Jul 26
Like it or not, Instagram’s big changes will continue as the platform increasingly mirrors competitors like Snapchat and TikTok with videos at the center.
Jul 26
Jay Leno is known for his extensive — and expensive — car collection. Here’s how much his collection is worth, and how much it makes up of his net worth.
Jul 26
Republicans Warn Google Not to Limit Search Search for Misleading Anti-Abortion Clinics…Or Else
Posted in: Today's Chili
A coalition of 17 state attorney generals are pressuring Google to prevent it from limiting the search results of so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” known for masquerading as legitimate abortion clinics and persuading pregnant people away from receiving abortions.
Jul 26
Volkswagen has begun producing its all-electric ID.4 crossover SUV in the United States. The automaker announced on Tuesday that it plans to scale production of the ID.4 at its Chattanooga, Tennessee factory to 7,000 vehicles per month by the end of 2022 before further increasing output throughout 2023.
According to Volkswagen, customers can expect deliveries to begin by October, starting with both rear- and all-wheel-drive variants of the 82kWh model. Later this year, the facility will begin manufacturing the more affordable 62kWh variant as well. To date, the automaker says it has delivered more than 190,000 ID.4 units globally since it launched the crossover last year.
Volkswagen credits this week’s milestone to an $800 million investment the company made to electrify its Chattanooga factory. With today’s announcement, the facility is now one of six sites worldwide where Volkswagen is producing electric vehicles. In March, the automaker said it would spend $7.1 billion over the next five years to increase its North American EV production capacity. By 2030, Volkswagen plans for electric vehicles to account for about 55 percent of its sales in the US.
Jul 26
PlayStation VR2 Will Scan Your Space to Help You Avoid Toe-on-Chair Collisions
Posted in: Today's Chili
Sony said it’s trying to make its Playstation VR2 experience as living room-friendly as possible, as it looks to carve out a niche for itself in a market dominated by wireless options like the Oculus Quest. In a Tuesday blog post, senior Product Manager Yasuo Takahashi expanded on just how the company’s going to…
Jul 26
Figma: The Table Museum action figure series, where have you been all my life? I am shocked and saddened to learn that I’ve been missing out on these toys based on works of important and/or fine art from the Good Smile Company’s Figma line, but utter delighted to discover their existence. But I’m even more delighted…
Jul 26
Just A Mile From Where Trump’s Mob Wanted To Hang Him, Pence Fails To Mention His Coup
Posted in: Today's ChiliPence’s unwillingness to mention Trump’s use of violence to remain in power illustrates the former president’s continued hold on the Republican base.
Jul 26
It’s only been a few days since Netflix started streaming The Gray Man, its most expensive film to date, but the company has already announced plans to turn it into a major franchise. A sequel is in the works with star Ryan Gosling and directors Joe and Anthony Russo returning. Netflix didn’t say when the follow-up is expected to arrive.
A spin-off from Zombieland and Deadpool screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese is in development too. Netflix says that movie will explore a different aspect of The Gray Man universe, but it’s keeping quiet on the details for now.
While critics by and large had a lukewarm reaction to The Gray Man, the film appears to be a hit with viewers. It has a 91 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It debuted as the number one movie on Netflix in 92 countries when it was released last Friday. Netflix hasn’t revealed more specific viewership data as yet.
Whether that apparent success translates into helping Netflix retain subscribers and attract new ones remains to be seen. The company lost almost a million subscribers last quarter, though the attrition wasn’t as bad as Netflix feared.
Netflix spent a reported $200 million to make The Gray Man. So, along with moves the company is making elsewhere, it’s not a huge shock that Netflix is turning it into a franchise. Sequels to other Netflix blockbusters are in the pipeline, including follow-ups to Extraction and Army of the Dead. Netflix also snapped up the sequels to the terrific murder mystery film Knives Out.
In case it’s not clear, Netflix is very eager to build beloved franchises of its own. “We want to have our version of Star Wars or our version of Harry Potter, and we’re working very hard to build that,” the company’s vice president of original series Matthew Thunell told Reuters last week.
Netflix does have a few hit franchises already. A Stranger Things spin-off series and stage play are in development. The company has made a Korean version of La Casa de Papel and is working on a spin-off. It’s expanding Squid Game, Bridgerton and The Witcher beyond the core shows as well.
Jul 26
Scorching temperatures are still sweeping around the world, and this time the heat is headed to the historically temperate Pacific Northwest.
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