COVID-19
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NCAA March Madness games will be played without fans
Precautions for the coronavirus outbreak are about to radically affect how many people watch college sports. The NCAA is responding to the risks of COVID-19 by restricting attendance at championship events, including Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, to "essential staff" and "limited" family members. You'll have to watch matches either online or on TV, no matter how much of a fan you might be.
Uber may temporarily suspend drivers exposed to the coronavirus
Uber says it may temporarily suspend both drivers and passengers who have been infected or come into contact with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The company has established a 24-hour support team to work with public health officials as the outbreak evolves.
Google tells North American employees to work from home
With new reports of coronavirus cases being diagnosed popping up around the US, Google has taken the step of asking all North American employees to work from home if they can. The recommendation lasts until at least April 10th. A number of large tech companies had already instituted similar policies in the northwest after an outbreak began in Washington, and Google had already given a similar guideline to Bay Area employees. At about the same time, the company also banned advertisements for medical face masks for the time being, and established a COVID-19 that will pay for temporary staff and vendors to take sick leave if they have potential symptoms or are quarantined. In a tweet, CEO Sundar Pichai said "Contributing to social distancing if you are able to, helps the overall community spread and most importantly, will help offset the peak loads through critical healthcare systems and also saves it for people in need."
'PUBG Mobile' tournament moves online to avoid coronavirus
One of the biggest mobile gaming tournaments is changing format to deal with the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Tencent and PUBG Corporation are turning the PUBG Mobile Pro League South Asia tourney into an online event due to "unforeseen circumstances" with the virus. It'll still be available to watch online at PUBG Mobile's esports-oriented YouTube channel -- fans just won't get to watch in person.
Huawei will livestream its P40 phone unveiling on March 26th
Huawei is joining the ranks of companies moving to online events to minimize the risk of coronavirus infections. The Chinese tech giant is now set to introduce its P40 series phones through an online launch on March 26th instead of the in-person Paris gathering it had originally planned. The company wants to protect the "safety and comfort of everyone," PR representative Rafal Kwiatkowski explained. At least you'll have an idea of what to expect -- as you can see from the conspicuous camera hump in the teaser image above, photography should be even more of a highlight than it was last year.
Apple says it's safe to clean your iPhone with disinfectant wipes
Apple has updated its website to let iPhone, iPad and Mac owners know it's okay to clean their devices with disinfectant wipes. The new advice comes as the ongoing coronavirus outbreak worsens globally.
Coronavirus home testing kits are coming to Seattle
It might soon be much easier and safer to determine if someone has been infected by the novel coronavirus. The team behind a Gates Foundation-backed project told the Seattle Times that it's preparing to deliver home testing kits for the virus to Seattle (where the infection rate has been relatively high) within the "coming weeks." Potential patients swab their noses and send the samples back to a lab for study, with results ready in one to two days. If someone is infected, they can fill out an online questionnaire to determine their contact and travel habits in case officials need to notify anyone else that they might have the virus.
Apple reduces capacity at store events to deal with coronavirus outbreak
Apple is grappling with more than just iPhone shortages as it takes precautions against spreading the novel coronavirus. Company chief Tim Cook has sent a memo outlining a series of new steps to reduce the chances of people spreading the virus, including changes at stores. Apple is trying to "maximize interpersonal space" at its shops, including by reducing the density and occupancy for events like classes and Genius Bar appointments. You may have a harder time learning about your new iPhone in the near future, to put it another way.
Uber, Lyft will compensate drivers affected by coronavirus outbreak
The coronavirus outbreak is affecting many workers, but it could hit those in the gig economy particularly hard when many of them don't get sick leave or other benefits. Those companies may help soften the blow for some of their workers, though. To start, Uber said in a statement to Engadget that it would compensate drivers worldwide for both Uber and Uber Eats if they're either infected by the coronavirus or quarantined by a public health agency for "a period of up to 14 days." Drivers have already received compensation in "some markets," Uber said, alluding to a Bloomberg report that it had compensated quarantined drivers in Mexico and the UK.
Stanford moves classes online to deal with coronavirus outbreak
Online education is about to get a major (if short) field test. Stanford University is moving the last two weeks of winter quarter classes online "to the extent feasible" to reduce the chances of COVID-19 spreading on campus. There will be no classes in person starting March 9th, the school said. To help with the abrupt transition, the university will both provide "further guidance and tools" and encourage professors to cancel classes outright on March 9th if they need time to adapt their remaining classes.
Google explains how it's tackling the coronavirus outbreak
Google's efforts to inform people about the coronavirus outbreak extend well beyond a search alert. The company has outlined all the ways it's addressing COVID-19, including a bid to stamp out misinformation. On top of the SOS Alert (with news and tips) in web searches, you'll also see Knowledge Panels to explain the condition and how to deal with it. YouTube, meanwhile, will direct people to the WHO and local organizations through the homepage and provide ad space to government organizations in affected areas. Google Maps will also bring up "helpful and reliable local information," although the company didn't say what that entailed.
Konami’s TurboGrafx-16 mini has been delayed due to coronavirus
The TurboGrafx-16 is the latest system from the late '80s and early '90s to get a mini console revival and join the likes of the Nintendo NES Classic Edition and Sega Genesis Mini. Fans will have to wait, though, as production has been delayed indefinitely for both the western TurboGrafx-16 mini and the Japanese PC Engine Core Grafx mini consoles -- and you know why.
Apple is rejecting coronavirus apps to limit virus misinformation
Apple and Google are taking measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus misinformation from apps, according to a report from CNBC. Apple, for one, is rejecting all coronavirus-related mobile apps that aren't from the government or official health organizations, developers told the news organization. Google Play, meanwhile, is blocking all searches for coronavirus, though it's not clear if it's completely blocking app approvals, as well.
HBO is the latest to abandon SXSW because of coronavirus
HBO is the latest company to pull out of SXSW. Several other companies -- including Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Netflix and Twitter -- have done the same, as the coronavirus outbreak continues to cause concern. HBO said Thursday that its parent company Warner Media "decided it's best not to move forward with activations at SXSW," CNET reports.
Minecraft Festival is postponed due to coronavirus fears
Minecraft is such a cultural phenomenon that it was supposed to have its own three-day convention in September with interactive exhibits, co-op and competitive gameplay, live entertainment, panels and merch. Tickets to the first-ever Minecraft Festival in Orlando were set to go on sale this week. ReedPop -- which also organizes New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic Con -- has announced that the convention has been postponed by a full year due to the coronavirus outbreak. While the event was months away and the epidemic could be resolved by then, the partners, producers and exhibitors have hit a wall when it comes to planning the fest and ensuring a fun experience.
Coronavirus panic could spell the end for tech conventions
You know the scene: A man in a crisp suit stands on a dark, sterile stage at the head of a packed auditorium, surrounded by sleek screens. It's the year 2045 or 2060 or 3000, and the presenter delivers a sanctimonious speech about progress and humanity before revealing a product that will change the world. The audience goes wild. They get free, instant access to whatever piece of technology was just announced. And then, predictably, that gadget contributes to society's ultimate undoing. It's a common scene in modern sci-fi dramas, but for a story set in the future, it's dead wrong. Big, in-person tech conferences may be a staple of the industry today, but as global internet infrastructure takes root and live streams become ubiquitous, these shows will fall by the wayside. They'll become a symbol of a past era, that time when society was awkwardly transitioning from physical interactions to digital experiences.
Apple reportedly warns stores of iPhone replacement shortages
Apple's coronavirus-related iPhone supply shortage might cause problems if you total your handset in the near future. Apple store workers talking to Bloomberg say they've been warned that replacement iPhones will be in low supply for up to two to four weeks. Reps can reportedly mail out replacements and offer loaner iPhones in the meantime, but there's no guarantee you'll walk out of a Genius appointment with a brand new device in hand.
Pinterest is combating coronavirus misinformation with custom search results
Pinterest is taking a proactive step to stop the spread of coronavirus-related misinformation. The company told The Verge it's introducing a "custom search experience" to ensure its users can get reliable information when they turn to the platform for information about the epidemic.
Amazon drops out of SXSW due to coronavirus concerns
Following Twitter and Facebook, Amazon has become the latest high-profile company to drop out of South by Southwest (SXSW) 2020 due to coronavirus-related concerns. The company's Amazon Studios subsidiary and employees won't attend the annual music, technology and entertainment festival, according to Variety.
Facebook will run free WHO ads to counter coronavirus misinformation
In a status update Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has just posted, he detailed the social network's efforts to ensure you're getting the right information about your area's COVID-19 situation. When you search for "coronavirus" on Facebook, you'll see a pop-up or a card at the top of the search results that directs you to the World Health Organization or a local health authority's website for the latest updates. Facebook is even giving the WHO as many free ads as it needs for its coronavirus response measures and providing the organization the support it needs on the platform.
