Update: In a tweet, Signal said the disruption is due to a hosting outage. Hold tight, folks! Signal is currently down, due to a hosting outage affecting parts of our service. We’re working on bringing it back up. — Signal (@signalapp) September 27, 2021 Signal is down for many users right now. Its status website […]
This Week in Apps: PayPal launches ‘super app,’ Twitter adds crypto tips, Apple won’t take Fortnite back
Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the weekly TechCrunch series that recaps the latest in mobile OS news, mobile applications and the overall app economy. The app industry continues to grow, with a record 218 billion downloads and $143 billion in global consumer spend in 2020. Consumers last year also spent 3.5 trillion minutes using apps on Android devices alone. […]
Operations observability platform Avenue launches with $4M
Avenue is building a command center for operations teams.
Amazon assembles video streaming apps to fight with Netflix and Disney in India
Amazon has launched Prime Video Channels in India, allowing its customers to subscribe to eight streaming services including Discovery+ and Mubi from one hub (Prime Video website or app), the latest in a series of efforts by the U.S. giant to win customers in the South Asian nation. The new offering makes it easier for […]
Undisclosed private companies analysing facial data from NHS app
Fresh privacy concerns raised after NHS refuses to reveal firms used for ID verification process Undisclosed companies are analysing facial data collected by the NHS app, which is used by more than 16 million English citizens, prompting fresh concern a…
NYC passes bills to improve conditions of app-based delivery workers
The New York City Council passed bills today that will set minimum pay and improve working conditions for gig workers making deliveries for apps like Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats. More specifically, the bills allow delivery workers to use restaurant bathrooms, limit how far they can be asked to deliver, set minimum payments per trip […]
Duolingo doesn’t want to disrupt the college degree
CEO and co-founder Luis von Ahn returned to Disrupt this year to explain how the sophistication of public markets impacts the company’s strategy.
Google powers up assistive tech in Android with facial gesture-powered shortcuts and switches
Making smartphones more accessible is always a good idea, and Google’s latest features bring quick actions and navigation to people whose expressions are their primary means of interacting with the world. Project Activate and Camera Switches let users perform tasks like speaking a custom phrase, or navigating using a switch interface, through facial gestures alone. […]
Apps to reach record highs in Q3 of 36B downloads and $34B in consumer spending
A new forecast on the state of the app economy indicates the third quarter will see record-breaking revenues spent on apps and games. According to App Annie, consumers worldwide will spend $34 billion on apps and games in Q3, a 20% year-over-year increase on spending. The increase indicates that the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on consumer […]
Grow Therapy plants $15M into helping therapists start their own practices
The behavioral health startup helps therapists launch their own private practices that are covered by insurance.