Uber is moving its self-driving cars from California to Arizona
Uber’s self-driving vehicle tests on the streets of San Francisco ended earlier this week when the California DMV stepped in. The state revoked the registrations on Uber’s self-driving cars after the company flew in the face of both city and state officials, claiming it would continue operating in San Francisco without a permit. After all the back and forth, Uber is now taking its self-driving vehicles elsewhere — specifically to the streets of Arizona.
Although Uber hinted that such a move was likely, San Jose Mercury News reporter Marisa Kendall broke the news on Twitter today:
BREAKING: After defeat in California @Uber is moving its self-driving cars to Arizona, will begin testing there in next few weeks. @mercnews pic.twitter.com/CVl5PGRP9e
— Marisa Kendall (@MarisaKendall) December 22, 2016
An Uber spokesperson also told Engadget, that the fleet of customized Volvo XC90 SUVs actually shipped out for Arizona on one of the company’s Otto trucks Thursday morning, and that they will start rolling out there “in the next few weeks” with the support of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey.
While Ducey has voiced that support on Twitter, VentureBeat notes that the state is making strides to create a formal policy on self-driving vehicles by gathering a committee of transportation, policy and public safety experts. Despite all that, the move may have still been a surprise to Arizona officials: the AZDOT is reportedly unaware that Uber would be bringing its self-driving fleet to the state this soon.
Via: TechCrunch, VentureBeat
Steam’s Winter Sale arrives with deals on ‘Doom’ and ‘Watch Dogs 2’
Happy holidays from Valve: Steam’s yearly fire sale is happening from now until January 2nd. So, you’ve got a few more days to snag a deal on Firewatch, Doom, Farming Simulator 17 and loads of other games you might have missed this year.
If you’re a PC gamer and still haven’t picked up Watch Dogs 2, you’re in luck because it’s currently $20 off. That gloriously brutal Doom reboot is currently going for under $20, making it a good time to catch up on your yearly quota of chainsaw kills. (The original Doom franchise games are currently dirt cheap as well.) On the other hand, if your gaming habits tend to be more tranquil, the stylish indie mystery Firewatch is also on sale for a cool twelve bucks. And if you splurged for a new VR gaming rig this holiday season and don’t have much cash left for actual games there are a few virtual reality titles on sale as well, including Serious Sam VR and Google’s Tilt Brush.
The full list of discounted titles runs the gamut from big names like The Division to other classics like Baldur’s Gate II and newer indie titles like Hyper Light Drifter, so it’s worth taking a look around the virtual shelves.
The sale ends at 1PM Eastern time on January 2nd. and on top of the sale, voting is now open for the 2016 Steam Awards, so you can cast your vote for categories like “I Thought This Game Was Cool Before It Won an Award” or “Villian Most In Need Of A Hug.”
NBA’s new second-screen app syncs with games on TV in real time
The NBA is rolling out a new fantasy sports app called InPlay, which will let fans have a second-screen experience during nationally televised games. It’s a slightly different concept than services like Yahoo Fantasy: InPlay syncs stats by recognizing audio from any NBA match being broadcasted on pay-TV, using your iOS or Android device. Once you pick the player you think is going to do well, the application will show you how many points he’s earning you in real time. And if you end up outperforming everyone else playing the game, the league says you could win official NBA swag.
You can download it now from the App Store or Google Play, but you won’t be able to play it until tonight’s games. After that, the app should work with broadcasts on ABC, ESPN, NBA TV and TNT.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: NBA
Pokémon GO for Apple Watch Now Available on App Store
Niantic has announced Pokémon GO is now available for Apple Watch as expected, enabling players to discover nearby Pokémon and collect items from PokéStops directly from their wrists. The companion app is bundled with the latest update to Pokémon GO for iPhone [Direct Link], version 1.21.2, rolling out on the App Store now.
Pokémon GO for Apple Watch enables players to log each play session as a Workout, with gameplay counting toward personal Activity rings, receive notifications about nearby Pokémon, view distances toward hatching Pokémon Eggs, receive notifications when Eggs hatch and medals are awarded, and more at a glance.
Pokémon GO cannot be fully played on Apple Watch, as once you encounter a Pokémon, you must catch it from your iPhone. Nevertheless, it should allow players to stare less at their smartphone screens and focus on the real world around them while playing the game, which should dually make catching Pokémon safer.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Tag: Pokémon GO
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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First Android Wear 2.0 Smartwatches to Launch Early Next Year
The first Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches will launch in the first quarter of next year, according to Android Wear product manager Jeff Chang, who took part in an exclusive interview with The Verge.
The two new flagship models will not have Google or Pixel branding, but rather branding from the undisclosed company manufacturing them—so one of Asus, Huawei, LG, Motorola, or a few other brands.
Following the launch of the two new smartwatches, the Android Wear 2.0 update will be pushed out for some, but not all, existing Android Wear watches:
• Moto 360 Gen 2
• Moto 360 Sport
• LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE
• LG Watch Urbane
• LG G Watch R
• Polar M600
• Casio Smart Outdoor Watch
• Nixon Mission
• Tag Heuer Connected• Fossil Q Wander
• Fossil Q Marshal
• Fossil Q Founder
• Michael Kors Access Bradshaw
• Michael Kors Access Dylan
• Huawei Watch
• Huawei Watch Ladies
• Asus ZenWatch 2
• Asus ZenWatch 3
Following the launch of Google’s two flagship models, other vendors will release new Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches throughout 2017. The first Android 2.0 smartwatches are expected to be announced at CES in the first week of January. Other product unveilings will follow at the Baselworld trade show later in 2017.
The new Android Wear smartwatches will compete with the Apple Watch, which remains the best-selling smartwatch following the launch of new Series 2 models in September. Google also faces competition from Samsung, which runs its own Tizen software on its smartwatches rather than Android Wear.
Android Wear 2.0 will support native, standalone apps that do not require a paired smartphone to work, in addition to Android Pay and Google Assistant. The new version will also feature Apple Watch-like complications on watch faces and a Material Design makeover. The final developer preview will be released in January.
Tag: Android Wear
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