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Could a parking robot mean the end of fighting for a parking space?

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Could a parking robot mean the end of fighting for a parking space?

We’ve all been there. 

You’re in a parking lot looking for a spot, but you can’t find a single space. You circle around, hoping for someone to leave, but no luck. 

You start to feel annoyed and stressed. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a better way to park your car? Well, there is. 

Meet Parkie, the parking robot that could mean the end of fighting for a parking space in the future.

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Parkie the autonomous mobile robot  (HL Mando)

How does the parking robot work?

Parkie is a sleek. 3.5-inch-high flat autonomous mobile robot (AMR) that can park your car for you. It can drive on its own and avoid any obstacles or gaps in the parking lot. It also can sense everything around it and find the best place for your car.

Parkie the autonomous mobile robot  (HL Mando)

Parkie operates by crawling under your parked car, lifting it and autonomously moving it. It precisely measures distances to transport your car to different locations or return it directly to you. It can use any space available, without needing any extra equipment or systems.

Parkie the autonomous mobile robot  (HL Mando)

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And get this: The parking robot can even identify the license plate of your vehicle and recognize and judge the size, weight and shape of your car. It can also make your parking easier and faster by letting you use a mobile app to track your car, book a spot and ask for a pickup.

Parkie the autonomous mobile robot  (HL Mando)

The parking robot uses four technologies to perform its tasks

1. Autonomous Driving Technology: Parkie can navigate the parking lot by using a combination of sensors, cameras, radars and lidars. It can also communicate with other Parkies and the parking management system to coordinate its actions and avoid collisions.

2. Vehicle Recognition Technology: Parkie can identify the license plate, size, weight and shape of your car by using deep learning algorithms and image processing techniques. It can also adjust its lifting mechanism to fit different types of vehicles.

WISCONSIN WOMAN GIVES BIRTH IN MCDONALD’S PARKING LOT AMID SNOWSTORM, NICKNAMES BABY ‘MCFLURRY’

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3. Lifting and Moving Technology: Parkie can lift and move your car by using a specially designed platform that can measure the distance and angle precisely. It can also use a hydraulic system to control the pressure and balance of the platform.

4. Mobile App Technology: Parkie can make your parking easier and faster by letting you use a mobile app to track your car, book a spot, and ask for a pickup. You can also pay for the parking service through the app. The app can also provide you with information and feedback about Parkie and the parking lot.

Parkie the autonomous mobile robot  (HL Mando)

MORE: HOW THIS HUMANOID ROBOT LEARNED TO MAKE COFFEE BY WATCHING VIDEOS 

What benefits does the parking robot offer?

Parkie has benefits for both you and the parking lot owners. First of all, Parkie can make more room for more cars by moving them around in the parking lot. It can fit up to 30% more cars than usual. This means that a parking lot with around 1,300 parking spaces can offer about 390 more spaces.

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Illustration of how Parkie the autonomous mobile robot saves space   (HL Mando)

It can also save money and trouble by replacing human valets with robot skills. This helps avoid accidents and damages that can happen when people drive or park cars. Lastly, it can make your parking easier, faster and less stressful by letting you use a mobile app to park your car. This means more convenience for you and fewer worries about finding and paying for a parking space.

MORE: BEST CAR ACCESSORIES

Parkie the autonomous mobile robot  (HL Mando)

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Who developed the parking robot?

Parkie was developed by HL Mando, a company that has decades of experience in autonomous driving technology and vehicle manufacturing. Parkie has been tested and proven in real-world scenarios, such as office buildings, where it can handle the constant flow of different vehicles.

Parkie the autonomous mobile robot  (HL Mando)

MORE: COULD A SECURITY GUARD SHORTAGE BE SOLVED WITH THIS AUTONOMOUS SECURITY ROBOT  

Is this parking robot the future of parking?

Parkie is definitely one solution to our parking problems, especially in big cities where space is limited. The company also says Parkie can adapt to different settings and scenarios, such as shopping malls, airports, hotels and hospitals, to provide customized and optimal parking services. Another plus is that the robot can integrate with existing systems and infrastructure, such as parking equipment, building management and payment systems.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Parking can be a hassle. We all know that. But it doesn’t have to be. With Parkie, the parking robot, you can save time, money and stress by letting it find a parking space for you. Just think of the time you’ll save by not having to drive around looking for a spot. Sign me up.

What do you think of a robot parking your car? Do you prefer to park your own car, have a valet do it or are you open to this new way of parking your vehicle? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

Microsoft Edge is adding a new feature that will allow its Copilot AI chatbot to gather information from all of your open tabs. When you start a conversation with Copilot, you can ask the chatbot questions about what’s in your tabs, compare the products you’re looking at, summarize your open articles, and more.

In its announcement, Microsoft says you can “select which experiences you want or leave off the ones you don’t.” The company is retiring Copilot Mode as well, which could similarly draw information from your tabs but offered some agentic features, like the ability to book a reservation on your behalf. Microsoft has since folded these agentic capabilities into its “Browse with Copilot” tool.

Several other AI features are coming to Edge, including an AI-powered “Study and Learn” mode that can turn the article you’re looking at into a study session or interactive quiz. There’s a new tool that turns your tabs into AI-powered podcasts as well, similar to what you’d find on NotebookLM, and an AI writing assistant that will pop up when you start entering text on a webpage.

You can also give Copilot permission to access your browsing history to provide more “relevant, high-quality answers,” according to Microsoft. Copilot in Edge on desktop and mobile will come with “long-term memory” as well, which can tailor its responses based on your previous conversations. And, when you open up a new tab, you’ll see a redesigned page that combines chat, search, and web navigation, along with the Journeys feature, which uses AI to organize your browsing history into categories that you can revisit.

Meanwhile, an update to Edge’s mobile app will allow you to share your screen with Copilot and talk through the questions about what you’re seeing. Microsoft says you’ll see “clear visual cues” when Copilot is active, “so you know when it’s taking an action, helping, listening, or viewing.”

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Apple’s $250M Siri settlement: Are you owed cash?

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Apple’s 0M Siri settlement: Are you owed cash?

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If you bought a newer iPhone because Apple made Siri sound like it was about to become your personal artificial intelligence sidekick, you may want to pay attention.

Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over claims that it misled customers about new Apple Intelligence and Siri features. The case centers on the iPhone 16 launch and certain iPhone 15 models that were marketed as ready for Apple’s next wave of AI. The settlement still needs court approval, and Apple denies wrongdoing.

The lawsuit argues that Apple promoted a smarter, more personal Siri before those features were actually available. For some buyers, that was a big deal. A new iPhone can cost hundreds of dollars, and many people upgrade only when they think they are getting something meaningfully new.

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WHY IPHONE USERS ARE THE NEW PRIME SCAM TARGETS

U.S. buyers of certain iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro models may qualify for payments if a judge approves Apple’s proposed settlement. (Getty Images)

What Apple is accused of promising

Apple introduced Apple Intelligence in June 2024 and promoted it as a major step forward for iPhone, iPad and Mac. A key part of that pitch was a more personalized Siri that could understand context, work across apps and help with everyday tasks in a more useful way.

The lawsuit claims Apple’s marketing made consumers believe those advanced Siri features would arrive with the iPhone 16 or soon after. Instead, buyers received phones that had some Apple Intelligence tools, but not the full Siri overhaul that many expected.

That gap is the heart of the case. Plaintiffs say customers bought or upgraded devices based on AI features that were not ready. Apple says it has rolled out many Apple Intelligence features and settled the case, so it can stay focused on its products. 

How much money could iPhone owners get?

The proposed settlement creates a $250 million fund. Eligible customers who file approved claims are expected to receive at least $25 per eligible device. That amount could rise to as much as $95 per device, depending on how many people file claims and other settlement factors.

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That means this will not be a huge payday for most people. Still, if you bought one of the covered phones, it may be worth watching for a claim notice. A few minutes of paperwork could put some money back in your pocket.

Which iPhones may qualify?

The proposed settlement covers U.S. buyers who purchased any iPhone 16 model, iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.

Covered iPhone 16 models include the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16e. The settlement also includes the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but not every iPhone 15 model.

The key details are the device model, the purchase date and whether the phone was bought in the United States.

HOW YOU CAN GET A SLICE OF APPLE’S $250M IPHONE SETTLEMENT

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Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle claims it misled customers about Apple Intelligence and Siri features on newer iPhones. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)

How will you file a claim?

You do not need to do anything immediately. The settlement still needs a judge’s approval. Once the claims process opens, eligible customers are expected to receive a notice by email or mail with instructions on how to file through a settlement website.

That notice matters because scammers love moments like this. A real settlement notice should not ask for your Apple ID password, bank login or payment to claim your money. If you receive a message about this settlement, do not click blindly. Go slowly, check the sender and look for the official settlement administrator details once they are available.

Why this case matters beyond one Siri feature

This case hits a bigger nerve. Tech companies are racing to sell AI as the next must-have feature. That creates a problem for shoppers. You are often asked to buy now based on what a company says will arrive later.

That can be frustrating when the feature is the reason you upgraded. A smarter Siri sounds useful. A phone that can understand your personal context, search across apps and help with daily tasks could save time. But if those tools are delayed, limited or missing, the value of the upgrade changes.

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This settlement also sends a message about AI marketing. Companies can talk about future features, but consumers need clear timing and plain explanations. “Coming soon” can mean very different things when you are spending $800, $1,000 or more.

We reached out to Apple for comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.

FIRST 15 THINGS TO DO OR TRY FIRST WHEN YOU GET A NEW IPHONE

Apple denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle claims tied to its marketing of Apple Intelligence and Siri features. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

What this means to you

If you bought a covered iPhone during the settlement period, keep an eye on your email and regular mail. You may qualify for a payment if the court approves the deal.

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You should also keep your receipt or proof of purchase if you have it. Your Apple purchase history, carrier account or retailer receipt may help if the claim process asks for details.

More broadly, this is a reminder to treat AI features like any other big tech promise. Before you upgrade, ask one simple question: Can the feature do what is being advertised today, or is the company asking me to wait?

That question can save you from buying a device for a future feature that may arrive much later than expected.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Apple has built its brand on making technology feel polished, personal and easy to use. That is why this Siri settlement hits a nerve. People were buying phones they use every day for texts, photos, directions, reminders and everything in between. Many expected AI to make those everyday tasks easier, which is why the delay felt frustrating. The proposed payout may be modest, but the bigger issue is trust. When a company sells AI as a reason to upgrade, customers deserve to know what actually works now and what is still coming later.

Would you still buy a new phone for promised AI features, or would you wait until they actually show up? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Instagram hits the copy button again with new disappearing Instants photos

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Instagram hits the copy button again with new disappearing Instants photos

Instagram is once again cribbing from competitors like Snapchat and BeReal with a new photo-sharing format it calls “Instants,” which are ephemeral photos that you can’t edit and that you can only share with your close friends or followers that follow you back. Instants are available globally beginning on Wednesday as a feature in the inbox in the Instagram app and as a separate app that’s now in testing in select countries.

To access Instants from the Instagram app, go to your DM inbox and look in the bottom-right corner for an icon or a stack of photos. After you post a photo, your friends can emoji react to it and send a reply to your DMs, but after they see it, the photo disappears for them. Instants also disappear after 24 hours, and they can’t be captured in screenshots or screen recordings.

However, your Instants will remain in an archive for you for up to a year, and you can reshare them as a recap to your Instagram Stories if you’d like. You can also undo sending an Instant right after you post it or delete it from your archive.

The Instants mobile app, which popped up in Italy and Spain in April, gives you “immediate access to the camera” and only requires an Instagram account, Instagram says. “Instants you share on the separate app will show up for friends on Instagram and vice versa. We’re trying this separate app out to see how our community uses it, and we’ll continue to evolve it as we learn more.”

Instagram, in its testing, has seen that people “tend to use Instants to share much more casual, much more authentic moments about their day,” according to Instagram boss Adam Mosseri. “And we know that this type of sharing of personal moments with friends is a core part of what makes Instagram Instagram, but we also know that a lot of people don’t really share a lot to their profile grids anymore.”

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