Beautiful space station time-lapse takes us on a tour of the world
International Space Station astronaut Alexander Gerst has released a beautiful time-lapse as part of the station's recent 20th anniversary celebrations. Comprising more than 21,000 images, the video takes us on a breathtaking journey around Earth as day turns to night, and night to day.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company hits setback, abandons L.A. tunnel project
Elon Musk's Boring Company has ditched plans to build a test tunnel in Los Angeles for its ambitious high-speed transit system following a dispute with local community groups that were opposed to the project. It's a disappointing setback for the company, and also an indication of the kind of challenges that lie ahead.
It’s time to change your password again as Dell reveals attempted hack
Computer giant Dell said on Wednesday, November 28 that it recently spotted an attempt by hackers to steal customer data. The cybercriminals are believed to have gone after personal information, though the firm doesn't believe any credit card information was taken. The investigation is ongoing.
Lime’s app-based bikesharing service arrives in the U.K.
Lime has launched its first app-based bike-sharing service in the U.K. The firm has chosen the town of Milton Keynes for its U.K. launch, though fees are significantly higher than in the U.S. Lime has expanded rapidly since starting out in 2017, and now has a presence in more than 100 location in 16 countries.
What was Amazon’s biggest-selling item on Cyber Monday? Take a guess
Across the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, Amazon said customers ordered a staggering 180 million items via its U.S. site alone, while globally Monday was its busiest shopping day ever in terms of the number of items sold. But can you guess which product sold more than any other?
Google Maps makes reviews more useful with hashtag support
In its latest grab from the world of social media, Google Maps now supports hashtags in reviews for businesses. Initially for Android only, the hashtags can be added to reviews both new and old. Google Maps also recently made it possible for users to follow their favorite businesses, and message them, too.
Volvo’s self-driving trucks are ready to start work at a mine in Norway
Volvo is about to launch its first-ever commercial operation using its driverless truck technology. A deal with a Norwegian mining firm will see six of its autonomous vehicles carry limestone between the mine and a port in an operation aimed at boosting productivity and reliability, as well as safety.
Apple aims to get kids into coding with free classes at its stores worldwide
Apple is offering free coding classes for students at Apple Stores globally from December. Kids aged between 6 and 12 can explore coding with robots, while those aged 12 and above can learn Swift, Apple's programming language that's used by professional developers to build some of the world's most popular apps.
YouTube tries bundling ads together for a better viewing experience
In a bid to improve the viewing experience for its 1.8 billion users around the world, YouTube is testing a system that bundles ads together to reduce the number of interruptions during the main video. The company says that the new method reduces the number of interruptions during the main video by up to 40 percent.
USPS fixes online flaw that exposed the data of 60 million customers
The United States Postal Service has patched an online security flaw that allowed anyone with an account at usps.com to view the account details of any of the 60 million people signed up to the service. In some cases, the flaw even allowed for changes to be made to information held by the accounts.
Dangle no more: Window-washing drone for towers could replace human cleaners
The maker of a window-washing drone for tall buildings claims it can do the job 20 times faster than humans and is much safer than using workers in cradles. The 12-rotor flying machine draws power and water from sources on the ground, and is tethered to the top of the building for safety.
Instagram is about to start fiddling around with your profile page
Whether or not you like the look of your profile page, Instagram is going to begin testing new designs in the coming weeks to make it "easier and cleaner to use." It's already posted a few ideas about what to expect, with new tabs and buttons on the way, as well as reduced prominence for follower/following counts.
Oops! Teen driver loses license just 49 minutes after passing his test
A German teen lost his driving license just 49 minutes after passing his test. Cops spotted the guy doing more than twice the legal speed limit, resulting in a driving ban and a fine. He had four buddies in the car when he was pulled over, prompting cops to suggest that he may have been trying to impress them.
Here’s how Uber plans to improve its service for riders in wheelchairs
Uber has sometimes been criticized for its failure to provide adequate services for those with disabilities. It's been working to improve its service in this area, and its latest initiative sees it teaming up with a specialist transportation firm to provide more wheelchair-accessible vehicles with short wait times.
LinkedIn finally gets around to launching its own version of Stories
Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter have all launched their own versions of Snapchat Stories, so it was only a matter of time before professional social networking site LinkedIn followed suit. Its own version is called Student Voices and it's aimed at college students and recent graduates.
How a village in Italy caught 58,000 speeding drivers in just 10 days
A tiny village in northern Italy knew it had an issue with cars and bikes speeding through it, but data from a newly set-up speed camera left its residents utterly gobsmacked. In the first 10 days alone, the camera recorded more than 58,000 speeding offenses, with half of all vehicles traveling too fast.
NASA selects the all-important landing site for its Mars 2020 rover mission
After years of consideration, NASA has finally chosen the all-important landing site for its Mars 2020 rover. The location is a 28-mile-wide crater where water once flowed, with NASA suggesting it may contain material that could "revolutionize how we think about Mars and its ability to harbor life.”
Why an American named John Lewis gets lots of Twitter hassle from Brits
Spare a thought for Twitter user John Lewis. When he signed up as @johnlewis soon after the app launched in 2006, little did he know that one day he would become the de facto customer service contact for the British department store of the same name. Mr. Lewis says he now receives as many as 50,000 tweets a year.
Apple confirms it’s collecting data on foot to improve its Maps app
Apple has been using cars and satellites to improve its Maps app for several years, and it's now confirmed it's also using tech-laden pedestrians to collect data in a bid to provide better walking directions. Using backpacks with cameras and sensors, the Apple employees are starting off by mapping parts of California.
Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer trades in his gear for a toy camera
Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Oden Balilty recently rose to the challenge of shooting for an entire day using nothing but a toy camera. The acclaimed documentary photographer fared well during the daylong shoot, and even found several benefits from using the super-basic camera.
Barnes & Noble’s new Nook tablet now has its own keyboard cover and dock
Barnes & Noble recently launched a new mobile device, the $130 Nook Tablet 10.1. Now the firm has released a couple of accessories designed exclusively for the new Nook: A $40 keyboard that connects via magnets and offers various viewing angles, and a $35 charging dock that holds the tablet in landscape mode.
Aussies hope free Wi-Fi on their beaches will lead to fewer drownings
Aussie lifeguards have hit on an idea to use Wi-Fi to make the beaches safer. How? By creating free Wi-Fi zones within the safety flags to encourage swimmers to stay within designated areas where they can be monitored by lifeguards. The Wi-Fi setup also sends out safety alerts in multiple languages.
Hikers missing on Mount Fuji could soon find a drone buzzing above their heads
Mount Fuji attracts thousands of hikers every summer, with many of them making it all the way to the 3,776-meter summit of Japan's highest mountain. But with some hikers going missing while on the mountain, drones are going to be deployed to help find them as part of future search-and-rescue missions.
Addicted to Instagram? Its new ‘activity dashboard’ is here to help
Ever get that nagging feeling you're spending too much time on Instagram? A new "activity dashboard" comes with features designed to help you better control how you use the addictive photo-sharing app. They include daily reminders when you hit a self-imposed time limit, and a quick way to shut off notifications.
Facebook is rolling out a Messenger ‘unsend’ feature, and here’s how to use it
Facebook is rolling out a "remove message" feature for Messenger. It lets you delete a message within 10 minutes of sending it, and replaces it with a note telling recipients it's been removed. The company is also looking at the idea of adding expiration dates for messages or even entire threads.
Airbnb hosts are offering free rooms to those displaced by California wildfires
Several thousand Airbnb hosts in California are opening their homes to help those displaced by the devastating wildfires in the state. Airbnb's Open Homes program connects those affected by disasters with local hosts who can offer accommodation, with Airbnb taking care of all fees.
Amazon has a huge team dedicated to enhancing Alexa and Echo
An Amazon executive on Tuesday, November 13 revealed the huge size of the team tasked with developing the Echo, its smart speaker, and Alexa, the digital assistant that powers it. With the holiday shopping season approaching, Amazon's smart speaker goes up against similar offerings from Google and Apple.
‘Superwoman’ YouTuber Lilly Singh taking a break for her mental health
Claiming to be "mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted," popular YouTuber Lilly Singh told her millions of fans that she's taking a break from making videos in order to recuperate. Singh was listed as the 10th-highest-paid YouTube star in 2017, when she reportedly earned around $10 million.
Lime’s first carsharing service motors into Seattle this week
Lime is better known for its app-based bike and scooter rental services, but this week it's launching its very first carsharing service similar to Car2go and Zipcar. Starting in Seattle, Washington, customers can make use of 50 "Limepod" Fiat 500 cars, which cost a dollar to unlock and 40 cents per minute to drive.
Zoom in on famous works through the Art Institute of Chicago’s new website
The Art Institute of Chicago has given its website a serious makeover with new features that let you get up close and personal with more than 50,000 artworks by famous (and not so famous) artists. For those that can make it there in person, the site also offers tips on how to get the most out of the museum.
Lyft’s new rewards program promises ride discounts and comfier cars
If you're always hopping in and out of a Lyft car, then you'll be pleased to hear that the ridesharing service is about to launch a rewards program. Perks include discounts on future trips and upgrades to comfier cars. Lyft Rewards lands in December for select riders, with the scheme rolling out more widely in 2019.