News
Customs seized the OnePlus Buds as ‘counterfeit AirPods’
OnePlus jokes about the incident
If you’ve looked at everyone’s ears lately, you’ll notice a glaring trend: the prominence of Apple’s AirPods… or earbuds that look like them. Since the AirPods’ launch, everyone drew inspiration from the popular wireless wearable. Now, every brand has their own similar take on the form factor. Unfortunately, not everyone was clued in on the remarkable similarity. In New York, the Customs seized the OnePlus Buds as “counterfeit AirPods.”
Last night, the US Customs and Border Protection’s official Twitter account boasted the successful seizure of 2,000 “counterfeit Apple AirPods” shipped from Hong Kong. They also released an official press statement on the incident, claiming “mission success.” The office claims that the shipment is valued at US$ 398,000 “had they been genuine.”
Hey, give those back! 🙃
— OnePlus_USA (@OnePlus_USA) September 14, 2020
Well, they are. Apparently, the American government hasn’t heard of OnePlus circulating in their country yet. Of note, OnePlus is one of the more popular brands in the United States. It is also one of the only Chinese brands legally circulated in the country.
Surprisingly, OnePlus took the slight in stride. The company humorously tweeted back, “Hey, give those back!” Additionally, they also made their own post this morning with the caption: “Seize the day. Seize the music.” It’s clearly aiming for the incident.
Seize the day. Seize the music. #OnePlusBuds pic.twitter.com/ykdLxUgG88
— OnePlus (@oneplus) September 14, 2020
At the time of this writing, neither party has not taken their respective posts down. Likewise, Customs has not announced the safe return of their valuable shipment yet.
Though one can definitely argue against the OnePlus Buds’ similarities to the AirPods, the company’s logo is visible right on the box. Someone clearly didn’t Google “OnePlus” when checking on the shipment.
UPDATE: Instead of giving up, the Customs Office is doubling down on their reasons for the blunder. According to a statement from The Verge, the OnePlus Buds violated trademarks owned by Apple, firmly placing them in the counterfeit category. As such, OnePlus must now defend their own product against the American government.
SEE ALSO: OnePlus Buds is the company’s first true wireless earbuds
Apps
Disney+ launches a TikTok-coded vertical feed called Verts
TikTok has changed how we consume media. Everything is now vertical. Even the most established streaming services, often a bastion for traditionally horizontal content, is adopting the different format. Now, Disney+ is getting a vertical feed called Verts.
Like its contemporaries, Verts presents a continuous feed of content but tailored to show the plethora of titles from the Disney+ library. This might include the first scenes of shows or notable highlights. The hope, of course, is to direct users to the longform content.
Directly from the Verts feed, users can easily add the respective title to their watchlist or go straight to the title’s page. In turn, the feed is accessible from the homepage since it has its own tab.
According to Disney, early experiments with the feature have driven engagement to available content. Right now, the feed is mostly for clipping enticing content from shows. However, the platform will experiment further with the format for new ways to tell stories.
Though Verts surely stands for “verticals” in this case, “adverts” might fit better as its full government name. Still, it might be a useful tool if you’re figuring out what to watch for the night.
Currently, Verts is available for Disney+ subscribers in the United States. Disney also has plans to expand the feature to ESPN for sports-related content.
SEE ALSO: Live NBA action on Disney Plus now available in the Philippines
Some of today’s navigation apps are living in the future. Instead of a two-dimensional map, these apps render the user’s surroundings in 3D. It’s a nifty upgrade that helps drivers more accurately visualize directions on the fly. Finally, Google Maps is getting a much-needed upgrade and will take navigation to the third dimension.
In a new update rolling out today, the new Immersive Navigation feature will bring your surroundings to life. The 3D view creates a render of the surrounding buildings, overpasses, and terrain around the car. It takes the guesswork out of navigation by showing precisely where to turn and what landmarks to look out for.
In the same vein, you can now use Street View to preview your destination before you arrive. Google Maps will also highlight your destination’s entrance, side of the street, and nearby parking.
Outside of how the map is visualized, Google Maps is also infusing its service with Gemini. The new Ask Maps feature will let you engage with the app in a conversational manner. For example, if you’re in the middle of a long drive, you can now ask Maps where the best place is to stop over and have a coffee break. Ask Maps will provide directions, a potential itinerary, and even helpful links to book a reservation ahead of time.
Now, availability for both of these features is still a bit limited. Immersive View is rolling out today to compatible devices and vehicles in the United States. Further, availability will expand over the coming months.
Meanwhile, Ask Maps is available now in the United States and India for Android and iOS. A desktop version is coming soon.
SEE ALSO: Google Maps is finally getting a power saving mode
Entertainment
KPop Demon Hunters is officially getting a sequel
Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans will return to write and direct.
This feels like a formality at this point. Netflix and Sony have officially confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters is getting a sequel.
If you feel like you’ve read this exact title before, then you’re not alone. Since its massive success last year, the hit animated film constantly spawned talks of a potential franchise. It probably helped that the title quickly became Netflix’s most-watched film of all time. From the last we’ve heard of the rumors, Netflix was reportedly eyeing a 2029 premiere for the sequel.
Now, it’s official. As posted by Netflix itself, KPop Demon Hunters will get a sequel soon. Even better, the follow-up will be written and directed by the same duo, Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans.
Kang, who celebrated the first movie’s ability to tell a Korean story, says that there’s a lot more to explore in the film’s universe. “There’s so much more to this world we have built and I’m excited to show you. This is only the beginning,” she said.
Right now, the plot’s sequel is still unknown, especially since the Saja Boys were defeated in the first film.
Given how big the original movie got, the sequel is no surprise. Besides bagging the top spot on Netflix’s charts, the film also got an eventual release in theaters. KPop Demon Hunters is up for a potential Oscars win after it was nominated for Best Animated Feature. Its hit song, “Golden,” is also nominated for Best Original Song.
SEE ALSO: KPop Demon Hunters is now Netflix’s most-watched movie
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