Skip to main content

Latest by Bruce Brown

smartslab smart kitchen table wired

Versatile SmartSlab tile table cooks and cools food, and seats six

Swedish design firm Kram/Weisshaar have produced a swipe-controlled kitchen table with a thin ceramic top that cooks and cools while seating six diners.
Tesla Model 3

Design work on Tesla Model 3 just now finishing, with almost 500,000 orders

Despite a nearly sold-out 2018 production and close to half a million cars on pre-order, Tesla's Model 3 is still in the last weeks of design.
lyft ride sharing

Lyft and other international ride-share firms teaming up to take on Uber

Southeast Asia ride-share company Grab has a cross-booking alliance with Lyft. Now Lyft, Grab, China's Didi, and India's Ola can better compete with Uber.
Google self-driving car

Google's self-driving cars are being tested in four cities. Is one near you?

Google's Self-Driving Car Project report is now available. Find out how many cars are in the program, where they are, and how many miles they've traveled.
uber settles driver background check case man driving in car the city ride share lyft getaround zipcar

SF Bay Area Uber drivers want attorney to step down and the city to tax Uber

Associations representing 5,000-plus San Francisco Bay Area Uber drivers rallied Thursday against a $100 million settlement offer and a city tax.
fensens license frame backup sensor and blind spot

FenSens license plate frame sensor offers backup sensing to any car

Add a wireless backup parking sensor to your car with FenSens. License plate frame sensor signals your smartphone when objects are one to ten feet away.
facebook ai screen offensive computer male facing dark background

Facebook increasingly using AI to scan for offensive content

Facebook's AI systems are getting better at moderating offensive visual content, protecting human workers the grim task, but there's still more to learn.
audi connect sim card germany europe a3 saloon virtual cockpit 1500x999

To help control roaming costs in Europe, Audi offers permanent in-car SIM cards

Wireless roaming charges can add up fast for connected cars. Audi is now offering an unlimited data plan in Germany with permanent in-car SIM cards.
skateboard electric drill power powered 900x599

Give your skateboard a boost by hooking it up to a battery-operated drill

You already have a skateboard. If you want to boost it, add electric drive with a battery-powered drill. It might look odd, but you're the one having fun.
uplamp smartphone gesture alarm controlled lamp 1200x803

It’s all in the hands: smartphone-powered UpLamp responds to your gestures

Ready to work with select iPhones and Samsung smartphones, UpLamp provides gesture-controlled bedroom lighting. The lamp is also a convenient charger.
homes with their own shark tanks villa deep blue 13 copy

Allstate extends a hand to Airbnb hosts with home-sharing insurance

Home-sharing may not cover hosts if temporary renters break or steal your property. Allstate is going to test HostAdvantage rider for home-share hosts.
tesla ludicrous 100 challenge bill model s 1200x798

Grab this $100 bill in an accelerating Tesla Model S P90D with Ludicrous mode

A dad bet that his son couldn't reach a $100 bill hanging from the mirror when he accelerated from 0 to 60 in a Tesla Model S P90D with Ludicrous mode.
tesla-ceo-elon-musk

To get the straight skinny on all things Tesla, livestream today's annual meeting

Telsa's 2016 annual shareholders meeting livestreams from the Computer History Museum today. CEO Elon Musk's Q&A should be the most entertaining part.
Self Driving Car

Volvo predicts it will have fully autonomous cars for sale by 2020

Stepping up its game in the driverless car world arena, Volvo says it will move ahead of other carmakers and not require driver attention by 2020.
abnormally normal driving the tesla model s p90d 1406

Tesla gains one million miles of self-driving data every 10 hours

With constant cellular connectivity, Tesla gathers data continuously and tests new features in cars sold to the public, but drivers always are in control.
Google self-driving Lexus RX 450h in Kirkland, Washington

Michigan takes the lead in the race to support driverless cars on public roads

Bills to let driverless cars travel Michigan roads are backed by both political parties and supported by the DOT and economic development officials.
2017 ford fusion energi 610miles 1500x1002

Topping all other US plug-in hybrids, 2017 Ford Fusion Energi has a 610-mile range

With powertrain and regenerative braking tweaks, the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid now has a 610 range, the longest in America.
simplehuman sensor mirror pro smarthome simple human st3007 1497x1000

Smart mirror is so happy to see you it lights up as you get close

Simplehuman's Sensor Mirror Pro adds smart home connectivity to full spectrum lighting control. Via a companion smartphone app you can recreate any light.
tesla autopilot examined dutch regulators model s updates profile

Confusing! North Carolina bans Tesla sales in Charlotte, allows them in Raleigh

While Tesla can sell cars in its Raleigh, North Carolina store, the DMV has ruled it cannot sell from a Charlotte showroom. People can look, but not buy.
delphi mild hybrid cheaper faster cleaner hybrids

Turbodiesel engines assisted by mild hybrid tech are an answer to dirty diesels

Delphi's testing with 48V mild hybrid systems has achieved most of the fuel economy and environmental advantages of full hybrids at a fraction of the cost.
nutonomy driverless taxi singapore  self driving

MIT’s NuTonomy aims to bring self-driving taxis to Singapore by 2018

NuTonomy is advancing driverless car technology on many fronts, including retrofitting cars in the U.S. and prepping a fleet of taxis for Singapore.
google driverless car project report may2016 googles lexus rx 450h self driving 930x749  wikipedia

A majority of buyers may want to put the brakes on driverless cars

A pair of University of Michigan surveys conducted 10 months apart show no change in Americans' feelings toward driverless cars. Only 15 percent want totally driverless cars.
police surveillance tech center street screens on a wall

Police departments in smaller cities getting real-time street surveillance centers

High-tech street surveillance centers aren't only in big cities. Smaller cities are beginning to set up their own tech centers to fight crime.
2016 Chevrolet Colorado Duramax Diesel

US diesel engine vehicle sales are down, but the market is still poised for growth

Despite the problems arising from dieselgate, vehicles with diesel engines are expected to rise to twice their previous market share in the next five years.
bactrack skyn wristband alcohol sweat 1200x800

Prove you didn’t drink too much last weekend with the BACtrack Skyn

BACtrack's Skyn wristband monitors alcohol consumption by measuring sweat and converting to blood alcohol content. Skyn won $200,000 in a NIH design contest.
general motors sidecar 2017 gmc acadia all terrain 001

GM to compensate SUV buyers up to $100M total for fuel economy discrepancies

As a result of misstated fuel economy for midsize SUVs, General Motors is going to compensate previous buyers with debit cards or extended warranties.
germany electric cars only 2030 mercedes b class drive 2222014 007 0

Mercedes-Benz hitting EV stride in 2020 with four models

Mercedes-Benz will have electric versions of four car lines by 2020, two sedans and two SUVs. Look for C class and S class EVs and electric GLAs and GLCs.
airbus apworks light rider 3d printed

Now you can tool around on a 3D printed electric motorbike

With a proprietary aluminum alloy, Airbus subsidiary APWorks created the first 3D printed electric motorbike, the 77 pound, 37-mile range Light Rider.
uber settles driver background check case man driving in car the city ride share lyft getaround zipcar

By the numbers: Pew Research profiles ride-hailing customers

A Pew study shows that age, education, income, and geography all impact ride-hailing service usage.
flightcar starts over better customer service

Flightcar emerges from shake-up ready to provide better service

Airport car-sharing service FlightCar started well, but car owners and customers alike reported customer services issues. Now it's hitting the reset button.
Tesla Model 3

Tesla sets aggressive goals for Model 3, suppliers not so sure

Based on huge Model 3 reservations and despite supplier doubts, Tesla has ramped up production plans and intends to start testing full runs in July 2017.
Google self-driving fleet

Influential group wants feds to hit the accelerator on driverless and electric cars

SAFE wants Washington regulators to set federal regulations and incentives to encourage both autonomous vehicles and entry-level electric-powered cars.
googles self driving just car got pulled over for too slow google 4

Google limits self-driving project plans with Chrysler to 100 minivans

Google and Fiat Chrysler are building 100 self-driving Pacifica minivans. FCA would like further collaboration but Google is keeping its options open.
Tesla Model 3

Actual number of Tesla Model 3 reservations lower than presumed but still sizable

After speculation that as many as 500,000 Tesla Model 3 reservations were already held, Tesla informed the SEC in a filing the net number is actually 373,000.
Jeep Wrangler

Fiat Chrysler recalls more than half a million Jeep Wranglers for off-road problem

Jeep Wranglers are built to take off road, and excel at it, but more than a half million are being recalled to fix an airbag problem when off-roading.
gm opel emission cutoff zafira minivan

German Transport commission questions emissions of GM and Fiat Chrysler cars

In a reflection of the times since the VW diesel scandal, the German Transport commission is investigating General Motors' Opel division and Fiat Chrysler.
suzuki road test cheat 2016 celerio

Suzuki's mileage road test mistakes prompt government investigation

Suzuki Motor Corporation executives apologized for improper testing. After re-testing resulted in the same fuel results, the company says it didn't cheat.
Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

Hyundai launching new fuel cell electric vehicle in early 2018

Hyundai Motor is launching its second-generation fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) in 2018. The new vehicle will focus on increased driving range per tank.