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Uber uses AI to determine if your trips are for business or pleasure
If you rely on ridesharing for work trips, you might have experienced that moment of panic where you accidentally expensed a personal trip to your business account, or paid from your own funds to get to the airport for a company flight. Uber thinks it can set your mind at ease by introducing a profile recommendation system that uses machine learning to help you switch between business and personal accounts in its mobile app. The AI technology can detect travel patterns and predict which account you're most likely to need at any given moment. If you usually visit a regional office but have the day off, the app may ask about switching to a personal account when you request a trip to the spa.
FDA approves contraceptive app Natural Cycles
The FDA has now granted marketing approval to an app that tracks a user's temperature and menstrual cycle in order to determine which days they are fertile and which days they aren't. The contraceptive app, called Natural Cycles, was approved in Europe last year. "Consumers are increasingly using digital health technologies to inform their everyday health decisions, and this new app can provide an effective method of contraception if it's used carefully and correctly," said Terri Cornelison, assistant director for the health of women at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "But women should know that no form of contraception works perfectly, so an unplanned pregnancy could still result from correct usage of this device."
Facebook nixes Friend List Feeds, but Friend Lists live on
Facebook has been culling various features that take it away from its new "back to basics" emphasis on people over brands. It ended its Explore Feed test after it found that not many people liked splitting their news feed. Now the company is getting rid of another type of feed: Friend List Feeds. A message posted to the Facebook app says that the feeds based on your Friends Lists will be unavailable starting today, August 9th. Facebook said it was doing this to "focus on improving your main News Feed experience."
Google to let more app developers offer 'Instant' trials this year
Google's just released Android 9.0 -- aka Pie -- so it seems like as good a time as any for the company to reflect on some of the platforms achievements in recent times, and to consider what's on the horizon. In a blog post, director of Google Play, Apps & Games Purnima Kochikar has outlined some of the behind-the-scenes milestones Google Play has seen this year, and hints at a more "instant" experience for app developers in the future.
Untappd adds messaging for all your beer-related chats
Untappd has long been the app of choice for many beer drinkers looking for the best brews in town. To make it easier to find out what's worth checking out at your local bars or share that great IPA you just found with your friends, Untappd has added direct messages. You can plan an outing with your buds or simply share your knowledge of excellent beers, breweries and venues with them.
Now you can disable threaded Gmail conversations for iOS and Android
Google has continued to tweak its Gmail mobile apps to try and make things better for its users. The company introduced AI-powered notifications for iOS, added custom swipe actions for Android and has tweaked its threaded conversation view for years. Search for this latter feature on Google, however, and you'll see a ton of people asking how to disable it. Now Google has made it so you can turn this option off for the Gmail app on iOS and Android.
Snapchat update leaked some of its iOS app's source code
Snap's user losses aren't the only things the company has had to worry about as of late. A spokesperson has confirmed to Motherboard that a May update for the Snapchat iOS app exposed a "small amount" of its source code, and that someone posted that code to GitHub. The company used a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown request to have the material removed and said the leak "did not compromise our application."
InfoWars fans flock to apps following recent bans
While a number of tech companies have purged their sites of Alex Jones podcasts and accounts over the last couple of days, not all InfoWars-related content has been taken down. And what's still available continues to attract interest. CNBC reports today that the InfoWars app, which is still available through the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, is being downloaded quite a bit, taking the fourth spot in Apple's chart of top free news-related apps. As of writing, the app was number 12 in Google's chart of top free news and magazine apps.
Facebook's revamped Pages help you find local businesses
Facebook's effort to promote all things local is now shifting more toward nearby shops. The social site has launched a slew of updates that should help you both find local businesses and actually do business. It's revamping mobile Pages to help you interact with locations, such as making a restaurant reservation. You'll also see Stories on Pages to get a feel for the company culture, not to mention more prominent access to events, photos and offers. You'll also see related Pages to help you discover other local establishments, although it might not please businesses if Facebook points you to one of their rivals.
Moment Pro camera app now supports the Pixel 2's custom HDR chip
One of the biggest selling points of Google's Pixel 2 is undoubtedly its camera, thanks largely to the Pixel Visual Core -- the custom chip that makes Pixel photos really pop. Some third-party apps such as Snapchat and Instagram have built in support for this, and now the Moment Pro Camera app is joining the fold. It's not a huge surprise -- Moment announced it would be launching a Pro Camera app for Android about a month ago, and said it would roll out support for Pixel Visual Core in a future update. And here it is.
Windows 'Your Phone' app gives you access to Android files on a PC
If you have an Android device and happen to be a Windows Insider in the Fast ring, as well, you're among the first people who can take Microsoft's "Your Phone" app for a spin. Microsoft has started testing the experimental application, which gives you easy access to the files on your phone from a Windows 10 PC. Sure, you can use third-party and cloud services (or you can email yourself), but the feature promises a more seamless way to access files across devices. When you access Your Phone on a computer, you'll see the most recent snapshots on your Android device. You'll then be able to drag and drop them straight into another app, like PowerPoint if you're doing a presentation.
Facebook's app will personalize navigation to fit your social habit
Facebook adds new features on the regular. It has recently revamped its Marketplace section, made its news feed more friend-focused and changed algorithms to reduce fake news and clickbait. Now, Facebook is redesigning the navigation bar in its mobile app to better show you shortcuts to things you use most often. The company said that the new system should roll out globally in the coming weeks.
Chase links its payment app to Samsung Pay so you'll actually use it
Do you use Chase Pay for your retail shopping? No? We won't blame you -- its insistence on using QR codes for purchases makes it far less convenient than tap-to-pay services, not to mention less common. Now, however, it's admitting that it needs to get with the times. Chase has introduced an option to link its payment app to Samsung Pay, letting you use either NFC or stripe-simulating MST tech to clinch the deal. It's much easier when you're in a hurry, of course, and makes the Chase Pay app useful in millions more places. Moreover, there's strong financial incentive -- linking the two will help you earn both Chase Ultimate and Samsung reward points, and it should be easier to redeem your Chase points in the process.
Telegram Passport stores your real-world IDs in the cloud
Telegram has rolled out a massive update for mobile, which gives it the ability to store copies of your IDs in the cloud. The new feature, called Passport, can share your identification documents with other apps and services whenever needed. Telegram describes it as a "unified authorization method" financial services and other industries can use to verify your identify, so you won't need to upload photos of your passport or driver's license again and again.
Apple's revamped Store app now features voice search
Next time you fire up the Apple Store app to look up the MacBooks, iPhones and compatible accessories you can buy, just say the keyword out loud. Cupertino has rolled out voice search for its Store application on iOS -- you only need to tap the mic icon in the search bar to get the app to recognize your words.
Nike Training Club for Apple Watch helps you focus on your workout
Workout-centric apps like Nike Training Club can help you refine your gym routine. There's one main problem, though: they typically ask you to stare at your phone, which can disrupt your flow and waste time between sets. Nike, at least, knows it can do better. It's releasing a version of its Training Club app for the Apple Watch with the aim of keeping your focus on the workout, rather than reaching for your handset. You have to start a workout on your iPhone, but after that you can concentrate on getting fit.
Twitter tightens requirements to get rid of 'low quality' apps
Twitter's efforts to fight spam are now focusing more on the apps generating that junk. As of today, every developer who wants to use Twitter's app toolkit has to go through an account application process that verifies both use cases and a creator's adherence to the social network's policies. The process had been available since November, but it'll be mandatory from now on -- and Twitter is promising to enforce it within 90 days. Combined with a 10-app limit, Twitter is hoping this will cut down on spam-producing and "low-quality" apps.
Motiv ring is ready to track your activity on Android
Motiv's Android app is now out of beta, and the full version comes with features its iOS counterpart had upon launch. It can track your activity, sleep and resting heart rate, it works with Amazon's Alexa voice assistant and it has the ability to share the data it collects with your friends and family. In addition, the full application now supports Google Fit, giving you a way to see Motiv's data with the info collected by your other apps and devices.
Pioneer's DJ app can upload your mixes directly to SoundCloud
DJs make up a huge part of the SoundCloud user base, uploading long mixes and gathering original electronic music to include in live performances. Pioneer is taking advantage of this fact with an update to its iOS mix recording app, DJM-REC. The company has just made it possible to record and share your DJ mixes directly from the app to your SoundCloud account.
This day in Engadget history: The iPhone jailbreak era begins
Engadget has been around for 14 years and counting, which means our archives contain a veritable treasure trove of technology history. From notable reviews and news to the more mundane or ridiculous finds from across the internet, there's a lot to explore here. "This Day in Engadget History" will take you on a historical voyage as we look at what made the headlines in years past. Join us, won't you? It's definitely been a while since anyone seriously needed to jailbreak their iPhone. While undoubtedly some people still do, it seems like there's little need now that we've seen the tenth anniversary of the iOS App Store. There are plenty of apps these days and a whole different OS (Google's Android) for those who want something a little more customizable.