Sunday, January 30, 2022

The Verge - Entertainments

The Verge - Entertainments

Logitech’s outstanding StreamCam is on sale for nearly its best price to date

Posted: 29 Jan 2022 09:18 AM PST

Logitech StreamCam
Logi's popular, 1080p webcam is an ace when it comes to picture quality. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Ladies and gentlemen, the weekend deals! While some of us on the East Coast may be busy shoveling snow this Saturday morning, we hope many of you are having a restful weekend chock-full of deals and discounts.

Kicking things off on the deals front is Logitech's StreamCam, which is currently on sale in its graphite colorway at Amazon for $108. That's about $62 off the regular price of this excellent webcam, one we consider to be the best webcam you can buy in terms of image quality. The StreamCam is Logitech's flagship 1080p camera and is able to achieve 60 frames per second, allowing for a smooth, crisp look. The Capture software can also keep you centered in the frame, much like the Center Stage feature found on Apple's newer iPads, and the compact webcam can record in either landscape or portrait mode, a feature that makes editing clips for mobile that much easier. It doesn't go on sale too frequently, however, and today's price is only a few dollars shy of its all-time low.

The Beats Fit Pro are a new dark horse in the world of true wireless earbuds. While these days we often associate Apple-owned Beats with fitness-focused alternatives to the de facto standard AirPods line, the ANC-equipped Beats Fit Pro offer a comfy fit and outclass the pricier AirPods Pro in audio quality. Their only downsides are a clunkier case that does not offer wireless charging, and their tendency to not go on sale as much as the AirPods Pro. Well, that and the fact they still work a bit more seamlessly with iOS than Android.

Today, you can get the Beats Fit Pro with a $20 gift card at Amazon for $199.99, the full retail price. That may not be as good as last week's raw sale, which saw the earbuds discounted to $153, but it's a solid deal nonetheless. Read our review.

The Roborock S6 MaxV is a robot vacuum and mop with a solid feature set that includes AI-based obstacle avoidance, up to 180 minutes of runtime, programmable no-go zones, and integration with Amazon's Alexa. Roborock's top-of-the-line model normally sells for $750, but it's currently discounted to $460 at Amazon and Walmart (be sure to clip the on-page coupon on Amazon).

We have not tested this exact model, but our resident smart home reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy recently found a lot to like in its flagship counterpart, the Roborock S7 Plus. The latter vacuum sells for $950, so the S6 MaxV promises many of the same features — suction capacity, lidar navigation, tank size, etc. — for almost half the price. The S6 lacks the auto-empty dock found on the S7 Plus, but if your home is littered with toys and other potential obstacles, the MaxV might be the better bet.

If you're a PC gamer, the two biggest digital storefronts are both offering discounts worthy of your perusal right now. Both Epic Games and Steam are running Lunar New Year sales, offering various savings across a wide swath of titles. Steam's sale runs until 1PM EST / 10AM PST on February 3rd, while Epic is extending its sale through February 9th.

Additionally, you can once again get a $10 coupon from Epic to use on any full game purchase over $14.99. That means you can get new titles like Sony's excellent God of War PC port for $39.99, or fan favorites like Disco Elysium: The Final Cut for just $5.99. To take advantage of the coupon, however, you have to subscribe to Epic's newsletter and wait for the coupon to arrive in your inbox, which can take up to 24 hours.

Other great deals happening right now

Joni Mitchell removes music from Spotify in protest of Joe Rogan’s podcast

Posted: 29 Jan 2022 07:51 AM PST

Joni Mitchell Live

Joni Mitchell has decided to remove all of her music from Spotify, joining Neil Young in protest of Joe Rogan's podcast that Young says spreads misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines (via The Wall Street Journal).

"I've decided to remove all my music from Spotify," The Canadian singer-songwriter writes in a post on her website. "Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue."

Mitchell also includes a link to an open letter to Spotify, which was signed by dozens of medical and scientific professionals in mid-January. It urges the platform to establish a misinformation policy to address the "misleading and false claims" propagated by the Joe Rogan Experience, such as Rogan's suggestion that healthy young people shouldn't get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Earlier this week, Young gave Spotify an ultimatum: keep his music or Rogan's podcast. Spotify ended up favoring Rogan, and in line with Young's wishes, the platform pulled all of his music. Young later said he "felt better" after getting his music removed, and then criticized Spotify for failing to offer lossless audio, an option that both Amazon and Apple Music provide. Apple has even been using Young's departure from Spotify as an opportunity to take numerous digs at its competitor, going so far as to label Apple Music as "the home of Neil Young."

In 2020, Spotify made the Joe Rogan Experience exclusive to the platform, and it has since come under fire for Rogan's potentially misleading comments about COVID-19 and its vaccines. As it stands, it appears Spotify's content policies prevent the platform from doing anything about Rogan's podcast. In internal guidelines seen by The Verge, its policies seem to allow podcasters to state COVID-19 vaccines can cause death, but not that they're "designed" to cause death. A screenshot of an internal message also viewed by The Verge reveals Spotify has reviewed numerous controversial episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience, and none "meet the threshold for removal."

The Verge reached out to Spotify with a request for comment but didn't immediately hear back.

The best gaming headset deals you can get right now

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 03:38 PM PST

Logitech's budget-friendly G435 boasts color and comfort, as well as a host of solid features. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

A good gaming headset is practically a necessity these days. Clean and precise audio is essential for competitive gaming, allowing you not just to pinpoint your enemies, but communicate effectively with your teammates. Moreover, recent developments in spatial audio and virtual surround sound have allowed headsets to meet — and occasionally surpass — more expensive audio setups, allowing even the most budget-conscious gamer to obtain a competitive edge at a fraction of the price.

While you could always invest in a massive pair of speakers, they're likely to earn you the dubious distinction of the worst roommate of the decade. Thankfully, the right headset will allow you to keep the running and gunning to yourself, which is why we've rounded up a collection of the best deals you can currently find on some of our favorite models.

For the sake of clarity, we've broken the deals down into two categories: wireless and wired. The former is tailored toward gamers looking for a little less clutter in their setup, while the latter is aimed at anyone who doesn't mind a little extra cabling, or is looking for a headset that's a little more budget-friendly.

The best wireless gaming headset deals

Logitech G435

Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Definitely the boldest headset on our list, the Logitech G435 is a gaming headset perfect for anyone that isn't afraid to make a statement. This comfortable, colorful headset is available in the blue colorway at Amazon and Walmart for $59, a modest $21 discount.

This on-ear headset has both Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz wireless connectivity, making it compatible with PCs in addition to consoles and mobile devices. The 18-hour battery life is impressive, too, and while it does lack the more traditional 3.5mm audio jack, the included USB-C cable can be used to simultaneously charge and listen.

While the lightweight headset lacks the prevalent boom-mic design used by other headsets in this category — it opts for beamforming microphones — the integrated mic still manages to provide an adequate audio input solution. This has the added benefit of giving the headset a more traditional, on-ear profile, giving you the option of wearing these in public without broadcasting your gamer status.

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch (via 3.5mm audio)

The wireless version of the esports-inspired BlackShark headset from Razer boasts a lightweight, aviator design, and is currently discounted to $139.99 at Gamestop and $149.99 at Amazon. This isn't the lowest price we've seen the comfortable headset go for, but it remains a solid discount on an excellent gaming headset that normally retails for $179.99.

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is sturdy and perfectly suited for extended play sessions. The only break in its otherwise innocuous profile is a dedicated knob on the right earcup that allows for quick adjustments to volume when necessary and its detachable boom mic. The headset also features a 3.5mm audio jack and can be paired via 2.4Ghz wireless thanks to the included dongle, but the lack of Bluetooth is a bit disappointing. The V2 Pro is THX 7.1 surround capable, too, but this requires the purchase of a separate THX Spatial Audio license through Razer that costs $19.99.

In terms of battery life, the V2 Pro is capable of lasting up to 24 hours on a single charge, making it one of the longer-lasting headphones on the market. Sadly, however, it still relies on Micro USB for charging.

Razer Barracuda X

Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S (via 3.5mm), Nintendo Switch

The Razer Barracuda X, another solid entry from team green, is definitely one of Razer's more versatile (and affordable) options when it comes to wireless gaming headsets. It typically retails for $99.99, but the black colorway is on sale at GameStop, Target, and Amazon right now for $79.99, just $10 shy of its best price to date.

The Barracuda X is a fairly unremarkable headset at first glance given its standard design, but despite its bulkier profile, is actually lighter than the Razer BlackShark series of headsets. Our initial impressions by Verge staffer Cameron Faulkner noted how comfortable the Barracuda X was, even after several hours of wear, and mentioned that the design sets a strong precedent for potential future iterations.

While the lack of Bluetooth makes the Barracuda X a poor choice for mobile gaming, the 2.4Ghz wireless dongle uses a USB-C connection, meaning that you won't have to rely on a 3.5mm audio cable to use the headset with your Nintendo Switch. The USB-C dongle can enable wireless connectivity with PS4 and PS5 thanks to the included adapter, but can't be used with Microsoft consoles unless you use a wired connection.

Victrix Gambit Wireless Gaming Headset

Compatible with Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC

While you may not have heard of Victrix, its parent company PDP has been developing headsets and other accessories for some time. The Victrix Gambit is a well-rounded wireless headset with a focus on esports and two different models dedicated to Microsoft and PlayStation consoles. The headset uses a familiar design, with leatherette ear cups and an adjustable plastic headband, and while the boom mic isn't removable, it can be flipped up to quickly mute it. The left earcup also has a dedicated dial for balancing game and chat audio, and a button that allows you to switch between three levels of mic sensitivity.

The headset can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, but, like the aforementioned BlackShark 2 Pro, it's reliant on Micro USB for charging. The compatibility of the headset depends on which model you decide to pick up, too, which is disappointing but can be bypassed if you use a 3.5mm audio connection.

Normally $129.99, both the Xbox and PlayStation models are currently on sale for their lowest price to date. The Xbox model is currently going for $110.50 at Amazon and Target, while the PlayStation model is on sale for $78.70 at Amazon and Walmart. Just note that, if you're planning to use this headset with your PC, you'll need to purchase the Xbox model.

The best wired gaming headset deals

Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset

Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

Our top entry in the wired category gets serious points for opting for a super-clean aesthetic. The Logitech G Pro headset was designed with esports in mind and is currently available at GameStop, Amazon, and Logitech for $79.99, a steep discount on its typical $99.99 price tag. This is one of the lower prices we've seen for this particular headset, which was already a substantial value prior to the current discount.

The G Pro is remarkably simple in terms of its appearance, with no visible knobs or buttons, and no extra ports with the exception of a second 3.5mm audio jack for the detachable boom mic. In addition to the expected 3.5mm audio cable, the G Pro also comes packaged with velour ear pads that can be swapped with the standard leatherette earcups, as well as an external USB DAC that can be used to fine-tune your audio experience on PC using Logitech's G Hub software.

JBL Quantum 400

Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

A headset that knows its audience, the JBL Quantum 400 definitely makes a statement with its aesthetics. In addition to its slightly bulky profile, each earcup sports an addressable RGB logo and a boom mic that can be flipped up when not in use. Thankfully, most of that bulk is dedicated to the extremely thick padding on the headband and both earcups.

Between the included USB-C and 3.5mm audio cable, the Quantum 400 is compatible with all current consoles. However, you may have some issues connecting the headset to your mobile device unless you opt for a double-sided USB-C connection. Normally $99.99, the headset is currently on sale at GameStop, Best Buy, and Amazon for $79.95, its second-best price to date.

HyperX Cloud II

Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

Reminiscent of the minimalist designs used by Logitech and Corsair, the HyperX Cloud II is a simple and effective headset that's currently on sale for $29.99 at Amazon and Best Buy. This matches the lowest price we've seen for this headset, which usually retails for $99.99.

The Cloud II is a versatile, wired headset that's remarkably comfortable and features audio fidelity that's typically reserved for headsets that cost twice as much. The 53mm drivers delivery sound that is both punchy and balanced, much like those found in the wireless version we reviewed in 2020, and there's a virtual 7.1 surround sound mode for added effect. The headset also features a detachable, noise-canceling mic, as well as inline remote for adjusting the volume of both the mic and audio playback.

It may not be as capable as its wireless sibling, but the HyperX Cloud II remains an excellent option that's compatible with all contemporary consoles and mobile devices as long as you have a USB-C adapter.

Here is the Spotify COVID content policy that lets Joe Rogan slide

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 02:46 PM PST

Image: Joe Rogan

Spotify employees are vocally upset inside the company over the streaming platform's deal with Joe Rogan due to his views on COVID vaccines, but their executive leadership has mostly stayed quiet both inside and outside the firm. Today, however, Dustee Jenkins, Spotify's head of global communications and public relations, posted a message to the company Slack addressing employee concerns about Joe Rogan's presence on the platform after Neil Young removed his music in protest.

In screenshots viewed by The Verge, Jenkins said she "lead[s] Public Affairs" and that the company has reviewed multiple controversial Joe Rogan Experience episodes and determined they "didn't meet the threshold for removal." She adds that Spotify employs an "internal team of some of the best experts in the space" and also works with third parties who "advise us and help us evolve our policies given what's going on in the world around us."

She added: "What Spotify hasn't done is move fast enough to share these policies externally, and are working to address that as soon as possible."

The message also links to an internal company content guidelines page, which The Verge has viewed. Jenkins said these rules have been in place "for years." The entire healthcare guidelines section is reproduced below. It prohibits:

Content that promotes dangerous false or deceptive content about healthcare that may cause offline harm and/or pose a direct threat to public health such as:

Denying the existence of AIDS or COVID-19

Encouraging the deliberate contracting of a serious or life threatening disease or illness

Suggesting that consuming bleach can cure various illnesses and diseases

Suggesting that wearing a mask will cause the wearer imminent, life-threatening physical harm

Promoting or suggesting that the vaccines are designed to cause death

These guidelines seemingly allow podcasters to say the vaccines cause death — just not that they are designed to cause death. Similarly, they allow podcasters to say wearing a mask is ineffective, just not that wearing masks will cause imminent, life-threatening harm.

The Verge has reached out for comment on Jenkins' statement, the content policy, and when Spotify plans to publicize this policy and hasn't heard back.

"We apply our policies consistently and objectively," Jenkins wrote. "They are not influenced by the media cycle, calls from any one individual or from external partners. It doesn't mean I personally agree with this content. But I trust our policies and the rationale behind them."

"Every creator must abide by our policies," she added.

Related:

Pokémon’s next Daniel Arsham art collaboration reaches across time and space

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 01:56 PM PST

Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK Inc./TV Tokyo

While Pokémon Arceus is revealing all new things about the franchise's past, artist Daniel Arsham's next collaboration with The Pokémon Company is all about a ruined, fossilized future.

Building on the larger themes of his previous two Pokémon projects, "Relics of Kanto Through Time" and "Time Dilation," Arsham's upcoming "A Ripple in Time" exhibition opening in Tokyo will feature a variety of Pokémon works of art meant to evoke the passage of time. In addition to paintings, drawings, and Arsham's signature Pokémon statues inspired by architecture and the concept of fictional archaeology, "A Ripple in Time" will also feature an "animated work" produced by Arsham and Kunihiko Yuyama, former general director of the Pokémon anime who now acts as creative supervisor. According to a press release about the exhibition, this project came to be "at the strong request of Arsham himself," who worked alongside Yuyama to map out elements of the animated art piece ranging from storyboarding to finishing.

The short teaser video of "A Ripple in Time" pits Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu against Arsham and his Cubone in a battle presumably set some time in the not-too-distant past given the outfits everyone's wearing and Misty's Togepi still being a Togepi. When the battling Pokémon's combined attacks accidentally slam into an onlooking Celebi — legendary Pokémon known for its time-traveling abilities — the resulting explosion leads to Ash being transported to a strange, apocalyptic future filled with art very much like the real Arsham's.

One of five separate exhibitions that make up the larger "A Ripple in Time" project, the animated work will debut at Nanzuka Underground on February 10.

Watchdog closes probe into Ubisoft Singapore and will not take action

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 11:03 AM PST

The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices' case is closing its case. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

A Singaporean employment watchdog has closed an investigation against Ubisoft Singapore that was opened following allegations of a toxic studio culture and says it will not be taking action against the company. The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) investigation was opened last summer after Kotaku published an extensive article detailing alleged issues at the company based on interviews with more than 20 current and former employees. The claims included racial pay disparity, sexual harassment, and an HR department that allegedly took little action in response to reports.

The TAFEP shared two key findings in a press release sent to The Verge. The first was that "Ubisoft Singapore has a structured process to remunerate its employees fairly, which does not disadvantage Singaporeans based on nationality or race." According to the TAFEP, Ubisoft hired an independent HR firm to review its salary structure, and the studio shared what the firm found with the TAFEP. The watchdog said it did its own checks to verify the results. "The findings show that employees' salaries were performance-based, and there were reasonable justifications where there was disparity, such as differences in experience or seniority," the TAFEP says.

The TAFEP's second key finding was that "Ubisoft Singapore handled the workplace harassment reports that it received appropriately." Ubisoft has "a structured system to manage workplace harassment," and Ubisoft has investigated "every report it received," according to the TAFEP's press release.

In its own statement, Ubisoft says it fully cooperated with TAFEP during the investigation. "We've put best practices in place at Ubisoft Singapore to ensure a safe, respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace for every member of our team," says Ubisoft Singapore managing director Darryl Long. "We will continue striving to be an exemplary employer in Singapore and the region, one that attracts and retains the best talents and creates amazing games that enrich the lives of our players."

The end of the investigation arrives amid a broader cultural reckoning in the gaming industry. Allegations of culture problems at Ubisoft surfaced in the summer of 2020, and while the company said at the time that it was making changes, the results of a company survey published in October 2020 found that 25 percent of employees had seen or experienced workplace misconduct. Although the company discussed its progress in a May 24th blog post penned by CEO Yves Guillemot, an investigation by French publication Le Télégramme from earlier that month still found many shortcomings.

Activision Blizzard is also under intense scrutiny following the state of California's lawsuit alleging the company fostered a toxic culture. Riot Games recently announced a $100 million settlement deal in a discrimination and harassment lawsuit brought by female employees.

Vergecast: Spotify’s latest Joe Rogan problem, Intel’s bet on Ohio, and Q4 earnings for Big Tech

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 07:39 AM PST

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge | Photo by Vivian Zink/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Every Friday, The Verge publishes our flagship podcast, The Vergecast, where we discuss the week in tech news with the reporters and editors covering the biggest stories.

This week, it's time for earnings reports again! The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and Tom Warren look at how profitable the big tech companies like Microsoft, Samsung, Intel, and Tesla were in Q4 of 2021. The crew discusses the surprises, the non-surprises, as well as upcoming plans for these companies for 2022 and beyond.

Later in the show, Casey Newton, contributing editor and editor of Platformer, joins the show to discuss Spotify's latest controversy regarding Joe Rogan's podcast, leading to musician Neil Young removing his music from the platform. Will this have any impact on Spotify's moderation policies? What are Spotify's moderation policies?

You can listen to the full episode of The Vergecast here or in your preferred podcast player.

Stories discussed in this episode:

The eject button held all the power on the original Xbox

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 06:30 AM PST

The most important button on the original Xbox wasn't the power button: it was the button to eject the disc tray.

Conceptually, this doesn't make sense. Of course the power button should be the most important button — it turns on (and off) the whole console. But that attitude is steeped in our understanding of modern devices, where our games and apps are far more self-contained than they were during the original Xbox's heyday.

The console's design reflects the eject button's priority. The disc eject button is bigger, higher up, and surrounded by an LED ring in the console's iconic green glow, drawing even more attention to it.

The reasoning here is simple: the original Xbox (like its contemporaries and predecessors) was useless without discs for games, DVDs, and CDs. Without the disc tray button, your Xbox was never more than a hulking hunk of green and black plastic. So Microsoft wanted to direct you toward that button because it meant that you had bought a game and were ready to play or that you wanted to swap out discs to play something else.

A powered on Xbox with a broken disc tray was a useless thing; an Xbox with an open tray was one primed and ready to launch you into your next video game adventure. Is it any wonder that Microsoft prioritized the disc eject button in its design?

It's a legacy that exists elsewhere in the console universe. The original Playstation and PlayStation 2 both feature power buttons the same size as their disc tray buttons; the Nintendo GameCube does, too, emphasizing its lid eject button with an extra physical dimple that the other power and reset buttons lacked. But the original Xbox wins out in its glorification of the eject button by making it the single biggest and flashiest button on the entire console.

The Xbox's successors, though, also tell a story of how discs became less and less a critical part of video games over the years. Take the original Xbox 360, for instance. The tray eject button is still prominent, located on the side of the drive itself, but it's no longer in the spotlight. The power button has eclipsed it, now huge and festooned with LED lights that could indicate connected controllers (or critical hardware failures).

That shift in focus away from the disc drive coincided with an increase in functionality for the console itself. The Xbox 360 could function without a game inserted; it had a hard drive that you could download games to and internet connectivity to buy and rent movies and TV shows. It's a trend that continues over the course of the 360's history. The subsequent 360 Slim and 360 E iterations would continue to shrink down the disc eject button while simultaneously putting more emphasis on the power button, adding chrome details to further highlight it.

The Xbox One generation would go a step further. For the first time, buying games entirely digitally was a feasible prospect with the new console, and the scale between the console's lit-up, Xbox logo-shaped power icon and the tiny capacitive disc eject button reflect that. The Xbox One S would take the trend to the ultimate expression: the Digital version of that console simply lacked a disc drive (and its corresponding button).

Which brings us to the modern generation of Xbox consoles. The Xbox Series S dispenses with discs entirely — all games purchased and played have to be done through Microsoft's store. But even the Xbox Series X shows a fundamental shift in how we interact with consoles. The power button is as big as ever, but the eject button has been reduced to a speck next to the drive itself. And even the discs are largely vestigial. Modern games all run on the console's internal drive today. Buying a game on a disc just means avoiding an initial download so the base game files can be copied off the Blu-ray instead, and usually, that just precedes a lengthy download of patches and updates from the internet.

The history of the disc eject button is a story of the video game ecosystem in miniature: a shrinking detail across four generations of consoles that reflects a much bigger shift in the way we buy and play games today.

Fortnite’s return to iOS via GeForce Now feels just fine

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 06:00 AM PST

The game plays much better than I expected.

Fortnite hasn't been available on iOS since Apple yanked it from the App Store in August 2020, but I've been able to play it on my iPhone once again thanks to a closed beta on Nvidia's GeForce Now cloud gaming service. While it's not quite as seamless an experience as using a native app, this GeForce Now loophole works a lot better than I expected.

With this closed beta, you'll be playing a mobile-optimized version of the game. If you've tried Fortnite on iOS or Android before, the layout should feel familiar — the experience is well-designed for touch, with easy-to-navigate menus and large (though finicky) onscreen controls. This GeForce Now version also supports controllers, and I've played most matches with my iPhone plugged into my Backbone One.

The graphics aren't amazing, but if that means the game plays smoother, I can deal.

The game feels as responsive as if I was playing on my Nintendo Switch or on my PS5, and I haven't had any issues with latency. Your mileage may vary based on your internet connection, of course, and maybe I've just had a string of good luck. But I never felt like the fact it was streaming from the cloud hindered my ability to keep up in an intense firefight. Frankly, my biggest complaint with playing Fortnite on GeForce Now on my iPhone is that the screen feels too small, and that's probably because I'm using an iPhone 12 Mini, which I can't fault the streaming service for.

Until Apple allows the native Fortnite app back on the App Store, Nvidia and Epic Games have made an excellent workaround. My only other GeForce Now experience was with Inscryption, and while that was also very smooth, the turn-based card mechanics of that game don't require any twitchy movements that could be affected by lag. Fortnite is much more action-heavy, requiring fast reflexes and quick thinking, but this touch-optimized version of the game I've streamed from GeForce Now plays as if it was installed on my phone.

This wasn't a wise place to drop.

That said, it's unclear when this GeForce Now version might be available more widely. You have to request access to the closed beta, and admission isn't guaranteed, Nvidia says on its website. The beta is also only running for a vague "limited time." But if you've been wanting to jump onto the newly flipped Fortnite island on your iPhone, you might want to sign up for the closed beta. Sure, you might have to wait a while until you can check it out, but you'll almost certainly be waiting longer for the native app to come back to the App Store.

Apple trolls Spotify with Neil Young tweets, playlists, and push notifications

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 03:38 AM PST

"We Love Neil" — subtle stuff. | Image: Apple Music / The Verge

Earlier this week, Neil Young pulled his music from Spotify after falling out with the platform over its hosting of Joe Rogan and COVID misinformation. So now, of course, rival streamer Apple Music is courting Young and his fans, sending out tweets, playlists, and even push notifications to brand itself as "The home of Neil Young."

It's all a bit of theatrical silliness, of course. Neil Young is a legendary songwriter, yes, but his presence or absence won't decide the fate of this or that streaming platform. He's no Kanye or Taylor Swift. Instead, Apple is simply indulging in the time-honored corporate tradition of inserting itself into a relevant news cycle while the going is good.

The company's not been subtle about it either. It even placed a playlist of Young's music at the front of its "browse" section under the heading "We Love Neil."

Pettiness aside, the spat does highlight differences between the two streamers. As The Verge's Ashley Carman pointed out in a piece unpacking the decision to keep Rogan over Young, Spotify has put much more stock in podcasts in recent years as part a wider plan to diversify its content. Apple Music, by comparison, tends to presents itself as more of a pure music sell (not least because Apple has its own separate podcasts platform).

All the while this market triangulation continues, Spotify has actually been losing a little market share against rivals. Recent data from analysis agency Midia Research showed that while Spotify was the most popular music streaming service by a wide margin in 2021, with 31 percent of the market compared to second place Apple Music's 15 percent, that figure had dipped from a 33 percent market share in 2020.

Spotify still grew in terms of the absolute number of subscribers along with the whole market, but it illustrates that the company's lead is by no means secured forever.
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