Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

Friday 3 November 2017 TECHNOLOGY
A24
You can shower with the new Kindle - you just can’t read

By ANICK JESDANUN paying attention instead to
AP Technology Writer what’s in front of me.)
NEW YORK (AP) — Ama- OTHER FEATURES
zon’s top-of-the-line e- Overall, the Oasis is a great
reader is now waterproof device for booklovers —
— an excellent feature for though the waterproofing,
a $250-and-up investment. with its limits, isn’t enough
But don’t go scuba diving on its own to justify the pre-
just yet. Your Kindle Oasis mium model.
might not survive. You can pair the new Kin-
Huh? How is that water- dle with Bluetooth head-
proof then? And what sets and enjoy integration
about the optional cover? with Amazon’s Audible au-
THE FINE PRINT ON WATER- diobook service. You can
PROOF switch between the text
The new Oasis is designed and audio versions of your
to survive up to an hour book without losing your
in up to two meters (6.5 place. Unfortunately, you
feet) of fresh water, not the have to buy both versions
higher pressure of anything to do this.
deeper — such as a scuba The larger 7-inch screen on
dive. the Oasis makes the other
Fresh-water protection is Coffee is spilled onto a new Kindle Oasis E-reader, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, in New York. Amazon’s devices’ once-adequate
great, but you’re more like- top-of-the-line e-reader is now waterproof. 6-inch screens seem too
ly to read by a swimming Associated Press small. Amazon says the
pool or on the beach. proof.” Amazon says that Waterproofing is meant to started changing, and Oasis fits 30 percent more
Amazon says you’ll still get means minor spills, but not protect the device from all sorts of other settings words. The Oasis also has
some protection from chlo- lengthy submersion. To be accidental splashes and popped up. During a hot more built-in lights for
rinated or salty water — safe, choose a dark color spills, not underwater read- shower, pages turned on greater brightness. And
just not as much as what’s to conceal any stains. The ing. their own. unlike phones and tablets,
promised for fresh water. pricier leather covers ($60) Common with other gad- While walking in a storm, the e-reader isn’t prone to
Same goes for coffee spills. won’t resist water at all, gets, the touchscreen gets rainwater distorted the text, glare — or to such distrac-
As for that cover, the which defeats having a errant when wet. Reading like a magnifying glass, and tions as Facebook and text
standard version with wo- waterproof e-reader in the during an ice-cold bath I had to wipe many drops notifications. Though you
ven fabric ($45) is “wa- first place. was fine, until I submerged away. (In any case, I prob- can get other Kindles for
ter safe” but not “water- READING WHEN WET the device. The font size ably should have been that — and pay far less.q
Google and AutoNation partner on self-driving car program

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)
— Google is partnering
with AutoNation, the coun-
try’s largest auto dealer-
ship chain, in its push to
produce self-driving cars
for wide use.
AutoNation said Thursday
that its dealerships will pro-
vide maintenance and
repairs for Waymo’s self-
driving fleet of Chrysler Pa-
cifica vehicles.
Waymo is Google’s auto-
mated vehicle technology
wing.
The agreement will include
additional models of ve-
hicles when Waymo brings
them on line.
Terms of the multi-year
deal were not disclosed.
Google started off with a
fleet of 100 autonomous
Pacificas and has an-
nounced plans to add 500.
Waymo is negotiating with In this Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, file photo, a Chrysler Pacifica hybrid outfitted with Waymo’s suite of sensors and radar is displayed at
other automakers, such the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Associated Press
as Honda, about autono- accomplish that, AutoNa- markets and also puts other car-centric companies like joined the chase. General
mous vehicle systems, the tion CEO Mike Jackson said brands in service, we have Avis, the ridesharing com- Motors and Ford, along
company said. Thursday in an interview. expertise on any vehicle pany Lyft, and Fiat Chrysler. with other big technology
The vehicles likely will be The dealership chain, he they want to put into ser- Since Google first began companies, including Ap-
driven for several hundred said, has maintained more vice,” Jackson said. pursuing self-driving vehicle ple and ride-hailing service
thousand miles, and they’ll than 40 million vehicles. Waymo has been part- technology in 2009, a wave Uber, are developing their
need to be maintained to “As Waymo moves to other nering with a number of of major players have own technology. q