Watch this foldable drone get fired out of a cannon before flying away
Getting a drone off the ground is usually the most challenging part of a flight. Not so with SQUID, a quadcopter that you launch by firing it out of a cannon. A team of engineers in California is developing the design, with its unusual launch system giving it potential in a range of scenarios.
Google restricts targeting of political ads ahead of 2020 election
With scrutiny of major online platforms increasing ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Google has announced changes to the way it handles political advertising. It means that political campaigns will no longer be able to target ads based on a person's political leanings or data gleaned from public voting records.
Watch SpaceX’s Starship prototype blow its top during a ground test
SpaceX's Starship blew its top during a pressure test in Texas on Sunday. A nearby camera captured the dramatic incident, which wrecked Starship's upper section. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was quick to respond, confirming the team would continue with work on a more advanced version rather than rebuild the damaged one.
Kickstarter’s new budget tool could save projects from collapse
Crowdfunding site Kickstarter has launched a new tool called Project Budget that aims to provide valuable assistance to creators in the important early stages of their work. It’s hoped that a clearer plan as to how funds will be spent will also encourage more people to back projects on the site.
Bird offers free e-scooter rides in exchange for a certain kind of selfie
Bird is offering free rides on its electric scooters if you snap a selfie wearing a helmet at the end of a trip. It's part of the company’s ongoing efforts to promote more responsible use of its app-based service as regulators across the country continue to scrutinize their safety.
Macy’s confirms hackers stole customer data from its website
Macy's says a small number of people who shopped on its website in October 2019 may have had their data stolen by hackers. Customers are being advised to check their statements for suspicious activity. The stolen data includes name, home address, phone number, email address, and payment card number.
iOS update for iPhone squashes bugs in Mail, Notes, and Messages
Apple on Monday issued its seventh software update for the iPhone since the release of iOS 13. The latest release improves the handset's overall performance and squashes several bugs in Mail, Files, Notes, and Messages. iOS 13 is available for the iPhone 6S onward as well as the latest iPod Touch.
NASA invites SpaceX and Blue Origin to help with moon missions
NASA has given SpaceX and Blue Origin the green light to bid for contracts linked to its Artemis program, which is seeking to establish a sustainable presence on the moon with an eye on eventual missions to Mars. The two companies are among 14 vying to help take essential payloads to the moon starting in 2021.
Internet shut down in Iran in response to large-scale fuel protests
The "largest internet shutdown ever observed in Iran" is happening right now in response to ongoing protests sparked by a sudden rise in fuel prices late last week. The nationwide blackout appears to be an attempt by the Iranian government to prevent people from organizing protests and disseminating news of the unrest.
Google Maps puts Local Guides front and center for top travel tips
Google Maps is giving more prominence to its top Local Guides in a test designed to give travelers easier access to their suggestions for things to do and places to go. The pilot, which places the Guides in Maps' personalized For You section, begins in nine cities that include New York, San Francisco, and London.
Lyft is pulling its e-scooters from six cities and laying off workers
Lyft is removing its rentable electric scooters from six locations across the U.S. and laying off around 20 workers as it battles against a slew of competitors. The company, which launched its first scootersharing service in September 2018, will continue to offer its scooters to riders in around 12 cities.
Nissan recalls nearly 400,000 vehicles over fire danger
Nissan is recalling nearly 400,000 cars across four models over a brake fluid issue that in rare instances could lead to a fire. Affected owners will be contacted starting in December, though if the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system warning light remains on for more than 10 seconds, action should be taken now.
Google Search can now teach you how to pronounce tricky words
A new Google Search feature shows you how to pronounce difficult or unusual words. It’ll even offer feedback if you practice the pronunciation by speaking it into the microphone. It also offers the phonetic spelling of the word and an animation that shows you how to move your mouth when saying it.
Uber just got hit with a massive fine over how it classifies its drivers
New Jersey has slapped Uber with a $649M fine to cover the cost of unpaid employment taxes that it says result from the ridesharing company’s misclassification of its drivers. Uber describes them as independent contractors, which exempts it from having to offer various benefits enjoyed by regular company employees.
Hayabusa2 spacecraft begins long journey home laden with asteroid samples
Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft is on its way home following a successful 17-month rendezvous with the Ryugu asteroid some 200 million miles from Earth. And there’s a good reason for it coming back as it’s carrying with it the first-ever rock samples collected from the subsurface of an asteroid.
SpaceX conducted a key Crew Dragon engine test — and it didn’t blow up!
The last time SpaceX tested the launch abort system on its Crew Dragon capsule, there was an almighty explosion. This time around, it appeared to go much better. Wednesday’s apparent success takes SpaceX another step closer to a manned test of the Crew Dragon, which could soon be taking astronauts to the ISS.
DJI has built an app that lets anyone track nearby drones
DJI plans to release an app that lets anyone track and identify quadcopters and similar machines that are flying nearby. It would also show the drone’s altitude, speed, travel direction, and pilot location. DJI said the aim is to offer an easy way to monitor drones “for enhanced safety, security, and peace of mind.”
Twinkle, twinkle, little satellite: SpaceX’s Starlink project worries astronomers
The sight of SpaceX's Starlink satellites trailing across the sky may be spectacular to some, but astronomers fear that plans to deploy tens of thousands of them could seriously hinder their work. SpaceX is one of several outfits aiming to beam broadband internet services to underserved communities around the world.
Amazon’s latest venture lets teachers buy and sell educational resources
Amazon's latest venture gives K-12 educators across the U.S. the chance to buy and sell digital educational resources to others in the profession. Similar to Teachers Pay Teachers, the platform aims to ease the pressure on time-pressed teachers while offering others a way to make a few extra bucks on the side.
Alibaba’s Singles’ Day sale destroys global online shopping record … again
Ecommerce titan Alibaba raked in a record $38.4 billion during its annual Singles’ Day online shopping extravaganza on Monday, beating last year’s figure by $7 billion. The Chinese company said delivery orders also hit a new high, increasing from 812 million in 2018 to 1.3 billion.
Frustrated by slow websites? Google Chrome may have a solution
It's no fun waiting for a slow website to load, so Google is planning a badge system that warns users when a page is likely to take a long time to appear. It's hoped the system will also nudge developers into optimizing their websites, making the web a less frustrating place for everyone that uses it.
Adidas’ two robot-powered shoe factories run into trouble, face closure
Just a few years after opening its high-tech shoe-making Speedfactories in the U.S. and Germany, Adidas says it’s closing both sites and moving some of the technology to Asia. The Speedfactories were designed to quicken the production of its sports shoes, while at the same time speeding up distribution.
Photoshop for iPad: Users bemoan lack of features with the new software
Adobe launched Photoshop for iPad a week ago, but the company’s prelaunch promotion that promised to bring "real Photoshop" to Apple's tablet appears to have upset a good many users. The software giant says more features are on the way, but how long users will have to wait isn’t clear.
Watch MIT’s Mini Cheetahs limber up for the robot apocalypse
The MIT Biomimetics Robotics recently took a number of its talented Mini Cheetah robots for some fun in the park. Take a moment to enjoy the incredible sight of the nine remote-controlled quadrupeds frolicking in the fall leaves, playing soccer, and even performing backflips.
Alibaba Singles’ Day sales hit $1 billion in the first minute
The Singles' Day online shopping festival is underway, with ecommerce giant Alibaba aiming to break its 24-hour sales record of $31 billion achieved last year. The shopping festival started in China and encourages those without a significant other to spend on themselves, but of course, everyone is encouraged to shop.
Lyft offers freebies to encourage people to ditch their cars
If you're a Lyft rider in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Chicago and are considering selling your car, then you could be in line for some freebies from the ridesharing company. The offer is part of Lyft’s Ditch Your Car campaign aimed at reducing car ownership and easing traffic congestion in major cities.
Cockpit calamity: Pilot error sparks hijack security alert on passenger plane
A pilot preparing for take-off at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Wednesday accidentally set off a hijack alert, prompting a security incident that saw part of the airport put on lockdown and flights delayed. An Air Europa official later tweeted that it had all been a mistake and that everyone was fine.
Twitter’s latest feature lets you explore tweets in a whole new way
Twitter is about to launch a new feature called Topics that for the first time will let users follow tweets on specific subjects, rather than just accounts. The feature will roll out on November 13 and kick off by offering more than 300 topics covering sports, entertainment, and gaming.
Bloodhound supersonic car eyes land speed record after 500 mph test run
The Bloodhound supersonic car reached 500 mph for the first time during a test run this week, putting the vehicle on course for a land speed record attempt in 2020. The jet- and rocket-powered car hit 501 mph on Wednesday as it hurtled along a salt pan in the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa.
HBO competition prize is a cardboard box where you can watch TV in private
HBO has launched a competition with the main prize a branded cardboard box where you can watch TV in private. Yes, it's as crazy as it sounds, though HBO hopes that students with noisy roommates might want to win it. AirPods and HBO-branded shirts are also up for grabs.
Flying meds: UPS uses drones for deliveries to CVS customers for first time
UPS wants to use drones as well as trucks to deliver goods to customers. The shipping giant recently teamed up with CVS Pharmacy for its first trial deliveries of prescription meds to customers in the U.S. The drone flew from the store to the customer’s home, lowering the medicine to the ground with a cable and winch.
Watch Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule hit 650 mph in critical test
Boeing deemed a launch abort test of its Starliner crew capsule a success on Monday, but it didn’t go entirely to plan as one of its parachutes failed to deploy when it returned to the ground. Following more tests, the Starliner could be used to carry astronauts to the space station as early as 2020.
