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Uber unleashes on-demand ice cream service to 144 cities worldwide for a day
For a couple of years now, Uber's been delivering ice cream on demand for one day to anyone who calls up its ice cream truck through its apps. Well, this once-a-year event is back, and it's now reaching more people across the globe, even in places where Uber's services aren't usually available. This July 18th, Uber will have ice cream trucks going around 144 cities in 38 countries (last year's event included only 33 cities), serving a variety of treats like gelato on sticks, sundaes and froyo. In Manila, Philippines, the ride-sharing company's even taking the chance to do some charity work by donating all the truck's proceeds to victims of Typhoon Glenda. Since each region will offer its own frozen goodies at different prices, it's best to check the Uber blog to know what time you can conjure up the ice cream truck and how much it's going to eat up from your weekly budget.
Hailo's Uber-like private car service launches in London
Hailo's long been a friend to London's black cabbies, giving drivers another way to find punters through its mobile app. With competition from upstart Uber already rubbing black cab drivers up the wrong way, they went as far as vandalizing Hailo's HQ when the company announced that it, too, was going to launch a private car service in London. Undeterred, the new HailoExec option has started to roll out to Hailo's iOS and Android apps, meaning you can request a ride in one of the company's new, in-house fleet of luxury motors. Hailo's own drivers might not possess the same Knowledge as black cabbies, but getting lost in the labyrinthine streets of London won't be a burden on your wallet, as you're quoted the full cost of the journey before you set off.
Seattle votes to legalize ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber
It's official: following an earlier agreement, Seattle council members have voted eight to one in favor of legalizing transportation network companies. The move lets ridesharing outfits like Lyft and UberX operate in the West coast city without fear of bans or driver caps, so long as they get the appropriate license and otherwise obey relatively light regulations. Conventional cab drivers, meanwhile, get a break through 200 additional taxi licenses. The council is expected to take a second look at ridesharing during its next legislative session to see if there's a need for stricter requirements. For now, though, you shouldn't have any trouble hailing a private driver in Washington state's biggest burg. [Image credits: Jeff Blucher, Flickr]
NY attorney general sues to bar Lyft from the city (update: launch delayed)
Lyft's pink mustaches were all set to prowl New York City's outer boroughs this week, but it seems that the city itself is having none of it: New York's attorney general is pursuing a court order that will block the company from providing transportation services in Queens and Brooklyn. The lawsuit's complaint closely echoes the concerns of the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, which labeled Lyft as "unauthorized" earlier this week for failing to comply with its safety and licensing requirements. It seems to be a matter of distinction -- Lyft labels itself as a peer-to-peer transportation network, but the attorney general says its really a traditional taxi service, and as such, it needs to comply with local laws. Specifically, the AG alleges that Lyft "has simply waltzed into New York and set up shop while defying every law passed whose very purpose is to protect the People of the State of New York," stating that the company puts itself "above the law" by calling its fares "donations."
London's black cabs may soon be forced to accept card payments
Part of the reason app-based car services like Uber and Hailo have become so popular is their quick service and no-fuss payments. Hailo, in particular, has bridged the gap for London's black cabs, which have widely shunned card payments due to high setup and running costs. However, things could soon be made a lot easier for city commuters (and tourists) if new plans being considered by Transport for London (TfL) come into force.
Uber driver takes passengers on a 10-minute car chase through Washington D.C.
We've had enough trips in taxis, buses, shuttles, Ubers and Lyfts to last a lifetime, but none like the one Ryan Simonetti apparently went on yesterday. The Washington Post reports that Simonetti is the CEO of Convene and was in town on business, preparing to head back to a company office in the area Tuesday afternoon. A self-described "diehard Uber fan," he booked a trip but when they went to the car there was a D.C. Taxi Inspector discussing something with the driver. As the ride started, the inspector followed, and turned on his lights. The driver told Simonetti "I'm sorry, we're going to have to run this red light" before take off down I-395, resisting the rider's calls to stop, saying he would get a $2,000 fine. After an eight to ten-minute chase at "well above the speed limit," Simonetti's threats finally convinced the driver to let them off at an exit ramp, before he took off the wrong way on that ramp and escaped into Virginia.
Lyft launching in New York with a focus on serving outer boroughs
Lyft, the Uber alternative with a penchant for pink mustaches, will launch service in New York City at the end of the week. Initially, the ride-on-demand app will focus on boroughs beyond Manhattan, explaining that "Brooklyn and Queens are vastly underserved by public transit options compared to the rest of New York City." This is good news for many city residents -- not to mention Android Wear users eager to summon a car with their smartwatch -- the downside is that Lyft will only pick up customers in Brooklyn or Queens, at least for the time being. In other words, if you're trying to get back home from Manhattan, the app won't help you out. That said, the service will come in handy for those looking to get around in Brooklyn or Queens, or travel from one borough to the other.
Uber won't gouge you as much during disasters
Folks who have nabbed a ride from Uber during major snowstorms in New York City know all too well about the car service's price gouging during those events. Now, the outfit is capping rates during disasters and "relevant states of emergency" in the US, donating commissions from those surge trips to the American Red Cross. Fares will vary between locales, but prices during a state of emergency will remain under the three highest-priced, non-emergency days of the last two months. If you'll recall, the app-based service calculates rates based on periods of high demand and low driver availability, jacking up pricing to match and ruffling a few feathers in the process. "This policy intends to strike the careful balance between the goal of transportation availability with community expectations of affordability during a disaster," said Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.
Senior Maps engineer at Apple to leave for Uber
According to a report from Jessica Lessin of The Information, longtime senior engineering manager Chris Blumenberg will be leaving Apple to take on a position with Uber, the increasingly popular ride-sharing service. Over the past six years, Blumenberg, according to his Linkedin profile, led Apple's Maps team where he oversaw a core group of 40+ engineers. Notably, Blumenberg in 2006 was one of the first engineers tapped to work on what was then the secretive iPhone project. You might also recall that Blumenberg himself put together the original version of the Maps app that Steve Jobs proudly demoed when unveiling the iPhone. The New York Times reported this past April: Mr. Tolmasky also reflected on the creation of the crucial maps app for the first iPhone. A lesser-known story was that Mr. Jobs decided he wanted a maps app on the iPhone only a few weeks before the smartphone was introduced at Macworld Expo in January 2007. Another of Mr. Tolmasky's teammates, Chris Blumenberg, was given the task, and worked nonstop until there was a functional maps app for the presentation. "Within a week he had something that was working, and in two weeks he had something to show at Macworld that we were showing," Mr. Tolmasky said. "That was the kind of effect Steve could have on you: This is important, this needs to happen, and you do it." So while Blumenberg's new role at Uber remains unclear, Apple has clearly lost a talented engineer.
London's black cab body takes Uber drivers to court but delays chance of making real change
If last month's protest wasn't a big enough hint, London's black cabbies are far from pleased with losing business to disruptive competitor Uber. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) is adamant that Uber operates outside the law, as private vehicles aren't allowed to carry taximeters. Transport for London (TfL) has plainly concluded the way Uber calculates fares using a mobile app is not the same as operating a taximeter, and is completely legal. Tired of constantly repeating itself, TfL has referred the dispute to London's High Court, and this escalation offers a glimmer of hope to black cabbies, in that the law or the current interpretation of it could change to validate the taximeter argument.
Pennsylvania is the latest state to go after Uber and Lyft
It's no secret that some places, whether it be in the US or other parts of the world, are not in approval of the way ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft operate. And, starting today, we can add Pittsburgh to the list of cities where these app-based car services can't do business legally, at least not for the time being. The news comes after two local judges have granted the Pennsylvania Public Utility's petition to issue cease-and-desist orders to them. As the Pittsburgh Business Times notes, Uber and Lyft won't be free to continue offering their service "until they secure the appropriate authority" from the PUC.
Engadget Daily: the evolution of Second Life, taxi-hailing apps and more!
Today, we take an in-depth look at taxi-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft, explore the world of Android Wear, ponder the evolution of Second Life and investigate Aaron Swartz's path from internet activist to martyr. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours.
What you need to know about Uber, Lyft and other app-based car services
For the first time last month, I requested a car using a smartphone. The app correctly guessed my location using GPS, gave me a ballpark arrival time with a real-time map and even estimated the fare. A polite driver arrived on time and whisked me to my destination. When I tried to pay and tip, he explained that the payment was already taken (I'd receive a receipt by email soon) and that the service (Uber) forbade tipping. Wait, what? No haggling, luggage fee, credit card refusal, time wasted on receipts or even tipping? This was an epiphany! But professional taxi drivers who pay thousands of dollars for a license are understandably not thrilled about these services. Neither are many cities (and regions) that collect those fees and say that Uber/Lyft/etc. are dangerous or improperly insured. The result of this clash, thus far, is chaos: bans, mass demonstrations and even violence. Despite all that, ridesharing poster child Uber was recently valued at $17 billion. So, will app-driven car services gain traction or be run out of town?
Hailo launches in Manchester a month later than Uber
App-based taxi services are the subject of anger and frustration over in London, but Manchester looks set to become the next major battleground for two of the UK's biggest. Hailo, which has served around 12,000 of London's black cabs since 2011, today went live in the north west (its first city outside of the capital), just a month after Uber officially opened its (virtual) doors to customers there. While Hailo's app currently books registered taxis for customers, the company recently announced that it was becoming a fully-featured Uber rival, which saw disgruntled London black cab drivers vandalise the company's headquarters and leave the service in their droves. According to the Manchester Evening News, 300 drivers have already signed up, but the company expects that number to grow rapidly. Nothing like a fresh competitor, it seems, to stop you resting on your laurels.
Uber and other taxi apps score a victory as Seattle has a change of heart
Uber's having a pretty tough time over in Europe, but it's having a luckier streak in the US. After Seattle city council members upheld their decision to place limits on private taxi companies like Uber earlier this year, the city has now reversed that decision, allowing each service to operate free of extra restrictions. They will, however, have to adhere to a few minor rules. Geekwire reports that Uber, Lyft and Sidecar will need to be licensed as as transportation network companies so that they (and their drivers) can meet insurance requirements. Seattle officials also scrubbed the 150-driver limit that was placed upon them (Uber says it has around 1,000 drivers in the city alone). Cab drivers will enjoy less regulation as a result and the city will issue 200 new licences over the next four years, striking a fairer balance for regular taxi companies. Although Uber and Lyft drivers will be forced to jump through a few additional hoops, the agreement is a massive win for the startups that they represent. Regulators in other cities seeking to enforce stricter limits on private hire companies could turn to Seattle for inspiration, but will experience vocal opposition from taxi firms regardless of what they decide.
Uber launches new taxi service to appease London's black cab drivers
As taxi drivers in London and other big European cities prepare to blockade streets in protest of Uber, the private hire service has come up with a compromise. Accused of stealing custom from London's black cab drivers, Uber today added a new tier to its three existing ride options that allows its vocal opponents to offer rides using its mobile tech. It's called UberTAXI and it lets users book and pay for a black cab directly through the Uber app.
Meet the computer that's learning to kill and the man who programmed the chaos
In Kirkland, Washington, sits a computer ready to wage war. It drains the planet's resources, amasses massive armies and prepares for world domination. "It's trying to get smarter and it is, very quickly," says the man who sits next to the computer as it calculates routes toward victory. While the warring machine sounds like something out of a James Cameron film, it's the foundation for the artificial intelligence in Planetary Annihilation, the Kickstarted real-time strategy game from developer Uber Entertainment. That doesn't make it any less terrifying.
Your next Uber ride could be 20 percent cheaper
Who would've though that an app that flags down roving towncars would blow up as dramatically as it has? Apparently every venture capitalist worth their salt. Uber revealed earlier this afternoon that it just raised a staggering $1.2 billion in funding from a slew of investors, but the more interesting news didn't appear on the company's blog - instead, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Uber would cut its prices by at least 20 percent in certain markets. That means cheaper rides for you, more competition for traditional cabs, and a path to new heights for an already insanely buzzy startup.
Black cab feud with Uber will be decided by London's High Court
It's safe to say that London's black cabbies don't like Uber, or anything like it. While it could simply be that they're bothered by the new-style competition, traditional taxi drivers also argue Uber's use of smartphones to calculate fares is illegal, since private cars aren't allowed taximeters. Transport for London (TfL) doesn't believe they're the same thing, and it has long said it's happy that Uber complies fully with regulations (as the company itself has pointed out). To add more legal weight to its stance, TfL has now asked the High Court to step in. All interested parties will have a chance to say their piece before the court gives a definitive ruling on whether Uber acts within the law. The decision isn't expected for several months at the earliest, but in the meantime black cabbies are planning a protest against Uber in London on June 11th. [Image credit: sjiong / Flickr]
Uber partners with AT&T to bring preloaded apps to your new phone
Uber's growing like a weed, and it's about to get a lot more exposure for people who may not have tried or heard about the ridesharing service. CEO Travis Kalanick announced a strategic partnership with AT&T on stage at Code Conference. Uber drivers will use phones running on AT&T's network, but more importantly, the company's app -- which consumers use to call for a ride and track the cars -- will be preloaded on an unspecified number of devices on the carrier. There's no word on the financial obligations, nor did we hear when this transition will take place. If you haven't used Uber before, be prepared to get to know the service a little better, whether you like it or not.
