BMW to bring smartphone-like wireless charging to cars
Electric cars would be a lot more convenient if you didn't have to think about charging them every time you parked up. BMW, for one, has been working on a wireless charging system that starts working the moment you park the vehicle over one of its charging pads. And the system goes into production this summer.
Malware attack hits Chili’s restaurants, customer payment info nabbed
Recent visitors to Chili's restaurants may have had their payment information stolen. The company says the payment systems at "some" of its restaurants were compromised by malware in March and April. The breach came to light on May 11, with the restaurant chain making it public a day later.
Driverless pods could be used to ferry tourists around a U.K. national park
Driverless pods are already being used to take passengers around one of the world's busiest airports, and now they're being tested at the U.K.'s most popular national park. The Lake District is conducting a feasibility study to see if the electric-powered pods can be used to ease traffic congestion and cut pollution.
Tesla’s giant Australian battery reduced service costs by 90 percent
Elon Musk's Tesla has switched on the world's biggest battery in Australia, thereby ensuring Musk didn't lose a $50M bet. In the first four months of service, the battery has reduced service costs by as much as 90 percent.
DJI’s plush new headquarters will feature a skybridge for drone tests
Google's done it, Apple's done it, even Facebook and Amazon have done it. And now DJI is doing it: Building a flashy new headquarters. The work of Foster and Partners, which also designed Apple Park, the stunning twin-tower structure has been designed with DJI's drone business very much in mind.
Robocall case results in record $120 million fine for Florida man
The Federal Communications Commission this week fined a Florida man $120 million for allegedly organizing a "massive" robocalling operation that resulted in around 96 million calls nationwide, all made across a single three-month period. The FCC said it's the largest fine it has ever imposed.
Scared yet? Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot can now jog freely
With every new video, Boston Dynamics impresses us with its robotic creations. Fresh from performing several flawless backflips, its Atlas humanoid robot was recently untethered and allowed to go for a run in the woods. If you're fearful of a robot uprising, you'll now fear it a little more.
Nintendo’s Miitomo app shuts down two years after its launch
Nintendo has shut down Miitomo, its debut smartphone app that launched two years ago. The company released the final winners of its "Miifoto" contest, which paid tribute to the social app. Miitomo was one of Nintendo's first attempts at a dedicated smartphone experience and was followed by Super Mario Run.
Ohio governor says you ‘have to take risks’ as state welcomes driverless cars
The governor of Ohio has given permission for driverless-car tests in the state. While acknowledging the awfulness of the recent tragedy in Arizona when an autonomous Uber car struck and killed a pedestrian, Governor Kasich said it was nevertheless right to "take risks" when developing new technologies.
Drone services edge closer with 10 new projects from major tech firms
The U.S. has announced 10 drone-related projects that will allow major companies to develop drone platforms as part of a government plan to accelerate the use of the technology across a range of industries Those involved will face fewer restrictions than before, allowing for greater freedom in the air.
Ride with confidence on a 3D-printed bicycle tire that will never go flat
When you're out on your bicycle and far from home, the last thing you want to hear is that horrible hiss of air as your tire goes flat. Well, a company the German city of Berlin recently showed that it's now possible to 3D-print an airless tire that lets you dump the pump.
Selfie snappers, forget trying to take a picture with a bear
In case you hadn't realized, it's really not a good idea to take a selfie with a bear. With your back turned as you edge ever closer to this glorious yet potentially dangerous creature, there's no telling what might happen — as one unfortunate man in India discovered last week.
Walmart to end its grocery delivery partnerships with Uber and Lyft
In a bid to keep pace with Amazon's grocery delivery efforts, Walmart partnered with Uber and Lyft in 2016 to help it with its own last-mile delivery operation. But the logistical challenges of combining grocery delivery with human transportation have proved too much, with the partnerships set to end in June.
Google Pay gets support for mobile boarding passes and event tickets
Google Pay is adding mobile boarding passes and event tickets, the company said during Google I/O on Tuesday. Broadening its functionality to better mirror Apple's Wallet, the support will be welcomed by Android users, who can now expect "streamlined and engaging ticketing and boarding pass experiences."
Sony sells thousands of Aibo robot dogs as it considers U.S. launch
Aibo the robot dog is selling well in its launch market, Japan. Sony released the new version of its robotic pet in January, adding lots of new features and more realistic movements compared to its predecessor. It costs around $1,800, though owners also have to pay around $23 a month for cloud-based extras.
Firefox to take another crack at putting ads in new browser tabs
Firefox creator Mozilla is having another crack at incorporating ads into its web browser. They'll appear as personalized sponsored links when a user opens a new tab, though Mozilla insists the personalization will occur "without needing to vacuum up all of your personal data or sharing it with others."
Intel drones offer high-tech help to restore the Great Wall of China
Drones are being tried and tested in a growing range of industries, from movies and logistics to agriculture and health. Heritage conservation is another sector exploring this tech, with Intel using its own advanced drone platform to assist with work to restore decrepit parts of the Great Wall of China.
Instagram begins trials on in-app payments to help you insta-pay
Instagram is moving tentatively toward offering its community a more integrated shopping experience with the limited launch of a new in-app payments platform. The new feature lets you enter your payments details directly into the app, paving the way for a more seamless, and faster, shopping experience.
China nabs world record for biggest drone display, but it’s a bit of a mess
Chinese drone company Ehang has just nabbed the world record from Intel for the most drones flying in a single display. On Tuesday, May 1, Ehang sent 1,374 quadcopters skyward, their LED lights sparkling in the night sky. But video footage of the display showed many of the drones were out of sync at times.
JetBlue hopes its new A320 cabin will ‘bring humanity back to air travel’
JetBlue put its new restyled A320 cabin into service on May 2. The design offers flyers comfier seats — the widest available for the A320 — and the most leg room in coach of any U.S. airline. It has also enhanced its in-flight entertainment systems with large seat-back displays and more on-demand content.
Stunning ‘gigalapse’ shows London in detail as it changes throughout a day
There are gigapixel photos and there are time-lapses. Now, a team of London-based creatives brings you the "gigalapse." Shot over the course of a single day in England's capital, the series of 7.3-gigapixel images let you explore the city in great detail from the top of the country's second-tallest building.
Urban dwellers will like the sound of these noise-canceling windows
For many urban dwellers, the noise can be so aggravating that it means keeping the windows firmly shut for much of the day. Wouldn't it be great if you could enjoy a bit of peace and quiet in your urban home even when the windows are open? Thanks to researchers at a university in Singapore, it could soon be the case.
Apple reveals healthy iPhone sales as Cook hints at more handset variations
Apple on Tuesday reported a solid second quarter in line with its own forecasts. Despite recent reports of weak iPhone X demand, Apple boss Tim Cook said its flagship handset sold "more than any other iPhone each week" across the three months, resulting in 52.2 million iPhone sales during the quarter.
Google’s Clips camera is now ready to snap your ‘big moments and little ones’
Google has launched its Clips smart camera. The $249 device is programmed to spot interesting moments and automatically triggers when it spots them.
Airline smart luggage ban will be a real headache for travelers
Last year, several major U.S. carriers announced a ban on smart luggage whose batteries can't be removed. The ban began in January 2018, and now, a few months later, prominent smart luggage company Bluesmart has been forced to shutter its operations. The company will no longer support its smart luggage.
A fleet of delivery robots could soon be coming to a campus near you
Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robot has so far been tested in more than 20 countries, covering some 100,000 miles in the last four years. A recent trial involved taking a fleet of the wheel-based robots to a Silicon Valley campus, allowing workers to order meals from the comfort of their desk.
Blue Origin sends New Shepard space capsule to its highest altitude yet
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space company launched its sub-orbital New Shepard rocket from its spaceport in the west Texas desert on Sunday, April 29, with the ascent taking the capsule to 351,000 feet (66 miles, or 107 kilometers) above the surface of Earth — several miles higher than previous launches.
WhatsApp co-founder to depart after apparent clashes with Facebook
WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum announced on April 30 that he is leaving the company. Reports suggest he has become frustrated with the direction in which parent-company Facebook is taking the messaging app, with particular concerns centering on data privacy and business strategy.
‘An absolute nightmare’: When online banking goes wrong — very wrong
Customers at a major U.K. bank have been having a torrid time with online banking over the past week, with no end in sight for many. The chaos at TSB started after engineers tried to migrate customer data between systems, resulting in weird transactions, phantom deposits, and millions unable to access their accounts.
Judges in top photo contest rule anteater in winning image is stuffed
A wildlife image that won a prize in a top photo contest has been disqualified after judges concluded it featured a stuffed animal. The photographer insists the animal — an anteater — is real, but investigators said it's too similar to a (dead) one at a visitors' center close to where the shot was taken.
Did Amazon just give itself a $2 billion raise? Prime will now cost $119 a year
Amazon is raising the cost of its Prime membership by $20, pushing the annual fee from $99 to $119. It'll go into effect for new sign-ups on May 11, and for renewals on June 16. Amazon launched its shipping and entertainment package in 2005 and it now has 100 million members globally.
Tesla Model X crashes into gym, driver says it accelerated by itself
A Tesla Model X recently crashed into a gym after it suddenly accelerated. The driver said it happened without warning, though Tesla suspects the gas pedal may have been pressed accidentally. It's now examining the car's computer logs to find the cause and to discover if Autopilot was engaged at the time.
Website builder Weebly to be snapped up by payments service Square
Website builder Weebly has been acquired by payments service Square. Led by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Square hopes the acquisition will expand its presence overseas and give merchants "one cohesive solution" for building their businesses. Weebly promised its users that its site would continue to innovate and improve.
Fake ‘Mark Zuckerberg’ accounts are scamming people out of cash
Facebook scammers are setting up fake accounts in the name of Mark Zuckerberg and using them to trick users into handing over cash. The deceit is a variation on the once-popular advance-fee email scam that gets people to wire small sums of money in expectation of receiving a larger sum.