Service

Meta is trying to make it easier for its users to get support when their accounts or posts are removed, according to a report from Bloomberg. The report quotes Brent Harris, Meta’s vice president of governance, who says that the company is “spending a bunch of time on” customer service. Since Facebook’s inception, people haven’t really had any recourse or way to talk to the company about moderation decisions. At this stage, it doesn’t seem clear what Meta’s customer service division will actually do. Last year, the…

Privacy-focused online browser DuckDuckGo announced that its email protection service in beta is now finally available to all users, and they can generate a free "@duck.com" email address and intercept email trackers before they reach their personal inboxes.DuckDuckGo Email Protection is a free email forwarding service that removes multiple types of hidden email trackers and lets users create unlimited unique private email addresses on the fly - without switching email providers or apps."We've also added new features like…

Meta is finally addressing a problem that’s long vexed users: its lack of customer support. Bloomberg that Meta is now planning to build a customer support division, which will be able to help users “who have had posts or accounts removed unexpectedly.” Meta’s plans are apparently still in “early stages,” so it’s not yet clear when the new services will be available. According to Bloomberg, Meta’s plans were at least partially driven by insight from its Oversight Board, which handles requests from users to appeal the…

Google-owned navigation service Waze is shutting down its six-year-old carpooling service, citing shifting commuting patterns as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in September, the company will begin the process of winding down its carpooling service, which had been available in the US, Brazil, and Israel. Waze said it will explore other ways it can help serve the 150 million customers worldwide that use its navigation app. “While Waze was predominantly a commuting app pre-COVID, today the proportion of…

Companies use pixel trackers inside emails to tell when and where you clicked on the email, and can use other trackers to tell what websites you visit after clicking on a link.Gif: DuckDuckGoPrivacy-minded web browser DuckDuckGo has a new, free service they’re making open for all users who like the idea of stopping companies from tracking your data through emails.Companies bombarding you with promotional emails aren’t just trying to get you to click on the hottest new pair of shoes. They’re trying to get you to click on…

The first fully hydrogen-powered passenger train service is now up and running. are running on the line in Lower Saxony, Germany. The only emissions are steam and condensed water, and that the train operates with a low level of noise. Five of the trains started running this week. Another nine will be added in the coming months to replace 15 diesel trains on the regional route. Alstom says the Coradia iLint has a range of 1,000 kilometers, meaning that it can run all day on the line using a single tank of hydrogen. A…

Four years after embarking on a two-year operational trial run in Germany, a bunch of Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel-cell trains have entered passenger service along a 100% hydrogen route in Lower Saxony.The passenger service trial, which began in September 2018 and ran for almost two years, involved the successful operation of two pre-series Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel-cell trains along an existing route operated by Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser (EVB).Now the project has officially entered public service, and…

Last year, DuckDuckGo a free service designed to fend off email trackers and help people protect their privacy. The Email Protection beta was initially available through a waitlist. Now, it's now in open beta, meaning everyone can try it without having to wait for access.  Email Protection is a forwarding service that removes trackers from messages. DuckDuckGo will tell you which trackers it scrubs as well. During the waitlist beta, says it found trackers in 85 percent of testers' emails. Anyone can now sign up for an…

If you recall, I penned an article late last month about switching from Spectrum to T-Mobile Home Internet. The reasons were simple: T-Mobile promised faster speeds, a lower price, no contracts, and many freebies for new signups. After installing the 5G Gateway in my home, everything appeared to go exactly as prescribed by T-Mobile. However, as soon as I discovered, T-Mobile Home Internet ultimately proved to be a disaster for me, forcing me to come crawling back to Spectrum.But before we get to what made me cancel…

After introducing , Instacart will now allow you to order large items from retailers. The company’s new service, aptly named “Big & Bulky,” promises same-day and scheduled delivery of products like outdoor furniture, office supplies and home electronics. As of today, a handful of retailers, including Mastermind Toys, Office Depot and Staples, are participating in the program nationally. If you already use Instacart to buy groceries, you can order large items at the same time as buying food for the week. The company…