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Limited-time Apple Card promo offers 5% back at select gas and EV charging stations

For the next month or so, Apple has a special promotion for those heading out for Summer road trips (or anyone else who drives and has an Apple Card) – allowing users to earn a higher 5% cash back rate at Exxon/Mobil gas stations, as well as qualifying ChargePoint EV charging stations. All three of these merchants regularly earn 3% cash back when using Apple Card with Apple Pay, but now through September 15th – you’ll be able to earn a special boosted 5% rate. This promotion does require using

Newly Discovered Fossils Reveal Unknown Humanlike Relative

Researchers have uncovered fossils belonging to a previously unknown ancient human relative. And they may have lived in the same time and place as the earliest-known members of the genus Homo, from which modern humans evolved, according to a new study. A team of archeologists working at Ethiopia’s Ledi-Geraru research project area unearthed a set of fossilized teeth that likely belonged to an unidentified species within the Australopithecus genus, known for having both human- and ape-like trait

Tesla Is Making a Move in New York City That Regulators Absolutely Hate

Tesla is coming in hot in New York City and regulators, legislators and consumers are already pushing back. The electric car company’s latest foray into regulator wrestling comes via a hiring push for autopilot drivers in NYC, despite holding no permits for that service in the city. Given that Tesla has already spent years fighting federal probes, civil and criminal lawsuits and a host of scrutiny from everyone from the SEC to local politicians, its new push appears to be a further continuation

Tensor wants to be the first company to sell you a ‘robocar’ — but who are they?

is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. A new company is launching today that claims to have developed “the first volume-produced, consumer-ready autonomous vehicle — designed from the ground up for private ownership at scale.” The company is called Tensor, and it describes i

The Morning After: The best Switch 2 games (so far)

A couple of months since the Switch 2 launched, we’ve all got to grips with the new magnetic-latching Joy-Cons, the jump in graphic fidelity and (honestly) the wait for a next-gen Zelda or Mario title. With the arrival of Donkey Kong Bananza, the new console has its first entirely new breakout platformer hit, we asked the Engadget team for the must-have games on the Switch 2. TMA (CD Projekt Red) With a leap in processing power, the Switch 2 can now handle ostensibly huge games like Hitman and

This New Pyramid-Like Shape Always Lands With the Same Side Up

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. In 360 BC, Plato envisioned the cosmos as an arrangement of five geometric shapes: flat-sided solids called polyhedra. These immediately became important objects of mathematical study. So it might be surprising that, millennia later, mysteries still surround even the simplest shape in Plato’s polyhedral universe: the tetrahedron, which has just four triangular faces. One major open problem, for instance, asks how densely you can p

DJI repurposed its drones' obstacle detection tech for robot vacuums

DJI's obstacle avoidance system could be just as useful on land as it is in the air. DJI, known for its dominance in the drone market, has entered the smart home world with a range of robot vacuums called ROMO. Beyond its drones, gimbals and action cameras, the Chinese company previously branched out into other product categories, including portable power stations and e-bikes. For those wondering why DJI settled on robot vacuums as its next venture, it makes sense considering the company's "omn

Hackers Went Looking for a Backdoor in High-Security Safes—and Now Can Open Them in Seconds

Zhou added in his statement that Securam will be fixing the vulnerabilities Omo and Rowley found in future models of the ProLogic lock. “Customer security is our priority and we have begun the process of creating next-generation products to thwart these potential attacks,” he writes. “We expect to have new locks on the market by the end of the year.” Photograph: Ronda Churchill In a followup call, Securam director of sales Jeremy Brookes confirmed that Securam has no plan to fix the vulnerabil

How AI-enabled autonomous business will change the way you work forever

Siro Rodenas Cortes/Getty Images ZDNET's key takeaways Self-learning and self-improving technology will transform enterprise activities. From augmented leadership to machines as customers, analyst Gartner identifies key trends. While true autonomous business is a long way off, smart business leaders are preparing now. The future of your business is autonomous. While there's a lot of debate right now about the augmentation or replacement of workers with artificial intelligence, the organizat

Stone tools may hint at ancestors of Homo floresiensis

Some stone tools found near a river on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi suggest that the first hominins had reached the islands by at least 1.04 million years ago. That's around the same time that the ancestors of the infamously diminutive “Hobbits” may have reached the island of Flores. Archaeologist Budianto Hakim of Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency and his colleagues were the ones who recently unearthed the tools from a site on Sulawesi. Although a handful of stone flakes

Everything to Remember Before Watching ‘Alien: Earth’

One of the best things about the new show, Alien: Earth, is that you do not need to be an Alien superfan to enjoy it. It’s not dependent on the plots of the seven-plus films in the franchise and is only connected to them in a few tangential ways. For now, at least. Nevertheless, there are a few things worth keeping in mind as we get closer to the August 12 debut. Here they are. The overview The Alien franchise began in 1979 with Ridley Scott’s film, Alien. It continued in 1986 with James Camer

DJI’s first robovac features drone tech and a transparent design

is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Following the reveal of its first 360-degree action camera a week ago, DJI has announced its first robot vacuum cleaner. The DJI Romo is available in three versions that are mostly differentiated by their appearance — two use transparent shells to reveal thei

DJI goes from drones to dust with launch of new robot vacuum

DJI TL;DR Drone-maker DJI has entered into a new category with the launch of its robot vacuum lineup. The DJI Romo uses two panoramic cameras along with three lasers to scan for objects while it is cleaning. There are three models, including a transparent Romo P, which looks like something Nothing would design. DJI is a popular name when it comes to drones, video stabilization rigs, and action cameras. But the company recently entered into an entirely new category outside its forte of imagin

Lyft and China’s Baidu look to bring robotaxis to Europe next year

Lyft’s European expansion will include Chinese-made robotaxis. The U.S. ride-hailing company announced Monday it has made a strategic partnership with Baidu to deploy the Chinese tech giant’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles across several European markets. The companies want to launch robotaxi services in Germany and the United Kingdom in 2026, pending regulatory approval. If approved, Baidu’s RT6 vehicles, which are equipped with its Apollo Go self-driving system, will be integrated into Lyft

Baidu plans to expand its robotaxis to Europe with Lyft deal

Baidu will bring its driverless taxis to Europe next year via a partnership with U.S. ridehailing firm Lyft , as the Chinese tech giant looks to expand its autonomous vehicles globally. The robotaxis will initially be deployed in the U.K. and Germany from 2026 with the aim to have "thousands" of vehicles across Europe in the "following years," the two companies said. Lyft has had very little presence in Europe until last week when it closed the acquisition of Germany-based ride hailing company

New Apple TV+ epic series with Jason Momoa now streaming

If you’re looking for something new to watch this weekend, here’s a great candidate: the first two episodes of one of Apple TV+’s most ambitious projects to date are now available, and they look awesome. ’Chief of War’ features Jason Momoa and a nearly all-Polynesian cast Last night, a few hours ahead of the official August 1 premiere date, Apple released the two first episodes of Chief of War, its new action epic series starring Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa (Aquaman, See). Here’s Apple’s spoil

Topics: apple chief momoa tv war

Waymo’s Tekedra Mawakana on the truth behind autonomous vehicles at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Autonomous vehicles have long been touted as “just around the corner,” but the reality of what it takes to bring self-driving cars to the streets is anything but simple. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, happening October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana joins the Disrupt Stage for a wide-ranging conversation on the current state of AVs — and where the industry goes from here. Inside the self-driving reality check While the headlines often focus on crashes, contr

‘Dune 3’ Will Feature the Return of Smooth Faced Jason Momoa

As shooting gets underway on Dune: Part 3, the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, returning cast member Jason Momoa is prepping to come back, but not exactly as who you’d think he’d be… or looking the way you’d expect. An Instagram post shows Momoa shaving to mark his return to the Dune franchise, a journey he began six years ago. It’s a stunt to celebrate the anniversary, which began at the same time as his collaboration with environmentally friendly aluminum water bottle purveyors Ma

Elon Musk Scoffs as Rival Waymo Plows Through Car While Driving Wrong Way Down Street

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is trying to ward off critics of his approach to autonomous driving. Many years ago, the mercurial billionaire decided to rely exclusively on cameras — rather than LIDAR and radar sensors, like Tesla's competitors — for the carmaker's driver assistance software. Critics have long pointed out the limitations of such an approach, arguing that visual sensors can easily be fooled by anything from severe weather to a wall painted to look like the road beyond it. Musk is clearly

Waymo Is Expanding to Dallas. Everything to Know About the Robotaxi

Table of Contents Waymo Is Expanding to Dallas. Everything to Know About the Robotaxi Self-driving cars are slowly becoming less sci-fi and more real-world as companies like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google's parent Alphabet, expand into more cities. On Monday, the company shared it's planning to make its robotaxi service available in Dallas through a partnership with Avis Budget Group, which will manage the fleet. Waymo has already begun early testing there, and says it plans to offer publi

60 Italian Mayors Want to Be the Unlikely Solution to Self-Driving Cars in Europe

The future of self-driving cars in Italy it seems needs not only technology but also (possibly above all) political backing. The good news, then, is that more than 60 mayors in Italy have decided to take the field for the cars of the future. On July 14, in the hall of the MEET Digital Culture Center in Milan, Pierfrancesco Maran, a member of the European Parliament for the Italian Democratic Party, launched the Autonomous Driving: Italy in the Front Row initiative, which has backing from admini

Tesla wants to bring robotaxis to San Francisco. Here’s what’s standing in the way.

Tesla is launching an even-more-limited version of its early robotaxi service in San Francisco this weekend, according to Business Insider, after an initial rollout began last month in Austin, Texas. The company plans to send invites to Tesla owners to test the service, according to the report. Depending on how and if Tesla proceeds, its actions could violate state regulations — and even if there’s a human safety driver sitting behind the wheel while its vehicles operate autonomously. Two sta

Tesla Readies a Taxi Service in San Francisco—but Not With Robotaxis

Tesla has publicly staked its future on its robotaxis. Now the company is planning to launch a public car service in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tesla is calling it a “robotaxi” service, but legally, this one will have to use cars with human drivers. The plan appears to put the electric carmaker in murky legal waters in a US state with the country's most tightly regulated autonomous vehicle industry—and where Tesla is already being sued for misleading language around its driver assistance tech.

China’s BYD Takes the Lead Over Tesla in the Self-Driving Car Wars

As the auto industry races toward autonomy, most companies are rolling out driver-assist features with one hand while handing out waivers, disclaimers, and legal fine print with the other. Not BYD. The Chinese EV giant just made an unprecedented move: it’s offering a public, financial guarantee for its autonomous parking system. If the system malfunctions, even due to an algorithmic failure, BYD will cover all resulting damages, including repair costs, third-party property damage, and compensat

Uber Is Going All-in on Robotaxis

By the end of this decade, your next Uber ride might not have a driver at all. At least, that’s what Uber wants you (and its investors on Wall Street to believe.) Uber announced a new partnership today with luxury electric vehicle maker Lucid and the robotics company Nuro. Under the agreement, Uber plans to deploy a fleet of at least 20,000 Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with Nuro’s self-driving technology over the next six years. The robotaxi service is expected to launch in a yet unnamed major U

Uber Unveils Global Robotaxi Plan With Lucid and Nuro

Table of Contents Uber Announces Global Robotaxi Plan With Lucid and Nuro Picture ordering an Uber from the airport, but your ride is a robotaxi. That's what you can expect a year from now with Uber's new program in partnership with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and tech company Nuro. The partnership will combine Uber's ride-sharing platform with Lucid's new electric SUV, the Gravity, and Nuro's autonomous driving technology. It'll be launching first in an unnamed "major US city," but is

Uber Announces Global Robotaxi Plan With Lucid and Nuro

Table of Contents Uber Announces Global Robotaxi Plan With Lucid and Nuro Picture ordering an Uber from the airport, but your ride is a robotaxi. That's what you can expect a year from now with Uber's new program in partnership with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and tech company Nuro. The partnership will combine Uber's ride-sharing platform with Lucid's new electric SUV, the Gravity, and Nuro's autonomous driving technology. It'll be launching first in an unnamed "major US city," but is

Waymo Expands in Austin. Everything to Know About the Robotaxi

Table of Contents Waymo Expands in Austin. Everything to Know About the Robotaxi Self-driving cars are slowly becoming less sci-fi and more real-world as companies like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google's parent Alphabet, expand into more cities. On Thursday, the company extended into more parts of Austin, Texas, so it now drives across 90 square miles of the city. There are more than 100 Waymo vehicles in the city, with plans for further expansion. Along with Austin, Waymo currently operate

Chewy Promo Codes: $20 Off | July 2025

Florida-based pet food and product online retailer Chewy has been around for less than 15 years but has quickly become a popular source for everything pet-related. Chewy even has supplies for farm animals, reptiles, fish, and more, carrying over 3,500 brands, including everything from food to medicine to toys. My cat is constantly throwing up (same) and requires Hill’s Sensitive Skin and Stomach, which costs roughly as much as my car insurance every month. I use WIRED’s Chewy coupons to save mon