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Latest by Bruce Brown

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Tesla staff members score lowest on car salesroom test — by design

Compared to traditional car sales personnel, Tesla showroom Product Specialists are more like "museum curators," just as CEO Elon Musk wants them to behave.
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Not all jobs equally threatened by robotics in next decade — how about yours?

A McKinsey & Company report predicts change in most jobs due to automation during the next decade. In some cases the least skilled jobs may be safest.
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Get more than your kicks on Route 66 — get your energy there, too

Get your energy on Route 66. That may not be a great song title, but could describe new technology to be tested on the famed highway later this year.
Elon Musk

Top Secret Tesla Masterplan, part 2 is expected this week

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter this weekend that part 2 of the Tesla Motors 'Secret Master Plan' will be published soon, possibly this week.
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Google Self-Driving Car Project could become a company under Alphabet

With recent hirings of key personnel the Google Self-Driving Car Project may be positioning to become an independent company in the Alphabet group.
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If you stay in hotels often enough you may never need to pay for Uber again

Uber has partnered with the Kaligo hotel booking service so you can earn free Uber rides with every hotel stay booked through Kaligo.com.
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Fast charging system for electric buses — quicker than filling a tank

U.S. electric bus manufacturer Proterra designs a fast-charging system that's quicker than filling a diesel tank. Proterra is open sourcing the patents.
2015 S65 AMG Coupe

No surprises as first driver-assistance tests begin — cars with more tech did better

The first objective third-party autonomous car test shows that cars with more advanced driver assistance score better, as expected.
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Multitasking backfires, leads to less, not more productivity, study finds

Becoming habituated to multitasking ends up leaving you less productive, exhausted, and maybe a little neurotic. It's much better to focus on one task.
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LG Electronics and VW want to empower your car to run your smart home

LG and VW announced a development collaboration on what the two companies referred to as the "next-generation platform" of car connectivity.
Tesla Model 3

Punishing success?: California may change its zero-emissions rules midstream

Facing unexpected success with its program of Zero Emission Vehicle marketshare proportions and credits, California is considering changing midstream.
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Most consumers OK with giving up boring driving chores but want the fun parts

Recent surveys show the majority of drivers are OK with cars doing the boring parts of driving but demand the ability to drive when they need to or want to.
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Microsoft’s new Skype Meetings caters to the Office 365 Business crowd

Microsoft launched a business-focused, web-based videoconference service called Skype Meetings. The big draw is Office 365 integration for paid users.
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Google Self-Driving Car Project learning to live with cyclists

It's not just because many Google engineers are cyclists, but Google self-driving cars are programmed to anticipate cyclists moves and drive conservatively.
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Online used-car marketplace Beepi now leases and delivers cars almost nationwide

Online used-car marketplace Beepi with 360-degree views inside and out now delivers to buyers in most states and leases cars, too.
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Free condoms at Olympics promote safe sex — and rainforest preservation

To promote rainforest protection and safe sex, the government of Brazil is going to distribute 9 million free condoms during the August Olympics.
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San Francisco officials propose payroll tax aimed solely at tech companies

The rising cost of San Francisco housing, attributed by some to heavy tech company presence, has led city officials to mull a payroll tax for tech firms.
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Uber and Lyft drivers now have another option — rent from Hertz

Expanding on an initial pilot program with Lyft, Hertz is now entering into rental agreements with both Uber and Lyft for weekly driver rentals.
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Surge pricing for food delivery could be coming soon

Competition for drivers for an increasing number of on-demand delivery services is bringing surge pricing to more than just Uber and Lyft.
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Ouch! Don’t leave the garage with your Tesla Falcon Wing doors open

The Tesla Model X has doors the swing up for ease of exit in close quarters, but you're supposed to close them before you drive off.
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CBRE unveils top 25 cities for tech workers and firms in the US and Canada

Whether you're looking for a tech job or starting a new company, CBRE's 2016 Tech Talent report is loaded with insights about U.S. and Canadian tech cities.
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Machine whips up breakfast for you, took only 1,000 hours to build

Two men determined to please their wives constructed a machine that makes breakfast. It's a real time-saver that only took 1,000 hours to build.
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The Wallace modular shelving system is designed to resist falling off the wall

Free up your floor space with Swenyo's Wallace modular shelving system kits. Mounts and rails are designed to hold weight without falling off the wall.
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Envisioning a home without housework, with all services included

A British architectural exhibit called "Months" offers an alternative shared-economy, shared living-space model based on how you use spaces over time.
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Three US companies expected to dominate the Internet of Things

With the coming Internet of Things infrastructure rollout during the next several years, three U.S. companies with existing technologies are ready to rule.
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Are you on the list? Google Fiber is going to these cities next

Google has made public plans for upcoming and potential Google Fiber expansion. Currently in six U.S. cities, Google Fiber is going to six more cities soon.
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Dieselgate: VW says 3-liter diesels can likely be repaired instead of bought back

Owners of the cheating 2.0 liter diesel-powered VW Group cars are to be offered buybacks; a smaller group of 3.0 liter cars could be repaired without them.
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Updated – Is BMW teaming up with Intel, Mobileye to develop autonomous vehicles?

BMW, chip-maker Intel, and machine vision technology firm Mobileye will make a joint announcement Friday, July 1. An autonomous car venture is expected.
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Not ready for your close-up? Fend off paparazzi with this flash-proof scarf

Discovered and inspired by accident when a photo flash reflection obscured his friends' faces, Saif Siddiqui now creates fashionable privacy accessories.
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Netherlands first to establish nationwide Internet of Things network

Leading the rest of the world, the Netherlands is now ready for the Internet of Things with nationwide Long Range (LoRa) wireless network coverage.
Zika mosquito gene drive - aedes aegypti

CDC and WHO recommend no unprotected sex for six months after Zika infection

Scientists are finding ways to transfer funds from other programs to study Zika. The initial concern is how long Zika remains transmittable in semen.
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Ruby Tuesday Supercharger stations to give Tesla owners a boost

Ruby Tuesday opened its first Tesla Supercharger station in Missouri this week and intends to open more in restaurants across the country.
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Uber to start watching its drivers more closely

In two tests in different groups of cities, Uber is going to monitor its drivers. One test will monitor ride smoothness, the other texting while driving.
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There are no jobs on Mars yet, but NASA’s recruiting posters are ready for you

NASA's recruiting posters at the Kennedy Space Center for people to join the Martian Corps are now available to download and print for personal use.