Forget transponders with Peasy’s nationwide pay-as-you-go toll service
Verra Mobility launched Peasy, a consumer highway and bridge toll payment service. Designed to be less hassle than managing traditional transponder or toll tag accounts, Peasy pays tolls as they are levied in most of the U.S. Peasy is available nationwide for an annual fee plus per-toll transaction fees.
Lyft has a new fixed-price subscription plan for frequent passengers
Lyft wants you to save money by using rideshare services instead of owning a car. The new Lyft All-Access Plan monthly rideshare trip subscription includes 30 rides a month with a small discount for additional trips. You don't save money on subscription plan rides but bulk ride purchases can help with budgeting.
Double your charging speed with Nomad’s Tesla Model 3 wireless charger
Nomad's wireless charger for the Tesla Model 3 fits the EV's charging dock exactly. If you plug both of the Nomad's into the Model 3's two front USB ports you can charge two smartphones quickly or one phone twice as fast. An anti-slip rubber base helps keep the charger and phones in place.
Publish a new Alexa skill this month and Amazon will give you an Echo Dot
Amazon' Alexa group announced a promotion encouraging new developers to publish a new Alexa skill in any country First-time developers who publish a new an Alexa skill prior to midnight October 31, 2018, will get a free third-generation Echo Dot directly from Amazon. This promotion is open to U.S. residents only.
Are European-style self-dimming and glare-free headlights coming to the U.S.?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seeks comments on a proposal to allow adaptive LED headlights on vehicles sold in the U.S. Legal in Europe already, self-dimming glare-free adaptive LEDs automatically lower headlight intensity when they detect pedestrians or oncoming vehicles.
Like many of us, this tiny home keeps itself running with coffee in its system
Dunkin' partnered with a biochemical company, a tiny home manufacturer, and Olivia Wilde to build a 275-square foot transportable home powered by coffee-grounds-based biofuel. The Home That Runs on Dunkin incorporates reclaimed and recycled materials for an eco-friendly living space with modern acoutrements.
Alexa will trick or greet you with custom doorbells this Halloween
Amazon just released new Alexa-compatible smart doorbell application tools for developers. The new APIs allow smart cameras and doorbells to use motion sensing and doorbell presses to start Alexa Routines, sequences of events that occur on command. Customers can set up Routines in the Alexa app Smart Home Section.
A public/private autonomous driving institute blooms under the Arizona sun
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced the Institute for Automated Mobility (IAM), partnering government, academic, and private organizations to develop technologies and safety standards for self-driving vehicles. Intel is the first private-sector member of IAM, which is administered by the Arizona Commerce Authority.
The Igloohome Smart Padlock protects your stuff with PIN codes, Bluetooth keys
Igloohome just launched an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign for its Smart Padlock, which opens with PIN codes or Bluetooth keys. The campaign reached 175 percent of its goal in just a few hours. Owners have a permanent PIN code and set temporary codes for others such as delivery people or Airbnb guests.
Whole Foods built a new annex in your kitchen, thanks to smart oven June
Amazon-owned Whole Foods Markets has partnered with seven-function smart oven maker June to integrate the grocery store's 365 Everyday Value foods and products in June's preprogrammed, chef-prepared menus. A new Whole Foods Market icon on the June mobile app interface will let owners select the special recipes.
Nomiku Meals partners with top chefs for sous-vide home delivery
Nomiku Meals, a regional frozen meal home delivery service designed to work with the brand's immersion circulator sous-vide appliances, has announced a top chef program. Each month Nomiku will feature a meal prepared from a local chef's recipe. The service will make these meals accessible to area residents.
‘Navigate on Autopilot’ is conspicuously absent from Tesla software Version 9.0
Tesla began a wide rollout of software update version 9.0 with a number of enhanced features but not the long-promised Navigate on Autopilot feature. New features include mobile app updates, a dash cam, updated climate controls, obstacle-aware acceleration, and enhanced 360-degree views with adjacent lanes.
Amazon’s Alexa app gets new interface to simplify use, control more devices
Amazon is gradually upgrading the Alexa app to improve the appearance, usability, and device control of the budding empire the retail juggernaut is building around its Alexa smart home voice assistant. Multi-room music setups, slicker communications controls, and more accessible device management highlight the new app.
2018 Jeep Wrangler JL frame defect may force sales stoppage, recall
A frame weld defect has reportedly resulted in a safety recall and a stop-sale for certain 2018 Jeep Wrangler JLs, some of which may be on dealer lots. FCA has not confirmed the recall publicly, which reportedly affects 4 percent or 18,000 Jeeps. If the track bar weld breaks, the vehicle's steering could fail.
Honda hands GM $2.75 billion so it can get the Cruise self-driving unit moving
American Honda Company and General Motors will partner on GM's Cruise self-driving unit, showing once again that developing safe autonomous vehicle tech is too big a task for even the largest automobile manufacturers to handle alone. In addition to $2.75 billion, Honda will also participate with engineering resources.
Indian’s dominating flat-track racer just showed up as a performance street bike
Indian Motorcycle Company just introduced two production street bikes based on the design of Indian's field-dominating FTR750 flat track racer. The 2019 FTR 12000 and FTR 1200 S are enthusiast motorcycles focused on handling and performance with low centers of gravity and free-flowing, predictable power.
Car owners have too much faith in advanced driver assistance aids, AAA says
American drivers like and trust Advanced Driver Assist Systems but don't understand ADAS limitations says a new AAA study. An American Automobile Association survey also found significant percentages of drivers rely too much on adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts.
SEC sues Tesla CEO Elon Musk for securities fraud, Musk calls suit unjustified
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Tesla CEO Elon Musk with fraud, alleging that Musk made "false and misleading" statements when he tweeted he was considering taking the company private with "funding secured." At the time, Musk also tweeted investor support was confirmed, contingent on a shareholder vote.
GM and U.S. Secret Service unveil new Cadillac Beast presidential limo
The U.S. Secret Service posted a photo of two new armored limos joining the presidential fleet. The Beast is a custom 2018 Cadillac that transverses the globe by airplane when needed, always accompanied by a second limo and an armored Chevrolet Suburban SUV that serves as a mobile communications office.
Alexa invests in manufactured housing with Plant Prefab startup
Amazon's Alexa Fund invested in Plant Prefab, a manufactured home startup company that focuses on smart home technology and sustainable building practices. As Amazon continues to extend voice technology within the home, backing prefabricated housing ventures is a strategic move to boost smart home implementations.
AT&T uses Harman Spark to transform older rides into connected cars
AT&T and Harman are launching Spark, a car plug-in device that pairs with a smartphone app to give you features such as a Wi-Fi hot spot, roadside assistance, vehicle tracking, geofencing, and more. Compatible with most 1996 and newer vehicles, Spark will be available with and without Wi-Fi data plans.
NASA’s planet hunter satellite gets first hit in its search for another Earth
Scanning its first sector on a two-year mission, NASA's planet hunter satellite TESS discovered a new Earth-like planet. At only 62 light-years distant, the new find is much closer than the Kepler Mission's 2015 exoplanet discovery -- that one was 155 light-years distant.
Special-edition Instant Pots pay tribute to Pioneer Women with flowery designs
Food Network star Ree Drummond launched the Pioneer Woman Instant Pot in two different floral patterns exclusively at Walmart. Drummond's special edition multicooker functions as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, sauté pan, steamer, and warmer. It also includes a booklet with some of her favorite recipes.
It’s not easy being green: California strips HOV rights from clean-air cars
Changes to California's Clean Air Vehicle decal program are raising the ire of early adopters who helped make the program a success. The decals let LEV and ZEV drivers travel solo in commuter lanes -- for many the greatest incentive to buy green. More than 200,000 drivers will lose the privilege January 1.
Google Assistant will now help SimpliSafe keep homes secure
SimpliSafe has added Google Assistant voice commands to its home security control system. With SimpliSafe's new Google Assistant integration, customers can use a single voice command to configure their home security components when they leave home, ensuring that all the doors are locked and the lights are on.
Elon Musk: Tesla is bringing most collision repair in-house, outsiders too slow
Unsatisfied with third-party collision repair shops, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to announce the company is bring most repair work in-house. The goal is a car as good or better than new with the repair completed in under an hour. Musk admits parts availability is a major factor in collision repair turnaround.
Amazon reportedly will introduce an Alexa-enabled microwave, amp, and more
Amazon's Fall 2018 Alexa device rollout is about to begin, according to informed sources. Look for an Alexa smart microwave, an amplifier, receiver, and subwoofer, and even an Alexa voice-responsive device for your car. Amazon isn't revealing details, but the company is maximizing its voice-command presence.
Uber has decided to leave its broadly derided current logo ‘behind’
Rideshare giant Uber adds a new brand image to the list of changes the company has made in the past 18 months. Not only does the company have a new CEO, it also has a new logo. Uber's previous brand icon, a circular graphic, was derided as a symbol that walked away from a clear brand identity.
An elevator in your garage? Boring Company gets OK to test Loop Lift from tunnel
The Hawthorn (California) City Council gave Elon Musk's Boring Company the go-ahead to construct a Loop Lift prototype. The lift will connect the company's existing underground Hyperloop to a residential garage. The project is a proof of concept for Musk's proposed solution to Los Angeles traffic congestion.
Samsung SmartThings Tracker locates people, pets, and things
Samsung's SmartThings Tracker uses the LTE-M network with low-cost nationwide coverage to locate wandering pets, let family members know where you are, or find your car keys. You can also configure the Tracker as a proximity sensor with Works with SmartThings connections to trigger connected home automation devices.
Armormax’s AWD Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat may be the ultimate cop car
A fully optioned Armormax AWD Charger SRT Hellcat may be the ultimate law enforcement vehicle. Putting over 700 horsepower in a four-wheel drive armored four-door sedan with optional run-flat tires, bomb blanket, bulletproof glass, and smoke screen system creates a cop car few bad actors would try to outrun.
Set yourself ABB-free with merged smart home, security, and entertainment system
Switzerland-based ABB's integrated smart home control platform launched at the CEDIA Expo in San Diego and focuses on integrating all home systems with a unified interface. It is compatible with Alexa, Sonos, and Philips Hue. The product manages all home systems with a touch panel and in-wall controls.
Continuous wave Doppler lidar instantly detects the speed of other vehicles
After more than a decade of testing with the U.S. military and now backed by BMW i Ventures and Toyota AI Ventures, Blackmore's frequency-modulated continuous wave Doppler lidar detection and real-time velocity sensing system may make autonomous cars much safer than radar or pulsed lidar systems.
BMW revs up its own ‘Intelligent Personal Assistant’ voice tech
BMW is readying a digital voice assistant that is familiar with your car's operations and can learn your preferences. Slated to be compatible with existing major voice assistants, BMW's Intelligent Personal Assistant will be available for cars using the manufacturer's new OS, BMW Operating System 7.0.