theverge--2020-10-31--The first laptops with Intel’s Iris Xe Max graphics are now available to order

Earlier this month , the public got its first glimpse of Iris Xe Max , Intel ’ s new discrete GPU for thin-and-light laptops , at an Acer press event .
Today , Intel revealed the full first wave of laptops that will include this GPU , some of which are available for purchase now in certain countries .
The laptops include the Acer Swift 3X , the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 , and the Asus VivoBook Flip TP470 .
The Inspiron 15 is available in the US at Best Buy ; Acer has previously said to expect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both the Swift 3X and the Inspiron 15 are also available in China through JD.com .
Intel says the Asus VivoBook is coming “ shortly ” to both the US and China .
Intel ’ s Iris Xe Max graphics are primarily intended for portable systems for content creators .
“ We set out to redefine the role of discrete graphics in thin-and-light laptops and address a growing segment of creators who want more portability , ” said Roger Chandler , Intel vice president and general manager of Client XPU Product and Solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new laptops also include Intel ’ s 11th Gen “ Tiger Lake ” mobile processors , as well as Intel ’ s Deep Link technology , which allows certain applications to leverage both discrete and integrated graphics for creative work .
Intel claims that Tiger Lake systems paired with Iris Xe Max graphics can provide “ seven times faster AI-based creation ” than similar laptops with third-party GPUs .
The company also claims its GPU can deliver “ great thin-and-light 1080p gaming on popular games.
” We shouldn ’ t get too excited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would certainly be surprising to see laptops of this size running Microsoft Flight Simulator .
But Iris Xe integrated graphics do a decent job with stuff like Overwatch , so you may very well be able to run lighter fare if Acer , Dell , and Asus can keep cooling under control .
I got some hands-on time with the Acer Swift 3X , which starts at $ 899.99 .
It ’ s a slim and portable machine , with a decent port selection and a nice-looking screen .
But our test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I couldn ’ t put the graphics to the test .
Much of whether that system ( and others like it ) are worth their price tags for creators will depend on GPU performance , battery life , and display quality — so keep an eye out for our upcoming reviews .

Earlier this month, the public got its first glimpse of Iris Xe Max, Intel’s new discrete GPU for thin-and-light laptops, at an Acer press event. Today, Intel revealed the full first wave of laptops that will include this GPU, some of which are available for purchase now in certain countries.
The laptops include the Acer Swift 3X, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1, and the Asus VivoBook Flip TP470. The Inspiron 15 is available in the US at Best Buy; Acer has previously said to expect the 3X in the US in December. Both the Swift 3X and the Inspiron 15 are also available in China through JD.com. Intel says the Asus VivoBook is coming “shortly” to both the US and China.
Intel announced its Tiger Lake processors, including its new Xe integrated graphics, earlier this year. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge
Intel’s Iris Xe Max graphics are primarily intended for portable systems for content creators. “We set out to redefine the role of discrete graphics in thin-and-light laptops and address a growing segment of creators who want more portability,” said Roger Chandler, Intel vice president and general manager of Client XPU Product and Solutions, in a statement.
The three new laptops also include Intel’s 11th Gen “Tiger Lake” mobile processors, as well as Intel’s Deep Link technology, which allows certain applications to leverage both discrete and integrated graphics for creative work. Intel claims that Tiger Lake systems paired with Iris Xe Max graphics can provide “seven times faster AI-based creation” than similar laptops with third-party GPUs.
The company also claims its GPU can deliver “great thin-and-light 1080p gaming on popular games.” We shouldn’t get too excited about this until benchmarks come out — it would certainly be surprising to see laptops of this size running Microsoft Flight Simulator. But Iris Xe integrated graphics do a decent job with stuff like Overwatch, so you may very well be able to run lighter fare if Acer, Dell, and Asus can keep cooling under control.
The Swift 3X is three pounds and 0.7 inches thick. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge


theverge--2020-10-31--Apple ordered to pay VirnetX $502.8 million in patent trial

A jury in Texas has ruled that Apple has to pay VirnetX $ 502.8 million in royalties for VPN on Demand , a feature that lets iOS users access a VPN connection , Bloomberg reported .
The two companies have been involved in a legal battle for ten years , with VirnetX— sometimes referred to as a patent troll — arguing that Apple ’ s VPN on Demand and FaceTime use its technology .
Apple said in a statement it plans to appeal the decision : “ This case has been going on for over a decade , with patents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our products and have been found to be invalid by the patent office .
Cases like this only serve to stifle innovation and harm consumers.
” Earlier this year , a US appeals court rejected Apple ’ s request to reconsider a split decision ruling that found it infringed on VirnetX patents .
The ongoing court fight has gone back and forth , with a federal court in Texas ordering Apple in 2018 to pay VirnetX $ 502.6 million for violating four patents relating to internet-based communications , which refers to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and iMessage .
But in November 2019 , a three-judge panel voided that $ 502.6 million amount .
However , the judges did not void a jury ’ s finding that some older iPhone models infringed two VirnetX patents .
It was that finding that Apple sought to have the appeals court reconsider .

A jury in Texas has ruled that Apple has to pay VirnetX $502.8 million in royalties for VPN on Demand, a feature that lets iOS users access a VPN connection, Bloomberg reported. The two companies have been involved in a legal battle for ten years, with VirnetX— sometimes referred to as a patent troll — arguing that Apple’s VPN on Demand and FaceTime use its technology.
Apple said in a statement it plans to appeal the decision: “This case has been going on for over a decade, with patents that are unrelated to the core operations of our products and have been found to be invalid by the patent office. Cases like this only serve to stifle innovation and harm consumers.”
Earlier this year, a US appeals court rejected Apple’s request to reconsider a split decision ruling that found it infringed on VirnetX patents. The ongoing court fight has gone back and forth, with a federal court in Texas ordering Apple in 2018 to pay VirnetX $502.6 million for violating four patents relating to internet-based communications, which refers to the underlying technology behind Apple’s FaceTime and iMessage.


theverge--2020-10-31--Lower East Side Ecology Center is accepting e-waste at NYC pop-up sites through November

One of the countless impacts of the coronavirus pandemic is that it halted the NYC Department of Sanitation ’ s recycling program that picks up your e-waste by appointment .
The program is still paused , and it isn ’ t set to resume its normal cadence of accepting e-waste at drop-off sites until at least June 2021 .
Thankfully , you have a few short-term options if you need to get rid of some tech in the coming weeks .
Earlier in the pandemic , the Lower East Side ( LES ) Ecology Center drop-off site near the Gowanus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was one of the few drop-off sites in New York City that accepted and recycled e-waste , diverting 1 million pounds of e-waste from landfills in 2018 , according to Christine Datz-Romero , LES Ecology Center co-founder and executive director .
However , the LES Ecology Center is now partnering with recyclers to accept your e-waste — working or not — each weekend throughout November , with more dates likely happening in the future if case counts of COVID-19 remain low near the planned collection sites .
These pop-up sites will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so check for that on its calendar of events .
And before you go , make sure what you have to recycle will be accepted .
Offering some drop-off sites in NYC again is a return to form , albeit in a more limited fashion .
Whether you ’ re in NYC or not , you can also drop off at least some of your e-waste at Best Buy .
The company confirmed to The Verge that it plans to continue its recycling program throughout the pandemic .
There are some things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recycle up to three items per household per day at Best Buy .
If one of those items is a modem , a router , or both , the company will give you a coupon that will give you a 15-percent discount on new networking devices .
You can check out the fine print , as well as the list of what items Best Buy can accept .
If you want more options , my colleague Barbara Krasnoff ’ s big list of companies that accept donations and recycling of tech is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take clothing , books , and more , so check that out if you want another way to get rid of your stuff .
For more info on the mounting global issue that is managing e-waste , former Verge reporter Colin Lecher hosted the video above that exposes the dark side of electronic waste recycling .
Also , Verge environmental reporter Justine Calma has a fascinating look back at 2019 , which set a record for e-waste left behind .
Lastly , if you ’ re curious about how our team made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ e-waste , as pictured at the top of this post , this behind-the-scenes post will be a treat .

One of the countless impacts of the coronavirus pandemic is that it halted the NYC Department of Sanitation’s recycling program that picks up your e-waste by appointment. The program is still paused, and it isn’t set to resume its normal cadence of accepting e-waste at drop-off sites until at least June 2021.
Thankfully, you have a few short-term options if you need to get rid of some tech in the coming weeks.
Earlier in the pandemic, the Lower East Side (LES) Ecology Center drop-off site near the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn permanently shut its doors. It was one of the few drop-off sites in New York City that accepted and recycled e-waste, diverting 1 million pounds of e-waste from landfills in 2018, according to Christine Datz-Romero, LES Ecology Center co-founder and executive director.
However, the LES Ecology Center is now partnering with recyclers to accept your e-waste — working or not — each weekend throughout November, with more dates likely happening in the future if case counts of COVID-19 remain low near the planned collection sites. These pop-up sites will be in a different location each week, so check for that on its calendar of events. And before you go, make sure what you have to recycle will be accepted.
Offering some drop-off sites in NYC again is a return to form, albeit in a more limited fashion.
Image: Best Buy
Whether you’re in NYC or not, you can also drop off at least some of your e-waste at Best Buy. The company confirmed to The Verge that it plans to continue its recycling program throughout the pandemic. There are some things to note, though. You can recycle up to three items per household per day at Best Buy. If one of those items is a modem, a router, or both, the company will give you a coupon that will give you a 15-percent discount on new networking devices. You can check out the fine print, as well as the list of what items Best Buy can accept.
If you want more options, my colleague Barbara Krasnoff’s big list of companies that accept donations and recycling of tech is still a great resource. Some of them will take clothing, books, and more, so check that out if you want another way to get rid of your stuff.
For more info on the mounting global issue that is managing e-waste, former Verge reporter Colin Lecher hosted the video above that exposes the dark side of electronic waste recycling. Also, Verge environmental reporter Justine Calma has a fascinating look back at 2019, which set a record for e-waste left behind.


theverge--2020-10-31--A Swiss cheese approach to pandemic safety

Lately , I ’ ve been thinking about pandemic safety and Swiss cheese .
It ’ s an uninspiring cheese , but it ’ s a good visual metaphor for a layered approach to infection control .
This ‘ Swiss Cheese Model ’ has been around since at least the 1990 ’ s , when it was proposed as a way of thinking about how accidents happen .
During the pandemic , it ’ s been pressed into a different kind of service , used to visualize disease prevention instead of accidents .
In a pandemic as widespread as this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person from getting sick .
There will always be flaws ( holes ) in any approach .
Washing your hands won ’ t keep you from breathing in the virus — and wearing a cloth mask won ’ t completely protect you if you ’ re stuck in a stuffy room with an infected person .
But stack them together with some layers of ventilation and robust testing , and you ’ ve got yourself a game plan .
( Or a really boring cheese plate .
Either way . )
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach will be covered by the strengths of the others .
Some layers have more holes than others , and some , like vaccines , don ’ t exist yet .
The problem is that we seem to keep holding out for a single , solid piece of cheese instead of accepting our hole-y reality .
Here in the United States , we just set a record for number of daily cases , adding 99,000 cases in a single day to a total that ’ s now more than 9 million .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything that we ’ ve got to beat back this thing that ’ s stolen all our lives .
we keep holding out for a single , solid piece of cheese It ’ s not easy .
We ’ ve been at this for months and we are all deeply fatigued .
We ’ re ready to see our friends , or go outside without a mask , or work out at a gym , and instead we ’ re juggling the masks , hand sanitizer , filtration systems , mental tape measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing to do or remember instead of layering up would be easier than running through our long list of COVID calculations every day .
It ’ s even worse because each of those Swiss cheese layers we ’ re wrapping ourselves in only get us to safer .
They still don ’ t get us to safe .
There ’ s no easy app to rate your home ’ s ventilation , no strict list of rules for forming a pandemic pod , no judge to rule when COVID disputes crop up between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The endlessly frustrating answer to seemingly all pandemic-related questions is ‘ it depends.
’ Scientists are working to figure out more concrete answers .
But as rapid as research is , it ’ s still not going to be able to satiate our deep hunger for certainty “ in these uncertain times ” .
Until this is over , we ’ re going to have to snack on all the layers we can , stacking every new intervention together until we find a combination that sticks .
Here ’ s what else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a bar and a classroom : how the coronavirus is spread through the air This is a fantastic visualization of how the coronavirus might spread in different settings , and with different interventions .
Unsurprisingly , the more layers of precautions , the better .
( Javier Salas , Heather Galloway/El Pais ) Why You Shouldn ’ t Worry About Studies Showing Waning Coronavirus Antibodies There ’ s been a lot of talk about antibodies recently .
This story breaks down what ’ s useful in those studies — and what isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times ) Low risk or dicey ?
Two new reports paint different pictures of COVID-19 danger while flying “ The risk ( of contracting COVID-19 on a flight ) is low , but it ’ s not zero , ’ ’ Christopher Sanford , a founder of the travel medicine clinic at the University of Washington Medical Center told USA Today .
“ The answer is a big fat ‘ it depends , ’ ’ ( Dawn Gilbertson/USA Today ) Gilead ’ s Covid-19 Drug Is Mediocre .
It Will Be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formerly known as Remdesivir was approved by the FDA last week .
But approval doesn ’ t carry the same potency that many people think it does .
“ F.D.A .
approval doesn ’ t guarantee a certain level of benefit — all it says is that there is some benefit , ” Aaron S. Kesselheim , a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School told The New York Times .
The drug isn ’ t the silver bullet many have hoped for .
But it ’ s still going to sell extremely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times ) Regeneron halts trial of antibody treatment in seriously ill Covid patients Both Regeneron and Eli Lilly have now stopped testing their antibody treatments on seriously ill COVID-19 patients .
They will continue testing these treatments in patients with milder cases , where the drugs may still have some benefit .
( Hannah Kuchler/Financial Times ) It may be time to reset expectations on when we ’ ll get a Covid-19 vaccine Experts are finding it increasingly unlikely that we ’ ll see a vaccine that ’ s safe , effective , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s not a bad thing — with something that can affect billions of lives , it pays to be cautious .
( Helen Branswell/STAT ) Moderna says it ’ s preparing global launch of Covid vaccine as it takes in $ 1.1 billion in deposits Even as timelines get pushed , drug companies are pressing forward with manufacturing their vaccines in anticipation of approval .
That ’ s also not a bad thing — if the drug is safe and effective , being prepared for an approval could help ease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Berkeley Lovelace Jr./CNBC ) Temperature sensors will help keep COVID-19 vaccines potent Take a peek inside the tech that will help safely distribute whichever vaccine is eventually approved .
( Nicole Wetsman/The Verge ) What We ’ re Voting for : Public Health There ’ s an election in the US next week .
The outcome matters to any number of causes , from platform regulation to democracy itself — and in the middle of a worsening pandemic , the future of public health in the US will be decided at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an editorial at The Verge about what ’ s at stake for public health in this election .
America Is About to Choose How Bad the Pandemic Will Get ( Ed Yong / The Atlantic ) To the more than 45,683,708 people worldwide who have tested positive , may your road to recovery be smooth .
To the families and friends of the 1,190,516 people who have died worldwide — 229,710 of those in the US — your loved ones are not forgotten .

Lately, I’ve been thinking about pandemic safety and Swiss cheese. It’s an uninspiring cheese, but it’s a good visual metaphor for a layered approach to infection control.
This ‘Swiss Cheese Model’ has been around since at least the 1990’s, when it was proposed as a way of thinking about how accidents happen. During the pandemic, it’s been pressed into a different kind of service, used to visualize disease prevention instead of accidents.
In a pandemic as widespread as this one, no single action can keep a person from getting sick. There will always be flaws (holes) in any approach. Washing your hands won’t keep you from breathing in the virus — and wearing a cloth mask won’t completely protect you if you’re stuck in a stuffy room with an infected person. But stack them together with some layers of ventilation and robust testing, and you’ve got yourself a game plan. (Or a really boring cheese plate. Either way.)
The hope is that the holes in one approach will be covered by the strengths of the others. Some layers have more holes than others, and some, like vaccines, don’t exist yet.
The problem is that we seem to keep holding out for a single, solid piece of cheese instead of accepting our hole-y reality. Here in the United States, we just set a record for number of daily cases, adding 99,000 cases in a single day to a total that’s now more than 9 million. At this point, we need everything, anything that we’ve got to beat back this thing that’s stolen all our lives.
we keep holding out for a single, solid piece of cheese
It’s not easy. We’ve been at this for months and we are all deeply fatigued. We’re ready to see our friends, or go outside without a mask, or work out at a gym, and instead we’re juggling the masks, hand sanitizer, filtration systems, mental tape measures, and Zoom. Having a single thing to do or remember instead of layering up would be easier than running through our long list of COVID calculations every day.
It’s even worse because each of those Swiss cheese layers we’re wrapping ourselves in only get us to safer. They still don’t get us to safe. There’s no easy app to rate your home’s ventilation, no strict list of rules for forming a pandemic pod, no judge to rule when COVID disputes crop up between friends, or families, or co-workers. The endlessly frustrating answer to seemingly all pandemic-related questions is ‘it depends.’
Scientists are working to figure out more concrete answers. But as rapid as research is, it’s still not going to be able to satiate our deep hunger for certainty “in these uncertain times”. Until this is over, we’re going to have to snack on all the layers we can, stacking every new intervention together until we find a combination that sticks.
Here’s what else is happening this week.
Research
A room, a bar and a classroom: how the coronavirus is spread through the air
This is a fantastic visualization of how the coronavirus might spread in different settings, and with different interventions. Unsurprisingly, the more layers of precautions, the better. (Javier Salas, Heather Galloway/El Pais)
Why You Shouldn’t Worry About Studies Showing Waning Coronavirus Antibodies
There’s been a lot of talk about antibodies recently. This story breaks down what’s useful in those studies — and what isn’t. (Apoorva Mandivalli/The New York Times)
Low risk or dicey? Two new reports paint different pictures of COVID-19 danger while flying
“The risk (of contracting COVID-19 on a flight) is low, but it’s not zero,’’ Christopher Sanford, a founder of the travel medicine clinic at the University of Washington Medical Center told USA Today. “The answer is a big fat ‘it depends,’’
(Dawn Gilbertson/USA Today)
Development
Gilead’s Covid-19 Drug Is Mediocre. It Will Be a Blockbuster Anyway.
Veklury, the drug formerly known as Remdesivir was approved by the FDA last week. But approval doesn’t carry the same potency that many people think it does. “F.D.A. approval doesn’t guarantee a certain level of benefit — all it says is that there is some benefit,” Aaron S. Kesselheim, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School told The New York Times. The drug isn’t the silver bullet many have hoped for. But it’s still going to sell extremely well. (Katie Thomas/The New York Times)
Regeneron halts trial of antibody treatment in seriously ill Covid patients
Both Regeneron and Eli Lilly have now stopped testing their antibody treatments on seriously ill COVID-19 patients. They will continue testing these treatments in patients with milder cases, where the drugs may still have some benefit. (Hannah Kuchler/Financial Times)
A newsletter highlighting the COVID-19 research, developments, and stories that matter. Subscribe here!
It may be time to reset expectations on when we’ll get a Covid-19 vaccine
Experts are finding it increasingly unlikely that we’ll see a vaccine that’s safe, effective, authorized and widely available by next spring. That’s not a bad thing — with something that can affect billions of lives, it pays to be cautious. (Helen Branswell/STAT)
Moderna says it’s preparing global launch of Covid vaccine as it takes in $1.1 billion in deposits
Even as timelines get pushed, drug companies are pressing forward with manufacturing their vaccines in anticipation of approval. That’s also not a bad thing — if the drug is safe and effective, being prepared for an approval could help ease demand and get more people vaccinated faster. (Berkeley Lovelace Jr./CNBC)
Temperature sensors will help keep COVID-19 vaccines potent
Take a peek inside the tech that will help safely distribute whichever vaccine is eventually approved. (Nicole Wetsman/The Verge)
Perspectives
What We’re Voting for: Public Health
There’s an election in the US next week. The outcome matters to any number of causes, from platform regulation to democracy itself — and in the middle of a worsening pandemic, the future of public health in the US will be decided at the ballot box. Nicole Wetsman has an editorial at The Verge about what’s at stake for public health in this election.
Additional reading:
America Is About to Choose How Bad the Pandemic Will Get
(Ed Yong / The Atlantic)
More than numbers
To the more than 45,683,708 people worldwide who have tested positive, may your road to recovery be smooth.
To the families and friends of the 1,190,516 people who have died worldwide — 229,710 of those in the US — your loved ones are not forgotten.


theverge--2020-10-31--Google Meet will now let you use custom backgrounds on video calls

Google is introducing custom backgrounds for its Meet videoconferencing platform , the company announced in a blog post .
If you use Meet in Google ’ s Chrome browser you should be able to access the feature in Chrome OS as well as on Windows and Mac laptops and desktops .
The feature is “ coming soon ” to mobile , Google says .
There ’ s no browser extension needed to activate custom backgrounds ; you should be able to add a background image from your own photo collection or from a library of images provided by Google that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some reason ) offices .
It may take up to a week before all Google Meet users can access the new custom background option , the company says .
Rival videoconferencing services Microsoft Teams and Zoom both already allow the use of custom images for meeting backgrounds .
The three have been adding new features as more people depend on video calls working and schooling from home during the pandemic ; in recent months Meet added a blur effect for meeting backgrounds , and introducing real-time captioning , low-light mode , hand-raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brady Bunch screen ) that displays up to 49 people .
Google integrated Meet into Gmail in May , adding a sidebar link and making meetings of up to 100 people with no time limits available to anyone with a Google account .
In its third-quarter earnings call Thursday , Google CEO Sundar Pichai said Meet had had 235 million daily meetings and more than 7.5 billion daily video calls .

Google is introducing custom backgrounds for its Meet videoconferencing platform, the company announced in a blog post. If you use Meet in Google’s Chrome browser you should be able to access the feature in Chrome OS as well as on Windows and Mac laptops and desktops. The feature is “coming soon” to mobile, Google says.
There’s no browser extension needed to activate custom backgrounds; you should be able to add a background image from your own photo collection or from a library of images provided by Google that includes landscapes, abstract art and (for some reason) offices.
Google Meet custom backgrounds Google
It may take up to a week before all Google Meet users can access the new custom background option, the company says.
Rival videoconferencing services Microsoft Teams and Zoom both already allow the use of custom images for meeting backgrounds. The three have been adding new features as more people depend on video calls working and schooling from home during the pandemic; in recent months Meet added a blur effect for meeting backgrounds, and introducing real-time captioning, low-light mode, hand-raising and a tile view (the giant Brady Bunch screen) that displays up to 49 people.
Google integrated Meet into Gmail in May, adding a sidebar link and making meetings of up to 100 people with no time limits available to anyone with a Google account.


theverge--2020-11-01--Apple TV Plus one year later: still on trial

Outside of excited Apple executives , no one thought much of Apple TV Plus .
Even with $ 6 billion allocated for content and a roster of talent that included J.J. Abrams , Reese Witherspoon , and Oprah Winfrey , little on Apple TV Plus shined at launch .
With the exception of The Morning Show , Apple TV Plus barely managed to enter the conversation , while other new entrants like Disney Plus soared right out the gate .
But streaming isn ’ t a sprint ; it ’ s a marathon .
The anniversary of Apple TV Plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , but it ’ s still not where Apple needs it to be .
It ’ s impossible to ignore the most obvious flailing that Apple TV Plus is facing : there ’ s no back catalog to keep people around once they ’ ve finished watching the 31 TV series and handfuls of movies currently on the platform .
To compare , Apple TV Plus has 400 times less movies than Netflix , and very few of those movies on Apple TV Plus are must-watch programming .
The Morning Show , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few exceptions , but that ’ s hardly enough to ask people to spend $ 5 a month — and so Apple hasn ’ t , giving the majority of its subscribers the ability to stream over the last 12 months for free .
It ’ s an issue that even Apple is keenly aware of .
The company extended its free trial period by another three months , giving those who signed up last November when Apple TV Plus debuted until the end of January .
Apple TV Plus is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of its subscribers from promotions , ” according to analyst Michael Nathanson .
Even worse , 29 percent of Apple TV Plus subscribers have no plan to renew once they have to spend $ 5 .
Apple TV Plus is facing one of the largest churn percentages ( 17 percent ) out of all the major streamers , according to a poll from HarrisX .
Nathanson wrote that his team remains concerned about Apple TV Plus , adding that the streamer is “ in danger of losing momentum if they are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content in the coming months.
” The streamer is “ in danger of losing momentum if they are not able to entice renewals with exciting original content in the coming months ” Like other companies , Apple isn ’ t immune to issues caused by the pandemic .
Production on films and series were forced to shut down .
While Apple was able to buy some movies from studios looking to generate any form of revenue , Apple TV Plus didn ’ t become the go-to streaming platform .
By Apple TV Plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle of the pandemic , most analysts walked away with the same note : things weren ’ t looking stellar for Apple .
Media mogul Barry Diller told NBC ’ s Dylan Byers that Apple ’ s “ still not in it with both feet.
” One year in , I would argue Apple is in it , but the company ’ s work is only just beginning .
Apple TV Plus ’ role is becoming increasingly clear as a driver in helping to sell the company ’ s new Apple One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Apple TV Plus , Apple Arcade , and more into one plan .
Apple TV Plus doesn ’ t need to be Netflix to help Apple achieve its primary goal of creating a services ecosystem that is just tantalizing enough for people to pay for a bundle and get locked into Apple ’ s universe .
See : Amazon .
It does need to actually entice people , though .
Apple isn ’ t selling as many iPhones or devices as it once was ; creating a service-based ecosystem that drives revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pouring its investments .
Last quarter , Apple reported a record-high $ 13.3 billion revenue from its services division , close to $ 2 billion more than the year before .
CEO Tim Cook also hasn ’ t shied away from noting how important Apple ’ s services division is .
The company first started pivoting to focusing on software in 2015 after iPhone growth slowed , and since then , services have thrived .
Cook and his company have investors ’ attention with the pivot .
They also have consumers ’ curiosity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s dollars .
In order for Apple TV Plus to be an option , even as part of a bundle that brings people in , Apple TV Plus has to actually offer something worth buying .
It currently doesn ’ t ( hence the extended free trial ) , but it is slowly getting there .
Shows like Ted Lasso , which was renewed for a third season before its second even premiered , help .
So , is Apple TV Plus a complete dud ?
Apple has also started to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it wants to reboot or continue — and with it , their entire libraries .
Originals aren ’ t enough .
Apple needs a catalog of titles to keep people streaming .
As AT & T CEO John Stankey said about HBO Max on his company ’ s recent earnings call , it ’ s original titles that lead to customer acquisition , but strong libraries that will keep them streaming .
So , is Apple TV Plus a complete dud ?
It certainly hasn ’ t seen the success that Disney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t need the biggest streaming service in the world .
It just needs to have enough new content , consistently , to make people feel all right spending $ 5 a month — or , as Apple would likely prefer , buying a bundle plan .
It ’ s fitting that Apple TV Plus ’ first year was mostly free , giving curious passersby the opportunity to see if Apple could pull it off .
It was a trial period for Apple , too .
The biggest advantage that Apple has is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The company is worth more than $ 2 trillion and is sitting on a ludicrous amount of cash .
That doesn ’ t always translate into the best environment for creatives , however .
Amazon has limitless resources and has struggled with its own gaming ambitions , for example .
But Apple could fund TV Plus as a fun side project that lets Cook sit with celebrities at the Oscars and never worry about going into the red .
The capital allows Apple to continuously invest in projects without worrying about whether Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plus , Cook and his team have made it clear that building out its services offerings , and generating tens of billions of dollars in revenue every year through apps that keep people coming back , is of the utmost importance .
As Diller told NBC , Apple tentatively dipped a toe into the game last November .
It has all of the power , influence , and capabilities to become a cultural force , but executives have yet to cannonball into the deep end .
The time has come to take a @ @ @ @ @

Outside of excited Apple executives, no one thought much of Apple TV Plus. Even with $6 billion allocated for content and a roster of talent that included J.J. Abrams, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah Winfrey, little on Apple TV Plus shined at launch. With the exception of The Morning Show, Apple TV Plus barely managed to enter the conversation, while other new entrants like Disney Plus soared right out the gate.
But streaming isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. The anniversary of Apple TV Plus arrives with the platform getting better each month, but it’s still not where Apple needs it to be.
It’s impossible to ignore the most obvious flailing that Apple TV Plus is facing: there’s no back catalog to keep people around once they’ve finished watching the 31 TV series and handfuls of movies currently on the platform. To compare, Apple TV Plus has 400 times less movies than Netflix, and very few of those movies on Apple TV Plus are must-watch programming. The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, and Mythic Quest are a few exceptions, but that’s hardly enough to ask people to spend $5 a month — and so Apple hasn’t, giving the majority of its subscribers the ability to stream over the last 12 months for free.
It’s an issue that even Apple is keenly aware of. The company extended its free trial period by another three months, giving those who signed up last November when Apple TV Plus debuted until the end of January. Apple TV Plus is also the “only service that sources the majority of its subscribers from promotions,” according to analyst Michael Nathanson. Even worse, 29 percent of Apple TV Plus subscribers have no plan to renew once they have to spend $5. Apple TV Plus is facing one of the largest churn percentages (17 percent) out of all the major streamers, according to a poll from HarrisX. Nathanson wrote that his team remains concerned about Apple TV Plus, adding that the streamer is “in danger of losing momentum if they are not able to entice renewals with exciting original content in the coming months.”
The streamer is “in danger of losing momentum if they are not able to entice renewals with exciting original content in the coming months”
Like other companies, Apple isn’t immune to issues caused by the pandemic. Production on films and series were forced to shut down. While Apple was able to buy some movies from studios looking to generate any form of revenue, Apple TV Plus didn’t become the go-to streaming platform. By Apple TV Plus’ six-month mark, smack dab in the middle of the pandemic, most analysts walked away with the same note: things weren’t looking stellar for Apple. Media mogul Barry Diller told NBC’s Dylan Byers that Apple’s “still not in it with both feet.”
One year in, I would argue Apple is in it, but the company’s work is only just beginning. Apple TV Plus’ role is becoming increasingly clear as a driver in helping to sell the company’s new Apple One bundle, collecting services like Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, and more into one plan. Apple TV Plus doesn’t need to be Netflix to help Apple achieve its primary goal of creating a services ecosystem that is just tantalizing enough for people to pay for a bundle and get locked into Apple’s universe. See: Amazon. It does need to actually entice people, though.
Apple isn’t selling as many iPhones or devices as it once was; creating a service-based ecosystem that drives revenue every single month is where Apple is pouring its investments. Last quarter, Apple reported a record-high $13.3 billion revenue from its services division, close to $2 billion more than the year before. CEO Tim Cook also hasn’t shied away from noting how important Apple’s services division is. The company first started pivoting to focusing on software in 2015 after iPhone growth slowed, and since then, services have thrived.
Cook and his company have investors’ attention with the pivot. They also have consumers’ curiosity. What they still need is people’s dollars. In order for Apple TV Plus to be an option, even as part of a bundle that brings people in, Apple TV Plus has to actually offer something worth buying. It currently doesn’t (hence the extended free trial), but it is slowly getting there. Shows like Ted Lasso, which was renewed for a third season before its second even premiered, help.
So, is Apple TV Plus a complete dud?
Apple has also started to change its strategy slightly, picking up shows that it wants to reboot or continue — and with it, their entire libraries. Originals aren’t enough. Apple needs a catalog of titles to keep people streaming. As AT&T CEO John Stankey said about HBO Max on his company’s recent earnings call, it’s original titles that lead to customer acquisition, but strong libraries that will keep them streaming.
So, is Apple TV Plus a complete dud? It certainly hasn’t seen the success that Disney Plus has, but Apple doesn’t need the biggest streaming service in the world. It just needs to have enough new content, consistently, to make people feel all right spending $5 a month — or, as Apple would likely prefer, buying a bundle plan. It’s fitting that Apple TV Plus’ first year was mostly free, giving curious passersby the opportunity to see if Apple could pull it off. It was a trial period for Apple, too.
The biggest advantage that Apple has is, well, it’s Apple. The company is worth more than $2 trillion and is sitting on a ludicrous amount of cash. That doesn’t always translate into the best environment for creatives, however. Amazon has limitless resources and has struggled with its own gaming ambitions, for example. But Apple could fund TV Plus as a fun side project that lets Cook sit with celebrities at the Oscars and never worry about going into the red. The capital allows Apple to continuously invest in projects without worrying about whether Apple TV Plus will ever break even.


theverge--2020-11-01--New Trailers: The Crown, The Midnight Sky, Run, and more

I have only watched the new episode of The Mandalorian once ( so far ) but it is so great to have this fun , nerdy show back .
I won ’ t spoil anything but it was A ) nice to see The Baby aka Baby Yoda aka my green son , B ) nice to see Timothy Olyphant and C ) great to see the coolest show on streaming is still very , very cool .
Check out the review of the first episode here , and look for weekly Friday recaps of new episodes on The Verge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new season of the other best show on streaming : The Crown .
Look I have eclectic tastes , OK ?
The sight of Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher was most welcome for this erstwhile X-phile , but also : DIANA !
The series will finally catch up to the Charles-Diana marriage this season and introduce Thatcher , aka the Iron Lady , who was the UK ’ s first woman prime minister ( and side note , as someone who lived through the 1980s , it ’ s sort of wild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were contemporaries ) .
Emma Corrin stars as Diana , and the rest of the excellent cast — Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth , Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret , and Josh O ’ Connor as Prince Charles— return in season four of The Crown .
It hits Netflix November 15th .
Sarah Paulson stars in this creepy film about a mother who goes to great lengths to “ care ” for her homeschooled daughter Chloe , who uses a wheelchair .
You may be shocked to hear that all is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece together clues that suggest her mother is up to no good .
Kiera Allen , who uses a wheelchair in real life , stars as Chloe in Run , which debuts on Hulu November 20th .
I heard the Boston accents as soon as I clicked “ play ” on this trailer and sure enough it ’ s based in Brockton , Mass.
, the story of a kid seeking to right wrongs and get back a car stolen from his late father .
The series ran on YouTube Red ( RIP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended after one season ( although it may have more to do with the fact that YouTube Red doesn ’ t exist anymore and its successor , YouTube Premium , pulled back on original shows than with the show itself ) .
Amazon Prime Video is reviving it ; season one of Wayne will ( re- ) launch November 6th .
George Clooney plays a scientist in the Arctic who has to prevent a spacecraft from returning to Earth because some bad apocalyptic shit has happened since they ’ ve been gone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this role , it seems ) also directed this very beautiful- but cold-looking film , based on the novel “ Good Morning , Midnight , ” by Lily Brooks-Dalton .
The all-star cast includes Felicity Jones , David Oyelowo , and Kyle Chandler .
The Midnight Sky hits Netflix December 23rd .
Ending this week ’ s list on a lighter note because it can ’ t be all ( literal ) palace intrigue and post-apocalyptic Clooney .
This animated series is the story of a backyard world of little creatures— Rocksy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berry to give you a sense of what we ’ re dealing with here— whose days are full of adventures .
The Mighty Ones comes to Hulu November 9th .

I have only watched the new episode of The Mandalorian once (so far) but it is so great to have this fun, nerdy show back. I won’t spoil anything but it was A) nice to see The Baby aka Baby Yoda aka my green son, B) nice to see Timothy Olyphant and C) great to see the coolest show on streaming is still very, very cool. Check out the review of the first episode here, and look for weekly Friday recaps of new episodes on The Verge.
This week’s trailers include the new season of the other best show on streaming: The Crown. Look I have eclectic tastes, OK?
The Crown
The sight of Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher was most welcome for this erstwhile X-phile, but also: DIANA! The series will finally catch up to the Charles-Diana marriage this season and introduce Thatcher, aka the Iron Lady, who was the UK’s first woman prime minister (and side note, as someone who lived through the 1980s, it’s sort of wild to recall that these two larger-than-life women were contemporaries). Emma Corrin stars as Diana, and the rest of the excellent cast — Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth, Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret, and Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles— return in season four of The Crown. It hits Netflix November 15th.
Run
Sarah Paulson stars in this creepy film about a mother who goes to great lengths to “care” for her homeschooled daughter Chloe, who uses a wheelchair. You may be shocked to hear that all is not as it seems and Chloe begins to piece together clues that suggest her mother is up to no good. Kiera Allen, who uses a wheelchair in real life, stars as Chloe in Run, which debuts on Hulu November 20th.
Wayne
I heard the Boston accents as soon as I clicked “play” on this trailer and sure enough it’s based in Brockton, Mass., the story of a kid seeking to right wrongs and get back a car stolen from his late father. The series ran on YouTube Red (RIP) and despite positive fan response, ended after one season (although it may have more to do with the fact that YouTube Red doesn’t exist anymore and its successor, YouTube Premium, pulled back on original shows than with the show itself). Amazon Prime Video is reviving it; season one of Wayne will (re-) launch November 6th.
The Midnight Sky
George Clooney plays a scientist in the Arctic who has to prevent a spacecraft from returning to Earth because some bad apocalyptic shit has happened since they’ve been gone. Clooney (who grew quite the beard for this role, it seems) also directed this very beautiful- but cold-looking film, based on the novel “Good Morning, Midnight,” by Lily Brooks-Dalton. The all-star cast includes Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, and Kyle Chandler. The Midnight Sky hits Netflix December 23rd.
The Mighty Ones
Ending this week’s list on a lighter note because it can’t be all (literal) palace intrigue and post-apocalyptic Clooney. This animated series is the story of a backyard world of little creatures— Rocksy, Twig, Leaf, and Very Berry to give you a sense of what we’re dealing with here— whose days are full of adventures. The Mighty Ones comes to Hulu November 9th.


theverge--2020-11-01--Facebook reportedly skirted its own rules to protect conservatives from disciplinary measures

Over the past several months , conservative groups— including associates of President Trump— were often not penalized by Facebook for violating its rules because people at the company worried about the perception of anti-conservative bias , The Washington Post reported .
The Post examined posts and ad spending along with internal Facebook documents .
It found accounts that included Donald Trump Jr. and a pro-Trump super PAC were shielded from the platform ’ s most serious enforcement actions .
For instance , according to the Post , Facebook removed a strike against Trump Jr. on Instagram — which is owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him being labeled a “ repeat offender ” and could have meant a permanent ban under platform rules .
Facebook did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Verge on Sunday .
Conservatives have repeatedly complained about what they see as anti-conservative bias on social media , including Facebook .
The president has railed against what he sees as “ total command & control of Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and Google , ” by the “ Radical Left , ” and last May , the White House launched a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their stories of suspected political bias ” with the president .
But there ’ s been little evidence that such bias exists .
In fact , The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Facebook had designed changes to its news feed algorithm in 2017 to reduce the visibility of left-leaning news sites like Mother Jones on its platform .
According to the Journal , Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg endorsed the plan .

Over the past several months, conservative groups— including associates of President Trump— were often not penalized by Facebook for violating its rules because people at the company worried about the perception of anti-conservative bias, The Washington Post reported.
The Post examined posts and ad spending along with internal Facebook documents. It found accounts that included Donald Trump Jr. and a pro-Trump super PAC were shielded from the platform’s most serious enforcement actions. For instance, according to the Post, Facebook removed a strike against Trump Jr. on Instagram — which is owned by Facebook— that would have led to him being labeled a “repeat offender” and could have meant a permanent ban under platform rules.
Facebook did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Verge on Sunday.
Conservatives have repeatedly complained about what they see as anti-conservative bias on social media, including Facebook. The president has railed against what he sees as “total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google,” by the “Radical Left,” and last May, the White House launched a now-inactive tool for Americans to “share their stories of suspected political bias” with the president.


theverge--2020-11-01--No, Sean Connery did not write a mean letter to Steve Jobs

A fake letter from Sean Connery to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is making the rounds on social media following the actor ’ s death on Saturday .
Just to reiterate : it ’ s fake , the product of humor site Scoopertino , which posts satirical articles about Apple and goings-on at its Cupertino ( get it that ’ s the name ) headquarters .
The typewritten letter dated 1998 purports to show Connery ’ s outrage over Jobs asking him to appear in an Apple commercial .
“ I do not sell my soul for Apple or any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ changing the world ’ as you suggest , ” it states .
“ You are a computer salesman , I am fucking JAMES BOND !
” But the internet loves things that are too good to be true , and Sunday morning , the “ letter ” was circulating on Twitter .
So , it does sound like something Connery might have said/typed , but I think the first giveaway is the little “ 007 ” watermark in the lower right corner of the letter .
Connery tried for years to break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1998 he had moved on to other roles .
And as our friends at CNet noted , the fake letter also went viral in 2011 thanks to another unsuspecting Twitter user .
As with anything on the internet , always remember to trust but verify .
In this case , trust that this “ letter ” was a parody— and kudos on whatever SEO magic you did here Scoopertino , because it ’ s clearly evergreen content .
Which we usually love in the internet business , but only when it ’ s @ @

A fake letter from Sean Connery to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is making the rounds on social media following the actor’s death on Saturday. Just to reiterate: it’s fake, the product of humor site Scoopertino, which posts satirical articles about Apple and goings-on at its Cupertino (get it that’s the name) headquarters.
The typewritten letter dated 1998 purports to show Connery’s outrage over Jobs asking him to appear in an Apple commercial. “I do not sell my soul for Apple or any other company. I have no interest in ‘changing the world’ as you suggest,” it states. “You are a computer salesman, I am fucking JAMES BOND!”
But the internet loves things that are too good to be true, and Sunday morning, the “letter” was circulating on Twitter.
So, it does sound like something Connery might have said/typed, but I think the first giveaway is the little “007” watermark in the lower right corner of the letter. Connery tried for years to break free of James Bond, and by 1998 he had moved on to other roles.
And as our friends at CNet noted, the fake letter also went viral in 2011 thanks to another unsuspecting Twitter user.


theverge--2020-11-01--Disney’s new skinless robot can blink like a human because why not

Once you get past the fact that it has no skin , the new robot from Disney Research is an impressive feat of robotics .
First reported by Gizmodo , the new robot can imitate human facial movements , specifically blinking and subtle head movements .
A sensor in its chest area ( covered by a shirt , because the face is unsettling enough , thanks ) alerts the robot when to turn and face a person in front of it , and its eye movements shift from direct eye contact to the rapid eye movements known as saccades .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mimic breathing .
The robot was developed by engineers at Disney ’ s Research division , Walt Disney Imagineering , and robotics researchers from the University of Illinois , Urbana-Champaign and the California Institute of Technology .
While most humanoid robots generally focus their eyes on a human face and stay there , that ’ s not how people interact with each other ( except on Zoom calls , maybe ) .
The Disney Research team explained in its paper Realistic and Interactive Robot Gaze : Gaze has been shown to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of interaction partners .
For example , people who make more eye contact with us are perceived to be similar to us , as well as more intelligent , conscientious , sincere , and trustworthy .
Furthermore , gaze appears to also convey complex social and emotional states .
Given the importance of gaze in social interactions as well as its ability to communicate states and shape perceptions , it is apparent that gaze can function as a significant tool for an interactive robot character .
Thus , the aim of this work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human-like mutual gaze .
It ’ s not hard to imagine how Disney might use this technology , say , for animatronic characters at its theme parks .
The company ’ s research division has been working on making more lifelike robots for some time ; in 2018 it unveiled its Stickman robot that could do backflips in mid-air , “ to approximate the height of a human stunt performer with arms raised over his or her head.
” They ’ ll just need to add something that looks like skin over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the uncanny valley is one thing , but left as-is , this robot would probably freak out Disneyland guests checking out the Pirates of the Caribbean ride .

Gaze has been shown to be a key social signal, shaping perceptions of interaction partners. For example, people who make more eye contact with us are perceived to be similar to us, as well as more intelligent, conscientious, sincere, and trustworthy. Furthermore, gaze appears to also convey complex social and emotional states.
Given the importance of gaze in social interactions as well as its ability to communicate states and shape perceptions, it is apparent that gaze can function as a significant tool for an interactive robot character. Thus, the aim of this work is to develop a system to emulate human-like mutual gaze.


theverge--2020-11-02--How The Verge is coping with election anxiety

The 2020 presidential election is nearly upon us , and the hours leading up to it are full of unknown , eldritch horrors .
The old gods are awakening , and the pollsters are sharpening their needles .
Or at least it feels that way .
Because so many bad things have happened in America this year , every day can feel like navigating a field chock-full of unexploded ordnance — and all there is to do , really , is put on a mask and vote .
Personally , I feel like I ’ m T-posing at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve leaned into compiling a playlist of anime fight scenes on YouTube : they ’ re power fantasies that always end with the good guys winning .
It ’ s been helping a little .
Many of my colleagues have come up with their own , unique ways to deal with the fact that reality has lately become surreal .
Here are a few election coping strategies , from us , your friends at The Verge .
Hopefully this gets us through those long hours still ahead .
— Bijan Stephen Barbara Krasnoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other things — my work , a novel I ’ m desperately trying to write , and day-to-day concerns .
That doesn ’ t always work .
So my partner and I have been watching Safari Live ( live feeds from various African wildlife preserves , with commentary ) , 1930s comedies , humorous mysteries , bad science fiction films , The Queen ’ s Gambit ( wonderful series ! )
, and , of course , The Great British Baking Show — anything that has nothing to do with politics .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll watch on Election Day , but it will probably be lightweight , and I ’ ll have to hide my phone to prevent myself from checking it every five minutes .
Sarah Smithers : I ’ ve found that exercising is a good cure for my normal , run-of-the-mill anxiety .
And eating refined sugar is a bad cure ( but still a cure ! )
for my pandemic anxiety .
So tomorrow I am going to spend a lot of time on my treadmill while also eating 2–8 ice cream sandwiches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ the needle.
’ ” Andrew J. Hawkins : I ’ m coping with the election by making granola , cleaning the kitchen , building Lego sets with my son , and staying the hell away from “ the needle.
” Kim Lyons : Since I am weirdly competitive but also hate feeling unproductive , I ’ ve started using the Duolingo language app to brush up on my Spanish and French .
The little green owl nudges me with text alerts when I need to boost my XP to compete with other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much better use of mobile screen time than doomscrolling on Twitter .
Kait Sanchez : My partner and I just had a stressful and prolonged move into a new apartment , so “ luckily ” I ’ ve had other stressors to distract me from the election .
When I reach my nightly critical mass of unpacking and organizing , I turn to a new routine that ’ s been keeping me from doomscrolling into the wee hours .
I listen to a podcast ( usually fiction , but generally anything that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I play many levels of the I Love Hue Too game on my phone .
Between the audio stimulation and the need to focus for the puzzles , I ’ m too absorbed to fall into an anxiety spiral .
Unclear what will happen if I ever run out of levels , but I ’ ll cross that bridge when I get to it .
Megan Farokhmanesh : I ’ m coping with the election by eating cake for dinner and listening to Swedish death metal .
Taylor Lyles : My election anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gaming .
I mean , I am always gaming outside of work .
But lately I have been obsessed with PC gaming .
I built my own gaming PC years ago and am ready to future-proof it for the next generation of gaming .
A lot of the PC parts I have in my current rig are not dated by any means , but I just like being ten steps ahead of the industry since new hardware is always coming out on PC .
Since the parts in my current rig are mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to recycle those parts and turn them into a separate gaming desktop .
I don ’ t know exactly who it will be for , but I think it would be a fun project to do and it helps ease my stress and keep myself busy during off work hours .
“ I am demanding inane gossip from my friends.
” Nicole Wetsman : I am demanding inane gossip from my friends , spending most of the day under my weighted blanket , and eating this very good cake .
These help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election anxiety and the rest is just…still there .
Adi Robertson : I channeled my pandemic anxiety into prototyping a video game .
Now I ’ ve got election anxiety too !
This is surely making me twice as productive .
Do not contradict me .
Sean Hollister : Maybe this is perverse , but I ’ m watching Designated Survivor .
Yes , it ’ s all about political turmoil and disaster , but it ’ s also a feel-good power fantasy about a non-partisan politician .
Imagine that !
Also I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a LOT of Halloween candy .
Cameron Faulkner : Distractions are nice , but I ’ ve learned that the best way for me to deal with my anxiety is to try to face it head-on .
You know , think about all of the possible outcomes and try to imagine what the next four years of my life might look like with each one .
So , my desk is covered in game controllers and other fun gadgets , but as much as I try to distract myself , I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment .
I hope you ’ re faring better !
Jay Peters : I ’ ve kept my mind off the election by playing a lot of Hades , the new roguelike from Supergiant Games .
Each trek through the Underworld takes my full attention , requiring me to expertly fight against waves of enemies and thoughtfully select which abilities will best aid me in my journey .
The game ’ s brilliantly-done characters draw me into their individual stories , and the more I play , the more I learn about them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run only takes 30 to 40 minutes , which is just short enough that I regularly sneak in an extra run ( or two ) during my daily play sessions .
Sure , playing Hades may not be the most productive use of my time .
But the game keeps me from constantly refreshing Twitter or Reddit .
Julia Alexander : I ’ m relying heavily on What We Do in the Shadows marathons , Arrested Development rewatches , and absurd British comedy that makes me feel better about whatever ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also , whiskey .
A whole lot of whiskey .
Sophie Erickson : How am I coping with election anxiety ?
Not well .

The 2020 presidential election is nearly upon us, and the hours leading up to it are full of unknown, eldritch horrors. The old gods are awakening, and the pollsters are sharpening their needles.
Or at least it feels that way. Because so many bad things have happened in America this year, every day can feel like navigating a field chock-full of unexploded ordnance — and all there is to do, really, is put on a mask and vote.
Personally, I feel like I’m T-posing at the end of the world. So I’ve leaned into compiling a playlist of anime fight scenes on YouTube: they’re power fantasies that always end with the good guys winning. It’s been helping a little.
Many of my colleagues have come up with their own, unique ways to deal with the fact that reality has lately become surreal. Here are a few election coping strategies, from us, your friends at The Verge. Hopefully this gets us through those long hours still ahead. — Bijan Stephen
Barbara Krasnoff: I try to really concentrate on other things — my work, a novel I’m desperately trying to write, and day-to-day concerns. That doesn’t always work. So my partner and I have been watching Safari Live (live feeds from various African wildlife preserves, with commentary), 1930s comedies, humorous mysteries, bad science fiction films, The Queen’s Gambit (wonderful series!), and, of course, The Great British Baking Show — anything that has nothing to do with politics. We haven’t chosen what we’ll watch on Election Day, but it will probably be lightweight, and I’ll have to hide my phone to prevent myself from checking it every five minutes.
Sarah Smithers: I’ve found that exercising is a good cure for my normal, run-of-the-mill anxiety. And eating refined sugar is a bad cure (but still a cure!) for my pandemic anxiety. So tomorrow I am going to spend a lot of time on my treadmill while also eating 2–8 ice cream sandwiches.
“Staying the hell away from ‘the needle.’”
Andrew J. Hawkins: I’m coping with the election by making granola, cleaning the kitchen, building Lego sets with my son, and staying the hell away from “the needle.”
Kim Lyons: Since I am weirdly competitive but also hate feeling unproductive, I’ve started using the Duolingo language app to brush up on my Spanish and French. The little green owl nudges me with text alerts when I need to boost my XP to compete with other players. It’s been a much better use of mobile screen time than doomscrolling on Twitter.
Kait Sanchez: My partner and I just had a stressful and prolonged move into a new apartment, so “luckily” I’ve had other stressors to distract me from the election. When I reach my nightly critical mass of unpacking and organizing, I turn to a new routine that’s been keeping me from doomscrolling into the wee hours. I listen to a podcast (usually fiction, but generally anything that’s not political news), and I play many levels of the I Love Hue Too game on my phone. Between the audio stimulation and the need to focus for the puzzles, I’m too absorbed to fall into an anxiety spiral. Unclear what will happen if I ever run out of levels, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
Megan Farokhmanesh: I’m coping with the election by eating cake for dinner and listening to Swedish death metal.
Taylor Lyles: My election anxiety consists of me doing a lot of gaming. I mean, I am always gaming outside of work. But lately I have been obsessed with PC gaming.
I built my own gaming PC years ago and am ready to future-proof it for the next generation of gaming. A lot of the PC parts I have in my current rig are not dated by any means, but I just like being ten steps ahead of the industry since new hardware is always coming out on PC. Since the parts in my current rig are mostly going to be swapped out, I plan to recycle those parts and turn them into a separate gaming desktop. I don’t know exactly who it will be for, but I think it would be a fun project to do and it helps ease my stress and keep myself busy during off work hours.
“I am demanding inane gossip from my friends.”
Nicole Wetsman: I am demanding inane gossip from my friends, spending most of the day under my weighted blanket, and eating this very good cake. These help me manage about 8 percent of my election anxiety and the rest is just…still there.
Adi Robertson: I channeled my pandemic anxiety into prototyping a video game. Now I’ve got election anxiety too! This is surely making me twice as productive. Do not contradict me.
Sean Hollister: Maybe this is perverse, but I’m watching Designated Survivor. Yes, it’s all about political turmoil and disaster, but it’s also a feel-good power fantasy about a non-partisan politician. Imagine that! Also I may or may not have squirreled away a LOT of Halloween candy.
Cameron Faulkner: Distractions are nice, but I’ve learned that the best way for me to deal with my anxiety is to try to face it head-on. You know, think about all of the possible outcomes and try to imagine what the next four years of my life might look like with each one. So, my desk is covered in game controllers and other fun gadgets, but as much as I try to distract myself, I’m just kind of inescapably stuck in the moment. I hope you’re faring better!
Jay Peters: I’ve kept my mind off the election by playing a lot of Hades, the new roguelike from Supergiant Games. Each trek through the Underworld takes my full attention, requiring me to expertly fight against waves of enemies and thoughtfully select which abilities will best aid me in my journey. The game’s brilliantly-done characters draw me into their individual stories, and the more I play, the more I learn about them. And perhaps most importantly, each run only takes 30 to 40 minutes, which is just short enough that I regularly sneak in an extra run (or two) during my daily play sessions.
Sure, playing Hades may not be the most productive use of my time. But the game keeps me from constantly refreshing Twitter or Reddit.
“A whole lot of whiskey.”
Julia Alexander: I’m relying heavily on What We Do in the Shadows marathons, Arrested Development rewatches, and absurd British comedy that makes me feel better about whatever’s going on outside my tiny studio apartment. Also, whiskey. A whole lot of whiskey.


theverge--2020-11-02--Valve’s Gabe Newell is sending a gnome to space

Gabe Newell , president of Valve , the video game company behind the Half-Life series and game marketplace Steam , is thanking the country of New Zealand for its hospitality by launching a gnome into space with aerospace company Rocket Lab in mid-November .
Newell decided to stay in New Zealand at the start of the pandemic and is donating a dollar to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Starship Children ’ s Hospital for every viewer who watches the satellite launch livestream or the online recording within 24 hours of launch .
This soon-to-be astronaut gnome is actually a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” or “ Gnome Chompski , ” an item that first appeared in Half-Life 2 : Episode Two but achieved meme status following the speedruns and travelogues ( like this charmingly detailed one written by former games journalist Tom Francis ) that popped up around it .
The gnome was likely a reference to an older prank involving photographing stolen garden gnomes “ traveling ” around the world , which gained further popularity when it was seemingly referenced in Amélie and when it served as the basis for Travelocity ’ s “ Where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chompski ’ s gone on to appear in Valve ’ s own Left 4 Dead 2 , DLC for Dying Light and more recently Half-Life : Alyx , but this upcoming real-life rocket launch is a fitting homage to the “ Little Rocket Man ’ ’ achievement associated with the gnome from Episode Two .
The achievement can only be unlocked if a player carries the gnome from the opening chapter of the game and places it in a rocket ship near the end — a task that ’ s difficult because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down to complete Half-Life ’ s environmental puzzles and combat scenarios .
This launch-ready version of the gnome is co-designed by special effects and prop house Weta Workshop and made from titanium .
Rocket Lab hopes to use it “ to test and qualify a novel 3D printing technique that could be employed for future spacecraft components ” .
The gnome will be attached to the inside of Rocket Lab ’ s Kick Stage , the final stage of Rocket Lab ’ s Electron rocket that allows more accurate placement of satellites in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s payload is dropped , the Kick Stage is able to reignite its engine to initiate deorbit .
This mission is not quite the sequel fans might have imagined for Chompski after setting him down in Episode Two , though ; the gnome will burn up alongside Kick Stage as both reenter the Earth ’ s atmosphere .
Rocket Lab explains Kick Stage in the video below : Gnome Chompski will be accompanied by 29 other satellites at Rocket Lab ’ s November 16th launch from the southern tip of the Mahia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kick Stage of the company ’ s Electron rocket span a wide range of uses from satellites focused on communications and maritime surveillance to New Zealand ’ s first student-developed satellite , the Waka Āmiorangi Aotearoa APSS-1 .
While sending a gnome to space comes off about as silly as the SpaceX launch of a Tesla Roadster , Newell ’ s addition of a charity element — even though he could just donate a sum of money rather than requiring people to watch — at least makes the stunt more meaningful than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rocket Lab ’ s socials for updates on specific launch timing heading into the 14-day launch window that starts on November 16th NZT ( 6AM ET/3AM PT on the 15th ) .
The launch itself will be livestreamed on Rocket Lab ’ s site .

Gabe Newell, president of Valve, the video game company behind the Half-Life series and game marketplace Steam, is thanking the country of New Zealand for its hospitality by launching a gnome into space with aerospace company Rocket Lab in mid-November. Newell decided to stay in New Zealand at the start of the pandemic and is donating a dollar to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Starship Children’s Hospital for every viewer who watches the satellite launch livestream or the online recording within 24 hours of launch.
This soon-to-be astronaut gnome is actually a 150mm tall model of “Garden Gnome” or “Gnome Chompski,” an item that first appeared in Half-Life 2: Episode Two but achieved meme status following the speedruns and travelogues (like this charmingly detailed one written by former games journalist Tom Francis) that popped up around it. The gnome was likely a reference to an older prank involving photographing stolen garden gnomes “traveling” around the world, which gained further popularity when it was seemingly referenced in Amélie and when it served as the basis for Travelocity’s “Where is my gnome” viral ad campaign.
Chompski’s gone on to appear in Valve’s own Left 4 Dead 2, DLC for Dying Light and more recently Half-Life: Alyx, but this upcoming real-life rocket launch is a fitting homage to the “Little Rocket Man’’ achievement associated with the gnome from Episode Two. The achievement can only be unlocked if a player carries the gnome from the opening chapter of the game and places it in a rocket ship near the end — a task that’s difficult because the player has to set the gnome down to complete Half-Life’s environmental puzzles and combat scenarios.
The gnome inside Rocket Lab’s rocket Image: Valve
This launch-ready version of the gnome is co-designed by special effects and prop house Weta Workshop and made from titanium. Rocket Lab hopes to use it “to test and qualify a novel 3D printing technique that could be employed for future spacecraft components”.
The gnome will be attached to the inside of Rocket Lab’s Kick Stage, the final stage of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket that allows more accurate placement of satellites in orbit. Once all of the rocket’s payload is dropped, the Kick Stage is able to reignite its engine to initiate deorbit. This mission is not quite the sequel fans might have imagined for Chompski after setting him down in Episode Two, though; the gnome will burn up alongside Kick Stage as both reenter the Earth’s atmosphere. Rocket Lab explains Kick Stage in the video below:
Gnome Chompski will be accompanied by 29 other satellites at Rocket Lab’s November 16th launch from the southern tip of the Mahia Peninsula. The small satellites loaded on the Kick Stage of the company’s Electron rocket span a wide range of uses from satellites focused on communications and maritime surveillance to New Zealand’s first student-developed satellite, the Waka Āmiorangi Aotearoa APSS-1.


theverge--2020-11-02--UK contact tracing app failed to flag people exposed to COVID-19

The COVID-19 exposure notification app used in England and Wales failed to warn users if they were in close contact with potentially infectious COVID-19 patients .
Because of the error , thousands of people were not told to quarantine even when they should have been , according to the Sunday Times , which first reported the flaw .
The app was launched on September 24th , and there have been 19 million downloads since .
It ’ s built using Google and Apple ’ s Bluetooth Low Energy-based system , which monitors nearby phones .
If someone tests positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phones that they were in contact with .
The UK originally planned to use its own app , sidestepping the Google and Apple system , but reversed course in June .
Since its launch , the app flagged few users for possible exposure , according to the Sunday Times .
Engineers figured out the reason why last week .
The app was originally built to simply recommend that anyone closer than 2 meters for more than 15 minutes to someone who later tested positive should quarantine , according to The Guardian .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjusted to take into account when the sick person ’ s symptoms began .
Research shows that people tend to have high levels of virus in their nose and throat , and may be more contagious , around a day before they start to show symptoms .
Levels stay high the first few days of symptoms , and then drop off .
If someone was in contact with a sick person outside of that window , the UK app would consider the interaction less risky .
If they were in contact inside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it would only take three minutes of contact to trigger an alert .
The adjusted app did calculate those new risk levels .
But the thresholds at which a person would actually get an alert were left unchanged , according to a government blog post .
Without the updated thresholds , a user could have spent up to 15 minutes with a highly infectious person and up to 40 minutes with a less-contagious person without getting an alert , according to The Guardian .
The error was discovered when the engineering team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurately manage exposures at a distance over a meter away .
A UK Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson told The Guardian that the app was “ the only app in the world using the latest Google-Apple technology to better gauge distance to identify those most at risk .
”

The COVID-19 exposure notification app used in England and Wales failed to warn users if they were in close contact with potentially infectious COVID-19 patients. Because of the error, thousands of people were not told to quarantine even when they should have been, according to the Sunday Times, which first reported the flaw.
The app was launched on September 24th, and there have been 19 million downloads since. It’s built using Google and Apple’s Bluetooth Low Energy-based system, which monitors nearby phones. If someone tests positive for COVID-19, their app can alert the phones that they were in contact with. The UK originally planned to use its own app, sidestepping the Google and Apple system, but reversed course in June.
Since its launch, the app flagged few users for possible exposure, according to the Sunday Times. Engineers figured out the reason why last week. The app was originally built to simply recommend that anyone closer than 2 meters for more than 15 minutes to someone who later tested positive should quarantine, according to The Guardian. But just before the launch, it was adjusted to take into account when the sick person’s symptoms began.
Research shows that people tend to have high levels of virus in their nose and throat, and may be more contagious, around a day before they start to show symptoms. Levels stay high the first few days of symptoms, and then drop off. If someone was in contact with a sick person outside of that window, the app would consider the interaction less risky. If they were in contact inside of that window, on the other hand, it would only take three minutes of contact to trigger an alert.
The adjusted app did calculate those new risk levels. But the thresholds at which a person would actually get an alert were left unchanged, according to a government blog post. Without the updated thresholds, a user could have spent up to 15 minutes with a highly infectious person and up to 40 minutes with a less-contagious person without getting an alert, according to The Guardian.
The error was discovered when the engineering team added another update, which could more accurately manage exposures at a distance over a meter away.
A UK Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson told The Guardian that the app was “the only app in the world using the latest Google-Apple technology to better gauge distance to identify those most at risk.”


theverge--2020-11-02--Twitch announces a virtual TwitchCon next week

The pandemic has taken many things from the world — but mostly it ’ s stolen events .
Every hang is a potential death sentence .
Thankfully , Twitch , at least , has gone virtual : it announced today that its flagship conference , TwitchCon , will be happening online this year .
Oh , and it ’ s not called TwitchCon .
It ’ s now GlitchCon , and it ’ s happening on November 14th .
“ Important announcement from Twitch , ” the ad begins , “ Numerous glitches have been observed on Twitch.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by — yes — “ a portal to another dimension.
” Which is fun !
If GlitchCon is anything like the analog version , it ’ ll show off the site ’ s artists , cosplayers , and communities .
TwitchCon is the streaming platform ’ s signature event , and its main function is to bring its numerous , disparate communities of streamers and fans together — it ’ s where online friends become real life confidants .
Here ’ s hoping the online version can achieve something similar ; Twitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can expect .
I ’ ve reached out to Twitch for more details about the festival , and will update this post when I hear back .

The pandemic has taken many things from the world — but mostly it’s stolen events. Every hang is a potential death sentence. Thankfully, Twitch, at least, has gone virtual: it announced today that its flagship conference, TwitchCon, will be happening online this year. Oh, and it’s not called TwitchCon. It’s now GlitchCon, and it’s happening on November 14th.
“Important announcement from Twitch,” the ad begins, “Numerous glitches have been observed on Twitch.” In this particular universe, those glitches were caused by — yes — “a portal to another dimension.”
Which is fun! If GlitchCon is anything like the analog version, it’ll show off the site’s artists, cosplayers, and communities. TwitchCon is the streaming platform’s signature event, and its main function is to bring its numerous, disparate communities of streamers and fans together — it’s where online friends become real life confidants. Here’s hoping the online version can achieve something similar; Twitch hasn’t said anything about what we can expect.


theverge--2020-11-02--Apple will reportedly launch Arm-based MacBook Air and Pro laptops at ‘One More Thing’ event

Apple ’ s upcoming “ One More Thing ” event , announced this morning and scheduled for November 10th , will be a major break with tradition in more ways than one : it will be the first time the company unveils an Apple laptop featuring its own custom Arm-based CPUs .
Apple plans to debut three new laptops next week , one 13-inch MacBook Air and two different-sized MacBook Pro models ( 13-inches and 16-inches ) that ditch Intel processors , according to a new report from Bloomberg ’ s Mark Gurman .
We had a strong inkling that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an iPhone-specific one last month and one dedicated to the latest Apple Watch and iPads back in September — would be when Apple debuts its Arm-based Macs , which the company confirmed after years of swirling rumors back at WWDC this past summer .
But it wasn ’ t clear , at least until Bloomberg ’ s report , what models might get the custom CPUs first .
According to Gurman , a redesigned iMac , a new Mac mini , and a half-sized Mac Pro , all powered by Apple chip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Apple CEO Tim Cook said during the announcement of its own Arm-based Macs that the transition to fully supporting its lineup with the custom chipset would take about two years .
That gives us a rough timeline of when we might see other computers outside the MacBook line get updated with Arm variants .
Apple has been testing how this might affect its software ecosystem by letting developers create and run software on a Mac powered by an iPad Pro processor .
The core changes the Arm-based Macs will facilitate — most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ software designed for the iPhone and iPad on Mac computers — will also be enabled by the upcoming macOS Big Sur update , which will bring iOS , iPadOS , and macOS closer together than ever before .
That OS update is likely to arrive or receive an official release date next week alongside the new MacBook devices .

Apple’s upcoming “One More Thing” event, announced this morning and scheduled for November 10th, will be a major break with tradition in more ways than one: it will be the first time the company unveils an Apple laptop featuring its own custom Arm-based CPUs. Apple plans to debut three new laptops next week, one 13-inch MacBook Air and two different-sized MacBook Pro models (13-inches and 16-inches) that ditch Intel processors, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
We had a strong inkling that this event — coming on the heels of an iPhone-specific one last month and one dedicated to the latest Apple Watch and iPads back in September — would be when Apple debuts its Arm-based Macs, which the company confirmed after years of swirling rumors back at WWDC this past summer. But it wasn’t clear, at least until Bloomberg’s report, what models might get the custom CPUs first. According to Gurman, a redesigned iMac, a new Mac mini, and a half-sized Mac Pro, all powered by Apple chip architecture, are also in the works.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said during the announcement of its own Arm-based Macs that the transition to fully supporting its lineup with the custom chipset would take about two years. That gives us a rough timeline of when we might see other computers outside the MacBook line get updated with Arm variants.


theverge--2020-11-02--AMC’s revenue plummets by more than 90 percent as theaters remain empty

AMC Entertainment didn ’ t try to hide the immense financial duress the company has faced the last several months and the increasingly uncertain future that lies ahead if AMC can ’ t find new ways to make cash .
The company posted a revenue of $ 119.5 million in its third quarter , down 91 percent year over year .
The same quarter last year brought in more than $ 1 billion .
AMC noted in its earnings that it ’ s “ operating approximately 539 of its 600 domestic locations , ” as of October 2020 , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles remain big obstacles .
The issue is getting people into those theaters on a consistent basis without any big movies to encourage attendance .
On Monday , the company also filed new documents stating it was trying to sell 20 million class A shares in an attempt to secure just under $ 50 million .
“ The duration and impact of this pandemic are still affecting us to this day and are certain to continue to affect our results going forward , ” CEO Adam Aron said in the report .
AMC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced a dire financial situation .
In mid-October , AMC said it would likely run out of cash if the company didn ’ t find a way to bring in some form of substantial revenue while studios delay their films and theaters remain closed in major metropolitan areas like New York City and Los Angeles .
Aron previously told CNBC the company is focused on fundraising , not bankruptcy rumors that spurred after public documents filed suggested that could be a possibility .
There are a few revenue methods for raising cash to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in those documents , including negotiations with landlords over theater lease payments and starting joint ventures with other business partners ( including studios like Universal Pictures ) .
The company also suggested it could potentially sell off some of its assets .
As it stood in October when AMC filed public documents , however , “ at the existing cash burn rate , [ AMC ] anticipates that existing cash resources would be largely depleted by the end of 2020 or early 2021.
” Without any major blockbusters to drive people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again in states across the country , things are likely to get worse in the immediate future .
In those same public documents , AMC ’ s chief financial officer , Sean Goodman , warned that even if AMC can raise some cash , it might not be enough to stave off possible bankruptcy .
“ Our ability to be predictive is uncertain due to the unknown magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic ” “ Our ability to be predictive is uncertain due to the unknown magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite all of the financial turmoil the company is facing , Aron spent the majority of the company ’ s earnings call telling analysts and investors that it remains focused on raising capital .
This included reciting one of Winston Churchill ’ s famous World War II speeches about holding strong and marching forward ; the insinuation seemed to be that AMC was also not giving up without a fight .
The CEO reiterated that the company has “ sufficient liquidity to get through the beginning of 2021.
” The big question is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve delayed from 2020 into 2021 on time .
Take AT & T-owned Warner Bros. , for example .
The company released Tenet globally , and while the film performed well in international markets , it underperformed in the United States .
On the call , Aron said he ’ s talked to Warner Bros. executives and Warner Bros. is “ desperately trying to hold on to their Christmas release of Wonder Woman 1984.
” And AT & T CEO John Stankey acknowledged on his own recent earnings call that executives aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theaters in early 2021 .
“ We ’ re not optimistic , ” Stankey said on the call .
“ We ’ re not expecting a huge recovery in theatrical moving into the early part of next year .
We ’ re expecting it to continue to be choppy.
” With studios like Warner Bros. , Disney , and Universal , the companies can pivot some of their titles to streaming exclusives .
This could help grow HBO Max , Disney Plus , and Peacock respectively .
The companies , alongside studios like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their movies as digital exclusives , selling them on digital retailers like Amazon and iTunes .
Or , as we ’ ve seen happen multiple times over the last few months , studios could sell their titles to streamers like Netflix , which are seeing massive growth over the last few months as people stay home and need new titles to satiate consumer demand .
“ AMC is not stuck back in 1955 ” Aron said on the call that he ’ s aware streaming is taking a priority for many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he also says that though a number of movies have shifted to streaming or digital releases , “ some 44 major titles have moved from 2020 to 2021 to play theatrically ” as well .
His hope is that , like with Universal , many studios will work more closely with AMC .
Universal currently has a much shorter release window ( the time that a film must play in theaters ) before it can appear on digital marketplaces .
As part of the deal , AMC also receives some portion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sold by Universal through VOD .
“ AMC is not stuck back in 1955 .
We are willing to consider alternate models , ” Aron said .
“ We understand the world of streaming is upon us .
We believe it optimizes our profitability and the studio ’ s profitability if they can have a combo of theatrical releases and streaming.
” The point is that studios have other options ; AMC would like to find a way to work with those studios .
While theater companies are trying to find ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a cataclysmic shift when studios are pivoting faster to direct-to-consumer entertainment ( streaming ) .
Warner Bros. and Disney would like to be in theaters .
The companies make billions of dollars every year through global box office revenue .
But while Disney and Warner Bros. have digital routes to hold things over until things do start to return to some form of normalcy , AMC wants to find ways to partner in order to make it out of the pandemic .
Update November 2nd , 7:08PM ET : The story has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AMC ’ s earnings call .

AMC Entertainment didn’t try to hide the immense financial duress the company has faced the last several months and the increasingly uncertain future that lies ahead if AMC can’t find new ways to make cash.
The company posted a revenue of $119.5 million in its third quarter, down 91 percent year over year. The same quarter last year brought in more than $1 billion. AMC noted in its earnings that it’s “operating approximately 539 of its 600 domestic locations,” as of October 2020, but cities like New York City and Los Angeles remain big obstacles. The issue is getting people into those theaters on a consistent basis without any big movies to encourage attendance. On Monday, the company also filed new documents stating it was trying to sell 20 million class A shares in an attempt to secure just under $50 million.
“The duration and impact of this pandemic are still affecting us to this day and are certain to continue to affect our results going forward,” CEO Adam Aron said in the report.
AMC has been warning for months that it faced a dire financial situation. In mid-October, AMC said it would likely run out of cash if the company didn’t find a way to bring in some form of substantial revenue while studios delay their films and theaters remain closed in major metropolitan areas like New York City and Los Angeles. Aron previously told CNBC the company is focused on fundraising, not bankruptcy rumors that spurred after public documents filed suggested that could be a possibility.
There are a few revenue methods for raising cash to help tide things over that AMC laid out in those documents, including negotiations with landlords over theater lease payments and starting joint ventures with other business partners (including studios like Universal Pictures). The company also suggested it could potentially sell off some of its assets. As it stood in October when AMC filed public documents, however, “at the existing cash burn rate, [AMC] anticipates that existing cash resources would be largely depleted by the end of 2020 or early 2021.”
Without any major blockbusters to drive people to theaters, and with coronavirus cases rising again in states across the country, things are likely to get worse in the immediate future. In those same public documents, AMC’s chief financial officer, Sean Goodman, warned that even if AMC can raise some cash, it might not be enough to stave off possible bankruptcy.
“Our ability to be predictive is uncertain due to the unknown magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic”
“Our ability to be predictive is uncertain due to the unknown magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the documents read.
Despite all of the financial turmoil the company is facing, Aron spent the majority of the company’s earnings call telling analysts and investors that it remains focused on raising capital. This included reciting one of Winston Churchill’s famous World War II speeches about holding strong and marching forward; the insinuation seemed to be that AMC was also not giving up without a fight. The CEO reiterated that the company has “sufficient liquidity to get through the beginning of 2021.” The big question is whether studios will actually release films they’ve delayed from 2020 into 2021 on time.
Take AT&T-owned Warner Bros., for example. The company released Tenet globally, and while the film performed well in international markets, it underperformed in the United States. On the call, Aron said he’s talked to Warner Bros. executives and Warner Bros. is “desperately trying to hold on to their Christmas release of Wonder Woman 1984.” And AT&T CEO John Stankey acknowledged on his own recent earnings call that executives aren’t expecting a heavy return to theaters in early 2021.
“We’re not optimistic,” Stankey said on the call. “We’re not expecting a huge recovery in theatrical moving into the early part of next year. We’re expecting it to continue to be choppy.”
With studios like Warner Bros., Disney, and Universal, the companies can pivot some of their titles to streaming exclusives. This could help grow HBO Max, Disney Plus, and Peacock respectively. The companies, alongside studios like Sony and Paramount, can also release their movies as digital exclusives, selling them on digital retailers like Amazon and iTunes. Or, as we’ve seen happen multiple times over the last few months, studios could sell their titles to streamers like Netflix, which are seeing massive growth over the last few months as people stay home and need new titles to satiate consumer demand.
“AMC is not stuck back in 1955”
Aron said on the call that he’s aware streaming is taking a priority for many of the studios that also release titles theatrically. But he also says that though a number of movies have shifted to streaming or digital releases, “some 44 major titles have moved from 2020 to 2021 to play theatrically” as well.
His hope is that, like with Universal, many studios will work more closely with AMC. Universal currently has a much shorter release window (the time that a film must play in theaters) before it can appear on digital marketplaces. As part of the deal, AMC also receives some portion of the sale revenue for copies of films sold by Universal through VOD.
“AMC is not stuck back in 1955. We are willing to consider alternate models,” Aron said. “We understand the world of streaming is upon us. We believe it optimizes our profitability and the studio’s profitability if they can have a combo of theatrical releases and streaming.”
The point is that studios have other options; AMC would like to find a way to work with those studios. While theater companies are trying to find ways to survive, they’re also caught in a cataclysmic shift when studios are pivoting faster to direct-to-consumer entertainment (streaming). Warner Bros. and Disney would like to be in theaters. The companies make billions of dollars every year through global box office revenue. But while Disney and Warner Bros. have digital routes to hold things over until things do start to return to some form of normalcy, AMC wants to find ways to partner in order to make it out of the pandemic.