Author: Merrel Briona

Recently, a video circulating online shows a Waymo driverless taxi attempting to evade a police car on a highway. The incident actually occurred in May 2026 in San Francisco, USA.

That day, passenger Elliot Slade and his fiancée hailed a Waymo driverless vehicle through the platform, planning to travel from San Mateo back to their home in the Mission District. The highway section where the incident occurred was undergoing construction, and the California Highway Patrol was conducting a traffic control operation by pacing vehicles at reduced speed, with a patrol car ahead slowing traffic and guiding civilian vehicles to queue up at lower speeds. Other vehicles in the traffic flow slowed down in line, but the Waymo did not stop to queue—it activated its turn signal and attempted to maneuver around the patrol car to continue forward. After entering the construction-only lane, the vehicle continued to accelerate for approximately 20 seconds. Eventually, the vehicle exited the highway and came to a stop in a residential area. The passengers connected with Waymo back-office staff by phone, and Slade stated he demanded to get out immediately and refused to continue the trip.

After the incident, Waymo responded that it had temporarily suspended highway Robotaxi operations in four cities—San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Miami—and that the team would update and recalibrate the vehicle software based on this incident, with highway routes to be restored after further evaluation. Waymo subsequently provided Slade with 3 ride vouchers, each worth up to $40. Slade said he most likely would not use them, would no longer ride in driverless taxis that require highway travel, and stated that unless an independent investigation is completed and full data is made public, it would be difficult for him to trust autonomous vehicles again.

Wired headphones may now seem out of place on a modern pair of headphones, but Sony is bringing back the very iconic MDR-3R – in its original design that accompanied the original Walkman in 1979, right down to the blue and orange ear pads. But with a modern twist: It now now connects through USB-C.

In short, it’s just like the original headphone where you just plug it into the headphone jack of a device. Everybody loves retro devices in 2026 and I can see why the resurrected MDR-3R will be appealing for both old and young audiophiles. But there is also other quality of life changes, including a built-in microphone for calls and an in-line remote, so the retro look doesn’t mean giving up the conveniences we expect from contemporary wired headphones today.

Retrolicious design

The MDR-3R keeps the original’s lightweight, open-ear design and uses the same 23mm driver units as the original MDR-3. But Sony has also made some subtle refinements to cater to the modern listening ears, while keeping to the original sound. You also get both blue and orange ear pads in the box. Even the packaging and instruction manual borrow from the original.

Sony is also leaning into the headphones’ 1980s roots with a Stranger Things Edition. Inspired by Max’s headphones and the TV show’s Upside Down, it features an engraved Stranger Things logo and custom packaging. If you’ve watched the Netflix hit series, you’ll get the synergy here.

Availability and pricing

The standard MDR-3R will be available for S$89, while the Stranger Things Edition goes for S$129. Pre-orders are open through Sony Store and Sony Store Online, with both models launching in Singapore from December 2026.

Kevin Scott, Microsoft’s chief technology officer, speaks during an interview on the sidelines of the Nikkei Forum Global Management Dialogue 2026 in Tokyo on Nov 11. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)