Techlife News #383

The 1969 mission to the moon has been seen in many phases before but never with the shining, crystal-clear fullness of Todd Douglas Miller’s extraordinary “Apollo 11,” a documentary culled from archival footage and audio recordings that in heart-stopping, minute-by-minute detail, recaptures the propulsive force of man’s most glorious feat, giving new resonance to those beautiful, headlong Mission Control words: “We Are Go.” Timed to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, “Apollo 11” was compiled partly from a previously forgotten trove of 70mm film that includes footage from the launch, the Cape Canaveral crowds watching outside J.C. Penny’s and along motel balconies, and the astronauts’ recovery. It features no talking heads or narration, just audio from some 11,000 hours of NASA audio recordings and, occasionally, the sonorous gravity of…

FedEx is testing a new self-driving robotic vehicle that could one day compete with Amazon in delivering packages or pizzas to homes. The company unveiled its new SameDay Bot early Wednesday on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” FedEx is the latest of several companies, including Amazon, to experiment with sidewalk delivery robots. Initial testing will be limited to transporting packages between FedEx Office locations. The boxy machine appeared on the “Tonight Show” stage crossing through sand, gravel and shallow water, and climbing stairs, to deliver a pizza to Fallon. FedEx says it worked with Segway creator Dean Kamen on technology based in part on his company’s iBot, a mobility device for the disabled. FedEx is partnering on the project with Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Pizza Hut, AutoZone and Lowe’s.…

Amazon, which has wrestled with counterfeit products on its site for years, has developed a fleet of tools that allow sellers to remove items from Amazon.com themselves and to prevent fake goods from making it to the site at all. To speed the removal process, Amazon said that it’s now allowing some companies to remove those goods themselves, rather than reporting fake goods that had been removed previously only after an investigation by Amazon. In addition, the company has created unique serial codes that can be placed on products during the manufacturing process, which can then be monitored by Amazon on its site. Amazon has also been testing automated technology that it said can prevent 100 times the number of counterfeit products on its site by scanning logos, trademarks and other key data.…

The world of Star Wars is coming from a galaxy far, far away to become the largest single-themed land created in a Disney park. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an adventure through the grungy planet Batuu where guests can build their own droids and lightsabers, interact with aliens and climb into the cockpit of the massive Millennium Falcon, where you will discover your mission and engage in a dogfight with Tie Fighters. The sprawling 14-acre land is set on a remote world in the newest “Star Wars” trilogy — so don’t expect appearances by Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader. But some familiar faces including Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren and fan-favorite Chewbacca will be a part of the adventure as visitors explore the immersive world. Galaxy’s Edge is set to open this summer at…

BMW and Daimler announced Thursday they will work together on developing the automated driving technology expected to transform the industry in the years ahead as automakers try to fend off competition from tech companies such as Uber and Waymo. The two German companies said it would be a “long-term strategic cooperation” to more quickly come up with advanced driver assistance systems, automated driving on closed spaces such as highways and automated parking. The partnership comes as automakers face new rivals in the business of getting people from one place to another such as Uber and Waymo, which are both working on autonomous driving. BMW and Daimler last week launched a joint venture in auto-related digital services such as car sharing, ride-hailing and ticketless parking. Ford and Volkswagen have said they are talking…

Britain’s ITV said Wednesday it is in the final phase of discussions with the BBC to create a new on-demand video platform to rival the likes of Netflix in the U.K. The service, called BritBox, will provide a home for British-made shows, offering television box sets and original series in one place. The new offering will not be identical to the service of the same name which has been offered in North America, which has half a million subscribers. “BritBox will be the home for the best of British creativity — celebrating the best of the past, the best of today and investing in new British originated content in the future,” ITV CEO Carolyn McCall said in a statement. Plans are to launch the service in the second half of 2019. ITV, a free-to-air…