Airbnb bans ‘party houses’ after fatal Halloween shooting
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has announced it is taking stronger action against unauthorized parties at properties rented through its service. The move follows a multiple shooting at a Halloween party held at a house rented through Airbnb in California in which five people died.
WhatsApp’s fingerprint unlock feature is now on Android
The ability to unlock WhatsApp with your fingerprint has been available for compatible iPhones since earlier this year, but now the feature has finally arrived for supported Android handsets, too. Fingerprint unlock also lets you choose how much time should pass before the app requests your fingerprint again.
This gamer is so good he just won a motorsport gig for real-world racing
Combining his real-world racing skills with his gaming prowess, Brit James Baldwin has just won a contest with the prize of a sportscar racing contract that's said to be worth more than $1 million. Baldwin beat nine other competitors in a two-week contest that took place in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
U.S. Interior Department grounds 800-strong drone fleet over security fears
The U.S. Department of the Interior has stopped using its fleet of Chinese-made drones over spying fears. A final decision will be made following an investigation. The drones undertake a range of tasks, including land and forest monitoring, and assisting efforts to tackle wildfires and other natural disasters.
Apple App Store error reportedly saw 20M ratings erased in a week
Apple's App Store apparently suffered a hiccup last week when millions of user ratings were accidentally deleted from apps belonging to the likes of Google, Microsoft, Nike, and Disney, with smaller developers also hit. Ratings affect the amount of exposure an app gets in the store, which in turn can affect downloads.
Volocopter’s awesome flying taxi inspires the design of a new cargo drone
Volocopter has used the design of its remarkable flying taxi as the inspiration for its new cargo drone. Unveiled this week, the fully electric, unmanned VoloDrone has a cruising speed of 50 mph and a range of 25 miles, and can carry a payload of up to 440 pounds. The German maker promises a range of applications.
Filmmakers slam Netflix feature that lets you binge-watch more quickly
Netflix is testing a new feature that lets you adjust the playback speed of content. But a number of filmmakers have slammed the idea, suggesting it has the potential to wreck a filmmaker's hard work. Producer and director Judd Apatow, for one, pleaded with Netflix to ditch the idea.
Lyft Pink is the ridesharing company’s new monthly subscription service
Lyft is abandoning its $299-a-month All-Access Plan in favor of Lyft Pink, a new offering for frequent riders that costs a more reasonable $20 a month. The fee scores you a 15% discount on each ride, along with a bunch of perks that include priority airport pickups, waived lost-and-found fees, and surprise offers.
Texas patient livestreamed her brain surgery on Facebook to help others
Texas resident Jenna Schardt this week had her brain operation livestreamed on Facebook. When she learned she had to undergo surgery, she thought providing a live feed would provide hope for others facing the same situation. It’s thought to be the first time that brain surgery has been streamed live online.
The Da Vinci water faucet has a neat trick up its spout
Getting water from a faucet to your mouth can be tricky if you don't have a glass to hand, so check out this superbly simple design from a Virginia-based inventor. The Da Vinci Fountain Faucet features a small hole in the top of the main stem that offers a steady arc of water at the flip of a lever.
Instagram expands ban on content related to self-harm and suicide
Earlier this year Instagram banned photos related to self-harm and suicide. Acting on calls for greater action, this week it expanded the ban to cover fictional depictions of such subject matter, including memes and drawings. Instagram’s boss said it was determined to do what it can to keep vulnerable people safe.
Samsung selfie stunt goes wrong as space contraption crashes to Earth
A Michigan couple got the surprise of its life on Saturday when a high-altitude balloon carrying Samsung kit crash-landed on their property. The contraption was part of a marketing stunt by the tech firm involving selfies in space and was carried skyward by a high-altitude balloon last week.
Waymo is now running autonomous car trips without backup drivers
Waymo is offering limited rides to Arizona residents in prototype self-driving cars without human backup drivers. Waymo cars previously operated with a person in the driver's seat at all times. The Alphabet-owned company said passengers will be notified via the Waymo app if it sends them a fully driverless car.
Uber Eats serves up foodie experiences in a test for new feature
Meal-delivery app Uber Eats is testing a new feature that offers experiences such as cookery classes and meals at swish restaurants, as Uber seeks to take its business beyond ridesharing. Uber Moments appears as an option within the main Uber Eats app as part of a monthlong trial for customers in San Francisco.
The U.S. Air Force’s secretive space plane ends record-breaking mission
The U.S. Air Force’s secretive X-37B space plane landed at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday after spending a record 780 days in low-Earth orbit. The vehicle is used to test and develop various spacecraft technologies while at the same time demonstrating the importance of a reusable space plane.
Apple tells iPhone 5 owners to update software or face the consequences
Apple is telling anyone who still uses an iPhone 5 to update it to iOS 10.3.4 before November 3 or face losing some of the smartphone’s core functionality. The advice is linked to a GPS time rollover issue that began affecting various GPS-enabled products from a number of manufacturers in April 2019.
Adobe left millions of Creative Cloud user records exposed online
Subscribers to any of Adobe's Creative Cloud apps are being advised to keep a look out for phishing scams using the email address linked to their Adobe account. The warning comes after it was discovered that data belonging to more than seven million accounts remained exposed online for about a week.
Donald Trump lets the world know he misses the iPhone’s home button
President Donald Trump has tweeted Apple CEO Tim Cook -- and the rest of his 66 million followers -- to let him know how much he misses the iPhone's physical home button. Apparently now the owner of one of Apple’s newest devices, Trump now has to swipe up from the bottom of the handset to access the home screen.
Google Play Store malware hits 42 apps with 8 million downloads
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered an adware campaign affecting 42 Play Store apps that have been downloaded 8 million times. Google has now removed them, though they remain available in third-party app stores. The most popular app, Video Downloader Master, received 5 million downloads.
Amazon spends a staggering amount to ship your orders
Aiming to push convenience to the max, Amazon is continuing to invest heavily in its gargantuan shipping operation with a particular focus on developing its one-day shipping option. The company’s latest financial figures revealed it spent billions on shipping in the third quarter of 2019.
Google agrees to replace its bricked Home and Home Mini smart speakers
A recent firmware update caused a number of Google Home and Home Mini devices to stop working. Google says it’ll replace the bricked devices, and also roll out a fix to stop it happening again. Some affected customers managed to get their device working again via a factory reset, though this hasn’t worked for everyone.
Facebook is getting interested in news again with News Tab launch
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to unveil the site's latest feature at an event in New York City on Friday. The News Tab, which will host the latest international and local news stories, marks a return to the genre for Facebook after it altered its algorithms two years ago to prioritize more personal posts.
Amazon makes it even easier for you to receive your packages
Online shopping giant Amazon has partnered with additional brick-and-mortar stores to take its free Counter package pickup service to thousands of more locations across the U.S. It means Amazon shoppers can now choose to collect their orders from Rite Aid, GNC, Health Mart, and Stage Stores.
Samsung develops a fix for the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 fingerprint flaw
Samsung’s Galaxy S10 and Note 10 handsets hit the headlines last week after a serious security flaw came to light regarding its in-display fingerprint scanner. It meant that particular silicon screen covers allowed any fingerprint to unlock the device. The company now says it’s developed a fix.
Google Maps now lets iPhone-owning drivers help their fellow road users
It has been available for Google Maps on Android for some time but now drivers with an iPhone can also report crashes, speed traps, and traffic slowdowns when they're on the road. And from this week, users on both platforms can also report construction, lane closures, disabled vehicles, and objects in the road.
Scoot wants you to take rides on its new electric moped instead of in a car
Scoot is using L.A. as the launchpad for its new electric moped designed for shared use. Features include a top speed of 20 mph and large-volume tires for a smooth ride. The machine can be rented via a smartphone app, but you'll need to be over 18 and have a valid driver's license to ride it.
Elon Musk sends first tweet via SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites
SpaceX offered some tidbits about plans for its recently deployed Starlink internet satellites this week. Meanwhile, Elon Musk decided to take the system for a test run by using it to post a couple of tweets. Judging by his reaction, he seemed pretty surprised that it worked!
Google Home owners claim a recent update has left their devices unusable
A firmware update for Google Home smart speakers has caused real trouble for some owners as it appears to have rendered their devices useless. Some of those affected claim to have resolved the issue with a factory reset of the speaker, while Google says it’s investigating the issue.
Adobe Illustrator could be coming to iPad, landing soon after Photoshop
Adobe is reportedly planning a version of Illustrator for iPad. The professional-grade vector graphics editor could land next year, soon after Photoshop, which is confirmed for launch before the end of 2019. Adobe has been working to bring software from its subscription-based Creative Cloud suite to Apple’s tablet.
CVS and UPS join forces for drone deliveries to customers’ homes
More and more major companies are keen to get into the drone delivery game. Take CVS and UPS. The two firms have just teamed up to develop a drone service delivering prescription drugs and other retail items direct to customers. CVS said it was excited to explore faster, lower-cost, and more efficient delivery models.
Some crazy folks just spent nearly a whole day flying in a jet plane
If you get a bit fidgety on a four-hour flight, then at 19-plus hours, Qantas' proposed non-stop service between New York City and Sydney probably isn't for you. The Australian carrier tested the route for the first time at the weekend with 49 passengers and crew onboard the Boeing aircraft.
Reports of Kik Messenger’s demise have been greatly exaggerated
Fans of Kik Messenger will be pleased to learn that the messaging app is going nowhere. Last month the creator of Kik Messenger announced its imminent closure, but another company has now stepped in to save it. L.A.-based MediaLab has promised to work on improving the app, but added that it will soon include ads.
Instagram is looking for a way to help you improve your feed
If your Instagram feed could do with some attention, a new feature currently undergoing testing offers a quick way to filter the accounts you follow into various categories, making them easier to manage. There’s no word yet on whether Instagram will roll it out, but it could be a handy way to better curate your feed.
Cruise ship passenger attempts dangerous selfie, gets banned for life
A passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship ran into trouble this week when she was spotted taking a big risk to snap a selfie. When the captain found out, the guest was kicked off the Allure of the Seas at the next port and banned for life from traveling on the company’s ships.