Until now, deleting the Uber app from your phone did nothing to cancel your account with the ride-hailing platform. To do that, you had to contact customer service. It’s still not that easy to end your relationship with Uber, but at least now you can do it without assistance from the company. [More]
updates
Walmart Adding Express Pharmacy & Money Services To Mobile App
By 2.28.17
In a bid to get you in and out of stores quickly and efficiently, Walmart is turning to its digital offerings. The big box retailer plans to roll out upgrades to its mobile app that will allow customers of its pharmacy and money service departments to complete some transactions through their phones and pick up items at new, dedicated “express lanes.” [More]
Apple Reportedly Taking On Google Maps With Road-Tracking Drones
By 12.1.16
When it comes to tracking and recording America’s roadways it makes sense that companies like Google would deploy camera-equipped vehicles to cruise the streets. But Apple has a different idea: take to the sky. [More]
An Emotion-Detecting Echo Speaker: Helpful Or Going Too Far?
By 6.13.16
Alexa, the virtual assistant inside Amazon’s Echo speaker — and its smaller versions — can order you a pizza, but can she tell that you’re upset when she confuses pepperoni with ham? Not yet, but the e-commerce giant is apparently working on giving Alexa the ability to gauge users’ emotions. [More]
PayPal Won’t Protect Your Payments To Crowdfunding Projects
By 5.9.16
If you’re using PayPal to help fund yet some friend’s hot sauce Kickstarter project, listen up. Starting next month, PayPal’s Purchase Protection won’t cover the transactions made on crowdfunding platforms. [More]
Amazon Improves Developers’ Ability To Use Alexa In Their Own Devices
By 3.23.16
While most of us only hear about Amazon’s personal assistant Alexa when it comes to the Echo speaker — and its new smaller versions — app developers have been able to tap into the tech via the Alexa Voice Services tool for their own devices, like alarm clocks or speaker systems. However, the capabilities available through the service weren’t as robust as those found in the Echo — until now. [More]
Got An Older Kindle? Update Your Device By March 22 Or It Won’t Connect To The Internet
By 3.21.16
Unless you’re happy reading the material that’s on your older Kindle right now forever and ever, you’ll want to heed Amazon’s advice, and quick: some e-readers will need to be updated by March 22, or they’ll lose the ability to connect to the Internet. [More]
It’s Almost Too Easy To Install Windows 10 — Even If You Weren’t Planning On It
By 10.16.15
There are many reasons someone might choose to delay installing Microsoft’s Windows 10: maybe you just want to stick with Windows 7 or 8 a little longer, or you don’t feel like making space on your PC to accommodate the new OS. But if you aren’t paying attention, you could end up downloading the OS installer anyway. [More]
Snapchat Now Lets Users Pay For The Ability To Replay Those Self-Destructing Messages
By 9.15.15
Snapchat, built on the premise that photos and videos sent between users would self-destruct in a matter of seconds, has allowed users the ability to replay one passage per day for nearly two years. Now, the social network is expanding that option, letting users replay as many messages as they want — so long as they’re willing to pay for it. [More]
New Spotify Privacy Policy Aims To Provide “Plain Language” Explanation For Collected Data
By 9.4.15
Just weeks after Spotify ticked off many of its 75 million active users with an updated, potentially invasive privacy policy, the music streaming service has once again revamped the terms, this time including an introduction that provides clear reasoning and examples of data collected. [More]
Uber Updates App To Show The Difference Between Hailing A Ride And Ordering Lunch
By 8.18.15
Following a bit of consumer confusion related to rolling its ride-hailing and food ordering options into the same app back in June, Uber has finally pushed out an update aiming to ensure people looking for a ride don’t order a sandwich instead. Along with now prominently displaying separate buttons for requesting a ride and ordering via UberEATS, the update includes an expansion of the food delivery service to San Francisco. [More]
Google, Samsung, And LG To Start Pushing Monthly Security Patches That You Still Won’t Get
By 8.7.15
There have been a number of very high-profile security flaws in Android phones this summer. The good news is, the makers of the hardware and software are now pledging to roll out updates to everyone more often. The bad news? “Everyone” doesn’t actually mean “everyone.” [More]
Apple Confirms It’s Not Getting Rid Of The iPod, Finally Updates The Device
By 7.15.15
Just a month ago, we flirted with the possibility that Apple’s recent removal of the iPod from the top of the company’s site – in favor of its new subscription music service – may have been the beginning of the end for the company’s music player. Alas, today, the tech giant revealed that, no, it’s not sending the iPod the way of the dodo bird, instead, it’s updated the device… for the first time in three years. [More]
No Charges For Fired TSA Screeners Accused Of Conspiring To Grope Attractive Male Passengers
By 7.8.15
You might recall the tale of two Transportation Security Administration screeners who were accused of conspiring to tweak the system so they could give very thorough patdowns to the good-looking male travelers who passed through their post at the Denver Airport. But months after the workers were fired amidst allegations of a groping scheme, prosecutors have declined to file charges. [More]
AMC Remodels Movie Theaters To Have Big, Reclining Seats, But Fewer Of Them
By 7.8.14
Imagine that you’re a potential investor in movie theater chain AMC, which became a publicly traded company last year. Executives share their exciting new sales pitch: they’re going to make more money by selling fewer tickets to each show. Wait, what? How does that lead to higher earnings? Auditoriums that fit fewer patrons will have comfier, recliner-style seats. [More]
Good News: Best Buy Doesn’t Really Charge $70 To Deliver Dryer Power Cord
By 6.17.14
Good news from Best Buy! Remember reader Christopher? He was shopping for a dryer on the Best Buy web site when he saw that while the delivery on his dryer is free, but delivery on his $30 power cord cost $70. There’s good news: Best Buy contacted him through us, and he learned that this was all a terrible mistake. [More]
Update: El Pollo Loco To Help Out Customer Whose $2,200 Was Stolen In Parking Lot
By 6.7.13
Last week, we told you about the unlucky El Pollo Loco customer who accidentally dropped $2,200 in the parking lot, only to have it stolen by another customer who then sat and ate his meal while his victim undertook a frantic search for the cash. Now we hear there is some good news, as the eatery plans to gift the money back to him. [More]
UPDATE: Travel Insurer Decides To Listen To Customer’s Doctor After Public Shaming
By 5.3.13
Last month, we told you about a California woman whose travel insurance claim was denied because the insurance company posed her doctor a single yes/no question rather than let him explain his patient’s condition. After being shamed in public, the insurer is changing its tune — at least for this case. [More]
