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Uber carpooling experiment helps you commute between cities
Ridesharing services already have carpooling services that let you share a ride with strangers, but they're designed for typical commuting distances, not the city-to-city jaunts that can define commutes in places like the San Francisco Bay Area. That's where Uber hopes it can make a difference. It just launched a trial run for Pool to SF, an option that gets you from South Bay cities to San Francisco in the morning. You'll usually pay between $20 to $26, but that's potentially much cheaper than the fuel and parking costs you'd face with your own vehicle. If you have a friend tagging along, you can slap on another $10 and divvy up the fare later on.
Commuting with the fun, stylish and expensive Bolt e-bike
The Bolt looks sort of like a motorcycle, but it's really more like a BMX bike with an electric motor bolted to it. The startup's electric bike doesn't try to compete with motorcycle maker Zero or scooter manufacturer Gogoro; instead it's targeting the bicycle commuter that wants a smoother ride to work. While it also looks like a cross between a moped and cafe racer, it's technically a bicycle with an electric motor and can technically be ridden in the bicycle lane. Angry cyclists aside, that also means you don't need a license to ride it or a have to get it registered or insured. For urban environmentalists tired of showing up to work all sweaty, it could be the ultimate commuter.
IRL: A closer look at Boosted Boards' Dual+ electric skateboard
My younger, street-skating self would've scoffed at the idea of an electric skateboard, at least one that wasn't built for tricks while in transit. But having spent less time doing slappies and ollies in recent years, taking to the streets on an electric version finally seemed a viable alternative. For those who aren't planning stunts along the way, or perhaps have less experience skating, there's something to be said for an electric that focuses on cruising and getting you from A to B at a controllable pace. So when I was offered the chance to test one of Boosted Boards' Dual+ 38-inch setups, I decided it was time to take one for a spin. Starting at $999, they're clearly a luxury item, and it's not every day you get to take one for an extended test-drive. Sure, winter and its bone-chilling cold were rapidly descending on New York City when it arrived, but that never used to stop me back in the day. I did get to ride it in the warm Las Vegas sun during CES, but I never managed to use it as a commuting alternative with the weather in decline. The time I managed to spend on the board, though, was definitely worth it.
Lyft's new service lets your workplace pay for your commute (updated)
Now that carpooling services have made ridesharing cheap enough to use for day-to-day commuting, wouldn't it be nice if your workplace could easily pay for that ridesharing? Apparently, Lyft thinks so -- it's launching Lyft for Work, an initiative that lets companies buy credits for your app-based transportation. The option allows for either one-time codes (say, for job interviews) or monthly balances. Your employer can limit the credits to certain ride tiers, such as Lyft Line, and even determine where you're allowed to go on the corporate dime. You may get a free trip to the office or a holiday party, but you'll probably have to pay for some barhopping.
OGIO's Newt 15 is a high-quality backpack for day-to-day commuting
The OGIO Newt 15 (US$100) is a stylish, mid-sized backpack for day to day transportation of your digital essentials and then some. Previously, TUAW's own Steve Sande and Ilene Hoffman reviewed OGIO's 13 inch Covert Shoulder Bag ($69.99) and Hampton's Women's Tote ($70) respectively. Both of those bags garnered high praise. My last backpack review was the Incase Compact Backpack ($79.95), which I found did a solid job of holding my gear at a reasonable price. The Newt 15 is $20 more expensive, so I was keen to see just what a $100 backpack has to offer. Design The Newt 15, presumably named after the small, slender-bodied amphibian, is an apt title for the backpack. It's of a slim build (weighing 2.2 lbs), with a 6-inch depth, a good height of 18.75 inches, and a width of 12.75 inches. Its total capacity is 1050 cubic inches. According to OGIO's website, the Newt 15 is made from 400 D Nylon / 300 D poly-cotton. On OGIO"s Amazon page, it says the bag is made from durable ballistic polyester, oxford polyester and poly/cotton fabric. I have no idea what any of that means, but the bag is really well put together and feels particularly rugged and durable. I can't say if it's in any way weather or water resistant, as I couldn't find any indication or classification on OGIO's website. The Newt 15 has six compartments or pockets. At the rear of the backpack is a side-entry, fleece lined laptop compartment (14.5 inch H x 10.5 inch W x 1 inch D). In the middle is the main compartment, with double zips. When fully unzipped, the main compartment opens wide, allowing for good access. Inside is a padded iPad sleeve as well as two mesh compartments for storing smaller items like chargers, USB sticks, in-ear headphones, an iPhone and the like. On the front side of the Newt 15 are two smaller compartments. The upper compartment is fleece lined, with four mesh compartments; two on either side. There's also a spacious gap between these mesh pockets for additional loose items. The lower compartment is longer, but less roomy. It has four pen holders and an additional pocket, as well as a larger space for things like glasses. There's also a key hook here. On the top of the bag is a small, fleece lined single-zipper pocket for small valuables. Finally, on the side of the bag is a zip pocket for what OGIO describes as travel essentials. It's perfect for passports, travel tickets or anything flat that will sit flush with the back panel of the bag. Speaking of the back panel, there are five padded bars here that cushion the Newt 15 against your back, also providing some ventilation. The adjustable shoulder straps are well padded by what OGIO calls Dual Density foam shoulder straps, for comfort and stability with heavier loads. There's also an adjustable front clasp that secure the two straps together over your torso. Take a look at OGIO's promo video of the backpack below. Functionality The Newt 15 has what feels like an endless number of pockets, compartments and ways to organize your stuff. It took me a few days to even realize there was a side zip pocket flush with the back panel. My 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro easily fit into the back compartment with room to spare for extra papers or anything else you'd feel comfortable placing alongside your laptop. For me, that was a bunch of loose papers. The well-padded fleece-lined compartment left me with no concern for scratches, bumps or knocks. The main compartment is roomy, with mesh pockets to organize cables, cards, sticks and accessories in many varying ways. My iPad Air fit snugly into the sleeve and I found I still had plenty of room for my MacBook charger, iPhone charger, a journal, my umbrella and I could shove a light hoodie in there, too. As a day to day commuter, you'll have no trouble getting your essentials into the Newt 15. You may struggle, though, if you have to bring along three or four large books in addition to everything else. In a pinch, I'd happily use the Newt 15 for an overnight trip, provided you're happy to travel light, with a small change of clothes and toiletries. That being said, it's amazing that the Newt 15 accommodates all this content for its size and weight. The travel pocket is a nice touch, though anything thicker than a passport and some tickets does become noticeable as a bulge against the back panel, making for a lob-sided fit. I found the bag to be comfortable to wear, though there was a bit of a 'wear-in' period and it did take me a few days to adjust the straps to a setting that felt snug, but not uncomfortable on my shoulders. Once there, though, I found the Newt 15 to be a tremendously resourceful and comfortable bag. I also got a few appreciative remarks towards the Newt 15's Dark Static color and minimalist styling. Conclusion Commuting around London with the OGIO Newt 15 was a pleasure. The bag is ideal for day-to-day travel as well as the odd overnight excursion. The backpack's materials and the way it has been put together emanate a durability and ruggedness, which, overall, gives the Newt 15 a premium feel. There's still a question mark around its weather resistance, and it does take a fair bit of adjusting to get comfortable. But compared to the Incase Compact Backpack, which has solid, but baseline features, a rather understated appearance and no frills, the Newt 15 excels in looks, quality and functionality.
Russia's new tram is a Batmobile on the outside, tech hub on the inside
Many trams are memorable, but they tend to evoke nostalgia rather than embrace the future. You can't accuse UralVagonZavod (UVZ) of being behind the times with its new Russia One, though. To begin with, it looks like the Batmobile on a closed track -- and for good reason. The forward-tilted windshield helps the conductor spot pedestrians, while the glass composite panels are easy to replace. The tram is cutting-edge on the inside, too. Dynamic LED lighting and music change the cabin mood to suit the time of day. You'll also find positioning (GPS and GLONASS), air conditioning, anti-bacterial hand rails and WiFi. The driver even gets a USB 3.0 port that can keep a phone powered up.
Station Master for iOS is the definitive guide to London's railway stations
Station Master (US$3.99) for iPhone and iPad has all the information you'd ever need to know about every station on London's Underground, Overground and Docklands Light Railway network. If you live in London, are planning a trip to London, or you simply have a fascination with London's trains and stations, the app has a wealth of knowledge to help you better understand and travel the network. The recently updated app, co-created by Geoff Marshall, the Guinness World Record Holder for traveling to all tube stations in the fastest time possible, now features 3D maps of all 270 stations, so you can see every stations layout in its entirety. Other app features include Exit information, Accessibility information, station facilities (WiFi, toilets, shops etc), transport links from stations (buses, National Rail, cycle hire) and travel tips, tidbits and station history facts. My favorite feature is Exit Information, which shows exactly which train carriage and door to exit a train from, so you can make the fastest exit from a platform via passageway, lift or corridor. It's a glorious feeling when you exit a train and walk straight through to the platform exit, avoiding the hustle and bustle of fellow commuters and tourists trying to find their way. Another great feature is the apps info on station accessibility, with details on lift availability, measurements of gaps between train and platform, and even stair counts. One thing to note is that Station Master is not a route planner, but rather a tool to navigate the stations you use when traveling London's railways. As a side note, the app developers run an interesting blog on all things London-train / app related. It's worth checking out.
Cities use online ticket tracking to save you time on the subway
Many commuters know the agony of mass transit at rush hour; it's no fun to skip packed buses and subway cars when you're already desperate to get home. Urban Engines clearly shares in that pain as well, as it's rolling out an internet service that uses commuting patterns to spot choke points in public transportation. Ticket purchases, pass card swipes and similar behavior create an activity map that reveals just where and when the delays are; it's easy to tell that there need to be more buses at 6PM, or that the lines are too long at the subway turnstiles.
iParked is the best way to find your car
Over the years, I've seen a lot of parking apps that let you drop a pin at your parking space, and then you can navigate back to the marker when it is time to return to your vehicle. iParked (free) does those apps one better, and definitely gets my "gee, I wish I'd thought of this" award for the week. You launch iParked before you leave for your destination and will see your location on a moving map. When you come to a stop sign or a traffic light, the app drops a marker. If you start up again, marker is picked up. The app leverages your iPhone's motion tracking sensors and GPS. I tried the app recently when I went out to lunch. iParked did drop a marker at every stop, but when I finally got out of my car to walk to the restaurant, the marker stayed with my car while a blue dot showed my current position. The app runs in the background so you can do whatever else you do with your phone and not lose your parking place. As a nice bonus, iParked has a timer to alert you to when your parking meter will run out. iParked is a clever and welcome improvement in the current selection of parking apps. They all work well, but most make you manually drop a pin to mark your position. iParked dispenses with that, making it more useful and showing some fresh thinking. iParked is a new app store release requiring iOS 7 or later, and it is optimized for the iPhone 5. I think you will like it, so give it a try if you often need help finding your car.
Newsbeat creates a custom newscast for your commute
I've looked at a few news apps over the years that are designed to read the news to you while you commute or travel. Most fall pretty short of ideal, failing in voice quality or news selection. Newsbeat from Tribune Digital Ventures comes the closest to being both useful and practical. The app is free, and happily does not require a signup or account. When you first start the app, it asks for your name so it can greet you as the news begins, and requests your home and work zip codes for traffic and weather information. Customization can be done from a settings menu. You can tell the app to emphasize or de-emphasize certain types of news. If you want a lot of of US news but little world news, that adjustment can be easily made. Specialty areas like science or technology can be added, and the app automatically selects your local newspaper to provide the news you need to hear. You can add other publications as you desire. When you launch Newsbeat, it greets you by name, gives you the weather forecast, and then delivers a brief traffic report before heading into the news. Weather and traffic are repeated every ten minutes. The voices in Newsbeat are quite good and natural, and I would compare them favorably to Siri. Like all text to speech software, names are sometimes mangled (especially non-English names), but overall pronunciation is quite good. The readers for news stories alternate between a male and female voice. There is a musical transition between stories, and you can change the type of music in the setup menu. There are no ads in the stories, although that might not last forever. Sources are varied, including but not limited to Tribune-owned newspapers, NBC, Fox, CNN, the Associated Press and whatever other sources you add. I found one undocumented bonus by accident. After I paired my phone to my car Bluetooth system, I noticed that the headline for each story appeared on the car LCD screen. Even more surprising, when I hit my next track button on the steering wheel, the app stopped the current story and moved to the next one. You can do the same thing on your iPhone screen, but doing it without picking up the phone is a pretty terrific idea and really well implemented. This feature may not work with all Bluetooth systems, but my car is 3 years old and it worked flawlessly. As good as this system is, there are a few improvements I would like to see. I'd like a little more control, such as determining the order of stories presented in the newscast. It goes relentlessly through a set order of stories. I might like to start with tech, rather than U.S. or international news, or start with my local news. Within any category, I'd like to be able to seed the app with some keywords, like 'Apple' or 'iPhone'. The little music interludes get irritating after a while and I'd like to be able to turn them off. More control over traffic and weather would be welcome as well. I might want just traffic, but not a repeating weather forecast, for example. Newsbeat is clever and useful, and it is the best-of-breed for hands-off newsreaders. It provides a very useful newscast with local news, weather and traffic. In my tests the app read 30 to 35 stories, each one about 3 paragraphs long. There is also a button for sharing stories with others, but be sure not to mess with that while you are driving. Newsbeat is not universal; it's designed for the iPhone, optimized for the iPhone 5, and requires iOS 6.1 or later. I really like the idea behind this app, and with a few tweaks it will be a must-have app for commuters who want to keep up with the latest news. Even as it is, Newsbeat is an app I will use often.
Nokia Drive 3.0 arrives with My Commute, your Lumia is no excuse for being late (video)
Nokia gave us a hint of Nokia Drive 3.0's commuter-friendly additions all the way back at Mobile World Congress in February. It's been quite the wait, but the update is at last lurking in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Although developed at the same time as Google Now, the Drive update will feel like a small slice of Android 4.1 for Lumia owners through its predictive routing: it can learn when you leave for work and how driving habits will affect the trip, giving a heads-up about traffic jams before you turn the ignition. Windows Phone reasserts itself through the option of pinning favorite destinations as tiles on the home screen, and an automatic switch between day and night modes is just as new. Drive's My Commute feature will initially work only in the US, but it should be available within the next day or two for any Lumia owner -- so those being denied Windows Phone 8 still won't have any justification for being late to the office.
Virgin Media activates more tube WiFi hotspots, minds the gaps in its coverage
Virgin Media has flicked the switch and coated Kings Cross and Warren Street tube stations in gloriously free WiFi. The pair will be joined tomorrow by Oxford Circus and Green Park, while Victoria and Euston will do the same on the 9th. In order to use the service, which is free during the Olympics, users need to hop onto the network and register their email address. Once the summer is over, Virgin Media customers will get preferential treatment on the network, with everyone else buying pay-as-you-go minutes so they can tweet about how long we're stuck at Edgware Road... again.
Virgin Media names the first 80 tube stations to get WiFi hotspots
Transport for London and Virgin Media have announced the first 80 London Underground stations that'll receive free WiFi in time for the Olympics. By the end of July, users will be able to surf from the train platform, ticket offices and escalators -- ideal for a few extra rush-hour injuries. The partnership will offer the internet free during the games season before switching to a pay-as-you-go model, with plans to swell the network to 120 by the end of the year. If you'd like to know if your morning commute is about to get some extra connectivity then head past the break for the full list.
Ask Engadget: Electric commuting on the cheap?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from is from Warren, who wants to find an electrical moped within his budget. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "What's the cheapest two-wheeled electric vehicle that goes over 45mph available in the US? I looked at the Gas-powered $2,500 Sym Symba, but as far as I can tell, I'd have to spend four times that much for an electric equivalent. Am I missing something? Thank you!" Unfortunately, you are. The biggest barrier to joining the EV parade is the price of batteries, which are often more expensive than the vehicles they're situated inside. For example, even a motorized bicycle like the Grace One is $6,000 -- but that's as far as our knowledge goes on the subject. Perhaps there is a solution out there, all it needs is for one of our friendly commenters to tell all in the river of text below.
Richard Garriott running Portalarium with robots
Have you ever wished that instead of having to go to your job, you could just turn on the computer, log in to an avatar in the same manner as an MMO, and take care of everything that way? Perhaps to the surprise of no one, Richard Garriott has begun doing precisely that at his company, Portalarium. Rather than commuting between New York and the studio in Austin, Garriott has a small robotic avatar to allow him a face-to-video-monitor presence in Austin even when he's away. The robot itself is a $15,000 Anybot QB from the eponymous company Anybots, Inc, which Garriott claims was originally purchased so that his mother could virtually attend his wedding in France. He also stresses that it's not a means of keeping tabs on employees, merely a way to bridge the gap between two very distant locations. And really, if you had just won millions of dollars in a lawsuit, wouldn't you be attending all events via robot?
Vodafone lets Londoners pay for taxis via text message, charge their phones in transit
Mobile payment systems may be gaining only gradual steam in the US, but over on the other side of the pond, Vodafone UK has launched a broad new campaign to integrate smartphone technology where Londoners may need it most -- in the back of taxis. As of today, many cab passengers will be able to charge their smartphones in transit, thanks to a wide range of chargers that the mobile carrier has installed in more than 500 of London's iconic black vehicles. Vodafone is also rolling out a new payment scheme today, whereby cash-strapped travelers can text their cab's license number to a specific code, allowing any owed fares to be charged directly to their phone bills. The system certainly doesn't sound as elegant as some of the NFC-based operations we've heard about, but it still beats having to navigate your cab driver to the nearest ATM, with the meter tick-tocking away.
Panasonic's Gyutto e-bike has room for two, actually even three
Okay, so the pic only shows one child seat on this new power-assisted bike from Panasonic, but the designers reckon you can fit another one on the back. It's called the Gyutto and it packs some nifty technology to make it safe for a trio. For a start, to prevent the bike toppling when you park up, the kickstand activates a lock on the handle bar, making the front wheel rigid. And to keep you travelling in the right direction up a steep hill, the 8Ah lithium-ion battery delivers some high-torque power assist, good for 36km on a single charge -- better than some others. Talking about steep, the price will work out at around $1,780 (including the two child seats) when the bike is released in Japan on May 23rd. The same money will get you a Mini version with smaller (20-inch) wheels. It's a lot to spend on a couple of ungrateful rugrats, but at least you won't have to pump those pedals so hard.
IBM shows off Smarter Traveler traffic prediction tool
Traffic alerts on GPS devices may be old hat at this point, but there's obviously still plenty of room for improvement, and IBM now says it's managed to do just that with its new "Smarter Traveler" traffic prediction tool. Developed with the help of UC Berkeley's transportation group and the California Department of Transportation, the tool relies on predictive analytics software, GPS monitoring and sensors already on the roads to not only offer alerts, but build a model of each person's usual commuter route. Once the system is trained a bit, commuters are able to check out what's effectively a forecast of their entire route before they even leave the house, rather than simply be alerted to traffic problems before it's too late to avoid them. Head on past for the complete press release, and a quick video explanation of how it works.
Survey shows the many advantages of virtual offices (beyond the ability to work sans pants)
Those of us who do almost all of our work from the comforts of our homes will not be surprised by what follows, but the rest of the world should take note. A new survey of directors of 600 small to medium sized business reveal that upper-management sees major benefits of so-called "virtual office" work environments. So what are those advantages? Well, no shockers here, chief among the perceived advantages are lowered costs, flexibility for employee (such as the ability to hire people in different geographic locations), and cutting down on pollution and commute times and costs. In fact, over half of businesses reported a cost savings of around $10,000 a month by using the "virtual" environment. So... welcome to our world, world!
Are morning commuters using iPhones to listen to NPR?
Although your car has a fully-capable AM radio, and you're an NPR listener, do you find yourself jacking your iPhone into your car stereo and listening to NPR through its app instead? New data released from NPR seems to indicate that's what a lot of people are opting to do. According to its data, NPR has noticed a rather significant spike in its iPhone app usage during typical morning commuter time. What makes that data so interesting -- at least to NPR -- is that, presumably, these people are in their cars. They're with radios capable of receiving AM FM signals and, therefore, NPR's programming over the airwaves. So why use the app? I say the data isn't so cut and dry. The sample they are seeing is only 8,000 people, which really isn't all that many when you consider there are many more people listening to NPR on a daily basis, overall. There's also this thing called telecommuting, so I wouldn't assume all of these people are in radio-equipped automobiles. There are also thousands of people who walk to work everyday and thousands more who simply don't work at all. If you're using the NPR app and have access to an AM FM radio, why are you using the app instead of the radio? Let us know in the comments. [via MacDailyNews]
