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Avcen Jetpod inventor killed in test flight crash
Here's a sobering reminder of the very real risks that people undertake in the name of science and progress. Michael Robert Dacre, the inventor and test pilot of the Jetpod flying taxi, has died in a crash during testing of his latest prototype. Reports from Malaysia indicate that the twin-engine aircraft went out of control shortly after takeoff before spiraling to the ground. It is unclear where the Jetpod's future lies now, but the original plans of a 2010 release seem extremely unlikely in light of such tragic news. The short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft was intended primarily as a futuristic ferryboat between airports and city centres, and we certainly hope its development continues -- if for no other reason than to honor the vision of its fallen inventor.
NYC cabbies could have cellphone use blocked while driving... but probably not
The Taxi and Limousine Commission of New York City (also known as the TLC) is considering some changes to the way that taxis and their drivers will operate in the future as part of its "Taxicab Passenger Enhancement Program." Among the wild ideas being floated is one that would "block" anyone in the front seat from using a cellphone -- most notably, of course -- the driver. Driving while using a handset is already illegal in New York, but this measure would apparently kill the ability to use a hands-free device as well. The TLC is trying to have an open discussion with New Yorkers on its website about other possible ways to make taxi rides more... enjoyable "in the future." We're betting this one will never happen but hey -- you never know. Our suggestion? Stop acting like we asked you to cart us to the gates of hell when we tell you we need to go to Brooklyn. [Via WCBS]
Masdar City's driverless podcars are more shuttle than Johnny Cab
Welcome to the future of urban transportation, a driverless taxi that will get you where you're going without any unpleasant human interaction or labor disputes. This is the PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) podcar from Zagato, a fully electric and fully automated taxi system set to shuttle people around Masdar City, an eco-utopia under development in Abu Dhabi that pledges to have no carbon footprint and no real roads, leaving these to buzz along underground at a leisurely 15 mph. Unlike other prototype autonomous taxis we've seen these will initially only be able to go between set locations, but the hope is that in the not too distant future they'll take you to within 100 meters of any location in the city -- hopefully with the accompaniment of Robert Picardo's unique vocal talents.[Via Switched]
Wrath 101: Flight paths in Icecrown
Finally, we come to the end. Icecrown is the very last zone in Wrath, and a very gloomy one it is (in my opinion). This zone, as well as Storm Peaks, was designed with flying mounts in mind, but like Storm Peaks it still has flight paths for those of us who prefer to travel on autopilot. And like Zul'Drak, all the flight paths are neutral, being controlled by either the Argent Crusade or the Knights of the Ebon Blade. Unlike either of those zones, however, the FPs in Icecrown are extensively phased. Only two of them, Argent Vanguard and Death's Rise, are accessible immediately upon entering the zone, so don't go cruising around trying to pick up all the FPs. Just go through the normal quest lines and you'll unlock all four of them sooner or later.
E7 electric taxi makes its debut in the UK
While New York taxis are set to go hybrid by 2012, at least one company in the UK looks to be doing its part to take things one step further, with it now showing off an all-electric taxi that it says will be available as soon as October of this year. Dubbed the E7, this one packs a bundle of lithium ion batteries that promise to give it a range of 100 miles on a single charge and a decent enough top speed of 60 miles per hour, as well as a price tag of £39,450 (or just over $78,000). It seems that not everyone's sold on the vehicle, however, as it recently got the thumbs down from London's taxi licensing division, meaning that Londoners won't be able to catch this particular near-silent ride anytime in the foreseeable future.[Via AutoblogGreen]
Avcen Jetpod T-100 City Flying Taxi says "naught" to highways
No, that's not a scene from The Fifth Element II. What you see here is the Avcen Limited Jetpod T-100 City Flying Taxi, a VQSTOL (Very Quiet Short Take-off and Landing) vehicle that the company says could be in the air by 2010. The idea is that these flying cars would volley people between city centers and outlying areas (like airports) in order to reduce highway traffic. Avcen says that 75 of these in London could relieve road traffic of 37,000 return car trips per day all the while keeping things quiet and requiring only short landing strips made of pavement or grass. For air geeks, specs include dual jet engines with a thrust of 2 x 13.3 kN, a cruising speed of 350 mph, a range of 920 miles, an operating payload of 1,543 lbs, and seating for 7 pax. Bruce Willis pilot not included. [Via The Contaminated]
Watch Mario give tourists and disgruntled New Yorkers a cab ride
In preparation of the upcoming release of Mario Kart Wii, Nintendo held a rather quirky promotion in front of the Sheraton New York hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Confused tourists and businesspeople walked by as a giant costumed Mario, Wii Wheel in hand, gave away free cab rides for the willing.Many, afraid of a potential scam, simply ignored Mario's kind offer. Others, however, were far more willing to jump in a cab hailed by the Italian gaming icon. Nintendo's offer of $10 to the cab drivers, while generous, would probably get most riders down to Times Square, before the gridlock of traffic consumed Nintendo's free fare. Ouch.%Gallery-21478%
Kart around NYC with free Mario cab rides this Thursday
Celebrating this weekend's Mario Kart Wii launch, Nintendo is offering New Yorkers a free cab ride this Thursday, April 24. According to the press release, just head over to the Sheraton Hotel (811 7th Ave., between 52nd and 53rd streets) between 8:00 and 10:00 am or 12:00 and 2:00 pm to roam the city on Nintendo's tab.We at Joystiq would like to caution you, though, that just because the cab driver looks like Mario doesn't mean he's part of the deal. Make sure to double check that before you try to walk away from a large, mustachioed man without paying your fare.
NYC cab drivers lobby for right to use cellphones on duty
About this time last year, the cab drivers of New York City were taking a stand against GPS installations. This year, they've taken to the streets of downtown Manhattan in order to rally for the right to use cellphones while on duty. For those unaware, NYC cabbies are currently disallowed from using hands-free apparatuses while on the clock, and those in the profession are arguing that having one would enable them to feel safer and more connected to the outside world. Unfortunately, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission doesn't seem ready to budge, as it reportedly replied to the lobbying by stating that "cellphone abuse has resulted in many instances of drivers leaving their passengers feeling improperly served and downright unsafe." What's a cab driver got to do to get his / her Snake on, huh?[Via textually]
Robotic robuCAB takes you on a slow speed, autonomous ride of doom
We've already seen strikes caused over the introduction of some relatively minor technology in taxis, but that's nothing compared to the brouhaha that could be in store one day in the future, at least if things like the robuCAB are any indication. That seemingly innocuous vehicle pictured above (along with an approximation of a future model) is developed by France's Robosoft, and has apparently proven itself successful in the limited uses it's been put to so far, with it relying a a series of cameras that keep track of the curb and some sensors placed beneath the ground. Needless to say, those requirements should let cabbies rest easy for now but, given other recent developments, it seems pretty likely that the Great Taxi Strike of 2025 is becoming more and more inevitable.
NYC taxis simply running mapping app over unsecured Windows
It's always interesting when electronic billboards, kiosks, and other installations go haywire and show you the dark heart of Windows lurking underneath, but it's even more fun when you can actually start poking around -- and it looks like there's a fair bit of poking to do in all those NYC taxis with backseat screens. According to Billy Chasen, dismissing the error message will allow you to get to the Start menu, from which it's trivial to run the Windows Connection Wizard, set up the Sprint broadband card, and start surfing away. Billy could also browse the filesystem -- which may or may not contain credit card data -- and it looks like he even had enough access to install any software he could find online. Hmmm, looks like there's 1000 experience points waiting here for the first person to send in a photo of Engadget on one of these screens -- with a 5000 point bonus if it's in Firefox.
NYC taxi drives launch second GPS-related strike
Right on cue, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance has now launched into its second strike in as many months, with its concerns over GPS units in its drivers' cabs still unresolved. According to the AP, Taxi Workers Alliance executive director Bhairavi Desai says that 75% of all of its drivers (representing a fifth of the city's total drivers) were on strike, although it's apparently not entirely clear how many drivers are actually honoring the strike. As before, the main point of contention is the GPS units that drivers are being required to used, which the cabbies say represent an invasion of privacy and work "erratically at best." From the looks of it, there's no indication as to how long this latest strike might last, although the last one ran for 48 hours.
New York City taxi drivers threaten to strike... again
The New York Taxi Workers Alliance is at it again! According to reports, the group that was responsible for the September 5th walkout of cab drivers in New York City is once again planning to call for a strike, slated for October 22nd, and this time around, the striking taxi drivers say they will "get in the face" of cabbies who choose to work. If you'll recall, the initial strike was over the installation of GPS units which would monitor pickup and drop-off points of the drivers (as well as provide credit card services, entertainment, and news for passengers), but the Alliance seems to be changing its tune. The group is now lobbying for city-funded health care, a pension fund, and official recognition as a union. "They have pushed us further and further up against the wall so that it's not just about the technology and economics," Executive Director Bhairavi Desai said. "It's about something even greater." Meanwhile, NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg seemed undisturbed by the news, saying that the city is ready. Coming soon: Taxi Strike, a movie of the week.
NYC taxi drivers take GPS fight to court
The Dynasty-esque drama of the New York City taxi / GPS saga doesn't seem to be petering out. Two weeks ago, thousands of New York City cabbies went on strike (albeit not very successfully) to protest the city's insistence on adding elaborate GPS / entertainment systems to driver's cars which are capable of tracking pick-up and drop-off points. Now it appears that a group of cabbies are taking the fight to court, filing a lawsuit against the city claiming that the mandate to include the GPS units was unconstitutional, and that the devices will give away "trade secrets" by revealing their driving patterns. "Each taxi driver regards his or her own pattern as proprietary," the suit states. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance -- the group that organized the strike -- is also behind this latest move, though not all drivers are united against the GPS units, which will also add credit card services, text messaging, and television to the cars.
NYC cabbies strike over GPS units
As we reported back in July, and then in August, a large number of taxi drivers in New York City have been planning a strike over GPS systems which the city wants installed in yellow cabs. Well, the strike is officially on, with the New York Times reporting that nearly 90-percent of cabs are off the road today (at least according to a cabbie representative). If you'll recall, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a quasi-union, has been threatening the strike over GPS / entertainment units the city demands be put into taxis. The new units have a number of functions -- not the least of which is tracking the cab's pickup and drop-off points -- and the drivers aren't having it. Currently, reports have come in concerning extended waits on airport pickups, and a new pricing scheme for cabs that are working, though from what we can tell, the strike hasn't put the hurt on commuters too badly. Of course, the litmus-test of a New York evening rush hour has yet to happen, so don't get too excited.
NYC cabbies will / will not strike September 5-6 over mandatory GPS
It looks like the contentious issue of GPS-equipped cabs in New York City is still far from being resolved, with one advocacy group saying that the planned strike over the matter is still on, while another is now saying that "there will be no strike." In the latter camp, according to The New York Times, is the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, which now finds itself at odds with the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, who are apparently still ready to walk off the job on September 5th and 6th. At the heart of this brouhaha are new GPS-equipped cabs that the Taxi and Limousine Commission are insisting become standard issue by the end of January. While the GPS apparently won't be used for navigation, it will be used to track the cabs, which the driver's say amounts to an invasion of privacy. The cabbies also say that the GPS could cause problems if it breaks down, as it would be tied to the meter. No word on a next move by either party, but that September 5th deadline sure is fast approaching.
NYC cabbies plan September strike over GPS
As we told you in March, the technology-bucking drivers of New York City have put their collective foot down and said "no" to GPS systems in city taxis. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a non-unionized group with more than 8,400 members, claims it will call for its drivers to strike if city leaders don't retract plans to install GPS units in 13,000 cabs. No new information there, but recently the NYTWA announced that September would be its target month for the walkouts, putting a very real timetable on what would be a crippling move for the city. If you'll recall, the touchscreen devices would allow passengers to pay by credit card, check the news, and map their taxi's location. The systems would also track pickup and drop-off points (information taxi drivers already report), but cabbies fear their employers will use the information to keep tabs on their whereabouts. The NYTWA plans to specify the date and length of the strike next month, so you'll know more when we do.
All New York taxis to be hybrids by 2012
It wasn't too long ago that next-generation taxis were being demoed at the NY International Automobile Show, but unless those roadsters sport gas sipping hybrid engines, they won't survive past 2012 in the Big Apple. Reportedly, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered that every last one of NY's taxis operate on hybrid engines by 2012 as a part of an obvious plan to reduce emissions in the state. Once the transition is complete, Bloomberg noted that it would be the "largest, cleanest fleet of taxis anywhere on the planet," but considering that only 375 of the approximate 13,000 licensed taxis are currently in compliance, we'd say they've got a long ways to go. Currently, NYC has approved nine gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles for use as taxis, and while it has yet to be set in stone, officials are purportedly looking into extending the hybrid initiative to encompass garbage trucks and buses.[Via CNET, photo courtesy of MashedPeas]
Crazy Taxi still looks crazy bad
Sega's upcoming PSP version of Crazy Taxi has come a long way. The very first video of the game ran at a sluggish rate, featured nearly deserted streets, and had textures worse than the original Dreamcast version. It appears that some significant progress has been made, but is it enough? We say no. A new gameplay montage on IGN reveals greatly improved visuals, but the textures and polygon count still fall short of what we expect from our handheld. While the gameplay looks fun, we can't help but remember playing the taxi cab mode of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and being far more impressed.At least we won't be charged an arm and a leg for this technically shallow Dreamcast port: releasing at a budget price makes sense to us. But still, wouldn't we love to see a game that truly takes advantage of PSP's capabilities?
Caption Contest: NYC taxis turn 100, have midlife crisis
Apparently the New York taxi cab, a staple for fare-based "horseless carriage" rides, turns 100 this year. To celebrate, the NY International Auto Show is holding the Taxi 07 Exhibit, a showcase of radical re-conceptions of what the yellow and checkers can look like and do. Take, for example, the Standard, a natural gas powered vehicle with extended range; or Antenna Design's interactive signage, which offers up destinations and ride-sharing availability; or, possibly our favorite, Rides Magazine's Crown Vic (above). CNET's got the full scoop, check it out. Or, you know, leave a funny caption. As always we won't pick a winner, but perhaps your Engadget-reading peers will raise you on their shoulders, raise you high enough to get in that pimped out cab you see above.Peter: "I can't take you to JFK, but we could go cruising for a couple of hours"Ryan: "See BigFoot, this is what happens when you get freaky with the taxi groupies after the monster truck rally."Evan: "After 20 thankless years on the job, Joe finally got cut off one too many times and decided to take action."Paul: "Look out pedestrians... oh wait, it's a taxi, you already do."
