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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Vine co-founder launches beta test for new video-looping app Byte
Vine co-founder Dom Hofmann has finally launched the beta version of Byte, a new video-looping app expected to closely resemble the one that closed down in 2017 after owner Twitter withdrew support. Only 100 testers are included in the initial test phase, though many more will be added gradually.
Hawaiian botanists’ drone discovers a plant thought to be lost forever
In what may be a world first, botanists in Hawaii have used a drone to find a species of plant that scientists believed was extinct. The camera-equipped flying machine was used to get close to a sheer cliff face on the island of Kauai, where the plant was first spotted in 1991.
Video doorbell alert leads homeowner to confront suspected porch pirate
Video doorbells are doing their bit to help homeowners fight back against porch pirates, as this recent incident in Long Beach, California, shows. The motion-activated device alerted the owner that something was happening, prompting her to challenge the suspect right there on the doorstep.
Puma is looking for volunteers to test its self-lacing sports shoe
Puma unveiled its high-tech self-lacing shoe at the start of the year, and now it's looking for volunteers from around the world to try it out and offer feedback so it can finalize the design prior to its 2020 launch. The footwear will compete with Nike’s BB Adapt self-lacing shoe, which hit the market in February.
Russia’s robot news anchor gives human TV presenters hope
Human news anchors anxious about robots taking their jobs will be feeling reassured this week after the appearance on Russian TV of a news-reading android that clearly needs a bit of work. Alex, as it’s called, read various news items, but some in the audience found the robot’s delivery a little on the stilted side.
Facebook says it unintentionally uploaded email contacts of 1.5 million users
Facebook says over the last two years it unintentionally uploaded the email contacts of 1.5 million users as they signed up to the service. The process has now been halted and the email addresses are being deleted. Users whose contacts were taken without prior permission are also being contacted.
NASA chooses a special spot for its next crewed moon landing
Following the U.S. government's announcement last month of a desire to see American astronauts set foot on the moon again in the next five years, NASA has revealed a location on the lunar surface where it would most like to land. It’s the South Pole, a place no previous crewed mission has visited.
Notre Dame fire: How drones and a robot called Colossus helped limit the damage
The fire that devastated France's iconic Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday shocked many around the world. As part of its efforts to contain the blaze, firefighters deployed drones and a robot called Colossus — a move that almost certainly helped to prevent even worse damage to the structure.
Twitter has revealed a launch date for its handy hide replies features
Twitter said it will launch a feature in June that lets users hide replies to their tweets. The hope is that the option will help the original poster filter out offensive or irrelevant content from conversation threads and pave the way for more respectful and meaningful exchanges on the platform.
Watch a pack of SpotMini robot dogs perform a terrifying feat of strength
Boston Dynamics’ SpotMini robotic dog is already a stunning creation, but look what 10 of them can achieve when they work together. The company confirmed this week that SpotMinis are now rolling off the production line and will be available for a range of applications soon.
SpaceX’s main Falcon Heavy booster is lost at sea after falling off drone ship
SpaceX has lost the center core of its Falcon Heavy rocket after it fell in the sea following its mission last Thursday. The company said rough sea conditions resulted in the booster shifting on the drone ship before toppling over and falling into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.
No more moon showers as Facebook Messenger’s dark mode gets official rollout
Facebook Messenger launched a dark mode last month, but to activate it you had to message the crescent moon to someone. Now it's been rolled out officially, and it can be accessed in settings. Messenger is one of a growing number of apps to offer a dark mode that can ease eye strain and conserve battery power.
Apple has a weird issue with its second-generation Pencil
Apple's second-generation Pencil is causing an issue with some vehicles' keyless entry devices, according to the tech company. Notes on its website confirm that if it's in charging mode and is positioned close to the key fob, interference can prevent the device from unlocking the vehicle.
Lyft pulls thousands of ebikes from three U.S. cities over safety issue
A brake problem affecting 3,000 electric bikes operated by Lyft-owned Citi Bike, Capital Bikeshare, and Ford GoBike has prompted the company to take the two-wheelers out of service until the issue is resolved. The app-based bikesharing services operate in New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco.
LinkedIn: Now you can express love, curiosity, and more with new Reactions
LinkedIn is following in the footsteps of Facebook (three years later!) with the rollout of new reactions that give users more ways to express themselves when responding to posts in their feed. This means that alongside the like button you’ll now see symbols for celebrate, love, insightful, and curious.
Watch the huge Stratolaunch plane take to the skies for the very first time
The massive Stratolaunch aircraft -- the world's largest in terms of wingspan -- completed its maiden flight in California on Saturday. The aircraft, which could one day serve as a launch vehicle for satellites, stayed in the air for 2.5 hours before its test pilots brought it safely back to base.
Twitter’s experimental Twttr app is even more popular than the real thing
Twttr, the recently launched app that lets regular Twitter users test new features, is proving more popular than the main app, according to the company. Some of the recent innovations on Twttr are a hit with users, suggesting they could be rolled out to the wider Twitter community before too long.
Amazon reportedly has thousands of workers listening to Alexa chats
Amazon says it sometimes uses your spoken requests to help it improve the accuracy of its Alexa digital assistant, but did you know that teams of humans around the world are reportedly doing some of the listening? A report on Wednesday claimed thousands of people are employed by Amazon to carry out such work.
Amazon’s checkout-free stores are planning to accept customers’ cash
Shoppers at Amazon’s cashier-free stores may soon be squeezing past customers waiting in line to pay by cash. Following criticism that such stores discriminate against those without a bank account or smartphone, Amazon Go is reportedly making plans to accept cash payments.