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Slack Technologies Inc. got a boost from businesses rushing to get remote-work tools due to the COVID-19 crisis, but the company failed to impress with its view of the year ahead.

Shares of Slack WORK, -14.18% were down nearly 16% in Friday trading after the workplace messaging company topped expectations for the April quarter but barely raised its forecast for the full fiscal year. The stock is on track for its largest single-day percentage decline on record if the losses hold through the close.

Slacks forward-looking view stood in stark contrast to fellow work-from-home darling Zoom Video Communications Inc. ZM, -1.30% , which delivered a significant raise to its outlook a few days earlier.

Slacks forecast was not enough for the investment community as there were high investor expectations for team collaboration and communication names amidst this [work from home] era, Bernstein analyst Mark Moerdler wrote following the report.

One other weak point of the report may have been what was left unsaid, according to Moerdler. Slack this quarter did not provide an update to the daily active user (DAU) count, last announced at 12 million in October, he wrote. While Slack has provided metrics on user engagement, we believe that investors continue to look for meaningful DAU growth as a sign of strength in the business.

He rates the shares at market-perform while boosting his price target to $33 from $19.

Mizuhos Gregg Moskowitz was concerned by a slowdown in paying customer additions as the quarter wore on. Slack had already disclosed 9,000 such net additions through late March and posted 12,000 for the overall April quarter, with the quarterly total reflecting a significant recent deceleration and coming in generally below buy-side expectations, according to Moskowitz.

Said another way, Slack added a weekly average of about 1,100 net new paid logos through Mar. 26, but only ~600 per week thereafter, reflective of significant deceleration, he wrote. Looking forward, Slack also expects quarterly net paid adds to moderate over the rest of the year to levels closer to those which were observed in FY20.

He has a neutral rating and $29 price target on the stock.

Opinion: Zooms astounding quarter shows it expects to be a force even after workers go back to the office

Oppenheimers Ittai Kidron said it remains unclear how well Slack will be able to convince free users to upgrade to paid plans over time. We like the long- term setup, but view the near-to-moderate risk/reward profile as balanced given the possibility of slower conversion rates and potential second-derivative macro pressure points (lower spending, user cuts, higher churn, etc.), he wrote, while maintaining a perform rating on the stock.

Still, the stock found defenders elsewhere.

While the shape of the next few quarters is hard to predict for folks both internal and external to Slack the secular trends are clear, Canaccord Genuitys David Hynes wrote. We wont make the case that Slack shares are cheap on the pullback...but a conservative view likely sets up a series of positive surprises, which should push the stock higher.

Hynes suggested that investors let the dust settle an then use weakness as a chance to add to their positions. He rates the stock a buy and raised his price target to $38 from $25.

At least nine analysts hiked their price targets after the report, according to FactSet, while at least one came out with a lower target. Of the 24 analysts tracked by FactSet who follow the stock, 13 rate it a buy, eight rate it a hold, and three rate it a sell, with an average price target of $33.48.

Slack shares have still added 18% over the past month as the S&P 500 SPX, +2.62% has risen 12%.

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Slack stock heads for worst drop on record after company falls short of high expectations - MarketWatch

By Adam Wallis, Globalnews.ca.4 Jun 2020 6:23 PM

As a result of theBlack Lives Matterprotests sparked by the killing ofGeorge Floydlast month, streams forN.W.A.s 1988 hip-hop anthem F**k tha Policehave nearly quadrupled in overall numbers.

The anti-racial profiling, anti-police brutality track saw a whopping 272 per cent increase in on-demand audio streams between May 27 and June 1, in comparison to the week before Floyds death, according to a report from Alpha Data.

On top of that, statistics obtained byRolling Stone show that other protest songs, including Childish Gambinos This Is America, Kendrick Lamars Alright and YGs FDT, saw a sharp increase in numbers as well.

In only a two-day span (May 31-June 1), F**k tha Police amassed just over 765,000 streams which is reportedly five times more than it received the previous Sunday and Monday combined.

TheIce Cube/MC Ren-written and performed trackwhich also features the lateEazy-Ecame from N.W.As world-renowned debut albumStraight Outta Compton.

RELATED: Star Wars actor John Boyega rallies crowds at Black Lives Matter protest

F**k thaPolices last resurgence occurred in 2015, a year after the killing ofMichael Brown an unarmed Black teenager in Ferguson, Mo., according to the data.

Brown was shot to death by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, on Aug. 9, 2014. He was 18.

The killing triggered protests against systemic racism and police brutality all across the U.S.

Floyd, a Black man, was killed on May 25 after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis.

An autopsy commissioned by Floyds family has since found that his death wascaused by asphyxiation. The familys autopsy differs from the official autopsy listed in the criminal complaint against the officer, which found that Floyds death was caused by cardiac arrest.

RELATED: 10-year-old girl rocks to Rage Against the Machine in support of Black Lives Matter

All four officers involved in Floyds death have been fired.

Derek Chauvin, the officer filmed kneeling on Floyds neck, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter last week.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Chauvin is facing a new second-degree murder and the other three officers have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

With files from Reuters

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The Order Season 2 Recent Updates That The Fans Needs To Know - News Lagoon

Kansas Athletics staff photographer Jeff Jacobsen shares his memories of what he saw Through the Lens from his 23-year career with the Jayhawks.

Imagine how Kansas head tennis coach Todd Chapman felt when he thanked three players on Senior Day in April 2019. Nina Khmelnitckaia, Anastasia Rychagova and Janet Koch had to make the coach feel like the miners of old in California crying out, Gold! I have struck gold!

I know I struck gold photographing the trio for four years. Their intensity always stood out and made them three of a kind. They never held back an ounce of effort to help the team. Each garnered the collegiate No. 1 ranking in singles or doubles at some point in their careers. By the end of their final season, every match meant something that KU tennis had not seen in 20 years.

They helped lead the Jayhawks to four years of NCAA Championship action. They won the 2019 Big 12 Tennis Championship in Lawrence with a stirring victory over Texas. A deep run into the NCAA team and individual championships wrapped up their distinguished careers.

Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova arrived from Moscow, Russia. Koch from Durbanville, South Africa. Each left as All-Americans.

The tall and lean Khmelnitckaia always bounded around the court, leaping and pumping her fists with a carefree joy that brought smiles to every fans face. Tears flowed freely, though, after the hardest-fought matches. That made Nina an even greater fan favorite. She teamed with both Rychagova and Koch in doubles and never missed a beat.

Rychagova seethed with emotion over every shot. It was easy to discern whether she was playing well or not. Former assistant head coach Caroline Lilley studied Nas, her nickname, intensely throughout her key matches. Lilley was always encouraging, yet, at times, needed to be quite stern as Nas mood sagged. On the court, Nas would squat deeply with a clenched fist and explode to full height with a shattering roar of delight over a critical point won.

Koch contained her emotions more than the other two. The growing intensity that built as matches wore on was evident in her face and body. Janet seemed to will her way through matches. Her emotional outbursts were more a release of steam from a pressure cooker masked by a friendly smile. Janet displayed ease off the court and enjoyed seeing Laura and me together. She kindly corrected me for improperly pronouncing the South African tonal inflections of her first name.

Together, they were a delight to photograph. Each appreciated the photographs and complimented my efforts often. Eventually, I mastered the pronunciation of Janets name and learned to spell the others last names without having to check a roster every time.

Once, with the temperature in the low 30s in January 2018, the trio helped the tennis team create art for me. I convinced them to dip tennis balls into buckets of crimson and blue washable paint. Each smashed ball-after-ball into an open field outside the Jayhawk Tennis Center at Rock Chalk Park. My strobes illuminated the dark night with every stroke as the paint streaked off the ball and racket in unique patterns.

Even though the players kept warm in running cars parked by the field, they never hesitated when it was their turn. They hammered away as long as needed to make sure I was satisfied and pleased with the results. By the end of the photo session, the players stood together on a frigid night cheering on their final teammate.

They delighted in the mess theyd made of themselves. Left behind was modern artwork cast by the flying paint onto a concrete canvas. That sadly disappeared as an overnight snowstorm covered it and then washed the brilliant color away during the thaw.

The selection of photographs that go with this story encompass everything these three wonderful women brought to KU tennis and mean so much to me. They led a resurgence of tennis excitement for KU fans. It wasnt just their play on the court. The players happily intermingled with the fans creating a bond that left most teary-eyed on the trios Senior Day.

The three finished their careers with Janet and Nina playing doubles and Nas singles in the NCAA Individual Championships in May 2019 at the sprawling USTA Tennis Campus in Lake Nona, Florida. However, I want to end the gallery with a picture from the week earlier, the end of their stunning team run through three rounds of NCAA play.

KU had just lost to Stanford 4-3 in Palo Alto, California, one victory away from advancing to the team NCAA Championships. The Cardinal, a long-time tennis power, were tested to their very limits by a rising tennis power in the Jayhawks. The sight of the three together in sadness over a battle well fought showcased their team-first attitude. That moment proved painful for me to photograph.

The strength, power and grace of these wonderful women bound to each other can be summed up by Chapmans thoughts that he shared with me recently.

Nas, Nina, and Janet were so instrumental in putting Kansas tennis back on the map on the national stage. All three of them bought into our vision for the future of the program. They left a lasting legacy of what it means to play for Kansas, Chapman said.

Each of them individually and collectively became the best players in the country and loved representing Kansas. Amazingly, all three spent time being ranked No. 1 in the country and left Kansas with the programs first Big 12 Tennis Championship.

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Through The Lens | Three of a Kind - Kansas Jayhawks

Microsofts Xbox Series X will hit shelves this holiday season, and the fourth generation of the Xbox promises to change the game once again, offering better graphics and faster loading speeds. The successor to the Xbox One X was originally announced at E3 2019, under the mysterious moniker Project Scarlett. Since then, Microsoft and Xbox head Phil Spencer have worked to give fans a thorough look at the new console and what it will contain at launch.

Compared to the previous generation, Xbox Series X represents a superior balance of power and speed in console design, advancing on all technological fronts to delivering amazing, dynamic, living worlds and minimize any aspects that can take you out of the experience, Spencer wrote on the Xbox blog. Our job at Team Xbox is to give teams the tools they need to achieve their ambitions and tap into the consoles power with efficiency, a few of which were detailing today. Raw power is just part of the story.

Here are the top details were looking at right now.

Also Read: Paradigm CEO Sam Gores' Brother Tom Gores Takes Ownership Stake in Agency

Release DateUndetermined. Microsofts Xbox teams are planning the release for holiday 2020, and its assumed by games analysts that the console will begin to ship in early November in time for holiday shopping. Xbox has not yet said it expects delays in shipping the consoles because of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic.

PriceUnclear. Similar to Sony, Microsoft hasnt attached a fixed price to the console. Its predecessor the Xbox One X retails for roughly $500 with a one-terabyte hard drive. Spencer told The Verge last November that a learning from the Xbox One generation is we will not be out of position on power or price, and added that at the beginning of this generation we were a hundred dollars more expensive and yes, we were less powerful. We started Project Scarlett with this leadership team in place with a goal of having market success.

Games and Game EngineThe commercial success or failure of both the upcoming PS5 and Xbox Series X will be determined largely by what games each hardware-maker is able to offer. Xbox promises to exclusively add Halo Infinite and HellBlade II, and will also make a number of older games backwards-compatible with the new console.

Also Read: WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar Tells Employees Racism Is a 'Problem' for Company

Xbox added Bandai Namcos Scarlet Nexus, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, horror game Scorn, Bright Memory: Infinite, Chorus, dinosaur-fighting title Second Extinction, puzzle game Call of the Sea and cyberpunk RPG The Ascent to its lineup of games optimized for the next-generation console. The Xbox Series X will also host sci-fi horror game The Medium, racing game DIRT 5 andVampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2, a title from White Wolf Publishing where the player is a bloodthirsty vampire roaming the streets of a haunted Seattle. Some of these titles, including Scarlet Nexus and Ubisofts viking epic Assassins Creed Valhalla are expected to also launch on PC and PlayStation.

ControllersUnlike Sony, which decided to drastically alter its controller design for the next-gen PS5 console, Xbox opted to stick to the familiar. The Xbox Series X controllers will look almost identical to previous versions, with a few additions including textured grips, a hybrid directional pad and the ability to quickly pair with, play on, and switch between supported consoles, PCs, and mobile devices, Microsoft said.

Xbox Series X controller. Photo: Microsoft

SpecificationsMost of the Xbox Series X games will be produced in 4K high-definition resolution and the console will use 12 teraflops of power to run the games at up to 120 frames per second (the average computer refreshes at only 60 FPS).

The Xbox Series X will support one terabyte of storage, which players can expand by purchasing additional one-terabyte storage card that plugs into the back of the console. It is unclear whether the new Xbox will be compatible with third-party storage drives or if Xbox will look to force players to buy its own. Xbox is also trying out a new method of delivering games which it calls Smart Delivery which essentially helps players get the best-looking versions of games from earlier consoles. Players who buy a game that launched on Xbox One will automatically receive an upgraded Xbox Series X game for free when the new hardware arrives.

For more detailed specs, check out Phil Spencers full letter here.

Read original story Heres Everything You Need to Know About The Xbox Series X At TheWrap

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Heres Everything You Need to Know About The Xbox Series X - Yahoo Entertainment

This story first ran in Buffering, Vultures newsletter about the streaming industry. Head tovulture.com/bufferingand subscribe today!

Photo-Illustration: Vulture and ABC/YouTube

For months, the coronavirus and its effects have dominated just about every aspect of our lives. It hasnt disappeared, but now the world has turned upside down yet again. The police killing of George Floyd has rightfully sparked global outrage and days of protest, accompanied by local and national government responses which have often underscored why so many have taken to the streets in the first place. This weeks Buffering starts off with a look at how streaming news networks have emerged as valuable resources for anyone looking to go beyond cable news coverage of these times. Weve also got the latest bad headlines for Quibi, a look at Rokus big push into live TV, news about Googles new streaming device, and why HBO MaxsLove Lifewill wrap up its first season much sooner than expected.

Wall-to-wall coverage of the fallout from last months death of George Floyd has resulted in skyrocketing cable news ratings the past few days. CNN on some nights has been the No. 1 network in all of TV (cable and broadcast) among adults under 50; Fox News agitators like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity have been dominating with older audiences, drawing upward of 6 million viewers at times about 50 percent higher than recent norms. These numbers underscore how old-school linear TV remains vital even in the age of cord-cutting.

But the crisis of the past week has also allowed streaming platforms geared toward news (particularly of the local variety) to step up.

When confrontations between police and protesters became particularly tense over the weekend, with dramatic scenes playing out in multiple cities at once,I found myself frequently turning to CBSN, the free CBS News streamer that seamlessly blends a national virtual news network with nearly a dozen local news channels. While CNN might spend a few minutes on the ground in Los Angeles before switching over to the scene in Philadelphia, CBSN has streaming news channels devoted to both cities. I was able to spend an hour watching live coverage from CBS 2 Los Angeles as the situation in the Mid-Wilshire district evolved, then tune in CBS Philly and watch the stations news chopper fly through the city capturing the scene there. CBSN also has affiliates in Minneapolis (where Floyd was killed) and other big cities which had major protests over the weekend, including Boston, Chicago, and Denver. CBSN also uses the resources of CBS News to cover the unrest across the country on the main CBSN feed, but its these local micro-networks which offer an advantage over cable news.

Not surprisingly, CBSN says viewership has spiked dramatically in recent days as audiences sought out coverage of the protests and police response. Compared to year-ago levels, viewership jumped between 700 and 900 percent during the Saturday/Sunday/Monday frame, a CBSN rep said. All three days were among the ten biggest days ever in terms of usage in the platforms history. The CBSN local market feeds have also been setting usage records, with CBS Minneapolis accounting for 65 percent of all local feed traffic last Thursday.

While CBSN arguably offers the smoothest way to get live, local news coverage, its got some competition:

STIRR, which weve written about here before because of its extensive entertainment offerings, carries news programming from dozens of local stations, often including live coverage of events as they unfold. The good and bad news here is that STIRR is owned by Sinclair, which operates nearly 200 stations across the country. Its (almost) everywhere. But it is also a company controlled by a far-right owner and one which has been accused of forcing its stations to inject right-wing propaganda into its newscasts. That doesnt mean every affiliate is going to skew events like a miniFox News: I saw coverage of this weekends events from stations in Seattle and Las Vegas, and it was fine. But, viewer beware.

ABC News Live and NBC News Noware national streaming news platforms which offer an experience a bit more similar to CNN a big-picture look at the news from a countrywide perspective. And since both networks own stations in major cities, theyll often cut to local feeds as news warrants or lean on local reporters to offer perspectives you might not find on a national cable news network. They dont broadcast live 24/7 or even 18/6 the way a CNN does but they both cover events ignored or undercovered on bigger platforms, often with far less anchor commentary and more field reports.Earlier this week, for example, NBC News NowpresentedCan You Hear Us Now?,an excellent panel discussion anchored by MSNBCs Trymaine Lee which explored being black in America.

NewsONis an app/streaming platform which lets users access scheduled local newscasts from dozens of stations for free (no authentication needed). Finding live breaking news coverage on the app is harder to do, unless a station happens to be in a scheduled broadcast.

Right now, the streaming news platforms powered by the big broadcast networks are all very much works in progress. Being able to leverage local stations is a powerful tool when theres a natural disaster like a hurricane or something like what weve been seeing play out this week. Not having to worry about hourly ratings like CNN or MSNBC also lets these platforms approach news in a more thoughtful way than cable news at least in theory. Relying on local news anchors and reporters is a double-edged sword: While many offer insight and context you cant get from national outlets, local news is also even more attracted to exciting visuals (even if they distort the full picture of a given story) and too reliant on government authorities (who, as weve seen of late, are all too willing to distort truth to further a narrative).

What these platforms also lack are big, must-see original programs, or regular showcases for standout talent. Theres no Rachel Maddow or Jake Tapper on the streaming news nets, no show you have to tune in for every day at 7 p.m. Maybe streaming news doesnt need to have appointment programs or signature stars that would certainly keep costs down. But I do think that as free, ad-supported streaming continues to grow filling the role of traditional linear TV platforms such as CBSN and NBC News Now will start to evolve from being handy utilities to destinations in their own right.

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Photo-Illustration: Vulture and Quibi

The Wall Street Journalsaystop execs at the struggling streamer have been asked to cut their pay 10 percent in response to (much) slower-than-expected sign-ups. The paper also says Quibi is talking about layoffs, seeming to back up an earlier report about staff cuts in the New YorkPost(which I wont link to because it includes some pretty hard-to-believe reporting about how much Reese Witherspoon got for narrating a Quibi show). A Quibi rep tells Buffering that top execs are, in fact, taking a voluntary pay cut, but that there are no plans for cutbacks. She shared an internal memo sent out by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman Wednesday following the Page Six report. Heres a condensed version of the memo:

Good morning

Many of you have already seen the NY Posts Page Six story. The story was completely inaccurate. We are pleased with the performance of Fierce Queens; additionally, the talent compensation was utterly inaccurate. We are grateful for Reeses continued support of Quibi.

Nothing has changed since our last company meeting two weeks ago. Quibi is in a good financial position. As we said in that meeting, we will look for ways to tighten our belt. We are not laying off staff as a part of cost saving measures. Weve recently added a dozen new Quibi employees.

And in regard to tightening our belt, our senior leadership team has volunteered to take a 10% pay cut because its the right thing to do.

We are excited about the future. As we shared in our most recent company meeting, the best is yet to come. We are confident in Quibi and the work that you are creating every day.Whats next:Via email, the Quibi rep also pointed out to me that the service recently ordered second seasons of two unscripted shows (Thanks A MillionandDishmantled), and that it will announce many more renewals in the near future. The service is clearly pushing back on the narrative that its chaos at Quibi simply because user sign-ups have been below expectations. Media and tech commentators have been rushing to declare Quibi dead, almost from the moment it launched. Many simply think people paying for short-form entertainment simply isnt going to work.

I, too, have been skeptical about the fundamental premise behind the service: Despite a finished product thats actually pretty impressive the shows look good; the app is actually kind of beautiful and works well I just dont know that there are enough people who want to pay $5 per month for TV shows meant for mobile when theres already a flood of good-enough short form content thats free. I mean, I could watchSarah CooperandMatt Buechelevideos on Twitter all day; TikTok and SnapChat are similarly overflowing with talented folks producing compelling entertainment. Quibi, as good as it is, still needs to demonstrate why its worth paying for. Oh, and the clock is ticking: Those generous three-month trials the platform handed out start expiring early next month. Since I turned off auto-renew, Ive been getting hit over the head with reminders from Quibi warning me Ill soon lose access to the service.

Is it really doomed?Where I dissent just a bit from the general pessimism on the question of Quibi is here: I dont think its impossible for it to turn things around. The platform isnt even three months old and, per founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, has enough funding to make new shows for a year or two. Maybe its still possible to come up with a new strategy, one less reliant on high-cost scripted shows and subscription revenue, that allows a total Quibi reset. Im not saying this is likely or even doable at this point a free Quibi with low-cost content is YouTube? but I also dont see the need to start writing its obituary. Many people declared Oprah Winfreys OWN network a lost cause less than a year after its launch. But she and her then-partners at Discovery Networks did atotal revampof the channel, ratings jumped, and in January, OWN will mark its 10th anniversary. Maybe Katzenberg should give Oprah a call.

Photo-Illustration: Vulture and Roku

Roku is the first name in streaming gizmos: Its now in nearly40 million homes(up from 30 million a year ago), making it by far the most dominant streaming hardware supplier in the country. But for about two years now, the company has also been a programmer, aggregating content via something calledThe Roku Channel. Its a free, ad-supported streaming TV service built into the user interface of every Roku device (and accessible to anyone via the internet). If you dont want to (or cant) pay for a half-dozen versions of Netflix, Roku Channel has been a good place to find older TV shows and movies.

This week, Roku Channel got a major upgrade. While Roku Channel has been quietly adding live TV networks for about a year now, the company this week added nearly three dozen more services, including channels with content from some existing brands (A&E, MTV, BET, CMT, and Buzzr) and shows (Family Feud, Americas Got Talent). The additions bring the total number of live offerings on Roku Channel to over 100, which is why the company has also added a cable-like on-screen program guide to help users navigate all the choices. On this front, Roku is playing catch-up: Other apps in the free, ad-supported TV (or FAST) space such as Pluto and Tubi (which you can watch on a Roku, by the way) have long boasted state-of-the-art browsing experiences which let users replicate the lean-back experience of flipping through cable channels.

Much of the content on Roku Channel is available on other FAST services, sometimes in slightly different forms. For example, MTV programs a virtual channel devoted to its old reality shows for Pluto with both the MTVandPluto branding. (Its literally called MTV Pluto TV). You might think Roku would be interested in exclusive content, or that ViacomCBS, which owns both MTV and Pluto, wouldnt want to draw people away from its own Pluto platform. But Ashley Hovey, director of AVOD Growth at Roku, tells me theres a benefit for both sides. These brands are looking to be on a platform where they can get the most users and get in front of audiences, she says. Were also strong in monetizing and surfacing content. Translation: Because Roku is so big, its well-positioned to get eyeballs in front of shows and sell ads against said content.

First impressions:Rokus live TV guide isnt available on every device just yet (itll roll out over the next few weeks, Hovey says). But my Roku player did get the upgrade on Tuesday, giving me the chance to play around with the new interface. And so far, its pretty good.

The program guide is relatively easy to use, and using a Roku remote, its very easy to scroll through channels much the same you would with a cable box. But design-wise, Pluto and Tubi (the free services I use most often) are easier to use and justlookbetter. On the other hand, Roku Channels overall channel lineup is notably smaller than what youll find on Pluto, which is actually agoodthing. Since becoming a part of ViacomCBS, Pluto seems to add three new channels every other day, making scrolling through its guide as frustrating as browsing the endless virtual aisles of Netflix. Roku Channel, at least for now, feels like a bit more of a boutique experience.

Photo-Illustration: Vulture and Google

As Roku bolsters its content offerings, rival Google appears to be closer to upping its streaming TV hardware game. While the Chromecast dongle and Android TV platforms are both already big players in the battle to connect folks to TV services, Google has always felt like an also-ran in the device wars. While some folks love Chromecast, millions of people have probably been turned off by the fact that it doesnt come with a remote control; you need to use your phone to select content or change channels. But apparently, this could be about to change.

XDA Developersthis week publishedwhat it says are images of a new Android TV device that, yes, has a remote control. Whats more, it showed off what appear to be images from a new user interface, one which integrates Googles YouTube TV platform and its Nest camera products next to the latest shows from Netflix or Hulu. This weeks leak builds off earlier reporting from other outlets, starting with 9to5Google (which scooped news of the remoteback in March). None of this has been officially confirmed by Google, but these are all reliable outlets with good track records in breaking news. (Also, my Vox Media colleague Dieter Bohn felt confident enough about this to write about it in this weeks issue of his must-readProcessornewsletter, which is how I first heard about it.)

I bought a Chromecast a few years ago when it was on sale for like $20, and then promptly forgot about it. Using my phone as a remote was simply a non-starter. But I am otherwise very invested in Googles video ecosystem: I love YouTube TV (by far the best live TV platform out there) and have several Google assistant devices. I currently switch between Roku and Apple TV for streaming apps (and would probably use Apple TV more often if its remote werent so tiny and useless), but if the new Google TV experience offers an elegant combination of YouTube TV, other Google products, and third-party apps, Ill probably be buying another streaming box.

HBO Max is eight days old and its already changing strategy (a little). After first saying the original rom-com seriesLove Lifewould roll out one new episode per week (after the first three eps served up at launch), HBO Max has now decided all ten episodes will be available to stream by next week. Episodes four, five, and six landed on the service earlier today; the final four will be released on Thursday, June 11.

Why the shift? An HBO Max press release offered something about audiences loving the show and wanting to reward those early adopters. Given HBO Maxs late 2020 product pipeline has been slowed by the coronavirus-caused production shutdown, Im a bit surprised at the move, since the original strategy wouldve given Max something new to promote well into July. On the other hand, Max will now be able to sell all of season one to potential subscribers as a binge, which is how most consumers prefer to consume content these days.

Meanwhile, many people still dont have easy access to Max: Still no word of deals toput HBO Max on the Roku or Amazon Fire TV platforms, per reps for the companies involved. I think Max can survive not being on Amazon for a few months, but the Roku blackout seems a bigger problem. If the service isnt on Roku within a few more weeks, that could be a serious problem. (Given the laws of journalism deadlines, theres a better than 50/50 chance that just such a deal will be announced between the time Im writing this on Thursday morning and the minute this newsletter hits your inbox.)

You cant have it both ways. You cant circulate dehumanized images of black men and then when they get killed, This is wrong and we are sorry it happened.

Dr. Todd Boyd, professor of critical studies at USCs School of Cinematic Arts,on why Hollywood execs speaking out against racism isnt enough.

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All Eyes on the Protests - Vulture

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Some of the NFL's biggest stars - its biggest African-American stars, at least - aligned late Thursday night in a powerful video that clearly resonated deep in the NFL's Park Avenue offices Their message, that Black Lives Matter, that racism and oppression is unacceptable, is obviously one everyone needs to hear.

But it was more than that. They had a pointed message for the league office. They challenged the NFL to do the right thing - the thing the league should have done four years ago when Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem. They asked - demanded - the league to "admit wrong in silencing our players from peacefully protesting."

Remarkably, that's what NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did, with his own video on Friday night. Though he didn't repeat the players' words exactly, he did "admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest." It was even more remarkable that his video came just hours after an inflammatory tweet from the President that again targeted players for kneeling during the national anthem.

This was Goodell's way of assuring the players that the league is on their side.

But as important as that is, more needs to be done - and surely Goodell understands he can do something bigger. So the next time a national anthem is played before an NFL game, he and every NFL owner should join the players in their peaceful protest.

Goodell and the entire league should take a knee.

This, of course, is usually where the anger comes in, where people like Saints quarterback Drew Brees channel their outrage about "disrespecting the flag." Except that it's never been about the flag or the anthem or the military. Kaepernick and the players who supported him couldn't have been clearer on that point - one they made publicly and privately to Goodell and every team owner in the league.

It was about what we're seeing now, every night on the streets of America. It was about what the world saw happen to George Floyd, being killed by a cop who spent nearly nine minutes with his knee on Floyd's neck, and so many black men and women who were victims before him. It was about the horrendous examples of police brutality we've all seen piling up on social media - disgusting acts on camera that should make everyone terrified of what happens when the cameras are off. And it was about shining a light on racial injustice and systematic racism that caused all this and is simply undeniable to anyone who is not willfully blind.

The NFL players' right to protest, which is an incredibly American act, was quashed by a league that effectively blackballed Kaepernick and "encouraged" its players to stand. They even made a rule that required them to stand, though they rescinded it under pressure two months later. The NFL likes to wrap itself in the flag and portray itself as an American institution, but it clearly only welcomed its own American ideals. And while their actions may not have been as destructive as, say, U.S. law enforcement tear-gassing peaceful protesters in front of the White House, but plenty of damage was still done.

It's true the NFL has actually done a lot of good in the years since Kaepernick knelt down. They created the Inspire Change Initiative which helps promote social justice and police community relations. As the NFL noted in a statement on Thursday, the league has already donated $44 million to organizations affiliated with the cause, and they are committed to $20 million more.

That matters and that is good, just like Goodell's video was good. But actions like that still ring hollow because they haven't atoned for their original sin. Ideally, they would do that by giving Kaepernick a job - on the field or even in the league office. But for whatever progress the NFL has made on these issues, there's just no sign anyone in the league will ever have the courage to do that.

So atonement is still necessary. And just imagine the powerful statement the NFL could make not only with the words "We're sorry. We were wrong" but with actions that prove they're sincere. Imagine how strong they would look if, on opening weekend players and coaches and owners and even Goodell all gathered at midfield during the national anthems and took a knee together.

It would be a show of force more powerful than secret police roaming the streets. Undoubtedly some fans would revolt and disavow the sport, but so what? Maybe that's just the price of doing the right thing. The NFL, pre-COVID-19, was a $9 billion-a-year industry. They can withstand what almost certainly would only be a few hollow threats from disgruntled fans.

Yes, the NFL still needs to do even more than even that. Their history of minority hiring, especially among general managers and head coaches, is atrocious and feels like it's getting worse. They need more diversity in ownership and in the league office. In that respect, they're not unlike the rest of our nation. We all need to do better and do more.

Maybe the kneeling, like the apology, would only be symbolic, but what a great symbol it would be. It would be an important start. And if nothing else, it would be a way to show they listened to Saquon Barkley, Jamal Adams, Odell Beckham Jr., Patrick Mahomes, and all the other players on that video. It would show that they heard Kaepernick, too, that they really were listening, not just dismissing their concerns.

It would say to the players and the world "We hear you. And now we see it, too." It would show even the biggest bullies in the country, and even those in government, that they choose to stand with their players on the right side of history and humanity.

And what better way to stand with them than by taking a knee while the anthem plays?

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Businesses are concerned about higher operating costs as they adjust to new safe distancing and precautionary measures amid the Covid-19 pandemic, MPs said yesterday, as they sought more support for affected firms.

Singapore Manufacturing Federation president Douglas Foo, a Nominated MP, highlighted that manufacturers are facing challenges such as increased cleaning expenses and costs associated with remote working needs like laptops and network servers, which are expected to be permanent additions to costs.

Mr Melvin Yong (Tanjong Pagar GRC) also weighed in on the impact of safe distancing requirements on business costs during the debate on the supplementary Fortitude Budget.

Cost may be a factor for some businesses' poor implementation of safe management practices, said Mr Yong.

The measures that companies are required to implement involve employing additional staff to control access to premises and monitor temperatures, and increasing the number of trips to ferry workers due to safe distancing requirements. These add to their expenditure, he said.

Employers are also concerned about having to bear the cost of Covid-19 swab tests that some workers have to take, said Mr Yong, highlighting how nursing home and pre-school staff now have to go through such tests before returning to work.

In the construction sector, workers are also required to be tested once every two weeks.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) had said last month that the Government will waive the cost of swab tests for construction workers until August, for those involved in works resuming by then.

"Many businesses are already reeling from the increasing costs of putting in place the ever-evolving set of protective measures to keep workplaces safe... Coupled with a sharp decline in revenue, our businesses are hit with a double whammy," said Mr Yong.

Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC) called on the Government to absorb the cost of swab tests for the construction sector beyond August, or waive the requirement for such tests after that.

She also called for the construction sector to be given more support, including extending the foreign worker levy waiver until August.

The waiver will be 100 per cent in June and 50 per cent in July, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced last month.

But Ms Lee hopes that construction companies can receive a 100 per cent waiver until August. She said this is because most of them will not be able to resume operations until September or later.

Contractors need to fulfil numerous requirements, including in areas such as housing, before they can get approval from the BCA to resume work.

Mr Yong and Mr Foo also said that some safety and health measures at workplaces need to be fine-tuned.

Mr Foo appealed to policymakers to ensure that regulatory bodies have enough staff and resources so that approvals required for businesses to resume operations do not hinder efficiency.

Mr Yong said that employers and regulators should be mindful of the approach taken in setting out and implementing safe management measures so as not to compromise workers' safety.

For instance, in the construction and marine engineering sectors, wearing a mask could affect the ability of workers to carry out physically demanding work safely.

"Whichever the approach, safe management measures must not inadvertently cause poor safety at the workplace," said Mr Yong.

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Firms worried about higher costs with safe distancing rules - The Straits Times

AirThreds began with a mission to find the best solution for one of the most easily forgotten home comfort systems, the furnace.

DENVER (PRWEB) June 01, 2020

Transitioning to hot weather means its time to turn up the A/C. While our homes cant get enough of that powerful cool breeze, 82 percent of Americans fail to change their air filter on a regular basis to ensure that refreshing air is clean.

AirThreds is a recycle-friendly concept further benefiting homeowners with a machine washable design that lasts. While the product might seem like a small consumer convenience, something as simple as a clean air filter can financially impact a homeowner. Furnaces, just like people, require regular attention to stay healthy and theyre often neglected until its too late. Replacing an HVAC system is likely the second most expensive home repair behind replacing the roof.

In addition to preventing costly repairs, this summers indoor air quality has become an important topic as 90 percent of people are spending 20 hours inside each day during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The typical disposable HVAC filter is made most commonly with polyester or fiberglass woven fibers. They can also expose you to dust, dirt and even potentially harmful chemicals.

AirThreds brings more awareness to the waste these disposable products create. Due to their materials, many cities will not accept them in recycle programs.

An AirThred filter on the other hand is both reusable and made with 100 percent recyclable materials. In addition to utilizing eco-friendly materials, these filter fibers were designed to work smarter, not harder.

Not only do they create the perfect balance between airflow and particle capture, the fabric is antimicrobial treated. This helps prevent bacteria, mold and allergens that collect on a filter from blowing back into your home. Its one extra benefit for those suffering from asthma, allergies and those more susceptible to illness.

AirThreds retail for $59, but for cost comparison, one outlasts the life of 36 disposable filters. They come available in standard HVAC sizes.

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AirThreds releases the HVAC Filter doing more for homes and the planet - PR Web

America's Preferred Home Warranty Partnership with Child and Family Charities During COVID-19

JACKSON, Mich. (PRWEB) June 05, 2020

Child and Family Charities (CFC) and Americas Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) have a relationship going back nearly a decade. The nonprofit has grown considerably over the years, and APHW has not only kept donating, but repeatedly increased donations, fundraisers, and volunteers. These increases have made a huge impact on CFCs reach among mid-Michigan children, youth and familiesparticularly during COVID-19.

APHW has helped us become a stronger organization, said CFC CEO Julie Thomasma. And because of their help, we felt better about going into this situation, being better able to offer support and increase our services where they are needed most, she said.

Child and Family Charities assists mid-Michigan youth and families through 25 programs across six divisions. They have focused extra efforts around providing food assistance, childcare, shelter, and mental health services during COVID-19, Julie described, because so many more families need them these days, and so much more.

APHWs support also helped CFC to keep their entire staff during COVID-19, and even expand it. Weve actually hired additional coaches to meet the need, she said. And weve been doing even more work because that need is so great. Were in a really great position because of APHW.

The support from [APHW President and Owner] Randy Caltrider and APHW gives us that spark of hope to continue working with the populations and families we serve, said CFC Director of Development Demphna Krikorian. Were seeing the increasing needs, and well see more tomorrow and onward until we get through this. And we really couldnt do it without that spark, that hope, that APHW gives us.

Want to help? Visit https://www.childandfamily.org/ or call 517.882.4000 for more information.

Luke 12:48 - To whom much is given, much will be required.

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America's Preferred Home Warranty Partnership with Child and Family Charities Boosts Efforts During COVID-19 - PR Web

Today, Total Home Protection, a home warranty company working to provide high-quality home warranty products and services to homeowners, announced that they will be working on launching a new communication platform and developing a new CRM system to better manage all aspects of their business. Their newly conceptualized AI-based platform is designed to allow complete real-time visibility into all aspects of the process for all the parties involved, including Total Home Protections own employees, the service contractors in their network, and, most importantly, the consumers.

Traditionally, home warranty companies operate indistinguishably from one another. The homeowner is always tasked with calling the home warranty company to report when a home system or appliance has broken or has stopped working. The home warranty company then has its employees manually process this claim and connect the homeowner with a service provider who will contact them to make an appointment.After this, the service provider fixes thecoveredproblem, and the home warranty company will pay for the services rendered based on the homeowners contract coverage.Its an efficient, but incredibly lengthy process.

Now, according to the current owner and CEO of Total Home Protection David Seruya, their re engineered communication platform will make this process simpler, more efficient, and more open for homeowners. We are dedicated to providing World Class Customer Service through our technology and providing fast and effective solutions to our customers. This technology allows us to do that, said David Seruya.

According to Mr. Seruya, with this new technology, customers will be able to put in service claims online or over the phone using only their policy number. The platforms intuitive AI-based algorithms will then almost-automatically match each customers claim with the highest-rated technicians in the area so that they can be given the highest quality of service in the shortest amount of time feasible. Theyve also built-in new communication gateways that homeowners can use in order to get real-time updates on the job. These portals can also be used by homeowners to chat with certified professionals through text and it will allow them to track and follow the progression of repairs or replacements more easily so that they can stay better informed on the process.

June, of Auster, GA, a verified buyer of one of Total Home Protections plans had this to say about the companys communication practices. I turned the switch for the garbage disposal to come on, and it stayed on. It wouldnt cut off. So, I had to go into the garage and turn it off. I called in for a claim and I had no problem with the representative that I dealt with. The contractor came in less than 48 hours, and that was why I was impressed with Total Home Protection. Before them, I had American Home Shield and it was a nightmare. When you make a claim (with AHS), their contractors do not come until a week later. That was why I switched. This review was originally posted on the 10th of November, 2019, and thus, was reviewing Total Home Protections original systems.

However, it does still paint a fair picture of the companys existing customer service systems and the new systems that they plan to put into play. Former President Ronald Seruya says this about their growth. I am very proud of the growth the Company has seen since it started. I am happy I was there for the humble beginnings and Im even more excited to continue to see the company excel and become an industry juggernaut.

Total Home Protections ultimate goal is to deliver fast and effective solutions to homeowners with their home warranty products and their network of highly-rated service contractors. This new technology that they hope to put out is designed to help further that objective. Specifically, by focusing on improving the quality of customer relations and providing complete transparency in their process to keep consumers better informed, and thus, more satisfied.

This has always been one of Total Home Protections main goals, and although their current CRM systems are more than adequate at competing with most of the existing home warranty systems at large, they are hoping that this new communication platform and CRM system will help push their process into an entirely new standard of excellence.

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Total Home Protection Is Using Technology To Improve Customer Communications - ZOBUZ - Zobuz