Uber rival promises a nicer ride through happier drivers

Numerous transportation outfits pitch themselves as anti-Ubers that aren't as relentlessly profit-minded as Travis Kalanick and crew, but Juno is trying something a little different: it's hoping that a mix of kindness and self-interest will win the day. The startup is launching a ride-hailing service in April that will not only focus on hiring better drivers (it's poaching some of Uber's highest-rated workers), but treating them well. They'll get more shares in the company the more they drive and the better their ratings. Think of it as the ridesharing equivalent to fair trade coffee, where the happier, more successful workers might translate to a better product.

The emphasis, as you might have guessed, is on "might." Juno's plan only really works if it becomes successful enough to either offer public stock or find a buyer. Also, it's not as if all its competitors are tight-fisted with their money. Lyft also makes a point of treating drivers nicely, such as by letting passengers offer tips. Having said that, it's hard to knock one more service that offers strong incentives to take care of you – you won't have to worry as much about abruptly cancelled rides or less-than-skilled drivers.

This article by Jon FIngas originally appeared on Engadget, the definitive guide to this connected life.