Uber’s next self-driving car, a hat-wearing Volvo, will start testing in 2020
Volvo and Uber have unveiled their latest autonomous prototype. It's based on the second-generation XC90, and it's fitted with the self-driving technology Uber developed in-house. The companies plan to begin testing in real-world conditions in 2020, but the prototype won't be sold to the general public anytime soon.
Digital Trends Live: E3 updates, Uber Elevate Summit, Beyond Burger, and more
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, host Greg Nibler and DT Producer Adrien Warner dig into the trending tech stories of the day, including highlights from E3, the Uber Elevate Summit, more Portal devices are on the way, the Beyond Burger hits stores, and a very special goodbye to the Mars Rover.
Uber’s new helicopter service lets riders smile wryly at the gridlock below
Uber is taking its service into the skies over New York City with the launch next month of Uber Copter. The service offers eight-minute rides between Lower Manhattan and JFK Airport, saving you time but costing you more. Uber cars will be waiting at either end to help you complete your journey.
Digital Trends Live: Amazon’s drone deliveries, Ubercopter, and PlayStation 5
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, we discuss the top trending tech stories of the day, including the latest on Amazon’s planned drone deliveries, YouTube purges extremist videos, Ubercopter takes flight, more details on Sony’s PS5, the 35th anniversary of Tetris, and more.
Uber puts Eats back into its ridesharing app to tempt you to order more meals
Uber has recently added the ability to order from Uber Eats via its main ridesharing app in a bid to boost meal orders. The latest cross-promotion effort by the San Francisco-based company follows the rapid expansion of its meal-delivery service to new markets around the world.
Uber lost $1 billion in just three months — and Wall Street is thrilled
Uber has released its first earnings report as a public company. It details how the company lost $1 billion in just three months, its plans for Uber Eats and the autonomous division, and ridership numbers. After-hours trading was positive as that massive loss was exactly what the company had predicted.
Uber’s earnings report could give a clearer picture on self-driving cars
Uber will resume testing self-driving cars on the streets of Pittsburgh after a nine-month hiatus that followed a deadly accident in Arizona. The program will resume on a significantly reduced scale, and the company promises it will put a bigger focus on safety than ever before.
Get your walking shoes on. Uber kicks low-rated riders to the curb
Falling in line with Uber drivers, poorly rated passengers now face the risk of being booted off the ridesharing service, too. The company says it's going to send out messages to passengers reminding them how to play nice when taking an Uber ride. Y’know, be polite, hold on to your trash ... that kind of thing.
Lyft’s new safety features include an in-app 911 panic button
Lyft is introducing several new safety measures to its ridesharing service, including an in-app panic button so riders can quickly and easily make an emergency call. Pressing the button also brings up the rider’s precise location and the vehicle’s license plate, which can be communicated to the dispatcher.
Many Uber and Lyft vehicles have glaring safety issues, report says
A Consumer Reports survey of roughly 94,000 cars registered with Uber and Lyft in New York City and Seattle found that many had open safety recalls. The rate of open recalls was similar to that of personal cars, however. It's down to the drivers to ensure these recalls are fixed.
Quiet please! Uber offers a silent mode so you don’t have to chat
Whether you need to get some work done or you simply want some peace and quiet, it’s not always easy to tell your Uber driver you’d rather not talk. Well, there’s good news for those using Uber’s premium service, as the app now lets you inform the driver ahead of arrival that you'd prefer not to chat.
Digital Trends Live: Uber goes public, iPhone XR design leak, and robot butlers
On today’s Digital Trends Live, we discuss today’s trending tech topics, including: Uber goes public, $40 million in bitcoin stolen, the design for the iPhone XR leaks, Blue Origin updates, robot butlers, and using the human ear as a “USB hub” for hearable devices
The Uber, Lyft strike appears to be a flop, but it might have spooked investors
By all accounts, Wednesday's Uber and Lyft strike wasn't very successful, or well attended, with a handful of picketing drivers showing up in most cities. Where it may have had an effect though is on Wall Street as Uber heads for its IPO on Friday.
Uber and Lyft drivers are striking all over the globe today. Here’s why
As Uber prepares for its IPO later this week, drivers are sending a clear message that they're unhappy by participating in a planned strike on Wednesday. As a result, there's a good chance that in some areas, using rideshare might be expensive if not very difficult.
Toyota leads $1 billion investment in Uber’s self-driving tech division
In a move that has been a long time coming, Uber filed its S-1 documents, which sets the stage for the company to finally go public with an initial public offering. Despite still losing more than $1 billion last year, the company is looking to sell stock while being valued at up to $100 billion.
Uber Eats’ redesigned app lets you track your order with cute graphics
Uber Eats is launching a redesign of its app that uses cute graphics to offer detailed information on the progress of your order. It also brings new features to better handle delays, and offers more ways to contact your courier. The new-look app will land first in 16 cities, with all users offered access soon.
Uber expands its low-cost Ride Pass program to 17 more cities
Uber launched its money-saving Ride Pass program in five cities in October 2018. This week the company is rolling it out to 17 additional locations, offering riders savings of up to 15 percent per trip for a monthly fee, making it a tempting option for regular users of the ridesharing service.
Arizona city slammed with $10M lawsuit over fatal Uber autonomous car accident
The family of Elaine Herzberg, the 49-year old woman struck and killed by one of Uber's self-driving prototypes, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the city of Tempe, Arizona. They claim Herzberg jaywalked because she was confused by a brick pathway in a median. Lawyers claim the family's case is weak at best.
Uber’s bikesharing service is eating into its regular business
A bikesharing service acquired by Uber nearly a year ago is causing riders to take fewer car journeys with the company. It is, however, part of the plan as Uber looks to offer an urban mobility platform that offers an array of integrated transportation options via the Uber app.
Uber and Lyft rides in New York City just got more expensive
If you use Uber or Lyft in New York City, you might have noticed your fares are now higher than before for the same trip. It's the result of a number of new rules that went into effect on February 1, one of which means better pay for the city's 70,000 ridesharing drivers.
Uber seeks to be a ‘one-stop shop for transportation’ with new app feature
Uber is adding public transit options to its app in a bid to become a one-stop shop for public transportation. Part of the idea is to make it easier for those who want to start or finish a journey in an Uber while using public transit in between. The new feature has arrived first in Denver, Colorado.
Starbucks coffee delivery lands in 6 more cities via Uber Eats
Starbucks is expanding its coffee delivery service beyond Miami to stores in six more cities. Available via the Uber Eats app, the service launched in San Francisco on Tuesday, January 22, with Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. all hopping aboard in the coming weeks.
Is Uber planning to put its self-driving tech into bikes and scooters?
Uber may have its eye on building autonomous e-bikes and scooters for its two-wheeled rental services. A rider could summon a bike or scooter with an app, with the vehicle also able to return by itself to a depot for recharging. The tech could also be used to make vehicles safer via obstacle sensors.
Starbucks teams with Uber Eats for delivery from 2,000 of its U.S. stores
Coffee giant Starbucks has teamed up with Uber Eats to offer customers beverage delivery from 2,000 of its stores — a quarter of all of its outlets in the U.S. The major expansion will see Uber Eats run alongside Starbucks' current partnership with rival delivery service Postmates.
NYC mandates minimum wage for Uber, Lyft, other app-based rideshare drivers
According to new rules voted by New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission, drivers for companies such as Uber and Lyft must be paid at least minimum wage, even though they are independent contractors. The effective $17.22 hourly rate includes operating costs. Uber says the law will mean higher passenger fares.
Uber Eats is testing a system for cheaper meal delivery
In an effort to make its service more competitive while at the same time increasing its efficiency, Uber Eats is looking at ways of encouraging customers located in a specific area to order from the same restaurant so that a single driver can deliver multiple meals in one journey.
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.
Uber rolls out rewards program that lets its most loyal riders lock in prices
There's no shortage of competition in the ridesharing game these days. How do you get people to stick with your service? With a loyalty program, of course. Uber Rewards offers riders credits to Uber Eats, car upgrades, and the ability to lock in prices on their most traveled routes.
Uber wants to restart self-driving car tests in Pennsylvania
Uber is seeking to resume testing self-driving cars on the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania following a fatal crash in Arizona that shut down on-road testing for months. Uber claims to have made safety improvements, including better software and new policies for human safety drivers.
Uber now offers a $15 monthly plan for access to cheaper fares
Uber riders in five cities across the U.S. can now pay a monthly fee of $15 ($25 in Los Angeles) for access to cheaper fares. Ride Pass is available for UberX and UberPool, with fares unaffected by surge pricing or other factors that can sometimes surprise Uber customers when they request a ride.
Flying food: Uber has set a target date to use drones for meal delivery
Uber is better known for taking people around town, but it also has a growing meal-delivery business called UberEats. It currently uses cars and bikes to deliver the food, but now has plans to use drones, too. Indeed, a job ad spotted over the weekend reveals the company even has a date in mind to launch the service.
Google Assistant now lets you compare rideshare prices and wait times
Google has announced an update to Google Assistant that could make it a whole lot more useful for rideshare users. The update essentially allows users to look at a list of rideshare prices and wait times without the need to individually search for prices from each service.
Uber’s first electric-scooter service takes on Lyft in Santa Monica
Though still arch-rivals in the ridesharing space, Uber and Lyft are expanding their respective services to other modes of transport. Besides bike-sharing schemes, both companies are also getting into scooters, with Uber launching its first such service this week in Santa Monica, California.
Uber agrees to pay $148 million for 2016 hack and cover-up
Uber has agreed to pay $148 million for failing to immediately come clean about a 2016 hack that resulted in the theft of personal data belonging to 57 million of its riders and drivers worldwide. Uber had hoped to cover up the security breach and paid the hackers $100,000 to destroy the stolen data.