UK promises a network of 300,000 EV chargers by 2030

The UK plans to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations to 300,000 by 2030. That would increase the current number of charge points in the country by tenfold. The government has committed £1.6 billion ($2.1 billion) to the Electric Ve…

Uber will soon offer NYC yellow cabs via the app

Uber has struck a deal that will soon allow folks in New York City to hail yellow cabs through its app. The city’s 14,000 taxi drivers will be able to accept fares from Uber users through apps like Curb and Arro.

This is Uber’s first citywide partnership of this nature in the US. It expects the integrations to be up and running this spring. Passengers will pay around the same as they would for Uber X rides, the company told The Wall Street Journal, with Uber and its partners taking a cut of the fare. Taxi drivers will be able to see their estimated earnings before deciding whether to accept a trip.

The move could help remedy Uber’s shortage of drivers and tackle the surge pricing problem while helping cab drivers find more fares. It could be an uneasy alliance, however, given that the taxi industry has opposed ride-sharing apps in the past. 

“The companies that tore up this industry need this more than the drivers do. Drivers can hold out on 1 – 2 more fares but cannot settle for a biz model that underpays drivers, fires them at will & guts full-time work. So it’s time to negotiate,” said New York Taxi Workers Alliance executive director Bhairavi Desai. “If Uber and Curb think they can slide in with a payment structure that’s broken for Uber drivers and piece it together on the backs of yellow cab drivers, they’re in for a sobering surprise.”

Update 12:30PM ET: This post has been updated with quotes from the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. The full statement is below.

Statement from NYTWA Executive Director Bhairavi Desai:

On Uber – Yellow Cab Deal

The companies that tore up this industry need this more than the drivers do. Drivers can hold out on 1 – 2 more fares but cannot settle for a biz model that underpays drivers, fires them at will & guts full-time work. So it’s time to negotiate.

After its business model has shown the failures to protect drivers from ridership downturns and rising gas prices, Uber is returning to its roots: yellow cabs.

First, this should settle once and for all the question of maintaining the vehicle cap.

Second, the fare structure that is not enough for Uber drivers is also not going to be enough for yellow cab drivers who have higher expenses such as the medallion payment and higher car costs as a new one must be hacked up every six years. To start with:

  • Uber – and Lyft and the taxi meter – need to implement a fuel surcharge immediately in NYC for all drivers.

  • Yellow cab drivers must be paid the metered rate and after 10 long years without a raise – that meter needs to go up.

  • The TLC-regulated App driver payment rates used to pay drivers under this program need to be adjusted to the increase in operating expenses since they were set 4 years ago. Drivers need to be paid whichever is higher – either 85% of what the passenger pays or 100% of the TLC-regulated rates.

  • Uber and yellow cab drivers need Just Cause protection so drivers can not be fired without warning or reason as the means for the company to control supply.

Here are some sample fares comparing what drivers would earn on the meter vs. under the proposed rates. Yellow cab drivers would be short-changed on average 15%.

Trip #1 (Manhattan short trip, rush hour)

  • Drop+Evening Rush hour (Taxi $3.50)

  • 2 miles long (Taxi: $5.00; App: $2.32)

  • 12 minutes long (App: $6.35)

  • 4 minutes slow/stopped (Taxi: $2.00)

  • Taxi fare (surcharges, taxes excluded): $ 10.50

  • App-based Driver Pay: $8.67

Trip #2: Manhattan (East Side) to JFK Trip, non-rush hour

  • Taxi Fare: $52

  • 17 miles (App: $19.78)

  • 42 minutes (App: $22.22)

  • App-based Driver Pay: $42

Trip #3 Manhattan (West Village) to LGA, Night-time

  • Drop + Night Surcharge ($3.00)

  • 12.8 miles long (Taxi: $32.00; App: $13.93)

  • 35 minutes long (App: $18.52)

  • 5 minutes slow/stopped: ($2.50)

  • Taxi Fare (surcharges, taxes excluded): $37.50

  • App-based Driver Pay: $32.45

If Uber and Curb think they can slide in with a payment structure that’s broken for Uber drivers and piece it together on the backs of yellow cab drivers, they’re in for a sobering surprise. Neither company will grow ridership without working out terms that work for drivers. We know who’s in the driver’s seat. And spoiler alert, it’s not a venture capitalist.

Lyft brings Spin scooter rentals to its app

Lyft users in 60 markets across the US will soon be able to access another transit option in the app: Spin scooters. Folks in Nashville can find and rent a Spin scooter via Lyft starting today.

The option will be available in 13 more cities in April: Phoenix; Detroit; Cleveland; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Providence, RI; Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte, NC; Fort Collins, Colo.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Memphis, Tenn. The other markets will be announced in the coming months.

Users in those cities may see scooters pop up as an option when they enter their destination. Tap the scooter icon and you’ll see all nearby scooters. You can unlock one in the Lyft app by scanning the QR code or entering the ID number.

You’ll be able to rent and pay for a Spin scooter without downloading that service’s app or having to enter your payment details again. Currently, Lyft has e-bikes and scooters in 14 US cities, so the partnership with Spin will allow it to offer micromobility services in more locations.

Google Maps started showing users nearby Spin scooters and e-bikes last year. Other platforms also display the locations of the scooters, including CityMapper, Moovit, Transit app, Bytemark and Velocia. Earlier this month, Tier Mobility (a micromobility company based in Europe) bought Spin from Ford.

OnePlus 10 Pro will launch in North America, Europe and India on March 31st

OnePlus’ latest flagship phone will launch in Europe, North America and India on March 31st. The company previously said the OnePlus Pro 10 would arrive in those markets by the end of March, so that’s right on schedule. It released the smartphone in China in January.

The OnePlus 10 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and OxygenOS (which is based on Android 12). It has a 6.7-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED with LTPO screen which allows for adjustable refresh rates to improve the battery life. The device has a 5,000mAh battery, along with support for 80W fast charging and 50W wireless charging. It comes with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

There’s an array of three Hasselblad cameras on the rear: a 48MP wide-angle sensor, an eight-megapixel telephoto lens and a 50MP ultrawide camera. To show off the cameras, their 10-bit color capabilities and the OnePlus Pro 10’s color processing knowhow, the company sent the handset 38,000 meters (23.6 miles) up into the stratosphere to take some shots of the horizon.

OnePlus Pro 10
OnePlus

Folks in North America, Europe and India will be able to pre-order the OnePlus Pro 10 from the OnePlus website and Amazon on March 31st at 10:20AM ET. You’ll get the OnePlus Buds Pro as a freebie if you pre-order. Those who order from Amazon or elsewhere will need to claim their earbuds through the OnePlus store app.

Instacart will offer its own tech to help grocery retailers speed up deliveries

Instacart will start offering its tech to all grocery retailers. The company says the Instacart Platform will help them handle ecommerce, delivery fulfillment and ads, while offering access to insights and other data.

Retailers will be able to use the software’s features (which also include options to manage scanless carts and other aspects of brick-and-mortar operations) on an à la carte basis or to run most of their business on a single platform. All grocery store operators will be able to use the software, not only those with which Instacart has partnered for deliveries.

In the coming months, Publix will start using the platform’s fulfillment features in Atlanta and Miami to make deliveries from Instacart’s purpose-built warehouses in as little as 15 minutes. Some of Instacart’s rivals, such as Gopuff, DoorDash and Getir, are also embracing ultra-fast grocery deliveries. Some jurisdictions have raised alarm bells about such services, in part because they could make things unsafe for couriers who might be under pressure to meet deadlines.

Other retailers, including Good Food Holdings and Schnuck Markets, are piloting Instacart’s ad service, which will be rolled out more widely later this year.

Licensing the Instacart Platform could open up a key stream of revenue for the company. The economics of the gig worker model make it difficult for companies in that space to turn a profit, especially given the stiff competition they face in certain markets. Dealing with retailers directly could improve Instacart’s bottom line, though the gig workers Instacart has worked with to handle deliveries could be affected.

We’re seen other instances of ecommerce companies offering their tech to physical retailers. Starbucks and Sainsbury’s are testing Amazon’s cashier-free Just Walk Out tech.

Washington DC Attorney General sues Grubhub over hidden fees

Washington DC Attorney General Karl Racine has filed a lawsuit against Grubhub over alleged hidden fees and other “deceptive trade practices.” His office has accused Grubhub of violating the jurisdiction’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act in eight separate ways.

“We’re suing Grubhub for misleading District residents and taking advantage of local restaurants to boost its own profits,” Racine wrote on Twitter. “Grubhub charges hidden fees and uses bait-and-switch tactics, all while pretending to help local businesses during the pandemic. This needs to stop.”

Racine’s office also claims the app charged users higher prices than they’d pay in restaurants and that it misrepresented an offer of “unlimited free delivery” with a Grubhub+ subscription, since customers still need to pay a service fee.

The suit alleges that Grubhub offered deliveries from more than 1,000 eateries in the area without restaurants’ permission. It accused the company of listing phone numbers for restaurants that were actually routed to Grubhub workers and creating websites for restaurants without their consent or clearly disclosing that it operated the sites. Grubhub has ended those practices, as TechCrunch notes.

“In one of Grubhub’s most shameless moves, at the beginning of the pandemic, it ran a discount called ‘Supper for Support,’ ginning up business by claiming to help struggling restaurants, and then stuck restaurants with the bill,” Racine said. “This program cut into struggling restaurants’ profit margins while padding Grubhub’s bottom line.”

The promotion allowed restaurants to offer a $10 discount on orders over $30, but they had to cover the cost. Grubhub later offered them a $250 credit, as the suit notes.

“We are disappointed [the AG’s office has] moved forward with this lawsuit because our practices have always complied with DC law, and in any event, many of the practices at issue have been discontinued,” Grubhub said in a statement. “We will aggressively defend our business in court and look forward to continuing to serve DC restaurants and diners.”

Grubhub says it has worked with Racine and his office over the last year to address concerns. In the wake of the lawsuit, the service is adding disclaimers about service fees for Grubhub+ subscribers and the fact prices may be lower at restaurants than in its app. Grubhub will also make it clearer that users can place orders for free through its app and website as long as they pick up food themselves. These changes will apply to everyone, not only users in DC.

The DC lawsuit is the latest in a number of legal battles over delivery apps’ business practices. Chicago has also sued Grubhub (and DoorDash) over alleged deceptive delivery fees and charging higher prices for menu items than restaurants themselves do. In September, those two services and Uber Eats filed suit against New York City for placing limits on the fees they can charge restaurants.

PlayStation Network issues are affecting PS4, PS5 and other Sony consoles

The PlayStation Network is currently having some issues that are impacting PS3, PS4, PS5, PS Vita and web services. Sony said on a status page that it’s working to resolve the issues, but players might “have difficulty launching games, apps or network features” in the meantime. 

The problems are also affecting PlayStation Now (which might inconvenience those who want to stream games at the minute) and all aspects of the PlayStation Store. They started at around 8:30 AM Eastern time.

The issues come in the wake of updates Sony started rolling out for PS4 and PS5 earlier on Wednesday. Some players have noted on Reddit and elsewhere that their console isn’t able to verify a PlayStation Plus subscription or connect to online services.

The updates will (at least once the issues are resolved) allow PS4 and PS5 players to create or join Open and Closed parties. Sony has tweaked the UI of trophy cards on PS5 and added more accessibility options, including mono audio for headphones. Those with US- and UK-registered accounts can also test voice commands on PlayStation 5.

Apple buys UK-based open banking startup Credit Kudos

Apple has acquired an open banking and credit reference company called Credit Kudos. A terms of use page on Credit Kudos’ website, which was updated on March 21st, notes that the company is a subsidiary of Apple and its policy link now redirects to Apple’s website.

According to The Block, the acquisition closed earlier this week and valued Credit Kudos at $150 million.

Credit Kudos is essentially a credit check agency that claims to provide a more rounded picture of a person’s financial health and creditworthiness than other approaches. Its API taps into the UK’s open banking platform to analyze bank account data. It aims to help banking providers make faster and better decisions when people are seeking loans or other financial services.

The deal could pave the way for Apple Card to arrive on the other side of the Atlantic. Apple’s credit card has been available in the US since August 2019. The API could help the company determine whether to approve a UK resident’s application for an Apple Card. It may also be used to guide Apple’s decision-making process when choosing whether to let customers pay for products over a number of installments.

‘Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed’ is a 4v1 co-op game that lets you play as a ghost

A new Ghostbusters game has been revealed and it’s set to land later this year. Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is a four vs. one multiplayer title from IllFonic, the studio behind Friday the 13th: The Game and Predator: Hunting Grounds. If you’re familiar with those two games or Dead by Daylight, the basic premise of Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed will feel familiar.

Four players will team up as the Ghostbusters. You’ll use the PKE Meter to detect a ghost and take them on with the Proton Pack, Particle Thrower and Ghost Trap. You’ll need to subdue the ghost before they make a museum, prison, hotel or other public location too haunted.

On the flip side, as you may have surmised, the fifth player will control the ghost. You can fly and teleport between rifts. The ghost can possess objects and summon minions. They are also able to slime and stun the Ghostbusters so they can continue their haunting ways.

In the Ghostbusters’ firehouse, you’ll be able to customize your ghost or Ghostbuster, upgrade their abilities and equipment and practice firing the Particle Thrower. Two of the original Ghostbusters reprise their roles. You’ll get missions from Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) and receive wisdom from Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) at his occult bookstore.

If you don’t feel like playing online (or don’t have a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold membership to do that), you can play as a solo ghost or Ghostbuster with AI taking on the other roles. For everyone else, there’s cross-platform multiplayer support across PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is scheduled to arrive toward the end of 2022.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro fall to $130 for today only at Amazon

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro are a good all-round choice for those looking for Android-friendly earbuds. Even better, if you’re in the market for a set, they’re on sale on Amazon for today only for $130. That’s $70 off the regular price.

Buy Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro at Amazon – $130

We gave Galaxy Buds Pro a score of 85 in our review (the more recent Galaxy Buds 2 received a slightly lower score of 84). Along with good sound quality, active noise cancellation (ANC) and a comfortable fit, there’s support for wireless charging.

You’ll get up to five hours of listening time with ANC and Bixby voice cues turned on, and a total of 18 hours of use with the help of the charging case. Switch off ANC and hands-free Bixby and those numbers jump up to eight hours and 28 hours, respectively, Samsung claims. Thanks to quick charging support, you can add an hour of listening time after just five minutes of charging.

Samsung says the earbuds will withstand being immersed in three-feet deep water for up to 30 minutes. There’s IPX7 water resistance as well.

While this isn’t quite the lowest price we’ve seen for Galaxy Buds Pro, it’s not far off. They’ve dropped to $120 at Woot and $125 at Amazon in the past. Still, it’s a good deal on a solid set of earbuds.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.