SNAP’s IPO Has an Odd Footnote: The ‘Camera Company’ Clause
Snapchat’s IPO was one of the most anticipated tech events of the year. So you can bet that when $SNAP went live this Thursday, app developers were watching. Would it soar or sink? Will traders benefit, or only underwriters? And why is the social media titan listed as, of all things, a “camera company?” You […]
Uber Controversy: What Does a Tech Leader Look Like?
What does a mobile app leader look like? Ask any group of iPhone app developers these days, and Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is likely to come up in conversation — but not in the positive light the company enjoyed in their early days as a luxury rideshare service. Thanks to allegations of condoning sexual harassment […]
Dogtown Media Explores Uruguay’s Exciting Mobile Tech Ecosystem
Uruguay is one of a handful of countries around the world that have made a national priority of pursuing the prosperity mobile tech makes possible. With the fastest broadband speeds in Latin America, a well-educated tech workforce, and incredible tax and support benefits for partner companies, it’s an exciting place for mobile app developers. Dogtown […]
Brexit Fears Prompt UK to Issue More Tech Visas
If Brexit made ripples in the economy, it made waves in the tech industry. App developers in London’s thriving mobile development community fear that the separation from the EU could damage their status as the top mobile tech center in Europe — or at least, make it much harder to do business there. The government […]
The New Apple Headquarters is Steve Job’s Final Product Launch
San Francisco iPhone app developers have been watching with interest as Apple readies to launch their iconic new headquarters in Silicon Valley. In many ways, the building has taken on a new significance after Steve Jobs passed away — it was one of the final “products” he pitched and developed as head of the company, […]
What Does Betsy DeVos Mean For EdTech and STEM Education?
Betsy DeVos, Trump’s controversial pick for Secretary of Education recently appointed by the skin of her teeth, has a shaky relationship with tech — to put it lightly. After making comments during a committee hearing that suggested guns should be in schools to defend from grizzly bear attacks, the Internet lit up like a Christmas […]
Finally, A “Turk” That Works for Bootstrapped Startups
Algorithms and machine learning are pretty much a given for serious mobile startups these days. Unfortunately, machine learning takes data, and data isn’t always available — at a startup-friendly price point, anyway. A new startup out of India called Playment aims to solve that problem, and their clever solution deserves a spot in any mobile […]
Immigration Ban is a Disaster for the Tech Economy
On January 27, Trump issued an executive order banning immigrants from select Muslim-majority countries. The shock waves are still rolling through the app development community, creating massive political backlash even from actively non-political tech giants. Critics are quick to suggest that tech companies are simply trying to protect H–1B visa programs. Fair point — H-B1 […]
What Happens When App Growth Hacking Backfires
If, like the vast majority of Americans, you have a phone and a few friends, you probably heard of “ChitChat” last week when a “friend” invited you via SMS. You might be thinking the mobile app developers behind the app are celebrating a growth hacking victory. On the contrary, they’re probably in the process of […]
App Store Reviews Will Let Developers Respond in iOS 10.3
If you’ve ever combed through reviews in the Apple App Store deciding which app to choose, you’ve probably noticed something weird. Unlike Google Play, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and most other review-based digital ecosystems, Apple doesn’t let developers respond to reviews. This is too bad for iOS app developers, because it leaves them completely at the mercy […]