Snapchat is wonky or down for some after Chat 2.0 boosts interest

 Snapchat isn’t working correctly for many users, with Stories failing to load or snaps not sending. The outage comes just days after Snapchat released its big Chat 2.0 update that brought stickers and other new features, but possibly more traffic than the service could handle. DownDetector shows an increase in problem reports over the past few hours. Users also appear to be… Read More

Beatie Wolfe shows off her NFC-powered musical jacket

 The days of CDs and vinyl might be (mostly) over, but singer-songerwriter Beatie Wolfe is making music physical again, in a very literal way. Wolfe stopped by the TechCrunch New York office to show off her a jacket designed by Mr. Fish, who also created designs for legends like David Bowie and Mick Jagger. Not only does the jacket look pretty spectacular — it also uses NFC technology,… Read More

Apple releases iOS 9.3.1 with fix for bug that causes tapping links to crash iPhones

 Well that was quick. A couple of days after a bug affecting iOS started making the news, Apple has released a fix. iOS 9.3.1, now available on the iPhone and iPad, fixes this bug. The changelog is quite sort as there’s only one item. “Fixes an issue that caused apps to be unresponsive after tapping on links in Safari and other apps,” it says. Read More

Even Microsoft’s own presenters have given up on Windows Phone

 Sitting through all the keynotes at Microsoft’s Build, there’s one giant gaping hole in the coverage: Windows Phone was barely mentioned. In fact, it seems like the keynote speakers were actively avoiding the platform in most of the sessions, showing that Microsoft have basically thrown in the towel altogether. Read More

Flipd app forces you to put your iPhone away so you can get some work done

 Let’s face it, your phone is a blessing and a curse. Behind its sleek glass front is a whole world of excitement. All your friends, the entirety of the Internet and omg, a kitten video… If you haven’t the self-discipline to keep the phone away when you’re trying to get some work done, Flipd has your back. Today, a shiny new iOS version of the app joined its… Read More

Sure, why not? FBI agrees to unlock iPhone for Arkansas prosecutor

 The FBI, which just a few days ago was attempting to convince the country of its helplessness in the face of encrypted iPhones, has generously offered its assistance in unlocking an iPhone and iPod for a prosecutor in Arkansas Read More

Branch.co raises $9.2 million to bring financial services where banks don’t go

 San Francisco-based Branch International, or Branch.co, raised $9.2 million to bring digital financial services to mobile phone users in Sub-Saharan Africa. Andreessen Horowitz led the Series A round. Branch’s free-to-download Android app is a kind of “branchless bank for the next generation,” says founder and CEO Matt Flannery. Read More

Moovit expands accessibility features for blind users

 It’s easy to get caught up in the new, cool thing aspect of transportation tech and apps, but there’s some real social benefit and freedom to be found here. Take, for instance, Moovit’s latest upgrade. The public transportation app recently added features to make it easier for blind users to take transit using VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android) integration. The app… Read More

ACLU map shows locations of 63 ongoing phone-unlocking cases

 In case you thought the recently and abruptly terminated fracas in San Bernardino was an isolated incident, the ACLU has put together a handy map of cases around the country where the All Writs Act has been used to justify an order to unlock a smartphone. Read More

Firefox for iOS gets updated with better security, protection for your passwords

 Late last year, Mozilla debuted the public version of its Firefox for iOS web browser, and today the organization is rolling out a notable update in terms of its security. According to an announcement published to Mozilla’s blog, the browser will now introduce several features aimed at improving the security protections available in the app – useful especially in the case of a… Read More

A rant about why Snapchat 2.0 is no disappearing teen fad

 Ignore Snapchat at your own peril. It’s a lot more than sexts and ephemeral photos. Today’s Chat 2.0 update makes Snapchat a competitor to your phone itself. What started as an app for horny high school kids has blossomed into the most vibrant communication platform on the market. Watch my video rant above to see why Snapchat suddenly got a lot more important, see a demo of the… Read More

Instagram needs editing tools to make new 60-second videos tolerable

 Most people are terrible at shooting video. Any longer than 15-seconds and it will probably be boring. That’s why Instagram capped videos at a quarter-minute when it launched the feature in 2013. Yet today it extended the length to 60 seconds for user-shot or uploaded videos. That’s why I have a hunch that Facebook and Instagram are preparing to launch a more powerful set of… Read More

Google Fiber’s latest innovation is a landline

 Google Fiber may be the holy grail of Internet service for many, but many people still rely on landlines for everyday communication purposes or emergency use. In order to allow its subscribers to sever connections with the old local ISPs and telecoms completely, Google will soon offer home phone service for Fiber subscribers. Read More