Uber will run criminal and driving history checks for every driver every year
Uber emailed riders about three new safety programs. Riders now can share ride details with contacts and can call 911 from the Uber app. Trip and location sharing with 911 operators will be automatic in some cities. Uber also says it will run criminal background and driver history checks every year, for every driver.
Alexa can now analyze random requests to use skills you didn’t know existed
Amazon just gave Alexa the ability to discover skills based on user queries. The feature lets Alexa skill developers configure their apps for skill discovery and notify Alexa's machine learning engine of the compatibility. The goal is to provide correct answers without making users search for new skills.
Uber in partnership talks with Waymo for self-driving technology
Uber would like to work with Waymo, Google's self-driving car division. Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the two companies are having discussions about partnering, but Waymo declined to comment. Calling Waymo an "incredible technology provider," Uber's CEO believes autonomous driving technology will be shared.
False civil emergency alert text panics Oregon’s Marion County
Some Oregon residents got a scare Tuesday evening when an emergency alert text declared a public emergency and instructed them to "Prepare for Action." A "technology issue" at the Office of Emergency Management was blamed for the vague message, which was supposed to be a county tap water advisory.
Tesla updates Model 3 braking software, earns Consumer Reports recommendation
Consumer Reports now recommends the Tesla Model 3. Originally the Model 3's emergency braking test distance was too long, but after an OTA update, the Model 3's brakes performed in line with factory results. Tesla CEO Elon Musk delivered on his promise to do whatever it took to improve the brakes.
A.I. detects skin cancer better than dermatologists in international study
In an international study that compared dermatologists and A.I. neural networks in their ability to correctly diagnose skin cancers based on images, A.I. was accurate more often than the doctors. Regardless of the physicians' experience levels, the convolutional neural network scored higher.
Streem and Porch put AR to work on your next home improvement project
Streem's AR-enhanced mobile video connection platform has partnered with the Porch network of more than 250,000 contractors nationwide. The Streem app connects homeowners with Porch assistants who see the project remotely, guide the owner with AR tools, and capture information for contractors to make quotes.
Uber adds panic button for U.S. customers, with driver button to come later
Uber added a rider panic button that contacts 911 emergency services to the ridesharing app's main menu. Also new is Trusted Contacts, which gives up to five family members and friends real-time trip location info. The new features follow up on an April announcement of renewed focus on safety.
Noon Home smart lighting’s app boosts its customization options
Noon Home smart lighting added support for Lifx Wi-Fi-enabled smart light bulbs to its scene customization and control system. The capability of saving an additional 32 custom scenes brings the total number of stored mood light setting combinations to 48. The system has also improved the scene selection menu.
Football helmet monitor analyzes head impact data for smarter, safer play
Riddell's InSite Training Tool collects and analyzes football helmet impact data. Coaches can use individual player impact profiles to modify player training. The goal is reduced head impacts during practice and games for smarter, safer play. Player data is analyzed based on player position and skill level.
Tesla settles Autopilot class-action lawsuit with Model S, Model X owners
Tesla settled an Autopilot class action suit filed by Model S and Model X buyers. The suit claimed the $5,000 Autopilot option was "essentially unusable and demonstrably dangerous." Tesla will put aside $5 million+ for payments to owners and lawyers. Owners won't get paid much in the settlement.
VTOL drone can evacuate wounded soldiers and disaster victims, deliver cargo
Tactical Robotics' unmanned Cormorant VTOL drone can evacuate two wounded battlefield casualties or disaster site victims at the same time. The aircraft can land and take off from remote or hard to reach locations without a landing strip.
Amazon explains fluke that saw Alexa send a private conversation to a contact
Amazon says an 'unlikely string of events' led an Oregon couple's Alexa device to record a private conversation and send it to a contact. Alerted by the contact, the couple turned off their Alexa devices and want a refund. Amazon says it is 'evaluating options to make this case even less likely.'
May the forks be with you when you use the Millennium Falcon Waffle Maker
Begin your Star Wars adventure each morning with waffles, hash browns, or cookies made fresh with Uncanny's officially licensed Deluxe Millennium Falcon Waffle Maker. Launching the same weekend as the latest Star Wars movie, the waffle maker joins Uncanny's assemblage of Star Wars-themed countertop appliances.
FCA issues massive recall due to faulty cruise control in 4.8 million cars
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles issued a recall of 4.8 million U.S. market cars with gasoline engines and automatic transmissions due to a cruise-control software defect. The NHTSA advised drivers not to use cruise control on the affected vehicles because the defect could prevent the system from disengaging.
Uber’s car did not recognize pedestrian in fatal Arizona crash, report says
The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report of a March 2018 fatal crash in Tempe, Arizona when an Uber self-driving car struck a pedestrian pushing a bicycle. The report states the self-driving system did not recognize the pedestrian at all and only recognized the bicycle just before impact.
Here are the best Memorial Day sales for brand-name home appliances
Seasonal summer home appliance sales kick off this week with discounts, appliance bundles, and giveaways. Whether you're setting up an outdoor kitchen or need a new washer and dryer, this week has loads of deals. We searched the sales at major U.S. big box home appliance stores for the best deals.
Latest selfie spot? In front of a Tesla Semi hooked up at a Supercharger station
A prototype Tesla Semi electric truck powering up at a Tesla Supercharger station in Kettleman City, California attracted social media attention this week. People posed for pictures with the silver hauler to post online. Tesla plans to start selling the Semi in 2019. Reservations for the 300-mile range model are $20K.
Watch a NASA astronaut get stumped over how to use a GoPro
Earlier in May when a NASA astronaut on the International Space Station went outside to check the spacecraft, he couldn't use the GoPro he brought along to capture video. When he asked Mission Control about the camera, he revealed a surprising lack of understanding of how the popular video camera works.
Michelin Tweel airless radial tires are now ready for utility vehicles
Developed for military special operations light-duty tactical vehicles, Michelin Tweel airless radial tires are now available for UTVs. A single-unit wheel and tire combination, the Tweel takes the definition of all-terrain to new levels. You won't go fast on Tweels, but you'll never need to change a flat.
Nest’s network failed and people’s smart home devices went dark for 3 hours
For three hours starting before midnight on Wednesday, May 16, Nest smart home devices were offline. Door locks and thermostats were functional but only with manual control. Nest mobile apps and internet access to devices were disabled. Nest tweeted the problem and restoration, but the blackout's cause is unknown.
Xbox Adaptive Controller blasts accessibility barriers for disabled gamers
Microsoft introduced the Xbox Adaptive Controller to remove barriers and improve accessibility for gamers with limited mobility. Xbox engineers engaged with groups of gamers with disabilities for input and testing. The controller has more than 20 ports and jacks to connect a wide range of accessibility options.
Designer of out-of-this-world superyacht MY Roswell welcomes spaceship analogies
Creative artist and superyacht designer George Lucian says his MY Roswell concept is named after the site of a mysterious crash in New Mexico that many were convinced was an alien spacecraft. The super yacht combines stealthy design elements, electric-only propulsion power, and attention-getting stylistic features.
Fewer parents name baby girls Alexa after Amazon Echo debut
Alexa was never a top-10 U.S. baby girl name, but now, after Amazon used the name for the Echo smart speaker voice assistant, even fewer parents choose it for their newborns. Siri is a much less popular name for girls in the U.S. than Alexa, but it too has seen a decline. "Hey, Google" was never a contender.
Packtalk voice-command motorcycle communicators connect 15 riders
Cardo Systems introduced two new models for its natural language voice-command motorcycle communications system, which uses a proprietary dynamic mesh technology to connect up to 15 riders in a five-mile range. The Packtalk communicators also use Bluetooth to connect with smartphones, GPS units, and Bluetooth headsets.
FCA gives police the ‘Charger of SUVs’ — the 2018 Dodge Durango Pursuit
There's a new Dodge in town as FCA introduces the 2018 Dodge Durango Pursuit for law enforcement agencies only. The Dodge Charger Pursuit is the fastest police car in the country and this SUV version has more interior space and is equipped for off-road chases. It even has K-9-friendly features.
Ford halts all F-150 truck production lines because the parts aren’t there
A May 2 fire at a parts supplier stopped Ford F-150 production lines in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford said the shut down could last at least several days but won't affect sales. The fire followed an explosion at Meridian Magnesium Products. The profitable Ford F-series trucks are the best-selling vehicles in the country.
Ford, bike makers unveil bike-to-vehicle (B2V) interactive road safety A.I.
Ford joined Trek, Shimano, Specialized, and eight other bike-industry giants to develop A.I. for bike-to-vehicle (B2V) communication. The goal is improved safety for bikes, pedestrians, and vehicles. Cars, bikes, trucks, and roadway infrastructure would connect via the cross-industry B2V standard.
Uber’s flying cars get a boost from government assistance
Uber Elevate announced working partnerships with NASA and private industry at Elevate Summit 2018. Elevate, Uber's flying car project, also promised UberAir light planes would fly in Dubai, Dallas, and Los Angeles by 2020. Initial UberAir flights would have human pilots; pilotless planes would come later.
Philips Hue smart home lighting app boosts features, simplifies customization
Easier navigation, customization, and smart home lighting management in the Philips Hue control app help users get creative with lighting design without needing another semester of college. Philps simplified navigation of new features such as color matching, color pickers, and resetting favorite light scenes.
Vintage Electric’s badass Scrambler S ebike is at home on the road and dirt
Vintage Electric's new top-of-the-line Scrambler S on/off-road ebike has a rated 75-mile range per battery charge. Take it off road and set it to race mode for speeds up to 36 miles per hour. The Scrambler S resembles an iconic escape bike from the 1940s but carries a full complement of leading-edge ebike components.
Waymo releases Arizona crash video, stresses van was operating in manual mode
A Waymo self-driving van was involved in a car crash in Chandler, Arizona. The Waymo van was traveling at a slow speed in autonomous mode with a human backup driver in the driver's seat and was not the vehicle responsible for the crash, police say. The van was hit by a car driving eastbound into westbound lanes.
2019 Chevrolet Suburban RST Performance Package speeding to dealers this summer
GM just bumped up the hot SUV list with the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban RST Performance Package. Customer response to the Tahoe RST Performance Package prompted Chevy to add the go-power, handling, and braking upgrades to the full-size Suburban. The regular RST looks hot, the Performance Package makes it hot.
Thieves steal convoy of 2018 Ram 1500 trucks from Michigan factory
An organized group of thieves stole almost a dozen 2018 Ram 1500 pickup trucks ready for dealers from a Warren, Michigan assembly plant. The thieves cut a hole in a fence, grabbed the trucks, and smashed through a security gate in clear view of a security guard. FCA has now provided police with VINs.