theverge--2020-03-22--F1 and NASCAR races are canceled, but sim racing events are taking their place

For many , the cancellation of major sporting events was the moment that made the coronavirus pandemic feel real for the first time .
But while fans of baseball , basketball , soccer are left wondering when they ’ ll see players back in action , racing fans don ’ t have to wait — because many of their favorite drivers are already competing in online sim racing competitions that were spun up in the days since the first real world races were canceled .
The first few of these substitute sim races , held last weekend , were successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , many of the people who put them on have spent the intervening week trying to figure out how to use that momentum to fill the gap left by real world racing , as fans around the world hole up at home in a collective attempt to slow the spread of a global virus .
It likely won ’ t be that difficult , though .
The success of these first few replacement races was a testament to how far sim racing has come during the rise of esports ( and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it also sheds light on a truth that a lot of motorsports fans have become familiar with : that a new age of competitive , virtual motorsports is already upon us .
Despite a lot of hemming and hawing from the world ’ s top racing series , Formula One , NASCAR , and IndyCar ultimately decided just over a week ago to cancel their Sunday races and suspend their seasons in the face of a growing pandemic .
For F1 and IndyCar , that meant dumping their respective season openers , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prix of St. Petersburg .
For NASCAR , that meant abandoning the annual race at Atlanta Motor Speedway — typically the most-watched race of the season outside of the Daytona 500 .
But within minutes of those races being canceled , people like TJ Majors started making phone calls and sending text messages .
Majors is the “ spotter ” for the # 22 NASCAR team , meaning every Sunday during the season , he ’ s standing on the roof of the grandstands letting the driver know ( via radio ) what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s safe to change lanes , things like that .
It ’ s no surprise , then , that he helped spin up a virtual replacement for the canceled Atlanta race .
After all , it ’ s literally his job to be looking out for other people .
“ When I got home Friday there was just a really weird feeling , ” Majors explained in an email to The Verge .
“ I was hanging out with my daughters , and when we got confirmation of everything being shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all the people in the NASCAR industry that would probably be free to do something Sunday.
” As he made lunch for his daughters , Majors said he thought maybe he and some of his colleagues could join in on an already-scheduled race being put on by iRacing , a very popular sim racing game that also facilitates a panoply of online racing leagues .
But before long , Majors started getting texts from his NASCAR colleagues about starting their own race instead at the in-game version of Atlanta Motor Speedway .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ called up iRacing ’ s executive vice president to get the green light .
He started contacting NASCAR personalities , too , like Dale Earnhardt Jr. ( who retired last year after suffering multiple concussions ) , rising star driver William Byron , and Chad Knaus , who was the crew chief for each of Jimmie Johnson ’ s seven championships .
Majors also called James Pike of Podium eSports , which puts on broadcast-quality productions of sim races .
“ I got the call from TJ on Friday afternoon , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had put together , ” Pike said in a phone call with The Verge .
“ He asked if we were interested in broadcasting the race , and I said , ‘ are you kidding me ?
Dale Earnhardt , Jr. and all of those other drivers are going to be running in our race ?
Where do i sign ?
’ ” Faced with a sudden rush of interest , Majors said he and fellow spotter Kevin Hamlin quickly realized — like anything in NASCAR — they needed some good branding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Hamlin ] calling me asking for a name of the race , ” Majors said .
He kept thinking about the movie The Replacements , so he suggested that , with a small tweak : “ The Replacements 100 , ” a nod to the number of laps they would run .
As they started to promote The Replacements 100 on social media , Majors , Hamlin , Pike , and others fielded dozens of calls , texts , and direct messages from people all across NASCAR who wanted in .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hamlin guessed around 50 percent or more of people who work in and around NASCAR already use iRacing and have home setups — including a steering wheel , pedals , and often custom-built PCs — ready to go .
So he and Majors tried to fill up a field that reflected this big tent , letting in fellow NASCAR crew members , as well as some public relations and social media specialists .
But a couple more drivers squeaked through , including Parker Kligerman , who has run in all of NASCAR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now races in the official eNASCAR series put on by iRacing .
“ When everything went down with all the real races getting canceled , my phone immediately started blowing up with people being like , ‘ let ’ s run a race !
’ So I yeah , I wasn ’ t surprised to see it all come together as quickly , ” Kligerman explained .
“ It was cool to see everyone rally behind it.
” The race went off without much of a hitch .
There were a few more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the eNASCAR series .
And yes , at one point ( and while fighting for the lead , no less ) , Pike said Kligerman ’ s computer tried to force a Windows update , sending him straight into the wall .
But the combination of iRacing ’ s realism and Podium eSports ’ professional quality broadcast was an excellent simulacrum — a “ replacement ” race in nearly every sense of the world .
The result was a really good crowd for a sim race , according to iRacing .
The main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concurrent viewers , and brought in over 70,000 unique viewers over the two-hour broadcast .
Highlights of the race were even hosted on NASCAR.com “ Pretty impressive with almost no notice or advertising , ” Kevin Bobbit , iRacing ’ s marketing director , said in an email .
“ If some kid beats LeBron James on NBA 2K , that doesn ’ t mean that kid is going to get on a basketball court and out-shoot him.
” One reason for the popularity , Kligerman said , is the similarity of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only esport that connects in such a parallel with the real world , ” he explained .
“ The reason you see so many real-world drivers doing this all the time is it ’ s not only fun , but it literally in many ways can feel like I ’ m doing something that could be helping me as a real driver.
” That ’ s obviously not the case with other sports .
“ If some kid beats LeBron James on NBA 2K , that doesn ’ t mean that kid is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and out-shoot him , ” Kligerman said .
“ But the funny part about this stuff is if someone gets on there and it outraces me , or outraces William Byron ?
If they were to get the chance to get in a real car , it might translate really well.
” And a lot of that simply comes from the technology at play , Pike said .
“ Anybody worth their weight in salt is running with a wheel and pedals , just like you would in real life .
The only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the G-forces , but a lot of the same sorts of skills are much more directly applicable in sim racing compared to shooting a jumper on a controller versus shooting a jumper in real life , ” he said .
Even Majors , who watches over a driver going 200 miles an hour every weekend , agrees to an extent .
“ Real racing requires an enormous amount of skill and bravery , ” he said .
“ Sim racing is still incredibly difficult.
” Across the virtual pond , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the virtual NASCAR race at Atlanta , two other replacement races drew the likes of F1 stars Max Verstappen and Lando Norris , IndyCar drivers Simon Pagenaud and Felix Rosenqvist , and a bevy of popular professional sim racers and YouTube personalities .
( While IndyCar is a US sport , the skill involved in driving its open-wheel cars often translates better to other open-wheel series like F1 , even in the sim world . )
And much like how The Replacements 100 was born , these sim races were thrown together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the aftermath of the decision to cancel real world races .
The first to be announced was The Race ’ s All-Star Esports Battle — a competition in racing sim rFactor 2 that was being promoted by a relatively new motorsports news site , The Race , and its parent company , Torque Esports .
But while The Race may not be familiar to most , one of the organizers was a man who , over a decade , has built some of the cornerstones of sim racing : Darren Cox .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Academy ” back in 2008 , which pitted the best video game racers in the world against each other in the popular PlayStation racing sim Gran Turismo , with the ultimate winner getting the chance to become a real-world driver .
While it seemed like a lark at the time , GT Academy ( and a spiritual , multi-platform successor created by Cox called “ World ’ s Fastest Gamer ” ) ultimately did help prove there ’ s a link between the skills that make a good sim racing driver and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It really was that great old-fashioned line , ‘ build it and they will come.
’ ” “ It was the launch pad for a lot of things that people are doing today , ” Cox , who now helps manage Mercedes-Benz ’ s F1 esports team , said in a phone call last week .
Cox says he started hearing “ rumblings ” that the Australian Grand Prix would be canceled about a day before F1 made the announcement , and immediately thought “ You know what ?
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans .
We ’ ve got to try and have some racing on Sunday.
” He worked with The Race and Torque announce the event , and said drivers — including Verstappen , Pagenaud , Rosenqvist , and even ex-F1 and IndyCar star Juan Pablo Montoya — started reaching out to ask how to be involved .
“ I said , look , you know , let ’ s do it , I ’ ll fund it .
We didn ’ t have any drivers confirmed .
We didn ’ t know if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was that great old-fashioned line , ‘ build it and they will come , ’ ” Cox said .
“ And they did , you know .
And I can be on the record now to say no one got paid for being at that race .
No one asked for money .
No one asked for any branding .
No one asked for specific terms .
No one asked for a favor.
” Unlike The Replacements 100 , Cox and The Race didn ’ t try to create a virtual substitute for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they said the track and the car that everyone would compete in would be a surprise .
They also filled out the field with sim racers and YouTube personalities to keep things light .
The result ?
Hundreds of thousands of views , numbers that Cox called “ insane , ” though given the circumstances , he said were not totally surprising .
“ The fans are starved of racing .
No one wants to watch the news .
We all want to be distracted , and this is just a lighthearted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult time for everyone , ” Cox said .
The other big sim race of the day was billed as a direct replacement to the canceled F1 Australian Grand Prix .
Dubbed the “ Not the AUS GP , ” it was put on by Veloce Esports , a company that fields teams across a number of different esports disciplines .
Jamie MacLaurin , one of Veloce ’ s founders , said in a phone call late last weekend that as soon as the Australian Grand Prix was canceled , “ we sat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ can we pull this off ?
’ ” “ It was tricky not to get too positive about something given the current circumstances , ” MacLaurin said .
“ But our philosophy was we wanted to give fans something they were going to miss .
And esports can be done from the comfort of your own home.
” MacLaurin and Veloce experienced a similar domino effect to the one that Majors and Hamlin did in organizing their race .
“ We ’ ve got a good network in the real racing world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we got a couple drivers on board , they messaged their mates .
At the end , we had to start turning people away because so many people were desperate to be involved.
” MacLaurin said Veloce purposely tried to put together a field that wasn ’ t hyper competitive , much like the organizers of The Replacements 100 .
“ There ’ s a time a and a place for competitive racing , but with the nature of the coronavirus we wanted something a little more lighthearted , which is why we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been the best drivers , ” MacLaurin said with a laugh .
When Sunday rolled around , F1 driver Lando Norris headlined the field of sim racing drivers and YouTubers as they competed in an abbreviated virtual version of the Australian Grand Prix using the game F1 2019 .
The sim race generated a remarkable amount of attention , with Norris ’ Twitch stream alone pulling in 70,000 concurrent viewers for much of the broadcast .
MacLaurin said there was a total of around 175,000 people watching the race at one point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the main broadcast and other competitors ’ streams .
“ Lando ’ s famous to an F1 fan ... but to a lot of people on Twitch he ’ s just a funny guy who plays PUBG.
” “ We ’ d all hoped we ’ d get to this number , but to be realistic , I never thought it could happen , ” MacLaurin said .
One reason Veloce ’ s event drew so much interest is that many of the people involved have built up their own followings on Twitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racing , according to Hazel Southwell , a motorsports journalist and co-founder of Inside Electric , a news site dedicated to covering electric racing series Formula E. The Veloce race “ in theory had less big names attached to it if you come from the perspective of ‘ real life ’ motorsport than The Race ’ s , ” Southwell said .
But the race ultimately drew big numbers because drivers like Norris were running their own streams as well .
“ Lando ’ s famous to an F1 fan as an F1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on Twitch he ’ s just a funny guy who plays PUBG and has a screamy laugh and they think it ’ s cute enough to subscribe to.
” In February 1979 , a surprise , record-breaking snowstorm buried much of the United States ’ East Coast under one to two feet of snow , causing millions of people to hunker in their homes for the weekend .
The timing of the storm was crucial for NASCAR , Pike said , because not only was the Daytona 500 happening , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that length was broadcast live from start to finish on television .
As a result , he said , “ a lot of people tuned into that race — and it just so happens that that race itself was one of the best races of all time.
” With half a lap to go , NASCAR legends Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough were battling for the lead .
Yarborough tried a daring pass for the win , the left side of his car chewing into the infield grass .
Allison moved to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up smashing into the wall .
Another NASCAR legend ( arguably the NASCAR legend ) snuck by to win his sixth Daytona 500 : Richard Petty .
“ That race single-handedly began the expansion of NASCAR from a predominantly Southeastern sport into a national sport , ” Pike said .
“ And we recognized immediately coming into [ last weekend ] that this was sort of our ‘ 79 Daytona 500 moment.
” Looking at the success of the three races last weekend , and what ’ s happened in the days since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right .
Not only did hundreds of thousands of people tune in to watch three very different last-minute sim races , but each group of organizers — and a few others — have now held or announced new races with deeper rosters of household names and a far bigger marketing push .
“ You just install the game , git gud and give it a ruddy good try.
” The Replacements is now going to be an eight-race series that will run every other week on Thursday nights .
The Race and Torque @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Veloce is hosting a “ Not the BAH GP ” race in place of the canceled Bahrain F1 race on Sunday .
Existing sim racing series are also seeing a bump .
The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing series that Kligerman competes in drew nearly 300,000 viewers for a regularly-scheduled race on Tuesday night .
The sidelined series are themselves are jumping into the mix , too .
F1 announced a “ virtual grand prix ” series to take the place of the canceled races .
IndyCar is putting on a special series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teaming up with Fox Sports and iRacing to host a pro invitational sim race that will be broadcast on television as well as online .
For some , it ’ s validation that was a long time coming .
“ Sim racing was a bit of a weirdo outlier from other esports for a long time , ” Southwell said .
“ Not a lot of money , not a lot of enthusiasm , but things like the official F1 games adding the capacity to set up online leagues have made it much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition .
Like with something like Dota , you just install the game , git gud and give it a ruddy good try.
” The mix of sim racing and streaming on display last week also has inherent momentum .
The big name drivers draw in fans who may be new to sim racing .
The YouTube personalities and Twitch streamers bring along their own in real time , and even make videos about the events before and after .
And people like Norris do both .
Growth is known to kill a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , like Cox , are a touch wary .
“ We ’ ve spent the last week working out how we can help each other , how to avoid clashes , which drivers are going to drive , and which championships are going to share them out , ” he said .
“ Now ’ s not to the time to have rivalries .
Now ’ s the time to work together , because that ’ s the way that the sim racing community was built up.
” When asked if that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Now ’ s the time to be noble .
If you can ’ t be noble right now , we ’ re never going to be noble .
It ’ s a horrible situation out there .
”

For many, the cancellation of major sporting events was the moment that made the coronavirus pandemic feel real for the first time. But while fans of baseball, basketball, soccer are left wondering when they’ll see players back in action, racing fans don’t have to wait — because many of their favorite drivers are already competing in online sim racing competitions that were spun up in the days since the first real world races were canceled.
The first few of these substitute sim races, held last weekend, were successful in ways that surprised even the organizers. Now, many of the people who put them on have spent the intervening week trying to figure out how to use that momentum to fill the gap left by real world racing, as fans around the world hole up at home in a collective attempt to slow the spread of a global virus.
It likely won’t be that difficult, though. The success of these first few replacement races was a testament to how far sim racing has come during the rise of esports (and the era of Twitch), but it also sheds light on a truth that a lot of motorsports fans have become familiar with: that a new age of competitive, virtual motorsports is already upon us.
A screencap of The Replacements 100. Image: Podium eSports / iRacing
Despite a lot of hemming and hawing from the world’s top racing series, Formula One, NASCAR, and IndyCar ultimately decided just over a week ago to cancel their Sunday races and suspend their seasons in the face of a growing pandemic. For F1 and IndyCar, that meant dumping their respective season openers, the Australian Grand Prix and the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. For NASCAR, that meant abandoning the annual race at Atlanta Motor Speedway — typically the most-watched race of the season outside of the Daytona 500.
But within minutes of those races being canceled, people like TJ Majors started making phone calls and sending text messages.
Majors is the “spotter” for the #22 NASCAR team, meaning every Sunday during the season, he’s standing on the roof of the grandstands letting the driver know (via radio) what cars are around him, when it’s safe to change lanes, things like that. It’s no surprise, then, that he helped spin up a virtual replacement for the canceled Atlanta race. After all, it’s literally his job to be looking out for other people.
“When I got home Friday there was just a really weird feeling,” Majors explained in an email to The Verge. “I was hanging out with my daughters, and when we got confirmation of everything being shut down for two weeks, I started thinking of all the people in the NASCAR industry that would probably be free to do something Sunday.”
As he made lunch for his daughters, Majors said he thought maybe he and some of his colleagues could join in on an already-scheduled race being put on by iRacing, a very popular sim racing game that also facilitates a panoply of online racing leagues. But before long, Majors started getting texts from his NASCAR colleagues about starting their own race instead at the in-game version of Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“Where do i sign?’”
Majors liked the idea, so he called up iRacing’s executive vice president to get the green light. He started contacting NASCAR personalities, too, like Dale Earnhardt Jr. (who retired last year after suffering multiple concussions), rising star driver William Byron, and Chad Knaus, who was the crew chief for each of Jimmie Johnson’s seven championships.
Majors also called James Pike of Podium eSports, which puts on broadcast-quality productions of sim races. “I got the call from TJ on Friday afternoon, and he told us about the idea that they had put together,” Pike said in a phone call with The Verge. “He asked if we were interested in broadcasting the race, and I said, ‘are you kidding me? Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and all of those other drivers are going to be running in our race? Where do i sign?’”
Faced with a sudden rush of interest, Majors said he and fellow spotter Kevin Hamlin quickly realized — like anything in NASCAR — they needed some good branding.
“One of the funniest moments was [Hamlin] calling me asking for a name of the race,” Majors said. He kept thinking about the movie The Replacements, so he suggested that, with a small tweak: “The Replacements 100,” a nod to the number of laps they would run.
As they started to promote The Replacements 100 on social media, Majors, Hamlin, Pike, and others fielded dozens of calls, texts, and direct messages from people all across NASCAR who wanted in.
In an interview with Pike before the race, Hamlin guessed around 50 percent or more of people who work in and around NASCAR already use iRacing and have home setups — including a steering wheel, pedals, and often custom-built PCs — ready to go. So he and Majors tried to fill up a field that reflected this big tent, letting in fellow NASCAR crew members, as well as some public relations and social media specialists. But a couple more drivers squeaked through, including Parker Kligerman, who has run in all of NASCAR’s top three series, and now races in the official eNASCAR series put on by iRacing.
“When everything went down with all the real races getting canceled, my phone immediately started blowing up with people being like, ‘let’s run a race!’ So I yeah, I wasn’t surprised to see it all come together as quickly,” Kligerman explained. “It was cool to see everyone rally behind it.”
The race went off without much of a hitch. There were a few more wrecks than you’d find in the eNASCAR series. And yes, at one point (and while fighting for the lead, no less), Pike said Kligerman’s computer tried to force a Windows update, sending him straight into the wall. But the combination of iRacing’s realism and Podium eSports’ professional quality broadcast was an excellent simulacrum — a “replacement” race in nearly every sense of the world.
The result was a really good crowd for a sim race, according to iRacing. The main race stream on Twitch peaked at 23,000 concurrent viewers, and brought in over 70,000 unique viewers over the two-hour broadcast. Highlights of the race were even hosted on NASCAR.com “Pretty impressive with almost no notice or advertising,” Kevin Bobbit, iRacing’s marketing director, said in an email.
“If some kid beats LeBron James on NBA 2K, that doesn’t mean that kid is going to get on a basketball court and out-shoot him.”
One reason for the popularity, Kligerman said, is the similarity of the skillsets. “It’s the only esport that connects in such a parallel with the real world,” he explained. “The reason you see so many real-world drivers doing this all the time is it’s not only fun, but it literally in many ways can feel like I’m doing something that could be helping me as a real driver.”
That’s obviously not the case with other sports. “If some kid beats LeBron James on NBA 2K, that doesn’t mean that kid is going to get on a basketball court and out-shoot him,” Kligerman said. “But the funny part about this stuff is if someone gets on there and it outraces me, or outraces William Byron? If they were to get the chance to get in a real car, it might translate really well.”
And a lot of that simply comes from the technology at play, Pike said.
“Anybody worth their weight in salt is running with a wheel and pedals, just like you would in real life. The only thing that’s really removed are all the G-forces, but a lot of the same sorts of skills are much more directly applicable in sim racing compared to shooting a jumper on a controller versus shooting a jumper in real life,” he said.
Even Majors, who watches over a driver going 200 miles an hour every weekend, agrees to an extent. “Real racing requires an enormous amount of skill and bravery,” he said. “Sim racing is still incredibly difficult.”
The start of The Race’s All-Star Esports Battle. Image: Torque Esports
Across the virtual pond, and a few hours before the green flag waved on the virtual NASCAR race at Atlanta, two other replacement races drew the likes of F1 stars Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, IndyCar drivers Simon Pagenaud and Felix Rosenqvist, and a bevy of popular professional sim racers and YouTube personalities. (While IndyCar is a US sport, the skill involved in driving its open-wheel cars often translates better to other open-wheel series like F1, even in the sim world.)
And much like how The Replacements 100 was born, these sim races were thrown together in a flurry of calls and messages during the aftermath of the decision to cancel real world races.
The first to be announced was The Race’s All-Star Esports Battle — a competition in racing sim rFactor 2 that was being promoted by a relatively new motorsports news site, The Race, and its parent company, Torque Esports. But while The Race may not be familiar to most, one of the organizers was a man who, over a decade, has built some of the cornerstones of sim racing: Darren Cox.
Cox started Nissan’s “GT Academy” back in 2008, which pitted the best video game racers in the world against each other in the popular PlayStation racing sim Gran Turismo, with the ultimate winner getting the chance to become a real-world driver. While it seemed like a lark at the time, GT Academy (and a spiritual, multi-platform successor created by Cox called “World’s Fastest Gamer”) ultimately did help prove there’s a link between the skills that make a good sim racing driver and the ones required to pilot the real thing.
“It really was that great old-fashioned line, ‘build it and they will come.’”
“It was the launch pad for a lot of things that people are doing today,” Cox, who now helps manage Mercedes-Benz’s F1 esports team, said in a phone call last week.
Cox says he started hearing “rumblings” that the Australian Grand Prix would be canceled about a day before F1 made the announcement, and immediately thought “You know what? We’ve got to do something for the fans. We’ve got to try and have some racing on Sunday.”
He worked with The Race and Torque announce the event, and said drivers — including Verstappen, Pagenaud, Rosenqvist, and even ex-F1 and IndyCar star Juan Pablo Montoya — started reaching out to ask how to be involved.
“I said, look, you know, let’s do it, I’ll fund it. We didn’t have any drivers confirmed. We didn’t know if anyone would come. And it really was that great old-fashioned line, ‘build it and they will come,’” Cox said. “And they did, you know. And I can be on the record now to say no one got paid for being at that race. No one asked for money. No one asked for any branding. No one asked for specific terms. No one asked for a favor.”
Unlike The Replacements 100, Cox and The Race didn’t try to create a virtual substitute for the canceled Australian Grand Prix. Instead, they said the track and the car that everyone would compete in would be a surprise. They also filled out the field with sim racers and YouTube personalities to keep things light. The result? Hundreds of thousands of views, numbers that Cox called “insane,” though given the circumstances, he said were not totally surprising.
“The fans are starved of racing. No one wants to watch the news. We all want to be distracted, and this is just a lighthearted way of getting through what is a difficult time for everyone,” Cox said.
Mid-race action during the Not the AUS GP. Image: Veloce Esports / F1 2019
The other big sim race of the day was billed as a direct replacement to the canceled F1 Australian Grand Prix. Dubbed the “Not the AUS GP,” it was put on by Veloce Esports, a company that fields teams across a number of different esports disciplines.
Jamie MacLaurin, one of Veloce’s founders, said in a phone call late last weekend that as soon as the Australian Grand Prix was canceled, “we sat down as a team and thought, ‘can we pull this off?’”
“We thought, ‘can we pull this off?’”
“It was tricky not to get too positive about something given the current circumstances,” MacLaurin said. “But our philosophy was we wanted to give fans something they were going to miss. And esports can be done from the comfort of your own home.”
MacLaurin and Veloce experienced a similar domino effect to the one that Majors and Hamlin did in organizing their race. “We’ve got a good network in the real racing world,” MacLaurin said. “Once we got a couple drivers on board, they messaged their mates. At the end, we had to start turning people away because so many people were desperate to be involved.”
MacLaurin said Veloce purposely tried to put together a field that wasn’t hyper competitive, much like the organizers of The Replacements 100. “There’s a time a and a place for competitive racing, but with the nature of the coronavirus we wanted something a little more lighthearted, which is why we involved some YouTubers who... may not have been the best drivers,” MacLaurin said with a laugh.
When Sunday rolled around, F1 driver Lando Norris headlined the field of sim racing drivers and YouTubers as they competed in an abbreviated virtual version of the Australian Grand Prix using the game F1 2019. The sim race generated a remarkable amount of attention, with Norris’ Twitch stream alone pulling in 70,000 concurrent viewers for much of the broadcast. MacLaurin said there was a total of around 175,000 people watching the race at one point, when combining Norris’ numbers with the main broadcast and other competitors’ streams.
“Lando’s famous to an F1 fan ... but to a lot of people on Twitch he’s just a funny guy who plays PUBG.”
“We’d all hoped we’d get to this number, but to be realistic, I never thought it could happen,” MacLaurin said.
One reason Veloce’s event drew so much interest is that many of the people involved have built up their own followings on Twitch and YouTube that go beyond competitive sim racing, according to Hazel Southwell, a motorsports journalist and co-founder of Inside Electric, a news site dedicated to covering electric racing series Formula E.
The Veloce race “in theory had less big names attached to it if you come from the perspective of ‘real life’ motorsport than The Race’s,” Southwell said. But the race ultimately drew big numbers because drivers like Norris were running their own streams as well. “Lando’s famous to an F1 fan as an F1 driver — but to a lot of people on Twitch he’s just a funny guy who plays PUBG and has a screamy laugh and they think it’s cute enough to subscribe to.”
Richard Petty during the 1979 Daytona 500, which was a watershed moment for NASCAR thanks to a freak snowstorm. Photo by ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images
In February 1979, a surprise, record-breaking snowstorm buried much of the United States’ East Coast under one to two feet of snow, causing millions of people to hunker in their homes for the weekend. The timing of the storm was crucial for NASCAR, Pike said, because not only was the Daytona 500 happening, but it was the first time any race of that length was broadcast live from start to finish on television.
As a result, he said, “a lot of people tuned into that race — and it just so happens that that race itself was one of the best races of all time.”
With half a lap to go, NASCAR legends Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough were battling for the lead. Yarborough tried a daring pass for the win, the left side of his car chewing into the infield grass. Allison moved to block. The two cars tangled and wound up smashing into the wall. Another NASCAR legend (arguably the NASCAR legend) snuck by to win his sixth Daytona 500: Richard Petty.
“That race single-handedly began the expansion of NASCAR from a predominantly Southeastern sport into a national sport,” Pike said. “And we recognized immediately coming into [last weekend] that this was sort of our ‘79 Daytona 500 moment.”
Looking at the success of the three races last weekend, and what’s happened in the days since, it seems Pike might well be right. Not only did hundreds of thousands of people tune in to watch three very different last-minute sim races, but each group of organizers — and a few others — have now held or announced new races with deeper rosters of household names and a far bigger marketing push.
“You just install the game, git gud and give it a ruddy good try.”
The Replacements is now going to be an eight-race series that will run every other week on Thursday nights. The Race and Torque Esports held a second race on Saturday. Veloce is hosting a “Not the BAH GP” race in place of the canceled Bahrain F1 race on Sunday. Existing sim racing series are also seeing a bump. The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing series that Kligerman competes in drew nearly 300,000 viewers for a regularly-scheduled race on Tuesday night.
The sidelined series are themselves are jumping into the mix, too. F1 announced a “virtual grand prix” series to take the place of the canceled races. IndyCar is putting on a special series of races in iRacing. And NASCAR is teaming up with Fox Sports and iRacing to host a pro invitational sim race that will be broadcast on television as well as online.
For some, it’s validation that was a long time coming. “Sim racing was a bit of a weirdo outlier from other esports for a long time,” Southwell said. “Not a lot of money, not a lot of enthusiasm, but things like the official F1 games adding the capacity to set up online leagues have made it much more easily accessible as a form of competition. Like with something like Dota, you just install the game, git gud and give it a ruddy good try.”
The mix of sim racing and streaming on display last week also has inherent momentum. The big name drivers draw in fans who may be new to sim racing. The YouTube personalities and Twitch streamers bring along their own in real time, and even make videos about the events before and after. And people like Norris do both.
Growth is known to kill a good thing, though. And so others, like Cox, are a touch wary.
“Now’s the time to work together.”
“We’ve spent the last week working out how we can help each other, how to avoid clashes, which drivers are going to drive, and which championships are going to share them out,” he said. “Now’s not to the time to have rivalries. Now’s the time to work together, because that’s the way that the sim racing community was built up.”


theverge--2020-03-22--AT&T CEO addresses major surge in mobile, Wi-Fi usage as more people work from home

AT & T ’ s networks have seen a surge of usage since companies around the United States have asked employees to work from home and schools have moved online following the COVID-19 outbreak .
CEO Randall Stephenson told CNN ’ s Brian Stelter on today ’ s Reliable Sources that “ mobile volumes are up 40 percent , ” and “ Wi-Fi calling volumes are up 100 percent.
” Stephenson added the network infrastructures are “ performing quite well , ” but noted the company is seeing some stress as more people work from home .
AT & T @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from home , according to Stephenson .
Stephenson added that considering how many people are working from home , and how this will change the future of work once the crisis is over , AT & T will “ come out of this crisis [ and ] continue investing in 5G and new technology.
” “ I think it ’ s going to cause every business to evaluate how we do business , ” Stephenson told CNN when asked about what happens when things start to return to normal .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is exactly what we ’ re going to see.
” Ensuring that everyone can remain connected at a time when people are physically isolated around the country is of the utmost importance to AT & T , Stephenson told CNN .
He pointed to AT & T ’ s earlier decision to suspend data caps for broadband internet customers .
Customers of AT & T ’ s home internet broadband service , which is not to be confused with customers who have an AT & T mobile data plan , pay for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data they can use .
This affects devices like laptops , game consoles , smart TVs , and more .
A day after AT & T announced it would suspend data caps , the FCC introduced a broadband and telecom industry measure called the Keep Americans Connected Pledge to prevent telecom companies like AT & T , Verizon , and T-Mobile among others from abusing the current work-from-home situation .
The pledge asks that companies not terminate service for residential or small business customers , waive any late fees incurred due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open access to public Wi-Fi hotspots .
The pledge will cover the next 60 days , and asks that other companies follow in AT & T ’ s footsteps and suspend data caps .
“ We ’ re looking at this as a time of war , ” Stephenson said .
“ This is like World War II .
Everyone needs to step up and do their part in how we help the general population.
” Update ( March 22nd , 2:20pm ET ) : An AT & T spokesperson added that AT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and data overage fees for customers nationwide .
The spokesperson noted that these fees will be retroactively waived , dating back to March 13th .

AT&T’s networks have seen a surge of usage since companies around the United States have asked employees to work from home and schools have moved online following the COVID-19 outbreak.
CEO Randall Stephenson told CNN’s Brian Stelter on today’s Reliable Sources that “mobile volumes are up 40 percent,” and “Wi-Fi calling volumes are up 100 percent.” Stephenson added the network infrastructures are “performing quite well,” but noted the company is seeing some stress as more people work from home.
AT&T itself currently has approximately 90,000 employees working from home, according to Stephenson. Stephenson added that considering how many people are working from home, and how this will change the future of work once the crisis is over, AT&T will “come out of this crisis [and] continue investing in 5G and new technology.”
“I think it’s going to cause every business to evaluate how we do business,” Stephenson told CNN when asked about what happens when things start to return to normal. “I think when we come out of this, this is exactly what we’re going to see.”
Ensuring that everyone can remain connected at a time when people are physically isolated around the country is of the utmost importance to AT&T, Stephenson told CNN. He pointed to AT&T’s earlier decision to suspend data caps for broadband internet customers. Customers of AT&T’s home internet broadband service, which is not to be confused with customers who have an AT&T mobile data plan, pay for plans that cap the amount of monthly data they can use. This affects devices like laptops, game consoles, smart TVs, and more.
A day after AT&T announced it would suspend data caps, the FCC introduced a broadband and telecom industry measure called the Keep Americans Connected Pledge to prevent telecom companies like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile among others from abusing the current work-from-home situation.
The pledge asks that companies not terminate service for residential or small business customers, waive any late fees incurred due to the economic effects of the virus, and open access to public Wi-Fi hotspots. The pledge will cover the next 60 days, and asks that other companies follow in AT&T’s footsteps and suspend data caps.
“We’re looking at this as a time of war,” Stephenson said. “This is like World War II. Everyone needs to step up and do their part in how we help the general population.”


theverge--2020-03-22--Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company is donating “millions” of masks to healthcare workers

Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted Saturday that the company was donating “ millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe , ” to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Cook ’ s tweet appears to confirm a statement earlier in the day by Vice President Mike Pence .
“ The president and I literally heard directly from Apple that they ’ re donating 2 million industrial masks to this effort around the country and working with our administration to distribute those , ” Pence said at a White House press briefing .
How ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the two million masks Pence referenced isn ’ t clear — The Verge has reached out to the company for more information .
Globally , masks are in high demand , but supplies are running low .
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a note to employees Saturday that “ masks remain in short supply globally.
” The company has “ placed purchase orders for millions of face masks we want to give to our employees and contractors who can not work from home , but very few of those orders have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N95 respirators are disposable , close-fitting masks that can keep virus-laden droplets away from the wearer ’ s mouth and nose .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the masks ’ effectiveness is “ highly dependent upon proper fit and use.
” Pence said Saturday that the Department of Health and Human Services “ placed an order for hundreds of millions of N95 masks , ” with the order coordinated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency .
Where the masks were ordered from and when they would be available wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks .
The shortage of personal protective equipment like face masks has become a serious problem for healthcare workers , with some resorting to using less-effective masks or even going without while treating patients , the New York Times reported .
Last week , Pence called on construction companies to donate their protective masks to hospitals , and to refrain from ordering more .
“ Those industrial masks that they use on construction sites are perfectly acceptable for healthcare workers to be protected from a respiratory disease , ” the vice president said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said more N95 masks will be available “ sooner than weeks.
” But ProPublica reports there ’ s been confusion over how such donations would take place , and the White House hasn ’ t given clear instructions .
On Saturday , Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease , told reporters in the White House briefing room that it would be “ sooner than weeks ” for medical professionals to receive fresh supplies of masks .
“ We ’ re going to try to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we can , ” he said .
Some companies and individuals appear to have donated directly .
On Twitter , director Peyton Reed thanked Tesla CEO Elon Musk for donating supplies— “ a truckload of PPEs ( masks , gowns , etc . )
” — to a a UCLA Health facility .
We reached out to Tesla to confirm that Musk was the one who sent the donation but have not heard back .
And Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company was donating an emergency reserve of 720,000 masks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot more to donate , ” he added .
Update March 22nd , 2:41PM ET : Added information from Peyton Reed and Mark Zuckerberg about donated supplies .

Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted Saturday that the company was donating “millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe,” to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. Cook’s tweet appears to confirm a statement earlier in the day by Vice President Mike Pence.
“The president and I literally heard directly from Apple that they’re donating 2 million industrial masks to this effort around the country and working with our administration to distribute those,” Pence said at a White House press briefing. A later briefing from Pence on March 24th would expand that number to 9 million donated masks, which Apple CEO Tim Cook would further clarify in a tweet to “10 million masks for the US and millions more for the hardest hit regions in Europe.”
According to Cook’s tweet, Apple’s operations team is using its supply chain knowledge to source, procure, and donate the masks, which helps explain how Apple was able to obtain so many masks in such a short time.
Globally, masks are in high demand, but supplies are running low. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a note to employees Saturday that “masks remain in short supply globally.” The company has “placed purchase orders for millions of face masks we want to give to our employees and contractors who cannot work from home, but very few of those orders have been filled,” Bezos wrote.
N95 respirators are disposable, close-fitting masks that can keep virus-laden droplets away from the wearer’s mouth and nose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the masks’ effectiveness is “highly dependent upon proper fit and use.”
Pence said Saturday that the Department of Health and Human Services “placed an order for hundreds of millions of N95 masks,” with the order coordinated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Where the masks were ordered from and when they would be available wasn’t clear from Pence’s remarks.
The shortage of personal protective equipment like face masks has become a serious problem for healthcare workers, with some resorting to using less-effective masks or even going without while treating patients, the New York Times reported. Last week, Pence called on construction companies to donate their protective masks to hospitals, and to refrain from ordering more. “Those industrial masks that they use on construction sites are perfectly acceptable for healthcare workers to be protected from a respiratory disease,” the vice president said at a briefing on Tuesday.
Fauci said more N95 masks will be available “sooner than weeks.”
But ProPublica reports there’s been confusion over how such donations would take place, and the White House hasn’t given clear instructions.
On Saturday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, told reporters in the White House briefing room that it would be “sooner than weeks” for medical professionals to receive fresh supplies of masks. “We’re going to try to make it days to the best possible way that we can,” he said.
Some companies and individuals appear to have donated directly. On Twitter, director Peyton Reed thanked Tesla CEO Elon Musk for donating supplies— “a truckload of PPEs (masks, gowns, etc.)” — to a a UCLA Health facility. We reached out to Tesla to confirm that Musk was the one who sent the donation but have not heard back.
And Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company was donating an emergency reserve of 720,000 masks. “We’re also sourcing a lot more to donate,” he added.
Update March 22nd, 2:41PM ET: Added information from Peyton Reed and Mark Zuckerberg about donated supplies.


theverge--2020-03-22--Disney Plus commits to reducing streaming quality in Europe, delays launch in France

Disney will delay the release of its Disney Plus streaming service in France in accordance with government requests , Reuters is reporting .
The streaming service , which was supposed to launch on March 24th , will instead reportedly launch the week of April 7th , according to Disney .
That ’ s two weeks after it was initially set , and two weeks after other European markets will get the streaming service .
Disney has not said if people in other countries set to receive Disney Plus , including the UK , will face delays .
New subscribers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in streaming , however , when the service launches .
Disney will “ lower our overall bandwidth utilization by at least 25 percent in all of the markets launching Disney Plus on March 24th , ” according to Kevin Mayer , head of Disney ’ s direct-to-consumer division .
Other streaming platforms , including Netflix , Amazon Prime Video , Apple TV Plus , and YouTube have also committed to reducing video playback streams in order to lessen broadband strain .
Broadband strain continues to be a concern globally as more people stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the novel coronavirus .
Nielsen is estimating that people staying home “ can lead to almost a 60 percent increase in the amount of content we watch in some cases and potentially more depending on the reasons .
”

Facebook and Disney are joining Netflix, Amazon, Apple, and YouTube in reducing streaming video quality in order to lighten the load on the internet in Europe, as more people start working and learning remotely in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Disney will also delay the release of its Disney Plus streaming service in France in accordance with government requests, Reuters is reporting.
Disney has committed to reducing its Disney Plus video quality in Europe, to reduce the strain it places on the continent’s internet infrastructure. On the same day as Disney’s announcement, Facebook said it too would be reducing the quality of videos on its services, including Instagram, Reuters reports.
Disney Plus, which was supposed to launch on March 24th in France, will instead reportedly launch the week of April 7th, according to Disney. That’s two weeks after it was initially set, and two weeks after other European markets will get the streaming service. Disney has not said if people in other countries set to receive Disney Plus, including the UK, will face delays.
The launch of Disney Plus in France has also been delayed
New subscribers in those regions will see a reduced quality in streaming, however, when the service launches. Disney will “lower our overall bandwidth utilization by at least 25 percent in all of the markets launching Disney Plus on March 24th,” according to Kevin Mayer, head of Disney’s direct-to-consumer division.
Facebook has also made similar commitments for videos on its services. “To help alleviate any potential network congestion, we will temporarily reduce bit rates for videos on Facebook and Instagram in Europe,” a Facebook spokesperson told Reuters. The measures will continue for as long as there are concerns about internet gridlock.
Other streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plus, and YouTube have also committed to reducing video playback streams in order to lessen broadband strain.
Available bandwidth continues to be a concern globally as more people stay indoors in an attempt to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Nielsen is estimating that people staying home “can lead to almost a 60 percent increase in the amount of content we watch in some cases and potentially more depending on the reasons.”


theverge--2020-03-22--Best Buy moves to curbside pickup only as it sees surge in orders for home office equipment

Starting today , Best Buy is limiting its US stores to “ contactless ” curbside service , allowing only employees into its stores , according to a statement from the company .
Orders placed on the Best Buy website or via its app will be delivered to customers ’ cars outside its stores by employees .
The curbside system includes returns and exchanges , and in an email to customers , Best Buy says “ if , for any reason , you didn ’ t order the product in advance and the product is in stock in the store , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than happy to go get it in the store and sell it to you while you remain in your car.
” Best Buy has suspended its in-home installations and repair services , as well as its product trade-in and recycling services .
“ We are seeing a surge in demand across the country for products that people need to work or learn from home , as well as those products that allow people to refrigerate or freeze food , ” Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said in a statement .
“ As we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are adjusting how we operate in many ways to improve safety.
” As of Monday , Best Buy will only deliver large items like refrigerators and TVs to customers ’ doorsteps and not bring the items into houses .
“ We know that this change will be inconvenient , and we are truly sorry , ” the email to customers states .
“ It was made with our employees ’ and your best interests at heart.
” Customers who have Best Buy orders scheduled for installation in the next 30 days will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The company says it ’ s made some adjustments to compensate employees who continue to come in to work , and anyone whose hours are eliminated by the new restrictions “ will be paid for two weeks at their normal wage rate based on their average hours worked over the last 10 weeks.
” The email to customers says all Best Buy employees who are working right now are doing so “ on a voluntary basis ” and says any employee who feels sick and stays home will be paid for that time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked to stay home — with pay— and Best Buy is paying employees who may need to care for children at home ( but the email does not say how much or for how long ) .
We ’ ve reached out to Best Buy for more details about how it ’ s compensating its employees during the coronavirus outbreak and will update if we hear back from them .

Starting today, Best Buy is limiting its US stores to “contactless” curbside service, allowing only employees into its stores, according to a statement from the company. Orders placed on the Best Buy website or via its app will be delivered to customers’ cars outside its stores by employees.
The curbside system includes returns and exchanges, and in an email to customers, Best Buy says “if, for any reason, you didn’t order the product in advance and the product is in stock in the store, one of our employees will be more than happy to go get it in the store and sell it to you while you remain in your car.” Best Buy has suspended its in-home installations and repair services, as well as its product trade-in and recycling services.
“We are seeing a surge in demand across the country for products that people need to work or learn from home, as well as those products that allow people to refrigerate or freeze food,” Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said in a statement. “As we meet the demand for these necessities, we are adjusting how we operate in many ways to improve safety.”
As of Monday, Best Buy will only deliver large items like refrigerators and TVs to customers’ doorsteps and not bring the items into houses. “We know that this change will be inconvenient, and we are truly sorry,” the email to customers states. “It was made with our employees’ and your best interests at heart.” Customers who have Best Buy orders scheduled for installation in the next 30 days will receive an email about delivery options.
The company says it’s made some adjustments to compensate employees who continue to come in to work, and anyone whose hours are eliminated by the new restrictions “will be paid for two weeks at their normal wage rate based on their average hours worked over the last 10 weeks.”
The email to customers says all Best Buy employees who are working right now are doing so “on a voluntary basis” and says any employee who feels sick and stays home will be paid for that time, anyone exposed to COVID-19 is being asked to stay home — with pay— and Best Buy is paying employees who may need to care for children at home (but the email does not say how much or for how long).


theverge--2020-03-22--Pro drivers are competing with gamers after F1 and NASCAR canceled races


theverge--2020-03-23--The Verge Guide to Working at Home

The Verge Guide to Working at Home

It ’ s difficult to try to keep things normal when the situation isn ’ t normal — especially during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic .
One of those things includes adjusting our jobs to working from home , when we ’ re used to going into the office every day .
In these days of video conferencing , texting , and file sharing , it is thankfully possible for many people to move their workdays to home .
In fact , remote working has been a part of many peoples ’ lives for years , so while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t impossible .
We ’ re taking the tech expertise of our staff , and the experience of many of our writers and editors , to put together tips and advice on working from home .
This includes both general information on working from home , dealing with video conferencing , and finding a good standing desk , but also quick tips on how to use Zoom to hide your messy room and how playing a soothing animal video in the background can keep you centered .
We ’ ll continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring you as much information on working at home as possible .
Stay tuned — and stay safe !

The Verge Guide to Working from Home 2021
How to work from home productively and comfortably
It’s difficult to try to keep things normal when the situation isn’t normal — especially during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. One of those things includes adjusting our jobs to working from home, when we’re used to going into the office every day.
In these days of video conferencing, texting, and file sharing, it is thankfully possible for many people to move their workdays to home. In fact, remote working has been a part of many peoples’ lives for years, so while the adjustment can feel difficult, it isn’t impossible.
We’re taking the tech expertise of our staff, and the experience of many of our writers and editors, to put together tips and advice on working from home. This includes both general information on working from home, dealing with video conferencing, and finding a good standing desk, but also quick tips on how to use Zoom to hide your messy room and how playing a soothing animal video in the background can keep you centered.


theverge--2020-03-23--Amazon Prime Video now supports up to six profiles on the same account

Amazon is rolling out user profiles for Prime Video , allowing as many as six different people to track their viewing progress , manage watch lists , and get personalized recommendations .
Kid profiles can also be added and limited to content that ’ s safe for children under 12 to watch .
Amazon notes that the profiles feature , which was spotted by NDTV and XDA-Developers , is currently available in “ selected countries.
” Profiles are currently supported across a range of devices , including mobiles , tablets ( including Fire devices ) , web browsers , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Chromecast , and the Fire TV in India .
Adding profiles varies by device .
For iOS and Android apps , you select the “ My Stuff ” tab at the bottom of the screen , and then hit the “ + ” icon to create a new profile .
Amazon is a little late to the game in introducing this feature , which has been available on competing services like Netflix for years .
However , its six profile limit is one higher than Netflix , which only supports five separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feature at a time when plenty of people are cooped up at home and using streaming services to pass the time .

Amazon is rolling out user profiles for Prime Video, allowing as many as six different people to track their viewing progress, manage watch lists, and get personalized recommendations. Kid profiles can also be added and limited to content that’s safe for children under 12 to watch. The feature, which was spotted by NDTV and XDA-Developers, is rolling out in phases and is currently available in “selected countries” in Asia and Africa, including India.
Profiles are currently supported across a range of devices, including mobiles, tablets (including Fire devices), web browsers, and living room devices like the Apple TV, Chromecast, and the Fire TV in India. Adding profiles varies by device. For iOS and Android apps, you select the “My Stuff” tab at the bottom of the screen, and then hit the “+” icon to create a new profile.
Profiles can be managed across different devices, including Android (pictured). Image: XDA-Developers
Amazon is a little late to the game in introducing this feature, which has been available on competing services like Netflix for years. However, its six profile limit is one higher than Netflix, which only supports five separate accounts. It’s a welcome feature at a time when plenty of people are cooped up at home and using streaming services to pass the time.
Update March 23rd, 12:05PM ET: Added more information about regional availability.


theverge--2020-03-23--Disney Plus and Facebook are also reducing streaming quality in Europe

Facebook and Disney are joining Netflix , Amazon , Apple , and YouTube in reducing streaming video quality in order to lighten the load on the internet in Europe , as more people start working and learning remotely in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Disney will also delay the release of its Disney Plus streaming service in France in accordance with government requests , Reuters is reporting .
Disney has committed to reducing its Disney Plus video quality in Europe , to reduce the strain it places on the continent ’ s internet infrastructure .
On the same day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it too would be reducing the quality of videos on its services , including Instagram , Reuters reports .
Disney Plus , which was supposed to launch on March 24th in France , will instead reportedly launch the week of April 7th , according to Disney .
That ’ s two weeks after it was initially set , and two weeks after other European markets will get the streaming service .
Disney has not said if people in other countries set to receive Disney Plus , including the UK , will face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in France has also been delayed New subscribers in those regions will see a reduced quality in streaming , however , when the service launches .
Disney will “ lower our overall bandwidth utilization by at least 25 percent in all of the markets launching Disney Plus on March 24th , ” according to Kevin Mayer , head of Disney ’ s direct-to-consumer division .
Facebook has also made similar commitments for videos on its services .
“ To help alleviate any potential network congestion , we will temporarily reduce bit rates for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a Facebook spokesperson told Reuters .
The measures will continue for as long as there are concerns about internet gridlock .
Other streaming platforms , including Netflix , Amazon Prime Video , Apple TV Plus , and YouTube have also committed to reducing video playback streams in order to lessen broadband strain .
Available bandwidth continues to be a concern globally as more people stay indoors in an attempt to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Nielsen is estimating that people staying home “ can lead to almost a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content we watch in some cases and potentially more depending on the reasons.
” Update March 23rd , 6:14AM ET : Updated with information about Facebook reducing video streaming quality .


theverge--2020-03-23--Siri now gives coronavirus advice

Siri now gives coronavirus advice

Apple has updated Siri to provide information to people who are concerned they have COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , CNBC reports .
Users can ask the voice assistant questions like “ How do I know if I have coronavirus ” or “ Do I have coronavirus ?
” and it will offer advice based on their symptoms .
Users started noticing the new functionality on Saturday .
When you first ask Siri about the virus , the voice assistant will ask whether you are experiencing related symptoms , which include a fever , dry cough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with extreme or life-threatening illnesses are advised to call 911 , while anyone who ’ s not sure is informed of the diseases symptoms and told to self-isolate if they appear .
Links to telehealth apps on the App Store are provided for anyone who can ’ t currently reach a healthcare provider .
Siri ’ s answers are being provided from the US ’ s Public Health Service , and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , CNBC notes .
At the moment , the answers appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We tried asking Siri for advice in the UK , and the voice assistant simply provided us with a link to an information page on a UK government website .
There was no questionnaire about symptoms or links to the App Store .
Siri ’ s new functionality mirrors similar efforts from other tech companies like Facebook , Google , and Microsoft who have launched information resources about the virus .
Facebook has added a coronavirus information center to the top of its News Feed in the United States which passes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC , while Google has also launched an informational site .
Microsoft , meanwhile , has launched an interactive map , and also worked with the CDC to produce a “ self-checker ” chatbot .

Apple has updated Siri to provide information to people who are concerned they have COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, CNBC reports. Users can ask the voice assistant questions like “How do I know if I have coronavirus” or “Do I have coronavirus?” and it will offer advice based on their symptoms. Users started noticing the new functionality on Saturday.
When you first ask Siri about the virus, the voice assistant will ask whether you are experiencing related symptoms, which include a fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath. People with extreme or life-threatening illnesses are advised to call 911, while anyone who’s not sure is informed of the diseases symptoms and told to self-isolate if they appear. Links to telehealth apps on the App Store are provided for anyone who can’t currently reach a healthcare provider.
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Siri’s answers are being provided from the US’s Public Health Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CNBC notes.
At the moment, the answers appear to be focussed on users in the US. We tried asking Siri for advice in the UK, and the voice assistant simply provided us with a link to an information page on a UK government website. There was no questionnaire about symptoms or links to the App Store.


theverge--2020-03-23--Amazon will help Seattle residents receive at-home COVID-19 testing

Amazon will assist its hometown city of Seattle with at-home COVID-19 testing , according to a report from CNBC on Monday .
The test kits are provided by the Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network ( SCAN ) , a research effort based on the prior Seattle Flu Study initiative that is now dedicated to better understanding the spread of the novel coronavirus .
It has funding from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates ’ private Gates Ventures investment arm and receives technical assistance from his philanthropic group , the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation .
The effort mirrors one in the San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zuckerberg ’ s philanthropic and medical research groups .
Both represent some of the most significant corporate investments in trying to make up for the failures of the federal government in rolling out widespread testing to the US .
Bill Gates is helping fund the public testing effort in Seattle Amazon will carry out the test deliveries and pickup through its existing Amazon Care arm , an internal healthcare platform dedicated to Amazon employees and their families .
Yet COVID-19 testing won ’ t be restricted to just Amazon employees .
Anyone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SCAN , including children and those who aren ’ t displaying flu-like symptoms but may be asymptomatic .
According to CNBC , “ All the couriers involved have been trained in handling medical material , and they will distribute the self-swab kits to the homes of those who have requested them.
” “ Responding to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 crisis must be a community effort and requires support from both the private and public sectors , ” Kristen Helton , the director of Amazon Care , told CNBC in a statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strong community of public health , global health and academic leaders and are eager to leverage Amazon Care ’ s infrastructure and logistics capabilities to support this local effort.
” Seattle and the surrounding area of King County have been among the hardest-hit metropolitan area in the US during the coronavirus pandemic , with more than 2,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 100 deaths .

Amazon will assist its hometown city of Seattle with at-home COVID-19 testing, according to a report from CNBC on Monday.
The test kits are provided by the Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network (SCAN), a research effort based on the prior Seattle Flu Study initiative that is now dedicated to better understanding the spread of the novel coronavirus. It has funding from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’ private Gates Ventures investment arm and receives technical assistance from his philanthropic group, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The effort mirrors one in the San Francisco Bay Area funded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s philanthropic and medical research groups. Both represent some of the most significant corporate investments in trying to make up for the failures of the federal government in rolling out widespread testing to the US.
Bill Gates is helping fund the public testing effort in Seattle
Amazon will carry out the test deliveries and pickup through its existing Amazon Care arm, an internal healthcare platform dedicated to Amazon employees and their families. Yet COVID-19 testing won’t be restricted to just Amazon employees. Anyone in the Seattle area will be eligible through SCAN, including children and those who aren’t displaying flu-like symptoms but may be asymptomatic. According to CNBC, “All the couriers involved have been trained in handling medical material, and they will distribute the self-swab kits to the homes of those who have requested them.”
“Responding to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 crisis must be a community effort and requires support from both the private and public sectors,” Kristen Helton, the director of Amazon Care, told CNBC in a statement. “We are grateful to be surrounded by a strong community of public health, global health and academic leaders and are eager to leverage Amazon Care’s infrastructure and logistics capabilities to support this local effort.”


theverge--2020-03-23--Verizon gives all mobile customers 15GB of extra data during coronavirus pandemic

Verizon has announced that it is automatically adding 15GB of high-speed data to wireless plans in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Additionally , the company announced it will waive overage charges and late fees for those affected by the crisis , waive internet and voice service for those on its discount Lifeline plan , and reiterated its previous pledge of free international calling for consumer wireless and home voice customers to CDC level 3 countries , among other efforts .
“ We understand the hardships that many of our customers are facing , and we ’ re doing our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connectivity during this unprecedented time , ” said Verizon Consumer Group CEO Ronan Dunne .
“ With so many Americans working and learning remotely from home , having access to reliable and affordable internet is more important than ever before.
” “ We understand the hardships that many of our customers are facing.
” The changes are in response to the Federal Communications Commission ’ s 60-day Keep Americans Connected Pledge .
The pledge asks US internet service providers to not terminate service for residential and small business customers , waive late fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and provide open access public Wi-Fi hotspots to “ any American who needs them.
” It also urges companies to suspend data caps and fees for long distance calls .
From March 25th through April 30th , Verizon consumer and small business customers with metered data plans will get 15GB added , which can be used for hotspot , smartphone , or another device .
Meanwhile , Verizon unlimited customers will get 15GB of 4G LTE hotspot data added to their plan .
It ’ s worth noting that Verizon is waiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removing data caps for mobile customers .
In a separate post , the company notes that “ most of the company ’ s wireless customers are on unlimited wireless plans , ” and says that customers who aren ’ t are “ encouraged to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots whenever available ” as Wi-Fi connections don ’ t count against data usage .
So , that means if you have a plan with a data cap , you may still need to call up Verizon after the fact to get them to remove incurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid out how they plan to comply with the pledge .
Comcast announced it will suspend its internet data cap policy for 60 days and waive overage fees for home internet customers , among other initiatives .
T-Mobile removed mobile data caps and gave customers 20GB of additional hotspot / tethering data .
AT & T , like Verizon , isn ’ t outright removing caps , instead saying it will “ waive domestic wireless plan overage charges for data.
” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai says that virtually every major US broadband and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Charter , Sprint , and others .

Verizon has announced that it is automatically adding 15GB of high-speed data to wireless plans in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the company announced it will waive overage charges and late fees for those affected by the crisis, waive internet and voice service for those on its discount Lifeline plan, and reiterated its previous pledge of free international calling for consumer wireless and home voice customers to CDC level 3 countries, among other efforts.
“We understand the hardships that many of our customers are facing, and we’re doing our part to ensure they have broadband internet connectivity during this unprecedented time,” said Verizon Consumer Group CEO Ronan Dunne. “With so many Americans working and learning remotely from home, having access to reliable and affordable internet is more important than ever before.”
“We understand the hardships that many of our customers are facing.”
The changes are in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s 60-day Keep Americans Connected Pledge. The pledge asks US internet service providers to not terminate service for residential and small business customers, waive late fees incurred as a result of the pandemic, and provide open access public Wi-Fi hotspots to “any American who needs them.” It also urges companies to suspend data caps and fees for long distance calls.
From March 25th through April 30th, Verizon consumer and small business customers with metered data plans will get 15GB added, which can be used for hotspot, smartphone, or another device. Meanwhile, Verizon unlimited customers will get 15GB of 4G LTE hotspot data added to their plan.
It’s worth noting that Verizon is waiving overage charges, but isn’t removing data caps for mobile customers. In a separate post, the company notes that “most of the company’s wireless customers are on unlimited wireless plans,” and says that customers who aren’t are “encouraged to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots whenever available” as Wi-Fi connections don’t count against data usage. So, that means if you have a plan with a data cap, you may still need to call up Verizon after the fact to get them to remove incurred overage fees.
Several companies have also laid out how they plan to comply with the pledge. Comcast announced it will suspend its internet data cap policy for 60 days and waive overage fees for home internet customers, among other initiatives. T-Mobile removed mobile data caps and gave customers 20GB of additional hotspot / tethering data. AT&T, like Verizon, isn’t outright removing caps, instead saying it will “waive domestic wireless plan overage charges for data.”


theverge--2020-03-23--I wanna dance with somebody (on Instagram)

Kristin Childers went to a dance party on Saturday in her pajamas .
The clothes didn ’ t matter , because she never left her living room .
The party took place entirely on Instagram .
A few minutes before , she ’ d been sitting on her couch reading the news , feeling like she was about to cry .
Then she got a notification on her phone : Ryan Heffington , the two-time Grammy nominated choreographer behind Sia ’ s “ Chandelier ” music video , was streaming a dance class on Instagram Live .
“ The numbness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she says .
“ I was like , ‘ I ’ m just gon na do it.
’ ” As Childers danced , she saw comments and hearts pop up on the live stream .
Almost 2,700 people were dancing virtually alongside her .
“ I was like , ‘ Wow people are really connecting , ’ ” she says .
She ’ d had low-grade anxiety since the coronavirus pandemic started spreading across the United States .
Now , moving alone in her apartment with only her phone to keep her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The numbness I was feeling just went away.
” Heffington is part of a wave of dance teachers moving their classes online as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread .
In California , where a shelter order has been in place since March 19th , all non-essential businesses — including Heffington ’ s studio The Sweat Spot — are closed .
The result is a rise in social media offerings as people look to their phones to give them a sense of community and help them stay active during the crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the digital dance era .
He ’ s high energy and describes himself as spiritual .
His philosophy is that anyone can dance — and anywhere , apparently .
“ I feel like this is my calling in life , ” he says .
“ I ’ ve always wanted to make the world dance , and apparently this is the right time to make that happen.
” When Heffington live steamed his first class on March 17th , 500 people showed up .
The following weekend , there were close to 4,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intimidated now have the privacy to dance and are loving it , ” he says .
“ The insecurity level drops considerably because they ’ re in their own homes.
” Heffington ’ s classes aren ’ t the only ones to go online .
Dance Church , which calls itself “ the dance party you wish you had last night , ” is also streaming dance parties .
Founded by choreographer Kate Wallich , it typically hosts weekly classes in New York , Seattle , Portland , and Los Angeles .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streaming on its own platform .
Over the weekend , 10,000 people logged on .
Taiana Giefer , a Santa Barbara-based model and artist , is hosting dances on Zoom .
She posts the link on social media , then DJs a class that anyone can tune into .
She calls them social distancing dance parties .
To Heffington , this is proof that the pandemic is an opportunity for people to come together .
“ The crisis is showing us how we should function as a society , ” he says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed for .
It ’ s separated us in some aspects , but at this point in time , it ’ s kind of all we have , and it ’ s so beautiful.
” From her living room , Childers agrees .
She ’ s figured out how to project her phone onto her TV , and pushed back her couch to have more space to dance .
“ Ryan ’ s next classes are Tuesday , Wednesday , and Thursday this week , and I ’ m going to all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why not ?
I ’ m going to dance my way through this crisis .
”

Kristin Childers went to a dance party on Saturday in her pajamas. The clothes didn’t matter, because she never left her living room. The party took place entirely on Instagram.
A few minutes before, she’d been sitting on her couch reading the news, feeling like she was about to cry. Then she got a notification on her phone: Ryan Heffington, the two-time Grammy nominated choreographer behind Sia’s “Chandelier” music video, was streaming a dance class on Instagram Live. “The numbness I was feeling just went away,” she says. “I was like, ‘I’m just gonna do it.’”
As Childers danced, she saw comments and hearts pop up on the live stream. Almost 2,700 people were dancing virtually alongside her. “I was like, ‘Wow people are really connecting,’” she says. She’d had low-grade anxiety since the coronavirus pandemic started spreading across the United States. Now, moving alone in her apartment with only her phone to keep her company, she felt almost optimistic.
“The numbness I was feeling just went away.”
Heffington is part of a wave of dance teachers moving their classes online as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread. In California, where a shelter order has been in place since March 19th, all non-essential businesses — including Heffington’s studio The Sweat Spot — are closed. The result is a rise in social media offerings as people look to their phones to give them a sense of community and help them stay active during the crisis.
But Heffington is well suited to lead the digital dance era. He’s high energy and describes himself as spiritual. His philosophy is that anyone can dance — and anywhere, apparently. “I feel like this is my calling in life,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to make the world dance, and apparently this is the right time to make that happen.”
When Heffington live steamed his first class on March 17th, 500 people showed up. The following weekend, there were close to 4,000. “People that have always been intimidated now have the privacy to dance and are loving it,” he says. “The insecurity level drops considerably because they’re in their own homes.”
Heffington’s classes aren’t the only ones to go online. Dance Church, which calls itself “the dance party you wish you had last night,” is also streaming dance parties. Founded by choreographer Kate Wallich, it typically hosts weekly classes in New York, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles. Now it’s gone fully digital, streaming on its own platform. Over the weekend, 10,000 people logged on.
Taiana Giefer, a Santa Barbara-based model and artist, is hosting dances on Zoom. She posts the link on social media, then DJs a class that anyone can tune into. She calls them social distancing dance parties.
To Heffington, this is proof that the pandemic is an opportunity for people to come together. “The crisis is showing us how we should function as a society,” he says. “This is what social media was designed for. It’s separated us in some aspects, but at this point in time, it’s kind of all we have, and it’s so beautiful.”


theverge--2020-03-23--Microsoft discloses new Windows vulnerability that’s being actively exploited

Microsoft disclosed a new remote code execution vulnerability today that can be found in all supported versions of Windows and is currently being exploited in “ limited targeted attacks ” ( via TechCrunch ) .
If a hacker successfully pulled off an attack , they could theoretically remotely run code or malware on the victim ’ s device .
The flaw involves the Adobe Type Manager Library , which helps Windows render fonts .
“ There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit the vulnerability , such as convincing a user to open a specially crafted document or viewing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Microsoft .
The vulnerability has a severity level of “ critical , ” which is the company ’ s highest rating .
There currently isn ’ t a patch to fix the vulnerability There isn ’ t currently a patch available to fix the flaw , though Microsoft ’ s advisory notes that updates to address security vulnerabilities are usually released as part of Update Tuesday , typically scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month .
That means , in theory , the next Update Tuesday is scheduled for April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verge , Microsoft reiterated its standard Update Tuesday policy , but the company did not give a specific date for when a patch might be issued .
Microsoft offers instructions for a few temporary workarounds in its advisory , such as disabling the Preview Pane and Details Pane in Windows Explorer .

Microsoft disclosed a new remote code execution vulnerability today that can be found in all supported versions of Windows and is currently being exploited in “limited targeted attacks” (via TechCrunch). If a hacker successfully pulled off an attack, they could theoretically remotely run code or malware on the victim’s device.
The flaw involves the Adobe Type Manager Library, which helps Windows render fonts. “There are multiple ways an attacker could exploit the vulnerability, such as convincing a user to open a specially crafted document or viewing it in the Windows Preview pane,” according to Microsoft. The vulnerability has a severity level of “critical,” which is the company’s highest rating.
There currently isn’t a patch to fix the vulnerability
There isn’t currently a patch available to fix the flaw, though Microsoft’s advisory notes that updates to address security vulnerabilities are usually released as part of Update Tuesday, typically scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month. That means, in theory, the next Update Tuesday is scheduled for April 14th.
In a statement to The Verge, Microsoft reiterated its standard Update Tuesday policy, but the company did not give a specific date for when a patch might be issued.


theverge--2020-03-23--Apple may include improved image stabilization on one of the next iPhones

One of the next iPhone models could introduce sensor-shift image stabilization , potentially bringing image stabilization to the ultrawide camera , according to a new research note from tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that was seen by MacRumors .
Per Kuo ’ s note , the image stabilization tech could come to a new 6.7-inch iPhone .
The technology moves the image sensor around inside the camera to offset hand shake .
Currently , image stabilization is only available on the wide and telephoto lenses .
For those cameras , Apple uses optical image stabilization , which uses lens movement ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shake .
It ’ s unclear if all three cameras will switch to sensor-shift stabilization or if some will continue to use optical image stabilization .
Kuo also notes what could be in store for the next few iPhones .
Sensor-shift image stabilization will come to two or three iPhone models in 2021 , he says .
Then in 2022 , Kuo says at least one iPhone variant could include a periscope lens with 5x to 10x optical zoom , which we ’ ve seen in other phones such as the Huawei P30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The current iPhone models have a 2x max optical zoom , while the digital zoom is capped at 10x .
A higher optical zoom can preserve the quality of an image when zooming in with the lens .

One of the next iPhone models could introduce sensor-shift image stabilization, potentially bringing image stabilization to the ultrawide camera, according to a new research note from tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that was seen by MacRumors.
Per Kuo’s note, the image stabilization tech could come to a new 6.7-inch iPhone. The technology moves the image sensor around inside the camera to offset hand shake. Currently, image stabilization is only available on the wide and telephoto lenses. For those cameras, Apple uses optical image stabilization, which uses lens movement (rather than sensor movement) to offset shake. It’s unclear if all three cameras will switch to sensor-shift stabilization or if some will continue to use optical image stabilization.


theverge--2020-03-23--Apple is expanding the App Store to 20 new countries later this year

Apple is expanding the App Store to 20 new countries this year , the company announced on its developer portal @ @ @ @ @ of Apple ’ s app marketplace around the globe .
For now , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ support will be available for the new regions .
However , Apple has asked developers @ @ @ @ @ on its developer website and accept the updated license agreements in order to make their @ @ @ @ @ comes .
Apple ’ s announcement urges developers to update their information by April 10th @ @ @ @ @ could start then .
Currently , Apple offers the App Store in 155 countries or @ @ @ @ @ The list of new countries that will have access to the App Store is as @ @ @ @ @

Apple is expanding the App Store to 20 new countries this year, the company announced on its developer portal, marking the latest expansion of Apple’s app marketplace around the globe.
For now, there’s no word on when support will be available for the new regions. However, Apple has asked developers to log into their accounts on its developer website and accept the updated license agreements in order to make their apps accessible when the time comes.
20 new countries in 2020
Apple’s announcement urges developers to update their information by April 10th, meaning that the rollout could start then. Currently, Apple offers the App Store in 155 countries or regions around the world.
The list of new countries that will have access to the App Store is as follows, via 9to5Mac:


theverge--2020-03-23--New study aims to use health data from a smart ring to identify coronavirus symptoms

A new study will evaluate a smart ring that takes people ’ s temperatures in an attempt to identify people who have the new coronavirus early , the San Francisco Chronicle reports .
More than 2,000 emergency medical workers at the University of California , San Francisco Medical Center and the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital will wear Oura Rings for the study .
The rings will be given to emergency medical workers who come into contact with patients who may have COVID-19 .
Workers who qualify for the study will be asked to wear an Oura Ring for three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms , and share health data collected by the Oura Ring app with Oura , according to UCSF .
Oura Rings , which are marketed as sleep trackers , monitor a wearer ’ s heart rate , respiratory rate , and changes in body temperature .
The devices haven ’ t been proven to detect COVID-19 , but the data they collect might eventually be used to help predict the illness .
The researchers hope to develop an algorithm based on the Oura Ring data that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not the only device that could help : health company Kinsa uses data from its smart thermometers to track the spread of the flu across the US , and there are signs that its thermometers may be able to pick up on areas where there are outbreaks of COVID-19 before confirmed cases are reported .
Anyone who owns an Oura Ring can opt in to participate in the study .
Those who qualify will be asked to take daily symptom surveys and share their health data collected by the Oura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blog post .
There are more than 150,000 Oura Ring users worldwide , Oura tells The Verge , so this could significantly increase the amount of data available to researchers .
If you want to participate , you can apply here .

A new study will evaluate a smart ring that takes people’s temperatures in an attempt to identify people who have the new coronavirus early, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
More than 2,000 emergency medical workers at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center and the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital will wear Oura Rings for the study. The rings will be given to emergency medical workers who come into contact with patients who may have COVID-19. Workers who qualify for the study will be asked to wear an Oura Ring for three months, complete daily surveys to report if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, and share health data collected by the Oura Ring app with Oura, according to UCSF.
Oura Rings, which are marketed as sleep trackers, monitor a wearer’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and changes in body temperature. The devices haven’t been proven to detect COVID-19, but the data they collect might eventually be used to help predict the illness.
The researchers hope to develop an algorithm based on the Oura Ring data that could detect COVID-19 early, says UCSF. It’s not the only device that could help: health company Kinsa uses data from its smart thermometers to track the spread of the flu across the US, and there are signs that its thermometers may be able to pick up on areas where there are outbreaks of COVID-19 before confirmed cases are reported.


theverge--2020-03-23--HP is teasing a new VR headset in partnership with Valve and Microsoft

HP is teasing a followup to its Reverb virtual reality headset made in collaboration with Microsoft and Valve .
The announcement coincides with Valve ’ s release of Half-Life : Alyx , the year ’ s most anticipated VR game .
There ’ s little detail , but HP ’ s website calls its new headset “ a more immersive , comfortable , and compatible experience ” than the Reverb , and an email from the company calls it a “ no-compromise VR headset.
” The $ 599 Reverb was part of Microsoft ’ s Windows Mixed Reality lineup , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s reference to a “ new standard in VR ” suggests it ’ s not competing with the cheapest VR devices , like the $ 399 Oculus Rift S. But it might not cost as much as Valve ’ s $ 999 Index , either .
There ’ s no release date , though , so we don ’ t know if it will mitigate the current headset shortage — or if it might be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic , which has slowed production of existing Valve and Oculus products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports Windows Mixed Reality headsets alongside other products from Oculus and HTC .
And the headset looks similar to the old Reverb , with two black spots that imply the use of Windows Mixed Reality tracking cameras , rather than SteamVR-style external tracking beacons .
So we ’ re not sure what this specific Microsoft / Valve / HP collaboration entails .
I will note , however , that Windows Mixed Reality has a convenient tracking system and mediocre controllers , while the Valve Index has an inconvenient tracking system and the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current controllers can ’ t work with HP ’ s tracking system .
But their most distinctive features use internal sensors , not SteamVR beacons — and expanding those beyond the Index would be good for everyone involved .

HP is teasing a followup to its Reverb virtual reality headset made in collaboration with Microsoft and Valve. The announcement coincides with Valve’s release of Half-Life: Alyx, the year’s most anticipated VR game. There’s little detail, but HP’s website calls its new headset “a more immersive, comfortable, and compatible experience” than the Reverb, and an email from the company calls it a “no-compromise VR headset.”
The $599 Reverb was part of Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality lineup, known for its high-resolution screen. HP’s reference to a “new standard in VR” suggests it’s not competing with the cheapest VR devices, like the $399 Oculus Rift S. But it might not cost as much as Valve’s $999 Index, either. There’s no release date, though, so we don’t know if it will mitigate the current headset shortage — or if it might be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has slowed production of existing Valve and Oculus products.
Valve’s SteamVR platform already supports Windows Mixed Reality headsets alongside other products from Oculus and HTC. And the headset looks similar to the old Reverb, with two black spots that imply the use of Windows Mixed Reality tracking cameras, rather than SteamVR-style external tracking beacons. So we’re not sure what this specific Microsoft / Valve / HP collaboration entails.