This golf course’s delivery drone flies the 19th hole to you
Drone delivery services are yet to take off in a big way because of strict safety rules that prevent flights near people and buildings. So how about the open spaces of golf courses? Flytrex thinks it's seen a gap in the market, and is about to start testing a drone delivery service at a course in the U.S.
Space Station hole may have been made by ‘someone with a drill’
A hole discovered aboard a spacecraft docked at the International Space Station was originally thought to have been caused by a collision with a meteorite fragment. But the head of Russia’s space agency this week dismissed the theory as impossible, suggesting it was likely caused by someone with a drill.
Skype finally gets built-in call recording so you can ‘capture special moments’
Ten years after launching video chats, Skype has finally added call recording to desktop and mobile. The feature stores recorded chats in the cloud and lets you save and share them, too. The new addition means users can now choose whether to ditch their third-party recording software in favor of Skype's offering.
Instagram said to be prepping a stand-alone shopping app
Enjoy shopping on Instagram? If a report this week is to be believed, the Facebook-owned company is in the middle of building an app dedicated to ecommerce, which could provide a new home for the 25 million businesses that already use the main app. Instagram introduced shopping to its app in 2016.
This autonomous drone ambulance concept won its creator a $20,000 prize
An Italian creator has won a $20,000 prize for his unique drone ambulance design that could one day become a reality. The large autonomous quadcopter would be capable of carrying a person to safety using its built in pod, and be powered by special technology giving it a range of up to 95 miles.
Japan preps first test for its awesome ‘space elevator’
Japan is preparing to carry out the first test in space for a so-called “space elevator” that could one day transport people and cargo to orbiting stations way above Earth. Several organizations are looking into the feasibility of the project, with one group aiming for an ambitious-sounding 2050 launch.
Google plans crackdown on tech-support scams appearing in search ads
Google is constantly removing scammers' "tech-support" ads from its search engine results, but the problem has been getting more serious of late. The web giant now says it's planning to roll out a verification program to ensure that only legitimate providers of third-party tech support can use the platform.
Space Station on alert as crew forced to patch hole in docked spacecraft
A hole in a spacecraft docked with the International Space Station had to be patched by crew members after pressure aboard the station began to drop. It's not yet understood what caused the hole, though it may have been the result of an impact with a meteorite fragment.
Scooter-share services returning to San Francisco, but Uber and Lyft blocked
In a move expected to rattle many app-based scooter services operating across the U.S., San Francisco officials issued operating permits to just two companies, rejecting 10 others. The city was prompted to take action earlier this year after people complained that the scooters were taking over the streets.
No, this airborne Tesla isn’t the flying car Elon Musk talked about
Elon Musk once talked about a future Tesla vehicle that could “fly short hops,” probably a bit like this Tesla that was recently seen flying through the air in Ontario, Canada. The incident was caught by a security camera and ended with the electric car crashing in a parking lot. No, it wasn’t meant to happen.
Polaroid’s updated OneStep instant camera adds some digital tricks
Polaroid Originals has updated its OneStep instant camera with some digital tricks. The new OneStep + lets you use a smartphone as a remote shutter, while the app offers the possibility of light painting and double exposures for your prints. There’s also a manual mode and a second lens for closer portraits.
Dyson preps multiple test tracks for its ‘radical’ electric car
Sir James Dyson is spending billions of dollars on developing an electric car that he says will be “radically different” to current designs. While he’s revealed few details, he has chosen to show off plans for a large test site with multiple tracks designed to put his electric vehicle through its paces.
Tokyo taxi firm sets the stage for a driverless fleet for 2020 Olympics
Working with a local tech firm, a Tokyo cab company this week launched Japan's first trial of a robot taxi service for paying passengers. The aim is to have a full-fledged service operating for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, ferrying passengers and athletes between hotels, venues, and other locations.
Instagram now lets everyone apply for a verification badge
If you're a prolific Instagrammer with lots of followers, you now have a better chance of getting yourself a verification badge as the photo-sharing service now lets you apply for it from within the app itself. Instagram is also adding detailed "About" pages, and support for third-party authenticator apps.
There’s a good reason this self-driving pod has huge ‘virtual eyes’
It might look a bit creepy at first glance, but there's actually a good reason this driverless car has large, LED eyes. The design is part of tests being conducted by Land Rover Jaguar to see if an autonomous vehicle that "communicates" with pedestrians offers more reassurance about the car's intent.
Uber wants to focus on bikes over cars for shorter journeys
Uber has already taken tentative steps in the bike- and scooter-sharing space, but the company's CEO says it's now ready to push more heavily into the space, targeting riders taking short trips in cities. The move mirrors a similar strategy adopted by Uber's main ridesharing rival in the U.S., Lyft.
Say what!? A wind turbine in Japan got blown over by — the wind
A huge wind turbine was blown over in windy conditions on Friday. The rare event occurred during a typhoon in Japan when the extreme conditions tore the turbine from its base. Video shows how the turbine had been toppled, with its 20-meter-long blades badly damaged when the structure hit the ground.
College students — Instagram is testing a new feature that’s just for you
Instagram is testing a feature that helps students connect with others studying at the same college. If a student chooses to join their group, they'll have access to their particular community, allowing them to send direct messages to community members and view Stories straight from the group list.
Watch this world champion air guitarist stun judges with her unique performance
Japanese air guitarist sensation Nanami "Seven Seas" Nagura blew away the competition with a stunning display at the Air Guitar World Championships at the weekend. Nagura secured her second world title in four years after near-perfect scores from judges that helped her see off 14 international rivals.
You won’t feel like a tool hanging out in these over-the-top sheds
Voting is open in the U.K.'s latest Shed of the Year contest, with this year's entries featuring some of the wackiest and most wonderful creations to date. Check out what must be one of the smallest pubs in the world, the circus-inspired "Big Top Den," and an extraordinary “floating shed.”
Apple Store Kyoto: Step inside the new retail space in Japan’s ancient capital
Yes there was hootin', yes there was hollerin', and yes there was high-fivin'. Apple opened its first store in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto on Saturday, August 25, offering a modern contrast to the city's storied history, and thousands went along to check it out — Digital Trends included.
IBM’s drone concept knows when you want a coffee, and flies it to you
Meal-delivery drones have already been tested, but how about a system that delivers a coffee simply because it knows that's what you want? A recently granted patent from IBM describes using A.I. to learn a person's behavior and understand their body language to determine if a coffee is desired.
Lyft wants to drop you off closer to your seat on your next stadium visit
If you've ever been to a stadium gig, you'll know all too well how much time can be wasted trying to hunt down the right ticket gate. It can be particularly problematic if you're running late, which is why Lyft's new idea, launched in partnership with ticket site SeatGeek, may come in handy.
The wheels are coming off this British city’s bikesharing scheme
Bike-sharing giant Mobike is close to pulling its scheme from the English city of Manchester as an increasing number of its two-wheelers are being wrecked, stolen, or thrown into waterways. The service has been running there for a year, but in July alone, 10 percent of its bikes were destroyed or stolen.
Tennis on the International Space Station is as weird as it sounds
Four astronauts made history this week by playing the first game of tennis in space. OK, it was with a squishy ball and tiny rackets, but it was still tennis ... sort of. The event was to show how ISS astronauts spend their leisure time, and to inspire youngsters to take an interest in space exploration.
Apple Store shoppers in California tackle suspects, thwart robbery
Three robbers entered an Apple Store near L.A. last weekend and started grabbing Apple kit from the display tables. But before they could escape, several shoppers tackled them to the ground. Investigators are trying to establish if there's a link with a spate of other Apple Store robberies in the area.
Ford recalls more than 50,000 electric-car charging cords over fire risk
Ford is recalling around 50,000 charging cords sold with some of its electric vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. The concern is that the cord may be used in situations that could potentially lead to a fire. Affected customers will be contacted by mail and asked to visit their local dealer for a replacement.
Amazon is turning its ‘Grand Tour’ car show into a video game
Amazon's "The Grand Tour" is getting its own video game. Linked to the upcoming third season of the car show, the PS4 and Xbox One game will feature "seamless transitions from clips of the show to gameplay" as well as cool motors, challenges, and "hours" of original voice acting by Clarkson and co.
Lyft’s self-driving taxis have made 5,000 trips for paying riders in Las Vegas
Lyft's driverless-taxi service appears to be a hit with riders in Las Vegas. The ridesharing company said its 30 robot cars have now made more than 5,000 trips since joining its fleet in May, with the vast majority of customers saying they'd be happy to choose such a vehicle for their next ride, too.