Sean Hollister

Senior Editor

Sean HollisterNov 23, 2022

Tesla has a zombie frenemy.

Remember when Umar pointed out that Tesla’s attempt to claim the “North American Charging Standard” was silly ‘cause most automakers use CCS instead? Well, Aptera — the zombie EV brand — claims it’ll use Tesla’s plug for its vehicle. Someday.

Will that unlock hundreds of millions in federal funding for Tesla charging stations, since the law mandates “non-proprietary charging connectors” open to “motor vehicle operators from more than one company”? Not by itself: the Federal Highway Administration’s current plan says each station needs four CCS chargers as well.

Aptera says it will use Tesla's charge connector in its solar electric car

[Electrek]

Sean HollisterNov 23, 2022

Twitter wanted encrypted DMs so bad, it licensed Signal’s tech.

When Musk says he wants Signal creator Moxie Marlinspike to help add encrypted DMs to Twitter, the funny part is this’d be the third time they’ve asked him.

He left Twitter in 2013 when it didn’t wind up letting him build that — and Platformer is now reporting Twitter wound up getting a license to use Signal’s tech in 2018 for attempt number two. By 2019, Twitter reportedly scrapped that second attempt as well. Third time’s the charm?

The secret history of encrypted DMs on Twitter

[www.platformer.news]

Embracer is ripping a beloved mobile game away from people who paid for it

Sean HollisterNov 23, 2022

Sean HollisterNov 22, 2022

Speaking of Marvel Snap giving players what they want...

How about the ability to rewind and re-watch what happened, particularly on the last turn? Some of the coolest combos come out on Turn 6 — but the game is too eager to tally up points and declare a winner. I want to learn!

Marvel Snap introduces new cards and a way to get the cards you want

Ash Parrish

Nov 22

Sean HollisterNov 21, 2022

Disney is throwing stacks of cash — and stock — at the fix-it man.

New-old CEO Bob Iger will get $27 million a year, including $1 million annual salary, $1 million in bonus, and $25 million in Disney stock and stock options.

Yes, Bloomberg’s right that it’s less than the $46 million he made in 2021, or even the $32.5 million his successor Chapek got. But, uh, Iger was one of the highest paid execs in the world making hundreds or even a thousand times more than his own median employees. Plus, Disney’s stock price has fallen by nearly half since its 2021 peak, meaning the $25M in stock could be worth way more soon.

Bob Iger’s “Compensatory Arrangements”

[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)]

Sean HollisterNov 21, 2022

Want to run faster in Pokémon Violet and Scarlet? Just, uh, use two controllers at the same time!

At least you don’t have to carry multiple phones like the speedrunners who play Pokémon Go...

Here’s our Violet and Scarlet review.

Ubisoft is back to releasing games on Steam, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Sean HollisterNov 21, 2022

Bask in the glow of Samsung’s enormous Odyssey Ark.

Every year now, Samsung pushes out a massive, droolworthy, jawdroppingly curved gaming monitor like this Samsung Odyssey Ark, or the Odyssey G9 and Odyssey Neo that came before. But despite costing as much as an entire gaming PC, they always ship half-baked. LG, if you’re reading this, give ‘em a nudge with some competition? Say, a curved version of your 42-inch OLED with the tweaks PC gamers need.