Google has set a release date for its Pixel 2, Canada is one step closer to getting a Hyperloop route, and mom and pop corner stores may become obsolete thanks to a new startup.
From Google Trends, Google has confirmed that October 4th will be the launch date of its Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, which will be manufactured by HTC and LG respectively. The tech giant released a teaser video that asks several rhetorical questions, like why does my phone take so many blurry photos, or why is my smartphone so dumb, which may offer us clues as to what innovative features the new phones will have, like some sort of image stabilization and an upgraded Google Assistant.
From Reddit, Hyperloop One has announced 10 winners of its global challenge to identify the strongest new potential routes, and the proposed Toronto – Montreal Hyperloop route is one of them. If you’re not familiar, the Hyperloop is Elon Musk’s concept of high-speed travel that involves pods speeding through pressurized tubes. The proposed Toronto-Montreal route would cover 640 kilometres in just 39 minutes, and stop in Ottawa along the way. Other winners include routes in the US, Mexico, UK, and India.
And finally from Twitter, a startup by two ex-Google engineers called Bodega wants to eliminate mom and pop corner stores. The company’s concept involves setting up five-foot-wide pantry boxes filled with non-perishable items you might get at a convenience store, and an app will allow you to unlock the box. A camera stationed above the box will register what you’ve picked up and automatically charge your credit card, all without ever involving an employee manning the so-called store. Needless to say, people had a lot to say about this idea and it drew a lot of criticism online.
