apps – News Stories About apps - Page 1

Harassed on the Beach? There's an App for That

In This City, an App Keeps
Beach Harassers at Bay

Sep 5, 2023 10:55 AM CDT

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

May 22, 2023 2:46 PM CDT

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'

Dec 15, 2022 9:29 AM CST

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

Dec 1, 2022 12:17 PM CST

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'

Oct 5, 2022 9:50 AM CDT

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...

Jun 30, 2022 8:11 AM CDT

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

Jun 27, 2022 1:14 AM CDT

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

Apr 5, 2022 1:46 PM CDT

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

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

Jan 10, 2022 9:30 AM CST

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'...

Parler Receives
a Major Cash Infusion

Jan 7, 2022 1:25 PM CST

Parler Receives a Major Cash Infusion

It's not clear in this week's SEC filing where the $20M in new funding for the right-wing app came from

(Newser) - Last year at this time, social media app Parler was struggling a bit, rendered more or less inaccessible after Google Play, Apple, and Amazon yanked it for violent content tied to the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol. Parler eventually made somewhat of a return online, and a new...

Tesla Users Find
Out What Happens
When App Doesn't Work

Nov 22, 2021 9:30 AM CST

Tesla Users Find Out What Happens When App Doesn't Work

Drivers worldwide were stranded when apparent outage made them unable to unlock, start their cars

(Newser) - There's something to be said for a physical key to unlock and start your car. Tesla drivers around the globe found that out last week when the app they use to perform such functions was apparently affected by an outage, leaving them stranded. The BBC reports that just after...

Broken Hearts, Empty Wallets:
Seniors Catfished for $139M

Oct 22, 2021 5:20 PM CDT

Broken Hearts, Empty Wallets: Seniors Catfished for $139M

FTC report says there was a 'surge' in 2020 in romance scams bamboozling Americans 60 and over

(Newser) - Last month, the Department of Justice announced money laundering and wire fraud charges brought against nearly a dozen "romance scammers," and that's only scratching the surface of what the Washington Post calls a "surge" in such deceptions made worse by the pandemic, especially for the senior...

It's a Huge Milestone for TikTok

Sep 28, 2021 11:19 AM CDT

It's a Huge Milestone for TikTok

App reaches 1 billion monthly active users, for 45% growth since July 2020

(Newser) - TikTok is celebrating a huge accomplishment: recruiting one in 7.5 people on the planet to tune in to its videos each month. The company announced it had reached 1 billion monthly active users in a Monday blog post , while Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Pappas thanked users in—what else?—...

Judge's App
Store Ruling
a Blow to Apple

Sep 10, 2021 12:26 PM CDT

Judge's App Store Ruling a Blow to Apple

Restrictions have been loosened—good news for app developers, and possibly consumers

(Newser) - A federal judge ordered Apple to dismantle part of the competitive barricade guarding its closely run App Store, threatening one of the iPhone maker's biggest moneymakers. It could potentially also save app developers billions of dollars that could encourage them to lower the prices paid by consumers, per the...

'Vigilante' App Raises
Eyebrows in NYC, LA

Jul 27, 2021 8:49 AM CDT

'Vigilante' App Raises Eyebrows in NYC, LA

Controversial neighborhood-watch app pays users to livestream crime scenes, other emergencies

(Newser) - There's a new twist to local journalism in New York City and Los Angeles, and it's raising eyebrows. Citizen, which already has upward of 7 million users in dozens of US cities, promises safety alerts in real time, but recent job listings seen by the New York Post...

Bumble's 'Resilient' Workers
All Get This Week Off, Paid

Jun 22, 2021 8:52 AM CDT

Bumble's 'Resilient' Workers All Get This Week Off, Paid

As 'a way to thank our team'

(Newser) - Facilitating love matches is no walk in the park, especially during a pandemic, hence Bumble's worldwide staff is getting a paid "fully offline" vacation this week. The dating app, which requires women to make the first move, has closed all of its offices so its 700 employees can...

Trump Executive Orders on
TikTok, WeChat Are Replaced

Jun 9, 2021 10:20 AM CDT

Trump Executive Orders on TikTok, WeChat Are Replaced

Under new order, Commerce Dept. will complete 'evidence-based' analysis

(Newser) - The White House has dropped Trump-era executive orders that attempted to ban the popular apps TikTok and WeChat and will conduct its own review aimed at identifying national security risks with software applications tied to China, officials said Wednesday. A new executive order directs the Commerce Department to undertake what...

It's a 'Criminal Takedown
Like We Have Never Seen'

Jun 8, 2021 9:25 AM CDT

It's a 'Criminal Takedown Like We Have Never Seen'

More than 800 arrested around the world, thanks to FBI's encrypted messaging app

(Newser) - The app was lauded by criminals around the world, who promoted it "for its absolute reliability," says Jannine van den Berg, chief constable of the Central Unit of the Dutch police, per the Washington Post . "But nothing was further from the truth." The encrypted messaging app,...

Twitter Introduces a 'Tip Jar'

May 7, 2021 7:13 AM CDT

Twitter Introduces a 'Tip Jar'

You can easily send money to certain users from their profile

(Newser) - "Show your love, leave a tip." It's now possible, Twitter announced Thursday in introducing a new test feature designed to allow you to easily send money to your favorite accounts. To use the so-called "Tip Jar" feature, available to English-speaking users of Android and iOS app...