Business

The Tesla Cybertruck Is Impressive And Worrying

Published

2 months ago

2024-02-24

There was a time when an electric Tesla truck, built to compete with America’s most popular goods, the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, appeared to be the perfect way to propel Tesla into the mainstream.

Then, in 2019, Elon Musk revealed the Tesla Cybertruck, a bare metal box with wheels. It is the furthest thing from the mainstream. This truck has ardent fans and much more ardent detractors. However, it has good towing and hauling capabilities despite its edgy design limiting its usability. For some clients, the sacrifice is unquestionably worthwhile.

However, it is possible that Ford and GM are overly concerned.

If it’s a popularity contest, they win. Even after I put a rented Tesla Cybertruck next to a hot-pink McLaren supercar in a shopping centre parking lot in California, the McLaren drivers couldn’t stop chatting about the Cybertruck. The large, bright silver truck drew a crowd everywhere I went, attracting both young people waiting to see one in person and others, usually older, who had no idea what it was.

The Tesla Cybertruck Is Impressive And Worrying

The Tesla Cybertruck resembles nothing else on the road. Its size, which is not quite as long as a Ford F-150 but appears even larger, is also striking. Of course, once the Cybertruck has been on the market for a time, its appeal will fade.

There’s much to enjoy about the Cybertruck, but it also represents a terrible amount of personal arrogance in cold, unforgiving steel. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has prioritized design and technical goals over customer needs and concerns for other drivers’ safety. As Walter Isaacson’s latest biography of Musk explains, Musk’s obsession with this structure, built from the same steel SpaceX uses for rockets, resulted in the rectilinear mass of naked metal that I was driving through the southern California hills.

It was the most enjoyable electric truck I’d ever driven. I’ve driven practically all of the other electric trucks on the market, including Fords and Rivian, and I don’t anticipate any of them outperforming Cybertruck’s sports-car-like performance. Normally, it is not a priority in a pickup. It has exceptional acceleration and steering that feels quick, sensitive, and agile. Its powerful acceleration, fast steering, and custom-designed Goodyear truck tyres reminded me of driving the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato, a high-performance sports vehicle outfitted with off-road tyres and higher suspension. However, the Cybertruck is significantly larger and heavier.

Even a light tap on the accelerator swiftly pushed everyone else behind. With its drive-by-wire steering system, a tiny turn of its small, rectangular steering wheel produced tight bends at lower speeds, but it was easy to keep the truck in its lane at greater speeds. With four-wheel steering, it can turn around in a smaller area than one may imagine.

Tesla did not provide CNN with a Cybertruck for testing. Instead, we rented one for more than $1,000 daily from Turo, a-to-peer vehicle rental service. (Turo does not determine the rates; vehicle owners do, and Cybertruck charges have decreased slightly since then.) My Turo host guided me through the Cybertruck’s several unusual controls – by non-Tesla standards.

Instead of a stalk, steering wheel buttons control the turn signals. (Again, this is comparable to a Lamborghini or Ferrari.) I swiped up and down on a truck icon on the centre screen to shift the truck into drive or reverse. (If the screen ever goes blank, there is a row of gear selector buttons on the ceiling, right over the windscreen.) And I had to hunt around on the touchscreen to find the control for the Cybertruck’s single massive windscreen wiper. Everything made sense after driving the vehicle for an hour.

So, what’s with the rearview mirror?
It features a rearview mirror on the windscreen, but it is largely ineffective. With the bed cover closed, nothing is visible from the back window.

Many current SUVs include rearview mirrors that double as video screens, displaying a view from a camera installed in the rear. Tesla could have employed a comparable technology but didn’t. The Cybertruck’s back video view is presented in a small rectangle on the truck’s centre screen. It’s always there while you’re driving.

The Tesla Cybertruck Is Impressive And Worrying

This seemingly trivial element reveals Tesla’s approach to car controls. The only justification for having the rearview video display within the rearview mirror is that this is where drivers are accustomed to viewing. Similarly, the only purpose for a turn signal stalk is because it is what people expect. For better or worse, Tesla is okay with what you’re used to.

There are indicators that this mentality contributes to greater crash rates, yet if Tesla were designing a vehicle from the start, the unusual choices would be entirely understandable.

Then there’s the Cybertruck’s unusual shape. Other firms have been producing pickup trucks for well over a century, and there are reasons why they are rarely shaped like wedges. In this case, the Cybertruck’s obvious and unnecessary desire to stand out is a hindrance.

Not suitable for freight.
If you load the cargo bed in the Cybertruck and decide you want to reach anything in the front or back window, you’ll need to begin unpacking. It is not accessible by reaching over the side of the bed. The side wall is too high.

Unlike other large trucks, the Cybertruck has nowhere to put your foot to help you reach over the cargo bed’s edge to save the back tyre, which may be sticky with mud and filth. There isn’t even much room to stand on the rear bumper.

The “frunk,” or front trunk, is a rather ineffective afterthought compared to the one on the Ford F-150 Lightning. Ford’s is just larger and has plenty of power outlets, making it a truly useful office. The Cybertruck is useful as a place to sit. However, there is a reasonably sized storage bin.

For now, the Cybertruck is also more expensive than the Lightning. The Foundation Series truck that I drove cost more than $100,000. It will be next year before Tesla says it will begin building trucks for under $60,000.

Most problematic, however, is the manufacturing quality. The cabin is relatively good, although spartan, but that’s the easy part, especially because Tesla eliminates most switches. The difficult element is creating a body from stainless steel, particularly one with relatively straight edges that do not conceal misalignments.

Body panel alignments are primarily cosmetic in most automobiles and trucks. Having large, irregular gaps between different body portions does not look nice. However, most automobiles are not composed of thick, hard-edged stainless steel. Our Cybertruck’s front corners had openings large enough to see daylight through and hard edges protruding from the body.

The Tesla Cybertruck Is Impressive And Worrying

I was concerned that if this vehicle collided with a pedestrian or if someone slid while climbing over the bedside, the unforgiving metal might inflict serious injury. It’s not knife-edged, but it appears to rip through the skin when it hits soft flesh with enough force. I emailed Tesla to see if they had any issues, but I am still awaiting a response. Tesla has been waiting to respond to CNN’s questions for years.

This is not a truck that customers will buy in large numbers, and it’s not simply because Tesla still needs to produce them. It’s entertaining and engaging, but there’s little need to acquire this instead of something more ordinary and useful for those who want to get the job done. It doesn’t do much better – or at least anything significant – than a Ford F-150 Lightning or a Chevrolet Silverado EV, and it will undoubtedly be worse in several critical respects.

If you want to attract a crowd, this is your ride. At least as long as the novelty lasts.

SOURCE – (CNN)

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Kiara Grace

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

Business

Online Retailer Shein Is Latest To Face Strict European Union Digital Regulations

Published

5 hours ago

2024-04-27

Kiara Grace

VOX - VOR News Image

LONDON —Shein, an online fast-fashion retailer, has been placed on the European Union’s list of major platforms that require heightened examination. This will subject the company to the bloc’s most stringent digital restrictions.

The European Union’s Executive Commission has officially categorized Shein as a “very large online platform” by the Digital Services Act, a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at improving the safety of online platforms and protecting internet users.

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Online Retailer Shein Is Latest To Face Strict European Union Digital Regulations

Shein is an affordable e-commerce company that originated in China but is currently headquartered in Singapore. Its primary means of reaching clients is through its application. The corporation committed to actively collaborating to establish a secure and lawful environment for our online community.

Leonard Lin, Shein’s worldwide head of public relations, agreed with the Commission’s goal of providing European Union consumers with a secure online shopping experience. He affirmed Shein’s dedication to contributing to this objective. “We also have a shared dedication to the fundamental values of openness and responsibility that form the foundation of the DSA.”

Shein has grown rapidly in the Western market by providing affordable clothing and household products, focusing on younger women. This has been achieved through collaborations with online influencers and celebrities on social media platforms.

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Online Retailer Shein Is Latest To Face Strict European Union Digital Regulations

With its user base exceeding 45 million in Europe, Shein is obligated to comply with the most rigorous regulations by August. The company implements efforts to safeguard online users and addresses and reduces any potential “systemic risks” associated with its services, such as restricting the sale of unlawful or counterfeit items.

According to the Commission, Shein is required to modify its user interfaces and recommendation algorithms to mitigate any potential dangers to customers’ safety and well-being. Additionally, Shein must submit annual risk assessment reports that evaluate the potential harm to consumers, focusing on youngsters.

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Online Retailer Shein Is Latest To Face Strict European Union Digital Regulations

The European Union has already included 22 prominent technology companies, such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Amazon, and Google Search, on its roster of major online services that require the highest level of oversight since the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) last year.

Other online services operating in the European Union are not exempt and must adhere to the law’s main criteria. Infractions can result in penalties of up to 6% of a corporation’s yearly global income.

SOURCE – (AP)

Innovation

NASA Astronauts Arrive For Boeing’s First Human Spaceflight

Published

1 day ago

2024-04-26

Kiara Grace

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The location is Cape Canaveral, Florida. On Thursday, the two NASA astronauts designated for Boeing’s inaugural manned space mission arrived at the launch site approximately one week before their planned departure.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been selected as test pilots for Boeing’s Starliner capsule, marking its inaugural crewed mission following significant delays. On Thursday, they traveled by air from Houston to Kennedy Space Center.

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NASA Astronauts Arrive For Boeing’s First Human Spaceflight

Scheduled for launch on May 6 using an Atlas rocket, the Starliner spacecraft will go to the International Space Station for a week-long test mission. Boeing is endeavoring to close the gap with SpaceX, which has been conducting manned space missions for NASA since 2020.

Boeing’s two earlier Starliner test flights were unmanned. The initial launch in 2019 was unsuccessful in reaching the space station due to software malfunctions and other technical issues. Boeing replicated the demonstration in 2022. In more recent times, the capsule encountered problems with its parachutes and had to address the issue of flammable tape that needed to be eliminated.

Wilmore emphasized that this is a test flight intended to uncover any anomalies.

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NASA Astronauts Arrive For Boeing’s First Human Spaceflight

Do we anticipate flawless execution? “This is the inaugural manned voyage of the spacecraft,” he informed the press. “I am confident that we will discover information.” This is the reason why we engage in this activity.

NASA enlisted the services of SpaceX and Boeing ten years ago, allocating billions of dollars to facilitate the transportation of personnel to and from the space station. Despite the space station’s planned closure by 2030, the space agency remains enthusiastic about procuring capsules from two rival businesses to transport its astronauts.

“That is of utmost importance,” Wilmore remarked.

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NASA Astronauts Arrive For Boeing’s First Human Spaceflight

Wilmore and Williams are set to become the inaugural astronauts to embark aboard an Atlas rocket since NASA’s Project Mercury in the early 1960s.

SOURCE – (AP)

Business

The TikTok Law Kicks Off A New Showdown Between Beijing And Washington. What’s Coming Next?

Published

1 day ago

2024-04-26

Kiara Grace

Understanding What Happens When You Buy TikTok Followers

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WASHINGTON – TikTok is preparing to engage in a legal battle against a U.S. legislation that would compel the social media platform to sever its connections with its China-based parent company. Chinese authorities likely support this action, as the intense rivalry between the United States and China jeopardizes the future of a highly popular online platform for young Americans to connect.

Beijing has indicated that TikTok should resist what it perceives as a “robbers” move by U.S. politicians who aim to seize all the valuable assets possessed by others. If a judicial challenge is unsuccessful, experts believe that Chinese authorities are unlikely to permit a sale, as this may be interpreted as yielding to Washington.

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The TikTok Law Kicks Off A New Showdown Between Beijing And Washington. What’s Coming Next?

Alex Capri, a senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore and research fellow at Hinrich Foundation, suggests that Beijing is concerned about the negative implications that the U.S. action against the popular short-form video platform could have, as it may establish an undesirable precedent. “If Beijing surrenders to the United States, what will be the ultimate outcome?”

Parent firm ByteDance issued its first formal comment on the new rule in a post on Toutiao, a Chinese news app owned by the company. The statement explicitly mentioned that ByteDance has no intention of selling TikTok. In response to media reports, the firm based in Beijing addressed the speculation around exploring potential possibilities for selling TikTok’s U.S. business.

The legislation that U.S. President Joe Biden signed this week may allow Washington to extend its reach to target other China-related apps, such as the well-known e-commerce platform Temu, according to Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief for the party-run newspaper Global Times. Furthermore, it could encourage U.S. allies to take similar actions.

According to Hu, a political commentator, TikTok, with its 170 million American users, should display more courage and determination by refusing to give up and fighting until the very end.

TikTok has pledged to contest the recently enacted U.S. legislation that mandates ByteDance to sell off its ownership interests within a one-year timeframe in order to prevent a ban. The corporation has described the regulation as a violation of the freedom of expression of its users, the majority of whom utilize the program for amusement purposes.

The company expressed confidence in its position, stating that it firmly thinks the facts and the law support its case, and they are confident in its ultimate victory.

The dispute around TikTok has escalated the tensions between the United States and China, as both countries have pledged to safeguard their economic and national security concerns. U.S. legislators are apprehensive about the Chinese ownership of the application, as it may potentially enable Beijing to exercise undesirable influence on the United States, particularly on the impressionable minds of young individuals.

Washington has achieved a series of triumphs in reducing the influence of Chinese corporations through bans, export controls, and forced divestitures. This has led to protests from Beijing, who believe that the U.S. is intentionally trying to suppress China’s economic growth through coercion.

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The TikTok Law Kicks Off A New Showdown Between Beijing And Washington. What’s Coming Next?

The United States has previously compelled Chinese corporations to sell off their assets. For instance, in 2020, Beijing Kunlun, a Chinese mobile video game company, agreed to divest itself of the gay dating app Grindr following a directive from the federal government. However, TikTok, which was developed by a Chinese corporation exclusively for the international market, serves as a prominent example of China’s technological prowess on a worldwide scale. Beijing is determined not to relinquish control over this influential platform.

Gabriel Wildau, managing director of Teneo, a consultancy and advisory firm based in New York, stated that national dignity is at risk and may be prioritized over the financial interests of ByteDance investors, especially global investors with a 60% stake in the company.

The corporation is anticipated to mount a legal battle that will heavily rely on First Amendment considerations and has the potential to be protracted for several years. Analysts assert that Beijing is relying on a favorable legal outcome.

The course of action to be taken if TikTok fails to succeed is currently under discussion with the Chinese authorities, according to Dominic Chiu, an analyst with Eurasia Group. Chiu stated that President Xi Jinping, who has the authority to approve or disallow the transaction, has likely yet to make the definitive choice.

Fortunately for Xi, Beijing does not face any immediate pressure to decide, according to Sun Yun, the director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington. “There is a possibility for numerous alterations,” she stated.

If lawmakers’ desire for a sale of TikTok is fulfilled, the procedure is expected to be complicated for the company. TikTok would need to separate its activities in the United States from all other aspects of its business.

Firstly, the cost of acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations, although undisclosed, is anticipated to be substantial enough to significantly restrict the number of potential investors and companies capable of affording it. Several investors, including former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, have already positioned themselves as potential purchasers of a U.S. iteration of TikTok. According to market tracker Pitchbook, ByteDance, a privately held company, has a valuation of $220 billion.

There is now a lack of clarity on the fate of the TikTok algorithm, which is the secret formula responsible for delivering personalized short videos to users depending on their preferences. This algorithm has played a significant role in establishing TikTok as a dominant force in popular culture.

ByteDance would be prohibited from having control over the algorithm of a U.S. subsidiary of TikTok. According to many experts, Chinese authorities are likely to prohibit the sale of the technology that appears in people’s TikTok feeds, based on the amended export regulations of 2020. After the federal courts blocked former President Donald Trump’s attempt to outlaw TikTok through an executive order, this revision took place.

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The TikTok Law Kicks Off A New Showdown Between Beijing And Washington. What’s Coming Next?

According to certain individuals, including Mnuchin, it is necessary to reconstruct TikTok in the United States by employing novel technology. However, it is uncertain how this will manifest or how effectively it will replicate the kind of video suggestions that viewers have become accustomed to.

According to Robin Burke, a professor of information science at the University of Colorado Boulder, certain elements of the algorithm might potentially be duplicated by individuals within the company. However, he also observed that TikTok has certain areas where it outperforms its competition, making it difficult to replicate.

“TikTok possesses extensive experience and a wealth of data,” Burke stated. “I believe it is improbable for a U.S. company, without inheriting the technology from its parent company, to construct something of equal caliber.” Definitely not immediately.

SOURCE – (AP)