Huawei taps TomTom to help it navigate to a Google Maps alternative
After being cut off from Google by the U.S. government in response to apparent security concerns regarding Chinese tech firms, Huawei has been looking for ways to build alternative services now that it can no longer use Google apps on its new phones. For starters, it’s inked a deal with TomTom to replace Google Maps.
A bookstore’s tweet lamenting lack of visitors results in heartwarming tale
An independent bookstore in a small English town was having an unusually quiet day earlier this week, so staff tweeted a message about it. The post quickly went viral, leading to a deluge of orders and an uptick in visitors. The owner said the response blew him away, adding that it would “really make a difference.”
Waymo and Renault eye Paris for full-fledged robo-taxi service
Waymo and Renault are exploring the idea of launching a robo-taxi service in Paris for a route between Charles de Gaulle Airport and a major business district about 20 miles away. If it goes ahead, it would mark the first time for Waymo to take its autonomous-vehicle technology overseas.
Toyota to recall nearly 700,000 newer vehicles that could stall mid-drive
Toyota is recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles across multiple models. The recall due to a faulty fuel pump, which, if it fails, could lead to a stall and potentially an accident. The recall affects 2018-2019 vehicles, with affected owners set to be contacted by first-class mail in March 2020.
Instagram food porn: Top U.K. chef reignites debate over diners’ meal pics
To snap a pic or not to snap a pic. That is the question currently being asked by restaurateurs after a top chef said recently that it bothers him when diners spend time taking photos of his dishes. Heston Blumenthal said a lot of people seem more interested in snapping a picture so they can post it on social media.
U.K.’s busiest airport deploys new anti-drone system for safer skies
London Heathrow, the U.K.'s busiest airport, has installed a new safety system capable of detecting rogue drones flying nearby, and also of pinpointing the person operating it. The technology’s deployment follows increasing reports of unauthorized drones flying in restricted areas close to airports around the world.
Amazon pushes again to rid its shopping site of counterfeit goods
Amazon's ongoing battle to rid its shopping site of fake goods has reportedly prompted it to take renewed action targeting third-party sellers who trade in such items. The efforts are thought to include an agreement to contact law enforcement more quickly and to hand over more information about suspected sellers.
U.S. may call a halt to its civilian drone program over security fears
The United States government is about to ban the use of Chinese-made drones in its work, a report by the FT claims. The Department of Interior has been using the machines for various tasks, but recently suspended their use over security fears while it conducted a review.
Phishing scam costs a Texas school district more than $2 million
A Texas school district has revealed it was recently tricked into handing over more than $2 million in an email phishing scam. The money was transferred to the perpetrator in three separate transactions in November 2019, according to reports, and the FBI is now investigating the incident.
Colorado cops call in FBI in hunt for mysterious drones
Cops in Colorado and Nebraska have set up a special task force that includes the FBI in a bid to track down the person or people behind mysterious drone flights apparently taking place there. Sightings by cops and members of the public describe a fleet of up to 17 large machines flying in formation at night.
GoPro’s defunct Karma drone has suddenly stopped working, owners claim
GoPro exited the drone market in 2018, but those who bought its Karma quadcopter could still fly it if they wished — or they could until January 1. Karma owners around the world have been complaining that since the start of the year, several issues have suddenly appeared that prevent it from working as it should.
Comedian’s Facebook followers raise a colossal $30M for Aussie bushfire aid
Australian comedian Celeste Barber only aimed to raise $30,000 with her online fundraising campaign to help those affected by the bushfires in her home country. But her social media followers have given way, way more, so far donating $30 million in the space of just four days.
Boeing discovers another potential issue with the troubled 737 Max
Boeing's 737 Max jets remain grounded following two fatal crashes involving the plane. As it works to fix the software that contributed to the disasters, it's discovered another potential issue involving wiring that controls its tail. Engineers are now evaluating whether further design changes are needed.
Vector the social robot has good news for its human buddies
The future of the Vector social robot has been uncertain since its creator, Anki, closed down in 2019. But now a Pittsburgh firm has stepped in to give the robot a new lease of life. When it launched in 2018, the diminutive robot was praised for its advanced features and ability to convey an array of emotions.
Cows in VR goggles and 14 other stories that gave us a giggle in 2019
As another frenetic year in tech comes to a close, we’re looking on the lighter side with 15 stories from the Digital Trends archive that gave us a giggle in 2019. The picks include cows in VR goggles, a self-driving golf ball, an edible iPhone case, and a quirky Airbnb rental. Steve Ballmer gets a mention, too.
Wyze customers hit by online data leak, company confirms
Data linked to around 2.4 million Wyze customers was left exposed online for three weeks in December, the Seattle-based smart home company has confirmed. It said that no financial information or passwords were exposed in the leak and that it took the data offline the moment it learned of the error.
Colorado cops puzzled by fleets of large drones flying overhead
Cops in Colorado have reported seeing fleets of large drones flying overhead on consecutive nights this month, but have so far been unable to work out what the remotely controlled machines are doing. They appear in a group of up to 17 drones with colorful lights, and fly at an altitude of around 250 feet.
Twitter stops some images from animating to protect those with epilepsy
The Epilepsy Foundation’s Twitter account was recently bombarded with flashing images designed to trigger a seizure among those with the condition. Twitter this week announced a change to its handling of Animated PNG files aimed at reducing the chances of a similar kind of incident happening again.
FAA proposes nationwide real-time tracking system for all drones
The FAA is exploring the idea of tracking all airborne drones around the clock, as well as connected pilot IDs. The agency says the proposed tracking network would be “an important building block in the unmanned traffic management ecosystem.” A 60-day consultation period is about to open inviting anyone to comment.
DJI patent describes a remote-controlled rover with a camera attached
While DJI continues to launch new drones, a newly uncovered patent suggests it may also be considering a camera-equipped, remote-controlled rover for filmmakers. Compared to drones, a small rover like the one described in the filing would be easier to operate in interiors, or in outdoor locations where space is tight.
GM requests green light to ditch steering wheel in its self-driving cars
General Motors has asked regulators to allow it to test a limited number of autonomous cars without a steering wheel. Currently, all self-driving cars have one in place, with most also including a back-up driver ready to step in if something goes awry. The NHTSA is expected to respond to General Motors’ request soon.
This flying robot-vacuum is not an altogether terrible idea
A flying robovac sounds like a pretty dangerous contraption, and that's because it is. Still, that didn't stop one guy from building such a device and showing it off on YouTube. The flying cleaner clearly needs some work, but it’s not an altogether terrible solution for multilevel properties.
Here’s how to track Santa on his busiest night of the year
If you have kids, or if you're a big kid yourself, then go check out a couple of online offerings that’ll show you Santa's whereabouts as he makes his way around the world on Christmas Eve. Besides the Santa tracker, the websites and apps also offer fun activities to keep everyone entertained until the big day.
Listen to the soothing sound coming to London’s electric buses
Electric vehicles make very little noise at low speed, and that can be dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, and the visually impaired. In a bid to improve safety on the streets of London, the city’s growing fleet of electric buses will soon test a specially created sound so that people know when one is nearby.
With Ariv ebike, GM cycles into a new market
When General Motors launched a public campaign last year to name its new ebike brand, many wondered if Bikey McBikeface might win out. But it didn't. Instead, it's called Arīv, and the two bikes are up for pre-order this week. One is foldable and one isn't, and each has a range of about 40 miles.
Photoshop fail gives Aussie leader two left feet in official portrait
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison doesn't have two left feet, despite an official photograph of the leader and his family suggesting otherwise. It was, of course, a Photoshop fail, and the embarrassing snafu was soon trending on Twitter. But at least he could see the funny side.
Awesome time-lapse shows Mount Everest in all its nighttime glory
A Canadian photographer braved freezing nights to shoot this wonderful time-lapse of Mount Everest and the night sky.