Google Home will stamp its passport in at least seven new countries this year
Google is slated to double the number of national markets in which the Google Home and Google Home Mini can be found this year. With the addition of Spain, Austria, and Ireland, the Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers are now available in 11 countries around the world.
Foxconn is coming to America — more specifically, to its new Milwaukee HQ
Foxconn is reportedly purchasing a seven-story building from Northwestern Mutual, and will ultimately employ 500 people to work in the brand new facility. That's fewer than the 13,000 jobs it'll be creating at its display facility just 30 miles south, but does indicate that Foxconn is serious about its new home.
Google’s new patent hopes to protect the Google Home from being hijacked
If you love talking to Google Assistant, it's not hard to believe that a hacker would enjoy the same privileges. And now, Google is patenting a new system that seeks to protect you and your Google Home from being hijacked. As per a recently filed patent, Google is looking to prevent so-called "audio attacks."
Waymo autonomous vehicles will reach 7 million test miles this week
Waymo just keeps burning up the pavement. On Tuesday, the company's chief business development officer announced that its fleet of autonomous vehicles will reach 7 million test miles driven by the end of this week. That means that Waymo's testing pace has accelerated significantly in the last month.
August smart locks open new doors for Airbnb hosts and guests
Leaving a key for your Airbnb guest will soon be a practice of the past, as long as you have an August smart lock installed. The smart home company has announced a new partnership with Airbnb that promises to simplify rental access for hosts and guests alike. August will auto-generate passcodes.
Don’t wait for a money transfer in Venmo — just use its Mastercard debit card
Venmo is testing a physical debit card that would make it easier for people who store money in their Venmo accounts to make purchases. On Monday, June 25, Venmo officially launched its own debit card as part of a partnership with Mastercard. Beta customers will receive a sign-up invitation.
Uber focuses on safety improvements as it battles to regain its London license
Uber's U.K operation has unveiled a number of measures designed to improve rider and driver safety as it seeks to regain its London operating license. On June 25, the ridesharing giant goes to court in order to appeal last September's decision, and hopefully, get its groove back in London.
Whole Foods perks are rolling out to all Amazon Prime members
Amazon Prime members are now eligible for discounts and special deals at Whole Foods Market stores across the U.S.. All Whole Foods Market 365 stores nationwide now have Prime savings. All Prime members will be privy to 10 percent off sale items, as well as "deep discounts on select popular products,” Amazon noted.
Tesla to roll out a paid Premium Connectivity package for in-car internet access
While the ability to connect to the internet has always come standard for Tesla owners, that could soon be changing. The car company is rolling out a paid "premium connectivity" package in order to boost the internet features of its ever-burgeoning fleet. Premium Connectivity will likely cost $100 a year.
Researcher claims to bypass iPhone security limits, but may have spoken too soon
For a brief moment, it seemed as though a security researcher had found a way to get past the security limits on iPhones and iPads by entering an infinite number of passcodes in order to hack into a device. But after Apple disputed the findings, it seems the results may have been erroneous after all.
The Purple PowerBase adjustable bed frame lets you rest and work in comfort
While the idea of having a robot in the bedroom may seem odd, when that robot comes in the form of a powerful PowerBase for your bed, all that machination and automation really comes in handy. Meet the Purple PowerBase, a new fully adjustable bed frame that promises to give you uniquely customized comfort.
The NookDesk offers three levels of workspace and one-touch adjustments
Standing at your desk has never felt so roomy. That is, if that standing desk is of the NookDesk variety. The recently launched flagship product is a power-adjustable height desk with a triple-level workspace to ensure that even the busiest of desks never feel cluttered. It starts at $499.
GoFundMe debuts Team Fundraising to let groups raise money for the same cause
GoFundMe is capitalizing on the social aspect of its cause-based fundraising platform by launching GoFundMe Team Fundraising, a new initiative that lets multiple people raise money for a single entity. This, the service hopes, will make it easier for groups to create fundraising campaigns.
Tesla’s software update brings Summon, Wi-Fi, and more to Model 3 vehicles
Tesla is updating its software once again, and Model 3 owners should be particularly pleased with these latest developments. With update 2018.24, Model 3 cars are now capable of accessing the Autopilot Summon feature, as well as cabin overheat protection and Wi-Fi. These features were already on other Tesla cars.
Apple quietly dumps Modern Buckle Watch band
If you're looking to accessorize your Apple Watch, your roster of options just shrank a bit. The iEmpire has quietly removed the Modern Buckle Apple Watch band from its lineup, marking the first time that the company has completely eliminated an entire material. It's still available in other countries.
Now you have less of an excuse to not tip your Uber driver with in-app tipping
For the first time in its history, Uber finally allowed riders to tip their drivers after a ride, straight from the Uber app last June. In the year since then, drivers have made $600 million in tips. Last month, Uber also debuted mid-trip ratings and tips, and has purportedly seen a 30 percent rise in tipping.
Velociraptors and Alexa take over family game night with Jurassic World Revealed
Family game night is about to get a lot louder, and a lot more prehistoric. While you may have grown up playing cards and charades, the 21st century is bringing a bit more excitement to your friendly competition now that Universal Brand Development and Earplay have released Jurassic World Revealed.
Tinder’s parent company Match Group swipes right on Hinge
Already under the Match Group are Tinder, OkCupid, and of course, Match, and now that the company has acquired a 51 percent stake in Hinge, it's added to its portfolio once again. Under the terms of the deal, Match Group retains the right to acquire the rest of Hinge's shares within a 12-month window.
Google Street View cars will help to map out the air quality in London
Google Street View will be taking stock of more than streets, neighborhoods, and houses in the next month or so. Beginning in July, two Google Street View cars will be tasked with the important responsibility of monitoring the air quality in London. The results could lead to improved air quality.
Money can’t buy you love, but it may buy you more compatible picks on Tinder
Tinder wants to graduate from its purely physical profiling reputation, and perhaps add a bit more substance to online dating. It's trialing a new feature called "Tinder Picks," which is meant to help users find matches who are not only attractive but also more compatible when it comes to education, job, and interests.
Brew the perfect cup of chai with the push of a button, thanks to the Chime
If you'd rather kick it with something a bit more spicy and a bit less bitter in the morning (afternoon or evening), what you really is a chai machine. Meet the Chime Chai Maker, an automated chai machine that delivers the perfect cup of chai every time. Because dunking a tea bag isn't the same.
MoviePass rolls out surge pricing for ‘high-demand’ titles and showtimes
The summer blockbuster season is fast approaching, and so too are changes to your MoviePass subscription. Unfortunately, they're not all quite as exciting as the titles we're expecting to see in theaters, as MoviePass will soon be introducing its own version of surge pricing for 'high-demand' films.
Get a warrant before tracking cell phone users, Supreme Court rules in privacy win
In the 5-4 decision, the highest court in the United States determined that police departments across the nation must first attain a search warrant before tracking mobile device users. This decision could have enormous implications, given that around 95 percent of Americans have a cell phone.
Alexa reportedly says, ‘Every time I close my eyes, all I see is people dying’
We'll take Amazon Alexa's creepy laugh any day over her latest bizarre antic. On Monday, an Amazon Echo device apparently made an unprompted and terrifying statement. The owner claims that the smart assistant suddenly activated herself and said, "Every time I close my eyes, all I see is people dying."
Your Overstock purchases can now be installed by professionals from Porch
Thanks to the Porch Retail Service technology integration, Overstock buyers can now access experts for tasks ranging from furniture assembly to product installs. Porch will offer Overstock's customers access to a national network of more than 300,000 vetted home service professionals.
Processed pies: Silicon Valley’s Zume Pizza ready to offer you dinner made by a robot
Even the food in Silicon Valley is getting high tech. No, we're not talking about meal-replacement shakes or coffee with butter in it - we're talking good, old-fashioned pizza. The pies from Zume Pizza are made by robots. And to help it reach new heights, the company is adding arms into the mix.
Facebook outlines plans for combating false news
Over the past year, Facebook has been forced to confront a number of issues on its platform including the rise of fake news. Using a combination of machine learning and human fact checkers, Facebook hopes that it will be able to reduce the spread of false news stories on its platform.
Why can’t your Instagram upload? OpenSignal explains the upload speed gap
To help you better understand why some carriers can help you get your pics onto Instagram and Snapchat faster than others, OpenSignal has published a new explainer to help clarify why there's such a huge discrepancy between the fastest and slowest 4G upload speeds. Hint: Sprint is in last place.
Landmark Supreme Court decision lets states force online stores to pay sales tax
The online marketplace now looks a lot more like its offline counterpart -- at least, when it comes to taxes. A contentious case has reached a rather contentious ruling in the Supreme Court today, and the highest court in the U.S. ruled that states can indeed collect sales taxes from ecommerce retailers.
Sick of sleepless nights? Bose wants to help with noise-masking earbuds
Bose has now presented a solution to the noise problem in the form of its "noise-masking sleepbuds." After first introducing these guys via an Indiegogo campaign late last year, these Sleepbuds are now widely available for everyone. You can buy them for $249 in the United States, and they're coming soon elsewhere.
This has not been an easy year for Tesla and its Model 3
Production woes have delayed delivery of Tesla's Model 3, its new entry-level vehicle aimed at bringing more consumers into the carmaker's electric fold. Now, it's finally nearing its goal of producing 5,000 units per week (which it was supposed to hit last year), but it still has a ways to go.
Minneapolis is the most bikeable city in the US, according to the Redfin Company.
Redfin Company looked across 10,000 neighborhoods and 154 cities in the US to determine which cities were the most bike-friendly
Assistant’s Continued Conversation feature lets you drop all the ‘Hey, Googles’
We first learned that Google would be bringing a Continued Conversation feature to Assistant at Google I/O, when the tech giant unveiled a whole host of exciting new features. And now, Continued Conversation has been launched, and promises to make your interactions with Assistant more natural.