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An e-bike sharing company co-founded by Usain Bolt appears to have shut down
An e-bike- startup co-founded by Olympian Usain Bolt appears to have shut down operations, highlighting recent problems in the micromobility sector.
FBI sent a team to 'exploit' Portland protesters' phones
The FBI sent a team to Portland with the aim of exploiting protesters' phones.
Portland officials pass strict ban on facial recognition systems
Portland, Oregon officials have passed what could be the strictest municipal ban on facial recognition in the country. It’s not just local government units, such as the police, that can no longer use facial recognition under the city’s new regulations — private businesses can’t deploy the technology in public spaces either. It added that face recognition technologies “have been documented to have an unacceptable gender and racial bias” and explained that the city “needs to take precautionary actions until these technologies are certified and safe to use and civil liberties issues are resolved.”
Lyft offers free EV charging to Portland drivers
Lyft might have a way to recruit more EV drivers: top up their cars for free. The ridesharing service has teamed up with Portland General Electric to offer free EV charging in the Oregon city's metro area to eligible drivers from July 1st onward. There will only be a "number of locations" that support it (including Hillsboro station). Still, it could be easier for drivers to work for Lyft knowing they won't have to wait for recharges and spend some of their hard-earned pay.
Portland finds Uber used 'Greyball' to evade 16 authorities
Portland is done investigating Uber's use of the infamous 'Greyball' tool in the city. The results? According to Reuters, authorities have discovered that the ride-hailing service used the software to prevent 16 of the city's regulators from booking rides. It also ignored and canceled 29 ride requests by city transportation enforcers. Uber's Greyball scheme first came to light when The New York Times revealed in March that it has a tool that can block known authorities from booking rides and even seeing if there are cars available in the area. The service used that tool to be able to operate in areas where it had no permission to do so, including Portland, Boston, Paris and Las Vegas.
Portland plans to convert poop into fuel
The city of Portland has come up with an unusual way to replace diesel fuel. It's going to convert waste methane from sewage into renewable natural gas. That's right -- trucks in the future could run on poop.
Portland wants to get driverless cars on its roads this year
A new initiative from the city of Portland, Oregon hopes to attract the fast-growing self-driving car industry to the city's streets. According to Bloomberg, Mayor Ted Wheeler and the city's Bureau of Transportation are working to finalize a new set of rules governing autonomous vehicle pilot programs and hope to have driverless vehicles on the roads by the end of this year.
Starbucks adds mobile pay and ordering to its Android app
The day when you no longer have to scream "No, you fool! I ordered a Venti Decaf Non-Fat Pumpkin Spice Latte!" at your barista is finally upon us. Starbucks has tweaked its Android app to bake-in both ordering and payments straight from your phone, saving you the drama of having to explain your arcane coffee needs to another human. The feature was originally tested last December in Portland, and was added to the iOS version of the app back in July. The app will work in the US, Canada and in the UK, although the mobile ordering will only work in stores that the company owns -- there's a big venti question mark over if it'll work in other locations. Oh, and don't shout at your barista, because it's both very rude and a one-way ticket to guaranteeing your coffee has something extra special inside.
Amazon's latest service test has you picking up orders
Amazon has jumped through hoops trying to speed up deliveries, but wouldn't it sometimes make sense to eliminate the last-mile shipping altogether and pick up orders yourself? That might just happen. GeekWire has discovered that Amazon is trying out a new service, Flex, that has you collecting your package from a facility. It's much like a visit to a government office, or Amazon's Purdue pickup spot -- you take a ticket and wait for your turn. The company isn't commenting on Flex (even the test building in Seattle is still in rough shape), but it's safe to say that this would be limited to areas where Amazon can set up distribution centers.
Flywheel wants you to skip the wait for app-friendly taxis
As convenient as ridesharing and app-based taxi services can be, you still have to wait for your lift to show up. Wouldn't it be nice to hop into the first available taxi and then pay through an app? Flywheel is trying just that. Its new Pay by Flywheel service lets you hail a taxi and pay after you're on your way -- the app uses your phone's motion sensors to tell when you're in mid-ride. It's theoretically just as speedy as flagging down a conventional taxi, but saves you the hassle of fumbling with your wallet at the very end. The option is available today in every Flywheel area, including the just-added city of Portland.
Portland unbans UberX
Citing violations of its hired transportation rules, the city of Portland, OR sued Uber last December and temporarily halted the ridesharing company's operations within city limits. Now, after months of haggling with civic and community leaders, Uber has relaunched a "safer and more reliable" version of its UberX service in the Rose City. Under the agreement, Uber X drivers will have to pass background and driving history checks while their cars must pass a vehicle safety inspections conducted by a certified mechanic. Each UberX fare will now include a $1 Safe Rides Fee but should remain pretty reasonable if the table below is accurate.
Spinlister wants to be the Zipcar of smart bike rentals
This smart bike is about to turn urban ridesharing on its ear. Spinlister, a global peer-to-peer bike sharing program, announced plans at SXSW on Friday to sell these specially-built VanMoof smart bikes for use as franchised rentals through its mobile app. It's like Uber or Lyft but, you know, with pedals.
Uber deal with Portland takes its cars off the road temporarily
One of Uber's legal problems appears to be moving towards a positive resolution. The city of Portland sued Uber for ignoring its transportation rules a few days ago, but now the two are making "progress toward a permanent home." That progress will start with a step backwards though, as Uber will "pause" pick-ups in the city (outside the city it will keep running, if you need a ride to the Nike HQ) after December 21st while officials work on new regulations. The upside for the service however, is that event if new rules aren't in place within three months, the city says it will let ridesharing operators resume service.
Portland sues Uber over its 'illegal' ridesharing service
Uber has a long, long history of flouting laws that limit its ridesharing business, but Portland isn't taking this disobedience lying down. The Oregon city just sued Uber for allegedly violating its hired transportation rules, and has issued a cease-and-desist order that takes Uber's "illegal" operation off the road until it both gets driver permits and meets requirements for consumer protections and safety. Commissioner Steve Novick wants company staff to "make their case" for looser regulations at Portland's city council rather than drive first and ask questions later.
Starbucks now lets you order and pay through mobile... if you're in Portland
The Starbucks app's mobile ordering feature is finally here after months of speculation and anticipation -- and it's landed first in Portland, Oregon. Naturally. If you want to buy, say, an eggnog latte, you merely have to scroll through or search the menu, pick your items and your store of preference (you can choose an outlet elsewhere instead of the one closest to you), and then pay for it through your phone. The app even lets you customize your drinks like you would in-store, because the company knows its customers' predilection for mixing things up (triple venti soy, non-fat, half-sweet, extra foam eggnog latte with caramel drizzle, anyone?). Once that's done, just swing by the Starbucks you chose, tell the barista your name and you've effectively skipped the mile-long line.
Damian Lillard trail-blazes to NBA Live 15's cover
The cover athlete of NBA Live 15 is Portalnd Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard, the NBA revealed via Twitter today. Lillard was voted by his peers to play in the NBA All-Star Game this year and led Portland to the playoffs in April before eventually losing to the now-champion San Antonio Spurs. NBA Live 15 will launch October 7 for Xbox One and PS4. It will be the second game since the series' resurgence last year, which underwhelmed at its launch. NBA Live Executive Producer Sean O'Brien even apologized to fans in June, admitting that the first entry in four years "fell short in two major areas" as the first game for PS4 and Xbox One. NBA Live 14 was also the first to launch since NBA Live 10 arrived in October 2009, as both NBA Live 13 and NBA Elite 11 were canceled in September 2012 and November 2010, respectively. [Image: EA Sports]
Grove and Woodblock Chocolate team up to make edible iPhone case
I'm used to seeing iPhone cases made from some pretty exotic materials and am a big fan of the wood cases created by Portland, Ore.-based Grove. Now that innovative case maker has teamed up with a local chocolatier -- Woodblock Chocolate -- to make a tasty and protective treat for the iPhone 5/5s or 5c. It's a totally edible chocolate iPhone case, just in time for Valentine's Day. Grove and Woodblock Chocolate's Charley and Jessica Wheelock spent six months working on a special chocolate with more concentrated flavors and a high melting temperature -- my guess is that the chocolatiers didn't want the tasty confection to melt on your hands or face while using your iPhone. By removing emulsifiers like soy lecithin, the chocolate was optimized for Grove's CNC machines. According to Grove, the cases "are precision-milled from the solid blocks of dark chocolate. The fully functioning case is designed for a thin and sleek look, and carefully crafted to allow access to all connectors and ports. The case is then hand finished for a velvety, smooth touch." Unfortunately, you won't be able to get your hands on one of the cases for protection consumption. Grove co-founder Ken Tomita says, "They're not for sale, mainly because we can't keep making them without gunking up our machines, but don't worry, all the manufacturing waste is being recycled in our bellies." Those of us at TUAW are awaiting our review items for this case, Ken...
TriMet mobile ticketing app opens to all mass transit riders in Portland area
After a successful closed beta trial, mobile ticketing is now a reality for the multitude of mass transit riders in the Portland metropolitan area. The TriMet Tickets app is now available for iPhone and Android users, establishing TriMet as the nation's first multimodal transit agency to offer smartphone-based ticketing across all of its operations -- this includes the region's commuter rail, light rail, streetcar and bus lines. The free app allows users to purchase either one or multiple tickets, which extend from 2-hour fares to 30-day passes. Tickets are verified with QR codes and on-screen animations, making it difficult for riders to game the system with simple screenshots. The mobile payment system is made possible by GlobeSherpa, a Portland-based company that also provides service alerts and backend fleet optimization for the TriMet system. BlackBerry and Windows Phone users can look forward to forthcoming versions of the TriMet Tickets app, and for a quick overview, you'll find a tutorial video after the break.
Inside the Nike+ Accelerator: Fueling the quantified-self movement
Imagine setting aside three months of your life to pursue a dream. As romantic as the idea may seem, it requires a gut check somewhere along the way. Recently, a handful of entrepreneurs said goodbye to their families and loved ones, and in some cases, flew across the globe for an opportunity to do just that. Some put their budding companies on hold, while others came only with an unwavering belief in their idea. In all, 10 companies converged on the Nike+ Accelerator in Portland, Ore., this past March, each united with the goal of building products that integrate with Nike's line of fitness trackers. It's hard to underestimate the sacrifice, or the opportunity. With less than three weeks to relocate, many had to act quickly. But with a vote of confidence from Nike and its accelerator partner, TechStars, support from a vast network of mentors and industry contacts -- and just as importantly, early access to the Nike+ API -- it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get a head start over the competition in the burgeoning wearables industry. From the moment these entrepreneurs touched ground at PDX, the clock was already running. In just 12 weeks, they'd pitch their products to potential investors at Demo Day -- first in Portland on June 10th, and again in San Francisco on the 20th. It's a lot to accomplish in three months, and certainly unfamiliar territory for Nike as well. But even amidst the breakneck speed, one must hit the pause button and ponder Nike's motivation behind the accelerator. Ten companies were certainly given an upper hand, but can the same be said for Nike itself?
App Camp for Girls would introduce girls to coding
The App Camp for Girls is a recently unveiled Indiegogo project that's designed to provide support for young girls interested in putting together iPhone and mobile apps. The camp itself is planned for a run in Portland later this year, and will allow girls to go through all of the steps of putting an app together, including brainstorming ideas, building out storyboards and putting the app together in Xcode, and then even pitching their finals apps to a panel of investors. The project is seeking about US$50,000, which isn't cheap, but will provide for all of the hardware, software and (wo)manpower needed to keep the App Camp rolling. TUAW's very own Kelly Guimont is serving as a volunteer organizer on the project, and we're proud, as a site, to serve as a media sponsor. Despite all of the improvements made over the last few years, there is still a major gender imbalance when it comes to app and game development. Projects like this can help young women and girls realize that they can enjoy building apps and code skills, too, and in the end, that will mean more and better options for all of us who enjoy using great software. If you're interested in helping the cause, please do head over to Indiegogo and support the App Camp for Girls.
