The Future of Tech, News and making sense of it all!

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

TPS Consulting Daily


TECHNOLOGY AND MORE!

Adobe gives students free home Creative Cloud access – here's how to get it

1KTechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 16h
Adobe is helping students who are stuck at home because of the Covid-19 outbreak with free, temporary remote access to Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop and InDesign.
In order to get access to the apps your school or college needs to be an education customer and the temporary licenses will only be available until May 2020.

Coronavirus vaccine trials start today in US

500+SlashGear / 14h
Currently, researchers around the globe are working on different types of vaccines against coronavirus/COVID-19.
The research groups are pursuing different types of vaccines, including some developed from new technologies that are faster produced than traditional inoculations.

Universal Becomes First Studio to Offer First Run Films in the Home

Universal NBCUniversal13KGizmodo / 8h
With movie theaters across the world closing, Universal Pictures has become the first studio to embrace a whole new mode of distribution.
A source close to the situation tells io9 that this isn’t necessarily a blanket policy moving forward, but merely a reaction to the current news and way to allow people to see the films.


Westjet to Suspend All International and Transborder Flights

One Mile at a Time / 12min
Hot on the heels of the Prime Minister’s announcement that Canadian borders will be closing to all but a select few this afternoon, Westjet has announced that it will be suspending all international operations , including flights to and from the United States, by midnight on Sunday March 22. Domestic flights are scheduled to continue, and international flights, inbound and outbound, up to 11:59pm

Samsung shuts down its PC-to-mobile game streaming on March 27th

38Engadget / 25min
Samsung has quietly announced (so quietly that most didn't notice the news in late February) that it's shutting down the game streaming service on March 27th.
We hope you weren't counting on Samsung's PlayGalaxy Link to play your PC games on your phone.

Samsung 512GB eUFS 3.1 storage for phones are now being mass-produced

SlashGear / 26min
Samsung’s new eUFS 3.1 storage promises to deliver exactly that to flagship smartphones.
They also require high-speed storage that can keep up with all the data transfer demands they entail, which is what Samsung’s latest smartphone data storage solution is promising to provide.

Samsung reportedly working on a new 150MP phone camera sensor

Samsung Galaxy S20TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 48min
Having only just launched its 108MP camera-sporting Galaxy S20 Ultra this month, Samsung is reportedly hard at work on its next major smartphone camera evolution – a new rumor suggests that the South Korean manufacturer is readying a whopping 150MP camera sensor for release at the end of the year. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra test: 100x zoom, 108MP camera, 40MP selfies Canon's EOS R mirrorless camera

Torch & Everwise merge into affordable exec coaching for all

92TechCrunch / 58min
“ Everwise is much more bottom up whereas Torch is about the upper levels, and it just sort of made sense” says Garry Tan, partner and co-founder of Initialized Capital that funded Torch’s Series A and is also a client of its coaching.
Everwise goes wide , offers a marketplace with 6000 mentors across different job levels and roles that can provider more affordable personal guidance or group sessions with 10 employees all learning from each other.

'Birds Of Prey' joins the list of movies coming to VOD early

71Mashable / 1h
As major films slated for release over the next few weeks are bumped due to public health concerns around the spread of the novel coronavirus, movies released earlier in the year are coming to VOD earlier than originally planned — depending on your level of cynicism, either to capitalise on the huge numbers of people responsibly staying home to slow the spread, or to selflessly add to the vast catalogue of streaming entertainments people can access from their couches.
Birds Of Prey, aka Harley Quinn: Birds Of Prey , aka The Movie Formerly Known As Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn), will be made available on demand on Mar. 24, alongside Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen , according to Fandango.

Windows 10 is now on 1 billion devices that could break after any update

Microsoft Windows 10SlashGear / 1h
With Windows 7 having been practically retired, businesses have had no choice but to upgrade to Windows 10 if they want to receive the latest security fixes and feature updates.
The latest version of its operating system is now on more than one billion devices all over the world.

Can investors invoke so-called force majeure clauses to get out deals? Expect some to start trying

68TechCrunch / 1h
Little wonder that many of those involved in the planning of such events are now testing the power of force majeure clauses, which are a typical provision in contracts that excuses a party’s performance of its obligations when confronted with circumstances beyond its control.
Nate Cooper, a lawyer with Cooley’s 1100-attorney-strong firm, says it’s “mostly just clients right now, coming to us, anticipating this or that,” but he also says that because the “impact to the financial markets has obviously been significant,” there exists the “potential for disagreement about whether it’s enough to force [changes to] a financing agreement or suspend the timing of payment.”

Moto E6s brings dual cameras to an entry-level Android phone

Motorola Edge SnapdragonSlashGear / 1h
Those who keep tabs on Motorola’s myriad models might see some resemblance to the Moto E6 Plus from mid-2019, both in specs and even in part of the design.
Motorola is particularly proud of the dual-camera setup, something that is admittedly still uncommon on phones at this price tier.
Also in
The Verge
Android Central +2 sources

Universal is releasing movies in theaters and at home on the same day

Universal NBCUniversal1KEngadget / 1h
Movie studios have spent years considering releasing their films for home viewing at the same time they're in theaters, but have usually withdrawn those plans based on complaints by the theater chains.
Notably, NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast, which can sell the movies via cable boxes unlike most of its competitors and has been itching to do this since 2007 (remember Tower Heist ?).

Stargirl's Latest Promo Wants You to Laugh and Think About the Justice Society of America

41Gizmodo / 1h
As Starman dies in Dugan’s arms, he ever-so-casually mentions the rest of the Justice Society of America, suggesting that Stargirl is likely to introduce modern takes on a number of DC’s classic heroes that’ve yet to make their way to TV, but before the ad can get too deep into that, it pivots.
Even though this isn’t Stargirl’s first foray into the live-action TV space, her DC Universe series looks poised to be a definitive take on the character—both because the story’s all about her, and because other classic DC heroes like Wildcat (Yvette Monreal) and Doctor Mid-Nite (Anjelika Washington) will be prominently featured.

iPhone 9 Plus could offer a larger but still affordable option

14 Apple iPhone 9 PlusSlashGear / 1h
Not unless the larger variant will be called the iPhone SE 2 Plus, which is even less likely.
But when Apple’s second “cheaper” iPhone comes out, it might not be alone as code hidden in iOS 14 beta apparently points to the existence of a larger variant that could very well be called the iPhone 9 Plus.

iPhone 9 Plus reportedly confirmed in iOS 14 code

14 Apple iPhone 9 Plus28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
Apple has had a tendency to inadvertently reveal a lot of its upcoming product launches in early versions of its operating systems, and this time is no exception. An early version of iOS 14 has been a treasure trove of new information , and now it may have also confirmed the iPhone 9 Plus. According to 9to5Mac , some of the code available in an early version of iOS 14 seems to suggest the existen

States strategize to protect voters as COVID-19 changes some primary plans

64TechCrunch / 2h
“Americans have participated in elections during challenging times in the past, and based on the best information we have from public health officials, we are confident that voters in our states can safely and securely cast their ballots in this election, and that otherwise healthy poll workers can and should carry out their patriotic duties on Tuesday,” they wrote.
Three days after Ohio’s top election official reassured voters that the primaries would continue as planned, the state’s situation seemed to be in flux.

San Diego police ban Clearview AI's facial recognition tool

99Engadget / 2h
San Diego's police department and district attorney's office have confirmed that they banned use of Clearview AI in recent weeks.
Police can theoretically use photos and videos from security cameras to discover your online presence, including details you might not have realized were public.

Samsung 150 megapixel ISOCELL sensor might be in the works

SlashGear / 2h
Although it has always had a foot in the digital imaging market thanks to its camera business, it was only in the past few years that Samsung applied all of that to its mobile products.
Samsung made headlines last year when it unveiled the market’s first smartphone camera sensor to boast 105 megapixels.

Mint Mobile is temporarily giving its customers free unlimited data

SlashGear / 3h
Mint Mobile, the prepaid carrier that exploded in popularity after its new owner was revealed as Ryan Reynolds, is offering free unlimited data for all of its customers.
Ordinarily, Mint offers customers from 3GB to 12GB of data per month depending on which plan they have.

US government issues guidance on enterprise VPN use

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
As the ongoing coronavirus outbreak has led many organizations to allow their employees to work from home, the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity agency has shared a list of tips on how to properly secure enterprise VPNs in a new alert.
The CISA also warned that cybercriminals may launch additional phishing attacks in an attempt to steal the users credentials of employees working from home and that organizations that haven't implemented multi-factor authentication yet, are the most at risk.

Report: Apple Plans to Release Cheap iPhone 9 Plus With Touch ID This Spring

14 Apple iPhone 9 Plus41Gizmodo / 3h
Code snippets in iOS 14 appear to show that Apple is working on an iPhone 9 Plus to complement the budget model iPhone 9 rumored to be in development , 9to5Mac reported on Monday . According to 9to5Mac, “evidence indicates” that both the larger and smaller version of the iPhone 9 (the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus came in at 4.7 and 5.7 inches, respectively) will still use the A13 Bionic chip used in the i

Traveling during the coronavirus crisis: One family’s adventure overseas

The Points Guy / 3h
Almost a year ago, I began redeeming hundreds of thousands of points and miles for a grand family trip to Israel and South Africa.
United was happy to waive our change fees and book us on tickets from Denver to Newark continuing on a nonstop flight to Tel Aviv on a Polaris-equipped 777-300.

Spectrum offers free internet so students can do classwork at home

500+Engadget / 3h
With school systems across the US closing down in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Spectrum says it will provide free internet access to students who currently don't use its service.
The company will install broadband and WiFi in new student households free of charge and provide access for 60 days.

HashiCorp soars above $5B valuation in new $175M venture round

100+TechCrunch / 4h
For context, when we last covered the company back in late 2018 , its valuation was only a “paltry” $1.9 billion following a $100 million round led by growth investor IVP.
The company is making a (not so) subtle point that David McJannet, who joined the company as CEO in mid-2016 following a stint as an EIR at Greylock, has seen some success in his new role.

A Costume-Less Batwoman Just Crossed a Line Batman Rarely Has

47Gizmodo / 4h
Both Kate Kane and her sister, Alice, have murdered people after learning about their mother’s preserved decapitated head.
It’s because Cartwright decapitated her and stored her head in his freezer with the plan to one day put her face on his own awful mother’s body (Cartwright’s mom is played by Debra Mooney, and as always Mooney is exceptional in the role of a ballsy old broad who may or may not be evil).

YC CEO Michael Seibel opens up about his accelerator’s first online-only Demo Day

60TechCrunch / 4h
Y Combinator’s Demo Day has historically drawn crowds of investors and journalists into a big warehouse to watch hundreds of startups come out to the public for the first time ever.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 07: Y Combinator Partner Michael Seibel speaks onstage during Day 3 of TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2018 at Moscone Center on September 7, 2018 in San Francisco, California.

What is original routing credit and why is it important?

The Points Guy / 4h
But if you were rebooked because of circumstances beyond your control, like an inbound flight delay or a potential missed connection, you might still be able to request credit for your original routing.
3. Be prepared to make multiple calls, and above all, be polite: I have found that some airlines like American and Alaska allow you to request original routing credit directly through their mileage desks while others like Delta do not.

Reducing brain damage in sport without losing the thrills

200+BBC News - Technology / 4h
"In the NFL, they've put strain gauges into helmets to see what impacts are sustained - and they've been able to see the high amount of g-force exerted onto the helmet when two big players collide at speed," says Mr Ian Sabin, a consultant neurosurgeon from the Wellington Hospital in London who has worked with various sporting bodies, including the NFL.
From football to F1, professional sport has become more aware of the impact it has on the brains of athletes.

TransferWise partners with Alipay for international money transfers

100TechCrunch / 4h
TransferWise , the London-headquartered international money transfer service most recently valued by investors at $3.5 billion, has partnered with China’s Aliplay for international transfers.
Promising “instant” money transfers — under 20 seconds, apparently — TransferWise users simply need the recipient’s name and Alipay ID to initiate a money transfer.

Virgin Atlantic Launches Status And Bonus Miles Promotions While Seeking Government Bailout

View from the Wing / 4h
Delta-controlled Virgin Atlantic has its hand out for government subsidies on the one hand, while running new bonus miles and elite qualifying promotions on the other.
Virgin Atlantic Launches Status And Bonus Miles Promotions While Seeking Government Bailout

Scientists Discover Ice Age Structure Made From Bones of 60 Mammoths

500+Gizmodo / 4h
“Other than being explained as ‘dwellings,’ sites of this type have previously been interpreted as having potential ritual significance,” Alexander Pryor, the first author of the new study and a researcher from the University of Exeter, said in an email to Gizmodo.
Circular structures made from mammoth bones are surprisingly common in the archaeological record, dating to around 22,000 years ago and appearing across much of ice age Eastern Europe.

The hidden cost of food delivery

100+TechCrunch / 4h
So without further ado, here’s what we learned: While as consumers we expect to pay a premium for the convenience of the service, it turns out there can be a very significant difference between both the price you would pay when ordering directly from a restaurant, as well as what each of the delivery apps charge for the exact same item.
Aside from a handful of exclusive delivery partnerships with a few premium restaurants, consumers are instead faced with a delivery market where the services are virtually indistinguishable, yet the price they pay for exact same item from the exact same restaurant can vary by 20% or more depending on the app they use.

What's the Best Standing Desk?

Gizmodo / 4h
Okay, maybe I should invest in a standing desk to mitigate some of the newfound chronic pain I’m experiencing from nonstop sitting and foregoing my commute.
I need the best standing desk that’ll ship to my house because I’m certainly not leaving anytime soon.

United temporarily closing some Clubs, all Polaris Lounges

61The Points Guy / 4h
As a result, we will temporarily suspend operations at some United Club locations at our hubs and Polaris lounges starting on Wednesday, March 18.
Just a few weeks ago, United closing a single Polaris Lounge for just a day would have been a significant enough development to warrant a post on TPG — now, the airline has shared the unfortunate news that all of its Polaris Lounge locations will be closed beginning this Wednesday, March 18, along with a handful of United Clubs.

Amazon goes on hiring spree to keep up with quarantine shopping

34SlashGear / 4h
As well, the company says that it is increasing pay for employees in the US, UK, and ‘many’ European countries.
In an announcement on Monday, Amazon revealed that it is hiring 100,000 new employees to keep up with the new shopping demand.

CDC Advises Morticians That It Is Time to Switch to Livestreaming Funerals

1KGizmodo / 4h
Motherboard reported earlier this month that funeral directors were less concerned with the low risk posed by deceased individuals than coming into contact with large numbers of potentially infected attendees at a time when health authorities are urging social distancing .
A CDC advisory via the National Funeral Directors Association advised that while there is “currently no known risk associated with being in the same room at a funeral or visitation service with the body of someone who died of covid-19,” the disease caused by the virus, individuals “should consider” not engaging in any physical contact with the deceased.

Best Buy knocked $70 off the Instant Pot Viva

100+Engadget / 4h
Today, Best Buy is selling the Instant Pot Viva six-quart, 9-in-1 pressure cooker for just $50 .
If you do buy the Viva, be sure to check out our guide to making the most of your Instant Pot .

San Francisco’s shelter-in-place order does not apply to gig workers

84TechCrunch / 5h
“We are demanding that state officials protect gig workers during the coronavirus pandemic by fully enforcing AB5 and ensuring workers have access to benefits like paid sick leave, disability, family leave and unemployment insurance,” rideshare driver and Gig Workers Rising member Steve Gregg wrote in the letter.
As some gig workers have advocated since the beginning of the year, it’s time for California to fully enforce gig worker protections law AB 5 to ensure all of these workers have access to paid sick leave, disability, family leave and unemployment insurance.

Staff angered as Charter prohibits working from home despite spread of coronavirus

2KTechCrunch / 5h
In the email, Nick Wheeler, a video operations engineer based in Denver, criticized his employer for not allowing its staff to work from home despite ongoing efforts to lock down vast swathes of the U.S. to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
He said it was hard to understand why Charter had not implemented a work-from-home policy after the coronavirus outbreak was upgraded to a pandemic .

Microsoft and GitHub Strengthen Their Hold on Open Source

GitHub Npm JavaScript93Wired / 5h
GitHub is the most popular place to host open source software on the web and is home to around 100 million code “repositories.”
Companies might want to do this so that they can manage open source and proprietary software through the same tools.

Former Coinbase exec is now down with OCC (the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency)

72TechCrunch / 5h
Former Coinbase chief legal officer Brian Brooks has been tapped as the chief operating officer and first deputy comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency , beginning April 1, 2020. In the role, Brooks will help the OCC in its mission of chartering, regulating and supervising national banks and federal savings associations, along with federal branches and agencies of foreign ba

The UK is scrambling to correct its coronavirus strategy

1KNew on MIT Technology Review / 5h
The COVID-19 Response Team based at Imperial College in London revealed on Monday that the government’s experts only realized over the last few days that its policy would “likely result in hundreds of thousands of deaths”—potentially 250,000—and that health systems would exceed their capacities and resources to take care of patients by as much as eight times.
A new report issued by a group of experts advising the UK government offers a blistering assessment of the country’s previous “herd immunity” approach to coronavirus, suggesting as many as 250,000 people could die as a result—and that it would do little to stop healthcare facilities from being overwhelmed.

YouTube tells creators to expect more video removals during coronavirus pandemic

YouTube Google Coronavirus64Mashable / 5h
The company lays it out plainly: With less human eyes reviewing the content, the automated system is likely to remove more videos from the platform regardless of whether the content violates YouTube policy.
According to YouTube, as it prioritizes employee health, the platform will, in the short term, rely less on human moderators to review content uploaded to the site.

Apple may release a large version of its upcoming budget iPhone

14 Apple iPhone 9 Plus72Engadget / 5h
Rumors and leaks for Apple's upcoming budget iPhone have so far only referenced one model, but it now looks like there might be a bigger handset in store.
It's expected to represent a modernization of the iPhone 8 Plus with the same 5.5-inch screen and Touch ID, just with a faster A13 chip (like in the iPhone 11 ), Express Transit support in Apple Pay (for speedier public transportation) and the ability to scan NFC tags in the background.

5 Amex Offers to save money and make your life easier right now

The Points Guy / 5h
In recent days, however, I’ve been checking my Amex Offers portal to find ways to get statement credits for my everyday purchases, such as my cell phone bill, meal prep (since social distancing includes things such as dining out) and small home improvement projects.
I also saw other Amex Offers on various cards to help save money on Migo-specific purchases, including a $15 statement credit after spending $100 or more on 1800-petmeds from now through Sept.

My Brilliant Friend season 2: how to watch the latest episode online from anywhere

52TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 5h
So while it is only now entering its second season, we rate it as one of the best new TV shows of the year - and are excited to tell you how to watch My Brilliant Friend season 2 online.
Read on and we'll tell you how to watch My Brilliant Friend season 2 online from every corner of the world.

Democratic Party's donkey symbol replaced by a rat in Google search

Google YouTube Coronavirus4KMashable / 5h
When reached for comment, a Google spokesperson suggested that if only the Democratic Party had taken the time to claim its Knowledge Panel then we wouldn't be in this mess.
And, as of the time of this writing, if one of those questions involves looking up the term "Democratic Party" on the popular search engine, then those Americans would be led to believe that the party's symbol is that of a rat.

Oculus Quest VR system will get major UI redesign later this month

SlashGear / 5h
Oculus says the redesigned menu offers better organization with faster access to the most commonly used apps, including things like the Browser, Explore, Store, and TV.
Oculus describes the design as a ‘personal dashboard’ — it’ll enable users to easily access the platform’s social features, toggle between 2D apps and immersive environments, and control their devices, among other things.

Southwest Airlines to cut capacity 20% as bookings plummet

The Points Guy / 5h
Southwest CEO Gary Kelly, speaking at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event on March 5, said that while bookings began falling at the end of February the carrier was not yet planning capacity cuts.
Southwest Airlines will cut capacity by 20% beginning in April, becoming the latest U.S. carrier to slash schedules as the global air travel system appears to be gradually grinding to a halt amid the spreading novel coronavirus outbreak.

FDA Approves the First Commercial Coronavirus Tests in the US

2KWired / 5h
"The authorization of our diagnostic test for Covid-19 will help to protect patients and enable medical staff to respond swiftly to treat those who are ill and prevent the spread of infection," Thermo Fisher CEO Marc Casper said in a statement.
Those limits originated with problems with the CDC’s version of the diagnostic test, followed by a slow rollout to sites equipped with the PCR machines and staffing required to read them.

RuPaul Has a Fracking Empire on His Wyoming Ranch

4KGizmodo / 5h
And in an interview with Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air, they let us know a little more about what goes on at that ranch.
Fans know that RuPaul and his partner Georges LeBar have a massive ranch in Wyoming.

Regal is closing all theaters ‘until further notice’ over COVID-19 fears

Universal NBCUniversal200+TechCrunch / 6h
The company announced the news via social media, noting that “All theatres will remain closed until further notice.”
Regal announces closure of all theatre locations starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020, as a precaution amid the current circumstances.

How to watch The Plot Against America: stream the new David Simon series online from anywhere

24TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
With that in mind, here's how to watch The Plot Against America online and stream the new series from all corners of the globe.
The Plot Against America looks set to be one of the best new TV shows of 2020 and we can't wait to watch the next episode - because let's face it, with sports postponed by coronavirus everywhere, self-isolation is going to be a bit boring without some good stuff to watch.

Coronavirus Travel Policies & Advisories

68One Mile at a Time / 6h
If you purchased a ticket before March 4, 2020 for travel before April 30, 2020, Air Canada will allow you to make a one-time change to your flight without incurring a change fee up to two hours before your departing flight.
For tickets issued prior to March 10, 2020 with original travel dates between March 10 and April 30, 2020 customers may make a one-time change to their itinerary without a change/cancel fee.

AMD's Ray Tracing Looks Great on the Xbox Series X, but It's Based on Nvidia's Code

100+Gizmodo / 6h
But that closer look into Minecraft with DXR reveals a “base Nvidia code adapted and running on AMD-sourced ray tracing hardware within Series X,” as Digital Foundry points out.
Well, while the demo was fully ray-traced (and looked gorgeous), it was based on Minecraft RTX code, even though the game was running on a custom AMD GPU.

Jezebel A List of Ways to Help People (From a Distance) During Coronavirus | The Root Idris Elba Confirms He Tested Pos...

20Gizmodo / 6h
Jezebel A List of Ways to Help People (From a Distance) During Coronavirus | The Root Idris Elba Confirms He Tested Positive for COVID-19, Has Remained In Isolation Since | Jalopnik I Ordered A Brand-New Chinese $900 EV Online | The A.V. Club The most intriguing ideas introduced in the Westworld season 3 premiere | Read more...

Rebecca Sugar Opens Up About How Healing from Trauma Shaped Steven Universe Future

500+Gizmodo / 6h
Steven Universe Future has been heavily telegraphing Steven’s internal struggle pretty much from the jump, but the gravity of the situation really came to a head in “Together Forever” and “Growing Pains,” two episodes that encapsulate experiences Sugar went through and wanted to use to shape Steven’s story.
But as things have settled down on Earth, it’s become increasingly clear that for all the discovery and self-actualization he’s done alongside Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl, Steven still doesn’t have the most solid understanding of who he is as an individual.

Why Banning Travel Has Little Effect On Coronavirus Spread

View from the Wing / 6h
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print pub

Coronavirus COVID-19 Resources: What should I do? Who do I trust?

33SlashGear / 6h
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in the USA as of January 24, 2020.
According to the CDC’s guidance as of March 16, 2020, at 15:45, the following are the most basic symptoms of COVID-19.

Fortnite v12.20: What to expect when tomorrow’s update drops

SlashGear / 6h
The version 12.20 Fortnite update will go live at 4AM ET / 1AM PT, after which point fans expect to get access to some exciting new changes, including important bug fixes and potentially a new vehicle.
As with past updates, Epic is timing Fortnite version 12.20 to happen in the early morning, meaning it will be ready to play by the time most people are awake (in North America, at least).

Ro aims to bring its online COVID-19 screenings to all of the US this week

100+Engadget / 6h
Ro -- better known for its erectile dysfunction medication program Roman -- set up a system earlier this month that connects patients with physicians to decide on if and how they should be tested.
Other companies like LiveHealth have been providing telehealth services for years, but it seems like most solutions aren't specific to COVID-19 -- patients simply set up a video call as normal.

Six Delicious Trail Snacks to Eat While You're Stuck at Home

Lifehacker / 6h
I can help suss out which trail snacks are worth your time and calories while you bang away on your laptop.
Basically, these taste exactly like those delicious chocolate chip granola bars you used to eat in elementary school but can’t really get away with as an adult.

'Saturday Night Live' suspends production because of coronavirus

300+Mashable / 6h
Saturday Night Live will postpone its return to the airwaves due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus, NBC has confirmed to Mashable. The show was scheduled to return March 28 with host John Krasinksi and musical guest Dua Lipa. Krasinski was originally intended to host the show while promoting A Quiet Place Part II , but the Paramount film's release has also been delayed because of COVID-

What to Do If You Need a Return or Pick Up at the Apple Store During the Covid-19 Outbreak

24Gizmodo / 6h
Last week, after Apple announced that that the company was closing all of its retail stores outside of China until March 27th as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, the company has provided additional clarification about what Apple users should do in the event that an Apple device needs to be serviced or returned.
The news follows CEO Tim Cook’s announcement last week that the company was closing the doors of all of its retail locations outside of China, just as the company confirmed it had reopened those stores that had been previously shut-down in the region.

Rocket Lab to acquire satellite hardware maker Sinclair Interplanetary

68TechCrunch / 6h
Rocket Lab is acquiring Sinclair Interplanetary , a manufacturer of spacecraft hardware based in Toronto that has provided hardware for more than 90 satellites sent to orbit to date, including for Astro Digital, BlackSky, ALE and Rocket Lab itself. Sinclair also worked on The Planetary Society’s LightSail 2, which is an experimental spacecraft developed by a nonprofit organization to demonstrate

A 'RollerCoaster Tycoon' park sent out a perfect statement about how they're handling coronavirus

100+Mashable / 6h
Twitter user Chris Goodwin wrote up a statement from his fictional RollerCoaster Tycoon park, which assured park goers that while the park would stay open, the staff would live up to its two-time win of the Tidiest Park Award.
As the nation takes measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, companies are trying to assure customers that they're taking steps to stay safe.

6 things we found out about Xbox Series X today

Microsoft Xbox Series XSlashGear / 6h
Today was a big day for Xbox fans, as Microsoft detailed the Xbox Series X in full.
While follow-up reports suggested that slot would be used for memory expansion , today Microsoft confirmed it.

Tesla starts delivering the Model Y

Tesla Model US Deliveries100+Engadget / 6h
Tesla's Model Y is reaching buyers roughly a year after its debut. The company has followed up numerous buyer reports by confirming that deliveries of its electric crossover are officially underway in spring (really, late winter) as promised . It's not clear just how many vehicles are enroute at this stage, but it's notable that initial orders revolve around pricier Long Range and Performance con

Xbox Series X will absolutely be able to do 4K60, here's why

24TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
So, now that the Xbox Series X is rocking a GPU that's even more powerful than an RTX 2080, at a price point that's likely going to be be way more approachable than a high-end graphics card, true 4K gaming is about to enter the mainstream.
Since most games right now prioritize a few cores with high clock speeds, this makes the most sense right now, but we could see a move for games to prioritize multi-threaded performance in the future, and this approach would leave the Xbox Series X open to that as time goes on.

Peloton stock spikes as the at-home fitness company finds potential customers stuck at home

100+TechCrunch / 6h
Peloton has seen negative impacts as well; the company has shuttered its retail showrooms through the end of the month and announced they were closing their live studios to the public.
While trends toward social responsibility pushes more people to stay home as public institutions close temporarily, companies that are optimized for at-home experiences are unsurprisingly going to be seeing some growth during the next several months.

Build your at home gym with deals on treadmills, bikes, weights and more

Coronavirus Echelon24TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Our top at home gym deals includes discounts on stationary bikes like the Echelon Connect Exercise Bike on sale for $499 and the Schwinn Upright Bike Series on sale for $349.99 .
Luckily for you, several top retailers like Amazon and Walmart are discounting a selection of workout equipment like treadmills, bikes, weights, yoga mats, and more.

As Pandemic Strikes, Pop Culture Migrates to Streaming Sites

100+Wired / 6h
Now, as the coronavirus pandemic spreads and social distancing becomes essential (please everyone, stay home if you can), streaming may become, for the foreseeable future, the main site of collective cultural experience.
Hollywood in particular began seeing the effects of the virus months ago; quarantines and lockdowns in Asia forced people to stay in their homes and away from movie theaters.

New White House Coronavirus Guidelines: 10 People Rule, Other ‘Recommendations’

300+Futurism / 7h
The recommendations come 55 days after the first known case of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus) was diagnosed in the U.S., in late January , in Washington State.
The post New White House Coronavirus Guidelines: 10 People Rule, Other ‘Recommendations’ appeared first on Futurism .

Tesla surprises everyone by delivering the Model Y ahead of schedule

Tesla Model US Deliveries200+Ars Technica / 7h
The Model X was supposed to be a slight modification of the Model S, allowing for low development costs and a quick time to market.
Which could allow Tesla to tap into the substantial market for crossover vehicles, sell a lot of cars, and make a healthy profit along the way.

How to manage kids' screen time during coronavirus isolation

73Mashable / 7h
“They are going to be fine with extra screen time over the next couple of weeks,” said Sierra Filucci, editorial director of Common Sense Media.
But on week four of her kids’ virtual learning after their Hong Kong schools closed in January, Kim started fretting about the hours they were spending on technology for school, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and then free time.

Amazon will hire 100,000 workers to keep up with the surge in demand

3KEngadget / 7h
To keep up with a "significant increase in demand" due to the coronavirus outbreak, Amazon is hiring an additional 100,000 warehouse and delivery workers in the US.
As more people turn to online shopping in an attempt to stay home (and because grocery stores are struggling to keep shelves stocked), Amazon says its labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year.

The Internet is drowning in COVID-19-related malware and phishing scams

Coronavirus Android1KArs Technica / 7h
In fact, a flood of them are scams that push malware, ransomware, and disinformation; attempt to steal passwords and personal information; and conduct espionage operations by hackers working for nation-states.
According to researchers from security firm Kaspersky Lab, the emails promise information on safety measures to avoid infection.

NBCUniversal will break the theatrical window to release ‘The Invisible Man’ and other movies on-demand

Universal NBCUniversal300+TechCrunch / 7h
NBCUniversal announced today that its movie studio Universal Pictures and specialty label Focus Features will be releasing their films in theaters and on-demand, simultaneously.
To be clear, this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to watch these movies on a subscription service like Netflix or Disney+ (where “Frozen 2” was released ahead of schedule this weekend ) — the announcement doesn’t mention NBCUniversal’s planned Peacock streaming service at all.

Apple might launch a budget-friendly 'iPhone 9 Plus'

Apple France China70Mashable / 7h
Based on the code, it appears both phones will feature an A13 Bionic chip (the processor in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro) and a physical Home button with Touch ID.
As mentioned before, Apple was supposedly set to unveil the phone at an event this month.

More TV shows and movies suspend production over coronavirus

SlashGear / 7h
Some TV show production has been suspended indefinitely in light of the outbreaks; others have been paused for only a couple of weeks, including the movie Samaritan starring Sylvester Stallone.
Likewise, Amazon Studios revealed today that it has stopped production on its Lord of the Rings original in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Lawmakers look to bridge ‘homework gap’ with subsidized Wi-Fi hotspots for students

72TechCrunch / 7h
In a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai , a group of Democratic and Independent lawmakers led by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) urged the agency to use funds earmarked for education to immediately help kids who lack the connectivity they need.
“We believe that the FCC can use its emergency powers… to provide home wireless service to existing school devices and hotspots for students who lack internet access at home.”

Amazon Seeks to Hire 100,000 Workers to Keep Up During Outbreak

2KFuturism / 7h
E-commerce giant Amazon is looking to hire 100,000 workers to “keep up with crush of orders,” Associated Press reporter Miller wrote in a Monday tweet .
The Jeff Bezos-led company also recommended global employees who can to work from home “through the end of March,” according to the blog post.

You can ask to skip your Apple Card payment for March, Apple tells customers

Apple Card Skip March100TechCrunch / 7h
To join the Customer Assistance Program, Apple Card customers can either click the link in the email ( here ) or message or call an Apple support rep directly through the Apple Wallet app.
Apple and Goldman Sachs will allow Apple Card holders to skip their March payment without incurring interest by signing up for a Customer Assistance Program, Apple is informing its customers.

American Airlines’ Offer To Pilots

100+One Mile at a Time / 7h
Voluntary Short-Term Leave of Absence — pilots can take advantage of one month, three month, or six month options, during which they’ll be paid for 55 hours per month of flying; pilots will still accrue sick leave, vacation time, and seniority
Voluntary Permanent Leave of Absence — pilots who are 62 or older can choose to essentially retire early, and they’ll be paid for 50 hours of flying per month until the mandatory retirement age of 65

Uber Eats waives delivery fees for over 100,000 independent restaurants

500+Engadget / 7h
In response to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the restaurant industry, Uber Eats is waiving delivery fees for over 100,000 independent restaurants across the US and Canada. It's the latest move by gig-economy businesses like Uber, Lyft and Grubhub to help alleviate some of the financial challenges that the coronavirus outbreak presents. Uber Eats is also launching daily marketing camp
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How to Access Google Pay's New Interface on Android

44Lifehacker / 7h
There are many reasons to be using digital payment options these days instead of cash or card, and Google’s latest Pixel Feature Drop just gave Google Pay users an even prettier way for Pixel users to manage their money.
Quickly tap and hold your Pixel device’s power button to open the new Google Pay wallet.

Working From Home? Here's the Ultimate Starter Kit

24Lifehacker / 7h
While I’d personally advise taking a few minutes every day to step outside and take in some sunlight (even if it’s obscured by clouds), it also helps to have the next best thing: a natural light lamp near your workspace.
Working from home means you might go all day without stepping outside and taking in some Vitamin D—and not everyone is going to be lucky enough to have a desk setup near a natural light source.

US hotel occupancy rates are plunging due to coronavirus

The Points Guy / 7h
Analysts also looked specifically at airport hotel demand data week-over-week and their analysis continued to show a decline in occupancy rate.
STR, a company offering insights into the hospitality industry, provided TPG with data from the last few weeks ; and their analysis matched what we’re hearing.

In retrospect, Disney’s CEO switch was a decisive act of crisis management

84TechCrunch / 7h
With Disney managing the impact of the crisis on its parks in China beginning in January, Iger likely foresaw the global spread of coronavirus and the economic damage sooner than most other American chief executives.
These business lines sustained healthy growth through last year, but Iger had spent the last couple of years emphasizing that Disney’s future sits with its subscription video streaming services (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Hotstar) overseen by Kevin Mayer, who previously spearheaded the company’s incredibly successful M&A strategy (including acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm).

Five of the World's Largest Banks Are Pouring Billions Into the Amazon's Destruction

500+Gizmodo / 7h
A new report from environmental and indigenous rights group Amazon Watch reveals that five of the world’s biggest banks are funding crude oil extraction in the western Amazon.
The five financial institutions highlighted—Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, and BlackRock—have provided tens of billions of dollars to oil companies to operate in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Xbox Series X eschews storage standards for proprietary expansion “card”

1KArs Technica / 7h
The Series X will still support standardized USB 3.2 hard drives, according to the Digital Foundry report, but those can only be used to natively run backward-compatible games designed for previous Xbox systems (the Xbox One, 360, and original Xbox).
Despite the exclusive format, Microsoft does not look like it wants to be the exclusive manufacturer and seller of these storage expansion cards, as it was for the overpriced proprietary hard drive format on the Xbox 360 .

Hop aboard the Microsoft Azure train with these prep courses and mock exams

Bill Gates Microsoft52Mashable / 7h
And this Ultimate Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Prep Courses and Mock Exams Bundle gets down to the nitty-gritty of the platform, helping you become a certified expert.
TL;DR: Upgrade your developer skills with The Ultimate Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Prep Courses and Mock Exams Bundle for $29.99, a 94% savings as of March 16.

Australians poke fun at how Tom Hanks is eating Vegemite while under quarantine

36Mashable / 7h
Fortunately , they are in good spirits and recovering from relatively mild symptoms. Read more... More about Australia , Mashable Video , Tom Hanks , Coronavirus , and Covid 19

How to Entertain Your Young Children During Quarantine (2020): iPod Touch, Lego, Podcasts

200+Wired / 8h
Even though our kids lives rotate around social gatherings—birthday parties, playgrounds, public libraries, zoos—we have to keep them isolated from other humans, large and small, in the interest of public health.
In areas that have been most affected by the coronavirus outbreak, schools and daycares have been closed, and small children have been sent home.

Snag these 9 productivity Mac apps for just $30

200+Mashable / 8h
Premium apps can help you save time and effort, optimize your internet connection, and ultimately boost your productivity.
And you're in luck because we've got nine of these premium productivity apps — for everything from desktop management and organization to photo editing and speed reading — on sale for just $30 .

How Uber, Lyft, Seamless and more are addressing taxed gig economy workers

100+TechCrunch / 8h
This situation is only going to worsen many of these issues, and there’s a very real fear that the United States’ inability to provide the working class with a legitimate social safety net will only incentivize workers to continue to do their job while sick, further exacerbating the spread of the novel coronavirus, in spite of restrictions on gatherings and other attempts to increase social distancing.
Already an ever-increasingly important part of our daily lives, grocery and food delivery services along with ride-hailing apps are going to play a fundamental role in helping individuals enact government-recommended social distancing.

Bay Area counties announce lockdown through April 7

6KTechCrunch / 8h
Effective at midnight, San Francisco will require people to stay home except for essential needs.
Both airports and public transit will remain open under limited operation for essential travel, while requiring people to maintain a six-foot “social distancing.”

Need new kitchen knives? Get this three-piece set for 60% off.

32Mashable / 8h
Whether you love to cook or you're famous for ordering DoorDash five times a week, this Sukasu Osami 3-Piece Chef's Knife Set can make things flow better in your kitchen.
TL;DR: Upgrade your kitchen tools with a Sukasu Osami 3-Piece Chef's Knife Set for just $39.99, a 60% savings as of March 16.

Mint Mobile is giving out free data for the next month amid COVID-19

95Engadget / 8h
Ryan Reynolds ' wireless carrier of choice is giving out free data to help people in the US cope with the coronavirus epidemic.
T-Mobile , for instance, is giving all current customers unlimited data for the next 60 days.


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