A new delivery service has just raised $3 million from Casa Verde Capital, the $45 million venture firm founded by hip hop impresario Snoop Dogg, and Kevin Durant’s Durant Company — among others — to take advantage of the growing demand for marijuana delivery. Source: Tech Crunch Date: October 18th, 2018 Link: https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/24/pass-the-dutchie-to-the-left-hand-side/ Discussion 1) “We’re creating a tool that helps the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: App Economy
Hopper raises $100M more for its AI-based travel app, now valued at $780M
Hopper — a mobile-only travel booking app cofounded by a former Expedia executive in Montreal, Canada that uses artificial intelligence to help you search for and book hotels and flights — has gained a little elevation of its own today. The startup has raised another $100 million in funding, money that it plans to use to… Read more »
Uber for buses? How some Canadian cities are using technology to tackle transit troubles
A small city in eastern Ontario is running an experiment that could one day have a big impact on public transit operators across North America. Belleville Transit has launched a new service allowing customers to summon a bus to their nearest bus stop — and the ride won’t take the scenic route to their destination. “This… Read more »
Who has your data? Researchers scrutinize apps for undisclosed ties to advertisers, analytics companies
A study looked at hundreds of apps’ privacy policies — then compared them to the data actually collected. Of the 757 apps analyzed, the researchers found nearly 60 per cent of apps collected more information than stated in their privacy policies. Source: CBC News Date: September 7th, 2018 Link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/app-privacy-policy-apptrans-uoft-third-parties-ads-code-1.4791834 Discussion 1) Why does it matter that apps collect… Read more »
How to make sure your Amazon Echo doesn’t send secret recordings
It was Alexa’s equivalent of a pocket dial. A woman in Portland, Oregon, claimed her Amazon Echo smart-speaker secretly recorded a private conversation, then sent the audio file to an acquaintance. She told her story to a local news outlet and it spread, stoking fears about always listening devices invading privacy. Amazon confirmed the incident and claimed it was… Read more »
‘The Airbnb for hourly paid work’: How a Toronto app is feeding the gig economy
A Toronto–based app connecting restaurants and bars to temporary workers will soon be expanding to the city’s retail market, adding a new dimension to the growing gig economy — and raising questions about how to protect the workers who depend on it. Hyr launched in February 2017. About 300 Toronto restaurants now use it and more… Read more »
I tried to get a date using augmented reality
“I open the app on my phone and scan the camera across the busy London street. Like in Pokémon Go, I’m looking at the scene in front of me through my phone, and bubbles are popping up in real-time. But these aren’t Pikachu or Poké Balls – they’re single, attractive strangers who are using the… Read more »
How cheap dockless hire bikes are flooding the world
Cycling around cities may have been pioneered by the Dutch, but a new high-tech way of hiring bicycles is bidding to bring a pedal power revolution to cities around the world. The key innovation is the dockless hire bike. Found and unlocked with a few taps on a smartphone, they can be hired for an… Read more »
The ‘Terms and Conditions’ Reckoning Is Coming
Eleanor Margolis had used PayPal for more than a decade when the online payment provider blocked her account in January. The reason: She was 16 years old when she signed up, and PayPal Holdings Inc. insists she should have known the minimum age is 18, because the rule is clearly stated in terms and conditions she agreed… Read more »
Hi I’m Matt Hancock – British politician launches own app
New British culture secretary Matt Hancock has become the first MP to launch his own smartphone app. The app features picture galleries and videos of the West Suffolk MP and updates on his activities. It also allows users to sign up as friends and chat with other fans of the Matt Hancock app. First-time users… Read more »
Leading Titles
Introduction to Information Systems, 3rd Canadian Binder Ready Version Update Edition
R. Kelly Rainer, Casey G. Cegielski, Ingrid Splettstoesser-Hogeterp, Cristobal Sanchez-Rodriguez
ISBN: 978-1-119-13385-8
August 2015, © 2016
CDN $98.95; CDN $114.95