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Netflix's pop-out player test is perfect for procrastination
Netflix appears to be testing a "pop-out player." The feature lets users watch videos in a small floating box that hovers above other windows and applications, and the tool could be ideal for multitasking.
eBay opens QR code-powered shop in the UK
Today, eBay opened a brick and mortar concept store in the UK's Wolverhampton. The month-long retail experiment will offer wares from 40 small, local businesses and will host a series of free, interactive workshops. While eBay has opened pop-ups before, this is the first of its kind in the UK, and it's meant to test how physical and online retail might work together.
Amazon is shutting down its US pop-up stores
Amazon is re-thinking its physical retail strategy, and will reportedly start another chain of grocery stores later this year alongside Whole Foods. But not all of its concepts will stand the test of time -- the company closing down its 87 retail pop-up stores throughout the US, perhaps because they're too limited in scope for Amazon's ambitions.
Facebook’s pop-up store has everything from clothes to burger sauce
The last thing you might expect to find inside a Macy's store is a space decorated by Facebook. But that's exactly what people in Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle, Pittsburgh and New York City will see when they visit The Market, a curated collection of established and up-and-coming brands that Macy's features as a shop-within-a-shop at select locations. Through a partnership with the retailer, Facebook this week launched its first-ever pop-up store, which is going to put a spin on The Market and feature 100 "digital-native" brands inside Macy's. Digital native, essentially, means they've either advertised on Facebook or Instagram.
Facebook opens small business pop-ups in nine Macy's stores
Facebook is bringing around 100 digital-native brands and small businesses that have found success on the social network and Instagram to physical retail locations. It's opening pop-ups at nine Macy's stores as the holiday shopping season gets underway.
Pop-up EV charger disappears when it's not being used
Electric vehicles face a lot of challenges in the push for mainstream adoption, and the proximity to domestic charging points is one of them. No problems there if you've got a driveway where you can install a charger, but for those living in built-up areas where on-street parking is the only option, getting an EV is all but out of the question. Enter Urban Electric, a company that's developed EV charging points that literally pop out of the ground.
Audi gives Airbus' flying taxi concept a stylish makeover
Did you think Airbus' Pop.Up flying taxi concept was a little drab? So did Audi. It teamed up with Airbus and Italdesign to unveil Pop.Up Next, a reworked version of the two-seat autonomous vehicle concept. The new version is more stylish than the mostly functional original, and borrows more than a few cues from Audi's current design language. However, it should also be more practical -- it's supposed to be "significantly" lighter than the original, which is rather important for a hybrid passenger drone.
Chrome update rids Android devices of pop-ups and redirects
Android is getting priority treatment again from Chrome as the stable version of Chrome 64 rolls out here ahead of Mac, Windows and Linux for the second release in a row. The version includes the usual bug fixes, plus a host of features designed to make browsing safer and easier. Malicious auto-redirects are out, with the browser blocking third-party iframes unless you've directly interacted with them, and an improved pop-up blocker will stop shady sites from opening new tabs or windows from accidentally-clicked play buttons and transparent overlays.
Chrome will soon prevent irritating, unwanted website redirects
Today, Google announced some tweaks coming to Chrome that are aimed at blocking surprise website redirects and irritating pop-ups. In a blog post, Google said that around one out of every five feedback reports regarding Chrome mentions users being directed toward unwanted content and so it's working to address those issues in upcoming Chrome releases.
Google will show off its new gear at NYC and LA pop-up shops
If you want to get a good look at one of Google's array of just-announced devices, you're in luck. The company has two pop-up shops coming October 19th to New York and Los Angeles where you can drop in, fondle the goods. Unlike like last year's temporary retail spots, you'll be able to buy products there rather than having order whatever you want to be shipped to your home.
Airbus unveils an autonomous, modular flying car concept
Flying cars face many obstacles, but one of the biggest is accommodating all the parts needed to both drive and fly -- their designs amount to big, heavy compromises. Airbus and Italdesign want to try something different. They've just unveiled the Pop.Up, an autonomous concept that uses a modular passenger capsule to switch between four-wheeled ground transport and quadcopter flight. All you do is tell the vehicle's AI where to go -- it'll snap on air or ground modules based on both the available routes and your habits. Airbus even floats the possibility of shuttling your capsule through hyperloop tubes when they're available.
Google begins its big Pixel push in the UK
It's a big day for Google. The company is launching its first Pixel branded phones in the UK, retiring the Nexus line and attacking the iPhone with gusto. To give its new handsets a proper introduction, Google has renovated its store-within-a-store at the Currys PC World on Tottenham Court Road. We went to take a look, and stumbled across a Google-branded coffee stall along the way. (Helpful, given the shop opened at 7am.) If you're wondering how Google plans to market the Pixel, and ultimately compete with Samsung, Apple and others, check out the gallery below -- a similar store concept is being launched in New York City today.
A 'Made by Google' pop-up store is coming to New York
With a slew of new hardware, Google is finally aiming for scale. The new Pixel phones, the smart Home speaker -- these aren't Nexus-level side projects. These are polished, premium projects that Google wants to sell in large numbers. For that to happen, the company will need to spend some marketing dollars -- and based on the official Made by Google website, it's prepared to do just that. One page with "popup" in the URL shows the Google logo and the address "96 Spring Street" underneath. Further down, the page confirms the New York store will be opening on October 20th.
Windows 10 update message interrupts live weather report
Microsoft made Windows 10 a recommended upgrade for previous versions, and users have reported the desktop operating system asking about a download without warning. There have even been reports of the software installing itself without user consent. It can be rather annoying, and a meteorologist at KCCI in Des Moines observed that first hand. During a live weather report, a pop-up appeared prompting the control room to update to Windows 10. As you can see, these messages are bit more intrusive than the notifications on other platforms, like Apple's OS X for Mac.
Amazon opening second retail store in San Francisco
Seething with jealousy because you live in California and that Amazon retail store in Manhattan is too far out of reach? Well, maybe the news that the online-shopping giant is setting up shop in San Francisco will help allay any envy. Amazon's City By the Bay pop-up shop is set to open in the Westfield San Francisco Centre October 22nd, according to GeekWire. What's on offer? Mostly Fire devices from the sound of it. It's too early to tell if this store will carry the same benefits as the Gotham retail location (pick-up, drop off or a return spot, namely), but, if anything, it shows that Bezos isn't afraid of trying out traditional sales models in more than one spot, either. If you'd rather not traverse into the city, there's apparently a Sacramento pop-up opening, too.
Apple opens temporary, "open air" shop
Apple has opened its first open-air shop, a mix of traditional mall kiosk and Apple simplicity. Located at Glattzentrum mall in Wallisellen, the open-air shop has been set up while the mall's main Apple store is undergoing a complicated expansion. According to Macnn.com, reporting from a translated post on MacPrime.ch, workers are unsure as to how long the renovations will take. Considering Apple is expected to be launching new products this Fall, this open-air shop will allow the company to maintain its current presence in the mall even if the renovations last through the possible product launches. While the open-air shop doesn't have the square footage of a normal Apple Store, the set up is familiar; rows of tables showcase demonstration models while accessories line shelves. When a purchase is made the associate runs to grab it from the inventory room. You can see some pictures taken by MacPrime.ch above and below.
Twitter experimenting with pop-up notifications on the web
Twitter isn't shy when it comes to experimentation. The social network tests some new features by rolling them out to regular users, albeit on a very limited basis, while other projects, such as @eventparrot, are made available to the entire community. The latest unreleased tool to make an appearance is a notification window that pops up whenever you receive a reply or mention, a la the screenshot above. Engadget editor Sarah Silbert noticed the pop-up in her own account, but she seems to be the only staffer with access to this particular tool. We reached out to Twitter for more information, but reps weren't able to share anything related to this particular implementation. The company has gone on the record before to shed some light on its otherwise mysterious experiment program -- in the past, engineers have "tested various features with small groups," and that appears to be the case here as well. Have you come across any Twitter features that your friends haven't seen? Let us know in the comments, and feel free to send us a tip with a screenshot, too.
Paranoid Android teases in-app pop-up window multitasking (video)
As advanced as multitasking gets on smartphones, many times you're still left to completely switch between apps. Paranoid Android is looking to set things into overdrive with in-app, multiple-window multitasking for its skin of Android, going beyond the similar (but limited) functionality seen in the likes of Samsung's basked-in Galaxy apps. PA's Paul Henschel recently posted a demo to YouTube highlighting the feature working with various apps on both an Android tablet and a Nexus smartphone, with a post to Google+ saying it shows less than 10 percent of the planned functionality. If that weren't enough, the post further clarifies PA's drive to build out its version stating: "We think these [Samsung, Cyanogen & Cornerstone] implementations suck and we want to get it right this time." Thirsty for more info? Hit the source link and the video after the break, while we eagerly wait further updates.
Inside Afghanistan's unofficial Apple Store
When a gap appears in the market, entrepreneurs will step in to fill it. A few years ago, we reported about a rash of unofficial Apple stores popping up, and being shut down, in China. Now Quartz is reporting about an unofficial Apple store in Kabul, Afghanistan. Unlike the fancy Chinese knock-offs this unofficial home to Apple products is merely a small operation nestled in the middle of Afghanistan's largest shopping mall. The store sells a few laptops and phones every day according to its manager, Mohammed Nasery, at a slight markup from their American prices. This is due to having to buy all of the products from Dubai at retail price. Due to economic limitations, only a small percentage of the country has the means to purchase an Apple product, but the status such luxury items affords leads some young Afghans to make the splurge. In an interview last year with USC Annenberg, Esmatullah Rahimi, one of the store's employee's, described the kind of clientele the store attracted. "Well, Afghans don't have a lot of money, so to own an Apple you need to have a good job. I'd say that most Apple consumers are pretty young, from around 25 to 35. These are the people who work either as translators for the military or who work on aid projects...Young Afghans work around foreigners who have iPods and Macs and iPads, and they want them too." The store has been profitable enough that the owners are expanding their operation, adding a repair center and a website soon, with a second location being considered. You can read more over at Quartz. It's fascinating look at how technology spreads unofficially to markets where there is demand.
Pressure-sensing PC technology knows when you're busy, blocks notifications accordingly
We know better than most that when you're working to a deadline, constant pop-ups, notifications and pings can be a real pain. Our frustrations might soon become a thing of the past, however, with some help from boffins at the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in Japan. They are working on technology which monitors keyboard pressure and silences those distractions until it deems you're not busy, showing over 80 percent accuracy during volunteer testing. Understanding that quiet time is also appreciated for other tasks, they plan to use similar techniques to spot when you're staring intently at that report or -- more importantly -- attending to a beverage. It's still early days for the project, but if the stress-saving tech ever spawns a product, we'll take two please. [Image Credit: Getty Images / Jean Louis Batt]
