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UPS testing drones to deliver emergency medical supplies
Remember when Amazon announced Prime Air drone delivery back in 2013? Following the excited hubbub, other services including UPS scrambled to try out competitive airbone services. But then everyone ran into a slew of logistics and regulations issues, which have taken years to untangle. In the past few months, Google was given FAA approval for drone deliveries and Amazon might bypass regulation entirely for its air shipping. But UPS is going in a different direction: Testing UAVs to ferry emergency medical supplies.
Apple refused a court order to crack an iPhone in February
Now that the dust has (mostly) settled between the government and Apple over the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone 5c, we're learning this isn't the first time the firm has objected to breaking into its smartphones. In February, a Boston magistrate tried getting the iPhone-maker to provide "reasonable assistance" in extracting information from an alleged gang member's handset, according to unsealed court documents obtained by Reuters. But, like in the case involving Syed Rizwan Farook's phone, the tech juggernaut didn't comply.
MIT mapped where Boston's biggest energy hogs reside
Boston might be best known for the longstanding baseball rivalry between its Red Sox and the New York Yankees, but maybe the nerdier folks among us will think of it beyond Fallout 4 and PAX East now. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a model for estimating gas and electricity demand for every building in the city. Some 100,000 edifices are included and the model is even being used to aid in making decisions regarding energy policy, according to PhysOrg.
Politician rallying against SWATting falls victim herself
Writing about SWATting victims is as depressing as writing about data breaches, but this is the future we live in. In regards to the former, the politician who's come out strongest against the potentially deadly prank found herself on the receiving end of it recently. As her Boston local CBS station reports, Congresswoman Katherine Clark had a smattering of police officers with "long guns" on her front lawn Sunday night. What'd she do, broadcast some Counter-Strike? No, She's rallying behind the Interstate Swatting Hoax Act, a bill that'd make prank calling the SWAT team on someone a federal offense. Currently, the law states that faking a bomb threat or terrorist attack via telecommunications and across state lines is illegal; SWATting is not.
Engadget Live takes over the Exchange in Los Angeles this Friday!
We're gearing up to take over Exchange LA this Friday, August 21st at 7PM for our next Engadget Live event, where we'll bring together gadget lovers and awesome tech brands. Sound good? First, grab your free tickets and then read on to find out what you can expect at our free event in downtown Los Angeles!
Engadget Live hits Los Angeles next week!
Last year, we had a lot of fun at Engadget Live Los Angeles and now we're gearing up to do it all over again. Next Friday, August 21st, we'll take over Exchange LA from 7PM to 10PM and give readers like you a chance to experience the future of technology.
Sprint's traveling installers come to Boston, Philly and Atlanta
One of the ways that Sprint is hoping to revive its fortunes is with Direct 2 You, a service where door-to-door salespeople set up your phone from inside your home. The offering has added a fair few locations since its launch in April, and now the company is rolling it out to Atlanta, Boston, Houston and Philadelphia. That increases the range of the program by nearly five million more customers, with several more locations coming by the end of this year. It can't come soon enough, since Sprint is currently reeling from losing its coveted third-place spot to upstart rival T-Mobile -- a fact that hasn't gone unremarked on by the CEOs of either company.
Engadget Live takes over LA on August 21st!
On August 21st at 7PM, we're taking over Exchange LA right in downtown Los Angeles for our second Engadget Live event of the year! Fresh off our amazing trip to Boston earlier this month, we're bringing together editors, readers and brands for a great night of conversation and the chance to interact with the future of technology.
Here's what happened at last Friday's #EngadgetLive in Boston!
Engadget Live Boston 2015 was... sort of a blur. Sure, I remember the broad strokes -- our first live meetup of the year saw 1,500 people checking out great gadgets and downing drinks in the Royale once more, and the complimentary selfie sticks floating around kept us all from taking ourselves too seriously.
Join us for Engadget Live in Boston this Friday!
We're kicking off our Engadget Live series this Friday, July 17th in one of our favorite cities; Boston! At 7PM, we're taking over the Royale Nightclub on Tremont Street where we'll bring together gadget lovers and awesome tech brands. Sound good? First, grab your free tickets and then read on to find out what you can expect at our fun, free event.
Join us next week for #EngadgetLive Boston!
In just about one week, you can join your fellow gadget enthusiasts in Boston for our very first Engadget Live event of 2015! If you plan to be in town on Friday, July 17th at 7pm, grab your FREE ticket and join your fellow gadget enthusiasts at the Royale Nightclub at 279 Tremont Street in downtown Boston.
#EngadgetLive Boston is just two weeks away! (updated)
We're getting pumped for our first Engadget Live event of the year, taking place at Boston's Royale Nightclub on July 17th from 7pm-10pm. Not only will you experience the latest in technology local to Boston and across the country, but you'll get to mingle with fellow gadget enthusiasts and some of Engadget's editorial team. And it's free, of course.
Engadget Live comes to Boston on July 17th!
Because we love Beantown, we're kicking off this year's Engadget Live series in Boston on July 17th at Royale from 7pm-10pm. This night will be all about bringing our esteemed editors and readers closer together in the best way possible: over booze and gadgets. Or booze sent to you by gadgets, thanks to our friends at Drizly who will be hosting the bar. After you order your tickets to Engadget Live (they're free), you're more than welcome to download the Drizly app and start the party early.
Here's that 'Fallout 4' trailer you're looking for
Fallout 4 is coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and so far, this is what it looks like. First, the rumors are true: Fallout 4 is set in Boston, as demonstrated by scenes from an alternate-universe Scollay Square, the real-life Boston city center established in 1838 and demolished in 1962, plus other landmarks in the video. Second: That voice you hear is definitely series narrator Ron Perlman. Bethesda's 24-hour Fallout 4 teaser site hit zero this morning, revealing a trailer and pre-order links, plus a nudge to tune into the company's presentation at E3 on June 14th. The teaser site also went live a tad early, letting the world peek platform details and a few screenshots ahead of the actual announcement. Watch the first Fallout 4 trailer below.
Boston partners with Waze to clear up clogged streets
Whether or not Boston's twisted streets really are the product of meandering cows, the city famously struggles with traffic these days. To help things out, the city announced a data sharing plan with Waze, where it will share information on expected road closures (like say, a championship parade) with the traffic app. On its end, Waze will pump data on its 400,000 or so drivers in the area back to the city's Traffic Management center, which engineers there can use to adjust signals at intersections to improve traffic flow. Waze announced Boston as one of ten cities participating in its Connected Citizens program last year, and helping untangle traffic jams could go a long way towards helping the Google-owned service be more appreciated by local officials. [Image credit: The Washington Post/Getty Images]
Uber strikes deal to share its data with city planners
Privacy issues over abuse of its "God View" customer-tracking app has led to a difficult few months for Uber. With that in mind, a deal to share passenger data might not seem like a great move, but that's exactly what Uber has just announced. In a blog post, the car-booking service explains that it's to begin sharing certain ride data with the city of Boston. Uber says the data will be stripped of any identifiable information, including individuals' names and addresses. What will actually be shared? Broadly speaking, the Uber-equivalent of anonymous metadata. Instead of addresses, Uber will share the ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) the trip started and ended in. ZCTA is a slightly broader metric than ZIPs, with roughly 32,000 (versus 42,000) covering the entire country. Also shared will be the distance traveled in miles, the time and date the trip began and the duration in seconds. The idea of the collaboration is to help Boston tackle city planning issues such as urban growth, traffic congestion and public transport expansion. Uber has recently fought regulatory clampdowns in the US and overseas, and extending the Boston deal to other cities would go a long way to getting lawmakers on its side.
Aereo tells Boston employees it's shutting down November 12th
Rule changes that could give internet TV services a boost may not come in time for Aereo, which sent a letter to employees of its Boston development office (posted by BetaBoston) saying it will shut down business operations as of November 12th. Aereo tried to build a business using microantennas to stream OTA TV broadcasts to its customer's devices over the internet, but the Supreme Court decided its approach was too much like cable TV -- causing it to cut off service in June -- while a District Court judge refused to acknowledge it as one. In the letter the company says it has been pursuing the possibilities of an acquisition or additional outside investment, but after the most recent loss October 23rd, that was just impossible. According to VP of communications Virginia Lam "In an effort to reduce costs, we made the difficult decision to lay off some of our staff in Boston and New York. We are continuing to conserve resources while we chart our path forward." [Image credit: AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews]
A look at what unfolded during Engadget Live Boston
The Engadget Live tour continued last week, with the latest stop taking place in Boston. Just like at our previous two events, in Austin and Seattle, Beantown didn't disappoint and the reader turnout was incredible. Attendees were treated to a night filled with a myriad of activities, giveaways and social mingling. Want to know what you missed? Check out the picture gallery bellow, where you'll also get a glimpse of what the sponsors brought over to the Royale venue to share with the Engadget aficionados in attendance.
Engadget Live Boston is this Friday!
Our third Engadget Live event of 2014 hits Boston this Friday, August 22nd. At 7PM on the dot, we'll transform Royale into a scene that even Stefon would consider worthy of being Boston's hottest club. Tap your way through the gallery below to find out what you can expect when you come out to our free event.
Boston PD monitored concertgoers with facial recognition
With perhaps the exception of the bands on stage, no one really goes to a concert to be seen -- they go to feel the music coursing through their veins and melt into a crowd. As it turns out, fun-seekers at the 2013 Boston Calling music festivals weren't just caught on film by photographers and Instagram nuts. According to recent, intriguing reports from Dig Boston and Noisey, the city was quietly watching thanks to more than 10 active security cameras and some scarily clever IBM software that recognized concert-goers and passersby based on their skin color, clothes, and facial features. Smile!
