Producers for the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” were said to parted from the crew after allegations of toxic management.

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” has seen the departure of three of their top producers. This came as there were reports of toxic culture in the show’s set. It was told to the crew of the talk show on Monday afternoon during a video conference call, per Variety.

‘Parted Ways’

Those that have “parted ways” from the staff of the popular talk show, per a Warner Bros. spokesperson, include Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman, and Jonathan Norman. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” owning dozens of Emmy Awards throughout its run, is distributed by Warner Bros. Television.

Toxicity

BuzzFeed previously reported last month regarding employees that were not treated fairly at work for the daytime show. According to the article, former employees, who refused to reveal their identities, said that the toxic work environment is caused by senior and top heads. Among those unpleasant experiences that they encountered include racist remarks, not allowing for leaves with valid reasons, and even sexual harassment and misconduct.

Around this time of the BuzzFeed story, Galvin, Leman, and Norman were said to be suspended, according to several sources, The Variety reported. Further in Variety’s article is the exit of the same producers to other shows produced by 62-year old DeGeneres.

Launched a Probe

In July, the host of the show revealed that an internal probe was begun by Warner Bros. Television, looking into the accusations. Writing to the show’s staff through an email, DeGeneres said: “We immediately began an internal investigation and we are taking steps, together, to correct the issues. As we’ve grown exponentially, I’ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly, some didn’t. That will now change and I’m committed to ensuring this does not happen again.”

WarnerMedia, parent company of Warner Bros. Television, also at that time said in a statement that they are taking the claims regarding toxicity in the work environment “very seriously.

The post Three Ellen Producers Exit the Show Over Claims of ‘Toxic Workplace’ first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

Facebook said it will notify you on both Facebook and Instagram when the media projects a winner in the 2020 elections.

As if the 2020 election wasn’t stressful enough already, Facebook plans to join the fun. When the media calls the winner, you will see his name at the top of your Facebook and Instagram feeds. You’ll also see a label for the candidates’ posts. Moreover, you’ll also get info on voting information centers. 

Facebook and Elections

The Verge reports that Facebook will notify you once the media projects the winner. Facebook will get its information from these media outlets:

Facebook will announce presidential election result in Facebook and Instagram notifications https://t.co/BRAImxD6UI pic.twitter.com/Jz8zOQZdKs

— The Verge (@verge) November 6, 2020

•     Reuters
•     ABC News
•     CBS News
•     Fox News
•     NBC News
•     CNN
•     The Associated Press

Spokesperson Tom Reynolds said Facebook wants to stop the spread of fake news and election lies on the platform. 

Facebook’s Election Moves 

As of now, Facebook has already limited posts that contain wrong information. These posts also contain false claims about the election. Moreover, Facebook has stopped election-related videos from spreading. 

Other Steps

Earlier, Facebook said it was taking steps to stop lies and false claims on its apps. The company banned US political ads on Tuesday. Before the election, Facebook also froze sales from political ads. The company also banned a Facebook group called “Stop the Steal,” with 300,000 members. About the ban, the company said the group kept calling for violence. Moreover, Facebook even blocked many hashtags claiming election fraud.

The post Facebook Will Tell You the Next US President first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

Tensions between ByteDance and President Donald Trump are heating up. Through his latest executive order, Pres. Trump has told ByteDance to sell the app within 90 days. He also ordered TikTok’s parent company to sell to a US buyer.  

In the order, Trump said ByteDance threatens national security. US lawmakers have warned that TikTok was sending user data to the Chinese government.

Trump vs. ByteDance

Gizmodo reports that the order told ByteDance to destroy all user data stored by TikTok and Musical.ly. In 2017, ByteDance bought Musical.ly.  

Once it removed the data, ByteDance should inform the Committee on Foreign Investment.  

ByteDance Banned in the US

Trump had already blacklisted TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps last Thursday. Among these apps is the popular messaging app WeChat. Under the ban, US citizens cannot make deals with these companies after 45 days.

Trump gives Bytedance 90 days to find a buyer for TikTok's U.S. operations, cites "credible evidence" of a national security threat in new executive order. https://t.co/7skquACU9O pic.twitter.com/yiBpZJm5Bo

— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) August 15, 2020

On the same day, the US Senate also passed a bill that ordered government workers to delete TikTok from their phones. Also, the US military has banned TikTok from soldiers’ phones. The US Army has also called TikTok a threat to cybersecurity.

TikTok Responds

In response to the ban, TikTok plans to file a lawsuit against the US government. TikTok said the charges against them were false. Moreover, the US government didn’t give TikTok the chance to answer the accusations.

With the new order, ByteDance has more time to sell TikTok to Microsoft or Twitter. If the deal happens, it could be worth billions of dollars.

The post Trump Orders ByteDance To Sell In 90 Days first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Here’s some bad news for Huawei users in the US. The US Commerce Department has stopped giving Huawei a US license, which means the company might stop supporting its phones sold in the country.

Bad News for Huawei

The Commerce Department had given Huawei an extra 90 days before its license expired. Within those 90 days, the smartphone maker could still support its products in the US. However, the license has expired on August 13. After that day, it’s now illegal for US companies to deal with Chinese companies. 

Now, it’s illegal for Google, among others, to send updates to Huawei. Users who own the Huawei P30 cannot update to Android 11. You also can’t update if you own a Huawei phone “with full Google services.”

Huawei’s temporary general license has expired, possibly jeopardizing Google apps on older models https://t.co/6baF4eHq6b

— XDA (@xdadevelopers) August 14, 2020

No More Updates for Huawei

Engadget said that Google needed the license to send Huawei updates through legal means. For you to update, you need the P40 Pro or another phone without Google services. Huawei phones sold in China can also update. The Chinese company uses open-source Android to send out its updates.

The license had allowed rural phone carriers to phase out Chinese companies. Before, the US government had warned that Chinese companies threatened national security. 

Now, Huawei users will be unable to protect their phones. Without updates, their phones will become slow and unusable. Users concerned with updated phones may need to buy another one. 

Dark Times for Huawei

After the US government blacklisted Huawei, it’s now facing a shortage of smartphone chips. US vendors cannot sell Huawei the tech needed to make its high-end Kirin chips. Without new chips and new updates, Huawei is now looking at an even darker future.

The post Huawei’s US License Expires, Shutting Out Updates first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins

Chinese smartphone maker Huawei is feeling the pinch of US sanctions. After getting blacklisted in 2019, the Chinese company has faced difficulty in sourcing parts from US vendors. Because of these sanctions, the company now says it could run out of smartphone chips by September.

The US vs. Huawei 

The Associated Press reported the effects of US sanctions on Huawei’s smartphone production. As they runs out of processor chips for its smartphones, the shortage could force the company to stop producing its advanced chips. 

In its escalating tech feud with China, the US has targeted Chinese companies as national security risks. US lawmakers have warned that these companies store user data and send them to the Chinese government for spying.

Huawei says it has about a month before it runs out of smartphone chips. https://t.co/CIRBHnvRt9 pic.twitter.com/9NQynCZy8U

— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) August 9, 2020

Feeling the Pain

Gizmodo reports that Huawei might have to stop production of its “Huawei Kirin high-end chips” by September 15. At the China Info 100 conference, Richard Yu said ceasing production could be “a very big loss for us.” Yu is the president of Huawei’s consumer unit.

Huawei designs the Kirin chip, but its production relies on US manufacturing. Without US tech, the company will not be able to produce smartphones. Without its smartphones, Yu says company sales would fall below its 2019 mark of 240 million devices sold worldwide. 

Could They Survive the Sanctions?

Despite the sanctions and COVID-19, Huawei still posted revenues of $64.8 billion in the first six months of 2020. The company has also launched 15 phones in 2020, according to Forbes. 

However, Huawei could face more sanctions later in the year.

The post Huawei Could Run Out of Smartphone Chips by September first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins

After getting banned in the US, TikTok will sue the Trump administration as soon as Tuesday. Earlier, US lawmakers have warned that TikTok sends user data to the Chinese government. On Friday, President Trump banned TikTok through executive order.

The President had also ordered US companies to buy out TikTok. Microsoft and Twitter have started merger talks with the company. 

TikTok vs. the US Government

NPR reported TikTok’s plans to sue the US government. Moreover, Gizmodo says that TikTok plans to challenge Trump’s claim against ByteDance, its parent company. Trump had said ByteDance was sending user data to Beijing. Next, TikTok noted that President Trump pushed them out without giving them a chance to answer the charges.

TikTok will file the suit in California, the center of its US operations. The US District Court for the state’s Southern District will hear the case.

TikTok's reportedly planning to sue the Trump administration over its recent ban. https://t.co/C1ohbONbUH pic.twitter.com/wXlpnkqQ5k

— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) August 9, 2020

The US Government’s Threats Against TikTok

President Trump had blacklisted TikTok, along with other Chinese-owned apps like WeChat, on Thursday. Another Chinese company, Tencent, owns WeChat, which is a popular messaging app. With the blacklists, no American can make deals with these banned Chinese companies.

This ban could cripple TikTok and other apps. Kicking out Chinese companies could prevent companies from buying ads on TikTok. Without paid ads, TikTok and its popular creators will lose money. 

TikTok’s Response

TikTok had agreed to talk with Microsoft for a deal. To appease its critics, TikTok has also said that it stores user data on servers in the US and Singapore.

The post TikTok to Sue Trump Administration Over US Ban first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

With Project xCloud not on iOS devices, Microsoft now blames Apple for denying its users from streaming games to their mobile devices. Microsoft had begun beta testing for Project xCloud for iOS using Apple’s TestFlight, but the testing period ended this week.  

Project xCloud: Microsoft vs. Apple

Gizmodo reports that Microsoft used to be hopeful that Apple would allow Project xCloud “and other cloud gaming services” on iOS devices. However, with iOS beta testing over, Microsoft now blames Apple for the lack of cloud gaming services on iOS. 

In a statement, Microsoft said that it doesn’t see a way to bring cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to iOS gamers. The company also accused Apple of applying a double standard against gaming apps. 

As of now, Apple doesn’t support Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce, or Project xCloud.

Apple is denying consumers cloud gaming, Microsoft claims https://t.co/PgKrT8Ugta pic.twitter.com/GTMR9uFB8X

— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) August 7, 2020

Project xCloud: App Store Policies

According to Gizmodo, App Store policies prevent some apps from appearing in the store. One of these policies is submitting games to Apple for individual review. This policy hinders cloud gaming apps that offer dozens of titles. 

Apple told Business Insider that Project xCloud and other cloud gaming apps violate App Store policy. The company added that Microsoft doesn’t submit each game on Project xCloud to Apple review, so it blocked the app itself.  

Project xCloud: Apple’s Antitrust Issues

Apple has faced charges of blocking out potential rivals from the App Store. For Apple, allowing Project xCloud might threaten its game subscription service. However, the problem is that Microsoft is not a team of indie devs, but a tech giant with the resources to fight back.

Project xCloud will launch on Android devices only on September 15.

The post Microsoft Blames Apple for Shutting Out Project xCloud first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins