Never be bored in an Uber again: Car firm's app will customise music and even news for each trip

Uber is set to allow app makers access to its service to give riders customised music, news and even restaurant reviews.

The firm, which dropped off its one billionth rider over the holidays, will open its app's API to anyone.

Riders will be able to customize their ride by creating a personalized playlist, getting news updates, reviewing restaurants they were just picked up from and more.

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The firm, which dropped off its one billionth rider over the holidays, will open its app's API to anyone. Riders will be able to customize their ride by creating a personalized playlist, getting news updates, reviewing restaurants they were just picked up from and more 

'This got us thinking … what if developers could also offer users of their apps new ways to enjoy themselves — or get stuff done — while they’re on the road?' Uber's Chris Saad said in a blog post.

'So today we’re excited to announce the launch a new developer feature called Uber Trip Experiences which connects riders with their favorite apps at the start of a trip when they may have some time to spare.'

The firm has been working with firms to develop the service. 

'We’ve seen tremendous adoption by the development community at large, including strategic partners such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Citymapper, Transit App, and TripAdvisor.'

It will also hold a hackathon to kickstart the new service, it said. 

The firm also addressed privacy concerns. 

'Users will be in complete control,' Saad wrote.

'They will need to give permission before any app can connect to Uber and access their trip details.

'And if they find it’s not useful, users will be able to turn off the feature on an app by app basis.' 

Riders can pull up reviews about their destination and also find exclusive offers they can use when they get there.

It is also hoped smart home gadgets will use the service - if home heating and air is hooked up to a smart device, you will get a reminder to turn it on or off while you're sitting comfortably in the back seat of an Uber driver's car.

You can create a 10 minute playlist with the music of your choice. Only jumping in the car for five minutes? Uber gives you a five minute update on what's happening in the news at the moment. Riders can pull up reviews about their destination and also find exclusive offers they can use when they get there

These are just some possibilities offered with this new feature.

Others might see this as a way for other brands to flood riders with advertising and bombard them with notifications while they are on their trip, according to The Verge.

It also might sound a little weary in that all of these third party apps can access your information and location.

But Uber doesn't want you to worry, so it has designed this in a way that you must 'give permission before any app can connect to Uber and access your trip details', according to Uber's blog post.

And if you aren't blown away by certain apps, you can simply turn them off – one by one.

According to Bloomberg, Uber is valued at $62.5 billion and is picking up riders in more than 300 different cities in the US and 67 different countries around the world.

And as the ride-hailing company faces competition with other rivals, such as Lyft, it is looking for ways to beat the competition.

And if your home heating and air is hooked up to a smart device, you will get a reminder to turn it on or off while you're sitting comfortably in the back seat of an uber driver's car. These are just some possibilities offered with this new feature

It also might sound a little weary in that all of these third party apps can access your information and location. But Uber doesn't want you to worry, so it has designed this in a way that you must 'give permission before any app can connect to Uber and access your trip details'

In last August the company opened its services up to allow customers to elect food to be delivered to their door within ten minutes or less - with drivers also available to run errands.

And most recently, last month the enabled Facebook users to summon cars from the ride-sharing service using the Messenger smartphone application.