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NYC lumps electronic cigarettes with tobacco-filled brethren, bans vaping in public places
New York City's war on smoking continues unabated. Today, the city council voted to equate electronic cigarettes with real ones by extending NYC's public smoking ban to cover both types of smokes. That's bad news for folks who liked to do their vaping in public parks, or the hangers-on looking to get a fake contact high from their fumes. It also means that all you Gothamites who've been passionately tracking the progression of e-cig technology are now stuck testing the latest battery powered suck pipes in the privacy of your own homes.
NimbleTV launches in New York City, streams paid TV starting at $4 per month
After nearly a year in beta testing, NimbleTV's streaming service is at last ready for prime time. Anyone with an address in the New York City area can sign up to watch local cable programming anywhere they have a fast internet connection; they just need a web browser, an iOS device or a Roku player. Viewers with existing TV subscriptions through Cablevision, RCN, Verizon's FiOS or Time Warner Cable can pay as little as $4 per month to add NimbleTV, while those starting fresh pay $30 or more per month. Regardless of the package, customers get between 20 to 90 hours of cloud DVR storage as part of their plan. The company isn't providing any new expansion details at this stage, but it does promise both Android support and international TV content in the future.
NYC Chief Digital Officer Rachel Haot on providing digital access to all
"The foundation of New York City's digital strategy is access," explains Rachel Haot, fresh off her Expand press day opening remarks. "We define that as access for all New Yorkers, regardless of income level, regardless of the resources you may have in your household. Libraries play a very vital role in this; schools do as well, [along with] recreation centers run by the city's parks department -- and we've even invested in senior centers, where we are connecting more seniors with the internet and providing training." Haot's served as New York's chief digital offers for three years or so, tasked with the seemingly overwhelming goal of making technology available to the citizens of the largest city in the country. The question of income gaps plays a key role in the city's continued push to bring high-tech jobs to New York as the cost of living threatens to push out potential startups. Haot counters that the city continues to offer affordable spaces in the five boroughs. She also offers up a list of perks the Big Apple provides over those areas we've come to know as tech hubs. "New York City is a completely unique destination that presents completely unique opportunities for any entrepreneur," she adds. "One of the reasons we hear people come here is, first and foremost, diversity. You look at a lot of other tech hubs and it's a one-horse town. It ends up being an echo chamber, or a bit of a bubble. In New York City, you're always kept humble, because there are so many industries, and they're always intersecting. I think that provides and enables enormous creativity and collaboration."
New York City Chief Digital Officer Rachel Haot says we're in a 'golden age of technology in NYC'
New York City's first Chief Digital Officer, Rachel Haot, is a very busy lady. She's charged with managing the digital universe of one of the planet's most technologically advanced cities. Haot's most recent accomplishment was heading up the relaunch of NYC.gov, the digital face of New York City. And during her keynote speech this afternoon at Engadget Expand, Haot opened the show with a powerful statement about the Big Apple's tech sector: "Today more than any other time, we really are experiencing a golden age of technology in NYC." In Haot's eyes, this "golden age" is being spearheaded by several factors. First, 3D printing. "New York City is arguably the 3D-printing capital of the world," she noted, with reference to MakerBot, littleBits and more. It's a trend that's emblematic of NYC's transformative history, reinventing itself repeatedly across the past 400 years.
Sprint's LTE network now covers all five NYC boroughs plus 45 additional markets
Sprint may have taken a backseat lately to John Legere and his unorthodox UnCarrier ways, but the Now Network's, once again, moving fast to cover new LTE territory. With today's market expansion news, Sprint LTE is now officially available throughout New York City -- not just in the Bronx and Brooklyn -- though note that 4G coverage is still not all-pervasive. Sprint's also continuing to roll out "enhanced 3G" service as part of its Network Vision plan, which should translate into better speeds and stronger signals for its subscribers -- all thanks to infrastructure upgrades. An additional 45 smaller markets, mostly located in the south, will also now see LTE service "turned on," bringing the carrier's LTE coverage to 230 markets in total. To see if Sprint LTE is now live in your area, check out the PR after the break.
Google and Abandoned NYC uncover the city's secrets with Field Trip app
Starting today, users of Field Trip for iOS, Android and Glass will be able to experience some of New York City's forgotten -- and occasionally creepy -- locations as Google's Niantic Labs brings Abandoned NYC's content to the app. Normally, Field Trip functions as a convenient mobile tour guide, delivering interesting information provided by sources like the American Institute of Architects and the Little Black Book series. With Abandoned NYC joining the ranks of content providers, Field Trip users will be able to explore obscure, mysterious and atmospheric spots across the five boroughs uncovered by photographer and project founder Will Ellis, like Harlem's Public School 186 and the Red Hook Grain Terminal. Unfamiliar with Field Trip? See it in action after the break or download it from one of the source links below.
NYC's Taxi of Tomorrow hits a roadblock, judge rules city overreached its authority
Mayor Bloomberg, New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) and Nissan have been working to bring the NV200 "Taxi of Tomorrow" to the Big Apple since 2011, but it looks like its planned October 28th launch won't go without a hitch. In a lawsuit brought by Evgeny Freidman and the Greater New York Taxi Association against the TLC, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Schlomo Hagler ruled that the agency can't force taxi owners to buy the Japanese manufacturers' autos. "Simply stated, the power to contract and compel medallion owners to purchase the Nissan NV200 from Nissan for ten years does not exist in the City Charter," Hagler's decision reads, according to the Wall Street Journal. While this certainly complicates things for Bloomberg and Co., it doesn't mean that the Taxi of Tomorrow's fate is sealed. Naturally, NYC is bent on appealing the decision. "We believe the Court's decision is fundamentally wrong, and we intend to appeal immediately," wrote the city's corporation counsel Michael Cardozo in a statement. If an appeal doesn't change the ruling however, Gotham could be on the hook for a sum in the neighborhood of $50 million or more, which would cover the car maker's design and production costs. According to the WSJ, a city official says they may not have to pony up the cash, as the contract would be rendered void by the court, not New York City's whim. Despite the setback, Nissan says its plan to fill the taxi fleet with new autos hasn't been derailed. "We are disappointed in the court's decision, but it will not prevent our plan to start upgrading the NYC taxi fleet with the Nissan Taxi of Tomorrow at the end of the month," a Nissan spokesperson told Autoblog in an email. Something tells us this will be a long legal road, so don't get used to the idea of shiny new rides just yet.
NYC plans free public WiFi expansion in all five boroughs by December 2013
A handful of neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and the Bronx will have high-speed WiFi access available for businesses and residents by the end of this year. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced an expansion today that'll roll out over the next few months, lighting up parts of downtown Brooklyn, lower Manhattan, Harlem and other areas by December 2013. Companies have invested $3.4 million in the new infrastructure, and the city has contributed $900,000 to get the job done. We're still a long way from having a city blanketed in completely free high-speed wireless internet, but with widespread availability in key areas, thousands of residents and smaller businesses should be able to drop their current internet providers before the ball drops to welcome 2014. [Image source: AP/Frank Franklin II]
Verizon service coming to 36 NYC subway stations later this year
When it rains it pours -- and pouring rain only stops New York City's 100-year-old mass transit system some of the time. Following its fellow carriers underground, Verizon this morning let it be know that it has inked a deal with Transit Wireless (which has already announced similar partnerships with Sprint, AT&T and the like) that'll bring 3G and LTE voice and data to those 36 Manhattan stations that are already online, later this year. Phase two, meanwhile, will bring 40 additional stations throughout Manhattan and Queens. That part is expected to be completed early next year.
Commercial Break: an app that tells you exactly when the ads are over
When we're raiding the fridge during a Vikings game, what'd be nice is a push notification just before Adrian Peterson runs into the end zone. Seeing as that's probably not feasible given current tech, we'll settle for an iOS app that alerts us when a timeout or commercial is over. Commercial Break was designed to do just that: you tell it what channel you're watching and it uses DSP and some algorithms to analyze audio and video cues, delivering a push notification to your mobile device once what you were watching comes back. As of right now, it's in public beta with 10 compatible channels in New York City: ABC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, NBC, TNT, TBS and USA. Outside of the Big Apple, CNN, ESPN and ESPN2 are compatible nationwide, with a few of these channels also available to others along the East Coast. The developers said that once the test run is over, they plan to expand to other markets and port the app to Android. We just wish it worked with AMC too -- missing any of Heisenberg's return because of a fried chicken craving would be tragic.
Sprint set to bring coverage to 277 NYC subway stations
When it rains, it pours. As anyone who takes Big Apple public transit can tell you, the days of the brief underground reprieve from wireless are mostly behind us -- in many parts of Manhattan, at least. But if you doubted that the rest of the 100-year-old transit system would be getting some love, let Sprint lay those concerns to rest. The carrier announced this morning plans to bring service to the whole map -- that's 277 underground stations in all, bringing coverage to Sprint, Boost and Virgin Mobile subscribers. Folks on those networks will be getting service in 36 Manhattan stations early next year, followed by 40 more in that borough and Queens.
NYC partners with Cablevision, Time Warner Cable to bring WiFi hotspots to city parks
Mayor Bloomberg's government is often finding ways to keep The Big Apple as connected to the internet as can be. Today, in an effort to bring more connectivity options to its residents (and tourists), the City of New York announced that it's teaming up with Cablevision and Time Warner Cable to add WiFi hotspots to 32 parks across the five boroughs. Of course, these will be available in addition to free services already provided by companies such as AT&T in select parts of the city. Unlike with similar offerings, however, these new hotspots will require potential users to be Cablevision Optimum Online or Time Warner Cable broadband subscribers in order to get free access. Those who have the proper credentials will be able to connect gratis via a WiFi-enabled device anytime, while non-subscribers can do so at no cost for up to 30 minutes every 30 days, or for 99 cents per day. The full list of participating NYC parks can be found after the break, and fret not if your favorite didn't make it -- we're told WiFi is "coming soon" to more locations.
Introducing .nyc: New York City to get its own top-level domain
New Yorkers are notoriously proud of their city, and what better way to show hometown love than with a .nyc address? According to Mayor Bloomberg's official Twitter account, that will soon be possible for Big Apple residents. The just-launched website for the "ultimate New York City address" (har, har) says the top-level domain will help local businesses' visibility in search results, in addition to eliminating all doubt as to where you reside. "Businesses, organizations and residents" will be eligible for the TLD, with registration beginning in late 2013. When it launches, .nyc will be the first city in the United States to receive a geography-based domain. Did you think New York would settle for anything less?
For one day only, Uber will offer $3,000 helicopter rides to the Hamptons
Too good for the Jitney? Uber has a special one-time offer that might be up your diamond-strewn alley. From 12PM to 8PM this Wednesday, Uber will be providing $3,000 helicopter rides to the Hamptons to promote its new summertime service in the exclusive Long Island enclave. If you're located in New York City, an SUV will whisk you to the most conveniently located helipad, where your flying chariot will await. Once you land, another SUV will be at the ready to complete your journey. If you miss out on the extremely limited-time offer, fear not. Uber's new service, also launching on Wednesday, will provide $300 one way trips between NYC and the Hamptons. And when you get there, don't forget to send Jay Gatsby our regards.
Spotify confirms plans for original content at press event with Mayor Bloomberg
Spotify held a gathering in its movie poster-lined Chelsea offices this afternoon to announce that it is increasing its presence in New York City. Part of the plan includes a brand new US headquarters on 6th Ave that is several times the size of its current space. Most intriguing, some of the new office will be set aside to "create unique content," according to Ken Parks, who heads up the company's NYC office. The mention was brief, and Parks offered little detail about what that content might be, but it's probably safe to assume that we're looking mostly at exclusive live performances. For now though, we'll just have to wait until Spotify settles in at its new digs.
Adafruit smart helmet guides bike riders with Arduino-based light shows (video)
Bike sharing systems like New York's Citi Bike may be taking off, but it's doubtful that many participants can find every station without checking a map. Thankfully, Adafruit has unveiled a smart helmet project that could help at least a few of those riders get to their destinations while keeping their eyes on the road. The DIY effort feeds locations to an Arduino-based Flora board and its positioning add-ons, which in turn use a string of NeoPixel LEDs on the helmet as turn indicators. Commuters just have to watch for blinking lights to know where to go next. While the system isn't easy to set up when cyclists have to manually enter coordinates, it is flexible: the open-source code lets it adapt to most any bike sharing system or headpiece. As long as you can get over looking like a Christmas tree on wheels while you navigate, you can build a smart helmet of your own using the instructions at the source link.
AT&T and Goal Zero deploy solar-powered Street Charge stations in NYC, we go hands-on (video)
If you're lucky, your smartphone's battery can just make it through a full day, with the percentage meter dropping to the single digits as you finally get a chance to plug in. With 10 hours out and about, some handsets can't even last through dinner, though, and out of reach power outlets make juicing up at the restaurant a tad inconvenient. Beginning this summer, public power will be much more accessible in New York City. AT&T is partnering with Goal Zero to deploy Street Charge stations in a handful of parks and other locations around NYC. They'll be coming to Fort Green Park on June 18th, and will roll out to Brooklyn Bridge Park, Coney Island, Riverside Park, Rockaways, Summerstage in Central Park, Randall's Island, Governor's Island, Union Square, and Hudson River Park over the next few weeks. Each solar-powered pole, designed locally by Pensa, sports six USB connectors: for iPhones and iPads, there's 30-pin and Lightning plugs, Android and Windows Phone users can hook up to micro-USB, and everyone else can use their own cable with one of three female USB connectors. There's three 15-watt solar panels and a 168 watt-hour battery, enabling each Street Charge to power up to six devices for several days without exposure to the sun. Sure, it's probably impractical to fill your gadget's cell completely, but if you have a few minutes to spare, you'll be able to juice up and go. You can plug in phones, tablets, cameras, or even a Pebble watch -- each cable can pump out up to two amps of 5V power, providing support for just about any USB-powered device. Each weatherproof unit will have AT&T branding, which seems reasonable, considering the carrier is footing the bill here. You should start seeing these pop up at several TBA locations in New York throughout the summer, with more stations to come if the trial's a success. Take a closer look in the hands-on video after the break.
Google Maps adds images for three historic parts of New York City (video)
While Google has practically blanketed New York City with eye-level imagery, few would doubt that there's still ground left to cover. The search giant is filling in some of those gaps with new Google Maps galleries for a trio of historic areas. A collaboration with Historypin lets the curious glimpse photos and videos of regions affected by Hurricane Sandy; those who want to visit the 9/11 Memorial, meanwhile, can see Street View panoramas of both the North and South pools. Google is also expanding its Street View coverage of Central Park to include its many legendary trails, not just the roadways. If you've been meaning to pay a virtual tribute to any of these three spots, they're waiting for you at the source links.
Recent Apple thefts include high-speed NYC chase, Colorado storefront smash-and-grab
Apple devices keep their value, which makes them an attractive target for thieves. Two recent stories highlight how both individuals and Apple stores are vulnerable to theft. One report involves a movie-like high-speed chase, while the other one features a well-timed smash-and-grab heist. The New York Times has a fascinating story about a thief who stole an iPhone from an unsuspecting lady waiting on a corner. He snatched the iPhone from her hand and took off into the crowded streets of Flushing, Queens. She called police who tracked the culprit using Find My iPhone. They hunted him down by car and by foot, finally locating him on a subway car. The thief was identified when the police placed a call to the stolen device and it rang in his back pocket. In a completely different type of theft, employees at an Apple store in Colorado Springs, Colo., were surprised when they arrived for work on Sunday morning. Instead of a typical opening, the employees were greeted with shattered glass and a store that had been turned upside down by thieves. The photo below was supplied by TUAW reader Dan Mosqueda, who also tipped us about this latest smash-and-grab incident. It shows the front of the store boarded up with black-painted plywood. According to a report by KKTV-11, robbers drove their car into the glass front of the Apple store and made off with an undisclosed amount of electronics. An employee at a nearby store observed the aftermath of the theft and said, "It seems like this was very calculated because they obviously knew when to come here, when the security would not be around." The police are reviewing the surveillance video for information on the car and people involved in this crime.
Temporary restraining order blocks Uber and others from New York City operations
In a move which should surprise no one who's been following along, New York City livery car groups successfully won a bid yesterday afternoon for a temporary restraining order against New York City's smartphone-based hail pilot program ("e-hails," if you will). This effectively shuts down any (limited) plans UberTAXI and others had for getting back in business in Gotham -- both Uber and Hailo are being stopped from operating in NYC as a result. Under the pilot program -- approved earlier this year but mired in legal drama ever since -- services like Uber and Hailo could be used in NYC's approximately 13K yellow cabs. Livery cab businesses in NYC have sought to stop the program's implementation via legal means. Its latest effort, the "application for interim relief," was admitted via lawyer Randy Mastro of Gibson Dunn, and cites the following as its reason for the temporary restraining order: "Absent emergency relief, petitioners and the public will suffer irreparable injury to their livelihoods, businesses and industry, fundamental rights and environmental interests, all of which will be impossible to remedy after this case is resolved in petitioner's favor."
