Ford’s app-based ‘Chariot’ shuttle service is offering its final rides
Chariot, the app-based crowdsourced ride service owned by Ford, has announced it is shutting down in the coming weeks.The bus-like service has apparently been unable to deal with competition from ridesharing outfits like Uber and Lyft. Chariot operated in 10 U.S. cities, and overseas in London.
This high-tech shopping cart has the same aim as Amazon Go
The technology behind Amazon Go's cashier-free stores is pricey and a challenge to set up, but a high-tech shopping cart from a New York startup offers a similarly frictionless experience for far less. The cart uses sensors to ID items as you pop them in the cart, and has a tablet showing special offers.
Instagram now lets you post to multiple accounts in one tap
Instagram now lets you post to multiple accounts at the same time. It's not the regram feature that many users have been asking for, but it could prove useful for some users who manage more than one profile. The feature is available for iPhone users, with no word yet on a rollout for Android.
Photoshop fail gives Aussie leader two left feet in official portrait
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison doesn't have two left feet, despite an official photograph of the leader and his family suggesting otherwise. It was, of course, a Photoshop fail, and the embarrassing snafu was soon trending on Twitter. But at least he could see the funny side.
Apple Maps boosts Flyover locations, indoor mall maps, and more
Apple Maps has recently added more than 50 new locations for Flyover, the feature that offers spectacular 3D photo views of particular cities and famous landmarks around the world. Fourteen new Flyovers have been added for the U.S., including Lake Tahoe, California, and Key West, Florida.
Robot delivery startup Udelv woos Walmart for a trial run in Arizona
Last year saw plenty of partnerships struck between big retail firms and tech companies interested in robot delivery services. It looks like more of the same this year, with Walmart and startup Udelv launching a trial service this month for online grocery shoppers in the city of Surprise, Arizona.
Flickr’s free users with more than 1,000 photos need to make a decision
If you have a free Flickr account that has more than 1,000 photos or videos, you'll no longer be able to upload any new content unless you upgrade to its paid plan. And if you're holding any content exclusively on Flickr's servers, then you'll have to act soon to save it.
Elon Musk breaks ground on the first Tesla factory outside the U.S.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk was in China on Monday to break ground on a manufacturing facility, its first outside the U.S. It'll assemble Tesla's mass-market Model 3 vehicle, as well as the upcoming Model Y, as part of a major push into the world's biggest — and fastest-growing — market for electric cars.
Japanese billionaire splashes the cash to break retweet record
Japanese billionaire entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa has proved again he has a knack for self-publicity after launching a cash-prize contest to break the retweet record. Maezawa, who was announced as the first paying passenger for SpaceX's proposed 2023 moon mission, has seen his post retweeted 5.6 million times.
A DJI quadcopter gets the horror-movie treatment in ‘The Drone’
"The Drone" is an upcoming horror flick about a DJI quadcopter that becomes possessed with the spirit of a serial killer. Yes, it does sound a bit bonkers, but with all those spinning blades and a camera for a roving eye, it was about time someone got around to making such a movie, right?
Rogue drones prompt major airports to spend millions on protection
Drones are great fun, but the occasional ne'er-do-wells do their best to ruin it for anyone. An incident in December 2018 that brought one of the world's busiest airports to a standstill for 36 hours has prompted two U.K. hubs to invest millions of dollars in tech to prevent drone flights in restricted areas.
Japanese monks hit Twitter to protest driving ticket in the most brilliant way
Cops in Japan told a monk recently that he shouldn't drive a car wearing his traditional robe because its long length and long sleeves might affect his ability to handle the vehicle safely. In solidarity, his fellow monks took to Twitter to post amusing videos with the hashtag: "I can do this in robes."
Some lucky fliers just bagged $16,000 first-class seats for only $1,100
An error on Cathay Pacific's website on Monday let people book first- and business-class seats on flights between the U.S. and Vietnam at a fraction of the usual cost. Airlines don't always honor such bookings, but the good news for the passengers concerned is that in this case Cathay has agreed to do so.
Still haven’t upgraded your iPhone? Apple says that’s causing poor sales
Apple didn't sell as many iPhones as it expected toward the end of 2018, prompting the company to revise down its sales forecast for the holiday quarter by billions of dollars. CEO Tim Cook cited a slew of factors, including "economic deceleration" in China and fewer phone upgrades than expected.
Waymo’s autonomous cars are coming under attack in Arizona
It's not just technological challenges that autonomous-car firms have to overcome. Waymo's testing of self-driving cars near Phoenix, Arizona, shows that they still have to win over some members of the public, too. Reports highlight a series of incidents where Waymo's cars and safety drivers have faced abuse.
Rain ruined the NYPD’s first chance to use security drones at a major event
The NYPD had been hoping to use its camera-equipped quadcopters as part of its security operation at Times Square on New Year's Eve, but rain and wind forced it to cancel the plan. The NYPD unveiled its crime-fighting drones in December 2018, and plans to use them for a range of operations.
Google Assistant now lets you donate to charity with a few spoken commands
A new feature for Google Assistant makes it easier than ever to donate to charity. By way of just a few spoken commands, Google's digital assistant lets you choose the charity of your choice, and the amount you'd like to donate. The contribution is then automatically deducted from your linked account.
Samsung may already be working on a second Galaxy Home smart speaker
Samsung hasn't even released its first smart speaker yet and there's already talk of it prepping a second, more affordable one. Its Galaxy Home speaker seems like an Apple HomePod competitor, but reports suggest the second device will offer fewer features.
Amazon reportedly planning major Whole Foods expansion with Prime Now delivery
Amazon is reported to be exploring sites for new Whole Foods stores across the U.S., partly as a route to expanding Prime Now, the company's speedy delivery service for Prime members. The news comes 18 months after Amazon acquired the Whole Foods grocery business for $13.7 billion in 2017
Google Fit wants to help you remember your New Year’s resolutions
Indulge over the holiday season? Of course you did. Want to kick off the New Year with an incentive to get fit? No, not really? But just in case you do, the Google Fit app has a challenge lined up that's designed to "kick-start your journey to a healthier, more active life." Go sign up today!
Amazon says it’s broken its holiday sales record … again
Amazon has broken its holiday sales record again, with more items ordered via its online shopping site than ever before. Popular tech items included its Echo speaker and the Ring Video Doorbell 2. It added that that "tens of millions of people worldwide" signed up to Prime for a free trial or began paid memberships.
Drone delivery testers reveal their main gripe about such a service
Anyone who's been within earshot of a drone won't be surprised to learn that people are concerned about the noise associated with drone delivery services. Alphabet's Wing project, which is testing a service in a community in Australia, says it's looking at ways to make its drone quieter.
‘Alexa, are you OK?’ Amazon’s smart assistant crashes on Christmas
It seems that it all got a bit too much for Alexa on Christmas Day. Amazon's digital assistant temporarily stopped working for a number of users across Europe on December 25, possibly overwhelmed by the sudden uptick in new users playing with their Alexa-powered Echo speaker.
We could explore this astonishing 195-gigapixel panorama of Shanghai all day
We've seen some amazing gigapixel panoramas over the years, and this 195-gigapixel image of Shanghai is one of the best. Created by Chinese firm BigPixel, the final image comprises thousands of shots that have been stitched together. You can explore it by zooming in to see everything in amazing detail.
Rolls-Royce sails into 2019 with the successful test of an autonomous ship
Rolls-Royce wants to create self-sailing ships. It said it recently conducted "the world's first remote and autonomous ferry voyage" as part of tests carried out in Finland. Using its Ship Intelligence technology, the company believes it can one day "transform shipping as we know it.”
Just imagine if these wacky ‘Apple products’ launched in 2019
It's an Apple product launch unlike any you've ever seen. That's because it's the work of Bad Lip Reading, who "likes to put words into other people's mouths" and has done so here in a most brilliant way. Check out all of the crazy products, among them the Apple Skin Twist and the Lickamaforbus.
Snapchat’s new lenses for dogs will make your mutt the star of Christmas
Snapchat has launched lenses for dogs, making it easier than ever to make your dog look silly. Overlay a pair of glasses, have a blue butterfly fluttering on its nose, or transform it into a cute reindeer. The rollout of lenses for dogs comes just a couple of months after Snapchat launched the same feature for cats.
Japan’s new ‘vomit vacuum’ hard at work during end-of-year party season
End-of-year parties can be a real headache for those in charge of public places, with at least a few inebriated revelers guaranteed to throw up as they make their way home. Just as well, then, that a Japanese cleaning company has created the "vomit vacuum" to deal with such unfortunate accidents.
Apple’s cut-price battery offer only has one more week left to run
If you've been meaning to replace your iPhone battery but haven't gotten around to it, you'd better hurry. Apple's battery replacement fees for all out-of-warranty iPhones are set to rise at the end of the year. From January 1, the cost will increase by between $20 and $40, depending on the iPhone model.