theverge--2020-01-10--How gaming PCs are competing with the PS5 and Xbox Series X

Every January , PC gaming companies get a full week during CES to show us the latest and greatest in new processors , graphics cards , monitors , and everything else that ’ s been cooking for the last year or longer .
Normally , the PC industry gets to do this without its console counterpart encroaching on its turf .
It ’ s a place for discussions about totally unfettered gaming performance and the kinds of ludicrous hardware you could buy if money was no concern .
But this year is a bit different .
A new console generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , and that shift is poised to change everything about the gaming landscape whether you play in front of a TV or your computer monitor .
New consoles will mean a huge step up in the production values game developers can squeeze out of baseline hardware .
A new console generation later this year will change the entire gaming landscape for all platforms And because most games today are developed both for console and PC simultaneously , that means the overall performance bar is going to take a big leap this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than ever , no matter where you play them .
It also means PC owners can look forward to upgrading their rigs to take advantage of a much higher performance ceiling in the years to come .
But that situation has also cast a long shadow over this year ’ s PC gaming announcements at CES .
The industry is somewhat stuck in a kind of technical purgatory until the new console generation lands .
That way , we can measure performance against current graphics chips — and then against a meaningful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s clear even at CES that Microsoft and Sony ’ s new hardware are the most talked-about gaming news on everyone ’ s minds .
Sony showed up to its annual press conference in Las Vegas with a tiny morsel of gaming news — the official PS5 logo — that nonetheless generated a ton of buzz .
And AMD made the mistake of using a fake render of the Xbox Series X during its CES presentation , leading to a wave of press coverage over something as minor as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ box .
That doesn ’ t mean the PC gaming industry is taking a back seat at CES .
Instead , we ’ re actually seeing an interesting trend where companies like Alienware , Razer , and others are acknowledging the benefits of consoles and trying to tempt traditional console-only consumers over to the PC platform .
In years prior , this would mean touting all the performance benefits you get with a gaming PC .
But with new consoles on the horizon that are inching closer to becoming full-fledged computers , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer the benefits of both worlds in a single package .
For the last seven years , the PC has been unequivocally the best and most performant platform out there .
The new consoles were basically outdated by a run-of-the-mill gaming PC as soon as they launched in 2013 , and even the mid-cycle refreshes in the form of the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro were well outpaced by Nvidia ’ s Turing architecture that was introduced in 2018 .
But in the years since , we ’ ve seen the console @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like with the Nintendo Switch , and cross-platform play and subscription services .
At CES 2020 , we saw the PC gaming industry try to cater to console audiences The PC and console ecosystems have never been closer than they are today , and it ’ s never been easier to jump between the two .
If you ’ re a Microsoft fan , you can just pay $ 15 a month to get hundreds of games playable across your Xbox One and your PC , making it sensible to own both if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controller-ready setup and a more performance-geared mouse-and-keyboard one .
That was a pipe dream when the Xbox One first launched .
At CES 2020 , we ’ re seeing the PC gaming industry acknowledge this new reality , and try to develop products that cater to the audience that may eventually want to own devices that can do everything and appeal to all audiences .
Alienware arrived with its Concept UFO prototype , a powerful Nintendo Switch-like handheld that aims to let you play PC games on the go .
Both Intel and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form factor NUC PCs that try to bring the accessibility and size of consoles to something that can be easily upgraded to meet your needs .
PC gaming manufacturer Origin came back to the show with a new version of its Big O rig that stuffs either a PS4 Pro or Xbox One S inside the same case as a gaming PC .
It ’ s the best of both worlds in the most literal sense .
How many consumers will actually buy any of these products ?
Probably very few .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PC manufacturers can show off experimental prototypes that are more of a signal of where a company thinks the industry is going rather than what it thinks might sell right here and now .
It ’ s also these ideas that do occasionally transition into more marketable and feasible products down the line .
Before the NUC-based Razer Tomahawk modular PC announced this week , there was the company ’ s Project Christine experimental version of the same idea first shown six years ago .
This doesn ’ t mean Alienware , Razer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to convert console gamers , although I ’ m sure neither company would complain if you bought one of their pricey prebuilt towers or gaming laptops .
But it is a realization that there ’ s a growing market of consumers who have traditionally owned consoles and may be looking to upgrade that box sitting under their TV .
What better way to do that than to remind them that the world of PC gaming is much more than just gigantic , ugly tower PCs that cost a fortune and can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be the case that the new console generation keeps its hold on the existing PlayStation and Xbox fans .
After all , owning a PS4 or Xbox One now is probably the most likely sign you ’ ll be buying the respective upgrade come this holiday season .
But that outcome used to be a predictable one , with the rare exception being a switch to the competing console platform .
Nowadays , it feels more likely that a console owner might be willing to take the plunge into PC gaming , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually pick up the PS5 or Xbox Series X if the rumored specs are indeed as high as they seem .
The PC and gaming accessory manufacturers , better than most companies , know that this convergence will only continue to accelerate .
We ’ re living in an industry where the differences between the gaming platforms you play on are largely insignificant outside the restrictions these platform owners place on their customers and the exclusive games they finance to keep diehard fans committed to the brand .
The meaningful differences between gaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CES , it ’ s apparent PC gaming isn ’ t going to be taking big leaps anytime soon , at least not until the new consoles come out .
It ’ s not the right time , but updates on the horizon — like Intel ’ s new discrete graphics chip and the renewed processor war between the chipmaker and its rival AMD — could seriously shake up the laptop market and , in turn , the whole PC gaming landscape .
In the meantime , we ’ re seeing evidence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five years from now when consoles are even more like PCs and vice versa .
It may not sound like something a gaming enthusiast with a multithousand-dollar rig is looking for right now .
But a handheld PC-level machine with the form factor of the Nintendo Switch , like Alienware ’ s Concept UFO , is the kind of innovation that could , many iterations down the line , truly marry the best of both platforms in one device .
And it ’ s those big swings that make CES a place where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and glimpse an exciting future .

Every January, PC gaming companies get a full week during CES to show us the latest and greatest in new processors, graphics cards, monitors, and everything else that’s been cooking for the last year or longer. Normally, the PC industry gets to do this without its console counterpart encroaching on its turf. It’s a place for discussions about totally unfettered gaming performance and the kinds of ludicrous hardware you could buy if money was no concern. But this year is a bit different.
A new console generation from Microsoft and Sony is arriving later this year, and that shift is poised to change everything about the gaming landscape whether you play in front of a TV or your computer monitor. New consoles will mean a huge step up in the production values game developers can squeeze out of baseline hardware.
A new console generation later this year will change the entire gaming landscape for all platforms
And because most games today are developed both for console and PC simultaneously, that means the overall performance bar is going to take a big leap this fall. Games are going to look better than ever, no matter where you play them. It also means PC owners can look forward to upgrading their rigs to take advantage of a much higher performance ceiling in the years to come.
But that situation has also cast a long shadow over this year’s PC gaming announcements at CES. The industry is somewhat stuck in a kind of technical purgatory until the new console generation lands. That way, we can measure performance against current graphics chips — and then against a meaningful new generation of GPUs coming next year.
It’s clear even at CES that Microsoft and Sony’s new hardware are the most talked-about gaming news on everyone’s minds. Sony showed up to its annual press conference in Las Vegas with a tiny morsel of gaming news — the official PS5 logo — that nonetheless generated a ton of buzz. And AMD made the mistake of using a fake render of the Xbox Series X during its CES presentation, leading to a wave of press coverage over something as minor as the port selection on the back of the box.
That doesn’t mean the PC gaming industry is taking a back seat at CES. Instead, we’re actually seeing an interesting trend where companies like Alienware, Razer, and others are acknowledging the benefits of consoles and trying to tempt traditional console-only consumers over to the PC platform. In years prior, this would mean touting all the performance benefits you get with a gaming PC. But with new consoles on the horizon that are inching closer to becoming full-fledged computers, we’re seeing PC manufacturers try to offer the benefits of both worlds in a single package.
For the last seven years, the PC has been unequivocally the best and most performant platform out there. The new consoles were basically outdated by a run-of-the-mill gaming PC as soon as they launched in 2013, and even the mid-cycle refreshes in the form of the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro were well outpaced by Nvidia’s Turing architecture that was introduced in 2018. But in the years since, we’ve seen the console industry innovate with regard to portability, like with the Nintendo Switch, and cross-platform play and subscription services.
At CES 2020, we saw the PC gaming industry try to cater to console audiences
The PC and console ecosystems have never been closer than they are today, and it’s never been easier to jump between the two. If you’re a Microsoft fan, you can just pay $15 a month to get hundreds of games playable across your Xbox One and your PC, making it sensible to own both if you want both a big screen, controller-ready setup and a more performance-geared mouse-and-keyboard one. That was a pipe dream when the Xbox One first launched.
At CES 2020, we’re seeing the PC gaming industry acknowledge this new reality, and try to develop products that cater to the audience that may eventually want to own devices that can do everything and appeal to all audiences. Alienware arrived with its Concept UFO prototype, a powerful Nintendo Switch-like handheld that aims to let you play PC games on the go. Both Intel and Razer came to CES with fascinating small form factor NUC PCs that try to bring the accessibility and size of consoles to something that can be easily upgraded to meet your needs.
The latest iteration of Origin’s Big O crams an entire PlayStation 4 Pro or Xbox One S inside a standard gaming PC tower, albeit a gigantic one. It’s the best of both worlds, literally in the same box. Photo: Origin
PC gaming manufacturer Origin came back to the show with a new version of its Big O rig that stuffs either a PS4 Pro or Xbox One S inside the same case as a gaming PC. It’s the best of both worlds in the most literal sense.
How many consumers will actually buy any of these products? Probably very few. But CES has always been a place where PC manufacturers can show off experimental prototypes that are more of a signal of where a company thinks the industry is going rather than what it thinks might sell right here and now. It’s also these ideas that do occasionally transition into more marketable and feasible products down the line. Before the NUC-based Razer Tomahawk modular PC announced this week, there was the company’s Project Christine experimental version of the same idea first shown six years ago.
This doesn’t mean Alienware, Razer, and other big-name PC makers necessarily want to convert console gamers, although I’m sure neither company would complain if you bought one of their pricey prebuilt towers or gaming laptops. But it is a realization that there’s a growing market of consumers who have traditionally owned consoles and may be looking to upgrade that box sitting under their TV. What better way to do that than to remind them that the world of PC gaming is much more than just gigantic, ugly tower PCs that cost a fortune and can be complicated and cumbersome to maintain?
Intel’s NUC 9 Extreme, also referred to as the Ghost Canyon, is a modular, small form factor PC that lets you upgrade its various parts as easily as you can slide in a new GPU on a traditional model. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
It may be the case that the new console generation keeps its hold on the existing PlayStation and Xbox fans. After all, owning a PS4 or Xbox One now is probably the most likely sign you’ll be buying the respective upgrade come this holiday season. But that outcome used to be a predictable one, with the rare exception being a switch to the competing console platform. Nowadays, it feels more likely that a console owner might be willing to take the plunge into PC gaming, just as a lifelong PC gamer might actually pick up the PS5 or Xbox Series X if the rumored specs are indeed as high as they seem.
The PC and gaming accessory manufacturers, better than most companies, know that this convergence will only continue to accelerate. We’re living in an industry where the differences between the gaming platforms you play on are largely insignificant outside the restrictions these platform owners place on their customers and the exclusive games they finance to keep diehard fans committed to the brand.
The meaningful differences between gaming platforms are starting to fall away
At CES, it’s apparent PC gaming isn’t going to be taking big leaps anytime soon, at least not until the new consoles come out. It’s not the right time, but updates on the horizon — like Intel’s new discrete graphics chip and the renewed processor war between the chipmaker and its rival AMD — could seriously shake up the laptop market and, in turn, the whole PC gaming landscape.


theverge--2020-01-10--Tangled Apple EarPods, but make it fashion

Though it seems like most people have fully embraced AirPods , let us not forget our roots , and the fact that all of us were once victims to the wired , messy cable life .
These tangled Apple EarPod earrings by artists Aleia Murawski and Samuel Copeland serve as a humbling reminder of from where we came .
The statement piece , first put on our radar by XOXO Festival co-founder Andy Baio , sells for $ 40 on the duo ’ s merch shop , Beef ’ s World .
The story behind the earrings tells the sweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stranger on the subway listening to music on his tangled headphones .
On the item listing , the duo describes their creation as Chaotic Spiral Headphone Earrings , which is a fair way to describe them .
Along with these beautiful chaos earrings , Beef ’ s World also sells Mini Magic Wand earrings , if you ’ re into bold fashion statements .
Murawski and Copeland also have a delightful photo and video series in which they chronicle the rich inner lives of snails , which is well worth following on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concept that ’ s been thoroughly explored in various ways : there are different variations on Etsy , real Bluetooth headphones that also double as earrings , and one guy who even used his gauge piercings as AirPod holders .
Personally , I don ’ t think I can ever give up my wired EarPods for AirPods , because I lose everything I touch .
I ’ m like David Blaine , but the disappearing items are unintentional , and I will never see my possessions again .
Besides , I kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if I ’ m standing in front of someone on the subway wearing AirPods .
That ’ s just a fun little thing I like to do to make AirPods owners feel good about themselves .

Though it seems like most people have fully embraced AirPods, let us not forget our roots, and the fact that all of us were once victims to the wired, messy cable life. These tangled Apple EarPod earrings by artists Aleia Murawski and Samuel Copeland serve as a humbling reminder of from where we came. The statement piece, first put on our radar by XOXO Festival co-founder Andy Baio, sells for $40 on the duo’s merch shop, Beef’s World.
The story behind the earrings tells the sweet moment when the artists were inspired by a stranger on the subway listening to music on his tangled headphones. On the item listing, the duo describes their creation as Chaotic Spiral Headphone Earrings, which is a fair way to describe them.
Along with these beautiful chaos earrings, Beef’s World also sells Mini Magic Wand earrings, if you’re into bold fashion statements. Murawski and Copeland also have a delightful photo and video series in which they chronicle the rich inner lives of snails, which is well worth following on their Instagram.
Headphones as earrings is a concept that’s been thoroughly explored in various ways: there are different variations on Etsy, real Bluetooth headphones that also double as earrings, and one guy who even used his gauge piercings as AirPod holders.


theverge--2020-01-10--This year’s monitors will be faster, brighter, and curvier than ever

If there ’ s one product category that still often sees genuine technological advancements at CES , it ’ s screens — and these days , PC monitors in particular .
As someone who enjoys looking at nice displays , I ’ m always down to check out some even nicer ones , and CES 2020 brought us some of the fastest , brightest , largest , and curviest monitors ever .
The question , though , is when I ’ ll actually be moved to buy one .
A couple years ago I wrote about how monitor shopping sucked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find one that checked off all my boxes .
It ’ s harder than you might think !
And I ’ m still pretty much happy with what I have .
That ’ s why I spent one day at CES specifically tracking down as many monitor “ firsts ” as I possibly could , in an attempt to gauge the value of all the brand-new features that might push a prospective buyer to snap up a new screen .
Here ’ s my take on how important each one is .
Asus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at CES , setting a brand-new bar for high refresh rates .
Now , I am a huge proponent of VRR ( variable refresh rate ) technology , and made it a priority when buying my own 165Hz monitor years ago .
Theoretically , the faster refresh rate lets players respond even faster than before .
That said , 240Hz monitors are already a thing , and I think you hit diminishing returns pretty sharply unless you ’ re a pro League of Legends player .
Asus had the new 360Hz monitor set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrolling through the same MOBA battlefield at high speed .
And honestly , I didn ’ t know which was which until I noticed the frame rate counter in the corner of each screen .
After that , I felt like I could just about tell the difference , but I might have been kidding myself .
Put this one down in the “ cool that it exists , but you almost certainly don ’ t need it ” column .
Especially if you ’ re considering laptops , which now have optional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet gotten a powerful new wave of mobile GPUs to drive them .
Between unreliable software support and displays that aren ’ t quite up to the task , HDR on Windows has been kind of a mess for years .
VESA ’ s DisplayHDR certifications were meant to help sort things out , but now there are lots of 400-nit “ HDR-certified ” monitors in the market that don ’ t produce brightness levels anything like what you ’ d expect from a good HDR TV set .
This year at CES @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced some of the very first monitors with eye-searing 1,440-nit brightness and support for the DisplayHDR 1400 standard along with Mini LED backlights , which are supposed to offer more accurate local dimming in addition to providing that brightness boost .
And yeah , after looking at them in person , I would say that this is legit PC HDR .
It ’ s not perfect — you still get a degree of typical IPS glow on dark screens , and the Mini LED dimming isn ’ t going to compete with OLED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , these displays look great .
If I were buying a gaming monitor today , I would probably at least want to future-proof myself with HDR support , and I think that would probably mean considering a high DisplayHDR spec to be essential .
As for Mini LED , it ’ s hard to say how much of a leap forward it represents — the effectiveness of LED dimming solutions can vary from model to model or panel to panel .
But if nothing else , it should signal that you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
More curved than ever with 1000R curvature Both Samsung and MSI introduced what appear to be the first monitors with screen curvatures of 1000R , which is a measurement I admit I have never heard of , but supposedly replicates the human eye .
Samsung ’ s are available in 27 , 32 , and 32:9 49-inch sizes , while MSI ’ s is a 21:9 34-inch model .
I ’ ve never really been a curved monitor guy .
I have been a 21:9 monitor guy , though never at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t really think the extra curvature will be much of a bonus for monitors designed for regular desks .
But if you do like curved monitors , you probably already know whether you ’ d like yours to curve even more .
I did , however , think that the curvature was pretty novel on Samsung ’ s gigantic 49-inch 5120 x 1440 Odyssey G9 , a monitor so wide that it truly does benefit from 1000R , up from 1800R for previous monitors .
When I sat in front of it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d be like if it curved less , and it ’ d just involve pushing the edges of the screen further away from my eyes .
The combination of shape and size makes you feel like you ’ re sitting inside the screen — it ’ s honestly a cool experience .
At least , it would have been if Samsung hadn ’ t inexplicably decided to demonstrate it with Overwatch , a game that doesn ’ t support ultra-wide aspect ratios at all .
The 16:9 image was stretched across the display @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though , I wonder what the sweeping vistas of Red Dead Redemption 2 would look like .
What I will say about 1000R curvature is that on this specific Samsung monitor , it is not a gimmick if you are okay with dropping what is almost certainly going to be an ungodly amount of money and probably refitting your entire home office at the same time .
In other words , you probably shouldn ’ t allow yourself to want it .
Lots of PC companies are now offering gaming monitors in sizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asus ’ 43-inch VA panel to Acer ’ s new 55-inch OLED to HP ’ s Nvidia-endorsed 65-inch LED display from last year .
I thought this was a cool idea when Nvidia introduced it a couple of years ago at CES — blend the best features of TVs and gaming monitors into giant panels with simple interfaces .
Obviously they ’ d be niche products , since most people aren ’ t going to build PC gaming dens around 65-inch screens , but it felt like a niche worth serving .
Things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though , because HDMI 2.1 is one of the big stories of the show .
The new specification brings variable refresh rates at high resolutions to standard living room TVs for the first time , and it ’ ll work with next-gen game consoles as well as PCs .
At this point , it ’ s hard to imagine who wouldn ’ t be better served just buying an HDMI 2.1-compatible OLED TV instead of a PC monitor .
When writing about niche technology , I try not to write off potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who might possibly want a particular thing , even if it seems excessively specific to me at first .
After all , we shouldn ’ t encourage the tech industry only to cater for the most mainstream users imaginable .
That ’ s why I ’ m including LG ’ s new UltraFine Ergo monitor here , because you and I probably have no use for it , but I think the design is great anyway .
It clamps onto the back of your desk , and then you ’ re able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or swivel the panel more or less however you want .
One use case LG suggests is turning the monitor all the way around to show the person sat opposite you at work .
Would I buy it ?
No , because there are a bunch of things that I personally need a monitor to do that it doesn ’ t .
But I bet there are people out there who put ultimate flexibility at the top of their own list , and they ’ ll probably be very happy with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitors .
They ’ re an unavoidably messy market with trade-offs in all directions .
You can ’ t really make a perfect one .
But this CES has certainly got me thinking about my next upgrade .

If there’s one product category that still often sees genuine technological advancements at CES, it’s screens — and these days, PC monitors in particular. As someone who enjoys looking at nice displays, I’m always down to check out some even nicer ones, and CES 2020 brought us some of the fastest, brightest, largest, and curviest monitors ever.
The question, though, is when I’ll actually be moved to buy one. A couple years ago I wrote about how monitor shopping sucked through the lens of my quest to find one that checked off all my boxes. It’s harder than you might think! And I’m still pretty much happy with what I have.
That’s why I spent one day at CES specifically tracking down as many monitor “firsts” as I possibly could, in an attempt to gauge the value of all the brand-new features that might push a prospective buyer to snap up a new screen. Here’s my take on how important each one is.
The ROG Swift 360Hz monitor, at left, coming “later this year.” Photo by Sam Byford / The Verge
Faster screens at 360Hz
Asus introduced the ROG Swift 360Hz G-Sync monitor at CES, setting a brand-new bar for high refresh rates. Now, I am a huge proponent of VRR (variable refresh rate) technology, and made it a priority when buying my own 165Hz monitor years ago. Theoretically, the faster refresh rate lets players respond even faster than before. That said, 240Hz monitors are already a thing, and I think you hit diminishing returns pretty sharply unless you’re a pro League of Legends player.
Asus had the new 360Hz monitor set up next to a 240Hz model, scrolling through the same MOBA battlefield at high speed. And honestly, I didn’t know which was which until I noticed the frame rate counter in the corner of each screen. After that, I felt like I could just about tell the difference, but I might have been kidding myself.
Put this one down in the “cool that it exists, but you almost certainly don’t need it” column. Especially if you’re considering laptops, which now have optional 300Hz screens, but haven’t yet gotten a powerful new wave of mobile GPUs to drive them.
Acer’s 32-inch ROG Swift PG32UQX. Not pictured: the Acer Predator X32 that meets the same spec. Photo by Sam Byford / The Verge
Very bright HDR screens with Mini LED backlights
Between unreliable software support and displays that aren’t quite up to the task, HDR on Windows has been kind of a mess for years. VESA’s DisplayHDR certifications were meant to help sort things out, but now there are lots of 400-nit “HDR-certified” monitors in the market that don’t produce brightness levels anything like what you’d expect from a good HDR TV set.
This year at CES, however, Asus and Acer both announced some of the very first monitors with eye-searing 1,440-nit brightness and support for the DisplayHDR 1400 standard along with Mini LED backlights, which are supposed to offer more accurate local dimming in addition to providing that brightness boost. And yeah, after looking at them in person, I would say that this is legit PC HDR. It’s not perfect — you still get a degree of typical IPS glow on dark screens, and the Mini LED dimming isn’t going to compete with OLED. But for most games and movies, these displays look great.
If I were buying a gaming monitor today, I would probably at least want to future-proof myself with HDR support, and I think that would probably mean considering a high DisplayHDR spec to be essential. As for Mini LED, it’s hard to say how much of a leap forward it represents — the effectiveness of LED dimming solutions can vary from model to model or panel to panel. But if nothing else, it should signal that you’re looking at a monitor with serious HDR support.
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
More curved than ever with 1000R curvature
Both Samsung and MSI introduced what appear to be the first monitors with screen curvatures of 1000R, which is a measurement I admit I have never heard of, but supposedly replicates the human eye. Samsung’s are available in 27, 32, and 32:9 49-inch sizes, while MSI’s is a 21:9 34-inch model.
I’ve never really been a curved monitor guy. I have been a 21:9 monitor guy, though never at such gigantic sizes. I don’t really think the extra curvature will be much of a bonus for monitors designed for regular desks. But if you do like curved monitors, you probably already know whether you’d like yours to curve even more.
It’s like you’re sitting inside the screen
I did, however, think that the curvature was pretty novel on Samsung’s gigantic 49-inch 5120 x 1440 Odyssey G9, a monitor so wide that it truly does benefit from 1000R, up from 1800R for previous monitors. When I sat in front of it, I tried to imagine what it’d be like if it curved less, and it’d just involve pushing the edges of the screen further away from my eyes. The combination of shape and size makes you feel like you’re sitting inside the screen — it’s honestly a cool experience.
At least, it would have been if Samsung hadn’t inexplicably decided to demonstrate it with Overwatch, a game that doesn’t support ultra-wide aspect ratios at all. The 16:9 image was stretched across the display, and frankly it looked terrible. Though, I wonder what the sweeping vistas of Red Dead Redemption 2 would look like.
What I will say about 1000R curvature is that on this specific Samsung monitor, it is not a gimmick if you are okay with dropping what is almost certainly going to be an ungodly amount of money and probably refitting your entire home office at the same time. In other words, you probably shouldn’t allow yourself to want it.
The Acer Predator X55, an OLED TV turned monitor. Image: Acer
Sheer size
Lots of PC companies are now offering gaming monitors in sizes more commonly associated with TVs, from Asus’ 43-inch VA panel to Acer’s new 55-inch OLED to HP’s Nvidia-endorsed 65-inch LED display from last year.
I thought this was a cool idea when Nvidia introduced it a couple of years ago at CES — blend the best features of TVs and gaming monitors into giant panels with simple interfaces. Obviously they’d be niche products, since most people aren’t going to build PC gaming dens around 65-inch screens, but it felt like a niche worth serving.
Things are a little different at this CES, though, because HDMI 2.1 is one of the big stories of the show. The new specification brings variable refresh rates at high resolutions to standard living room TVs for the first time, and it’ll work with next-gen game consoles as well as PCs. At this point, it’s hard to imagine who wouldn’t be better served just buying an HDMI 2.1-compatible OLED TV instead of a PC monitor.
An awesome clamp stand
When writing about niche technology, I try not to write off potential use cases. I like to imagine who might possibly want a particular thing, even if it seems excessively specific to me at first. After all, we shouldn’t encourage the tech industry only to cater for the most mainstream users imaginable.
That’s why I’m including LG’s new UltraFine Ergo monitor here, because you and I probably have no use for it, but I think the design is great anyway. It clamps onto the back of your desk, and then you’re able to raise, lower, tilt, turn, or swivel the panel more or less however you want. One use case LG suggests is turning the monitor all the way around to show the person sat opposite you at work.
Would I buy it? No, because there are a bunch of things that I personally need a monitor to do that it doesn’t. But I bet there are people out there who put ultimate flexibility at the top of their own list, and they’ll probably be very happy with this.


theverge--2020-01-10--The Hummer will reportedly be resurrected as an electric pickup

General Motors is readying the announcement of an all-electric pickup truck that will carry the branding of the company ’ s infamous gas-guzzling Hummer , according to The Wall Street Journal .
The new vehicle will reportedly be teased during a Super Bowl commercial starring LeBron James .
GM will sell the Hummer truck starting in 2022 under its GMC brand , and it isn ’ t expected to revive Hummer as a complete brand of its own , as it once was , according to the report .
GM killed the Hummer brand in 2010 following the financial crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and rising fuel costs .
Representatives for GM and GMC declined to comment .
Rumors have swirled for months that GM was planning to revive the Hummer nameplate , likely for an electric vehicle .
The company is in the midst of a multibillion-dollar push to release 20 new electric vehicles ( across all of its global markets ) by 2023 , and it ’ s shown that it ’ s willing to take big chances in order to meet that goal .
GM wanted to make an electric pickup truck with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after asking for exclusive rights to the Michigan-based EV startup ’ s tech .
( Rivian has since struck a nonexclusive deal with Ford . )
GM has also sold its shuttered factory in Lordstown , Ohio , to an electric truck startup called Lordstown Motors and is planning to build a $ 2.3 billion factory in the town in conjunction with LG ’ s battery division .
GM is reviving the Hummer at a time of skyrocketing SUV and pickup truck sales in the United States , fueled by reasonable gas prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seating position and a sense of security ( in addition to utility ) , and the fact that automakers simply make more profit on these vehicles .
That boom in SUV and truck sales has , unfortunately , had a human cost , though , in the form of a major jump in global CO2 emissions for the sector as well as a dramatic rise in pedestrian deaths .
While an electric Hummer might help mitigate the former , it certainly wouldn ’ t do much to change the latter .

General Motors is readying the announcement of an all-electric pickup truck that will carry the branding of the company’s infamous gas-guzzling Hummer, according to The Wall Street Journal . The new vehicle will reportedly be teased during a Super Bowl commercial starring LeBron James.
GM will sell the Hummer truck starting in 2022 under its GMC brand, and it isn’t expected to revive Hummer as a complete brand of its own, as it once was, according to the report. GM killed the Hummer brand in 2010 following the financial crisis, the automaker’s government bailout, and rising fuel costs. Representatives for GM and GMC declined to comment.
GM is reviving the Hummer at a time of skyrocketing SUV and pickup truck sales in the United States, fueled by reasonable gas prices, customer demand for things like higher seating position and a sense of security (in addition to utility), and the fact that automakers simply make more profit on these vehicles. That boom in SUV and truck sales has, unfortunately, had a human cost, though, in the form of a major jump in global CO2 emissions for the sector as well as a dramatic rise in pedestrian deaths. While an electric Hummer might help mitigate the former, it certainly wouldn’t do much to change the latter.


theverge--2020-01-10--23andMe sold the rights to a drug it developed from its genetic database

The genetics testing company 23andMe licensed the rights to a drug it developed in-house to a Spanish pharmaceutical company , Bloomberg reported .
This is the first time that the company has directly sold a product it created using the genetic information collected from users .
23andMe has already shared genetic data with pharmaceutical companies .
GlaxoSmithKline has the exclusive rights to use its data for drug development , and purchased a $ 300 million stake in the company in 2018 .
But those drug companies use the company ’ s data to create their own drugs .
In this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and conducted animal studies on that drug internally before selling it .
The Spanish company , Almirall , will take the product through human trials .
“ We ’ ve now gone from database to discovery to developing a drug , ” Emily Drabant Conley , 23andMe ’ s vice president of business development , told Bloomberg .
The company ’ s repository of genetic and health data is a gold mine for drug development because researchers can look for relationships between particular genes and health outcomes and target them with therapeutics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 million people , and it says around 80 percent agreed to let their anonymized data be used for research , including drug research .
The terms of service say that customers who agree to let their data be used will not see any financial benefit , even if that data helps develop a blockbuster drug .
The drug the company sold to Almirall is a molecule that blocks signals from small proteins that are involved in autoimmune diseases .
23andMe targeted the compound to treat psoriasis , an autoimmune disease that causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Bloomberg it plans to continue to develop drugs and take them through clinical trials .

The genetics testing company 23andMe licensed the rights to a drug it developed in-house to a Spanish pharmaceutical company, Bloomberg reported. This is the first time that the company has directly sold a product it created using the genetic information collected from users.
23andMe has already shared genetic data with pharmaceutical companies. GlaxoSmithKline has the exclusive rights to use its data for drug development, and purchased a $300 million stake in the company in 2018. But those drug companies use the company’s data to create their own drugs. In this case, 23andMe identified a drug candidate and conducted animal studies on that drug internally before selling it. The Spanish company, Almirall, will take the product through human trials.
“We’ve now gone from database to discovery to developing a drug,” Emily Drabant Conley, 23andMe’s vice president of business development, told Bloomberg.
The company’s repository of genetic and health data is a gold mine for drug development because researchers can look for relationships between particular genes and health outcomes and target them with therapeutics. The company has genetic data on around 10 million people, and it says around 80 percent agreed to let their anonymized data be used for research, including drug research. The terms of service say that customers who agree to let their data be used will not see any financial benefit, even if that data helps develop a blockbuster drug.
The drug the company sold to Almirall is a molecule that blocks signals from small proteins that are involved in autoimmune diseases. 23andMe targeted the compound to treat psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes red and scaly skin patches.


theverge--2020-01-10--Mattress company Casper still trying to pivot to tech, still a mattress company

Casper , the mattress company that cornered the market on podcast ads and got into a skirmish over online mattress reviews a few years back , is trying to pivot into “ non-traditional categories ” according to its attempt to go public , filed Friday and which you can now read in S-1 form .
Casper refers to itself as a “ pioneer of the Sleep Economy ” that brings “ the benefits of cutting-edge technology , data , and insights directly to consumers.
” However , it remains a mattress company .
One that has 1.4 million customers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million on a net loss of $ 92 million in 2018 , but still mainly just sells mattresses and stuff that goes on mattresses .
The company has plans , though , according to the IPO : Regardless of where the company says it ’ s “ increasingly focused , ” Casper ’ s only tech product to date is its Glow bedside lamp .
Casper also has identified a niche it calls the “ Sleep Arc , ” which sounds ... like what people are already doing every night .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light , sound , temperature and humidity , mattress and bedding selection , as well as bedtime and wake-up rituals .
Importantly , we believe that sleep consists of more than just the act of sleeping , and instead , includes the entire set of human behaviors that span from bedtime to wake-up and affect sleep quality—this is what we refer to as the Sleep Arc .
In the IPO , the company also notes that it ’ s different from its exceptionally similar competitors — like Purple , Tuft & Needle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joyful ” experience .
Casper would also very , very much like you to know that it wants to become the “ Nike of sleep , ” whatever that means .
Casper will list on the New York Stock Exchange under the disappointing ticker symbol CSPR .
Might we suggest “ NAPS , ” “ DOZE , ” “ REST , ” or even just “ ZZZZ ” ?

Casper, the mattress company that cornered the market on podcast ads and got into a skirmish over online mattress reviews a few years back, is trying to pivot into “non-traditional categories” according to its attempt to go public, filed Friday and which you can now read in S-1 form. Casper refers to itself as a “pioneer of the Sleep Economy” that brings “the benefits of cutting-edge technology, data, and insights directly to consumers.”
However, it remains a mattress company. One that has 1.4 million customers, and had net revenue of $358 million on a net loss of $92 million in 2018, but still mainly just sells mattresses and stuff that goes on mattresses. The company has plans, though, according to the IPO:
Our offerings [...] are increasingly focused on non-traditional categories, including products that promote the ideal ambience for sleep, such as lighting, sound, scents, temperature, and humidity; sleep technology, such as tracking devices, medical machines, bedside clocks, and connected devices; sleep supplements, such as sprays, pills, and vitamins; and sleep services, such as digital apps, meditation, sleep programming, and counseling.
Regardless of where the company says it’s “increasingly focused,” Casper’s only tech product to date is its Glow bedside lamp.
Casper also has identified a niche it calls the “Sleep Arc,” which sounds... like what people are already doing every night.
There are many factors affecting sleep quality, including light, sound, temperature and humidity, mattress and bedding selection, as well as bedtime and wake-up rituals. Importantly, we believe that sleep consists of more than just the act of sleeping, and instead, includes the entire set of human behaviors that span from bedtime to wake-up and affect sleep quality—this is what we refer to as the Sleep Arc.
In the IPO, the company also notes that it’s different from its exceptionally similar competitors — like Purple, Tuft & Needle, et al — because of its “joyful” experience. Casper would also very, very much like you to know that it wants to become the “Nike of sleep,” whatever that means.


theverge--2020-01-10--Read MIT’s full investigation on Jeffrey Epstein’s controversial donations and who knew what

Today , MIT released a 63-page fact-finding report detailing the institute ’ s involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein .
MIT says that the report focused on visits that Epstein made to campus and 10 donations made by Epstein between 2002 and 2017 , totaling $ 850,000 .
Nine of the donations , totaling $ 750,000 , were made after 2008 when Epstein pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution with a minor .
The report , prepared by the law firm Goodwin Procter , found that while the president of MIT , L. Rafael Reif , was not involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the MIT community were , including three vice presidents .
The report found that all donations made after Epstein ’ s 2008 conviction went to either MIT ’ s Media Lab or to engineering professor Seth Lloyd .
Lloyd ’ s lab received two $ 50,000 donations from Epstein in 2012 and $ 125,000 in 2017 .
In addition , Lloyd received a gift of $ 60,000 from Epstein that went straight into his personal bank account and is not being counted in the totals .
Lloyd and Epstein met in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s book agent , and the report notes that the two remained friends after Epstein ’ s conviction in 2008 .
The report also found that the two $ 50,000 donations to Lloyd in 2012 were made to test the waters at MIT .
“ Specifically , Epstein was disappointed that other academic institutions would not accept his money following his 2008 conviction , and , as Epstein put it ( using a fishing metaphor ) in an email to Professor Lloyd , “ im going to give you two 50k tranches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the report says .
In 2016 , Lloyd asked Epstein for more money , and received $ 125,000 in 2017 .
Lloyd was just placed on paid administrative leave by the institute in the wake of this new report .
The head of MIT ’ s famed Media Lab , Joi Ito , was introduced to Epstein in 2013 at a TED conference .
Ito told investigators that he Googled Epstein after meeting him , and consulted with various influential people to take Epstein ’ s measure .
According to the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Media Lab co-founder and Professor Post-Tenure of Media Arts and Sciences ; members of the Media Lab Advisory Council ; tech billionaires , including a former LinkedIn senior executive and co-founder ; and a well-known Harvard Law School professor.
” In response to a query from Ito noting Epstein ’ s “ tainted past , ” Negroponte wrote back in an email “ I know him quite well .
The person who is his closest friend is Marvin Minsky , who even visited him in jail .
I would take Berlusconi ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The report notes that by this time “ Berlusconi , the former Prime Minister of Italy , had been accused of hiring underaged prostitutes and dating underaged girls.
” Marvin Minsky was posthumously accused of having sex with a trafficking victim on Epstein ’ s private island .
Meanwhile , the report notes , “ Whatever the reason , following his due diligence , and despite acknowledging the concerns expressed by Media Lab staff and others , Ito came to Epstein ’ s defense.
” Ito continued to accept money from Epstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epstein to campus .
Between 2013 and 2017 Epstein visited MIT nine times , mostly visiting the Media Lab .
The report found that “ It appears that Ito was aware of the risks posed by Epstein ’ s visits to MIT ’ s campus.
” It calls attention to one instance in 2013 when Ito and another professor were discussing having Woody Allen and Epstein visit campus .
From the report : Ito resigned in September after news of the donations broke .
The report also found that MIT had no policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with “ controversial donors.
” Instead , senior MIT officials decided that Ito and Lloyd could keep Epstein ’ s money if it was donated anonymously , was in relatively small amounts , and wasn ’ t restricted .
Even if accepting the donations couldn ’ t technically be considered a policy violation at the time — because they didn ’ t exist — the report notes that “ it is clear that the decision was the result of collective and significant errors in judgment that resulted in serious damage to the MIT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 on sex trafficking charges , his connections with public figures came under scrutiny , as did his financial donations to research institutes like MIT .
Epstein styled himself as a science philanthropist , cultivating ties with many prominent researchers , including several at MIT .
Another MIT researcher , computer scientist Richard Stallman , resigned in September 2019 after making comments about Epstein ’ s victims .
The report took four months to put together and involved interviews with 59 people and analyses of 610,000 emails and documents .
Overall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any formal policy on controversial donors like Epstein , the senior officials at MIT acted on their own , exposing some serious gaps in judgement .
The report found that while they considered the public relations nightmare that might happen if donations were made public , “ they did not appropriately take into account the significant damage to the MIT community , particularly victims of sexual assault and abuse , from allowing Epstein to associate himself with MIT.
” It concludes : “ As MIT considers what policies to adopt going forward , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this crucial factor .
”

Today, MIT released a 63-page fact-finding report detailing the institute’s involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. MIT says that the report focused on visits that Epstein made to campus and 10 donations made by Epstein between 2002 and 2017, totaling $850,000. Nine of the donations, totaling $750,000, were made after 2008 when Epstein pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution with a minor.
The report, prepared by the law firm Goodwin Procter, found that while the president of MIT, L. Rafael Reif, was not involved in accepting the money, several prominent members of the MIT community were, including three vice presidents. The report found that all donations made after Epstein’s 2008 conviction went to either MIT’s Media Lab or to engineering professor Seth Lloyd. Lloyd’s lab received two $50,000 donations from Epstein in 2012 and $125,000 in 2017. In addition, Lloyd received a gift of $60,000 from Epstein that went straight into his personal bank account and is not being counted in the totals.
Lloyd and Epstein met in 2004, and were connected by Lloyd’s book agent, and the report notes that the two remained friends after Epstein’s conviction in 2008. The report also found that the two $50,000 donations to Lloyd in 2012 were made to test the waters at MIT. “Specifically, Epstein was disappointed that other academic institutions would not accept his money following his 2008 conviction, and, as Epstein put it (using a fishing metaphor) in an email to Professor Lloyd, “im going to give you two 50k tranches to see if the line jingles,” the report says. In 2016, Lloyd asked Epstein for more money, and received $125,000 in 2017.
Lloyd was just placed on paid administrative leave by the institute in the wake of this new report.
The head of MIT’s famed Media Lab, Joi Ito, was introduced to Epstein in 2013 at a TED conference. Ito told investigators that he Googled Epstein after meeting him, and consulted with various influential people to take Epstein’s measure. According to the report, those people included “Nicholas Negroponte, Media Lab co-founder and Professor Post-Tenure of Media Arts and Sciences; members of the Media Lab Advisory Council; tech billionaires, including a former LinkedIn senior executive and co-founder; and a well-known Harvard Law School professor.”
In response to a query from Ito noting Epstein’s “tainted past,” Negroponte wrote back in an email “I know him quite well. The person who is his closest friend is Marvin Minsky, who even visited him in jail. I would take Berlusconi’s money, so why not Jeff.” The report notes that by this time “Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister of Italy, had been accused of hiring underaged prostitutes and dating underaged girls.” Marvin Minsky was posthumously accused of having sex with a trafficking victim on Epstein’s private island.
Meanwhile, the report notes, “Whatever the reason, following his due diligence, and despite acknowledging the concerns expressed by Media Lab staff and others, Ito came to Epstein’s defense.” Ito continued to accept money from Epstein and helped to arrange multiple visits of Epstein to campus. Between 2013 and 2017 Epstein visited MIT nine times, mostly visiting the Media Lab.
The report found that “It appears that Ito was aware of the risks posed by Epstein’s visits to MIT’s campus.” It calls attention to one instance in 2013 when Ito and another professor were discussing having Woody Allen and Epstein visit campus. From the report:
Ito then emailed Epstein to relay the concern, commenting that “[s]ince you two were just in the news recently, I wonder if that might be bad.” The reference to Epstein and Allen being “in the news recently” is likely a reference to a September 24, 2013, New York Post story, “Woody Allen pals around with child-sex creep,” that was picked up by several other outlets.
Ito resigned in September after news of the donations broke.
The report also found that MIT had no policies in place at the time to deal with “controversial donors.” Instead, senior MIT officials decided that Ito and Lloyd could keep Epstein’s money if it was donated anonymously, was in relatively small amounts, and wasn’t restricted. Even if accepting the donations couldn’t technically be considered a policy violation at the time — because they didn’t exist — the report notes that “it is clear that the decision was the result of collective and significant errors in judgment that resulted in serious damage to the MIT community.”
After Epstein’s arrest in 2019 on sex trafficking charges, his connections with public figures came under scrutiny, as did his financial donations to research institutes like MIT. Epstein styled himself as a science philanthropist, cultivating ties with many prominent researchers, including several at MIT. Another MIT researcher, computer scientist Richard Stallman, resigned in September 2019 after making comments about Epstein’s victims.
The report took four months to put together and involved interviews with 59 people and analyses of 610,000 emails and documents. Overall, it found that in the absence of any formal policy on controversial donors like Epstein, the senior officials at MIT acted on their own, exposing some serious gaps in judgement. The report found that while they considered the public relations nightmare that might happen if donations were made public, “they did not appropriately take into account the significant damage to the MIT community, particularly victims of sexual assault and abuse, from allowing Epstein to associate himself with MIT.” It concludes: “As MIT considers what policies to adopt going forward, it should be sure to account for this crucial factor.”


theverge--2020-01-10--Oprah is yanking an upcoming #MeToo documentary from Apple TV+ over creative differences

Apple TV+ may have just lost a second high-profile project that was set to appear on the streaming platform , just one month after it was announced : the Oprah Winfrey-produced documentary that follows music industry executive Drew Dixon , one of the women who accused Russell Simmons of rape and came forward in an interview with The New York Times .
“ I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+ , ” Oprah wrote in a statement issued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hollywood Reporter , Deadline and The Wrap .
Apple didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment .
We ’ re not clear what kind of terms Oprah negotiated in her multi-year deal with Apple , but perhaps she has the authority to make this kind of decision ?
The film was to be “ presented by Oprah Winfrey ” on the streaming platform , so it could admittedly be a little awkward for Apple to air it if she ’ s no longer a producer .
I have decided that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering Documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+ .
First and foremost , I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women .
Their stories deserve to be told and heard .
In my opinion , there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision .
Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect for their mission but given the filmmakers ’ desire to premiere the film at the Sundance Film Festival before I believe it is complete , I feel it ’ s best to step aside .
I will be working with Time ’ s Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment .
The statement makes it sound like the film will still appear at Sundance , which kicks off January 24th .
Here ’ s the Sundance Film Festival page for the documentary , which is why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dixon — that wasn ’ t disclosed in Apple ’ s original press release .

I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering Documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+. First and foremost, I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard. In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision. Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering are talented filmmakers. I have great respect for their mission but given the filmmakers’ desire to premiere the film at the Sundance Film Festival before I believe it is complete, I feel it’s best to step aside. I will be working with Time’s Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment.


theverge--2020-01-10--Pokémon Go never went away — 2019 was its most lucrative year ever

Pokémon Go , once a viral sensation all over the globe , hasn ’ t fallen off the map .
In fact , the augmented reality game is earning more money than it ever has before .
According to mobile analytics firm Sensor Tower , Pokémon Go had a record year in 2019 , taking in an estimated $ 900 million through in-app purchases .
That means Pokémon Go has surpassed its launch year in revenue after seeing a drop off in both players and spending back in 2017 .
It ’ s a rare comeback feat for a free-to-play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successes and fade into obscurity .
Normally , free-to-play games either come out of the gate with a huge boost in revenue and popularity and then slowly decline as time goes on , or the app starts small and builds toward a peak of popularity and financial success .
Pokémon Go didn ’ t follow either trend .
After a blockbuster 2016 in which the game became a viral sensation and earned $ 832 million , Sensor Tower says its popularity declined sharply .
In 2017 , the game only generated an estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduction of new features — like raid battles , trading , and improved AR camera effects — Niantic carved out a dedicated and highly lucrative niche in the mobile industry .
By the end of 2018 , in-app purchase revenue for Pokémon Go once again soared , this time to an estimated $ 816 million .
Sensor Tower estimates Niantic has pulled in more than $ 3.1 billion to date on Pokémon Go .
Although not all of that money goes straight to the app developer , as the company has a revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made public , with The Pokémon Company , of which Nintendo owns a significant share .
Still , Pokémon Go ’ s success has helped Niantic become a leading augmented reality developer and one of the most successful mobile app makers in the industry .
The company has since opened up its app-building and AR toolset , the Niantic Real World Platform , to third-party developers .
It ’ s also built a Harry Potter AR game in partnership with Warner Bros. , as well as a reboot to its original AR game @ @ @ @ @

Pokémon Go, once a viral sensation all over the globe, hasn’t fallen off the map. In fact, the augmented reality game is earning more money than it ever has before.
According to mobile analytics firm Sensor Tower, Pokémon Go had a record year in 2019, taking in an estimated $900 million through in-app purchases. That means Pokémon Go has surpassed its launch year in revenue after seeing a drop off in both players and spending back in 2017. It’s a rare comeback feat for a free-to-play game, many of which are flash-in-the-pan successes and fade into obscurity.
Normally, free-to-play games either come out of the gate with a huge boost in revenue and popularity and then slowly decline as time goes on, or the app starts small and builds toward a peak of popularity and financial success. Pokémon Go didn’t follow either trend. After a blockbuster 2016 in which the game became a viral sensation and earned $832 million, Sensor Tower says its popularity declined sharply. In 2017, the game only generated an estimated $582 million.
Image; Sensor Tower
But through the introduction of new features — like raid battles, trading, and improved AR camera effects — Niantic carved out a dedicated and highly lucrative niche in the mobile industry. By the end of 2018, in-app purchase revenue for Pokémon Go once again soared, this time to an estimated $816 million.
Sensor Tower estimates Niantic has pulled in more than $3.1 billion to date on Pokémon Go. Although not all of that money goes straight to the app developer, as the company has a revenue sharing agreement, which has never been made public, with The Pokémon Company, of which Nintendo owns a significant share.


theverge--2020-01-11--8 new trailers you should watch this week

I was excited to watch Uncut Gems the other week for a couple of reasons — for one , there ’ s been a ton of buzz ; but also , it ’ s one of the only movies I ’ ve seen in recent years that I haven ’ t watched the trailer for ahead of time ( I happened to be on vacation when it came out , so I didn ’ t write this weekly column ) .
It was nice getting to go in completely surprised .
The movie does a great job of what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaotic and stressful .
But I didn ’ t particularly care for it the way others have .
It ’ s a lot of the same thing : one character making obviously bad and indulgent mistakes , which continually come back to bite him .
We know every time what ’ s going to happen .
What really made it hard for me to get on board with is just how little the movie gives you to connect with .
Adam Sandler ’ s character has no redeeming traits , and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compulsively bad or what he truly wants to achieve from his constant quest for wealth .
It ’ s just two hours of a bad dude being a bad dude — what ’ s any of it matter ?
There ’ s a comment on materialism in here somewhere , but the film barely bothers to make it .
Check out eight trailers from this week below .
Here ’ s the trailer for the one and only thing that truly matters in DC film : Margot Robbie playing Harley Quinn .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make this an entertaining watch , and DC really could have just left it at that .
So I ’ m surprised at how across the board fun this trailer makes Birds of Prey look .
Maybe DC can actually pull this one together ?
It comes out February 7th .
Locke & Key ’ s journey to TV has been infamous .
The comic has repeatedly been picked up as an adaptation only to be dropped before making it to series , so I was stunned to see that Netflix had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that somewhere along the line , things would fall apart again .
The show is nearly here , and it looks like a fun teen adventure .
The series comes out February 7th .
This is a fun one .
Not the movie , exactly — the story behind it .
The first teaser for The New Mutants came out in 2017 , with a release planned for early 2018 .
It was then repeatedly delayed , at one point with extensive reshoots supposedly planned , and the whole film ’ s future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once Disney finished acquiring Fox .
Apparently , Disney has seen fit to just go ahead and release the thing .
The total lack of confidence from Fox seems like a bad sign , but the movie seems like it ’ s doing a perfectly fine job of what it ’ s setting out to do : be an X-Men themed horror movie .
It comes out April 3rd .
Here ’ s a sci-fi series worth paying attention to : Devs comes from Ex Machina director Alex Garland , and it really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — filled with glowing lights and clean yet brutal shots of nature .
I don ’ t really know what ’ s happening in the show , but Nick Offerman is there with long hair and seems to be kind of creepy .
It debuts March 5th on FX ’ s Hulu channel .
FX is making a show about why America still doesn ’ t have the Equal Rights Amendment .
Mrs. America is packed with stars , with Cate Blanchett in the lead , though I ’ m a little unsure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build out the show in a way that ’ s not perpetually frustrating given that its villain seems to be at the center of it all .
The series will premiere April 15th on FX ’ s Hulu channel .
Look , I didn ’ t start this week expecting to write about a cow movie , but here we are .
First Cow comes from Kelly Reichardt , who is one of my absolute favorite directors .
It ’ s about two people in 1800s Oregon who begin stealing milk from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using it to cook food and earn a living .
It ’ s one of the , perhaps , all time most boring trailers I have ever written up , but I am going to see this on day one .
It comes out March 6th .
I haven ’ t heard as much buzz about Fargo since its first season came out , but this one has a big draw : Chris Rock , who stars as the head of a crime family in 1950 Kansas City .
The season debuts April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this trailer would almost definitely highlight if it were published by anyone other than Apple : Mythic Quest comes from the creators behind It ’ s Always Sunny in Philadelphia .
I don ’ t think Apple has anything against that show , I suspect it ’ s just classic Apple advertising — pretend nothing in the world exists except for what Apple makes itself .
Anyway , Mythic Quest looks like a Silicon Valley-esque sitcom , just set within a messy gaming startup .
It comes out February 7th .

I was excited to watch Uncut Gems the other week for a couple of reasons — for one, there’s been a ton of buzz; but also, it’s one of the only movies I’ve seen in recent years that I haven’t watched the trailer for ahead of time (I happened to be on vacation when it came out, so I didn’t write this weekly column). It was nice getting to go in completely surprised.
The movie does a great job of what it sets out to do — being constantly chaotic and stressful. But I didn’t particularly care for it the way others have. It’s a lot of the same thing: one character making obviously bad and indulgent mistakes, which continually come back to bite him. We know every time what’s going to happen.
What really made it hard for me to get on board with is just how little the movie gives you to connect with. Adam Sandler’s character has no redeeming traits, and it’s not clear why he acts so compulsively bad or what he truly wants to achieve from his constant quest for wealth. It’s just two hours of a bad dude being a bad dude — what’s any of it matter? There’s a comment on materialism in here somewhere, but the film barely bothers to make it.
Check out eight trailers from this week below.
Birds of Prey
Here’s the trailer for the one and only thing that truly matters in DC film: Margot Robbie playing Harley Quinn. At a bare minimum, Robbie ought to make this an entertaining watch, and DC really could have just left it at that. So I’m surprised at how across the board fun this trailer makes Birds of Prey look. Maybe DC can actually pull this one together? It comes out February 7th.
Locke & Key
Locke & Key’s journey to TV has been infamous. The comic has repeatedly been picked up as an adaptation only to be dropped before making it to series, so I was stunned to see that Netflix had a trailer this week — I just assumed that somewhere along the line, things would fall apart again. The show is nearly here, and it looks like a fun teen adventure. The series comes out February 7th.
The New Mutants
This is a fun one. Not the movie, exactly — the story behind it. The first teaser for The New Mutants came out in 2017, with a release planned for early 2018. It was then repeatedly delayed, at one point with extensive reshoots supposedly planned, and the whole film’s future seemed to be up in the air once Disney finished acquiring Fox. Apparently, Disney has seen fit to just go ahead and release the thing. The total lack of confidence from Fox seems like a bad sign, but the movie seems like it’s doing a perfectly fine job of what it’s setting out to do: be an X-Men themed horror movie. It comes out April 3rd.
Devs
Here’s a sci-fi series worth paying attention to: Devs comes from Ex Machina director Alex Garland, and it really, really looks like a Garland sci-fi — filled with glowing lights and clean yet brutal shots of nature. I don’t really know what’s happening in the show, but Nick Offerman is there with long hair and seems to be kind of creepy. It debuts March 5th on FX’s Hulu channel.
Mrs. America
FX is making a show about why America still doesn’t have the Equal Rights Amendment. Mrs. America is packed with stars, with Cate Blanchett in the lead, though I’m a little unsure as to how it’s going to build out the show in a way that’s not perpetually frustrating given that its villain seems to be at the center of it all. The series will premiere April 15th on FX’s Hulu channel.
First Cow
Look, I didn’t start this week expecting to write about a cow movie, but here we are. First Cow comes from Kelly Reichardt, who is one of my absolute favorite directors. It’s about two people in 1800s Oregon who begin stealing milk from a rich guy’s cow and using it to cook food and earn a living. It’s one of the, perhaps, all time most boring trailers I have ever written up, but I am going to see this on day one. It comes out March 6th.
Fargo
I haven’t heard as much buzz about Fargo since its first season came out, but this one has a big draw: Chris Rock, who stars as the head of a crime family in 1950 Kansas City. The season debuts April 19th.
Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet


theverge--2020-01-11--Wi-Fi 6 is finally here

Wi-Fi 6 is finally here

Over the past decade , our homes have filled up with more and more devices , small and large , simple and complex , all connected to Wi-Fi .
Each device demands some of your router ’ s time and bandwidth , and that ’ s increasingly become a problem — the more devices you have , the more your router ’ s capacity is spread thin .
If this continues , speeds could slow to a drag .
That ’ s the problem Wi-Fi 6 is meant to solve by making data delivery more efficient to ultimately offer faster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the new Wi-Fi standard finally felt like a reality .
Wi-Fi 6 routers and devices were plentiful on the show floor .
Not only that , some of the routers were affordable — a stark change from last year ’ s debut round of Wi-Fi 6 products .
If you ’ re buying devices in the near future , there ’ s now a good chance you ’ ll actually end up buying into and taking advantage of the new standard .
The biggest leap forward for Wi-Fi 6 at this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routers .
Last year , we saw lots of promises of routers coming soon , but when those routers showed up in stores , they tended to arrive at the highest of price points .
This makes sense — Wi-Fi 6 is new tech , so of course it ended up in the highest end routers first .
But widespread adoption depends on Wi-Fi 6 making it into the lower priced routers the majority of people actually buy .
These new routers aren ’ t necessarily better than last year ’ s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cheaper models they ’ re replacing .
Over the past year , more affordable routers have slowly started to appear .
Routers announced at last year ’ s CES for indeterminate points in the future have hit stores , with a small number of them coming in below $ 200 ( a low end TP-Link model is currently on sale for $ 70 ) .
This year , even more are being announced that deliver prices on par with popular existing models , putting them in the $ 100 to $ 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mesh systems tend to sit in .
Most notably , Netgear used this year ’ s show to debut the Nighthawk Mesh , which is the first mesh router from a trusted brand to bring Wi-Fi 6 to a typical price point for the category .
A two-pack of the routers sell for $ 230 , and they ’ re supposed to work well with internet connections up to 400 Mbps , which is most homes in the US .
Mesh router systems do tend to be more expensive than singular routers since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re also increasingly the recommended choice for large homes .
They also solve a problem that ’ s very much related to what Wi-Fi 6 set out to solve : the need for faster , stronger Wi-Fi speeds throughout your house .
Upgrading to a mesh system may provide even more of a benefit than upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 due to the expanded coverage they offer , so it ’ s important to see these two upgrades working in concert .
We ’ re starting to see Wi-Fi 6 show up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Arris , and D-Link also added Wi-Fi 6 to mesh router systems this week , and Comcast announced a Wi-Fi 6 version of its Gateway — an important change since a large number of people rent their routers from their cable providers .
And importantly , Wi-Fi 6 is finally in the actual gadgets we ’ re buying .
No product is going to do more for early adoption than the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro , which both include Wi-Fi 6 and have sold millions since launching in September .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming the norm in devices across the board .
Lenovo , Asus , and Samsung were among the companies announcing new laptops with Wi-Fi 6 on board .
Wi-Fi 6 was never meant to be a technology so powerful as to be worth upgrading for .
It comes with speed increases , up to 9.6 Gbps from a theoretical maximum of 3.5 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5 .
But that extra bandwidth is more about allowing routers to scale across the multitude of devices in your home , rather than deliver incredible bursts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet speed is likely nowhere close to that maximum anyway ) .
The benefits of Wi-Fi 6 will really be seen over time , as more devices support the standard and its data delivery efficiencies are able to speed things up — or , at the least , prevent speeds from getting bogged down .
For adoption to pick up , Wi-Fi 6 needs to be built into every new device so that it naturally ends up in people ’ s pockets and homes .
Wi-Fi 6 still isn ’ t in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .
But increasingly , it ’ s there where many people are buying : the nicer phones and laptops , plus the has-everything-you-need router systems .
That all said , we also saw that there ’ s more to come for Wi-Fi 6 .
These developments are worth watching out for , but they aren ’ t a reason to hold off on an upgrade .
The first is something called Wi-Fi 6E , which would further expand Wi-Fi speeds and capacity .
The problem is , it ’ s not real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on two swaths of airwaves — 2.4GHz and 5GHz — that the Federal Communications Commission opened up to the public .
The FCC is considering opening up another swath at 6GHz , and device makers are eager to start using it .
The chipmaker Broadcom even debuted chips to support then new spectrum this week .
But right now , there ’ s no timeline on when the spectrum will be opened up .
Until that happens , it ’ s best not to worry about this .
We also started to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using the speedier Wi-Fi standard to deliver the speedier wireless connection throughout your home .
This is dependent on 5G proving itself out as a viable home internet offering , when it comes to both price and reliability .
Thus far , that hasn ’ t happened , and it seems like this wouldn ’ t be something everyone wants ( or is able ) to take advantage of anyway .
But both Razer and Linksys are teasing the idea , so expect to see more .
Wi-Fi 6 isn ’ t going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The improvements will come as more and more of your actively used devices become ones that support the new standard .
It ’ s going to take a while before that ’ s everything — but at CES 2020 , we saw it starting to happen .

Over the past decade, our homes have filled up with more and more devices, small and large, simple and complex, all connected to Wi-Fi. Each device demands some of your router’s time and bandwidth, and that’s increasingly become a problem — the more devices you have, the more your router’s capacity is spread thin. If this continues, speeds could slow to a drag.
That’s the problem Wi-Fi 6 is meant to solve by making data delivery more efficient to ultimately offer faster speeds, and at CES this year, the new Wi-Fi standard finally felt like a reality. Wi-Fi 6 routers and devices were plentiful on the show floor. Not only that, some of the routers were affordable — a stark change from last year’s debut round of Wi-Fi 6 products. If you’re buying devices in the near future, there’s now a good chance you’ll actually end up buying into and taking advantage of the new standard.
The biggest leap forward for Wi-Fi 6 at this year’s conference came from affordable Wi-Fi routers. Last year, we saw lots of promises of routers coming soon, but when those routers showed up in stores, they tended to arrive at the highest of price points. This makes sense — Wi-Fi 6 is new tech, so of course it ended up in the highest end routers first. But widespread adoption depends on Wi-Fi 6 making it into the lower priced routers the majority of people actually buy. These new routers aren’t necessarily better than last year’s, but they offer a meaningful improvement upon the cheaper models they’re replacing.
Over the past year, more affordable routers have slowly started to appear. Routers announced at last year’s CES for indeterminate points in the future have hit stores, with a small number of them coming in below $200 (a low end TP-Link model is currently on sale for $70). This year, even more are being announced that deliver prices on par with popular existing models, putting them in the $100 to $200 or so range that quality routers and mesh systems tend to sit in.
The Nighthawk Mesh Wifi 6 System isn’t the fastest set of Wi-Fi routers out there, but it’s among the more affordable options for both mesh and next-gen Wi-Fi. It’s a dual-band system, offering 1,500 square feet of coverage per note with 1.8 Gbps of bandwidth. A two-pack costs $230, and as a nice perk, the system supports EasyMesh, so compatible third-party nodes can be mixed in. Image: Netgear
Most notably, Netgear used this year’s show to debut the Nighthawk Mesh, which is the first mesh router from a trusted brand to bring Wi-Fi 6 to a typical price point for the category. A two-pack of the routers sell for $230, and they’re supposed to work well with internet connections up to 400 Mbps, which is most homes in the US.
Mesh router systems do tend to be more expensive than singular routers since they comprise multiple units. But they’re also increasingly the recommended choice for large homes. They also solve a problem that’s very much related to what Wi-Fi 6 set out to solve: the need for faster, stronger Wi-Fi speeds throughout your house. Upgrading to a mesh system may provide even more of a benefit than upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 due to the expanded coverage they offer, so it’s important to see these two upgrades working in concert.
TP-Link unveiled three tiers of the Deco Mesh Wi-Fi 6. The mid-tier Deco X60 offers 3 Gbps of bandwidth and 5,000 square feet of range across two units. A two pack will be available in March for $270. Image: TP-Link The Smart AX1500 Mesh is the cheapest of the four Wi-Fi 6 routers D-Link announced at CES. Coming out this quarter for $120, the AX1500 promises up to 1.5 Gbps of throughput from dual-band antennas, and it can mesh with other routers in the company’s lineup. Image: D-Link
We’re starting to see Wi-Fi 6 show up in more routers across the board. TP-Link, Arris, and D-Link also added Wi-Fi 6 to mesh router systems this week, and Comcast announced a Wi-Fi 6 version of its Gateway — an important change since a large number of people rent their routers from their cable providers.
And importantly, Wi-Fi 6 is finally in the actual gadgets we’re buying. No product is going to do more for early adoption than the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, which both include Wi-Fi 6 and have sold millions since launching in September. But CES showed that Wi-Fi 6 support is becoming the norm in devices across the board. Lenovo, Asus, and Samsung were among the companies announcing new laptops with Wi-Fi 6 on board.
A new take on the spider router, TP-Link’s Archer AX90 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router claiming speeds up to 6.6 Gbps. It comes out in April for $300. Image: TP-Link
Wi-Fi 6 was never meant to be a technology so powerful as to be worth upgrading for. It comes with speed increases, up to 9.6 Gbps from a theoretical maximum of 3.5 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5. But that extra bandwidth is more about allowing routers to scale across the multitude of devices in your home, rather than deliver incredible bursts of speed to any one device (your internet speed is likely nowhere close to that maximum anyway).
The benefits of Wi-Fi 6 will really be seen over time, as more devices support the standard and its data delivery efficiencies are able to speed things up — or, at the least, prevent speeds from getting bogged down. For adoption to pick up, Wi-Fi 6 needs to be built into every new device so that it naturally ends up in people’s pockets and homes. Wi-Fi 6 still isn’t in the cheapest of laptops and phones in most cases. But increasingly, it’s there where many people are buying: the nicer phones and laptops, plus the has-everything-you-need router systems.
Linksys’ Velop 5G Mesh Gateway works with the rest of its Velop mesh system, while also bringing 5G into the home if you somehow have a connection. There’s no pricing or release date yet. Image: Linksys Razer’s Sila 5G is a “gaming router” that supports 5G home connections. A rather unusual perk: it includes a rechargeable battery, allowing the router to double as a wireless hotspot. It’s just a concept for now, so there’s no price or release date. Image: Razer
That all said, we also saw that there’s more to come for Wi-Fi 6. These developments are worth watching out for, but they aren’t a reason to hold off on an upgrade.
Wi-Fi 6E is still a dream
The first is something called Wi-Fi 6E, which would further expand Wi-Fi speeds and capacity. The problem is, it’s not real yet. Right now, Wi-Fi operates on two swaths of airwaves — 2.4GHz and 5GHz — that the Federal Communications Commission opened up to the public. The FCC is considering opening up another swath at 6GHz, and device makers are eager to start using it. The chipmaker Broadcom even debuted chips to support then new spectrum this week. But right now, there’s no timeline on when the spectrum will be opened up. Until that happens, it’s best not to worry about this.
We also started to see Wi-Fi 6 get married to 5G, using the speedier Wi-Fi standard to deliver the speedier wireless connection throughout your home. This is dependent on 5G proving itself out as a viable home internet offering, when it comes to both price and reliability. Thus far, that hasn’t happened, and it seems like this wouldn’t be something everyone wants (or is able) to take advantage of anyway. But both Razer and Linksys are teasing the idea, so expect to see more.


theverge--2020-01-12--Japanese billionaire seeks girlfriend for Moon voyage on SpaceX rocket

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa — the first prospective rider on SpaceX ’ s future deep-space rocket — has launched a bizarre campaign to find a “ female partner ” to fly around the Moon with him .
Maezawa ’ s website promoting the campaign makes it clear that he isn ’ t just looking for a friend , but a significant other to accompany him on the trip to space .
“ [ Maezawa ] has a long-held dream of going into space , ” the website states .
“ He wants to visit such a special place together with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contest as a serious matchmaking event that will be documented in a reality show called “ Full Moon Lovers , ” set to air on the Japanese streaming service AbemaTV .
The contest is open to single women over the age of 20 , who have “ bright ” personalities , want to enjoy life to the fullest , and want world peace .
They also have to be interested in going to space .
“ He wants to visit such a special place together with a special someone.
” Maezawa and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the moon SpaceX ’ s next-generation Starship rocket — a massive spacecraft that ’ s meant to take people to deep-space destinations like the Moon and eventually Mars .
In September of 2018 , SpaceX revealed that Maezawa had put down a sizable deposit to become the first private customer to ride on Starship once it was complete and ready for crew .
The trip would entail sending Maezawa around the Moon , without landing on it , and then returning him back to Earth .
SpaceX didn ’ t say how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Musk noted that it was enough to help partially pay for the development of the vehicle .
“ He puts his money where his mouth is , ” Musk said at the time .
“ He ’ s legit.
” When the announcement was made , Maezawa also declared that he had paid for additional seats on the vehicle , in order to take between six to eight artists with him on the trip .
“ These artists will be asked to create something after they return to Earth , and these masterpieces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , ” Maezawa said during the announcement at SpaceX ’ s headquarters in California .
Now it seems that one of those seats will be going to whomever wins this contest .
Maezawa is the founder of Japan ’ s largest online retailer Zozotown and is reportedly worth $ 2 billion , according to the most recent estimate from Forbes .
He is also an avid art collector , shelling out $ 110.5 million for a painting by Jean-Michael Basquiat in 2017 .
Just last week , he broke the record for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would split 1 billion yen between a random group of 1,000 people who shared his tweet about the contest .
The message was retweeted more than 4 million times .
Now , Maezawa is focusing on a new type of competition .
The 44-year-old billionaire notes on his website that after two decades of running a company , he now wants to share his life with someone .
“ As feelings of loneliness and emptiness slowly begin to surge upon me , there ’ s one thing that I think about : Continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes .
Maezawa said he was originally embarrassed to take part in the documentary but is now hopeful he ’ ll find his life partner .
“ With that future partner of mine , I want to shout our love and world peace from outer space , ” he writes .
“ With that future partner of mine , I want to shout our love and world peace from outer space.
” Applications for the event are due by January 17th , with selections set to be made at the end of January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dates and “ special dates getting to know Yusaku Maezawa ” in February and March .
A “ final decision on partner ” will then be made by end of March , according to the website .
It ’ s unclear whether or not this individual will actually get to fly on SpaceX ’ s vehicle , though Musk did retweet Maezawa ’ s announcement about the campaign .
The Verge reached out to SpaceX for comment but did not receive a reply in time for publication .
In the meantime , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work to be done before anyone is going into deep space with SpaceX .
The company has been developing the Starship rocket for the last couple of years , with most of the work being done at the company ’ s test site in Boca Chica , Texas .
SpaceX has made some progress on the road to space : the company performed a low altitude flight with one test vehicle , and in September of 2019 , Musk unveiled a prototype version of the Starship rocket , claiming that it would fly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach orbit early this year .
However , that particular rocket blew its top during a pressure test , and SpaceX decided to build an entirely new Starship vehicle for testing .
Musk tweeted in December that the first flight could be two to three months away , though the CEO is notoriously optimistic with his timeline predictions .
Even if Starship flies sometime this year , SpaceX still has a lot of other hardware to build .
The Starship needs a separate booster rocket , called the Super Heavy , to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s still a fair share of details SpaceX needs to sort out in order to make sure Starship can keep people safe and alive during space voyages .
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell claimed that Starship could start doing uncrewed missions to the Moon as early as 2022 , but that seems to be a wildly ambitious estimate .

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa — the first prospective rider on SpaceX’s future deep-space rocket — has launched a bizarre campaign to find a “female partner” to fly around the Moon with him. Maezawa’s website promoting the campaign makes it clear that he isn’t just looking for a friend, but a significant other to accompany him on the trip to space.
“[Maezawa] has a long-held dream of going into space,” the website states. “He wants to visit such a special place together with a special someone.” The website promotes the contest as a serious matchmaking event that will be documented in a reality show called “Full Moon Lovers,” set to air on the Japanese streaming service AbemaTV. The contest is open to single women over the age of 20, who have “bright” personalities, want to enjoy life to the fullest, and want world peace. They also have to be interested in going to space.
“He wants to visit such a special place together with a special someone.”
Maezawa and his new partner would presumably be traveling to the moon SpaceX’s next-generation Starship rocket — a massive spacecraft that’s meant to take people to deep-space destinations like the Moon and eventually Mars. In September of 2018, SpaceX revealed that Maezawa had put down a sizable deposit to become the first private customer to ride on Starship once it was complete and ready for crew. The trip would entail sending Maezawa around the Moon, without landing on it, and then returning him back to Earth. SpaceX didn’t say how much he paid, but CEO Elon Musk noted that it was enough to help partially pay for the development of the vehicle.
“He puts his money where his mouth is,” Musk said at the time. “He’s legit.”
When the announcement was made, Maezawa also declared that he had paid for additional seats on the vehicle, in order to take between six to eight artists with him on the trip. “These artists will be asked to create something after they return to Earth, and these masterpieces will inspire the dreamer within all of us,” Maezawa said during the announcement at SpaceX’s headquarters in California. Now it seems that one of those seats will be going to whomever wins this contest.
A rendering of SpaceX’s future Starship rocket Image: SpaceX
Maezawa is the founder of Japan’s largest online retailer Zozotown and is reportedly worth $2 billion, according to the most recent estimate from Forbes. He is also an avid art collector, shelling out $110.5 million for a painting by Jean-Michael Basquiat in 2017. Just last week, he broke the record for the most retweeted tweet after announcing he would split 1 billion yen between a random group of 1,000 people who shared his tweet about the contest. The message was retweeted more than 4 million times.
Now, Maezawa is focusing on a new type of competition. The 44-year-old billionaire notes on his website that after two decades of running a company, he now wants to share his life with someone. “As feelings of loneliness and emptiness slowly begin to surge upon me, there’s one thing that I think about: Continuing to love one woman,” he writes. Maezawa said he was originally embarrassed to take part in the documentary but is now hopeful he’ll find his life partner. “With that future partner of mine, I want to shout our love and world peace from outer space,” he writes.
“With that future partner of mine, I want to shout our love and world peace from outer space.”
Applications for the event are due by January 17th, with selections set to be made at the end of January. Those selected will go on matchmaking dates and “special dates getting to know Yusaku Maezawa” in February and March. A “final decision on partner” will then be made by end of March, according to the website.
It’s unclear whether or not this individual will actually get to fly on SpaceX’s vehicle, though Musk did retweet Maezawa’s announcement about the campaign. The Verge reached out to SpaceX for comment but did not receive a reply in time for publication.
In the meantime, there’s still quite a lot of work to be done before anyone is going into deep space with SpaceX. The company has been developing the Starship rocket for the last couple of years, with most of the work being done at the company’s test site in Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX has made some progress on the road to space: the company performed a low altitude flight with one test vehicle, and in September of 2019, Musk unveiled a prototype version of the Starship rocket, claiming that it would fly for the first time last year and reach orbit early this year. However, that particular rocket blew its top during a pressure test, and SpaceX decided to build an entirely new Starship vehicle for testing. Musk tweeted in December that the first flight could be two to three months away, though the CEO is notoriously optimistic with his timeline predictions.


theverge--2020-01-12--Real-world photos confirm Samsung’s next flagship phone is called the Galaxy S20

There will be no Samsung Galaxy S11 .
Instead , Samsung is jumping ahead to the S20 .
Rumors had been swirling about the branding change in recent weeks , and today XDA Developers published the first real-world shots of the Galaxy S20 Plus .
The phone ’ s startup screen confirms the new name ; maybe Samsung is naming by year now .
And we also see that the front of the device has a center hole-punch cutout that ’ s similar to the selfie shooter from the Galaxy Note 10 .
Samsung has significantly toned down the curved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plus , with XDA ’ s source saying that the S20 Plus feels largely flat in hand .
On the back , we get a look at Samsung ’ s large camera array for the S20 Plus , which is rumored to contain a regular wide lens , an ultra-wide , portrait , and a macro lens as the new , fourth option .
On back is also one of the more optimistic , hopeful confidentiality stickers I ’ ve ever seen : it actually just flat out says “ do not leak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samsung will unveil an entire line of Galaxy S20 devices at its Unpacked event on February 11th , including multiple screen sizes and some models with 5G connectivity .
The company ’ s next foldable phone , perhaps called the Galaxy Bloom , is also expected to debut next month .

There will be no Samsung Galaxy S11. Instead, Samsung is jumping ahead to the S20. Rumors had been swirling about the branding change in recent weeks, and today XDA Developers published the first real-world shots of the Galaxy S20 Plus.
The phone’s startup screen confirms the new name; maybe Samsung is naming by year now. And we also see that the front of the device has a center hole-punch cutout that’s similar to the selfie shooter from the Galaxy Note 10. Samsung has significantly toned down the curved sides of the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus, with XDA’s source saying that the S20 Plus feels largely flat in hand.
On the back, we get a look at Samsung’s large camera array for the S20 Plus, which is rumored to contain a regular wide lens, an ultra-wide, portrait, and a macro lens as the new, fourth option. On back is also one of the more optimistic, hopeful confidentiality stickers I’ve ever seen: it actually just flat out says “do not leak info.” So much for that.