theverge--2020-10-29--SteelSeries’ new Aerox 3 gaming mice are lightweight and water-resistant

SteelSeries ’ new Aerox gaming mouse lineup marks a few firsts for the company .
It claims both its $ 60 Aerox 3 wired mouse and the $ 100 wireless version that will be available on November 10th are the first gaming mice to receive an IP54 rating , giving them a fighting chance against water and dust .
They ’ re also the company ’ s first mice to adopt the ever-popular honeycomb shell design , popularized by more niche peripheral makers like Finalmouse and Glorious PC Gaming Race , to name a couple of examples .
And with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at people who want a lightweight mouse .
The Aerox 3 Wireless weighs 66 grams , while the wired version weighs 57 grams ( minus the weight of the cable ) .
For the wireless Aerox 3 , it ’ s SteelSeries ’ first mouse to connect via USB-C to recharge , too , which marks a welcome update .
Only a few major gaming peripheral companies have started shifting away from Micro USB to USB-C charging in earnest , and I ’ m happy to see SteelSeries finally take a step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charging standard in its products .
This mouse includes a USB-C wireless adapter as well as a braided cable to use while it charges .
These changes are exciting , yet both are largely identical in design to the Rival 3-series mice that are currently available .
The raised middle section that contains its DPI switcher and scroll wheel looks the same , as does the slim false-ambidextrous layout featuring two thumb buttons in a familiar location .
The diamond-shaped holes give these mice a unique look , though , and the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the hardware inside .
For its $ 40 price difference , the Aerox 3 Wireless has some improved specs over the wired version , in addition to supporting a 2.4GHz or Bluetooth wireless connection .
SteelSeries says the battery life differs depending on the wireless mode .
It can allegedly last 200 hours in Bluetooth mode or around 80 hours in 2.4GHz mode .
On paper , these claims are worse than the Rival 3 Wireless ’ 400-hour lifespan , but SteelSeries says the change is due to its move away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reduce weight .
And apparently , charging it for 15 minutes will yield up to 40 hours of use .
The Aerox 3 Wireless features the TrueMove Air sensor that SteelSeries developed with PixArt , which was also used in the Rival 3 Wireless .
The wired Aerox 3 has the same TrueMove Core sensor used in the cheaper Rival 3 .
There wouldn ’ t be much to get excited about with the Aerox 3 if not for some of the big changes I mentioned above .
Incremental improvements to sensors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much rather have features like the ones SteelSeries implemented in the $ 100 wireless mouse , like water resistance and USB-C charging .

SteelSeries’ new Aerox gaming mouse lineup marks a few firsts for the company. It claims both its $60 Aerox 3 wired mouse and the $100 wireless version that will be available on November 10th are the first gaming mice to receive an IP54 rating, giving them a fighting chance against water and dust.
They’re also the company’s first mice to adopt the ever-popular honeycomb shell design, popularized by more niche peripheral makers like Finalmouse and Glorious PC Gaming Race, to name a couple of examples. And with that see-through design, they’re aimed at people who want a lightweight mouse. The Aerox 3 Wireless weighs 66 grams, while the wired version weighs 57 grams (minus the weight of the cable).
For the wireless Aerox 3, it’s SteelSeries’ first mouse to connect via USB-C to recharge, too, which marks a welcome update. Only a few major gaming peripheral companies have started shifting away from Micro USB to USB-C charging in earnest, and I’m happy to see SteelSeries finally take a step toward integrating the less cumbersome, faster charging standard in its products. This mouse includes a USB-C wireless adapter as well as a braided cable to use while it charges.
Image: SteelSeries
These changes are exciting, yet both are largely identical in design to the Rival 3-series mice that are currently available. The raised middle section that contains its DPI switcher and scroll wheel looks the same, as does the slim false-ambidextrous layout featuring two thumb buttons in a familiar location. The diamond-shaped holes give these mice a unique look, though, and the way the RGB lighting glows offers a peek at the hardware inside.
For its $40 price difference, the Aerox 3 Wireless has some improved specs over the wired version, in addition to supporting a 2.4GHz or Bluetooth wireless connection. SteelSeries says the battery life differs depending on the wireless mode. It can allegedly last 200 hours in Bluetooth mode or around 80 hours in 2.4GHz mode. On paper, these claims are worse than the Rival 3 Wireless’ 400-hour lifespan, but SteelSeries says the change is due to its move away from replaceable AAA batteries to an internal battery to reduce weight. And apparently, charging it for 15 minutes will yield up to 40 hours of use.
A profile view of the Aerox 3 Wireless next to a render of its underside. Image: SteelSeries
The Aerox 3 Wireless features the TrueMove Air sensor that SteelSeries developed with PixArt, which was also used in the Rival 3 Wireless. The wired Aerox 3 has the same TrueMove Core sensor used in the cheaper Rival 3.


theverge--2020-10-29--The Mandalorian’s second season is going to get more Star Wars-y, in a good way

The Mandalorian ’ s second season is almost here .
And if the trailers and rumors are any indication , it seems like the armor-clad hero ’ s quest to reunite Baby Yoda ( née “ The Child ” ) is going to get even more complicated and tied up in Star Wars lore than ever before .
While it may seem odd to think about it this way , after decades of additional lore , background history , TV shows , and movies , the original Star Wars film is extremely accessible .
It had to be .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time had any idea what a lightsaber or an X-wing was or who Darth Vader , Luke Skywalker , Han Solo , or Princess Leia were .
The Mandalorian has never had that benefit .
From the first episode , it expects you to know that the Mandalorian is cool ( because he looks like Boba Fett ) , that the Empire is evil , and that Baby Yoda is at least distantly related to one of the most powerful and important characters in the series ( as well as incredibly cute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lore fans were expected to be fluent in to start , the first season of The Mandalorian was still surprisingly accessible to fans who were not as well-versed in the history of the Star Wars galaxy .
But even if you consider that the first season of The Mandalorian was relatively welcoming , the upcoming second season seems to be diving even deeper into Star Wars lore .
That ’ s at least in part thanks to writer-director Dave Filoni , who appears to be looking to heavily tie The Mandalorian into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically , The Clone Wars and Rebels ) .
Casual fans who were just tuning in to see Baby Yoda — or even more dedicated ones who had never delved into the animated side of Star Wars before — are going to have to start figuring out what a darksaber is and how it ties into years of storylines involving the Jedi , the Mandalorian people , and the Empire .
If the rumors are true , new fans have to start deciphering over a decade ’ s worth of character history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rumored to be making their live-action debuts .
And those are just the major things we know about so far .
But the fact that The Mandalorian is getting deeper and more complex isn ’ t a bad thing .
In fact , it ’ s likely its greatest strength , especially when it comes to its role in the larger Star Wars universe .
Specifically , The Mandalorian isn ’ t the next Star Wars blockbuster .
The simple demands of production and budget mean that the cast is more constrained , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearance of lightsabers is far fewer .
But that also gives it a unique opportunity for the Star Wars franchise to take advantage of the TV series format to really explore the characters and setting of its particular slice of the Star Wars universe .
With the first season clocking in at nearly six hours , it ’ s already nearly twice as long as any of the Star Wars movies .
By the end of the second season , we ’ ll have spent more time with the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Poe , and the other heroes of the sequel trilogy .
There ’ s an opportunity for richer , deeper storytelling than what the limits of a massive blockbuster film ( or even a film trilogy ) allow for .
And with any luck , season 2 ( and any future seasons ) will try to deliver on that promise .
For a good comparison , take a look at the other massive stellar-named sci-fi franchise , Star Trek , which has spent far longer than Star Wars bouncing between big box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV shows .
Star Trek movies are often derisively compared to Star Wars by fans of that franchise : bigger and brasher , without the subtlety of the TV shows .
The Trek films ( especially the more recent J.J. Abrams reboots ) tend to be filled with far more bombastic space battles , thanks to the expanded budgets , with quippier dialogue and less nuance in characterization .
The shows , on the other hand , give Star Trek far more time to breathe .
It ’ s what allows things like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deep Space Nine ’ s Dominion War arc , Discovery ’ s development of Saru from a timid subordinate to a commanding leader , or the time for Will Riker to realize that a beard was a better styling choice .
TV shows give room for exploring characters in a way movies don ’ t With the deluge of Star Wars shows that Disney has in the works , it ’ s likely that we ’ ll see a similar dynamic play out on the smaller screen here .
Shows like The Mandalorian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spinoffs aren ’ t going to be spectacles on the level of a massive Star Wars film .
But they will provide a chance for Lucasfilm ( and fans ) to delve deeper into the characters that they already love and help provide a bridge that enriches the overall Star Wars universe for whenever the next films do roll around .
It ’ s not a new dynamic for Star Wars , either .
The franchise has operated this way for decades , with dozens of tie-in books , games , and comics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the films .
It ’ s the way Star Wars still operates : just look at the upcoming High Republic series of books and comics that ’ s set to come out next year and start building out a new era of the franchise during “ the golden age of the Jedi.
” The Mandalorian is that approach on a larger and more vibrant scale that , thanks to the live-action design , looks and feels even more like the movies that it ’ s looking to slot in beside .
The Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long gap between releases .
Disney and Lucasfilm have already been taking the time to figure out what will come next now that the 9-film Skywalker Saga is complete , and when you add in COVID-19-related production and release delays , which have shifted the company ’ s entire release schedule — especially while theaters are largely operating at limited capacities or closed entirely — it could be years before the next big Star Wars film opens up to a packed theater of excited fans .
That ’ s what makes Disney ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so exciting .
Those movies won ’ t go away ; after all , with $ 1 billion box office results , Disney and Lucasfilm will keep putting Star Wars up on the big screen as long as fans show up for it .
But the increasing complexity of The Mandalorian hints at a more thoughtful level of Star Wars compared to those big and brash films .
It ’ s one that , thanks to its nature as a TV show instead of a lengthy series of books or comics , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who doesn ’ t want to learn what a darksaber is ?

The Mandalorian’s second season is almost here. And if the trailers and rumors are any indication, it seems like the armor-clad hero’s quest to reunite Baby Yoda (née “The Child”) is going to get even more complicated and tied up in Star Wars lore than ever before.
While it may seem odd to think about it this way, after decades of additional lore, background history, TV shows, and movies, the original Star Wars film is extremely accessible. It had to be. No one walking into the theater for the first time had any idea what a lightsaber or an X-wing was or who Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Princess Leia were.
The Mandalorian has never had that benefit. From the first episode, it expects you to know that the Mandalorian is cool (because he looks like Boba Fett), that the Empire is evil, and that Baby Yoda is at least distantly related to one of the most powerful and important characters in the series (as well as incredibly cute).
Image: Lucasfilm
Despite the amount of homework and lore fans were expected to be fluent in to start, the first season of The Mandalorian was still surprisingly accessible to fans who were not as well-versed in the history of the Star Wars galaxy. But even if you consider that the first season of The Mandalorian was relatively welcoming, the upcoming second season seems to be diving even deeper into Star Wars lore.
That’s at least in part thanks to writer-director Dave Filoni, who appears to be looking to heavily tie The Mandalorian into his previous animated Star Wars shows (specifically, The Clone Wars and Rebels). Casual fans who were just tuning in to see Baby Yoda — or even more dedicated ones who had never delved into the animated side of Star Wars before — are going to have to start figuring out what a darksaber is and how it ties into years of storylines involving the Jedi, the Mandalorian people, and the Empire. If the rumors are true, new fans have to start deciphering over a decade’s worth of character history of Ashoka Tano or Bo Katan, both rumored to be making their live-action debuts.
And those are just the major things we know about so far.
Photo by Francois Duhamel / Lucasfilm
But the fact that The Mandalorian is getting deeper and more complex isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s likely its greatest strength, especially when it comes to its role in the larger Star Wars universe.
Specifically, The Mandalorian isn’t the next Star Wars blockbuster. The simple demands of production and budget mean that the cast is more constrained, the spectacle is smaller, and the appearance of lightsabers is far fewer. But that also gives it a unique opportunity for the Star Wars franchise to take advantage of the TV series format to really explore the characters and setting of its particular slice of the Star Wars universe.
With the first season clocking in at nearly six hours, it’s already nearly twice as long as any of the Star Wars movies. By the end of the second season, we’ll have spent more time with the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda than we have with Rey, Finn, Poe, and the other heroes of the sequel trilogy. There’s an opportunity for richer, deeper storytelling than what the limits of a massive blockbuster film (or even a film trilogy) allow for. And with any luck, season 2 (and any future seasons) will try to deliver on that promise.
For a good comparison, take a look at the other massive stellar-named sci-fi franchise, Star Trek, which has spent far longer than Star Wars bouncing between big box office blockbusters and more contemplative, spaced-out TV shows.
Star Trek movies are often derisively compared to Star Wars by fans of that franchise: bigger and brasher, without the subtlety of the TV shows. The Trek films (especially the more recent J.J. Abrams reboots) tend to be filled with far more bombastic space battles, thanks to the expanded budgets, with quippier dialogue and less nuance in characterization.
The shows, on the other hand, give Star Trek far more time to breathe. It’s what allows things like the giant, sweeping overarching storylines like Deep Space Nine’s Dominion War arc, Discovery’s development of Saru from a timid subordinate to a commanding leader, or the time for Will Riker to realize that a beard was a better styling choice.
TV shows give room for exploring characters in a way movies don’t
With the deluge of Star Wars shows that Disney has in the works, it’s likely that we’ll see a similar dynamic play out on the smaller screen here. Shows like The Mandalorian or the upcoming Rogue One or Obi-Wan spinoffs aren’t going to be spectacles on the level of a massive Star Wars film. But they will provide a chance for Lucasfilm (and fans) to delve deeper into the characters that they already love and help provide a bridge that enriches the overall Star Wars universe for whenever the next films do roll around.
It’s not a new dynamic for Star Wars, either. The franchise has operated this way for decades, with dozens of tie-in books, games, and comics filling in and expanding the spaces between the films. It’s the way Star Wars still operates: just look at the upcoming High Republic series of books and comics that’s set to come out next year and start building out a new era of the franchise during “the golden age of the Jedi.”
The Mandalorian is that approach on a larger and more vibrant scale that, thanks to the live-action design, looks and feels even more like the movies that it’s looking to slot in beside.
The Star Wars films are gearing up for another long gap between releases. Disney and Lucasfilm have already been taking the time to figure out what will come next now that the 9-film Skywalker Saga is complete, and when you add in COVID-19-related production and release delays, which have shifted the company’s entire release schedule — especially while theaters are largely operating at limited capacities or closed entirely — it could be years before the next big Star Wars film opens up to a packed theater of excited fans.
Image: Lucasfilm
That’s what makes Disney’s foray into Star Wars TV shows so exciting. Those movies won’t go away; after all, with $1 billion box office results, Disney and Lucasfilm will keep putting Star Wars up on the big screen as long as fans show up for it.
But the increasing complexity of The Mandalorian hints at a more thoughtful level of Star Wars compared to those big and brash films. It’s one that, thanks to its nature as a TV show instead of a lengthy series of books or comics, is more accessible than ever before. Besides, who doesn’t want to learn what a darksaber is?


theverge--2020-10-29--Spotify surges past 300M users after successful Russia launch

Spotify now has 320 million monthly active users and 144 million paid subscribers , an increase of 29 and 27 percent respectively year-over-year , the company announced in its latest earnings release .
User growth was driven by marketing campaigns in India , as well as the service ’ s launch in Russia and 12 surrounding markets .
The company called Russia its “ most successful new market launch to date.
” The service ’ s user and subscriber growth puts it comfortably ahead of rivals services from Amazon and Apple .
As of January this year , Amazon Music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which “ nearly all ” were paying subscribers , according to the Financial Times .
Meanwhile , Apple reported last year that it had 60 million paying subscribers , and does not offer a free tier outside of promotions and free trials .
User numbers are up , but Spotify still made a loss However , despite Spotify ’ s quarterly user growth , and revenue growth of 14 percent to €1.98 billion ( around $ 2.32 billion ) , it still made a loss of €101 million ( around $ 118 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a profit of €241 million ( $ 282 million ) a year earlier , according to The Wall Street Journal .
That ’ s partly because the company is trying to grow its user base by luring new users in with discounted plans .
Revenue per user dropped 10 percent to €4.19 ( around $ 4.92 ) compared to last year .
Spotify now has 1.9 million podcasts available on its service , up from more than 1.5 million last quarter .
Spotify says that 22 percent of it monthly users engaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 21 percent last quarter .
The Joe Rogan Experience is now Spotify ’ s most popular podcast across its English-speaking markets , the company said in its earnings release .
The Rogan show has recently been criticized for interviewing Infowars host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones .
In an internal email seen by Buzzfeed News a senior Spotify executive defended the decision , and said that it was important to host “ diverse voices ” on its platform .
Spotify says that the Joe Rogan Experience will become a Spotify exclusive by @ @ @ @ @ @

Spotify now has 320 million monthly active users and 144 million paid subscribers, an increase of 29 and 27 percent respectively year-over-year, the company announced in its latest earnings release. User growth was driven by marketing campaigns in India, as well as the service’s launch in Russia and 12 surrounding markets. The company called Russia its “most successful new market launch to date.”
The service’s user and subscriber growth puts it comfortably ahead of rivals services from Amazon and Apple. As of January this year, Amazon Music said it had 55 million customers, of which “nearly all” were paying subscribers, according to the Financial Times. Meanwhile, Apple reported last year that it had 60 million paying subscribers, and does not offer a free tier outside of promotions and free trials.
Spotify user growth continues unabated. Image: Spotify
User numbers are up, but Spotify still made a loss
However, despite Spotify’s quarterly user growth, and revenue growth of 14 percent to €1.98 billion (around $2.32 billion), it still made a loss of €101 million (around $118 million) in the quarter, down from a profit of €241 million ($282 million) a year earlier, according to The Wall Street Journal. That’s partly because the company is trying to grow its user base by luring new users in with discounted plans. Revenue per user dropped 10 percent to €4.19 (around $4.92) compared to last year.
Spotify now has 1.9 million podcasts available on its service, up from more than 1.5 million last quarter. Spotify says that 22 percent of it monthly users engaged with podcast content in Q3, up from 21 percent last quarter.


theverge--2020-10-29--Eve’s light strip is first to support HomeKit’s color-changing adaptive lighting

Eve ’ s smart light strip can now adjust its colors automatically throughout the course of the day thanks to @ @ @ @ @ Adaptive Lighting feature , the company announced .
The light strip is the first product @ @ @ @ @ HomeKit feature , according to Eve , but first requires a firmware update that owners @ @ @ @ @ app .
Adaptive Lighting is a new HomeKit feature introduced this year which allows compatible @ @ @ @ @ colors to the time of day , showing warmer hues in the morning and evenings @ @ @ @ @ midday .
Other manufacturers also appear to be working to support the feature , with @ @ @ @ @ ) earlier this month that Philips Hue beta testers in Germany were able to test @ @ @ @ @ smart bulbs .
Along with the light strip , Eve says its Eve Cam is @ @ @ @ @ extra features thanks to iOS 14 , including the ability to detect faces , set @ @ @ @ @ footage to the Apple TV .

Eve’s smart light strip can now adjust its colors automatically throughout the course of the day thanks to iOS 14’s new Adaptive Lighting feature, the company announced. The light strip is the first product to support the new Apple HomeKit feature, according to Eve, but first requires a firmware update that owners can perform via the Eve app.
Adaptive Lighting is a new HomeKit feature introduced this year which allows compatible smart bulbs to adapt their colors to the time of day, showing warmer hues in the morning and evenings, or cooler ones at midday. Other manufacturers also appear to be working to support the feature, with iphone-ticker reporting (via MacRumors) earlier this month that Philips Hue beta testers in Germany were able to test the feature with their Hue smart bulbs.


theverge--2020-10-29--Lil Yachty’s Quibi show is the first to find a life raft

Remember Quibi , short-lived media company and purveyor of bizarre shows like Murder House Flip and a horror anthology featuring a golden arm ?
It ’ s only been a little over a week since the mobile-first , shortform streamer announced it was shuttering , but already the first of its unreleased shows has found a new home : Lil Yachty ’ s dramedy , Public Figures , is headed to HBO Max .
It seems pieces of Quibi might live on — whether you watched it or not .
Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman ’ s efforts to sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and WarnerMedia was one of the first indications that things were about to go bottoms up at the young company .
The attempts that followed to sell off Quibi ’ s unreleased content all but confirmed the streamer ’ s fate .
It ’ s unknown whether other Quibi shows — released or unreleased — will also live again on new platforms , but there ’ s already been some confirmations of shows that won ’ t seek new homes , like The Nod .
The future remains uncertain , but Public Figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least show that some of Katzenberg and Whitman ’ s attempts to sell Quibi ’ s content were not in vain .
Lil Yachty ’ s series ( which he ’ ll also executive produce and star in ) is focused on aspiring influencers living in New York , a tiny bit ironic given Quibi ’ s failure to compete with the already popular shortform content produced by influencers on TikTok , YouTube and Instagram .
Disclosure : Vox Media , The Verge ’ s parent company , had a deal with Quibi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were early talks about a Verge show as well .

Remember Quibi, short-lived media company and purveyor of bizarre shows like Murder House Flip and a horror anthology featuring a golden arm? It’s only been a little over a week since the mobile-first, shortform streamer announced it was shuttering, but already the first of its unreleased shows has found a new home: Lil Yachty’s dramedy, Public Figures, is headed to HBO Max. It seems pieces of Quibi might live on — whether you watched it or not.
Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman’s efforts to sell Quibi outright to big companies like Apple and WarnerMedia was one of the first indications that things were about to go bottoms up at the young company. The attempts that followed to sell off Quibi’s unreleased content all but confirmed the streamer’s fate.
It’s unknown whether other Quibi shows — released or unreleased — will also live again on new platforms, but there’s already been some confirmations of shows that won’t seek new homes, like The Nod. The future remains uncertain, but Public Figures’ move to HBO Max does at least show that some of Katzenberg and Whitman’s attempts to sell Quibi’s content were not in vain.
Lil Yachty’s series (which he’ll also executive produce and star in) is focused on aspiring influencers living in New York, a tiny bit ironic given Quibi’s failure to compete with the already popular shortform content produced by influencers on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.


theverge--2020-10-29--Google is bringing its own VPN to desktops and phones with $9.99 Google One subscription

There are any number of VPN services you can use to help protect your privacy and security with an encrypted internet connection , and now Google has its own .
Well , technically , it already did , but only for Google Fi cellular subscribers on Android smartphones .
Now , the company ’ s announcing it ’ ll throw in an Android-based VPN free of charge to any 2TB Google One cloud storage subscriber in the US — and will expand to iOS , Windows and Mac and other countries “ in the coming months.
” As you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll need to be on the 2TB Google One plan which costs $ 9.99 a month or $ 99 per year , so it ’ s not exactly a free VPN .
But if you ’ re interested , this Google GIF shows you how to turn it on : A new VPN is just the latest way that Google ’ s trying to sweeten its cloud storage offering .
In August , the company announced it would begin backing up your iOS or Android phone for free .
It also reduced @ @ @ @

There are any number of VPN services you can use to help protect your privacy and security with an encrypted internet connection, and now Google has its own. Well, technically, it already did, but only for Google Fi cellular subscribers on Android smartphones. Now, the company’s announcing it’ll throw in an Android-based VPN free of charge to any 2TB Google One cloud storage subscriber in the US — and will expand to iOS, Windows and Mac and other countries “in the coming months.”
As you can see in the image above, you’ll need to be on the 2TB Google One plan which costs $9.99 a month or $99 per year, so it’s not exactly a free VPN. But if you’re interested, this Google GIF shows you how to turn it on:


theverge--2020-10-29--YouTube brings in $5 billion in ad revenue as Alphabet and Google bounce back

Google parent company Alphabet ’ s third quarter revenue increased 14 percent from the year before , led by a rebound in advertising revenue for both Google and YouTube .
YouTube brought in $ 5 billion in advertising revenue in the third quarter of 2020 — a sign that advertisers who pulled back on their spending because of the coronavirus earlier in the year may be returning to something resembling normal .
YouTube now has more than 30 million music and premium paid subscribers — 35 million , including free trials — and YouTube TV has more than 3 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , since YouTube TV announced a monthly price increase from $ 50 to $ 64.99 in June .
And in what may be a sign of the times , views for guided meditation videos on YouTube were up 40 percent since March , and DIY face mask tutorials have been viewed over 1 billion times , Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on a call with investors to discuss the earnings results .
“ We ’ re pleased at the degree to which advertisers really reactivated their budgets in the third quarter , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Google , on a call with investors .
She added that it was evidence that consumers are showing strong demand across nearly all verticals .
“ YouTube ’ s strong watch time growth enables advertisers to reach audiences they can ’ t reach on TV.
” The company had made investments in content moderation to ensure both creators and users on YouTube have a positive experience , Porat said .
“ This year , including this quarter , showed how valuable Google ’ s founding product — search — has been to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought in revenue of $ 37.1 billion , an increase from $ 34 billion last year .
YouTube ads revenue increased 30 percent from $ 3.8 billion in the third quarter of 2019 .
“ This year , including this quarter , showed how valuable Google ’ s founding product — search — has been to people , ” Pichai said on the call .
This quarter was a sharp contrast to the disappointing second quarter of 2020 , where Google ’ s revenue declined for the first time ever .
This quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue of $ 46.2 billion in the third quarter , up from $ 40 billion a year ago , and net income of $ 11.24 billion , up from $ 7.06 billion last year .
Google ’ s “ other ” department , which includes hardware , cloud services , and the Play Store , had revenue of $ 5.4 billion , up from $ 4 billion .
Its “ other bets ” segment — which includes Waymo and Verily— had revenue of $ 178 million , but remained money-losers for the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion .
That ’ s worse than this time last year .
The future of work is creating “ significant growth in demand ” for Google ’ s cloud products Google ’ s Cloud division had revenue of $ 3.44 billion , up from $ 2.3 billion a year ago , and its Search segment had revenue of $ 26.3 billion , up from $ 24.7 billion .
Pichai said customers are increasingly moving to the cloud , “ to drive efficiency and lower IT costs , ” adding that the future of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand ” for Google ’ s cloud products .
He added that next quarter , Google will break out its cloud division as a separate reporting segment .
The company ’ s videoconferencing platform Google Meet had 235 million daily meetings and more than 7.5 billion daily video calls , Pichai said .
Pichai also said the company was prepared for a lawsuit filed last week by the Department of Justice , which alleges the internet giant has an illegal monopoly on search and advertising markets .
“ We believe that our products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll confidently make our case , ” he said .
“ Our company ’ s focus remains on continuing our work to build a search product that people love and value.
” Update October 29th 6:09PM ET : Added details from Alphabet ’ s call with investors

Google parent company Alphabet’s third quarter revenue increased 14 percent from the year before, led by a rebound in advertising revenue for both Google and YouTube. YouTube brought in $5 billion in advertising revenue in the third quarter of 2020 — a sign that advertisers who pulled back on their spending because of the coronavirus earlier in the year may be returning to something resembling normal.
YouTube now has more than 30 million music and premium paid subscribers — 35 million, including free trials — and YouTube TV has more than 3 million subscribers. That’s especially strong, since YouTube TV announced a monthly price increase from $50 to $64.99 in June. And in what may be a sign of the times, views for guided meditation videos on YouTube were up 40 percent since March, and DIY face mask tutorials have been viewed over 1 billion times, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on a call with investors to discuss the earnings results.
“We’re pleased at the degree to which advertisers really reactivated their budgets in the third quarter,” said Ruth Porat, CFO of Alphabet and Google, on a call with investors. She added that it was evidence that consumers are showing strong demand across nearly all verticals. “YouTube’s strong watch time growth enables advertisers to reach audiences they can’t reach on TV.” The company had made investments in content moderation to ensure both creators and users on YouTube have a positive experience, Porat said.
“This year, including this quarter, showed how valuable Google’s founding product — search — has been to people”
Google’s advertising division brought in revenue of $37.1 billion, an increase from $34 billion last year. YouTube ads revenue increased 30 percent from $3.8 billion in the third quarter of 2019.
“This year, including this quarter, showed how valuable Google’s founding product — search — has been to people,” Pichai said on the call.
This quarter was a sharp contrast to the disappointing second quarter of 2020, where Google’s revenue declined for the first time ever. This quarter, Google returned to growth, with revenue of $46.2 billion in the third quarter, up from $40 billion a year ago, and net income of $11.24 billion, up from $7.06 billion last year.
Google’s “other” department, which includes hardware, cloud services, and the Play Store, had revenue of $5.4 billion, up from $4 billion. Its “other bets” segment — which includes Waymo and Verily— had revenue of $178 million, but remained money-losers for the company, to the tune of $1.1 billion. That’s worse than this time last year.
The future of work is creating “significant growth in demand” for Google’s cloud products
Google’s Cloud division had revenue of $3.44 billion, up from $2.3 billion a year ago, and its Search segment had revenue of $26.3 billion, up from $24.7 billion. Pichai said customers are increasingly moving to the cloud, “to drive efficiency and lower IT costs,” adding that the future of work is creating “significant growth in demand” for Google’s cloud products. He added that next quarter, Google will break out its cloud division as a separate reporting segment.
The company’s videoconferencing platform Google Meet had 235 million daily meetings and more than 7.5 billion daily video calls, Pichai said.
Pichai also said the company was prepared for a lawsuit filed last week by the Department of Justice, which alleges the internet giant has an illegal monopoly on search and advertising markets. “We believe that our products are creating significant benefits and we’ll confidently make our case,” he said. “Our company’s focus remains on continuing our work to build a search product that people love and value.”


theverge--2020-10-29--NASA’s OSIRIS-REx probe successfully stores small sample of asteroid rocks in its belly

NASA ’ s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has successfully stored a small cache of rocks that it grabbed from the surface of an asteroid named Bennu last week , sealing the pebbles inside the vehicle ’ s belly .
The asteroid particles will now remain inside the spacecraft over the next three years , as OSIRIS-REx makes its way back to Earth .
OSIRIS-REx grabbed the sample on October 20th of last week , more than four years after launching from Earth on its mission to touch an asteroid .
Using a thin robotic arm , the vehicle lightly tapped the asteroid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surface and pushing some of the pebbles up into the spacecraft .
OSIRIS-REx was a little too good at this sample grab While the maneuver worked as planned , OSIRIS-REx was a little too good at this sample grab .
The vehicle wound up collecting a substantial chunk of asteroid rocks , some of which were fairly large in size .
These beefier pebbles then jammed a flap at the end of the arm that was supposed to keep the material enclosed inside .
With the flap stuck open , some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Images of the sample collector showed tiny particles dancing and swirling as they headed out into the void .
That discovery completely upended the mission team ’ s plans , as they raced to store the sample before more rocks floated out into space .
Originally , the team had hoped to use this week to spin up the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft , measuring the vehicle ’ s momentum to find out just how much sample it had collected .
But the engineers opted to cancel that , as the twirling could cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they decided to cut straight to storing the sample inside the main body of the spacecraft .
The storage process took a couple of days to complete , with the OSIRIS-REx team monitoring each maneuver the vehicle made and analyzing images taken by the spacecraft .
Overall , it seems to have gone off just fine , and the collector is now properly secured inside of OSIRIS-REx .
“ We ’ re here to announce today that we ’ ve successfully completed that operation , ” Rich Burns , the OSIRIS-REx project manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center , said during a press conference .
Unfortunately , the team doesn ’ t know for sure exactly how much material they stored since they had to cancel the spin maneuver .
But they ’ re very confident that they grabbed more than what they hoped to grab .
The OSIRIS-REx mission set a goal of snagging at least 60 grams of asteroid material from Bennu .
Based on images taken of the robotic arm and the collector , the team members are confident they ’ ve grabbed at least 400 grams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pictures only show about 17 percent of what ’ s inside the sample collector , according to Dante Lauretta , the principal investigator of the OSIRIS-REx mission at the University of Arizona .
They estimate there are 400 grams in just that 17 percent of space alone , which means it ’ s possible the spacecraft has more than a kilogram in its belly right now .
“ this team is confident that we still have hundreds of grams of sample.
” “ So even though we have lost sample as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open , we are confident , I am confident , and this team is confident that we still have hundreds of grams of sample that we plan to bring back to the Earth , ” Lauretta said .
Ultimately , we won ’ t know for sure until OSIRIS-REx comes back to Earth .
The spacecraft is slated to leave the vicinity of Bennu in March and return to our planet in September 2023 .
Then , the spacecraft will jettison the sample and send it on course to Earth .
A parachute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sample to land in the Utah desert .
Then the fun will begin , as scientists take the sample back into the lab to learn more about what really makes up the asteroid Bennu .

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has successfully stored a small cache of rocks that it grabbed from the surface of an asteroid named Bennu last week, sealing the pebbles inside the vehicle’s belly. The asteroid particles will now remain inside the spacecraft over the next three years, as OSIRIS-REx makes its way back to Earth.
OSIRIS-REx grabbed the sample on October 20th of last week, more than four years after launching from Earth on its mission to touch an asteroid. Using a thin robotic arm, the vehicle lightly tapped the asteroid Bennu, stirring up rocks on the surface and pushing some of the pebbles up into the spacecraft.
OSIRIS-REx was a little too good at this sample grab
While the maneuver worked as planned, OSIRIS-REx was a little too good at this sample grab. The vehicle wound up collecting a substantial chunk of asteroid rocks, some of which were fairly large in size. These beefier pebbles then jammed a flap at the end of the arm that was supposed to keep the material enclosed inside. With the flap stuck open, some of the asteroid particles started escaping out into space. Images of the sample collector showed tiny particles dancing and swirling as they headed out into the void.
That discovery completely upended the mission team’s plans, as they raced to store the sample before more rocks floated out into space. Originally, the team had hoped to use this week to spin up the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, measuring the vehicle’s momentum to find out just how much sample it had collected. But the engineers opted to cancel that, as the twirling could cause more rocks to escape. Instead, they decided to cut straight to storing the sample inside the main body of the spacecraft.
The storage process took a couple of days to complete, with the OSIRIS-REx team monitoring each maneuver the vehicle made and analyzing images taken by the spacecraft. Overall, it seems to have gone off just fine, and the collector is now properly secured inside of OSIRIS-REx. “We’re here to announce today that we’ve successfully completed that operation,” Rich Burns, the OSIRIS-REx project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said during a press conference.
Unfortunately, the team doesn’t know for sure exactly how much material they stored since they had to cancel the spin maneuver. But they’re very confident that they grabbed more than what they hoped to grab. The OSIRIS-REx mission set a goal of snagging at least 60 grams of asteroid material from Bennu. Based on images taken of the robotic arm and the collector, the team members are confident they’ve grabbed at least 400 grams of material — if not more. The pictures only show about 17 percent of what’s inside the sample collector, according to Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of the OSIRIS-REx mission at the University of Arizona. They estimate there are 400 grams in just that 17 percent of space alone, which means it’s possible the spacecraft has more than a kilogram in its belly right now.
“this team is confident that we still have hundreds of grams of sample.”
“So even though we have lost sample as a result of the mylar flap being wedged open, we are confident, I am confident, and this team is confident that we still have hundreds of grams of sample that we plan to bring back to the Earth,” Lauretta said.


theverge--2020-10-29--PlayStation CEO says VR won’t be a ‘meaningful’ part of gaming for years

Sony PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan says virtual reality won ’ t be a meaningful part of interactive entertainment in the near future .
Ryan indicated to The Washington Post that VR still has a long way to go , although he emphasized that Sony isn ’ t giving up on the medium .
The statement suggests that an update to Sony ’ s PlayStation VR headset is years away .
“ I think we ’ re more than a few minutes from the future of VR , ” Ryan told the Post .
“ PlayStation believes in VR .
Sony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe at some point in the future , VR will represent a meaningful component of interactive entertainment .
Will it be this year ?
No .
Will it be next year ?
No .
But will it come at some stage ?
We believe that.
” He notes that the upcoming PlayStation 5 , which will be released November 12th , supports the old PlayStation VR headset with a special adapter .
Pinning VR ’ s success to “ some point in the future ” and ruling out a “ meaningful ” VR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t a hugely positive short-term view of the medium — at least compared to Sony competitor Facebook , which just released its Oculus Quest 2 headset .
That said , it would be more surprising if Sony indicated we ’ d see PSVR news in the last few months of 2020 .
Sony has been consistently cagey about its virtual reality plans .
In April 2019 , PlayStation system architect Mark Cerny told Wired that “ VR is very important to us ” but didn ’ t offer details .
Dominic Mallinson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNET that a new headset wouldn ’ t arrive alongside the PlayStation 5 .
But Mallinson also seemed to take a next-generation PSVR for granted , discussing features like eye tracking and updated controllers .
And last month , Ryan called VR an “ unproven space ” that Sony was still “ really intrigued and really excited ” by .

Sony PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan says virtual reality won’t be a meaningful part of interactive entertainment in the near future. Ryan indicated to The Washington Post that VR still has a long way to go, although he emphasized that Sony isn’t giving up on the medium. The statement suggests that an update to Sony’s PlayStation VR headset is years away.
“I think we’re more than a few minutes from the future of VR,” Ryan told the Post. “PlayStation believes in VR. Sony believes in VR, and we definitely believe at some point in the future, VR will represent a meaningful component of interactive entertainment. Will it be this year? No. Will it be next year? No. But will it come at some stage? We believe that.” He notes that the upcoming PlayStation 5, which will be released November 12th, supports the old PlayStation VR headset with a special adapter.
Pinning VR’s success to “some point in the future” and ruling out a “meaningful” VR market in 2020 or 2021 isn’t a hugely positive short-term view of the medium — at least compared to Sony competitor Facebook, which just released its Oculus Quest 2 headset. That said, it would be more surprising if Sony indicated we’d see PSVR news in the last few months of 2020.


theverge--2020-10-29--Amazon’s net income tripled last quarter, and it didn’t even have Prime Day to help

Even without Prime Day , Amazon had a blockbuster quarter .
Its net income nearly tripled from this time last year , as retail store closures and coronavirus restrictions encouraged people to spend big online .
In its earnings report today , Amazon said it made $ 6.33 billion in net income , up from $ 2.13 billion during the same quarter a year earlier .
Amazon ’ s Prime Day — which has previously been held in July — was delayed until October , so it didn ’ t give a boost to this quarter ’ s results .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of discounts , helping to drive purchases during an otherwise slower season .
Even without it happening this summer , Amazon ’ s net sales reached $ 96.1 billion for its third quarter , up from $ 70.0 billion the same quarter a year earlier .
Bezos says customers are already shopping for holiday gifts The pandemic seemed to give Amazon a similarly large boost last quarter .
Between April and June , Amazon ’ s net income doubled year over year to $ 5.2 billion .
That was despite Amazon spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to coronavirus safety during the quarter .
Amazon expects to have a huge holiday season , too .
The company plans to hire 100,000 seasonal workers in preparation for a surge in orders .
“ We ’ re seeing more customers than ever shopping early for their holiday gifts , which is just one of the signs that this is going to be an unprecedented holiday season , ” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a press release .
The surge in sales will come with some additional costs , though .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion on costs related to COVID-19 next quarter .

Even without Prime Day, Amazon had a blockbuster quarter. Its net income nearly tripled from this time last year, as retail store closures and coronavirus restrictions encouraged people to spend big online. In its earnings report today, Amazon said it made $6.33 billion in net income, up from $2.13 billion during the same quarter a year earlier.
Amazon’s Prime Day — which has previously been held in July — was delayed until October, so it didn’t give a boost to this quarter’s results. The corporate holiday / sales event offers days of discounts, helping to drive purchases during an otherwise slower season. Even without it happening this summer, Amazon’s net sales reached $96.1 billion for its third quarter, up from $70.0 billion the same quarter a year earlier.
Bezos says customers are already shopping for holiday gifts
The pandemic seemed to give Amazon a similarly large boost last quarter. Between April and June, Amazon’s net income doubled year over year to $5.2 billion. That was despite Amazon spending more than $4 billion on costs related to coronavirus safety during the quarter.
Amazon expects to have a huge holiday season, too. The company plans to hire 100,000 seasonal workers in preparation for a surge in orders. “We’re seeing more customers than ever shopping early for their holiday gifts, which is just one of the signs that this is going to be an unprecedented holiday season,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a press release.


theverge--2020-10-29--Apple’s big services bundle, Apple One, launches tomorrow

Apple ’ s big services bundle that will bring together products like Apple Music , Apple TV Plus , Apple Arcade , and Apple News Plus , will launch tomorrow , the company ’ s chief financial officer , Luca Maestri , told Bloomberg .
Apple first announced Apple One during a September event , breaking down the different tiers that customers will be able to access .
There are three different bundle tiers people can choose : Individual , Family , and Premier .
The Individual plan gives subscribers Apple Music , Apple TV Plus , Apple Arcade , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 14.95 a month .
The Family plan ups the amount of iCloud storage to 200GB of iCloud storage for $ 19.95 a month and adds an Apple Music family plan ( the Arcade and TV Plus benefits are the same as the Individual plan . )
The Premier plan gives subscribers Apple Music , Apple TV Plus , Apple Arcade , 2TB of iCloud storage , Apple News Plus , and Apple Fitness Plus for $ 29.95 a month .
Although Fitness Plus doesn ’ t have a launch date , Maestri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch it this quarter .
The app , which includes training for yoga , cycling , running , core , and strength exercises , among other types of workouts , costs $ 9.99 a month by itself .
The news comes just as Apple posted its fourth quarter earnings .
CEO Tim Cook specifically noted that the company “ capped off a fiscal year defined by innovation in the face of adversity with a September quarter record , led by all-time records for Mac and Services.
” Apple One will also launch two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-year anniversary .
Cook may include more information on the company ’ s earnings call today .

Apple’s big services bundle that will bring together products like Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, and Apple News Plus, will launch tomorrow, the company’s chief financial officer, Luca Maestri, told Bloomberg.
Apple first announced Apple One during a September event, breaking down the different tiers that customers will be able to access. There are three different bundle tiers people can choose: Individual, Family, and Premier.
The Individual plan gives subscribers Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, and iCloud storage (50GB) for $14.95 a month. The Family plan ups the amount of iCloud storage to 200GB of iCloud storage for $19.95 a month and adds an Apple Music family plan (the Arcade and TV Plus benefits are the same as the Individual plan.) The Premier plan gives subscribers Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, 2TB of iCloud storage, Apple News Plus, and Apple Fitness Plus for $29.95 a month.
Although Fitness Plus doesn’t have a launch date, Maestri told Bloomberg the company is expecting to launch it this quarter. The app, which includes training for yoga, cycling, running, core, and strength exercises, among other types of workouts, costs $9.99 a month by itself.


theverge--2020-10-29--Apple’s Mac and services businesses hit new records in Q4 earnings

Apple today announced its fiscal fourth quarter earnings , reporting $ 64.7 billion in revenue and earnings per share of $ 0.73 in a quarter that was “ led by all-time records for Mac and services , ” according to CEO Tim Cook .
Like last quarter , Apple ’ s Mac and iPad lines showed strong performance as people continue working and learning from home due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic .
The Mac had its biggest quarter ever , tallying $ 9 billion in sales .
Apple introduced the latest iteration of its entry-level $ 329 iPad in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance .
The mid-tier iPad Air got a more significant makeover with a new design — now matching the iPad Pro — and a much faster processor .
iPad sales were up 46 percent from the year-ago quarter .
Unlike in recent years , and because the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro didn ’ t go on sale until mid-October , these earnings don ’ t include a jolt of early sales for Apple ’ s latest smartphones .
As a result , iPhone sales in the quarter were soft .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE , which launched in September .
The iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini will go up for preorder on November 6th and start shipping a week later .
Apple has ceased providing guidance or earnings forecasts over the last two quarters due to uncertainty around the pandemic .
That has continued today , as Apple isn ’ t giving any guidance for the quarter that will end in December , either .
So the company isn ’ t offering up any clues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 upgrade cycle to be .
The company will launch its “ Apple One ” bundle of subscription services tomorrow , combining Apple Music , Apple TV Plus , Apple Arcade , and added iCloud storage for a single monthly price .
A “ premier ” tier adds in Apple News Plus and the upcoming Apple Fitness Plus service .
Apple One will start at $ 14.95 per month for an individual plan or $ 19.95 for a family plan .
Apple One is expected to further propel the company ’ s already-booming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in revenue this quarter .
Apple is widely expected to announce its first Mac computers powered by the company ’ s own silicon in November , which will kick off a transition away from processors made by Intel .
Apple announced the move during its Worldwide Developers Conference back in June and distributed a development kit to help app makers prepare for the big switch .
Old apps designed to run on Intel hardware will continue to work by way of Apple ’ s Rosetta 2 software .
Cook alluded to coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call .
“ “ This year has a few more exciting things in store , ” he said .
In the background of all this , Apple continues to face scrutiny from lawmakers and investigations focusing on the company ’ s powerful grip over the App Store .
It ’ s also in a high-profile legal battle with Fortnite developer Epic Games .

Apple today announced its fiscal fourth quarter earnings, reporting $64.7 billion in revenue and earnings per share of $0.73 in a quarter that was “led by all-time records for Mac and services,” according to CEO Tim Cook.
Like last quarter, Apple’s Mac and iPad lines showed strong performance as people continue working and learning from home due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic. The Mac had its biggest quarter ever, tallying $9 billion in sales.
Apple introduced the latest iteration of its entry-level $329 iPad in September, increasing the device’s performance. The mid-tier iPad Air got a more significant makeover with a new design — now matching the iPad Pro — and a much faster processor. iPad sales were up 46 percent from the year-ago quarter.
Unlike in recent years, and because the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro didn’t go on sale until mid-October, these earnings don’t include a jolt of early sales for Apple’s latest smartphones. As a result, iPhone sales in the quarter were soft. But the Q4 numbers do include early sales of the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE, which launched in September. The iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini will go up for preorder on November 6th and start shipping a week later.
Apple has ceased providing guidance or earnings forecasts over the last two quarters due to uncertainty around the pandemic. That has continued today, as Apple isn’t giving any guidance for the quarter that will end in December, either. So the company isn’t offering up any clues for how big it expects the iPhone 12 upgrade cycle to be.
The company will launch its “Apple One” bundle of subscription services tomorrow, combining Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, and added iCloud storage for a single monthly price. A “premier” tier adds in Apple News Plus and the upcoming Apple Fitness Plus service. Apple One will start at $14.95 per month for an individual plan or $19.95 for a family plan. Apple One is expected to further propel the company’s already-booming services division, which earned $14.5 billion in revenue this quarter.
Apple is widely expected to announce its first Mac computers powered by the company’s own silicon in November, which will kick off a transition away from processors made by Intel. Apple announced the move during its Worldwide Developers Conference back in June and distributed a development kit to help app makers prepare for the big switch. Old apps designed to run on Intel hardware will continue to work by way of Apple’s Rosetta 2 software. Cook alluded to coming products on Thursday afternoon’s earnings call. ““This year has a few more exciting things in store,” he said.


theverge--2020-10-29--Facebook weathers ad boycott and messy election season to report massive growth

Among the tech platforms , no company , perhaps save Twitter , has had as contentious of a year as Facebook .
The social media giant spent the last three months dealing with a notable ad boycott and one of the messiest and most complicated election cycles in US political history .
Yet , Facebook ’ s handling of its many issues around political advertising , moderation , and election interference have had seemingly no effect on its bottom line , as the company just reported an astonishing quarter of revenue and user growth .
The company reported a 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21.2 billion , as well as a 12 percent increase in profit to $ 8 billion .
Its user growth is also still in the double digits , with 12 percent more people checking the main Facebook app every day for a total of 1.82 billion in September and an average of 2.7 billion people checking it every month as of September 30th .
When counting Facebook ’ s entire family of apps — including Instagram , Messenger , and WhatsApp — more than 2.5 billion check a Facebook product every day while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s core advertising business remains unaffected by its many controversies Facebook ’ s quarterly financial performance reflects an uncomfortable reality about the technology industry : no matter how controversial or rife with political conflict , companies like Facebook — as well as its primary digital ad competitor , Google — are simply so large and consequential to the markets they operate in for anything to have a meaningful effect on their money-making potential .
Facebook is the lifeblood of small businesses in the US and around the world , and advertising spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company is tussling with Republicans over concerns of bias and censorship or Democrats over fears that it ’ s a tool for undermining democracy and spreading hate .
One sore spot for Facebook is US growth , which declined this past quarter from 198 million daily active users to 196 million ( and from 256 million to 255 million monthly users ) .
Far and away the company ’ s most important market is the Asia-Pacific region , which recorded a jump of nearly 100 million users that log in to the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the company ’ s US market has resumed its slow decline after an initial bump in domestic usage earlier this year largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic .

Among the tech platforms, no company, perhaps save Twitter, has had as contentious of a year as Facebook. The social media giant spent the last three months dealing with a notable ad boycott and one of the messiest and most complicated election cycles in US political history. Yet, Facebook’s handling of its many issues around political advertising, moderation, and election interference have had seemingly no effect on its bottom line, as the company just reported an astonishing quarter of revenue and user growth.
The company reported a 22 percent year-over-year increase in revenue to $21.2 billion, as well as a 12 percent increase in profit to $8 billion. Its user growth is also still in the double digits, with 12 percent more people checking the main Facebook app every day for a total of 1.82 billion in September and an average of 2.7 billion people checking it every month as of September 30th. When counting Facebook’s entire family of apps — including Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp — more than 2.5 billion check a Facebook product every day while 3.21 billion check every month.
Facebook’s core advertising business remains unaffected by its many controversies
Facebook’s quarterly financial performance reflects an uncomfortable reality about the technology industry: no matter how controversial or rife with political conflict, companies like Facebook — as well as its primary digital ad competitor, Google — are simply so large and consequential to the markets they operate in for anything to have a meaningful effect on their money-making potential.
Facebook is the lifeblood of small businesses in the US and around the world, and advertising spend doesn’t stop just because the company is tussling with Republicans over concerns of bias and censorship or Democrats over fears that it’s a tool for undermining democracy and spreading hate.


theverge--2020-10-29--A new app helps gig workers find where to whizz

As businesses tighten entry restrictions because of the pandemic , delivery and ride-share drivers are struggling more than ever to find open and usable restrooms .
An app , playfully named Whizz , is trying to help .
Described as being developed “ by gig workers for gig workers , ” Whizz is a bathroom finding app that is partnering with restaurants to provide gig workers with some much-needed relief .
The app displays partnered restaurant locations on a map , currently limited to Southern California and some locations in Arizona and Nevada .
Users pick a nearby restaurant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to their bathroom .
While several public bathroom finder apps already exist , Whizz ’ s strategy is different in that it ’ s seeking partnerships with restaurants to provide not only bathroom access , but also deals for users of the app .
Whizz attempts to incentivize restaurants with free advertising in exchange for bathroom access and promotional offers .
When you pull up a partnered restaurant in the app , it displays a coupon for a certain percentage off an item or meal .
Whizz ’ s first partnership is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain , which offers 20 percent off a chicken bowl and drink through the app .
“ I ’ m helping your business , but you won ’ t let me use your restroom.
” This interest in partnerships is what makes Whizz ’ s approach potentially more effective than other bathroom finders , which tend to rely on public bathrooms or large stores like Walmart or Target .
Co-founders Keith Crudupt and Robert Logan , who have both driven for Uber , noted that delivery drivers are often denied restroom access , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliveries for .
Logan said he always found this dynamic bizarre : “ I ’ m helping your business , but you won ’ t let me use your restroom.
” “ By partnering with restaurants , our users don ’ t have to come in and feel like they ’ re trespassing or doing something sneaky , ” Logan said .
“ They can come in and just be straightforward and go use the restroom.
” Bathroom access is a problem that extends far beyond gig workers .
Lack of access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an issue for people experiencing homelessness , which has been exacerbated by the pandemic .
There ’ s also the problem of finding accessible restrooms for people with mobility aids and gender-neutral or single-occupant restrooms for trans and gender-nonconforming people .
Truly public restrooms are few and far between , and among those that exist , it ’ s even harder to find ones that are hygienic and in full working order .
Though the app was developed with gig workers in mind , it doesn ’ t verify that you are one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitches its usefulness for travelers and “ soccer moms.
” Because anyone can download the app , would a person who is homeless be allowed access to a restaurant ’ s bathroom if they showed their phone , or would they still be turned away depending on their appearance ?
Logan and Crudupt said their main focus has been on gig workers because they ’ ve been drivers themselves , but they are “ open to being a resource for homeless people.
” “ There ’ s a need and we should help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ background in social work , says he has a desire to help the community at large .
The app ’ s launch had actually been tabled when the pandemic started , but after seeing articles about gig workers urinating in alleys , Logan and Crudupt realized “ there ’ s a need and we should help out.
” They ’ re working on the basics of the app ’ s function for now , but they have ambitions for gaining more partners and expanding their map beyond the Southern California area .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about parking , hours , wheelchair access , and changing tables .
The two have been personally traveling to each location on the map , including nearly 200 Waba Grills , to ensure its accuracy .
They noted that in addition to the struggle of balancing jobs with app development , it ’ s hard for them as a Black-owned business , and as older men , to get recognized and raise funds for the app .
“ Can I use your restroom ?
” shouldn ’ t be a question that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a business partnership , Whizz has the potential to help people who might otherwise be turned away .
As Vice points out , this is a problem that needs a societal solution .
But for now , there ’ s Whizz .

As businesses tighten entry restrictions because of the pandemic, delivery and ride-share drivers are struggling more than ever to find open and usable restrooms. An app, playfully named Whizz, is trying to help. Described as being developed “by gig workers for gig workers,” Whizz is a bathroom finding app that is partnering with restaurants to provide gig workers with some much-needed relief.
The app displays partnered restaurant locations on a map, currently limited to Southern California and some locations in Arizona and Nevada. Users pick a nearby restaurant and show an employee their phone to gain access to their bathroom. While several public bathroom finder apps already exist, Whizz’s strategy is different in that it’s seeking partnerships with restaurants to provide not only bathroom access, but also deals for users of the app.
Whizz attempts to incentivize restaurants with free advertising in exchange for bathroom access and promotional offers. When you pull up a partnered restaurant in the app, it displays a coupon for a certain percentage off an item or meal. Whizz’s first partnership is with Waba Grill, a rice bowl chain, which offers 20 percent off a chicken bowl and drink through the app.
“I’m helping your business, but you won’t let me use your restroom.”
This interest in partnerships is what makes Whizz’s approach potentially more effective than other bathroom finders, which tend to rely on public bathrooms or large stores like Walmart or Target. Co-founders Keith Crudupt and Robert Logan, who have both driven for Uber, noted that delivery drivers are often denied restroom access, even at restaurants they’re running deliveries for. Logan said he always found this dynamic bizarre: “I’m helping your business, but you won’t let me use your restroom.”
“By partnering with restaurants, our users don’t have to come in and feel like they’re trespassing or doing something sneaky,” Logan said. “They can come in and just be straightforward and go use the restroom.”
Bathroom access is a problem that extends far beyond gig workers. Lack of access to clean, private restrooms has always been an issue for people experiencing homelessness, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. There’s also the problem of finding accessible restrooms for people with mobility aids and gender-neutral or single-occupant restrooms for trans and gender-nonconforming people. Truly public restrooms are few and far between, and among those that exist, it’s even harder to find ones that are hygienic and in full working order.
Though the app was developed with gig workers in mind, it doesn’t verify that you are one, and Whizz’s site also pitches its usefulness for travelers and “soccer moms.” Because anyone can download the app, would a person who is homeless be allowed access to a restaurant’s bathroom if they showed their phone, or would they still be turned away depending on their appearance? Logan and Crudupt said their main focus has been on gig workers because they’ve been drivers themselves, but they are “open to being a resource for homeless people.”
“There’s a need and we should help out.”
Logan, who has a background in social work, says he has a desire to help the community at large. The app’s launch had actually been tabled when the pandemic started, but after seeing articles about gig workers urinating in alleys, Logan and Crudupt realized “there’s a need and we should help out.” They’re working on the basics of the app’s function for now, but they have ambitions for gaining more partners and expanding their map beyond the Southern California area. They eventually want to update the app with information about parking, hours, wheelchair access, and changing tables.
The two have been personally traveling to each location on the map, including nearly 200 Waba Grills, to ensure its accuracy. They noted that in addition to the struggle of balancing jobs with app development, it’s hard for them as a Black-owned business, and as older men, to get recognized and raise funds for the app.


theverge--2020-10-30--The Verge guide to The Mandalorian

The Verge guide to The Mandalorian

For a show about a tiny alien , The Mandalorian sure had a huge impact .
The first season of the series helped sell millions on Disney Plus , the company ’ s Netflix-style streaming service , while simultaneously showing how the Star Wars universe could translate to prestige television .
It was , to put it succinctly , a hit — one that became even more popular thanks to the adorable Baby Yoda .
Er , I mean , The Child .
The second season , meanwhile , faces a very different challenge .
Not only does it have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by season 1 , but it ’ s also releasing at a time when many of the biggest movies and TV shows have been indefinitely delayed due to the ongoing pandemic , making it arguably the biggest entertainment release of 2020 .
To help you keep track of everything related to the show — reviews of the latest episodes , analyses on what its success means for Disney ’ s business , and yes , cute pictures of Baby Yoda — we ’ ve created this landing page to gather up all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you need to stay up to date — this is the way .

The Verge guide to The Mandalorian
Everything you need to know about the Star Wars show on Disney Plus
For a show about a tiny alien, The Mandalorian sure had a huge impact. The first season of the series helped sell millions on Disney Plus, the company’s Netflix-style streaming service, while simultaneously showing how the Star Wars universe could translate to prestige television. It was, to put it succinctly, a hit — one that became even more popular thanks to the adorable Baby Yoda. Er, I mean, The Child.
The second season, meanwhile, faces a very different challenge. Not only does it have to live up to the hype generated by season 1, but it’s also releasing at a time when many of the biggest movies and TV shows have been indefinitely delayed due to the ongoing pandemic, making it arguably the biggest entertainment release of 2020.
To help you keep track of everything related to the show — reviews of the latest episodes, analyses on what its success means for Disney’s business, and yes, cute pictures of Baby Yoda — we’ve created this landing page to gather up all of the biggest Mandalorian stories in one place.


theverge--2020-10-30--Sony is reportedly close to buying Crunchyroll for nearly $1 billion

Sony is close to finalizing a deal to buy US-based anime streaming service Crunchyroll for nearly $ 1 billion , according to a report from Nikkei Asia .
Nikkei says Sony negotiated exclusive rights to bid for the streaming service and its 3 million paying subscribers earlier this year , and the two companies have now “ entered into final negotiations.
” Although an asking price is unclear , Nikkei notes that Sony could end up spending “ more than 100 billion yen ” on the company — around $ 957 million .
Crunchyroll is owned by US telecoms giant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been looking to offload the streaming service for a while .
AT & T is keen to minimize its significant debt load , which totals more than $ 150 billion .
According to a report from The Information , AT & T was asking Sony in August to pay $ 1.5 billion for Crunchyroll , but the Japanese firm thought that price too steep .
AT & T currently bundles some anime content from Crunchyroll into its HBO Max subscription and offers a separate Crunchyroll membership for $ 8 a month .
From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquiring Crunchyroll would help it bulk up its entertainment offering in a market that is dominated by streamers like Netflix and Hulu .
Anime has become an important front in the battle between streaming services , with companies fighting to license popular series and films ( the end result being fragmented access for consumers ) .
Sony already owns US anime distributor Funimation , which licenses a number of popular shows like Attack on Titan , Fullmetal Alchemist , and One Piece .
Acquiring Crunchyroll would help it build out its catalog even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and abroad , too .

Sony is close to finalizing a deal to buy US-based anime streaming service Crunchyroll for nearly $1 billion, according to a report from Nikkei Asia.
Nikkei says Sony negotiated exclusive rights to bid for the streaming service and its 3 million paying subscribers earlier this year, and the two companies have now “entered into final negotiations.” Although an asking price is unclear, Nikkei notes that Sony could end up spending “more than 100 billion yen” on the company — around $957 million.
Crunchyroll is owned by US telecoms giant AT&T, which has reportedly been looking to offload the streaming service for a while. AT&T is keen to minimize its significant debt load, which totals more than $150 billion. According to a report from The Information, AT&T was asking Sony in August to pay $1.5 billion for Crunchyroll, but the Japanese firm thought that price too steep. AT&T currently bundles some anime content from Crunchyroll into its HBO Max subscription and offers a separate Crunchyroll membership for $8 a month.
From Sony’s point of view, acquiring Crunchyroll would help it bulk up its entertainment offering in a market that is dominated by streamers like Netflix and Hulu. Anime has become an important front in the battle between streaming services, with companies fighting to license popular series and films (the end result being fragmented access for consumers).


theverge--2020-10-30--It’s time to build a better internet

It’s time to build a better internet

In the week leading up to Election Day , The Verge is running a series of editorials about what we ’ re voting for — not candidates but the ideas that move us to engage with the electoral process in the first place .
At the start of a new decade , the internet is fragile and fractured .
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the digital divide into sharp relief , with millions of Americans struggling to get online .
Large social networks have created new venues for speech and creativity but at the cost of harassment , radicalization , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for small businesses and media outlets .
Online spaces have never been more important .
Because of that , their problems have never been more obvious .
Lawmakers and regulators are aware of these problems .
This year has seen plans to change foundational internet laws , multiple federal agencies launching investigations , and a scathing 450-page congressional report about Amazon , Google , Facebook , and Apple .
But too often , politicians have been sidetracked by political vendettas or short-term fixes .
Instead , they should be helping shape a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful incumbents and encouraging new alternatives .
Take the countless proposals to change Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , a law saying web services can ’ t be sued over user-generated content .
Some of these plans are aimed at important problems like abuse and misinformation .
But few are backed by evidence that they ’ ll help fix these issues , leading to badly designed rules like FOSTA-SESTA , which may actually have hurt the communities it was supposed to help .
Some members of Congress have even promoted false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the rule only protects “ neutral platforms ” that don ’ t moderate content .
If the people who make laws can ’ t ( or won ’ t ) correctly explain how those laws work , why should anyone trust them ?
Broadband access is a different challenge , but it runs into similar problems .
Despite pleas and subsidies from the federal government , internet service providers have failed to provide adequate service to substantial parts of the country .
When communities have tried to take matters into their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocked by state governments protecting these big telecoms .
Meanwhile , the Federal Communications Commission has quibbled over the definition of acceptable broadband speeds and painted a misleading picture of its availability , while antitrust regulators have allowed a few companies to monopolize access to a near necessity of modern life .
Even the so-called “ techlash ” has devolved into a partisan information war .
Ordinary people with concrete problems — like young YouTubers targeted by child predators or Amazon workers facing inhumane working conditions — have been sidelined by politicians championing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follower counts .
Far from showing a bipartisan appetite for reform , it ’ s a distraction that pushes companies away from stopping harassment , misinformation , and other widespread concerns .
It ’ s easier than ever to find an audience criticizing Big Tech .
But that criticism has been hijacked by lawmakers and policymakers acting in bad faith .
The result has been a lot of proposals that punish a few big platforms while ignoring the potential harm to small , independent sites and apps .
And ironically , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Comcast and AT & T , which already control huge swathes of the communications and media landscape .
We can do better .
Instead of shoehorning complaints about tech into convenient political narratives , our government could spend more time listening to experts — and to the citizens it represents .
The past year ’ s antitrust investigations have been a positive step .
Congress spent months gathering information about whether some of the biggest tech companies engaged in anti-competitive behavior .
A committee called for testimony from people who ran websites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online .
It treated tech as more than the sum of a few platforms or a political soapbox , and it delivered a report with suggestions that could actually help make the web better .
But antitrust enforcement isn ’ t enough to build a healthier internet .
Today ’ s tech giants grew without addressing serious concerns about their products ’ larger social effects .
Left to their own devices , new competitors won ’ t necessarily do better .
In fact , many small startups are more careless with their users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We need better rules and enforcement to protect people from invasive surveillance technologies like facial recognition , algorithms that inadvertently encourage discrimination or hide deliberately unfair systems , intimate “ smart ” products with huge security holes , and countless other modern digital perils .
Lawmakers have floated plenty of potential fixes , but they ’ ve largely stalled in Congress or have been actively reversed under the Trump administration .
Some problems require complex and nuanced legal changes .
But others are straightforward .
Prison phone and video calls , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarcerated people , yet their families can pay exorbitant fees for this basic human connection .
While the problem is far from fixed , legislators and the FCC have pushed to limit fees and even make calls free during the coronavirus pandemic .
Congress and a presidential administration should look for more of these smaller , targeted changes that help vulnerable people — even if they ’ re less flashy than taking on Facebook or Google .
We don ’ t have to stop at punishing bad actors .
Lawmakers could use grants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producing secure , accessible , and ethically designed tech .
When agencies turn to private partners for infrastructure , they can use those partnerships to encourage upholding American principles , not simply picking the cheapest or most convenient option — or leaving public institutions at the mercy of companies that have their own agendas .
Not all tech needs to be run by tech companies .
The American government helped create programming and the internet as we know it .
Now , our states can ’ t even find the resources to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Municipal systems are dangerously vulnerable to hackers ’ ransomware attacks .
Like a post office or mass transit network , some online services will probably never turn a profit .
That doesn ’ t make them any less vital , and we need public infrastructure to support them .
Conversely , it ’ s not just companies that need to be reined in .
We also need regulation targeted at law enforcement agencies that buy data to get around the Constitution , rifle through people ’ s social media profiles at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigns across the US and the rest of the world .
The election has raised fears of foreign spying and hacking operations .
But in America , surveillance often starts at home .
Politicians will almost certainly rail against “ Big Tech ” for years to come .
That criticism may be warranted , but it misses the bigger picture .
We don ’ t need a convenient crackdown on a few big companies .
We need a better foundation for the internet of tomorrow — and a government that ’ s willing @ @ @ @ @

Video
In the week leading up to Election Day, The Verge is running a series of editorials about what we’re voting for — not candidates but the ideas that move us to engage with the electoral process in the first place.
At the start of a new decade, the internet is fragile and fractured.
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the digital divide into sharp relief, with millions of Americans struggling to get online. Large social networks have created new venues for speech and creativity but at the cost of harassment, radicalization, eroded privacy, and an uncertain future for small businesses and media outlets. Online spaces have never been more important. Because of that, their problems have never been more obvious.
Lawmakers and regulators are aware of these problems. This year has seen plans to change foundational internet laws, multiple federal agencies launching investigations, and a scathing 450-page congressional report about Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Apple. But too often, politicians have been sidetracked by political vendettas or short-term fixes. Instead, they should be helping shape a better digital world by regulating tech’s powerful incumbents and encouraging new alternatives.
What we’re voting for
Take the countless proposals to change Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a law saying web services can’t be sued over user-generated content. Some of these plans are aimed at important problems like abuse and misinformation. But few are backed by evidence that they’ll help fix these issues, leading to badly designed rules like FOSTA-SESTA, which may actually have hurt the communities it was supposed to help. Some members of Congress have even promoted false information about Section 230, like claims that the rule only protects “neutral platforms” that don’t moderate content. If the people who make laws can’t (or won’t) correctly explain how those laws work, why should anyone trust them?
Broadband access is a different challenge, but it runs into similar problems. Despite pleas and subsidies from the federal government, internet service providers have failed to provide adequate service to substantial parts of the country. When communities have tried to take matters into their own hands, they’ve found themselves blocked by state governments protecting these big telecoms. Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission has quibbled over the definition of acceptable broadband speeds and painted a misleading picture of its availability, while antitrust regulators have allowed a few companies to monopolize access to a near necessity of modern life.
Even the so-called “techlash” has devolved into a partisan information war. Ordinary people with concrete problems — like young YouTubers targeted by child predators or Amazon workers facing inhumane working conditions — have been sidelined by politicians championing right-wing media figureheads or complaining about their follower counts. Far from showing a bipartisan appetite for reform, it’s a distraction that pushes companies away from stopping harassment, misinformation, and other widespread concerns.
It’s easier than ever to find an audience criticizing Big Tech. But that criticism has been hijacked by lawmakers and policymakers acting in bad faith. The result has been a lot of proposals that punish a few big platforms while ignoring the potential harm to small, independent sites and apps. And ironically, it’s given a pass to powerful conglomerates like Comcast and AT&T, which already control huge swathes of the communications and media landscape.
We can do better. Instead of shoehorning complaints about tech into convenient political narratives, our government could spend more time listening to experts — and to the citizens it represents.
The past year’s antitrust investigations have been a positive step. Congress spent months gathering information about whether some of the biggest tech companies engaged in anti-competitive behavior. A committee called for testimony from people who ran websites, developed apps, and sold goods online. It treated tech as more than the sum of a few platforms or a political soapbox, and it delivered a report with suggestions that could actually help make the web better.
But antitrust enforcement isn’t enough to build a healthier internet. Today’s tech giants grew without addressing serious concerns about their products’ larger social effects. Left to their own devices, new competitors won’t necessarily do better. In fact, many small startups are more careless with their users’ privacy, security, and safety. We need better rules and enforcement to protect people from invasive surveillance technologies like facial recognition, algorithms that inadvertently encourage discrimination or hide deliberately unfair systems, intimate “smart” products with huge security holes, and countless other modern digital perils. Lawmakers have floated plenty of potential fixes, but they’ve largely stalled in Congress or have been actively reversed under the Trump administration.
Some problems require complex and nuanced legal changes. But others are straightforward. Prison phone and video calls, for instance, are a vital lifeline for incarcerated people, yet their families can pay exorbitant fees for this basic human connection. While the problem is far from fixed, legislators and the FCC have pushed to limit fees and even make calls free during the coronavirus pandemic. Congress and a presidential administration should look for more of these smaller, targeted changes that help vulnerable people — even if they’re less flashy than taking on Facebook or Google.
We don’t have to stop at punishing bad actors. Lawmakers could use grants or tax incentives to reward startups for producing secure, accessible, and ethically designed tech. When agencies turn to private partners for infrastructure, they can use those partnerships to encourage upholding American principles, not simply picking the cheapest or most convenient option — or leaving public institutions at the mercy of companies that have their own agendas.
Not all tech needs to be run by tech companies. The American government helped create programming and the internet as we know it. Now, our states can’t even find the resources to keep overloaded unemployment and voter registration systems online. Municipal systems are dangerously vulnerable to hackers’ ransomware attacks. Like a post office or mass transit network, some online services will probably never turn a profit. That doesn’t make them any less vital, and we need public infrastructure to support them.
Conversely, it’s not just companies that need to be reined in. We also need regulation targeted at law enforcement agencies that buy data to get around the Constitution, rifle through people’s social media profiles at the border, and run secretive online snooping campaigns across the US and the rest of the world. The election has raised fears of foreign spying and hacking operations. But in America, surveillance often starts at home.