UPS is converting diesel trucks to electric for NYC deliveries

UPS is investing more seriously in electric vehicles, testing out new EV delivery vans in California and snagging some of Mitsubishi Fuso’s urban trucks coming to NYC. But what about its existing fleet? The shipping company is partnering with New York State’s Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to convert up to 1,500 of its old diesel trucks to all-electric systems.

With a $500,000 grant provided by NYSERDA, UPS will collaborate with energy transportation company Unique Electric Solutions to innovate methods to switch its vehicles over to electric. Producing a conversion kit is the first milestone, which involves switching out the UPS trucks’ chassis for 225kw electric motorized ones designed by UES; The second is developing a process blueprint to transform three vehicles in a day.

If everything goes to plan, the partners will start converting trucks in Spring 2018. The upper estimate on the amount of vehicles affected — 1,500 — represents two-thirds of UPS’ NYC delivery fleet.

Via: Mashable

Source: NYSERDA

Shepard Fairey documentary ‘Obey Giant’ hits Hulu this weekend

You may know Shepard Fairey from his “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” street art campaign, his Obey clothing line or his, what came to be, iconic Barack Obama “Hope” portrait. Well now you can check out a documentary about his life, his art and what drives him. In Obey Giant, Fairey discusses how punk rock and skateboarding inspired him early on, how that led to his street art and how he uses his art to work for social change.

The documentary will begin streaming November 11th on Hulu. You can check out the trailer below.

Source: Obey Giant

The Snow White scooter is easily the coolest way to travel this winter

When it comes to cool ways to travel, there are few cooler than Gravity Scooters’ new Snow White snow scooter. And when we say “cool,” we mean that both literally and figuratively. Freshly launched on Kickstarter, the Snow White scooter is a glorious mix of regular scooter, snowboard, skis, and sleigh. It’s designed to work as both a stand-alone vehicle and also an add-on kit to augment some of the company’s existing non-snow products.

“We have created a snow kit that can be mounted on a mountain scooter of Gravity Scooters brand,” Judith Garcia, managing director of Gravity Scooter, told Digital Trends. “With our snow scooter, you can surf the mountains or you can practice mushing [by tying your dogs to it and using] it as if it were a sledge.”

(Please note: Garcia is talking about sled dogs like the Alaskan Husky, so don’t even think about trying to get your family’s Jack Russell Terrier to power your alpine commute to work.)

While we have not yet had the chance to try it out for ourselves, it certainly looks a whole lot of fun, and capable of reaching some impressive speeds, while still maintaining a good level of agility.

If you’re interested in getting your hands (and feet) on a Snow White snow scooter of your own, you can currently place a pre-order on Kickstarter, where its creators are attempting to raise 7,500 euros (around $8,750) to bring their creation to life. Unfortunately, right now they’ve only raised a small fraction of that — so if this particular project strikes a chord with you, pledge your support in the next 40 days.

Provided thaGravity Scooters is able to raise the intended funds, you can pre-order a complete Gravity Snow White unit for 750 euros ($875), although other lower price options are available if you’ve already got a scooter you want to modify with the necessary wooden board and foot straps. Shipping of the finished product is set to take place in January 2018.

Oh, and just while we’re here, we totally dig the G-funk soundtrack the company chose for its Kickstarter campaign video. Ice Cube would be proud.

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Eastman Kodak cuts 425 jobs, says licensing of hardware played a role

The Eastman Kodak Company is laying off 425 people to help offset a $46 million loss. Kodak announced its third-quarter financial results on November 8, then followed up with news that its workforce will be cut by about 7 percent in order to remain on track to meet annual predictions. Kodak cited licensing, a segment of the company that allows other companies to manufacturer hardware such as the Ektra smartphone, as being among the reasons for the loss.

Other reasons include a lowered demand and higher costs for printing, the company’s largest segment. The company also said that brand licensing in the Consumer and Film division of the company also had an impact, along with struggles in the company’s 3D-printing division.

Around 100 of those layoffs will be in the company’s Rochester, New York, location; the company has around 6,000 employees globally. Eastman Kodak did not comment on what products may be affected by the staffing changes.

Kodak hasn’t had the easiest time after filing for bankruptcy in 2013. That bankruptcy resulted in the creation of Eastman Kodak and the separate company Kodak Alaris. Eastman Kodak makes print system and inkjet printers along, as well as works in the 3D printing technology software, fields. It also works with other companies to license the Kodak name. Kodak’s licensing resulted in the Kodak Ektra and a Kodak tablet, hardware manufactured by third-party companies. Eastman Kodak also still manufacturers motion picture film, but not film for still images.

Kodak Alaris is a separate company responsible for continuing the company’s film and paper products, which means film sales aren’t likely to be affected by the Eastman Kodak layoffs, though some types that are related to cinema film production could be potentially be affected.

Kodak has seen the most growth from two different types of process plates and increased revenue for the Prosper Inkjet line. Despite the $46 million loss in the third quarter, the company is still expecting to meet its prediction of $1.5 to $1.6 billion in annual revenue. During the same time last year, the company instead posted $12 million in net earnings.

“We expect to generate cash in the fourth quarter of 2017,” David Bullwinkle, the company’s chief financial officer, said in a press release. “We plan to improve our cash balance through reducing working capital and through cost actions including focusing investments in technologies most likely to deliver near-term returns.”

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According to a tipster, Samsung is working on a compact smartphone

According to a recent tip, Samsung could be working on a full-screen compact smartphone, SamMobile reports. But there’s no confirmation on whether the device will actually appear in stores.

The tipster, Ice Universe, took to the Chinese microblogging site Weibo to announce information about the rumored smartphone. The post described it to have a small, full screen that’s less than 5 inches. Unfortunately, Ice Universe wasn’t able to confirm any other details about the unit in terms of its identity.

With the Samsung Galaxy S9 confirmed, some are already speculating that it could be the Galaxy S9 Mini. Last year, rumors of a Galaxy S8 Mini surfaced as well — complete with a 5.3-inch screen that would feel more like a 4.7-inch phone in your hand. The company never actually went through with releasing a smaller version of the device.

But it’s also not unreasonable to assume there could be a mini version of the Galaxy S9. In the past, Samsung has offered compact versions of its flagship Galaxy S — but with less power, performance, and features than the larger version.

The last “mini” variant was part of the Galaxy S5 lineup back in 2014. The device featured a 4.5-inch, super AMOLED touchscreen, and was only about half an inch smaller than the Galaxy S5. It also included a fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor, and packed a 1.4GHz processor, along with a 2,100mAh battery.

It’s also assumed that this device can’t be the Galaxy A5 (2018) which is rumored to have a 5.5-inch Infinity Display, or the Galaxy A7 (2018) with an expected 5.7-inch Infinity Display. But if the measurements are correct, it could very well be the A3 (2018) model, seeing as how this year’s model had a 4.7-inch display.

With only one tip, it’s still too early to tell whether or not Samsung is planning on releasing a smaller device. But in what seems like a sea of plus-sized phones, a compact device might not be a terrible idea.

After all, it was Apple’s smallest smartphone on the market — the iPhone SE — that had the highest ranking customer satisfaction in the U.S. this past May. With a 4-inch display, it received first place in the Annual Customer Satisfaction Index specifically for its small size and less expensive price tag.

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Riptide R1 Elite review

Electric skateboards have made vast improvements in efficiency and speed, but improved tech specs don’t necessarily make for a fun ride.

What does makes for a fun ride is offering up something special that no other electric board has. When we started our review for the Riptide R1 Elite, we realized right away this electric board had that special something. Riptide saw the potential in going back to basics, and the result is a wonderfully simple board that can stand toe to toe with some of the titans of the electric skateboard industry — even with its flaws.

First impressions

At first glance, there’s nothing particularly unique about the R1 Elite. Like most electric boards, the Elite has a max speed of 20mph, and a range of 8 miles. At $729, its price tag is notably lower than other high-end electric skateboards, but that’s not the key difference that makes this board worth buying.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

What’s immediately clear when you ride the Elite is that it was built by actual skateboarders. Case in point: the kicktail. Having a kicktail means you can take sharper turns and maneuver through busy streets and sidewalks easier than with other electric boards.

But a kicktail isn’t any good if the deck it’s built on is low quality, and fortunately that’s not the case with the Elite. The deck feels sturdy under your feet, and even though the board is heavy thanks to the battery and motors attached to the back wheelsf, the weight is evenly distributed, and every ride feels smooth thanks to the Abec 11’s attached to the board.

If you’re not familiar, Abec makes some of the best skateboard wheels on the planet, and the 90mm, soft urethane wheels attached to the R1 Elite are ideal for going over everything from the occasional twig to cracks on the pavement. Like every other electric skateboard, you still can’t swap out the board’s back wheels due to the way the motors are affixed to them, so you’ll have to reach out to Riptide if your Abecs get damaged and you need help replacing them.

What’s immediately clear when is that it was built by actual skateboarders.

At 14 pounds, the R1 Elite is pretty much the same weight as most electric longboards, but with one big difference: it’s way easier to carry. Because of their bulkiness and weight, it’s often a chore to carry around electric boards, and for people who like to take their board everywhere with them, that inconvenience can sometimes become a deal breaker. Luckily, Riptide sidestepped that problem by putting a handle on each side of the deck, which makes it way easier to hop off and carry the board whenever needed. Along with the deck only being 31 inches, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find an electric skateboard that’s more portable.

It’s also worth noting that the R1 Elite also comes with headlights and taillights, which allow you to cruise long into the night — but the review board we tested unfortunately didn’t come with them attached. Still, that’s definitely a nice option to have.

The battery is good, but could be better

It took us about three hours to fully charge the R1 Elite, but the company does offer up a 90 minute fast charger at an added price. It takes a while to charge the battery, but that’s not wildly uncommon for electric boards of this size. As an added bonus, Riptide claims that the board fits TSA’s increasingly strict guidelines, which means the R1 is airplane safe and can fly with you. The battery is secured with a heavy-duty case that’ll protect against damage, and although it’s not waterproof, the case can easily withstand a dash through the occasional puddle after a rainy day.

A good controller with consistent controls

The wireless controller feels good in your hand, and the board’s motors are highly responsive to your control input. During our testing, the toggle stick for acceleration never got stuck in one position, and was generally quite consistent and reliable. It is, however, a little more complicated than most controllers, thanks to the R1’s two speed options: standard mode and pro mode. Standard mode gives you a max speed of 12 mph, while pro mode goes up to 20 mph.

The software could be tuned a bit better though. If you decide to transition from Pro to Standard mode (or Standard to Pro) while you’re riding, you’ll experience a little bit of jerkiness. The amount of jolt you’ll feel from under your feet will vary depending on what speed you’re traveling at, but after a couple of trial and error moments, you’ll get the hang of the board’s movements and understand the way it behaves under your feet.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

All in all, the board’s responsiveness to your controls is almost instantaneous, but that’s not always a good thing. Smoother acceleration/deceleration would go a long way toward making the Riptide R1 Elite feel less squirrelly, and more approachable to novice riders.

New board; old problems

A common problem with electric boards is their brakes (looking at you, Tomahawk), and unfortunately the R1 is no exception. The deceleration system on Riptide’s board isn’t bad if you’re cruising at lower speeds, but the faster you go, the more difficult it becomes to slow down comfortably. While we never felt like we were going to be thrown off the board, it did take a few rides to get used to the braking system’s abruptness. If you decide to buy the R1 Elite, we highly recommend taking the time to get used to the brakes before you ride in unfamiliar territory with unpredictable obstacles – a.k.a. public streets and sidewalks.

The R1 Elite’s shorter wheelbase and playful kicktail make quick turning a breeze

Like we mentioned earlier, you can tell this board was built by skateboarders, and it shows in the little details while riding. For example, you don’t have to manually turn on the board before you ride. You can just set it down, kick forward a couple of times, and the R1 Elite will automatically turn on. The shape is also great. Since the deck is built like a typical cruiser, it’s short and snappy, with a torpedo-shaped taper that provides ample foot space.  More and more electric skateboards are trying out innovative designs, but nothing feels better than a good old-fashioned wooden deck.

Since most electric skateboards are typically designed as longboards, they’re usually a bit tricky to turn with — but the R1 Elite’s shorter wheelbase and playful kicktail make quick turning a breeze. Even with the board’s added weight, it’s astonishingly easy to whip around and make sharp, controlled turns.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

In pro mode on the R1 Elite, you can go up to 20 mph, which is fairly standard fare when it comes to electric skateboards. The Elite can sort of hang with the best of them, but is at its best when you’re hovering around 12 to 15 mph, because you can safely take advantage of the kicktail at lower speeds.

The major downsides with the R1 Elite are the exact same problems that you’ll find in a lot of mid-level electric skateboards. The back wheels are strapped to belts, so it’s difficult to push off the board and coast if there’s no power, and the motor puts off a pretty loud hum while you ride. Just keep in mind that if those downsides are deal breakers for you, then electric boards probably aren’t for you, since pretty much all of them are relatively loud and bad at coasting.

Worth the price tag?

The R1 Elite is fun to ride because it feels exactly like a regular cruiser board, but with the added benefit of an electric motor that can propel you up to 20 miles per hour at the push of a button. Going back to basics and adding a simple kicktail on the board really makes for an unforgettable ride every time you hop on, and the handles on both sides of the board also make the Elite arguably one of the best commuter board’s we’ve ever ridden. So whether you’re an avid skater or someone who’s just looking for a new way to get to work, Riptide’s R1 Elite offers a blend of ride and portability that’s hard to beat.

If you’re interested in riding one, Riptide just finished up a super successful Indiegogo campaign where it surpassed its fundraising goal by nearly 200 percent. The R1 Elite is now available through Indiegogo InDemand for $729.

Discord makes it easier to jump into your friends’ games

Gaming chat app Discord is quickly becoming a full-fledged social network. The latest move toward this is the ability to set a status for yourself and let folks know what game you’re playing. More than that, Discord is launching an entire SDK (called “Rich Presence”) so developers can directly integrate the app within their games, which should make joining your friends for a round of Call of Duty: WWII (one of the first supported titles) a little easier. “It gives players a clear at-a-glance understanding of what their friends are playing, how they are playing it, where they are at in the game and a one-click way to jump in and join,” CEO Jason Citron said in a statement.

Essentially this is making the PC platform a bit like PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, giving an easy way to jump into games your friends are playing. The list of supported games is a bit short as of now, but that’ll likely change pretty soon. CoD, Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Payday 2 headline the freshman class, with Duelyst, Killing Floor 2 and SpeedRunners being the highlights of the rest. Steam has offered similar for while now.

Noticeably absent? PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Given that game’s popularity and rabid fanbase, integration for that doesn’t seem like it’d be too far off.

Source: Discord

Nintendo reportedly plans to ramp up Switch production in 2018

The Switch, Nintendo’s latest hybrid console is doing pretty well for the company, which expects it to outdo the Wii U’s lifetime sales within a year. The company obviously thinks so, too, according to a new report at The Wall Street Journal, which says that Nintendo plans to ramp up production of the hardware itself, beginning in April 2018.

The report claims that Nintendo is planning to make 25 million to 30 million more units of its successful Switch console over the next fiscal year. Further, Nintendo may plan for even more if this year’s holiday sales are strong, according to the WSJ‘s sources. We’ve reached out to Nintendo for confirmation and any more details and will update this post when we hear back.

The company has already built almost 8 million Switches, total, as of its latest earnings report. Sales of Nintendo software have been brisk as well with the two crown jewels of Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild selling two million and almost three million units so far, respectively.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Connected sex toys recorded intimate sessions without consent

Days ago, a Redditor discovered that their Lovense remote control app was unknowingly recording audio of a six-minute intimate session between the user and their significant other. It happened while they used the app to control the Lovense vibrator it’s paired with, and it saved the recording to a local file buried in the phone’s media storage. Another commenter, claiming to be a Lovense representative, said these recordings are the result of a “minor software bug.”

According to the supposed representative, the bug only affects the Android version of the app (iOS users are unaffected), and the issue has been fixed in the latest version. The app requests access to a smartphone or tablet’s microphone and video, which are used to send messages in peer-to-peer chat — not to record sessions for later. The Redditor admitted to granting the app such access, but only came across the recording when combing media files. Subsequently, others in the thread found similar audio files (many labeled ‘tempSoundPlay.3gp’) on their devices.

This is obviously worrying, but it’s not the first time sex devices have run into trouble for quietly collecting user data. The makers of the We-Vibe connected vibrator paid out $3.75 million in a class-action lawsuit after its paired app recorded info about owners’ use habits. Lovense asserts on its site that no “sensitive data” passes through its servers, and that all info sent between users is encrypted. But given how fervent sex industries are to embrace teledildonics, perhaps users should be wary about how much of their sensitive data gets transferred — knowingly or otherwise — when using sensitive toys.

Via: The Verge

Source: Reddit

Contemplate life in ‘Far From Noise’ on PS4 November 14th

Next week sees the arrival of Far From Noise, a narrative game for PS4. The game takes place over a single day and night and during that time, your character is trapped in a car balancing on the edge of a cliff. As you rock back and forth over the edge, you’ll have conversations — with yourself and with a companion that approaches your car. You can discuss all sorts of things including why you ended up where you are, where the stranger is from, nature, life and death.

As George Batchelor, the game’s creator, writes in a blog post, the gameplay lies in choosing the dialogue. “The journey you take is shaped by what you choose to talk about. It’s a naturally flowing conversation that goes in all directions. There are different ways your story can end,” he writes. “Creatures may come to join your sunset observation. Not always the same faces, every time you play things can change. The forces of nature happen around you. Life continues, while you balance back and forth.”

The game will be released on November 14th and you can check out the trailer below.

Source: PlayStation