Snap Spectacles now available in UK, take videos with your eyes

Snap, the parent company behind Snapchat, has finally released its Snap Spectacles in the UK.

The sunglasses come with two mini cameras – one situated on the side of each eyepiece – and can capture small bursts of video, from 10 to 30 seconds. The resulting Snap clip is uploaded to your Snapchat Memories section of the iPhone or Android app via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi respectively.

At present, they can only be bought from a Snapbot vending machine in London, for £129.99. It’s currently on a Europe-wide tour, with similar machines being situated in Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Venice.

If you’re not planning on visiting any of those cities anytime soon, you can also order a pair from Spectacles.com, which now ships to Europe too. They will be delivered between three to five working days and are available in black, red (Coral) and a greenish-blue (Teal).

The case they come with is also the charger.

• Snapchat Spectacles: What are they, how do they work and where can you buy them?

The London Snapbot is currently located near the London Eye, as tweeted by the official Spectacles Twitter account. The same account shows where other European Snapbots are placed too.

US Snapchat fans have been able to buy Spectacles for the last seven months, with a huge flurry of interest when they launched – so much so that Snap ran out of its initial stock.

Snap Spectacles: What are they, how do they work and where can you buy them?

For those who don’t already know, Snapchat’s parent company Snap sells its own Google Glass-style pair of sunglasses. 

They’re a bit more basic than Google’s defunct headset or other augmented-reality devices, but they’re certainly striking. The idea is you use them in order to capture your adventures while on the go. A bit like a GoPro, but for your face.

Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know about Snap Spectacles, the firm’s first big dive into hardware.

What are Snap Spectacles?

In October 2016, Snap announced a pair of connected sunglasses called Snap Spectacles. They can record video snippets that automatically save to your Snapchat Memories, a feature in Snapchat that stores all your saved snaps, stories and locked content. The sunglasses feature a camera with a 115-degree lens, which is designed to mimic how humans actually see.

Snapchat

How do Snap Spectacles work?

According to Snap, its Spectacles are easy to use.

To record a snap (picture or video), you tap a button the top left-hand corner of the glasses. It will automatically stop recording after 10 seconds, but you can tap again to add another 10-second increment (you can record up to 30 seconds at a time). You’ll see a inward-facing light when you’re snapping, while an outward facing-light to show others when you’re recording and they’re in your field of view.

Snap Spectacles work with Android and iOS devices. If you own an Android phone, you can transfer your snaps over Wi-Fi, but if you have an iPhone, they’ll transfer either via the sunglasses’ Bluetooth connection or Wi-Fi. Keep in mind you can use the sunglasses as a standalone device (they’ll store up to 200 snaps until you have access to your phone). To play back your snaps, you’ll need to use the Snapchat app for Android or iOS.

When watching your snaps recorded with Snap Spectacles, you’ll notice a new “circular” format that is meant to display your footage the way the human eye sees, though you’ll watch them cropped in either landscape or portrait orientations.

The specs are not waterproof though, so you’ll need to be careful at the beach.

How long will Snap Spectacles’ battery last?

Snap Spectacles’ batteries will last about a day, and the outward-facing light on the sunglasses will serve as a battery indicator. Double tap and you can see how much life they have left. To charge the Spectacles, simply use the charging case and cable that it comes with (the case can actually charge them up to four times before needing to be recharged itself).

How much do Snap Spectacles cost?

The glasses cost $129.99 in the US, £129.99 in the UK. They come in one size and are available in three colours: black, teal (red) and coral (blue).

They are also available across Europe.

When will Snap Spectacles be available? 

Snap Spectacles are available on a dedicated website, for US, UK and European customers.

The company also sells them in five major cities around Europe through pop-up Snapbot vending machines. It did site a few of them around the US initially, but they have since been removed.

Is this Snapchat’s first hardware product?

Not technically. The company has developed merchandise in the past, such as a plushie, deck of cards, backpack, ice cube tray, and more.

What is Snapchat (and Snap)?

Snapchat began in 2011. It’s a popular photo-sharing app that allows you to send pictures and videos – both of which will self destruct after a few seconds of a person viewing them – to friends. Snapchat is also a fun messaging app. When you take a picture or video with the app, you can add a caption or doodle or lens over top, and then send the finished result to a friend along with a chat message.

Alternatively, you can add it to your “story”, a 24-hour collection of your photos and videos (also called snaps), which you broadcast to the world or just your followers. Snapchatters were sending about 700 million snaps a day as of May 2014.

• You can read all about Snapchat here.

In October 2016, Snapchat announced that its company would now be known as Snap. It also described Snap as a “camera company” rather than a mobile app developer.

In a blog post, Evan Spiegel, Snapchat’s CEO and cofounder, said Snapchat is evolving into Snap because Snap offers more than just Snapchat (ie, Snap Spectacles), and it wanted to better distinguish product information from company information.

In other words, Snapchat the mobile app will remain Snapchat, while Snapchat the company is now called Snap.

Want to know more?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Snapchat hub for related news.

Make your phone battery last longer: Top Huawei P10 and P10 Plus management tips

With phones ever thinning, battery life from some of the known brands has seemingly been thrown out the window for the sake of size. Not so Huawei, with its latest P10 and P10 Plus handsets benefitting from the smarts of its EMUI 5.1 software for all-day longevity and beyond.

The two new smartphones – the smaller P10 with a 5.1-inch screen and 3,200mAh battery, the larger P10 Plus with a 5.5-inch screen and 3,750mAh battery – also come with SuperCharge technology for speedy top-ups at the plug.

With all of EMUI 5.1’s tools at your fingertips it’s possible to optimise your experience to eke out extra battery life for even longer use per charge. Here are out tips and tricks to get the most out of the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus.

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus battery tips: Power Saving & Ultra Power Saving

One of the great things about the P10 and P10 Plus is that they’re really powerful. Stream from YouTube, then flick over to play a top-tier game with no worry about the Kirin 960 octa-core processor not being able to keep up.

Just doing emails? Browsing online? Well, all that power is over the top. Fortunately, EMUI has a Power Saving mode which you can activate to limit the processor, which will extend longevity per charge without dramatically affecting use. To activate: swipe down from the top of the screen > hit the settings cog > select Battery > activate Power Saving Mode.

Handily, each saving setting offers an approximation of how much battery life you have left in the tank. And if you really, really need almost never-ending battery life then Ultra Power Saving – which is available by selecting the option below Power Saving – disables all but the most basic functions of the phone. You’ll get Dialler, Messaging and Contacts by default, but a select number of apps can be assigned to the three spare slots on this screen – they’ll not run as well as when fully optimised, but the device battery life is around three times longer overall.

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus battery optimisation: Close power-intensive apps

One of EMUI’s special features is that it constantly monitors active apps and how much power they’re using. The software then prompts you via an alert to suggest closing said apps when they’ve been idly using energy. This is something that stock Android doesn’t do, so can be a benefit if you heed its advice.

It’s possible to see which apps are power-intensive at any time: swipe down from the top of the screen > hit the settings cog > select Battery > hit Power-intensive Apps and whatever is running can be individually or batch closed to save on power consumption.

Of course there might be certain apps you want to always have running – and to not receive repeat power-intensive prompts. This is possible on an app-by-app basis: swipe down from the top of the screen > hit the settings cog > select Battery > hit Power-intensive Apps > click through to the app in question and there are options to activate/deactivate Power-intensive Prompt, System Wakeup and Close After Screen Locked.

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus battery tips: One-touch optimisation

Within the battery settings is the Optimise function, designed to see if your features are setup sustainably. Thsi mode will scan all current settings, assess what can be optimised for longer battery life and display its findings to you in easy-to-activate optimisations.

Don’t need mobile data? Vibration not really necessary? All small things, but add them together and switching them off – as prompted – can aid battery longevity. The software doesn’t force you to take its optimised advice, however, so it’s a tailored experience.

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus battery optimisation: Lock Screen Cleanup

One fancy feature is the ability to turn off all or select apps when you hit the power button to lock the screen. It fades to black and those background apps jump out of memory.

You can decide whether this is reserved for occasional-use apps or everything all at once: swipe down from the top of the screen > hit the settings cog > select Battery > hit Lock Screen Cleanup and toggle your apps on or off as applicable. Bye bye wasted RAM!

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus battery optimisation: SuperCharge

It’s not called SuperCharge for nothing. This low voltage (4.5V), high current (5A) fast-charging system will deliver a huge kick of battery life that will last for a casual day’s worth of use after just 20 minutes at the plug.

Better still, it doesn’t push charge into the battery dangerously, with five gates at various points around both the P10 and P10 Plus to ensure no overheating. The charging system is variable voltage, too, so it’ll only achieve its maximum rate in the right conditions and with the supplied SuperCharge plug and cable.

So even when you do run low on battery life, perhaps the best solution is a quick stop at the plug socket.

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus battery optimisation: Basic tips for boosting longevity

In addition to all those deeper-dive tips, there are also some simple adjustments you can make to ensure battery life doesn’t jump off a proverbial cliff.

The first: disable auto-brightness and dim the screen brightness as appropriate rather than blaring out at full brightness all the time. It’s easy to do: swipe down from the top of the screen > hit the Auto button by the brightness slider and adjust as necessary.

In addition, the likes of GPS and Mobile Data might be unnecessary to have activated if you’re connected to Wi-Fi and browsing. You don’t always need the Optimise feature to tell you this, you’ll know it yourself. They’re also easy to deactivate: swipe down from the top of the screen > hit the appropriate icon so it greys out, then hit it again so it turns blue to re-activate.

Snap’s camera-equipped Spectacles arrive in Europe

Snap’s camera-equipped Spectacles have made their way across the pond. The creators of the famous ephemeral messaging app are bringing their first hardware product to Europe through their bright yellow vending machines called Snapbots. According to Wired, you’ll find the first European Snapbot at the London Eye, where it’s already dispensing Spectacles for £130.

Snap plans to deploy more vending machines in the city over the summer, but if you want to get a pair now, you may want to keep an eye on the company’s social media accounts. It typically moves its vending machines to other locations after a day, so the one at the Eye won’t be there for long.

London won’t be the only European city where you can get a pair of Spectacles, though: the company plans to place Snapbots in Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Venice in the near future, as well. However, if you can’t bothered to hunt one down, you can always go the device’s official website, change your country of origin and buy a pair online.

Spectacles have landed in Europe! https://t.co/KdmMnzNkYW pic.twitter.com/JpWMU2fxWY

— Spectacles (@Spectacles) June 2, 2017

Source: Spectacles (Twitter)

Check out the gorgeous design of Google’s ‘landscraper’ London HQ

Why it matters to you

Google’s

Having been stuck at the design stage for years, Google has finally submitted plans for its new London headquarters to be built in the city’s vibrant King’s Cross district.

Designed by Heatherwick Studios and Bjarke Ingels Group, the striking design has been dubbed “the landscraper” as it’s far longer than it is tall.

Indeed, the 11-story structure will stretch for 330 meters and cover around 100,000 square meters, with the tech company occupying about 65 percent of the space. It’ll be the first wholly owned and designed Google building outside of the U.S.

The first floor of the new campus will be home to a variety of shops and market halls and open to the elements. Entrances to Google’s office will be scattered throughout the space to create a “varied and open ground plane that can change with time,” the architects said in their plans submitted to Camden council.

So what will the 7,000 Googlers find when they move into the new building from their current offices dotted around town. Well, besides enjoying “light and airy workspaces,” they’ll also be able to make use of a multi-use games area for various sports activities and a three-lane, 25-meter swimming pool. If such exertions sound too much like hard work, they can head straight to the massage rooms and nap pods instead.

Perhaps the most striking part is the roof garden stretching almost the entire length of the construction. Decked out with wildflowers and woodland plants, the elevated green space will also feature a cafe and a 200-meter jogging course.

Heatherwick Studio founder Thomas Heatherwick described the King’s Cross area as “a fascinating collision of diverse building types and spaces  … Influenced by these surroundings, we have treated this new building for Google like a piece of infrastructure too, made from a family of interchangeable elements which ensure that the building and its workspace will stay flexible for years to come.”

Bjarke Ingels, meanwhile, described the design as “rooted in the local character of the area [and] creating continuously cascading work environments that will connect Googlers across multiple floors.”

Google has been working on the design of its London office for a number of years. The original plan, which sported a similar-looking exterior to the final design, was the work of British firm Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and greenlit in 2013. But soon after, Google went back to AHMM and asked it to rethink the design. In 2015 the two parted company, with Google turning to Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group to continue the project.

Construction work on the new campus is set to start in 2018 … as long as Google doesn’t change its mind again.

Alexa can remind you to pick up the dry-cleaning

Amazon has begun rolling out a couple of upgrades for Alexa, and while they might sound pretty minor, they could make the voice assistant more helpful for every day tasks. If you’re in the US, you’ll soon receive an update for your Echo speaker (if you haven’t yet) that gives Alexa the capability to set reminders. For example, you can say “Alexa, remind me to pick up the dry cleaning on Thursday at 5PM” or “Alexa, remind me to pay rent June 1 at 10AM.” When that time comes, the speaker’s blue ring will light up, and Alexa will remind you of what you need to do. You can view all the reminders you set in the Alerts & Alarms section if you want to see your itinerary or to change it up.

In addition, you can now name timers to make them less confusing. You can, for instance, ask Alexa to set a pasta timer and a garlic bread timer, so the assistant can tell you which one is up when the timer goes off. That gives you a way to ask about the status of or to cancel a specific timer. Say, you can tell Alexa to cancel the garlic bread one if you finish making it before the timer goes off or ask it how much longer you still have to wait to take your lasagna out of the oven. While these features are exclusively available in the US at the moment, Amazon promises to release them in the UK and in Germany in the coming weeks.

Netflix cancels ‘Sense8’ after two seasons

Just a week after Netflix pulled the plug on its Baz Luhrmann-produced musical series The Get Down, the streaming service announced the cancellation of the Wachowski’s sci-fi series Sense8. The show revolved around a group of strangers with an unusual connection, and as a result required costly around the world filming. According to Deadline, its lengthy development process meant that the stars’ options for a third season had lapsed by the time season two launched, and even though Netflix had reached out to negotiate new contracts it ended up canceling the show anyway.

These shows aren’t the first ones Netflix has dropped. Its first original series Lilyhammer and the pricey production Marco Polo are both gone, as well as Hemlock Grove, Bloodline and Longmire. That last one had been revived after its initial run on A&E, and fans are usually asking Netflix to revive their original shows — there’s currently a campaign for WGN’s Underground to continue on the service — but even with billions committed to producing TV and movies, not everything makes the cut.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Sensates forever. pic.twitter.com/SClwiY3rwy

— Sense8 (@sense8) June 1, 2017

Cindy Holland, VP Netflix original content:

“After 23 episodes, 16 cities and 13 countries, the story of the Sense8 cluster is coming to an end. It is everything we and the fans dreamed it would be: bold, emotional, stunning, kick ass, and outright unforgettable. Never has there been a more truly global show with an equally diverse and international cast and crew, which is only mirrored by the connected community of deeply passionate fans all around the world. We thank Lana, Lilly, Joe and Grant for their vision, and the entire cast and crew for their craftsmanship and commitment.

Source: Netflix

How to watch the 2017 NBA finals online

Update: Revised for the 2017 NBA Finals.

With three rounds of the NBA Playoffs in the books, a mere four victories separate the final two teams — the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers — from hoisting the coveted Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. Can LeBron James and the Cavaliers repeat as champions, or will Steph Curry and the lights-out Warriors continue their season-long dominance and bring the Bay Area yet another World Championship? It all starts Thursday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland; basketball fans, this is what you’ve waited for since October.

While the NBA’s popularity knows no boundaries, the same can’t be said for the broadcasts. Whether it’s your boss coming down on you for watching at work, your decision to cut cable, or some other obstacle, it’s not always easy to get your NBA fix. We feel your pain, so we’ve compiled this guide detailing how you can stream the Finals in the comforts of your own home. So bust out your favorite Bill Laimbeer throwback jersey and put on some Shawn Kemp Kamikazes, here’s your ticket to the 2017 NBA playoffs.

Streaming options

Live Stream on ABC’s website or using the ABC app

ABC offers a live stream of the NBA Finals online if you live in one of a few select markets, including Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, and San Francisco. Similarly, customers with a DirecTV subscription in areas such as Albuquerque, Boston, Ft. Smith/Fayetteville, Jackson (Mississippi), Kansas City, Milwaukee, Monterey-Salinas, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Pittsburgh, Portland-Auburn (Maine), Savannah, and West Palm Beach can view the ABC live stream. Of course, you’ll need to verify your TV provider beforehand. You can also watch the Finals on your smartphone or tablet with the ABC app — again, if you’re in one of the aforementioned cities — which is available on the following platforms.

Apple TV (2nd generation and later)
Roku
Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Windows (Windows XP and later)

Hardware: Processor: 2.33GHz or faster x86-compatible processor, Intel Atom 1.6GHz or faster processor (for netbooks)

MacOS (Mac OS X 10.6 and later)

Hardware: Intel Core Duo 1.33GHz or faster processor, MacOS v10.6 or later, 256MB of RAM, 128MB of graphics memory

Apple iPhone (iOS 8 and later)
Apple iPad (iOS 8 and later)
iPod touch  (iOS 8 and later)
Android phones (Android 4.0 and later)
Android tablets (Android 4.0 and later)
Kindle Fire HD  (7.0 and 8.9-inch)
Kindle Fire (2nd generation and later)

WatchESPN

ESPN’s companion client, WatchESPN, gives NBA fans live access to any Finals game set to stream on either ESPN or ESPN 2. The service does require users to sign-in with a compatible cable or satellite subscription, hindering access to those who’ve completely gone off the grid. Nevertheless, those who possess the required credentials — or know someone who does — gain access to the exact same broadcast as those who choose to watch on television. Basically this means you won’t miss out on hearing Jeff Van Gundy go on about fired coaches, how to stop LeBron James, and his disdain for the Chicago Bulls’ management team.

Apple iPad (iOS 8 and later)
Android TV
Apple iPhone (iOS 8 and later)
PlayStation 4
Apple TV
Xbox One
Apple iPod touch (iOS 8 or later)
Android phones (Android 4.0 and later)
Android tablets (Android 4.0 and later)
Chromecast
Roku
Kindle Fire
Xbox One S

Sling TV

The new cord-cutter’s special from Dish Network provides a great way to watch the NBA Finals without a cable or satellite subscription. Subscribers to Sling TV’s introductory package ($20 a month) get channels such as TNT, TBS, and ESPN, granting even basic users access to the Finals.

Microsoft’s Xbox One even recently gained access to a Sling TV application, and DISH Network currently offers users a free trial of everything the streaming service offers. Although the trial lasts a mere seven days, it’s worth checking out given the sheer amount of content users have access to. Do keep in mind, however, that you need to cancel the trial before it ends, otherwise you’ll notice a one-month charge for $20 on your next bank statement. You can check availability in your area here, and browse the list of Sling TV-compatible devices below.

Apple iPad (iOS 9 and later)
Roku (Roku LT and later)
Apple iPhone (iOS 9 and later)
Select LG Smart TVs
Apple TV (4th generation and later)
Xbox One
LeEco Smart TVs
Android phones (Android 4.4 and later)
Android tablets (Android 4.4 and later)
Mac (Lion 10.7 and later)
Amazon Fire TV
Kindle Fire
Chromecast
PC (Windows 7 or later)

PlayStation Vue

Like Dish Network, Sony recently joined the cord-cutting revolution and now offers subscriptions for its own version of an online streaming service. Called PlayStation Vue, subscribers to the service gain broadcast access to channels such as NBC, Fox, CBS, TNT, ABC, ESPN and a host of other top-tier networks. The prices of these plans vary and the most basic option with Finals coverage starts at $40.

Similar to ABC’s aforementioned streaming option, the Finals games are only available on PlayStation Vue in select cities. If you live outside of these select markets, you can watch NBA Finals games after they have aired. If you visit the PlayStation Vue website and you’re only allowed to peruse the Slim packages, then odds are you do not live in one of the select markets showing the NBA Finals. If you do, however, you can access PlayStation Vue using any of the following devices.

iPad (2nd generation and later)
Google Chromecast (1st generation and later)
Apple iPhone (iOS 7 and later)
Roku devices (OS 7.1 and later)
iPod touch
iPad Mini (1st generation and later)
PlayStation 3
Amazon Fire TV
PlayStation 4
Android TV
Apple TV (4th generation running OS 10 and later)
Android tablets (Android OS version 4.4 and later)
Android phones (Android OS version 4.4 and later)
PlayStation Vue Mobile
Amazon Fire tablets (3rd generation and later)
Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Finals schedule

(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (2) Cleveland Cavaliers

Game 1: Thursday, June 1 – Cleveland at Golden State (9 p.m. ET – ABC)

Game 2: Sunday, June 4 – Cleveland at Golden State, (8 p.m. ET – ABC)

Game 3: Wednesday, June 7 – Golden State at Cleveland, (9 p.m. ET – ABC)

Game 4: Friday, June 9 – Golden State at Cleveland, (9 p.m. ET – ABC)

Game 5*: Monday, June 12 – Cleveland at Golden State, (9 p.m. ET – ABC)

Game 6*: Thursday, June 15 – Golden State at Cleveland, (9 p.m. ET – ABC)

Game 7*: Sunday, June 18 – Cleveland at Golden State, (8 p.m. ET – ABC)

*if necessary

Google is helping websites make their ads a little less annoying

Why it matters to you

Your web browsing experience should get a lot better soon, as Google works hard to make online advertising less annoying.

The internet is a tricky business today. Users are growing increasingly tired of obtrusive and disruptive web ads, while publishers still need to generate revenue to pay for their ongoing operations.

While some people don’t want to see any ads at all, many users just want advertising to be manageable and to no longer detract so badly from the browsing experience. That’s where Google’s efforts to make advertising less intrusive come in.

Google is an advertising company itself, of course. The majority of its revenue comes from internet ads, and so it has a vested interest in making sure that users can enjoy the web experience without resorting to ad blocker software that could destroy the online advertising industry. In other words, Google doesn’t want people to block all ads just to get rid of that single annoying one that blasts music unexpectedly and can’t be turned off.

In order to help make online ads more effective by being less obtrusive and obnoxious, Google joined the Coalition for Better Ads. This industry group aims to improve online ads and has created a set of Better Ads Standards intended to guide the industry toward improving ads by providing clear, public, and data-driven guidelines.

As part of its efforts, Google is creating the Ad Experience Report, which will help publishers get a handle on the Better Ads Standards and learn how to apply them to their own sites. Publishers can check out Google’s new best practices guide to get an idea of the right kinds of ads to use.

In addition, Google has a new service, called Funding Choices, that publishers can use to display a customized message to site visitors who are running ad blocker software. The message invites users to enable ads on that particular site — presuming that the standards are being followed — and offer up a paid pass that can remove those sites. The new Google Contributor is the mechanism that sites can use to charge this fee.

Google is making changes to its own Chrome browser to help resolve the situation as well. For example, Chrome already blocks ads that want to pop-up in new tabs, and Chrome will eventually block ads on sites that don’t comply with the Better Ads Standards. That will start in early 2018.

Fixing the ad situation is important for users, publishers, and advertisers alike. The more that Google can do to keep users happy while still serving up ads, the better it is for its business — meaning that this is one Google initiative that we’re sure it won’t abandon anytime soon.

Walmart invites its employees to deliver packages to customers’ homes

Why it matters to you

No brick and mortar or online store offers free shipping for next or same-day delivery. But Walmart may.

Looking to expand upon its no-membership-needed two-day shipping option, Walmart is calling upon its own employees to deliver packages to customers. Participation by store employees is completely voluntary, and is being presented as a way to make additional money.

Right now, the service is only active in two stores in New Jersey and a third store in northwest Arkansas. Essentially, an employee tells their home store how they commute home, with the option to also add other after-work destinations. A proprietary system then matches the employee’s travels with potential deliveries, which he or she can choose to fulfill.

Special algorithms ensure that any delivery is not too far off the employee’s typical commute. This suggests that the company is attempting to make employee participation as attractive as possible by minimizing the inconvenience of delivery. A special app will navigate the employee from delivery to delivery to optimize their route.

“It just makes sense: We already have trucks moving orders from fulfillment centers to stores for pickup,” Walmart ecommerce president and CEO Marc Lore says. “Those same trucks could be used to bring ship-to-home orders to a store close to their final destination, where a participating associate can sign up to deliver them to the customer’s house.”

Walmart requires that employees pass additional background checks and motor vehicle inspections, and provide proof of insurance. However, the employee can control what type of deliveries they’re comfortable with, including how many packages they’re willing to deliver and maximum size and weight.

In terms of scale, such an effort could be substantial if Walmart can get enough employees to participate. Lore says 90 percent of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart location. The speed of the Walmart distribution system itself could even get packages to online customers the next day — something that no online or brick-and-mortar retailer can do at no cost to the consumer.

Indeed, Lowe sees the move as game-changing, even hinting at same-day deliveries if the system works well. But don’t expect Walmart employees to make a substantial amount of money through the new offering: TechCrunch reports that employees that participate do so at their typical hourly rate.

Given that the cost of gas and wear and tear to an employee’s vehicle are factors that are similar to driving for Uber and Lyft, that is one area where Walmart’s plans might need a little work — even if employees are benefiting from the fact that they’re actual employees, not contractors as is the case with some other local carrier options and ridesharing services.