ICYMI: Street View pollution hunt, Easier Amazon and more
Today on In Case You Missed It: Google Street View cars are rolling through U.S. cities to measure pollution, measuring harmful compounds like methane and carbon monoxide. Amazon’s new Dash buttons are now available, which let consumers instant-order basic household items with a push of a literal button. And NASA is crashing planes to help improve the reliability of Emergency Location Transmitters, so that the signal actually turns on when something goes terribly wrong.
The bonus video today looks like a robot horror movie for a couple seconds (52 seconds in!) and is well worth the view. We wanted to also show you this haunting video of a robot as ribbon dancer but simply ran out of time. Enjoy!
If you come across any interesting videos, we’d love to see them. Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag @engadget or @mskerryd.
Filed under: Household, Peripherals, Robots, Transportation, Internet, Google
Amazon snaps up former ‘Top Gear’ trio for new motoring show
Amazon has announced that it’s signed a deal with ousted Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond for a new motoring show. The stars of the popular BBC franchise left the program earlier this year when Clarkson was fired as a consequence of punching a producer. Almost instantly, rumors of the trio launching a rival with another broadcaster spread, with Netflix the surprise front-runner.
It’s a big deal for Amazon, since it’s able to bloody the nose of its most immediate rival and is likely to have a mass-market hit on its hands. After all, Top Gear is, or was, the world’s most watched factual program with a global audience of roughly 350 million people per year. If even only a small proportion of those pay to join Prime, then it’ll still make the company some very serious bank. It’s not the first time that Amazon has stepped in to “save” a BBC show either, since it’s previously bankrolled two seasons of Ripper Street after it was cancelled.
I’m very excited to announce that Hammond, May and I have signed a deal with .@AmazonVideo
– Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 30, 2015
In addition to the presenting trio, producer Andy Wilman, arguably the chief creative force behind the show’s resurgence, is also on board for the new production. If you’re not in a country where Prime is available, don’t worry just yet, as the Wall Street Journal believes that Amazon will license the shows to local broadcasters. Still, there’s plenty of time for Jeff Bezos and co. to expand the service’s reach, since the first of three seasons won’t start airing until 2016.
A photo posted by Amazon Instant Video UK (@amazonvideouk) on Jul 30, 2015 at 2:57am PDT
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Transportation, HD, Amazon
Via: WSJ
Source: Amazon
Amazon’s Dash Buttons bring one-push ordering to all Prime members
If you’re like me, you probably thought Amazon’s Dash Button was an April Fool’s joke that arrived a day early. Well, we found out rather quickly that the online retailer was serious about the device and invited select Prime members to give them a shot. If you were left out of the initial push, the one-touch order buttons are now available for anyone with a Prime membership for $5 each. Right now, there are 18 total Dash buttons to choose from that will handle orders of items like laundry detergent, paper towels, food and more with ease. With an adhesive backing, the idea is the place the Dash Button close to where you’re likely to run out of an item for easy access. In the case of the Tide button above, you’d stick it on your washing machine. The diminutive devices connect to your home WiFi network through the Amazon mobile app where you can select the size/quantity info. You’ll also receive an order alert on your phone, so you can cancel the order if needed. You know, in case someone happens to press it one too many times.
With an adhesive backing, the idea is the place the Dash Button close to where you’re likely to run out of an item for easy access. In the case of the Tide button above, you’d stick it on your washing machine. The diminutive devices connect to your home WiFi network through the Amazon mobile app where you can select the size/quantity info. You’ll also receive an order alert on your phone, so you can cancel the order if needed. You know, in case someone happens to press it one too many times.
Filed under: Household, Amazon
Via: The Verge, @richdemuro (Twitter)
Source: Amazon
Amazon: Buy a Chromecast, receive $10 gift card (until Aug. 9)
The Chromecast, which recently celebrated its second birthday, is one of our favorite media devices of all time. Why? Because, for $35, it’s super flexible and enhances the mobile experience and living room experience at the same time.
As one of Amazon’s top-selling media devices, the Chromecast can often be found on sale. Such is the case now where it’s selling for $29.99. But, for a limited time, it gets even better.
“Offer expires at 11:59 p.m. (PT) on August 9, 2015. “
Purchase the Chromecast through Amazon between now and August 9 and you’ll also receive a $10 gift card. Yep, the same sort of gift card that works for anything else on Amazon.com.
All you have to do is click this link and add the gift card and Chromecast to your shopping cart.
Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player
The post Amazon: Buy a Chromecast, receive $10 gift card (until Aug. 9) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Truck firm wants to deploy delivery drones on the move
Amazon’s drone-delivery service may be a little fanciful, but it looks as if another company is working to make something similar to it a reality. Workhorse has applied to the FAA for special permission to begin testing drone deliveries made from the back of one of the firm’s electric cargo vans. The idea is simple enough: as the truck makes its rounds, the roof-mounted HorseFly UAV selects, transports and drops off a parcel right outside the recipient’s front door. The neat trick to all of this would be that the system is autonomous, with the human operator only keeping an eye on the landing to ensure there’s no accidents.
The HorseFly was designed with short-journey deliveries in mind, and is expected to fly for half an hour carrying 10 pounds. It was built as a partnership between Workhorse and the University of Cincinnati and will have wireless charging so that its batteries can re-juice between drop-offs. Since it’s nearly impossible for a drone to travel super long distances with heavy cargo, Amazon’s idea of delivering packages from its nearest warehouse seems a bit silly. This system, on the other hand, seems to have plenty of potential.
[Image Credit: University of Cincinnati]
Filed under: Transportation
Via: IEEE.Spectrum
Source: Workhorse, UAS Magazine
Amazon proposes a delivery drone flight plan
Following the FAA’s recent relaxation of commercial drone flight regulations, Amazon is forging ahead with plans to employ the machines for deliveries. But first, the company has proposed some ground rules to keep the fledgling industry flying safely and out of the way of manned aircraft. Currently the FAA only allows drones to climb to 400 feet and they must remain within the pilot’s line of sight. They also cannot be operated within five miles of an airport. Amazon’s proposal builds off these initial restrictions with faster, long-range drones flying between 200 and 400 feet up. Slower and short-range drones would operate below 200 feet.
The biggest challenge is making sure that these machines don’t run into obstacles, airplanes, helicopters or each other. As such Amazon wants every drone to file the UAV equivalent of a flight plan prior to takeoff, just like manned aircraft already do. The drones would also need to maintain an internet connection in case they need to receive emergency instructions (i.e. “Thunderstorm ahead. Land now.”) as well as obstacle avoidance and sensing systems to keep them from crashing into trees, birds, utility poles or just sideswiping one another.
It’s basically a mirror of the current (and exceedingly safe) system employed by the FAA for commercial airliners. What’s more, Amazon wants to create a neutral central computer system to handle all of these flight plans and location data that any participating company could freely access. This access would extend from hobbyists flying homebrew quadcopters to tech giants like Amazon, Google and Facebook along a tiered flightpath scheme. “It’s completely doable,” Gur Kimchi, Amazon’s VP of drone delivery, told Bloomberg News. “We think it’s something feasible that everyone can rally around.”
[Image Credit: Amazon/Associated Press]
Filed under: Wireless, Science, Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook
Source: Bloomberg
Amazon Launchpad helps startups get products to customers
If you’re an inventor, then your expertise probably lies in developing hardware and software rather than knowing the ins-and-outs of the logistics business. Amazon is hoping to help these individuals with Launchpad, a system that lets startups harness the company’s vast marketing and transportation resources. Essentially, if you run a venture capital-backed startup or have made a splash on Kickstarter, then you can send Amazon a box of devices and Jeff Bezos will take care of the rest. For instance, Launchpad will be one of the first places that you can buy Thync’s mood-changing wearable and Eero’s distributed WiFi hardware.
It’s not the first time that Amazon has made overtures towards the startup community in recent months since it launched a store specifically for crowdfunding successes back in March. Launchpad, by comparison, is designed for even younger firms, and will accept signups from businesses that are up to three months away from being able to launch their first product. In addition, once the first consignment of devices arrive at an Amazon fulfillment center, they’ll be enrolled into the Prime program for fast shipping. For inventors who would otherwise struggle to get their creations out to the world, Launchpad seems like an ideal solution although, for now, you have to apply and hope that the company’s moderators approve of your idea.
Filed under: Transportation, Internet, Amazon
Source: BusinessWire, Amazon Launchpad
Amazon launches Prime Music in the UK
After previously opening the facility to customers in the US, Amazon has today launched its Prime Music streaming service in the UK. This feature is available to all subscribers of the company’s ‘Prime’ membership package at no extra cost. For those not already registered, it will set you back £79 per year and gets you movies, free deliveries and much, much more.
Just like Apple Music and Spotify, Prime Music offers its users unlimited, ad-free access to over a million songs together with “hundreds of hand-built playlists” — so there’s bound to be something for everyone to enjoy. Customers also have the ability to download any song or album they’ve added to their library for offline playback.
If you’re based in the UK and would like to find out more about Amazon Prime Music — hit the source link below.
Source: Amazon
Come comment on this article: Amazon launches Prime Music in the UK
Amazon Prime Music streaming lands in the UK
Amazon’s Prime Music service has been available in the US for a little over a month now and UK Prime customers can now enjoy ad free streaming too, as the service as just gone live in the country.
Amazon Prime Music offers unlimited, ad-free music access to over one million tracks, without any playback restrictions. There are also hundreds of handpicked playlists to choose from and songs can be downloaded to your smartphone or tablet for offline playback.
You will need to be an Amazon Prime member to make use of Prime Music. Fortunately, Amazon is currently offering a 30 day free trial, so you can see what all of the fuss is about before stumping up the cash. A yearly Prime membership currently costs £79, which includes unlimited one-day delivery, access to Prime Instant Video, Prime Music and unlimited photo storage with Amazon Cloud Drive.
Although its music library might not be quite as large as some other streaming services’, Amazon Prime’s range of features still makes it a competitive option, especially for regular shoppers.
Amazon Prime Music and Instant Video, as well as the fast delivery service, are also rumored to be heading to India later in the year.
If you want to sign up, click the big ol’ orange button below.
Amazon Prime Music streaming comes to the UK
Hot on the heels of Apple Music, Amazon is launching its own music streaming service in the UK. Unlike Spotify, Rdio and most of its other competitors though, there’s no single price for Prime Music; to gain access, you’ll need an annual Prime subscription. The £79 fee comes with a host of other perks, including one-day delivery and Prime Instant Video, but it’s a key difference in the way Amazon wants to sell the service. Even if it falls a little short of its rivals, it might not really matter — Prime Music simply adds to the value of Prime and makes Amazon’s subscription more appealing to new and existing subscribers.
Amazon is boasting just “over a million songs” on Prime Music — a paltry sum compared to the 30 million plus on Spotify and Apple Music — along with other industry-standard features such as offline playback and curated playlists. Just like in the US, where it’s been available for over a year, you can access the service on a wide range of hardware too including iOS, Android, PC, Mac and Amazon’s Fire devices. Music streaming is a crowded space, but at least the company has a unique take; the service itself is unoriginal, but the pricing could make more sense for those already debating a Prime subscription.
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