Comedian’s Facebook followers raise a colossal $30M for Aussie bushfire aid
Australian comedian Celeste Barber only aimed to raise $30,000 with her online fundraising campaign to help those affected by the bushfires in her home country. But her social media followers have given way, way more, so far donating $30 million in the space of just four days.
Boeing discovers another potential issue with the troubled 737 Max
Boeing's 737 Max jets remain grounded following two fatal crashes involving the plane. As it works to fix the software that contributed to the disasters, it's discovered another potential issue involving wiring that controls its tail. Engineers are now evaluating whether further design changes are needed.
Ballie is a rolling robot from Samsung that can help around the smart home
Ballie is a new ball-shaped bot from Samsung that can be your friend and help around the smart home. The tech giant unveiled Ballie at CES on Monday. A video showed the robot that's about the size of a grapefruit performing tasks such as opening smart curtains and firing up a robot vacuum.
Vector the social robot has good news for its human buddies
The future of the Vector social robot has been uncertain since its creator, Anki, closed down in 2019. But now a Pittsburgh firm has stepped in to give the robot a new lease of life. When it launched in 2018, the diminutive robot was praised for its advanced features and ability to convey an array of emotions.
GoPro’s defunct Karma drone has suddenly stopped working, owners claim
GoPro exited the drone market in 2018, but those who bought its Karma quadcopter could still fly it if they wished — or they could until January 1. Karma owners around the world have been complaining that since the start of the year, several issues have suddenly appeared that prevent it from working as it should.
Cows in VR goggles and 14 other stories that gave us a giggle in 2019
As another frenetic year in tech comes to a close, we’re looking on the lighter side with 15 stories from the Digital Trends archive that gave us a giggle in 2019. The picks include cows in VR goggles, a self-driving golf ball, an edible iPhone case, and a quirky Airbnb rental. Steve Ballmer gets a mention, too.
Wyze customers hit by online data leak, company confirms
Data linked to around 2.4 million Wyze customers was left exposed online for three weeks in December, the Seattle-based smart home company has confirmed. It said that no financial information or passwords were exposed in the leak and that it took the data offline the moment it learned of the error.
Colorado cops puzzled by fleets of large drones flying overhead
Cops in Colorado have reported seeing fleets of large drones flying overhead on consecutive nights this month, but have so far been unable to work out what the remotely controlled machines are doing. They appear in a group of up to 17 drones with colorful lights, and fly at an altitude of around 250 feet.
FAA proposes nationwide real-time tracking system for all drones
The FAA is exploring the idea of tracking all airborne drones around the clock, as well as connected pilot IDs. The agency says the proposed tracking network would be “an important building block in the unmanned traffic management ecosystem.” A 60-day consultation period is about to open inviting anyone to comment.
DJI patent describes a remote-controlled rover with a camera attached
While DJI continues to launch new drones, a newly uncovered patent suggests it may also be considering a camera-equipped, remote-controlled rover for filmmakers. Compared to drones, a small rover like the one described in the filing would be easier to operate in interiors, or in outdoor locations where space is tight.
SpaceX ends year with another perfect parachute test for Crew Dragon
SpaceX's Crew Dragon parachutes are looking good after the capsule completed yet another successful test landing ahead of manned flights that could take place in 2020. It was the 10th consecutive test of the new Mark 3 parachutes to go off without a hitch, allowing the SpaceX team to end the year on a high.
Twitter stops some images from animating to protect those with epilepsy
The Epilepsy Foundation’s Twitter account was recently bombarded with flashing images designed to trigger a seizure among those with the condition. Twitter this week announced a change to its handling of Animated PNG files aimed at reducing the chances of a similar kind of incident happening again.
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.