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Pixel 4a will reportedly feature faster UFS 2.1 storage

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The most interesting tidbit we learn is that the Pixel 4a features UFS 2.1 storage. While most high-end smartphones like the Galaxy S20 have started to include UFS 3.0 flash storage, UFS 2.1 is a significant step up from the Pixel 3a’s storage situation. For all its strengths relative to its price, Google’s current budget phone ships with slow eMMC memory. UFS 2.1 modules feature sequential read speeds of 850 MB/S. By contrast, eMMC offers more modest read speeds of 250 MB/s. Another benefit of the newer standard is that UFS modules can read and write data simultaneously. Overall, the new storage should make installing and loading apps faster. That said, the one thing to keep in mind is that the production model could feature different internal components.

While we don’t know for sure when Google will launch the Pixel 4a, we may see the phone sooner rather than later. The pre-production model that was featured in the hands-on video earlier this week included Google’s upcoming April Android security patch, which has led to some speculation that the company may release it as early as next month.

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All Apple Stores outside of Greater China are closing until March 27th

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Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out a statement in the early hours of Saturday morning detailing Apple’s worldwide response to COVID-19. Among the steps taken is news that the company will close its retail stores worldwide until March 27th. The only exception is Greater China, which includes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, where the company yesterday reopened stores that had closed on February 2nd. Stores already closed in Italy and Spain due to the pandemic will remain closed.

On Friday morning Apple announced its spring WWDC developer event would go online-only, and Cook said that “In all of our offices, we are moving to flexible work arrangements worldwide outside of Greater China.” For the affected workers, “All of our hourly workers will continue to receive pay in alignment with business as usual operations. We have expanded our leave policies to accommodate personal or family health circumstances created by COVID-19 — including recovering from an illness, caring for a sick loved one, mandatory quarantining, or childcare challenges due to school closures.”

As far as why the company would take drastic steps, Cook cited lessons learned as coronavirus initially spread in China. “One of those lessons is that the most effective way to minimize risk of the virus’s transmission is to reduce density and maximize social distance. As rates of new infections continue to grow in other places, we’re taking additional steps to protect our team members and customers.”

In its Apple News app, the company is setting up a dedicated section for information from trusted outlets, and Cook said that while stores are closed customers should use the Apple website for service and support.

Developing…

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‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ is available on digital a few days early

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It looks like Frozen 2 isn’t the only Disney property getting an early launch due to the current conditions of everything. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is now available on most digital stores (Vudu, iTunes, Google Play, but not Amazon… yet) right now, several days before its March 17th launch date. It’s not available to rent, but you can buy it in up to 4K resolution, or opt for the $100 Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga 9-Movie Collection.

Is it worth it? Despite a 51% Rotten Tomatoes rating from critics it did manage an 86 percent audience score, so there’s a chance you’ll be thoroughly entertained with how this third trilogy comes to an end. If not, at least you’re at home and you can easily flip over to something else, or just update the new lists on Vudu.

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Disney+ will start streaming ‘Frozen 2’ on Sunday, three months early

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The press release didn’t indicate exactly what time Frozen 2 will premiere on Disney+, but said it will be available only in HD initially, and only in the US. Starting Tuesday March 17th, it will also come to Canada, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand and it will be available Ultra HD to all subscribers.



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Netflix pauses production on ‘Stranger Things,’ other shows due to coronavirus

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The affected shows include viewer favorite Stranger Things, which had to shut down its fourth season’s production, as well as supernatural detective series Lucifer and Groundhog Day-esque comedy drama Russian Doll. Shows being filmed outside the US and Canada like The Witcher, however, are reportedly being assessed on a case by case basis.

Netflix isn’t the only streaming outfit that’s had to put things on hold. Apple has also suspended production on a bunch of shows for its TV+ platform, including Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story, Jennifer Aniston-starrer The Morning Show and thriller series Servant. Meanwhile, Disney had to shut down 16 pilots across its networks — for Disney+, in particular, the move affects MCU’s Captain America spinoff The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

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Comcast suspends data caps, makes Xfinity WiFi free for 60 days

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Yesterday Comcast and AT&T were among ISPs announced some relaxed policies to help people suddenly stuck at home due to countermeasures taken in the fight against COVID-19. Today, along with an announcement that wireless carriers are suspending cancellations and expanding access, Comcast, the largest ISP in the US, followed up with a slew of new policies that will be in effect for the next 60 days to help people stay connected.

For the time being, it’s suspending the data plan that capped bandwidth usage at 1TB per month, and it’s opening access to Xfinity WiFi for free to everyone. The Internet Essentials program for low-income families that costs $9.95 per month will be free to new subscribers for the first two months, and it has also committed to no disconnects or late fees.

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Facebook will shut down its MSQRD selfie app

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Facebook began integrating MSQRD’s face-swapping tech and other filters into its own products, like Facebook Live, soon after it acquired the app in 2016. Since then, the MSQRD team has been focused on building out Facebook’s AR platform, Spark AR, which allows users to create effects for Instagram.

But now that Facebook’s most popular AR effects live within Instagram and other camera-focused apps, MSQRD — which hasn’t been updated since 2016 — feels more like an afterthought than the novelty it once was. And strategically, it makes much more sense for the company to put its resources into the platform-wide Spark AR, rather than a standalone service that’s steadily declined in popularity.

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Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft’s board of directors

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Amid the spreading outbreak of COVID-19, Bill Gates has apparently decided “to dedicate more time to his philanthropic priorities including global health, development, education, and his increasing engagement in tackling climate change.” He’s stepping down from the board of directors at the company he founded, but will still be a “technology advisor” to current CEO Satya Nadella and other executives.

In a statement, Nadella said “The board has benefited from Bill’s leadership and vision. And Microsoft will continue to benefit from Bill’s ongoing technical passion and advice to drive our products and services forward. I am grateful for Bill’s friendship and look forward to continuing to work alongside him to realize our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”

The move comes twelve years after he left a day-to-day role at the company, and six years after he last served as chairman of the board. w

Developing…

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Google is building a website to coordinate coronavirus testing in the US

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There are no specifics at the moment regarding when the site will go live, but more details about the initiative are coming the evening of Sunday, March 15th, Vice President Mike Pence said.

In a memo to Google employees seen by CNBC, CEO Sundar Pichai said the company’s life sciences arm, Verily, was working to “aid in the COVID-19 testing effort in the US.” This reportedly includes partnering with government officials to direct potential patients to Verily’s Project Baseline website. It’s unclear if this is the same hub that Trump discussed during today’s press conference.

Project Baseline is a global health-mapping and clinical research initiative that functions in collaboration with outside scientists and volunteers, its webpage reads.

Google pledged on March 6th to help governments around the globe tackle the coronavirus pandemic, working directly with the World Health Organization. It’s also implemented tools to curb misinformation about the outbreak online.

The US has more than 1,600 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 40 afflicted people in the country have died, according to the CDC. The Trump administration pledged to roll out 1 million testing kits around the country by the end of last week, though authorities missed that goal. According to the CDC, just over 11,000 specimens have been tested in the US since January.

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Amazon Music opens up Alexa and streaming stats to artists

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Amazon Music for Artists has the type of features you would expect from an app of this type. Musicians can use it to see how many people are listening to their songs, as well as where their biggest fans live. It also allows artists to see how many people have asked Alexa to play their music, with the data broken by album, song and lyric. At the moment, the company is working with CD Baby to verify artists, so only musicians who have worked with the company to distribute their music can apply at the moment.

Amazon is late to the party when it comes to giving musicians an app built for their specific needs. Spotify and Apple Music have offered artist apps since 2017 and 2018, respectively. It’s also trying to catch up in terms of subscribers. As of April 2019, Amazon Music had 32 million subscribers across its music services, putting it behind both Spotify and Apple Music. The two announced last year they had 100 million and 60 million paying users respectively. What it does have going for it is that it’s been picking up subscribers faster than Spotify, growing at a rate of about 70 percent between 2018 and 2019. Making its platform more amenable to artists is one way to continue that type of growth.

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