WhatsApp: Facebook shelves plan to fill app with ads, report claims
Facebook has reportedly backpedaled on plans to bring ads to WhatsApp. The social networking giant has apparently disbanded the team that was working on the idea, and removed code from the app. The founders of the messaging app, who quit a couple of years ago, always said they never wanted to see ads on the service.
A bookstore’s tweet lamenting lack of visitors results in heartwarming tale
An independent bookstore in a small English town was having an unusually quiet day earlier this week, so staff tweeted a message about it. The post quickly went viral, leading to a deluge of orders and an uptick in visitors. The owner said the response blew him away, adding that it would “really make a difference.”
Toyota just invested $394M in a secretive startup that makes flying taxis
Toyota has shown it is serious about flying taxis with a $394 million investment in California-based Joby Aviation, which is working on an all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The current version can reach 200 mph and fly around 150 miles on a single charge. It’s also super-quiet in flight.
Bose to close all of its U.S. retail stores in pivot to online shopping
Bose has announced it's closing all 119 of its brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia in the coming months, focusing its efforts on e-commerce instead. But 130 Bose stores in China, India, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and the United Arab Emirates will remain open, at least for now.
Toyota to recall nearly 700,000 newer vehicles that could stall mid-drive
Toyota is recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles across multiple models. The recall due to a faulty fuel pump, which, if it fails, could lead to a stall and potentially an accident. The recall affects 2018-2019 vehicles, with affected owners set to be contacted by first-class mail in March 2020.
Instagram food porn: Top U.K. chef reignites debate over diners’ meal pics
To snap a pic or not to snap a pic. That is the question currently being asked by restaurateurs after a top chef said recently that it bothers him when diners spend time taking photos of his dishes. Heston Blumenthal said a lot of people seem more interested in snapping a picture so they can post it on social media.
U.K.’s busiest airport deploys new anti-drone system for safer skies
London Heathrow, the U.K.'s busiest airport, has installed a new safety system capable of detecting rogue drones flying nearby, and also of pinpointing the person operating it. The technology’s deployment follows increasing reports of unauthorized drones flying in restricted areas close to airports around the world.
Check out the short list in the Mars 2020 rover naming contest
NASA has revealed the semifinalists in the naming contest for its Mars 2020 rover, which is set to begin its journey to the Martian Surface in July 2020. The public will soon have a chance to vote for their favorite suggestion among nine finalists, though NASA said its judges will have the final say.
Amazon pushes again to rid its shopping site of counterfeit goods
Amazon's ongoing battle to rid its shopping site of fake goods has reportedly prompted it to take renewed action targeting third-party sellers who trade in such items. The efforts are thought to include an agreement to contact law enforcement more quickly and to hand over more information about suspected sellers.
U.S. may call a halt to its civilian drone program over security fears
The United States government is about to ban the use of Chinese-made drones in its work, a report by the FT claims. The Department of Interior has been using the machines for various tasks, but recently suspended their use over security fears while it conducted a review.
Phishing scam costs a Texas school district more than $2 million
A Texas school district has revealed it was recently tricked into handing over more than $2 million in an email phishing scam. The money was transferred to the perpetrator in three separate transactions in November 2019, according to reports, and the FBI is now investigating the incident.
Japanese billionaire seeks significant other for SpaceX moon trip
SpaceX has already named wealthy Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa as its first paying passenger for a moon trip set to take place in 2023. Now Maezawa says he's looking for someone special to accompany him, with an online streaming channel creating a show to follow his efforts in finding a significant other.
Mark Zuckerberg says he’s not making any more New Year’s resolutions
For years now, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has gone public with his New Year’s resolutions. But in a message posted online this week, the Zuck said that while he’s been happy to set himself new challenges at the start of each year, it’s now time to do things a little differently.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness loses director Scott Derrickson
Scott Derrickson announced that he’ll no longer direct Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness because of creative differences. It’s too early to say whether his surprise decision will impact the movie’s release date, currently slated for May 2021. He wrote and directed 2016's Doctor Strange.
Elon Musk says a UFO-on-a-stick will connect you to his internet satellites
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says that anyone signing up to his Starlink broadband service will receive a contraption that looks like a thin, flat, round UFO on a stick to connect to the internet. A test service is expected to launch in the U.S. later this year, once enough of the Starlink satellites have been deployed.
Twitter may let you select who can reply to your tweets
Twitter is planning a new feature that aims to give you more control over your conversations. It lets you control who can reply to your tweets, for example, you can choose to let only your followers reply, or only those mentioned in your tweet. It even lets you prevent anyone from replying.
Colorado cops call in FBI in hunt for mysterious drones
Cops in Colorado and Nebraska have set up a special task force that includes the FBI in a bid to track down the person or people behind mysterious drone flights apparently taking place there. Sightings by cops and members of the public describe a fleet of up to 17 large machines flying in formation at night.
Hackers demand $6M from largest retail currency dealer in ransomware attack
Travelex, the world's largest retail currency dealer, has been targeted in a ransomware attack, with hackers reportedly demanding a payment of $6 million so the company can regain control of its systems. They’re also threatening to publish customer data if Travelex fails to pay the ransom.
SpaceX launches 60 more Starlink internet satellites amid astronomer concerns
SpaceX is making progress with its efforts to launch an internet service from space after launching its third batch of 60 Starlink satellites this week. SpaceX is planning to launch batches of 60 satellites every two to three weeks over the next 12 months in a bid to achieve global coverage later this year.
Comedian’s Facebook followers raise a colossal $30M for Aussie bushfire aid
Australian comedian Celeste Barber only aimed to raise $30,000 with her online fundraising campaign to help those affected by the bushfires in her home country. But her social media followers have given way, way more, so far donating $30 million in the space of just four days.
Boeing discovers another potential issue with the troubled 737 Max
Boeing's 737 Max jets remain grounded following two fatal crashes involving the plane. As it works to fix the software that contributed to the disasters, it's discovered another potential issue involving wiring that controls its tail. Engineers are now evaluating whether further design changes are needed.
Ballie is a rolling robot from Samsung that can help around the smart home
Ballie is a new ball-shaped bot from Samsung that can be your friend and help around the smart home. The tech giant unveiled Ballie at CES on Monday. A video showed the robot that's about the size of a grapefruit performing tasks such as opening smart curtains and firing up a robot vacuum.
Vector the social robot has good news for its human buddies
The future of the Vector social robot has been uncertain since its creator, Anki, closed down in 2019. But now a Pittsburgh firm has stepped in to give the robot a new lease of life. When it launched in 2018, the diminutive robot was praised for its advanced features and ability to convey an array of emotions.
GoPro’s defunct Karma drone has suddenly stopped working, owners claim
GoPro exited the drone market in 2018, but those who bought its Karma quadcopter could still fly it if they wished — or they could until January 1. Karma owners around the world have been complaining that since the start of the year, several issues have suddenly appeared that prevent it from working as it should.
Cows in VR goggles and 14 other stories that gave us a giggle in 2019
As another frenetic year in tech comes to a close, we’re looking on the lighter side with 15 stories from the Digital Trends archive that gave us a giggle in 2019. The picks include cows in VR goggles, a self-driving golf ball, an edible iPhone case, and a quirky Airbnb rental. Steve Ballmer gets a mention, too.
Wyze customers hit by online data leak, company confirms
Data linked to around 2.4 million Wyze customers was left exposed online for three weeks in December, the Seattle-based smart home company has confirmed. It said that no financial information or passwords were exposed in the leak and that it took the data offline the moment it learned of the error.
Colorado cops puzzled by fleets of large drones flying overhead
Cops in Colorado have reported seeing fleets of large drones flying overhead on consecutive nights this month, but have so far been unable to work out what the remotely controlled machines are doing. They appear in a group of up to 17 drones with colorful lights, and fly at an altitude of around 250 feet.
FAA proposes nationwide real-time tracking system for all drones
The FAA is exploring the idea of tracking all airborne drones around the clock, as well as connected pilot IDs. The agency says the proposed tracking network would be “an important building block in the unmanned traffic management ecosystem.” A 60-day consultation period is about to open inviting anyone to comment.
DJI patent describes a remote-controlled rover with a camera attached
While DJI continues to launch new drones, a newly uncovered patent suggests it may also be considering a camera-equipped, remote-controlled rover for filmmakers. Compared to drones, a small rover like the one described in the filing would be easier to operate in interiors, or in outdoor locations where space is tight.
SpaceX ends year with another perfect parachute test for Crew Dragon
SpaceX's Crew Dragon parachutes are looking good after the capsule completed yet another successful test landing ahead of manned flights that could take place in 2020. It was the 10th consecutive test of the new Mark 3 parachutes to go off without a hitch, allowing the SpaceX team to end the year on a high.
Twitter stops some images from animating to protect those with epilepsy
The Epilepsy Foundation’s Twitter account was recently bombarded with flashing images designed to trigger a seizure among those with the condition. Twitter this week announced a change to its handling of Animated PNG files aimed at reducing the chances of a similar kind of incident happening again.