mobile applications - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• The average mobile YouTube session is now 40 minutes, Google says

  Why stop your video for a snack, or when nature calls, when you've got a smartphone?

• California fines Uber $7 million for not handing over service data

  California regulators have fined Uber more than US$7.3 million after the company failed to hand over data related to Uber's operations under an agreement between the state and the company.

• Here's how Google wants you to buy stuff on mobile

  Google is rolling out a new service that lets users buy retail items directly from the search results page on mobile devices, in an effort to make mobile search more useful and give advertisers a new way to attract customers.

• Uber settles suit over girl killed by driver

  Uber has reached a confidential settlement with the family of a girl who was hit and killed by an Uber driver.

• To Hillary Clinton, Uber is a double-edged sword

  When voters go to the polls in next year's presidential election, could a candidate's stance on the sharing economy factor into their decision?

• Instagram bumps up photo resolution to 1080 pixels

  Instagram is increasing the size of pictures users of its mobile app are allowed to post, finally opening the door of the photo sharing service to much more detailed images.

• Microsoft's new Tossup app tries to simplify getting friends together

  Tossup, a new Microsoft app for Android and iOS, aims to make it easier for users to poll their friends and get together.

• Samsung faces lawsuit in China over bloatware on phones

  A consumer protection group in China is suing Samsung Electronics and a Chinese vendor for placing too many preinstalled apps on phones, and is demanding that the whole smartphone industry eschew bloatware.

• Facebook tests a new way to show video - and make money from it

  Facebook is preparing a new way to show videos on the social network and opening the door to a new source of advertising revenue at the same time.

• Which songs stumped Shakira? Shazam will now show you

  Shazam is releasing a new version of its music recognition app that lets users connect with artists they like and see what songs they've searched for using its service.

• Uber grabs mapping tech, employees from Microsoft

  Uber is adding to its mapping smarts by acquiring technology used by Microsoft's Bing Maps, and has hired roughly 100 Microsoft employees who work on image collection and data analysis.

• Tech throws its weight behind US marriage ruling ... with rainbows, emojis and software

  When the Supreme Court issued its historic ruling on Friday legalizing same-sex marriage across the U.S., many of the biggest technology companies embraced the decision with characteristic flair through social media, on their sites, and with tools that others could use to show their support as well.

• Here's how Facebook wants to make sharing links easier on mobile

  Sharing links with friends in Facebook's mobile app is a pain that requires -- gasp -- leaving Facebook and copying and pasting URLs. Now there's a feature that simplifies the process.

• Yahoo spruces up mobile search with related content

  Yahoo is updating its search service on mobile devices, taking a leaf out of Google's book and highlighting content such as images, videos and reviews ahead of regular search results.

• New Salesforce line helps enterprises deliver in-app customer support

  Companies large and small are scrambling to keep up with the demands of an increasingly mobile world, and on Thursday Salesforce unveiled a new line of tools that's designed to help.