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Lawsuit accuses Google of hefty payouts to execs accused of misconduct

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The same suit also revealed that Google paid $45 million to Amit Singhal when he resigned from the tech giant after he was accused of groping a worker.

The plaintiff’s lead attorney, Louise Renne, saw the lawsuit as “confirmation” that Google was not only aware of apparent sexual misconduct, but gave departing executives “heavy reimbursement and gifts” instead of simply showing them the door. The lawsuit contends that Google’s board failed its responsibilities by allowing misconduct, greenlighting the large payouts and keeping those details a secret.

In response, a Google spokeswoman maintained that there were “serious consequences” for inappropriate behavior at the company, and that it had “made many changes” to its approach in the past few years. The firm notably revamped its sexual harassment policies in the wake of a worldwide employee walkout protesting its approach to problematic management.

Whether or not there have been improvements, the new details don’t help Google’s case. They suggest that Google’s board couldn’t rein in company managers at the time, and raise questions about what Page knew (or could know) about the investigation into Rubin.

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Palm’s tiny (pointless) phone gets its own battery case

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The trouble with the Palm is that it’s not that great of a phone. While the $350, Verizon-exclusive child-sized device is nothing if not adorable, its incompatibility with iMessage, cramped keyboard, and poor battery life makes it a pale substitute for the bigger device you already know and love. Mophie’s juice pack will add another 13 hours to your tiny Palm’s battery life, so maybe, just maybe, it can survive longer than an adult mayfly. And the rechargeable case is small enough that it won’t add too much heft. The mobile powerstation doesn’t attach directly to your phone, but it comes with a keychain, which allows you to hang it off your backpack or purse and it has an integrated USB-C cable for charging.

By itself, the credit-card sized “companion phone” that is just begging to be lost down a public toilet has a battery life of seven to eight hours. That is if you don’t browse the web, check email, watch videos, or do any of the other the basic tasks a smartphone is supposed to do. If you do use your Palm to catch up on work emails or watch videos while waiting for the train, you’re looking at a 2-3 hour battery life, tops.

Despite its drawbacks, there are likely some adults whose lifestyles will be benefited by a secondary mini-smartphone such as the Palm. And if you’re in that group and don’t want to risk it dying on you while you’re on-the-go, there’s now help.

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NCAA March Madness Live streams on Oculus Go

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You can also expect a Google Cloud-powered matchup suggestion tool that can personalize your bracket based on stats, o the point where it can auto-pick the bracket if you’d like. You’ll also see a dash of augmented reality with an opportunity to look at the bracket in AR on iOS devices. The multi-game Fast Break viewing experience, meanwhile, is expanding to include the first weekend. You won’t have to risk missing some of the most important action (including social commentary) in the early stages.

The first weekend of March Madness starts on the 21st. You’ll still want to sign in with an account from your TV provider, but it’s an easier sell if you’re a hoops aficionado who wants more control over coverage than you usually get with TV broadcasts.

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AT&T is increasing DirecTV Now prices by $10 per month

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When DirecTV Now launched in 2016, it offered more than 100 live streaming channels for $35 per month. Prices have been steadily increasing since. When these new changes go into effect, the company will offer DirecTV Now Plus at $50 per month for 40-plus channels and DirectTV Now Max at $70 per month for 50-plus channels. So not only will you be paying more, you’ll be getting less. The current base package offers 65-plus channels for $40 per month. Perhaps a small consolation, the new packages will include HBO, which was a $5 add-on in the past.

AT&T is not the only live streaming TV provider creeping up its fees. This seems to be a trend as companies figure out a price point that works. Hulu recently increased its live TV option by $5 per month, making Hulu + Live TV $45 for 60-plus channels. YouTube TV, which announced nationwide coverage in January, is still just $40 per month for more than 70 channels. Though, neither Hulu or YouTube currently offer HBO, so they’re probably not great options if you’re impatiently awaiting the final season of Game of Thrones.

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Bugatti unveils a $33,000 EV for (rich) kids

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The Baby II is a tribute to the company’s classic racer. It features a similar body design, though the Baby II will be three-quarters the size of the original and features a 3D-printed frame. Inside the revived racer is a rear-wheel-drive battery-powered electric powertrain with removable lithium-ion battery packs. The car features two different power modes: a “child mode” that tops out at 20km/h (about 12 mph) and an “adult mode” that reaches a top speed of 45km/h (about 28 mph). For folks who can’t get enough speed, there is an optional upgrade available that unlocks the “Speed Key.” That allows drivers to use up to 10kW of power and ditches the speed cap to push the vehicle to its limits.

The Baby II will sport Bugatti’s traditional French Racing Blue finish (a range of other colors are available to order) and eight-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, giving it the look of a classic racer. Only 500 of the pricey novelty ride will be made, and production is set to start this fall.

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Apple will finally unveil its streaming video service on March 25th

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It turns out rumors of an Apple spring event were true: the company’s next event will happen on March 25th at the Steve Jobs theater on Apple’s Cupertino campus. And judging by the event invite, we’ll finally hear about Apple’s long-rumored video service. The rumblings had pointed to a Spring event that would see the launch of Apple’s news and video services, but the invite doesn’t quite make it clear whether we’ll actually get any info on that news product. There’s also a chance we’ll see new iPads, as Apple has refreshed its lineup in March for several years now, but one thing is for sure: we’ll be there bringing you the news live as it happens.

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Trump administration may monitor social media to catch disability fraud (updated)

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On Monday, the White House released a fiscal 2020 budget proposal that would allow the Social Security Administration to “use all collection tools to recover funds in certain scenarios” as well as hold fraud investigators liable for overpayments. Right-wing think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and the Republican Party have long attacked the disability benefits program as being wasteful and rife with abuse. But the number of disability beneficiaries is actually plunging due to a stronger economy. Roughly 9.2 million Americans received disability benefits in 2017.

People who collect disability benefits, known as Social Security Disability Insurance, receive monthly payments after not being able to work for a year or more due to a disability. Families of deceased beneficiaries are also eligible for these payments in some cases. The disability must limit the recipient’s ability to “do basic work such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, and remembering for at least 12 months”, according to the agency website.

While Republicans love the Trump administration proposal, disability rights advocates are worried that Facebook photos could be an inaccurate barometer of a person’s current physical state. “Just because someone posted a photograph of them golfing or going fishing in February of 2019 does not mean that the activity occurred in 2019,” chairwoman of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Lisa D. Ekman told the Times.

Stalking people’s Facebook and Twitter has been a popular strategy throughout Trump’s time in office. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under the Department of Homeland Security, has ramped up social media surveillance of both Americans and foreign visitors. The US Border Patrol was found to be compiling a database of journalists, activists, and other social media influencers involved in work related to the migrant caravan. The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Northern California is currently suing the Trump administration for information related to its social media surveillance.

Update 3/11 7PM ET: EFF senior staff attorney Adam Schwartz chime in with Engadget, noting that a photo might be old and not reflective of their current health. “”People post old pictures of themselves on social media,” Schwartz said. “So when a disabled person posts a picture of themselves doing something a disabled person should not be doing, it is not necessarily evidence of fraud about government disability benefits.”

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Twitter’s experimental beta testing app is available today

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You can apply for the company’s Prototype Program now, although we’ll be honest: the chances are slim that you’ll get in. Twitter only plans to invite roughly 2,000 English and Japanese speakers at this stage, and there’s only mention of supporting iOS so far. The one consolation is that those users can share their experiences. If Twitter starts tinkering with a major change, you’ll know what it looks like before it reaches the regular app.

It’s not going to see widespread adoption, then, but it could still be significant. Twitter frequently talks about making major changes, but there’s rarely much official interaction with the public before the features reach the beta test stage — that is, when they’re nearly ready. The Twttr app could give the public more input into these changes and offer more insight into Twitter’s thinking.



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Tidal adds high-fidelity audio to its iOS app

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Master audio is still only available for certain tracks, and its worth is ultimately dictated by the hardware you use to listen. This won’t improve the sound of your favorite indie artist. It’s good to have choices, though, and it could make Tidal more compelling if you’re reluctant to sacrifice quality for the convenience of a streaming service.

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Roku could add AirPlay 2 support soon

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If the two sides come to an agreement, AirPlay 2 compatibility will likely arrive on Roku devices through a software update, but it’s not yet clear which models will support it. It seems Roku smart TVs, such as those from TCL and RCA, will enable AirPlay 2 as well. With Apple preparing to announce its video streaming service (perhaps even next month), we might get official confirmation on the Roku deal soon.

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