Sharing may seem harmless—a helpful, good thing for society, even. But for months, “sharing economy” businesses like Airbnb, FlightCar, and Lyft have come under legal fire in cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Austin. This week, ridesharing companies, which match nonprofessional drivers up with paying passengers, received …
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Ford Smartens Up and Dumbs Cars Down
Since 2010, Ford has been aggressively pushing a touch-screen control system as a replacement to old-fashioned knobs and buttons on the dashboard. But guess what? Those knobs and buttons did the job pretty well—and drivers want them back.
The Other Complication for Airbnb and the Sharing Economy: Taxes
Few people involved in the sharing economy know what taxes they’re supposed to pay, nor how to pay them. Because the rules are unclear, enforcement is almost nonexistent, and the feeling that “sharing” shouldn’t be taxed at all, very few people do pay them.
Wall Street Falls in Love with Snapchat
The photo-sharing app that’s all the rage with teenagers has found a surprising new clientele: Wall Street bankers.
Sharing Is Hard: Legal Trouble for Airbnb, RelayRides, FlightCar
As more consumers turn to services like peer-to-peer rental-car outfits rather than Hertz, local authorities are penalizing participants with fines and ordering the companies to cease operations. Is it still safe to share?
AT&T’s New 61-Cent Fee Highlights Wireless Nickel-and-Diming
AT&T wireless customers have to dig a little deeper into their pockets starting this month after the carrier implemented a 61-cent “administrative fee.” It’s literally pocket change, so this change is unlikely to break the bank for customers, but it’s the latest manifestation of an annoying trend. Wireless carriers are taking a page from …
Need a Babysitter in a Pinch? There’s an App for That
Finding a babysitter can often be a challenge for parents who lack a trusted friend or relative to fill the role. Things only get worse when one’s needed on short notice. But a quickly growing online service aims to make
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Q&A With the 17-Year-Old Who Sold an App to Yahoo for $30 Million
Nick D’Aloisio speaks about the development of Summly, how he met Marissa Mayer and his girlfriend’s reaction to his new fame.
Why Samsung’s Challenge to Apple and Google Is Great for Consumers
Over the past few years, tech giants Apple and Google have emerged as dominant forces in the mobile-technology market. Although they’ve pursued radically different strategies, each company has been wildly successful: Apple …
Weird Money: 9 Odd Factoids from Recent Consumer Surveys and Studies
Ever wonder which alcohol brands are most popular … among consumers who are too young to buy alcohol? Is daylight savings harmless, or does it cost us hundreds of millions of dollars annually? And most pressing of all, which celebrity do you wish was your insurance agent?
Top U.S. Lawmakers Back Mobile Phone Unlocking Bills
Several prominent lawmakers from both political parties have thrown their support behind legislation to allow consumers to “unlock” their mobile phones, after the White House formally objected to a recent ban on the practice. The …
Obama Administration: Mobile Phone ‘Unlocking’ Should Be Legal
The Obama administration will push to reverse a new prohibition on mobile phone unlocking, after an online White House petition protesting the ban drew more than 100,000 signatures. The ban makes it a federal crime for consumers …