes out September 16th .
Hilary Swank stars in a new Netflix series as an astronaut headed to Mars .
It ’ s not really a sci-fi series , though — it ’ s a drama about families struggling with absent parents and the fear that they might not come back .
It ’ s kind of a surprising approach for a show about a trip to Mars , and it looks extremely sappy .
The show debuts September 4th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to HBO Max is a road trip comedy about two teenage girls forced to travel across state lines so that one of them can get an abortion because of the oppressive parental consent requirements where they live .
This is , depressingly , the same premise explored by another movie , Never Rarely Sometimes Always , just a few months ago , but Unpregnant is clearly going for a much more ridiculous take on the situation .
The movie comes out September 10th .
HBO has an eerie new miniseries coming up starring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a mysterious island .
As a Lost fan , I ’ m obligated to post trailers for any series about mysterious islands .
The show debuts September 14th .
Peacock is bringing back Saved by the Bell , with a reboot that looks a whole lot different than the original sitcom .
The new series looks a way more modern and polished , but it ’ s still filled with references to and characters from the original .
There ’ s no release date just yet .
The premise for Scare Me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuck in a cabin in the woods , and they decide to take turns trying to scare one another .
The film played at Sundance earlier this year , and now it ’ s heading to Shudder .
I don ’ t usually post trailers for smaller films without a planned release , but Undergods was too compelling to resist .
The film looks like a strange and beautiful series of vignettes set within a crumbling and vaguely futuristic Europe .
It debuts at Fantasia International Film Festival later this month .

Last weekend, I watched An American Pickle, the new Seth Rogen film and one of HBO Max’s first originals. It’s the perfect kind of streaming-first movie — interesting enough to check out since I’m already paying for HBO, but not something I would have paid specifically to see in theaters.
The movie is surprisingly quick and focused. There are really only two characters in the whole thing, and they’re both played by Rogen — one an app developer in Brooklyn, the other an early 1900s immigrant to New York who wakes in the present day after being frozen in pickle brine for a century. Rogen does a great job setting the two apart, and it’s fun watching him play off of himself.
It’s strange, though, just how narrow the film is. We don’t get to meet the modern character’s friends or see either of them interact all that much with other people. It limits our view into who they are, and it seems to limit the ridiculous possibilities the premise provides, too. In the end, it still feels like we’ve barely met them.
Check out nine trailers from this week below.
Bad Hair
Dear White People creator Justin Simien is back with a horror satire about a Black woman who feels pressured into getting a weave to succeed at work, and whose weave then starts to kill people. There’s a really classic horror vibe to the way it’s all shot, and it’s clear just from this trailer how creepy Simien is able to make things. The film comes to Hulu on October 23rd.
Woke
Lamorne Morris stars in a new Hulu series about a Black cartoonist who starts seeing objects come alive and talk to him after he’s assaulted by a white police officer. The character is based on artist Keith Knight, who’s also one of the show’s creators and writers. It debuts September 9th.
The Devil All The Time
Netflix has the next movie from Christine director Antonio Campos, and it looks like a similarly gorgeous, slow-building, and tense ride. I really love the visuals in here and the very classic film quality to them. The movie comes out September 16th.
Away
Hilary Swank stars in a new Netflix series as an astronaut headed to Mars. It’s not really a sci-fi series, though — it’s a drama about families struggling with absent parents and the fear that they might not come back. It’s kind of a surprising approach for a show about a trip to Mars, and it looks extremely sappy. The show debuts September 4th.
Unpregnant
One of the next movies coming to HBO Max is a road trip comedy about two teenage girls forced to travel across state lines so that one of them can get an abortion because of the oppressive parental consent requirements where they live. This is, depressingly, the same premise explored by another movie, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, just a few months ago, but Unpregnant is clearly going for a much more ridiculous take on the situation. The movie comes out September 10th.
The Third Day
HBO has an eerie new miniseries coming up starring Jude Law and Naomie Harris as visitors to a mysterious island. As a Lost fan, I’m obligated to post trailers for any series about mysterious islands. The show debuts September 14th.
Saved by the Bell
Peacock is bringing back Saved by the Bell, with a reboot that looks a whole lot different than the original sitcom. The new series looks a way more modern and polished, but it’s still filled with references to and characters from the original. There’s no release date just yet.
Scare Me
The premise for Scare Me is wonderfully simple: two people are stuck in a cabin in the woods, and they decide to take turns trying to scare one another. The film played at Sundance earlier this year, and now it’s heading to Shudder.
Undergods


theverge--2020-08-15--Attack of the gaiters

Attack of the gaiters

A minor face-covering controversy broke out this week , thanks to a widely-misinterpreted paper involving masks , lasers , and spit .
The study , which came out in Science Advances on August 7 , was pretty straightforward .
It laid out a method that other scientists could use to test masks in their own labs .
Using a dark box , some lasers , a cell phone camera and a relatively simple algorithm they figured out a way to test how effective different kinds of masks were at containing spit .
People spit when they talk .
They also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they breathe heavily , sneeze , or sing Hamilton tunes .
That humid mess can contain viruses , which is one reason that everyone is now encouraged to wear a mask in public — to reduce the chances that you ’ ll pass the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 on to other people .
Wearing a mask creates a barrier between your germ-filled mouth and the world .
( Unless you buy whatever the heck this disaster is . )
But with the exception of heavily tested masks , like N95s , researchers don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how well those barriers perform , especially given the huge variety of masks out there .
Which brings us back to the paper .
In order to show that their experimental set-up worked , and could work for other researchers , they tested 14 commonly used face-coverings .
They “ merely demonstrated our method on a variety of commonly available masks and mask alternatives with one speaker , and a subset of these masks were tested with four speakers , ” the authors write .
Here ’ s what they were not doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the different mask types .
But in their paper , they did see that some masks seemed to do better than others .
One of the ones on the lower end of the efficacy pole ?
Gaiters/buffs/those big cloth necklaces popular with runners .
Suddenly The Washington Post was proclaiming that “ Wearing a neck gaiter may be worse than no mask at all , researchers find ” , much to the dismay of other science journalists .
Other articles quickly followed , defending the gaiters and pointing out that we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these tests to really say , once and for all , how well different masks compare to each other .
Even the authors of the paper agreed .
“ What we don ’ t want people taking away is : ‘ This mask will work .
This will not.
’ It ’ s not a guide to masks .
It is a demonstration of a new , simple methodology for quickly and somewhat crudely visualizing the effect of a mask , ” one of the authors told Wired .
The experiment was adapted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covered back in April .
That experiment , and others like it that came out at around the same time , also used lasers to highlight people ’ s spit as they talked .
Like the more recent article , their work was also focused on basic scientific set-up , and not on broad conclusions .
“ It emphasizes the principle , and then you dig down a layer to get some of the more information , ” Alex Huffman , an associate professor who studies aerosols at the University of Denver told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But it doesn ’ t solve everything — just like the mask itself.
” What all these scientific papers do is give us the tools that can help us figure out which masks really are effective — information that could help us keep our germs to ourselves in this pandemic , and in the future .
Here ’ s what else is going on this week .
Long after the fire of a Covid-19 infection , mental and neurological effects can still smolder Up to a third of COVID-19 patients may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease .
“ It ’ s not only an acute problem .
This is going to be a chronic illness , ” Wes Ely , a critical care physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center told STAT .
“ The problem for these people is not over when they leave the hospital.
” ( Elizabeth Cooney/STAT ) Vaping linked to higher risk of COVID-19 in teens and young adults , study finds Teens and young adults who vape were between five and seven times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal of Adolescent Health this week .
( Justine Calma/The Verge ) Large study suggests convalescent plasma can help treat Covid-19 , but experts have doubts A large , not peer-reviewed study found some hopeful hints that plasma from patients who recovered from COVID-19 could be a decent treatment .
But it also left researchers incredibly frustrated .
“ The lack of high-quality trials in making clinical decisions about how to treat patients with coronavirus infection is a national embarrassment .
Here we have another non-randomized study , NIH-funded , and uninterpretable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Damian Garde and Matthew Herper/STAT ) Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Drugs Are Taking Longer Than Expected Experimental antibody treatments are lingering in clinical trials as researchers run into “ testing delays , staffing shortages , space constraints and reluctant patients ” according to a report in The New York Times .
( Katie Thomas/The New York Times ) Russia rushes registration of unproven coronavirus vaccine In a fit of nationalism , Russia decided to push its unproven vaccine out into the world , leapfrogging the essential step of phase III clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sputnik V. ’ Virologists are calling it “ beyond stupid.
” ( Mary Beth Griggs/The Verge ) I had COVID-19 , and these are the things nobody tells you Sports columnist Bill Plaschke vividly writes about what it was like to catch the virus after months of writing about how the pandemic has upended sports .
More than 900 healthcare workers have died on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US , according to a new report and interactive database built by The Guardian and KHN .
The database includes pictures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died since March .
To the more than 21,240,306 people worldwide who have tested positive , may your road to recovery be smooth .
To the families and friends of the 766,414 people who have died worldwide — 168,458 of those in the US — your loved ones are not forgotten .

A minor face-covering controversy broke out this week, thanks to a widely-misinterpreted paper involving masks, lasers, and spit.
The study, which came out in Science Advances on August 7, was pretty straightforward. It laid out a method that other scientists could use to test masks in their own labs. Using a dark box, some lasers, a cell phone camera and a relatively simple algorithm they figured out a way to test how effective different kinds of masks were at containing spit.
People spit when they talk. They also spew droplets out of their mouth when they breathe heavily, sneeze, or sing Hamilton tunes. That humid mess can contain viruses, which is one reason that everyone is now encouraged to wear a mask in public — to reduce the chances that you’ll pass the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 on to other people.
Wearing a mask creates a barrier between your germ-filled mouth and the world. (Unless you buy whatever the heck this disaster is.) But with the exception of heavily tested masks, like N95s, researchers don’t have a detailed picture of how well those barriers perform, especially given the huge variety of masks out there.
Which brings us back to the paper. In order to show that their experimental set-up worked, and could work for other researchers, they tested 14 commonly used face-coverings. They “merely demonstrated our method on a variety of commonly available masks and mask alternatives with one speaker, and a subset of these masks were tested with four speakers,” the authors write.
Here’s what they were not doing: they were not running extensive tests on the different mask types. But in their paper, they did see that some masks seemed to do better than others. One of the ones on the lower end of the efficacy pole? Gaiters/buffs/those big cloth necklaces popular with runners. Suddenly The Washington Post was proclaiming that “Wearing a neck gaiter may be worse than no mask at all, researchers find”, much to the dismay of other science journalists.
Other articles quickly followed, defending the gaiters and pointing out that we’ll need a lot more reps of these tests to really say, once and for all, how well different masks compare to each other.
Even the authors of the paper agreed.
“What we don’t want people taking away is: ‘This mask will work. This will not.’ It’s not a guide to masks. It is a demonstration of a new, simple methodology for quickly and somewhat crudely visualizing the effect of a mask,” one of the authors told Wired.
The experiment was adapted in part from another demonstration that we covered back in April. That experiment, and others like it that came out at around the same time, also used lasers to highlight people’s spit as they talked. Like the more recent article, their work was also focused on basic scientific set-up, and not on broad conclusions.
“It emphasizes the principle, and then you dig down a layer to get some of the more information,” Alex Huffman, an associate professor who studies aerosols at the University of Denver told Verge reporter Nicole Wetsman back in April. “But it doesn’t solve everything — just like the mask itself.”
What all these scientific papers do is give us the tools that can help us figure out which masks really are effective — information that could help us keep our germs to ourselves in this pandemic, and in the future.
Here’s what else is going on this week.
Research
Long after the fire of a Covid-19 infection, mental and neurological effects can still smolder
Up to a third of COVID-19 patients may experience neuropsychological problems after they recover from the disease. “It’s not only an acute problem. This is going to be a chronic illness,” Wes Ely, a critical care physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center told STAT. “The problem for these people is not over when they leave the hospital.” (Elizabeth Cooney/STAT)
Vaping linked to higher risk of COVID-19 in teens and young adults, study finds
Teens and young adults who vape were between five and seven times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19, according to a new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health this week. (Justine Calma/The Verge)
Development
Large study suggests convalescent plasma can help treat Covid-19, but experts have doubts
A large, not peer-reviewed study found some hopeful hints that plasma from patients who recovered from COVID-19 could be a decent treatment. But it also left researchers incredibly frustrated. “The lack of high-quality trials in making clinical decisions about how to treat patients with coronavirus infection is a national embarrassment. Here we have another non-randomized study, NIH-funded, and uninterpretable,” Clinical trialist Steven Nissen told STAT. (Damian Garde and Matthew Herper/STAT)
Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Drugs Are Taking Longer Than Expected
Experimental antibody treatments are lingering in clinical trials as researchers run into “testing delays, staffing shortages, space constraints and reluctant patients” according to a report in The New York Times. (Katie Thomas/The New York Times)
Russia rushes registration of unproven coronavirus vaccine
In a fit of nationalism, Russia decided to push its unproven vaccine out into the world, leapfrogging the essential step of phase III clinical trials. Russia is calling it ‘Sputnik V.’ Virologists are calling it “beyond stupid.” (Mary Beth Griggs/The Verge)
Perspectives
I had COVID-19, and these are the things nobody tells you
Sports columnist Bill Plaschke vividly writes about what it was like to catch the virus after months of writing about how the pandemic has upended sports.
It felt like my head was on fire. One night I sweated through five shirts. I shook so much from the chills I thought I chipped a tooth. My chest felt like LeBron James was sitting on it. My fatigue made it feel as if I was dressed in the chains of Jacob Marley’s ghost.
(Bill Plaschke/The Los Angeles Times)
More than numbers
More than 900 healthcare workers have died on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, according to a new report and interactive database built by The Guardian and KHN. The database includes pictures and profiles of 167 medical workers who have died since March.
To the more than 21,240,306 people worldwide who have tested positive, may your road to recovery be smooth.
To the families and friends of the 766,414 people who have died worldwide — 168,458 of those in the US — your loved ones are not forgotten.


theverge--2020-08-16--An Uber and Lyft shutdown in California looks inevitable — unless voters bail them out

Share All sharing options for : An Uber and Lyft shutdown in California looks inevitable — unless voters bail them out No Uber and Lyft rides in California ?
After a judge rejected the companies ’ effort to delay an order that they classify drivers as employees , it seems inevitable .
Uber and Lyft have until August 20th to comply with the order .
But the companies have said they will need to go dark in the Golden State in order to retool their business .
The judges may not have the last word .
Uber and Lyft are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters to help them circumvent AB5 , which went into effect in January and makes it more difficult for companies to use independent contractors .
Uber and Lyft built their respective businesses on the concept of using freelance drivers who aren ’ t eligible for traditional benefits like health insurance and paid leave .
Earlier this year , the companies , along with DoorDash , raised nearly $ 100 million to place a question on the November ballot .
They succeeded , and this fall , voters will be asked to permanently classify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure , called Proposition 22 , also directs the companies to adopt certain labor and wage policies that fall short of traditional employment .
To accomplish their political goals , ridesharing companies are turning to their customers .
To accomplish their political goals , ridesharing companies are turning to their customers .
Lyft emailed its customers urging them to vote yes on Prop 22 and added pro-Prop-22 messages to its app .
Uber has yet to do the same , but the company has shown a flair for using dramatic tricks to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , the company added a pop-up feature in its app to troll the mayor of New York City and encourage the company ’ s customers to pressure him to back off on proposed legislation that could seriously hamper Uber ’ s growth efforts in the city .
It worked , and Mayor Bill de Blasio relented .
It was a short-lived victory .
Eventually , de Blasio and the New York City council rallied to cap the number of new Uber and Lyft vehicles and to establish a wage floor for drivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation similar to AB5 that would force the companies to classify drivers as employees .
Shutting down operations in California would be a much bigger , much more dramatic , and certainly far riskier move than adding a new widget in its app .
But it would also be an extremely visceral way to show voters what things could be like if Prop 22 fails .
Uber and Lyft drivers have long complained about poor pay , lack of protections , and an inability to unionize to collectively bargain with the companies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their cars because they can ’ t afford to live in the cities where they work , struggling to make ends meet , and feeling totally at the mercy of a faceless algorithm that dictates when and where they drive and for how long .
Uber and Lyft have said they realize they need to adapt to changing attitudes about work in California , and hold up Prop 22 as evidence of this .
The ballot measure promises to raise compensation for ride-hailing and delivery drivers by requiring companies to pay them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per mile , according to the companies .
It would also mandate health care coverage for drivers who work at least 15 hours per week , and provide insurance for on-the-job injuries .
California voters aren ’ t just being asked to let Uber and Lyft continue classifying drivers as independent contractors ; they ’ re also being asked to endorse an unprofitable business model that denies workers overtime pay , reimbursement for expenses , workers ’ compensation and paid leave , pro-AB5 groups say .
California is an obvious place for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California is an obvious place for the line to be drawn in the sand .
It ’ s where Uber and Lyft were founded and where they raised billions of dollars from investors before eventually going public .
But neither company has ever been profitable .
They both have actually set records for the amount of money lost in the run-up to their respective IPOs .
And since going public , they have continued to bleed cash .
“ Prop 22 is not just securing an AB 5 carveout for gig companies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lyft driver based in San Diego and member of the pro-AB5 group Gig Workers Rising .
“ It is also designed by gig companies to ensure that these corporations are exempted from having to observe basic labor protections for workers for generations to come.
” Uber and Lyft have said they realize they need to adapt to changing attitudes about work in California , and hold up Prop 22 as evidence of this .
The ballot measure promises to raise compensation for ride-hailing and delivery drivers by requiring companies to pay them above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mile , according to the companies .
It would also mandate health care coverage for drivers who work at least 15 hours per week , and provide insurance for on-the-job injuries .
AB5 prompted Uber to make several major changes to its app : it now displays prices differently , allows customers to select preferred drivers , and discontinued some benefits associated with its driver rewards program .
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently advocated for a “ third way ” for gig workers that offers more protections while keeping the flexibility to set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have to shut down Uber in California to make this point .
Along with Lyft and DoorDash , his company has over $ 110 million in cash it can spend to sway voters on Prop 22 , according to CalMatters .
By comparison , pro-AB5 labor groups have only $ 866,000 .
That could be enough to score a win .
A majority of California voters said they planned to vote on the ballot measure , according to polling firm Redfield and Wilton .
But they ’ re split on how they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41 percent of voters say they will vote yes for Proposition 22 , and 26 percent say they will vote no .
In addition , a significant 34 percent say they still do not know how they will vote .
It ’ s unclear how groups like Gig Workers Rising plan to make their case to voters .
So far , they ’ ve been staging protests at Uber and Lyft headquarters in the hopes they can generate some media attention .
But they have yet to outline an advertising strategy .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to burn on advertising , a direct line of communication to their customers , and a willingness to lose tens of millions of dollars more to make their point .
Going dark in one of its biggest markets in the country to really drive the message home about what ’ s a stake could be a gamble worth taking .
Uber lost over $ 16 billion in the three years running up to its IPO .
Since going public , it lost another $ 13 billion .
By comparison , Lyft lost a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but its business is based entirely in North America , while Uber is global .
Whatever money both companies will lose closing up shop in California could be pocket change compared to getting to rewrite the laws governing work in the state .

No Uber and Lyft rides in California? After a judge rejected the companies’ effort to delay an order that they classify drivers as employees, it seems inevitable. Uber and Lyft have until August 20th to comply with the order. But the companies have said they will need to go dark in the Golden State in order to retool their business.
The judges may not have the last word. Uber and Lyft are counting on California’s notoriously mercurial voters to help them circumvent AB5, which went into effect in January and makes it more difficult for companies to use independent contractors. Uber and Lyft built their respective businesses on the concept of using freelance drivers who aren’t eligible for traditional benefits like health insurance and paid leave.
Earlier this year, the companies, along with DoorDash, raised nearly $100 million to place a question on the November ballot. They succeeded, and this fall, voters will be asked to permanently classify ride-hailing drivers as independent contractors. The measure, called Proposition 22, also directs the companies to adopt certain labor and wage policies that fall short of traditional employment.
To accomplish their political goals, ridesharing companies are turning to their customers.
To accomplish their political goals, ridesharing companies are turning to their customers. Lyft emailed its customers urging them to vote yes on Prop 22 and added pro-Prop-22 messages to its app. Uber has yet to do the same, but the company has shown a flair for using dramatic tricks to turn its customers into political allies. In 2015, the company added a pop-up feature in its app to troll the mayor of New York City and encourage the company’s customers to pressure him to back off on proposed legislation that could seriously hamper Uber’s growth efforts in the city. It worked, and Mayor Bill de Blasio relented.
It was a short-lived victory. Eventually, de Blasio and the New York City council rallied to cap the number of new Uber and Lyft vehicles and to establish a wage floor for drivers. New York State is now considering legislation similar to AB5 that would force the companies to classify drivers as employees.
Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
Shutting down operations in California would be a much bigger, much more dramatic, and certainly far riskier move than adding a new widget in its app. But it would also be an extremely visceral way to show voters what things could be like if Prop 22 fails.
Uber and Lyft drivers have long complained about poor pay, lack of protections, and an inability to unionize to collectively bargain with the companies. There have been stories about drivers sleeping in their cars because they can’t afford to live in the cities where they work, struggling to make ends meet, and feeling totally at the mercy of a faceless algorithm that dictates when and where they drive and for how long.
California voters aren’t just being asked to let Uber and Lyft continue classifying drivers as independent contractors; they’re also being asked to endorse an unprofitable business model that denies workers overtime pay, reimbursement for expenses, workers’ compensation and paid leave, pro-AB5 groups say.
California is an obvious place for the line to be drawn in the sand
California is an obvious place for the line to be drawn in the sand. It’s where Uber and Lyft were founded and where they raised billions of dollars from investors before eventually going public. But neither company has ever been profitable. They both have actually set records for the amount of money lost in the run-up to their respective IPOs. And since going public, they have continued to bleed cash.
“Prop 22 is not just securing an AB 5 carveout for gig companies,” said Carlos Ramos, a 39-year-old Lyft driver based in San Diego and member of the pro-AB5 group Gig Workers Rising. “It is also designed by gig companies to ensure that these corporations are exempted from having to observe basic labor protections for workers for generations to come.”
Uber and Lyft have said they realize they need to adapt to changing attitudes about work in California, and hold up Prop 22 as evidence of this. The ballot measure promises to raise compensation for ride-hailing and delivery drivers by requiring companies to pay them above minimum wage, plus 30 cents per mile, according to the companies. It would also mandate health care coverage for drivers who work at least 15 hours per week, and provide insurance for on-the-job injuries.
AB5 prompted Uber to make several major changes to its app: it now displays prices differently, allows customers to select preferred drivers, and discontinued some benefits associated with its driver rewards program. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently advocated for a “third way” for gig workers that offers more protections while keeping the flexibility to set your own hours.
Khosrowshahi doesn’t have to shut down Uber in California to make this point. Along with Lyft and DoorDash, his company has over $110 million in cash it can spend to sway voters on Prop 22, according to CalMatters. By comparison, pro-AB5 labor groups have only $866,000. That could be enough to score a win.
A majority of California voters said they planned to vote on the ballot measure, according to polling firm Redfield and Wilton. But they’re split on how they will vote: the poll found that 41 percent of voters say they will vote yes for Proposition 22, and 26 percent say they will vote no. In addition, a significant 34 percent say they still do not know how they will vote.
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
It’s unclear how groups like Gig Workers Rising plan to make their case to voters. So far, they’ve been staging protests at Uber and Lyft headquarters in the hopes they can generate some media attention. But they have yet to outline an advertising strategy.
By contrast, Uber and Lyft have money to burn on advertising, a direct line of communication to their customers, and a willingness to lose tens of millions of dollars more to make their point. Going dark in one of its biggest markets in the country to really drive the message home about what’s a stake could be a gamble worth taking. Uber lost over $16 billion in the three years running up to its IPO. Since going public, it lost another $13 billion. By comparison, Lyft lost a measly $2.6 billion in 2019, but its business is based entirely in North America, while Uber is global.


theverge--2020-08-16--Go Read This Washington Post report about race problems at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Facebook has come under heavy criticism over the past year for how the social media behemoth has fumbled its approach to civil rights issues on the platform .
A recent audit found that despite recent steps to expand its policies and prohibit discrimination , Facebook continues to undermine its own progress .
A new report from The Washington Post digs into the ways the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative ( CZI ) , the philanthropic organization founded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife , pediatrician Priscilla Chan , has fallen short of many of its stated goals as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Black employees of CZI say that particularly when it comes to issues of racial justice , company leadership makes too many compromises .
A group of Black CZI employees wrote a letter to Chan in June , following comments by Zuckerberg about the organization ’ s work toward funding social justice causes .
“ ... the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has been one of the largest funders , investing ~ $ 40 million annually for several years in organizations working to overcome racial injustice , ” Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this work , and we expect to be in this fight for many years to come.
” But the Black CZI employees wrote that they often encountered “ resistance and exasperation.
” “ You , Mark , and the senior leadership team have asked us to trust your commitment to making CZI a more diverse , inclusive , and equitable organization , ” the group wrote to Chan .
“ You ’ ve asked for grace as you each engage in your personal racial equity journeys .
You have made these requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not made much progress.
” CZI ’ s chief operating officer said in a statement to the Post that the philanthropy had “ work to do internally , ” adding that “ progress has been uneven across our issue areas , and it has not always been explicitly named or systematically tracked.
” He also stressed that Facebook doesn ’ t dictate CZI ’ s decisions .
In June , more than 140 scientists who receive funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative sent a letter to Zuckerberg saying that allowing President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation and incendiary statements ” was not only a violation of Facebook ’ s policies but “ directly antithetical ” to CZI ’ s goal of building a “ more inclusive , just and healthy future for everyone.
” The Post story on CZI and its Black employees details how Chan worked toward addressing some of the Black employees ’ concerns but with mixed results , and how what it calls Zuckerberg ’ s blind spots hampered many well-intended efforts .
The article mentions that it explored “ recordings of company meetings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with current and former employees , ” a great example of the kind of tenacious , methodical reporting the Post does best .
Go read this deeply reported account of how even an organization with a huge pocketbook and the best of ( stated ) intentions can still find itself struggling to live up to its own lofty ideals .

Facebook has come under heavy criticism over the past year for how the social media behemoth has fumbled its approach to civil rights issues on the platform. A recent audit found that despite recent steps to expand its policies and prohibit discrimination, Facebook continues to undermine its own progress.
A new report from The Washington Post digs into the ways the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the philanthropic organization founded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, pediatrician Priscilla Chan, has fallen short of many of its stated goals as well. CZI is a separate entity from Facebook, but Black employees of CZI say that particularly when it comes to issues of racial justice, company leadership makes too many compromises.
Some Black employees say that their voices have been marginalized and their expertise discounted. They also say the CZI’s grant-making has left Black leaders and Black communities unsupported.
A group of Black CZI employees wrote a letter to Chan in June, following comments by Zuckerberg about the organization’s work toward funding social justice causes. “...the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has been one of the largest funders, investing ~$40 million annually for several years in organizations working to overcome racial injustice,” Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page. “Priscilla and I are committed to this work, and we expect to be in this fight for many years to come.”
But the Black CZI employees wrote that they often encountered “resistance and exasperation.”
“You, Mark, and the senior leadership team have asked us to trust your commitment to making CZI a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization,” the group wrote to Chan. “You’ve asked for grace as you each engage in your personal racial equity journeys. You have made these requests of us for years, yet you have not made much progress.”
CZI’s chief operating officer said in a statement to the Post that the philanthropy had “work to do internally,” adding that “progress has been uneven across our issue areas, and it has not always been explicitly named or systematically tracked.” He also stressed that Facebook doesn’t dictate CZI’s decisions.
In June, more than 140 scientists who receive funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative sent a letter to Zuckerberg saying that allowing President Trump to use Facebook “to spread both misinformation and incendiary statements” was not only a violation of Facebook’s policies but “directly antithetical” to CZI’s goal of building a “more inclusive, just and healthy future for everyone.”
The Post story on CZI and its Black employees details how Chan worked toward addressing some of the Black employees’ concerns but with mixed results, and how what it calls Zuckerberg’s blind spots hampered many well-intended efforts. The article mentions that it explored “recordings of company meetings, employee surveys, email, and interviews with current and former employees,” a great example of the kind of tenacious, methodical reporting the Post does best.


theverge--2020-08-16--A college student used GPT-3 to write fake blog posts and ended up at the top of Hacker News

College student Liam Porr used the language-generating AI tool GPT-3 to produce a fake blog post that recently landed in the No .
1 spot on Hacker News , MIT Technology Review reported .
Porr was trying to demonstrate that the content produced by GPT-3 could fool people into believing it was written by a human .
And , he told MIT Technology Review , “ it was super easy , actually , which was the scary part.
” So to set the stage in case you ’ re not familiar with GPT-3 : It ’ s the latest version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed by San Francisco-based OpenAI , and has been in development for several years .
At its most basic , GPT-3 ( which stands for “ generative pre-trained transformer ” ) auto-completes your text based on prompts from a human writer .
My colleague James Vincent explains how it works : Like all deep learning systems , GPT-3 looks for patterns in data .
To simplify things , the program has been trained on a huge corpus of text that it ’ s mined for statistical regularities .
These regularities are unknown to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as billions of weighted connections between the different nodes in GPT-3 ’ s neural network .
Importantly , there ’ s no human input involved in this process : the program looks and finds patterns without any guidance , which it then uses to complete text prompts .
If you input the word “ fire ” into GPT-3 , the program knows , based on the weights in its network , that the words “ truck ” and “ alarm ” are much more likely to follow than “ lucid ” or “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Here ’ s a sample from Porr ’ s blog post ( with a pseudonymous author ) , titled “ Feeling unproductive ?
Maybe you should stop overthinking.
” Yes , I would also like to think I would be able to suss out that this was not written by a human , but there ’ s a lot of not-great writing on these here internets , so I guess it ’ s possible that this could pass as “ content marketing ” or some other content .
OpenAI decided to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers in a private beta , rather than releasing it into the wild at first .
Porr , who is a computer science student at the University of California , Berkeley , was able to find a PhD student who already had access to the API , who agreed to work with him on the experiment .
Porr wrote a script that gave GPT-3 a blog post headline and intro .
It generated a few versions of the post , and Porr chose one for the blog , copy-pasted from GPT-3 ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post went viral in a matter of a few hours , Porr said , and the blog had more than 26,000 visitors .
He wrote that only one person reached out to ask if the post was AI-generated , although several commenters did guess GPT-3 was the author .
But , Porr says , the community downvoted those comments .
He suggests that GPT-3 “ writing ” could replace content producers which ha ha these are the jokes people of course that could not happen I hope .
“ The whole point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community can show OpenAI new use cases that they should either encourage or look out for , ” Porr writes .
And notable that he doesn ’ t yet have access to the GPT-3 API even though he ’ s applied for it , admitting to MIT Technology Review , “ It ’ s possible that they ’ re upset that I did this .
”

College student Liam Porr used the language-generating AI tool GPT-3 to produce a fake blog post that recently landed in the No. 1 spot on Hacker News, MIT Technology Review reported. Porr was trying to demonstrate that the content produced by GPT-3 could fool people into believing it was written by a human. And, he told MIT Technology Review, “it was super easy, actually, which was the scary part.”
So to set the stage in case you’re not familiar with GPT-3: It’s the latest version of a series of AI autocomplete tools designed by San Francisco-based OpenAI, and has been in development for several years. At its most basic, GPT-3 (which stands for “generative pre-trained transformer”) auto-completes your text based on prompts from a human writer.
My colleague James Vincent explains how it works:
Like all deep learning systems, GPT-3 looks for patterns in data. To simplify things, the program has been trained on a huge corpus of text that it’s mined for statistical regularities. These regularities are unknown to humans, but they’re stored as billions of weighted connections between the different nodes in GPT-3’s neural network. Importantly, there’s no human input involved in this process: the program looks and finds patterns without any guidance, which it then uses to complete text prompts. If you input the word “fire” into GPT-3, the program knows, based on the weights in its network, that the words “truck” and “alarm” are much more likely to follow than “lucid” or “elvish.” So far, so simple.
Here’s a sample from Porr’s blog post (with a pseudonymous author), titled “Feeling unproductive? Maybe you should stop overthinking.”
Definition #2: Over-Thinking (OT) is the act of trying to come up with ideas that have already been thought through by someone else. OT usually results in ideas that are impractical, impossible, or even stupid.
Yes, I would also like to think I would be able to suss out that this was not written by a human, but there’s a lot of not-great writing on these here internets, so I guess it’s possible that this could pass as “content marketing” or some other content.
OpenAI decided to give access to GPT-3’s API to researchers in a private beta, rather than releasing it into the wild at first. Porr, who is a computer science student at the University of California, Berkeley, was able to find a PhD student who already had access to the API, who agreed to work with him on the experiment. Porr wrote a script that gave GPT-3 a blog post headline and intro. It generated a few versions of the post, and Porr chose one for the blog, copy-pasted from GPT-3’s version with very little editing.
The post went viral in a matter of a few hours, Porr said, and the blog had more than 26,000 visitors. He wrote that only one person reached out to ask if the post was AI-generated, although several commenters did guess GPT-3 was the author. But, Porr says, the community downvoted those comments.
William Porr


theverge--2020-08-16--Bald eagle takes out EGLE’s drone because it’s 2020 and irony is dead

A bald eagle beat the crap out of a government drone mapping the shoreline of Lake Michigan , ripping off its propeller and sending it plunging to the lake ’ s bottom , according to the Michigan Department of Environment , Great Lakes , and Energy .
Yes .
The agency operating the drone murdered by an eagle goes by the acronym EGLE .
The agency says the incident happened near Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula area of Michigan last month .
EGLE environmental air quality analyst and drone pilot Hunter King was using the drone to map shoreline erosion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started spinning as it was headed for home , King says , “ like a really bad rollercoaster ride.
” A couple of nearby eagle-watchers said they saw an eagle strike something , later confirmed to be the EGLE drone .
Why the eagle attacked the drone is still not totally clear , it could have been a fight for territory , or the eagle might have thought the drone was prey .
Whatever the case , it ’ s not unheard of for eagles to attack drones .
Over the past several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan have led to habitat destruction and disruption to its ecosystem , as well as property damage .
Scientist Lauren Fry told the Chicago Tribune earlier this year that several factors have contributed to Lake Michigan ’ s high waters , including warmer temperatures across the midwestern US .
“ Climate factors , ” Fry told the Tribune , “ are the primary drivers of water levels.
” But it ’ s not all bad news .
EGLE says according to a 2019 US Fish and Wildlife Service survey , there are 849 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s up from the low point of just 76 sites in the 1970s .
So was the avenging bald eagle who attacked the drone some kind of climate activist seeking to protect the shoreline from further human destruction ?
Ha ha of course not ( maybe ) it ’ s just a bird .
And while EGLE is meant to be a steward of Michigan ’ s environment , it ’ s worth noting that the department grew out of a 2019 restructuring of the state Department of Environmental Quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was widely criticized for its role in the Flint water crisis .
Maybe not a bad idea to keep an eye on them , eagle .
The department said the destroyed drone was a $ 950 DJI Phantom 4 Pro Advanced , and it ’ s given up the search , leaving the drone to its watery grave .
A spokesperson said in the agency ’ s lighthearted blog post that EGLE was looking into whether it might be able to issue a citation to the “ rogue eagle ” but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drones lie .
The lost drone will be replaced with a similar model , and EGLE says it may use other designs that make the drones look less like seagulls , to prevent future attacks .
Yeah , that bald eagle will definitely be waiting .

A bald eagle beat the crap out of a government drone mapping the shoreline of Lake Michigan, ripping off its propeller and sending it plunging to the lake’s bottom, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
Yes. The agency operating the drone murdered by an eagle goes by the acronym EGLE.
The agency says the incident happened near Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula area of Michigan last month. EGLE environmental air quality analyst and drone pilot Hunter King was using the drone to map shoreline erosion when the drama started. The drone started spinning as it was headed for home, King says, “like a really bad rollercoaster ride.” A couple of nearby eagle-watchers said they saw an eagle strike something, later confirmed to be the EGLE drone.
Why the eagle attacked the drone is still not totally clear, it could have been a fight for territory, or the eagle might have thought the drone was prey. Whatever the case, it’s not unheard of for eagles to attack drones.
Over the past several years, erosion and flooding along Lake Michigan have led to habitat destruction and disruption to its ecosystem, as well as property damage. Scientist Lauren Fry told the Chicago Tribune earlier this year that several factors have contributed to Lake Michigan’s high waters, including warmer temperatures across the midwestern US. “Climate factors,” Fry told the Tribune, “are the primary drivers of water levels.”
But it’s not all bad news. EGLE says according to a 2019 US Fish and Wildlife Service survey, there are 849 active bald eagle nesting sites in Michigan. That’s up from the low point of just 76 sites in the 1970s.
So was the avenging bald eagle who attacked the drone some kind of climate activist seeking to protect the shoreline from further human destruction? Ha ha of course not (maybe) it’s just a bird. And while EGLE is meant to be a steward of Michigan’s environment, it’s worth noting that the department grew out of a 2019 restructuring of the state Department of Environmental Quality. That agency, also called DEQ, was widely criticized for its role in the Flint water crisis. Maybe not a bad idea to keep an eye on them, eagle.
The department said the destroyed drone was a $950 DJI Phantom 4 Pro Advanced, and it’s given up the search, leaving the drone to its watery grave. A spokesperson said in the agency’s lighthearted blog post that EGLE was looking into whether it might be able to issue a citation to the “rogue eagle” but I think maybe they should just let sleeping drones lie.
The lost drone will be replaced with a similar model, and EGLE says it may use other designs that make the drones look less like seagulls, to prevent future attacks.


theverge--2020-08-17--Epic’s Fortnite standoff is putting Apple’s cash cow at risk

Apple and Epic Games have gone to war , with the two companies clashing over Apple ’ s App Store policies .
Epic , in protest of Apple ’ s 30 percent fee for any digital transactions on its iOS platform , attempted to circumvent things with a direct payment option in Fortnite , leading Apple to ban the game entirely .
But Apple ’ s Fortnite fight isn ’ t just over a particular policy for the App Store ; it ’ s a battle that could decide the future of one of the key parts of Apple ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 percent “ Apple tax ” is the beating heart for Apple ’ s services business , which it has emphasized as growth as the iPhone business starts to slow .
That line of revenue has become a critical part of Apple ’ s business , the bright star executives have been able to point to on earnings reports in recent quarters .
Labeling the revenue line as “ services ” lets Apple obscure where the money is really coming from — and onstage , Apple executives tend to talk about the prestige @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plus , Apple News Plus , or Apple Arcade .
But the money from those services is dwarfed by Apple ’ s cut of the money flowing through its App Store and its power to force major players like Adobe , Spotify , and even Epic to pay the toll .
So when Apple squares off over Fortnite , it ’ s not just fighting over one app or one policy .
It ’ s protecting one of the key sources of revenue in the years to come — a source it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top .
The App Store was nearly 40 percent of Apple ’ s total service revenue in 2019 The App Store may have started out small , but today , it makes Apple a staggering amount of money .
In 2019 alone , Apple ’ s percentage taken on digital content sold through the App Store accounted for an estimated $ 18.3 billion , or nearly 40 percent of Apple ’ s total service revenue .
( To reach that number , Apple says that $ 61 billion of digital content was sold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which it took an estimated $ 18.3 billion cut , compared to the $ 46.3 billion Apple reported in services revenue on its collected 2019 quarterly earnings . )
An overwhelming amount of that $ 18.3 billion comes from in-app purchases in free-to-play games like Fortnite , Candy Crush , and Pokémon Go along with subscription apps like Tinder , Disney Plus , Twitch , and YouTube .
As of today , SensorTower notes that of the 200 top-grossing iPhone apps , only one ( Minecraft ) costs money upfront .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the App Store specifically so it can collect on those purchases and subscriptions .
That might seem like a strange business for a company that built its name on making hardware customers pay for quality , but Apple wasn ’ t always this reliant on App Store revenue .
Back when Apple first announced the App Store in 2008 , it announced that developers get 70 percent of whatever they sell , and Apple gets to keep 30 percent for “ upkeep , ” as former Apple CEO Steve Jobs referred to it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim at the time that “ we don ’ t expect this to be a big profit generator.
” The original model for the App Store was to profit off of paid apps , while free apps would serve as the gateway point to drive customers toward spending more money .
The best example of this plan came when Apple first added support for in-app purchases in June 2009 .
At the time , it was only limited to paid apps looking to add additional content , and with limits on subscription models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” boasted Apple ’ s then-mobile software head Scott Forstall at the announcement .
Apple wasn ’ t always this reliant on App Store revenue That policy lasted for a mere five months until Apple opened the floodgates and allowed free apps to add optional purchases , which have dominated the App Store and Play Store charts — and net gross — ever since .
But as business models changed and the amount of money that followed through apps grew , Apple started to tighten its grip .
In 2011 , Apple amended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from selling subscriptions or in-app purchases unless they were sold through Apple ’ s system ( and submitted to Apple ’ s 30 percent tax ) .
Some companies , like Netflix and Hulu , complied with the change .
Others , like Spotify , charged a premium on iOS to account for the extra fee and encouraged customers to subscribe directly elsewhere .
And others , like Amazon , dug in their heels , refused to pay Apple ’ s fee , and removed the ability to purchase content in their apps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s iOS Kindle app still has no option to purchase books directly , although Amazon has managed to cut a special deal with Apple for its Prime Video app . )
As the market for apps has continued to change and developers struggled to monetize , Apple has tried to push for subscription costs for apps ( spanning huge apps like Microsoft Office and Adobe ’ s Creative Cloud suite to popular apps like Fantastical to one-man-teams like Carrot Weather ) .
It ’ s the same logic driving Apple ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay continuously for services means increased revenue .
Apple even went as far as to lower its 30 percent take down to 15 percent after a year for developers willing to commit to subscriptions .
( After all , 15 percent of a recurring fee that ’ s charged for years is far better than 30 percent of an upfront cost once . )
Those policies have worked wonders for Apple : today , nearly every top-grossing app on the platform is either a subscription or a service ; and while Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out $ 120 billion to developers in 2019 , it neglected to mention that it ’ s also netted the company roughly $ 51 billion over the lifetime of the store .
“ Upkeep , ” indeed .
Apple ’ s “ services ” is the App Store , and the App Store is ‘ Fortnite ’ The net result of all these years of growth is that the App Store has become too big a part of Apple ’ s identity to give up now .
Apple may fancy itself a Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creative haven with Apple Arcade , but the core business is much simpler .
Apple sells iPhones , and then it makes App Store money from the free-to-play games and subscription services that run on those iPhones .
And as iPhone growth has slowed , the importance of that second business has only grown .
There may come a time when Apple ’ s other subscription offerings are able to carry the company forward , but it ’ s not today .
For now , though , Apple ’ s “ services ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ App Store is Apple ’ s fee from free-to-play games like Fortnite .
That means Apple likely isn ’ t going to give in to Epic ’ s protests here without a fight — for a revenue source this important , it doesn ’ t have a choice .

Apple and Epic Games have gone to war, with the two companies clashing over Apple’s App Store policies. Epic, in protest of Apple’s 30 percent fee for any digital transactions on its iOS platform, attempted to circumvent things with a direct payment option in Fortnite, leading Apple to ban the game entirely. But Apple’s Fortnite fight isn’t just over a particular policy for the App Store; it’s a battle that could decide the future of one of the key parts of Apple’s present and future business.
The 30 percent “Apple tax” is the beating heart for Apple’s services business, which it has emphasized as growth as the iPhone business starts to slow. That line of revenue has become a critical part of Apple’s business, the bright star executives have been able to point to on earnings reports in recent quarters. Labeling the revenue line as “services” lets Apple obscure where the money is really coming from — and onstage, Apple executives tend to talk about the prestige products like Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple News Plus, or Apple Arcade. But the money from those services is dwarfed by Apple’s cut of the money flowing through its App Store and its power to force major players like Adobe, Spotify, and even Epic to pay the toll. So when Apple squares off over Fortnite, it’s not just fighting over one app or one policy. It’s protecting one of the key sources of revenue in the years to come — a source it could lose permanently if Epic comes out on top.
The App Store was nearly 40 percent of Apple’s total service revenue in 2019
The App Store may have started out small, but today, it makes Apple a staggering amount of money. In 2019 alone, Apple’s percentage taken on digital content sold through the App Store accounted for an estimated $18.3 billion, or nearly 40 percent of Apple’s total service revenue. (To reach that number, Apple says that $61 billion of digital content was sold through the App Store in 2019, of which it took an estimated $18.3 billion cut, compared to the $46.3 billion Apple reported in services revenue on its collected 2019 quarterly earnings.)
An overwhelming amount of that $18.3 billion comes from in-app purchases in free-to-play games like Fortnite, Candy Crush, and Pokémon Go along with subscription apps like Tinder, Disney Plus, Twitch, and YouTube. As of today, SensorTower notes that of the 200 top-grossing iPhone apps, only one (Minecraft) costs money upfront. And Apple needs those payments to flow through the App Store specifically so it can collect on those purchases and subscriptions.
That might seem like a strange business for a company that built its name on making hardware customers pay for quality, but Apple wasn’t always this reliant on App Store revenue. Back when Apple first announced the App Store in 2008, it announced that developers get 70 percent of whatever they sell, and Apple gets to keep 30 percent for “upkeep,” as former Apple CEO Steve Jobs referred to it onstage. Jobs would go on to claim at the time that “we don’t expect this to be a big profit generator.”
The original model for the App Store was to profit off of paid apps, while free apps would serve as the gateway point to drive customers toward spending more money. The best example of this plan came when Apple first added support for in-app purchases in June 2009. At the time, it was only limited to paid apps looking to add additional content, and with limits on subscription models. “Free apps remain free,” boasted Apple’s then-mobile software head Scott Forstall at the announcement.
Apple wasn’t always this reliant on App Store revenue
That policy lasted for a mere five months until Apple opened the floodgates and allowed free apps to add optional purchases, which have dominated the App Store and Play Store charts — and net gross — ever since.
But as business models changed and the amount of money that followed through apps grew, Apple started to tighten its grip. In 2011, Apple amended the App Store rules to bar developers from selling subscriptions or in-app purchases unless they were sold through Apple’s system (and submitted to Apple’s 30 percent tax).
Some companies, like Netflix and Hulu, complied with the change. Others, like Spotify, charged a premium on iOS to account for the extra fee and encouraged customers to subscribe directly elsewhere. And others, like Amazon, dug in their heels, refused to pay Apple’s fee, and removed the ability to purchase content in their apps entirely. (To date, Amazon’s iOS Kindle app still has no option to purchase books directly, although Amazon has managed to cut a special deal with Apple for its Prime Video app.)
As the market for apps has continued to change and developers struggled to monetize, Apple has tried to push for subscription costs for apps (spanning huge apps like Microsoft Office and Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite to popular apps like Fantastical to one-man-teams like Carrot Weather). It’s the same logic driving Apple’s own pursuit of subscriptions: getting users to pay continuously for services means increased revenue. Apple even went as far as to lower its 30 percent take down to 15 percent after a year for developers willing to commit to subscriptions. (After all, 15 percent of a recurring fee that’s charged for years is far better than 30 percent of an upfront cost once.)
Those policies have worked wonders for Apple: today, nearly every top-grossing app on the platform is either a subscription or a service; and while Apple says that the App Store had paid out $120 billion to developers in 2019, it neglected to mention that it’s also netted the company roughly $51 billion over the lifetime of the store. “Upkeep,” indeed.
Apple’s “services” is the App Store, and the App Store is ‘Fortnite’
The net result of all these years of growth is that the App Store has become too big a part of Apple’s identity to give up now. Apple may fancy itself a Hollywood savant with Apple TV Plus or a creative haven with Apple Arcade, but the core business is much simpler. Apple sells iPhones, and then it makes App Store money from the free-to-play games and subscription services that run on those iPhones. And as iPhone growth has slowed, the importance of that second business has only grown. There may come a time when Apple’s other subscription offerings are able to carry the company forward, but it’s not today.


theverge--2020-08-17--Microsoft Flight Simulator is even better with this Airbus flight stick

Unless you are a hardcore fan of flight simulators , you probably don ’ t have a flight stick at your desk .
There was a time when flight sticks , or more generic “ joysticks , ” were an essential PC gaming accessory , but Windows ’ support for Xbox-style gamepads grew as the demand for games that simulate aerial and space combats decreased .
Now , they ’ re somewhat of a niche product .
That may well change this year .
Tomorrow sees the launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator , a gorgeous and ambitious project that marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it ’ ll be available to anyone on Xbox Game Pass .
Later this fall , meanwhile , Star Wars : Squadrons promises to re-create the tense space battles of the X-Wing and TIE Fighter games from the ‘ 90s .
I wouldn ’ t dream of playing either with a gamepad , so I wanted to find a good entry-level flight stick that ’ ll do them justice .
I expect that Thrustmaster ’ s new $ 69.99 Airbus-branded Sidestick , which I ’ ve been testing for a while , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Its full name is the TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition . )
It ’ s designed as a 1:1 replica of the sidestick used in the Airbus A320 — a famous differentiator from Boeing ’ s traditional yokes — and it works with Microsoft Flight Simulator right out of the box without any need for setup .
I wouldn ’ t describe the Sidestick as a premium product , as it does feel a little plasticky in places .
But overall , I was impressed for the price .
The base is solid enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is convincing , and it ’ s just vastly more satisfying to use than a gamepad .
The Sidestick is not lacking in input options or customizability .
There are 12 buttons on the base and four on the stick , as well as an 8-way hat switch ( for looking around the cockpit ) , a twist lock , and a throttle slider that can be configured to serve as an extra “ button ” at the bottom of its throw .
The stick also ships with swappable side buttons that let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or left seat of an airliner based on where you place the wider red button module , or you can go with the narrow or wide options on both sides .
The throttle slider is the Sidestick ’ s biggest weak point .
It feels flimsy , and the markings on the stick ’ s base don ’ t do much to help you gauge positioning .
It does the job , though , and if you want to upgrade down the line , this Sidestick is compatible with Thrustmaster ’ s TCA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matching $ 99.99 Airbus throttle quadrant is set to ship next month .
I can ’ t claim to be experienced in the mechanics of flying actual planes , but I can say that Microsoft Flight Simulator feels infinitely more convincing with this Thrustmaster Sidestick than an Xbox gamepad .
The way it provides more resistance and gives you finer control over three axes of movement in the air is really not something you can replicate with a little thumbstick .
A stick like this , if not this specific one , should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In preparation for Star Wars : Squadrons , I also went back and tested the Sidestick with some old games like TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance , and it worked great , despite being ostensibly designed for simulating civil aviation .
These Star Wars games relied heavily on keyboard controls back in the day even if you did have a joystick , but the Sidestick ’ s banks of programmable buttons are useful for things like managing shields and laser power on the fly .
If you ’ re interested in these games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a flight stick , and Thrustmaster ’ s TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition is about as solid an entry-level option as I could imagine .
At $ 69.99 , it ’ s in the ballpark of regular Xbox One controller pricing , but it offers something entirely different .
The only problem might be getting your hands on one since it ’ s already out of stock through Microsoft — but if you can , it comes highly recommended for what it is .

Unless you are a hardcore fan of flight simulators, you probably don’t have a flight stick at your desk. There was a time when flight sticks, or more generic “joysticks,” were an essential PC gaming accessory, but Windows’ support for Xbox-style gamepads grew as the demand for games that simulate aerial and space combat decreased. Now, they’re somewhat of a niche product.
That may well change this year. Tomorrow sees the launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator, a gorgeous and ambitious project that marks an incredible upgrade for the series — and it’ll be available to anyone on Xbox Game Pass. Later this fall, meanwhile, Star Wars: Squadrons promises to re-create the tense space battles of the X-Wing and TIE Fighter games from the ‘90s. I wouldn’t dream of playing either with a gamepad, so I wanted to find a good entry-level flight stick that’ll do them justice.
Related How Microsoft Flight Simulator returned to the skies
I expect that Thrustmaster’s new $69.99 Airbus-branded Sidestick, which I’ve been testing for a while, will be a popular choice. (Its full name is the TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition.) It’s designed as a 1:1 replica of the sidestick used in the Airbus A320 — a famous differentiator from Boeing’s traditional yokes — and it works with Microsoft Flight Simulator right out of the box without any need for setup.
I wouldn’t describe the Sidestick as a premium product, as it does feel a little plasticky in places. But overall, I was impressed for the price. The base is solid enough, the movement of the stick itself is convincing, and it’s just vastly more satisfying to use than a gamepad.
The Sidestick is not lacking in input options or customizability. There are 12 buttons on the base and four on the stick, as well as an 8-way hat switch (for looking around the cockpit), a twist lock, and a throttle slider that can be configured to serve as an extra “button” at the bottom of its throw. The stick also ships with swappable side buttons that let you set it up as the right or left seat of an airliner based on where you place the wider red button module, or you can go with the narrow or wide options on both sides.
The throttle slider is the Sidestick’s biggest weak point. It feels flimsy, and the markings on the stick’s base don’t do much to help you gauge positioning. It does the job, though, and if you want to upgrade down the line, this Sidestick is compatible with Thrustmaster’s TCA ecosystem of pedals and throttles. A matching $99.99 Airbus throttle quadrant is set to ship next month.
I can’t claim to be experienced in the mechanics of flying actual planes, but I can say that Microsoft Flight Simulator feels infinitely more convincing with this Thrustmaster Sidestick than an Xbox gamepad. The way it provides more resistance and gives you finer control over three axes of movement in the air is really not something you can replicate with a little thumbstick. A stick like this, if not this specific one, should be considered essential for Flight Simulator.
In preparation for Star Wars: Squadrons, I also went back and tested the Sidestick with some old games like TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance, and it worked great, despite being ostensibly designed for simulating civil aviation. These Star Wars games relied heavily on keyboard controls back in the day even if you did have a joystick, but the Sidestick’s banks of programmable buttons are useful for things like managing shields and laser power on the fly.
If you’re interested in these games, you should really think about getting a flight stick, and Thrustmaster’s TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition is about as solid an entry-level option as I could imagine. At $69.99, it’s in the ballpark of regular Xbox One controller pricing, but it offers something entirely different. The only problem might be getting your hands on one since it’s already out of stock through Microsoft — but if you can, it comes highly recommended for what it is.