Uber plans to invest into developing its own worldwide maps

Uber currently makes uses of Google’s mapping technology to power its app. But it looks like that isn’t enough for them. According to The Financial Times, Uber wants to invest half a billion dollars into making their own worldwide maps that will be more detailed and show things like traffic patterns, door locations, and other potential pickup locations. The development of this tailor-made map would also help further the autonomous vehicle project of the company.

Other moves Uber has made in the past in terms of mapping include hiring former Google employees like Brian McClendon and forging partnerships or acquiring mapping companies such as TomTom and DigitalGlobe.

Source: The Verge

LCBO offers online liquor sale and delivery service

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) announced that it is launching an online e-commerce website where people can purchase nearly 5,000 products and have them shipped to their home or a local LCBO store as part of their commitment to evolve the business and modernize its operations.

In the age of the Uber ride sharing service and Foodora which delivers food from various restaurants to homes and offices, the LCBO is making it easier for Ontarians to order their favourite wines, beers and spirits and have these delivered to their doorstep or at a nearby LCBO location. This move follows in the footsteps of what companies like Amazon have pioneered, giving consumers a wider range of choice and convenience than having to go to crowded LCBO retail outlets.

Moreover, 800 of the products will only be available online from lcbo.com. Delivery through Canada Post will cost $12 per order plus tax, while a $50 minimum applies to online orders shipped to specific LCBO stores. LCBO says they, together with Canada Post,  will ensure that online orders are only handled by and delivered to adults of legal drinking age. 

Source: LCBO via CBC

Uber partners with DigitalGlobe to use high-res satellite imagery for better pickups

A recent partnership between Uber and DigitalGlobe will make use of the high-resolution imagery from DigitalGlobe. This move is meant to “help identify and improve pickup and drop-off locations.” It wasn’t explicitly said if this’ll help with Uber’s self-driving initiative but mapping is an important aspect of that. Uber recently bought mapping company deCarta and uses Microsoft’s Bing vehicle imagery so this partnership boosts their mapping efforts further. DigitalGlobe also has a leg up over its competitors (like Google) since it can provide more detail than other private systems. With their WorldView-3 constellation, they can detect images as small as 12-inches across and can scan short-wave infrared frequencies.

For those worried if this might give a literal interpretation of Uber’s “God View,” which they have secretly used to follow clients. It’s unlikely that DigitalGlobe’s tech can do that, no matter how high-tech they are, because that will require renting a satellite for a fixed period of time, which can cost a lot.

Source: DigitalGlobe | Via: Engadget

Toyota, Volkswagen back ride-sharing companies

Gett Chief Executive Shahar Waiser

Toyota and Volkswagen see the potential of ride-sharing companies join the list of investors. Toyota is backing Uber for an undisclosed amount. What they plan to do is explore trials in countries where the ride-sharing industry is growing. Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Group is getting behind Gett, a popular ride-hailing app in Europe. The automaker has invested US$300 million into the startup.

They aren’t the first ones to do this, though. General Motors, for example, has invested half a billion dollars into Lyft to help in the development of autonomous vehicles. BMW and Mercedes-Benz have also began pilot ride-sharing services, among others.

Source: The New York Times