Masks, temperature checks and no hugs with Mickey Mouse greeted visitors to Disneyland in California on Friday as Walt Disney’s original theme park reopened for the first time in over a year.
Under coronavirus pandemic guidelines, "The Happiest Place on Earth" was opened only to California residents and capacity was limited to 25% to allow for social distancing.
"It was just really nice to be back around all the energy, and the cast members were so welcoming," said Lauren England, one of the first day visitors.
Guests, age 2 and older, were required to wear face masks and there were none of the usual hugs with costumed characters like Mickey Mouse and Snow White.
There will be no parades, and the nightly fireworks displays have been put on hold to prevent crowds from gathering closely together.
A woman takes a selfie outside Disneyland Park on its reopening day amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Anaheim, California, U.S., April 30, 2021. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Jocelyn Bonilla, who was among more than 28,000 U.S. Disney theme park workers to be furloughed during the long closure, was delighted to be back.
"I am one of the ones that got let go, so it feels good to be back," she said. "Seeing everyone back, seeing everything back to normal, it's amazing."
Tickets to Disneyland are sold out through mid-June, according to the park's online reservation system, but there is more availability in the adjacent California Adventure.
Disneyland, located 35 miles south of Los Angeles in Anaheim, opened in 1955.
Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) closed its theme parks around the world in March 2020 to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company's most-visited resort, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, reopened in July 2020.
Disneyland Paris is currently closed. Disney parks in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong are open.
The Hollywood heavyweights dated from 2002-2004 and even became engaged early in the relationship.
The two were a tabloid sensation at the time and it was nearly impossible to miss even the smallest story.
The interest in their relationship makes sense with the two of them being two of Hollywood's biggest stars at the time, but interest in the pair quickly dwindled when the public became sick of seeing them everywhere.
Affleck, now 48, and Lopez, now 51, famously collaborated a handful of times, including on the 2003 bomb of a film, "Gigli."
Perhaps better known, however, was Affleck's appearance in the "Jenny from the Block" music video in 2002.
Appearances by the actor were spread throughout the four-minute video, but the clip was filled with images of cuddling, kissing and even sensual touching, such as the "Good Will Hunting" star rubbing lotion on the singer's bikini-clad backside.
While it seems that the two enjoyed themselves at the time, Affleck doesn't look back so fondly on the memory.
"If I have a regret, it was doing the ['Jenny from the Block'] music video," he said in 2008, according to the Daily Record. "But that happened years ago. I've moved on."
The "regret" comes from the couple quickly becoming publicly detested for their frequent public displays of affection, though Affleck doesn't hold anything against his former fiancée.
Ben Affleck has expressed 'regret' over starring in Jennifer Lopez's 'Jenny from the Block' music video. (Getty Images)
"It not only makes me look like a petulant fool, but it surely qualifies as ungentlemanly?" he added. "For the record, did she hurt my career? No."
It certainly didn't hurt his career, as he'd go on to win his second Oscar in 2013 for producing "Argo." He's also played Batman in a number of high-profile films in recent years and earned rave reviews for his performance in last year's "The Way Back."
Lopez has also been met with impressive success both in music and film. Most recently, she released the single "In The Morning" and was considered one of 2020's biggest Oscar snubs after starring in "Hustlers."
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
May 01, 2021 at 05:32AM
https://ift.tt/3eae7QO
Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck: Why the actor has 'regret' over starring in 'Jenny from the Block' video - Fox News
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2RiDqlG
An ongoing feud between Google and Roku hit a new level this morning as YouTube TV left the platform, but now Google is speaking on its side of the story, and, well, it’s clear Roku isn’t as innocent as many thought.
In a blog post, Google explains that Roku was the one who “chose” to renegotiate the terms of YouTube TV distribution on the platform when “initial conversations” were only set to renew the current, now previous terms of the “ongoing deal.”
Our initial conversations started with Roku simply to renew the current terms of their ongoing deal with YouTube TV, which has been in place for several years. Our offer to Roku was simple and still stands: Renew the YouTube TV deal under the existing reasonable terms.
Roku originally told users that Google was using its position to impose “anticompetitive” terms against the platform including modifying search results and demanding more expensive hardware.
Google directly says that Roku’s claims of YouTube and YouTube TV altering search results are “baseless and false.”
To be clear, we have never, as they have alleged, made any requests to access user data or interfere with search results. This claim is baseless and false.
Google further explains that Roku requested “exceptions” for the technical requirements that Google lays out for a “high-quality experience” on YouTube. Apparently, those exceptions from Roku would “break the YouTube experience and limit our ability to update YouTube in order to fix issues or add new features.” The company points to video codecs specifically, saying that 4K HDR or 8K may not work even if the Roku purchased supports these resolutions. This hints at AV1, something that’s widely been speculated as a source of contention between the two companies.
Our agreements with partners have technical requirements to ensure a high-quality experience on YouTube. Roku requested exceptions that would break the YouTube experience and limit our ability to update YouTube in order to fix issues or add new features. For example, by not supporting open-source video codecs, you wouldn’t be able to watch YouTube in 4K HDR or 8K even if you bought a Roku device that supports that resolution.
As Roku explained this morning, the YouTube TV app is being removed for downloads but remains in place for current users. Google reiterates this point, and it sounds like the company has no intention of removing the app entirely.
Google again mentioned that “Roku has often engaged in this tactic with other streaming providers” when explaining that Roku terminated the deal in “bad faith” during negotiations.
Notably, Google is directly telling YouTube TV customers to tweet Roku regarding the removal a tactic Roku also asked of its customers. An email reads in part:
In light of Roku’s current stance, we encourage you to reach out to their customer support team to request they keep YouTube TV on Roku devices here or tweet @roku.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Technology - Latest - Google News
April 30, 2021 at 11:01PM
https://ift.tt/335IqSm
Google: Roku ‘chose to renegotiate’ YouTube TV deal, calls accusations ‘baseless and false’ - 9to5Google
Technology - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2AaD5dD
Josh Duggar, who appeared alongside his parents and 18 siblings on the reality show "19 Kids and Counting," faces charges of downloading and possessing child pornography, according to a federal indictment unsealed Friday.
The news comes just days after Duggar, 33, and his wife Anna Duggar, announced they are expecting their seventh child.
According to court documents, in May 2019, Duggar allegedly used the internet to download child pornography, some of which depicts the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12. He is charged with receiving and possessing child pornography.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 on each count, if convicted.
Duggar's case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative that combats the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
In 2015, In Touch magazine published a 2006 police report that claimed Duggar sexually molested five girls as far back as 2002. The incidents were not reported to police until 2006 and authorities could not pursue charges because the statute of limitations had passed.
Duggar, the oldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 19 children, resigned from his position at the Family Research Council in Washington, a nongovernmental organization that says its mission is to "advance faith, family and freedom in public policy and the culture from a Christian worldview."
"I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation," he said.
His wife, Anna, also released a statement, revealing that her husband admitted his past wrongdoings to her two years before they got engaged. At the time, the couple only had two children.
The family's reality show was cancelled by TLC in July 2015. In a statement, the company said: "The recent attention around the Duggars has sparked a critical and important conversation about child protection. Over these past weeks, TLC has consulted regularly with leading victims' rights and advocacy organizations in the U.S., including RAINN and Darkness to Light, to discuss how to use this moment to address the issue and make a positive impact. Unfortunately, child sexual abuse is not an isolated issue; it affects many children and families around the world."
Although Duggar didn't address the dating site directly, the former reality TV star released a statement, saying: "I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife."
He later changed the statement to read: "I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have been unfaithful to my wife."
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
May 01, 2021 at 07:29AM
https://ift.tt/3vBr5fZ
Josh Duggar, "19 Kids and Counting" star, facing child pornography charges in Arkansas - CBS News
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2RiDqlG
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have been spending time together in Los Angeles after her split from Alex Rodriguez, sources exclusively tell Page Six.
The Oscar winner has been spotted multiple times going to J.Lo’s California home during the day, we hear, after having been picked up in a white Escalade SUV that allegedly belongs to Lopez and then taken to her nearby mansion.
While the pair have not been spotted together, a source told Page Six, “Security picks him up at a nearby location and drops him off after spending a few hours at her house.”
Jennifer Lopez pictured in her white Escalade on April 29.BACKGRIDJennifer Lopez driving away in her white Escalade SUV on April 29.BACKGRID
Affleck, 48, has allegedly visited Lopez, 51, three times since she returned to Los Angeles from shooting her new film, “Shotgun Wedding,” in the Dominican Republic.
But sources close to the stars tell us they are just friendly and have remained so over the years.
An insider said: “They are friends … they’ve never not been.”
Ben Affleck gets dropped off at Bel-Air Hotel on April 29.BACKGRID
But A-Rod wasn’t the only former fiancé Lopez has allegedly seen since she got back in town.
Sources told us that Affleck was spotted at the same hotel a day before J.Lo saw A-Rod, on April 22, being dropped off by a white SUV — which later drove Lopez and a business associate to a business meeting.
Ben Affleck walks up to the Bel-Air Hotel after being dropped off by a car that allegedly belongs to Jennifer Lopez on April 29.BACKGRID
Days later, on April 28, Affleck was allegedly seen coming out of Lopez’s Bel Air home, sources said.
He was spotted again the next day, April 29, dropping his car at the Hotel Bel-Air in the morning and being picked up by the same white Escalade to go to J.Lo’s home. About 3½ hours later, the same white SUV dropped him back at the hotel’s valet, sources said.
Affleck was photographed exiting the white SUV in a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers, with a green backpack. He was also photographed leaving his car at the hotel.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, pictured here in the early ’00s, broke up in 2004.FilmMagic
J.Lo has been seeing famous friends after her breakup with Rodriguez. “When you’re that famous, who are you going to talk to? People who you know, other famous people,” a source said.
Lopez has reportedly been leaning on another ex, Marc Anthony, in the wake of the split, and has also seen her longtime friend Leah Remini.
Reps for Affleck and Lopez did not comment.
Page Six exclusively reported in March that J.Lo and A-Rod were breaking up — though they subsequently said they were “working through some things” before eventually pulling the plug. They’d been engaged since 2019.
Lopez has been rehearsing for “Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World,” hosted by Selena Gomez and also featuring Eddie Vedder, J Balvin and Foo Fighters.
He told the mag: “I thought I had a good work ethic, but I was completely humbled and blown away by what she was committed to doing day in and day out, the seriousness in which she took her work, the quiet and dedicated way she went about accomplishing her goals, and then how she would go back and redouble her efforts.”
Affleck also said, “Where are you keeping the fountain of youth? Why do you look the same as you did in 2003 and it kind of looks like I’m in my 40s … at best?”
Lopez shares 13-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with ex-husband Anthony, while Affleck shares three children, Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner. Affleck recently spent quarantine shacked up with Ana de Armas. The couple split in January.
It seems hard to overstate. Disneyland and California Adventure reopened Friday after 13 months, a tangible sign of a return to normalcy and an upbeat revival at an iconic site – albeit at 25% capacity, for California residents only, and with social distancing and mask wearing.
A line formed outside the gate before the 9 am opening time and park goers were active on social media sharing and tearing up. Disney’s executive chairman Bob Iger was there snapping pictures. Some fans snapped pics of him, others caught glimpses of CEO Bob Chapek, who gave a speech to staffers this morning before opening. Cast members lined Main Street waving at guests. Outlets reported some park goers sobbing and whooping with joy.
“A truly happy day at the happiest place on earth,” tweeted Iger. He and Disney had lobbied hard for an earlier opening and against tiered restrictions set by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“The reopening of Disneyland, which was shut down in March of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “is a monumental day for Anaheim,” tweeted a gleeful city spokesman Mike Lyster.
California theme parks are a big source of state and local tax revenue and general economic booster. They’re also key to Disney’s bottom line. Parks have been the entertainment segment about the hardest hit entertainment by the global pandemic besides movie theaters and live events. Park closures have cost both Walt Disney and NBUniversal parent Comcast billions of dollars.
Over the past year, California amusement parks have taken issue with Governor Gavin Newsom’s strict closure rules for their properties. In fact, Newsom revealed Iger quit the state task force for economic recovery over their disagreements about reopenings.
Even more recently, there has been confusion over whether fully-vaccinated out-of-state visitors are allowed at parks. Certainly they represent significant revenue for California’s beleaguered parks.
State and local guidelines are confusing — if not contradictory — and while Sea World in San Diego has begun allowing such visitors, most of the big California parks have not. Disneyland has said outright that it will not allow out-of-state visits until the rules are clearer.
It certainly sounded like the state was open for such business yesterday when Newsom held a press conference to sign into law a $6.2 billion tax cut benefitting the hardest hit small businesses in the state.
“We want to see tourism, but we want to see people hear vaccinated,” said the governor Thursday. “So as it relates to time parks that will be reopening, I’ll be down at Universal tomorrow, as an example, visiting with their employees. We want to make sure that visitors to Universal, Disneyland that come from out of the state are vaccinated [so that] we keep everybody safe, we keep this disease at bay.”
Deadline confirmed today with a California Department of Public Health spokesperson that state guidelines permit fully vaccinated people from out of state to participate in activities restricted to in-state visitors. This includes theme parks.
Only four months ago, California was fighting hard to contain a new Covid wave that overran hospitals and was killing hundreds of people a day. The rapid vaccine rollout and waning cases across the U.S. have many fully open or setting dates to do it.
At Disneyland today, fans headed happily to attractions from Haunted Mansion to Pirates of the Caribbean. “Inside The Magic” fan blog noted only one glitch, a brief closure of the Indiana Jones Adventure just after the gates opened.
REPOST from Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Disney family, join us as we welcome back Cast Members and guests to @Disneyland on this historic reopening day, April 30, 2021! #magicishere#disneylandpic.twitter.com/uPJFnKI3VQ
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
May 01, 2021 at 01:39AM
https://ift.tt/3gPuaVF
Disneyland’s Back! Bob Iger Snaps Photos, Guests Sob With Joy, Cast Members Line Main Street Waving, City Of Anaheim Exults - Deadline
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2RiDqlG
As previously announced, today is the day: orders are open on the Apple Store and through other retailers for the remaining hardware products that Apple announced on April 20: the 24-inch iMac and the new iPad Pro and Apple TV 4K.
Yesterday, we reported that multiple leaks seemed to reveal a May 21 ship date for these products, and those leaks turned out to be correct. The initial ship date for all of the above was May 21, but ship estimates have slipped slightly due to demand for some products—and significantly for others.
Specifically, most configurations of the 24-inch iMac, 11-inch iPad Pro, and Apple TV 4K are currently showing ship dates between May 21 and 27, while some specific configurations of the iMac and 11-inch iPad Pro are shipping in early June. The worst case, though, is the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which in some configurations is shipping as late as July.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a Mini LED display similar to the one seen in Apple's Pro Display XDR monitor, as well as recent high-end consumer LCD TVs. The 11-inch model still has the previous generation's display technology and is shipping sooner, suggesting that the new display tech is a bottleneck.
The other major improvement in both new iPad Pro models is the inclusion of the M1 system-on-a-chip seen in recent Macs. That chip also powers the new 24-inch iMac, which comes in multiple colors and has been redesigned visually since the last 21.5-inch model it (mostly) replaces.
The Apple TV 4K has seen the least dramatic changes of the new devices. For most use cases, it's identical to its predecessor. Compared to the version that was on sale before today, it has a faster processor; it went from Apple's A10 to the A12. And it has an HDMI 2.1 port, which may allow it to support 120 Hz playback and other modern TV features in the future.
The biggest change is arguably a redesigned remote, but that remote is also available on its own (it's compatible with the previous generation) as well as in a bundle with the lower-end Apple TV HD.
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
April 30, 2021 at 07:00PM
https://ift.tt/3u6wBXR
Josh Duggar Arrested in Arkansas, Sister Jill Reacts: 'It's Very Sad' (Exclusive) - Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2RiDqlG
Coel had retweeted the story last night without comment. Today, she took to Twitter to add that she wanted to offer “great support for the 20 brave women who have come forward”. The full statement is embedded below.
Ashley Walters, Clarke’s co-star in Sky series Bulletproof, also took to Twitter to react today, writing that he was “deeply saddened” and that while Clarke had been his friend for years, he “cannot stand by and ignore the allegations”.
— Ashley Walters | Asher D (@AshleyWalters82) April 30, 2021
Reaction across the UK biz today has been decisive. Deadlinerevealed that Sky has halted working with the Bulletproof creator on season four of that show and “all future productions”, as have the producer of the series Vertigo Films.
Last night, BAFTA confirmed it has suspended Clarke’s membership and withdrawn his recent Outstanding Contribution To British Cinema Award. The awards body has, however, received flak for the suggestion in the Guardian article that it knew of some form of the allegations in advance of giving Clarke the prize. Today, it published a new statement addressing those claims.
Also reacting to the news today was Bulletproof actor David Elliot, who posted the hashtags #STOPPABLE (in reference to Clarke’s production company Unstoppable) and #TIMESUP on his Instagram story:
The actress Kaya Scodelario posted a series of tweets addressing the part of the Guardian exposé that claimed Clarke had secretly filmed an actress nude during an audition, detailing a similar experience with another “big director”:
I had a audition for a job a few years ago. It said ‘she just needs to come in. Take her clothes off and that’s all’. I was terrified. Luckily I have an agent who swiftly said there was no way that was going to happen. This was a big movie. A big director. A big ‘opportunity’ https://t.co/Daz9xMBnzb
Different casting, between me and another actress.Both worked very hard to impress this notoriously difficult director. auditioned multiple times. He emailed our agents ‘whoever agrees to go nude 1st gets the job’ The movie had no nudity in it. He just wanted 2 see who’d say yes
Actors’ union equity published this statement from its General Secretary Paul W Fleming on its website: “The allegations against Noel Clarke are phenomenally serious, and warrant investigation and treatment not just by BAFTA but by the producers on whose watch the alleged offences occurred. An environment where women, or any who suffer bullying, abuse or harassment are unable to come forward is one where those with power in our industry have singularly failed in their moral, and often legal duties of care.
“Equity’s strong position on meaningful and accessible Dignity at Work policies puts the obligations squarely where they sit: on producers and engagers to create and defend workplaces which are safe spaces. Those who perpetrate structural inequality in society will continue to exist, but an industry in which they can survive and thrive can be changed if those with power have the will to do so.”
The royal duo celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on Thursday and after receiving well wishes, they took to social media to thank their fans.
"Thank you to everyone for the kind messages on our wedding anniversary," said their online note. "We are enormously grateful for the 10 years of support we have received in our lives as a family."
Also attached to the post was a sweet, 40-second video of the parents playing outdoors with their three children: Prince George, 7, Princess Charlotte, 5, and Prince Louis, 3.
In the clip, the family of five can first be seen on a hike near the beach. Their dog can be spotted during the hike as well.
Next comes a shot of William, 38, playfully chasing Charlotte and Louis, who both wear massive smiles as they run.
Middleton can then be seen walking-hand-hand with her firstborn before she cuddles up to William, Louis and Charlotte.
Louis could also be seen enjoying some time on a seesaw with his sister, before playfully playing chase with his mother.
The family then roasts marshmallows over an open fire as William wraps his arm around Kate, 39.
The video was created by filmmaker Will Warr.
In celebration of their 10th wedding anniversary, Kate Middleton and Prince William shared a short video featuring footage of themselves playing with their three children. (Photo by Comic Relief/BBC Children in Need/Comic Relief via Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also celebrated their anniversary by sharing a pair of new portraits of themselves on Wednesday.
For the photos, the two dressed in blue. Middleton donned a light blue wrap featuring sheer sleeves and black decals on the top, while the bottom was predominantly white.
For his part, William went with a simple sweater, collared shirt and trousers.
In the first pic, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sat near a grassy backdrop, while in the second, they embraced one another while standing near a building.
Graphics card giant Nvidia is quietly reintroducing a hash rate limiter on its RTX 3060 series graphics cards in an effort to disincentivize cryptocurrency miners.
On April 29 the company issued the GeForce 466.27 driver that reintroduces RTX 3060 cryptomining limiter.
According to sources reported by computer news site Videocardz, Nvidia will release the new ‘Lite Hash Rate’ models in mid-May which will be almost identical to previous versions of the same cards.
The gaming giant had originally limited the hash on the previous models, reducing mining performance by 50%. Matt Wuebbling, head of global GeForce marketing at Nvidia, said in a blog post in February:
“We designed GeForce GPUs for gamers, and gamers are clamoring for more.”
Hackers first came up with a workaround, and then in March, a driver update inadvertently unlocked this 'limiter' unleashing the card’s true potential of 118 Mh/s, enabling the mining of Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies.
The new cards are said to be identical in every way except that they will have a new PCI Device ID of 2504. Although the unlocked driver is now in the public’s hands, the new ID is designed to render them useless if used with the 470.05 driver update. It is however virtually certain some miners will attempt to circumvent this, and the previous models were supposedly hard-locked via the BIOS.
GeForce RTX 3060 new PCI Device ID in 466.27 drivers. Source:VideoCardz
The news has received a mixed response among the gaming community. Videocardz forum user “Eric W,” stated that the move only seems to sideline small home miners, who are often gamers t:
“Well this is a mixed bag. I want to buy a new gpu for gaming, but I also mine when I'm not actively playing games... I can't buy a mining gpu because Nvidia seems to only sell them in quantities of several thousand and I have no interest in having 100s of mining rigs.”
User “Mark” suggested the limiter wouldn’t put miners off anyway, adding that “it needs to be 90%+” to “be a real deterrent to miners” while "Mashed Potato" believes it’s just a money grab:
“They still want miners to buy their cards… but twice as much.”
According to VideoCardz, limits are expected to be set on most RTX 30 series cards, although certain models, like the RTX 3090, may not end up with a limiter due to its high price tag of $1,500.
The next major update for Windows 10 later this year will include improved support for Apple's line of AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones and earbud speakers.
In a blog post, Microsoft says it is planning to add support for AAC, or Advanced Audio Coding for Bluetooth devices, which will offer improved audio quality for AirPods, iTunes, and Apple Music users. Windows currently only supports SBC codec and aptX for Bluetooth devices.
Enjoy premium audio streaming quality wirelessly on your Bluetooth headphones and speakers with AAC codec. Short for Advanced Audio Codec, AAC is a lossy codec that delivers high quality audio streaming in smaller files – great for listening to music online.
Alongside AAC support, the Windows 10 update will make it easier to select Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and earbuds from the Windows bar. As Microsoft describes:
No more clicking through multiple audio endpoints to make your Bluetooth headset's voice and mic work properly. We now only expose one audio endpoint in the UI and will switch to the correct one automatically for you for a seamless experience. Listening to Spotify and then have to hop onto a Teams call? You can also now directly control the volume of your headset
The new features, accompanied with bug fixes and improvements, will be available to all Windows 10 users later this year. However, members of the Windows Insider program can receive a beta with the new additions with the latest build.
Microsoft’s next big Windows 10 update for later this year will include some important audio improvements. The OS will finally get support for Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) over Bluetooth, which will give Windows users even more choice for Bluetooth headphones and speakers. Windows Insiders can test the changes right now.
Windows has long only supported SBC and AptX over Bluetooth, but AAC support also unlocks the potential for better audio quality for Apple’s range of headphones and through iTunes or Apple Music on Windows. Apple was previously hiring engineers to build the “next generation of media apps for Windows,” and AAC support would be a solid improvement for any potential Apple Music app, or just streaming through the browser.
Microsoft is also improving how you select Bluetooth inputs in Windows 10, so there aren’t multiple devices anymore. Windows has for years exposed multiple Bluetooth profiles for headphones and speakers, which confuses some apps into thinking there are multiple devices. Windows will soon only use a single audio endpoint to automatically switch to the correct Bluetooth profile depending on whether you’re listening to music or taking calls.
These are welcome changes to Windows for audio management, but there’s still more Microsoft could do here. EarTrumpet is a great third-party app that can replace the system tray sound icon and let you control multiple outputs, headsets, or digital-to-analog converters much better than Windows does.
Spotify's vast library of music and podcasts is its biggest strength — but if you're in a rush, that can also be its greatest downside. For years, the company's "Your Library" section in its mobile apps has been ill-equipped to handle our every-growing music collections. Today, Spotify is finally modernizing that experience with a completely redesigned Your Library section, which will start rolling out to Android and iOS users over the next week.
It all starts with a simple search box, which can instantly sift through your library of songs, albums and podcasts. Previously, you had to click several times to access search boxes within each of those subsections, while podcasts were awkwardly walled off in a separate column. The redesign also lets you quickly add dynamic filters, giving you an easy way to narrow down your search string to include any combination of album, artistic, playlist and podcasts. And once we're out and about again, I'd imagine many users will appreciate the Downloaded filter, which brings up all of your downloaded content.
Beyond the vastly improved search functionality, you'll also be able to pin up to four playlists, albums or podcast shows for easy access. A new grid view also gives you a more visual way of exploring your collection. And finally, there are new sorting options: You can choose from having content displayed alphabetically, by creator name or by whatever you've recently played.
These are all welcome, if long overdue, improvements by Spotify. And they follow a slew of other UX upgrades: Last month we got a new home screen with easy podcast resuming, as well as some minor improvements to its web and desktop players. Personally though, I'm just eager to see how it handles higher quality music with its new HiFi service.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The new 12.9-inch M1iPad Pro is 0.5mm thicker than the previous-generation version, which has led to fears that it won't be compatible with the older Magic Keyboard. Apple is offering a new Magic Keyboard that offers a perfect fit, but Apple says you can still use your existing 2020 Magic Keyboard with a 2021 iPad Pro.
In a Magic Keyboard support document, Apple says the first-generation Magic Keyboard is "functionally compatible" with the fifth-generation iPad Pro, but due to the thickness of the tablet, it's "possible" the keyboard won't precisely fit when closed.
The first generation of the Magic Keyboard (A1998) is functionally compatible with the new iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) with Liquid Retina XDR display. Due to the slightly thicker dimensions of this new iPad Pro, it's possible that the Magic Keyboard may not precisely fit when closed, especially when screen protectors are applied.
Apple says that the fit issue will be exacerbated if a screen protector is put on the iPad Pro, but it sounds like iPad Pro owners who have a Magic Keyboard already and don't want to shell out another $349 for an updated version can continue to use their existing keyboards.
We'll find out more about how the older Magic Keyboard fits the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro when the iPad Pros are released or when reviews come out. Note that this issue only impacts the 12.9-inch model as the 11-inch iPad Pro is the same size and is fully compatible with the original Magic Keyboard.
For those who are concerned about the slight fit issue, Apple has a new version of the Magic Keyboard available for the 2021 iPad Pro, which comes in white for the first time in addition to black.
Technology - Latest - Google News
April 30, 2021 at 02:51AM
https://ift.tt/3nxAB0W
Apple Says New 12.9-Inch iPad Pro is 'Functionally Compatible' With Older Magic Keyboard, But Fit May Be... - MacRumors
Technology - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2AaD5dD
Apple has added a new App Store search suggestions feature in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK, that might make it easier to find apps. Now, after typing in a search term, the App Store will attempt to predict what you’re looking for and offer suggested words that, when tapped, will further narrow down your search results and speed up your hunt for specific kinds of apps.
Search suggestions actually appeared on some iPhones earlier in April as part of a test, according to MacRumors, but now the feature should be rolling out to all iPhones in the supported regions.
Introducing search suggestions on the App Store!
Select (or deselect) multiple suggestions to refine your search so you can find even more amazing apps and games.
Search suggestions roll out today starting with the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia. pic.twitter.com/viaZHlCZMb
Using search suggestions is pretty simple. Let’s say I’m looking for an app to help me make some pizza from scratch: I can type “pizza” in the App Store’s search field and see additional words pop up like “maker,” “game,” “call,” “calculator,” or “order.” Selecting one of those suggestions filters the results further, so choosing calculator will pull up apps for calculating the correct ratio ingredients for pizza dough (surprisingly there’s a lot of those).
Currently, not every search allows you to select multiple suggestions. I was able to refine Apple’s example of “food” with “delivery” and “Indian,” but my other sample searches only gave me one filter each. Not every search brings up a suggested filter, either. We’ve reached out to Apple for clarification on when suggestions appear.
What does consistently show up in search are ads, which Apple originally added to App Store search in 2016. It’s easy to see how my plan to make pizza from scratch could get derailed by a big Uber Eats or Papa John’s ad above my helpful dough calculator app. Ordering delivery is so much easier than doing math.
Those ads are likely to inflame Apple’s App Store critics further — they’ll no doubt argue that an indie developer trying to make it easier to figure out the ratios of water to flour in pizza shouldn’t have to compete with Uber’s ad budget, the same way they think competing apps shouldn’t be buying ads in front of one another’s products while Apple profits from the result. But every change to a search engine has winners and losers, and it’s not yet clear whether this one will make it easier or harder for small developers to get more exposure. They could wind up being helpful for everyone who uses the App Store.
Five people were arrested Thursday in connection to the Feb. 24 dog napping of Lady Gaga's dogs and the shooting of their walker, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed Thursday.
Three of the individuals, identified as James Jackson (18) , Jaylin White (19) and Lafayette Whaley (27), were each charged with one count of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree robbery. Harold White and Jennifer McBride, 40 and 50 years old respectively, were charged with one count each of accessory after the fact.
McBride turned in the missing dogs after a reward was posted for their safe return, claiming she had found them tied up. The LAPD then discovered her romantic ties to the father of one of the suspects, Harold White.
ADVERTISEMENT
The motive behind the dognapping of the singer's two french bulldogs was originally believed to be gang-related. Jackson, Whaley and Jaylin White and Harold White are all documented Los Angeles gang members, the LAPD noted.
Evidence later suggested the dog's breed was the likely factor behind the robbery, and the suspects did not necessarily target Gaga.
Lady Gaga was not present at the scene of the crime. At the time, her dog walker, Ryan Fisher, was tending to the animals.
He was shot in the chest and hospitalized, later recalling his "close call with death" in a post to Instagram.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón called the incident a "brazen street crime that left a man seriously wounded" in a statement announcing the arrests.
"We have alleged very serious charges in this case and have faith that justice will be appropriately served as this case unfolds in court."
The case is still an open investigation under the Los Angeles Police Department.
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
April 30, 2021 at 08:05AM
https://ift.tt/3xD1tl1
Suspects in Lady Gaga dognapping charged with attempted murder, robbery | TheHill - The Hill
Entertainment - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2RiDqlG
Josh Duggar poses for a booking photo after his arrest on April 29, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Photo: Washington County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images
Josh Duggar, former cast member on the long-running TLC show 19 Kids and Counting, was reportedly arrested by U.S. Marshals on Thursday in Washington County, Arkansas, according to BuzzFeed News. What he’s been arrested for, however, is currently unclear. According to his online detainee profile, the former reality star is being held without bond by a federal agency. The FBI denied involvement in the case, while Washington County Sheriff’s Office officials referred BuzzFeed News’s questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which has yet to release any information on the charges leveled against Duggar.
19 Kids And Counting, which ran for seven years on the network, followed Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar as they raised their 19 children as devout Baptists in Tontitown, Arkansas. In 2015, the series was abruptly suspended, then canceled, after In Touchpublished a report alleging Josh Duggar had molested five girls when he was a teenager, including several of his sisters, behavior Duggar publicly confirmed and apologized for, saying he had “acted inexcusably.” Later that same year, Duggar, who is married, called himself “the biggest hypocrite ever” when his paid subscription to the Ashley Madison dating site was leaked as a part of a larger data hack.
In November 2015, porn actress Danica Dillion filed a lawsuit against Duggar for allegedly assaulting her in a Philadelphia strip club, though she opted to dismiss the lawsuit the following year. According to TMZ, in November 2019, Homeland Security reportedly raided the car dealership where Duggar works in connection to a federal probe. Additionally, they report, the former reality star is allegedly involved in “a civil lawsuit filed against him for real estate fraud.” We’ll update this post as new information becomes available.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Anne Douglas, the widow of Kirk Douglas and stepmother of Michael Douglas, died Thursday in California. She was 102.
Douglas died at her home in Beverly Hills, according to an obituary provided by spokeswoman Marcia Newberger. No cause of death was given.
Kirk Douglas, the Hollywood legend who starred in “Spartacus,” “Lust for Life” and dozens of other films, died in February 2020 at 103.
He married Anne Buydens in 1954 after they met in Paris while he was filming “Act of Love” and she was doing publicity. They had two sons, Peter, a producer, and Eric, an actor.
"I often wonder what would have happened to me if I hadn't married Anne. I might not have survived without her business acumen and her finely honed instincts," Kirk Douglas once said.
In 2017, the couple published “Kirk and Anne: Letters of Love, Laughter, and a Lifetime in Hollywood.”
The Douglas Foundation, which Anne and her husband co-founded, has donated millions to a range of institutions, from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to the Motion Picture & Television Fund.
Michael Douglas said his stepmother “will always be in our hearts.”
"She brought out the best in all of us, especially our father. Dad would never have had the career he did without Anne’s support and partnership," the actor said in a statement.
Kirk Douglas’ first wife and Michael’s mother, Diana Douglas, died in 2015.
/article-new/2020/11/windows-10.jpg?lossy)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22478636/unified_endpoint.png)
/article-new/2021/04/2021-Magic-Keyboard-Older-iPad.jpg?lossy)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22479656/Image_20.jpg)
