is now offering Prime members one-hour grocery pickup at all locations across the U.S., the company announced this morning. Prime members can use the Amazon app or website to place orders from the Whole Foods Market tab to shop, then select their one-hour pickup window at checkout on orders of $35 or more.Before heading to the Whole Foods location, customers can use the Amazon app to let staff know they’re on their way. Upon arrival, Amazon says the majority of customers will only have to wait one minute to receive their orders — a daunting commitment that other online retailers can...…is now offering Prime members one-hour grocery pickup at all locations across the U.S., the company announced this morning. Prime members can use the Amazon app or website to place orders from the Whole Foods Market tab to shop, then select their one-hour pickup window at checkout on orders of $35 or more.Before heading to the Whole Foods location, customers can use the Amazon app to let staff know they’re on their way. Upon arrival, Amazon says the majority of customers will only have to wait one minute to receive their orders — a daunting commitment that other online retailers can...WW…

The past six months have seen a fairly aggressive acceleration in the option of robotics and automation as companies look for ways to augment (and, likely, replace in some instances) human workers. The appeal is certainly clear during massive pandemic-fueled shutdowns.Sam’s Club has been into robotic floor cleaning for a bit longer, having already deployed Tennant’s T7AMR scrubbers in a number of locations. But this week the -owned bulk retailer announced that it’s adding , bringing the technology to all of its 599 U.S. stores.The robot can be piloted manually, but the addition of .’s...…The past six months have seen a fairly aggressive acceleration in the option of robotics and automation as companies look for ways to augment (and, likely, replace in some instances) human workers. The appeal is certainly clear during massive pandemic-fueled shutdowns.Sam’s Club has been into robotic floor cleaning for a bit longer, having already deployed Tennant’s T7AMR scrubbers in a number of locations. But this week the -owned bulk retailer announced that it’s adding , bringing the technology to all of its 599 U.S. stores.The robot can be piloted manually, but the addition of .’s...WW…

A Dutch security researcher says he accessed President Trump’s Twitter account last week by guessing his password: “maga2020!”.Victor Gevers, a security researcher at the GDI Foundation and chair of the , which finds and reports security vulnerabilities, told TechCrunch he guessed the president’s account password and was successful on the fifth attempt.The account was not protected by two-factor authentication, granting Gevers access to the president’s account.After logging in, he emailed US-CERT, a division of Homeland Security’s cyber unit Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency...…A Dutch security researcher says he accessed President Trump’s Twitter account last week by guessing his password: “maga2020!”.Victor Gevers, a security researcher at the GDI Foundation and chair of the , which finds and reports security vulnerabilities, told TechCrunch he guessed the president’s account password and was successful on the fifth attempt.The account was not protected by two-factor authentication, granting Gevers access to the president’s account.After logging in, he emailed US-CERT, a division of Homeland Security’s cyber unit Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency...WW…

has partnered with cryptocurrency company to a new service. PayPal users in the U.S. will soon be able to buy, hold and sell cryptocurrencies. More countries are coming soon.PayPal plans to support Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin at first. You’ll be able to connect to your PayPal account to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. Behind the scenes, of trading and custody.In early 2021, PayPal wants to let you use your crypto assets as a funding source for your PayPal purchases. This could be a good way to use cryptocurrencies for everyday purchases without having to convert...…has partnered with cryptocurrency company to a new service. PayPal users in the U.S. will soon be able to buy, hold and sell cryptocurrencies. More countries are coming soon.PayPal plans to support Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin at first. You’ll be able to connect to your PayPal account to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. Behind the scenes, of trading and custody.In early 2021, PayPal wants to let you use your crypto assets as a funding source for your PayPal purchases. This could be a good way to use cryptocurrencies for everyday purchases without having to convert...WW…

has launched a new program that directly pays consumers for information about what they’re purchasing outside of Amazon.com and for responding to short surveys. The program, , asks users to send in 10 receipts per month for any purchases made at non-Amazon retailers, including grocery stores, department stores, drug stores and entertainment outlets (if open), like movie theaters, theme parks and restaurants.Amazon’s own stores, like Whole Foods, Amazon Go, Amazon Four Star and Amazon Books do not qualify.Program participants will take advantage of the newly launched Amazon Shopper Panel...…has launched a new program that directly pays consumers for information about what they’re purchasing outside of Amazon.com and for responding to short surveys. The program, , asks users to send in 10 receipts per month for any purchases made at non-Amazon retailers, including grocery stores, department stores, drug stores and entertainment outlets (if open), like movie theaters, theme parks and restaurants.Amazon’s own stores, like Whole Foods, Amazon Go, Amazon Four Star and Amazon Books do not qualify.Program participants will take advantage of the newly launched Amazon Shopper Panel...WW…

was clearly anticipating today’s U.S. Department of Justice antitrust complaint filing — the company posted an extensive. The post, penned by SVP of Global Affairs and Google Chief Legal Officer Kent Walker, suggests that the DOJ’s case is “deeply flawed” and “would do nothing to help consumers,” before going into a platform-by-platform description of why it thinks its position in the market isn’t representative of unfair market dominance that would amount to antitrust.Google’s blog post is even sprinkled with GIFs — something that’s pretty common for the search giant when it comes to its...…was clearly anticipating today’s U.S. Department of Justice antitrust complaint filing — the company posted an extensive. The post, penned by SVP of Global Affairs and Google Chief Legal Officer Kent Walker, suggests that the DOJ’s case is “deeply flawed” and “would do nothing to help consumers,” before going into a platform-by-platform description of why it thinks its position in the market isn’t representative of unfair market dominance that would amount to antitrust.Google’s blog post is even sprinkled with GIFs — something that’s pretty common for the search giant when it comes to its...WW…

is taking its cloud computing platform to the final frontier – space. It now has a dedicated business unit called Azure Space for that purpose, made up of industry heavyweights and engineers who are focused on space-sector services including simulation of space missions, gathering and interpreting satellite data to provide insights, and providing global satellite networking capabilities through new and expanded partnerships.One of Microsoft’s new partners for Azure Space is the progenitor and major current player in the so-called ‘New Space’ industry. SpaceX will be providing Microsoft with...…is taking its cloud computing platform to the final frontier – space. It now has a dedicated business unit called Azure Space for that purpose, made up of industry heavyweights and engineers who are focused on space-sector services including simulation of space missions, gathering and interpreting satellite data to provide insights, and providing global satellite networking capabilities through new and expanded partnerships.One of Microsoft’s new partners for Azure Space is the progenitor and major current player in the so-called ‘New Space’ industry. SpaceX will be providing Microsoft with...WW…

According to President Trump speaking at a campaign event in Tucson, Arizona, on Monday, “nobody gets hacked.” You don’t need someone who covers security day in and day out to call bullshit on this one.“Nobody gets hacked. To get hacked you need somebody with 197 IQ and he needs about 15 percent of your password,” Trump said, referencing the recent suspension of C-SPAN political editor Steve Scully, who admitted falsely claiming his Twitter account was hacked this week after sending a tweet to former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci."Nobody gets hacked. To get hacked...…According to President Trump speaking at a campaign event in Tucson, Arizona, on Monday, “nobody gets hacked.” You don’t need someone who covers security day in and day out to call bullshit on this one.“Nobody gets hacked. To get hacked you need somebody with 197 IQ and he needs about 15 percent of your password,” Trump said, referencing the recent suspension of C-SPAN political editor Steve Scully, who admitted falsely claiming his Twitter account was hacked this week after sending a tweet to former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci."Nobody gets hacked. To get hacked...WW…

Chairman Ajit Pai has announced his intention to pursue a reform of , which among other things limits the liability of internet platforms for content they host. Commissioner Rosenworcel described the timing — immediately after Conservative outrage at Twitter and Facebook — as “absurd.” But it’s not necessarily the crackdown the Trump administration clearly desires., Chairman Pai explained that “members of all three branches of the federal government have expressed serious concerns about the prevailing interpretation of the immunity set forth in Section 230,” and that there is broad support...…Chairman Ajit Pai has announced his intention to pursue a reform of , which among other things limits the liability of internet platforms for content they host. Commissioner Rosenworcel described the timing — immediately after Conservative outrage at Twitter and Facebook — as “absurd.” But it’s not necessarily the crackdown the Trump administration clearly desires., Chairman Pai explained that “members of all three branches of the federal government have expressed serious concerns about the prevailing interpretation of the immunity set forth in Section 230,” and that there is broad support...WW…

Image Credits: / Getty ImagesTwitter has announced an update to its — saying it will no longer remove hacked content unless it’s directly shared by hackers or those “acting in concert with them”.Instead of blocking such content/links from being shared on its service it says it will label tweets to “provide context”.Wider Twitter rules against posting private information, synthetic and manipulated media and non-consensual nudity all still apply — so it could still, for example, remove links to hacked material if the content being linked to violates other policies. But just tweeting a link to...…Image Credits: / Getty ImagesTwitter has announced an update to its — saying it will no longer remove hacked content unless it’s directly shared by hackers or those “acting in concert with them”.Instead of blocking such content/links from being shared on its service it says it will label tweets to “provide context”.Wider Twitter rules against posting private information, synthetic and manipulated media and non-consensual nudity all still apply — so it could still, for example, remove links to hacked material if the content being linked to violates other policies. But just tweeting a link to...WW…

today is a new feature that combines spoken word audio commentary with music tracks. The new format will allow Spotify to reproduce the radio-like experience of listening to a DJ or a music journalist offering their perspective on the music. But Spotify is also making it possible for anyone to use the format to create a music-filled podcast through an integration with Spotify’s own DIY podcasting app, .Spotify says the new shows will still compensate the artist the same as if the track was streamed normally, as the format relies on Spotify’s music catalog licenses just like regular...…today is a new feature that combines spoken word audio commentary with music tracks. The new format will allow Spotify to reproduce the radio-like experience of listening to a DJ or a music journalist offering their perspective on the music. But Spotify is also making it possible for anyone to use the format to create a music-filled podcast through an integration with Spotify’s own DIY podcasting app, .Spotify says the new shows will still compensate the artist the same as if the track was streamed normally, as the format relies on Spotify’s music catalog licenses just like regular...WW…

A cache of emails and other selected data purportedly from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden were published today by the New York Post. Ordinarily a major leak related to a figure involved in a controversy of Presidential importance would be on every front page — but the red flags on this one are so prominent that few editors would consent to its being published as-is.Almost no news outlets have reported the data or its origin as factual, and Facebook and Twitter have both restricted sharing of the Post articles pending further information. Here’s why.When something of this nature comes up, it...…A cache of emails and other selected data purportedly from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden were published today by the New York Post. Ordinarily a major leak related to a figure involved in a controversy of Presidential importance would be on every front page — but the red flags on this one are so prominent that few editors would consent to its being published as-is.Almost no news outlets have reported the data or its origin as factual, and Facebook and Twitter have both restricted sharing of the Post articles pending further information. Here’s why.When something of this nature comes up, it...WW…

began as a company to help customers understand how work flowed through their company by building a process map. This was valuable in itself, but the next logical step was to not only analyze the processes, but find ways to make them more efficient. Today, the company announced it has acquired Czech startup to help speed up the automation side of the house, which they startedThe terms of the deal were not disclosed, but co-founder and CEO Alexander Rinke said the deal was over $100 million. “It was a three-digit amount of over $100 million. We can’t disclose the exact price, but we’re just...…began as a company to help customers understand how work flowed through their company by building a process map. This was valuable in itself, but the next logical step was to not only analyze the processes, but find ways to make them more efficient. Today, the company announced it has acquired Czech startup to help speed up the automation side of the house, which they startedThe terms of the deal were not disclosed, but co-founder and CEO Alexander Rinke said the deal was over $100 million. “It was a three-digit amount of over $100 million. We can’t disclose the exact price, but we’re just...WW…

Tesla co-founder and former CTO, is often cast as the humble and pioneering engineer, the quiet one who toiled away in the background for 15 years on some of the company’s most important technologies. That characterization — which intensified as the hype and media attention on CEO Elon Musk grew — tells a half truth.Straubel isn’t prone to self-promotion, or even progress reports. His personal Twitter account, nor the one dedicated to his startup, has ever even tweeted. And he does like toiling away on complex problems.But his understated delivery obfuscates his ambitions and plans for...…Tesla co-founder and former CTO, is often cast as the humble and pioneering engineer, the quiet one who toiled away in the background for 15 years on some of the company’s most important technologies. That characterization — which intensified as the hype and media attention on CEO Elon Musk grew — tells a half truth.Straubel isn’t prone to self-promotion, or even progress reports. His personal Twitter account, nor the one dedicated to his startup, has ever even tweeted. And he does like toiling away on complex problems.But his understated delivery obfuscates his ambitions and plans for...WW…

Pakistan has banned popular short video app citing circulation of videos that it deemed “immoral and indecent.”The move comes months after the South Asian country about the nature of some videos on ByteDance’s app and the impact they posed on society.Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the country’s telecommunication authority, said in a  Friday evening that despite the warnings and months-long time, TikTok “failed to comply with the instructions, therefore, directions were issued for blocking of TikTok application in the country.” The authority had received a “number of complaints from...…Pakistan has banned popular short video app citing circulation of videos that it deemed “immoral and indecent.”The move comes months after the South Asian country about the nature of some videos on ByteDance’s app and the impact they posed on society.Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the country’s telecommunication authority, said in a  Friday evening that despite the warnings and months-long time, TikTok “failed to comply with the instructions, therefore, directions were issued for blocking of TikTok application in the country.” The authority had received a “number of complaints from...WW…

Everyone is familiar with carrier pigeons, but what about carrier moths? uses the nocturnal insects as a delivery service for tiny electronic packages that weigh less than a hundredth of an ounce.The system was created by graduate students at the and its prolific tiny gadget creator Shyam Gollakota.“This is the first time anyone has shown that sensors can be released from tiny drones or insects such as moths, which can traverse through narrow spaces better than any drone and sustain much longer flights,” said Gollakota in a UW news release. He’s made a specialty of demonstrating new...…Everyone is familiar with carrier pigeons, but what about carrier moths? uses the nocturnal insects as a delivery service for tiny electronic packages that weigh less than a hundredth of an ounce.The system was created by graduate students at the and its prolific tiny gadget creator Shyam Gollakota.“This is the first time anyone has shown that sensors can be released from tiny drones or insects such as moths, which can traverse through narrow spaces better than any drone and sustain much longer flights,” said Gollakota in a UW news release. He’s made a specialty of demonstrating new...WW…

China now has a tool that lets users access YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other internet services that have otherwise long been banned in the country.Called , the mobile browser recently debuted on China’s third-party Android stores, with an iOS launch in the pipeline. The landing page of the app features a scrolling feed of YouTube videos, with tabs at the bottom that allow users to visit other mainstream Western internet services.While some celebrate the app as an unprecedented “” of the Chinese internet, others quickly noticed the browser comes with a veil of censorship....…China now has a tool that lets users access YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other internet services that have otherwise long been banned in the country.Called , the mobile browser recently debuted on China’s third-party Android stores, with an iOS launch in the pipeline. The landing page of the app features a scrolling feed of YouTube videos, with tabs at the bottom that allow users to visit other mainstream Western internet services.While some celebrate the app as an unprecedented “” of the Chinese internet, others quickly noticed the browser comes with a veil of censorship....WW…

Amazon has received delivery of its very first, custom-built EV delivery van — a vehicle built through its partnership with electric transportation startup Rivian. The van doesn’t look too different from existing, traditional fuel and hybrid commercial delivery vans (though there are a lot more rounded edges), but most of the innovation is happening in less obvious places., Amazon outlined some of the unique features of its custom vehicle, including sensor-based highway driving and traffic assist features; exterior cameras that can provide a 360-degree view for the driver via a digital...…Amazon has received delivery of its very first, custom-built EV delivery van — a vehicle built through its partnership with electric transportation startup Rivian. The van doesn’t look too different from existing, traditional fuel and hybrid commercial delivery vans (though there are a lot more rounded edges), but most of the innovation is happening in less obvious places., Amazon outlined some of the unique features of its custom vehicle, including sensor-based highway driving and traffic assist features; exterior cameras that can provide a 360-degree view for the driver via a digital...WW…

This afternoon a startup focused on providing point-of-sale credit to consumers making online purchases, .The filing is confidential, so there’s little to be gleaned about the company’s performance from the news. That Affirm was exploring a public offering was . In the aftermath of that news, that Affirm was said to be targeting in its debut, which we placed at as much as $10 billion.Affirm has been richly funded throughout its private life. The fintech unicorn has raised private funds in excess of $1 billion, including , , and . Affirm also raised more than $400 million in earlier equity...…This afternoon a startup focused on providing point-of-sale credit to consumers making online purchases, .The filing is confidential, so there’s little to be gleaned about the company’s performance from the news. That Affirm was exploring a public offering was . In the aftermath of that news, that Affirm was said to be targeting in its debut, which we placed at as much as $10 billion.Affirm has been richly funded throughout its private life. The fintech unicorn has raised private funds in excess of $1 billion, including , , and . Affirm also raised more than $400 million in earlier equity...WW…

For the past four years, Swedish startup has captured interest, investment and even a few customer contracts for its unusual-looking pods — electric and autonomous vehicles that are designed to carry freight. But progress in developing, testing and validating autonomous vehicles — particularly ones that don’t even have space for a driver and rely on teleoperations — is an expensive and time-consuming task.The company has made some progress with its T-Pod vehicles; four of them are on public roads today and even carry freight for customer the Swedish food producer. Now, a year , the company...…For the past four years, Swedish startup has captured interest, investment and even a few customer contracts for its unusual-looking pods — electric and autonomous vehicles that are designed to carry freight. But progress in developing, testing and validating autonomous vehicles — particularly ones that don’t even have space for a driver and rely on teleoperations — is an expensive and time-consuming task.The company has made some progress with its T-Pod vehicles; four of them are on public roads today and even carry freight for customer the Swedish food producer. Now, a year , the company...WW…

announced a key step in its long-term goal of making hyperloop transportation a reality in the U.S. The company today revealed it will be doing its certification testing at a new West Virginia facility. This will be crucial to the creation of a national safety certification framework for the U.S., which will involve working directly with the — a process already underway thanks to the DOT’s issuance of guidance documentation in advance of a framework this past July.Before now, Virgin Hyperloop has been developing and testing its hyperloop technology at its full-scale proving ground in North...…announced a key step in its long-term goal of making hyperloop transportation a reality in the U.S. The company today revealed it will be doing its certification testing at a new West Virginia facility. This will be crucial to the creation of a national safety certification framework for the U.S., which will involve working directly with the — a process already underway thanks to the DOT’s issuance of guidance documentation in advance of a framework this past July.Before now, Virgin Hyperloop has been developing and testing its hyperloop technology at its full-scale proving ground in North...WW…

is launching a few new privacy features today that include a refreshed that’s now live in the U.S. and coming soon globally, as well as more prominent alerts when the company expects that your account has been tampered with.The most interesting new feature, however, is a new Guest mode for the Google Assistant on Google-branded devices. Not to be confused with giving guests access to your Google Chromecast, for example, this new Guest mode is more akin to the incognito mode in your browser. With Guest mode on, which you invoke by saying “Hey Google, turn on guest mode,” the Assistant won’t...…is launching a few new privacy features today that include a refreshed that’s now live in the U.S. and coming soon globally, as well as more prominent alerts when the company expects that your account has been tampered with.The most interesting new feature, however, is a new Guest mode for the Google Assistant on Google-branded devices. Not to be confused with giving guests access to your Google Chromecast, for example, this new Guest mode is more akin to the incognito mode in your browser. With Guest mode on, which you invoke by saying “Hey Google, turn on guest mode,” the Assistant won’t...WW…

Samsung and three major contract manufacturing partners of are among 16 firms to win $6.65 billion incentives under India’s federal plan to boost domestic smartphone production over the next five years. These companies had .In a Tuesday evening, Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said these companies will be producing smartphones and other electronics components worth more than $143 billion over the next five years. In return, India will offer them an incentive of 4% to 6% on additional sales of goods produced locally over five years, with 2019-2020 set as the...…Samsung and three major contract manufacturing partners of are among 16 firms to win $6.65 billion incentives under India’s federal plan to boost domestic smartphone production over the next five years. These companies had .In a Tuesday evening, Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said these companies will be producing smartphones and other electronics components worth more than $143 billion over the next five years. In return, India will offer them an incentive of 4% to 6% on additional sales of goods produced locally over five years, with 2019-2020 set as the...WW…

A new forecast released today estimates delayed Prime Day sales event will top last year’s by bringing in an estimated nearly $10 billion in worldwide sales when it runs later this month. According to eMarketer, which its first-ever Prime Day forecast, consumers will continue to spend heavily on e-commerce and seek out deals ahead of the 2020 holiday season, benefitting the major sales event.The firm says of the total $9.91 billion in Prime Day 2020 global sales, $6.17 billion will be generated by U.S. consumers.This is ahead of what Prime Day achieved in years past. In 2019, the sales...…A new forecast released today estimates delayed Prime Day sales event will top last year’s by bringing in an estimated nearly $10 billion in worldwide sales when it runs later this month. According to eMarketer, which its first-ever Prime Day forecast, consumers will continue to spend heavily on e-commerce and seek out deals ahead of the 2020 holiday season, benefitting the major sales event.The firm says of the total $9.91 billion in Prime Day 2020 global sales, $6.17 billion will be generated by U.S. consumers.This is ahead of what Prime Day achieved in years past. In 2019, the sales...WW…

One of the broader trends of the pandemic has been the unbundling of Zoom, with startups pulling out a feature or two and designing entire products centered around a specific vision of remote work. One of the more tempting product ideas has been the development of the omnipresent always-on video workspace, where managers can always see their directs onscreen and team members are only a shout away from getting someone else’s attention. While it has seemed like an exciting product for the founders building those startups amid the remote work boom, it also sounded awful for the workers using...…One of the broader trends of the pandemic has been the unbundling of Zoom, with startups pulling out a feature or two and designing entire products centered around a specific vision of remote work. One of the more tempting product ideas has been the development of the omnipresent always-on video workspace, where managers can always see their directs onscreen and team members are only a shout away from getting someone else’s attention. While it has seemed like an exciting product for the founders building those startups amid the remote work boom, it also sounded awful for the workers using...WW…