Day: November 2, 2016

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Uber turns your friends’ phones into destinations

Uber is turning where your friend is standing into a destination.

In its first major app update since 2012, the company introduced new features Wednesday to make requesting a ride and getting picked up faster. Soon, you’ll even be able to request a ride directly to a friend’s location.

Uber founder and CEO Travis Kalanick told reporters earlier this week the app updates intend to save people time.

“We needed a new system to deal with a growing set of features that were piling up on an older design,” Kalanick said.

uber updates screenshot

For riders trying to travel to someone, not somewhere, Uber will now access your contacts and use a person’s location as a destination. By typing a person’s name into its “Where to?” search option, Uber asks the friend for approval to share details about their whereabouts. The driver will then take you directly to your friend’s location.

Although the app already provides a cost estimate and a time arrival prediction, the update will also make more information readily available. To start, Uber will be pulling details about vehicle options — such as UberX and Uber Pool — and pricing into one spot. Riders will also be able connect their device’s calendar to the app. If Uber notices an event coming up, it will suggest a destination on the home screen.

In addition, Uber will suggest pickup areas optimized for the quickest route, even if a rider is in a tricky location that where driver can’t easily find. This will help avoid having to call a driver to settle on a meeting spot.

Related: Black riders wait longer for Uber rides, study reveals

Uber is also rolling out a collection of entertainment integrations. You’ll be able to read Yelp reviews of restaurants close to your destination, send a Snapchat with a unique Uber filter or identify songs on Pandora — directly within the Uber app. It’s also possible to order a meal via UberEats, the company’s food delivery service.

uber app new

The features will roll out gradually for iOS and Android users in the coming weeks.

Uber said no additional safety features — such as a panic button, which is already available in countries like India — will be added to the app for now.

CNNMoney (San Francisco) First published November 2, 2016: 12:22 PM ET

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Hulu’s live TV options will include Fox and Disney, of course

Hulu will roll out its live TV lineup in early 2017, complete with shows from the Walt Disney Company and 21st Century Fox, two of Hulu’s founding partners, the company announced today. The agreement brings more than 35 networks to Hulu’s live service, including ABC, FOX, Fox Sports channels, ESPN channels, Disney Channel and XD, Freeform, National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild.

These networks join Time Warner Inc.’s Turner channels on Hulu’s live service. The Turner deal brings TBS, TNT, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang, among other affiliated channels, to Hulu’s live service. This deal follows Time Warner’s purchase of 10 percent of Hulu for $583 million. Viacom is also on board for live Hulu programming, but it’s unclear which of its networks in particular will be available.

Hulu doesn’t detail how much its live TV service will cost, but describes it as "a complement to the company’s current ad-supported and ad-free subscription video on demand products." The Wall Street Journal reported in May that it would cost $40. That’s more than Sling’s $20 basic package, for example, and it’s not yet known if the reported $40 price tag includes Hulu’s traditional streaming options.

Source: Hulu

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