Waymo’s cars will be back on the road in Metro Phoenix as soon as May 11th. The Alphabet-owned autonomous driving company suspended its operations in March, save for some full-driverless rides, in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Now, after “careful consideration and active conversations” with its teams and authorities, Waymo has decided to implement a tiered approach in restarting its activities.
The company has listed the steps it’s taking to move forward safely, including practicing social distancing guidelines in its facilities and cleaning its vehicles multiple times a day. “We’re taking a thoughtful and measured approach towards bringing our driving operations back on the road,” Waymo said. Even with its new safety measures in place, the company will resume its operations little by little, starting by deploying its test fleet and then “responsibly progress[ing] to serving Waymo One riders again.”
“The roughly 26-minute ‘Plandemic Movie’ video claims to be an excerpt of a larger documentary to be released this summer and contains claims about the origins of the virus and how it spreads,” CNBCwrites of the clip. “The video tries to argue that the coronavirus pandemic was created to make profits off vaccines. Among other claims that defy advice of medical experts, it suggests that sheltering in place harms consumers’ immune systems and that masks can make people sicker.”
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other platforms have begun removing the video, yet it appears the companies’ desire to quash it have also encouraged it to spread further. New copies and links to the clip continue to circulate on social media, some of which have racked up thousands of views on YouTube and Facebook. On Twitter, where, #Plandemic was a trending topic on Wednesday, the video’s removal has been met with cries of censorship and, in some cases, fueled further conspiracy theories about the reasons for its removal.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others have struggled to contain misinformation about the coronavirus even as the platforms attempt to elevate authoritative sources and implement stricter rules about health misinformation during the pandemic. Further complicating matters is the fact that companies like Facebook are operating at reduced capacity as many of their content moderators are unable to work.
It’s also nice to see Microsoft update the Surface Go, giving it a bigger screen and LTE connectivity while maintaining the little tablet’s cute, compact dimensions. We can’t tell how it will perform in real life yet, but the Go 2 also has a slightly faster processor than its predecessor. It still starts at $399, though at that base level you’re only getting a slow Pentium Gold processor. For a more capable Core M3, you’ll need to shell out at least $500. Throw in LTE and we’re looking at $730. And that’s not even counting the extra $100 to $120 you’ll have to pay for the keyboard attachment. Jeez, Microsoft.
Microsoft
The questionable decisions don’t end there. Microsoft also unveiled the long-awaited Surface Book 3 this week. It’s a 13- or 15-inch detachable laptop that Microsoft says is the “most powerful Surface laptop yet.” The smaller version comes with Intel’s quad-core i5 or i7 with Iris Plus-integrated graphics and up to NVIDIA’s GeForce 1660, which is fine for its size. Sure, Dell was able to squeeze a six-core CPU into the dainty little XPS 13 last year, but Apple is still using quad-core processors in the 13-inch MacBook Pro, so we’ll let Microsoft off here.
In the 15-inch Book 3, though, you’ll still be stuck with four cores. You can bump the graphics to an NVIDIA GeForce 1660 Ti or even the Quadro RTX 3000. But the quad-core CPU is embarrassing when compared to the competition. The MacBook Pro 16 inch, for example, comes with six- or eight-core options, and the Dell XPS 15 has a six-core configuration.
One of the biggest reasons Microsoft is having processor trouble lies in the Surface Book 3’s design. Since it’s a detachable tablet, the device’s processor has to be embedded behind the screen so it can keep running even when apart from the keyboard. It also needs to house some battery for power, in addition to things like speakers and connectivity components. Meanwhile the keyboard half is where the discrete GPU and more battery lies.
Microsoft
Because of the limited space behind the display, Microsoft can’t squeeze in a CPU with more cores. The Surface Book’s design is unique, sure, but its entire proposition is flawed: Who’s looking for a powerhouse machine in the form of a 15-inch tablet? The larger Book 3 would be so much better if Microsoft reimagined it as a convertible instead of a tablet stuck to a keyboard, and gave it better processors.
It’s such a shame that it’s been almost three years since the Book 2 launched in 2017, and now that it’s here the Book 3 is just a perplexing product. Yes, it’s nice that we finally have an updated model, but considering how much progress the competition has made since, the Book 3 might be hard to recommend. Of course, we’ll have to wait till we fully review the device to know how it fares, but I’m not holding my breath.
Samsung wants to do more with payments than offer a virtual prepaid card. The company plans to grow Samsung Pay this summer by introducing a new “experience” that includes an “innovative” debit card supported by a cash management account. Details are only slated to arrive in the “coming weeks,” but it’ll have help from the financial startup SoFi.
It’s not a surprising move for Samsung. Apple has offered a credit card since 2019, while Huawei is following suit. Google is believed to be working on a debit card of its own. If Samsung doesn’t offer some kind of payment card, it might miss out if these cards turn out to be successful.
As for the games without Smart Delivery, there may be a logical reason behind the omission. The Medium from Bloober Team, for instance, is targeting a release on Xbox Series X and PC, skipping the current generation altogether. The Medium comes from the studio that made Layers of Fear and Blair Witch, so you know it’s gonna have jump scares and plenty of psychological terror. Plus, Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka is collaborating on the soundtrack.
Today’s episode of Inside Xbox marked the beginning of Xbox 20/20, a digital event that Microsoft will host each month to keep players updated on what’s next for the company and its consoles. In July Microsoft plans to showcase Xbox Game Studios titles, which should include a closer look at Halo Infinite.
Xbox 20/20 is a necessary move in a time of mass conference cancellations and global self-isolation. The industry’s most high-profile show, E3, usually takes place in the summer, and Xbox is the headlining company, since PlayStation started skipping it in recent years. We’d usually expect Microsoft to reveal its new console’s price and release date at E3, but amid the global pandemic, these announcements will have to take place digitally. Xbox 20/20 provides a predictable, controllable space for Microsoft to spread the word. So, as always, stay tuned.
With video calling now a daily fact of life for most people, Lenovo has added dedicated hotkeys to launch Microsoft Teams or Skype for Business, as well as dual-array far-field microphones. Rounding out the list of improvements is optional support for WiFi 6 connectivity.
You’ll be able to purchase the ThinkPad E14 and E15 in June starting at $639. Additionally, Lenovo detailed availability for its upcoming T14s, T14, X13, L15 and L14 laptops. The company plans to release those in June as well. What’s interesting about these devices is that they’ll include AMD’s new Ryzen Pro 4000 series processors, which the chipmaker announced today.
AMD
In all, the lineup features three new CPUs: the Ryzen 7 Pro 4750U, Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U and Ryzen 3 Pro 4450U. They’ll replace AMD’s current Ryzen Pro 3700U, 3500U and 3300U processors when they make their way to market. All three are 7nm chips based on AMD’s Zen 2 architecture.
Performance, as you might imagine, is a big draw with these processors. For instance, the top-of-the-line 4750U is an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a boost clock speed of up to 4.1GHz. Even the entry-level 4450U looks like it will be a decently fast chip with its 4-core, 8-thread design and boost clock speed of up to 3.7GHz. Battery life is another strength of the new processors, with AMD claiming 4750U devices can deliver up to 20 hours of uptime on a single charge in some instances.
That said, the Pro series’ new security features are likely what’s going to get companies excited about computers that feature these CPUs. All three chips include functionality that matches some of Intel’s big-ticket vPro features. To start, they include a dedicated security processor, which, in conjunction with Microsoft’s secure core technology, can prevent kernel-level attacks. They also make use of AMD’s Memory Guard encryption feature, which can prevent someone from accessing your data. However, most notably, the chips include AMD’s suite of Pro Manageability features that allow IT admins to manage, update and repair Ryzen Pro 4000-equipped devices remotely. The first systems to feature AMD’s new Ryzen Pro 4000-series chips, including the Lenovo laptops mentioned above, will arrive later this year.
You probably know CBS All Access as little more than a home for new Star Trek shows, but ViacomCBS is determined to improve the streaming service’s reputation. The media giant is “accelerating” plans to revamp All Access by adding much more content beyond conventional CBS material and a handful of originals. You can expect it to bring in material from each of the company’s brands, including BET, Comedy Central and Paramount. A host of live material will also be on tap, such as news and (eventually) sports.
ViacomCBS said to expect “major changes” in the summer, but some of the reform is starting now. All Access has added over 100 Paramount movies. Many of these are back catalog titles like the Godfather trilogy, An Inconvenient Truth and The Hours, but this does give you something to watch in between Discovery and Picard seasons.
Don’t have time to watch all of the first Xbox Series X gameplay stream? We’ve got you covered with a 15-minute video that packs in everything you need to know (well, see).
Along with the first look at Assassin’s Creed Valhalla in action, the stream included several game announcements. Among them was Dirt 5, the first main series Dirt game since 2017, and an early peek at the next generation of another long-running franchise with Madden NFL 21.The stream included trailers for Ebb Software’s creepy-lookin’ Scorn, space shooter Chorus and futuristic FPS-action hybrid Bright Memory Infinite.
Over the next two weeks, Lyft’s app will be updated with the new “personal health certification,” which requires passengers and drivers to promise to adhere to CDC and local health regulations before using the service. In addition to face coverings and the promise not to ride or drive while sick, the app reminds drivers to frequently wash their hands and sanitize their cars. Passengers are also instructed to keep the front seat empty to respect social distancing guidelines, and “open your window when possible.”
As with the rest of the company’s safety policies, drivers and passengers can contact the company to report safety violations. If a Lyft user — passenger or driver — repeatedly breaks the new healthy safety rules, then they could have their account suspended.
In a statement provided to Engadget, an Amazon spokesperson said:
“These individuals were not terminated for talking publicly about working conditions or safety, but rather, for violating—often repeatedly—policies, such as intimidation, physical distancing and more. We support every employees’ right to criticize or protest their employer’s working conditions, but that does not come with blanket immunity against any and all internal policies. We look forward to explaining in more detail in our response to the Senators’ letter.”
As The Verge notes, in the past, Amazon has justified firing outspoken employees with vague claims that they violated internal policies. But with increased pressure on several fronts and big names like Sanders and Warren behind this letter, Amazon may have to offer a more in depth explanation.
Update 5/7/2020 3:05PM ET: This story was updated to include a statement from Amazon.
