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Turo’s new dongle will let customers instantly find and unlock cars – TechCrunch

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Turo, the peer-to-peer car-sharing company described as the “Airbnb of cars,” is rolling out a new product that will let users locate and unlock cars right from the app.

The new product, called Turo Go, is a dongle and an accompanying service that aims to bolster the number of cars and users on its platform. The product is designed to remove a barrier of entry — the time required to physically exchange keys — that once was a hallmark of the platform. As part of the Turo Go service, owners can opt to allow users to find, book and unlock a vehicle in as little as five minutes. Currently, the app requires a minimum 60-minute lead time before a customer can pick up a vehicle.

“We want to making hosting even easier,” Turo CEO Andre Haddad told TechCrunch. “Easy always wins when it comes to consumer products.”

The company is launching Turo Go in Los Angeles, where it has the biggest penetration of hosts who have multiple vehicles on the platform. Turo Go will expand to additional markets in 2019, he added.

Turo Go uses an aftermarket key-as-a-service entry device from Continental. The device doesn’t require any hardwiring, although it takes about an hour for the install. The device is connected to the OBD-II port (on-board diagnostics) found on modern vehicles. A hidden antenna connects the device to the ignition.

Turo Go costs $20 a month. Turo also charges a $150 installation fee to owners who want to add the device to their vehicle.

Car sharing and on-demand short-term car rental companies like Zipcar also use remote unlock and lock tech. This product is unique because it’s being used on a peer-to-peer car-sharing app.

Turo Go provides a technological upgrade of sorts that is designed for Turo’s experienced hosts, “people who have become comfortable with the notion that a stranger will be in their car,” Haddad said.

Once the device is installed, users will be able to find the vehicle, instantly book it and unlock or lock it via the app. And unlike other car-sharing services, the device uses Bluetooth technology and doesn’t rely on a cellular connection, which can be problematic in parking garages or other remote areas with spotty network coverage.

Turo Go also has a digital ID verification step, which uses facial recognition technology to confirm that users have the proper license and are who they claim to be. The tech matches the ID photo to a customer’s face and uses movement tracking to ensure the customer is a real person in front of the camera rather than just a static image that has been printed out.

Once a user has completed a trip, owners of vehicles equipped with Turo Go will be able to locate their car, truck or SUV. Haddad emphasized that owners will not show the location of the vehicle while a customer is using it. Turo Go will also provide other information, such as odometer and fuel levels. Other data features will be added to Turo Go in the future.

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How To Make Sure Yours Have The Latest Firmware Installed

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Before checking your AirPods’ firmware version, first make sure you have the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS installed. To do this, open Settings (or System Settings on Mac), go to General, and then Software Update. If an update is available, download and install it before proceeding to check your AirPods firmware.

Provided your iPhone or iPad is running the latest software, here’s how to check firmware version of your AirPods:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Tap Bluetooth.

  3. Tap the info button next to your AirPods.

  4. Look for the firmware version under the “About” section.

If you use your AirPods with a Mac, follow these steps to check the firmware version:

  1. Press and hold the Option key, then select the Apple menu and System Information.

  2. Click on Bluetooth.

  3. Look for the “Firmware Version” under your AirPods.

Once you’ve made a note of the AirPods’ firmware version, you’ll need to make sure they’re running the latest update by going to Apple’s website, and scrolling down to the “Latest firmware versions” section. Locate your AirPods in the list, and verify they’re running the firmware mentioned next to the product name.

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This Electric BMW Existed Long Before The I3 And Looked Way Better

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BMW’s first electric car, the 1602e, was based on the 02 Series, the entry-level BMW, which were essentially smaller-wheelbase versions of the New Class sedans. The 02 Series spawned a variety of models like 2002, 1802, and 1502 (characterized by the displacement of their four-cylinder motors), but BMW’s 1602 came first. Designed by then-design director Wilhelm Hofmeister (the man behind the “Hofmeister Kink”), BMW unveiled the first batch of 1602e electric prototypes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games as support vehicles for marathon events.

It has a 32 kW electric motor developed by Bosch, producing a paltry 43 horsepower. The motor draws juice from a dozen 12-volt Varta lead-acid batteries neatly tucked in the engine bay, weighing 350 kg or more than 770 pounds. Despite this, the BMW 1602e had a 62 mph top speed and could accelerate from zero to 31 mph in about eight seconds. However, it only musters 19 miles of range before needing to recharge despite having regenerative braking.

On the plus side, the 1602e looks way better than the i3, and it’s a prime candidate for an electric restomod with new-age motors and energy-dense batteries. If BMW can do it with classic Minis, the 1602 deserves an electric comeback, too.

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5 Of The Best PS2 Games Still Worth Playing If You Haven’t

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There are enough games in the “Final Fantasy” lineup to spark contentious debate about which is best, but “Final Fantasy X” deserves recognition as a turning point for the series. It’s also one of the PS2’s best games and is widely regarded as one of the best RPGs ever. The game took the series to new cinematic heights by offering convincing voice acting for an endearing cast of characters featured in a tear-jerking narrative.

You play primarily as Tidus, a standout athlete in the game’s enjoyable side activity, blitzball. While competing, he experiences a world-ending reality after witnessing his home’s destruction by a malevolent force called Sin. You’ll embark on a quest to learn how to defeat it, meeting helpful new comrades along the way.

“Final Fantasy X” is the PlayStation 2 game that JRPG fans recommend en masse to series and genre newcomers. It faithfully upholds tradition with a turn-based combat system that checks all the boxes for the usual gameplay tropes, such as multi-member battle parties, creature summoning, attack-type bonuses, and character-specific special moves.

In addition, the Sphere system was a unique take on character progression that brought a non-linear upgrade path which opened up new ability possibilities for characters that wouldn’t traditionally have them. The unique progression system, a memorable world, and an engaging narrative helped make “Final Fantasy X” a standout title in the franchise and a landmark PS2 game.

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