Xiaomi finally heads to the U.S. with a little help from Google Assistant
Xiaomi has yet to establish a foothold in the United States, but at Google I/O 2018, the company revealed it would be adding Google Assistant support to three new smart home products, all bound for American shores. Google and Xiaomi previously joined forces for an Android One smartphone in 2017.
Google Home finally plays nicely with its own Google Play Movies
Nearly two years after Google Home first made its debut, it's now finally compatible with Google Play Movies. That means that you can now control Google's native video streaming service using your Google Assistant and your voice. It's strange that this feature didn't exist before, but better late than never.
A cure for hangovers? A UCLA professor may have cracked the code
According to Yunfeng Lu, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering in the Los Angeles university, there is now a solution to that all-consuming hangover, and it has been tested (successfully) in mice. The antidote resulted in lower blood alcohol content and faster wake-up times in mice.
Lyft’s All-Access subscription plan picks up steam, now boasts a wait-list
Lyft is testing out a subscription service through which riders would pay a monthly fee instead of paying on a per-ride basis. The ridesharing company told Digital Trends it's sending invitations to select passengers to join a new wait-list for the next wave of openings in the All-Access Plan.
Just say the magic word to unlock your Schlage smart lock
Unlocking your door no longer requires your key or even your hands. Thanks to smart lock maker Schlage and its new integration with Amazon Alexa, "Open Sesame!" is no longer a command relegated to legends. Rather, it can help you unlock real life doors, too. You'll just need to set a PIN.
Amazon invites you over to see just how awesome Alexa is
Alexa has introduced what it's calling Amazon Experience Centers, which offer customers the ability to "experience first-hand the convenience of the Alexa smart home experience and more in a real home environment." You'll be able to check out Alexa, Dash Buttons, Amazon Home Services, and more.
Amazon gets kid-friendly and encourages tykes to say “please”
Amazon is helping this youngest generation experience the wonders of innovation in a kid-friendly manner. Today, the smart home giant debuted a Kids Edition of the Amazon Echo Dot, as well as Amazon FreeTime on Alexa, heralded as an all-new Alexa experience built specifically with children in mind.Â
Apple is removing apps that overshare your location data with third parties
Apple has begun removing apps from the App Store that are in violation of location data policies. That means that if an app shares your location with third parties without your permission, it's being kicked off the platform. It's unclear as of yet exactly how many apps are affected by this crackdown.
A message bomb is making iPhone Messages and WhatsApp freeze
It takes just two texts to WhatsApp to crash your favorite messaging service. It appears that the Facebook-owned messaging app is falling victim to a malicious message bomb that could cause not only the app to crash, but perhaps your entire Android device as well. Now, Messages is suffering from a similar bomb.
Modsy’s latest partnership will put a virtual designer in your home
You don't need to be a professional to get professional-quality design help for your home. A partnership between Architectural Digest channel Clever and home design company Modsy combines 3D renderings of your space and a team of style experts for a one-of-a-kind decorating experience.
Did Uber’s self-driving prototype decide not to avoid the pedestrian it struck?
Uber has been conducting an investigation into its fatal March self-driving car crash, and now, a new report suggests that the self-driving car may have in fact seen the pedestrian crossing the street, but then decided against taking evasive measures. Uber has not commented further on these reports.
The Hiuni smart telescope lets you stargaze from your Apple or Android device
It may be awhile yet before ordinary people like us can journey to the stars, but until then, we can bring the stars a lot closer. Here to help is a smart interactive telescope that promises to satisfy the needs of both amateur stargazers and professional astronomers. Meet the Hiuni, an app-connected smart telescope.
TaskRabbit app goes down as it investigates ‘cybersecurity incident’
TaskRabbit, the service that matches freelance labor with local demand, was taken offline recently while the company investigates "a cybersecurity incident." Few details are currently available, though it advised people to change their password. Now, we have a bit more information from the CEO.
Google’s Android Things is a new OS for the Internet of Things
Android Things' primary target is the Internet of Things market, including smart thermostats, TVs, ovens, and more. Now, after a developer preview that saw over 100,000 SDK downloads, Google is releasing Android Things 1.0 with "long-term support for production devices."
Volvo is bringing Google Assistant to your car, even if you don’t use Android
Thanks to an ongoing partnership between the carmaker and the tech giant, Volvo will be introducing Google services into its next-generation Sensus infotainment system, which is built upon Google's Android operating system. This follows last year's announcement of a connected infotainment center.
Face ID on your iPhone X giving you grief? The fix may surprise you
Apple has already issued instructions to its stores and authorized service providers on how to repair iPhone X devices with faulty Face ID. But what's most curious about the repair process is that it involves a part of the phone that has nothing to do with Face ID at all -- the rear camera.
Beer kegs latest to join the smart device party with the Kegtron
It's the 21st century, which means there is now officially nothing in your life that you can't make smart. And that includes things that often lead you to make choices that are not so smart, like your keg of beer. Meet the Kegtron, a new device promising to bring "intelligence to your kegerator."
The Cowboy ebike may usher in the next generation of electric bicycles
The Cowboy bike purports to be the new standard in ebikes, and unlike its compatriots and competitors, doesn't actually look like an electronic piece of machinery. Rather, it just looks like a bike. Plus, it's smart, and comes with a companion Bluetooth app that you can use for navigation, speed monitoring, and more.
Nike wants to put treadmills in shoes to help you get them on
Nike is proving itself to be the master innovator when it comes to footwear once again. As per a new patent filed in early May, Nike is looking to place a "rotatable conveyor element" in the sole of your shoe. No, it's not to help you work out. Rather, it's to help you put the shoe on a bit more easily.Â
Don’t hold your breath for Vine 2 — it’s on hold indefinitely, co-founder says
If you're waiting for the second iteration of Vine, the short-form video app, don't hold your breath. As per an announcement from the app's co-founder Dom Hofmann, Vine 2 has been placed on hold for "an indefinite amount of time." Community forums will be kept up, but we could be kept waiting awhile.
Amazon is starting to scan customers’ bodies in the name of online shopping
Amazon is reportedly inviting customers into a New York office in order to keep tabs on their body shape and size over a 20 week time period. Twice a month, volunteers (chosen from a survey) will visit the office in order to allow Amazon to better understand "how bodies change shape over time."
British watchdog group orders Cambridge Analytica to hand over data
As the fallout of data firm Cambridge Analytica continues, a U.K. data privacy watchdog group has ordered that the company cede all of the personal information it collected from an American professor back to him, noting that even non-British citizens can seek and obtain data held by a British firm.
FBI hostage rescue team bamboozled after criminals unleash drone swarm
Drones are apparently being used by criminals to conduct nefarious activity. Recently, an FBI stakeout was raided by a swarm of drones, and in other cases, these quadcopters have been used by criminals to surveil potential targets. Unfortunately, it appears that a fix may take quite a while to implement.
Kia Nero EV crossover produces zero emissions, but plenty of miles per charge
It's been a few months since Kia first showed off its concept of the all new Kia Nero EV at CES 2018, and now the Korean carmaker has debuted the zero-emissions vehicle in earnest for the first time at the International Electric Vehicle Expo in Jeju, South Korea. It can go 236 miles on a single charge.
Toyota research arm to construct new test track for automated vehicles
Tests deemed too dangerous for self-driving vehicles to perform on public roadways will now be relegated to a new facility, courtesy of TRI. The carmaker's research arm has announced the construction of a new closed-course test facility that will help Toyota continue to develop its autonomous car technology.
Self-driving cars hit the Las Vegas Strip thanks to Lyft and Aptiv
If you're in Vegas, you may want to pass taking a spin on the roulette wheel, but instead try out some self-driving wheels. As part of its partnership with ride-hailing giant Lyft, Aptiv has launched a fleet of 30 autonomous vehicles in Sin City, and they're now available for your commuting convenience.
More than an accessory – Apple Watch credited with saving another life
Before you write off the Apple Watch as just another luxury accessory from the iEmpire that you don't need, you may want to keep in mind that this is one accessory that has life-saving capabilities. A teenager from Florida saw this firsthand after undergoing a frightening medical emergency, as did another man.
Nest expands offerings further with new $39 temperature sensors
Nest is showing off just how robust its portfolio of products really is with the launch of a full-blown home security solution and new temperature sensors. The Nest Temperature Sensor is now available for purchase from the Nest website, as well as the Google Store. One will cost you $39, whereas a 3-pack is $99.
Picture Organic Clothing may have just made the eco-friendliest wetsuit
Picture Organic Clothing has a brand new wetsuit that is being heralded as the most eco-friendly wetsuit ever, and is made of a "sustainable and responsible alternative" to neoprene, which is the material most commonly used in wetsuits (and one that is not exactly recyclable or biodegradable).
Facebook’s smart speakers will launch overseas before they hit the U.S.
As expected, Facebook did not debut its highly anticipated smart speakers at its F8 Developer Conference. But unexpectedly, it may be the case that we in the United States are still a ways away from seeing the devices here. According to reports, Facebook is looking to launch its speakers overseas first
Newton axes the sent folder — and it makes for a better email experience
Newton decided to change up the way you interact with your inbox once again by ridding users of the sent folder once and for all. It's a sensible move and it helps streamline the email experience. Now, rather than having to navigate between several folders, Newton is putting everything in one place.
U.S. agency investigating Nintendo after Switch-related patent-infringement claim
The Switch's road to success thus far hasn't been without its pitfalls -- first, there was the report of the unpatchable exploit, and now, there's more bad news. Nintendo is officially under investigation by the U.S. International Trade Commission, which means that the beloved Switch may be in hot water.
Alexa’s bigger ‘brain’ is getting new skills, natural conversation, and memory
Get ready for some important changes to Amazon's Alexa. The digital assistant found on Amazon's Echo and other smart speakers is about to gain a memory, a contextual conversational ability, and the ability to automatically launch skills based on specific conversational cues. Remember This is now live.