Civilian crime-watching app Citizen is testing out a new on-demand security service that would work something like ride-hailing app Uber, but instead of a driver, the app summons a security detail. The product would, for example, let you request a security guard to escort you while walking late at night, according to a Citizen spokesperson, who described …
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If you’re on Spotify and have an Apple Watch, you’ll soon be able to listen on the go without an iPhone. On Friday the music streaming giant announced that it’s begun rolling out the ability to download playlists for offline listening to Apple’s wearable, bringing the Apple Watch on par with devices from Fitbit, Samsung and Garmin. It means runners, for …
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Twitter users itching to get verified on the social media site can soon apply for the coveted blue badge. In 2017, Twitter paused public submissions for verification amid confusion about what the blue check mark next to a person’s profile meant. The decision came after the company drew flack for verifying the account of a white supremacist. It later pulled the …
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Lego brick-building just went multiplayer and virtual in Snapchat. A free experience announced by Snapchat during its developer-focused Snap Summit livestream today overlays Lego bricks and models onto the real world with AR, but it also works with someone else nearby to try with you, or someone long-distance through the app. It’s one of a number of new initiatives by …
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Microsoft is finally putting the nail in the coffin of its Internet Explorer browser. As of June 15, 2022, the Internet Explorer 11 desktop app will be retired and go out of support for many versions of Windows 10, according to a Wednesday Windows 10 blog post. “The future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 is in Microsoft Edge,” the …
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On Wednesday, Twitter shared the results of analysis of its image-cropping algorithm, which it stopped using after users noted instances where it chose white individuals over Black ones in photo crops, and male-presenting ones over female-presenting ones, among other problems related to bias. Twitter tested the potential gender- and race-based biases of the algorithm, and found that in comparisons …
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Google I/O, the tech giant’s annual developers conference, kicked off on Tuesday and introduced Smart Canvas, a new collaboration tool in the Google Workspace. that brings Docs, Sheets and Slides together more efficiently. Rolling out through the rest of the year, Smart Canvas aims to make it easier to stay connected, focused and better use your time. Smart Canvas will …
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Conservative social media service Parler is once again available on Apple’s iOS App Store after being after being taken down following the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. The updated version of the app includes “enhanced threat and incitement reporting tools,” according to its App Store listing. The updated iOS app will also reportedly filter out posts on iPhones and …
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WhatsApp’s new privacy policy kicks in on Saturday, but the Facebook-owned messaging app is giving people a bit more time to review and accept the update. But, that won’t last forever. Here’s what the company says will happen if you continue to delay. After a “period of several weeks,” reminders about the new policy will become “persistent,” WhatsApp said in …
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Android malware is often deceptive. A mobile app called Ads Blocker, for example, promised to remove pesky ads from your phone, which sometimes pop up to cover your screen just when you’re about to access something important. But people quickly found the app was nothing less than malware that served up more ads, according to security researchers. It’s just one …
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