Huawei Huawei’s new OS is for industrial use, not Android replacementTechCrunch - Brian HeaterSeems Hongmeng isn’t the Android replacement it’s been pitched as, after all. The initial story certainly tracked, as Huawei has been preparing for the very real possibility of life after Google, but Chinese
Huawei Huawei 5G indecision is hitting UK’s relations abroad, warns committeeTechCrunch - Natasha LomasThe UK’s next prime minister must prioritize a decision on whether or not to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei to be a 5G supplier, a parliamentary committee has urged — warning that the country’s international
Startups Watch an unfiltered interview of PicsArt founder at Disrupt BerlinTechCrunch - Romain DilletSmartphones have become a creative playground thanks to cameras and innovative apps, such as PicsArt. With PicsArt, anybody can add filters, stickers and tweak photos and videos in many different ways.
Chuck Schumer FaceApp gets federal attention as Sen. Schumer raises alarm on data useTechCrunch - Devin ColdeweyIt’s been hard to get away from FaceApp over the last few days, whether it’s your friends posting weird selfies using the app’s aging and other filters, or the brief furore over its apparent (but not circumvention
Netflix Netflix will roll out a lower-priced subscription plan in IndiaTechCrunch - Manish SinghNetflix said on Wednesday that it will roll out a cheaper subscription plan in India, one of the last great growth markets for global companies, as the streaming giant scrambles to find ways to accelerate
Facebook Facebook’s regulation dodge: Let us, or China willTechCrunch - Josh ConstineFacebook is leaning on fears of China exporting its authoritarian social values to counter arguments that it should be broken up or slowed down. Its top executives have each claimed that if the U.S. limits
Technology Highlights from Facebook’s Libra Senate hearingTechCrunch - Josh ConstineFacebook will only build its own Calibra cryptocurrency wallet into Messenger and WhatsApp, and will refuse to embed competing wallets, the head of Calibra David Marcus told the Senate Banking Committee
Technology Blackstone is acquiring mobile ad company VungleTechCrunch - Anthony HaPrivate equity firm Blackstone just announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire mobile advertising company Vungle. The companies aren’t disclosing the financial terms, but as part of the transaction,
Play buttonFacebook Facebook’s testimony to Congress: Libra will be regulated by SwissTechCrunch - Josh ConstineThe head of Facebook’s blockchain subsidiary Calibra David Marcus has released his prepared testimony before Congress for tomorrow and Wednesday, explaining that the Libra Association will be regulated
Technology Waze now shows road toll prices along your driving routeTechCrunch - Darrell EtheringtonNavigation app Waze is making getting to where you’re going even easier – or at least more transparent. A new feature rolling out today will show you any tolls along your route, including the actual amount
Huawei No technical reason to exclude Huawei as 5G supplier, says UK committeeTechCrunch - Natasha LomasA UK parliamentary committee has concluded there are no technical grounds for excluding Chinese network kit vendor Huawei from the country’s 5G networks. In a letter from the chair of the Science & Technology
Play buttonTechnology Facebook answers how Libra taxes and anti-fraud will workTechCrunch - Josh ConstineFacebook provided TechCrunch with new information on how its cryptocurrency will stay legal amidst allegations from President Trump that Libra could facilitate “unlawful behavior”. Facebook and Libra executives
Startups Sage Plus for Experts gives travel experts a central place to share their contentTechCrunch - Anthony HaSage is giving reviewers, chefs and other experts and publishers a central place to share all their content. To do this, the startup has created a new product called Sage Plus for Experts, which isn’t
Startups N26 launches its challenger bank in the U.S.TechCrunch - Romain DilletEuropean fintech startup N26 is now accepting customers in the U.S. The company is launching a bank account with a debit card that should provide a better experience compared to traditional retail banks.
Apple Watch Apple disables Walkie Talkie app due to vulnerability that could allow iPhone eavesdroppingTechCrunch - Matthew PanzarinoApple has disabled the Apple Watch Walkie Talkie app due to an unspecified vulnerability that could allow a person to listen to another customer’s iPhone without consent, the company told TechCrunch this
Waymo Waymo has now driven 10 billion autonomous miles in simulationTechCrunch - Darrell EtheringtonAlphabet’s Waymo autonomous driving company announced a new milestone at TechCrunch Sessions: Mobility on Wednesday: 10 billion miles driving in simulation. This is a significant achievement for the company,
Snapchat Snapchat announces new shows from Serena Williams, Arnold Schwarzenegger and othersTechCrunch - Anthony HaSnapchat just announced that it’s making shows with big names like Serena Williams, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kevin Hart, as well as online stars like Emma Chamberlain, Loren Gray, Rickey Thompson, Baby
Coffee Shops Cloosiv gives local coffee shops a mobile ordering experience on par with the mega chainsTechCrunch - Greg KumparakStarbucks’ mobile ordering app has proven wildly popular for the company, with reports indicating that it had more users than the likes of Apple Pay or Google Pay last year. The convenience is just too
Startups Bunq lets you track and settle up group expensesTechCrunch - Romain DilletFintech startup Bunq is announcing a handful of new features today, such as a way to track group expenses without creating a joint account, a web app and better Siri integration. If you usually track expenses
Startups AppLovin acquires SafeDK to improve brand safetyTechCrunch - Anthony HaMobile marketing company AppLovin is announcing that it has acquired SafeDK. While AppLovin started out as a mobile ad business, it now bills itself as “a comprehensive mobile gaming platform,” offering
Play buttonGaming Dr. Mario World now available on iOSTechCrunch - Darrell EtheringtonNintendo’s latest mobile game is now available for iOS devices, a day before its official target launch date. The game is based on the Nintendo game created in 1990 for the NES and Game Boy, and re-released/re-made
Uber If you’ll pay more, new Uber Comfort offers Quiet RidesTechCrunch - Josh ConstineYou can get access to Uber’s controversial Quiet Ride button that lets you ask your driver for silence if you’ll pay a 20% to 40% premium atop the UberX price. Today the Uber Comfort tier launches in cities
Technology Facebook will start taking a cut of fan subscriptions in 2020TechCrunch - Anthony HaFacebook will take a cut of up to 30% on fan subscriptions, beginning on January 1, 2020. The social network is revealing its plans as part of a broader slate of monetization-related announcements this
Startups India’s NiYO ‘neo-bank’ raises $35 million to digitize payroll and employee benefitsTechCrunch - Manish SinghNiYo Solutions, a Bangalore-based ‘neo-bank’ that helps salaried employees access company benefits and other financial services, has raised $35 million in a new round to expand its business in the nation
Google Play India’s Android antitrust case against Google may have some holesTechCrunch - Manish SinghIndia ordered an investigation into Google’s alleged abuse of Android’s dominance in the country to hurt local rivals in April. A document made public by the local antitrust watchdog has now further revealed
Gaming HQ Trivia has paid out $6M, but winners complain of delaysTechCrunch - Josh ConstineHQ Trivia’s troubles continue after a failed mutiny to oust the CEO, a 92% decline in downloads since versus a year ago, and layoffs of 20% of its staff last week. Now TechCrunch has learned HQ has failed
MLB Ballpark app adds Apple Business Chat-powered concierge experience for All-Star gameTechCrunch - Brian HeaterJust in time for tonight’s Home Run Derby, Major League Baseball is rolling out a new feature on its Ballpark app that utilizes Apple’s Business Chat feature for a customized in-person experience. MLB
Adam Mosseri New Instagram features flag potentially offensive comments, allow you to quietly ‘restrict’ usersTechCrunch - Anthony HaInstagram announced two new features today that it said are designed to combat online bullying. In both cases, the Facebook -owned service seems to be trying to find ways to limit bad behavior without
Robocall FCC proposal would let it punish international robocallersTechCrunch - Devin ColdeweyWhile the FCC and Congress hammer out new rules to (hopefully) banish robocalls forever, there are some short-term solutions that can help in the meantime — and one may arrive in just a few weeks. A new
