Amazon really wants people to use the Amazon Echo and its Alexa voice assistant, so it has consistently added features since the Echo’s launch, from reordering groceries to controlling your thermostat .
Imagine my surprise when I found out when it couldn’t, you know, track Amazon packages .
Until today, at least. Amazon tells us you can now simply ask its voice assistant “Alexa, track my packages” or a more casual “Alexa, where’s my stuff?” to get the latest on when your package will arrive.
To be clear, this is just for Amazon packages. It’s not reading tracking information from your email like Google Now does, but given how often people order from Amazon – especially if you actually own an Echo – I’m sure it’ll come in handy.
The feature is live for all Alexa-powered devices now.
This odd invention turns your hoverboard into a speedy wheelchair
If you’ve always missed the comfort of sitting while riding your hoverboard, this quirky invention might just be what you’re looking for.
The HoverSeat is an aluminum die-cast frame that attaches to your hoverboard turning it into a speedy wheelchair.
Designed with safety and comfort in mind, the HoverSeat is easy to install and will have you rolling around in less than 60 seconds.
Once installed, you can navigate the HoverSeat with your feet and move freely in all directions, including reverse.
In addition to using it for personal transportation, the HoverSeat will also come in handy when moving heavy shit – as you can easily add more attachments to the back.
At present, the HoverSeat is compatible only with six and 10-inch wheelbase hoverboards, but the company assures new models will support a wider range of sizes.
The attachable frame is currently on sale at $69, but you’ll have to spend another $50 for the aluminum chair . You can also purchase these handles for manual control for $50.
The HoverSeat might not be the flying futuristic hoverboard you’ve always wanted, but hey – at least it’s safe and comfy.
1,000 self-targeting sniper rifles can be hacked: Nice work, dummies
Today in scary exploits: TrackingPoint sniper rifles – which run Linux and Android and have WiFi connections – can be remotely hacked. Who could have predicted that? *
Hackers can then either disable the rifle or choose a new target. The only response to that news is: o_0
At the forthcoming Black Hat hacking conference, Runa Sandvik and her husband Michael Auger plan to present the results of a year’s work on exploiting two of the $13,000 self-aiming rifles.
The pair have discovered how to brick the rifle, making its computer-targeting unusable, as well as getting root access to the targeting system to make permanent changes to the firearm.
There are two slight upsides: a networked attack on the rifle can’t make it fire – that’s controlled by a mechanical system that requires an actual finger on the trigger – and there are only around 1,000 weapons in customers’ hands.
Wired reports that the security researchers were able to demonstrate their exploit, causing bullets to miss the shooter’s intended target and hit an entirely different one.
Sandvik and Auger say they have repeatedly reported the vulnerabilities to TrackingPoint, but the troubled firm’s management has not responded.
The company is currently going through “restructuring”, has laid off most of its staff and is no longer shipping rifles.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that this company will not be the last to put computerised weapons in the hands of the public, while also failing to adequately secure them. A ‘normal’ weapon is unpredictable enough, a hackable one is downright terrifying.
Now imagine what could happen if we ended up with autonomous weapons on the market .
➤ Hackers can disable this sniper rifle or change the target [Wired]
Read next – The Artificial Intelligence AK-47: Cheap, replicable autonomous weapons are inevitable
*Everyone. The answer is: EVERYONE.