First commercially available flying car will debut at Monaco supercar show

Why it matters to you

Automaker AeroMobil has produced the world’s first commercially available flying car. Will James Bond one day be behind the wheel?

Eastern European country Slovakia isn’t known for its motor industry. However, one automaker has spent the past several years trying to change that reputation in the most impressive way possible — by attempting to bring to market a genuine flying car, combining the best bits of a luxury sports car with those of a light aircraft.

After a few years of fascinating developments, AeroMobil has now announced that it’s unveiling its eagerly-awaited AeroMobil Flying Car at Top Marques Monaco, the world’s most exclusive supercar show, later this month.

“We will hold the press conference in Monaco next week on April 20,” Stefan Vadocz, AeroMobil’s chief communications officer, told Digital Trends. “We will be releasing most of the information like the specs, price, and production volume then.”

Sadly, Vadocz wouldn’t share more information, but we do know that this will be the company’s first commercially available vehicle, which is certainly quite a big deal. It also includes “hundreds of improvements” over the prototype AeroMobil showed off two and a half years ago in Vienna, Austria.

The vehicle itself is a completely integrated aircraft, as well as being a fully-functioning four-wheeled car, powered by hybrid propulsion. The hope is that, by offering the best of both worlds, users can choose between either taking the road or air to work.

“AeroMobil aims to make personal transportation vastly more efficient and environmentally friendly by allowing significantly faster door-to-door travel for medium distance trips and in areas with limited or missing road infrastructure,” a press release issued by the company reads.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the whole thing has supposedly been created in full compliance with regulatory frameworks for both cars and airplanes, so hopefully there shouldn’t be too much red tape stopping these marvels from getting airborne!

Pre-orders for the vehicle are set to take place this year, although as of yet there’s no definitive word on when the finished product will be landing in our driveways — and runways.

Own an Aga oven? Hackers can turn it on and off, security experts say

Why it matters to you

Smart home devices may make your life easier, but when they are vulnerable to being hacked, they can be quite the headache and dangerous.

Even if you always remember to turn your oven off before you leave the house, it may not stay that way. That is, if you own an Aga oven, a smart appliance that can be controlled by a smartphone app. In the latest security vulnerability to be found in the Internet of Things, security researchers at Pen Test Partners discovered that hackers could gain control of your oven, turning it on and off at will.

Security expert Ken Munro was considering upgrading his own oven range to a connected version from Aga when he discovered the issue. The ovens, which have been around since 2012, apparently can be remotely accessed, and then turned off and on without their owners’ knowledge. “I wanted to know more about its security before spending extra on this option,” Munro told The Telegraph. “We found that even Agas can be hacked. Seriously.”

So what is the issue? Apparently, it all lies in the app. While most connected devices communicate with one another and their companion apps by way of the internet, Aga instead sends text messages directly to the ovens (there is a SIM card embedded in the appliances). That means that when you want to turn your oven on, you literally text it.

While this may sound cool, it is not all that secure, Munro found. In fact, the Telegraph reported that the system “can easily be hijacked, letting hackers send messages to Agas not belonging to them in order to turn them on or off.” Because Aga neither encrypts or verifies the communications between its app and its ovens, it would be relatively easy (Munro did it) to discover sent messages. These messages could then be mimicked by someone with “nefarious intentions.” Given that the “Total Control” Aga ovens will set you back around $12,500, this certainly seems like a problem that absolutely should not be happening.

Munro claims that he attempted to tell Aga of the problem, but that the company has not responded to his requests, and even blocked him on Twitter. “Come on Aga, sort it out. This isn’t acceptable,” he said. But the company told the Telegraph it is taking a closer look at its systems. “We take such issues seriously and have raised them immediately with our service providers so that we can answer in detail the points raised,” a company spokesperson said.

So if you’re an Aga owner, be careful. You never know who is controlling your oven.

Microsoft has started blocking Windows 7 and 8.1 security updates on newer systems

Why it matters to you

If you’re running Windows 7 or 8.1 on a machine with the latest Intel or AMD processors, then you’ll need to upgrade to Windows 10 or risk losing security patches.

No operating system lasts forever, as evidenced by Windows Vista reaching the end of its support life cycle just the other day. That’s probably well understood by most computer users, but some might be surprised to learn that even an operating system that’s officially supported can still have its options limited.

Such is the case with Windows 7 and 8.1, which are still receiving either extended or mainstream support from Microsoft and remain popular among Windows users. However, as some people are discovering, if you’re running a machine equipped with a newer CPU, then you’ll want to give more serious consideration to giving them up and finally making the move to Windows 10, as Ars Technica reports.

The reason is simple if still slightly hard to swallow for affected users — Microsoft considers the newest Intel and AMD processors to be “designed for the latest version of Windows,” which, of course, means Windows 10. Accordingly, the company announced in January 2016 that Windows 7 and 8.1 would stop receiving updates if they’re running on machines using Intel’s seventh-generation Core processors, also known as Kaby Lake, and AMD’s just-released Ryzen processors. Some systems using sixth-generation Intel Core processors, known as Skylake, also fall under the same policy.

Although Microsoft wasn’t precise on exactly when that policy would go into effect, we now know the answer to that question. As some users are discovering, Windows 7 or 8.1 systems built with Kaby Lake, Skylake, or Ryzen processors are generating pop-ups letting users know that those systems “will miss important security updates.”

The reason for the change is that Microsoft hasn’t verified that Windows 7 and 8.1 support all of the new capabilities of the newest processors, such as recent improvements in power management starting with Ryzen and Skylake processors. In addition, the new processors and their associated chipsets include other components, such as USB Type-C and NVMe, that may not have drivers for older operating systems.

Some original equipment manufacturers have undertaken the process of verifying that Windows 7 and 8.1 will run just fine on their Skylake-based systems, and so that’s why some Skylake systems support those operating systems and some don’t. But otherwise, all of Microsoft’s due diligence with the newest systems has been performed with Windows 10, and so this latest action is basically the company’s way of letting people know that they’ll want to make the upgrade sooner rather than later.

People have various reasons for staying on Windows 7 and 8.1. Larger organizations that have many systems to upgrade have delayed their Windows 10 upgrades due to cost and logistical concerns. Starting now, however, those users won’t have any choice in the matter — it’s upgrade to Windows 10, or risk running into security issues caused by an unpatched operating system.

Parrot Bebop 2 FPV review

Research Center:
Parrot Bebop 2 FPV

When Parrot first launched the Bebop 2, it had managed to make its flagship quadcopter drone a little smaller, while making flight performance just a little sturdier. It also doubled the flight time, and attempted to improve the overall composition from the onboard 1080p HD camera. The Bebop 2 FPV is essentially the same drone, except for new accessories that help change how it feels to fly.

FPV, or “first-person view,” refers to the included VR headset to see what the drone sees firsthand, but the accessory that makes a bigger impact is the SkyController 2 remote control. We took the Bebop 2 FPV for more than a few piloting sessions to get a grip on how this bundle flies.

Design

As far as the Bebop 2 drone itself, it wouldn’t be right to call this an “FPV version” because the design and mechanics inside are the same. It’s the reason why Parrot also sells the CockpitGlasses VR headset and SkyController 2 remote control separately as a bundle. If you already own a Bebop 2 drone, you can buy those two accessories and pair them with it.

That means you get the same 500 grams of weight in the drone, with the same 2,700 mAh battery that slides into the hull on top. The propellers are essentially the same, only they have to be installed on the Bebop 2 that comes bundled with the new accessories. Parrot purposely lined them up in the box to correspond with which rotor they’re supposed to go on, mainly because of small differences in design that ensure they stay firmly in place.

Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

The same 14-megapixel camera with 1080p resolution is up front, though Parrot seems to have managed to improve image quality through software optimization, which I’ll touch on a little later.

The 8GB of internal storage is not very high, and can fill up really fast when recording longer video clips. The FreeFlight Pro app does offer a choice to download footage and still images directly to the phone or tablet. Another alternative is to plug the drone in to a PC or Mac directly and offload them that way.

The SkyController 2 and CockpitGlasses are actually the same as the ones bundled with Parrot’s Disco fixed-wing drone. They are interchangeable and can be paired with either drone, so Parrot is keeping things within the family here. These two accessories are the biggest design changes. Well, the CockpitGlasses headset is new, while the SkyController 2 is a major overhaul from its predecessor.

The first SkyController had a more hulking build that included an optional neck strap for better stability, plus two handles to hold it in place with a wide Wi-Fi antenna. This new-look controller is less than half the size and looks and feels more like a video game controller. The Wi-Fi antenna is considerably smaller, and the smartphone/tablet holder is detachable.

The Bebop 2 FPV does benefit from a redesigned layout and some extra features.

The battery is also internal, rather than external like before. The previous SkyController used the same 2,700mAh battery as the Bebop 2, which only added one more thing to bring along for a flying excursion. Having the rechargeable battery inside is not only convenient, but we found it lasted just as long too.

The headset looks like a standard VR headset, but it’s not quite as nice as Google’s Daydream View or Samsung’s Gear VR. It supports just about any iOS or Android phone between 4.7- and 5.5-inch screen sizes, making it widely agnostic, but its only purpose is to run FPV mode. We tried running VR apps on it, and though Cardboard stuff worked fine, it was somewhat cumbersome, so we just stuck to using it for flying the Bebop 2.

Setup and FreeFlight app

Having since updated to the FreeFlight Pro app, the Bebop 2 FPV does benefit from a redesigned layout and some extra features. Parrot still allows pilots to fly the drone using the app as a controller on a phone or tablet, but the SkyController 2 changes that completely.

The app does allow for customizing some aspects of the controller, like reassigning the A and B buttons. By default, A snaps photos, B records video — except they can be mapped to specific flips. One reason for doing that is because the Bebop 2 can only do one at a time through the app, whereas one each can be assigned to the A and B buttons.

Settings offers plenty more, but the defaults are a good place to start, particularly when it comes to limits set for altitude and distance. A Return to Home button is obvious by the home icon on the button, while the takeoff/landing button is prominent in the middle. Above that, the power button has an LED indicating status.

Pairing the controller and VR headset to the app was pretty straightforward, though we did run into a couple of instances where we needed to restart everything and try again.

Parrot recently added a “Follow Me” feature allowing for the drone to follow a subject using GPS and visual tracking. It’s a $20 in-app purchase with a 15-day trial, and has been expanded to offer various modes. The two main shot selections are Auto-framing that keeps the subject in the center of the frame while flying, while Auto-follow uses a smartphone’s GPS and visual recognition to stay on the subject.

The right flight

Taking off and landing are exactly the same as they were with the original Bebop 2. We saw no difference in that at all. Even flight was effectively the same, save for the better range afforded to us by the SkyController 2.

Unlike other drone makers, like DJI and Yuneec, Parrot uses Wi-Fi to communicate with the Bebop 2, not a proprietary wireless signal that could go longer and wider due to lack of interference from other networks on the 2.4GHz or 5Ghz bands. The new controller seems to offer a sturdier connection, but the range is limited, which we noted while flying. Still, it was better than we had experienced before, and were able to go as far as just over a mile before losing the live video feed, which forced the drone to turn back to home.

Another $20 in-app purchase is Flight Plan, allowing us to set multiple waypoints the drone follows until it swings back to its takeoff point. Scenario mode is a mixture of altitude fluctuations, flips, orientations, photos, and photos/video meshed into one flight.

In-flight stability was a little hit or miss. At times, we were impressed with its ability to shake off wind gusts and maintain smooth video recording, whereas we felt let down when it didn’t pan smoothly moving laterally. Wind conditions matter for any quadcopter, regardless of size and build quality, but strong winds made it difficult to get consistently smooth footage.

Image quality, however, has gotten a boost. Parrot had seemingly changed little from the first Bebop’s camera when it first launched the Bebop 2, but subsequent firmware updates have helped improve both clarity and stabilization. Again, strong wind gusts may have an impact, but anything less than that didn’t affect camera performance at all.

Previously, the camera habitually overexposed bright scenes, which caused desaturation all over. That has since been dialed back, though we went into the settings to try and gain some manual control to offset it further, given how it can still creep in.

The SkyController 2 is arguably the biggest change to flying the Bebop 2 because it feels like a video game. Moving in any direction and reorienting the viewpoint felt fluid, even more so than the previous SkyController. It does need to be tethered to a smartphone or tablet in order to get synchronize the controller with the live view provided by the app. That’s a carryover from how the previous controller worked, only because of the smaller form factor, it doesn’t feel cumbersome.

The latency was noticeable, especially when the Bebop 2 flew a greater distance away.

FPV mode changes things further, putting the drone’s camera right before our eyes. It can be a pretty exhilarating feeling, especially when moving with speed or navigating around obstacles. The onscreen HUD presents information, like altitude, distance, and altimeter to provide context. Again, the CockpitGlasses benefit from the SkyController 2 in that flight feels more secure and seamless.

It took us a while to get used to flying well without the headset, and more than a few tries to feel confident with it on. However, the latency was noticeable, especially when the Bebop 2 flew a greater distance away. Parrot had quantified it at about 220ms, but we think that’s a variable number that may go up, depending on distance and wireless network interference.

Battery life is also rated at 25 minutes of flight time, which might seem short, but was already double what the original Bebop could do. That number is a ceiling, with the real figure being closer to 15-20 minutes once you throttle it forward, do flips, and raise its altitude where winds are less obstructed.

Parrot Bebop 2 FPV Compared To

Hover Camera Passport

DJI Mavic Pro

3DR Solo Drone

DJI Phantom 4 Pro

Yuneec Breeze

Parrot DISCO FPV

eHang Ghostdrone 2.0

HEXO+

Horizon Hobby Chroma

Yuneec Typhoon H drone

Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K

Parrot BeBop Drone

dji Phantom 2 Vision+

Warranty information

Parrot offers a one-year warranty on “support and assistance” and a 15-day return policy when purchased directly from the company. Sales from retailers defer to their return policies, which may or may not mirror those of Parrot’s.

Our Take

The Bebop 2 comes off as the same drone on the surface, and it really is when breaking down the sum of its parts, except the accessories and app updates have pushed it to a different level. We would hesitate to call this “elite” because it doesn’t have the robust builds of other brands, but we totally dig its size, and how easy it is to pack up and take on the go.

The smaller form factor also makes it easier to fly, something we think is only augmented further by the accessories bundled here. Adding a follow feature was a major hole that has finally been filled, positioning the Bebop 2 as a more complete drone with better aerial photography options.

What are the alternatives? 

Parrot has some stiff competition in the quadcopter arena. Having emerged as one of the stalwarts in the category, the DJI Mavic Pro offers a small lightweight build that shoots in 4K. Even the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, which is considerably more expensive, might be a better option if you’re concerned about durability.

The DT Accessory Pack

Upow 3100mAh 11.1V replacement battery

$50

Parrot PF070233 backpack

$131.44

MC Cases professional carry case

$169

Yuneec’s Typhoon H is a hexacopter with folding landing gear that gives its 4K camera unobstructed views. .

GoPro’s first drone, the Karma, was saddled with problems since it launched, but the company says everything is back on track now.

If you want the same FPV experience with a twist, Parrot’s Disco fixed-wing drone uses the same camera, controller and headset.

How long will it last? 

It helps that Parrot designed the Bebop 2 to be repairable. Crashes could eventually take their toll on the drone, even if it withstands more than it may seem. Two sets of propellers come in the box, but no other parts to note. Repair kits and spare parts are readily available from Parrot, covering just about every nook and cranny of the Bebop 2, ensuring the drone isn’t finished after hitting something it shouldn’t have.

Should you buy it?

For what the bundle provides, we would say yes. The Bebop 2 is a good model to learn the art of drone flying, and the FPV bundle comes at a price below competitors.

Forestry review: Being a lumberjack has never been so fun

So far I haven’t found anyone chained to any trees…

This review is based on the Oculus Rift version of Forestry. It is also available for HTC Vive.

My tent is set up, my axes are sharpened, and I’m ready to get to work. Birds are chirping in the plentiful forest and the sun is shimmering off the nearby lake. It’s peaceful here, but that peace is about to be destroyed by my cliche announcements of “Timber!” as I fell trees. This is Forestry and, as the name implies, you’re going to be doing some chopping. Does this budget VR title for Vive and Rift offer a unique experience? It does. Is it worth adding to your library? Let’s find out.

Read the full review at VR Heads!

Why I’ll only drink coffee from this $150, Android-connected mug

Only peasants drink coffee from a mug that doesn’t have its own battery and heating element — to say nothing of not having Bluetooth and an app an upgradable firmware, right? RIGHT?

How much would you pay to keep your coffee hot for up to two hours? If you said $150 — well you’re a little crazy. But that’s what I spent on the Ember Mug. (OK, I spent more than that. I’ll explain in a minute.)

Here’s the gist: Ember Mug is, first and foremost, a mug. And it’s a really good mug. (Damn well better be for $150.) The feel of the thing is great, from the soft-touch coating to the position of the “shoulder.” And the 360-degree, spring-loaded lid is brilliant.

That’s not what makes this thing $150, though.

No, what makes the Ember Mug ridiculously expensive for a coffee mug is what’s tucked into the bottom of it. Mainly, a battery, heating element and Bluetooth radio.

This is a smart mug.

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OK, here’s the real gist. … Ember Mug has this “phase change cooling system” thing that helps bring it down from scalding to something more survivable, and then keep the temperature wherever you choose. Well, between 120 degrees and 145 degrees, anyway. You tap the logo on the mug to turn it on, then twist the bottom of the mug to set the temperature, with a little hidden dot-matrix-style display showing you what’s what.

Me? I’m liking things at about 135 degrees. Some quick (unscientific) testing at home points to the mug being accurate within a couple degrees or so, which is good enough for me.

By the way — yes, the mug will heat room-temperature water just fine, but it’s not terribly quick about it, and that definitely eats at the battery. This really is meant to keep hot things hot, not to reheat cool things.

Yes, this is more than a little bourgeois. But it’s also very good.

And of course there’s an app. (Because how did you ever drink coffee without an app, right?) The app has presets for various drinks — coffee, tea, latte, etc. And you can use it to set a custom name on the mug, and to update the mug’s firmware. (Because how did you ever drink coffee without updated firmware, right?) It’s the same experience on Android as it is on iOS. Or you can forget the previous sentences and just drink hot coffee from your $150 electric mug like a semi-normal person.

One sort-of major headache with this thing, though. If you want to use your Ember Mug at more than one location — say, at home and at the office — you’re going to need a second charger, right? The good news there is that Ember sells spare chargers for exactly this purpose, for another $40. That brings you up to $190 for the mug and a spare charger. (Plus the $18 in shipping I paid for said extra charger. WTF.)

On the other hand, if you’re the sort of person who has to have a $150 smart heating coffee mug in the first place, maybe that’s not so bad.

You can pick one up inside of a Starbucks store, at Ember’s site, or at the link below.

See at Amazon

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The Wirecutter’s best deals: Save on an Xbox One Design Lab controller

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.

Grenco Science G Pen Elite Vaporizer

Street price: $150; MSRP: $170; Deal price: $127 w/ code THEWIRECUTTER

Here’s a great deal on our top pick for best portable vaporizer. The G Pen Elite recently dropped in price, but by using the code: THEWIRECUTTER you can get an additional 15% off, bringing it down to the lowest price we’ve seen so far. If you’re looking to get the best deal and save a bit more money, there will be a sale on April 20th, increasing the savings to 20 percent off. But if you’re looking to have your portable vaporizer shipped in time to celebrate the 20th, this is a great price to pick it up.

The Grenco Science G Pen Elite is our pick for the best portable vaporizer. Mark Smirniotis said, “This pint-sized vaporizer produces vapor that will convert any smoker and is easy to use thanks to high-end features like precision controls, a clear display, and Micro-USB charging.”

Holmes Lil’ Blizzard Table Fan

Street price: $18; MSRP: $20; Deal price: $14

This is a rock bottom price on the Lil’ Blizzard; It’s the lowest we’ve seen. This fan is typically priced around $18-$20, so at $14, this is a very healthy discount on a fan that represents a great value even at full price. With summer looming, this fan is a very nice addition for the price-conscious.

The Holmes Lil’ Blizzard is a budget fan we like in our Best Fan guide. Seamus Bellamy writes, “If you’re looking for a cheap, powerful fan to use at your desk, the $20 Holmes Lil’ Blizzard 8-Inch Oscillating Table Fan is a great choice. When running on its highest setting, the Lil’ Blizzard produces 70 decibels of sound, which admittedly is a little loud. But, as its name suggests, the fan can oscillate or be locked into place. It comes equipped with two different speed settings, is easy to clean and, with its small 8.1 by 8.9 by 11.8-inch footprint, won’t hog all of the space on your desktop or side table. And while it might not be the most powerful personal-sized fan that we tested (we’ll get to that in a minute,) for $20, the Holmes Lil’ Blizzard is a capable fan at a great price.”

Xbox One Design Lab Custom Controller

Street price: $80; MSRP: $80; Deal price: $65

While this deal is more expensive than the standard Xbox One controller, the Xbox Design Lab allows you to customize the paint job on nearly every aspect. You can tweak the colors on nearly every part of the controller independently of each other to create whatever color palette you choose. With this $15 off deal, it’s only $5-$10 more expensive than the regular price for a standard Xbox One wireless controller, so it’s a great deal if you’re looking to give yours a custom flair. This deal is only available to customers in the US and ends April 17th, 2017.

The Xbox One S controller is the new, Bluetooth capable version of our runner-up pick in our guide to the best PC gaming controllers. Kimber Streams wrote, “The Microsoft Xbox One controller is a better option if you want a controller that’s easier to set up, if you have large hands, or if you simply prefer Xbox controllers. (Or if you want to play XInput games on a Mac, since the DualShock 4 can’t do that.)”

Coleman 6-Person Instant Tent

Street price: $150; MSRP: $180; Deal price: $115

We saw this one at $100 briefly as a Deal of the Day, but even though this $115 price isn’t quite as good as that, it’s substantially below the $150 that this tent usually sells for, and one of the best prices we’ve seen over the past year.

The Coleman 6-Person Instant Cabin is our budget pick in our Best Tent for Family or Car Camping guide. Kalee Thompson writes, “The popular Coleman 6-Person Instant Tent is bulkier when bagged and smaller when standing, and it has fewer appealing features than our favorite Eureka Copper Canyon tent (no mesh roof for stargazing, for one thing). But it goes up and down much faster than any other tent we tested, and it has no fly to bother with. We also didn’t detect any leaking during a moderate rainstorm. The key selling point: Currently it costs about $75 less than our top pick.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursdays, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.

Cadillac’s CT6 Plug-In hybrid goes on sale in the US

General Motors’ Cadillac division starts sales this month of its $75,000 Cadillac CT6 plug-in hybrid. General Motors has started US sales of the Cadillac CT6 Plug-In after taking its first domestic deliveries of the China-produced sedan last month. The model is GM’s first new plug-in hybrid in the US since the automaker discontinued sales of the ELR extended-range plug-in last year. The arrival and sales, first reported by InsideEVs, were confirmed by Cadillac spokesman Andrew Lipman.

Not surprisingly, the sedan isn’t cheap, as the CT6 Plug-In is priced at $75,095, or almost $12,000 more than the gas-powered variant, though that figure doesn’t include federal and state tax credits for electric vehicles. For that tab, buyers get a 335-horsepower luxury car that can go 31 miles on electricity alone, and 0-60 miles per hour in a little over 5 seconds. The model gives GM three plug-in vehicles to sell to the American public, or the same number US competitor Ford offers.

InsideEVs estimates that about 100 of the sedans have been delivered to US dealers, so the car remains a relatively low-volume affair. By comparison, GM’s Chevrolet division has sold 5,563 Volt extended-range plug-ins and 3,092 Bolt electric vehicles through March. Cadillac sold 534 units of the ELR in 2016 after moving 1,024 the previous year.

GM opted to produce the plug-in hybrid in China because of that country’s receptiveness to new models that feature alternative and environmentally friendlier powertrains. Additionally, such production shortens the distance to the CT6’s battery maker LG Chem, which is producing the car’s battery packs in South Korea. On that note, GM has previously estimated that the Cadillac CT6 Plug-In will move more units in China than in the US.

The FCC just sold a chunk of the wireless spectrum to T-Mobile

The results are in. After a year-long process, the Federal Communications Commission today announced the conclusion of its first-ever broadcast incentive auction, naming T-Mobile, Dish, Comcast and US Cellular as the biggest winners.

T-Mobile threw down $8 billion to capture 45 percent of all low-band spectrum sold, meaning it now has the ability to provide service across the entire US and Puerto Rico. This doesn’t mean the carrier’s service will improve over night, but it does give T-Mobile the opportunity to blanket the entire nation in LTE coverage. Note the auction didn’t deal with the up-and-coming 5G spectrum, which is currently being gobbled up by AT&T.

The FCC raked in $19.8 billion in gross revenue for 70MHz of spectrum, so you could call the commission itself a winner, too.

But of course, the FCC doesn’t get to keep all of that cash. Roughly $7 billion raised in the auction will help pay down the national debt, and more than $10 billion will go to the 175 winning broadcasters participating in the FCC’s program to repurpose their airwaves for mobile carriers. For example, NBCUniversal earned $481.6 million by selling spectrum in Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. Meanwhile, NBC’s parent company, Comcast, ended up spending $1.7 billion to acquire mobile spectrum in the auction.

These sold stations will move to lower channels, be absorbed into other networks or disappear from the airwaves completely. An additional 957 non-winning stations will change channels in an effort to clear the airwaves for mobile use; the first group of stations will begin migrating on November 30th, 2018.

This mostly affects people who use over-the-air antennas, as they’ll have to re-scan their TV sets as the changes roll in. Cable and satellite TV providers should make any necessary changes for their customers. The FCC has set up an FAQ page for anyone wondering what the televised future holds.

“The conclusion of the world’s first incentive auction is a major milestone in the FCC’s long history as steward of the nation’s airwaves,” FCC chairman Ajit Pai said. “Consumers are the real beneficiaries, as broadcasters invest new resources in programming and service, and additional wireless spectrum opens the way to greater competition and innovation in the mobile broadband marketplace.”

Source: FCC

Uber accused of ignoring drunk driver complaints in California

In the latest string of bad PR for Uber, the company could be facing down yet another fine from regulators in the state of California, this time for allegedly failing to look into rider complaints of drivers on the service being under the influence. As the Los Angeles Times reports, the state has a zero-tolerance policy for intoxicated drivers on ride-hailing platforms, meaning the company must immediately suspend and investigate a driver if they receive a complaint. But according to a legal filing from the California Public Utilities Commission, the ride-hailing giant failed to take action in at least 149 complaints during the one-year period from August 2014 to 2015, and may have left potentially dangerous drivers on the road.

Under the CPUC’s regulations, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft must include an in-app call or reporting feature for rider complaints. As the agency noted in its brief, however, there’s no way to flag a complaint as a DUI allegation. “The flaw with that approach,” the agency wrote, is that a driver won’t be suspended until Uber can review and identify the complaint by hand. In fact, out of 154 complaints that the agency reviewed, it found that Uber failed to promptly suspend drivers in 149 of them. On 64 occasions, drivers even kept picking up riders within an hour after a rider sent in a complaint. Uber allegedly only followed up with an investigation in 21 of the cases the CPUC reviewed and conflicting data also shows that some drivers were able to stay logged on and marked as available for hours after Uber claimed it had suspended their accounts.

In Uber’s defense, the company reported that it received a total of 2,047 zero-tolerance complaints during that time period and deactivated a total 574 drivers as a result. However, the CPUC’s briefing suggests that Uber’s data may not paint a complete picture. When reached for comment, an Uber spokesperson wrote via email, “We have zero tolerance for any impaired driving as outlined in our Community Guidelines. This report relates to complaints in 2014 and 2015 and we’ve significantly improved our processes since then.”

While Uber’s Community Guidelines do state that the company may suspend drivers if they receive multiple unconfirmed complaints of drug or alcohol use, the CPUC pointed out that this not only goes against the zero tolerance rule, but that Uber didn’t even stick to their own policy. The agency allegedly found 25 cases where Uber failed to suspend or investigate even after three or more complaints.

For each of the 151 violations, the CPUC is recommending a $7,500 fine, for a total of more than $1.1 million. As the LA Times notes, an administrative judge will hear arguments from both sides before either approving or rejecting the fees.

Via: LA Times

Source: California Public Utilities Commission