Uber just added public transportation to its app

Uber customers who live in Denver may notice something strange when they open the company’s app today: a tiny train car with the word “transit” next to it, sitting atop the list of usual ride-hailing options. A quick tap produces a list of bus or train routes as well as the expected fare price and end-to-end directions. It’s the first example of Uber’s year-long effort to integrate public transportation options into its app.

According to the company’s transit team, the goal is to discourage people from using their personal vehicles by offering more transportation options, whether that’s a bike, scooter, or now, a bus or train. It’s no secret that Uber wants to become the “One Ring” for transportation, the app that brings all other modes…

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What to expect from tomorrow’s big net neutrality court hearing

Oral arguments will begin tomorrow for one of the most important cases in internet law history. The case will be heard in a Washington, DC courtroom, as a group of net neutrality defenders squares off with the Federal Communications Commission in a legal battle to decide the rules of the web.

When the FCC, led by a Republican majority, moved in late 2017 to repeal Obama-era net neutrality rules, it kicked off a fight on several fronts. There’s been some pressure on congressional lawmakers to overrule the decision, and states have moved to implement their own versions of the rules.

But what may be the most likely shot at restoring net neutrality regulations will come from a petition against the FCC filed by several supporters of the…

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Apple is once again selling its iPhone SE — for now

Last September, Apple officially stopped selling its iPhone X, iPhone SE, and iPhone 6s models, following the release of the iPhone XS and XR. MacRumors noticed that Apple quietly introduced the iPhone SE in its clearance section. Since then, each round of stock has sold out quickly, but if you’re lucky, you can find one now.

The 2016-era phone is available in 32GB and 128GB sizes, with $100 and $150 knocked off the price, respectively, in your pick of space gray, rose gold, gold, and silver colors.

If all you desire is a comparatively tiny iPhone with a headphone jack and a fingerprint sensor, this might be the time to pick one up.

Update January 31st, 11:50AM ET: The iPhone SE is back in stock once again in the clearance section of…

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Casper’s Smartphone-Enabled Nightlight Wants To Help You Sleep Better

It’s been several years since Casper first shook up the sleep industry with its acclaimed foam mattresses that are delivered to your home in a cardboard box. The still-buzzy brand has since branched out from its signature “obsessively engineered” flagship Casper mattress to sheets, pillows, bedroom furniture, and even a dog bed. 

But the company’s latest drop, the Casper Glow, is the first to incorporate smartphone technology as a sleep aid, and it’s already being billed as a nightlight for grownups.

The small, orb-like LED lamp is designed to sync with your body’s circadian rhythms to get on an optimal sleep schedule. The idea is the Glow’s warm light lulls you to sleep at night, while a soft light swells in the morning to wake you up as gently as possible. 

You can also sync your Casper Glow with a smartphone app that allows for even more customization, including extending or shortening the time your Glow lights up in the morning or at night.  

Ad Week has more details about Casper’s new gizmo, which launched this week:

Jeff Brooks, Casper’s CMO, said Glow is meant to succeed in areas where standard lightbulbs fail, particularly in creating the ideal sleeping environment.

“There’s a lot of science that went into this product,” he said. “Certain types of light disturb your circadian rhythms, which are incredibly important for how you fall asleep and why you stay asleep.

“And I’d argue most lights on bedside tables or nightstands today are harsh. They’re not designed to kind of aid you into your drift-off.”

The Glow’s petite size—five inches tall, three inches wide—also makes it easy to pick up and carry around, is intended to make it the ideal companion for a middle-of-the-night bathroom trip.

“It gives just enough warm light for you to accomplish that task and then get back into bed without disturbing sort of your inner body’s workings,” said Brooks.

A single Casper Glow costs $89, and two go for $169 at Casper.com.

Volkswagen teases an all-electric dune buggy concept

Volkswagen revealed its new electric dune buggy concept vehicle, a modern reinterpretation of the classic American dune buggies that were first created in the 1960s. Like the original dune buggies, which were made from modified parts taken from VW Beetles, the concept vehicle is based on the ”MEB” platform that will power Volkswagen’s forthcoming lineup of electric vehicles.

The MEB acronym comes from Volkswagen’s native German, “Modulare E-Antriebs-Baukasten,” which translates to “modular electric drive toolkit.” The company is betting big on its MEB platform, which will serve as the basis for the 10 million electric cars it wants to sell. Volkswagen says it created the electric dune buggy concept to show that a “fully electric platform…

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