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NYC will stop collecting info Trump could use for deportations
The NYC mayor's office has announced that it will no longer store personal records for immigrants who apply for the city's free IDNYC identification card. While the card allows users to secure accounts for utilities, banking and more, officials fear President-elect Trump could use the database for his proposed deportation plans. Mayor Bill de Blasio said in the weeks following the election that he would keep cardholders' personal records from the federal government and other authorities.
Airbnb settles lawsuit with New York over short-term rental law
Airbnb has settled its lawsuit against the state of New York, but that doesn't mean it has given up. The rental listing service sued the state after governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill that made it illegal to rent out units in buildings for less than 30 days if the tenant isn't there. Those who violate it will be subject to some pretty heavy fines, starting at $1,000 for the first instance. You just haven't heard of anyone being slapped with a fine yet, because authorities decided not to enforce the law until this lawsuit has been settled. Now, the two parties have agreed that New York City and not the state will be responsible for enforcing the new law, so they filed papers to dismiss the lawsuit.
Snapchat Spectacles are available in New York City
You knew it was just a matter of time -- after stops in California and Oklahoma, Snapchat is now selling Spectacles in New York City. If you can make it to 5 East 59th Street in upper midtown Manhattan (conveniently facing Apple's iconic 5th Avenue store) and can afford to queue up, you too can score up to two pairs of the purposefully hard-to-get $130 camera glasses. The store will stick around through New Year's Eve, although it'll unsurprisingly be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Nike's new store in New York City is loaded with tech
SoHo is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in New York City. It's home to hundreds of shops from some of the most popular brands, including Apple, Adidas and, as of last month, Google. Now you can add Nike to this list. On November 18th, the sportswear giant will open a five-story 55,000-square-foot space loaded with technology, from 3D-printed decorations (pictured above) to a Kinect-powered basketball court. There are also other simple, yet useful, things such as Apple Pay support and large touchscreens on walls that help you call an associate or buy products on the spot.
Google unveils Allo-assisted 'Stranger Things' scavenger hunt
Google is trying hard to get folks using its AI-gifted Allo messenger service, so it has jumped on a popular Netflix show. It has revealed some Stranger Things tie-ins for Halloween, including a sticker pack and an AI-assisted scavenger hunt. If you're in New York City today (October 28th) and want to participate, you just ask Google Assistant "Where is Barb," a reference to the character who just kind of ... disappeared from the show.
Microsoft will hold a Windows 10 event October 26th
It has been a busy few weeks for the big tech companies making major announcements and we're not done yet. Microsoft announced today that it will host a Windows 10 event October 26th in New York City at 10:00 AM ET. The company didn't get into specifics on the invite or social media posts, but if it's keeping an yearly update timeline for new Surface Pros, perhaps we'll see a new model later this month. The Surface Pro 4 was revealed in early October last year after all. Of course, there's sure to be some discussion on the latest developments for Windows 10 as well, and we'll be there to bring you all the news live as it happens.
The New York Public Library has a mini roller coaster for books
On October 5th, the New York Public Library near Bryant Park in Manhattan will open up its newly renovated reading room to everyone. When that happens, members of the public will be able to get their first look not only at the gorgeous new working area, but also the building's new book delivery system. I was lucky enough to be treated to a tour of the library's facilities to get a behind-the-scenes preview of the now-colloquially-named "book train."
Restauranteur hopes the Apple Watch will improve fine dining
Danny Meyer is considered to be quite the progressive restauranteur. His employees don't rely on tips to make ends meet (the practice is outlawed at his establishments, in fact), and they get various benefits including a share of profits. Aside from running his hospitality empire in an unorthodox way, he's also the mastermind behind Shake Shack. His next forward-thinking initiative doesn't involve any new management strategies, however. Rather, at one of his flagship restaurants he'll soon be ceding some of that responsibility to the Apple Watch.
A tech accelerator grows in Brooklyn
At its peak, the Brooklyn Navy Yard employed as many as 70,000 people, building maritime vessels like the USS Maine, Missouri and Monitor. Military shipbuilding isn't coming back to Brooklyn anytime soon, and neither are those particular jobs. But industry is returning to the borough -- just not shipping in the military sense. Think more along the lines of product shipping, thanks to facilities like New Lab. This is about more than giving startups a place to set up shop. New Lab is about building a community -- not just to employ more New Yorkers, but to spur further innovation in one of the largest cities in the world.
Flywheel's phone-based taxi meter arrives in NYC
Flywheel is giving taxis in New York City the modern touch. The company is bringing its software meter and app-based hailing system to the Big Apple after its initial release in a handful of cities last year. TaxiOS puts a cab's navigation, payment, meter and dispatch system on a single phone. It can automatically calculate fares, including tolls, split the total amount between passengers, accept credit card and cash payments and email receipts to customers. Plus, it will allow taxis in the city to accept app payments made through Flywheel's Uber-like ride-hailing app even if you flag them down in the street.
Formula E's New York City race is set for Brooklyn next year
We already knew Forumla E was planning to race in New York City and now we have more details about the event. The all-electric race series announced during a press conference today that the final race of the 2016-2017 season, the New York City ePrix, will take place in the area around Pier 11 and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook. The two-day event is currently scheduled for July 29-30, 2017 with a 1.21-mile course that winds around the terminal's parking lot with two straightaways that run down the side of Pier 11.
NYC nixes kiosk browsers after homeless commandeer their use
NYC debuted its gigabit LinkNYC program in January of this year to great fanfare. These kiosks, 400 in total dot the city, offered free wi-fi for passing residents as well as dedicated tablets that anyone could use. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out quite as planned. On Wednesday, the LinkNYC program announced that it would be temporarily borking its tablets until officials can figure out how to ensure that they aren't bogarted by the city's homeless residents.
NYC's firefighters will use drones to make their jobs safer
New York City's firefighters have a new ally that could help keep them safe: drones. They've begun testing a small, fire-engine red unmanned aerial vehicle that can take both standard and infrared images and videos. The $85,000 machine will send footage to commanders in real-time, giving them the information they need to quickly come up with the best possible response.
'Brand New Subway' game lets you redesign NYC transportation
Despite the robustness of New York City's famous subway system, every rider will lose their patience at some point or another. High fares! Inconveniently distant stops! Irregular schedules! Good news, grumbling commuters: now you can redesign the city's public transportation with the Brand New Subway game.
Uber has served 100 million trips in New York City
As Uber strikes million-dollar deals in China, it's also celebrating a milestone in one of the first places it established itself: New York. The company has announced that it's now delivered 100 million trips to users in the city, which explains why it's investing deeply in things like global mapping -- to the tune of $500 million. It's not all happy mergers and expansion: the company is still fighting bans, suspensions and fines across the world; you're still going to have to hire a normal taxi if you're planning a trip to Hungary, for example.
A digital 'totem' leads the way in one of New York's oldest museums
Museums, for all the wonders they contain, have a reputation for being staid and musty. At their worst they've even been described as mausoleums. That's a problem when it comes to exhibits about an active, living culture like the Haida people of British Columbia. The American Museum of Natural History has taken it upon itself to change that perception of the native groups of the Pacific Northwest, implementing new technologies in its oldest hall to educate millions of visitors about these thousands of people living on the other side of the continent.
NYC's next subway cars have WiFi and USB ports built-in
The New York City subway system is gearing up for a major overhaul meant to bring a "modernized look and feel" to lighting, wayfinding and subway cars by the year 2020. At a press conference on Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's $27 billion, five-year plan to add 1,025 new subway cars, more informative digital screens, better security features and -- most importantly for anyone who needs to get some work done underground – WiFi and USB charging ports in the cars and stations.
Sonos' flagship NYC store hosts a massive wall of speakers
Sonos may be in the middle of a restructuring phase, but it isn't wasting any time rolling out its plans for the near future. Today, the company unveiled its first-ever retail store in New York City. The 4,200 square foot space, located in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood, features seven listening rooms designed to let consumers experience Sonos products firsthand. But the most outstanding decor is what you see above, known as The Wall of Sound. It's a 17-by-24-foot installation made up of roughly 300 Sonos speakers, of which eight are plugged in and active.
Amazon may open its first East Coast bookstore in NYC
Given how Amazon has done its best to put the brick-and-mortar bookstore out of business, it's still odd to see the company building retail locations of its own. But CEO Jeff Bezos said the company would keep doing it after opening a store in Seattle and announcing plans for one in San Diego, and now we're hearing rumors about the location for the next store. The New York Post says that Amazon will soon be going toe-to-toe with the many wonderful booksellers that can be found around NYC.
Become a Starfleet cadet at the Intrepid's new Star Trek exhibit
Star Trek turns 50 this September, and while fans will have to wait until next year for a taste of the new TV show, they can still have their own immersive Trek experience this summer at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York. If you've ever wanted to helm a starship, sit in the captain's chair or try your hand at the infamously impossible Kobayashi Maru exam, the Starfleet Academy Experience will give you that chance. And while you're there, you can also take a little walk through the past half of a century of Star Trek history.
