This flying robot-vacuum is not an altogether terrible idea
A flying robovac sounds like a pretty dangerous contraption, and that's because it is. Still, that didn't stop one guy from building such a device and showing it off on YouTube. The flying cleaner clearly needs some work, but it’s not an altogether terrible solution for multilevel properties.
GM requests green light to ditch steering wheel in its self-driving cars
General Motors has asked regulators to allow it to test a limited number of autonomous cars without a steering wheel. Currently, all self-driving cars have one in place, with most also including a back-up driver ready to step in if something goes awry. The NHTSA is expected to respond to General Motors’ request soon.
Listen to the soothing sound coming to London’s electric buses
Electric vehicles make very little noise at low speed, and that can be dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, and the visually impaired. In a bid to improve safety on the streets of London, the city’s growing fleet of electric buses will soon test a specially created sound so that people know when one is nearby.
Here’s how to track Santa on his busiest night of the year
If you have kids, or if you're a big kid yourself, then go check out a couple of online offerings that’ll show you Santa's whereabouts as he makes his way around the world on Christmas Eve. Besides the Santa tracker, the websites and apps also offer fun activities to keep everyone entertained until the big day.
Amazon bets big on its internet-from-space plan with major new facility
Amazon has announced a major expansion of its project to provide broadband from space with the imminent opening of a new facility in Redmond, Washington. The site will serve as a research and development center, as well as a manufacturing base, for its ambitious Project Kuiper initiative.
Flickr cash shortage leads to plea for more paying members
Flickr is losing money and needs more cash to stay up and running, according to the boss of SmugMug, which acquired the photo site in 2018. Don MacAskill said the best way to support the service was by signing up to Flickr Pro, which starts at $4.99 a month if billed annually.
Cyberattack forces 38,000 students to physically stand in line for new passwords
A university in Germany is handing out new email passwords printed on pieces of paper to its 38,000 students after its servers were hit by hackers. Students are being asked to line up outside the university gym to collect their new passwords in a process that could take five days to complete.
NASA’s Mars 2020 rover passes first driving test with flying colors
The Mars 2020 rover recently passed a crucial driving test, with NASA scientists confirming that its next outing will be on Martian soil. The advanced, six-wheel vehicle rolled forward and backward over small ramps during the laboratory test and also turned on the spot.
An eight-year-old U.S. YouTuber earned $26 million in 2019
The highest-paid YouTuber in 2019 is apparently an eight-year-old boy who reviews toys. Ryan Kaji's videos, as well as related sponsorships and sales, raked in a colossal $26 million over the last 12 months, beating his 2018 income by $4 million. Videos posted on Ryan’s World regularly receive several million views.
Malicious attacker targeted epilepsy group on Twitter in bid to cause seizures
The Epilepsy Foundation said this week that it has filed a formal criminal complaint in connection with an online attack that tried to trigger seizures via images directed at its Twitter account. The troubling incident has echoes of another one in 2016 that caused a prominent writer to have a seizure.
Rosie the Astronaut is heading to space on Boeing’s Starliner
Boeing’s Starliner capsule is set to make its first orbital test flight on Friday. It’s heading to the ISS with 600 pounds of supplies. It’s also carrying a sensor-laden test dummy called Rosie that will help researchers confirm the safety of the capsule ahead of expected crewed flights next year.
Google Maps makes it easier to find EV charging stations via plug type
If you own an electric vehicle and use Google Maps, then finding a nearby (and available) charging station when your car is running low on juice just got a little easier. A new feature lets you surface and quickly filter connector types for nearby stations, and tells you if a port is available there and then.
SpaceX nails another launch and landing, but can’t catch the nose cone
SpaceX successfully deployed a Boeing-made satellite on Monday evening before bringing the booster safely back down onto a drone ship. But the mission to catch the nose cone ended in failure. It came down in two parts as planned, but two ships carrying large nets failed to catch the different sections.
Boeing to suspend production of troubled 737 Max aircraft next month
With the Federal Aviation Administration yet to complete its review of the design changes made to Boeing's troubled 737 Max plane, the maker says it will suspend its production in January 2020. Boeing has put 400 new Max 737 planes in storage since the aircraft’s grounding in March 2019 following two fatal crashes.
Nikon Z 50 camera deal gives you a month to decide if you really want it
Nikon has launched a new offer that lets you try its recently launched Z 50 mirrorless camera for a full month before deciding whether you want to commit. You can choose from three bundles with and without lenses, though it needs to be in perfect condition if you decide to return it for a refund.
Vudu now lets you cancel a movie rental while you’re watching it
Video streaming service Vudu now lets you ditch a dismal movie and switch to another one at no cost, but you have to decide within the first 30 minutes. All you do is hit the stop button and contact customer service by email or phone, after which a credit equal to the rental price will be added to your account.
Lyft takes on car rental services in Los Angeles and the SF Bay Area
Lyft has confirmed it's operating a car rental service in San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles. Cars can be rented for up to two weeks, with free rides offered to and from the rental location. Lyft Rentals is accessible within the main Lyft app alongside its other transportation offerings such as bikes and scooters.
Uber offers skiers and snowboarders a hassle-free ride to the slopes
Heading to the slopes this winter? If you need transportation to get between the city and the piste, then Uber's latest offering might well come in handy. Uber Ski operates in 23 locations across the U.S. and guarantees a vehicle that can handle all of your gear. Though it does involve a surcharge.
Twitter makes some notable changes for folks who like posting photos
Good news for anyone who likes posting photos on Twitter. The microblogging company says it has just introduced new compression software that enables JPEGs to retain their original quality. In addition, it also now supports the iPhone's Live Photos feature, allowing you to post the file as a GIF.
Blue Origin nails another rocket mission ahead of space tourism flights
Blue Origin this week sent a rocket on its sixth suborbital space mission, marking the company's 12th launch overall. The reusable New Shepard booster carried several experiments into space during its short outing on Wednesday. Blue Origin aims to use the rocket to launch a space tourism service in the near future.
San Francisco’s curb on tech tests in public spaces could sink pogo stick plan
A new system looks set to launch in San Francisco soon that will force technology firms to apply for a permit before testing their kit in public spaces. The move is designed to prevent a repeat of the chaos in 2018 when hundreds of shareable electric scooters suddenly appeared on the city’s streets without permission.
Waze just added a new feature designed to make winter drives easier
Navigation app Waze has launched a new feature just in time for winter. It lets you report unplowed roads so you can help fellow drivers in the area better plan their route. The feature joins other reportable issues such as potholes and floods, and is available to Waze’s global community of 130 million users.
Use Wheels’ new helmets and the bikesharing startup will discount your ride
Eager to keep its riders safe, as well as to avoid scrutiny from regulators, bikesharing startup Wheels has fitted its electric bikes with helmets. And riders will get a discount if they wear one. California-based Wheels operates in eight U.S. locations that include Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami.
Influencer’s bizarre plot to steal domain name results in hefty jail term
An Iowa man who took extreme action in order to secure a domain name for his social media business has been handed a 14-year jail term for his efforts. The offender also involved his cousin in the plot, but things took a turn for the worse when they visited the victim’s home to force him to give up the domain.
More than 750,000 U.S. birth certificate applications exposed online
Applying for a copy of a birth certificate involves submitting plenty of personal information that you'd expect the recipient to properly safeguard. But a company dealing with the applications in the U.S. has left more than 750,000 of the forms exposed online, it was revealed this week.
Top drone racer takes on robot drone in first human-vs.-machine clash
Autonomous drones already exist, but they're not usually seen whizzing around an obstacle course at high speed. That all changed recently when a self-piloting drone recently took on one of the best drone racers in the world at a specially organized contest in Austin, Texas.
SpaceX delivers mice and a floating robot to the International Space Station
There are mice on the ISS! But it's OK, they're supposed to be there. The rodents arrived on Sunday for research purposes, with a floating robot called CIMON-2 also part of the consignment. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule will return the mice to Earth next month, while CIMON-2 will stay in space for much longer.
Self-driving baggage tractor is the latest smart tech for airports
With an eye on creating the "smart airport" of the future, Air France has unveiled a self-driving baggage tractor that allows staff to focus on other work, thereby making the baggage-handling process more efficient. It's just the latest example of how a growing number of industries are utilizing autonomous technology.
SpaceX’s next batch of Starlink satellites will be less shiny. Here’s why
With its third batch of 60 internet satellites set for deployment, SpaceX will coat one of them with a material to make it less reflective as part of a test to keep the night sky clear. Astronomers are concerned that if deployed in large numbers, the satellites’ reflection of sun rays could hamper their work.
