Uber Archives

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

This new Android launcher is my new must-have app for foldable phones

Foldable smartphones often face software limitations, particularly with launchers, leading users to choose between restrictive first-party options and inadequate third-party alternatives. Octopi Launcher has emerged as a promising solution, recently launching in beta on the Play Store. It offers unique configurations tailored to both the smaller cover screen and the larger display of foldable devices, allowing users to customize layouts for different orientations and purposes. Users can create up to four distinct layouts, with options for portrait and landscape modes, and can easily set up new layouts with intuitive prompts. Octopi excels in widget management, allowing independent sizing of widgets and app icons without compromising icon size. It supports overlapping and stacked widgets, enhancing visual appeal. The app drawer offers customizable options, including traditional icon shapes or tiles that display app names. While Octopi is impressive, it is still in development, with limitations in its gesture library and basic search functionality. It is best suited for foldable phones, although it can still benefit traditional devices. Overall, Octopi Launcher is tailored for heavy customizers and shows promise for future updates.

BetaBeacon

May 13, 2025

Android 16: 4 game-changing features coming to your phone

- Android 16 has a new look called Material 3 Expressive, with customizable options for color, font, and visual components. - Live updates feature helps users stay on task by surfacing important updates from apps. - Gemini AI integration is expanded to be available everywhere on Android 16, with Gemini Live allowing users to share their screen and camera. - Find Hub is introduced as an app for tracking people, devices, tags, and more, with upcoming satellite connectivity for locating items in remote areas.

AppWizard

May 5, 2025

Google makes it easier to share digital credentials on your Android phone

Android now supports OpenID standards for digital credential presentation and issuance, allowing users to securely store and send cryptographically verifiable digital documents across apps. Google has expanded access to its Digital ID capabilities via the Wallet app for U.K. residents, promoting interoperability among applications managing digital identities. The Android platform now includes native support for OpenID4VP and OpenID4VCI through the Credential Manager's DigitalCredential API, enabling apps to incorporate various digital documents like educational certifications and insurance policies. Users can share credentials securely between devices using CTAP protocols and select appropriate credentials without specifying a digital wallet app. Digital credentials will be usable for account recovery on platforms like Amazon, accessing health services through CVS and MyChart, and verifying identities on services like Uber and Bumble. Samsung Wallet and 1Password will also support the storage of digital credentials, enhancing the ecosystem of digital wallets adhering to OpenID standards.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

Google Wallet brings digital ID support to UK, more US states

Residents in the U.K. can now integrate their passports as a digital ID within Google Wallet, allowing for secure age and identity verification. This feature is part of a collaboration with the Rail Delivery Group, enabling train travelers to use digital IDs for select Railcards. Google is also discussing further applications with the U.K. government, such as for alcohol purchases. The digital ID feature allows users to create passes using their passports, which can be verified with a tap on their smartphones, although they do not replace physical IDs and cannot be used at airports. The process involves capturing images of the ID and a selfie video for verification. Google Wallet incorporates Zero Knowledge Proof technology to enhance user privacy, ensuring personal information remains secure during identity verification. Additionally, Google is expanding digital ID access in various U.S. states, allowing residents to add government-issued IDs to Google Wallet and facilitating domestic travel without a driver's license. Future capabilities will include account recovery and access to online health services. Google Wallet will also expand to 50 additional countries, allowing users to view and utilize digital passes.

Tech Optimizer

February 15, 2025

Database Hearts and Arrows

A debate has emerged between Postgres and MongoDB, highlighting the broader SQL versus NoSQL conversation. Peter Zaitsev noted Postgres's rising popularity and MongoDB's slight decline. Users commented on MongoDB's developer experience and potential technical debt, while others emphasized the distinct purposes of both databases. Lekhana Reddy provocatively claimed "SQL IS DEAD!!" due to Uber's natural language query tool, but later clarified that SQL is evolving. The tech community also celebrated a partnership between SAP and Databricks, with the launch of the SAP Business Data Cloud receiving positive feedback.

AppWizard

February 6, 2025

App drivers plan to ‘log off’ in pay and conditions campaign

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has announced a strike involving drivers from Uber, Bolt, and Addison Lee on February 14, from 4 PM to 10 PM, across major cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, and Brighton. The strike aims to address low pay and precarious working conditions, advocating for improved pay structures, job security, and safety measures like rider ID verification and complaint tracking systems. Drivers reportedly work between 70 and 80 hours a week to make ends meet. Nader Awaad, chairman of the IWGB, emphasized the need for fair compensation and criticized the industry's profits at the expense of drivers. Addison Lee expressed confidence that the strike would not disrupt services, while Uber defended its practices, stating that drivers earn at least the national living wage and receive holiday pay and pension benefits.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

uBlock Origin alternative AdGuard fixes Windows-induced BSOD, promises dark mode everywhere

Brave has committed to supporting uBlock Origin despite Google Chrome's decision to disable it. AdGuard has released version 7.19 for Windows, which includes a feature for users to apply a dark theme to webpages using Userstyles. The update also addresses improvements and fixes, including resolving a BSOD issue related to the netio.sys driver and integrating updated drivers for network traffic filtering. Additional improvements include support for the Floorp browser and updated translations. This version will be the last to support Windows 7 and 8.1.

AppWizard

September 19, 2024

How the AFP cracked criminal messaging app ‘Ghost’

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched Operation Kraken, mobilizing up to 700 officers for coordinated raids targeting a 32-year-old man, Jay Je Yoon Jung, alleged to have created an encrypted communication platform called 'Ghost' used by organized crime. The operation involved pre-dawn raids, with a focus on Jung's residence in Narwee, Sydney, where flashbangs were used. Jung faces serious charges, including supporting a criminal organization and dealing in identification information. The Ghost app, marketed as 'tamper-proof', attracted criminal clients such as the Hell's Angels. The AFP has monitored over 125,000 messages on the platform, resulting in 46 arrests and the prevention of 50 threats to life. They seized over 210 kilograms of illicit drugs, 26 weapons, and million in cash during the operation. The AFP's technical team developed methods to access devices linked to Ghost, enabling them to gather real-time intelligence. Operation Kraken follows the successful Operation Ironside against another encrypted messaging platform, ANOM, enhancing the AFP's capability to combat organized crime and share intelligence internationally.

AppWizard

August 6, 2024

Apple users, beware of these malicious apps

A malicious application bypassed Apple’s App Store security measures by using a technique called "geofence," which allows it to present different user interfaces based on geographical location. For example, an app named "Collect Cards" disguised itself as a benign card game in the U.S. while revealing its true nature as a pirate streaming app in countries with lenient anti-piracy laws. These apps delay the activation of their geolocation API to avoid detection and often share a code base built on the React Native framework and Microsoft’s CodePush SDK, enabling modifications without formal updates. The code base for these applications comes from a single GitHub repository, allowing easy uploads of malicious apps. Apple has removed the offending app but has not indicated plans to change its review system.

Winsage

August 2, 2024

Delta CEO praises Apple after Microsoft Windows outage cost him $500 million

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian expressed concerns about the reliability of major tech platforms following a significant outage on July 19 that led to over 5,000 flight cancellations and required the resetting of more than 40,000 servers. He described Delta's collaboration with Microsoft as “probably the most fragile platform” and emphasized the need for tech companies to strengthen their existing systems. The outage prompted CrowdStrike to offer “free consulting advice” and has resulted in a proposed class action lawsuit against CrowdStrike's CEO for allegedly making false statements about software validation processes. A Microsoft spokesperson noted that due to a legal understanding with the European Commission, Microsoft cannot restrict kernel access to third-party developers like Apple does.