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The Morning After: Somehow, even more new phones are on the way

And a look at Libra's step back.

Oppo

Coronavirus canceled MWC, but new phones have continued to appear all the same. That’s why I really needed Cherlynn Low’s breakdown just to keep up with all the new mobile devices we’ve seen this spring, from the Reno Ace 2 to the just-unveiled iPhone SE (pre-orders open today at 8 AM ET) and OnePlus 8 and devices that have yet to appear, like Motorola’s new flagship and the mysterious LG Velvet.

-- Richard

You can now set up Google Fi on your iPhone using an eSIM

Could it be any easier?

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Engadget

So long as you’re a new customer, you only need the Fi app and a nearby computer (displaying a QR code) to get started.
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ACLU outlines privacy concerns for contact tracing tech

One of its main concerns is ‘mission creep.’

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Google

With contact tracing tech under development to fight the spread of COVID-19, watchdogs at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are urging the government and tech companies to take a tougher stance on privacy. Apple and Google’s proposal would use Bluetooth data to detect phone owners’ potential exposure to people who have tested positive for COVID-19. The companies say they will take a “privacy-preserving” approach to data collection.

“While some of these systems could offer public health benefits, they may also cause significant risks to privacy, civil rights and civil liberties,” the ACLU’s Surveillance and Cybersecurity Counsel Jennifer Stisa Granick wrote in a blog post.
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Facebook’s global currency plans were always doomed

Of course governments were against it.

After almost a full year of criticism, the Libra Association has climbed down from its original goal of creating a single “stablecoin” for the world. Rather than make what could be described as a global currency, Libra will now be a little bit more, uh, like PayPal. Dan Cooper explains how we got here.
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These online piano lessons are only $35 today

TMA newsletter 4/18/20

Apple finally offers a reasonably priced graphics upgrade for the Mac Pro

Need a new GPU?

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Engadget

As 9to5Mac noticed, you can now configure the Mac Pro with one or two Radeon Pro W5700X video cards, each with 16GB of memory. They’re still not cheap upgrades at $600 and $1,600 respectively, but they’re far less expensive than dropping $2,400 on a lone Radeon Pro Vega II. You can also buy the card by itself for $1,000 if you’re upgrading after the fact.
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Impossible Burger will soon be available in over 1,000 grocery stores

Even during a pandemic, Impossible Foods is planning ‘aggressive’ expansion.

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Impossible

The faux meat product will be available in all Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions and Gelson’s Markets in Southern California, all Safeway stores in Northern California and Nevada, all Jewel-Osco stores in greater Chicago, portions of eastern Iowa and northwest Indiana, all Wegmans on the East Coast and all Fairway Markets in New York City.
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But wait, there’s more...

HP's Envy 15 returns with a vapor-chamber-cooled Intel i9 CPU

Samsung’s Galaxy S10 Lite goes on sale in the US today

'Crysis Remastered' is coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch

Stadia update adds 5.1 surround sound for web players

Making ventilators is easy, but pivoting to do so is difficult

Apple's rumored over-ear headphones may offer switchable magnetic parts

Disney+ will start streaming 'Artemis Fowl' on June 12th

macOS is adding 'Battery Health Management' to help your laptop's battery last longer

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