theverge--2020-09-15--Processor: Google Pixels are coming, OnePlus Buds are seized, and LG is making weird phones again

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Processor is a digest for what ’ s happening in the world of consumer technology , with incisive analysis ( or maybe just jokes ) from Dieter Bohn .
Sign up for the newsletter here and check out the Processor video series on YouTube .
Over the weekend , the US Customs and Border patrol gleefully praised itself for seizing counterfeit AirPods .
Only they weren ’ t really knock offs , they were the new OnePlus Buds .
Which , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AirPods .
But they ’ re also a real product from a real company that really does make things ( though if you want to make the case that OnePlus is just Pontiac to Oppo ’ s Chevy , I ’ d hear you out ) .
Chuckles were had by all .
Except the CBP didn ’ t laugh .
The CBP doubled down and said that no , it didn ’ t make a mistake and the OnePlus Buds did count as counterfeit and the CPB does , in fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It smells of retconning , but it might also nevertheless be true that the CPB can do that ( seize the buds , I mean .
It ’ s probably free to retcon too , in today ’ s America ) .
After the titanic news of Oracle and TikTok and Nividia and Arm , the OnePlus Buds saga was the small escape I needed until I realized that it , too , is a synecdoche for the globalized conflict between the US , China , and the weird state of IP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll catch you after Apple ’ s keynote today , which is just one of several big tech events happening this week .
I hope you can join us for a watch-along in our liveblog .
┏ Google to launch Pixel 5 , new Chromecast , and smart speaker on September 30th .
Surprise !
Google ’ s event won ’ t have many surprises .
It has already teased the Pixel 5 , Pixel 4A 5G , and the upcoming Nest Speaker that looks vague pillow-shaped .
It hasn ’ t spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that too : it ’ s going to switch over to Android TV and is code-named “ Sabrina.
” ┏ The LG Wing ’ s twisting screen offers a new spin on the dual-screen smartphone .
I ...
I kind of love this .
I mean it ’ s ridiculous and the chances that there will be good software support for the second-screen experience are minimal .
I could go on and on about why this is silly .
But also it ’ s silly !
Phones can be a little wacky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this have a second screen that the first screen rotates away to reveal , it has brought back the pop-up selfie camera .
LG ’ s product engineers sat in a room and asked how many moving parts it could pack into a smartphone and the answer was not a number but simply “ yes.
” ┏ LG also teased a vertical sliding version of a phone , which : yes again .
Go off , LG , be wacky .
┏ AMD reveals its Radeon RX 6000 GPU design on Twitter — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s iPhone 12 lineup won ’ t have high-refresh 120Hz displays , says analyst Ming-Chi Kuo .
I can already foresee the year of shit-talking this will cause , so let me just say this .
It ’ s not a deal breaker , but it is disappointing .
I have long said that any phone that costs a thousand bucks or more should have a high refresh-rate display and the iPhone lacking one is a miss .
It ’ s not the most important spec on a phone , but it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Oculus Quest 2 leaks in full via official promo videos .
┏ Anchor says it ’ s cracking down on stolen podcasts .
Ashley Carman with the inside story on how Anchor is trying to fix a problem it really should have addressed earlier .
┏ Zipline and Walmart to launch drone deliveries of health and wellness products .
Kim Lyons : ┏ Verizon acquires Tracfone in a deal worth more than $ 6 billion .
┏ The Xbox Series S plays Xbox One S versions of Xbox One games .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ S can play enhanced versions of Xbox One and Xbox 360 games but they ’ re the Xbox One S versions , not the Xbox One X versions , even though the Xbox Series S is newer and in some ways more powerful than the Xbox One X , which means if you want the best Xbox One X game experience you need the Xbox Series X. Xbox .
I am having a bunch of fun cracking jokes about there being too many Xbox details to keep track of .
But the truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see if Microsoft ’ s Game Pass Ultimate focus works .
The whole idea is that you shouldn ’ t have to worry too much about what Xbox you have when you want to play a game , it will just play Xbox games .
You just have to worry when you decide which Xbox you want to buy next .
In an earlier newsletter I grumbled about hiding the true cost of the consoles behind monthly payments — I ’ ll always grumble about that sort of thing .
But so long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total costs , the monthly installments seem like a pretty good idea .
I might even spring for one myself .
┏ Xbox Series X and S : everything you need to know about the next-gen of Xbox .
This new generation of consoles is much more complicated than “ better graphics , better games.
” Jon Porter has written the comprehensive guide on the upcoming Xboxes : More from The Verge ┏ Discovery of noxious gas on Venus could be a sign of life .
Read this important story ( and watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an incredibly intriguing discovery : ┏ Oracle ’ s TikTok deal accomplishes nothing .
Russell Brandom nails it .
This is theater .
All that sound and fury , signifying nothing .
┏ Google announced one of the biggest green pledges from tech yet .
Justine Calma also notes that Microsoft has set itself a slightly more aggressive goal than Google has .
Still : good .
┏ Nvidia ’ s $ 40 billion Arm acquisition is about bringing AI down from the cloud .
You can always trust James Vincent to come @ @ @ @ @ @

Processor is a digest for what’s happening in the world of consumer technology, with incisive analysis (or maybe just jokes) from Dieter Bohn. Sign up for the newsletter here and check out the Processor video series on YouTube.
Over the weekend, the US Customs and Border patrol gleefully praised itself for seizing counterfeit AirPods. Only they weren’t really knock offs, they were the new OnePlus Buds. Which, yes, kind of look like knock-off AirPods. But they’re also a real product from a real company that really does make things (though if you want to make the case that OnePlus is just Pontiac to Oppo’s Chevy, I’d hear you out). Chuckles were had by all.
Except the CBP didn’t laugh. The CBP doubled down and said that no, it didn’t make a mistake and the OnePlus Buds did count as counterfeit and the CPB does, in fact, have the legal authority to seize them. It smells of retconning, but it might also nevertheless be true that the CPB can do that (seize the buds, I mean. It’s probably free to retcon too, in today’s America).
After the titanic news of Oracle and TikTok and Nividia and Arm, the OnePlus Buds saga was the small escape I needed until I realized that it, too, is a synecdoche for the globalized conflict between the US, China, and the weird state of IP law. Ah well.
We’ll catch you after Apple’s keynote today, which is just one of several big tech events happening this week. I hope you can join us for a watch-along in our liveblog.
Gadget news
┏ Google to launch Pixel 5, new Chromecast, and smart speaker on September 30th. Surprise! Google’s event won’t have many surprises. It has already teased the Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and the upcoming Nest Speaker that looks vague pillow-shaped. It hasn’t spoken up much about Chromecast, but we know that too: it’s going to switch over to Android TV and is code-named “Sabrina.”
┏ The LG Wing’s twisting screen offers a new spin on the dual-screen smartphone. I ... I kind of love this. I mean it’s ridiculous and the chances that there will be good software support for the second-screen experience are minimal. I could go on and on about why this is silly.
But also it’s silly! Phones can be a little wacky! I mean, not only does this have a second screen that the first screen rotates away to reveal, it has brought back the pop-up selfie camera. LG’s product engineers sat in a room and asked how many moving parts it could pack into a smartphone and the answer was not a number but simply “yes.”
┏ LG also teased a vertical sliding version of a phone, which: yes again. Go off, LG, be wacky.
┏ Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup won’t have high-refresh 120Hz displays, says analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. I can already foresee the year of shit-talking this will cause, so let me just say this. It’s not a deal breaker, but it is disappointing. I have long said that any phone that costs a thousand bucks or more should have a high refresh-rate display and the iPhone lacking one is a miss. It’s not the most important spec on a phone, but it does make an appreciable difference.
Tech news
┏ Anchor says it’s cracking down on stolen podcasts. Ashley Carman with the inside story on how Anchor is trying to fix a problem it really should have addressed earlier.
The copycats, Mignano says, found a workaround in Anchor’s detection system. “This is definitely a new type of attack for Anchor,” he says. The people who uploaded these copycat shows downloaded the audio from another source, manually reuploaded it to Anchor, and filled in the metadata, essentially making it appear to be a new podcast.
┏ Zipline and Walmart to launch drone deliveries of health and wellness products. Kim Lyons:
The program is for on-demand deliveries of health and wellness products and will begin in a trial early next year near Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. Zipline’s launch and release system allows for on-demand delivery in less than an hour, and operating from a Walmart store, can service a 50-mile radius.
Xbox news
┏ The Xbox Series S plays Xbox One S versions of Xbox One games. So to review: the Xbox Series S can play enhanced versions of Xbox One and Xbox 360 games but they’re the Xbox One S versions, not the Xbox One X versions, even though the Xbox Series S is newer and in some ways more powerful than the Xbox One X, which means if you want the best Xbox One X game experience you need the Xbox Series X. Xbox.
I am having a bunch of fun cracking jokes about there being too many Xbox details to keep track of. But the truth is that I am very interested to see if Microsoft’s Game Pass Ultimate focus works. The whole idea is that you shouldn’t have to worry too much about what Xbox you have when you want to play a game, it will just play Xbox games. You just have to worry when you decide which Xbox you want to buy next.
In an earlier newsletter I grumbled about hiding the true cost of the consoles behind monthly payments — I’ll always grumble about that sort of thing. But so long as Microsoft is up front about the total costs, the monthly installments seem like a pretty good idea. I might even spring for one myself.
┏ Xbox Series X and S: everything you need to know about the next-gen of Xbox. This new generation of consoles is much more complicated than “better graphics, better games.” Jon Porter has written the comprehensive guide on the upcoming Xboxes:
Microsoft’s new consoles give you a lot more freedom with how you play its new games, but depending on where you choose to play them, you won’t get exactly the same experience. The Xbox Series X is a much more powerful machine than the Series S or the current Xbox One, for example, which will have a big impact on performance.
More from The Verge
┏ Discovery of noxious gas on Venus could be a sign of life. Read this important story (and watch the video) by Loren Grush on an incredibly intriguing discovery:
finding even a small amount of phosphine on Venus is enticing because of how the gas is made here on Earth. Either it is manufactured artificially by humans — into products like fumigants or biological weapons — or it is a natural byproduct of life. Phosphine can be found in swamps and marshlands, where it’s thought to be produced by microbes. It can also be found in the guts of animals or in the poop they leave behind. Above all, it’s a gas that is almost exclusively associated with life on Earth, raising the possibility that it could be a sign of microbes floating in the Venusian clouds
┏ Oracle’s TikTok deal accomplishes nothing. Russell Brandom nails it. This is theater. All that sound and fury, signifying nothing.
┏ Google announced one of the biggest green pledges from tech yet. Justine Calma also notes that Microsoft has set itself a slightly more aggressive goal than Google has. Still: good.
Google has been carbon neutral each year since 2007, which means that it offsets the emissions it generates from burning fossil fuels by investing in renewable energy projects or other initiatives that draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and into storage. But relying on offsets doesn’t actually wean the company off fossil fuels. Google released 4.9 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2018 alone, roughly the amount that more than 1 million passenger vehicles might put out in a year.
┏ Nvidia’s $40 billion Arm acquisition is about bringing AI down from the cloud. You can always trust James Vincent to come up with a Promethean metaphor:
The big idea is that AI, like some ancient god, is finally stepping down from the clouds to walk among the people. Machine learning algorithms used to rely on data centers for computation, with AI tools and applications sending information over the internet to these remote servers for processing. But while heavy-grade chips are still necessary for research and cutting-edge applications, many machine learning tools are now lightweight enough to run on-device without connecting to the internet. The benefits of this are straightforward: you get faster processing, greater security, and reduced power consumption.
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theverge--2020-09-15--Bill and Melinda Gates say ‘shocking’ US pandemic response is due to ‘terrible leadership’

America ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been “ shocking ” and “ unbelievable , ” with matters made much worse by “ terrible leadership , ” said Bill and Melinda Gates in a series of interviews this week .
The couple condemned the United States for bungling its pandemic response .
They criticized not only the Trump administration for its inaction , but also national bodies like the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) for making key errors over the past year .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation every step of the way , ” Bill Gates told Stat News .
“ It ’ s shocking .
It ’ s unbelievable — the fact that we would be among the worst in the world.
” “ Science should never be politicized .
Science is about getting at the truth.
” Speaking to Axios , Melinda Gates said the only reason America was facing such a higher death toll than other developed countries was a “ lack of leadership.
” As Melinda put it : “ We ’ ve had terrible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And science should never be politicized .
Science is about getting at the truth.
” When asked if any other variable accounted for the impact of COVID-19 in the US compared to other developed countries , Melinda said it was “ our leadership and response ” that was to blame .
The Gates identified a number of mistakes in America ’ s strategy .
Bill Gates criticized the CDC for creating an “ overly complicated test ” for the virus , and said that commercial labs should only be paid to process tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours ( a target the US rarely reaches , says Stat News ) .
Taking any longer gives the virus more time to spread , said Bill .
“ You get to write apology notes to the people you infected in the meantime.
” Melinda Gates , meanwhile , said it was a “ tragedy ” that the Trump administration announced plans to cut all funding for the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
She noted that the organization was “ not perfect , ” but that cutting ties with an agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crises during a pandemic was nonsensical .
“ You just don ’ t pull out of WHO in the middle of a crisis , ” she said .
After the US government , the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the biggest funder of WHO , accounting for 10 percent of its budget .
“ We ’ ve been set back about 25 years in about 25 weeks ” The interviews contain the harshest criticisms yet offered by the Gates of America ’ s pandemic response , and coincide with the release of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 2020 Goalkeepers report .
This annual report tracks the world ’ s progress towards the United Nation ’ s key goals , which include the elimination of poverty and hunger , and the widening of access to healthcare and education .
Usually , the report finds slow and steady progress towards these goals .
But this year the pandemic has pushed global progress into reverse .
Schools have closed , malnutrition is on the rise , poverty has increased globally , and vaccination levels are falling dramatically .
“ In the blink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became an economic crisis , a food crisis , a housing crisis , a political crisis , ” says the report .
“ Everything collided with everything else.
” The pandemic has been an economic disaster , leading to job losses and drops in income .
This has severe knock-on effects , meaning families can ’ t put food on the table , while young people have to give up educations that might change their future in order to scrape enough money together to survive .
The report says that the financial loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great as the “ Great Recession ” of 2008 , and that the last time so many countries were in recession was in 1870 during the “ Long Depression.
” In terms of the number of people in extreme poverty worldwide ( defined as those living on less than $ 1.90 a day ) the report found that figures had increased for the first time in 20 years .
Extreme poverty is forecasted to rise by roughly 7.1 percent in 2020 , meaning around 37 million more people will fall into this category @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines , which the report says is a “ good proxy measure for how health systems are functioning , ” has also been affected .
Last year , the percentage of children worldwide who received all vaccines recommended by the WHO reached over 80 percent ( up from just five percent in the 1970s ) .
This year that figure has fallen back to around 70 percent , in line with vaccination coverage in the 1990s .
As the report states : “ In other words , we ’ ve been set back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Not all of these effects are permanent , of course , and many of the trends described in the 2020 Goalkeepers report can be reversed .
But the Gates say that will require a global response to the pandemic that focuses on vaccination and returning economies to normal .
In an op-ed written for The Financial Times , the Gates make the case that a key part of the global vaccine response should be equality .
If richer countries horde vaccines , as opposed to distributing them to more populous nations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a greater number of deaths , and more sustained economic hardship .
If vaccines are given out to countries in proportion to their population , some 61 percent of deaths can be averted .
If they go to high-income countries first , that figure falls to 33 percent , say the Gates based on models created by Northeastern University ’ s Mobs Lab .
“ The pandemic and the economic recession are global , and national solutions are inadequate .
Borders are meaningless to pathogens and becoming less consequential to economies with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pair .
They add that there is “ no distinction between the moral argument and the self-interested one ” for equitable distribution of vaccines .
“ Fair global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines would end the pandemic faster for everyone .
And for every month we shave off , the world saves roughly $ 500 billion , according to the IMF , ” they write .
“ You ’ re not going to succeed in getting the US to treat itself as just a random 5 percent of the world ’ s population ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill Gates said that America ’ s current position on vaccine development “ looks selfish.
” The Trump administration ’ s Operation Warp Speed has seen the government pay out $ 11 billion to six pharmaceutical companies to develop a vaccine , says the Times , and in return the US has secured at least 100 million doses from each firm .
But just three of these programs need to be successful to immunize America , and excess vaccines could be distributed worldwide to help end the global struggle against COVID-19 .
Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be tough to persuade the US to take this course of action , especially as American taxpayers have already paid for two-thirds of the cost of clinical trials and manufacturing of the vaccines .
“ You ’ re not going to succeed in getting the US to treat itself as just a random 5 percent of the world ’ s population , ” he told the Times .
One other way forward , says Bill , is to increase the amount of foreign aid the US offers other countries .
Although America is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign aid in absolute terms , it only contributes 0.25 percent of its total GDP , compared to three times as much in the UK and Netherlands , and four times as much in Sweden and Norway .
Bill says the pandemic is an opportunity to double that figure to 0.5 percent of US GDP — a change that would have a huge impact in repairing the damage caused by the pandemic .
“ As they say , ” Bill told the Times , paraphrasing a famous quote attributed to Winston Churchill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s tried every other thing — does the right thing .
”

America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been “shocking” and “unbelievable,” with matters made much worse by “terrible leadership,” said Bill and Melinda Gates in a series of interviews this week.
The couple condemned the United States for bungling its pandemic response. They criticized not only the Trump administration for its inaction, but also national bodies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for making key errors over the past year.
“You know, this has been a mismanaged situation every step of the way,” Bill Gates told Stat News. “It’s shocking. It’s unbelievable — the fact that we would be among the worst in the world.”
“Science should never be politicized. Science is about getting at the truth.”
Speaking to Axios, Melinda Gates said the only reason America was facing such a higher death toll than other developed countries was a “lack of leadership.” As Melinda put it: “We’ve had terrible leadership on this issue quite frankly. And science should never be politicized. Science is about getting at the truth.” When asked if any other variable accounted for the impact of COVID-19 in the US compared to other developed countries, Melinda said it was “our leadership and response” that was to blame.
The Gates identified a number of mistakes in America’s strategy. Bill Gates criticized the CDC for creating an “overly complicated test” for the virus, and said that commercial labs should only be paid to process tests if they deliver their results within 24 hours (a target the US rarely reaches, says Stat News). Taking any longer gives the virus more time to spread, said Bill. “You get to write apology notes to the people you infected in the meantime.”
Melinda Gates, meanwhile, said it was a “tragedy” that the Trump administration announced plans to cut all funding for the World Health Organization (WHO). She noted that the organization was “not perfect,” but that cutting ties with an agency designed to coordinate response to global health crises during a pandemic was nonsensical. “You just don’t pull out of WHO in the middle of a crisis,” she said. After the US government, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the biggest funder of WHO, accounting for 10 percent of its budget.
“We’ve been set back about 25 years in about 25 weeks”
The interviews contain the harshest criticisms yet offered by the Gates of America’s pandemic response, and coincide with the release of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2020 Goalkeepers report. This annual report tracks the world’s progress towards the United Nation’s key goals, which include the elimination of poverty and hunger, and the widening of access to healthcare and education.
Usually, the report finds slow and steady progress towards these goals. But this year the pandemic has pushed global progress into reverse. Schools have closed, malnutrition is on the rise, poverty has increased globally, and vaccination levels are falling dramatically.
“In the blink of an eye, a health crisis became an economic crisis, a food crisis, a housing crisis, a political crisis,” says the report. “Everything collided with everything else.”
Forecast of global rates of extreme poverty for 2020. Image: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The pandemic has been an economic disaster, leading to job losses and drops in income. This has severe knock-on effects, meaning families can’t put food on the table, while young people have to give up educations that might change their future in order to scrape enough money together to survive. The report says that the financial loss caused by the pandemic is twice as great as the “Great Recession” of 2008, and that the last time so many countries were in recession was in 1870 during the “Long Depression.”
In terms of the number of people in extreme poverty worldwide (defined as those living on less than $1.90 a day) the report found that figures had increased for the first time in 20 years. Extreme poverty is forecasted to rise by roughly 7.1 percent in 2020, meaning around 37 million more people will fall into this category compared to last year.
Access to vaccines, which the report says is a “good proxy measure for how health systems are functioning,” has also been affected. Last year, the percentage of children worldwide who received all vaccines recommended by the WHO reached over 80 percent (up from just five percent in the 1970s). This year that figure has fallen back to around 70 percent, in line with vaccination coverage in the 1990s. As the report states: “In other words, we’ve been set back about 25 years in about 25 weeks.”
Reversing the damage requires global vaccination
Not all of these effects are permanent, of course, and many of the trends described in the 2020 Goalkeepers report can be reversed. But the Gates say that will require a global response to the pandemic that focuses on vaccination and returning economies to normal.
In an op-ed written for The Financial Times, the Gates make the case that a key part of the global vaccine response should be equality. If richer countries horde vaccines, as opposed to distributing them to more populous nations, the effect will be a longer pandemic, a greater number of deaths, and more sustained economic hardship.
If vaccines are given out to countries in proportion to their population, some 61 percent of deaths can be averted. If they go to high-income countries first, that figure falls to 33 percent, say the Gates based on models created by Northeastern University’s Mobs Lab.
“The pandemic and the economic recession are global, and national solutions are inadequate. Borders are meaningless to pathogens and becoming less consequential to economies with each passing year,” write the pair. They add that there is “no distinction between the moral argument and the self-interested one” for equitable distribution of vaccines. “Fair global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines would end the pandemic faster for everyone. And for every month we shave off, the world saves roughly $500 billion, according to the IMF,” they write.
“You’re not going to succeed in getting the US to treat itself as just a random 5 percent of the world’s population”
Speaking to The New York Times, Bill Gates said that America’s current position on vaccine development “looks selfish.” The Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed has seen the government pay out $11 billion to six pharmaceutical companies to develop a vaccine, says the Times, and in return the US has secured at least 100 million doses from each firm. But just three of these programs need to be successful to immunize America, and excess vaccines could be distributed worldwide to help end the global struggle against COVID-19.
Bill notes, though, that it may be tough to persuade the US to take this course of action, especially as American taxpayers have already paid for two-thirds of the cost of clinical trials and manufacturing of the vaccines. “You’re not going to succeed in getting the US to treat itself as just a random 5 percent of the world’s population,” he told the Times.
One other way forward, says Bill, is to increase the amount of foreign aid the US offers other countries. Although America is the world’s largest donor of foreign aid in absolute terms, it only contributes 0.25 percent of its total GDP, compared to three times as much in the UK and Netherlands, and four times as much in Sweden and Norway. Bill says the pandemic is an opportunity to double that figure to 0.5 percent of US GDP — a change that would have a huge impact in repairing the damage caused by the pandemic.


theverge--2020-09-17--Nvidia’s RTX Voice app was great, and its Broadcast successor is now available

Earlier this year , Nvidia released RTX Voice , a beta software to process audio and suppress almost all background noise , and it worked amazingly well .
My colleague Jon Porter made the sound of his clacking mechanical keyboard completely disappear .
Today , Nvidia has released a successor app called Broadcast , and it ’ s available to download now .
Nvidia Broadcast is a follow-up to the RTX Voice beta and introduces two new AI-powered features : Virtual Background and Auto Frame .
Nvidia says that the noise removal feature also now has a reduced performance cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profiles .
Nvidia Broadcast is a follow-up to the RTX Voice beta The new Virtual Background allows you to remove the background of your webcam feed and replace it either with game footage or an image saved on your hard drive , but you can also blur out your background entirely .
It looks extremely nice , and the background blur reminds me a lot of the Portrait Mode shots you can take with newer phones .
Auto Frame serves as the cameraman to your own reality TV show .
Your webcam zooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card ’ s AI keeps you in frame by following your head movements even if you ’ re not directly in front of your computer .
And of course , noise removal will attempt to suppress any background noise from your microphone feed , such as my twin brother ’ s pomeranian , who barks every time someone rings the doorbell .
Or that one friend who doesn ’ t know how to enable push-to-talk while we are playing CS : GO .
To use Nvidia Broadcast , you ’ ll need an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2070 , 2080 , 2080 Ti and their Super variants , the TITAN or Quadro RTX , as well as the new RTX 3080 ( if you were lucky enough to buy one ) .
However , if you want to see what the fuss is all about , you can download a patched version of RTX Voice that now supports older GeForce graphics cards .
Just note Nvidia says “ your mileage may vary ” with older GPUs .

Earlier this year, Nvidia released RTX Voice, a beta software to process audio and suppress almost all background noise, and it worked amazingly well. My colleague Jon Porter made the sound of his clacking mechanical keyboard completely disappear. Today, Nvidia has released a successor app called Broadcast, and it’s available to download now.
Nvidia Broadcast is a follow-up to the RTX Voice beta and introduces two new AI-powered features: Virtual Background and Auto Frame. Nvidia says that the noise removal feature also now has a reduced performance cost and supports triple the number of noise profiles.
Nvidia Broadcast is a follow-up to the RTX Voice beta
The new Virtual Background allows you to remove the background of your webcam feed and replace it either with game footage or an image saved on your hard drive, but you can also blur out your background entirely. It looks extremely nice, and the background blur reminds me a lot of the Portrait Mode shots you can take with newer phones.
I hope the quality is this good when I try it
Auto Frame serves as the cameraman to your own reality TV show. Your webcam zooms in on you, and the graphic card’s AI keeps you in frame by following your head movements even if you’re not directly in front of your computer.
And of course, noise removal will attempt to suppress any background noise from your microphone feed, such as my twin brother’s pomeranian, who barks every time someone rings the doorbell. Or that one friend who doesn’t know how to enable push-to-talk while we are playing CS:GO.


theverge--2020-09-17--Here’s how to preorder the PS5, when it ever becomes available again

Sony ’ s PlayStation 5 will launch on November 12th in the US starting at $ 399.99 .
That price will get you the digital edition of the console that doesn ’ t have a Blu-ray disc drive .
If you want a disc drive for playing disc-based PS5 games , 4K Blu-ray movies , and PS4 games that may end up being compatible , there ’ s a larger version of the console that has that for $ 499 .
Preorders are now available , but that doesn ’ t mean you ’ ll be able to find one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retailers like Amazon , GameStop , Best Buy , Target , Sam ’ s Club , and Walmart came and went incredibly fast .
It ’ s been a whole fiasco .
These are the stores most likely to get more preorders in stock down the line , so as unproductive as it might seem , you might want to check back from time to time to see if you have any luck .
Hopefully , it won ’ t be long until things calm down .
But hey , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to happen .
To be more helpful , we ’ ll try to keep this post updated with news of more stock coming to retailers — like how Walmart just added another batch of pre-orders at 6PM PT / 9PM ET .
Just keep in mind that stock has been selling out very quickly , so on the off-chance you get a console in your cart , I highly recommend placing the order .
If you want more minute-to-minute updates , Twitter user Wario64 has been very helpful with providing updates when retailers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ET , September 17th : B & H Photo has served up a link for the digital version of the PS5 that will eventually turn into a preorder link , so I ’ ve put it in this post .
No word just yet on when they ’ ll have stock available for order .
Update , 8:30PM ET : With Walmart ’ s new preorders .

The great PlayStation 5 shortage is over — well, at least according to Sony. Thanks to the increased availability of Sony’s next-gen console, there are now multiple options for bringing home a PS5, none of which are an uphill battle. While availability is occasionally limited to bundles that come packaged with a game, specifically God of War Ragnarök, it’s nowhere near as difficult to find a standalone console as it once was. We’re keeping an eye out for where you can buy either the PS5 (with a disc drive) or the PS5 Digital Edition as well as any bundles.
Obviously, there’s no guarantee that inventory will remain available for long, but we’ll do our best to keep this article updated with the latest in-stock alerts and tell you where to look.
Where can I buy a PS5 right now?
Where can I buy a PS5 right now?
Above, we’ve collected the PS5 landing pages for various retailers if you want to check the available stock for standalone consoles or bundles.
Most major retailers restock consoles and bundles both online and in physical stores on an intermittent basis, but availability can fluctuate based on your local store. It’s important to note that some retailers won’t ship your console, too, so make sure the store you select is within a reasonable distance if you’re planning to pick one up. You’ll also need a verified account with these retailers in order to check out.
Restocks can happen at any time. Note, however, that if you’re trying to get a standalone console through Amazon, you’ll need to sign up for an invitation first. Thankfully, you don’t need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to do so.
Opting for a bundle that includes a game like God of War Ragnarök is a perfectly viable option for getting a console without having to pay a premium. Bundles are made available through the PlayStation Direct store and other retailers, with new bundles becoming available alongside the release of new PlayStation exclusives. Whether it’s due to their higher price or that they’re packaged with a game someone may not want, bundles tend to sell out less quickly than standalone consoles.
Every PS5 comes with one DualSense controller. You can use the DualShock 4 controller, but it’ll only work when you’re playing PS4 games on the next-gen console. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
What accessories do I need to buy for the PS5?
The PlayStation 5 includes all the basic things you need to get started (minus games, of course). However, you might want to consider picking up a few additional accessories if you’re looking to get the most out of your new console.
First, there’s the controller. Every PS5 includes one DualSense Wireless Controller, but there are a few benefits to owning at least one additional controller, such as if you plan to play local co-op games with a friend or family member. Or, if you’re like us and want to keep playing your game but don’t want to be tethered to the charging cable, a second controller lets you continue playing while the other charges.
If you’re looking for a pro-grade controller for your PlayStation 5, we recommend you turn your attention to Sony’s modular DualSense Edge. At $199.99, it’s substantially more expensive than the standard DualSense; however, like the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, the premium accessory features a wealth of customization options that make it a good fit for anyone who wants more control over how they game.
The DualSense Edge features a hardshell case and some added grip as well as four back paddles, swappable analog stick modules, and function keys that let you swap controls and adjust the volume on the fly. It offers worse battery life than the standard DualSense, sure, but that’s the price you pay for the ability to execute trigger patterns with ease. Read our review.
Sony’s official gaming headphones are a fantastic way to experience the spatial audio of the PlayStation 5. The Pulse 3D sports a clean, minimalist aesthetic and is still one of our favorite gaming headsets thanks to its comfortable fit and solid sound quality.
The PS5 HD Camera is a neat accessory for people interested in using their PS5 to livestream video games or broadcast their gameplay with friends. It includes dual 1080p lenses and allows you to remove the background of your camera’s feed and replace it with something else.
We recommend subscribing to PlayStation Plus if you have not already done so; outside of taking advantage of exclusive discounts and online multiplayer, PlayStation Plus provides a ton of additional incentives. Most notably, PS5 owners will have access to the PlayStation Plus Collection through May 8th, which is essentially a digital library of some of the most impactful titles to have ever been released on the PlayStation 4, including God of War, Persona 5, and The Last of Us Remastered. Best of all, once you’ve claimed the games, you can still access them after May 9th as long as you have a PlayStation Plus subscription.
PlayStation Plus has changed substantially since the service launched in 2010 and now offers tiered memberships with different pricing. An annual membership to PlayStation Plus Essential, the lowest tier, costs $59.99 and provides you with free games each month, exclusive discounts, cloud storage for saved games, and access to the PlayStation Plus Collection on the PS5. A year of PlayStation Plus Extra, on the other hand, will run you $99.99 and grants you all the Essential benefits in addition to even more free games by way of the PlayStation Game Catalog.
At the top of the heap, we have PlayStation Plus Premium, which costs $119.99 for an annual subscription. It offers all of the same benefits as lower tiers but provides access to the PlayStation Classics catalog in addition to the ability to stream games to your PC and mobile devices. Premium subscribers also get the perk of game trials for eligible titles, allowing for time-limited access to games for free.
The PS5 looks pretty sharp on its own, but if white isn’t your color, Dbrand and Sony both make custom covers for personalizing your console. Sony’s console covers are available in the same six shades as its DualSense controllers, and like Dbrand’s Darkplates, clip onto either side of your console. Dbrand’s alternatives aren’t available in as many colors as Sony’s apt-titled console covers but can be combined with Dbrand vinyl skins, which can be applied to the middle of your PS5 to create something a little more unique.
Dbrand Darkplates 2.0 $ 59 $ 69 14 % off $ 59 $ 59 $ 69 14 % off Dbrand’s Darkplates let you customize the outer shell of your PlayStation 5 in addition to the light strips and middle section. $59 at Dbrand
The PS5 comes with 825GB of storage out of the box but is compatible with a variety of M.2 SSDs if you need more space. There’s no shortage of M.2 SSDs on the market, but they can vary wildly in terms of their performance. Also, not all M.2 SSDs come packaged with a heatsink, which is necessary if you’re planning to use this drive with your PS5. Here are a couple of options we can recommend based on their performance and price point.
Samsung 980 Pro (with heatsink) $ 100 $ 200 50 % off $ 100 $ 100 $ 200 50 % off Samsung’s 980 Pro is a fast PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD that’s capable of sequential read speeds of up to 7,000MB/s and write speeds of up to 5,000MB/s. These specs make it a great choice for a modern PCIe 4.0-equipped PC or for a PS5. $100 at Best Buy (2TB)
WD Black SN850 (1TB, with heatsink) $ 125 $ 180 31 % off $ 125 $ 125 $ 180 31 % off The WD Black SN850 is one of the fastest M.2 drives around, with a sequential read speed of up to 7,000MB/s and a write speed of up to 4,100MB/s. It can perform best in a PC that has a PCIe 4.0 motherboard or in a PS5. $125 at Amazon$150 at Best Buy


theverge--2020-09-17--Walmart’s latest PS5 preorders were gone in about a minute

The PS5 pre-order situation has so far been a bit of a mess , and Walmart ’ s fresh batch of consoles at 6PM PT / 9PM ET on Thursday night did nothing to change that .
They were gone in about a minute .
I was able to get a Digital Edition in my cart , but I didn ’ t pull the trigger because I already secured a preorder yesterday .
My editor said the Digital Editions were showing as out of stock for him about 10 seconds later , though , so who knows if I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchase .
And shortly after , a few of us at The Verge were seeing that preorders were no longer available .
And we weren ’ t the only ones : Now , if you navigate to the pages for the $ 499.99 PS5 that comes with a disc drive or the $ 399.99 Digital Edition , you ’ ll see this cheery , though unhelpful , message .
Hopefully , Walmart will stock preorders again sometime before the console ’ s November 12th release date .
If you want a chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and make sure your payment info and address are up to date in Walmart ’ s systems , as the seconds spent typing those in once preorders are live could make the difference between you securing your preorder or not .
And as we saw tonight , it ’ s not unusual for a console to be snagged right out of your digital shopping cart .
Here ’ s our collection of links to other retailers stocking the PS5 — perhaps they ’ ll do a restock as well .
And here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldwide guidance on when Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S preorders will begin .
Good luck on the hunt .

The PS5 pre-order situation has so far been a bit of a mess, and Walmart’s fresh batch of consoles at 6PM PT / 9PM ET on Thursday night did nothing to change that. They were gone in about a minute.
I was able to get a Digital Edition in my cart, but I didn’t pull the trigger because I already secured a preorder yesterday. My editor said the Digital Editions were showing as out of stock for him about 10 seconds later, though, so who knows if I would have actually been able to make the purchase. And shortly after, a few of us at The Verge were seeing that preorders were no longer available.
And we weren’t the only ones:
Now, if you navigate to the pages for the $499.99 PS5 that comes with a disc drive or the $399.99 Digital Edition, you’ll see this cheery, though unhelpful, message.
Image: Walmart
Hopefully, Walmart will stock preorders again sometime before the console’s November 12th release date. If you want a chance to snag one next go-round, be logged in and make sure your payment info and address are up to date in Walmart’s systems, as the seconds spent typing those in once preorders are live could make the difference between you securing your preorder or not. And as we saw tonight, it’s not unusual for a console to be snagged right out of your digital shopping cart.
Here’s our collection of links to other retailers stocking the PS5 — perhaps they’ll do a restock as well. And here’s Microsoft’s full, worldwide guidance on when Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S preorders will begin. Good luck on the hunt.


theverge--2020-09-17--Apple is making Shazam a bigger part of your iPhone

Apple bought music recognition app Shazam in 2018 , and now it ’ s integrating it into iOS in another big way — a new Music Recognition feature can identify songs playing around you as well as in apps on your phone .
And it even works when you ’ re listening to music on your headphones .
The new feature is available as a toggle in Control Center , but it does require a developer beta of iOS 14.2 if you want to try it right now .
That toggle will look like a little Shazam icon , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your iPhone to start listening .
You could already use Siri to summon Shazam and identify songs playing around you , but being able to identify music in your apps could be handy too — if , say , you ’ re wondering what song that creator picked for their TikTok or YouTube video .
Interestingly , Android users been able to use Shazam to identify music playing through headphones since June 2019 .
It ’ s not clear why the feature took more than a year to arrive on iOS .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final iOS 14.2 might arrive with this feature — iOS 14 just released the other day — or if it could even slip to a further release .
But with new iPhones set to launch sometime in October , perhaps we ’ ll see a release around then .

Apple bought music recognition app Shazam in 2018, and now it’s integrating it into iOS in another big way — a new Music Recognition feature can identify songs playing around you as well as in apps on your phone. And it even works when you’re listening to music on your headphones.
The new feature is available as a toggle in Control Center, but it does require a developer beta of iOS 14.2 if you want to try it right now. That toggle will look like a little Shazam icon, and you just need to tap it for your iPhone to start listening.
Image: Apple
You could already use Siri to summon Shazam and identify songs playing around you, but being able to identify music in your apps could be handy too — if, say, you’re wondering what song that creator picked for their TikTok or YouTube video.
Interestingly, Android users been able to use Shazam to identify music playing through headphones since June 2019. It’s not clear why the feature took more than a year to arrive on iOS.


theverge--2020-09-17--Microsoft’s worldwide list of where and when Xbox Series X and S pre-orders will begin

Microsoft is revealing today the exact time you ’ ll be able to preorder an Xbox Series X or Series S console on September 22nd — and in the hours since we initially wrote this post , it ’ s now expanded the list to include those details for many other countries as well .
In the US , preorders will start at 11AM ET / 8AM PT on September 22nd at Amazon , Target , Walmart , Best Buy , Costco , Sam ’ s Club , Gamestop , Newegg , and Army and Airforce Exchange Service .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 11AM ET / 8AM PT on September 22nd at the Microsoft Store , Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , EB Games , The Source , and “ other participating retailers.
” In the UK , it ’ ll be 8AM BST at the Microsoft Store , GAME , Amazon , Dixons , Currys PC World , Argos , John Lewis , Smyths Toys , and “ other participating retailers.
” In Australia , it ’ ll be 8AM AEST at the Microsoft Store , JB Hifi , EB Games , Telstra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participating retailers.
” In New Zealand , it ’ ll be 8AM NZST at the Microsoft Store , JB HiFi , EB Games , Spark , and “ other participating retailers.
” For other parts of the world , here ’ s Microsoft ’ s guidance : The Xbox Series X is priced at $ 499 , and the Xbox Series S will be available at $ 299 .
Microsoft says supplies are , naturally , limited , and it ’ s not clear how many consoles will be available in the initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consoles for $ 24.99 a month and up through the company ’ s Xbox All Access program , which includes Game Pass Ultimate .
Microsoft ’ s also got a list of participating retailers for that program in the US , UK , Australia , New Zealand , Denmark , Finland , Norway and Sweden right here .
At least we have a clear time and list of retailers for the next-gen Xbox consoles , though .
Both Sony and Nvidia have made a mockery out of the preorder process this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to start today at select retailers , without any details or times .
Walmart quickly opened its own preorders less than two hours later , and other retailers soon followed .
It was a mess , all just weeks after Sony opened a weird registration for invite-only PS5 preorders that it hasn ’ t even started taking yet .
After the PS5 preorder fiasco , Nvidia was equally unclear on timings for its RTX 3080 launch .
Nvidia refused to take preorders , but the company never made it clear exactly when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retailers .
News broke that RTX 3080 cards would be available at 6AM PT this morning , and the cards are pretty much sold out everywhere online .
Update 6:44PM ET : Added Microsoft ’ s expanded list of countries , retailers , and start times .

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S consoles will be available for preorder around the world on September 22nd — and depending on where you live, that’s happening very soon. If you’re reading this in New Zealand, you’ll be able to place an order in just under two hours, with the wait being just a bit longer for those in Australia. By the time those on the US East Coast wake up, gamers in the UK and Europe will have already put money down on a new console. Those preorders start at 8AM BST (3AM ET) and 9AM, respectively.
Since we originally wrote this post, Microsoft expanded the list to include those details for many other countries as well.
In the US, preorders will start at 11AM ET / 8AM PT on September 22nd at Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, GameStop, Newegg, and Army and Airforce Exchange Service.
In Canada, they’ll also start at 11AM ET / 8AM PT on September 22nd at the Microsoft Store, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, EB Games, The Source, and “other participating retailers.”
In the UK, it’ll be 8AM BST at the Microsoft Store, GAME, Amazon, Dixons, Currys PC World, Argos, John Lewis, Smyths Toys, and “other participating retailers.”
In Australia, it’ll be 8AM AEST at the Microsoft Store, JB Hifi, EB Games, Telstra, Harvey Norman, and “other participating retailers.”
In New Zealand, it’ll be 8AM NZST at the Microsoft Store, JB HiFi, EB Games, Spark, and “other participating retailers.”
For other parts of the world, here’s Microsoft’s guidance:
Across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, you can pre-order online starting at 9AM CEST at Microsoft Store, Amazon, MediaMarkt, GameStop, FNAC, Elkjøp/Elgiganten, and other participating retailers. Retailers and availability may differ by country.
The Xbox Series X is priced at $499, and the Xbox Series S will be available at $299. Microsoft says supplies are, naturally, limited, and it’s not clear how many consoles will be available in the initial preorder phase. You can also buy the consoles for $24.99 a month and up through the company’s Xbox All Access program, which includes Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft’s also got a list of participating retailers for that program in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden right here.
At least we have a clear time and list of retailers for the next-gen Xbox consoles, though. Both Sony and Nvidia have made a mockery out of the preorder process this week. Sony vaguely announced PS5 preorders were set to start today at select retailers, without any details or times. Walmart quickly opened its own preorders less than two hours later, and other retailers soon followed. It was a mess, all just weeks after Sony opened a weird registration for invite-only PS5 preorders that it hasn’t even started taking yet.
After the PS5 preorder fiasco, Nvidia was equally unclear on timings for its RTX 3080 launch. Nvidia refused to take preorders, but the company never made it clear exactly when cards would be available to order from retailers. News broke that RTX 3080 cards would be available at 6AM PT this morning, and the cards are pretty much sold out everywhere online.


theverge--2020-09-17--Amazon reportedly sold drugs used for doping months after promising to crack down

Amazon has removed dozens of listings for peptides , drugs that can be used for doping , after an investigation from The Markup found 66 examples of such products on the site .
Peptides are made naturally in the body , but synthetic versions , which can be sold in vials and then reconstituted and injected , are often used as performance-enhancing drugs since they can speed recovery from injuries .
According to The Markup , in recent weeks Amazon had been carrying listings for peptides not on the US Food and Drug Administration ’ s list of approved drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May that it would start cracking down , and several of those drugs have been classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency as doping drugs .
The drugs were labeled for “ research ” or “ lab ” uses , but questions on the products ’ pages suggested people were ingesting the drugs .
“ The products in question were previously allowed in our store for laboratory or research use only and not for human injection or consumption , ” an Amazon spokesperson said in an email to The Verge .
“ However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we decided to no longer allow these products and have been removing them since , as we have in this case.
” The spokesperson added that third-party sellers on its platform are “ independent businesses and are required to follow all applicable laws , regulations , and Amazon policies , including accurate detail page information , when selling in our store .
We do not sanction customer misuse or abuse of products.
” A Wall Street Journal report last year found that Amazon was listing products via its third-party sellers that had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsafe by US government agencies , including some imported prescription drugs .

Amazon has removed dozens of listings for peptides, drugs that can be used for doping, after an investigation from The Markup found 66 examples of such products on the site. Peptides are made naturally in the body, but synthetic versions, which can be sold in vials and then reconstituted and injected, are often used as performance-enhancing drugs since they can speed recovery from injuries.
According to The Markup, in recent weeks Amazon had been carrying listings for peptides not on the US Food and Drug Administration’s list of approved drugs, months after telling the publication in May that it would start cracking down, and several of those drugs have been classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency as doping drugs. The drugs were labeled for “research” or “lab” uses, but questions on the products’ pages suggested people were ingesting the drugs.
“The products in question were previously allowed in our store for laboratory or research use only and not for human injection or consumption,” an Amazon spokesperson said in an email to The Verge. “However, out of an abundance of caution, we decided to no longer allow these products and have been removing them since, as we have in this case.”
The spokesperson added that third-party sellers on its platform are “independent businesses and are required to follow all applicable laws, regulations, and Amazon policies, including accurate detail page information, when selling in our store. We do not sanction customer misuse or abuse of products.”
A Wall Street Journal report last year found that Amazon was listing products via its third-party sellers that had been banned, mislabeled, or otherwise declared unsafe by US government agencies, including some imported prescription drugs.


theverge--2020-09-17--Lego finally realizes it doesn’t need to use plastic to package its tiny plastic bricks

If you ever purchased a Lego set , you ’ ll know the box comes with an uncomfortable amount of plastic bags to separate each set of pieces included .
Personally , I felt it was way too much plastic for just one product , and it ’ s nice to now see Lego has finally come to its senses : the company plans to ditch the single-use packaging starting next year , Lego announced on its website earlier this week .
Going forward , Lego plans to package its tiny bricks in recycled paper bags .
The company says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packaging sustainable by 2025.
” Lego CEO Niels Christiansen said the company received “ many letters ” from kids asking the toymaker to stop using plastic bags in their packaging .
Alongside its plans to use sustainable packaging , Lego is also working on sustainable bricks no longer made of plastic .
The company aims to use sustainable materials in its core products by 2030 , according to Lego .
In 2018 , Lego began selling brick pieces made from plant-based plastic .
Yet that material makes up a small percentage of Lego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 percent , actually ) compared to its more recent releases such as the interactive Super Mario sets and the customizable Lego Art posters .
Oh , and did I mention there ’ s a complete replica of the Nintendo Entertainment System made entirely with the tiny plastic bricks , too ?

If you ever purchased a Lego set, you’ll know the box comes with an uncomfortable amount of plastic bags to separate each set of pieces included. Personally, I felt it was way too much plastic for just one product, and it’s nice to now see Lego has finally come to its senses: the company plans to ditch the single-use packaging starting next year, Lego announced on its website earlier this week.
Going forward, Lego plans to package its tiny bricks in recycled paper bags. The company says they are looking to make “all packaging sustainable by 2025.” Lego CEO Niels Christiansen said the company received “many letters” from kids asking the toymaker to stop using plastic bags in their packaging.


theverge--2020-09-17--Demon’s Souls’ and Final Fantasy XVI’s now-retracted PC launches are an odd coincidence

As part of its PlayStation 5 launch event yesterday , Sony said Final Fantasy XVI and Demon ’ s Souls weren ’ t just strictly PS5 exclusives — trailers for both games revealed they would also be coming to PC .
At the time , that meant the biggest game announced during Sony ’ s showcase as well as one of the PS5 ’ s most notable launch titles wouldn ’ t require a PS5 to play them .
If you added the fact that both Spider-Man : Miles Morales and Horizon Forbidden West will also be coming to PS4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait on picking up a PS5 at launch .
But shortly after the event , Sony and Square Enix went into damage control , saying that Final Fantasy XVI and Demon ’ s Souls actually aren ’ t coming to PC after all .
It ’ s an odd coincidence , and it makes the PS5 ’ s lineup look a lot stronger if both games are exclusive to Sony ’ s next-gen console .
Demon ’ s Souls is a highly anticipated remake of the 2009 PS3 classic , and it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch titles .
And Final Fantasy XVI is the next numbered game in one of gaming ’ s most popular franchises — one that helped build the PlayStation brand .
Sony tacitly acknowledged how important the game is to the PS5 by using its surprise announcement to kick off yesterday ’ s entire presentation — only to reveal in the fine print that the game would come to PC , lessening the announcement ’ s impact for Sony .
Sony explicitly suggested that PC releases would help grow its business last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ we will explore expanding our 1st party titles to the PC platform , in order to promote further growth in our profitability.
” While we ’ re not sure they ’ re first party , it wouldn ’ t have been weird if Final Fantasy XVI and Demon ’ s Souls had come to PC .
Just this year , two other huge PS4 titles made the jump , with Death Stranding arriving on PC in July and Horizon Zero Dawn appearing in August .
Detroit : Become Human arrived on PC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ muddy the waters The official statements from Sony and Square Enix about the games ’ availability muddy the waters of this whole situation .
A Square Enix spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday that it has “ only announced ” Final Fantasy XVI for the PS5 , pointing us to a press release .
And Square Enix told IGN that “ we have no further information on if Final Fantasy XVI will be released on platforms other than the PS5.
” If it ’ s true that it ’ s exclusive to PS5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just say that ?
The situation around Demon ’ s Souls is a bit clearer , as Sony told Kotaku and The Verge that the PC mention in that game ’ s trailer was included in error and that the game will be exclusive to PS5 .
But Sony didn ’ t reply to questions from The Verge asking whether Demon ’ s Souls would be a timed PS5 exclusive and might end up on PC later .
Death Stranding and Horizon Zero Dawn were also PS4 exclusives , after all .

As part of its PlayStation 5 launch event yesterday, Sony said Final Fantasy XVI and Demon’s Souls weren’t just strictly PS5 exclusives — trailers for both games revealed they would also be coming to PC. At the time, that meant the biggest game announced during Sony’s showcase as well as one of the PS5’s most notable launch titles wouldn’t require a PS5 to play them. If you added the fact that both Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Horizon Forbidden West will also be coming to PS4, you might well have decided to wait on picking up a PS5 at launch.
But shortly after the event, Sony and Square Enix went into damage control, saying that Final Fantasy XVI and Demon’s Souls actually aren’t coming to PC after all.
An intriguing coincidence
It’s an odd coincidence, and it makes the PS5’s lineup look a lot stronger if both games are exclusive to Sony’s next-gen console. Demon’s Souls is a highly anticipated remake of the 2009 PS3 classic, and it will be one of just six first-party PS5 launch titles.
And Final Fantasy XVI is the next numbered game in one of gaming’s most popular franchises — one that helped build the PlayStation brand. Sony tacitly acknowledged how important the game is to the PS5 by using its surprise announcement to kick off yesterday’s entire presentation — only to reveal in the fine print that the game would come to PC, lessening the announcement’s impact for Sony.
A card at the end of the original Final Fantasy XVI trailer. Image: Sony
Sony explicitly suggested that PC releases would help grow its business last month, saying in its 2020 corporate report that “we will explore expanding our 1st party titles to the PC platform, in order to promote further growth in our profitability.” While we’re not sure they’re first party, it wouldn’t have been weird if Final Fantasy XVI and Demon’s Souls had come to PC. Just this year, two other huge PS4 titles made the jump, with Death Stranding arriving on PC in July and Horizon Zero Dawn appearing in August. Detroit: Become Human arrived on PC as well.
The official statements just muddy the waters
The official statements from Sony and Square Enix about the games’ availability muddy the waters of this whole situation. A Square Enix spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday that it has “only announced” Final Fantasy XVI for the PS5, pointing us to a press release. And Square Enix told IGN that “we have no further information on if Final Fantasy XVI will be released on platforms other than the PS5.” If it’s true that it’s exclusive to PS5, why can’t Square Enix just say that?


theverge--2020-09-17--Google fixes odd bug that made some Pixel Buds audio cut out at 1:50 intervals

Google is still trying to iron out connectivity issues with its Pixel Buds .
The company has confirmed that it has identified the cause of a strange , frustrating bug that caused audio to drop out for some users every one minute and 50 seconds — on the dot .
I ’ ve gotten numerous emails about this issue from Pixel Buds owners , so it ’ s good to see that Google has managed to resolve it .
According to a post on the company ’ s support forums , a new firmware update is currently rolling out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pause after every 1:50 .
In case you ’ re unfamiliar with the update process , Google has this guide for installing Pixel Buds firmware .
If you ’ re not using your Pixel Buds with an Android phone — well , that ’ s an unusual use case , for one — but Google says you should contact customer support to discuss other options since the firmware can only be updated when the earbuds are connected over Bluetooth to a phone running Android 6.0 and above .
Google has thanked customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to improve the stability of its second-gen Pixel Buds .
Last month , the company released a number of new features for the earbuds including a new bass boost EQ setting and fixes that were meant to help the Bluetooth connection .
However , when I tested them after the update , I still experienced some dropouts .
But if your main issue was the annoying , regular skip at 1:50 intervals , at least that ’ s now history .

Google is still trying to iron out connectivity issues with its Pixel Buds. The company has confirmed that it has identified the cause of a strange, frustrating bug that caused audio to drop out for some users every one minute and 50 seconds — on the dot. I’ve gotten numerous emails about this issue from Pixel Buds owners, so it’s good to see that Google has managed to resolve it.
According to a post on the company’s support forums, a new firmware update is currently rolling out to the true wireless earbuds that will eliminate the pause after every 1:50. In case you’re unfamiliar with the update process, Google has this guide for installing Pixel Buds firmware.
If you’re not using your Pixel Buds with an Android phone — well, that’s an unusual use case, for one — but Google says you should contact customer support to discuss other options since the firmware can only be updated when the earbuds are connected over Bluetooth to a phone running Android 6.0 and above.


theverge--2020-09-17--Amazon’s business generated $1.6 billion in 2019 profit for the USPS, new report finds

A bombshell report in The Washington Post today details the ongoing feud between the Trump administration and the US Postal Service , and it provides insight into just how lucrative Amazon ’ s business is for the agency .
According to documents obtained by watchdog group American Oversight , Amazon generated $ 1.6 billion in profit and $ 3.9 billion in revenue for the USPS in fiscal year 2019 , with the postal service delivering 1.54 billion packages for the e-commerce giant .
That represented about 30 percent of Amazon ’ s total volume last year , and , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
President Trump has complained for at least the last two years — without citing evidence — that the USPS loses “ $ 1.50 on average for each package ” it delivers for Amazon .
The president tweeted in 2018 that Amazon was using the USPS as its “ Delivery Boy , ” putting retailers out of business and paying little in taxes .
He reportedly pressured then-Postmaster General Megan Brennan to double the rate the USPS charged Amazon and other companies .
The president has said he was intentionally underfunding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder The USPS lost $ 8.8 billion in fiscal year 2019 , more than double its loss from 2018 .
But its losses are largely blamed on a 2006 requirement from Congress that the post office pre-fund pension and retiree health care costs decades into the future , not Amazon .
Last year , those costs included a $ 320 million increase in retirement benefits expenses and a $ 3.5 billion increase in workers ’ compensation expenses , which was not offset by the 0.7 percent increase in revenue .
Internal USPS memos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show that “ unfunded government mandates ” are more of a detriment to the agency ’ s fiscal health than any arrangement with Amazon , despite the president ’ s statements to the contrary .
When the USPS and Amazon worked to negotiate a new contract in the spring of this year , internal memos warned that if it raised rates too high , it could lose Amazon ’ s business to competitors .
The president said in August he was intentionally underfunding the USPS to make voting by mail more difficult , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few days later , tweeting “ save the post office.
” He also protested the $ 10 billion emergency coronavirus funding the USPS received in July , though he could have gotten something out of that deal : it was granted in exchange for information about the agency ’ s most valuable private-sector client contracts , potentially giving him ammo to show the USPS is not fiscally responsible or that Amazon was at least partly to blame for its financial woes .
The new reporting doesn ’ t seem to support either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge chunk of business Amazon gave the USPS last year , the agency still wouldn ’ t have been able to turn a profit thanks to its business model .

A bombshell report in The Washington Post today details the ongoing feud between the Trump administration and the US Postal Service, and it provides insight into just how lucrative Amazon’s business is for the agency.
According to documents obtained by watchdog group American Oversight, Amazon generated $1.6 billion in profit and $3.9 billion in revenue for the USPS in fiscal year 2019, with the postal service delivering 1.54 billion packages for the e-commerce giant. That represented about 30 percent of Amazon’s total volume last year, and, according to the Post, revenue has increased this year.
President Trump has complained for at least the last two years — without citing evidence — that the USPS loses “$1.50 on average for each package” it delivers for Amazon. The president tweeted in 2018 that Amazon was using the USPS as its “Delivery Boy,” putting retailers out of business and paying little in taxes. He reportedly pressured then-Postmaster General Megan Brennan to double the rate the USPS charged Amazon and other companies.
The president has said he was intentionally underfunding the USPS to make voting by mail harder
The USPS lost $8.8 billion in fiscal year 2019, more than double its loss from 2018. But its losses are largely blamed on a 2006 requirement from Congress that the post office pre-fund pension and retiree health care costs decades into the future, not Amazon. Last year, those costs included a $320 million increase in retirement benefits expenses and a $3.5 billion increase in workers’ compensation expenses, which was not offset by the 0.7 percent increase in revenue.
Internal USPS memos uncovered in the Post’s reporting show that “unfunded government mandates” are more of a detriment to the agency’s fiscal health than any arrangement with Amazon, despite the president’s statements to the contrary. When the USPS and Amazon worked to negotiate a new contract in the spring of this year, internal memos warned that if it raised rates too high, it could lose Amazon’s business to competitors.
The president said in August he was intentionally underfunding the USPS to make voting by mail more difficult, but then appeared to shift his position a few days later, tweeting “save the post office.” He also protested the $10 billion emergency coronavirus funding the USPS received in July, though he could have gotten something out of that deal: it was granted in exchange for information about the agency’s most valuable private-sector client contracts, potentially giving him ammo to show the USPS is not fiscally responsible or that Amazon was at least partly to blame for its financial woes.


theverge--2020-09-18--The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has progressed beyond the need for vowels

You all just need to look at this .
This here is the weirdest and coolest 14-inch gaming laptop I ’ ve ever used .
It ’ s called the ROG Zephyrus G14 ACRNM .
If you ’ re wondering why it looks like that , Asus partnered with a clothing designer called Acronym , which primarily makes stuff like this $ 2,000 trench coat .
So , yeah .
If you ’ ve been paying any attention to the laptop market in the past year , you probably know what the Zephyrus G14 is .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can run just about any game on any settings you want .
The battery life is excellent , the touchpad and keyboard are exceptional , it only weighs 3.5 pounds — almost everything about it rules .
If you haven ’ t read my review of the G14 , take a quick pause and go do that now .
Welcome back .
So the ACRNM G14 is $ 2,499 .
It comes with a Ryzen 9 4900HS , Nvidia ’ s GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU , 32GB of RAM , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ G14 with the same screen , processor , and GPU is $ 1,999 , though it only has 16GB of RAM .
There ’ s also a $ 1,449 model with a 120Hz 1080p display .
Right off the bat — does anyone need to spend $ 500 extra for a slightly funkier design ?
No .
But hear me out .
This thing is so cool .
Let ’ s start with the outside .
The G14 Acronym is black with a dot matrix covering the lid .
Those dots are actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to display endless different patterns , from text messages to logos .
You can choose between eight different Acronym-specific animations .
My favorite one is the face of Acronym co-founder Errolson Hugh — he flickers , moves around , and occasionally explodes .
Along the bottom of the lid is a geometric pattern that looks a bit like a bookcase .
“ ZPHYRS ” is written across the back vent in a classy silver font .
The moniker is also printed on the packaging and is etched into the bottom of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting symbols including the ROG logo , a kaleidoscope vector , a grid of five overlapping circles , something that looks kind of like a Star Wars TIE/D Defender , and what I can best describe as a striated concave cyclone with “ BLACK HOLES IN THE NOW ” written below it .
( I asked some edgy people I know , and that ’ s not a reference to anything they ’ re aware of . )
God , I love this thing so much .
But the real highlight of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a scattered flurry of color .
No , I don ’ t mean the backlighting — the physical keys are a medley of different hues , with no discernible pattern .
There ’ s a bright “ A ” on every corner of most letter keys ; other keys have their functions and secondary functions occupying one or two .
“ Alter ” is in the top-left corner of Alt , $ is in the top-right corner of 4 .
“ VOID ” is written on the space bar .
The font @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an old storybook .
Somehow , it ’ s both quite sophisticated and totally unhinged .
I feel like I ’ m typing on an old quilt and The Future at the same time .
The final thing to note is that this comes preloaded with a program called The Brain .
It was developed by Harlan Hugh , Errolson Hugh ’ s brother , and there ’ s a hotkey that pulls it up .
The goal of the software is to — I am not making this up — “ map @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can map multiple brains and keep them in a repository called the “ BrainBox.
” I was skeptical , but after playing around with The Brain , I ’ m totally in .
The best way I can describe it is that it allows you to construct to-do lists as animated family trees .
So you might have your personal life on one branch , work tasks on another , and stuff for an upcoming vacation on another — and then additional branches of tasks from those branches .
Items can contain attachments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; clicking on an item zooms you in .
It ’ s very weird but very cool .
I can see myself using it daily .
I am totally going to buy this , and I don ’ t care how many possessions I have to sell to afford it .
I want to play Red Dead Redemption II at playable frame rates while flashing an explosive LED face at everyone who passes by .
Some people will find it far afield of the traditional “ gaming laptop ” aesthetic , and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much money to pay for a laptop that you can also get for $ 1,449 with a better screen for gaming .
Both of those things are true .
But what I love about this G14 is that it doesn ’ t care what you think .
It ’ s brilliant , it ’ s wild , and it ’ s not afraid .
What a better world it would be if all products were so bold and so unapologetically , irrevocably themselves .

You all just need to look at this.
This here is the weirdest and coolest 14-inch gaming laptop I’ve ever used. It’s called the ROG Zephyrus G14 ACRNM. If you’re wondering why it looks like that, Asus partnered with a clothing designer called Acronym, which primarily makes stuff like this $2,000 trench coat. So, yeah.
The weirdest and coolest 14-inch gaming laptop
If you’ve been paying any attention to the laptop market in the past year, you probably know what the Zephyrus G14 is. It’s a monster of a gaming rig, and it can run just about any game on any settings you want. The battery life is excellent, the touchpad and keyboard are exceptional, it only weighs 3.5 pounds — almost everything about it rules. If you haven’t read my review of the G14, take a quick pause and go do that now.
Welcome back. So the ACRNM G14 is $2,499. It comes with a Ryzen 9 4900HS, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU, 32GB of RAM, and a QHD 60Hz display. A regular G14 with the same screen, processor, and GPU is $1,999, though it only has 16GB of RAM. There’s also a $1,449 model with a 120Hz 1080p display.
For $1,449, you can buy the Zephyrus. For $2,499, you can buy the ZPHYRS.
Right off the bat — does anyone need to spend $500 extra for a slightly funkier design? No. But hear me out. This thing is so cool.
Let’s start with the outside. The G14 Acronym is black with a dot matrix covering the lid. Those dots are actually tiny LEDs, and they can light up to display endless different patterns, from text messages to logos. You can choose between eight different Acronym-specific animations. My favorite one is the face of Acronym co-founder Errolson Hugh — he flickers, moves around, and occasionally explodes.
The G14 ACRNM uses “specially developed paints” and two original typefaces.
Along the bottom of the lid is a geometric pattern that looks a bit like a bookcase. “ZPHYRS” is written across the back vent in a classy silver font. The moniker is also printed on the packaging and is etched into the bottom of the chassis, along with a number of interesting symbols including the ROG logo, a kaleidoscope vector, a grid of five overlapping circles, something that looks kind of like a Star Wars TIE/D Defender, and what I can best describe as a striated concave cyclone with “BLACK HOLES IN THE NOW” written below it. (I asked some edgy people I know, and that’s not a reference to anything they’re aware of.) God, I love this thing so much.
But the real highlight of this design is the keyboard. The letters are a scattered flurry of color. No, I don’t mean the backlighting — the physical keys are a medley of different hues, with no discernible pattern. There’s a bright “A” on every corner of most letter keys; other keys have their functions and secondary functions occupying one or two. “Alter” is in the top-left corner of Alt, $ is in the top-right corner of 4. “VOID” is written on the space bar. The font is one you’d see in an old storybook. Somehow, it’s both quite sophisticated and totally unhinged. I feel like I’m typing on an old quilt and The Future at the same time.
BLACK HOLES IN THE NOW
The final thing to note is that this comes preloaded with a program called The Brain. It was developed by Harlan Hugh, Errolson Hugh’s brother, and there’s a hotkey that pulls it up. The goal of the software is to — I am not making this up — “map your brain.” In fact, you can map multiple brains and keep them in a repository called the “BrainBox.”
I was skeptical, but after playing around with The Brain, I’m totally in. The best way I can describe it is that it allows you to construct to-do lists as animated family trees. So you might have your personal life on one branch, work tasks on another, and stuff for an upcoming vacation on another — and then additional branches of tasks from those branches. Items can contain attachments like checklists, graphics, and links; clicking on an item zooms you in. It’s very weird but very cool. I can see myself using it daily.
I am totally going to buy this, and I don’t care how many possessions I have to sell to afford it. I want to play Red Dead Redemption II at playable frame rates while flashing an explosive LED face at everyone who passes by. Some people will find it far afield of the traditional “gaming laptop” aesthetic, and many will say $2,499 is way too much money to pay for a laptop that you can also get for $1,449 with a better screen for gaming. Both of those things are true.
But what I love about this G14 is that it doesn’t care what you think. It’s brilliant, it’s wild, and it’s not afraid. What a better world it would be if all products were so bold and so unapologetically, irrevocably themselves.


theverge--2020-09-18--LG Wing hands-on: it’s weird, but it works

LG ’ s Wing might be the most wild-looking smartphone in 2020 — which is saying something , given the wide array of phones released this year .
But despite that unique design , after spending some time with the actual hardware and software , I suspect that LG might actually be onto something with its approach to the Wing .
The device seen here isn ’ t finalized hardware or software — expect a full review from The Verge later on — and LG hasn ’ t given a price or release date , which are big question marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is definitely a first-generation device , I ’ m really impressed by the level of polish that LG has achieved with the Wing .
It ’ s surprisingly thin for a device that has a second screen — several family members I showed it to didn ’ t even realize that there was anything out of the ordinary at first glance .
The swiveling hinge is fantastic .
It slides open with a satisfying “ snick ” sound and flips shut with a crisp snap , everything just spring-loaded enough to feel effortless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a device that has a second screen There have been plenty of foldable and dual-screen devices that have tried to iterate on adding extra screen space — including devices from LG — with bulky display cases or chunky hinges .
The biggest achievement of the Wing might be that , until you swivel out that top screen , it just looks and feels like a regular smartphone , albeit a large one , given that it ’ s a 6.8-inch 20.5:9 display .
Flip out that screen , though , and everything changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrolling list of favorite apps that ’ s reminiscent of Apple ’ s old Cover Flow UI , while the bottom display shows a watered-down version of the classic Android home screen .
Apps can be launched on both displays , and there ’ s even the option to preset pairings with a single shortcut ( say , to launch Google Maps on one screen and your music app on the other ) .
Apps effectively work in two ways on the Wing : either in an “ extended mode ” that splits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both displays or simply by running two apps side by side .
The extended mode apps are where LG flexes the creativity of the Wing , with the second smaller display getting media control keys and brightness controls for the YouTube app , or showing camera controls while using the main display as a massive , uncluttered viewfinder , or , in perhaps the weirdest implementation , a note-taking app flips the phone upside down and uses the “ main ” display as a massive , full-sized keyboard while the smaller screen displays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how you ’ ll use apps Running two apps side by side is closer to a normal use case for the Wing — at least , in comparison to other dual-screen devices .
But LG has thought about how you ’ ll use those apps .
You can hold the phone in the landscape orientation that LG has emphasized in most of its promotions .
But you can also hold it in a more traditional portrait mode as well , with the secondary screen popping out of the side , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day-to-day use .
LG is also hyping up the new “ gimbal mode , ” which uses a dedicated ultrawide camera with a new “ hexa motion ” stabilization system .
It ’ s a clever idea on paper , one that uses the second screen as a combination of a grip and for gimbal controls , but it ’ s one that we ’ ll have to spend a little more time with to judge .
It ’ s a creative idea , if nothing else , something that can be said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t say whether the LG Wing will be successful .
There are still some software bugs to sort out , and with the price still unknown , it ’ s hard to say whether consumers or developers will be willing to take the risk on such an unproven design .
But at the very least , LG has proven that it ’ s willing to experiment with what a phone can do and look like , and that ’ s a very encouraging thing to see .

LG’s Wing might be the most wild-looking smartphone in 2020 — which is saying something, given the wide array of phones released this year. But despite that unique design, after spending some time with the actual hardware and software, I suspect that LG might actually be onto something with its approach to the Wing.
The device seen here isn’t finalized hardware or software — expect a full review from The Verge later on — and LG hasn’t given a price or release date, which are big question marks for any device. But for what is definitely a first-generation device, I’m really impressed by the level of polish that LG has achieved with the Wing.
It’s surprisingly thin for a device that has a second screen — several family members I showed it to didn’t even realize that there was anything out of the ordinary at first glance. The swiveling hinge is fantastic. It slides open with a satisfying “snick” sound and flips shut with a crisp snap, everything just spring-loaded enough to feel effortless.
It’s surprisingly thin for a device that has a second screen
There have been plenty of foldable and dual-screen devices that have tried to iterate on adding extra screen space — including devices from LG — with bulky display cases or chunky hinges. The biggest achievement of the Wing might be that, until you swivel out that top screen, it just looks and feels like a regular smartphone, albeit a large one, given that it’s a 6.8-inch 20.5:9 display.
Flip out that screen, though, and everything changes. The main display switches to a scrolling list of favorite apps that’s reminiscent of Apple’s old Cover Flow UI, while the bottom display shows a watered-down version of the classic Android home screen. Apps can be launched on both displays, and there’s even the option to preset pairings with a single shortcut (say, to launch Google Maps on one screen and your music app on the other).
Apps effectively work in two ways on the Wing: either in an “extended mode” that splits the content of a single app across both displays or simply by running two apps side by side. The extended mode apps are where LG flexes the creativity of the Wing, with the second smaller display getting media control keys and brightness controls for the YouTube app, or showing camera controls while using the main display as a massive, uncluttered viewfinder, or, in perhaps the weirdest implementation, a note-taking app flips the phone upside down and uses the “main” display as a massive, full-sized keyboard while the smaller screen displays your typed text.
LG has thought about how you’ll use apps
Running two apps side by side is closer to a normal use case for the Wing — at least, in comparison to other dual-screen devices. But LG has thought about how you’ll use those apps. You can hold the phone in the landscape orientation that LG has emphasized in most of its promotions. But you can also hold it in a more traditional portrait mode as well, with the secondary screen popping out of the side, which is almost more interesting as an idea for day-to-day use.
LG is also hyping up the new “gimbal mode,” which uses a dedicated ultrawide camera with a new “hexa motion” stabilization system. It’s a clever idea on paper, one that uses the second screen as a combination of a grip and for gimbal controls, but it’s one that we’ll have to spend a little more time with to judge. It’s a creative idea, if nothing else, something that can be said about most of the Wing.
I can’t say whether the LG Wing will be successful. There are still some software bugs to sort out, and with the price still unknown, it’s hard to say whether consumers or developers will be willing to take the risk on such an unproven design. But at the very least, LG has proven that it’s willing to experiment with what a phone can do and look like, and that’s a very encouraging thing to see.