Google's Self-Driving Car Incident: A Cautionary Tale?

As many of us know, Google's self-driving car was involved in an incident on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2016. The incident occurred when a bus traveling at 15 mph approached the Google car from behind, occupying the same wide lane as the Smart Car. The Lexus attempted to navigate around some sandbags placed in the lane and re-entered the center of the lane while moving at a speed of 2 mph.

Google reported in a statement last week that the Smart Car anticipated that the bus would slow down to allow the self-driving car to continue, but the bus did not. The Smart Car then struck the side of the bus, causing minor damage to the front left fender and a sensor. Fortunately, there were no injuries or police report filed.

However, some people might view this incident as a trivial matter, labeling it a "total non-story little fender bender." But the incident serves as a reminder that self-driving cars are not yet perfect and can make mistakes. As we imagine the news flash in a few years where an innocent child is dead due to a car accident led by a self-driving car, it's essential to acknowledge the potential risks associated with this technology.

The reality is that self-driving cars will happen less often because computers make fewer computational errors than humans do. With the advancement of computer technology, we can expect significant improvements in the safety and accuracy of self-driving cars. Nevertheless, incidents like the one involving Google's self-driving car remind us to remain vigilant and continue working towards making this technology safer.

Meanwhile, Sony has launched an evolution of its Xperia brand, dubbed "reimagine," which aims to be more than just a smartphone but a smart connected device capable of changing the way we interact with the world. The new X Series includes three phones: the Xperia X, xeria X performance, and Xperia XA.

The first two phones in the X Series will use different processors. The Xperia X will utilize a hexacore Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor, while the xeria X performance will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. Both phones will feature 5-inch 1080P displays. On the other hand, the Xperia XA will have a 5-inch 720p display, paired with a Mediatech MT6755 octacore Cortex A53 processor.

One of the standout features of the new X Series is Sony's Next Generation camera technology called predictive hybrid autofocus. This technology allows users to choose their subject and then predict its motion, resulting in perfect focus without any blur. Additionally, the phones will include Sony's smart battery management, which promises up to 2 days of battery life.

In terms of design, each X Series smartphone has a curved glass display within a rounded continuous frame. The Xperia XA features an edgo edge display, while the xeria X performance and Xperia X both come with a range of style covers and are available in four colors: white, graphite, black, lime gold, and rose gold.

For those interested in the latest developments regarding Android N, we have some new mockups from Android Police. The first glimpse at what changes it can expect when Android N rolls around has been revealed, showcasing a notification shade that will provide more information per notification. The height of each notification has been stretched to accommodate this, resulting in a card-like feel with gaps of negative space between them.

The layout for Android N seems sleek and modern, with a lengthly sheet of contiguous paper over the traditional card layout. It's assumed that notifications will still be swipeable, but only time will tell how effective these changes will be.

In another development related to battery life, Oppo has unveiled a new solution called Super Vuk Flash charge. This technology is still in its early stages of development and aims to allow smartphones to reach 100% battery charge in just 15 minutes. While the development is limited to Oppo devices at present, there's hope that this technology could be licensed for broader usage from OEMs around the world.

Super Vuk Flash charge will be available in both micro USB and USB type-c configurations, making it an exciting breakthrough in the quest for improved battery life. As we move forward with these technological advancements, we can expect significant improvements in our daily lives, from faster charging to more efficient devices.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enyes as you've probably heard Google's self-driving car hit a bus but it was just kind of a little fender bender on Valentine's Day February 14th 2016 a self-driving Lexus rx450 attempted to navigate around some sandbags placed in a wide Lane a bus traveling at 15 mph approached the Google car from behind occupying the same wide Lane as the Smart Car the Lexus then attempt Ed to re-enter the center of the lane while moving at a speed of 2 mph Google reported in a statement last week that the Smart Car anticipated that the bus would slow down to allow the self-driving car to continue but the bus did not while the Smart Car re-entered the center of the lane it struck the side of the bus causing minor damage to the front left Fender front wheel and a sensor there were no injuries and no police report was filed now you may be thinking Jace it's a total non-story little fender bender why mention it well I mention it because because some people will use this as proof that if self-driving cars can make little mistakes they can make big mistakes leading to loss of innocent life imagine the news flash in a few years where some wonderful innocent child is dead due to a car accident led by a self-driving car well tragically that is inevitable it's going to happen but the reality is it will happen a lot less with self-driving cars because computers make fewer computational errors than we do think about about it are you a Sony Xperia fan like I am well you'll be happy to know that Sony has launched what it's calling an evolution of the Xperia brand the new reimagine brand hopes to be more than just a smartphone but a smart connected device capable of changing the way you interact with the world the first three phones in the new X Series are the Xperia X the xeria X performance and the Xperia XA the Xperia X will use the hexacore Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor and the xeria X performance will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 the Xperia X and the X performance will have 5 in 1080P displays while the XA will use a 5-in 720p display along with the mediatech mt6755 an octacore cortex a53 processor the Xperia X and Xperia X performance include Sony's Next Generation camera technology called predictive hybrid autofocus developed in collaboration with Sony's camera engineers it lets you choose your subject and then predicts its motion so you can capture the action in perfect focus without any blur as well as camera Tech Sony says that the new X Series has Next Generation Battery Technology with Sony's smart battery management which the company says will deliver up to 2 days of battery life when it comes to design each X Ser smartphone has curved glass display within a rounded continuous frame while the Xperia XA features an edgo edge display also the X x and xeria x performance and xeria XA each have a range of style covers and come in four colors white graphite black lime gold and rose gold and for those of you looking for news regarding the new version of Android coming up called Android n we got this in some new mockups from the folks at Android police we get our first Glimpse at what changes it can expect when Android n rolls around as you can see the notification shade looks like it'll provide quite a bit more info per notification and the height of each notification has been stretched to accommodate this in lollipop notifications on the shade have a card-like feel with gaps of negative space between each one n looks like it's filling up these gaps while both have a very Sleek material design look Android n opts for a lengthly sheet of contiguous paper over the card layout we assume they will still be swipeable now anyone with real geek cred will tell you that the number one issue we hope manufacturers improve upon is battery life and Oppo has hurt us at the mobile W Congress in Barcelona opal has unveiled a new solution to the battery problem called Super vuk Flash charge the technology is still in the early stages of development but it will ultimately allow smartphones to reach 100% battery charge in just 15 minutes the development will inevitably be limited to Oppo devices however there is a chance they could license it for broad usage from oems around the world it will be available in both micro USB and USB type-c configurations thanks for watching guys you know the drill you can connect with me here and also my Android family right along here I shall see you next week on Android weeklyyes as you've probably heard Google's self-driving car hit a bus but it was just kind of a little fender bender on Valentine's Day February 14th 2016 a self-driving Lexus rx450 attempted to navigate around some sandbags placed in a wide Lane a bus traveling at 15 mph approached the Google car from behind occupying the same wide Lane as the Smart Car the Lexus then attempt Ed to re-enter the center of the lane while moving at a speed of 2 mph Google reported in a statement last week that the Smart Car anticipated that the bus would slow down to allow the self-driving car to continue but the bus did not while the Smart Car re-entered the center of the lane it struck the side of the bus causing minor damage to the front left Fender front wheel and a sensor there were no injuries and no police report was filed now you may be thinking Jace it's a total non-story little fender bender why mention it well I mention it because because some people will use this as proof that if self-driving cars can make little mistakes they can make big mistakes leading to loss of innocent life imagine the news flash in a few years where some wonderful innocent child is dead due to a car accident led by a self-driving car well tragically that is inevitable it's going to happen but the reality is it will happen a lot less with self-driving cars because computers make fewer computational errors than we do think about about it are you a Sony Xperia fan like I am well you'll be happy to know that Sony has launched what it's calling an evolution of the Xperia brand the new reimagine brand hopes to be more than just a smartphone but a smart connected device capable of changing the way you interact with the world the first three phones in the new X Series are the Xperia X the xeria X performance and the Xperia XA the Xperia X will use the hexacore Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor and the xeria X performance will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 the Xperia X and the X performance will have 5 in 1080P displays while the XA will use a 5-in 720p display along with the mediatech mt6755 an octacore cortex a53 processor the Xperia X and Xperia X performance include Sony's Next Generation camera technology called predictive hybrid autofocus developed in collaboration with Sony's camera engineers it lets you choose your subject and then predicts its motion so you can capture the action in perfect focus without any blur as well as camera Tech Sony says that the new X Series has Next Generation Battery Technology with Sony's smart battery management which the company says will deliver up to 2 days of battery life when it comes to design each X Ser smartphone has curved glass display within a rounded continuous frame while the Xperia XA features an edgo edge display also the X x and xeria x performance and xeria XA each have a range of style covers and come in four colors white graphite black lime gold and rose gold and for those of you looking for news regarding the new version of Android coming up called Android n we got this in some new mockups from the folks at Android police we get our first Glimpse at what changes it can expect when Android n rolls around as you can see the notification shade looks like it'll provide quite a bit more info per notification and the height of each notification has been stretched to accommodate this in lollipop notifications on the shade have a card-like feel with gaps of negative space between each one n looks like it's filling up these gaps while both have a very Sleek material design look Android n opts for a lengthly sheet of contiguous paper over the card layout we assume they will still be swipeable now anyone with real geek cred will tell you that the number one issue we hope manufacturers improve upon is battery life and Oppo has hurt us at the mobile W Congress in Barcelona opal has unveiled a new solution to the battery problem called Super vuk Flash charge the technology is still in the early stages of development but it will ultimately allow smartphones to reach 100% battery charge in just 15 minutes the development will inevitably be limited to Oppo devices however there is a chance they could license it for broad usage from oems around the world it will be available in both micro USB and USB type-c configurations thanks for watching guys you know the drill you can connect with me here and also my Android family right along here I shall see you next week on Android weekly\n"