Mozilla permanently removing FTP access from Firefox
After a year-long delay because of the concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mozilla announces they are disabling FTP in version 88 of Firefox and will altogether remove it in version 90.
Signal and Clubhouse add payments features
Clubhouse Payments will use the Stripe gateway, while Signal will use MobileCoin, a cryptocurrency.
Neeva first look: What the ad-free Google Search alternative is like
Neeva is a privacy-first ad-free and tracking-free search engine created by ex-Googlers. The search engine is still being developed, is currently in the alpha stage, and requires an invite and onboarding experience to use it.
Facebook’s investment in newsletters confirms the future of data sales is owned media
Facebook is building a newsletter and website platform to compete with Twitter’s Revue acquisition and subscription newsletter services like Substack and MailerLite.
Slack Connect launch marred by invite message abuse
Slack launched its much anticipated Connect feature that allows users from different workspaces to DM each other. The debut hit a snag when users started reporting abusive messages from DM invitations.
New IBM patent uses IoT devices, eye-tracking, mics, and cameras to help make you a better writer
IBM was awarded a new patent that uses cognitive systems and invasive monitoring to improve writing composition via automated behavioral and content recommendations.
Is cryptocurrency a viable option for ecommerce stores?
Ecommerce stores can accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin for purchases through Paypal and Coinbase, but should they?
Twitter updates two-factor authentication (2FA) to support multiple hardware security keys
Twitter accounts can now add several hardware security keys that are used for two-factor authentication on different devices.
TextBuddy is a new macOS app that transforms, sorts, captures, and filters text
The new TextBuddy app created by Click On Tyler, an independent software development company in Nashville, TN, is a Swiss Army knife-like tool with over 100 commands for manipulating plain text.
Parler is back online with its web app but is still blocked by Apple and Google’s app stores
The Parler social network was dropped from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Apple's App Store, and Google Play in early January, but its web app is back online after finding a new hosting provider.
Facebook and Instagram now accept Shop Pay from Shopify
The social media apps are Shop Pay’s first appearances as a third party payments tool.
Facebook tries to outmaneuver Apple’s privacy pop-up with its own tracking prompt
Facebook will prompt users of its mobile app to opt-in to device tracking services prior to the Apple opt-in page that will ship with iOS 14.
Twitter buys Revue, a newsletter service that’s similar to Substack
The company’s investment adds long-form content to their famously short-form platform and will help writers and publishers grow and connect with audiences.
Twitter’s ‘bluesky’ releases Ecosystem Review of decentralized protocols and apps
The Bluesky initiative, a project focused on creating a decentralized social network backed by Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey, shared a 61-page Ecosystem Review of viable protocols and apps.
WordPress.com now builds small business websites
The CMS rolls out agency services to compete with drag and drop website builders Squarespace and Wix
Episode 11: Fabric CEO Faisal Masud and Co-founder Ryan Bartley discuss startups, the problem with low-touch platforms, and the unique capabilities of headless commerce
Fabric Co-founder Ryan Bartley discusses how Fabric went from an idea to a startup company, and CEO Faisal Masud reveals Shopify Plus’ Achilles heel. Then they talk about what companies can do with headless commerce.
Tech companies scramble to protect themselves after the Capitol riots
Companies ban incendiary posts and drop support for apps that promote violent content that violate their terms of service. We can expect to see more of this as purported “free speech” platforms arise after Parler’s demise.
Adobe Flash Player now blocks all Flash content from playing
The twenty-five-year-old Adobe Flash Player is now end of life and will no longer play Flash content. Adobe is urging all users to uninstall it immediately.
Signal AMA on Reddit: Team reveals future plans and discusses privacy, security, and funding
The privacy-focused messenger, Signal, is experiencing record growth, partly due to WhatsApp's changes, its usage in the Hong Kong protests, and Elon Musk promoting it. To better engage with their users, many of which are new, they held an AMA on Reddit to answer questions about the app.
Google awarded patent for dynamic knowledge panels in productivity apps
A U.S. patent recently awarded to Google describes integrating dynamic knowledge panels into apps, like Google Docs. The feature enables users to research without leaving the app and provides Google another channel for its shopping and ad networks.
