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Uber starts testing pre-paid service for events in NYC
Uber is launching yet another new product, but this one targets a specific group of people: event organizers, especially those tired of fielding calls from guests who can't make it due to car troubles. The service called UberEvents allows organizers to buy and secure passes ahead of the occasion to send to guests, clients or whoever needs one to get to the location via email. Guests will only have to enter the code under the Promotions section of the Uber app to hail a ride. Now, nobody will be able to use car issues as an excuse anymore, and party planners won't have to worry about how to send drunk guests home. Uber is initially making Events available to Business users and select people in New York City, though the service will be accessible by everyone in the metropolis within the coming weeks.
NYC plans to offer all public school students computer science classes
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio wants all public schools in the city to offer computer science classes within the next ten years, according to The New York Times. Some of the best public institutions in the city already offer them, but the government wants to prepare more students for the ever-increasing number of tech jobs in NYC. The city's Office of Strategic Partnerships director Gabrielle Fialkoff said they also need to "address equity and diversity within the sector." Just like the rest of the country, most students who opt for computer courses are male and either Asian or white. The government's likely hoping to get more kids interested in tech and, hence, plant the seeds of a more diverse sector, by starting them early.
Etsy will test same-day delivery in NYC with the help of Postmates
If you're looking to get your mitts on those handmade goods purchased on Etsy the same day, you might soon be in luck. The company is teaming up with Postmates to test same-day and next-day deliveries in parts of New York City. As a refresher, the delivery company already handles packages and food orders from the likes of Apple, Starbucks, McDonald's and Chipotle. As Re/code notes, its partnerships with online shopping outfits (like Everlane) give its couriers work at times of the day when there isn't too much takeout being ordered. Etsy's service, labeled "Etsy ASAP," will be available for sellers in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn and Queens based on Postmates coverage of the area.
JFK installs phone-tracking beacons to better estimate wait times
More than 19 million travellers pass through JFK airport each year. That leads to a lot of standing around in lines, either waiting to get through customs or waiting for baggage at the carousel -- even just getting a cab. So, to improve the queuing experience for passengers, JFK airport is rolling out a beacon-based wait time estimation system.
Tesla is putting chargers in garages around Manhattan
Drivers commuting into Manhattan will soon have more options for charging up their Model S. Tesla plans to put charging units in two dozen garages around the borough through an upcoming partnership. The units will offer quicker 240-volt charging, besting the speeds of regular ol' household outlet. Of course, scattering the stations around Manhattan also means the stress of pre-planning the route home is reduced a bit. The list of participating garages includes the parking decks at hotels like the Waldorf Astoria, too. This latest effort follows the installation of charging stations along major highways as part of Tesla's plan to offer more places for drivers to replenish those batteries and cure the so-called range anxiety. "We wanted to move to an urban charging network that meets the needs of those who live in apartments or commute into a big city," Tesla's Alexis Georgeson told The New York Times. "Naturally, Manhattan was the place to try this for the first time." [Image credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images]
New York City halts its plan to slow down Uber
After battling with not only Uber, but also celebrities and New York Governor Cuomo, the De Blasio administration has shelved plans to cap Uber growth in New York City. At least until after it conducts a four month study on the effect of Uber on traffic according to the New York Times. The proposal would have limited the amount of new Uber and other car-for-hire services licenses granted in the city to one percent. To counter the proposal, Uber launched a fake "De Blasio" feature in its app that showed no vehicles available for hire and warned that this is what the app would be like if the City Council bill passed. It also bought commercial spots blasting the mayor and saying the bill would destroy 10,000 jobs. According to NYT sources, the agreement between Uber and the De Blasio administration includes the sharing of Uber data with the city.
Uber's fake feature blasts NYC regulators
Uber cars began outnumbering yellow cabs in NYC back in March, but that will change if Mayor Bill de Blasio's proposal passes. See, de Blasio wants to put a cap on the number of licenses given out to ride-sharing companies. Obviously, Uber isn't happy about that, so it's putting the mayor on blast by adding a fake feature on its app named after him. While the app's normal modes still show available rides you can call, the "de Blasio mode" strips 'em all out and replaces them with an ominous-looking "No Cars Available" sign. Clicking the sign shows this message: "This is what Uber will look like in NYC if Mayor de Blasio's Uber cap bill passes."
littleBits is opening its first retail location in NYC this month
If you've been itchin' for a chance to take littleBits' collection of electronic blocks for a spin before handing over funds, you'll soon get a chance. Well, so long as you're planning a trip to NYC. The company is opening its first retail shop on July 31st on West Broadway in SoHo, giving eager DIYers a chance to take a closer look during the week. littleBits is taking a different approach to the buying experience as well. Sure, you'll be able to test drive the pieces and kits before making a purchase, but you'll also be given the option of buying what you've made or leaving it for someone else to fiddle with. It sounds like you'll be charged for what you use rather than having to splurge for an entire kit. In addition to being able to create your own gadgets, there's a photo booth so you can remember your time as an inventor, too. There's no exact date for how long the location will remain open, but it's scheduled to stay through the holidays.
Company plans to turn NYC's trash cans into WiFi hotspots
NYC agreed to convert old payphones into hotspots back in 2014, and now a Massachusetts company called BigBelly wants to add connectivity to its smart trash cans, as well. BigBelly has applied for a grant from the Mayor's Office to be able to turn hundreds of its products into hotspots specifically for undeserved neighborhoods. It's been making high-tech solar-powered trash cans and recycling containers, which can detect if the garbage is too smelly, notify trash collectors and even compress their contents if they're near capacity, for a long time. The company tested its first two hotspot containers last winter in New York, measuring their activity and signal quality for a few hours per day.
Amazon's riding the New York subway to speed up deliveries
Despite its incredible reach, Amazon has always had to play catch-up with brick and mortar retailers when it comes to getting products in customers' hands. If you're in a pinch, you can normally visit a local store and walk out with exactly what you need. Amazon has taken steps to cut waiting times with same-day deliveries in some cities and then one-hour shipments via Prime Now. The only problem with promising such a short delivery period in some of the world's busiest cities is that traffic can be a nightmare. So to get orders to customers in Manhattan, the Financial Times reports that the company has begun loading small pushcarts with packages and taking them on a more efficient means of transport: the New York subway.
We're having reader meetups tonight in NYC and San Francisco!
You know us, we like to hang out with you, the readers, every chance we get. So let's make that happen tonight in New York City, at the Barcade in Manhattan's East Village, and in San Francisco at the Public House. All you need to do is bring cash for drinks, food and any arcade games you'd like to play. Oh, and we'll have plenty of time for ugly-selfie contests, because why not. You'll find the necessary the details below -- or you could RSVP via Facebook pages for each event (San Francisco and New York).
McDonald's will deliver your Big Mac, if you're in New York City
What's that? You want a Big Mac combo for lunch but don't have time to venture out? Well, if you happen to be in New York City, McDonald's will soon bring that double-decker burger to you. The company announced today that it will test a 24-hour delivery service in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan as part of a partnership with Postmates. If you'll recall, that startup powers similar delivery options for Starbucks and Chipotle. This news comes as part of CEO Steve Easterbrook's plan to turnaround the fast food chain's business by focusing on better food and acting on customer feedback -- all-day breakfast, sirloin burgers and "artisan" chicken were mentioned. It's going to be an uphill climb for the Golden Arches too, as the franchise will close 700 total stores this year. Looking to try the new service? You'll be able to do just that starting today from NYC's 88 participating locations. Don't expect ice cream, though, and you'll want to order $10 worth of food to avoid a delivery fee. [Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
NYC commits $70 million toward universal broadband
In an ambitious effort to close New York City's digital divide, the De Blasio administration has announced that it's going to spend $70 million bringing high-speed internet access to the city's residents. An estimated 22 percent of New Yorkers overall lack a home internet connection (with that number jumping to 36 percent for the poorest residents), which significantly impacts their social mobility, according to the mayor's office.
Amazon Destinations handpicks hotels in LA, NY and Seattle
Amazon's rumored new travel site has appeared and it's well, exactly as rumored. While the company previously sold flash-sale hotel rooms as part of Amazon Local, alongside steep discounts, Destinations is more about curated hotels. The service currently focuses on areas around LA, New York and Seattle, with the aim of selling short-term getaways that are near to those aforementioned transport hubs. There's no news on whether it'd roll-out the new service to other US areas (let alone other countries), but it wouldn't be a shocker if it did. The site is already accepting user reviews, but expanding the service will likely depend on how many people are looking to pay typical list prices - if only because it's paired with the ubiquity of Amazon.
Uber cars now outnumber yellow cabs in New York City
You may see yellow taxis as virtually synonymous with New York City transportation, but you might have to reconsider that image before too long. New Taxi and Limousine Commission data shows that Uber cars now outnumber cabs on NYC streets, with 14,088 black and luxury vehicles versus 13,587 taxis. It's not hard to see why the ridesharing service has grown so quickly since its arrival in 2011, mind you. Uber drivers can earn much more in the right circumstances, and they don't have to worry about fixed schedules, complicated licensing or cheapskates who don't pay. This milestone probably won't thrill city officials, who are worried that Uber is both depriving them of tax revenue (since drivers don't need medallion licenses) and playing fast and loose with regulations. However, it's doubtful that there's any going back now -- Uber is huge enough in New York that commuters would notice if it went away. [Image credit: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images]
Smartphone 'kill switches' are reducing thefts in big cities
See that shiny flagship phone dangling from the stranger's back pocket? You should think twice about trying to grab it, not only because it's a terrible thing to do, but also because it probably won't do you any good. By the time you've hot-footed it to the pawn shop to hawk your ill-gotten wares, it's increasingly likely that the phone will have been deactivated by a smartphone kill switch. The campaign, launched by San Francisco's George Gascón and Eric Schneiderman way back in 2013 appears to have been a success, helping to remove the perils of tweeting on dark city streets.
Freewheel is Cablevision's WiFi calling service for thrifty New Yorkers
In large metropolitan areas that are covered with WiFi, you might start to wonder why you pay for a cellular service at all. It's this germ of an idea that has inspired Cablevision to announce Freewheel: a WiFi-based phone service that offers unlimited talk, text and data with no annual contract. The catch, if you hadn't already guessed, is that you'll only be able to use those minutes and MBs while you're in range of the nearest WiFi hotspot.
Winklevoss twins want to make bitcoin legit with US-based exchange
One of the biggest draws of using bitcoin as a method of exchange is the lack of any form of regulation. Unfortunately, that's left the cryptocurrency with a reputation problem, which is why countries like India, China and Russia are trying to shut it down. The Winklevoss twins, however, feel that embracing the warm hand of government regulations may be enough to take bitcoin into the mainstream. That's why the pair are about to launch Gemini, a US-based bitcoin exchange that, crucially, has the backing of both a New York-based bank and is likely to get the blessing of governmental types, too.
New York City's first commercial wind turbine proves its worth
Sunset Park in Brooklyn is home to New York City's first commercial-scale wind turbine, and it's already flexing its green muscle. In under a month, the 160-foot-tall power source produced enough juice to power two homes for more than 12 months. It's not being used to supplement regular energy use, though, as it feeds a recycling plant at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal -- a facility that already gets 16 percent of its power from solar panels. NYC seems like the last place a massive wind turbine would make a difference, but the height of this installation, coupled with the open landscape on the shore of Sunset Park, makes for an effective combo that's capable of generating up to 100 kilowatts. Attempts to harvest the wind in New York City are nothing new, but they're typically used to power much smaller buildings, so their size and output are a fraction of this one at Sims Metal Management. Construction costs tallied $750,000, and the project is expected to pay for itself in five years. [Photo credit: AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews]
New York City lifts its blanket ban on cellphones in schools
New York City kids may be reluctantly heading back to school this week, but they just got some (mostly) good news. As promised during Mayor Bill de Blasio's election campaign, the city's Department of Education is lifting its outright ban on cellphones in schools. The New York Times understands that principals (with help from parents and teachers) will decide just when and where students can break out their phones. By default, kids will be allowed to keep their phones around so long as they're hidden. If schools want, though, they can require that young learners drop cellphones off in a designated place. They can also give permission to use phones at certain places and times, such as outside during lunch breaks.
