HeadSpin, a startup that creates a platform to help developers more easily test apps and sites on mobile devices, has raised $US20 million in Series B financing. This three-year-old startup is now worth $US500 million. Co-founder and CEO Manish Lachwani drew on his experiences from Google, Zynga and other companies to solve the difficulties he faced when testing mobile apps. Over three-fourths of Americans own smartphones, which means that it’s incredibly important for tech companies to nail their mobile apps. But testing those apps to make sure they’re working correctly can be a hassle. HeadSpin, a Silicon Valley startup, allows developers to easily test, debug and monitor mobile apps and sites in real-time on actual devices. Oftentimes, developers use a simulator on their computers to test these apps, but even then, there might be unexpected bugs on the actual mobile app when used by real customers on a real phone. And investors see potential for this idea: On … [Read more...] about This ex-Googler’s mobile app testing startup is now worth $500 million after only three years
Mobile apps
Mobile app seen as help line during flight delays, cancellations
MANILA -- Air passengers beset with delays or cancellations now have a direct line to authorities using a mobile app that also lists down their rights, a regulator said Thursday. The APRB app will be available for download on Android devices from 11 a.m. An iOS version for Apple devices is also in the works, said Wyrlou Samodio, head of the Civil Aeronautics Board's legal division. "Kadalasan ng reklamo naming natatanggap, hindi sinasabi ng airline na entitled ang pasahero sa rights. Hangga't maaari iiwas 'yan. With that application, ikaw na mismo ang magsasabi na, 'dapat ibinibigay mo sa amin ito dahil karapatan namin 'yan,'" Samodio told DZMM. (Most of the complaints we receive, airlines usually don't tell the passengers their rights. They avoid it as much as possible. But with the app, a passenger can say, 'give me this because that is my right.) Another version with Filipino translations may be launched in December, in time for peak traffic, he said. … [Read more...] about Mobile app seen as help line during flight delays, cancellations
Natwest outage: Online banking and mobile app are both down
Natwest’s online banking is down this morning, leaving millions of users without digital access to their accounts. The bank’s mobile app cannot establish a connection, and refers users to an online status page, which fails to open. Read more: Barclays faces probe from Treasury Select Committee into six-hour outage “We’re aware of some issues on our Online and Mobile Banking services and are working hard to fix them,” Natwest tweeted. “Telephone Banking and ATMs are available. Sorry and thanks for your patience.” Customers were left frustrated. The problems appear to have started at around 7am. It assured users its systems remain secure, directing them to its automated phone service to make transfers and view balances and statements. It comes after City A.M. yesterday reported that Barclays faces a Treasury Select Committee investigation into a failure that saw customers unable to use its online banking services for six hours earlier this week. … [Read more...] about Natwest outage: Online banking and mobile app are both down
Lawsuit renews focus on privacy policies for mobile apps
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Researchers have warned that many popular free mobile apps aimed at children are potentially violating a U.S. law designed to protect the privacy of young users. Some brushed off the findings, but a federal lawsuit filed this week by New Mexico's top prosecutor is renewing focus on the public's growing concerns about whether information on online interests, browsing and buying habits are slipping into the hands of data brokers without their consent. Serge Egelman, a member of the research team based at the International Computer Science Institute at the University of California, Berkeley says there's no easy way even for a fairly savvy user to figure out whether an app is collecting location data and other personal information. The institute has been awarded a grant by the National Science Foundation to continue analyzing apps and expanding a database that parents can search for more information. … [Read more...] about Lawsuit renews focus on privacy policies for mobile apps
New Mexico sues mobile app makers over kid privacy concerns
Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press Updated 8:50 pm CDT, Wednesday, September 12, 2018 FILE- This April 26, 2017, file photo shows a Google icon on a mobile phone in Philadelphia. New Mexico is suing Google, Twitter and other companies that develop and market mobile gaming apps for children, saying the apps violate state and federal laws by collecting personal information that could compromise privacy. The lawsuit filed in federal court late Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, comes as data-sharing concerns persist among users. less FILE- This April 26, 2017, file photo shows a Google icon on a mobile phone in Philadelphia. New Mexico is suing Google, Twitter and other companies that develop and market mobile gaming apps for children, ... more Photo: Matt Rourke, AP FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2015 file photo, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas talks during a news conference in Albuquerque, N.M. New Mexico is … [Read more...] about New Mexico sues mobile app makers over kid privacy concerns