The Verge: All Posts by Mitchell Clarkhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52801/VER_Logomark_32x32..png2024-01-12T18:39:00-05:00https://www.theverge.com/authors/mitchell-clark/rss2024-01-12T18:39:00-05:002024-01-12T18:39:00-05:00The tech industry’s layoffs and hiring freezes: all of the news
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<img alt="Image of three cardboard boxes stacked on top of each other, with frowning faces using an upside-down amazon logo for the mouth printed on them." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JZcsP104bGcaNE4fc1gxumGDQkQ=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71628303/ngarun_181114_1777_amazon_0003.5.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Companies have been cutting costs.<span class="ql-cursor"></span></em> | Photo by Natt Garun / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p>Companies across the tech industry have been laying off staff and reducing hiring after explosive growth during the pandemic.</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/14/23458204/meta-twitter-amazon-apple-layoffs-hiring-freezes-latest-tech-industry">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/14/23458204/meta-twitter-amazon-apple-layoffs-hiring-freezes-latest-tech-industryEmma RothEmilia DavidAmrita KhalidSean HollisterJacob KastrenakesAsh ParrishTom WarrenRichard LawlerJay PetersAlex Heath2023-12-09T11:00:00-05:002023-12-09T11:00:00-05:00The quiet plan to make the internet feel faster
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<img alt="3D illustration showing L4S broadband outpacing other types of internet service." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BqjUeHhMjJtOVZd9G85rCUHeCu4=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72943875/236836_Infrastructure_L4S_BROADBAND_SISIKIM_LEDE.5.jpg" />
<figcaption>Illustration by Sisi Kim for The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="nj0lFu">A few months ago, I downgraded my internet, going from a 900Mbps plan to a 200Mbps one. Now, I find that websites can sometimes take a painfully long time to load, that HD YouTube videos have to stop and buffer when I jump around in them, and that video calls can be annoyingly choppy.</p>
<p id="oR5zCl">In other words, pretty much nothing has changed. I had those exact same problems even when I had near-gigabit download service, and I’m probably not alone. I’m sure many of you have also had the experience of cursing a slow-loading website and growing even more confused when a “speed test” says that your internet should be able to play dozens of <a href="https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306">4K Netflix streams</a> at once. So what gives?</p>
<p id="f0faeR">Like any issue, there are many factors at play. But a major one is...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/23655762/l4s-internet-apple-comcast-latency-speed-bandwidth">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/23655762/l4s-internet-apple-comcast-latency-speed-bandwidthMitchell Clark2023-09-20T09:56:37-04:002023-09-20T09:56:37-04:00How to add Markdown support to Google Docs
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<img alt="Google Docs icon inside of a pink circle and surrounded by small illustrations." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GgV4lGgpvnntCXirCEzsvV5zuVc=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72668347/HT012_Google_Docs.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Image: Samar Haddad / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="aesyaw">If you’d rather format your Google Docs document using text shortcuts than keyboard ones, you can — Google Docs offers Markdown support. Back in March 2022, in <a href="https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2022/03/compose-with-markdown-in-google-docs-on.html">a blog post announcing the feature</a>, Google explained it was doing this through its autocorrect feature so that Docs will automatically format the text for you after you type it in Markdown format. For example, if you type “# Google Docs is getting more Markdown support,” it’ll automatically get converted to a level one heading. </p>
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<figcaption><em>Before you can use Markdown, you have to activate the feature.</em></figcaption>
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<p id="9EhM21">The feature is off by default — probably a good choice, as it’s easy to imagine a lot of people getting confused if typing a pound sign in front of something automatically...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/23881050/google-docs-markdown-support-how-to">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/23881050/google-docs-markdown-support-how-toMitchell ClarkBarbara Krasnoff2023-06-15T11:30:09-04:002023-06-15T11:30:09-04:00Taylor Swift versus Ticketmaster: the latest on the tour that may break up a giant
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<img alt="Demand Too High For Taylor Swift Concert Tickets, Ticketmaster Cancels Public Sale" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_QV2HINU4pwR0bChTZ1uTc_bPLs=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71647449/1442595192.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>It’s me, hi. I’m the problem, it’s me.</em></figcaption>
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<p>After Ticketmaster’s site crumbled under the load of Taylor Swift fans trying to get concert tickets, the DOJ is reportedly investigating whether it’s part of an entertainment monopoly. </p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/18/23466858/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-news-doj-investigation-eras-tour">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/18/23466858/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-news-doj-investigation-eras-tourMakena KellyJay PetersRichard LawlerEmma RothMitchell ClarkAlex Cranz2023-05-11T19:56:43-04:002023-05-11T19:56:43-04:00Elon Musk has found his replacement as CEO of Twitter
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<img alt="Elon Musk shrugging on a background with the Twitter logo" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jSrsRbI9DoxEO1RdW05GwiHWVag=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72271317/VRG_Illo_STK022_K_Radtke_Musk_Twitter_Shrug.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Live by the poll, get replaced by the poll.</em> | Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="z2w7Zh"><em><strong>Update May 12th, 11:55AM ET:</strong></em><em> Elon Musk made it official, announcing </em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/12/23721107/twitter-ceo-linda-yaccarino-elon-musk-nbc"><em>Linda Yaccarino is the new CEO of Twitter</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p id="gfh1cC">Elon Musk has announced plans for a new Twitter CEO but hasn’t said who it is. <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1656747082571722753?s=20">In a tweet</a> on Thursday, Musk says that he has “hired a new CEO for X/Twitter” and that “she will be starting in ~6 weeks.” Musk will instead assume the role of executive chair and chief technology officer, “overseeing product, software & sysops” of Twitter.</p>
<p id="0ysUpI">According to <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanByers/status/1656801802770354179">Dylan Byers of <em>Puck News</em></a>, the new CEO will be NBC Universal advertising executive Linda Yaccarino, citing two unnamed sources. On Friday morning, NBCUniversal confirmed Yaccarino has resigned, </p>
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<aside id="CsawkP"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Twitter’s new CEO is probably this NBC exec ","url":"https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/11/23720648/twitter-next-ceo-probably-linda-yaccarino"}]}'></div></aside><div id="VmGieh">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> here’s an idea for our new partnership: Periscope for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>. Let’s...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/11/23517090/elon-musk-twitter-ceo-replacement">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/11/23517090/elon-musk-twitter-ceo-replacementMitchell ClarkEmma RothJay Peters2023-04-15T09:00:00-04:002023-04-15T09:00:00-04:00Why I’m using a keyboard phone in 2023
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<img alt="Photo of someone holding a Unihertz Titan, typing on its keyboard." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/p9n9iipOOWghM5_Oh0Ez_JjovzU=/892x1073:5523x4160/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72183012/DSCF2380.0.jpg" />
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<p id="ArEdyD">For the past month, I’ve been using <a href="https://www.theverge.com/22441669/unihertz-titan-pocket-hands-on-blackberry-keyboard-android-phone">the Unihertz Titan Pocket</a>, a phone released in 2021 that rocks a 3.1-inch display above a full Qwerty keyboard. To be clear, it’s been by choice — my editors didn’t assign me to do this as a prank (in fact, some of them have clowned on me for using it), and it’s not like I don’t have other options. I’ve got a perfectly good iPhone 12 Mini that I actively gave up to switch to this phone.</p>
<p id="v1o6lF">So uh... why?</p>
<p id="Vw4mz2">The first reason is that it can just be kind of fun to try something new. Or, in this case, go back to something old; my first experiences with a smartphone were stealing my dad’s Navy-issued BlackBerry to email my significant other when I was in middle school. But for the past 10 years or so, the phones...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/23673548/keyboard-phone-2023-features-unihertz-titan-pocket">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/23673548/keyboard-phone-2023-features-unihertz-titan-pocketMitchell Clark2023-04-12T17:02:31-04:002023-04-12T17:02:31-04:00Google will shut down Currents, the work-focused Google Plus replacement
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CmxTxsg_kF-yX_y1yvRJOYvesoE=/0x167:1600x1234/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70495863/Current_Static_2.0.png" />
<figcaption><em>Currents was introduced in 2019.</em> | Image: Google Currents</figcaption>
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<p id="D2NyaF"><em><strong>Update April 12th, 2023, 5PM ET:</strong></em><em> Google </em><a href="https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2023/04/new-community-features-for-google-chat-and-an-update-currents%20.html"><em>announced</em></a><em> it will begin winding down Currents on July 5th, with data available for export until August 8th, 2023, when it will no longer be available.</em></p>
<p id="BiIhYc">Google <a href="https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2022/02/currents-spaces-migration.html">has announced</a> that it’ll shut down Currents, which was <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/10/18305023/google-currents-replaces-plus-g-suite-new-app">introduced in 2019</a> as a replacement for Google Plus for G Suite. In a blog post, the company says it’s “planning to wind down” Currents, and that it’ll push the people who were using it to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/14/22532559/google-workspace-chat-officially-available-consumer-gmail-spaces">Spaces</a>, which is sort of like Google Chat’s version of a Slack channel or Discord room.</p>
<p id="JeIaDq">Google says that it’s making the change so users won’t have to work in a “separate, siloed destination” — instead, they’ll be using Chat and Spaces, which will <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/31/22911287/gmail-redesign-workspace-rollout-april-q2-chat-meet-spaces">soon be prominently integrated into Gmail</a>. The company...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/10/22928042/google-plus-replacement-wind-down-currents-spaces">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/10/22928042/google-plus-replacement-wind-down-currents-spacesMitchell Clark2023-04-10T09:00:00-04:002023-04-10T09:00:00-04:00The Steambox is an electric lunchbox looking for a problem to solve
<p>As a steam-reheating lunchbox, it’s pricey but serviceable. But if you’re just looking for a warm meal, there are better ways to get it.</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/23659598/steambox-electric-lunchbox-battery">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/23659598/steambox-electric-lunchbox-batteryMitchell Clark2023-04-07T20:09:54-04:002023-04-07T20:09:54-04:00Twitter is now marking Substack links as unsafe
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<img alt="A black Twitter logo over a red illustration" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8mMNn7WxQESxYpwCfcCy29KOH7U=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72159833/acastro_STK050_08.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Illustration: Alex Castro / The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="pMqsqK">Twitter has started marking links to Substack as unsafe. If you click on a link on Twitter with substack.com in the URL, Twitter will show a separate notice warning you that “the link you are trying to access has been identified by Twitter or our partners as being potentially spammy or unsafe.”</p>
<p id="dJQ757">Don’t be alarmed — the links we’ve checked appear to be perfectly safe. This notice seems instead to be Twitter’s latest hostile move toward Substack after the email newsletter platform announced its own Twitter-like “Notes” feature on Wednesday.</p>
<p id="uoA2hW">On Thursday, Twitter blocked people who use Substack from embedding tweets into their stories. Then, late Thursday or early Friday, Twitter started blocking engagement on tweets containing links to...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/7/23674936/twitter-marking-substack-links-unsafe">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/7/23674936/twitter-marking-substack-links-unsafeMitchell ClarkJay Peters2023-04-07T18:01:33-04:002023-04-07T18:01:33-04:00Microsoft’s rolling out Edge’s AI image generator to everyone
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<img alt="The Microsoft Edge web browser logo against a swirling blue background." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DO5yhmwOZ3WrlCsMQlfEyyBepJY=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72155179/STK148_Microsoft_Edge_1.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Image: The Verge</figcaption>
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<p id="KDLdta">Microsoft is making its DALL-E-powered AI image generator “available on desktop for Edge users around the world.” The company <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/21/23649943/microsoft-bing-openai-dall-e-image-creator-ai">announced it’d be coming last month</a> when it integrated the image generation tech into its Bing chatbot, but this move could make it available to a much wider audience.</p>
<p id="CiERo7">When it rolls out — I and two other <em>Verge</em> staffers using Edge don’t appear to have access to it yet — the “Image Creator” will live in Edge’s sidebar. Using it should be pretty simple; you type in what you want to see, and Bing will generate several images that match the prompt. Then, you can download the ones you like and use them however you need.</p>
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<p id="kdm8iu">In <a href="https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2023/04/06/edge-features-to-help-you-stay-organized-and-power-your-productivity/">a Thursday blog post</a>, Microsoft pitches the feature as a way to create “very specific” visuals...</p>
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<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/6/23672862/microsoft-image-creator-edge-sidebar-dall-e-ai-generator">Continue reading…</a>
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https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/6/23672862/microsoft-image-creator-edge-sidebar-dall-e-ai-generatorMitchell Clark