Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Microsoft's Cortana crosses over to iOS and Android
This article, Microsoft's Cortana crosses over to iOS and Android, originally appeared on CNET.com.
Other Space Director Paul Feig: Virtual Reality is No Joke
To check out one possible future of video entertainment, I recently took a trip to the
First Self-Driving Semi Hits American Roads Self-driving cars seem likely enough; there’s still several tech and legal hurdles to clear, not to mention the question of how much they’ll cost, but most experts inside and out of the auto industry see them as inevitable given enough time. Now, Daimler’s Freightliner unit wants to push long-haul trucking in the same direction. Unveiled atop the Hoover Dam, the Freightliner Inspiration Truck is the first semi granted a license in the United States for autonomous driving, for tests on Nevada highways (note the special license plate in the photos below.) Equipped with arrays of cameras and radars, along with extensive software controls, the two Inspiration Trucks built by Freightliner can steer in a lane, maintain speeds and brake without human intervention at highway speeds. It also has to know when to alert the driver to take control; that driver of course has to handle all non-highway duties as well. First Self-Driving Semi Hits American Roads While Freightliner has shown off concept trucks in the past, the Inspiration trucks are far less dramatic and futuristic. Freighliner execs say such models will eventually reach production, because many of the same anticipated benefits of self-driving cars — improved safety, better fuel efficiency — apply to commercial vehicles as well. But in the business world, cost matters most of all, and given how nascent the technology is, the cost benefits remain hypothetical. There’s also the issue of the people who make their living driving trucks, and what a machine like this means for them. Freightliner emphasized in its demo that the Inspiration trucks were not close to driver-free machines, saying drivers of future production models “can optimize their time on the road while also handling other important logistical tasks, from scheduling to routing.” Long-haul trucking isn’t an office job yet, but if the Inspiration truck is any guide, it may be heading down that road.
The 27-year-old son son of China’s richest man is causing quite a stir in Shanghai after posting photos of his dog wearing two gold Apple Watches (AAPL) with the caption, “I have new watches! I'm supposed to have four watches since I have four long legs. But that seems too uncouth so I kept it down to two, which totally fits my status. Do you have one?”
What makes a car 'American'?
It's been almost 40 years since the first U.S.-built Volkswagen Rabbit rolled off an assembly line in Westmoreland, Pa., forever changing the definition of “American car.”
Friday, April 17, 2015
You Will Have to Wait Until After May to Buy an Apple Watch in a Store
There will be no typical Apple superfan sidewalk lines on the Watch’s April 24 release date. (Reuters)
The six percent of Americans that are reportedly planning to get an Apple Watch will likely have to wait until summer to buy one in a four-walled Apple store.
Google your lost phone's location
If you misplace your Android handset, a simple web search is now all it takes to relocate it.
The new and simple to use feature is free and should work with any Android smartphone as long as it's running the latest version of the Google app.
Pioneer Brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Any Car
If you’ve driven a car made in the last couple of years, it probably came with its own navigation system, real-time traffic and weather updates, satellite and Internet radio stations, even a way to search for nearby gas stations and ATMs.
You probably also found it really annoying to get to all these things, especially while barreling down the highway at 70 mph. Generally speaking, car makers and their technology partners are lousy at building user interfaces.
Instagram Institutes Harsher Rules to Control Harassment, Porn, and Nudity
Instagram revealed new community guidelines today that were designed to cut down on harassment and pornography. This is the biggest change to the guidelines since Instagram was
Everything You Need to Know About Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Apple and Google are taking their epic mobile-device battle into your next car. Both companies now offer a way to connect to and control your phone from your vehicle’s in-dash infotainment system.
Jawbone Announces the UP4, a Slim Fitness Tracker That Also Makes Paymen
The band comes with an NFC chip that connects to American Express cards. (Photo: Jawbone)
The same wearables that track your exercise and sleep will soon be able to pay for your candy bars, too.
Mercedes-Benz Pickup To Be Badged A “GLT”
Mercedes-Benz Pickup To Be Badged A “GLT”
Mercedes-Benz is officially working on a pickup truck, though whether or not the vehicle will make it to the U.S. is still up in the air. A few things we
Best Used Cars Under $10,000
Need new wheels but have a tight budget? Don’t let that frustrate or worry you. There are a wide variety of models out there to suit your needs, and it’s easy to find a solid, reliable car with all the features you need. Just follow a few simple rules:
Sammy Hagar’s Still Waiting For His LaFerrari to Fly
We’re following rock ‘n’ roll legend Sammy Hagar as he becomes one of 499 people in the world to own a LaFerrari. Here’s the next leg of the journey — Ed.
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