Blog

Paramount cancels movie’s theatrical release in favor of Netflix

[ad_1]

It sounds like an unusual deal on the surface. Paramount has so far offered yanked movies like Sonic the Hedgehog as digital purchases. And while CBS All Access is focused on TV shows, this is theoretically a time to drive viewers to that service instead of a competitor.

However, it may come down to history and pragmatism. Paramount has a running relationship with Netflix that has led to multiple projects, including The Cloverfield Paradox and a planned Beverly Hills Cop sequel. It’s a fairly easy leap. And whether Paramount likes it or not, Netflix has a much larger audience than All Access — this may be the studio’s best chance at recouping its investment short of delaying the movie’s release.

[ad_2]

Source link

Samsung rolls out camera fix for Galaxy S20 Ultra in the US

[ad_1]

Early Galaxy S20 Ultra owners have complained about camera issues like a pokey autofocus on the 108MP main sensor, but it looks like relief is in sight. Samsung tells Engadget it has started the US rollout of a software update that improves a number of features for the Galaxy S20 family, most notably the “camera systems.” The company wasn’t specific about just what the fixes entailed, but SamMobile and others have noticed significantly improved focusing speed. You shouldn’t end up with quite so many out-of-focus shots.

[ad_2]

Source link

Apple donates millions of masks to healthcare pros in the US and Europe

[ad_1]

This comes alongside other contributions, including $15 million in donations and a program that lets Apple Card owners skip their March payments without interest.

Apple certainly isn’t alone in supporting the fight against COVID-19, including direct equipment donations. Alibaba and its founder Jack Ma have been donating masks, test kits, protective suits and face shields, while Tesla’s Elon Musk has offered to make ventilators. Even so, it’s part of a positive trend and suggests that tech companies may play a significant role in fighting the pandemic whether or not they have directly relevant expertise.



[ad_2]

Source link

Smartphone shipments saw their largest drop ever in February

[ad_1]

Strategy Analytics’ Linda Sui told CNBC that the slump was across every price category, and not just premium models.

As you might guess, March isn’t looking much better. The coronavirus outbreak has reached Europe and North America in earnest, leading to more wary customers and store closures. China appears to be recovering, but the smartphone industry could be in for significant pain until it’s clear the pandemic is on the decline elsewhere. And from all indications, that might not happen for a while.

[ad_2]

Source link

Netflix creates $100 million fund to support creators during pandemic

[ad_1]

The exact amounts delivered to in-house projects will vary “production by production.” Netflix had already promised two weeks of pay promised to productions that stopped work last week.

This is an investment in Netflix’s future more than anything. While its blockbuster projects are relatively safe, it could lose many of the smaller originals whose teams can’t afford to stop for weeks or months at a time. What it spends now could be worthwhile when work resumes and viewers have plenty of new material to watch.

[ad_2]

Source link

Apple shows a White House coronavirus PSA to App Store users

[ad_1]

Tech giants have been displaying prominent coronavirus alerts in various places, but Apple is stepping things up with its latest addition. Users have noticed that Apple is now displaying a White House public service announcement at the top of the App Store for US customers. Tap it and White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci offers guidance on the “dos and don’ts” of social distancing



[ad_2]

Source link

Disney+ will limit video quality for its wider European launch

[ad_1]

“In line with Disney’s longstanding commitment to act responsibly, we are responding to the request of European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton to work together to ensure the smooth functioning of the broadband infrastructure. In anticipation of high consumer demand for Disney+, we are proactively instituting measures to lower our overall bandwidth utilisation by at least 25% in all of the markets launching Disney+ on March 24th,” Mayer said. “In the coming days, we will be monitoring Internet congestion and working closely with Internet service providers to further reduce bitrates as necessary to ensure they are not overwhelmed by consumer demand.”

Earlier this week, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton called on European citizens to limit their broadband usage during the coronavirus outbreak, particularly in regards to streaming. Breton used the hashtag #SwitchToStandard to ask consumers to switch their content to SD quality to help reduce overall bandwidth.

UK provider BT has already noted that while more people are staying home in order to self isolate, daytime traffic has increased up to 60 percent. However, it’s still “only around half the average evening peak, and nowhere near the 17.5 Tb/s we have proved the network can handle,” the company wrote. Disney’s measures may help avoid reaching theoretical limits, but it appears ISPs may already have a handle on the surge.

Disney+ sign-ups opened in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on January 21st, allowing fans to take advantage of a lower annual price. The “limited time low price offer” brings the yearly cost down to £49.99/€59.99 — it typically costs £5.99/€6.99 a month or £59.99/€69.99 annually — but will expire on March 23rd.

French users, however, will need to wait a further two weeks, after Disney confirmed the service will be delayed in the country. “To our French fans, the Disney+ service is coming, but at the request of the French government, we have agreed to postpone the launch until Tuesday, 7 April 2020,” said Mayer.

[ad_2]

Source link

Google’s coronavirus search hub makes COVID-19 info easier to find

[ad_1]

The hub will show up when you search for “coronavirus” or “COVID-19” on Google, whether you’re on mobile or desktop. It pulls information from the World Health Organization and links to your local health authorities, and it organizes what you need to know into different categories.

Google

In it, you’ll see an overview of the disease, alongside categories that focus on symptoms, treatments and preventive measures. It includes a carousel of Twitter accounts from your local civic organizations and health authorities, as well as a section that highlights some of the most common questions abut the disease. There’s also a statistics category that shows the number of confirmed cases, deaths and recoveries per country. The feature has started rolling out in English in the US, but Google says it plans to expand its reach to other countries and make it available in other languages soon.

In addition to the new hub, Google has also launched a new COVID-19 portal in the US. It features all the information from the search hub, though you can also use it to find state-based information, safety and prevention tips as well as search trends related to the pandemic. Google also intends to make it available in more languages and regions in the future, which hopefully means localized resources for each country it reaches.

[ad_2]

Source link

Recommended Reading: What happens when bands don’t tour

[ad_1]

Ring’s work with police lacks solid evidence of reducing crime
Alfred Ng,
CNET

As data is being revealed on a regular basis, the stats don’t point to any significant reduction in crime caused by police departments’ close association with Ring. Even in areas where crime did go down, it can be difficult to determine if sharing user info and camera footage made the difference.

The streaming canon
The Ringer

You’re stuck at home with little more to do than take a daily stroll around the block. Streaming a movie or a TV show is the obvious choice, but where should you begin? The Ringer offers some guidance. With recommendations that cover Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and Disney+, there’s sure to be something you’ll like. Or, at the very least, something that will help you pass a few hours.

[ad_2]

Source link

Amazon temporarily raises overtime pay for warehouse workers

[ad_1]

The temporary pay hike could ensure that more workers agree to work overtime, or at least offer a consolation if they feel they have little choice but to stay longer. It comes on top of the company’s plans to hire 100,000 additional workers and raise base pay by $2 through April.

These are only fleeting increases, however, and don’t address both new and longstanding concerns about working conditions at Amazon’s facilities. The company has already had to deal with a coronavirus infection at a warehouse, and senators have raised alarms about the lack of standard paid sick leave and hazard pay. Amazon is promising up to two weeks of pay for anyone either diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine, but that might not prevent an ill worker from showing up if they feel they can’t afford time off.

[ad_2]

Source link