News

HBO Max set for May 27 launch, initial lineup announced

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The streaming service HBO Max will launch May 27, AT&T’s WarnerMedia announced Tuesday, signalling that the so-called streaming wars won’t subside because of the coronavirus pandemic. WarnerMedia had earlier said HBO Max would debut sometime in May, and it stuck to those plans Tuesday even […]

Pandemic and chill: Netflix adds a cool 16M subscribers

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Netflix picked up nearly 16 million global subscribers during the first three months of the year, helping cement its status as one of the world’s most essential services in times of isolation or crisis. The quarter spanned the beginning of stay-at-home orders in the U.S. […]

Public trust key, EU insists, in developing virus apps

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — As European countries develop coronavirus tracing apps, the European Union is urging its 27 member states them to make them voluntary and ensure that the many national systems can work together. The virus has infected more than 850,000 Europeans, killing some 90,000 people, according to the European […]

Australia to make Google and Facebook pay for news content

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Global digital platforms Google and Facebook will be forced to pay for news content in Australia, the government said Monday, as the coronavirus pandemic causes a collapse in advertising revenue. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission would release in late July draft […]

At Criterion Channel, programming a movable movie feast

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Arthouses are closed. Film festivals are canceled. But double features, matinees and film series continue to run unabated in one vital, virtual corner of moviedom. The Criterion Channel, the year-old streaming service, is a hotbed of cinephilia in the best of times. Right now, it’s […]

Facebook to warn users who 'liked' coronavirus hoaxes

By BARBARA ORTUTAY and AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press Facebook will soon let you know if you shared or interacted with dangerous coronavirus misinformation on the site, the latest in a string of aggressive efforts the social media giant is taking to contain an outbreak of viral falsehoods. The new notice will be sent to users […]

Tech companies step up fight against bad coronavirus info

By AMANDA SEITZ and BARBARA ORTUTAY The Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Potentially dangerous coronavirus misinformation has spread from continent to continent like the pandemic itself, forcing the world’s largest tech companies to take unprecedented action to protect public health. Facebook, Google and others have begun using algorithms, new rules and factual warnings to knock […]

Would you give up health or location data to return to work?

By CHRISTINA LARSON and MATT O’BRIEN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Cameron Karosis usually strives to protect his personal information. But a scary bout of COVID-19 that began last month with headaches and fevers, progressed to breathing problems and led to a hospital visit has now left him eager to disclose as much as possible […]

NBC's Peacock launching in July with 'handful' of originals

By TALI ARBEL AP Technology Writer NBCUniversal says its video-streaming service Peacock will launch nationally in July as planned, even though just a handful of its original series will be ready. The service was meant to have a mix of originals, classic shows and movies, and current NBC programming like its late-night shows and “Law […]

City Lights Bookstore launches successful GoFundMe campaign

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — One of the world’s most famous independent booksellers, City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, was in dire financial shape because of the coronavirus outbreak and asked for help. Help quickly arrived. Within days of starting a GoFundMe campaign last week seeking $300,000, the store received […]