Category: Tech news

 Quite a few reports circling the web this week appear to indicate a tightening of WhatsApp’s policy toward the usage of third-party WhatsApp client applications. That is, word has it that those using an unofficial app will be banned from WhatsApp for life. However, that’s not exactly the case, WhatsApp explains. In fact, there’s been no larger policy shift since we last… Read More

 This week, John and friends ventured off into the land of Mobile World Congress to check out the latest and greatest that mobile has to offer. The Galaxy S6 was finally unveiled, but it was actually HTC that surprised us with a new VR headset preview. We veer off on various tangents throughout, so as usual, this podcast is a bit like a box of chocolates. We’re also trying out a… Read More

 HBO Go finally hit the PS4 this week bringing the online streaming service to the best selling next-gen console. But of course it doesn’t work with Comcast. Why would it? HBO Go hit the PS3 last year and Comcast subscribers still can’t use the service. Comcast tells TechCrunch that their subscribers have many other ways to access HBO on other devices. A spokesperson points to the… Read More

 US Marshals have sold the last batch of 50,000 seized Silk Road bitcoins at auction after a surprisingly quiet sealed bidding process. The USMS has not announced the name of the winner of the entire collection of bitcoin but VC Tim Draper has been quietly buying these seized coins for the past year.
The auction marks the end of one of the oddest US auctions on record. When the Marshals… Read More

 Denver-based Photobucket, one of the web’s older brands which offers a photo and video-sharing service online and on mobile, has closed on $3.6 million in new funding, an SEC filing reveals and the company confirms. The additional capital is part of a larger, still-in-progress round, which sees the photo sharing service seeking around $8.1 million in new funding. Read More

 As a seasoned self-published author with an excess of one book under my belt, I’ve been looking for new and interesting publishing tools for indie writers. Recently I found something called Publishizer, a crowdfunding system just for books. While I’m not entirely convinced it’s the way to go for new authors, it does seem like a compact and focused solution for getting your… Read More

Venture capital firm Formation 8 has been removed as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in January against tech entrepreneur and investor Joe Lonsdale from a former girlfriend alleging sexual assault, battery, and other charges. Lonsdale, who co-founded security and defense technology firm Palantir, is also a co-founder of Formation 8. He has vigorously denied all of Clougherty’s claims, and… Read More

 Over the course of investigating the Apple Watch, I’ve spoken to several sources who have spent extended time with it. There are a lot of interesting details, some of which we’ll get into. But, by far, the biggest recurring theme is how little you use your iPhone once you have one. After these discussions, it seems certain that the Apple Watch will shortly be the primary way you… Read More

 Blippar, an augmented reality ad platform that uses real-world tags to deliver extra AR content in offline situations, has raised $45 million in new funding from undisclosed investors. This comes on the heels of a big 2014 for UK-based Blippar, wherein the company made its first acquisition by purchasing Layar in June. Combined, the merged companies boast over 50 million global users. But… Read More

The Chromebook 13’s great looks and long battery life don’t make up for poor performance.

The post Review: Acer Chromebook 13 appeared first on WIRED.

 App development platform maker Appcelerator is looking to change the way it does business. Unfortunately for many employees at the company, that meant a massive re-organization that saw about 30 percent of its staff let go last week. Read More

 If you’re looking for a way to gain the skills necessary to get a gig developing for iPhone and iPad, but unwilling to commit to a full-time college or university schedule, Udacity might have the answer. The online education platform debuted something called a “nanodegree” last year, and enrolment for the iOS developer edition of the same just opened to applicants today. Read More

 Word started going around back in January that Etsy, the online market for handmade goods, was planning to go public.
Sure enough, they’ve just filed the forms to get the ball rolling. Read More

 Since 2013, the Internet Archive has provided access to old console games, arcade titles and even MS-DOS classics like Oregon Trail. In a talk at GDC, Internet Archive curator Jason Scott explained how and why the non-profit preserves history by making sure games from the past aren’t lost as we move on from old hardware and software platforms. “The thing about computer software… Read More

 With the shift to mobile devices, businesses today have a need to reach their customers wherever they are – and that includes marketing to their customers outside of email alone. A Y Combinator-backed startup called Outbound wants to help today’s marketers run campaigns that go beyond just tracking “opens and clicks,” and can also reach customers using… Read More