theverge--2020-02-12--Mark Zuckerberg’s privilege to be forgotten

A lengthy piece from Steven Levy in Wired today revealed parts of a 2006 journal from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg .
You can read the Wired story here , and also our take on the most notable part of it , which is that Zuckerberg once considered something wild called “ dark profiles.
” But what struck me most was the fact that what we saw today in Wired may be the only glimpse we ever get at Zuckerberg ’ s intimate journal record — because he destroyed the rest of it .
“ The notebooks have now mostly disappeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levy reports .
“ He says he did it for privacy reasons.
” It ’ s difficult to capture the magnitude of this irony .
I ’ m not saying Facebook ’ s rise to power is a complete secret .
Years of reporting , leaks , books , and even a feature film have triangulated the actions and intentions of the people who built it .
But who knows what we ’ re missing , now that we know what will forever be missing ?
The glimpses we ’ ve had at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t flattering ; his leaked IMs calling early Facebook users “ dumb fucks ” is one of his most enduring phrases .
Indeed , as Levy notes , having that conversation exposed is probably the reason why he destroyed his journals .
“ Would you want every joke that you made to someone being printed and taken out of context later ?
” he asked Levy .
The problem is that Zuckerberg ’ s notebooks are filled with work product , and not likely throwaway remarks from a college-age jokester .
Levy says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out product ideas that were often juxtaposed with “ bits of his philosophy.
” “ Page after page were filled with straight lines of text , bullet-pointed feature lists , flow charts , ” Levy says .
“ Zuckerberg was no longer doing much coding ; he was focused mostly on the big picture .
The notebooks allowed him to work out his vision in detail.
” Facebook is much older now , but it ’ s obvious that we ’ ve lost something important to history with the destruction of these records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world leader , I can ’ t help but see a dark parallel between these acts and what ’ s happening elsewhere , as the US National Archives destroys millions of documents that could have one day told a story about one of the most shameful chapters in our country ’ s history , and a brigade of men in the White House run around with Scotch tape trying to preserve the documents that President Trump rips to shreds .
To be charitable , we can find sympathy in the act of destroying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forgotten as a right , despite how that might offend American sensibilities .
Anybody who has kept a journal has probably destroyed parts of it ; at least , I have .
Some are missing entirely from my collection , while others have pages torn with words that , given the space of time , became embarrassing or alienating .
In the wake of covering Gamergate and being the subject of threats and harassment , I even once removed my entire Gmail archive from the internet and moved it to cold storage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life would be stolen by people who wanted to cause me harm .
Like us , Mark Zuckerberg is just a person .
Yes , we ’ re separated by billions of dollars and unimaginable power — but physically and emotionally there are no meaningful differences .
Despite suspicions that he ’ s a robot , he needs to eat and drink , and he can catch the flu just like the rest of us .
He can be afraid , and he was afraid .
He was scared that more of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
The problem isn ’ t that Mark Zuckerberg isn ’ t human , it ’ s that he is .
His humanity is equal to ours , and yet his power to be forgotten is unequal ; in 2018 Facebook admitted that it secretly deleted an enormous trove of messages between Zuckerberg and other users , quietly removing them from users ’ Messenger inboxes .
It would be nice if the average Facebook user had even some fraction of this control over their information .
Facebook ’ s account closure process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when what they should give them is a single button that deletes it all .
Between his destroyed journal records and Facebook messages , we know now that Zuckerberg was able to keep significant parts of his life and his company ’ s history private .
And between scandals like Cambridge Analytica and Clearview AI , in which huge troves of data were scraped from users without their knowledge or consent , the monster that Zuckerberg created may have foreclosed the possibility of privacy for billions of people .
That feels more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruel .
But I can picture Zuckerberg poring over his journals .
I can feel the sight of words written by a distant person who is faintly recognizable , perhaps even a past self whose recollection in the present invites an unwelcome visitor .
I can see him tearing out pages and tossing books in the fire .
And I can ’ t be mad about that .
I ’ m happy for him .
We should all have his privilege .

A lengthy piece from Steven Levy in Wired today revealed parts of a 2006 journal from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. You can read the Wired story here, and also our take on the most notable part of it, which is that Zuckerberg once considered something wild called “dark profiles.” But what struck me most was the fact that what we saw today in Wired may be the only glimpse we ever get at Zuckerberg’s intimate journal record — because he destroyed the rest of it.
“The notebooks have now mostly disappeared, destroyed by Zuckerberg himself,” Levy reports. “He says he did it for privacy reasons.”
It’s difficult to capture the magnitude of this irony.
I’m not saying Facebook’s rise to power is a complete secret. Years of reporting, leaks, books, and even a feature film have triangulated the actions and intentions of the people who built it. But who knows what we’re missing, now that we know what will forever be missing? The glimpses we’ve had at Zuckerberg’s raw behavior aren’t flattering; his leaked IMs calling early Facebook users “dumb fucks” is one of his most enduring phrases. Indeed, as Levy notes, having that conversation exposed is probably the reason why he destroyed his journals. “Would you want every joke that you made to someone being printed and taken out of context later?” he asked Levy.
The problem is that Zuckerberg’s notebooks are filled with work product, and not likely throwaway remarks from a college-age jokester. Levy says he observed Zuckerberg using notebooks to sketch out product ideas that were often juxtaposed with “bits of his philosophy.”
“Page after page were filled with straight lines of text, bullet-pointed feature lists, flow charts,” Levy says. “Zuckerberg was no longer doing much coding; he was focused mostly on the big picture. The notebooks allowed him to work out his vision in detail.”
Facebook is much older now, but it’s obvious that we’ve lost something important to history with the destruction of these records. And because Zuckerberg is effectively a world leader, I can’t help but see a dark parallel between these acts and what’s happening elsewhere, as the US National Archives destroys millions of documents that could have one day told a story about one of the most shameful chapters in our country’s history, and a brigade of men in the White House run around with Scotch tape trying to preserve the documents that President Trump rips to shreds.
To be charitable, we can find sympathy in the act of destroying personal records. Europeans have recognized being forgotten as a right, despite how that might offend American sensibilities. Anybody who has kept a journal has probably destroyed parts of it; at least, I have. Some are missing entirely from my collection, while others have pages torn with words that, given the space of time, became embarrassing or alienating. In the wake of covering Gamergate and being the subject of threats and harassment, I even once removed my entire Gmail archive from the internet and moved it to cold storage, fearing that the intimate details of my life would be stolen by people who wanted to cause me harm.
Like us, Mark Zuckerberg is just a person. Yes, we’re separated by billions of dollars and unimaginable power — but physically and emotionally there are no meaningful differences. Despite suspicions that he’s a robot, he needs to eat and drink, and he can catch the flu just like the rest of us. He can be afraid, and he was afraid. He was scared that more of his private thoughts might be exposed to the world.
The problem isn’t that Mark Zuckerberg isn’t human, it’s that he is. His humanity is equal to ours, and yet his power to be forgotten is unequal; in 2018 Facebook admitted that it secretly deleted an enormous trove of messages between Zuckerberg and other users, quietly removing them from users’ Messenger inboxes. It would be nice if the average Facebook user had even some fraction of this control over their information. Facebook’s account closure process still tries to guilt users about quitting, when what they should give them is a single button that deletes it all.
Between his destroyed journal records and Facebook messages, we know now that Zuckerberg was able to keep significant parts of his life and his company’s history private. And between scandals like Cambridge Analytica and Clearview AI, in which huge troves of data were scraped from users without their knowledge or consent, the monster that Zuckerberg created may have foreclosed the possibility of privacy for billions of people. That feels more than just unequal; it seems historically cruel.


theverge--2020-02-12--Space startup’s founders linked to shady dating website ring

Two founders and board members of Texas space startup Firefly Aerospace appear to be involved in running a ring of sham dating websites , according to the results of a two-year investigation published by Snopes on Wednesday .
The investigation links the two men , Ukrainian businessman Max Polyakov and investor Mark Watt , to a handful of shell companies that appear to own and operate dozens of similar websites with names like “ BuddyGays , ” “ MyLustyWish , ” “ WantMatures , ” “ Loveaholics , ” “ SpicyDesires , ” and “ AffairDating.
” After creating free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Snopes discovered they were filled with seemingly fake profiles , some of which used stolen photos of models .
Snopes reports it was bombarded with messages attempting to convert its free accounts into paid subscriptions — ones that are allegedly hard to cancel .
One expert Snopes spoke with said the pattern resembled what the Better Business Bureau calls a “ subscription trap , ” which is a potentially illegal gambit .
Firefly CEO and co-founder Thomas Markusic said in a phone call with The Verge on Wednesday that the spacefaring startup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and that while Polyakov ’ s venture fund is the company ’ s majority shareholder , the Ukrainian businessman is not involved in the day-to-day operations .
He says he and Firefly are “ not exposed ” to any of Polyakov ’ s other businesses .
Firefly ’ s CEO says the startup is “ completely independent ” from Polyakov ’ s other businesses “ We have government contracts , and we ’ re just incredibly vigilant about being totally transparent and open with our shareholders and other stakeholders , our customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a whole legal team that ensures we are compliant with all legal and ethical requirements for contracts with the government.
” Firefly Aerospace was founded in 2014 as Firefly Space Systems .
The company set out to build the “ Model T of rockets , ” something that would be easily mass-manufactured , cost less than what SpaceX makes , but take smaller payloads to orbit .
Not long after it was founded , Markusic was sued by his former employer Virgin Galactic for allegedly using that company ’ s trade secrets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( The lawsuit was eventually settled . )
Around the same time , a potential European investor backed out of a deal with Firefly in the aftermath of Brexit .
The startup wound up filing for bankruptcy in early 2017 .
Polyakov , through his Silicon Valley-based venture firm Noosphere , bought some of Firefly ’ s debt and then ultimately all of its assets .
He started a new company called EOS Launcher , and then rebranded it to Firefly Aerospace , keeping Markusic on as CEO .
After Polyakov put new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up hiring , and not long after Firefly became one of nine startups selected by NASA to develop technology that could help put commercial payloads on the Moon .
Firefly also took over a launch site at the Cape Canaveral spaceport in Florida , though it has yet to launch its first rocket .
In January , a fire broke out at the startup ’ s facility in Texas during an engine test .
Polyakov and Watt are now credited on the company ’ s website as founders of the reformed company , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the board .
Watt also served as Firefly ’ s “ acting chief financial officer , ” though Markusic said he is no longer in that role .
“ The Snopes article is incorrect .
I am not involved other than my direct relationship with Firefly , ” Watt said in a message on Wednesday .
“ I can not comment on other things as they are wrong.
” In response , Alex Kasprak , the reporter who wrote the Snopes investigation , said in a statement to The Verge that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what it is he thinks we have gotten wrong in reporting.
” “ [ Watt ] was sent multiple emails detailing our claims in both January and February of this year and responded to neither , ” Kasprak said .
“ We stand by our reporting.
” Polyakov did not respond to requests for comment .
Before swooping in and buying up Firefly ’ s assets , Polyakov had a history with dating sites , according to the Snopes investigation .
For years , the Ukrainian businessman ran an online dating company called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK .
In 2013 , though , the BBC published an investigation that alleged Cupid “ seemed to use fake messages or profiles to entice people to subscribe.
” Cupid eventually shut down in 2014 , and according to Snopes , “ sold its myriad dating websites to several offshore entities in the British Virgin Islands ( BVI ) and Malta.
” By examining court filings , public records , and information in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists ’ Offshore Leaks Database , Snopes says Polyakov was behind those offshore companies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he “ moved to Silicon Valley and branded himself a player in the intersecting worlds of venture capital and aerospace tech ” in 2016 .
Watt , who is one of Polyakov ’ s partners at Noosphere , is also listed on incorporation documents for some of the holding companies that own the dating websites .
In December , Markusic , Polyakov , Watt , and Firefly Aerospace were sued by some of the original co-founders and shareholders of Firefly Space Systems .
Markusic and Polyakov were accused of collaborating on driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could emerge with a new company that had fewer shareholders — claims that Markusic and others have denied in court filings .
Michael Blum , one of those original co-founders , told The Verge via phone that “ Markusic was well aware that Polyakov had a sketchy background .
And while more is known today , the basics of it were known to all of us at Firefly ” a few years ago .
Markusic said he knew Polyakov “ had been involved in a lot of dot com enterprises , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s “ never been privy to the details of what any of those companies are.
” He also attempted to link the recent lawsuit with the Snopes investigation .
“ If I were to speculate , and this is speculation , I don ’ t know for a fact , but I think the timing of the release of this article , which is intended to smear , and makes far-reaching statements about our involvement in government contracts , I don ’ t think its a coincidence that that litigation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smear articles being launched at the same time , ” Markusic said on the phone Wednesday .
“ I ’ d speculate there ’ s some connection.
” “ Our reporting and this investigation ’ s release are unrelated to , and unmotivated by , any litigation Firefly Aerospace is involved in , ” Kasprak said in response .

Two founders and board members of Texas space startup Firefly Aerospace appear to be involved in running a ring of sham dating websites, according to the results of a two-year investigation published by Snopes on Wednesday.
The investigation links the two men, Ukrainian businessman Max Polyakov and investor Mark Watt, to a handful of shell companies that appear to own and operate dozens of similar websites with names like “BuddyGays,” “MyLustyWish,” “WantMatures,” “Loveaholics,” “SpicyDesires,” and “AffairDating.”
After creating free accounts on a number of these websites, Snopes discovered they were filled with seemingly fake profiles, some of which used stolen photos of models. Snopes reports it was bombarded with messages attempting to convert its free accounts into paid subscriptions — ones that are allegedly hard to cancel. One expert Snopes spoke with said the pattern resembled what the Better Business Bureau calls a “subscription trap,” which is a potentially illegal gambit.
Firefly CEO and co-founder Thomas Markusic said in a phone call with The Verge on Wednesday that the spacefaring startup is “a completely independent entity,” and that while Polyakov’s venture fund is the company’s majority shareholder, the Ukrainian businessman is not involved in the day-to-day operations. He says he and Firefly are “not exposed” to any of Polyakov’s other businesses.
Firefly’s CEO says the startup is “completely independent” from Polyakov’s other businesses
“We have government contracts, and we’re just incredibly vigilant about being totally transparent and open with our shareholders and other stakeholders, our customers,” Markusic said. “We have a whole legal team that ensures we are compliant with all legal and ethical requirements for contracts with the government.”
Firefly Aerospace was founded in 2014 as Firefly Space Systems. The company set out to build the “Model T of rockets,” something that would be easily mass-manufactured, cost less than what SpaceX makes, but take smaller payloads to orbit.
Not long after it was founded, Markusic was sued by his former employer Virgin Galactic for allegedly using that company’s trade secrets to get Firefly off the ground. (The lawsuit was eventually settled.) Around the same time, a potential European investor backed out of a deal with Firefly in the aftermath of Brexit. The startup wound up filing for bankruptcy in early 2017.
Polyakov, through his Silicon Valley-based venture firm Noosphere, bought some of Firefly’s debt and then ultimately all of its assets. He started a new company called EOS Launcher, and then rebranded it to Firefly Aerospace, keeping Markusic on as CEO. After Polyakov put new money into the startup, it ramped up hiring, and not long after Firefly became one of nine startups selected by NASA to develop technology that could help put commercial payloads on the Moon. Firefly also took over a launch site at the Cape Canaveral spaceport in Florida, though it has yet to launch its first rocket. In January, a fire broke out at the startup’s facility in Texas during an engine test.
Polyakov and Watt are now credited on the company’s website as founders of the reformed company, Firefly Aerospace, and each took seats on the board. Watt also served as Firefly’s “acting chief financial officer,” though Markusic said he is no longer in that role.
“The Snopes article is incorrect. I am not involved other than my direct relationship with Firefly,” Watt said in a message on Wednesday. “I cannot comment on other things as they are wrong.”
In response, Alex Kasprak, the reporter who wrote the Snopes investigation, said in a statement to The Verge that “Mr. Watt is welcome to clarify what it is he thinks we have gotten wrong in reporting.”
“[Watt] was sent multiple emails detailing our claims in both January and February of this year and responded to neither,” Kasprak said. “We stand by our reporting.”
Polyakov did not respond to requests for comment.
Before swooping in and buying up Firefly’s assets, Polyakov had a history with dating sites, according to the Snopes investigation. For years, the Ukrainian businessman ran an online dating company called Cupid that was publicly traded in the UK. In 2013, though, the BBC published an investigation that alleged Cupid “seemed to use fake messages or profiles to entice people to subscribe.” Cupid eventually shut down in 2014, and according to Snopes, “sold its myriad dating websites to several offshore entities in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Malta.”
Polyakov has a history with sketchy dating sites
By examining court filings, public records, and information in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ Offshore Leaks Database, Snopes says Polyakov was behind those offshore companies, and therefore retained his interest in them as he “moved to Silicon Valley and branded himself a player in the intersecting worlds of venture capital and aerospace tech” in 2016. Watt, who is one of Polyakov’s partners at Noosphere, is also listed on incorporation documents for some of the holding companies that own the dating websites.
In December, Markusic, Polyakov, Watt, and Firefly Aerospace were sued by some of the original co-founders and shareholders of Firefly Space Systems. Markusic and Polyakov were accused of collaborating on driving the original Firefly into bankruptcy so they could emerge with a new company that had fewer shareholders — claims that Markusic and others have denied in court filings.
Michael Blum, one of those original co-founders, told The Verge via phone that “Markusic was well aware that Polyakov had a sketchy background. And while more is known today, the basics of it were known to all of us at Firefly” a few years ago.
Markusic said he knew Polyakov “had been involved in a lot of dot com enterprises, one of which was dating,” but said he’s “never been privy to the details of what any of those companies are.” He also attempted to link the recent lawsuit with the Snopes investigation.
“If I were to speculate, and this is speculation, I don’t know for a fact, but I think the timing of the release of this article, which is intended to smear, and makes far-reaching statements about our involvement in government contracts, I don’t think its a coincidence that that litigation was recently launched and now we have these smear articles being launched at the same time,” Markusic said on the phone Wednesday. “I’d speculate there’s some connection.”


theverge--2020-02-12--The FTC is cracking down on influencer marketing on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok

Commissioner Rohit Chopra called for tougher penalties on companies that disguise advertising on platforms like Instagram , YouTube , and TikTok as authentic reviews in a statement sent out Wednesday .
The statement came after the FTC voted 5-0 to approve a Federal Register notice that would seek public comment on whether Endorsement Guides for advertising ( which haven ’ t been updated since 2009 ) need to be reviewed , according to TechCrunch .
For years , the Federal Trade Commission has required influencers to disclose sponsored posts , but the guidelines seem to have had little effect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter , a Lord & Taylor campaign paid 50 social media influencers to post about a dress on Instagram , but didn ’ t require them to disclose that the posts were sponsored .
The FTC charged Lord & Taylor with deceiving the public , settling the case by prohibiting the company from “ misrepresenting that paid ads are from an independent source , ” but didn ’ t levy a monetary fine .
Influencers and online personalities are often given products for free by companies hoping to get some exposure .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s often hard to tell when an endorsement is genuine , or if a review is coming from an undisclosed partnership .
Now the FTC is cracking down , but the focus is on holding advertisers and companies accountable , not small influencers .
“ When individual influencers are able to post about their interests to earn extra money on the side , this is not a cause for major concern .
But when companies launder advertising by paying an influencer to pretend that their endorsement or review is untainted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payola , ” Chopra said .
“ The FTC will need to be forward-looking to stop fraud from festering.
” The FTC is especially critical of companies that have pressured influencers to hide the fact that their endorsements are paid advertising .
In 2016 , video network Machinima settled a deceptive advertising complaint with the FTC for not disclosing that it paid YouTubers to make endorsements of the Xbox One , and telling them to position their opinions as independent reviews .
The settlement , which also did not involve a monetary penalty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertising on platforms today .
The FTC is now calling for “ codifying elements of the existing endorsement guides into formal rules so that violators can be liable for civil penalties.
” The statement specifically notes the rise of influencer marketing on Instagram , YouTube , and TikTok , and the difficulties in seeking truthful information when “ fake accounts , fake likes , fake followers , and fake reviews are now polluting the digital economy.
” In other words , the FTC is sick of fake friends , and seeking real consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Commissioner Rohit Chopra called for tougher penalties on companies that disguise advertising on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok as authentic reviews in a statement sent out Wednesday. The statement came after the FTC voted 5-0 to approve a Federal Register notice that would seek public comment on whether Endorsement Guides for advertising (which haven’t been updated since 2009) need to be reviewed, according to TechCrunch.
For years, the Federal Trade Commission has required influencers to disclose sponsored posts, but the guidelines seem to have had little effect. In one recent case mentioned in the letter, a Lord & Taylor campaign paid 50 social media influencers to post about a dress on Instagram, but didn’t require them to disclose that the posts were sponsored. The FTC charged Lord & Taylor with deceiving the public, settling the case by prohibiting the company from “misrepresenting that paid ads are from an independent source,” but didn’t levy a monetary fine.
Influencers and online personalities are often given products for free by companies hoping to get some exposure. While some reviewers will disclose that detail, it’s often hard to tell when an endorsement is genuine, or if a review is coming from an undisclosed partnership. Now the FTC is cracking down, but the focus is on holding advertisers and companies accountable, not small influencers. “When individual influencers are able to post about their interests to earn extra money on the side, this is not a cause for major concern. But when companies launder advertising by paying an influencer to pretend that their endorsement or review is untainted by a financial relationship, this is illegal payola,” Chopra said.
“The FTC will need to be forward-looking to stop fraud from festering.”
The FTC is especially critical of companies that have pressured influencers to hide the fact that their endorsements are paid advertising. In 2016, video network Machinima settled a deceptive advertising complaint with the FTC for not disclosing that it paid YouTubers to make endorsements of the Xbox One, and telling them to position their opinions as independent reviews. The settlement, which also did not involve a monetary penalty, has done little to deter native advertising on platforms today. The FTC is now calling for “codifying elements of the existing endorsement guides into formal rules so that violators can be liable for civil penalties.”


theverge--2020-02-12--.com prices could rise for the first time in eight years

Prices for .com domain names could go up for the first time in eight years , with the group responsible for overseeing top-level internet domains , ICANN , close to granting final approval for a series of price hikes .
The price of .com registration has been frozen at $ 7.85 since 2012 .
Consumers didn ’ t necessarily see that price — you could have been charged more or less by a registrar — but that was the price domain registrars ended up paying per registration .
The US government says new top-level domains and social media mean a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a proposed agreement , the price could rise to nearly $ 13.50 per domain over the next 10 years .
The agreement allows Verisign , which has a contract to oversee .com domains , to raise the price by up to 7 percent per year over most of the next decade .
Verisign would be required to pause price increases during two years ( 2024 and 2025 ) , but it would otherwise have authorization to steadily raise prices through 2029 .
The price hikes don ’ t stem from ICANN : they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Commerce Department , which has some oversight of .com domains .
In a blog post yesterday , ICANN CEO Göran Marby writes that the organization “ is not a price regulator and defers to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Justice for the regulation of pricing for .COM registry services.
” Verisign reached a deal with the government to raise prices in 2018 .
But it ’ s gaining attention now because ICANN is close to confirming the price increases in its own contract with Verisign .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s nothing ICANN can do — it ’ s just updating its own agreement to reflect the already agreed upon pricing updates .
The government agreement justifies the price increases by saying that new top-level domains ( like .pizza and .camera ) and “ the use of social media ” have made the domain name market “ more dynamic.
” It ’ s not strictly wrong about that , but .com still remains the assumed ending for domains , at least in the US .
As Engadget points out , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s desire to roll back anything remotely Obama related .
In a 2018 press release about the updated agreement change , the Commerce Department ’ s telecom agency referred to the price freeze as “ Obama-era price controls ” and said it was repealing them in favor of “ pricing flexibility.
” ICANN ’ s agreement with Verisign isn ’ t final just yet .
A public comment period closes on Friday , and then a final report is due in March .
The domain registrar Namecheap is making a last-minute push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sent out an email to customers titled “ Help Us Avoid .COM Price Increases ” and encouraged readers to leave a comment opposing the price hikes .
In the end , it may be registrars that feel the biggest impact : if they want to keep .com pricing low as a way to hook customers and sell them on other services , they may have to take an even bigger hit .

Prices for .com domain names could go up for the first time in eight years, with the group responsible for overseeing top-level internet domains, ICANN, close to granting final approval for a series of price hikes.
The price of .com registration has been frozen at $7.85 since 2012. Consumers didn’t necessarily see that price — you could have been charged more or less by a registrar — but that was the price domain registrars ended up paying per registration.
The US government says new top-level domains and social media mean a price freeze isn’t needed
Under a proposed agreement, the price could rise to nearly $13.50 per domain over the next 10 years. The agreement allows Verisign, which has a contract to oversee .com domains, to raise the price by up to 7 percent per year over most of the next decade. Verisign would be required to pause price increases during two years (2024 and 2025), but it would otherwise have authorization to steadily raise prices through 2029.
The price hikes don’t stem from ICANN: they come from an agreement Verisign reached with the Commerce Department, which has some oversight of .com domains. In a blog post yesterday, ICANN CEO Göran Marby writes that the organization “is not a price regulator and defers to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Justice for the regulation of pricing for .COM registry services.”
Verisign reached a deal with the government to raise prices in 2018. But it’s gaining attention now because ICANN is close to confirming the price increases in its own contract with Verisign. By Marby’s account, though, there’s nothing ICANN can do — it’s just updating its own agreement to reflect the already agreed upon pricing updates.
The government agreement justifies the price increases by saying that new top-level domains (like .pizza and .camera) and “the use of social media” have made the domain name market “more dynamic.” It’s not strictly wrong about that, but .com still remains the assumed ending for domains, at least in the US.
As Engadget points out, the change also stems from the Trump administration’s desire to roll back anything remotely Obama related. In a 2018 press release about the updated agreement change, the Commerce Department’s telecom agency referred to the price freeze as “Obama-era price controls” and said it was repealing them in favor of “pricing flexibility.”
ICANN’s agreement with Verisign isn’t final just yet. A public comment period closes on Friday, and then a final report is due in March.


theverge--2020-02-12--As Lambda students speak out, the school’s debt-swapping partnership disappears from the internet

In December , online coding bootcamp Lambda School quietly partnered with Edly , a digital marketplace that helps schools sell income-sharing agreements ( ISAs ) to accredited investors .
The arrangement allows Lambda to receive money from the ISAs upfront , rather than waiting for students to find jobs .
But it also flies in the face of the values Lambda typically espouses : namely , that ISAs align its incentives with the goals and aspirations of the students .
Shortly after the arrangement was called out on Twitter , following a report by The Verge about some students ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking down pages that referenced the Lambda partnership .
Edly did not immediately respond to a request for comment about why these pages were taken down , and Lambda declined to comment on the nature of the partnership at all .
Lambda ’ s ISAs promise an alternative to traditional student loans by allowing students to defer tuition until they ’ ve landed a job that pays $ 50,000 a year or more .
When that happens , they hand over 17 percent of their income until the $ 30,000 tuition is paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find work within five years of completing the program , the ISA is automatically dissolved .
It ’ s a business model that allows Lambda to brag about investing in students — which , in many ways , it still does .
The school provides living stipends and even housing to some students who need it .
But reselling ISAs muddies the narrative a bit since Lambda can make money long before students find jobs .
“ The ISA is the business model , not education , ” says Kim Crayton , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an organization that ’ s seeking to disrupt the status quo in tech .
“ You can not tell me that education is your business model when you have not registered as an institution.
” For months , Crayton has been speaking about the problems with coding bootcamps on her podcast , where she ’ s argued that they target vulnerable communities .
“ You ’ re put in these spaces and putting in 110 percent and it ’ s still not working and you ’ re told to ‘ trust the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The ISA is the business model , not education ” The selling point for investors who sign on with Edly is that they can buy shares from schools ’ ISA pools with return percentages proportional to what they put in .
“ This gives us the contractual right to the cash flows generated by the students upon employment , ” Edly ’ s website reads .
To help investors get paid , Edly uses a servicer to collect money from students .
Today , it ’ s unclear whether any shares of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sold .
Lambda CEO Austen Allred has frequently pointed out that ISAs are not loans .
The amount students pay back through an ISA changes along with their income ; if they lose their job or make less than $ 50,000 , their payments go down to zero .
But ISAs are still a form of debt , and debt can be sold off and enforced by a more aggressive collector .
A webinar restricted to accredited investors on December 11th , 2020 , promised to discuss “ the latest Edly offering ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Invest in the Lambda School ISA Pool.
” Allred was joined by Edly CEO Chris Ricciardi who has been called the “ grandfather of collateralized debt obligations.
” A similar arrangement was previously reported by Wired , which found that , in 2019 , roughly half of Lambda ’ s ISAs were sold off to investors .
It ’ s not an ideal situation for the school — the rights to the ISAs are deeply discounted because of the risk that students won ’ t pay them back — but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reddit , Allred had previously said that while Lambda financed ISAs “ in various ways , ” it didn ’ t make money until students were hired and began paying a portion of their income .
Allred ’ s comments remain , though the original topic post has been removed by Lambda moderators .

In December, online coding bootcamp Lambda School quietly partnered with Edly, a digital marketplace that helps schools sell income-sharing agreements (ISAs) to accredited investors. The arrangement allows Lambda to receive money from the ISAs upfront, rather than waiting for students to find jobs. But it also flies in the face of the values Lambda typically espouses: namely, that ISAs align its incentives with the goals and aspirations of the students.
Shortly after the arrangement was called out on Twitter, following a report by The Verge about some students’ disappointment with the curriculum, Edly began taking down pages that referenced the Lambda partnership. Edly did not immediately respond to a request for comment about why these pages were taken down, and Lambda declined to comment on the nature of the partnership at all.
Lambda’s ISAs promise an alternative to traditional student loans by allowing students to defer tuition until they’ve landed a job that pays $50,000 a year or more. When that happens, they hand over 17 percent of their income until the $30,000 tuition is paid off. If students don’t find work within five years of completing the program, the ISA is automatically dissolved.
It’s a business model that allows Lambda to brag about investing in students — which, in many ways, it still does. The school provides living stipends and even housing to some students who need it. But reselling ISAs muddies the narrative a bit since Lambda can make money long before students find jobs.
“The ISA is the business model, not education,” says Kim Crayton, a business strategist and founder of #CauseAScene, an organization that’s seeking to disrupt the status quo in tech. “You cannot tell me that education is your business model when you have not registered as an institution.” For months, Crayton has been speaking about the problems with coding bootcamps on her podcast, where she’s argued that they target vulnerable communities. “You’re put in these spaces and putting in 110 percent and it’s still not working and you’re told to ‘trust the process,’” she says.
“The ISA is the business model, not education”
The selling point for investors who sign on with Edly is that they can buy shares from schools’ ISA pools with return percentages proportional to what they put in. “This gives us the contractual right to the cash flows generated by the students upon employment,” Edly’s website reads. To help investors get paid, Edly uses a servicer to collect money from students. Today, it’s unclear whether any shares of Lambda’s ISA pool have actually sold.
Lambda CEO Austen Allred has frequently pointed out that ISAs are not loans. The amount students pay back through an ISA changes along with their income; if they lose their job or make less than $50,000, their payments go down to zero. But ISAs are still a form of debt, and debt can be sold off and enforced by a more aggressive collector.
A webinar restricted to accredited investors on December 11th, 2019, promised to discuss “the latest Edly offering” in a session called “How to Invest in the Lambda School ISA Pool.” Allred was joined by Edly CEO Chris Ricciardi who has been called the “grandfather of collateralized debt obligations.”
A similar arrangement was previously reported by Wired, which found that, in 2019, roughly half of Lambda’s ISAs were sold off to investors. It’s not an ideal situation for the school — the rights to the ISAs are deeply discounted because of the risk that students won’t pay them back — but it’s allowed Lambda to keep operating.
On Reddit, Allred had previously said that while Lambda financed ISAs “in various ways,” it didn’t make money until students were hired and began paying a portion of their income. Allred’s comments remain, though the original topic post has been removed by Lambda moderators.


theverge--2020-02-12--One of Mark Zuckerberg’s notebooks detailed ‘dark profiles,’ which would let people make Facebook pr

One of Mark Zuckerberg’s notebooks detailed ‘dark profiles,’ which would let people make Facebook profiles for their friends

A 2006 journal from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had lots of ideas about potential concepts for the company , including one that would let users create profiles for people who weren ’ t actually on the social network yet .
Details about the journal come from Wired editor at large Steven Levy , who is publishing a book about the history of Facebook and published an excerpt of that book in Wired today .
The full excerpt has all sorts of juicy details about Facebook and Zuckerberg .
Much of the excerpt focuses on Zuckerberg ’ s studious journaling and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to muse to himself about early ideas for Facebook : Zuckerberg would sometimes even drop photocopied pages from his journal onto Facebook employees ’ desks as a way to share ideas or changes to be made to Facebook .
Levy says he got his hands on 17 pages of one of those journals , which dated back to May 2006 and which Zuckerberg had purportedly named the “ Book of Change.
” In it , Zuckerberg apparently wrote about opening Facebook up to everyone ( at the time , Facebook was still exclusive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , early thoughts and ideas for News Feed , and one particularly disconcerting idea he called “ Dark Profiles : ” These would be Facebook pages for people who , whether by omission or intention , had not signed up for Facebook .
The idea was to allow users to create these profiles for their friends—or really just about anyone who didn ’ t have a Facebook account—with nothing more than a name and email address .
Once the profile existed , anyone would be able to add information to it , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levy , some work was done on making hidden profiles , and Facebook has said that it doesn ’ t make profiles for people who aren ’ t on Facebook .
Zuckerberg has destroyed most of his notebooks for privacy reasons , reports Levy .
That ’ s interesting in light of Zuckerberg himself retconning the founding story of Facebook last year — the journals could have provided more detail about the history of the company , if they still existed .
Levy ’ s excerpt also features a few other interesting tidbits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legend around Zuckerberg ’ s choice to decline a $ 1 billion acquisition offer from Yahoo — apparently , Zuckerberg had actually verbally accepted the offer , but a negotiation choice by Yahoo let Zuckerberg end the acquisition talks with Yahoo : He did verbally accept the offer , but then Yahoo CEO Terry Semel made a tactical error , asking to renegotiate terms because his company ’ s stock had taken a downturn .
Zuckerberg used that as an opportunity to end the talks .
He believed that the two products he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would make Facebook more valuable .
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg told Levy exactly what she had been hired for when Zuckerberg first brought her on : And apparently , after the consistent criticism of Facebook following the 2016 election , Zuckerberg told his executive team to consider him a wartime CEO that would have to be more decisive than in the past .
Levy ’ s full excerpt is long , but very interesting , and I highly recommend that you go read it .

A 2006 journal from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had lots of ideas about potential concepts for the company, including one that would let users create profiles for people who weren’t actually on the social network yet.
Details about the journal come from Wired editor at large Steven Levy, who is publishing a book about the history of Facebook and published an excerpt of that book in Wired today. The full excerpt has all sorts of juicy details about Facebook and Zuckerberg.
Much of the excerpt focuses on Zuckerberg’s studious journaling and how he used it as a way to muse to himself about early ideas for Facebook:
[Zuckerberg] sketched out product ideas, diagrammed coding approaches, and slipped in bits of his philosophy. Page after page were filled with straight lines of text, bullet-pointed feature lists, flow charts.
Zuckerberg would sometimes even drop photocopied pages from his journal onto Facebook employees’ desks as a way to share ideas or changes to be made to Facebook.
Levy says he got his hands on 17 pages of one of those journals, which dated back to May 2006 and which Zuckerberg had purportedly named the “Book of Change.” In it, Zuckerberg apparently wrote about opening Facebook up to everyone (at the time, Facebook was still exclusive to college and high school networks), early thoughts and ideas for News Feed, and one particularly disconcerting idea he called “Dark Profiles:”
These would be Facebook pages for people who, whether by omission or intention, had not signed up for Facebook. The idea was to allow users to create these profiles for their friends—or really just about anyone who didn’t have a Facebook account—with nothing more than a name and email address. Once the profile existed, anyone would be able to add information to it, like biographical details or interests.
According to Levy, some work was done on making hidden profiles, and Facebook has said that it doesn’t make profiles for people who aren’t on Facebook.
Zuckerberg has destroyed most of his notebooks for privacy reasons, reports Levy. That’s interesting in light of Zuckerberg himself retconning the founding story of Facebook last year — the journals could have provided more detail about the history of the company, if they still existed.
Levy’s excerpt also features a few other interesting tidbits, including one about the Silicon Valley legend around Zuckerberg’s choice to decline a $1 billion acquisition offer from Yahoo — apparently, Zuckerberg had actually verbally accepted the offer, but a negotiation choice by Yahoo let Zuckerberg end the acquisition talks with Yahoo:
He did verbally accept the offer, but then Yahoo CEO Terry Semel made a tactical error, asking to renegotiate terms because his company’s stock had taken a downturn. Zuckerberg used that as an opportunity to end the talks. He believed that the two products he wrote about in the Book of Change would make Facebook more valuable.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg told Levy exactly what she had been hired for when Zuckerberg first brought her on:
Zuckerberg would be the lord of engineering—what Facebook built—and Sandberg would be in charge of everything Zuckerberg wasn’t interested in, including sales, policy, legal, content moderation, and, eventually, much of security. “It was very easy,” Sandberg told me. “He took product, and I took the rest.”
And apparently, after the consistent criticism of Facebook following the 2016 election, Zuckerberg told his executive team to consider him a wartime CEO that would have to be more decisive than in the past.


theverge--2020-02-13--Microsoft sneaks working Surface Duo demo into failed event recording

Microsoft demonstrated its dual-screen Surface Duo device for the first time publicly on Tuesday , but the early Android software and apps caused some issues .
During a live stream event designed to get developers interested in dual-screen apps , two Surface Duo devices failed to span apps across both screens and unceremoniously crashed .
Microsoft has now replaced the footage to provide us with a first look at a working device .
The demos were going smoothly during Microsoft ’ s event , but then there was a point when one screen of the Surface Duo became unresponsive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then the Google Maps app running on the Surface Duo refused to span across two screens .
Kevin Gallo , Microsoft ’ s head of the Windows Developer Platform , was running the demo and quickly switched to another Surface Duo device he had ready in his pocket .
Unfortunately , this device also crashed on another app that Gallo attempted to span across both displays .
You would have seen this demonstration go awry if you were watching Microsoft ’ s live stream , and probably laughed it off as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a demo .
If you didn ’ t tune in live , you ’ ll see something totally different .
As spotted by Windows Central ’ s Zac Bowden , instead of showing the failed demo in the video posted after the event , Microsoft reshot the segment with the Surface Duo running the apps smoothly .
The software maker does warn at the beginning of this edited on-demand stream that “ some demonstrations updated post-event , ” but it ’ s a stealthy edit much like how Apple fixed its buggy iPhone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Footage from partners like Adobe has also disappeared from the video posted after the event .
The new footage is certainly welcome , though .
It provides us with the best example of Android and dual-screen apps on the Surface Duo .
Microsoft previously revealed the Surface Duo at an event in October , but the on-stage demonstrations were just simulated screens and members of the press at the event weren ’ t able to even touch the device .
Microsoft clearly has many months left until it ships the Surface Duo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apps are still very early .
It has taken an unusual approach of announcing a device a year before its availability , and then offering a raw look at early code running on it that isn ’ t fully optimized .
That ’ s a risky strategy for live demonstrations , as we saw earlier this week .
Microsoft is now hoping that developers will optimize apps for dual-screen devices like the Surface Duo and Neo .
The company has released emulators and a set of guidelines for both Android and Windows 10X @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to code and start optimizing their own apps .
You can see our first look at the new Windows 10X operating system here .

Microsoft demonstrated its dual-screen Surface Duo device for the first time publicly on Tuesday, but the early Android software and apps caused some issues. During a live stream event designed to get developers interested in dual-screen apps, two Surface Duo devices failed to span apps across both screens and unceremoniously crashed. Microsoft has now replaced the footage to provide us with a first look at a working device.
The demos were going smoothly during Microsoft’s event, but then there was a point when one screen of the Surface Duo became unresponsive. The Android app drawer refused to disappear, and then the Google Maps app running on the Surface Duo refused to span across two screens. Kevin Gallo, Microsoft’s head of the Windows Developer Platform, was running the demo and quickly switched to another Surface Duo device he had ready in his pocket. Unfortunately, this device also crashed on another app that Gallo attempted to span across both displays.
You would have seen this demonstration go awry if you were watching Microsoft’s live stream, and probably laughed it off as buggy beta software that can easily kill a demo. If you didn’t tune in live, you’ll see something totally different. As spotted by Windows Central’s Zac Bowden, instead of showing the failed demo in the video posted after the event, Microsoft reshot the segment with the Surface Duo running the apps smoothly.
The software maker does warn at the beginning of this edited on-demand stream that “some demonstrations updated post-event,” but it’s a stealthy edit much like how Apple fixed its buggy iPhone X commercial a couple of years ago. Footage from partners like Adobe has also disappeared from the video posted after the event.
The new footage is certainly welcome, though. It provides us with the best example of Android and dual-screen apps on the Surface Duo. Microsoft previously revealed the Surface Duo at an event in October, but the on-stage demonstrations were just simulated screens and members of the press at the event weren’t able to even touch the device.
Microsoft clearly has many months left until it ships the Surface Duo, and all of the software and apps are still very early. It has taken an unusual approach of announcing a device a year before its availability, and then offering a raw look at early code running on it that isn’t fully optimized. That’s a risky strategy for live demonstrations, as we saw earlier this week.


theverge--2020-02-13--Robo Revenge helps you get paid to take down robocallers

Robolawyer startup DoNotPay is launching a new service called Robo Revenge designed to let you easily sue any US-based company that spams you with robocalls , Vice reports .
The service gathers the robocaller ’ s details and then helps you sue them for as much as $ 3,000 .
The service is live now on DoNotPay ’ s website and in its app .
It sounds like a pretty clever system .
First , the service puts your number on the Do Not Call Registry , which makes it illegal for companies to plague you with unwanted calls .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ call , you hand over the virtual credit card details generated by DoNotPay .
The credit card transaction then collects the scammer ’ s contact info which DoNotPay will use to automatically generate demand letters and court filing documents to help you sue the spammer under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ( TCPA ) .
DoNotPay ’ s Founder and CEO Joshua Browder says that the service is meant to provide financial incentives for companies to stop robocalling .
“ All of the big companies like AT & T and Apple have failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice , “ The only way the problem will end is if the robocallers start losing money every time they call someone.
” Unfortunately , Robo Revenge won ’ t work if your spam call comes from overseas .
“ Those people you can ’ t sue because you don ’ t even know where they are , ” Browder explains .
You could sue robocallers for up to $ 3,000 There has been some progress in the US towards preventing robocalls through technology and legislation , but progress is slow .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted in favor of new anti-robocalling measures , and the FTC introduced new rules to make it easier for carriers to automatically register their customers for call-blocking technology .
Technology solutions , meanwhile , have been slow to materialize , because they rely on carriers supporting verification from each individual operator .
The nice thing about Robo Revenge is that it doesn ’ t require any new legislation or tech solutions to be implemented , it just makes people aware of their existing legal rights .
It ’ s not an entirely automated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to listen to the pitch and give the burner credit card details to a caller over the phone , after all ) , but maybe that ’ s time well spent if you know you could get a check at the end of the process .
This is just the latest automated legal service that DoNotPay offers .
The company ’ s chatbot was initially focused on disputing parking tickets , but has since expanded to offer virtual credit cards ( like the ones it uses to fight robocalls ) to let you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about getting charged , and to automatically sue just about anyone .

Robolawyer startup DoNotPay is launching a new service called Robo Revenge designed to let you easily sue any US-based company that spams you with robocalls, Vice reports. The service gathers the robocaller’s details and then helps you sue them for as much as $3,000. The service is live now on DoNotPay’s website and in its app.
It sounds like a pretty clever system. First, the service puts your number on the Do Not Call Registry, which makes it illegal for companies to plague you with unwanted calls. Then, when you inevitably receive a call, you hand over the virtual credit card details generated by DoNotPay. The credit card transaction then collects the scammer’s contact info which DoNotPay will use to automatically generate demand letters and court filing documents to help you sue the spammer under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Robo Revenge uses a virtual credit card to let you sue robocallers. Image: DoNotPay
DoNotPay’s Founder and CEO Joshua Browder says that the service is meant to provide financial incentives for companies to stop robocalling. “All of the big companies like AT&T and Apple have failed to protect consumers,” he told Vice, “The only way the problem will end is if the robocallers start losing money every time they call someone.”
Unfortunately, Robo Revenge won’t work if your spam call comes from overseas. “Those people you can’t sue because you don’t even know where they are,” Browder explains.
You could sue robocallers for up to $3,000
There has been some progress in the US towards preventing robocalls through technology and legislation, but progress is slow. Last year both the House and the Senate voted in favor of new anti-robocalling measures, and the FCC introduced new rules to make it easier for carriers to automatically register their customers for call-blocking technology. Technology solutions, meanwhile, have been slow to materialize, because they rely on carriers supporting verification from each individual operator.
The nice thing about Robo Revenge is that it doesn’t require any new legislation or tech solutions to be implemented, it just makes people aware of their existing legal rights. It’s not an entirely automated process (you’ll still have to listen to the pitch and give the burner credit card details to a caller over the phone, after all), but maybe that’s time well spent if you know you could get a check at the end of the process.
This is just the latest automated legal service that DoNotPay offers. The company’s chatbot was initially focused on disputing parking tickets, but has since expanded to offer virtual credit cards (like the ones it uses to fight robocalls) to let you take advantage of free trials without worrying about getting charged, and to automatically sue just about anyone.


theverge--2020-02-13--Xiaomi’s Mi 10 flagship 5G phones launch in China

Xiaomi just took the wraps off its latest 5G phones , the flagship Mi 10 series .
Both the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro feature 6.67-inch 2340 x 1080 OLED displays with a 90Hz refresh rate , Snapdragon 865 processors , dual-mode 5G , Wi-Fi 6 , up to 12GB of RAM , wireless charging , and quad-camera configurations with a trendy 108-megapixel main shooter that can record 8K video .
Both phones will ship in China first before going international .
The flagships were expected to make their European debut on February 23rd ahead of the big MWC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the event was canceled over concerns with the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus .
Xiaomi says a new launch date will be announced soon .
The Mi 10 Pro is the higher-specced version of course with up to 512GB of on-board storage ( the Mi 10 can go up to 256GB ) , 50W fast wired charging ( vs. 30W on the Mi 10 ) , and a slightly brighter display .
The Pro ’ s battery is smaller at 4,500mAh compared to a 4,780mAh capacity on the Mi 10 .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pro ’ s 1/1.33-inch 108 megapixel sensor is paired with an optically stabilized eight-element lens ( compared to seven on the Mi 10 ) .
It ’ s flanked by a 12 megapixel f/2.0 lens for portraits , an 8 megapixel f/2.0 telephoto lens with 10x hybrid zoom , and a 20 megapixel ultra-wide with f/2.2 lens and 117-degree FOV .
Meanwhile , the Mi 10 has a 13 megapixel ultra-wide sensor with a f/2.4 lens and 123-degree FOV , and a pair of 2 megapixel f/2.4 cameras — one for macro shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its primary 108 megapixel sensor .
The Mi 10 begins shipping in China tomorrow starting at 3,999 yuan ( about $ 570 ) in blue , black , and peach gold , while the Mi 10 Pro will be available in China on February 18th starting at 4,999 yuan ( about $ 715 ) in blue or white .

Xiaomi just took the wraps off its latest 5G phones, the flagship Mi 10 series. Both the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro feature 6.67-inch 2340 x 1080 OLED displays with a 90Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 865 processors, dual-mode 5G, Wi-Fi 6, up to 12GB of RAM, wireless charging, and quad-camera configurations with a trendy 108-megapixel main shooter that can record 8K video. Both phones will ship in China first before going international.
The flagships were expected to make their European debut on February 23rd ahead of the big MWC phone show in Barcelona. That was before the event was canceled over concerns with the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Xiaomi says a new launch date will be announced soon.
The Mi 10 Pro is the higher-specced version of course with up to 512GB of on-board storage (the Mi 10 can go up to 256GB), 50W fast wired charging (vs. 30W on the Mi 10), and a slightly brighter display. The Pro’s battery is smaller at 4,500mAh compared to a 4,780mAh capacity on the Mi 10.
The Xiaomi Mi 10. Image: Xiaomi
As to the cameras, the Mi 10 Pro’s 1/1.33-inch 108 megapixel sensor is paired with an optically stabilized eight-element lens (compared to seven on the Mi 10). It’s flanked by a 12 megapixel f/2.0 lens for portraits, an 8 megapixel f/2.0 telephoto lens with 10x hybrid zoom, and a 20 megapixel ultra-wide with f/2.2 lens and 117-degree FOV. Meanwhile, the Mi 10 has a 13 megapixel ultra-wide sensor with a f/2.4 lens and 123-degree FOV, and a pair of 2 megapixel f/2.4 cameras — one for macro shots and one for depth sensing — alongside its primary 108 megapixel sensor.


theverge--2020-02-13--The biggest threat to MWC is tech companies realizing they don’t need it

The biggest news of the day yesterday is that Mobile World Congress , the world ’ s biggest phone show , has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns .
I actually heard it on national news briefings .
MWC is usually only noticed by tech obsessed ( me ) and cell phone industry wonks , so it was weird to hear it discussed on NPR .
I ’ ve been tracking the various cancellations in the space over the past week or two and the number of companies backing out of the show just hit a critical mass .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MWC gives Chinese phone makers their best shot at getting real and sustained attention from western media .
It ’ s going to be a real hit to their business , but we don ’ t know yet how big .
Obviously these phones will still be announced , but they ’ ll have a much harder time getting attention .
There may be more impactful consequences down the line for the mobile industry : who knows what deals might have been made , for example .
Now the question is how ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recover .
More and more tech companies have been doing their own events instead of waiting for conferences .
Now , because of this , many companies are going to be forced to do their own events .
They may find they like it better .
More news from The Verge ┏ The court let T-Mobile buy Sprint because Sprint completely sucks .
Absolute must-read analysis from Nilay Patel .
And by “ analysis ” I mean “ cogent and insightful legal opinions on complicated issued put forth in such a way as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear perspective.
” No , that ’ s not right .
I mean it ’ s true but what I really mean is “ lots of jokes about this ruling that are way , way funnier than they have a right to be given the context.
” It ’ s long but trust me five thousand : it ’ s worth it .
┏ Microsoft ’ s xCloud game streaming arrives on iOS with some Apple restrictions .
Nobody needs to shed a tear for Microsoft or Google , but I still find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with uncynical explanations for Apple ’ s App Store and iOS app policies .
Apple has instituted many limitations in the name of security and privacy sincerely , but increasingly I am not willing to give the benefit of the doubt .
You probably know Occam ’ s Razor , where the simplest explanation is usually the best one ?
It think it ’ s time to start thinking about whether we need another one .
Maybe Cook ’ s Razor : if an Apple policy leads to protecting its services revenue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
┏ The FTC is cracking down on influencer marketing on YouTube , Instagram , and TikTok .
I am very , very glad to hear the FTC is focusing on the companies , not creators .
That ’ s not to say I think it ’ s okay for creators to obfuscate their sponsorships at all .
In fact I think that the level of transparency and disclosure has only started to get to an acceptable level in the last year or so .
Nevertheless , putting fear into the companies is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it works .
┏ YouTube continues to mirror Twitch , tests new clap feature that lets fans donate to creators ┏ Jeff Bezos bought the most expensive property in LA with an eighth of a percent of his net worth .
Sometimes you just have to include a story because the headline is perfect .
Bijan Stephen wrote that headline .
Is Jeff Bezos an influencer ?
I mean you have to admit he is .
Mostly , though , I am including it in this section because it amuses me to think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LA-based creators as the ultimate TikTok house .
┏ Why Samsung ’ s 108-megapixel camera isn ’ t just a gimmick .
Sam Byford comes in with a very well written , clearly explained story from a camera person ’ s perspective and language .
He also includes examples from a current 108-megapixel phone , the Xioami Mi Note 10 .
If you want to know Samsung is doing with its camera , why , and what to look for as sample images start coming out , read this .
┏ Samsung ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Razr in nearly every way .
Here ’ s another video from yours truly .
We brought a Razr into Samsung ’ s event and braved the dirty looks to bring you this head to head comparison .
My Razr review will be posted up on The Verge and on YouTube later today .
Keep an eye out for it !
Tech had actual fun today for once ┏ This Sony remote control for TVs is also a portable speaker ┏ Google brings emoji mashup stickers to Gboard on Android .
These are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ X tweeted it with the perfect comment : “ my time has arrived .
”

The biggest news of the day yesterday is that Mobile World Congress, the world’s biggest phone show, has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns. I actually heard it on national news briefings. MWC is usually only noticed by tech obsessed (me) and cell phone industry wonks, so it was weird to hear it discussed on NPR.
I’ve been tracking the various cancellations in the space over the past week or two and the number of companies backing out of the show just hit a critical mass.
One big consequence of this cancellation is that MWC gives Chinese phone makers their best shot at getting real and sustained attention from western media. It’s going to be a real hit to their business, but we don’t know yet how big. Obviously these phones will still be announced, but they’ll have a much harder time getting attention. There may be more impactful consequences down the line for the mobile industry: who knows what deals might have been made, for example.
You are reading Processor, a newsletter about computers, software, and tech by Dieter Bohn. Dieter writes about consumer tech, software, and the most important tech news of the day from The Verge. You can read an archive of Processor newsletters here and subscribe to all of The Verge’s great videos here! Subscribe
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Now the question is how (or maybe even if) MWC will recover. More and more tech companies have been doing their own events instead of waiting for conferences. Now, because of this, many companies are going to be forced to do their own events.
They may find they like it better.
More news from The Verge
┏ The court let T-Mobile buy Sprint because Sprint completely sucks. Absolute must-read analysis from Nilay Patel. And by “analysis” I mean “cogent and insightful legal opinions on complicated issued put forth in such a way as to clarify what seemed confusing with crystal clear perspective.” No, that’s not right. I mean it’s true but what I really mean is “lots of jokes about this ruling that are way, way funnier than they have a right to be given the context.” It’s long but trust me five thousand: it’s worth it.
┏ Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming arrives on iOS with some Apple restrictions. Nobody needs to shed a tear for Microsoft or Google, but I still find myself at a loss to come up with uncynical explanations for Apple’s App Store and iOS app policies. Apple has instituted many limitations in the name of security and privacy sincerely, but increasingly I am not willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
You probably know Occam’s Razor, where the simplest explanation is usually the best one? It think it’s time to start thinking about whether we need another one. Maybe Cook’s Razor: if an Apple policy leads to protecting its services revenue, that’s why it really exists.
Apple’s policies, which Microsoft doesn’t reveal or explain, mean that only a single title will work with iOS devices. Halo: The Master Chief Collection will be available to the 10,000 testers whom Microsoft says it’s inviting to the preview. The app is also limited to xCloud, and does not include the Xbox Game Streaming feature that streams games from an Xbox console.
The startup was founded by Android creator Andy Rubin. While that initially drew hype and investment, it quickly turned backward on the company after a New York Times report drew attention to accusations of sexual misconduct against Rubin that allegedly led to him leaving Google. ... Essential was in the process of developing another phone called “Project Gem” with an unusual design. Rubin first teased the project in October 2019, but the company now says it has “no clear path to deliver it to customers.”
Verge Deal of the day Apple’s AirPods Pro are $30 off at Amazon Normally $250, the Apple AirPods Pro wireless earbuds are down to $220 at Amazon. Compared to the standard AirPods, these feature better sound quality and noise cancellation. We’ve seen these drop a bit lower in price before, but that’s a pretty rare occurrence. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy . Prices displayed are based on the MSRP at time of posting.
Influencer things
┏ The FTC is cracking down on influencer marketing on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. I am very, very glad to hear the FTC is focusing on the companies, not creators. That’s not to say I think it’s okay for creators to obfuscate their sponsorships at all. In fact I think that the level of transparency and disclosure has only started to get to an acceptable level in the last year or so. Nevertheless, putting fear into the companies is the best enforcement mechanism and I hope it works.
Influencers and online personalities are often given products for free by companies hoping to get some exposure. While some reviewers will disclose that detail, it’s often hard to tell when an endorsement is genuine, or if a review is coming from an undisclosed partnership. Now the FTC is cracking down, but the focus is on holding advertisers and companies accountable, not small influencers
While Twitch doesn’t have a clapping function that works as a donation, YouTube is leaning heavily into what works for Twitch’s streamer base. Donations are a big part of how Twitch streamers earn income (alongside subscriptions and ad revenue). YouTube is working on building a series of tools that operate as alternative monetization — something that benefits both creators and YouTube.
┏ Jeff Bezos bought the most expensive property in LA with an eighth of a percent of his net worth. Sometimes you just have to include a story because the headline is perfect. Bijan Stephen wrote that headline. Is Jeff Bezos an influencer? I mean you have to admit he is. Mostly, though, I am including it in this section because it amuses me to think that he could loan it out to LA-based creators as the ultimate TikTok house.
More from Samsung
┏ Why Samsung’s 108-megapixel camera isn’t just a gimmick. Sam Byford comes in with a very well written, clearly explained story from a camera person’s perspective and language. He also includes examples from a current 108-megapixel phone, the Xioami Mi Note 10. If you want to know Samsung is doing with its camera, why, and what to look for as sample images start coming out, read this.
┏ Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip beats the Motorola Razr in nearly every way. Here’s another video from yours truly. We brought a Razr into Samsung’s event and braved the dirty looks to bring you this head to head comparison. My Razr review will be posted up on The Verge and on YouTube later today. Keep an eye out for it!
Tech had actual fun today for once


theverge--2020-02-13--Motorola Razr undergoes iFixit’s ‘most complicated’ teardown yet

iFixit has posted a detailed teardown of Motorola ’ s foldable Razr , giving us our best look yet at the the inside of the device and its complicated mechanical hinging mechanism .
Although iFixit praises the “ numerous feats of engineering ” that the company pulled off with its design , it says that its complexity made the Razr the “ most complicated phone-based contraption ” its ever taken apart .
There were several reasons for this .
Motorola ’ s gratuitous use of glue makes the device tricky to open in the first place , and even then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are easy to accidentally snap , creating “ booby traps ” for would-be repairers .
It ’ s so complicated that iFixit says it ’ s surprising that Motorola is able to offer screen repairs for “ just $ 299.
” iFixit awarded the phone its lowest possible repairability score of 1 , but was broadly forgiving in its writeup , noting that it ’ s hard to expect perfect repairability on a first-generation device .
Repairability is still an important concern when it comes to devices with folding screens , since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mechanisms are still relatively unproven .
iFixit notes that the Razr has a small gap between the device ’ s hinge and display on each side which appears mainly when the device is mid-fold .
It was a similar gap that was believed to let in debris and cause so many problems with Samsung ’ s first attempt at the Galaxy Fold .
It all means that there are a lot of questions that still remain about how long these devices are going to last with regular use .
CNET ’ s somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hinge might wear out in less than a year , while Motorola believes the phone should last much longer .
Ultimately , we won ’ t know until people have used these devices in the real world for a couple of years or more .

iFixit has posted a detailed teardown of Motorola’s foldable Razr, giving us our best look yet at the the inside of the device and its complicated mechanical hinging mechanism. Although iFixit praises the “numerous feats of engineering” that the company pulled off with its design, it says that its complexity made the Razr the “most complicated phone-based contraption” its ever taken apart.
There were several reasons for this. Motorola’s gratuitous use of glue makes the device tricky to open in the first place, and even then there are plenty of flex cables that are easy to accidentally snap, creating “booby traps” for would-be repairers. It’s so complicated that iFixit says it’s surprising that Motorola is able to offer screen repairs for “just $299.” iFixit awarded the phone a 1/10 repairability score, but was broadly forgiving in its writeup, noting that it’s hard to expect perfect repairability on a first-generation device.
It might not look like much, but the Razr has a very complicated hinging mechanism. Image: iFixit and Image: iFixit
Repairability is still an important concern when it comes to devices with folding screens, since the reliability of the folding screens and hinge mechanisms are still relatively unproven. iFixit notes that the Razr has a small gap between the device’s hinge and display on each side which appears mainly when the device is mid-fold. It was a similar gap that was believed to let in debris and cause so many problems with Samsung’s first attempt at the Galaxy Fold.


theverge--2020-02-13--Kirsten Gillibrand outlines new Data Protection Agency to take on Big Tech

On Thursday , Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ( D-NY ) released a proposal to overhaul the way the US government regulates privacy .
Gillibrand ’ s Data Protection Act would found a new independent agency called the Data Protection Agency ( DPA ) , tasked with protecting consumer data at large .
Consumers would file complaints with the DPA that could trigger larger investigations into data malpractice , potentially implicating major platforms like Google and Facebook .
If a company is found to have abused consumer data , the DPA could take action by inflicting civil penalties or seeking injunctive relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Facebook among them — have been the clear winners of our transition to the digital age , ” Gillibrand said in her blog post outlining the measure .
“ Companies have declared that this data is theirs for the taking , and they ’ ve repeatedly rejected responsibility and accountability for the greater impacts of any bad behavior.
” On top of its investigative work , the DPA would collaborate directly with the tech industry to promote the development of Privacy Enhancing Technologies ( PETs ) that “ minimize or even eliminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory , these technologies would enable the industry to move away from pay-for-privacy business models .
The DPA would also research emerging tech threats like deepfakes and advise Congress on how to regulate them .
The proposal has already garnered a high-profile endorsement from Shoshana Zuboff , former Harvard Business School professor and author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism .
“ With this Bill , Senator Gillibrand joins a history-making new wave of legislative and regulatory efforts in the US and Europe that promise to assert democratic governance over commerce in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
The Federal Trade Commission currently conducts much of this investigatory work , but confidence in the FTC has plummeted in recent years , in part due to a series of disappointing efforts to police large tech platforms .
Last July , the FTC slapped Facebook with a $ 5 billion fine for its alleged data abuses , but it did little to restrict the company from misbehaving in the future .
The agency penalized YouTube $ 170 million for allegedly violating the Children ’ s Online Privacy Protection Act ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new requirements fall on creators .
Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) , one of the fiercest conservative tech hawks , introduced his own measure this week that would house the FTC within the Justice Department and appoint a Senate-confirmed director to lead the office .
Both the FTC and DOJ currently have the authority to act against anticompetitive behavior in tech , but Hawley and others believe the FTC to be a wholly ineffective enforcer .
The FTC “ is in no shape to ensure competition ” “ The agency as presently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition in today ’ s markets , let alone tomorrow ’ s , ” Hawley said in a statement on Monday .
Hawley ’ s bill wasn ’ t the first to target the FTC ’ s authority on tech , however .
Reps. Anna Eshoo ( D-CA ) and Zoe Lofgren ( D-CA ) laid out their own framework for a federal data protection agency last November .
Unlike the Gillibrand measure , though , the Eshoo-Lofgren bill would enact a federal data privacy framework alongside the agency ’ s establishment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protection Agency lacks any new rules for her agency to enforce once it ’ s founded .
Outside of these few measures , Congress has been skeptical about the establishment of a brand-new agency for data protection , although the idea has garnered significant support from consumer groups .
“ The US confronts a privacy crisis , ” said Caitriona Fitzgerald , policy director at EPIC .
“ Our personal data is under assault .
Congress must establish a data protection agency .
Senator Gillibrand has put forward a bold , ambitious proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

On Thursday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released a proposal to overhaul the way the US government regulates privacy. Gillibrand’s Data Protection Act would found a new independent agency called the Data Protection Agency (DPA), tasked with protecting consumer data at large. Consumers would file complaints with the DPA that could trigger larger investigations into data malpractice, potentially implicating major platforms like Google and Facebook. If a company is found to have abused consumer data, the DPA could take action by inflicting civil penalties or seeking injunctive relief.
“The tech giants — Google and Facebook among them — have been the clear winners of our transition to the digital age,” Gillibrand said in her blog post outlining the measure. “Companies have declared that this data is theirs for the taking, and they’ve repeatedly rejected responsibility and accountability for the greater impacts of any bad behavior.”
On top of its investigative work, the DPA would collaborate directly with the tech industry to promote the development of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) that “minimize or even eliminate the collection of personal data.” In theory, these technologies would enable the industry to move away from pay-for-privacy business models. The DPA would also research emerging tech threats like deepfakes and advise Congress on how to regulate them.
The proposal has already garnered a high-profile endorsement from Shoshana Zuboff, former Harvard Business School professor and author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism.
“With this Bill, Senator Gillibrand joins a history-making new wave of legislative and regulatory efforts in the US and Europe that promise to assert democratic governance over commerce in the digital age,” Zuboff said in a statement.
The Federal Trade Commission currently conducts much of this investigatory work, but confidence in the FTC has plummeted in recent years, in part due to a series of disappointing efforts to police large tech platforms. Last July, the FTC slapped Facebook with a $5 billion fine for its alleged data abuses, but it did little to restrict the company from misbehaving in the future. The agency penalized YouTube $170 million for allegedly violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), but many of the new requirements fall on creators.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), one of the fiercest conservative tech hawks, introduced his own measure this week that would house the FTC within the Justice Department and appoint a Senate-confirmed director to lead the office. Both the FTC and DOJ currently have the authority to act against anticompetitive behavior in tech, but Hawley and others believe the FTC to be a wholly ineffective enforcer.
The FTC “is in no shape to ensure competition”
“The agency as presently constituted is in no shape to ensure competition in today’s markets, let alone tomorrow’s,” Hawley said in a statement on Monday.
Hawley’s bill wasn’t the first to target the FTC’s authority on tech, however. Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) laid out their own framework for a federal data protection agency last November. Unlike the Gillibrand measure, though, the Eshoo-Lofgren bill would enact a federal data privacy framework alongside the agency’s establishment. So far, Gillibrand’s Data Protection Agency lacks any new rules for her agency to enforce once it’s founded.
Outside of these few measures, Congress has been skeptical about the establishment of a brand-new agency for data protection, although the idea has garnered significant support from consumer groups.


theverge--2020-02-13--Sonic the Hedgehog review: fast casual

Sonic the Hedgehog review: fast casual

When the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog was released in 2019 , fans were horrified by CGI Sonic ’ s beady little eyes and human teeth — an uncanny valley horror .
He had a face that was asking a lot of a mother to love , let alone moviegoers .
So Paramount pushed back the movie ’ s release date and brought in animator Tyson Hesse , art director for Sonic Mania Adventures , to lead the redesign .
Not only did the animators go above and beyond in fixing Sonic to look more like his video game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saved the movie .
The new Sonic is so adorable that it almost makes up for a pretty generic plot and a human cast that play the roles of “ heroic ” and “ bad ” so straight , they could be extras in The Good Place .
To run away from villains after his superspeed power , Sonic ( voiced by Ben Schwartz ) leaves his planet via magical portal rings to find himself on Earth in the small town of Green Hills .
We find out that his fast-talking personality is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intense isolation , having to hide from the townspeople and keep himself entertained by talking to himself .
After causing an energy surge that shuts down the town ’ s power , the government sends Dr. Robotnik ( Jim Carrey ) to investigate .
Sonic partners up with good-hearted sheriff Tom ( James Marsden ) , and the two develop a bromance the way men are prescribed to in movies , through a road trip and a bar fight .
Ultimately , Sonic is a children ’ s movie that recognizes it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hedgehog , so it makes minimal references to the video game world he comes from and spends more time alluding to things they might get .
Unfortunately , the gags seem a few years too late , immediately dating themselves : there are multiple jokes about Olive Garden ’ s unlimited pasta .
Sonic does the floss dance not once , but twice .
They make jokes about Vin Diesel in The Fast and the Furious .
( Actually , this one will probably stay relevant for as long as they keep making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) The movie shines when it remembers it ’ s based on a video game , and there ’ s some genuinely fun stuff — like when Sonic uses his time-stopping powers or Robotnik ’ s elaborate “ evil-plotting ” montage that makes you wonder why more movies don ’ t feature bad guys with choreographed dance sequences .
Carrey plays up Robotnik as the cartoon villain he is , and it ’ s a true delight to watch him in his element .
And — spoilers ahead — the end credits hint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more unhinged Robotnik going full-on Eggman .
But when most of the movie takes place in nondescript city-ville ( comes in two flavors : small town and big concrete buildings ‘ n streets ) , it ’ s hard to not to think back to the lush Emerald Hill Zone planet the movie showcased for maybe 30 seconds .
I wish it took place there instead .
Sonic the Hedgehog could have gone from a good to a great movie not by bringing Sonic into the human world , but by bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just be thankful that the movie was watchable at all .
Sonic ’ s success hinges on the character being likable , and the redesigned Sonic is easy to love .

When the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog was released in 2019, fans were horrified by CGI Sonic’s beady little eyes and human teeth — an uncanny valley horror. He had a face that was asking a lot of a mother to love, let alone moviegoers. So Paramount pushed back the movie’s release date and brought in animator Tyson Hesse, art director for Sonic Mania Adventures, to lead the redesign. Not only did the animators go above and beyond in fixing Sonic to look more like his video game origins, but they might’ve saved the movie.
The new Sonic is so adorable that it almost makes up for a pretty generic plot and a human cast that play the roles of “heroic” and “bad” so straight, they could be extras in The Good Place. To run away from villains after his superspeed power, Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) leaves his planet via magical portal rings to find himself on Earth in the small town of Green Hills. We find out that his fast-talking personality is basically a result of 10 years of intense isolation, having to hide from the townspeople and keep himself entertained by talking to himself. After causing an energy surge that shuts down the town’s power, the government sends Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) to investigate. Sonic partners up with good-hearted sheriff Tom (James Marsden), and the two develop a bromance the way men are prescribed to in movies, through a road trip and a bar fight.
Image: Paramount
Ultimately, Sonic is a children’s movie that recognizes it may be kids’ first introduction to the hedgehog, so it makes minimal references to the video game world he comes from and spends more time alluding to things they might get. Unfortunately, the gags seem a few years too late, immediately dating themselves: there are multiple jokes about Olive Garden’s unlimited pasta. Sonic does the floss dance not once, but twice. They make jokes about Vin Diesel in The Fast and the Furious. (Actually, this one will probably stay relevant for as long as they keep making FF movies, which is forever.)
The movie shines when it remembers it’s based on a video game, and there’s some genuinely fun stuff — like when Sonic uses his time-stopping powers or Robotnik’s elaborate “evil-plotting” montage that makes you wonder why more movies don’t feature bad guys with choreographed dance sequences. Carrey plays up Robotnik as the cartoon villain he is, and it’s a true delight to watch him in his element. And — spoilers ahead — the end credits hint at a sequel featuring Tails and an even more unhinged Robotnik going full-on Eggman.
Image: Paramount
But when most of the movie takes place in nondescript city-ville (comes in two flavors: small town and big concrete buildings ‘n streets), it’s hard to not to think back to the lush Emerald Hill Zone planet the movie showcased for maybe 30 seconds. I wish it took place there instead. Sonic the Hedgehog could have gone from a good to a great movie not by bringing Sonic into the human world, but by bringing audiences into his. Maybe we should just be thankful that the movie was watchable at all. Sonic’s success hinges on the character being likable, and the redesigned Sonic is easy to love.


theverge--2020-02-12--These engineers are trying to rescue a ‘Bookbot’ from the Google graveyard

The Bookbot wasn ’ t quite as flashy as other autonomous vehicles in the Google portfolio , but it was popular with patrons of Google ’ s neighborhood library , and its librarians .
No one seems to know why the little cube-like , wheeled delivery robot saw its pilot end in June after just four months .
So a trio of former Google engineers apparently started a new company called Cartken to revive Bookbot from the Google graveyard , TechCrunch reports .
Part of Google ’ s Area 120— the company ’ s internal incubator for the “ 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their main jobs — the Bookbot would pick up users ’ library books at their homes and return them to the Mountain View Library for check-in .
Tracy Gray , Mountain View ’ s Library Services Director , told TechCrunch the little robot was popular , and people would stop to snap photos of it while it did its deliveries .
“ It was definitely a benefit for library customers and a great project all around , ” she said .
The Mercury News reported last March that kids especially liked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sight of the robot and immediately jumped in its path to see if it would stop ( It does ) .
” Despite plans for a nine-month pilot , the Bookbot went dark early .
Its website now redirects to a 404 page .
TechCrunch notes the Bookbot project was discontinued right around the time Google merged its Google Express online shopping service into Google Shopping , and spun out its drone delivery company Project Wing — perhaps making Bookbot a casualty of the company ’ s refocus away from delivery services .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to let other companies do this kind of work ; even Google spinout Waymo doesn ’ t make its own autonomous vehicles .
Bookbot may not be doomed .
Two former Google engineers who worked on Bookbot and Area 120 , Jake Stelman and Christian Bersch , incorporated Cartken in October , and the pitch sounds familiar : Cartken ’ s website states its mission is to offer “ low-cost delivery through automation.
” TechCrunch says an earlier version of the website even referenced “ low-cost last-mile delivery.
” It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tech from Area 120 , or whether Google is involved with the new company , but a photo on Cartken ’ s website looks a little like a black ( maybe stealth ? )
version of Bookbot .
If Cartken is working on a Bookbot 2.0 , it wouldn ’ t be the first time a group of Google engineers ventured out on their own to focus on last-mile deliveries ; Nuro offered driverless deliveries back in 2018 .
And Bookbot would have some very similar-looking competition in the delivery space : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery robot in Washington State last year , and in August , San Francisco-based Starship Technologies announced its plans to deploy thousands of its six-wheeled delivery robots on college campuses .

The Bookbot wasn’t quite as flashy as other autonomous vehicles in the Google portfolio, but it was popular with patrons of Google’s neighborhood library, and its librarians. No one seems to know why the little cube-like, wheeled delivery robot saw its pilot end in June after just four months. So a trio of former Google engineers apparently started a new company called Cartken to revive Bookbot from the Google graveyard, TechCrunch reports.
Part of Google’s Area 120— the company’s internal incubator for the “20 percent” projects employees work on outside of their main jobs — the Bookbot would pick up users’ library books at their homes and return them to the Mountain View Library for check-in. Tracy Gray, Mountain View’s Library Services Director, told TechCrunch the little robot was popular, and people would stop to snap photos of it while it did its deliveries.
“It was definitely a benefit for library customers and a great project all around,” she said. The Mercury News reported last March that kids especially liked the Bookbot: “Children shrieked at the sight of the robot and immediately jumped in its path to see if it would stop (It does).”
Despite plans for a nine-month pilot, the Bookbot went dark early. Its website now redirects to a 404 page. TechCrunch notes the Bookbot project was discontinued right around the time Google merged its Google Express online shopping service into Google Shopping, and spun out its drone delivery company Project Wing — perhaps making Bookbot a casualty of the company’s refocus away from delivery services. It does seem that Google is content to let other companies do this kind of work; even Google spinout Waymo doesn’t make its own autonomous vehicles.
Bookbot may not be doomed. Two former Google engineers who worked on Bookbot and Area 120, Jake Stelman and Christian Bersch, incorporated Cartken in October, and the pitch sounds familiar: Cartken’s website states its mission is to offer “low-cost delivery through automation.” TechCrunch says an earlier version of the website even referenced “low-cost last-mile delivery.”
It’s not clear whether Cartken is using any of the tech from Area 120, or whether Google is involved with the new company, but a photo on Cartken’s website looks a little like a black (maybe stealth?) version of Bookbot.
The stealth Bookbot?