Amazon knocks $30 off its Paperwhite ebook reader in limited-time deal
Amazon is running a couple of limited-time deals for its Paperwhite ebook reader. One offers a $30 discount giving it a $100 price tag, while the other throws in a pair of headphones and a free, extended Audible trial. The latest version of the Paperwhite launched last month and is now waterproof.
Full-fledged drone delivery service set to land in remote Canadian community
Some drone delivery operations seem rather crude in their execution, but Drone Delivery Canada is building a comprehensive platform that's aiming to take drone delivery to the next level. Part of its work includes the imminent launch of a service between two remote communities in northern Canada.
Leica targets street photographers with a pricey camera bundle
Described by the camera company as "your perfect companion in the city," Leica's Street Kit for street photographers comprises a Leica CL camera body, a Leica Summicron-TL 23mm (35mm full-frame equivalent) F2 lens, two batteries, a black handgrip, and a Leica-branded black leather carrying strap.
Lime’s dockless electric bikes land in London, but its scooters aren’t allowed
Lime has landed in London with its dockless bikesharing service. The pedal-assisted electric bikes are unlocked using Lime's smartphone app and can reach speeds of 15 mph. It plans to have 1,000 bikes on the streets of the capital before the end of the year, with more planned for 2019.
Google’s updated Santa Tracker entertains and teaches coding throughout December
Google's Santa Tracker is in its fifteenth year and is back again with even more features. You can have fun with more than 20 games, learn about different holiday traditions around the world, and enjoy some festive animations. There's also a chance to learn some basic coding, all Christmas-related, of course.
Elon Musk to unveil tunnel elevators and autonomous pods on December 18
We'll soon learn if Elon Musk's high-speed tunnel plan is a serious effort to relieve traffic congestion or little more than a fancy theme park ride. Musk has announced a big unveiling event for December 18 that will show off not only a tunnel but also a ground-to-tunnel car elevator and an autonomous passenger pod.
Robot janitors will soon be scrubbing the floors at your local Walmart
Hundreds of robot janitors will soon be working at Walmart stores across the U.S. The company says the autonomous floor scrubbers will free its human staff from monotonous tasks, giving them more time to focus on customers. The rollout follows in-store testing of the technology over the last year.
Apple’s first iPhone XR case lets you show off your handset’s color
Apple has released its first case for the iPhone XR. Costing $39, it has a clear back to let you show off the color of your phone, whichever of the six options you chose. The case comprises a blend of polycarbonate and flexible TPU materials, and includes a scratch-resistant coating inside and out.
Alphabet’s ‘Wing’ delivery drones are on their way to Europe
Google-parent Alphabet is taking its "Wing" drone delivery project to Finland. The move follows 18 months of trials in Australia and gives the team the chance to test its technology in a harsh winter climate. The pilot service starts in Helsinki in 2019, but first the team wants ideas from locals about what to deliver.
Broadway actor tells Kanye West to get off his phone during opening night
During the opening night of the new Broadway production The Cher Show on Monday, one of the lead actors spotted Kanye West using his smartphone mid-performance. Jarrod Spector, who plays Sonny Bono in the musical, called him out via a tweet during the show, prompting West to offer an apology.
NYPD has added a bunch of quadcopters to its crime-fighting kit
The New York Police Department is to start using quadcopters in its crime-fighting work. Trained cops will have access to various models — all made by DJI — for use in particular situations such as search-and-rescue missions, hostage situations, and hazardous material incidents.
The highest-paid YouTuber is currently a 7-year-old kid
He's only 7 years old and he's already earning $22 million a year on YouTube. OK, his parents set up the channel, but little Ryan is the star of the show, with his toys- and games-based channel followed by 17 million fans around the world. And the channel has only been active for three years.
Apple opens new online store with discounts for veterans and active military
Apple has launched a dedicated online store for former and current members of the armed forces, as well as their immediate families. Those shopping at the store can enjoy a 10 percent discount on most Apple products, including the latest iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, and also a bunch of third-party products.
SpaceX’s latest Falcon 9 rocket launch set multiple records
SpaceX embarked on its latest mission on Monday, December 3, setting four new records in the process, including one for the most satellites deployed by a single rocket in a U.S.-led operation. There was one disappointment, as its recovery ship couldn't catch the rocket fairing as it returned to Earth.
Is Amazon planning to take its cashier-free technology to much larger stores?
Amazon is considering taking its cashier-free technology to stores much larger than its current Amazon Go sites, a new report claims. The company already operates seven Amazon Go stores across the U.S., but could be considering trying the tech out at Whole Foods, which it acquired last year.
Cops chased a Tesla for 7 miles while its driver appeared to be sleeping
Cops in California recently spotted a Tesla Model S motoring along the highway at 70 mph with the driver apparently asleep at the wheel. The case is still being investigated, but it appears that the Tesla's self-driving features and the officers' skillful driving helped to safely end the incident.
Hotel chain offers an Instagram ‘sitter’ who will post photos for you
If the pressure to post stunning Instagram photos is ruining your vacations, then better take your next trip in Switzerland. A hotel chain there is offering the services of a local Instagram influencer to take control of your account and post great images to it while you go off and enjoy yourself.
Lyft pumps $100 million into major expansion of New York City’s Citi Bike
Lyft will more than triple the size of Citi Bike, NY City's bikesharing service. A $100 million investment will see the service grow from 12,000 bikes to 40,000 over the next five years. The news comes as Lyft confirmed its acquisition of Motivate, North America's largest bikesharing operator, which runs Citi Bike.
Beautiful space station time-lapse takes us on a tour of the world
International Space Station astronaut Alexander Gerst has released a beautiful time-lapse as part of the station's recent 20th anniversary celebrations. Comprising more than 21,000 images, the video takes us on a breathtaking journey around Earth as day turns to night, and night to day.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company hits setback, abandons L.A. tunnel project
Elon Musk's Boring Company has ditched plans to build a test tunnel in Los Angeles for its ambitious high-speed transit system following a dispute with local community groups that were opposed to the project. It's a disappointing setback for the company, and also an indication of the kind of challenges that lie ahead.
It’s time to change your password again as Dell reveals attempted hack
Computer giant Dell said on Wednesday, November 28 that it recently spotted an attempt by hackers to steal customer data. The cybercriminals are believed to have gone after personal information, though the firm doesn't believe any credit card information was taken. The investigation is ongoing.
Lime’s app-based bikesharing service arrives in the U.K.
Lime has launched its first app-based bike-sharing service in the U.K. The firm has chosen the town of Milton Keynes for its U.K. launch, though fees are significantly higher than in the U.S. Lime has expanded rapidly since starting out in 2017, and now has a presence in more than 100 location in 16 countries.
What was Amazon’s biggest-selling item on Cyber Monday? Take a guess
Across the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, Amazon said customers ordered a staggering 180 million items via its U.S. site alone, while globally Monday was its busiest shopping day ever in terms of the number of items sold. But can you guess which product sold more than any other?
Google Maps makes reviews more useful with hashtag support
In its latest grab from the world of social media, Google Maps now supports hashtags in reviews for businesses. Initially for Android only, the hashtags can be added to reviews both new and old. Google Maps also recently made it possible for users to follow their favorite businesses, and message them, too.
Volvo’s self-driving trucks are ready to start work at a mine in Norway
Volvo is about to launch its first-ever commercial operation using its driverless truck technology. A deal with a Norwegian mining firm will see six of its autonomous vehicles carry limestone between the mine and a port in an operation aimed at boosting productivity and reliability, as well as safety.
Apple aims to get kids into coding with free classes at its stores worldwide
Apple is offering free coding classes for students at Apple Stores globally from December. Kids aged between 6 and 12 can explore coding with robots, while those aged 12 and above can learn Swift, Apple's programming language that's used by professional developers to build some of the world's most popular apps.
YouTube tries bundling ads together for a better viewing experience
In a bid to improve the viewing experience for its 1.8 billion users around the world, YouTube is testing a system that bundles ads together to reduce the number of interruptions during the main video. The company says that the new method reduces the number of interruptions during the main video by up to 40 percent.
USPS fixes online flaw that exposed the data of 60 million customers
The United States Postal Service has patched an online security flaw that allowed anyone with an account at usps.com to view the account details of any of the 60 million people signed up to the service. In some cases, the flaw even allowed for changes to be made to information held by the accounts.
Dangle no more: Window-washing drone for towers could replace human cleaners
The maker of a window-washing drone for tall buildings claims it can do the job 20 times faster than humans and is much safer than using workers in cradles. The 12-rotor flying machine draws power and water from sources on the ground, and is tethered to the top of the building for safety.