Japan’s latest bullet train begins trial runs that will see it reach 248 mph
Japan has begun testing its next-generation bullet train in trial runs that will see it reach speeds of 248 mph. It’s surely its coolest design to date, too, with the 22-meter-long nose on its front car guaranteed to turn heads.
This is what 60 SpaceX internet satellites packed into a rocket look like
SpaceX is gearing up for the launch this week of its first batch of internet satellites as part of its ambitious Starlink project. SpaceX boss Elon Musk posted a photo over the weekend showing 60 of the small satellites packed into the nose cone of a Falcon 9 rocket, all ready to go.
Lyft is eyeing car rentals for longer trips and weekends away
Although best known for ridesharing, Lyft has recently turned its attention to bike and scootersharing, too. And now it's testing a car rental service in its home city of San Francisco. Customers can use the cars for between one day and two weeks, and reserve extras such as bicycle racks for free.
Boeing shows off Starliner test ahead of launch this summer
Ahead of its planned debut launch in August, Boeing has shared a video of its Starliner capsule undergoing a recent parachute test in which it was dropped from a high-altitude balloon. Similar to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, the Starliner should one day transport astronauts between Earth and the International Space Station.
Nike Fit aims to help you slip into your new sneakers more easily
Nike says a new augmented reality feature for its app should increase the chances of a snug fit for customers buying its shoes online, or even in-store. The process takes less than a minute and involves taking a detailed scan of your feet. Nike Fit launches in the U.S. in July and the following month in Europe.
Amazon Go store opens in New York City — and it’s the first to accept cash
Amazon this week opened its first Go store in New York, bringing the total number of outlets to 12. As part of efforts to deal with criticism that its checkout-free system discriminates against those without a smartphone or bank account, it takes cash payments. The other Go stores are expected to follow suit soon.
Robocalls: Don’t be fooled by the one-ring scam, FCC warns
If you hear your phone ring once in the night, you’d better not return the call unless you know who it's from. The advice comes courtesy of the FCC, which is warning of an uptick in the so-called one-ring scam that tricks people into calling expensive numbers, leaving them with a pricey phone bill.
An electric highway is now powering delivery trucks in Germany
Heavy-duty trucks powered by electricity from overhead lines are now motoring along a stretch of highway near Frankfurt, Germany. The system, designed by engineering giant Siemens, has already been tested in Sweden and the U.S., but the latest setup covers the longest stretch of road to date.
Niagara Falls’ iconic Maid of the Mist tourist boats to go electric
Niagara Falls' Maid of the Mist boats are powered by diesel, but not for much longer. From this fall, tourists will step aboard replacements billed as the first all-electric, zero-emissions passenger vessels to be built in the U.S. The experience promises to be greener and quieter, save for the roar of the falls.
Twitter: Now you can jazz up your retweets with GIFs, photos, and videos
Twitter for Android, iOS, and its mobile site now lets you add GIFs, photos, and videos to retweets. The feature, which the company said people have been asking for, can be enabled in a few quick taps, though it doesn’t yet show properly for the desktop version of Twitter.
After a delayed launch, SpaceX Dragon capsule arrives at the space station
Following its delayed launch last week, SpaceX's Dragon capsule docked successfully with the International Space Station on Monday. The spacecraft is delivering a range of supplies along with a slew of science experiments for the six crew members who are currently aboard the space station.
CC Search is now out of beta and offers access to 300 million images
After several years in beta, Creative Commons has officially launched its search engine offering easy exploration of more than 300 million images that are free to use within certain conditions. The database comprises images from 19 collections, including Flickr and New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Google Maps adds a new tab showing restaurants’ most popular dishes
Google Maps is testing a new Popular tab to make it easier to order a tasty-looking restaurant dish that you've spotted on the app. Photos of meals on Google Maps don’t always show the dish name, but the new feature aims to change that by pulling together information from multiple entries.
SpaceX says its Crew Dragon capsule was destroyed in recent test mishap
SpaceX has confirmed that last month's test firing of thrusters on its Crew Dragon capsule resulted in an explosion that completely destroyed the spacecraft. The company said that no one was injured in the incident and that it's continuing to investigate what caused the failure.
Drone delivers lifesaving kidney for transplant patient in world first
A medical facility in Maryland has become the first to use a drone to deliver a kidney for transplant into a patient. The specially built drone is capable of maintaining and monitoring a viable human organ during flight. The transplant operation was deemed a success and the female patient left hospital this week.
New task force to take on rogue drone pilots flying near airports
A new task force has been set up to tackle the problem of drone incursions at U.S. airports, with the Federal Aviation Administration saying it now receives as many as 100 such reports a month. Up to now, rogue drone flights have forced a number of airports to suspend operations over safety fears.
U.K. opens its first checkout-free store, but it’s not Amazon Go
The U.K. has opened its first checkout-free store, but it's not operated by Amazon, the pioneer of the format. It was launched by Sainsbury's, a major supermarket chain. The system is different from Amazon Go, as it requires shoppers to scan items using a smartphone app while they shop.
The massive Airlander 10 flying machine could go all-electric
The British company behind the massive Airlander 10 aircraft has announced plans to build a new version that replaces its diesel-burning engines with electric-powered alternatives. The flying machine could one day be used for anything from pleasure trips and passenger travel to cargo transportation and aid delivery.
Anki, the startup that made little A.I. robots, is closing down
Anki, a San Francisco-based startup that brought us home robots such as Vector and Cozmo, is reportedly closing down after failing to find further funding to keep the business running. Anki was founded by roboticists from Carnegie Mellon University with a mission to bring objects to life through robotics and A.I.
United Airlines covers seatback cameras to allay privacy concerns
United Airlines has decided to cover the cameras on its latest seatback entertainment displays. The move comes a couple of months after some Singapore Airlines passengers expressed privacy concerns over such cameras. Both airlines have said the cameras aren’t connected and they have no plan to activate them.
Apple is recalling faulty plug adapters over risk of electric shock
Apple is recalling certain three-prong AC wall plug adapters shipped with Mac and some iOS devices between 2003 and 2010, and also sold as part of the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit. The company said that in rare cases it could break and, as a consequence, create a risk of electric shock if touched.
Ford’s self-braking shopping cart offers crash-free supermarket trips
Ford has created a self-braking shopping cart designed to stop kids from smashing into things when they take off with one in the supermarket. But sadly for put-upon parents, the cart won't be commercialized, as its main purpose is to highlight the automaker's Pre-collision Assist technology.
Amazon Prime to get faster deliveries with one-day shipping pledge
In a bid to attract more Prime members and increase orders, Amazon is planning to halve its two-day delivery pledge for Prime customers worldwide, getting ordered goods to doorsteps in just one day. The company hopes improved delivery times will help it to stay ahead of rivals such as Walmart and Target.
A giant carb-free potato has just become an Airbnb rental
It's a big spud (kind of) but a really small Airbnb rental. The accommodation service's collection of quirky rentals just got a little quirkier with this latest addition, a giant potato prop that once toured around promoting Idaho's most famous crop. The Big Idaho Potato Hotel starts accepting guests in June 2019.
Selfie-taking millennials told to stop trampling about in Dutch tulip fields
Selfie snappers are causing damage to fields of tulips in the Netherlands, with local growers complaining of travelers trampling the flowers in search of the best shot. The problem has become so bad that tourism officials are considering using physical barriers to stop people from entering the fields.
Google’s redesigned Fit activity tracker is now an iOS app
Google Fit has landed for iOS. The activity tracker offers the same clean design that came with the major revamp of the Android version a year ago, with also includes features such as Move Minutes and Heart Points, created in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association.
Postmates expands to 1,000 more cities to take on DoorDash and Uber Eats
Postmates has expanded its on-demand delivery service to 1,000 more cities, taking the total number served to more than 3,500 across all 50 states and putting it within reach of 70% of households. It is currently the 4th-largest app-based meal delivery service in the country in terms of consumer spend.
You can soon take your Amazon returns to any Kohl’s store across the U.S.
Amazon has offered returns via a limited number of Kohl's stores since 2017, but the service is about to expand to all 1,150 of its outlets across 48 states. Kohl’s hopes the free service will help increase traffic to its stores and score it a few more sales as customers stay to browse its offerings.
Google Maps now shows EV owners which charging stations are occupied
Google just beefed up its Maps app with extra data to help EV owners find the nearest charging station. Drivers can also find out the number and types of ports available, and whether they're occupied, and get information about the business where the charging station is located. You can even leave a review!