Researchers culled through more than 200 million tweets discussing the virus since January and found that about 45% were sent by accounts that behave more than computerized robots than humans.
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Apple AR glasses could be close to becoming a reality. Apple TV+ could be expanding its library of content. And iOS 13.5 is here. We talk about this and more on this episode of the Macworld Podcast.
To commemorate the upcoming 700th episode of the Macworld Podcast, we’re teaming up with RavPower for a giveaway of their PD 90W Gallium Nitride Wall Charger! There will be three lucky winners of this great device that you can use to charge your MacBook Pro in a shorter amount of time.
Announced on April 28, 2020, a new type of event is coming to Pokémon Go: the Throwback Challenge event. This event will run through the entire month of May and will feature Timed Research lines, which players will have to complete in a specified period of time to unlock a final set of challenges during the first week of June.
What is a Throwback Challenge?
Throwback challenges are kind of like Special Research, only with the added difficulty of being timed. When you log in during the Throwback Challenge week, you will gain the Timed Research line in your Today View. From there, you will be able to complete the research for a set period of time, after which anything left incomplete will disappear.
Throwback Challenge 2020: Kanto Timed Research: Friday, May 1, 2020, at 1 pm until Friday, May 8 at 1 pm local time.
Throwback Challenge 2020: Johto Timed Research: Friday, May 8, 2020, at 1 pm until Friday, May 15 at 1 pm local time.
Throwback Challenge 2020: Hoenn Timed Research: Friday, May 15, 2020, at 1 pm until Friday, May 22 at 1 pm local time.
Throwback Challenge 2020: Sinnoh Timed Research: Friday, May 22, 2020, at 1 pm until Friday, May 29 at 1 pm local time.
Throwback Challenge Champion 2020 Special Research: Wednesday, June 3, 2020, from 1 pm until Monday, June 8 at 1 pm local time.
Thanks no doubt to the massive success of the recent Community Day: Stay at Home Edition, nearly every single step of these Timed Research Lines has been able to be completed from the safety of home. The handful of tasks that might have required leaving were all easy to complete solo. While Pokémon Go is certainly more fun with friends, this event can be safely completed while social distancing!
Throwback Challenge 2020: Kanto Timed Research
The Kanto Timed Research line focused on the original Pokémon games and the Pokémon of the Kanto region, looking back at Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. During this week, there were lots of bonuses and features to help players complete the Timed Research line, including:
Pokémon from the Kanto region spawned more frequently, including Venonat and Chansey.
Pokémon from the Kanto region were in more Raids.
Pokémon from the Kanto region were featured in 7 KM Eggs, including Venonat, Machop, Onix, Lickitung, Tangela, Scyther, Pinsir, Lapras, and Eevee.
Event-exclusive Field Research rewarded players with encounters featuring Pokémon originally found in the Kanto region.
Catch, Raid, and Hatch XP were doubled all week.
Completing all the Kanto Timed Research also rewarded players with ten Rare Candies, and a Psystrike Mewtwo encounter, in addition to all the individual task rewards. For the specific tasks involved in this week, see our Pokémon Go Throwback Challenge 2020 week one guide.
Throwback Challenge 2020: Johto Timed Research
The Johto Timed Research line was focused on the Gen II Pokémon from the Johto region, inspired by Pokémon Gold and Silver. The features and bonuses for this week included:
Pokémon from the Johto region spawned more frequently, including Dunsparce and Skarmory.
Pokémon from the Johto region were in more Raids.
Pokémon from the Johto region were featured in 7 KM Eggs, including Chinchou, Yanma, Girafarig, Pineco, Dunsparce, Gligar, Shuckle, Skarmory, and Phanpy.
Event-exclusive Field Research rewarded players with encounters featuring Pokémon originally found in the Johto region.
Catch and Raid Stardust were doubled all week.
Completing all the Johto Timed Research rewarded players with ten Rare Candies, and an encounter with Ho-Oh who knew the event exclusive move Earthquake, in addition to all the individual task rewards. For the specific tasks that were involved in this week, see our Pokémon Go Throwback Challenge 2020 week two guide
Throwback Challenge 2020: Hoenn Timed Research
The Hoenn Timed Research line is focused on the Gen III Pokémon from the Hoenn region, looking back on, you guessed it, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. The features and bonuses for this week include:
Pokémon from the Hoenn region are spawning more frequently, including Skitty, Zangoose, and Seviper.
Pokémon from the Hoenn region are also be in more Raids.
Pokémon from the Hoenn region are being featured in 7 KM Eggs, including Lotad, Slakoth, Nincada, Skitty, Sableye, Mawile, Trapinch, Feebas, and Clamperl.
Event-exclusive Field Research are rewarding players with encounters featuring Pokémon originally found in the Hoenn region.
Hatch and Buddy Candy Distance are halved all week.
Completing all the Hoenn Timed Research rewards players with ten Rare Candies, and an encounter with Groudon who knows the event exclusive move Fire Punch, in addition to all the individual task rewards.
Throwback Challenge 2020: Sinnoh Timed Research
The Sinnoh Timed Research line will focus on the Gen IV Pokémon from the Sinnoh region and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. The features and bonuses for this week will include:
Pokémon from the Sinnoh region will be spawning more frequently, including Cherubi and Glameow.
Pokémon from the Sinnoh region will also be in more Raids.
Pokémon from the Sinnoh region will be featured in 7 KM Eggs, including Cranidos, Shieldon, Glameow, Chingling, Bonsly, Happiny, Gible, Munchlax, Riolu, and Mantyke.
Event-exclusive Field Research will reward players with encounters featuring Pokémon originally found in the Sinnoh region.
Star Pieces, Incense, and Lucky Eggs will all last for one hour.
Completing all the Hoenn Timed Research will also reward players with ten Rare Candies, and an encounter with Cresselia who knows the event exclusive move Grass Knot, in addition to all the individual task rewards.
Throwback Challenge Champion 2020 Special Research
Players who complete all four weeks of the Throwback Challenges will unlock an additional Challenge to be presented during the first week of June. Professor Willow will join players as they look back on Pokémon Black and Pokémon White, and the Gen V Pokémon of Unova. Players will also discover Pokémon from the Gen VIII Galar region! This Throwback Challenge will have four sets of tasks, but players who unlock it will be able to complete it at any time, unlike the previous Throwback Challenges, which are all timed. For five days, however, players can enjoy the following bonuses and features:
Pokémon from the Unova region will be spawning more frequently.
Galarian Stunfisk will be introduced. It will be spawning in Raids and research reward encounters.
All the new Galarian form Pokémon will evolve into their Galarian forms.
Completing all the Champion 2020 Special Research will reward players with five Rare Candies, a pair of Professor Willow's glasses for their avatar, and encounters with Galarian Meowth, Galarian Stunfisk, and the mythical Pokémon Genesect.
Missed a week?
While the goal of this event was to reward players for consistent play, Niantic didn't want players who weren't able to complete every single week to miss out entirely. So, if you missed a week, you can still purchase a ticket for the final week in the PokéShop. For $8 USD or local equivalent, Trainers can have the final Throwback Challenge Special Research. Players who did earn the final week may also purchase a ticket which will create a second set of Special Research, rewarding ten additional Candies in place of Pokémon Encounters, and Stardust in place of Professor Willow's Glasses. These tickets can only be purchased with real money - not PokéCoins, but even players who do not participate in the last week of Special Research will still have the following bonuses to look forward to:
Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region will be appearing more frequently in the wild.
These bonuses will be available beginning at 1 PM local time on Wednesday, June 3 until 1 PM local time on Monday, June 8, 2020.
Questions?
Do you have any questions about completing the Throwback Challenges? What do you think of this new type of event? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check out our Complete Pokédex, as well as our many Pokémon Go guides so you too can become a Pokémon Master!
The new financing brings MasterClass’ valuation to $800 million, according to Bloomberg, which broke the news of the edtech company’s then-impending funding round earlier this month. MasterClass declined to disclose its new valuation, but said that its valuation is higher than $800 million.
MasterClass charges a $180 annual subscription fee for users to access its library of content. The subscription model was responsible for 80% of the company’s revenue in 2018, and is now responsible for 100% of its revenue.
MasterClass views itself as neatly on the intersection of entertainment and education. The startup has produced 85 classes taught by celebrities, or “masters,” on their specialties. The platform has garnered blockbuster names like Anna Wintour to talk about how to grow a business, Gordon Ramsey on how to cook and David Sedaris on how to be funny. The previews of classes are called “trailers.”
It also touches on the public’s innate curiosity about how famous people think and work. MasterClass tugs on that idea a bit by also offering classes that fundamentally do not make sense to be “digitized.” Think high-contact sports, like a tennis lesson from Serena Williams or a basketball lesson from Steph Curry. Or just general pontifications from RuPaul on self expression and Neil deGrasse Tyson on scientific thinking and communication.
Despite its flashy lineup of stars, MasterClass doesn’t sell access but instead sells a window into someone’s work diary. Celebrities are not interacting with students on a day-to-day basis, and sometimes, not at all.
It is relatively a light lift for celebrities once they get their content on the platform, which of course only happens if they are personally invited by the company. Any MasterClass on the site includes a number of lessons, broken down in separate videos that range from 20 to 30 minutes, and a downloadable workbook. Students for each class can flock to community hubs to chat with their fellow virtual classmates. There are opportunities for celebrities to interact with students, but nothing is put in the contract to make the instructors give back.
MasterClass proudly touts the few exceptions where celebrities have chosen favorites in class: Electronic music producer DeadMau5 reportedly invited one of their MasterClass students to record a track alongside him. Serena Williams reportedly invited one of her students to play a game with her.
MasterClass declined to share how it pays the celebrities.
Last year, MasterClass more than doubled in terms of sales. The company also says its content is so engaging that people might sign on for a Steph Curry workshop, but then eavesdrop in on a Ramsey cooking session.
MasterClass raised the round as millions are at home with nothing to do. CEO and co-founder David Rogier said that the most watched chapter of a class is Chris Voss, former FBI negotiator, and his thoughts on the art of tactical empathy.
Beyond this anecdote, Rogier repeatedly denied to share any data on how MasterClass’ usage has changed since coronavirus began. The silence is notable only because its competitors and neighbors in the edtech space have been noisy as of late. The massive shift to remote education has already helped edtech companies raise millions across the board, from new unicorns to seed-stage deals.
The silence might be because MasterClass has positioned its content as more entertainment-focused than simply education-focused. Because the company produces high-quality, documentary-style content, it means that it might struggle to produce, similarly to the delays we’re seeing in the entertainment industry right now due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
Similar to other edtech companies, however, MasterClass claims that the new financing was closed less out of necessity and more out of opportunity.
Rogier said that the capital will be used to create new classes for students and up production to one class a week. The company is also experimenting with an audio-only mode, short form and augmented reality.
“Imagine if we had Steph Curry, but you had augmented reality on your phone so you could actually see where to put your feet,” he said.
MasterClass’s marketing strategy has recently been a topic of conversation because of how aggressive and ever-present it is. It seems like every YouTube video you watch, there is a MasterClass ad waiting to be your commercial break. It seemingly has only increased as everyone started to work from home.
MasterClass definitely took the “Shen Yun Teaches Blanket Marketing” MasterClass.
While Rogier would not disclose MasterClass’ marketing budget (or how in the world it managed to crowd already crowded challenges) the strategy is a bit telling. MasterClass doesn’t compete with YouTube, it advertises on the platform. It is betting that the world wants a highly produced, celebrity-led class, and is willing to pay for it.
“If you’ve seen more ads, it is because they are working,” he said.
As convenience goes, wireless charging can’t be beat. You simply drop your phone onto the charger and walk away. Gone is the headache of managing cables that inevitably break or get lost.
Wireless charging has not only improved as a technology, but it’s also been adopted by most major phone makers, including Samsung, LG, Sony, Motorola, Google, Huawei, as well as Apple. If your phone supports it, it’s time you pair it with a wireless charging stand or pad, so you can experience the benefit.
We’ve tested some of the most popular wireless chargers out there for both Android and iPhone, and picked our favorites from the bunch. Read on for our findings, and check back periodically for our latest updates.
EA plans to release the source code for its classic real-time strategy games Command and Conquer: Tiberian Dawn and Command and Conquer: Red Alert, the studio announced today. The source code for the two games is scheduled to be available alongside the release of Command and Conquer Remastered Collection, which includes remastered versions of both titles and their expansions, on June 5th.
By open sourcing the games, players should be able to use the assets to create mods that could, in theory, be quite extensive. “These open source DLLs should assist users to design maps, create custom units, replace art, alter gameplay logic, and edit data,” said EA’s Jim Vessella, producer on Command and Conquer Remastered, in a blog post. The open...
In case you missed a week, there's still a chance to play!
What you need to know
Originally announced as a reward for completing four weeks of Timed Special Research, the final week of the Throwback Challenge can be purchased.
Players who earned the final week can also purchase tickets for slightly different additional rewards.
Players who neither earn, nor purchase the Timed Special Research will still encounter Galarian variants in the Wild, Raids, and Eggs.
Today, Niantic announced an addition to the Pokémon Go Throwback Challenge Event. Originally announced as reward for completing four weeks of Throwback Challenges, Trainers will now have the opportunity to purchase a ticket for the final week of the Throwback Challenge. Players who managed to complete all four weeks will also have the option to purchase a ticket which will create a second set of research in which the Pokémon Encounters will be replaced with ten Candies each, and the Avatar item of Professor Willow's glasses will be replaced with Stardust. Tickets will go on sale soon, and can only be purchased with real money - not PokéCoins. Tickets will cost $8 USD or your local equivalant.
Players who earn or purchase a ticket will receive:
An Avatar item based on Professor Willow's glasses.
The final week of the Throwback Challenge Event will take place on Wednesday, June 3 until Monday, June 8, 2020, at 1 PM local time. Even Trainers who neither earned the final week, nor purchased a ticket will have some fun to look forward to with the following:
Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region will be appearing more frequently in the wild.
Are you excited to take part in the final week of the Pokémon Go Throwback Challenge? Have you completed the first three weeks already? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to check out our Complete Pokédex, as well as our many Pokémon Go guides so you too can become a Pokémon Master!
Image: EA