Cindy Wang’s whole life is on WeChat.Through the Chinese everything app, the 24-year-old shops for clothing and sends photos and audio messages to her grandma and uncle in Guangzhou. It’s how she schedules appointments with her hairstylist and where she found her bao supplier — a local woman who sells the steamed buns out of her car.For millions of people around the globe, and … [Read more...] about WeChat is a lifeline for the Chinese diaspora. What happens now that Trump banned it?
Technology
News Analysis: Uber and Lyft might halt California operations over a labor fight. That may help them in November
Uber and Lyft warned they might temporarily shut down their services in California in response to a court ruling forcing them to start treating drivers in the state as employees. A brief closure might seem like a drastic move, but it’s not exactly surprising. In fact, such a shutdown could prove to be a means for Uber and Lyft to appeal to voters — both riders and drivers alike … [Read more...] about News Analysis: Uber and Lyft might halt California operations over a labor fight. That may help them in November
Forget credit cards — now you can pay with your face. Creepy or cool?
A new way to pay has arrived in Los Angeles: your face.As so-called contactless payments rise in popularity during the pandemic, a Pasadena company called PopID is rolling out the nation’s first payment system based on facial recognition at a smattering of restaurants near its headquarters, including mom-and-pop operations such as Daddy’s Chicken Shack and regional chains such … [Read more...] about Forget credit cards — now you can pay with your face. Creepy or cool?
Column: The maker of ‘Fortnite’ complains that Apple and Google are monopolists. No kidding
Battles among behemoths are always entertaining to witness, as long as one can keep a safe distance. The donnybrook between Epic Games, the maker of the immensely popular game “Fortnite,” on the one hand and Apple and Google on the other falls into that category. So far, it’s a draw, but a lot of social media hubbub will be heard and lawyer fees will be spent before it’s over. … [Read more...] about Column: The maker of ‘Fortnite’ complains that Apple and Google are monopolists. No kidding
Column: Protecting your privacy shouldn’t be this hard. Here’s a better idea
There’s so much to worry about right now, protecting your privacy shouldn’t be another source of anguish.Yet privacy — or lack thereof — remains one of the most important issues of our time as multibillion-dollar companies do all they can to gather and exploit user information worldwide.Heck, it’s such a crucial matter, President Trump has threatened to shut down TikTok in the … [Read more...] about Column: Protecting your privacy shouldn’t be this hard. Here’s a better idea
As Trump threatens ban, TikTok launches U.S. ad campaign
TikTok on Tuesday announced a nationwide ad campaign that features people who create content for the viral social video app. The move comes as the company, owned by China-based ByteDance, faces growing pressure from President Trump, who believes the app is a national security threat because of its ties to China. Trump has filed an executive order for ByteDance to divest its … [Read more...] about As Trump threatens ban, TikTok launches U.S. ad campaign
Uber and Lyft just avoided a shutdown. How they got here and what’s next
A flurry of notifications lighted up the phones of Lyft and Uber users in California early this week.“Save rideshare in California!” one from Lyft read. For the record: 5:37 PM, Aug. 20, 2020An earlier version of this story misspelled the last name of Lyft spokeswoman Julie Wood. “Service update: Ridesharing in CA may be suspended,” Uber wrote.The warnings are the result of … [Read more...] about Uber and Lyft just avoided a shutdown. How they got here and what’s next
It’s a beautiful summer for ‘Blaseball.’ Yes, ‘Blaseball,’ where America’s pastime meets ‘D&D’
Baseball right now is weird. It’s nice, of course, for fans to have something to watch, but with empty stadiums, games postponed because of players becoming sick with COVID-19 and audiences represented either by cardboard cutouts or virtual avatars, something feels ... off. But there’s is a version of baseball that has taken the summer by storm, an online universe where teams … [Read more...] about It’s a beautiful summer for ‘Blaseball.’ Yes, ‘Blaseball,’ where America’s pastime meets ‘D&D’
Column: Billboards that follow you? It’s not sci-fi. They’re already here
Clear Channel Outdoor, one of the world’s largest billboard companies, will in coming days roll out technology across Europe capable of letting advertisers know where people go and what they do after seeing a particular billboard.Sounds creepy, no?Well, brace yourself. Clear Channel has been quietly using this technology in the United States for the last four years, including … [Read more...] about Column: Billboards that follow you? It’s not sci-fi. They’re already here
Tony Hsieh is gone, but his Las Vegas vision is finding new life
Tony Hsieh had ambitions that reached far beyond the shoe-selling business. After moving Zappos, his billion-dollar e-commerce company, to the Las Vegas suburbs and selling it to Amazon, he set his sights on transforming the city itself, pouring $350 million — mostly of his own money — into its hollowed-out downtown core, two miles north of the glitz of the Strip.For all the … [Read more...] about Tony Hsieh is gone, but his Las Vegas vision is finding new life