apps

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Meditation App Made Hay Out of the Election

Silent ad amid the talking heads gives Calm a big boost in the App Store

(Newser) - There's not much to the ad. No sound, no visuals. Just a blue background and a few words. But after an overwhelming election campaign, the ad from the Calm meditation and mindfulness app feels like a soothing balm. And it's paying off. After the silent ad appeared during...

When Beryl Hit Houston, Locals Turned to Whataburger

Not just to eat, but also to check for power outages via the Whataburger app

(Newser) - We'll take a burger, small fries, and an update on Hurricane Beryl, please. That's what Whataburger customers in Houston are getting served up via the fast-food chain's app, which is providing what Quartz calls "a unique view into the storm's aftermath"—specifically, where the...

Tokyo Is Giving a 'Gentle Push' to People Looking for Love

Japanese city to launch a dating app to help with the 'marriage hunting' process

(Newser) - In Japan, where birth rates are low , it's not unusual to see local governments hosting matchmaking events to encourage people to hook up and start a family. Now, the country's capital is taking things a step further and launching a dating app, expected to be released this summer,...

The First Move on Bumble Is Anyone's Game Now

It's no longer required that women make initial contact after a match is made on the dating app

(Newser) - Ladies, the pressure is off. Women who are reluctant to make the first move after matching with someone on Bumble can now sit back and wait for their potential partner to send an initial message. The dating app's new "Opening Moves" feature allows women to create a question...

Your Ride to the Airport on Wednesday Could Get Tricky

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash won't offer rides to or from airports in 10 US cities in protest for fair wages

(Newser) - Looking to catch a flight on Valentine's Day to visit your love? You may not be able to count on catching an Uber or Lyft to the airport, depending on where you live. That's because drivers for the two ride-sharing apps, as well as for food delivery app...

Nextdoor Isn't the Neighborly App We Thought
Opinion: Nextdoor Isn't the
Neighborly App We Thought
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Feb 10, 2024 12:45 PM CST

Opinion: Nextdoor Isn't the Neighborly App We Thought

Rick Reilly takes on the 'aspiring vigilantes' and petty complainers he says lurk on the platform

(Newser) - Imagine a friendly app where neighbors could check in on each other, offer sugar and eggs, and talk about pertinent area issues. Perhaps that was the original intent of Nextdoor, the hyperlocal social networking platform, but Rick Reilly, writing for the Washington Post , says it's turned into something else...

Google Says Bye-Bye to Bard, Hello to Gemini

Company retires its chatbot, releases an AI-driven upgrade that doubles as a digital assistant

(Newser) - There's a new chatbot/digital assistant in town, and it comes all in one package. In a "Siri meets ChatGPT" move, Google has retired its Bard chatbot and launched in its place the Gemini smartphone app, an artificial intelligence-driven tool announced Thursday that's now available to English speakers...

Apple, Google Pull App Linked to Sextortion Scams

Wizz, a Tinder-style app aimed at teens, says it's trying to remedy the 'technical hiccup'

(Newser) - A Tinder-style app geared toward teens has been yanked from both Apple and Google's app portals after warnings about sextortion. NBC News reports that, according to emails it viewed, Wizz was pulled on Tuesday from the Apple App Store following pushback from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation on...

The Downside of Grade-Tracking Apps

The Cut explores how parents can get too obsessed

(Newser) - Most public and private high schools these days use some version of learning-management software, tech that allows parents to check on their children's grades and whether they're keeping up with their schoolwork in general. The principle behind popular ones like Schoology is straightforward enough—"research has long...

When Seattle Phones Ping, It's a Sign Whales Are Near

The AP looks at a popular WhatsApp chat group that alerts members to sightings

(Newser) - Peter Bates was dropping his car at the mechanic this month when a notification pinged on his phone: Killer whales were approaching his Seattle neighborhood. He hopped on a bus toward the water, then an electric bike. He was pedaling along a shoreline trail when orcas' black fins and white...

In This City, an App Keeps Beach Harassers at Bay

Safer Plage app sends mediators to contend with obnoxious beachgoers in Marseille, France

(Newser) - Women in one French resort community are sick of being harassed while getting some rays on the beach—and now, there's an app to help them fend off such harassment. Time Out reports that the Safer Plage (Safer Beach) app has been downloaded more than 1,300 times since...

Venmo Changes Policy on Teen Accounts

Social payments app will let kids ages 13 to 17 join, get debit card—with parental OK

(Newser) - Teenagers will officially be allowed to open a Venmo account with a parent's permission, the company said Monday, expanding the popular social payments app to an age demographic that's likely to embrace it almost immediately. The Venmo Teen Account will be available for 13- to 17-year-olds and comes...

Senate Fears Federal Workers Are Using a 'Trojan Horse'

It passes bill that would bar the downloading, use of TikTok on government devices

(Newser) - TikTok has seen a smackdown of sorts across the nation, with multiple states banning use of the video hosting service on government devices. Now the Senate has voted in favor of a similar ban for federal employees, passing a bill that will need House approval before making its way to...

Mark Zuckerberg Has a Problem With Apple, Too

CEOs of Meta, Spotify, Fortnite also complain of company's 'monopoly'

(Newser) - Elon Musk may have eased his censure of Apple , but his initial attacks have ushered in a heap of criticism from elsewhere. Fellow billionaire Mark Zuckerberg echoed Musk's complaints that Apple has too great a hold on the app market on Wednesday. "Apple has sort of singled themselves...

Musk's Next Plans Apparently Include an 'Everything App'

On heels of Tesla/SpaceX CEO's renewed offer to buy Twitter, he references 'X'

(Newser) - With Elon Musk's plan to purchase Twitter apparently back on , he's now teasing his next move, and it sounds just as ambitious. Those intentions came via a rather cryptic-sounding tweet on Tuesday, and speculation on what he might mean is already making the rounds. "Buying Twitter is...

Popular Period Tracker Says It's Got Users' Backs on Privacy

Flo launches 'Anonymous Mode' to scrub customer identifiers that can aid in abortion prosecutions

(Newser) - As women scramble to delete period and fertility tracker apps from their mobile devices in the wake of last week's Roe v. Wade decision , with fears that data from such apps could be tied to prosecutions over abortion, one of the largest health apps is assuring customers their information...

Ruling Sparks Calls to Delete Period Apps

Experts caution data could be used in abortion prosecutions

(Newser) - Many users find menstrual period tracking apps helpful in trying to become pregnant, or avoid pregnancy, or just know when they're due for their next period. But the Supreme Court's rejection of Roe v. Wade increased the fear that the data collected by the apps could be turned...

Words Amazon Workers May Not Be Able to Say in App

Including 'union' and 'restroom,' per the Intercept

(Newser) - The Intercept reports that Amazon is working on a chat app designed to be used by its employees with the goal of boosting morale. That in itself is pretty humdrum stuff. But the reason the story is generating attention is because the Intercept also says Amazon plans to make some...

Uber Cuts Deal With New York Taxis
Uber Cuts Deal
With New York Taxis
Mar 24, 2022 5:55 PM CDT

Uber Cuts Deal With New York Taxis

Company's app will list all city cabs

(Newser) - Uber is short of drivers. Ride-sharing companies have cut into cabdrivers' income. An agreement that could ease both problems has been reached, allowing passengers in New York City to choose a cab when they order a ride on Uber's app, the Wall Street Journal reports. It's the first...

If You Can Eat a Taco a Day, Taco Bell Has a Tempting Offer

Get the 'Taco Lover's Pass' via the chain's app and enjoy a taco a day for 30 days, for a total of $10

(Newser) - Could you eat a taco a day for a whole month? What if we said you could do so for just a ten-spot? If that thought (and price) appeals to you, there's a subscription you may want to check out, courtesy of Taco Bell. "Fans whose New Year'...

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