Oracle has scored another important cloud contract, as cloud communication platform 8×8 has migrated from AWS for secure video.
8×8 is a cloud communication platform that helps businesses run a virtual office, with business phone numbers, voicemail, extensions, auto-receptionists, voice meetings, chat and more. As such, cloud infrastructure is vital for 8×8 to successfully meet its customers’ needs.
Like many communication platforms, 8×8 has seen explosive growth during the pandemic. This resulted in the company needing to expand its cloud infrastructure to keep up.
“As video meetings quickly became the connective tissue of today’s new world, we saw our user count soar. To support that exponential growth, we looked at several platforms and chose Oracle’s Gen 2 Cloud infrastructure for its strong security, outstanding price/performance, and world-class support to serve this new surge of users,” said Vik Verma, CEO of 8×8.
In particular, Oracle’s Gen 2 Cloud Infrastructure offered 25% better performance per node than AWS, while saving 8×8 more than 80% in network outbound costs.
Oracle recently inked a deal to help Zoom keep up with its own surge of growth. With the 8×8 deal, Oracle is establishing itself as a serious contender for mission-critical cloud architecture.
Popular email app Newton Mail has received another lease on life, thanks to new owners who are taking over for Andy Rubin’s failed startup Essential.
Newton has had a tumultuous history in the email market, initially being released as CloudMagic in 2013 and rebranded as Newton Mail in 2016. The app, available for iOS, macOS, Windows, Android and Chrome OS, won rave reviews across the board. In spite of its success, the original developer announced the app would be shut down in September 2018.
The app was ultimately acquired by Andy Rubin’s (of Google Android fame) Essential and subsequently resurrected, only to face the chopping block again as a result of Essential shutting down. In the original announcement, Newton Mail was scheduled to stop working after April 30, 2020.
In a blog post, developer Maitrik Kataria outlines how he and business partner Justin Mitchell were able to work out terms with Essential to take over ownership of the app and continue developing it. The two were motivated by a deep love for the app and its innovative approach to email.
Just as significant, the pair are acutely aware of Newton’s troubled past, and are determined to bring some much needed stability to the app’s future. In outlining their goals moving forward, the first step in their model involves creating a contingency plan, complete with open-sourcing the app, to ensure Newton never again faces extinction—regardless of what happens to the individuals or company currently tasked with its development.
Kataria and Mitchell are also committed to improving privacy and security, bringing Newton into compliance with the EU’s GDPR, as well as adding features like PGP integration. The company is also offering a number of promotions to existing users, as well as those who had previously cancelled their subscriptions.
The announcement is good news for Newton users, as well as the email market in general. For email to grow and evolve, it’s important for third-party developers to continue to push the envelope, rather than relying solely on Apple, Microsoft or Google’s built-in clients.
Zoom has acquired Keybase, the popular secure messaging and file-sharing provider in its ongoing attempt to improve its security.
In the midst of the global pandemic, Zoom has gone from 10 million daily users to over 200 million, becoming the go-to platform for communication of all kinds. Remote workers, government agencies, online students, families, friends and more have all turned to the platform to stay connected.
Unfortunately for the company, it has made a number of security missteps, losing some public confidence along the way. This caused Zoom to announce a moratorium on new features for 90 days, while it focused on beefing up security. This acquisition, the company’s first in its nine-year history, is major step in that direction.
“There are end-to-end encrypted communications platforms. There are communications platforms with easily deployable security. There are enterprise-scale communications platforms. We believe that no current platform offers all of these. This is what Zoom plans to build, giving our users security, ease of use, and scale, all at once,” said Eric S. Yuan, CEO of Zoom. “The first step is getting the right team together. Keybase brings deep encryption and security expertise to Zoom, and we’re thrilled to welcome Max and his team. Bringing on a cohesive group of security engineers like this significantly advances our 90-day plan to enhance our security efforts.”
“Keybase is thrilled to join Team Zoom!” said Max Krohn, Keybase.io co-founder and developer. “Our team is passionate about security and privacy, and it is an honor to be able to bring our encryption expertise to a platform used by hundreds of millions of participants a day.”
It will be exciting to see just how Zoom integrates Keybase’s features to deliver on its security goals.
Microsoft has announced it is establishing its first data center in New Zealand, as it works to expand its enterprise cloud services in the country.
Microsoft has been working to grow its Azure cloud business and has been making significant headway against market leader AWS. One area where Microsoft is aggressively making headway is in its datacenter regions. The company already has more datacenters globally than any other provider, with 60 regions announced, and more than 140 countries.
“This significant investment in New Zealand’s digital infrastructure is a testament to the remarkable spirit of New Zealand’s innovation and reflects how we’re pushing the boundaries of what is possible as a nation,” said Vanessa Sorenson, general manager, Microsoft New Zealand. “The Fletcher School’s Digital Evolution Index characterizes New Zealand as a ‘standout nation’ demonstrating to the world what the future might look like. I’m confident this investment will help accelerate our digital evolution.”
Microsoft’s announcement should help the company continue its expansion, delivering scalable solutions to New Zealand businesses and organizations.
In one of the more unusual use cases, Morocco is the latest country to turn to arial drones to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the biggest challenges many governments face is trying to enforce social distancing and self-isolation. Together, the two measures have proven to be the most important factor in fighting the spread of the virus but, as the pandemic drags on, people inevitably grow weary of isolation and often start drifting back toward “normal.”
According to the International Business Times, (IBT) Morocco is using drones to monitor citizens, making sure individuals are practicing social distancing. This includes being used to break up rooftop gatherings and other events that are currently illegal. Drones are even being used to spray disinfectant in an effort to sanitize public areas.
“There is real demand,” said Abderrahmane Krioual, the head of Farasha, a startup that IBT reports has secured funding for drones that will specialize in arial disinfectant spraying, as well as thermal surveillance.
This is just the latest example of how technology is being used and repurposed in innovative ways to combat the global pandemic.
Microsoft has announced it will soon bring Windows 10X to existing, single-screen devices.
Windows 10X is a version of Microsoft’s operating system (OS) designed specifically for foldable devices. The company had planned on introducing the Surface Neo, a foldable device running the OS, before reportedly putting the device on hold as a result of the pandemic. The belief was that the company needed to focus on the computers and tablets people were currently using, and help them get the most from them, rather than release an entirely new class of device. Those same reports indicated that Windows 10X would likewise be delayed, but it appears Microsoft has changed its mind.
“The world is a very different place than it was last October when we shared our vision for a new category of dual-screen Windows devices,” writes Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer, Windows and Devices. “As we continue to put customers’ needs at the forefront, we need to focus on meeting customers where they are now. Our customers are leveraging the power of the cloud more than ever, and we believe the time is right to lean into this acceleration in a different way.
“With Windows 10X, we designed for flexibility, and that flexibility has enabled us to pivot our focus toward single-screen Windows 10X devices that leverage the power of the cloud to help our customers work, learn and play in new ways. These single-screen devices will be the first expression of Windows 10X that we deliver to our customers, and we will continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market.”
The announcement is welcome news for individuals and corporations looking forward to Windows 10X. In addition to its support for dual-screen devices, the OS is a modernized version of Windows, with the legacy components stripped out. As such, it focuses on an improved user experience and enhanced security. Releasing it for existing devices in the short-term is a good move for Microsoft and customers alike.
Google has announced that it is making its premium video conferencing product, Google Meet, available for free to everyone.
Video conferencing platforms have experienced record growth amid the coronavirus pandemic, as organizations, schools and individuals have turned to them to stay connected and productive. Zoom went from 10 million to 200 million daily users, and 300 million daily meeting participants. Other platforms have also seen stellar growth, although it appears Google would like to experience even more, if its latest blog post is any indication.
“Today, we’re making Google Meet, our premium video conferencing product, free for everyone, with availability rolling out over the coming weeks,” writes Javier Soltero Vice President & GM, G Suite. “We’ve invested years in making Meet a secure and reliable video conferencing solution that’s trusted by schools, governments and enterprises around the world, and in recent months we’ve accelerated the release of top-requested features to make it even more helpful. Starting in early May, anyone with an email address can sign up for Meet and enjoy many of the same features available to our business and education users, such as simple scheduling and screen sharing, real-time captions, and layouts that adapt to your preference, including an expanded tiled view.”
This is a big move for Google, and will likely help it better compete with Zoom and Microsoft’s products, including Skype and Teams. It will be interesting to see if Meet remains free permanently, or just while the pandemic is in full swing.
Comcast, T-Mobile and Verizon have announced they will extend their coronavirus service protection policies until at least June 30.
As the coronavirus began taking a toll on small businesses and individuals, wireless carriers and internet providers voluntarily adopted the FCC’s “Keep Americans Connected Pledge.” The pledge was aimed at preventing late fees or disconnects for individuals and small businesses impacted by the pandemic. In their latest announcement, several carriers have agreed to extend the initial window for those protections to the end of June
Comcast’s CEO, Dave Watson, said: “Our services have never been more important, and we’re doing everything we can to keep people connected to the internet.” Meanwhile, “Comcast announced today it will extend its commitments for Xfinity customers through June 30 to help ensure students can finish out the school year from home and remain connected to the internet during the COVID-19 crisis.”
T-Mobile, likewise, said its extension would go to June 30 and that “customers who have already talked to us and made arrangements for their account can contact us directly after May 13 to get an extension through June 30. We will have more details available online later this week.”
Similarly, Verizon said “we will neither terminate service nor charge late fees to our postpaid wireless, residential, and small business customers that notify us of their inability to pay their bills due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.”
There had previously been reports of some individuals being disconnected in spite of the pledge. As a result, it is important for any users impacted by the pandemic to proactively communicate with their provider to take advantage of the measures being offered.
German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil plans to put forth legislation that will make working from home a legal right, long after the coronavirus pandemic.
As the pandemic has swept the globe, it has had a profound impact on businesses and organizations of all sizes. One of the biggest changes has been how employees work, with many working from home. Industry leaders have predicted at least some of these changes, including more flexible work-from-home policies, could be a permanent legacy of the pandemic, and it seems Minister Heil wants to help that happen.
According to The Associated Press, Heil is going to unveil legislation that will require companies to gives workers whose jobs allow it the option to work from home if they want.
“Everyone who wants to and whose job allows it should be able to work in a home office, even when the corona pandemic is over,” said Heil. “We are learning in the pandemic how much work can be done from home these days.”
As Heil points out, the pandemic has forced companies to accommodate telecommuting and, in the process, they have learned just how productive employees can be. In addition, having fewer people in the office can translate to lower rent and utilities, as well as less commuting costs for employees. Reports have even show pollution has decreased as a result of more people working from home, making the environment another beneficiary of the trend.
Here’s to hoping more governments pass similar legislation as that proposed by Minister Heil, and make working from home a legal right.
Lenovo has announced it will soon make Fedora Workstation available on its ThinkPad line of laptops.
Lenovo joins Dell as one of the few PC makers to include an OEM Linux install. Unlike Dell, which is bundling the Ubuntu distribution, Lenovo has chosen to bundle Fedora. Fedora has a long history in the Linux community, and is sponsored by Red Hat.
According to Fedora Magazine, “the Lenovo team has been working with folks at Red Hat who work on Fedora desktop technologies to make sure that the upcoming Fedora 32 Workstation is ready to go on their laptops. The best part about this is that we’re not bending our rules for them. Lenovo is following our existing trademark guidelines and respects our open source principles. That’s right—these laptops ship with software exclusively from the official Fedora repos!”
This is great news for individuals, businesses and organizations of all types looking for a fully supported Windows alternative.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has thrown down the gauntlet, going after telecom companies that have strong ties to Beijing.
The U.S. has engaged in some very public battles with Chinese firms, including Huawei and ZTE, citing issues of national security. In its latest move, the FCC has “issued Show Cause Orders to four telecom companies with ties to the communist regime in China.” A Show Cause Order gives the companies 30 days to make the case as to why their authority to operate within the U.S. should not be revoked. The companies in question are ComNet, China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas and Pacific Networks.
“Over the past few weeks, Americans have learned that they no longer need to page through dusty foreign policy magazines to understand the consequences that flow from communist China’s brutal crackdown on freedom and free speech,” writes Commissioner Brendan Carr. “The communist party’s silencing of critics and its disappearance of hero doctors and citizen journalists exacerbated the global spread of Covid-19. Americans are now experiencing the consequences of those oppressive actions in their own lives—whether in the loss of their jobs or their kids not being able to attend school due to Covid-19.
“Since communist China is willing to disappear its own people to advance the regime’s geopolitical agenda, it is appropriate for the FCC to closely scrutinize telecom carriers with ties to that regime. This is a prudent step to ensure the security of America’s telecom networks. In the Show Cause orders issued today, we give carriers 30 days to explain why the FCC should not initiate proceedings to revoke their authority. They now have the opportunity to provide evidence showing that they are not subject to the exploitation, influence, and control of the Chinese government such that we should not look to revoke their authority to operate in the U.S. I look forward to reviewing the record that develops and reaching a final decision on those key issues.”
It’s unknown what impact the FCC’s actions will have on trade relations with China, although Beijing has vowed retaliation in the past when action has been threatened against one of its companies.
Apple has said a recently discovered iOS Mail vulnerability poses no immediate threat and a fix is coming soon.
As previously covered, security firm ZecOps discovered a flaw in iOS Mail, affecting both iPhones and iPads. The flaw involved a blank email being sent to a device, an email that would cause a crash and reset. The reset created an opportunity for a hacker to steal data from the device. ZecOps believes the vulnerability was being exploited as far back as 2018, and was working with a client they believed was targeted using this vulnerability in late 2019.
In spite of that, Apple reached out to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman to issue a statement, which Gurman tweeted:
Apple responds to ZecOps report on Mail app vulnerabilities, says it doesn’t pose immediate risk and software update coming.
”Apple takes all reports of security threats seriously. We have thoroughly investigated the researcher’s report and, based on the information provided, have concluded these issues do not pose an immediate risk to our users. The researcher identified three issues in Mail, but alone they are insufficient to bypass iPhone and iPad security protections, and we have found no evidence they were used against customers. These potential issues will be addressed in a software update soon. We value our collaboration with security researchers to help keep our users safe and will be crediting the researcher for their assistance.”
Apple’s response is good news, although it still leaves a number of questions, not the least of which is what did ZecOps find in the way of vulnerabilities being exploited over the last two years?
AT&T has announced its 5G network now covers 120 million people in 190 markets, up from 100 markets in its March 16 update.
The 90 additional markets are covered with the company’s low-band 5G. While the slowest variety, low-band offers the best coverage, range and building penetration compared to faster varieties.
“At a time when technology is proving to be even more essential for communication, AT&T customers can rest assured that our company is continuing to invest in our network and new technologies to make connection easier,” said Chris Sambar, EVP of Technology Operations. “We remain focused on launching AT&T 5G in more markets and to more customers across the country – building on the nation’s best and fastest wireless network – and plan to reach nationwide coverage this summer.”
The announcement is good news for AT&T customers, especially during a time when so many people are depending on wireless communication.
In its ongoing efforts to beef up security, Zoom is preparing to allow hosts to report participants who misbehave.
Zoom has become a critical component to individuals and organizations alike during the coronavirus pandemic. The company has, however, come under criticism for lax security and privacy, prompting many companies and organizations to ban the app. As a result, Zoom committed to a 90-day moratorium on new features while its engineering teams focused on security and privacy improvements.
One of the biggest issues the company has been trying to address is Zoom-bombing, where an uninvited participant gains access to a meeting and commandeers it. Zoom-bombers have subjected legitimate participants to lewd drawings, racial slurs and more.
According to notes on Zoom’s site, the company is releasing an update on April 26 that will allow hosts to report those participants who misbehave.
Setting to allow host to report participants to Zoom
Account owners and admins can now enable a setting to allow the host to report participants to Zoom. This feature will generate a report which will be sent to the Zoom Trust and Safety team to evaluate any misuse of the platform and block a user if necessary. This setting is available at the account, group, and user level and can be locked at the group or account level. This setting requires the Zoom client version which will be released on April 26, 2020.
This is another welcome improvement to Zoom and should help improve the experience for all involved.
Advertising fraud protection firm TrafficGuard has announced the launch of free PPC fraud protection, as well as a pay-as-you-go Pro option.
According to founder and COO Luke Taylor, the company sees “ad fraud draining almost 30% of every new clients’ advertising spend.” Unfortunately, in times past, advertising fraud protection was outside the means of many small startups. TrafficGuard is working to change that.
“Our mission is to drive trust and transparency in the digital advertising ecosystem,” continues Tayler. “A reflection of this mission is our effort to democratise transparency. With our free PPC protection, transparency isn’t just the purview of big brand advertisers and agencies – Businesses of all sizes can get the visibility they need to fight ad fraud.
“We believe that if every business takes steps to protect their own ad spend from fraud, the cumulative effect is a strengthened industry and less funds flowing through to the perpetrators of ad fraud. Most fraud prevention tools are aimed at the big advertisers. By offering a free version of TrafficGuard, small and medium businesses also have the tools they need to protect their own spend.”
TrafficGuard’s announcement is good news for companies looking to maximize their advertising budget.
Individuals experiencing pandemic-related financial hardship are receiving threatening letters and being disconnected by their wireless providers.
Last month the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unveiled the “Keep Americans Connected Pledge,” aimed at preventing individuals and small businesses from being disconnected from internet and wireless services during the pandemic. The pledge also called for providers to waive late fees. As countless individuals are working from home, as well as sheltering in place, the internet and wireless services are vital lifelines, providing a way for people to work, shop, study and keep in touch with loved ones. For unemployed individuals, internet access is a critical component to finding new work, or being able to take advantage of unemployment benefits.
In spite of taking the pledge, however, NBC News is reporting that companies are disconnecting unemployed individuals. Verizon and T-Mobile have both stated that customers must be proactive in alerting them to their financial situation and inability to pay. Despite those statements, NBC cites multiple instances of individuals who attempted to do just that—and were reassured their service would remain intact—only to be disconnected anyway. In at least one instance, a Verizon customer was told it would cost $360 to reconnect service.
The FCC acknowledged it has been receiving complaints of service shut-offs, with FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel calling the shut-offs “unacceptable.” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy took things a step further, banning internet and phone companies from disconnecting customers during the pandemic.
It’s truly disappointing that companies are reneging on their promise, especially during a time when phone and internet access could literally be the difference between life and death.
“You’ve got to bail everyone out,” says Expedia and IAC Chairman Barry Diller. “This is like when you’re picking losers and winners. Everybody is in the same position which is the world stopped for commerce. You see this when you drive down streets and you see big cities and small cities and you see nothing is open. They’re ghost towns. The damage that is being done every day is enormous. Everybody needs to be bailed out of this one-time thing and we’ll worry about paying the bills later.”
Barry Diller, media mogul and Chairman of IAC and Expedia, says that every business in the United States must be bailed out in an interview on CNBC:
You’ve Got To Bail Everyone Out
What we’re doing at Expedia is using the time to do a lot of the things that we were not able to do when we were running a hundred miles an hour to keep up with our growth. You can think of it as a small business writ large. And then one day the door closes. And if you’ve got a small business with nobody coming in you have no revenue. Well, travel-related companies have no revenue. Expedia, like many large travel companies, has a very very large cost base so we haven’t yet dealt with that specifically. The real planning inside the company is to come out of this stronger than when we went into it.
The bailouts of the airlines are necessary. Full stop. You’ve got to bail everyone out. This is like when you’re picking losers and winners. Everybody is in the same position which is the world stopped for commerce. You see this when you drive down streets and you see big cities and small cities and you see nothing is open. They’re ghost towns. The damage that is being done every day is enormous. Everybody needs to be bailed out of this one-time thing and we’ll worry about paying the bills later.
What has to happen is the fear has to decline
What has to happen is the fear has to decline. The fear of associating with other people. There are plenty of friends of mine who say I’m not going to go to the theater or I’m not going to do this because I’m afraid. Actually, now people are saying, even though you’ve been isolating for three weeks you can’t come over to my house, which is kind of nuts. Fear is the next thing that’s going to thaw. Until that happens, whether you test people on the way in or whatever you do, at some point everybody’s going to have to be comfortable being a foot away from other people. If that fundamentally changes then a huge amount of our infrastructure disappears, which I don’t think will happen.
You kind of have to get over it (the fear). You go into a theater and you’re sitting literally within inches of people, you go in thinking that no one is going come in with enormous toxicity. No one is going to come in who has got some terrible communicable disease and sneeze on you. You kind of just trust in that. We’re all too frightened right now. We’re gonna have to get over it or everything will change.
One Way Or the Other This Is Going To Be Over or We’re Over
When we see the damage that is being done everywhere we’ll really see in the second quarter (what’s happening). How can you get fair value? I absolutely believe that in a year or two from now this will be over. One way or the other this is going to be over or we’re over. But how can you value that today? I don’t think you can do it?
II think the streaming will be impacted by (the crisis) also. You go a few more months and while people say (that Netflix) and other subscriptions to entertainment) will be the last things they’ll cut because people feel they desperately need it to just get through the day but that is eventually going to take its toll. People truly will not have the discretionary income to afford it.
Cornoavirus Doesn’t Change the Dynamics of Anything
But it doesn’t change the dynamics of anything. You’ve got the competitors. Streaming has taken over the world. Hollywood is irrelevant. The only companies that have a true path, an absolute clear business model path forward, have nothing to do with the entertainment business. Amazon and Netflix. Everybody else, good luck to them. They may be able to build subscription services that may be profitable but that world has changed forever. I think this pandemic has nothing to do with it other than earnings that are going to be much less for a while.
Of course, there are opportunities (to invest in) you just have to have a very long view or sure-footed look at things as not only they are but as you think they will be. We’re looking at some very large potential acquisitions for IAC. This is the environment where if you are acquisitive you’re going to do the thing that for many years everybody’s asked for. Oh my God, everything’s over-inflated and prices are crazy. You can’t buy things for this or that without these new premiums. Well, you know what, that’s all gone. If you’ve got capital what could be a better time than to exploit what is a terrible downfall for many companies.
You’ve Got To Bail Everyone Out, Says Barry Diller
Verizon Business has announced a definitive agreement to buy up Zoom competitor BlueJeans, as the videoconferencing market heats up.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, videoconferencing has become one of the most critical components that has allowed businesses, schools, religious organizations and more to keep functioning. Zoom’s stock has reflected its newfound status as a nearly indispensable tool.
In spite of that success, Zoom has also come under heavy criticism for privacy and security missteps, prompting many organizations and government agencies around the world to ban the app. The company has responded by putting a moratorium on new features for 90 days, while their entire engineering staff focuses on improving security and privacy.
In such an environment, rivals are moving to take advantage of the company’s missteps. Microsoft has made improvements to both Skype and Teams in an effort to make headway, and now Verizon is acquiring BlueJeans in an effort to move squarely into the space. Verizon specifically touts their intention to deeply integrate BlueJeans videoconferencing with the company’s 5G network, making things like telemedicine and distance learning more mainstream.
“As the way we work continues to change, it is absolutely critical for businesses and public sector customers to have access to a comprehensive suite of offerings that are enterprise ready, secure, frictionless and that integrate with existing tools,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. “Collaboration and communications have become top of the agenda for businesses of all sizes and in all sectors in recent months. We are excited to combine the power of BlueJeans’ video platform with Verizon Business’ connectivity networks, platforms and solutions to meet our customers’ needs.”
“The combination of BlueJeans’ world class enterprise video collaboration platform and trusted brand with Verizon Business’ next generation edge computing innovation will deliver highly differentiated and compelling solutions to our joint customers,” said Quentin Gallivan, CEO of BlueJeans Network. “We are very excited about joining the Verizon team and we truly believe the future of business communications starts today!”
Combining BlueJeans’ platform with Verizon’s network is likely to be a win for customers of both companies, while the added competition should be good for everyone.
Google is launching the Journalism Emergency Relief Fund in an effort to help support local journalists and news outlets amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a blog post, Google News VP Richard Gingras said that “local news is a vital resource for keeping people and communities connected in the best of times. Today, it plays an even greater function in reporting on local lockdowns or shelter at home orders, school and park closures, and data about how COVID-19 is affecting daily life.”
After highlighting the challenges local news outlets are facing during the economic downturn, Gingras said the Journalism Emergency Relief Fund will focus on helping small, medium and hyper-local news publishers. The amount of the relief will range from low thousands to low tens of thousands, depending on the size of the newsroom.
“Starting today, publishers everywhere can apply for funds via a simple application form,” Gingras continued. “We’ve made this as streamlined as possible to ensure we get help to eligible publishers all over the world. Applications will close on Wednesday April 29, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. At the end of the process, we’ll announce who has received funding and how publishers are spending the money.”
Google’s announcement is good news for small newsrooms and will hopefully help publishers keep delivering news at time when it’s more important than ever.
Joining the ranks of other startups impacted by the coronavirus, VSCO has laid off roughly a third of its staff.
In a message on LinkedIn, founder and CEO Joel Flory said “this week has been enormously difficult as we had to say goodbye to 45 wonderful team members. 2020 was staged to be a year where we would continue to forward invest into our business. Overnight our environment changed. We realized that we would need to shift towards running a self-sustaining business.”
The terminated employees all receive a minimum of seven weeks severance pay and two months of health coverage. Flory also takes on the roll of recruiting agent, making it clear he shared the information in the hopes of helping his former employees find new jobs.
After reiterating that VSCO will roll out new features in 2020, Flory says that “our mission and vision remain unchanged. Our ability to provide a place for creative expression, inspiration and connection is even more important than ever right now.”
GitHub has announced that its core features, including private repositories with unlimited collaborators, are now free for all users.
GitHub provides one of the most popular platforms for software development version control, as well as collaboration and bug tracking features. Git is used by developers around the world, in companies and organizations of all size.
In a post on the company’s blog, CEO Nat Friedman made the announcement, saying that “until now, if your organization wanted to use GitHub for private development, you had to subscribe to one of our paid plans. But every developer on earth should have access to GitHub. Price shouldn’t be a barrier.
“This means teams can now manage their work together in one place: CI/CD, project management, code review, packages, and more. We want everyone to be able to ship great software on the platform developers love.”
The company is also lowering the price of its paid Team plan from $9/month per user to $4. The change goes into effect immediately.
Friedman’s announcement is good news for developers and organizations alike.
