YC-Backed Locent Lets Businesses Sell Products Via Text Message

 Launching out of the Summer 2015 Y Combinator batch, Locent is an e-commerce platform powered entirely by text messages. One of the biggest challenges for online retailers is shepherding customers through a lengthy checkout process. By providing businesses with a custom, text-enabled phone number, Locent turns the checkout process into just a text message. Read More

MyTape Is A Video-Sharing App To Capture And See The World Around You

 Meet MyTape, a brand new social app for iOS centered around video. On MyTape, you follow people, shoot videos and watch stuff around you. It’s a sort of mash-up between Periscope and Frontback, and it will be interesting to see whether this new social app can find its audience. Read More

Early Apple Designer Susan Kare Joins Pinterest’s Creative Team

 Susan Kare, an early Apple designer behind some of the company’s early typefaces and icons, has joined Pinterest. She’ll be part of Pinterest’s creative team as a product design lead, according to the company. Kare designed many of Apple’s famous original icons, like the Lasso and Paint Bucket, and worked for Steve Jobs at NeXT as creative director. She’s… Read More

Maybe There Doesn’t Need To Be An Apple Watch App For Everything

 Should Apple be concerned that a number of popular app makers like Facebook, Google and Snapchat have yet to embrace its Apple Watch platform with apps of their own? That’s a question raised by a recent New York Times piece detailing how many developers are taking “wait-and-see” approach when it comes to Apple’s new wearable. But maybe the right question to ask is… Read More

Facebook Fuels Ad Tracking By Nagging App Users To Instantly Log In On Safari

 35 million people run into a Facebook email and password login roadblock on iOS each day, and over half of them bounce. That’s why Facebook confirms to me that its testing a new tool that lets users login to Facebook on Safari with one tap, rather than having to type in their credentials — which most don’t. It could ease frustrations for users while boosting Facebook’s… Read More

Requiem For The App Revolution

 The app revolution is dead. In fact, it died years ago. It had been a good run, but a revolution is no longer a revolution when the model is the status quo. With new apps created every day, the revolution has definitely been televised, commoditized and capitalized. But while the app revolution is dead, a new movement is rising to take its place — the experience evolution. Read More

Google Gives Android Developers New Beta-Testing Options

 Google has long given Android developers the option to manage closed beta tests from the Google Play Developer Console. To join these betas, users had to become part of a Google+ community or Google Group, however. That was obviously not the most intuitive way of joining a beta program, but at the time, this idea fit in well with Google’s obsession with all things Google+. Starting… Read More

Fashion Startup Everlane Arrives On Mobile With An App Catering To Its Biggest Fans

 Everlane, the fashion shopping site focused on selling high-quality apparel at lower prices than traditional designer retail, has today made the move to mobile. The company has now launched its first native smartphone application with the launch of Everlane on iOS, which allows shoppers to browse and buy its luxury items right from their phone. However, the app has a couple of interesting… Read More

Facebook Won’t Be An ISP, But Has Built An Internet-Shooting Drone For Carriers

 Facebook today detailed its plans for its solar-powered, laser-connected, Internet-beaming Aquila drones, but confirmed it’s not going to compete with Internet Service Providers. “Our intention is not to be an operator” Facebook’s VP of engineering Jay Parikh told an assembly of reporters. “We’re not going to be ‘Facebook ISP.'” Instead,… Read More

Pixar Alum-Led ToyTalk Teams Up With Mattel To Let Kids Chat With “Thomas The Tank Engine” And Friends

 Though some adults still feel awkward about having conversations with their smartphone’s mobile assistant, like Siri, kids today seem to have no qualms about chattering with our virtual helpers. My daughter, for example, thinks of Siri as just another of iPad’s toys. She also regularly instructs me to “ask Google” for the answer, and hits up our smart speaker… Read More

Google Adds 8 Carriers To Its Android For Work Partner Ecosystem

 When Google officially launched its Android for Work program earlier this year, it had already signed up a wide range of partners to help bring Android for Work to market. Today, it is expanding this program by adding a new device manufacturer and — for the first time — carriers to its partner ecosystem. Read More

Chat App Line’s Revenue Falls For First Time Amid Struggle For Global Growth

 Mobile messaging app Line saw its revenue decrease quarter-on-quarter for the first time as the Japanese company battles to grow its user base amid increased competition worldwide. The company, which saw its monthly active user count rise by 6 million to 211 million, posted revenues of 27.8 billion JPY ($224 million) for Q2 2015. That represents a 37 percent year-on-year increase, but a 1… Read More

GoButler Takes Its Virtual Personal Assistant Out Of Beta, Raises $8M

 GoButler has a straightforward premise — you should be able to send a text message and one of its “Heroes” will help you get whatever you need, whether you want to order dinner or make a flight reservation. Today, the startup is announcing that it has moved out of beta testing and is available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Read More