theverge--2020-11-12--Ford unveils E-Transit electric cargo van with 126 miles of range and $45,000 price tag

Ford unveiled the all-electric version of its popular Transit delivery van , with connected vehicle technology to help commercial fleet owners better manage their cargo operations .
The E-Transit will have a smaller battery and less range than most passenger EVs released in recent years , but Ford insists that it will be more than sufficient to meet the last-mile delivery needs of its commercial customers .
The E-Transit is the second major electric vehicle to be released as part of Ford ’ s $ 11.5 billion push into electrification , which the company says will last through 2022 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which Ford will start delivering to customers at the end of this year .
Next year , the company expects to unveil an electric version of its best-selling F-150 pickup truck .
The second major electric vehicle to be released as part of Ford ’ s $ 11.5 billion electrification push Ford is revealing its electric cargo van at a time when more people are using delivery than any time before .
The coronavirus pandemic has forced more people to shop online for groceries and other services .
And the need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the front of mind for many automakers as nations around the world move to crack down on combustion engine vehicles .
When it ’ s released in 2022 , the E-Transit will come packing a 76-kWh battery , which should power it for 126 miles of range .
That may seem paltry when compared to long-range EVs like Tesla , Lucid , and others .
But Ford says it made this decision based on 30 million miles of real-world driving telematics of its non-electric Transit customers “ to deliver the right amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that analysis , Ford determined that the average daily mileage of a Ford Transit customer was just 76 miles .
People who are shopping for themselves are looking for “ an aspirational vehicle that truly exceeds rocket ship acceleration , range that ’ s beyond belief , etc , ” said Yaroslav Hetman , global director of marketing for electric trucks and commercial vehicles at Ford .
“ When you talk to commercial customers , they view things through two lenses : total cost of ownership and safety.
” The price has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
If it had opted for a larger battery with more range , the price would have gone up , making the E-Transit unaffordable to those customers Ford is hoping to target .
To that end , the Blue Oval automaker is recommending a price tag of $ 45,000 — about 80 percent more than the non-electric Transit van ’ s suggested price of $ 24,625 but priced to be competitive with other electric utility vans .
Ford ’ s commercial customers buy anywhere between one Transit van and tens of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it ’ s released will be the availability of the $ 7,500 federal EV tax credit .
For how long , though , is unclear : a phase-out plan is triggered after an automaker delivers its 200,000th eligible car .
Ford is offering three variants of the E-Transit , each with a different roof height or body length — but notably nowhere close to the 60 trim levels available for the gas-powered Transit van .
Of course , the E-Transit is an EV , which means it needs to impress us with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s also not a Tesla or even a Mustang , so the E-Transit ’ s high-tech facade will have more to do with fleet operations for commercial vehicle owners .
And that means features that sound a bit Orwellian on the surface .
Ford describes one such feature as “ in-vehicle , real-time driver coaching , ” in which fleet operators can use the vehicle ’ s SYNC 4 operating system to monitor their employees ’ driving .
Anytime an employee exceeds a speed limit , accelerates too fast , brakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parked , or fails to fasten a seatbelt , the disembodied voice of their boss will pipe in over the vehicle ’ s speakers to correct their behavior .
“ We ’ re able to use the voice assistant inside of the vehicle to actually communicate to the driver that they are effectively driving unsafely or have an opportunity to correct some of their behaviors , ” said Julius Marchwicki , chief operating officer of Ford Commercial Solutions , “ and that real-time feedback to the driver is much more effective than trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” There ’ s also a Driver ID feature , giving fleet operators a way to connect specific drivers with their vehicles .
Drivers will need to enter a unique code into the SYNC screen to give their employers a record of which driver is using which vehicle .
“ By associating a driver with a specific vehicle , managers could analyze performance metrics to potentially identify new coaching opportunities to help manage driver performance , ” Ford says .
The E-Transit will also serve as a mobile power source with 2.4 kW @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to plug in power tools or other devices .
The plugs are located on the rear edge of the passenger side door for easy access .
Ford envisions contractors using the E-Transit to power a circular saw , for example , while on the job .
There are a bunch of electric cargo vans coming to market around the same time The E-Transit will also share some features with other EVs in Ford ’ s lineup .
For example , owners will be able to remotely adjust the vehicle ’ s heating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the vehicle is plugged in , much like the Mach-E. Fleet operators can also remotely monitor their vehicles after hours and receive alerts if one of their vehicles is being stolen , used without permission , towed , or even if it has been damaged while parked .
The E-Transit will land amid a wave of new electric vehicles going into production for the North American market .
Most will be passenger vehicles , but a handful will be for commercial delivery .
Mercedes-Benz has already unveiled an electric version of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitor , General Motors , is working on an electric delivery van , codenamed “ BV1.
” Recently , Amazon revealed its first all-electric delivery vehicle , which is being built by EV startup Rivian .
And another startup , Bollinger , recently revealed the Deliver-E , an all-electric delivery van concept that is slated for production in 2022 .
Ford is also collaborating with Volkswagen on commercial vans after the two companies formed a global alliance early last year .
Ford is gearing up to mass-produce the E-Transit , investing $ 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will serve as the central hub for the van ’ s assembly .
The company also recently broke ground on a new manufacturing plant outside of Dearborn , Michigan , where it will build the electric F-150 .
At first glance , the E-Transit looks almost identical to its gas-powered progenitor .
You have to hand it to Ford for showing restraint when designing the E-Transit .
It even kept the ventilated grille instead of going with the smooth fascia of a Tesla Model 3 or the layered front end of the Mach-E. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and meant to blend in to traffic — and that ’ s a good thing .
This isn ’ t a vehicle that ’ s meant to trigger your salivary glands and make you fumble for your wallet ; it ’ s meant to appeal to “ business customers ” who make “ business decisions ” using spreadsheets with lots of numbers and columns .
And to that end , Ford thinks it has a winner .
“ We don ’ t focus so much on what our competition , ” Hetman said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And if we can exceed their needs on a daily basis , whether it ’ s with trucks , vans or retail vehicles , we know we ’ re going to win .
”

Ford unveiled the all-electric version of its popular Transit delivery van, with connected vehicle technology to help commercial fleet owners better manage their cargo operations. The E-Transit will have a smaller battery and less range than most passenger EVs released in recent years, but Ford insists that it will be more than sufficient to meet the last-mile delivery needs of its commercial customers.
The E-Transit is the second major electric vehicle to be released as part of Ford’s $11.5 billion push into electrification, which the company says will last through 2022. The first vehicle was the Mustang Mach-E, which Ford will start delivering to customers at the end of this year. Next year, the company expects to unveil an electric version of its best-selling F-150 pickup truck.
The second major electric vehicle to be released as part of Ford’s $11.5 billion electrification push
Ford is revealing its electric cargo van at a time when more people are using delivery than any time before. The coronavirus pandemic has forced more people to shop online for groceries and other services. And the need to invest in less polluting technology is at the front of mind for many automakers as nations around the world move to crack down on combustion engine vehicles.
When it’s released in 2022, the E-Transit will come packing a 76-kWh battery, which should power it for 126 miles of range. That may seem paltry when compared to long-range EVs like Tesla, Lucid, and others. But Ford says it made this decision based on 30 million miles of real-world driving telematics of its non-electric Transit customers “to deliver the right amount of range based on fleet needs.” Based on that analysis, Ford determined that the average daily mileage of a Ford Transit customer was just 76 miles.
People who are shopping for themselves are looking for “an aspirational vehicle that truly exceeds rocket ship acceleration, range that’s beyond belief, etc,” said Yaroslav Hetman, global director of marketing for electric trucks and commercial vehicles at Ford. “When you talk to commercial customers, they view things through two lenses: total cost of ownership and safety.”
The price has to be right, too, Ford says. If it had opted for a larger battery with more range, the price would have gone up, making the E-Transit unaffordable to those customers Ford is hoping to target. To that end, the Blue Oval automaker is recommending a price tag of $45,000 — about 28 percent more than the non-electric Transit van’s suggested price of around $35,000 but priced to be competitive with other electric utility vans.
Ford’s commercial customers buy anywhere between one Transit van and tens of thousands of them. An important selling point when it’s released will be the availability of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. For how long, though, is unclear: a phase-out plan is triggered after an automaker delivers its 200,000th eligible car.
Ford is offering three variants of the E-Transit, each with a different roof height or body length — but notably nowhere close to the 60 trim levels available for the gas-powered Transit van.
Three trim levels
Of course, the E-Transit is an EV, which means it needs to impress us with its vision of the future. But it’s also not a Tesla or even a Mustang, so the E-Transit’s high-tech facade will have more to do with fleet operations for commercial vehicle owners. And that means features that sound a bit Orwellian on the surface.
Ford describes one such feature as “in-vehicle, real-time driver coaching,” in which fleet operators can use the vehicle’s SYNC 4 operating system to monitor their employees’ driving. Anytime an employee exceeds a speed limit, accelerates too fast, brakes harshly, leaves the engine running while parked, or fails to fasten a seatbelt, the disembodied voice of their boss will pipe in over the vehicle’s speakers to correct their behavior.
“We’re able to use the voice assistant inside of the vehicle to actually communicate to the driver that they are effectively driving unsafely or have an opportunity to correct some of their behaviors,” said Julius Marchwicki, chief operating officer of Ford Commercial Solutions, “and that real-time feedback to the driver is much more effective than trying to do any coaching after the fact.”
There’s also a Driver ID feature, giving fleet operators a way to connect specific drivers with their vehicles. Drivers will need to enter a unique code into the SYNC screen to give their employers a record of which driver is using which vehicle. “By associating a driver with a specific vehicle, managers could analyze performance metrics to potentially identify new coaching opportunities to help manage driver performance,” Ford says.
The E-Transit will also serve as a mobile power source with 2.4 kW of exportable power for vehicle owners who need to plug in power tools or other devices. The plugs are located on the rear edge of the passenger side door for easy access. Ford envisions contractors using the E-Transit to power a circular saw, for example, while on the job.
There are a bunch of electric cargo vans coming to market around the same time
The E-Transit will also share some features with other EVs in Ford’s lineup. For example, owners will be able to remotely adjust the vehicle’s heating and cooling system to optimize charging speed while the vehicle is plugged in, much like the Mach-E. Fleet operators can also remotely monitor their vehicles after hours and receive alerts if one of their vehicles is being stolen, used without permission, towed, or even if it has been damaged while parked.
The E-Transit will land amid a wave of new electric vehicles going into production for the North American market. Most will be passenger vehicles, but a handful will be for commercial delivery.
Previous Next
1 / 9 Previous Next
1 / 9
Ford is gearing up to mass-produce the E-Transit, investing $100 million in a plant in Missouri that will serve as the central hub for the van’s assembly. The company also recently broke ground on a new manufacturing plant outside of Dearborn, Michigan, where it will build the electric F-150.
At first glance, the E-Transit looks almost identical to its gas-powered progenitor. You have to hand it to Ford for showing restraint when designing the E-Transit. It even kept the ventilated grille instead of going with the smooth fascia of a Tesla Model 3 or the layered front end of the Mach-E.
Everything else about the E-Transit is nondescript and meant to blend in to traffic — and that’s a good thing. This isn’t a vehicle that’s meant to trigger your salivary glands and make you fumble for your wallet; it’s meant to appeal to “business customers” who make “business decisions” using spreadsheets with lots of numbers and columns. And to that end, Ford thinks it has a winner.


theverge--2020-11-12--Mmhmm, the app that makes your video presentations more fun, has arrived on Mac

Mmhmm , the video presentation app that infuses video calls with Weekend Update-style graphics , is coming out of beta for its grand debut on Mac .
The app features free and premium tiers and one exclusive feature for buyers of Apple ’ s new M1-equipped computers .
Mmhmm ’ s basic premise is that if we ’ re going to be spending a majority of our time communicating over video calls , then they should at least be more engaging and expressive , rather than simple shared desktops and green-screened backgrounds .
Mmhmm tries to fill that gap by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resizable version of themselves over photos , videos and slides and share a live feed of all that into video calls .
The app acts as the controls for the backgrounds and effects you ’ re using or the presentation you ’ re giving , regardless of which video chat platform you ’ re using .
You can also collaborate on presentations using the Co-Pilot feature , creating presentations with a friend or handing off controls while you speak .
The app isn ’ t all business , though ; there are fun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hand mode to spice up non-business calls too .
Big Hand mode is new as of the app leaving beta — and exclusive to Apple ’ s new M1-equipped computers because it relies on the chip ’ s machine-learning capabilities — but it seems like a neat way to make non-verbal communication easier in group calls .
Rather than fumble for the button to unmute yourself , Big Hand mode overlays a colorful hand over your own , so you can thumbs-up , throw a peace sign or point in a way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small video call box .
Mmhmm splits its features into two tiers : Premium , which offers customizable backgrounds and fun tools like laser pointers and filters and Basic , which is the core functionality of presenting , recording and collaborating on presentations .
Everyone who downloads Mmhmm will be able to use the “ Premium Tools ” for a seven day free trial , after which they ’ ll only be able to use the premium features for an hour a day .
For unlimited access , Mmhmm has subscriptions for $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Additionally , there are a few other ways to use the premium tools for longer .
If you were part of the beta , you ’ ll be granted 3 months of premium as a thanks from developer All Turtles .
Students and educators can also get a year of premium for free if they confirm their status by emailing “ education @ mhmm.app ” from their school email .
Mmhmm is available today on its site , for Macs running Big Sur , Catalina or Mojave .
A Mac App @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beta is also in the works .

Mmhmm, the video presentation app that infuses video calls with Weekend Update-style graphics, is coming out of beta for its grand debut on Mac. The app features free and premium tiers and one exclusive feature for buyers of Apple’s new M1-equipped computers.
Mmhmm’s basic premise is that if we’re going to be spending a majority of our time communicating over video calls, then they should at least be more engaging and expressive, rather than simple shared desktops and green-screened backgrounds.
Presenting slides in Mmhmm. Image: All Turtles
Mmhmm tries to fill that gap by offering users the ability to superimpose a resizable version of themselves over photos, videos and slides and share a live feed of all that into video calls. The app acts as the controls for the backgrounds and effects you’re using or the presentation you’re giving, regardless of which video chat platform you’re using. You can also collaborate on presentations using the Co-Pilot feature, creating presentations with a friend or handing off controls while you speak. The app isn’t all business, though; there are fun effects like Jedi hologram filters and Big Hand mode to spice up non-business calls too.
Big Hand mode is new as of the app leaving beta — and exclusive to Apple’s new M1-equipped computers because it relies on the chip’s machine-learning capabilities — but it seems like a neat way to make non-verbal communication easier in group calls. Rather than fumble for the button to unmute yourself, Big Hand mode overlays a colorful hand over your own, so you can thumbs-up, throw a peace sign or point in a way that’s visible, even in a small video call box.
Big Hand mode allows for easier non-verbal communication. Image: All Turtles
Mmhmm splits its features into two tiers: Premium, which offers customizable backgrounds and fun tools like laser pointers and filters and Basic, which is the core functionality of presenting, recording and collaborating on presentations.
Everyone who downloads Mmhmm will be able to use the “Premium Tools” for a seven day free trial, after which they’ll only be able to use the premium features for an hour a day. For unlimited access, Mmhmm has subscriptions for $9.99 a month or $99 a year. Additionally, there are a few other ways to use the premium tools for longer. If you were part of the beta, you’ll be granted 3 months of premium as a thanks from developer All Turtles. Students and educators can also get a year of premium for free if they confirm their status by emailing “education@mmhmm.app” from their school email.
Mmhmm is available today on its site, for Macs running Big Sur, Catalina or Mojave. A Mac App Store release is planned and a Windows beta is also in the works.


theverge--2020-11-12--Instagram redesigns its home screen for the first time in years, adding Reels and Shop tabs

Instagram ’ s making major design changes to its home screen for the first time in years .
Today , the company announced that it ’ s adding Reels and Shop tabs to its home screen , a communication of the company ’ s priorities .
The Reels tab will , of course , lead users to Reels , shortform videos similar to TikTok .
The Shop tab will surface personalized recommendations , editors ’ picks curated by the @ shop channel , shoppable videos , and new product collections .
Both tabs make it easier for people to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go there immediately .
The Likes tab as well as the Create tab where people upload photos are moving to the top right-hand corner next to the direct messages inbox .
“ We don ’ t take these changes lightly – we haven ’ t updated Instagram ’ s home screen in a big way for quite a while , ” head of Instagram Adam Mosseri wrote in a blog post .
“ But how people create and enjoy culture has changed , and the biggest risk to Instagram is not that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t change and become irrelevant .
We ’ re excited about the new design and believe it gives the app a much-needed refresh , while staying true to our core value of simplicity.
” The fact that Instagram is committing to a Reels tab only a few months after its launch in the US and abroad suggests the format is here to stay .
Interestingly , IGTV , Instagram ’ s home for longform videos , still hasn ’ t received a dedicated home screen tab and is only available through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the lack of interest in the format .
The shopping addition is less surprising than Reels .
Instagram has developed its shopping product over years , and this summer , it launched a dedicated shopping page and the ability to use Facebook Pay for transactions .
Placing both Reels and Shop on the home screen means we can expect to continue to see the company invest in both of these areas .

Instagram’s making major design changes to its home screen for the first time in years. Today, the company announced that it’s adding Reels and Shop tabs to its home screen, a communication of the company’s priorities. The Reels tab will, of course, lead users to Reels, shortform videos similar to TikTok. The Shop tab will surface personalized recommendations, editors’ picks curated by the @shop channel, shoppable videos, and new product collections. Both tabs make it easier for people to find what they want on the platform and go there immediately.
The Likes tab as well as the Create tab where people upload photos are moving to the top right-hand corner next to the direct messages inbox.
“We don’t take these changes lightly – we haven’t updated Instagram’s home screen in a big way for quite a while,” head of Instagram Adam Mosseri wrote in a blog post. “But how people create and enjoy culture has changed, and the biggest risk to Instagram is not that we change too fast, but that we don’t change and become irrelevant. We’re excited about the new design and believe it gives the app a much-needed refresh, while staying true to our core value of simplicity.”
The fact that Instagram is committing to a Reels tab only a few months after its launch in the US and abroad suggests the format is here to stay. Interestingly, IGTV, Instagram’s home for longform videos, still hasn’t received a dedicated home screen tab and is only available through the Discover page, which could speak to the lack of interest in the format.


theverge--2020-11-12--Active-shooter drills look pretty weird over Zoom

At the beginning of her psychology class , Vivian ’ s teacher announced they ’ d be having a code red drill .
Adamantly , she gave the instructions , then gave them again .
The teacher , and the small group of students who were present in the classroom , would turn off the lights and hide in the corner furthest from the door .
The 30 students on the Zoom call , Vivian included , would turn off their cameras and mute their microphones .
Were there an actual shooting , though , they ’ d exit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarm came over the classroom ’ s intercom , blaring through Vivian ’ s computer speaker .
She muted herself ; her face disappeared from the call .
For around eight minutes , she watched the dark classroom , and listened to the teacher and students as they quietly conversed .
They were scared .
As of 2017 , 95 percent of American schools held active-shooter drills .
And across the country , students like Vivian have continued to observe and participate in the exercises — over video chat , from their homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world scrambling .
Eight months after the first wave of closures , many districts are still offering virtual instruction in some form , through either fully online or hybrid models ( like Vivian ’ s school ) with some students in the classroom and others calling in .
Students and teachers have improvised to replicate aspects of traditional school over video chat : prom , scavenger hunts , art shows , musicals , even sports .
But the cocktail of safety drills that schools usually offer ( including simulations of active-shooter scenarios and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and earthquakes ) could pose a particular challenge when it comes to engaging remote students .
Why put virtual students through drills at all ?
At least 40 states require schools to hold them , even if they ’ re using blended instruction .
In some cases , there are other stakes as well .
“ They ’ re worried about the potential legal liability , ” Patrick Blanchfield , an associate faculty member at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research who write about gun violence in American culture , told The Verge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class-action lawsuit saying they didn ’ t do the training.
” In some cases , Blanchfield says , there ’ s a profit incentive as well .
Safety training is a $ 2.7 billion industry , and some schools contract with private training companies and security-consulting firms .
Schools also receive tens of millions of dollars each year in state and federal grants to fund active-shooter drills and other “ safety ” measures .
On the other hand , it ’ s clear why these policies are in place .
There were 417 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15,000 gun deaths in 2019 ; there were 25 school shootings with injuries or deaths .
Even if students aren ’ t in school now , most will return in the future .
It could be prudent to remind them of safety procedures and help parents feel more comfortable sending them back .
She couldn ’ t help but think about what she might be hearing if a shooter were actually there But long before remote schooling swept the US , there was controversy over whether active-shooter trainings make anyone safer .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools to follow , and there ’ s little research on their efficacy .
America ’ s two largest teachers ’ unions called on schools to end unannounced drills and drills that simulate violence earlier this year , arguing that the exercises traumatize students .
The American Academy of Pediatrics has also warned of their “ potential psychological risks.
” Even Donald Trump doesn ’ t like them .
And some research has shown that the drills increase stress and depression in school communities .
That can still be the case over Zoom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her surname be withheld since she ’ s a minor , said the experience was “ really nerve-wracking.
” The alarm was loud and startling .
And as she listened to her teacher and the students conversing in the dark room , she says she couldn ’ t help but think about what she might be hearing if a shooter were actually there .
Some schools have replaced disaster simulations with a more informational format in an attempt to accommodate remote students .
Kailey Hill , principal of Manchester Elementary in Spring Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-mandated monthly fire drills to information sessions about at-home fire safety .
Over a video call , she methodically explains the school ’ s fire drill procedure , shares general fire safety resources with both students and parents , and helps them make evacuation plans for their own homes .
The priority when it comes to active-shooter drills , Hill says , should be explaining the procedures to students with context they can understand .
“ For some of our students , dependent on the age , they might not have a parent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We talk to them so we can assuage their fears , and kind of help the narrative , so that kids don ’ t start crying or get really scared or anything like that.
” But some students worry about the philosophical framing of such conversations — that they place an onus on students and distract from the broader issues of gun access and gun control .
Diana Marcela Morales , a senior at North Carolina State University , had that frustration with an exercise that took place in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students were virtual .
Rather than simulating a code red scenario , a police officer walked the class through an incident verbally , listing locations that students should go if there were a shooter on campus : the places they should hide , the exits they should take , the directions they should run .
“ It was perpetuating this idea that it was up to students to keep themselves safe during an active shooter drill , not the school ’ s to protect us , ” Morales said .
“ It put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survive and pray , pretty much.
” “ It really felt like some Buzzfeed video ... that ’ s like ‘ Top 10 Places To Hide At Your University During An Active Shooter So You Don ’ t Die Even Though You Aren ’ t On Campus , ’ ” she added .
And Morales doesn ’ t feel she learned much useful information , either .
She didn ’ t know where all the officer ’ s recommended hiding spots were , and the escape routes , couched in cardinal directions like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her .
“ I feel like a class on how to seek resources during the pandemic would ’ ve been a lot more helpful than an active shooter drill through a Zoom meeting.
” “ It put too much responsibility on students to just survive and pray.
” Conducting shooter drills on the same routine schedule as exercises for fire , earthquake , and other natural disasters works to normalize the active shooter in the same vein — as an inevitable force of nature , says Blanchfield , the gun-violence researcher .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in schools , we ’ re still training them to expect school shootings.
” Other students had less principled opposition , describing their experiences as “ boring , ” “ awkward , ” and “ weird.
” “ I was just bored , ” said Cassandra , a high school senior in New York who requested a pseudonym so she wouldn ’ t get in trouble .
Her principal called a surprise lockdown drill during her fifth-period biology class while the teacher was sharing her screen .
Unable to see the classroom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the exercise .
“ I went to cook some microwaveable macaroni , ” she said .
Frank ( also a pseudonym , for the same reason ) , a junior in Pinellas County , Florida , got similarly little out of a recent active shooter drill .
He and nine other students watched monotonously over Zoom as his teacher and in-person classmates turned off the lights and hid under their desks — Zoom-watchers had been given no instruction .
“ Kind of awkward , ” he said .
“ About 15 minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the call ?
“ Well , it was during class time .
”

At the beginning of her psychology class, Vivian’s teacher announced they’d be having a code red drill. Adamantly, she gave the instructions, then gave them again. The teacher, and the small group of students who were present in the classroom, would turn off the lights and hide in the corner furthest from the door. The 30 students on the Zoom call, Vivian included, would turn off their cameras and mute their microphones. Were there an actual shooting, though, they’d exit the call.
Fifteen minutes later, an alarm came over the classroom’s intercom, blaring through Vivian’s computer speaker. She muted herself; her face disappeared from the call. For around eight minutes, she watched the dark classroom, and listened to the teacher and students as they quietly conversed. They were scared.
As of 2017, 95 percent of American schools held active-shooter drills. And across the country, students like Vivian have continued to observe and participate in the exercises — over video chat, from their homes.
COVID-19 has sent schools around the world scrambling. Eight months after the first wave of closures, many districts are still offering virtual instruction in some form, through either fully online or hybrid models (like Vivian’s school) with some students in the classroom and others calling in. Students and teachers have improvised to replicate aspects of traditional school over video chat: prom, scavenger hunts, art shows, musicals, even sports. But the cocktail of safety drills that schools usually offer (including simulations of active-shooter scenarios and other events like fires, tornadoes, and earthquakes) could pose a particular challenge when it comes to engaging remote students.
An Alameda Police officer evacuates students during a school shooting and mass evacuation drill at Lincoln Middle School in Alameda, California. Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Why put virtual students through drills at all? At least 40 states require schools to hold them, even if they’re using blended instruction. In some cases, there are other stakes as well. “They’re worried about the potential legal liability,” Patrick Blanchfield, an associate faculty member at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research who write about gun violence in American culture, told The Verge. “There’s a potential class-action lawsuit saying they didn’t do the training.”
In some cases, Blanchfield says, there’s a profit incentive as well. Safety training is a $2.7 billion industry, and some schools contract with private training companies and security-consulting firms. Schools also receive tens of millions of dollars each year in state and federal grants to fund active-shooter drills and other “safety” measures.
On the other hand, it’s clear why these policies are in place. There were 417 mass shootings in the US and over 15,000 gun deaths in 2019; there were 25 school shootings with injuries or deaths. Even if students aren’t in school now, most will return in the future. It could be prudent to remind them of safety procedures and help parents feel more comfortable sending them back.
She couldn’t help but think about what she might be hearing if a shooter were actually there
But long before remote schooling swept the US, there was controversy over whether active-shooter trainings make anyone safer. There’s no national standardized procedure for schools to follow, and there’s little research on their efficacy. America’s two largest teachers’ unions called on schools to end unannounced drills and drills that simulate violence earlier this year, arguing that the exercises traumatize students. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also warned of their “potential psychological risks.” Even Donald Trump doesn’t like them. And some research has shown that the drills increase stress and depression in school communities.
That can still be the case over Zoom. Vivian, whose parents requested that her surname be withheld since she’s a minor, said the experience was “really nerve-wracking.” The alarm was loud and startling. And as she listened to her teacher and the students conversing in the dark room, she says she couldn’t help but think about what she might be hearing if a shooter were actually there.
She also remembers feeling “melancholic.”
Kindergarten students lie on the floor during a classroom lockdown drill in Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Phil Mislinski / Getty Images
Some schools have replaced disaster simulations with a more informational format in an attempt to accommodate remote students. Kailey Hill, principal of Manchester Elementary in Spring Lake, North Carolina, has converted her state-mandated monthly fire drills to information sessions about at-home fire safety. Over a video call, she methodically explains the school’s fire drill procedure, shares general fire safety resources with both students and parents, and helps them make evacuation plans for their own homes. The priority when it comes to active-shooter drills, Hill says, should be explaining the procedures to students with context they can understand.
“For some of our students, dependent on the age, they might not have a parent right there with them,” Hill said. “We talk to them so we can assuage their fears, and kind of help the narrative, so that kids don’t start crying or get really scared or anything like that.”
But some students worry about the philosophical framing of such conversations — that they place an onus on students and distract from the broader issues of gun access and gun control. Diana Marcela Morales, a senior at North Carolina State University, had that frustration with an exercise that took place in her summer criminology class — where all the students were virtual. Rather than simulating a code red scenario, a police officer walked the class through an incident verbally, listing locations that students should go if there were a shooter on campus: the places they should hide, the exits they should take, the directions they should run.
“It was perpetuating this idea that it was up to students to keep themselves safe during an active shooter drill, not the school’s to protect us,” Morales said. “It put too much responsibility on students to just survive and pray, pretty much.”
“It really felt like some Buzzfeed video ... that’s like ‘Top 10 Places To Hide At Your University During An Active Shooter So You Don’t Die Even Though You Aren’t On Campus,’” she added.
And Morales doesn’t feel she learned much useful information, either. She didn’t know where all the officer’s recommended hiding spots were, and the escape routes, couched in cardinal directions like “run west,” meant little to her. “I feel like a class on how to seek resources during the pandemic would’ve been a lot more helpful than an active shooter drill through a Zoom meeting.”
“It put too much responsibility on students to just survive and pray.”
Conducting shooter drills on the same routine schedule as exercises for fire, earthquake, and other natural disasters works to normalize the active shooter in the same vein — as an inevitable force of nature, says Blanchfield, the gun-violence researcher. “Even when people are no longer in schools, we’re still training them to expect school shootings.”
Other students had less principled opposition, describing their experiences as “boring,” “awkward,” and “weird.”
“I was just bored,” said Cassandra, a high school senior in New York who requested a pseudonym so she wouldn’t get in trouble. Her principal called a surprise lockdown drill during her fifth-period biology class while the teacher was sharing her screen. Unable to see the classroom, Cassandra had no idea what was happening during the exercise. “I went to cook some microwaveable macaroni,” she said.


theverge--2020-11-12--Sonos launches a paid, lossless-quality version of its radio service

After spending years as a platform for showcasing other music and audio services , Sonos entered the fray itself back in April with the launch of Sonos Radio .
The ad-supported service offers a large mix of genre-based stations , live radio , and artist-curated spotlight stations .
Sonos Radio has already risen to become the fourth-most-listened-to service on the platform , and today , the company is taking things a bit further with the launch of Sonos Radio HD .
It ’ s a $ 7.99-per-month subscription that will stream select stations in lossless CD quality ( 16-bit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pause , and replay songs .
All of the Sonos Radio original stations are also ad-free for Sonos Radio HD subscribers .
It ’ s available starting today in the US and UK .
Sonos says the lossless audio of Sonos Radio HD makes it the highest-quality of any radio streaming service .
( Live radio station broadcasts , such as those for your local stations , will still play at the same 128kbps as before . )
Along with some more original music stations , the company is also adding “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , described as “ a collection of stations promoting mindfulness and relaxation for a peaceful night ’ s rest.
” These include brown noise , pink noise , white noise , piano for sleeping , rain , and rainforest .
( Remember that you can set a timer in the Sonos app so you can play these until you ’ ll likely be asleep , and they ’ ll turn off automatically . )
Sonos Radio HD also expands on the artist participation with yet more curated stations that offer exclusive interviews and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Dolly Parton ’ s “ Songteller Radio , ” which will delve into the legendary singer-songwriter ’ s decades of music .
At $ 7.99 monthly , Sonos Radio HD saves you a couple bucks over Spotify , Apple Music , and other fully on-demand music services .
Sonos says overall listening on its devices has been up 40 percent during the pandemic , and this gives customers another radio offering to check out as they continue spending so much time at home ; there ’ s a free one-month trial when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account for 50 percent of listening on Sonos products ; people clearly like the lean-back experience and music discovery that they provide .
So if the company can make Sonos Radio HD benefit from that popularity , it ’ ll certainly help Sonos ’ bottom line .
Having that advantageous position as a built-in service available immediately to new Sonos customers — even before they link their Spotify or other music accounts — certainly puts Sonos Radio in a good spot for continued growth .
If there ’ s one obvious downside compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s that this one only plays on your Sonos speakers .
But maybe some eventual Sonos headphones might let you take Sonos Radio HD on the go .

After spending years as a platform for showcasing other music and audio services, Sonos entered the fray itself back in April with the launch of Sonos Radio. The ad-supported service offers a large mix of genre-based stations, live radio, and artist-curated spotlight stations. Sonos Radio has already risen to become the fourth-most-listened-to service on the platform, and today, the company is taking things a bit further with the launch of Sonos Radio HD. It’s a $7.99-per-month subscription that will stream select stations in lossless CD quality (16-bit, 44Hz) and allow listeners to skip, pause, and replay songs. All of the Sonos Radio original stations are also ad-free for Sonos Radio HD subscribers. It’s available starting today in the US and UK.
Sonos says the lossless audio of Sonos Radio HD makes it the highest-quality of any radio streaming service. (Live radio station broadcasts, such as those for your local stations, will still play at the same 128kbps as before.) Along with some more original music stations, the company is also adding “Sleep Sounds” to the paid tier, described as “a collection of stations promoting mindfulness and relaxation for a peaceful night’s rest.” These include brown noise, pink noise, white noise, piano for sleeping, rain, and rainforest. (Remember that you can set a timer in the Sonos app so you can play these until you’ll likely be asleep, and they’ll turn off automatically.)
Sonos Radio HD also expands on the artist participation with yet more curated stations that offer exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes stories. The first of these is Dolly Parton’s “Songteller Radio,” which will delve into the legendary singer-songwriter’s decades of music.
At $7.99 monthly, Sonos Radio HD saves you a couple bucks over Spotify, Apple Music, and other fully on-demand music services. Sonos says overall listening on its devices has been up 40 percent during the pandemic, and this gives customers another radio offering to check out as they continue spending so much time at home; there’s a free one-month trial when you first sign up.


theverge--2020-11-12--Chinese gadget makers have to overcome stigma to launch in the US

Jenkin Xia knows how hard it can be to launch a gadget in the US .
She makes a smart doorbell called Wuuk and crowdfunded it on Indiegogo in 2019 , raising more than $ 900,000 .
Although many of the backers were excited about the products , others were wary , saying they worried about their data because the team is based in China .
Backers wanted to know more about the founders , like where they ’ re located and their background , she says .
“ People seem to really care about this , and sometimes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haunts us , ” she says .
“ For instance , recently we [ saw ] some backers posted [ a question ] on Facebook or social media about the name Wuuk , like , what does Wuuk mean ?
” Some backers thought Wuuk meant “ military ” or “ army ” in Chinese , she says , which isn ’ t true .
Backers also were concerned about their data , especially given that the Wuuk doorbell uses facial recognition and monitors who ’ s entering and exiting a home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon servers in the US to adhere to local laws and allay privacy worries .
Then when the COVID-19 pandemic began , she says some backers said they didn ’ t want to receive the product anymore because they worried the virus would be transmitted on the packages from the Chinese factories .
“ I don ’ t think big brands like Ring or Nest [ get ] questions about where [ they ] manufacture , and that the location that you manufacture would impact whether people decided to buy from you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ concerns over them being Chinese , along with other challenges , make it hard for companies to launch in the US .
In the newest episode of In The Making , I chat with Lu Li , the general manager of global strategy at Indiegogo , as well as Jerry Yang , a general partner at Hardware Club , a VC firm that invests in hardware startups .
Along with Xia , they discuss the challenges Chinese creators face when looking to break into the US and how they overcome those obstacles @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Jenkin Xia knows how hard it can be to launch a gadget in the US. She makes a smart doorbell called Wuuk and crowdfunded it on Indiegogo in 2019, raising more than $900,000. Although many of the backers were excited about the products, others were wary, saying they worried about their data because the team is based in China.
Backers wanted to know more about the founders, like where they’re located and their background, she says. “People seem to really care about this, and sometimes the stigma of being a Chinese founder really haunts us,” she says. “For instance, recently we [saw] some backers posted [a question] on Facebook or social media about the name Wuuk, like, what does Wuuk mean?”
Some backers thought Wuuk meant “military” or “army” in Chinese, she says, which isn’t true. Backers also were concerned about their data, especially given that the Wuuk doorbell uses facial recognition and monitors who’s entering and exiting a home. Xia says she and her team use Amazon servers in the US to adhere to local laws and allay privacy worries. Then when the COVID-19 pandemic began, she says some backers said they didn’t want to receive the product anymore because they worried the virus would be transmitted on the packages from the Chinese factories.
“I don’t think big brands like Ring or Nest [get] questions about where [they] manufacture, and that the location that you manufacture would impact whether people decided to buy from you,” she says.
The US customers’ concerns over them being Chinese, along with other challenges, make it hard for companies to launch in the US. In the newest episode of In The Making, I chat with Lu Li, the general manager of global strategy at Indiegogo, as well as Jerry Yang, a general partner at Hardware Club, a VC firm that invests in hardware startups. Along with Xia, they discuss the challenges Chinese creators face when looking to break into the US and how they overcome those obstacles.


theverge--2020-11-12--Apple HomeKit’s adaptive lighting starts rolling out for Philips Hue bulbs

Philips Hue bulbs can now adjust their lighting automatically throughout the day when used with HomeKit thanks to an update which adds support for Apple ’ s new Adaptive Lighting feature .
Dutch publication iCulture was first to report on the rollout , and we ’ ve since verified that the update has started rolling out in the Netherlands , but we ’ re not seeing in the US yet .
The feature works with the Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance and White Ambiance lights , which are available in a variety of form-factors .
Once updated , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adaptive Lighting works .
“ Lights will choose an appropriate colour for the right time of day .
Dimming your lights will result in warmer light , ” it says , outlining the new HomeKit feature introduced with iOS 14 .
“ Lights will always return to this colour when the power is turned off and on.
” For example , lights may show a warmer color in the mornings , or a cooler hue around midday .
The rollout of Adaptive Lighting with Hue ’ s bulbs comes after Eve added support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Adaptive Lighting is available with version 1941132070 of the Philips Hue Bridge firmware .
To update your hardware , go into the Settings menu of the Hue app , select Software Update , and tap Update when it ’ s available .
Then launch the Home app where a message should tell you that the feature is available if you have compatible Hue lights .

Philips Hue bulbs can now adjust their lighting automatically throughout the day when used with HomeKit thanks to an update which adds support for Apple’s new Adaptive Lighting feature. Dutch publication iCulture was first to report on the rollout, and we’ve since verified that the update has started rolling out in the Netherlands, but we’re not seeing in the US yet. The feature works with the Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance and White Ambiance lights, which are available in a variety of form-factors.
Once updated, the Hue app shows a message explaining how Adaptive Lighting works. “Lights will choose an appropriate colour for the right time of day. Dimming your lights will result in warmer light,” it says, outlining the new HomeKit feature introduced with iOS 14. “Lights will always return to this colour when the power is turned off and on.” For example, lights may show a warmer color in the mornings, or a cooler hue around midday.
A popup will appear in the Home app after the update is installed. Screenshot: Home app / The Verge Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance and White Ambiance lights can use the feature. Screenshot: Home app / The Verge
The rollout of Adaptive Lighting with Hue’s bulbs comes after Eve added support for the feature to its light strip.


theverge--2020-11-12--‘No evidence’ voting in the US ‘was in any way compromised,’ says Department of Homeland Security

The November 3rd election was the “ most secure in American history ” and “ there is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised , ” according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security ’ s ( DHS ) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ) .
The statement follows numerous claims of supposed election fraud by President Donald Trump and his allies .
“ While we know there are many unfounded claims and opportunities for misinformation about the process of our elections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utmost confidence in the security and integrity of our elections , and you should too , ” the statement continues .
The statement also follows a report from Reuters that Christopher Krebs , the official in charge of election cybersecurity and the director of CISA , expects to be fired by the White House .
Krebs has been using Twitter to actively combat misinformation about the election , including issuing repeated denials of a false conspiracy theory claiming secret computer systems are committing voter fraud .
Trump has still not conceded the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor of Joe Biden on Saturday .

The November 3rd election was the “most secure in American history” and “there is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised,” according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The statement follows numerous claims of supposed election fraud by President Donald Trump and his allies.
“While we know there are many unfounded claims and opportunities for misinformation about the process of our elections, we can assure you we have the utmost confidence in the security and integrity of our elections, and you should too,” the statement continues.
The statement also follows a report from Reuters that Christopher Krebs, the official in charge of election cybersecurity and the director of CISA, expects to be fired by the White House. Krebs has been using Twitter to actively combat misinformation about the election, including issuing repeated denials of a false conspiracy theory claiming secret computer systems are committing voter fraud.


theverge--2020-11-12--This leaked icon may show what Apple’s rumored over-ear headphones look like

Apple has been rumored to be working on new over-ear headphones for years , and we might have just gotten a vague idea of what they look like , thanks to an icon found in the first developer beta for iOS 14.3 by 9to5Mac .
You can see the icon at the top of this post .
And here ’ s another look at the icon , apparently from a video in the Find My app in the beta found by MacRumors contributing writer Steve Moser .
The video shows a magnifying glass hovering over the icon of the headphones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passes over a backpack and a suitcase , which would be ideal places to store Apple ’ s rumored Tile-like trackers .
And the fact that the video is reportedly found in the Find My app suggests it might be able to help you find both the headphones and the trackers .
The new icon of the headphones in iOS 14.3 isn ’ t our first preview of what they might look like .
In March , 9to5Mac found two other icons of over-ear headphones in an early build of iOS 14 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the one found today and seemed to suggest that the headphones would come in black and white : The new icon ’ s inclusion in the iOS 14.3 beta suggests that the headphones could be released alongside that software update , but we don ’ t know when the update will come out .
And because the software is in beta , Apple could remove information from it ahead of the update ’ s official release , so the new icon ’ s appearance isn ’ t a guarantee that the headphones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all .
But it ’ s not unprecedented for Apple headphones to be revealed through software updates — the design of the AirPods Pro appeared in an iOS 13.2 beta just weeks before their official announcement last year .
In April , Bloomberg reported that the new over-ear headphones could have interchangeable parts , including swappable ear pads and headbands that attach with magnets .
Some of that modular functionality may have been scaled back , though , according to an October 26th Bloomberg report — the headphones may not have the swappable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to swap out the ear pads .
The headphones were also apparently set to go into production “ weeks ago , ” but that timeline was delayed because of issues with the headband .

Apple has been rumored to be working on new over-ear headphones for years, and we might have just gotten a vague idea of what they look like, thanks to an icon found in the first developer beta for iOS 14.3 by 9to5Mac. You can see the icon at the top of this post.
And here’s another look at the icon, apparently from a video in the Find My app in the beta found by MacRumors contributing writer Steve Moser.
The video shows a magnifying glass hovering over the icon of the headphones. Interestingly, the magnifying glass also passes over a backpack and a suitcase, which would be ideal places to store Apple’s rumored Tile-like trackers. And the fact that the video is reportedly found in the Find My app suggests it might be able to help you find both the headphones and the trackers.
The new icon of the headphones in iOS 14.3 isn’t our first preview of what they might look like. In March, 9to5Mac found two other icons of over-ear headphones in an early build of iOS 14, but those icons had a different design than the one found today and seemed to suggest that the headphones would come in black and white:
Older icons of the rumored over-ear headphones. Image: 9to5Mac
The new icon’s inclusion in the iOS 14.3 beta suggests that the headphones could be released alongside that software update, but we don’t know when the update will come out. And because the software is in beta, Apple could remove information from it ahead of the update’s official release, so the new icon’s appearance isn’t a guarantee that the headphones will be available soon, if at all. But it’s not unprecedented for Apple headphones to be revealed through software updates — the design of the AirPods Pro appeared in an iOS 13.2 beta just weeks before their official announcement last year.


theverge--2020-11-12--Apple might appease antitrust concerns by suggesting third-party apps to new iPhone owners

Apple has been staring down the barrel of numerous antitrust investigations this past year , after app developers like Spotify and Rakuten accused the company of unfairly advantaging Apple ’ s own apps ahead of theirs .
But Apple is apparently working on a new feature that might address at least one of the common concerns , by proactively suggesting third-party apps ( apps that Apple doesn ’ t make ) to iPhone and iPad users when they first set up their devices .
Will Apple suggest Spotify alongside Apple Music ?
That could be on the table .
9to5Mac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14.3 beta , and it seems pretty clear from the accompanying text that the feature is designed to satisfy countries who take a dim view of Apple ’ s current stance .
“ In compliance with regional legal requirements , continue to view available apps to download , ” reads part of the code , suggesting that it ’ ll only be rolled out in regions where Apple feels compelled to do so .
Assuming Apple actually makes the feature a reality in a future version of iOS , it might not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have spoken out against Apple , though .
For one thing , the iPhone ’ s default set of apps is only one place where , they argue , Apple gives itself an edge .
Apple has also been accused of prioritizing its own content in search — though Apple says that ’ s not true — and compared to changes to search , a one-time attempt to recommend a small handful of apps to users who stick with the onboarding process wouldn ’ t make as much of an impact .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than one such change this year ; in iOS 14 , it finally lets you set your own default browser and email apps — though it has run into a few bugs there .
Apple ’ s also fighting a somewhat different antitrust battle with Epic Games over Fortnite , and it ’ s been under fire for its stewardship over the App Store for a while .
Recently , Apple changed some of its App Store rules to allow some of the kinds of apps that it had blocked or attempted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unwanted attention .

Apple has been staring down the barrel of numerous antitrust investigations this past year, after app developers like Spotify and Rakuten accused the company of unfairly advantaging Apple’s own apps ahead of theirs. But Apple is apparently working on a new feature that might address at least one of the common concerns, by proactively suggesting third-party apps (apps that Apple doesn’t make) to iPhone and iPad users when they first set up their devices. Will Apple suggest Spotify alongside Apple Music? That could be on the table.
9to5Mac spotted the feature in the new iOS 14.3 beta, and it seems pretty clear from the accompanying text that the feature is designed to satisfy countries who take a dim view of Apple’s current stance. “In compliance with regional legal requirements, continue to view available apps to download,” reads part of the code, suggesting that it’ll only be rolled out in regions where Apple feels compelled to do so.
There are also those companies that bypass the app store cut
Assuming Apple actually makes the feature a reality in a future version of iOS, it might not be enough to satisfy some of the companies that have spoken out against Apple, though. For one thing, the iPhone’s default set of apps is only one place where, they argue, Apple gives itself an edge. Apple has also been accused of prioritizing its own content in search — though Apple says that’s not true — and compared to changes to search, a one-time attempt to recommend a small handful of apps to users who stick with the onboarding process wouldn’t make as much of an impact.
But Apple does seem to be making more than one such change this year; in iOS 14, it finally lets you set your own default browser and email apps — though it has run into a few bugs there.


theverge--2020-11-12--Mac users couldn’t launch apps this afternoon after Apple verification server issue

Many Mac users reported that their computers have been running slower than usual on Thursday — including a number of Verge staffers — with apps launching slowly or not at all , alongside other Apple service issues .
It appears that the problem is due to many people rushing to download macOS Big Sur , which was officially released today , which in turn seems to have crashed Apple ’ s OCSP ( online certificate status protocol ) service — which is used for several key aspects of macOS , including validating digital certificates for both Apple and third-party software @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
Apple ’ s status site notes that the company had resolved an issue earlier today that may have prevented users from downloading macOS software updates , although it hasn ’ t been confirmed that the Big Sur update was the cause of the outage .
The company also reported issues with iMessage and full-blown outages with Maps routing and navigation as well as its traffic tracking , which may have been related to the OSCP failure , too .
Mac and iOS developer Panic reports corroborates the reports , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Gatekeeper technology , which checks validity of apps when you try to launch them .
Panic also reports that the issue appears to be resolved , but it ’ s not clear if things have totally cleared up for everyone yet .

Many Mac users reported that their computers have been running slower than usual on Thursday — including a number of Verge staffers — with apps launching slowly or not at all, alongside other Apple service issues.
It appears that the problem is due to many people rushing to download macOS Big Sur, which was officially released today, which in turn seems to have crashed Apple’s OCSP (online certificate status protocol) service — which is used for several key aspects of macOS, including validating digital certificates for both Apple and third-party software on the Mac, as Ars Technica reports.
Apple’s status site notes that the company had resolved an issue earlier today that may have prevented users from downloading macOS software updates, although it hasn’t been confirmed that the Big Sur update was the cause of the outage. The company also reported issues with iMessage and full-blown outages with Maps routing and navigation as well as its traffic tracking, which may have been related to the OSCP failure, too.
Mac and iOS developer Panic reports corroborates the reports, noting that the downed service had disabled Apple’s Gatekeeper technology, which checks validity of apps when you try to launch them. Panic also reports that the issue appears to be resolved, but it’s not clear if things have totally cleared up for everyone yet.


theverge--2020-11-12--The Nintendo Switch has been the US’s bestselling console for 23 straight months

It ’ s been a good two years for the Nintendo Switch .
According to Nintendo , the gaming tablet has been the bestselling console in the US for 23 straight months .
And according to data from the NPD Group , it just had its best October ever , moving 735,926 units of both the Switch and Switch Lite in the US .
The company says that represents a 136 percent increase compared to last year .
To date , the Switch has sold 22.5 million units in the US , and last week Nintendo revealed that more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re excited about our momentum , ” says Nick Chavez , Nintendo of America ’ s SVP of sales and marketing .
Chavez puts the company ’ s big October down to two main factors .
One is a better supply of stock ; this year in particular , it ’ s often been hard to find a Switch on store shelves .
This has only been exacerbated by increased demand due to a combination of the pandemic and the breakout success of Animal Crossing : New Horizons .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more opportunities to stay at home , more play time at home , ” he tells The Verge .
“ We ’ ve seen unprecedented demand for Nintendo Switch throughout the course of the year.
” The second reason is the Animal Crossing-themed Switch that was introduced early this year .
“ That came back into the marketplace around October 4th , and many people were excited to get their hands on that as quickly as possible , ” says Chavez .
“ And we ’ re going to continue to have that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into 2021.
” “ A lot of our growth has been driven by an influx of women.
” As with last year , Nintendo says that a large part of its growth comes from continued adoption by women and families .
“ This year a lot of our growth has been driven by an influx of women playing Nintendo Switch , more kids and teenagers playing Nintendo Switch , as well as parents , ” says Chavez .
In terms of what hardware people are buying , he adds that “ we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flagship system at $ 299.
” The timing of the announcement is particularly interesting as this week also saw the launch of both the PlayStation 5 and two new Xbox consoles from Microsoft .
Going into the ever-important holiday season , there will naturally be increased competition , which could bring Nintendo ’ s 23-month streak to a stop .
Nintendo has a few big releases to buoy its holiday — including Mario Kart Live : Home Circuit and the upcoming Hyrule Warriors : Age of Calamity — but the company also believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition with Sony and Microsoft .
“ It ’ s always exciting when new consoles enter the video game marketplace .
It ’ s great to see the PS5 and the Xbox Series S and X coming into the marketplace , ” says Chavez .
“ But we do think that the Nintendo Switch occupies a fundamentally different position , and really has a unique proposition for shoppers and players .
”

It’s been a good two years for the Nintendo Switch. According to Nintendo, the gaming tablet has been the bestselling console in the US for 23 straight months. And according to data from the NPD Group, it just had its best October ever, moving 735,926 units of both the Switch and Switch Lite in the US. The company says that represents a 136 percent increase compared to last year. To date, the Switch has sold 22.5 million units in the US, and last week Nintendo revealed that more than 68 million units have been sold globally. “We’re excited about our momentum,” says Nick Chavez, Nintendo of America’s SVP of sales and marketing.
Chavez puts the company’s big October down to two main factors. One is a better supply of stock; this year in particular, it’s often been hard to find a Switch on store shelves. This has only been exacerbated by increased demand due to a combination of the pandemic and the breakout success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. “Certainly the covid pandemic has created more opportunities to stay at home, more play time at home,” he tells The Verge. “We’ve seen unprecedented demand for Nintendo Switch throughout the course of the year.”
The second reason is the Animal Crossing-themed Switch that was introduced early this year. “That came back into the marketplace around October 4th, and many people were excited to get their hands on that as quickly as possible,” says Chavez. “And we’re going to continue to have that in ample supply throughout this holiday and into 2021.”
“A lot of our growth has been driven by an influx of women.”
As with last year, Nintendo says that a large part of its growth comes from continued adoption by women and families. “This year a lot of our growth has been driven by an influx of women playing Nintendo Switch, more kids and teenagers playing Nintendo Switch, as well as parents,” says Chavez. In terms of what hardware people are buying, he adds that “we are still seeing a strong preference for the flagship system at $299.”
The timing of the announcement is particularly interesting as this week also saw the launch of both the PlayStation 5 and two new Xbox consoles from Microsoft. Going into the ever-important holiday season, there will naturally be increased competition, which could bring Nintendo’s 23-month streak to a stop. Nintendo has a few big releases to buoy its holiday — including Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit and the upcoming Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity — but the company also believes it’s not necessarily in direct competition with Sony and Microsoft.


theverge--2020-11-12--Here are the best Amazon Echo deals right now

When it comes to the Echo smart speakers , Amazon has a slew of devices to choose from .
With so many Echo devices currently available , there is a device for every occasion .
Maybe you simply want to add Alexa into a room or you are looking for an Echo device that will allow you to easily manage your other smart home products .
Regardless of the reason , these are the best Echo deals currently available right now .
This year Amazon released the fourth generation of the Echo dot , but it looks more spherical in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t worry , Amazon did not discontinue the third-gen Echo Dot , which still retains the dot shape .
Right now , the third-gen Echo Dot gets frequent price drops ; the lowest this particular model has ever dropped to was $ 19 on Prime Day 2020 .
Right now you can get it for $ 30 from Amazon , Best Buy , and Target .
If you are looking to control one light in your house with the Echo Dot , Amazon also has a deal where you can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 30 , knocking $ 20 off that bundle ’ s normal retail price .
With the fourth-generation Echo Dot launching recently , we have not seen any drastic price reductions .
But there was a preorder promotion that allowed you to buy two Dot devices for $ 100 , knocking 16 percent off its normal retail price .
In addition to the Echo Dot receiving a refresh in design , the Echo also got an updated look .
Like the fourth-gen Echo Dot , the 2020 Amazon Echo also includes a sphere-shape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger than the Echo Dot when you do a size comparison .
If you are looking for just one Amazon Echo , unfortunately there are no active deals currently available .
There is one active deal right now at Best Buy that provides two Amazon Echo devices for $ 170 , which knocks $ 30 off its normal retail price .
If you are looking for an Echo device that functions more as a smart clock than an entertainment speaker , the Echo Show 5 is one of two smart displays to consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5.5-inch display , making it easy to fit just about anywhere inside your home .
Not only does the device include a built-in camera , but there ’ s also a physical shutter on the device , allowing you to block the camera ’ s view while keeping the always-on microphone active .
The Echo Show 5 usually costs $ 90 , and on Prime Day 2020 we saw the device go down to as low as $ 45 .
Right now , you can buy the device for $ 75 at Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knocking $ 15 off its normal price .
Amazon ’ s Echo Show 8 provides a larger display and costs $ 40 more .
It features an eight-inch display , making it a few inches bigger than the Echo Show 5 .
When stacked up against the Google Nest Hub , which is its closest competitor in terms of price and functionality , the Echo Show 8 is the better option for a few reasons : it has a slightly larger display , better speakers , and a camera , allowing you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chatting device .
Normally , this device costs $ 130 , but it has seen some good price reductions in the past .
We have seen the device go down as low as $ 65 , but if you are ready to bite the bullet now , the Echo Show 8 is available for $ 105 at Amazon , Best Buy , and Target right now .
If you ’ re interested in an Alexa smart speaker with better audio quality and also Dolby Atmos support , the Echo Studio is the Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are no active deals right now for a new Echo Studio , but you can buy a refurbished Echo Studio for $ 160 .
We have seen the price for new Echo Studios go down to $ 150 and some interesting bundles at times .

Amazon’s current Echo lineup offers a broad selection of smart speakers and displays that can fit just about anywhere in your home. Whether you want to place a voice assistant in your living room, replace the bulletin board in your office, or pick up a touchscreen-enabled device to showcase recipes in the kitchen, there's an Echo device for just about every occasion and use case.
Regardless of why you might want one, there’s always a way to save on Echo devices, from the last-gen Dot to the wall-mounted Echo Show 15. Even when they’re selling at full price, for instance, Amazon offers a 25 percent discount when you trade in select devices, meaning there are still other ways to save money when none of the models are on sale.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best prices available on each device in Amazon’s Echo lineup. Few of them are currently on sale, however, you can save on several Echo Dot models, including the fifth-gen Echo Dot and its kid-friendly counterpart. In most instances, you can also land an extra month of Amazon Music Unlimited at Best Buy with your purchase.
The best Echo Dot deals
Echo Dot (third-gen) $ 20 $ 40 50 % off $ 20 $ 20 $ 40 50 % off This puck-like Echo Dot is the third generation of Amazon’s smart speaker. It offers better sound than its predecessor, a compact design, and all the smarts that come with owning an Alexa device. $20 at Amazon$20 at Best Buy
In September, Amazon announced the fifth generation of the Echo Dot. It looks more like a sphere than an actual dot — much like its last-gen predecessor — but offers twice as much bass as the prior model and a temperature sensor; it also doubles as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender, though, said functionality is also available on the prior model thanks to a free over-the-air firmware update.
Despite the arrival of the new model, you can still pick up the third-gen Echo Dot, which retains the puck-like design of earlier models and is available for $19.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. As for the fifth-gen model, it’s on sale at Amazon and Best Buy, where you can pick it up with up to four months of Amazon Music Unlimited for $29.99 ($5 off).
If you’re looking to upgrade, Amazon and Best Buy are also selling the latest Echo Dot with a built-in LED display that showcases the time, weather, and other info for $39.99 ($20 off), which matches the speaker’s lowest price to date.
The best Echo Dot Kids deals
Echo Dot Kids (fifth-gen) $ 28 $ 60 53 % off $ 28 $ 28 $ 60 53 % off The Echo Dot Kids is Amazon’s kid-friendly smart speaker. Unlike the standard model, the Kids edition is available in one of two animal-themed configurations and comes with a year of Amazon Kids Plus at no extra cost. $28 at Amazon
Like the fourth-gen Echo Dot Kids, the fifth-gen iteration is as spherical as the adult version but is designed to look like a variety of creatures, specifically an owl or a dragon. It also comes with a year of Amazon’s Kids Plus service, which provides access to a slew of kid-friendly content, including audiobooks and games. That said, the latest edition features better sound, a temperature sensor, and other enhancements found on the standard model.
If you want to buy the newest, kid-centric Echo Dot, it’s available at Amazon and Best Buy right now for $39.99 ($20 off), which is $10 more than the speaker's all-time low of $29.99.
The best Amazon Echo deals
The fourth-gen Amazon Echo also received a makeover in late 2020. The latest model sports a sphere-shaped design like the newer Echo Dot models, but one that’s noticeably bigger. That said, it also touts a built-in smart home hub and produces better sound than the fifth-gen Dot thanks to a pair of 0.8-inch tweeters and a 3-inch woofer. It even functions as a Wi-Fi extender for Eero mesh networks, much like the fourth- and fifth-gen Echo Dot.
Although we’ve seen the fourth-gen Echo drop to $49.99 in select instances, it’s currently only available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $99.99, its typical retail price.
The best Amazon Echo Studio deals
If you’re interested in an Alexa smart speaker with better audio quality and Dolby Atmos support, the Echo Studio is the Amazon product to check out. Although the speaker made its debut in 2019, Amazon recently rolled out an over-the-air software update that imbues it with new spatial audio processing technology and frequency range extension, which supposedly allows for improved clarity and a more immersive sound profile.
Although we saw Amazon’s Echo Studio drop to $174.99 ($25 off) earlier this month, it’s currently only available in back or white at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy for $199.99. Like with other Echo devices, however, the latter retailer is offering four months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free with each purchase, as opposed to three.
The best Echo Show 5 deals
Amazon Echo Show 5 (second-gen) $ 85 Amazon’s Echo Show 5 is an ideal smart display for a nightstand. You can set alarms with Alexa using your voice, play music, control smart displays, get a weather report, and more. When the alarm goes off, you merely need to tap the top of the Echo Show 5 to snooze it. $85 at Amazon$85 at Best Buy
If you are looking for a compact Echo device that functions more as a smart clock than an entertainment speaker, the Echo Show 5 is the Echo device to consider. The latest edition, which launched in 2021, features an always-on microphone, an upgraded 2MP camera, a 5.5-inch display, and a physical shutter, allowing you to block the camera’s view.
Right now, the second-gen Echo Show 5 is available at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, where you can pick it up in black, white, or blue for $84.99 (the full MSRP).
The best Echo Show 5 Kids deals
The Echo Dot isn’t the only Echo device with a kid-friendly design. The Echo Show 5 Kids offers all of the same features as the standard, second-gen Echo Show 5, only with a vibrant print on the rear and a year of Amazon’s Kids Plus service, which grants your family access to a trove of videos, games, and other kid-friendly content. It even comes with a two-year warranty, providing a bit of protection from whatever your child might (literally) throw at it.
As far as pricing goes, the Echo Show 5 Kids is available right now at Amazon and Best Buy for $94.99, the smart display’s full retail price and $55 more than its lowest price to date.
Verge Deals on Twitter / Join more than 51,000 followers and keep up with the best daily tech deals with @vergedeals Follow us!
The best Echo Show 8 deals
Like the Echo Show 5, the Echo Show 8 is typically available in two distinct models, both of which feature 8-inch displays and dual speakers. However, unlike the first-gen Echo Show 8, the latest model is equipped with a 13MP camera and some unique software tricks, one of which grants it the ability to keep the subject centered in the frame as they move around.
We recently saw the second-gen Show 8 drop to $69.99 ($60 off), which is nearly the speaker’s lowest price to date. That said, it’s only available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target right now for $129.99 (the MSRP). Best Buy is offering the second-gen model with four months of Amazon Music Unlimited at no additional cost, however, as opposed to the standard three.
The best Echo Show 10 deals
Two years ago, Amazon introduced a third-gen Echo Show 10. The device features a 10.1-inch HD screen and, unlike the Show 5 and Show 8, the 2021 model allows you to adjust the angle of the screen. It’s also mounted on a motorized, swiveling base that allows the display to follow you as you move. If you plan on doing a lot of video calling, this is the model to get.
The best Echo Show 15 deals
Amazon Echo Show 15 $ 250 The Echo Show 15 is a large, wall-mounted device that acts as a shared hub for families to view notes, upcoming calendar appointments, and more. The 15.6-inch device also features support for Amazon’s Fire TV interface, as well as the same Alexa functionality as other Echo displays and smart speakers.
$250 at Amazon$250 at Best Buy
Unlike other smart displays in Amazon’s Echo lineup, the new Echo Show 15 is a large, wall-mounted device with a 15.6-inch touch display. It’s designed to replace the likes of bulletin boards and calendars, and as such, it functions as a shared hub for families where everyone can see digital sticky notes, upcoming calendar appointments, shopping lists, and other reminders. It also features support for Alexa, meaning it offers the same functionality as other Echo displays and smart speakers, and you can even use it as a decent 1080p TV in your kitchen or to display photos and artwork. It’s compatible with an optional stand, too, though, we’d argue it remains a better fit for your wall than your countertop given its size.
We’ve only seen a handful of discounts on the Echo Show 15 since it launched at the end of 2021, with the steepest dropping it to an all-time low of $169.99. Unfortunately, however, you can only pick it up right now at Amazon and Best Buy for $249.99, its full retail price.


theverge--2020-11-12--Pfizer’s announcement shows the promise of gene-based vaccines

Pfizer and BioNTech announced this week that their vaccine was 90 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in clinical trials .
The data is still preliminary and hasn ’ t been examined by independent researchers , but it ’ s good news for both this specific vaccine and for the other coronavirus vaccines in the pipeline — especially the ones that are based on the same genetic technology .
“ It ’ s extremely encouraging , in my view , not only for the Pfizer vaccine , but broadly speaking for the platform , ” says Ross Kedl , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer and BioNTech ’ s vaccine is made from genetic material called mRNA .
mRNA carries instructions inside of cells and tells them to build proteins .
The vaccine includes a specific piece of mRNA that contains instructions for how to make the spike protein of the coronavirus , which is the tiny bit that lets it bind to human cells .
The vaccine spurs the human body to make copies of that protein .
When the immune system encounters those spikes , it learns to recognize and block them .
Gene-based vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For years , they ’ ve been heralded as the future of vaccine development .
However , until now , they ’ ve been largely experimental .
The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has never approved one for use in humans .
Rosemary Rochford , also an immunologist at the University of Colorado , says she was initially skeptical they ’ d work as well as some other types of vaccines , like ones made from inactivated viruses .
But the Pfizer data — assuming it holds up on further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — is a strong proof of concept .
“ This mRNA platform seems to be very promising , ” she says .
The Moderna vaccine candidate , which should release initial data soon , is also based on mRNA .
“ I would assume their efficacy is probably going to be similar , ” says Drew Weissman , the University of Pennsylvania immunologist who conducted the research behind mRNA vaccines .
He ’ s also an advisor for BioNTech , the company that partnered with Pfizer on this vaccine .
Moderna and Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials , which are smaller scale , Kedl says .
“ You could almost superimpose the two , or switch the names and you would fool everybody .
They really both are really strongly supportive of each other in terms of the strength of the immunity.
” Before the COVID-19 pandemic , there wasn ’ t much research done on gene-based vaccines for infectious diseases — a lot of the work focused on treating cancers , not viruses , Rochford says .
Clearance of the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open a new world of options for vaccine developers .
Pfizer ’ s vaccine hasn ’ t been authorized or approved by the FDA yet , and there are still a few steps before it reaches that point .
The data released this week , though , points in that direction .
“ I think it ’ s a game changer , ” Kedl says .
“ I wouldn ’ t be surprised if , in the next 10 years , we see this work its way into the flu vaccine.
” Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proving to be effective and safe , researchers can start to study them more intensely .
“ Once we know it works , we ’ ll take some time to go find out why , ” Kedl says .
Rochford says she ’ ll be watching to see how long the immunity provided by these mRNA vaccines sticks around , and how long the antibody response the vaccine generates lasts .
Research shows that , for people who catch COVID-19 and produce their own natural antibodies , the levels dip before leveling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Your body is not fighting an infection and a whole disease process , ” she says .
“ I ’ m more confident that the durability will be better than what we see in a natural infection.
” Companies and researchers will also be on the lookout for ways to improve the vaccines .
Based on early reports , they cause more achiness and other mild side effects than other vaccines , for example .
“ There may be some modifications , we may start shifting some things , ” Kedl says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they have to be stored an an extremely low temperature , which makes them more difficult to transport .
mRNA is an unstable compound , and keeping it cold makes sure it won ’ t break down before its injected into the arm of a patient .
Weissman says that teams at pharmaceutical companies are working on ways to keep these vaccines stable at higher temperatures , and he thinks that future generations of the COVID-19 vaccines will be able to stay in refrigerators .
Weissman is also working on a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that vaccines can be stored at room temperature .
“ I don ’ t think that ’ s going to be a big thing to worry about , ” he says .
Having another proven way to make vaccines will help researchers prepare for the next pandemic .
There isn ’ t anything unique about this specific coronavirus that makes mRNA vaccines work well — the platform could be just as effective for other viruses .
“ Say we have a new coronavirus , or a new Ebola virus , or new emerging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ d be fairly easy to generate these once you have the sequence and some basic biology .
Moving forward , it gives us a very strong platform for a rapid response .
”

Pfizer and BioNTech announced this week that their vaccine was 90 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in clinical trials. The data is still preliminary and hasn’t been examined by independent researchers, but it’s good news for both this specific vaccine and for the other coronavirus vaccines in the pipeline — especially the ones that are based on the same genetic technology.
“It’s extremely encouraging, in my view, not only for the Pfizer vaccine, but broadly speaking for the platform,” says Ross Kedl, an immunologist at the University of Colorado.
Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine is made from genetic material called mRNA. mRNA carries instructions inside of cells and tells them to build proteins. The vaccine includes a specific piece of mRNA that contains instructions for how to make the spike protein of the coronavirus, which is the tiny bit that lets it bind to human cells. The vaccine spurs the human body to make copies of that protein. When the immune system encounters those spikes, it learns to recognize and block them.
Gene-based vaccines are relatively simple to develop and manufacture. For years, they’ve been heralded as the future of vaccine development. However, until now, they’ve been largely experimental. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has never approved one for use in humans. Rosemary Rochford, also an immunologist at the University of Colorado, says she was initially skeptical they’d work as well as some other types of vaccines, like ones made from inactivated viruses. But the Pfizer data — assuming it holds up on further evaluation from outside experts and the FDA — is a strong proof of concept. “This mRNA platform seems to be very promising,” she says.
The Moderna vaccine candidate, which should release initial data soon, is also based on mRNA. “I would assume their efficacy is probably going to be similar,” says Drew Weissman, the University of Pennsylvania immunologist who conducted the research behind mRNA vaccines. He’s also an advisor for BioNTech, the company that partnered with Pfizer on this vaccine.
Moderna and Pfizer / BioNTech also had equivalent results in their phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials, which are smaller scale, Kedl says. “You could almost superimpose the two, or switch the names and you would fool everybody. They really both are really strongly supportive of each other in terms of the strength of the immunity.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there wasn’t much research done on gene-based vaccines for infectious diseases — a lot of the work focused on treating cancers, not viruses, Rochford says. Clearance of the first gene-based vaccine for something like COVID-19 would open a new world of options for vaccine developers.
Pfizer’s vaccine hasn’t been authorized or approved by the FDA yet, and there are still a few steps before it reaches that point. The data released this week, though, points in that direction.
“I think it’s a game changer,” Kedl says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the next 10 years, we see this work its way into the flu vaccine.”
Once these vaccines cross the initial hurdle of proving to be effective and safe, researchers can start to study them more intensely. “Once we know it works, we’ll take some time to go find out why,” Kedl says.
Rochford says she’ll be watching to see how long the immunity provided by these mRNA vaccines sticks around, and how long the antibody response the vaccine generates lasts. Research shows that, for people who catch COVID-19 and produce their own natural antibodies, the levels dip before leveling out. But vaccine-generated antibodies are different. “Your body is not fighting an infection and a whole disease process,” she says. “I’m more confident that the durability will be better than what we see in a natural infection.”
Companies and researchers will also be on the lookout for ways to improve the vaccines. Based on early reports, they cause more achiness and other mild side effects than other vaccines, for example. “There may be some modifications, we may start shifting some things,” Kedl says.
One downside to mRNA vaccines is that they have to be stored an an extremely low temperature, which makes them more difficult to transport. mRNA is an unstable compound, and keeping it cold makes sure it won’t break down before its injected into the arm of a patient. Weissman says that teams at pharmaceutical companies are working on ways to keep these vaccines stable at higher temperatures, and he thinks that future generations of the COVID-19 vaccines will be able to stay in refrigerators. Weissman is also working on a way to freeze-dry the genetic material, so that vaccines can be stored at room temperature. “I don’t think that’s going to be a big thing to worry about,” he says.


theverge--2020-11-12--Facebook must delete insults to Austrian politician worldwide, says court

Facebook has lost its appeal in a landmark online speech case , as Austria ’ s Supreme Court determined that it must remove comments that are defamatory in Austria worldwide .
The comments , which must be blocked while an injunction is active , insult Austrian Green Party politician Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek .
Austrian news outlet Der Standard reported the news earlier today .
It echoes a similar ruling from the European Court of Justice , which handed a defeat to Facebook late last year .
Glawischnig-Piesczek originally sued Facebook in 2016 , arguing that a series of insults — including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a member of a “ fascist party ” — damaged her reputation .
But the comments would likely be protected speech in some countries , and Facebook said that it shouldn ’ t be required to block the comments ( or re-posted versions of them ) worldwide .
It called the court ’ s 2019 ruling a dangerous precedent , saying it “ undermines the longstanding principle that one country does not have the right to impose its laws on speech on another country.
” The decision comes as Facebook is facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both from critics who argue it ’ s been slow to remove hateful content and from conservative politicians who have accused it of suppressing speech .

Facebook has lost its appeal in a landmark online speech case, as Austria’s Supreme Court determined that it must remove comments that are defamatory in Austria worldwide. The comments, which must be blocked while an injunction is active, insult former Austrian Green Party politician Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek.
Austrian news outlet Der Standard reported the news earlier today. It echoes a similar ruling from the European Court of Justice, which handed a defeat to Facebook late last year. Glawischnig-Piesczek originally sued Facebook in 2016, arguing that a series of insults — including calling her a “lousy traitor” and a member of a “fascist party” — damaged her reputation.
But the comments would likely be protected speech in some countries, and Facebook said that it shouldn’t be required to block the comments (or re-posted versions of them) worldwide. It called the court’s 2019 ruling a dangerous precedent, saying it “undermines the longstanding principle that one country does not have the right to impose its laws on speech on another country.”
The decision comes as Facebook is facing criticism over its moderation policies worldwide — both from critics who argue it’s been slow to remove hateful content and from conservative politicians who have accused it of suppressing speech.