Yes, Disney Plus does carry many 4K movies and television shows — and unlike other platforms, you can stream Disney Plus in 4K at no extra cost.  To stream Disney Plus in 4K, you need to be streaming on a 4K television or monitor, with a streaming device that can handle 4K content. You should also have an internet download speed of at least 25 megabits per second. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Not only does $6.99 a month get you Disney Plus's vast library of shows and movies, it gets you much of that content in ultra-high definition 4K resolution. At that image quality, you'll be able to see every falling snowflake in "Frozen."

Here's what you need to know about streaming Disney Plus in 4K resolution.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Disney+ Monthly Subscription (From $6.99 at Disney+)

Roku Streaming Stick+ (From $49.99 at Target)

Roku Ultra (From $79.00 at Walmart)

Google Chromecast Ultra (From $69.00 at Target)

Apple TV 4k (From $169.00 at Walmart)

Amazon Fire TV Cube (From $119.99 at Amazon)

LG 65-inch C9 4K TV (From $2,199.99 at Best Buy)

How to stream Disney Plus in 4K

Right now, among the content available in 4K from Disney Plus are all the "Star Wars" films, all of Pixar's films, and many Disney hits like "The Lion King."

Not all Disney Plus programs are available in 4K. If they are, you'll see an "HD" label on the program's details page. Once you begin streaming this movie or show, it'll default to the highest resolution your system can handle.

If a show or movie will stream in 4K, you'll see an "HD" label. Steven John/Business Insider

However, you'll need to be using devices compatible with 4K streaming. Most recent smart TVs can handle 4K, but if you're not sure about your current setup, you should do some research online.

You'll also need to have a streaming device that can handle 4K. Some of these devices include:

Roku Streaming Stick+Roku UltraApple TV 4KChromecast UltraAmazon Fire TV Cube

You'll also need a decent internet connection, since 4K resolution can be an internet hog. Disney doesn't offer any exact goal you should be shooting for, but an internet speed of at least 25 megabits per second should be enough.

Original author: Steven John

Your Alexa-enabled smart speaker can identify songs, but you'll need to say a specific phrase: "Alexa, what song is this?"If you're listening to music through Amazon Music, you can also turn on the Song ID feature, which will cause Alexa to announce the name of each song before it starts playing.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Your Amazon Echo speaker is smarter than it lets on. 

One of Alexa's skills is the ability to identify what song is playing, whenever you ask.

There are two ways to get Alexa to identify music: by request, and automatically. Here's how to use both.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Amazon Echo 3rd Gen (From $79.99 at Amazon)

How to make Alexa identify songs on request

Any time Alexa is playing music, simply say, "Alexa what song is playing?" The assistant will briefly interrupt the song to announce the name and artist of the song. 

This feature has limitations — it only works if you're streaming music from a streaming music catalog like Spotify or Amazon Music.

If you're listening to a radio station, Alexa can identify the name of the station, but not the song that's playing. 

You can ask Alexa to tell you what song it's playing. Elaine Thompson/AP

How to make Alexa identify songs automatically

If you're listening to music through Amazon Music, you can set Alexa to announce the name and artist of every song automatically.

Simply say, "Alexa, turn on Song ID."

Again, this will only work for songs played through Amazon Music.

If Spotify is your default music player, you can force Alexa to use Amazon Music by saying, "Alexa, play [your music choice] on Amazon Music."

If you get tired of the Song ID feature, you can disable it by saying "Alexa, turn off Song ID."

Original author: Dave Johnson

Google employees have been told to expect to work from for the remainder of the year, but it will open its offices in June or July for those who need it.The company had already extended work-from-home until June 1, but it sounds like Google's workforce could be working remotely for many months to come.The news comes the same day that Facebook told employees they could work from home for the rest of the year.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google-parent company Alphabet, told employees they will likely be working from home until the end of the year.

During an all hands-meeting on Thursday, Google employees were told that those who needed to return to the office would be able to do so in June or July, but said there would be certain safety measures put in place.

The news was first reported by The Information, and confirmed by an independent source to Business Insider.

It follows a similar announcement from Facebook, which today told employees they could continue to work from home for the remainder of 2020, though said it would start reopening its offices on July 6.

Google last month told employees that it was extending work-from-home to June 1, and planned to "stagger" a return to the office. However, it now looks like most of Google's workforce will be operating remotely for quite some time to come.

A Google spokesperson did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Do you work at Google? Contact this reporter using encrypted messaging app Signal (+1 628-228-1836) or email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Original author: Hugh Langley

You can delete Audible books from your iOS or Android device without permanently removing them from your Audible account. When you delete a downloaded Audible book, the title will remain visible on your "My Library" tab. To remove an audiobook from your Audible app, swipe left on the title you want to remove then tap on the red "Delete from device" box. To delete an Audible book from all your devices, log in to your Amazon account and visit your "Manage Your Content and Devices" page. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With a few quick taps, audiobook retailer Audible grants subscribers access to a vast array of titles they can listen to endlessly on-the-go. But more chances to read doesn't mean you have more time for bad books. 

If you want to clean up your Audible library, consider exchanging the title if it's eligible. If that's not enough, deleting the books from your account is an option.

Deleting Audible books from your mobile phone's app will not remove them from your account, meaning you can redownload them at any time. If you want to completely delete a book from your account, you'll need to do it on a computer using a web browser. 

Here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

Samsung Galaxy s10 (From $699.99 at Walmart)

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Lenovo IdeaPad 130 (From $469.99 at Walmart)

How to delete Audible books from your mobile device

1. Bring up the Audible app on your iPad, iPhone, or Android device. 

2. Go to the "My Library" section of the Audible app. 

"My Library" is located in the app's bottom menu between "Home" and "Originals." Abbey White/Business Insider  

3. Swipe your finger from right to left over the title you wish to remove.  

4. Select the "Delete from device" on iOS devices and "Remove from device" on Android when it appears.

Tapping the red box will immediately delete the book from your Audible downloads. Steven John/Business Insider

5. You can also remove downloaded titles in the "My Library" tab by tapping the trashcan icon labeled "Delete."

Delete Audible books using trashcan icon in the menu bar between "Recent" and "Refresh." Abbey White/Business Insider

6. Select a single book or multiple titles you want to delete by pressing the red minus symbol next to each. 

This Audible library symbol appears next to all your titles after tapping the "Delete" icon. Abbey White/Business Insider

7. Hit the "Delete from device" button when it appears on the right side of the app window.

How to delete Audible books from your account permanently 

1. Log into your account on Amazon.com

2. Run your cursor over the "Accounts & Lists" option to the right of the Amazon search bar. 

3. In the drop-down, click "Manage Your Content and Devices" to view your Amazon purchases. 

You should be on the “Content” tab but if you aren’t, click it to view your book purchases. Abbey White/Business Insider

4. Find the "Show" label on the far left of the browser window above your list of titles. Click the "Books" button next to it before selecting "Audiobooks" from the dropdown.

Your audiobooks and physical book purchases are separated in the "Content" tab. Abbey White/Business Insider

5. With your Audible book purchases now listed, click the "Select" box beside the book title before hitting the "Delete" button in the menu bar above the purchase list. 

A checkmark will appear next to the Audible book you selected to delete. Steven John/Business Insider

 

Original author: Steven John

You can activate voice controls on your Android device in two ways: through the Google app, and through the Voice Access app.The Google app will let you use voice controls to make Google searches and surf the web.The Voice Access app, meanwhile, will let you navigate your Android device and type or edit text with your voice.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

There are a variety of reasons why you might need to use voice controls on your Android device. Maybe you're driving and need to keep your hands on the road, or have tremors that make it difficult to use a touch screen.

In any case, your Android phone or tablet offers a few different voice control features, which make it easier to navigate your device.

Here's how to activate voice controls on an Android device in two ways.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $859.99 at Walmart)

How to activate voice controls on your Android device using the Google app

There are two major ways to turn on voice controls on an Android device. 

First, we can use the Google app. This will let you make Google searches with your voice.

1. Download the Google app and launch it, then tap the three little dots in the bottom-right corner.

2. Tap "Settings" and then tap "Voice."

3. Tap "Voice Match" and then toggle the switch by "Hey Google" to the right.

You'll want to find the Voice Match menu. Steven John/Business Insider

You can now make searches by saying "Hey, Google" or "OK Google" (depending on your device) followed by commands. For example, try saying "OK Google, search for Business Insider."

How to activate voice controls on your Android device using the Voice Access app

Secondly, we can use the Voice Access app. This will let you navigate your phone's menus and many of your apps with voice controls.

For even more control over your phone, consider getting the Voice Access app from the Play Store. Once it is installed, follow the steps to set up your advanced voice controls:

1. Download the Voice Access app. 

2. Open the Settings app — not the Voice Access app — and tap "Accessibility."

3. Scroll down and tap "Voice Access." On the next page, toggle it on.

Select the Voice Access option. Steven John/Business Insider

You can now use the same "Hey, Google" or "OK Google" commands. You can use these to open apps. For example, try saying, "OK Google, open Spotify."

You'll also see that when you talk to your phone, anything on the screen that can be interacted with will have a number appear next to it. You can say which number you'd like to "tap" on that part of the screen with your voice.

Anything that can be interacted with will have a number. Steven John/Business Insider

 

Original author: Steven John

On Thursday, Zoom announced the acquisition of Keybase, a secure messaging and file sharing service, to help get the talent and technology to shore up the security and privacy of its app. Alex Stamos, the former Facebook security chief who's also a security advisor to Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, said that the acquisition of Keybase was a necessary step to move quickly in addressing Zoom's well-documented security issues.Stamos praised Keybase as having the right expertise to build user-friendly apps that are also safe and secure — something that's very important to Zoom, he says. Even once Zoom's current privacy woes are over, Stamos says that having Keybase's talent on hand will help the company address future privacy and security issues.Stamos didn't comment on whether this means more cybersecurity acquisitions are in the works at Zoom, but analysts we spoke to say it could be a good idea.Click here to read more stories from BI Prime.

Zoom on Thursday announced its first acquisition, bringing on Keybase, a secure messaging and file sharing service. The company says that it's all a part of the 90-day plan it announced in April to shore up the security and privacy of its app after its meteoric rise to mainstream success came with its share of controversy.

A big part of that plan is building end-to-end encryption into the Zoom videoconferencing app itself — a security feature that Zoom had long billed itself as already having, before it came out in April that its marketing had been misleading. 

Alex Stamos, a security advisor to Zoom CEO Eric Yuan who's best known as the former chief security officer of Facebook, said that this acquisition was the right move as a next step in that 90-day plan. Keybase brings Zoom the right talent and technology to tackle the considerable challenge of adding end-to-end encryption at the scale required.

Apple's FaceTime, just as an example, has end-to-end encryption — but each call can only hold 32 people at a time. A Zoom meeting, however, can hold up to 1,000 people in a single meeting, and up to 50,000 in a webinar. That's coupled with the fact that you don't need a Zoom account to join a Zoom call. Stamos said that this makes encryption a unique challenge for Zoom.

Stamos said that Zoom executives realized the quickest way to build it was to find an existing team who had the right team and technologies, but also a focus on building user-friendly products. 

"That was clear with Keybase, they built a very secure product that's also shockingly usable," Stamos told Business Insider. "There's lots of smart cryptographers in academia, but they've never had to actually ship something that people have to use, so finding a team that has, it was, you know, allowed us to really accelerate the process."

To that point, Stamos says that Zoom not only has to improve the security of its platform, but also has to make sure it does it in a way that doesn't confuse users or make the app harder to use. That's why Keybase and its user-friendly design team was so desirable.

How the Keybase acquisition fits into Zoom's 90-day plan

Even once the 90-day plan is in the rear-view mirror, Stamos said, Keybase gives Zoom a leg up with addressing future security problems. 

The work itself is "never over," Stamos said. "But the goal is by the end of the 90 days to have a team that is staffed up and organized in a way that makes sense for the importance of the company now."

Stamos anticipates that the pandemic will last for a while longer, and so too will Zoom's newfound popularity with consumers. With that in mind, Zoom has to think beyond its original purpose of serving business customers, and consider all the new security and privacy issues that can pop up. That's why some of Keybase will form the core of a new security engineering team at Zoom.

Zoom is also expanding its trust and safety team to include engineers and product managers, the same way that consumer technology companies like Stamos' former employers at Facebook have done. It's also doubling down on initiatives like searching for stolen Zoom credentials on the dark web to inform users — again, something consumer tech companies do. 

It's a proactive step, Stamos says: The threats that Zoom faces are relatively small compared to those seen by larger companies. But as usage of Zoom continues to surge, the problems will only get worse.

It's doing this reorganization by hiring rapidly, Stamos said, and now aided by acquiring Keybase's engineers as well. Stamos didn't comment on if Zoom would look to do more acquisitions to get key technology and talent as it seeks to improve its privacy and security.

Analysts say the Keybase deal could open the door to more acquisitions

Analysts who follow Zoom said it would make sense for the company to acquire more startups like Keybase to add the necessary technology and talent it needs as part of this process.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Zoom made more of these tuck-in acquisitions, especially as it pertains to security and privacy," Rishi Jaluria, an analyst at D.A. Davidson, told Business Insider. "I would expect this would lean towards smaller companies where Zoom is buying the company for the technology and the talent, not for revenue or actual products."

Dan Newman, an analyst at Futurum Research, agreed, and said that given the fact that the current economic climate has driven prices down on a lot of companies, this is an opportune time to be looking for new technology.

"I think it would be intelligent to be out shopping for some key technologies that might enhance the company's security, increase its support, improve the customer and user experience," Newman told Business Insider.

He adds that the Keybase acquisition if it integrates the technology well, could be a huge benefit to Zoom going forward and give it much more credibility with its business users.

Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Signal at 925-364-4258. (PR pitches by email only, please.) You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop.

Original author: Paayal Zaveri

If you have a membership with Audible, you get one new credit in your account each month. But what if you don't use those credits, or you already have a few racked up? What happens to those credits?

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Audible Membership (From $45.00 at Amazon)

Audible credits do expire

Your Audible credits expire 12 months after they've been issued. So if you've had a random credit sitting in your account for a while, you may want to consider using it. (Or, if you don't have any audiobooks that you truly wish to listen to, you could instead consider giving an audiobook to someone else using the "Give as a gift" option when purchasing.)

You have the option to give an audiobook as a gift with credits. Devon Delfino/Business Insider

According to the company, the reason that credits expire at all is because they want to "strike a balance" between giving users flexibility to use their credits when they want to, and making sure to incentivise the creators behind the audiobooks since Audible only pays the creators royalties when a credit is redeemed for their products. 

This is not the only time when you'd lose your credits on the site, however. You would also lose any credits if you chose to cancel your membership — though the site may warn you about this prior to cancellation.

Ultimately, the best way to make sure you never lose credits, through expiration or cancellation, is to use them. After all, you've already paid for it.

 

Original author: Devon Delfino

While the first Thursday in May is known as "World Password Day," it should be renamed World Passwordless Day, argues Joy Chik, a Microsoft executive in its identity division. Passwords are security hazards and memory hassles, leading companies of all sizes to try to figure out different ways to verify users' identities. While fingerprint-security was once quite popular, COVID-19 has put a damper on that – but new research says investment in facial and gesture recognition is booming. Here are a handful of security companies — including Okta, Nuance, and iProov — that investors should know about to understand this space. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Passwords are security hazards and memory hassles and no amount of tips and tricks on World Password Day can change that. In fact, the first Thursday in May should really be renamed World Passwordless Day, argues Joy Chik, a Microsoft executive in its identity division. 

"The security and user experience are so much better when you go passwordless that this is no longer something in the future," she said. "It's here." 

One of the main alternatives to a memorized password — fingerprint security — has been wiped off the touchscreen of the future by COVID-19, according to new research out Thursday from ABI Research. 

"All traditional fingerprint security will take a hit," says the author of the report, Dimitrios Pavlakis, a digital security analyst at ABI Research. "You have to touch it, and in a pandemic that's a problem. Those sensors have to be disinfected."

Pavlakis' research found that as a result of fingerprints' decline, adoption of sophisticated biometrics – such as facial and gesture recognition – are "undergoing a forced evolution rather than an organic one," with new investment opportunities. 

Other analysts agree that biometric passwords are the future: 

"Biometrics have now shifted from a convenience to a necessity and going forward," says principal analyst at Acuity Market Intelligence Maxine Most. "Smart investment will reflect the new reality."

Where do we turn now for the future of sign-in security? That is a multi-billion-dollar question.

Here are 10 companies to watch in a quickly evolving passwordless identity space, fertile with investment opportunity. They may change the world, and make a lot of money doing it.

Original author: Jeff Elder

You can create a segment on Strava from any activity you've completed on the platform so that you can repeat the route later and even compete with others on that same route.If you regularly cycle, run, or otherwise exercise on a popular route, a segment likely already exists in Strava.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you use Strava to track your running, cycling rides, swims, walks, hikes, or skis, chances are you spend plenty of time outdoors using the same routes time and time again. You're also likely to pass other athletes while doing so, especially if you live in a major metropolis or exercise in a highly trafficked area. 

If you find yourself wondering how your performance compares to others who follow the same route as you, you can use Strava to create a segment to highlight "a start point, an end point, and a sequence of locations in between." Strava will not only search to see if a similar segment already exists and if not, but it will also allow you to name your segment and see how others have fared in that area. 

Here's how to create a segment in Strava. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Lenovo IdeaPad 130 (From $469.99 at Walmart)

How to create a segment in Strava

1. Log into your account via the Strava website on a Mac or PC. 

2. From the list of menu options on the top of the screen, click "Training" and then "My Activities." 

Tap "My Activities." Jennifer Still/Business Insider

3. Scroll down on the list of activities and click on the one you wish to create a segment for. 

4. Under "Segments," see if one already exists for your selected route. If not, click the three dots (...) in the left-hand menu. 

5. Click "Create Segment." 

Click "Create Segment." Jennifer Still/Business Insider

6. Use the slider in the top part of the screen to choose the start and ending points of your selected segment. 

Choose your segment. Jennifer Still/Business Insider

7. Click "Next." 

8. Name your segment something descriptive and choose whether or not you want to make the segment private by clicking the box to check or uncheck as preferred. 

Name your segment. Jennifer Still/Business Insider

9. Click "Create." Your segment is now created.

 

Original author: Jennifer Still

Your passwords can be stored on an Android phone or tablet using your Google Chrome app.  The passwords stored in the Google Chrome app are linked to your Google account, so you can access them through Google Chrome on a Mac or PC as well. You can also use the Chrome app to delete any password stored on your Android phone.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It wasn't so long ago that using the internet meant remembering each one of your passwords individually, and typing them in manually.

Nowadays, we're blessed to have password managers. Password managers keep track of all your passwords, let you view them at any time, and will let you sign into most sites without typing anything.

If your Android phone is linked to a Google account, then it has its own password manager, which will keep track of all the passwords you use in the Google Chrome app.

These same passwords can be used on any computer that has Google Chrome linked to that Google account.

Here's how to find, export, and even delete the passwords stored on your Android phone.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $859.99 at Walmart)

How to find passwords stored on your Android phone

1. Launch the Google Chrome browser on your Android phone and tap the three dots in the top-right. On some devices, these three dots will be in the bottom corner instead.

2. Tap the word "Settings" in the pop-up menu.

3. Tap "Passwords" in the next menu. You may need to enter your password, or provide a face or touch scan.

You'll need to verify your identity to open the Passwords menu. Steven John/Business Insider

4. You'll be presented with a long list of websites, each of which has a username or password saved. Tap the site for which you wish to find your password, then tap the eye icon to reveal that password.

5. To copy the password so you can paste it somewhere else, like an email or note, tap the icon that looks like two stacked squares next to it. This will copy the password to your phone's clipboard.

6. To delete the password, tap the trashcan icon at the top of the screen.

 

Original author: Steven John

You can add a countdown to your Instagram story after capturing a new photo or video, or selecting one from your photo library and setting it as your background. To add a countdown to your Instagram story, tap the square smiley face button — used to add gifs, stickers, and more — at the top of the screen, or swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the same menu.Any countdown you add to a published Instagram story will be saved and available to reuse in the future.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories

Whether it's a birthday celebration, a friend's wedding, or an upcoming family vacation, you may want to make a countdown to tell your Instagram followers about your next big calendar event.

Unfortunately, you can only add countdowns to Instagram stories. However, you can customize them along with the rest of the post by changing the countdown color and giving your ticker a title. Once you create a countdown, Instagram will save it, making it available for reuse later on. 

Here's how to do it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $859.99 at Walmart)

How to add a countdown on Instagram

1. Open the Instagram app. 

2. Swipe to the right to add a photo or video to your story. 

3. Use the capture button to take a photo or video.

You can also tap the small square in the lower left-hand corner to upload a photo or video you've already saved. Abbey White/Business Insider

4. Once your background for the countdown is set, tap the square smiley face icon in the top menu bar. 

This will open the story menu where you can add gifs, stickers, and more to your Instagram story. Abbey White/Business Insider

5. Scroll and tap the "Countdown" option. 

The countdown for Instagram stories appears almost like a white calendar icon with purple text. Abbey White/Business Insider

6. Tap "Countdown name" and enter the title of your Countdown.

There is no character minimum on your Instagram story Countdown title. Abbey White/Business Insider

7. If you've previously created countdowns, they will appear in a pop-up box. Select which one you want to use.

You can tap the three dots icon in the upper-right of any previously made Countdown to delete it. Abbey White/Business Insider

8. Toggle the "All Day" button to set a general date or exact date and time.

Your Countdown counter will update based on which option you choose. Abbey White/Business Insider

9. Tap the circular color palette at the top of your story screen to change the color of the countdown. 

Continuously tap to view all of the solid and gradient color options for the countdown. Abbey White/Business Insider

10. Tap "Done" in the upper right-hand corner.

11. Once back on the story draft, use two fingers to resize the countdown and reposition it on your story.

Add filters, text, or stickers to finalize your story. Abbey White/Business Insider

12. Tap "Your Story" or "Close Friends" to post the Instagram story featuring your countdown.

You can also send your story post to specific people using the "Send To" option on the bottom of the screen. Abbey White/Business Insider

 

Original author: Marissa Perino

Tim Bray, an Amazon VP and engineer, caused a stir on Monday with the announcement of his resignation from the company.In a blog post explaining his resignation, Bray said he had quit in protest after Amazon fired whistleblowers who spoke up against how it treats its warehouse workers during the coronavirus pandemic.He said the exit would probably personally cost him $1 million.Bray tweeted later on Monday that he was already getting approached by rival tech firms, including Google and Huawei.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Amazon VP who quit the company with a searing attack on how it targeted whistleblowers says he has been approached by numerous other tech companies already.

Tim Bray's resignation went viral on Monday after the VP — who held the title of "distinguished engineer" — launched an attack on Amazon in a blog post.

Bray wrote he had left the company after it fired workers who openly criticized its warehouse conditions during the coronavirus pandemic, a move he called "chickenshit." (He later retracted the insult, calling it "mean-spirited.")

This seems to have caught the eye of some other tech companies. "Recruiters so far: Google, Comcast, Huawei. And a bunch of startups," Bray tweeted on Monday, adding he's not currently looking for work.

Bray said in his initial blog post that leaving the company would cost him $1 million per year, and speaking to Business Insider's Eugene Kim he added that there was no "agenda" behind the post. "I'm a blogger — I write the story of my life," said Bray.

Bray's concerns come after Amazon fired a number of staff who either organized or protested against the way the firm is operating during the pandemic. Amazon has seen a huge uptick in demand from online shoppers, and has had to balance that demand with the safety of its warehouse workers.

Amazon in March fired employee Chris Smalls after he organized a protest of the working conditions inside the Queens, New York warehouse where he worked. A leaked memo also showed high-level executives discussing Smalls in unflattering terms at a meeting with CEO Jeff Bezos. "He's not smart, or articulate, and to the extent the press wants to focus on us versus him, we will be in a much stronger PR position," Amazon's top lawyer David Zapolsky wrote about Smalls.

Amazon in April also fired two web designers who had criticized the company's treatment of its warehouse workers. One of the designers, Emily Cunningham, thanked Bray for his resignation.

 

Original author: Isobel Asher Hamilton

Biometrics startup Yoti has revealed designs for a new in-app tool which would allow users to prove the results of their most recent COVID-19 test. Yoti provides ID verification services, a market projected to reach a global value of $13 billion by 2024. Yoti claims its designs could help governments loosen lockdown restrictions around the world, with those that can prove they have tested negative able to return to work or board a flight. A number of other ID startups, including Onfido and IDnow, have discussed the practicalities of immunity passports with UK officials in recent weeks. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Biometrics startup Yoti has unveiled its design for a tool which could be used to prove the results of patients' COVID-19 tests, alongside a draft code of conduct around the use of so-called "immunity passports."

As the pandemic pushes the global economy further into recession, officials around the world have mooted the idea of immunity passports or "certificates" for those who have recovered from the disease. The idea is that people could slowly be allowed to return to work and normal life.

But how exactly such a scheme would work is subject to intense debate, thanks to the privacy implications.

One startup pitching a solution is British ID verification startup Yoti.

In recent weeks, UK ministers have discussed how such passports might work with at least three European technology firms, Yoti, Onfido and IDnow, as previously reported by Business Insider. 

Yoti CEO Robin Tombs has been skeptical of the concept of an "immunity passport", warning that tech-driven solutions should focus on proving recent COVID-19 test results. One issue with the term "immunity" is that it is not yet established whether being infected with COVID-19 means a person won't be infected a second time.

Following talks with UK government officials, Yoti gave Business Insider an exclusive look at its new service – including a newly-drafted "global code of practice" for sharing personal health credentials. 

Time stamps, antibodies and FDA approval

The app would include details of what kind of test was used and when Yoti

In Yoti's report, seen by Business Insider, the firm warns that the idea of an "immunity passport [is] vague and potentially confusing, as well as lacking in granularity and adaptability".

It suggests breaking down users' test results through a range of key factors, including (but not limited to): the presence of antibodies when tested, the type of test used, which medical authorities have approved its use, and a time stamp indicating when said test was performed. 

According to Yoti, those that have very recently tested negative for COVID-19 might be considered relatively low risk for transmitting the disease, and as such could be allowed "to return to work, to board a flight or return to some specific, limited access venues and activities."

By combining users' official ID documents (such as passports and driving licenses) with facial recognition and unique QR codes, Yoti says its software – which it says is already used by 6 million people worldwide – could be used to ease lockdowns across the globe. 

Under the firm's plans, health organizations like hospitals and pharmacies will be able to register on the app, and access special permissions which allow them to verify a patient has been tested for COVID-19. 

If they have tested negative, the patient will then be able to provide a QR code to registered verifiers, who may be installed in airports, workplaces or at limited access venues. 

Terms and conditions 

Yoti

Critics remain wary of the limits – and the dangers – of private companies recording individuals' medical data en masse. 

Across social media platforms, each new story about contact tracing apps and immunity passports prompts fresh comparisons with Orwell's "1984". It's a concern Yoti is conscious of. 

"We believe that abiding by a code of practice is the right approach to achieving the required public health objectives and organizational requirements," Yoti said. "Without compromising privacy and security." 

Still, in drafting its own "global code of practice", the firm may be accused of shifting the goalposts to its own advantage.

"Yoti are not health experts," said Tombs. "We have listened carefully to immunologists as well as privacy experts and are publishing our draft Code of Practice for wider feedback and to raise awareness of the important health data issues and digital identities.

"Transparency underpins trust and encourages fair and effective scrutiny."

The five pillars of Yoti's proposed code include: the ability to prove an individuals' identity, a transparent understanding of the uses and limits of testing, a trustworthy means of storing data, the ability to prove someone's test results without compromising their security, and an emphasis on privacy. 

"As a UK company, Yoti is subject to GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act 2018, and has a comprehensive privacy governance framework in place to apply these standards to its business globally." 

Original author: Martin Coulter

Senior execs at two ID verification startups have suggested creating a new "shared database" to track COVID-19 cases across borders. There has been widespread speculation the UK could roll out such passports in the next 12 months, as Boris Johnson seeks to end the nation's strict lockdown.  In a public post on Linkedin, iDenfy CEO Domantas Ciulde – who has submitted proposals to UK officials – said ID firms could "combine our efforts" to track cases around the world. Roger Tyrzyk, UK manager of IDnow, which has held talks with ministers behind closed doors, agreed the database was worth considering – so long as it abided by GDPR laws. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Senior executives at two ID startups – both in the running to design COVID-19 immunity passports for the UK – have suggested creating an international database to track infections. 

German startup IDnow and Lithuania's iDenfy submitted their designs for immunity passports to the British government last month, following an open call for tech-driven solutions to the pandemic from NHS officials. 

There has been speculation the UK could roll out such passports in the next 12 months, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeks to end the nation's ongoing lockdown. 

Health minister Matt Hancock said in April that the UK was looking at an immunity certificate.

But Downing Street said on Monday that the UK's healthcare system was still in the early stages of seeing what was viable. The UK published proposals from tech firms late last week on how the immunity passport might work.

In a Linkedin post published on Monday, Domantas Ciulde, CEO of iDenfy, called on his counterparts at IDnow, Yoti, Onfido and OCL to consider "[combining] our efforts" to share patient information across borders. 

He wrote: "I believe biometric recognition companies can make important things in such pandemic situations...

"If [the World Health Organization] would support the idea of using immunity passports, what do you think about the opportunity to combine our efforts in developing a standard and shared database of immunity passports, test results and other important information?" 

He added: "The great thing about such a database is that it could be built very quickly...It is much easier and faster for local companies to implement new products in a native region... 

"Guys, what do you think?" 

Responding to the post, Roger Tyrzyk, iDenfy's UK manager, said the idea was "something to consider" moving forward. 

"We would have to find a way [of staying] GDPR-compliant, and make sure that governments would actually want this," he wrote. "It does make sense to take a step forward to bring identity in line as a whole." 

The concept of a cross-border database to track COVID-19 will likely trigger alarm among privacy experts, who fear that the tech under consideration may evolve into a wider form of surveillance.

On Monday, lawyers at data rights agency AWO, alongside experts from Matrix Chambers and Blackstone Chambers, outlined their legal recommendations for immunity passports, contact tracing and data sharing, in a legal opinion published online.

It read: "Such a step would engage a number of fundamental rights under [human rights] and EU/UK legislation concerning the right to privacy and protection of personal data.

"Any proposals would require very substantial evidential justification to show that they are necessary and proportionate.

"We are unsure if such evidence could be provided."

Original author: Martin Coulter

French tech startup Back Market has raised $120 million from investors including Goldman Sachs, Aglaé Ventures (the venture arm of Groupe Arnault), and Eurazeo Growth.The company, founded in 2014, operates an online marketplace for refurbished electronic items across Western Europe and the US. "The company trajectory has been spectacular and this raise is about continuing that," Serge Verdoux, managing director at Back Market, told Business Insider in an interview. "Demand has never been so strong because confined people need electronics more than ever." Click here for more BI Prime stories.

French tech startup Back Market has raised $120 million from investors including Goldman Sachs, Aglaé Ventures (the venture arm of Groupe Arnault), and Eurazeo Growth.

The company, founded in 2014, operates an online marketplace for refurbished electronic items across Western Europe and the US. Back Market itself estimates the market for refurbished electronics to be $80 billion annually.

"The company trajectory has been spectacular and this raise is about continuing that," Serge Verdoux, managing director at Back Market, told Business Insider in an interview. "Demand has never been so strong because confined people need electronics more than ever."

Coronavirus has forced people to stay indoors, and internet usage is on the up as people work from home, search for jobs, and help teach their children. That's led to increased orders for devices that make working from home a little easier.

At the same time, e-waste is also increasing. Over 44 million tons of electronic waste was produced in 2016, and that's projected to grow to 52.2 million tons by 2021.

On Back Market's website you can find refurbished AirPods for £193, down from the £249 retail price. Buyers can also look for refurbished phones, laptops, and headsets.

Back Market's team Back Market

Back Market is riding a trend towards re-using equipment rather than buying new products. In France, belief-driven consumers make up 65% of the market, while that figure is 59% in the US, as people look to buy more sustainably, per Edelman. 

"Customers care about sustainability and this is a top of mind issue for consumers and will continue to be going forward," Verdoux added. "The environment is a core concern of our mission."

Back Market started operations in France before expanding to Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and most recently, the United Kingdom and Austria. The company expanded into the US in 2018 and it is now the startup's second-largest and fastest-growing market. 

Funds from the raise will be used to build out the company's quality control teams, continue its geographic expansion and strengthen existing markets, and grow the Back Market team. The company has over 300 employees worldwide and will be adding to its headcount during the year, Verdoux said. 

Back Market has now raised $175 million in total. Conversations about the fundraise began last autumn before the deal closed in mid-March. 

Original author: Callum Burroughs

New IBM President Jim Whitehurst unveiled a new IBM initiative in artificial intelligence — itself a key focus area for the tech giant under new CEO Arvind Krishna.Whitehurst is the former CEO of Red Hat, which Big Blue acquired for $34 billion. IBM is introducing a new enterprise product based on Watson, its vaunted artificial intelligence technology. Watson AIOps will help large corporations use AI to monitor their enterprise networks and flag glitches before they cause an outage."You don't see how far advanced IBM is in areas of AI," Whitehurst told Business Insider. "It's a marketing problem we have to figure out how to solve. But I've been really impressed with the depth, the technical expertise."Click here for more BI Prime stories.

As CEO of Red Hat, Jim Whitehurst had witnessed the "massive momentum" of artificial intelligence in the last few years. But IBM's new president said he had been underwhelmed by the role that the tech powerhouse had played in the trend, especially given IBM's vaunted leadership in AI.

AI, which had been an esoteric field of study in universities and big corporate labs like IBM Research, took off as a widely-used technology in the last five years, highlighted by the popularity of such tools as Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa.

"Frankly, you didn't see IBM much there," Whitehurst told Business Insider.

Whitehurst, who joined the IBM leadership in January after its $34 billion acquisition of Red Hat, said he now has a deeper appreciation of the tech behemoth's capabilities, particularly in AI, which new CEO Arvind Krishna has said will be a key area of focus for Big Blue.

On Tuesday, Whitehurst unveiled IBM's new offensive on AI. 

The company announced a new offering based on Watson, IBM's flagship AI technology famous for impressive feats such as beating humans in Jeopardy.  IBM is deploying the technology to monitor enterprise networks, and rapidly detect problems. The new product, called Watson AIOps, is designed to flag network glitches that Whitehurst said could cost roughly $260,000 an hour if left unchecked.

The new Watson product is part of IBM's aggressive push to deploy its AI technology for more commercial applications. 

Two months ago, IBM also unveiled a new AI initiative based on Project Debater, which drew media attention by engaging in a debate with humans. IBM announced it was incorporating features from that project into Watson to give businesses more language-based capabilities in mining and analyzing their data.

Rob Thomas, an IBM senior vice president for cloud and data platform, said the initiative underscored a new push to turn IBM's research into viable products faster. "There was a lot of stuff we were doing that wasn't getting into products that I thought was a big opportunity," he told Business Insider.

And there are many more opportunities, said Whitehurst. One of the things that became clearer to him since joining the IBM leadership is the tech giant's impressive tech arsenal, he says. That includes AI, where IBM's strengths are legendary, although they are not as widely known as the consumer-facing tools.

"The problem, frankly, is because we are really focused on enterprise specific business process problems, it's not something you see out in the press, like the Alexa speakers or any of that stuff," Whitehurst said.

"You don't see how far advanced IBM is in areas of AI, right. It's a marketing problem we have to figure out how to solve. But I've been really impressed with the depth, the technical expertise."

Got a tip about IBM or another tech company? Contact this reporter via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., message him on Twitter @benpimentel or send him a secure message through Signal at (510) 731-8429. You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop.x

Original author: Benjamin Pimentel

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and musician Grimes have announced the birth of their first child. Musk posted a photo of him holding the newborn late on Monday evening. Musk and Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, publicly announced they were dating at the annual Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art the first week of May 2018. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and musician Grimes have had their first child together. 

Musk announced the birth of their child Monday evening on Twitter, saying, "Mom & baby all good." In follow-up tweets, Musk wrote that the couple has a baby boy.

One Twitter user asked Musk the name of their child, to which the tech billionaire responded, "X Æ A-12 Musk."

Musk posted a photo of him holding the newborn late on Monday evening. 

 

It's Grimes' first child — Musk has five sons with his first wife, Justine.

Grimes announced she was pregnant in January via a cryptic social media post that showed her with a fetus Photoshopped into her belly. During a livestream on Twitch in February, she said that the baby's due date was May 4th. Musk tweeted that the baby was due on Monday.

The couple's first child together comes almost exactly two years after they made their debut as a couple. In May 2018, Musk and Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, took both the business and music worlds by surprise when they revealed they were dating, walking the red carpet together at that year's Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Original author: Avery Hartmans and Lauren Frias

Uber is reportedly considering leading a $170 million emergency fundraising round for the scooter startup Lime, according to the Information. The terms of the deal will hit the scooter startup hard. The round will reportedly slash Lime's valuation to $510 million, a 79% slide from the startup's whopping valuation of $2.4 billion in 2018. As a part of the deal, Uber will have the option of buying Lime between 2022 and 2024 at a specific price, the report said. But while the terms of the new proposed deal swing in favor of Uber, it's worth noting that the investment comes at a time when the ride-hailing giant has also been under severe pressure as the coronavirus outbreak has slammed its core business.Both Uber and Lime did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Uber is reportedly in talks to lead an emergency fundraising round of $170 million in the scooter startup Lime, according to a new report by the Information's Cory Weinberg and Amir Efrati. 

The news comes as the coronavirus outbreak has decimated the startup's business. Stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines have deterred the startup's usual source of customers, forcing it to consider this emergency round as early as March. 

Uber, already an existing investor in the scooter-sharing startup, is said to be putting in $85 million of its own money to help Lime increase its runway. 

However, the terms of the deal will hit the scooter startup hard. The round will reportedly slash Lime's valuation to $510 million, a 79% slide from the startup's whopping valuation of $2.4 billion in 2018. 

The round also grants Uber the opportunity to buy Lime at a set price between 2022 and 2024, the report said. In return, Uber would "transfer" its existing bike and scooter-sharing business to Lime. 

Both Uber and Lime did not immediately respond to Business Insider's requests for comment. 

Uber last invested in Lime back in 2018, in a Series C round worth $335.1 million, according to Pitchbook data. The ride-hailing giant also doubled down on Lime in recent years, most notably through its acquisition of its rival Jump. 

But while the terms of the new proposed deal swing in favor of Uber, it's worth noting that the round comes at a time when the ride-hailing giant has also been under severe pressure as the coronavirus outbreak has slammed its core business. Uber has already revoked its previous financial guidance, and told its employees to expect layoffs that could cut up to 20% of the workforce. 

The full extent of the damage caused by the coronavirus to Uber's business this quarter should be apparent soon, when the company reports its earnings on May 7th. 

Original author: Bani Sapra

Tim Bray, a longtime software developer and Amazon executive, wrote a blog post last week slamming the company's firing of workers who criticized the company's safety policies.Bray said he resigned from the company because of the company's treatment of workers.Bray later told Business Insider that he doesn't have any particular agenda behind his moves, saying he's simply "a blogger."Do you work at Amazon? Contact this reporter via encrypted messaging app Signal (+1 415 926 2066) or email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Tim Bray, a longtime Amazon executive and influential software developer who stepped down last week after writing a critical blog post about the company's firing of activist workers, says he's not expecting to get anything out of his widely publicized move.

The blog post, he said, is simply meant to be a record of his life.

"I'm a blogger — I write the story of my life," Bray told Business Insider. "Sorry, there's no master plan."

Bray said he was "genuinely" just writing a story on his blog because it was a major life event. While acknowledging there's now a lot of online buzz around his blog post, Bray said he didn't expect this level of attention as it's always hard to tell what goes viral online.

"When you write something, you never know whether the response is meaningful and actually affected people's lives until much later," said Bray, who helped create the XML language that's a key element of the web and who has spent decades in tech working at companies like Sun Microsystems and Google. 

Whether he intended it or not, Bray's blog post has now become one of the biggest national stories with potential for further repercussions around Amazon's future. 

In the blog post, Bray slammed Amazon's firing of whistleblowers who criticized the company's treatment of warehouse workers, calling it a "chickenshit" move. His initial tweet about the post has been shared over 4,000 times, and the sudden spike in traffic has slowed his blog, he said in another tweet Monday.

"I put a whole lot of effort into writing that blog piece and it represents what I want to say at this point," Bray said over the phone.

Amazon's representative declined to comment on this story.

Bray's post comes at a time when Amazon, which has a history of being anti-union, is facing unprecedented pushback from its employees over its working conditions. Amazon's warehouse workers have staged multiple walkouts over the past month in protest of the company's lack of safety measures, while some office employees publicly criticized the treatment of those workers.

Amazon fired some of the employees who led those protests, including warehouse workers Chris Smalls and Bashir Mohammed, as well as corporate employees Maren Costa and Emily Cunningham, who have criticized the company's climate policies. Bray said in his post that he "escalated" his concerns internally but didn't elaborate on how those talks went.

"That done, remaining an Amazon VP would have meant, in effect, signing off on actions I despised. So I resigned," he wrote.

Erin Hatton, a sociology professor at University of Buffalo, said Bray's move is "hugely symbolic," given how rare it is for a senior executive to resign over the treatment of lower-ranked employees. She said Bray's move could go a long way in pushing Amazon to do more for its warehouse workers.

"This is an incredibly powerful move, one we need to see much more of — high-level management vocally supporting frontline workers, even to the point of resigning, when other avenues of support have not worked," Hatton said.

It's unclear how exactly this will lead to more change. Robert Bruno, who teaches labor and employment relations at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said there's no indication of these moves leading to other executives to speak out, in part because it's so rare. This could be helpful for workers attempting to get more regulatory attention as they could point out a high-profile executive of the company represents a larger body of the workforce.

"It helps to push a bit against the company that probably feels it's untouchable, given its importance to the economy," Bruno said.

Original author: Eugene Kim

A white-hat hacker discovered that Tesla isn't wiping data when it replaces old hardware in customers' vehicles, InsideEVs reported Sunday.After purchasing the used hardware on eBay, the hacker was able to access previous owners' physical and email addresses, phone contacts and call history, and even Netflix session "cookies," according to InsideEVs.Some units had been smashed, suggesting Tesla technicians had unsuccessfully attempted to clear the data by physically damaging them, InsideEV reported.This isn't the first privacy concern the hacker has unearthed in Tesla's technology, CNBC reported, while consumer watchdog group Which? found that other automakers' on-board computers are hackable as well.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Tesla owners who have had their on-board computers replaced may also need to worry about their personal information being for sale online, InsideEVs reported on Sunday.

White-hat hacker GreenTheOnly told InsideEV that he was able to purchase four used Tesla media control units (MCUs) from eBay and access their previous owners' information, which he said included "home and work location, all saved wi-fi passwords, calendar entries from the phone, call lists and address books from paired phones, Netflix and other stored session cookies."

When Tesla owners sync their phones or third-party accounts like Netflix and Spotify to their vehicles, the MCUs store that information, but some older model Teslas experienced issues with the computers and their owners had to get them replaced.

However, after migrating customers' information to replacement computers, Tesla hasn't been properly wiping data from the old units, and since the data is stored unencrypted, GreenTheOnly was still able to gain access to it after buying the units online, according to InsideEVs.

Technicians had been instructed to damage the MCUs before pitching them, InsideEVs reported, a policy GreenTheOnly said was ineffective: "I also heard a prerequisite to throwing the unit into a dumpster is to hit it with a hammer a few times. This obviously does not destroy any data and I did see these units for sale too."

GreenTheOnly had previously discovered that customers' personal data could be obtained from crashed Tesla Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles purchased from salvage yards for research and testing, CNBC reported.

As more vehicles become wired with on-board computers that connect to the internet, Tesla as well as other automakers are increasingly dealing with security vulnerabilities that could impact drivers' safety and privacy. UK consumer watchdog group Which? found flaws present in the on-board computers for Ford and Volkswagen models that could allow hackers to manipulate safety features.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

Original author: Tyler Sonnemaker