Uber is also rolling out automatic trip switching. If you're waiting for a ride, but another, better journey is booked before your pickup, Uber will swap you over automatically. Passengers and drivers will receive a notification explaining the change, hopefully enabling a faster, more convenient journey. As an extension, the company is experimenting with a new feature called "predictive matching." If you're booking a ride and few drivers are available -- or the other passengers are miles away -- the app will hold off and wait for a better match-up. Uber will work this out based on historical trip data -- so if you live in a place where lots of bookings typically take place, there's a higher chance it'll wait for another journey.

Finally, Uber is helping drivers with clearer payment information and "route extension" maps. The latter repositions the app to show the next two pick-up locations (rather than just the next one). That way, drivers have a more complete picture about their journey, and can shuffle lanes or take turns that will make both passenger pick-ups easier to complete.