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AMC warns it may run out of cash in January 2021
AMC has warned that it might run out of cash as soon as January 2021 as the pandemic and streaming push it to the breaking point.
Sega sells its arcade business due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Sega has sold its arcade business to amusement company Genda after the COVID-19 pandemic led to steep losses.
Apple's French and UK stores switch to Express pickups as lockdowns begin
With lockdowns starting today in the UK and last week in France, Apple Stores in those countries are switching gears. Starting tomorrow (November 6th) in the UK, Apple will switch stores over to Storefront service, offering “click-and-collect” pickup only and no Genius bar or shopping.
Facebook uses AI to forecast COVID-19 spread across the US
Facebook is using AI to forecast COVID-19 spread in the US, giving officials a chance to adapt to spikes in new cases.
The London Marathon will go ahead thanks to social-distancing wearables
The organizers of the London Marathon have announced that they will use distance-measuring ‘Bump’ devices to keep roughly 100 athletes safe as they participate in the men’s, women’s and wheelchair races. The hardware will also be worn by 500 members of staff that are necessary to carry out the event on Sunday (October 4th). “Tharsus’s Bump technology has played an important role, giving our athletes and internal teams extra confidence to engage with the event safely,” Hugh Brasher, event director for the London Marathon said.
NASA delays its Titan drone mission by another year
NASA is delaying the launch of its Dragonfly drone mission to Titan to 2027 due to the pandemic and other external setbacks.
Nintendo is ramping production to deal with Switch hardware shortages
Nintendo is boosting Switch production again to keep up with high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bird offers teachers free rides for the start of the school year
Are you a teacher? Would you like to use an e-scooter for the month of September? Get in touch with Bird.
LG made an air purifier for your face
Fancy wearing an air purifier on your face?
Abbott's 15-minute, $5 COVID-19 test gets FDA authorization
The BinaxNow $5 COVID-19 test works a lot like a home pregnancy test and can return results in 15 minutes. It's paired with an app, Navica, that intends to give users a "temporary digital health pass" to go with negative results.
Shudder's 'Host' finds the true horror in pandemic Zoom calls
Shudder's Host turns the insanity of pandemic lockdown life into Zoom-based horror.
Facebook and Twitter push back against links to 'Plandemic' sequel
On Facebook, it has blocked links to a coronavirus conspiracy video that's filled with misinformation. YouTube is blocking uploads while Twitter sends people who click on links to a warning page first.
Carvana made buying a car painless during pandemic hell
Carvana made it incredibly easy to buy a used car during the pandemic.
How it feels to survive Silicon Valley and a pandemic
It shouldn’t feel like it took a pandemic to get Twitter to boot 7,000 QAnon accounts (and crack down on 150,000 more related to the violent conspiracy group), but it does. At least Twitter is doing harm mitigation around its role in this interconnected disaster. Five months in, you’d think 145,000 American deaths would move platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to ban virus “truther” content, but nah.
Game developers say they're working longer hours due to the pandemic
Ahead of the all-digital “GDC Summer,” the Game Developers Conference polled nearly 2,500 game developers to get a sense of COVID-19’s impact on the industry.
Comcast’s public WiFi hotspots will remain free for the rest of 2020
Comcast's public WiFi hotspots will remain free to anyone for the remainder of 2020.
Airbnb and Bumble push virtual first dates to stay relevant
Airbnb is introducing a collection of Bumble-approved online experiences, and Bumble is kicking off a contest to give away 100 virtual first dates.
Virtual adoptions are literal lifesavers for rescue dogs during a pandemic
“We’re going to continue to have a more virtual presence going forward,” Boucher said. Feta’s clip says she’s happiest while going on walks. In a usual month, Rocket Dog Rescue was able to find homes for 30 dogs on average.
Maybe don't start playing 'The Last of Us' during a pandemic
I’ve never been a fan of capital-H horror games, and so always avoided The Last of Us on grounds that it was one. I started playing the title shortly before the UK went into lockdown, and was pretty gripped from the get-go, but I’ve had to stop.
Dyson to manufacture 15,000 ventilators following UK call for help
Many companies have offered to build much-needed ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, notably GM, Ford and Tesla. However, Dyson has now stepped up to the plate and the UK company known for vacuum cleaners and fans might have an edge over other non-ventilator makers. It developed the "CoVent" device in just ten days using Dyson's current digital motor technology, according to CNN, and has already received an order for 10,000 units from the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
