Blogs

Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages project has been controversial since it first rolled out in 2015. AMP is an open-source standard for a specialized type of webpage that offers a huge speed boost to sites that use it, and those pages load instantly from search engines like Google and (now) Bing. But AMP has many critics who have spent years contending that Google is using AMP to take over the web. In particular, Google shows AMP results in a news carousel at the top of its mobile search results, creating a huge incentive for news organizations — including The Verge and Vox Media — to use AMP.

For the past three years, AMP has been led by Google’s Malte Ubl, who was the project’s final decision-maker. That’s changing now, though: Google…

Continue reading…

Uber is overhauling its disaster response procedures so it doesn’t get caught flat-footed during major events like a hurricane or terrorist attack. In the past, Uber’s response to disasters was largely piecemeal, relying on local teams to make all the decisions about capping surge pricing or suspending service. Now, the ride-hail company’s new Global Security Center, based outside of Washington, DC, will hand down all decisions to those regional teams, with the hopes of creating a more efficient, consistent process during disasters.

This is a direct outgrowth of Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s overarching mission to rehabilitate the company’s reputation on safety. In recent months, he’s tackled issues such as rider and driver safety, s…

Continue reading…

The suit seeks class action status for those whose job is to view violent and disturbing potential Facebook posts.

Physics class can get painfully abstract. But you can collect your own data to see Newton’s second law in action.

The idea of “zombie scrolling syndrome” has legs, after all. From worms to wasps, nature has figured out mind control—in ways that bring to mind social media.

The social network is also soliciting public feedback for the first time in updating its rules.

Other game companies also are scrambling to introduce their own accessible hardware. But a customer base of more than 30 million gamers may give developers the push they need.