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Thursday 23 April 2020

Four tigers and three lions test positive for coronavirus at the Bronx Zoo - CNET

Additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in seven big cats.

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons update 1.2.0 adds more events and visitors

Thanks to the update, your island will be visited by two new special characters and you'll be able to participate in new events.

What you need to know

  • The v1.2.0 update brings new events and visitors to your island.
  • Leif the sloth can now appear on your island with his garden shop.
  • Redd the fox can now visit your island with his treasure trawley.
  • Nature Day will run from April 23 - May 4.
  • May Day will run from May 1 - May 7.
  • International Museum Day runs from May 18 - May 31.
  • Wedding Season runs from June 1 - June 30.
  • Two new aloha shirts can now be obtained by redeeming Nook Miles.

While the update doesn't take long to download, the official patch notes tell us that it does include several new events and characters for Animal Crossing: New Horizons players. For starters, two new characters can now show up on your island: Leif the sloth and Redd the fox.

Leif sets up a garden shop in front of Resident Services and players can purchase flower seeds and shrubs from him. Redd shows up at the secret beach at the back of your island. Players can board his boat and purchase art. But beware, some of them are fakes.

In addition to these two special characters, several events were included with the update. These include Nature Day which runs from April 23 - May 4. May Day, which runs from May 1 - May 7. International Museum Day, which runs from May 18 - May 31. And finally Wedding Season, which runs from June 1 - June 30.

In addition to these updates, players can now redeem their hard earned Nook Miles for two new aloha shirts. Specifically, the orange one that Isabelle wears or the blue-ish green one that Timmy and Tommy wear.

Welcome to island life

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

$60 at Walmart

The joyful game the world needs

Upon coming to a deserted island, you'll be able to harvest materials, collect bugs, go fishing, build your dream house, and make friends with animal villagers. This is an adorable life simulator that you can get lost in.



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Here are all the updates that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has received

These updates have allowed the game to run more smoothly and have fixed some big bugs.

There have been several updates to Animal Crossing: New Horizons since it was first released on April 20, 2020. Many of these updates fixed glitches while others were in response to the Animal Crossing community. Here are all of the updates that New Horizons has received so far along with an explaination of what was patched.

All updates and patch notes

The game hasn't been out very long, but there have already be several updates. Here they all are:

Update 1.2.0 - April 22, 2020

  • Leif the sloth can now visit your island. He has a gardening store where players can purchase shrubs and flower seeds.
  • Redd the art dealer will now make visits to your island with his boat. Players can purchase art from him, but some of them are fakes.
  • Two new items can be purchased from the Nook Miles program — Isabelle's aloha shirt and Timmy and Tommy's aloha shirt.
  • The following seaonal events were added to the game:
    • Nature Day (April 23 - May 4)
    • May Day (May 1 - May 7)
    • International Museum Day (May 18 - 31)
    • Wedding Season (June 1 - June 30)

Here are the official patch notes for update 1.2.0

Update 1.1.4 - April 6, 2020

Main takeaways:

  • During the 2020 Bunny Day event, the appearance rate of some eggs has been adjusted so they don't appear as frequently. They will be easier to collect on on April 12, 2020, the last day of the Bunny Day event.
  • Addressed a bug related to commissioning a Scarab Beetle bug model from Flick.

Here are the official patch notes for update 1.1.4.

Update 1.1.3 - April 3, 2020

Main takeaway:

This update released the day after update 1.1.2. It fixed a balloon glitch, which wouldn't allow people to obtain anymore balloons after they'd popped 300 of them with a slingshot.

Here are the official patch notes for update 1.1.3.

Update 1.1.2 - April 2, 2020

Main takeaways:

  • Fixes bug where inviting a villager can cause an existing one to glitch
  • Fixes bug which causes Tom Nook to not invite new villagers
  • Fixes bug where it was impossible to move buildings
  • Fixes bug where Wilbur took bells for items

Here are the official patch notes for update 1.1.2.

Update 1.1.1 - March 26, 2020

Main takeaways:

  • Allowed players to experience seasonal events. This was an update that released shortly after the game came out.
  • This update also allowed players to experience multiplayer via online or local communication.

Here are the official patch notes for update 1.1.1.

Up to date

Those are all of the updates that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has received so far. Considering that Nintendo has been quick to address fan responses and that the game features in-game events that correspond with real-life holidays, we're sure to see several more updates as the months go by. We'll continue to update as time goes on.

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Nintendo Switch

$299 at Amazon



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AppleCare+ for the iPad Pro also covers your new Magic Keyboard

Protect your iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard with the same plan.

What you need to know

  • AppleCare+ for iPad Pro also covers the Magic Keyboard.
  • The coverage for the iPad Pro extends to the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard.
  • Accidental damage incidents are subject to a $29 service fee.

For those who have been wondering how to protect their new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, it appears that Apple already has a solution in mind.

Reported by 9to5Mac, those who purchase AppleCare+ for the iPad Pro also receive coverage for their Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. On the AppleCare website, the company says that AppleCare+ will cover the Magic Keyboard for two years against hardware issues and two incidents of accidental damage.

"Every iPad comes with one year of hardware repair coverage through its limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support. AppleCare+ extends your iPad, Apple Pencil, and Apple‑branded iPad keyboard coverage and includes up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage every 24 months."

According to Apple, those who need to get their Magic Keyboard serviced for accidental damage through AppleCare+ will be subject to a $29 service fee.

"Each incident is subject to a service fee of $49 for iPad and $29 for Apple Pencil or Apple‑branded iPad keyboard, plus applicable tax. In addition, you'll get 24/7 priority access to Apple experts by chat or phone."

In order to receive the coverage on the new Magic Keyboard, AppleCare+ must be added to your iPad Pro within sixty days of purchase. For those who purchased a 2020 iPad Pro with AppleCare+, you are already covered. If you purchased a 2020 iPad Pro without AppleCare+, you still have some time to add coverage.

The benefit will, unfortunately, be lost to those who have had a 2018 iPad Pro for more than sixty days without adding AppleCare+, which will likely equate to most customers with the older iPad Pro.



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Skype copies Zoom and adds custom virtual backgrounds to its Mac app

Skype is trying to take advantage of Zoom's problems.

What you need to know

  • Microsoft has added custom background support to its Mac app.
  • The feature allows users to set a custom image as a background during video calls.
  • The company had already brought the feature to its Teams service earlier this month.

As many people find themselves working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, Zoom calls immediately became a staple of our new work-from-home world. One of the most popular features of Zoom, for those who want to get a little creative, has been the ability to set custom virtual backgrounds.

Now, it appears that Skype is bringing that same feature to its Mac app. Reported by Thurrott, Microsoft is bringing the feature to Skype after announcing support for it for Microsoft Teams earlier this month. According to the report, the feature is rolling out to users this week.

"Microsoft announced custom background image support for Teams earlier this month, and Skype is now getting support for custom backgrounds this week."

The basic idea of custom backgrounds in Skype sounds exactly the same as Zoom. When enabled, it will allow you to set custom images as a background during your video calls.

"This could be anywhere: Want to look like you're calling from the beach, or from space? Now you can, with custom backgrounds for your video calls."

Thurrott says that, since Skype already supported the ability to artificially blur your background during calls, it probably did not take much to add support for images.

"Microsoft quietly started rolling out a new update to Skype that enables support for custom backgrounds on Windows, Mac, Linux, and web. Both Skype and Teams had already supported background blur, so from a technical point of view, this feature probably didn't take a lot of effort to implement."

One thing to note is that it appears that the feature is limited to images only. Zoom, in comparison, also lets you upload videos to use as a background.

You can learn how to set up custom backgrounds on Skype through its support website.



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Verizon gives consumer and business customers 15GB of additional data

Verizon has extended its free data efforts to its customers.

What you need to know

  • Verizon is providing an additional 15GB of 4G LTE data to its customers.
  • It will be automatically added to consumer and business shared data plans.
  • The data will be accessible to customers this May.

Verizon has made an announcement today that it is bringing additional help to customers during the pandemic. In a press release, the company announced that it would be providing 15GB of 4G LTE data to its customers.

According to Verizon, it will automatically add the 15GB of additional data to consumer and small business shared data plans. Customers will not have to take any action in order to receive the additional data.

The extra 15GB can not only be used for counting towards data use on phones but is also able to be used by hotspots and jetpacks. The extra data will be available to customers between May 1st and May 31st.

Verizon has clarified that, for business customers, it is limiting the extra data to small businesses with 50 lines or less.

"Verizon continues to support customers who may find themselves needing additional data in order to learn, work or keep connected during this challenging time. That's why today, we announced we are automatically adding an additional 15GB of 4G LTE data to consumer and small business* shared data plans, hotspots and jetpacks to be used from May 1 through May 31. There is no action needed as this data will automatically be added to consumer and small business accounts. Includes small business customers with 50 lines or less."

Verizon is also taking other measures to assist customers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. For example, the carrier is currently waiving overage charges and late fees for those financially affected by COVID-19.



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Power Ledger to roll out blockchain energy trading tech to WA apartments

Through blockchain, the company says it will deliver 100% renewable energy through an embedded electricity network and solar PV and storage microgrid.

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The global AI agenda: Asia-Pacific

This report is part of “The global AI agenda,” a thought leadership program by MIT Technology Review Insights examining how organizations are using AI today and planning to do so in the future. Featuring a global survey of 1,004 AI experts conducted in January and February 2020, it explores AI adoption, leading use cases, benefits, and challenges, and seeks to understand how organizations might share data with each other to develop new business models, products, and services in the years ahead.

Within Asia-Pacific, how do executives see AI playing out in their business? What are the main use cases thus far, and what challenges do they face in AI deployment? The main findings of the report are as follows:

  • Some 56% of Asian respondents to our survey had deployed AI in their operations by 2017, compared with less than a third of North American respondents and 35% on average across other regions. By 2019, nearly 96% of Asian respondents reported AI deployments, above the 85% average of respondents from the other regions.
  • While AI is certainly a widely used technology, it is still at the fringes of many business processes. In line with the global trend, nearly half of survey respondents expect AI to be used in between 21% and 30% of business processes in three years’ time. A further 24% expect AI to touch up to 40% of business processes.
  • Our survey finds that enterprises in Asia are using AI most extensively today in IT management (selected by 62% of respondents as a top-three area for AI), followed by customer service and research and development. The area where AI is set to grow the fastest by 2022 is across sales and marketing departments.
  • Asia-Pacific is ahead of other regions in using AI for purposes such as the personalization of products and services and determining pricing. These trends are likely connected to the region’s leadership in e-commerce. Research company eMarketer estimates e-commerce across Asia-Pacific grew 25% in 2019 (faster than all other regions) to reach $2.271 trillion, representing 64.3% of global e-commerce spending.
  • The greatest benefits achieved thus far have been in improved risk management, accelerated time to market, and better management decision-making capabilities. Within these areas, Asia is seeing greater success than other regions.

Download the full report.



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Best knife sharpeners for 2020 - CNET

Keep your edge in the kitchen with these knife sharpeners, from Chef's Choice to Kitchen IQ.

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Best microwaves of 2020 - CNET

Whether it's perfect popcorn or last night's pizza, these microwaves are your best bets for making delicious food in a jiffy.

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AT&T doubles its low-band 5G network to now cover 120 million people

This is a step up from 5G E.

What you need to know

  • AT&T has expanded its low-band 5G coverage to 90 new markets.
  • The company has now doubled its 5G presence in the US.
  • Over 120 million people are now covered.

Today, AT&T has announced that it is rolling out its low-band 5G network to 90 additional markets in the United States. In a press release, the company says that the new expansion effectively doubles the carrier's coverage from 100 markets to 190 markets and that they now cover 120 million people with 5G connectivity.

"AT&T's 5G network is now live for consumers in 90 additional markets across the country and covers more than 120 million people. With today's launch, AT&T now offers access to 5G on its best unlimited wireless plans for consumers and businesses in a total of 190 markets in the U.S."

Some of the new markets covered include Sacramento, Tampa, Chicago, New Orleans, and Seattle. Chris Sambar, Executive Vice President of Technology Operations, says that that company plans to reach nationwide coverage with its low-band 5G technology by the end of the summer.

"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 ... 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."

AT&T also continues to roll out its mmWave technology, now offering the service in parts of 35 major cities in the country.

"Additionally, we offer access to our 5G+ network, enabling super-fast speeds and responsive connections in parts of 35 cities."

Apple is expected to include 5G support in the iPhone 12 when it launches this fall. You can check out the full list of new areas covered by today's expansion on the press release



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Animal Crossing's online multiplayer isn't working right now

We're not sure when things will return to normal.

What you need to know

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons is currently undergoing scheduled server maintenance.
  • This mainly affects online multiplayer activities.
  • Right now players are unable to visit other islands or send gifts to friends.
  • It's unclear when things will be back to normal.

If you're having trouble visiting a friend's island, hosting someone on your island, or sending something to a buddy right now in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, that's because the game is currently undergoing scheduled server maintenance.

When players attempt to do anyting that requires online connections, players receive this error:

It's unclear when Animal Crossing: New Horizons online multiplayer options will return to normal. Our guess is that it won't take very long, but we'll keep an eye out on things and update this post when that happens.

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Nintendo Switch

$299 at Amazon



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Spotify adds new feature to support artists directly inside its iOS app

Support your favorite artists directly in the Spotify app.

What you need to know

  • Spotify is adding a fundraising feature to its app.
  • Artists can raise money for themselves or causes they care about.
  • The Cash App has also established a $1 million relief effort for artists.

In an effort to help artists fundraise for themselves and causes they care about, Spotify is launching a new feature called 'Artist Fundraising Pick'.

"Today, Spotify for Artists is launching a new feature: the Artist Fundraising Pick. Just like artists can select any piece of music to highlight on their profile as an Artist's Pick, they can now highlight a fundraising destination (in addition to their Artist's Pick)."

The company announced the new feature in a blog post on the company's website today. According to the press release, Spotify has secured partnerships with the Cash App, GoFundMe, and PayPal for the initiative.

"This feature enables artists who are interested in raising money to support themselves, their bands, or their crews, to get the word out to their fans on their Spotify artist profiles. We have a strong group of initial fundraising partners: Artists can choose to add a link to Cash App, GoFundMe, and PayPal.me."

The Cash App has apparently established a $1 million relief effort that will give $100 to artists who receive at least one contribution through Spotify. The fund is currently only available to artists in the United States and the United Kingdom, but anyone in the world can contribute to the artists.

"We're particularly excited about our partnership with Cash App, as they've generously established a $1 million relief effort for artists during these challenging times. Spotify for Artists users that submit their "$cashtag" username as their Artist Fundraising Pick — and secure at least one contribution of any size through Spotify — will receive an extra $100 in their account from Cash App, until a collective total of $1 million has been contributed. This effort is available to artists in the US & UK, but Spotify listeners located all over the world can still make contributions via Cash App."

For artists who don't necessarily need to raise money for themselves, Spotify is also allowing artists to route contributions to "verified organizations participating in the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project."

"We've also created the option for artists to fundraise for an initiative connected to helping those most impacted in the music industry. Artists can select any of the verified organizations participating in the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project."

Apple has also joined in on the relief effort for the music industry. Earlier this month, it was discovered that the company had created a $50 million Royalty Advance Fund to help independent labels and artists weather the crisis.



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How To Avoid Online Harassment While Teleworking

Video conferencing became essential for some working from home during the pandemic. An NPR business correspondent explains what a Zoombomb is and advises listeners on telework safety.



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6 investment trends that could emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic

While some U.S. investors might have taken comfort from China’s rebound, we still find ourselves in the early innings of this period of uncertainty.

Some epidemiologists have estimated that COVID-19 cases will peak in April, but PitchBook reports that dealmaking was down -26% in March, compared to February’s weekly average. The decline is likely to continue in coming weeks — many of the deals that closed last month were initiated before the pandemic, and there is a lag between when deals are made and when they are announced.

However, there’s still hope. A recent report concluded that because valuations are lower and there’s less competition for deals, “the best-performing vintages tend to be those that invest at the nadir of a downturn and into the early stage of recovery.” There are countless examples from the 2008 recession, including many highly valued VC-backed businesses such as WhatsApp, Venmo, Groupon, Uber, Slack and Square. Other early-stage VCs seem to have arrived at a similar conclusion.

Also, early-stage investing seems more resilient. During the last recession, angel and seed activity increased 34% as interest in the stage boomed during a period of prolonged growth.

Furthermore, there is still capital to be deployed in categories that interested investors before the pandemic, which may set the new order in a post-COVID-19 world. According to data provider Preqin Ltd., VC dry powder rose for a seventh consecutive year to roughly $276 billion in 2019, and another $21 billion were raised last quarter. And looking at the deals on the early-stage side that were made year to date, especially in March, the vertical categories that garnered the most funding were enterprise SaaS, fintech, life sciences, healthcare IT, edtech and cybersecurity.

Image Credits: PitchBook

That said, if VCs have the capital to deploy and are able to overcome the obstacle of “having never met in person,” here are six investment trends that could emerge when the pandemic is over.

1. Future of work: promoting intimacy and trust



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The Motorola Edge Plus aims to be a 5G Samsung Galaxy killer - CNET

It costs the same as the Galaxy S20, is about the same size as Galaxy S20 Plus and has the same battery and main camera as the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

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The best meat delivery services in 2020: ButcherBox, Thrive Market, Omaha Steaks and more - CNET

Explore your options for high-quality beef, pork, chicken and seafood all delivered to your door.

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The best prepared meal delivery services in 2020: Home Bistro, Daily Harvest, Veestro and more - CNET

Including no-fuss, oven-ready meal kits.

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Coronavirus: How to track the spread across the world as deaths hit 100,000 - CNET

An online dashboard shows all confirmed, suspected and recovered coronavirus patients, as well as deaths.

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Twitter will remove misleading COVID-19-related tweets that could incite people to engage in ‘harmful activity’

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Twitter has updated its COVID-19 policies to require users remove tweets making unverified claims that “incite people to action and cause widespread panic, social unrest or large-scale disorder.”

The changes come as COVID-19 misinformation has spread across social media that has incited people to act rashly. For example, people have set British 5G towers on fire because of conspiracy theories that falsely link the spread of COVID-19 to the rollout of 5G — which is probably why Twitter specifically mentions that tweets inciting people to damage 5G infrastructure are included in the new guidance.

Continue reading…



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Drops happen; keep your iPhone SE (2020) safe with a rugged case

There is no magic case that can guarantee that your iPhone SE won't sustain damage if it falls. You can, however, mitigate potential damage by keeping a good quality, heavy-duty, rugged case on your iPhone at all times. I prefer to use a lighter, slimmer case, but if and when I use up my AppleCare+ incidents, you can bet I'll be slapping on a rugged case and keeping it on for the duration of my iPhone's life. I'm a big fan of the OtterBox Otter + Pop Symmetry Series case. Not only it is a protective case, but the built-in PopSocket on the back provides extra grip to prevent falls in the first place.

Best Overall: OtterBox iPhone SE Otter + Pop Symmetry Series

Trusted case maker OtterBox and popular grip maker PopSocket collaborated to create the Otter + Pop case. This particular one is a Symmetry Series case, which is one of OtterBox's slimmer but still heavy-duty cases. Usually PopSockets are stuck on the back of a case or phone with adhesive, but the Otter + Pop case has the PopSocket built right on.

In case you're unaware, PopSockets help you to get a firm, balanced grip on your phone, can be used as a kickstand for watching videos, and fold flat when not in use. If you don't like the PopSocket it comes with, it can be twisted off and replaced with any others you purchase, so you can change up the look of your case. The case is compatible with PopSockets PopTops, Car Vent Mount, and PopSockets Multi-Surface Mount (all sold separately). Wireless charging works sometimes, though you'll probably have better luck if you remove the PopSocket. This is a two-layer case; the outer cover is soft and absorbs impact. The inner layer is a hard shell designed to deflect shock. The case comes in a handful of colors, and the selection of PopSocket designs is huge.

Pros:

  • Trusted OtterBox protection without excess bulk
  • Built-in PopSocket grip
  • Lots of PopSockets and other accessories available

Cons:

  • Wireless charging is iffy
  • Expensive

Best Overall

OtterBox iPhone SE Otter + Pop Symmetry Series

Protective grip

OtterBox and PopSocket had a baby, and this is it! You'll get a rugged, protective case with a handy PopSocket for extra grip.

Best Value: Spigen Tough Armor

Spigen offers good quality cases at reasonable prices, and this case is no exception. The polycarbonate and TPU Tough Armor case is tough yet relatively slim, adding just a tenth of an inch in thickness to your iPhone SE. The screen and camera cutouts have pronounced edges around them, so no matter which way you set down your iPhone, glass never touches the surface. There's also a built-in kickstand so you can watch videos comfortably on your iPhone. Certified miltary standard (MIL-STD 810G-516.6) protection and Air Cushion Technology means you're less likely to sustain damage if you drop your phone. You can even charge wirelessly with this case on. An earlier version of this case got my son through high school with his iPhone intact. Choose from Black, Gunmetal, or Red.

Pros:

  • Military-grade protection
  • Built-in kickstand
  • Wireless charging compatible
  • Well-priced

Cons:

  • Not a lot of color choices
  • Design is a bit blocky

Best Value

Spigen Tough Armor

iPhone armor

Protect your iPhone with some military-grade standards without breaking the bank thanks to Spigen.

Best Eco-Friendly Case: LifeProof WÄ€KE

This protective case from LifeProof has a wavy, ocean-inspired design and is eco-friendly. It's made out of salvaged fishing gear and over 85% ocean-based recycled plastic. With every purchase, LifeProof donates a dollar to one of their water-conscious nonprofit partners. Though LifeProof's LifeCycle program, you can mail back your used WÄ€KE case and LifeProof will recycle it into raw materials and create something new.

It's also just a good case. Since this case has a drop-proof rating up to 2 meters (about six feet), you're sure to have that peace of mind. My daughter's fiancé only purchases LifeProof cases, ever since his iPhone survived a two-story fall in one. Despite this protection, it still maintains a slim form factor and wireless charging compatibility. Choose from three colors: Black, Down Under (green/orange), and Neptune (blue/green.)

Pros:

  • Solid drop protection
  • Made from over 85% ocean-based recycled plastic
  • Wireless charging compatible
  • One dollar from each purchase goes to enviromental non-profit
  • Recyclable (through LifeProof)

Cons:

  • Only three color choices
  • Expensive

Best Eco-Friendly Case

LifeProof WÄ€KE

Clean up the ocean

This protective case from LifeProof is 85% ocean-based recycled plastic. You can also send it back when you're done with it.

Coolest Case: MOUS Limitless 2.0 Protective Case

This is my son's current favorite case; he insisted I include it on this list. Like all heavy-duty cases, this one has a raised lip around the edge of the screen for face-down protection. MOUS takes it a step further: the corners are raised even higher for extra protection that doesn't get in the way when you're using the phone.

Though the case maintains a slim profile, the impact-absorbing AiroShock technology provides serious drop protection. A screen protector is included with purchase. Connect the case seamlessly to MOUS accessories such as car mounts and a card wallet the built-in magnetic technology. Wireless charging works with the case on. All MOUS products come with a lifetime warranty. Choose from a number of different real materials on the back: Aramid Fibre, Bamboo, Black Leather, Shell, and Walnut.

Pros:

  • Impact-absorbing technology
  • Raised corners for extra face-down protection
  • Screen protector included
  • Wireless charging compatible
  • Magnetic technology built in

Cons:

  • Expensive

Coolest

MOUS Limitless 2.0 Protective Case

Best-looking case

This ultra-cool and ultra-protective case is made with real materials such as wood, bamboo, leather, or shell.

Best Translucent Case: UAG Plasma Series

Urban Armor Gear, or UAG, is known for rugged adventure-ready cases. The Plasma series cases are translucent, so you can see your gorgeous iPhone right through it. The honeycomb-textured case has an armor shell and an impact-resistant soft core. Scratch resistant skid pads and screen surround keep the case looking sharp. Wireless charging works just fine right through the feather-light case. The impact-resistant corners give extra protection to vulnerable corners. The Plasma Series case meets military drop-test standards (MIL STD 810G 516.6) and it's my husband's favorite case.

Pros:

  • Meets military drop-test standards
  • Lightweight but protective
  • Wireless charging compatible
  • Translucent
  • Impact-resistant corners

Cons:

  • Industrial look
  • Doesn't come with screen protector

Best Translucent Case

UAG Plasma Series

Adventure-ready

Take this lightweight but tough translucent case from UAG and put it on your iPhone for your next great adventure.

Best Grip: Speck Presidio Grip

Speck's Presidio Grip is a hard plastic case with raised rubber ridges for a no-slip grip. The dual-layer case offers 10-foot drop protection, yet the case is still pretty slim. You don't need to remove the case when charging wirelessly because the case is Qi charging compatible. The raised bezel protects your iPhone's screen. The scratch-resistant case comes in a number of fun colorways. All Speck cases carry a lifetime warranty.

Pros:

  • Raised rubber ridges add grippiness
  • Dual-layer protective but slim case
  • 10-foot drop protection
  • Wireless charging compatible
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons:

  • Expensive

Best Grip

Speck Presidio Grip

Hold on

The best drop protection is not dropping at all, and this case's rubber ridges offer extra grip.

Bottom line

Note that the iPhone SE is the same size and shape as the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7, so cases are interchangeable between models. When looking for a rugged case, be sure to look for raised edges around the iPhone screen and camera. You also want a case that's thick and solid enough to withstand drops. Many of the great rugged cases have air pockets, double layers, and other advanced technology to disperse shocks in case of falls. Also look for reinforced corners, because corner drops are often the most damaging. Avoid smooth, slippery cases; good grip is important to prevent falls in the first place. I'd also recommend adding a screen protector, since the screen is usually the first thing to break in a fall.

I'm more a of thin-case gal, but if I need a rugged, heavy-duty case, I'm grabbing one of these. The OtterBox Otter + Pop Symmetry Series is a personal favorite because I love the built-in PopSocket for a more secure grip and for watching videos.

Credits — The person that worked on this guide

Karen S. Freeman is a teacher, writer, and family woman. She loves to travel, play with tech stuff, drink coffee, discover amazing new restaurants, and experience new things.



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Lisa Jackson joins 'Earth Day Live' to talk Apple's environmental efforts

Celebrate Earth Day with Lisa Jackson.

What you need to know

  • Apple's Lisa Jackson joined 'Earth Day Live' today.
  • The VP of Environment talked about her career and the company's environmental efforts.
  • Apple's loftiest goal is to create a closed-loop supply chain.

Today marked the 50th Eart Day and, to celebrate, earthday.org put together a remote gathering of policymakers and artists for a digital 'Earth Day Live'. Lisa Jackson, Apple's Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, joined the event to talk about the company's environmental initiatives.

Reported by MacRumors, Jackson talked about her career as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama and her passion for protecting the earth so that people can live a healthy life.

"Before coming to Apple, I led the Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama. But long before that, I was an 8-year-old girl who saw my neighbors in New Orleans battling illness caused by chemical plants in our backyard. A girl who in 1970, wrote a letter to President Nixon imploring him to do something to protect the health of the people and the environment. That same year, we celebrated Earth Day in the U.S. for the very first time. And by the end of 1970, the EPA had officially opened its doors ... At the time, I had no idea I'd go on to work at the EPA and one day lead it, but I did know that at the heart of my concern for the planet was the health of people. Communities, families, people who deserve a healthy place to live, clean water to drink, and clean air to breathe."

Jackson then spoke about Apple's efforts in combating climate change and its focus on renewable resources. The company now runs all of its stores and corporate campus on 100% renewable energy. It also has put a lot of effort into making its newer products out of recycled materials. Jackson has also spoken about Apple's goal of creating a closed-loop manufacturing process, meaning that all products would be made out of recycled materials from old products without the need for further mining.

Jackson closed by saying that while we have much to still accomplish, we have many things to be proud of and hope for.

"On this 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we have much to be proud of, much to hope for, and much more to accomplish. Today's eight-year-olds are facing even greater challenges, but they also know a thing or two about the urgent work that lies ahead and that the health of our planet and our neighbors is a cause worth fighting for."



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