Jumat, 30 Agustus 2019
Canadian economy expands 3.7% — strongest quarterly growth stretch since 2017 - Global News
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August 30, 2019 at 08:23PM
Tesla software shows upcoming ‘Smart AC Charging’ feature, ‘Feeling Lucky’ update, & games - Electrek
Tesla is working on a new “Smart AC Charging” feature, the previously announced “Feeling Lucky” navigation update, and more games.
There is a lot of talk about Tesla’s software right now as the automaker is preparing to launch Version 10 of its system, which is expected to be a significant update.
Green, a Tesla hacker known for creating rare looks into what Tesla Autopilot can see and interpret, has apparently obtained some insights into Tesla’s latest software. He listed a few new features that Tesla is working on:
- Smart AC Charging
- “Feeling Lucky” Navigation update
- Downloadable game packs
Here’s what Green said:
Looks like Tesla is pressing full steam ahead on a number of high priority features based on the glimpses we see from 19.32.
"feeling lucky" nav mode and "downloadable game packs" are nearly complete in particular.Also I wonder what's the upcoming "Smart AC Charging"?
— green (@greentheonly) August 28, 2019
The hacker could see that Tesla is working on those features based on what he could decipher from the 2019.32 software update that the automaker started pushing to the fleet.
However, not much else is known about those features.
“Smart AC Charging” could be the long-awaited ability to schedule the charging of your vehicle.
One of the most owner-requested features has been the option to set a time of departure and have the vehicle charge just in time for that departure time.
The “Feeling Lucky” Navigation update is something that CEO Elon Musk has talked about in the past.
Based on a suggestion from an owner, Musk said that Tesla would suggest travel destinations to owners through the in-car navigation system.
The CEO said that Tesla could add an “I’m feeling lucky” button to send you to a destination popular with local Tesla owners and an “I’m feeling hungry” to send you to a restaurant popular with local Tesla owners.
As for the “Downloadable game packs,” Tesla has been increasingly integrating video games inside its vehicles this year.
Earlier this summer, Tesla launched a new “Arcade” app, and it has released a few games for it, including a chess game last month.
Musk said that there’s a memory limitation that prevents Tesla from giving access to too many games at once, and the CEO has been talking about a solution that would involve downloading new games and replacing old ones.
It sounds like “Downloadable game packs” is that solution.
We don’t know when all those new features are going to be released to the wider fleet, but Musk has been talking about releasing version 10 around the end of September or early October.
The software update is also supposed to include Tesla’s new Smart Summon feature and new music features.
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August 30, 2019 at 11:13PM
Whirlpool, KitchenAid and JennAir cooktops recalled over potential fire hazard - The Globe and Mail
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Health Canada has issued a recall on thousands of cooktops because of a potential fire hazard.
A release from the federal agency says the heating elements on the cooktops may energize without any user input.
The recall affects about 3,000 products produced by the Tennessee-based Whirlpool Corporation under the Whirlpool, KitchenAid and JennAir brands.
Health Canada says no injuries have been reported in this country, although there has been one report of cabinet damage due to the cooktop being on for a long time.
In the U.S., where more than 20,000 of the affected units were sold, two people have reported suffering minor burns.
Anyone who owns one of the products is advised to immediately contact Whirlpool for a free replacement.
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August 30, 2019 at 08:16PM
Ford issues four recalls, covering over 665K vehicles - BlackburnNews.com
The Ford Motor Company has issued four separate recalls on a variety of vehicles sold in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
A total of over 665,000 vehicles are affected by these recalls, ranging from seat-belt issues to corrosion in the battery junction boxes.
In a release Friday morning, the Dearborn-based automaker said there were no collisions, serious injuries, or deaths reported as a result of any of these problems.
The most wide-ranging issue affects about 550,000 vehicles sold throughout North America. Ford said a missing component in the seat-belt mechanism may compromise restraint, and increase the likelihood of injury in a crash. The affected vehicles, under the Ford reference code of 19-C-07, include the following:
- 2018-19 Ford F-150 pickup trucks built between September 2018 and August 2019 at the Dearborn and Kansas City plants
- 2019-20 Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks built between September 2018 and August 2019 at the Kentucky and Ohio assembly plants
- 2018-19 Ford Explorers built at Chicago Assembly from September 2018 to March 2019
- 2019-20 Ford Expeditions built at Kentucky between October 2018 and July 2019
- 2020 Ford Explorers built at Chicago between November 2018 and August 2019
- 2020 Lincoln Aviators built at Chicago between April and June of this year
The second recall involves select 2012-13 Ford Fiestas sold in six Canadian provinces, including Ontario. The automaker said the problem involved potential battery-box corrosion.
“In affected vehicles, battery junction-box relay or fuse corrosion can lead to a loss of low-beam headlamps and daytime running lamps while driving,” read the recall notice from Ford.
The Fiestas in question were built at the Cuautitlán Assembly Plant in Mexico between June 2011 and April 2013. About 13,500 vehicles are covered in this notice. The Ford reference code is 19-S-28.
The third recall involves about 99,000 Ford Fusion, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKZ vehicles built between 2014 and 2016. Ford said these vehicles may not have the proper application of wax coating to prevent corrosion in the steering system. The reference number is 19-S-26.
“This may result in the steering gear motor becoming loose or detaching from the gear housing, although the steering gear motor will not separate from the vehicle,” read the recall notice.
The fourth and final recall notice calls attention to an issue in the brake system for over 2,600 2019 Ford Fiestas, reference number 19-S-27. The notice stated, however, that only 50 of the vehicles have been delivered to customers.
“A leaking brake calliper could eventually result in reduced braking function or drag, which could lead to the overheating of the brake pads, increasing the risk of a crash,” read the recall.
As with all recalls, customers are asked to bring their vehicles in to a Ford service centre, where they will be inspected and repaired free of charge. For more in-depth information on all four recalls issued and to see if your vehicle is involved, visit the recall notice on Ford’s official website.
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August 30, 2019 at 09:35PM
Altria: JUUL Of Denial - Seeking Alpha
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- Altria: JUUL Of Denial Seeking Alpha
- Juul CEO says 'don't vape,' long-term effects are unknown INSIDER
- Juul Labs announces ID verification system to curb underage e-cigarette use CBS This Morning
- Mom of teen with vaping addiction warns parents about the dangers of e-cigarettes: ‘It’s stealth by design’ Yahoo Lifestyle
- FTC Investigates S.F. Based E-Cigarette Maker Juul Over Ads Targeting Teens KPIX CBS SF Bay Area
- View full coverage on Google News
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4288858-altria-juul-denial
2019-08-30 10:53:00Z
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GM, Lyft, Waymo want to be allowed to remove driver controls on autonomous cars - CNBC
Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivan that's party of Waymo's fleet
Waymo
General Motors and Alphabet's Waymo are among the companies encouraging federal safety regulators to swiftly, yet safely, update laws to better accommodate the testing and approval of fully autonomous vehicles on U.S. public roadways, even those without driver controls.
The companies, considered by many to be the leaders in autonomous vehicles, were among roughly 90 organizations and individuals to submit public comments on a proposed regulation on changing rules for self-driving vehicles to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Lyft, Volvo, Intel and Mercedes-Benz, New York City and nonprofit consumer advocacy organizations like the Center for Auto Safety all weighed in on new safety standards for self-driving vehicles before the public comment period closed Wednesday.
Notably absent from the comments was Tesla, which has been very public about their aspirations for testing and deploying autonomous vehicles. Tesla did not immediately respond for comment.
The comments will be taken into consideration as federal regulators rewrite the rules, NHTSA said in an emailed statement.
While many believe autonomous vehicles can save lives, some have been skeptical about allowing the vehicles on public roads — particularly following a fatal crash involving a self-driving Uber vehicle in March 2018 in Arizona.
Removing manual controls
Regulators are considering allowing vehicles without manual controls, including steering wheels and pedals, to operate on U.S. roadways. Current laws require such equipment, and companies have to request exemptions to launch such vehicles.
GM, which last year along with its Cruise autonomous vehicle subsidiary petitioned for such exemptions, and Lyft support creating separate requirements that meet the "intent" of the safety standards, not the physical equipment.
"GM/Cruise supports NHTSA establishing new definitions that apply only to ADS-DVs [autonomous vehicles] without manual controls," GM said. "It would allow NHTSA to clearly delineate, where necessary, the requirements that apply to ADS-DV versus those that apply to traditional vehicles."
Lyft, in its comments, agreed that a "separate vehicle classification" for autonomous vehicles with their own regulations would "remove regulatory barriers and modify [federal motor vehicle safety standards] that reference a human driver and/or assume some manual control element within the test procedure."
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which encompasses 12 automakers that represent about 70 percent of all car and light truck sales in the U.S., encouraged NHTSA to use "a parallel and phased approach" that focuses on vehicles with advanced driver-assist systems as well as autonomous vehicles with and without manual controls.
Safety concerns
While many companies supported changes, several safety advocates and consumer watchdog groups cautioned NHTSA on hastily changing regulations.
Consumer Reports, while acknowledging the potential long-term safety benefit of autonomous vehicles, encouraged NHTSA to focus resources on more near-term benefits.
"In short: for NHTSA to save lives and prevent injuries, there are more important subjects the agency should be focusing on than 'removing regulatory barriers,' especially given the robust pace of industry innovation in many areas today, " Consumer Reports said.
The Center for Auto Safety, a Washington-based consumer advocacy organization, said it remains "skeptical" about companies testing vehicles without manual controls, citing "there is no demonstrable evidence" that the vehicles "can safely operate on (and off) America's roads."
—CNBC's contributed to this report.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/30/gm-lyft-urge-regulators-to-remove-driver-controls-on-autonomous-cars.html
2019-08-30 11:54:48Z
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