Tech

Egyptian tuk-tuk start-up Halan to expand to Ethiopia

Editorial Bureau September 20, 2019

CAIRO – Halan, an Egyptian technology start-up that uses two- and three-wheeled vehicles to transport passengers and goods, will begin operating in Ethiopia before the end of 2019, its chief executive told Reuters. The company, which targets underserved communities, is also expanding to

Tech

Amazon vows to be carbon neutral by 2040, buying 100,000 electric vans

Editorial Bureau September 20, 2019

WASHINGTON – Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos on Thursday pledged to make the largest U.S. e-commerce company net carbon neutral by 2040 and to buy 100,000 electric delivery vans from a start-up, as employees and consumers around the world plan protests to address climate change. Cutting emissions is a challenging goal for Amazon, […]

Tech

Huawei talks up own apps with Mate 30 challenge to Apple, Samsung

Editorial Bureau September 20, 2019

MUNICH – Huawei unveiled its new smartphones to challenge Apple’s iPhone 11 on Thursday, talking up slick design and best-in-class features while playing down concerns about the lack of access to Google’s popular apps. At a glitzy launch in the German city of Munich, the Chinese firm said its new Mate 30 Pro and Mate […]

Tech

Electric vehicle startup Rivian gets a jolt from big Amazon.com van order

Editorial Bureau September 20, 2019

DETROIT – Electric vehicle startup Rivian Automotive LLC got a big boost from one of its investors on Thursday when Amazon.com announced it was ordering 100,000 electric delivery vans. Before Rivian has even begun commercial production at its factory in Normal, Illinois, the Amazon order rocketed it to the forefront of electric vehicle makers. Amazon […]

Tech

Comcast gives away Xfinity Flex TV device, pounding shares of Roku

Editorial Bureau September 19, 2019

– Comcast Corp said on Wednesday it will offer internet customers a free streaming media set top box that works with other services, stepping up competition with Roku Inc in the market for a device that organizes multiple subscriptions. Roku’s stock tumbled nearly 14% and was on track for its worst one-day loss since March […]

Tech

Tesla takes on Porsche with battle on Germany’s toughest circuit

Editorial Bureau September 19, 2019

FRANKFURT – Tesla wants to steal Porsche’s bragging rights by testing its Model S on the northern loop of Germany’s Nuerburgring circuit, using a marketing tool that German carmakers have long used to tout the superiority of their products.  Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport this week published photographs of a Tesla with “100D+” markings on […]

Tech

Huawei promises smartest 5G phone, but who will be brave enough to buy?

Editorial Bureau September 19, 2019

FRANKFURT – Huawei launches what could be the world’s most powerful and feature-packed 5G smartphone on Thursday, but the fate of the device in Europe will hang on whether it can overcome a U.S. ban to give customers the Google software they expect. The Chinese telecoms giant will showcase its Mate 30 range in Munich, […]

Tech

‘Alexa, send $20 to my favorite presidential candidate’

Editorial Bureau September 19, 2019

WASHINGTON – Amazon said on Wednesday it will make donating to a U.S. presidential candidate as easy as turning on the lights or replenishing a household’s toilet-paper stocks, via its Alexa digital assistant. Alexa Political Contributions, powered by Amazon Pay, the company’s payment system, will allow customers to contribute up to $200 to a campaign

Tech

Facebook unveils new Portal video chat, TV streaming devices

Editorial Bureau September 18, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO – Facebook Inc unveiled new models of its Portal video chatting devices on Wednesday, making the company’s first foray into TV streaming hardware but offering a limited selection of subscription services. The launch comes as Facebook is trying to pivot toward more private forms of communication, after years of slowing user growth, data-sharing

Tech

Police test ‘Spider-Man’ device as alternative to Taser

Editorial Bureau September 18, 2019

LOS ANGELES – With 49 people killed last year after being shocked by Tasers, police departments across the United States are trying out a “Spider-Man”-like device that fires a tether that entangles and restrains the suspect.  Called Bolawrap, the device fires an eight-foot (2.4 meters) bola-style tether at a suspect to entangle his legs and […]