theverge--2020-04-01--Amazon’s poor treatment of workers is catching up to it during the coronavirus crisis

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It ’ s been clear for weeks that Amazon faces an unprecedented challenge in coping with the fallout from COVID-19 .
With tens of millions of Americans now dependent on online delivery for their food , medicine , and other essential items , the nation ’ s No .
1 e-commerce company is buckling under increased demand .
And as fulfillment center employees are diagnosed with the virus across the country , Amazon ’ s already-restive workforce has escalated its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working conditions .
Among other things , employees at affected locations have simply walked off the job .
You ’ ve likely felt the affects of the crisis on Amazon if you attempted to order anything from the company in March .
Once lightning-fast delivery times stretched into days and weeks .
In the case of grocery deliveries in San Francisco , Amazon had no available slots for Tuesday or Wednesday .
Still , we really don ’ t know how badly Amazon is stretched .
The company continues to communicate via carefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and CEO Jeff Bezos has been absent from public life aside from one leaked memo and a pair of lengthily captioned Instagram photos .
Fortunately , the Wall Street Journal is here to shed some light .
Reporter Dana Mattioli and Sebastian Herrera lay out the company ’ s struggles today in a must-read piece that brings new data to the conversation .
They write : Even after 25 years , Amazon still tends to white-knuckle it through every holiday season , barely keeping up with demand despite months of preparation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of March was essentially Black Friday for the company .
According to the analytics firm CommerceIQ , sales of home and kitchen items on Amazon are up 1,181 percent year over year .
Even if a business sees a surge in sales coming early — and Amazon did begin ramping up supplies of face masks and health care supplies in January after spotting the initial spike in demand — I ’ m not sure there ’ s a company on earth that could have handled the deluge in orders .
But the story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus is not simply one of demand .
It ’ s also a story about the company ’ s increasingly fractious relationship with its own workforce .
For years now , a growing body of journalism has documented how Amazon ’ s relentless drive for efficiency in its fulfillment centers has led to injury and even death .
And now these employees are working shoulder to shoulder with colleagues who may be infected with a deadly virus and spreading it before they even show symptoms .
It ’ s an incredibly fraught moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s also a moment when they have more leverage with their employer than perhaps they ’ ve ever had before .
The Journal story notes that Amazon caved on several longstanding worker demands — including raises and paid time off — after the majority of workers at some sites did not show up for their shifts .
On Monday and Tuesday , these workers — as well as workers at Amazon-owned Whole Foods and the independent grocery delivery service Instacart — pressed their advantage .
Across the country , workers staged walkouts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay and better health protections .
Nitasha Tiku and Jay Greene captured the moment in the Washington Post : Smalls was fired later that day .
Here ’ s Amazon ’ s choice in a nutshell .
It could grant workers paid time off if they feel sick but haven ’ t tested positive for the coronavirus , further reducing its shipping capacity in the short term .
Or it could deny their requests for as long as possible , buying the company time as it rolls out a plan to bring on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strikes me as the moral one .
The latter is the one that will be justified as “ customer obsession.
” But the previous few weeks have made me wonder where Amazon would be today if it were as “ obsessed ” with the well being of its workers as it was with the people buying all those household products .
My colleague Josh Dzieza wrote earlier this year about how the company has increasingly come to treat its warehouse workers as robots , automating every possible aspect of their jobs in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminating “ micro rests ” has stayed with me : Every Amazon worker I ’ ve spoken to said it ’ s the automatically enforced pace of work , rather than the physical difficulty of the work itself , that makes the job so grueling .
Any slack is perpetually being optimized out of the system , and with it any opportunity to rest or recover .
A worker on the West Coast told me about a new device that shines a spotlight on the item he ’ s supposed to pick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and get rid of what the worker described as “ micro rests ” stolen in the moment it took to look for the next item on the shelf .
People can ’ t sustain this level of intense work without breaking down .
Last year , ProPublica , BuzzFeed , and others published investigations about Amazon delivery drivers careening into vehicles and pedestrians as they attempted to complete their demanding routes , which are algorithmically generated and monitored via an app on drivers ’ phones .
In November , Reveal analyzed documents from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 percent of full-time workers sustained serious injuries in 2018 , more than twice the national average for similar work .
Multiple Amazon workers have told me that repetitive stress injuries are epidemic but rarely reported .
( An Amazon spokesperson said the company takes worker safety seriously , has medical staff on-site , and encourages workers to report all injuries . )
Backaches , knee pain , and other symptoms of constant strain are common enough for Amazon to install painkiller vending machines in its warehouses .
COVID-19 has demonstrated the limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the point of harm in the name of efficiency .
When 60 percent of those workers stop coming into the office for fear of death , as happened recently at a fulfillment center in Southern California , the “ efficiency ” of the system is revealed as a lie .
It ’ s true that few businesses could have capably prepared for the havoc that will be wreaked by a global pandemic .
But it ’ s also true that Amazon ’ s delivery delays are a long time in the making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself , just as much as the coronavirus , that deserves the blame .
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms .
⬆Trending up : Uber is providing 10 million rides and food deliveries to healthcare workers , seniors , and people in need , free of charge , to help with the impact of COVID-19 .
⬇Trending down : Zoom is leaking users ’ email addresses and photos , and giving strangers the ability to call them on the video platform .
The issue lies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting , which automatically adds other people to a user ’ s lists of contacts if they signed up with an email address that shares the same domain .
Zoom has made ... a lot of weird design choices .
Speaking of which ... ⬇Trending down : Zoom isn ’ t actually end-to-end encrypted , despite misleading marketing claims .
The company uses its own definition of the term , one that lets it access unencrypted video and audio from meetings .
Nice try Zoom !
⭐ Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jair Bolsonaro .
A highly unusual ( and laudable ) move from the tech giants .
Kurt Wagner reports : Privacy advocates are weighing the tradeoffs between expanding government power and surveillance to help stop the spread of the coronavirus , and infringing on peoples ’ civil liberties .
A nice reported look at an issue we discussed here last week .
( Rosie Gray and Caroline Haskins / BuzzFeed ) Online benefits systems , including unemployment , are buckling under the crush of new applicants .
( Colin Lecher / The Markup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concrete things tech companies could do to help with the coronavirus pandemic .
He suggests some specific product ideas .
( Tristan Harris / Medium ) China and Russia have seized on the novel coronavirus to wage disinformation campaigns with the goal of instilling doubt about the United States ’ response to the crisis .
Both governments also want to deflect attention from their own struggles with the pandemic .
( Julian E. Barnes , Matthew Rosenberg and Edward Wong / The New York Times ) The coronavirus is spreading at a slower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York .
The news could be a sign that social distancing is beginning to work .
( Rong-Gong Lin II , Soumya Karlamangla , Sean Greene and James Rainey / Los Angeles Times ) Fact-checking organizations are fighting a surge in fake coronavirus news on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube .
People feel embarrassed when they ’ ve shared something that turns out to be false , making the fact-checking process even harder .
( Jeff Horwitz / The Wall Street Journal ) The Internet Archive launched a “ National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million free books during the coronavirus pandemic .
Some authors are calling the initiative piracy , and say it ’ s essentially illegally scanning books .
( Adi Robertson / The Verge ) OpenTable will now let you reserve shopping times at supermarkets to help decrease overcrowding and make stores safer for shoppers .
( Taylor Lyles / The Verge ) Comcast said voice and video calls have skyrocketed 212 percent during widespread self-isolation .
( Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge ) Social-isolation in the US is pushing more people online and straining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) can step in to help if federal action is needed .
( Makena Kelly / The Verge ) Two viral videos of the same hospital show how information about the novel coronavirus is being portrayed in different corners of the internet .
Some bad actors are falsely suggesting that the crisis has been overstated by mainstream media reports .
( Brandy Zadrozny and Ben Collins / NBC ) Social distancing is becoming a partisan issue .
The consequences could be disastrous .
( McKay Coppins / @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to worry about screen time ?
Then the coronavirus pandemic hit , and we all stopped caring .
( Nellie Bowles / The New York Times ) Homemade coronavirus masks are trying to fill the N95 shortage .
They ’ re not a replacement for medical grade masks , but they ’ re better than nothing .
( Rebecca Jennings / Vox ) Coronavirus is reviving forgotten tech trends from 2012 , like massive , open , online courses ( MOOCs ) , smart thermometers , and 3D printers .
( Will Oremus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US : 183,532 Total deaths in the US : Over 3,600 Data from The New York Times .
⭐Zoom is under scrutiny by the office of New York ’ s attorney general , Letitia James , for its data privacy and security practices .
James said the company had been slow to address security flaws “ that could enable malicious third parties to , among other things , gain surreptitious access to consumer webcams.
” Here ’ s Danny Hakim and Natasha Singer at The New York Times : A federal court in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violating a website ’ s terms of service isn ’ t a crime under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act ( CFAA ) , America ’ s primary anti-hacking law .
The lawsuit was brought by a group of researchers who wanted to know whether creating a fake account on a job board ( for research purposes ) violated the CFAA .
This is great news .
( Timothy B. Lee / Ars Technica ) Here ’ s how Russia ’ s troll farm is changing its tactics ahead of the November election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ errors , and hashtags .
( Davey Alba / The New York Times ) In the era of big data , memes and disinformation , the Democrats are trying to regain their digital edge , but Trump has a large head start .
( Jim Rutenberg and Matthew Rosenberg / The New York Times ) Saudi Arabia appears to be exploiting weaknesses in the global mobile telecoms network to track its citizens as they travel around the US .
That ’ s according to a whistleblower with millions of alleged secret tracking requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) ⭐Houseparty is offering $ 1 million reward to anyone who can unmask the entity behind what the company described as “ a paid commercial smear campaign.
” The news comes after British tabloids reported that many Houseparty users had their social media accounts hacked after installing the app .
The company denied the reports .
Catalin Cimpanu at ZDNet has the story : Facebook has been investing in local news organizations to help with the coronavirus pandemic .
But to really help the media industry , the company should make the News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argues .
( Steven Levy / Wired ) Twitch had an outage .
More users than ever have been tuning in since the COVID-19 pandemic sent everyone indoors , but it ’ s hard to say whether that ’ s the reason .
Lots of Amazon services going down lately !
( Bijan Stephen / The Verge ) Snap launched Snapchat App Stories to let users share stories to other apps .
The first partners will let people post Stories to their dating profiles in Hily , or watch them while screensharing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Snap CEO Evan Spiegel told employees that the company is well-positioned to weather the impact on its business from the coronavirus pandemic .
At a virtual all-hands meeting , the CEO said Snap had a more diverse advertiser base than its rival Twitter .
( Alex Heath / The Information ) A group students in New York re-created their high school in Minecraft .
( Brian Feldman / Vulture ) Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine .
Vice wrote a list of 57 things to do with friends while social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bedtime story ( for kids , but honestly for anyone ) .
Play a variety of games from the Candy Crush series and get free unlimited lives .
Send us tips , comments , questions , and stories of successfully placing Amazon grocery orders : casey @ theverge.com and zoe @ theverge.com .

It’s been clear for weeks that Amazon faces an unprecedented challenge in coping with the fallout from COVID-19. With tens of millions of Americans now dependent on online delivery for their food, medicine, and other essential items, the nation’s No. 1 e-commerce company is buckling under increased demand. And as fulfillment center employees are diagnosed with the virus across the country, Amazon’s already-restive workforce has escalated its efforts to win better pay and safer working conditions. Among other things, employees at affected locations have simply walked off the job.
You’ve likely felt the affects of the crisis on Amazon if you attempted to order anything from the company in March. Once lightning-fast delivery times stretched into days and weeks. In the case of grocery deliveries in San Francisco, Amazon had no available slots for Tuesday or Wednesday.
Fortunately, the Wall Street Journal is here to shed some light. Reporter Dana Mattioli and Sebastian Herrera lay out the company’s struggles today in a must-read piece that brings new data to the conversation. They write:
Amazon has been processing from 10% to 40% more packages than normal for this time of year, according to an employee tally at one delivery center. The company’s website had 639,330,722 visits for the week of March 9, according to data from Comscore, up 32% from the year earlier. From Feb. 20 to March 23, Amazon’s sales of toilet paper increased 186% from the year-earlier period, according to analytics firm CommerceIQ, which said that before the coronavirus hit it had forecast a 7% increase for the period. CommerceIQ said sales of cough and cold medicine grew by 862%, compared with a forecast growth rate of 110%, and children’s vitamins by 287%, compared with a forecast rate of 49%.
Even after 25 years, Amazon still tends to white-knuckle it through every holiday season, barely keeping up with demand despite months of preparation. The Journal story illustrates how every day of March was essentially Black Friday for the company. According to the analytics firm CommerceIQ, sales of home and kitchen items on Amazon are up 1,181 percent year over year. Even if a business sees a surge in sales coming early — and Amazon did begin ramping up supplies of face masks and health care supplies in January after spotting the initial spike in demand — I’m not sure there’s a company on earth that could have handled the deluge in orders.
But the story of Amazon’s struggle against the coronavirus is not simply one of demand. It’s also a story about the company’s increasingly fractious relationship with its own workforce. For years now, a growing body of journalism has documented how Amazon’s relentless drive for efficiency in its fulfillment centers has led to injury and even death. And now these employees are working shoulder to shoulder with colleagues who may be infected with a deadly virus and spreading it before they even show symptoms.
It’s an incredibly fraught moment for these workers — but it’s also a moment when they have more leverage with their employer than perhaps they’ve ever had before. The Journal story notes that Amazon caved on several longstanding worker demands — including raises and paid time off — after the majority of workers at some sites did not show up for their shifts.
On Monday and Tuesday, these workers — as well as workers at Amazon-owned Whole Foods and the independent grocery delivery service Instacart — pressed their advantage. Across the country, workers staged walkouts, strikes, and sickouts to demand hazard pay and better health protections. Nitasha Tiku and Jay Greene captured the moment in the Washington Post:
Amazon’s warehouse workers have asked the company to offer paid time off for those who feel sick or need to self-quarantine, as well as to temporarily close warehouses for cleaning where workers test positive. One sign at Monday’s protest read, “Alexa, please shut down & sanitize the building,” referring to the company’s digital assistant. About 50 workers walked out Monday, according to Chris Smalls, a worker at the warehouse who helped organize the action. Amazon, which is trying to hire 100,000 workers to address the crush of coronavirus-related orders, disputed that figure, as well as the complaints that it’s not doing enough to protect workers. Only 15 employees participated in the demonstration out of 5,000 who work at the warehouse, Amazon spokeswoman Lisa Levandowski said in an emailed statement.
Here’s Amazon’s choice in a nutshell. It could grant workers paid time off if they feel sick but haven’t tested positive for the coronavirus, further reducing its shipping capacity in the short term. Or it could deny their requests for as long as possible, buying the company time as it rolls out a plan to bring on 100,000 new workers. The former choice strikes me as the moral one. The latter is the one that will be justified as “customer obsession.”
But the previous few weeks have made me wonder where Amazon would be today if it were as “obsessed” with the well being of its workers as it was with the people buying all those household products. My colleague Josh Dzieza wrote earlier this year about how the company has increasingly come to treat its warehouse workers as robots, automating every possible aspect of their jobs in the name of efficiency. This passage about eliminating “micro rests” has stayed with me:
Every Amazon worker I’ve spoken to said it’s the automatically enforced pace of work, rather than the physical difficulty of the work itself, that makes the job so grueling. Any slack is perpetually being optimized out of the system, and with it any opportunity to rest or recover. A worker on the West Coast told me about a new device that shines a spotlight on the item he’s supposed to pick, allowing Amazon to further accelerate the rate and get rid of what the worker described as “micro rests” stolen in the moment it took to look for the next item on the shelf. People can’t sustain this level of intense work without breaking down. Last year, ProPublica, BuzzFeed, and others published investigations about Amazon delivery drivers careening into vehicles and pedestrians as they attempted to complete their demanding routes, which are algorithmically generated and monitored via an app on drivers’ phones. In November, Reveal analyzed documents from 23 Amazon warehouses and found that almost 10 percent of full-time workers sustained serious injuries in 2018, more than twice the national average for similar work. Multiple Amazon workers have told me that repetitive stress injuries are epidemic but rarely reported. (An Amazon spokesperson said the company takes worker safety seriously, has medical staff on-site, and encourages workers to report all injuries.) Backaches, knee pain, and other symptoms of constant strain are common enough for Amazon to install painkiller vending machines in its warehouses.
COVID-19 has demonstrated the limits of a workplace that continuously pushes workers to the point of harm in the name of efficiency. When 60 percent of those workers stop coming into the office for fear of death, as happened recently at a fulfillment center in Southern California, the “efficiency” of the system is revealed as a lie. It’s true that few businesses could have capably prepared for the havoc that will be wreaked by a global pandemic. But it’s also true that Amazon’s delivery delays are a long time in the making — and it’s the company itself, just as much as the coronavirus, that deserves the blame.
The Ratio
Today in news that could affect public perception of the big tech platforms.
⬇Trending down: Zoom is leaking users’ email addresses and photos, and giving strangers the ability to call them on the video platform. The issue lies in Zoom’s “Company Directory” setting, which automatically adds other people to a user’s lists of contacts if they signed up with an email address that shares the same domain. Zoom has made ... a lot of weird design choices. Speaking of which ...
⬇Trending down: Zoom isn’t actually end-to-end encrypted, despite misleading marketing claims. The company uses its own definition of the term, one that lets it access unencrypted video and audio from meetings. Nice try Zoom!
Pandemic
⭐ Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have removed misleading posts from Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. A highly unusual (and laudable) move from the tech giants. Kurt Wagner reports:
Facebook said it took down a video on Monday that had been shared to both Facebook and Instagram, in which Bolsonaro said the anti-malaria prescription drug hydroxychloroquine was an effective treatment for Covid-19. Twitter earlier had removed two tweets that also showed video of Bolsonaro praising hydroxychloroquine and encouraging the end of social distancing. On Tuesday morning, YouTube also said it had pulled two videos from Bolsonaro’s official account for violating its policies. [...] “Since early February, we have manually reviewed and removed thousands of videos related to dangerous or misleading coronavirus information,” Farshad Shadloo, a YouTube spokesman, said in an email. He declined to identify the two videos removed.
Tristan Harris offers a list of concrete things tech companies could do to help with the coronavirus pandemic. He suggests some specific product ideas. (Tristan Harris / Medium)
China and Russia have seized on the novel coronavirus to wage disinformation campaigns with the goal of instilling doubt about the United States’ response to the crisis. Both governments also want to deflect attention from their own struggles with the pandemic. (Julian E. Barnes, Matthew Rosenberg and Edward Wong / The New York Times)
The coronavirus is spreading at a slower rate in California and Washington than New York. The news could be a sign that social distancing is beginning to work. (Rong-Gong Lin II, Soumya Karlamangla, Sean Greene and James Rainey / Los Angeles Times)
Fact-checking organizations are fighting a surge in fake coronavirus news on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. People feel embarrassed when they’ve shared something that turns out to be false, making the fact-checking process even harder. (Jeff Horwitz / The Wall Street Journal)
The Internet Archive launched a “National Emergency Library” offering access to 1.4 million free books during the coronavirus pandemic. Some authors are calling the initiative piracy, and say it’s essentially illegally scanning books. (Adi Robertson / The Verge)
OpenTable will now let you reserve shopping times at supermarkets to help decrease overcrowding and make stores safer for shoppers. (Taylor Lyles / The Verge)
Comcast said voice and video calls have skyrocketed 212 percent during widespread self-isolation. (Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge)
Social-isolation in the US is pushing more people online and straining digital networks. No one knows if the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) can step in to help if federal action is needed. (Makena Kelly / The Verge)
Two viral videos of the same hospital show how information about the novel coronavirus is being portrayed in different corners of the internet. Some bad actors are falsely suggesting that the crisis has been overstated by mainstream media reports. (Brandy Zadrozny and Ben Collins / NBC)
Social distancing is becoming a partisan issue. The consequences could be disastrous. (McKay Coppins / The Atlantic)
Remember when we used to worry about screen time? Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, and we all stopped caring. (Nellie Bowles / The New York Times)
Homemade coronavirus masks are trying to fill the N95 shortage. They’re not a replacement for medical grade masks, but they’re better than nothing. (Rebecca Jennings / Vox)
Virus tracker
Total cases in the US: 183,532
Total deaths in the US: Over 3,600
Reported cases in California: 7,566
Reported cases in New York: 75,813
Reported cases in Washington: 5,185
Governing
⭐Zoom is under scrutiny by the office of New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, for its data privacy and security practices. James said the company had been slow to address security flaws “that could enable malicious third parties to, among other things, gain surreptitious access to consumer webcams.” Here’s Danny Hakim and Natasha Singer at The New York Times:
The New York attorney general’s office is “concerned that Zoom’s existing security practices might not be sufficient to adapt to the recent and sudden surge in both the volume and sensitivity of data being passed through its network,” the letter said. “While Zoom has remediated specific reported security vulnerabilities, we would like to understand whether Zoom has undertaken a broader review of its security practices.” With millions of Americans required to shelter at home because of the coronavirus, Zoom video meetings have quickly become a mainstay of communication for companies, public schools and families. Zoom’s cloud-meetings app is currently the most popular free app for iPhones in the United States, according to Sensor Tower, a mobile app market research firm.
A federal court in Washington, DC, has ruled that violating a website’s terms of service isn’t a crime under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), America’s primary anti-hacking law. The lawsuit was brought by a group of researchers who wanted to know whether creating a fake account on a job board (for research purposes) violated the CFAA. This is great news. (Timothy B. Lee / Ars Technica)
Here’s how Russia’s troll farm is changing its tactics ahead of the November election. Their messages now contain fewer spelling errors, and hashtags. (Davey Alba / The New York Times)
In the era of big data, memes and disinformation, the Democrats are trying to regain their digital edge, but Trump has a large head start. (Jim Rutenberg and Matthew Rosenberg / The New York Times)
Saudi Arabia appears to be exploiting weaknesses in the global mobile telecoms network to track its citizens as they travel around the US. That’s according to a whistleblower with millions of alleged secret tracking requests. (Stephanie Kirchgaessner / The Guardian)
Industry
⭐Houseparty is offering $1 million reward to anyone who can unmask the entity behind what the company described as “a paid commercial smear campaign.” The news comes after British tabloids reported that many Houseparty users had their social media accounts hacked after installing the app. The company denied the reports. Catalin Cimpanu at ZDNet has the story:
Houseparty denied any hacking rumors right from the get-go via a firm statement posted on its Twitter account, claiming that the app “doesn’t collect passwords for other sites,” and, hence, wouldn’t be able to allow anyone to extract this data and pivot to other online services. However, despite the explanation, the app is now at the center of a public relations disaster. Many of its users appear to believe the reports and are encouraging others to uninstall and delete the app from their devices.
Facebook has been investing in local news organizations to help with the coronavirus pandemic. But to really help the media industry, the company should make the News tab easier to find, this piece argues. (Steven Levy / Wired)
Twitch had an outage. More users than ever have been tuning in since the COVID-19 pandemic sent everyone indoors, but it’s hard to say whether that’s the reason. Lots of Amazon services going down lately! (Bijan Stephen / The Verge)
Snap launched Snapchat App Stories to let users share stories to other apps. The first partners will let people post Stories to their dating profiles in Hily, or watch them while screensharing in Squad. (Josh Constine / TechCrunch)
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel told employees that the company is well-positioned to weather the impact on its business from the coronavirus pandemic. At a virtual all-hands meeting, the CEO said Snap had a more diverse advertiser base than its rival Twitter. (Alex Heath / The Information)
Things to do
Stuff to occupy you online during the quarantine.
Those good tweets
Talk to us


theverge--2020-04-01--Facebook has a new way for communities to help each other through COVID-19

Facebook is expanding its Community Help feature to let neighbors request and offer assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic , the company has announced .
The feature first launched back in 2017 as a way for people to help each other aftermath of natural or man-made disasters , but now it ’ s being expanded to help with the health crisis .
The feature is rolling out now in the US , UK , France , Australia , and Canada , and will be coming to more countries in the coming weeks .
You can get to Facebook ’ s Community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can be found at the top of the News Feed , or by heading to the section directly .
Once there , you can filter by posts which are offering or requesting help , and you can also select which kinds of help you ’ re looking for with categories like baby supplies , transport , or food .
Individual posts list how far away the person is from you , and you can then respond with a comment publicly , or reply privately .
NextDoor launched a similar Help Map two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger user base and the Help feature ’ s prominent placement could give it much greater reach .
Facebook also allows users to request help , as well as offering it ( NextDoor only allowed users to offer help ) and it doesn ’ t rely on users posting their locations on a map — you only see the distance another user is from you .
If you ’ re considering offering to help via Facebook ’ s new feature , then be sure to follow the advice of health authorities like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , washing your hands regularly and following social distancing advice .
Most importantly , be sure to follow self-isolation guidelines if you or anyone you ’ ve recently interacted with has had any flu-like symptoms .
It might feel good to help your neighbors , but you could be doing more harm that good if you ’ re risking passing on an infection .

Facebook is expanding its Community Help feature to let neighbors request and offer assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has announced. The feature first launched back in 2017 as a way for people to help each other aftermath of natural or man-made disasters, but now it’s being expanded to help with the health crisis. The feature is rolling out now in the US, UK, France, Australia, and Canada, and will be coming to more countries in the coming weeks.
You can get to Facebook’s Community Help section via the COVID-19 Information Center that can be found at the top of the News Feed, or by heading to the section directly. Once there, you can filter by posts which are offering or requesting help, and you can also select which kinds of help you’re looking for with categories like baby supplies, transport, or food. Individual posts list how far away the person is from you, and you can then respond with a comment publicly, or reply privately.
NextDoor also launched a similar feature recently
NextDoor launched a similar Help Map two weeks ago, but Facebook’s larger user base and the Help feature’s prominent placement could give it much greater reach. Facebook also allows users to request help, as well as offering it (NextDoor only allowed users to offer help) and it doesn’t rely on users posting their locations on a map — you only see the distance another user is from you.


theverge--2020-04-01--Samsung offers 50-percent buy-back guarantee on the Galaxy S20

Samsung phones are notorious for dropping in price quickly — the S20 , for example , went on sale for $ 200 below its MSRP within weeks of its first release .
Perhaps as a way to mitigate that reality , Samsung has introduced an unusual buy-back program for its own store ( via Droid Life ) that gives customers 50 percent of the value of an S20-series phone if it ’ s returned within two years .
That could be a pretty great deal given the usual market for used Samsung phones two years after their launch .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can easily be found on Amazon for under $ 270 right now , though it cost $ 720 upon release .
If you ’ re buying a $ 1,400 128GB Galaxy S20 Ultra today , then , the prospect of getting $ 700 back in 24 months probably sounds appealing .
The credit is returned to whichever method you use to pay for the phone , so you wouldn ’ t even necessarily have to stick with Samsung at that point .
There are , of course , a couple of catches .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ satisfactory condition , ” which Samsung describes as being in full working order without damage that goes “ beyond normal wear and tear ; ” that means this deal might not be a great idea for people who don ’ t keep their phone in a case .
You ’ re also only able to apply one deal at a time , which might mean you pay more upfront .
The S20 , for example , is currently available from $ 799 with that $ 200 discount , but you can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless you pay the regular $ 999 price .
( That does mean you ’ d get $ 499 back later , though . )
It ’ s something to consider if you were planning to pick up a new S20-series phone .
As long as you keep it in good condition , this deal might make more sense than sifting through Craigslist offers in 2022 .

Samsung phones are notorious for dropping in price quickly — the S20, for example, went on sale for $200 below its MSRP within weeks of its first release. Perhaps as a way to mitigate that reality, Samsung has introduced an unusual buy-back program for its own store (via Droid Life) that gives customers 50 percent of the value of an S20-series phone if it’s returned within two years.
That could be a pretty great deal given the usual market for used Samsung phones two years after their launch. A refurbished Galaxy S9, for example, can easily be found on Amazon for under $270 right now, though it cost $720 upon release. If you’re buying a $1,400 128GB Galaxy S20 Ultra today, then, the prospect of getting $700 back in 24 months probably sounds appealing. The credit is returned to whichever method you use to pay for the phone, so you wouldn’t even necessarily have to stick with Samsung at that point.
There are, of course, a couple of catches. You have to return the phone in “satisfactory condition,” which Samsung describes as being in full working order without damage that goes “beyond normal wear and tear;” that means this deal might not be a great idea for people who don’t keep their phone in a case.
You’re also only able to apply one deal at a time, which might mean you pay more upfront. The S20, for example, is currently available from $799 with that $200 discount, but you can’t make use of the buy-back program unless you pay the regular $999 price. (That does mean you’d get $499 back later, though.)


theverge--2020-03-31--This app lets musicians remotely jam out on loops in real time

Collaborative music-making app Endlesss is now available for iOS .
The app ’ s been in beta for quite a long time , so newcomers will find that there ’ s already a community using Endlesss and sharing and discussing projects on the software ’ s dedicated Discord server .
Even though Endlesss is a music-making app , it ’ s not really meant for making complete songs .
It ’ s a collaborative “ virtual musical hangout with a live chat room ” that lets multiple users build and change loops of music in real time .
Just select @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patterns and melodies to change up someone ’ s loop .
You can make stuff just for yourself , but the social aspect is encouraged .
Open loops where anyone can remix layers on the fly sounds like a recipe for sonic disaster , but Endlesss is constructed so that doesn ’ t happen .
Each project ’ s key , scale , and tempo settings are applied to the virtual instruments used , there ’ s an optional metronome , and you can quantize your taps .
Basically , there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that things won ’ t sound awful .
It ’ s simple enough for beginners to use , but there are tons of options that make it appealing for more advanced musicians .
The app ’ s virtual instruments have robust controls to adjust aspects of sounds like reverb , loudness , pitch , delay , and other parameters .
It also works with Ableton Link , so you can connect external instruments and sync them up to the app .
If a loop gets to a point where you like how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the option to export the audio as separate .aiff layers , which you can then bring into your digital audio workstation ( DAW ) .
You can even open up the loop ’ s history and export any previous versions .
There ’ s a lot of inherent trust about ownership of ideas here ( like other short form platforms that encourage remixing content such as TikTok ) so be mindful that anyone using the app could export loops and use them in projects elsewhere .
The core app is free , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs about $ 5.50 a month if you want extra sounds and effects .
There ’ s usually a seven day trial period , but the company has extended it to two months in response to the COVID-19 crisis .
Later in April , Endlesss will launch a Kickstarter campaign to develop more robust options for Endlesss like lossless audio and “ deep integration with pro equipment.
” Using the app hits a cross section of music and socialization I find deeply appealing .
I spent 30 minutes collaborating with others on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by fast .
I tapped in an accent melody , and then another person added a bright snare .
A third person then repurposed the main synth to the chat room ’ s delight .
“ Mmm crunchy , ” someone typed .
Because it ’ s so informal and simple to use , it ’ s easy to get into a flow .
A lot of music apps tend to over promise and under deliver , but Endlesss is not one of them .
I probably won ’ t make a chart-topping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a delightful time suck that makes me feel a little more present in our current self-isolation reality .

Collaborative music-making app Endlesss is now available for iOS. The app’s been in beta for quite a long time, so newcomers will find that there’s already a community using Endlesss and sharing and discussing projects on the software’s dedicated Discord server.
Even though Endlesss is a music-making app, it’s not really meant for making complete songs. It’s a collaborative “virtual musical hangout with a live chat room” that lets multiple users build and change loops of music in real time. Just select a project and start tapping out drum patterns and melodies to change up someone’s loop. You can make stuff just for yourself, but the social aspect is encouraged.
Open loops where anyone can remix layers on the fly sounds like a recipe for sonic disaster, but Endlesss is constructed so that doesn’t happen. Each project’s key, scale, and tempo settings are applied to the virtual instruments used, there’s an optional metronome, and you can quantize your taps. Basically, there’s a lot of locked in guidance to ensure that things won’t sound awful.
It’s simple enough for beginners to use, but there are tons of options that make it appealing for more advanced musicians. The app’s virtual instruments have robust controls to adjust aspects of sounds like reverb, loudness, pitch, delay, and other parameters. It also works with Ableton Link, so you can connect external instruments and sync them up to the app.
If a loop gets to a point where you like how things are sounding, there’s the option to export the audio as separate .aiff layers, which you can then bring into your digital audio workstation (DAW). You can even open up the loop’s history and export any previous versions. There’s a lot of inherent trust about ownership of ideas here (like other short form platforms that encourage remixing content such as TikTok) so be mindful that anyone using the app could export loops and use them in projects elsewhere.
a “virtual musical hangout with a live chat room”
The core app is free, but there’s a paid version that costs about $5.50 a month if you want extra sounds and effects. There’s usually a seven day trial period, but the company has extended it to two months in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Later in April, Endlesss will launch a Kickstarter campaign to develop more robust options for Endlesss like lossless audio and “deep integration with pro equipment.”
Using the app hits a cross section of music and socialization I find deeply appealing. I spent 30 minutes collaborating with others on a minimal techno loop and the time passed by fast. I tapped in an accent melody, and then another person added a bright snare. A third person then repurposed the main synth to the chat room’s delight. “Mmm crunchy,” someone typed. Because it’s so informal and simple to use, it’s easy to get into a flow.


theverge--2020-04-01--Facebook and Fox News hosting virtual town hall on coronavirus pandemic using Portal devices

Facebook and Fox News will be hosting a virtual town hall tomorrow at 7PM ET about the coronavirus pandemic using Facebook ’ s Portal video-calling devices , the two companies announced today .
To allow people to participate virtually , Facebook is shipping a Portal Plus device to every audience member so they can attend the town hall and ask questions of the speakers .
Approximately 30 people will attend the town hall via Portal , Facebook tells The Verge .
Typically , a total of eight people can be on a Portal call , according to a Facebook support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making some sort of special circumstance for more people to attend this event .
The town hall is being hosted virtually to allow participants to practice social distancing and respect orders to remain at home , which can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 , the illness caused by the novel coronavirus .
The town hall will be moderated by Martha MacCallum , host of Fox News ’ show The Story , and will feature “ medical and business experts , including White House coronavirus task force members Dr. Deborah Birx and Surgeon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a press release issued by Fox News .
Mike Rowe will also appear for a segment , Facebook tells The Verge .
The one-hour town hall will be live streamed on Fox News ’ Facebook page , Fox ’ s CoronavirusNOW.com news hub , Fox ’ s CoronavirusNOW channel on Samsung TV Plus , and on all Fox TV stations ’ websites , Facebook pages and apps .

Facebook and Fox News will be hosting a virtual town hall tomorrow at 7PM ET about the coronavirus pandemic using Facebook’s Portal video-calling devices, the two companies announced today.
To allow people to participate virtually, Facebook is shipping a Portal Plus device to every audience member so they can attend the town hall and ask questions of the speakers. Approximately 30 people will attend the town hall, but not all of them will be participating at the same time, so the number of people connected to the town hall at any given moment via Portal will vary, Facebook tells The Verge. If a Portal call is made using Messenger, a total of eight people can be on the call at the same time, according to a Facebook support page.
Approximately 30 people will attend the town hall
The town hall is being hosted virtually to allow participants to practice social distancing and respect orders to remain at home, which can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
The town hall will be moderated by Martha MacCallum, host of Fox News’ show The Story, and she will be broadcasting from Fox News’ New York City studio, Fox News tells The Verge. The town hall will feature “medical and business experts, including White House coronavirus task force members Dr. Deborah Birx and Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams,” according to a press release issued by Fox News. The White House coronavirus task force members will appear on the town hall from a broadcast studio in Washington, DC, according to Fox News. Mike Rowe will also appear via Portal for a segment, according to Facebook.
The one-hour town hall will be broadcast on Fox News and live streamed on Fox News’ Facebook page, Fox’s CoronavirusNOW.com news hub, Fox’s CoronavirusNOW channel on Samsung TV Plus, and on all Fox TV stations’ websites, Facebook pages and apps.


theverge--2020-04-01--Apple now lets some video streaming apps bypass the App Store cut

Apple on Wednesday confirmed the existence of a program for streaming video providers that allows those platforms to bypass its standard 30 percent App Store fee when selling individual purchases , like movie downloads and TV show rentals .
The program first became public earlier today when Amazon updated its Prime Video iOS and Apple TV apps to allow in-app purchases for the first time .
It is not clear how long the program has existed , but there are at least two other providers , Altice One and Canal+ , currently participating , Apple confirmed .
In a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the program has been “ established ” for some time and designed for “ premium ” providers that allows those companies to use their own payment methods and exist outside the App Store ’ s standard financial ecosystem .
The requirement : those platforms must be able to integrate core Apple services , apps , and features — including AirPlay 2 , universal search and Siri support , and single or zero sign-on , among others .
It is only for individual purchases , and not for subscriptions .
A new Prime Video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a standard in-app purchase .
Video games , like Epic Games ’ Fortnite , would not seem to qualify , despite Epic CEO Tim Sweeney ’ s attempts to circumvent app store policies .
Apple ’ s new streaming video program exempts certain platforms from its 30 percent cut “ Apple has an established program for premium subscription video entertainment providers to offer a variety of customer benefits — including integration with the Apple TV app , AirPlay 2 support , tvOS apps , universal search , Siri support and , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the company said .
“ On qualifying premium video entertainment apps such as Prime Video , Altice One and Canal+ , customers have the option to buy or rent movies and TV shows using the payment method tied to their existing video subscription.
” The program is a big deal for Apple for a number of reasons .
The company has long maintained that its 30 percent App Store fee is a mandatory requirement of doing business on iOS .
The revenue is supposed to offset the costs of maintaining the App @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy , and security guidelines .
It also ensures the iOS platform remains a big moneymaker for Apple at a time when services are becoming a bigger and more vital part of its business now that the iPhone has matured .
Some app makers , including large companies like Netflix and Spotify , have long abhorred this arrangement , seeing the 30 percent cut as an “ Apple tax ” no longer justified by the scale of the iOS platform .
Apple has gotten into contentious public spats with some of those providers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to charge more for new sign ups on iOS but has since discontinued the option for new subscribers , filed an antitrust complaint against Apple in the European Union over the 30 percent cut .
The complaint is currently under formal investigation .
Platforms like Netflix and Spotify have long fought against the 30 percent cut Netflix , on the other hand , still advises customers sign up for a subscription outside the iOS app , writing in the sign-up window that “ we know it ’ s a hassle.
” Up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Prime Video , sending customers to a browser to purchase full shows and movies , as well as rentals , before they could be accessed on an iPhone , iPad , or Apple TV device .
Yet over the years , Apple has begun loosening its terms and allowing developers more flexibility .
Back in 2016 , the company started allowing subscription services to keep an extra 15 percent of revenue if a customer signed up for and maintained a subscription through iOS for longer than a year .
This new program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , exempting certain partners from its 30 percent cut so long as they work closely to help promote the Apple ecosystem .
More recently , Apple has been facing down claims the App Store is a monopoly and increasing scrutiny from regulators over the past year since the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission began more closely examining Big Tech for antitrust violations .
Last month , Apple was fined $ 1.2 billion by French antitrust authorities over restrictions it places on wholesalers .

Apple on Wednesday confirmed the existence of a program for streaming video providers that allows those platforms to bypass its standard 30 percent App Store fee when selling individual purchases, like movie downloads and TV show rentals. The program first became public earlier today when Amazon updated its Prime Video iOS and Apple TV apps to allow in-app purchases for the first time. It is not clear how long the program has existed, but there are at least two other providers, Altice One and Canal+, currently participating, Apple confirmed.
In a statement given to The Verge, Apple said the program has been “established” for some time and designed for “premium” providers that allows those companies to use their own payment methods and exist outside the App Store’s standard financial ecosystem. The requirement: those platforms must be able to integrate core Apple services, apps, and features — including AirPlay 2, universal search and Siri support, and single or zero sign-on, among others.
It is only for individual purchases, and not for subscriptions. A new Prime Video subscription for instance, is still processed as a standard in-app purchase. Video games, like Epic Games’ Fortnite, would not seem to qualify, despite Epic CEO Tim Sweeney’s attempts to circumvent app store policies.
Apple’s new streaming video program exempts certain platforms from its 30 percent cut
“Apple has an established program for premium subscription video entertainment providers to offer a variety of customer benefits — including integration with the Apple TV app, AirPlay 2 support, tvOS apps, universal search, Siri support and, where applicable, single or zero sign-on,” the company said. “On qualifying premium video entertainment apps such as Prime Video, Altice One and Canal+, customers have the option to buy or rent movies and TV shows using the payment method tied to their existing video subscription.”
The program is a big deal for Apple for a number of reasons. The company has long maintained that its 30 percent App Store fee is a mandatory requirement of doing business on iOS. The revenue is supposed to offset the costs of maintaining the App Store and enforcing its stringent content, privacy, and security guidelines. It also ensures the iOS platform remains a big moneymaker for Apple at a time when services are becoming a bigger and more vital part of its business now that the iPhone has matured.
Some app makers, including large companies like Netflix and Spotify, have long abhorred this arrangement, seeing the 30 percent cut as an “Apple tax” no longer justified by the scale of the iOS platform. Apple has gotten into contentious public spats with some of those providers in the past. Spotify, which used to charge more for new sign ups on iOS but has since discontinued the option for new subscribers, filed an antitrust complaint against Apple in the European Union over the 30 percent cut. The complaint is currently under formal investigation.
Platforms like Netflix and Spotify have long fought against the 30 percent cut
Netflix, on the other hand, still advises customers sign up for a subscription outside the iOS app, writing in the sign-up window that “we know it’s a hassle.” Up until today, Amazon did the same for Prime Video, sending customers to a browser to purchase full shows and movies, as well as rentals, before they could be accessed on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV device.


theverge--2020-04-01--FTC sues to unwind Altria’s $12.8 billion investment in Juul

The Federal Trade Commission is suing to unwind Altria ’ s $ 12.8 billion investment in Juul Labs , alleging that the two companies worked together to eliminate competition in the e-cigarette market .
In its complaint , the FTC said that Juul ’ s e-cigarette products posed a significant threat to Altria ’ s market dominance .
Juul had been a competitor to Altria ’ s own e-cigarette offerings .
But in 2018 , Altria stopped making e-cigarettes and instead became Juul ’ s largest investor .
“ Altria and Juul turned from competitors to collaborators by eliminating competition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Ian Conner , director of the Bureau of Competition , in a statement .
Altria used its leverage as a top tobacco company to secure favorable shelf space for Juul ’ s products in stores across the United States , the FTC alleged .
This relationship helped Juul become the top e-cigarette brand in the country , according to the commission .
Juul did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Last August , The Wall Street Journal reported that the FTC was investigating Juul over its marketing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products to minors over social media .
Last October , Altria confirmed that it was also under investigation by the commission over its relationship with Juul .
At the time , Juul had just ousted its embattled CEO , Kevin Burns , and replaced him with a former longtime Altria executive .

The Federal Trade Commission is suing to unwind Altria’s $12.8 billion investment in Juul Labs, alleging that the two companies worked together to eliminate competition in the e-cigarette market.
In its complaint, the FTC said that Juul’s e-cigarette products posed a significant threat to Altria’s market dominance. Juul had been a competitor to Altria’s own e-cigarette offerings. But in 2018, Altria stopped making e-cigarettes and instead became Juul’s largest investor. “Altria and Juul turned from competitors to collaborators by eliminating competition and sharing in Juul’s profits,” said Ian Conner, director of the Bureau of Competition, in a statement. Altria used its leverage as a top tobacco company to secure favorable shelf space for Juul’s products in stores across the United States, the FTC alleged.
This relationship helped Juul become the top e-cigarette brand in the country, according to the commission.
Juul did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


theverge--2020-04-01--Panasonic worker at Tesla’s NY factory tested positive for COVID-19

A Panasonic employee at Tesla ’ s solar panel factory in Buffalo , New York tested positive in March for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , according to internal emails obtained by The Verge .
It ’ s the fourth known employee at Tesla ’ s US facilities to test positive for COVID-19 , following one at the Gigafactory in Nevada , and two office workers in California .
It ’ s unclear when the worker received the positive test results , but the employees at the plant were notified in an email on March 28th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The Verge on Wednesday that it didn ’ t learn of the employee ’ s positive test until this past weekend , sometime before the email went out .
The infected employee was not in the office after March 17th , according to the emails , which a current employee provided to The Verge on the condition of anonymity .
On March 20th , Panasonic announced plans to shut down its operations at the New York factory for two weeks .
That shutdown has now been extended to at least April 19th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tesla has also temporarily shut down its own operations at the New York factory , though CEO Elon Musk has said he wants to reopen it “ as soon as humanly possible ” to make ventilators , possibly with medical technology company Medtronic .
Musk has said he wants to reopen the New York factory “ as soon as humanly possible ” to make ventilators One of Panasonic ’ s HR bosses told employees in the March 28th email that the company performed a “ thorough contact tracing ” effort and notified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been in close contact ” with the worker on March 17th .
The company also performed a “ thorough cleaning and disinfecting ” of the employee ’ s work station before the shutdown .
It ’ s unclear if Panasonic notified any workers the infected employee interacted with before that , though , as the company did not go into specifics beyond a statement it provided .
“ We can confirm that a Panasonic employee from our Buffalo facility has been diagnosed with COVID-19 .
We wish them good health and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the statement provided to The Verge .
“ This was one of several scenarios Panasonic has extensively planned for as nothing is more important than the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we work.
” Days before the shutdown , president of Panasonic Solar North America ( PSNA ) Mark Shima told employees he was returning to Japan to renew his visa before it expired on April 1st , according to a letter posted to a bulletin board at the Buffalo factory , a photo of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told employees that he had a “ couple of things to do in Japan ” and will have to quarantine when he returns , so his “ next appearance to PSNA will be expected around April 27th ( Tentative ) , ” according to the letter .
Shima told employees he will work remotely either from Japan or in Buffalo in the meantime .
“ Please take care of yourself and your family ’ s health , use precaution for any decease include [ sic ] Coronavirus and flu .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely hard time but sincerely appreciate your understanding and great job .
Safety First !
” Panasonic announced in February that it will stop making solar cells and modules at the New York factory later this year , ending a nearly four-year relationship dating back to 2016 .
The company also helps make batteries for Tesla ’ s cars at the Gigafactory in Nevada .
Panasonic starting winding down operations at the Nevada factory on March 20th following a statewide shelter-in-place advisory .
Tesla followed suit one week later .

A Panasonic employee at Tesla’s solar panel factory in Buffalo, New York tested positive in March for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to internal emails obtained by The Verge. It’s the fourth known employee at Tesla’s US facilities to test positive for COVID-19, following one at the Gigafactory in Nevada, and two office workers in California.
It’s unclear when the worker received the positive test results, but the employees at the plant were notified in an email on March 28th. A spokesperson for Panasonic North America told The Verge on Wednesday that it didn’t learn of the employee’s positive test until this past weekend, sometime before the email went out.
The infected employee was not in the office after March 17th, according to the emails, which a current employee provided to The Verge on the condition of anonymity. On March 20th, Panasonic announced plans to shut down its operations at the New York factory for two weeks. That shutdown has now been extended to at least April 19th, according to one of the emails. Tesla has also temporarily shut down its own operations at the New York factory, though CEO Elon Musk has said he wants to reopen it “as soon as humanly possible” to make ventilators, possibly with medical technology company Medtronic.
Musk has said he wants to reopen the New York factory “as soon as humanly possible” to make ventilators
One of Panasonic’s HR bosses told employees in the March 28th email that the company performed a “thorough contact tracing” effort and notified “all employees that were indicated to have been in close contact” with the worker on March 17th. The company also performed a “thorough cleaning and disinfecting” of the employee’s work station before the shutdown. It’s unclear if Panasonic notified any workers the infected employee interacted with before that, though, as the company did not go into specifics beyond a statement it provided.
“We can confirm that a Panasonic employee from our Buffalo facility has been diagnosed with COVID-19. We wish them good health and a speedy recovery,” the company said in the statement provided to The Verge. “This was one of several scenarios Panasonic has extensively planned for as nothing is more important than the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we work.”
Days before the shutdown, president of Panasonic Solar North America (PSNA) Mark Shima told employees he was returning to Japan to renew his visa before it expired on April 1st, according to a letter posted to a bulletin board at the Buffalo factory, a photo of which was viewed by The Verge. Shima told employees that he had a “couple of things to do in Japan” and will have to quarantine when he returns, so his “next appearance to PSNA will be expected around April 27th (Tentative),” according to the letter.
“Safety First!”
Shima told employees he will work remotely either from Japan or in Buffalo in the meantime. “Please take care of yourself and your family’s health, use precaution for any decease include [sic] Coronavirus and flu. I’m so sorry for my absence during this extremely hard time but sincerely appreciate your understanding and great job. Safety First!”


theverge--2020-04-01--Call of Duty games can depict Humvees without a license, says judge

A New York judge has ruled that publisher Activision isn ’ t infringing trademark by featuring Humvees in its Call of Duty series .
The decision , handed down yesterday , is a mark in favor of game developers depicting actual military equipment to create a sense of realism .
Humvee maker AM General sued Activision in 2017 , claiming Call of Duty players were “ deceived into believing that AM General licenses the games.
” Activision denied the claim , saying it had a First Amendment right to depict official military equipment in a war game .
Using trademark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under any circumstance , ” its lawyers wrote , “ but the claims in this case are particularly egregious because they involve a US military vehicle paid for by American taxpayers and deployed in every significant military conflict for the past three decades.
” District court Judge George Daniels wrote that Activision ’ s games passed the “ Rogers test , ” referring to a 1980s ruling on the use of trademarked names in artistic works .
“ It was metaphysically possible for [ Activision ] to have produced video games without the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But they increase Call of Duty ’ s feeling of realism and serve a purpose beyond simply trading on the Humvee brand .
“ If realism is an artistic goal , then the presence in modern warfare games of vehicles employed by actual militaries undoubtedly furthers that goal.
” Moreover , Call of Duty beats the “ Polaroid factors ” standards that determine whether a trademark ’ s use will confuse consumers .
“ Put simply , [ AM General ’ s ] purpose in using its mark is to sell vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ] purpose is to create realistically simulating modern warfare video games for purchase by consumers.
” As The Hollywood Reporter detailed last year , AM General claimed Activision was knowingly infringing on the trademark , but some of the evidence was sealed .
The court ultimately decided it wasn ’ t convincing — amounting only to references that Activision knew it was using the Humvee name , the presence of Humvees at some promotional events , and boilerplate text in a user manual .
The Humvee case doesn ’ t upend any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major studios hesitated to include real firearms or other military gear without approval , although they began dropping official licensing deals in response to pressure from gun control advocates .
In 2013 , EA settled a suit with helicopter maker Bell Textron over its game Battlefield 3 .
This is the second legal victory for a games studio this week — after publisher Take-Two prevailed in a lawsuit over whether it could depict LeBron James ’ tattoos in the NBA 2K franchise .

A New York judge has ruled that publisher Activision isn’t infringing trademark by featuring Humvees in its Call of Duty series. The decision, handed down yesterday, is a mark in favor of game developers depicting actual military equipment to create a sense of realism.
Humvee maker AM General sued Activision in 2017, claiming Call of Duty players were “deceived into believing that AM General licenses the games.” Activision denied the claim, saying it had a First Amendment right to depict official military equipment in a war game. Using trademark to control creative work was “dangerous under any circumstance,” its lawyers wrote, “but the claims in this case are particularly egregious because they involve a US military vehicle paid for by American taxpayers and deployed in every significant military conflict for the past three decades.”
District court Judge George Daniels wrote that Activision’s games passed the “Rogers test,” referring to a 1980s ruling on the use of trademarked names in artistic works. “It was metaphysically possible for [Activision] to have produced video games without the presence of Humvees,” Daniels says. But they increase Call of Duty’s feeling of realism and serve a purpose beyond simply trading on the Humvee brand. “If realism is an artistic goal, then the presence in modern warfare games of vehicles employed by actual militaries undoubtedly furthers that goal.”
Moreover, Call of Duty beats the “Polaroid factors” standards that determine whether a trademark’s use will confuse consumers. “Put simply, [AM General’s] purpose in using its mark is to sell vehicles to militaries, while [Activision’s] purpose is to create realistically simulating modern warfare video games for purchase by consumers.”
As The Hollywood Reporter detailed last year, AM General claimed Activision was knowingly infringing on the trademark, but some of the evidence was sealed. The court ultimately decided it wasn’t convincing — amounting only to references that Activision knew it was using the Humvee name, the presence of Humvees at some promotional events, and boilerplate text in a user manual.
The Humvee case doesn’t upend any legal doctrines. But for years, major studios hesitated to include real firearms or other military gear without approval, although they began dropping official licensing deals in response to pressure from gun control advocates. In 2013, EA settled a suit with helicopter maker Bell Textron over its game Battlefield 3.


theverge--2020-04-01--Marriott discloses another security breach that may impact over 5 million guests

Marriott says a security breach may have exposed the personal information of 5.2 million guests .
This marks Marriott ’ s second data breach in recent years , following a breach in 2018 .
Personal information such as names , birthdates , and phone numbers may have been taken in the breach , along with language preferences and loyalty account numbers , Marriott says .
Although an investigation is still in progress , Marriott said there is “ no reason ” to believe that payment information was leaked .
Marriott has notified guests whose information may have been taken Marriott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unspecified hotel chain ’ s system had been compromised , and guest information may have been examined by hackers that acquired the login credentials of two Marriott employees .
The company has reason to believe that the activity began as early as mid-January .
Marriott said it has notified guests whose information may have been taken via email and launched a dedicated website containing resources for those affected .
The company is providing a personal information monitoring service to guests whose information may have been stolen .
In late 2018 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which impacted up to 500 million guests that stayed at its subsidiary , Starwood , which the company acquired in 2016 .
Marriott said the data breach compromised 327 million records , including personal information such as mailing addresses and passport numbers .
UK authorities fined Marriott $ 123 million last year .

Marriott says a security breach may have exposed the personal information of 5.2 million guests. This marks Marriott’s second data breach in recent years, following a breach in 2018.
Personal information such as names, birthdates, and phone numbers may have been taken in the breach, along with language preferences and loyalty account numbers, Marriott says. Although an investigation is still in progress, Marriott said there is “no reason” to believe that payment information was leaked.
Marriott has notified guests whose information may have been taken
Marriott says it discovered in late February that an unspecified hotel chain’s system had been compromised, and guest information may have been examined by hackers that acquired the login credentials of two Marriott employees. The company has reason to believe that the activity began as early as mid-January.
Marriott said it has notified guests whose information may have been taken via email and launched a dedicated website containing resources for those affected. The company is providing a personal information monitoring service to guests whose information may have been stolen.


theverge--2020-04-01--The best alternatives to Zoom for videoconferencing

The Zoom videoconferencing app has become a highly popular means of keeping in touch for a world increasingly in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic , both for personal and professional meetings .
However , there have been a number of complaints about Zoom ’ s privacy and security record of late , especially as more and more people flock to the platform and a brighter spotlight is shined on how it works and what data it may collect .
We recently ran a roundup of some of the free videoconferencing apps available , including Zoom .
Since so many questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security , we ’ ve decided to run the roundup again , this time excluding Zoom and adding other apps that you can use instead .
As before , it ’ s worth noting that while all of these have free versions , some are offering temporary access to additional features for those who are currently working from home or who want to check up on friends and relatives online .
There are a number of apps we have not included , such as Facebook , WhatsApp , and FaceTime , that allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either require that all participants be members ( Facebook , WhatsApp ) or that you use a specific type of device ( FaceTime , which is Apple-only ) .
The following list includes more generalized applications that allow you to participate without having to actually register for the app ( unless you ’ re the host ) .
Skype has been the go-to platform for one-on-one conversations since the beta was released in 2003 .
Its Meet Now feature ( which is accessed by choosing the “ Meet Now ” button on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videoconferencing ; according to the website , the maximum number of participants can vary , depending on your platform and device .
There is actually a separate page that purports to let you create a free video meeting without having to actually sign up for the service , but when we tried it , I and other staff members kept running into an error message .
So if you ’ re using Skype to host a meeting , you ’ re better off downloading the app .
• Record the call for up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ background ( if you have the app ) Webex is a videoconferencing app that has been around since the ‘ 90s ; it was acquired by Cisco in 2007 .
While it ’ s been mainly known as a business application and continues to focus on serving companies , it does have a fairly generous free version that ’ s worth checking out .
For the current emergency , it has widened the features of the freemium version from 50 to 100 participants , gotten rid of the 40-minute limit on meetings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not a company , you may not have heard of StarLeaf ; it ’ s a platform for large companies — the kind where they don ’ t quote a price on their website ; you have to call a salesperson .
But it is now offering its basic video and messaging product free of charge for those trying to keep in touch during the pandemic .
Another “ you probably haven ’ t heard of it ” videoconference app , Jitsi Meet is an open-source platform that lets you easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site and clicking on “ Go.
” If you ’ re more technically inclined , you can build your own via Jitsu Videobridge , but most people will be happy with the quick web version , which offers many features found in more well-known apps , such as chat , session recording ( to Dropbox ) , and the ability to “ kick out ” unruly participants .
• Up to 75 participants ( up to 35 for the best experience ) • Can blur the background ( currently in beta ) Whereby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to some others mentioned here ; it gives you the use of a single meeting room with up to four participants , along with the ability to lock rooms ( participants have to “ knock ” to gain entrance ) .
Each room has its own URL that you get to choose , which is great — assuming that nobody else has already taken that name .
( For example , I tried whereby.com/testroom and found it was already taken . )
But it also has a chat function , lets you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users , and has some fun emoji .
If you have more people in mind , the Pro version ( $ 9.99 per month ) offers up to 12 participants per room in up to three meeting rooms .
• Up to four participants in free version Yes , everyone , Google Hangouts ( the “ classic ” version ) is still available , although it is not being touted by the company , which is currently pushing Hangouts Meet for G Suite users and corporate customers .
( It ’ s sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the 2017 notice saying Chat and Meet “ will be made available for consumer users , too.
” ) All that being said , if you ’ re feeling old-fashioned , you can use Hangouts to video chat with up to 10 people .
There aren ’ t a lot of additional features .
You can add text messages and share screens , but that ’ s about it .
Still , if you want quick and easy , this is worth checking out .
• Voice conversations can have up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of other Zoom alternatives out there , as listed in this Twitter thread , including RemoteHQ , Talky , Highfive , and 8x8 .
Some of these don ’ t have a free version ; for example , BlueJeans , a more well-known option , starts at $ 9.99 per month for unlimited-time meetings with up to 50 participants .
Special mention should be made of Houseparty , a popular consumer app that lets up to eight people use a virtual room to chat .
In fact , anybody can drop into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invitation ( although you can “ lock ” your room to prevent intruders ) .
However , it does demand that all participants register in order to use it — and registration includes your name , email address , birthdate , and phone number .
So we didn ’ t include it among our recommendations .
A lot of us are already using Slack and / or Microsoft Teams , which do have a limited number of video meeting features .
If you ’ re wondering whether you can use a free version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video chat , here ’ s some info : Slack is mainly set up for text chat ( and is in the process of rolling out a new design ) , but it does give you the ability to make voice and video calls as well .
If you ’ re on the free version of Slack , you can make a video call to an individual .
But if you want to host a meeting between several people , as opposed to a one-on-one conversation , and want to do it for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look for an alternative .
Microsoft Teams was obviously built as a competitor to Slack .
Because it ’ s part of the Microsoft ecosystem of applications , it ’ s a good idea if you want to , say , collaborate on various Office documents , and it offers videoconferencing features .
Currently , Microsoft is offering educators and those paying for G Suite the chance to use Office 365 E1 free for six months .
Individuals who just use Gmail or other free apps are routed to Skype .
Vox Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
For more information , see

While many companies are encouraging their employees to return to the office, working remotely (when possible) seems to have caught on and is probably not going anywhere in the near future. Many of us are still using videoconferencing apps to keep in touch with work colleagues, family, and friends. Zoom continues to top the list of these meeting apps, but there are a bunch of other free applications out there that will allow you to meet others online.
What follows are descriptions of some of the more interesting free video conferencing apps. We’ve concentrated on applications that allow at least 10 or more participants. Rather than simply assume that Zoom is best for you, you may want to try one or two of these out for yourself to see how well they fit in with your style and that of your friends and / or colleagues. This list is a good place to start.
The most popular video meeting app
Zoom is one of the most widely used video meeting apps.
Zoom has become one of the most well-known videoconferencing apps — in fact, its name is practically synonymous with video meetings. Before the pandemic hit, the company marketed Zoom mostly for corporate use but included a free basic version for individuals. Since then, the company has introduced several different versions: Zoom One, its more traditional conferencing software; Zoom Events & Webinars; and Zoom Rooms, which provide breakout discussion areas.
The free version of Zoom allows up to 100 users to meet, but there is a 40-minute limit on meetings. Having enjoyed an increase in visibility since the beginning of the pandemic, Zoom still has a page offering help and advice to new users.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 40-minute time limit
Group meetings: 40-minute time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes, locally
A longtime go-to for online calls
Skype’s Meet Now feature supports up to 50 people with a four-hour time limit.
Skype has been the go-to platform for one-on-one conversations since its beta was released in 2003. Its Meet Now feature allows for videoconferencing; up to 100 people (including you) can meet with a generous 24-hour time limit on meetings. You don’t even have to sign up for the service; there is a separate page that lets you create a free video meeting without having to actually sign up for the service (as long as you’re using either the Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browser). However, you get more features using the app, so if you’re okay with registering for a free account, you may be better off doing that.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 24-hour time limit
Group meetings: 24-hour time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes; recording stored for up to 30 days
A corporate app with a solid freemium version
Webex, a videoconferencing app that has been around since the ’90s, has a useful free version.
Webex is a videoconferencing app that has been around since the ’90s and was acquired by Cisco in 2007. While it’s been mainly known as a business application and continues to focus on serving companies, it does have a fairly generous free version that’s worth checking out. The freemium version allows for 100 participants, you can meet for up to 40 minutes, and you can create breakout rooms.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 40-minute time limit
Group meetings: 40-minute time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes, locally
Accessible from your Gmail page
Google Meet is a video calling option that requires Google accounts to use.
Meet, which merged (sort of) with Google’s Duo last year, offers a very simple and efficient way to video chat with colleagues, friends, and family — assuming they all have Google accounts, which is a requirement for both hosts and participants. (And note that if you used to use the original Meet app, you’ll be asked to download the new one.) It’s easy to find: you can find a Meet link in the Gmail app and in every appointment you make using Google Calendar. And Meet has some neat features, including real-time captions.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 24-hour time limit
Group meetings: 60-minute time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Not just for business
Microsoft Teams is a conferencing app that offers video meets as well.
Microsoft Teams is a competitor to Slack and an especially good idea if you’re part of the Office ecosystem. While the application is mainly focused on business use, a few years ago, Microsoft stepped out of its three-piece suit and unveiled a free personal version of Teams, which lets anyone chat, talk, or have video meetings in a virtual shared space — you just have to create an account with Microsoft in order to use it. While the free version lets you have 100 participants for a maximum of 60 minutes per meeting, subscribers to Microsoft 365 Personal can have up to 300 people video chat for up to 30 consecutive hours.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 30-hour limit
Group meetings: 60-minute limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
A wide-ranging suite of apps
The free version of Zoho Meeting offers a clean, easy-to-use interface.
Zoho offers a wide-ranging suite of online apps that range from the day to day (like email, calendars, and notebooks) to business and development (such as finance, HR, and marketing). The free version of Zoho Meeting allows up to 100 participants. Unusually, the free version doesn’t just include meetings but webinars as well (also with a limit of 100 attendees). Also worthy of mention is the company’s new Standard Edition, which starts at $1 a month for 10 participants (the price goes up with the number of participants) and adds features such as cloud recording, 24-hour meetings, and polls.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 60-minute limit
Group meetings: 60-minute limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Innovative recording features
When you run a recording of your Vowel meeting, a graph below shows who was speaking when. A side panel can show meeting notes, a summary of the meeting, or the transcript.
Vowel is a new and innovative videoconferencing service with some very interesting features. It records and transcribes each meeting (you can choose not to record or turn the recording off at any time); the transcription includes any emoticons you may have used, and you can also drop in bookmarks to indicate good (or bad) points that you may want to reference later. The recording adds a graph that tracks who was speaking when. While the free version doesn’t let you download your recording, you can rewatch and search through it for the next seven days. A paid Business tier gives you access for as long as you wish.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 12
One-on-one meetings: 40 minutes
Group meetings: 40 minutes
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes
Open source with plenty of features
Jitsi Meet is open source and filled with useful features.
Jitsi is an open-source platform that doesn’t require an account: you easily meet online by simply going to the site and clicking on Start meeting. If you’re a developer, you can build your own conferencing app via Jitsi Videobridge, and there is a paid business version called JaaS (“Jitsi as a Service”), but most people will be happy with the quick web version, which offers many features found in more well-known apps, such as fake backgrounds, chat, local session recording, and the ability to livestream to YouTube.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 500
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes (by livestreaming to YouTube)
Single meeting rooms with up to 50 participants
Whereby’s meeting rooms offers up to 50 participants.
Whereby’s free version gives you the use of a single meeting room with up to 100 participants, along with the ability to lock rooms (participants have to “knock” to gain entrance). Each room has its own URL that you get to choose, which is great — assuming that nobody else has already taken that name. (For example, I first tried whereby.com/testroom and found it was already taken.) But it also has a chat function, lets you share a screen, allows you to mute or eject users, and offers breakout groups.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: 45-minute limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
A wide range of free features
RingCentral Video Pro has a good toolbox of features.
RingCentral mainly sells business communications services but also offers a free video meeting app called RingCentral Video Pro. The app includes a nice range of features, including screen sharing, recordings (up to 10 hours and stored in the cloud for up to seven days), chat, closed captions, virtual backgrounds, and more. Previously, it also offered free users 24 hours of meeting time, but as of August 7th, 2023, that was cut to 50 minutes. (Paid users still get 24 hours.)
Free version features
Maximum participants: 100
One-on-one meetings: 24 hours (50-minute limit as of August 7th, 2023)
Group meetings: 24 hours (50-minute limit as of August 7th, 2023)
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: Yes (up to seven days)
A simple web-based system
Spike can be used without having to download anything.
Spike, an expanding email service, offers paid group videoconferencing to its subscribers, but it has also made a basic video meeting web app available to anyone who wants it. It’s quick and easy to use: just go to video.spike.chat, type in a name, and click on Join Meeting. Spike generates a unique URL for the chat and even lets you share your screen or change your background. And unlike most of the other services listed here, there is no maximum for participants.
Free version features
Maximum participants: No limit
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
A well-known chat app with videoconferencing added
Telegram has introduced group video chats. Image: Telegram
Telegram is a messaging chat app that offers video group chats also. It’s well set up for that: the app already has a feature that lets you create groups with up to 200,000 members, and you can have either private or public groups. Video chats are limited to 30 people (although up to 1,000 can watch); still, this was a welcome add-on for Telegram users.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 30
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Up to 40 participants can use its Signal Calling Service
A group meeting starts as a text chat. Signal offers basic video meetings.
Signal is a communications app known for its emphasis on secure messaging via end-to-end encryption. Previously, it only allowed a maximum of five participants in its video calls; however, it now allows up to 40 people to take part via its own open-source Signal Calling Service. Signal is mainly meant for mobile devices; to use it on a desktop, you have to link it to an existing mobile app. Still, if you already use Signal messaging, you now have the option to use it as a meeting app as well.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 40
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
Group FaceTime
Not necessarily for Apple only
Group FaceTime now accommodates both iOS and Android users. Image: Apple
iPhone owners will, no doubt, already be using Apple’s built-in video chat app, but since the app was recently updated to accommodate those not in the Apple ecosystem, it has become even more useful. You can start a group call from a Messages chat, add a variety of stickers, and even blur your background. However, while you can join a group FaceTime session from Android or Windows, you can’t initiate one.
Free version features
Maximum participants: 33
One-on-one meetings: No time limit
Group meetings: No time limit
Screen sharing: Yes
Record meetings: No
More alternatives
There are other Zoom alternatives out there, including RemoteHQ and Talky. Some of these don’t have a free version, or the number of participants who can use the free version is limited.
The popular text chat app Slack is mainly set up for text chat, with an added Huddles feature available for the occasional audio or video get-together — however, the free version only allows one-to-one Huddles. And if you use Facebook, you can create a video meeting with your Facebook group using the Rooms feature.


theverge--2020-04-01--YouTube reportedly working on TikTok competitor called Shorts

YouTube used to be the cool kid on the block , but then TikTok showed up and everything changed .
Now , YouTube is looking to compete directly with the short-form , user-generated content app by reportedly launching its own version called “ Shorts.
” Shorts will allow people to upload brief videos into a feed inside the mobile app , much like TikTok , and take advantage of licensed music that YouTube Music has in its catalog , according to The Information .
Those songs can be used within the videos .
TikTok operates by letting people choose from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise , and create videos using those sounds .
MSNBC ’ s Dylan Byers added additional confirmation on Twitter shortly after The Information ’ s report went live .
Take a look at any state-of-mobile report and it ’ s pretty obvious why YouTube wants a piece of the action .
TikTok saw more than 125 percent in growth over the last two years , according to a January report from App Annie .
The app has hundreds of millions of users and is a cultural force .
The Information noted that TikTok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Apple and Google ’ s app stores over the last 12 months — a 15 percent increase year over year .
This isn ’ t the first time that YouTube has developed its own version of a popular feature on another social platform .
YouTube also brought over its version of Instagram Stories to the site .
Considering its massive user base ( more than 2 billion monthly active users ) and its deep music licensing agreements , building a version of TikTok isn ’ t surprising .
Facebook has also developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — which they ’ ve been quietly testing in markets like Brazil , according to The Information .

YouTube used to be the cool kid on the block, but then TikTok showed up and everything changed. Now, YouTube is looking to compete directly with the short-form, user-generated content app by reportedly launching its own version called “Shorts.”
Shorts will allow people to upload brief videos into a feed inside the mobile app, much like TikTok, and take advantage of licensed music that YouTube Music has in its catalog, according to The Information. Those songs can be used within the videos. TikTok operates by letting people choose from a selection of audio, music and otherwise, and create videos using those sounds. MSNBC’s Dylan Byers added additional confirmation on Twitter shortly after The Information’s report went live.
Take a look at any state-of-mobile report and it’s pretty obvious why YouTube wants a piece of the action. TikTok saw more than 125 percent in growth over the last two years, according to a January report from App Annie. The app has hundreds of millions of users and is a cultural force. The Information noted that TikTok had approximately 842 million first-time downloads from both Apple and Google’s app stores over the last 12 months — a 15 percent increase year over year.


theverge--2020-04-01--Hey Robot, the genius game that tests your smart speaker, is now free on the web

Hey Robot , the immensely clever board game from designer Frank Lantz ’ s Everybody House Games , now has a free digital version on the web for anyone to play .
Lantz says he and his collaborators , which include his wife Hilary and his son and daughter-in-law , threw together a “ quick & dirty online version of Hey Robot for people to play during quarantine.
” It ’ s available here .
The game is played much like classic Taboo , except with digital assistants and smart speakers .
You ’ re given a word , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Alexa , Apple ’ s Siri , or Google Assistant to say it aloud without you saying it first .
( Probably best to stick with Amazon or Google on the assistant side , for good measure ) .
“ The game works because the devices don ’ t work that great.
” For consistency , each two uses the same digital assistant , and the digital version asks that you crank the volume and have players make their requests through the video chat app of your choice .
The tricky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pose to the assistant .
If it fails , you lose out on the specified points for that word , which can range from one for easy cards like “ Anthony Hopkins ” and up to three for harder ones like “ mortality.
” The game proves surprisingly difficult because smart assistants just aren ’ t all that smart .
“ The game works because the devices don ’ t work that great , ” Lantz told The Verge back when Hey Robot was announced as a physical board game with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s very funny .
You think , ‘ Oh this is going to be easy .
How hard can this be ?
’ But that ’ s the thing .
It actually can be very challenging , and it plays with how janky these things are.
” The web version also has a co-op mode where you and however many other players try to reach a high score .
Hey Robot ’ s physical edition is still in production and slated to ship to backers by June .
Through the website , @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Hey Robot, the immensely clever board game from designer Frank Lantz’s Everybody House Games, now has a free digital version on the web for anyone to play. Lantz says he and his collaborators, which include his wife Hilary and his son and daughter-in-law, threw together a “quick & dirty online version of Hey Robot for people to play during quarantine.” It’s available here.
The game is played much like classic Taboo, except with digital assistants and smart speakers. You’re given a word, and you have to try to get Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, or Google Assistant to say it aloud without you saying it first. (Probably best to stick with Amazon or Google on the assistant side, for good measure).
“The game works because the devices don’t work that great.”
For consistency, each two uses the same digital assistant, and the digital version asks that you crank the volume and have players make their requests through the video chat app of your choice.
The tricky part: you only get one question to pose to the assistant. If it fails, you lose out on the specified points for that word, which can range from one for easy cards like “Anthony Hopkins” and up to three for harder ones like “mortality.” The game proves surprisingly difficult because smart assistants just aren’t all that smart.
Screenshot by Nick Statt / The Verge
“The game works because the devices don’t work that great,” Lantz told The Verge back when Hey Robot was announced as a physical board game with a Kickstarter campaign last October. “It’s very funny. You think, ‘Oh this is going to be easy. How hard can this be?’ But that’s the thing. It actually can be very challenging, and it plays with how janky these things are.” The web version also has a co-op mode where you and however many other players try to reach a high score.