Uber makes it easier to delete your account, gives you more control over your data

A new update for Uber makes it easier to delete your account on the ride-hailing app. It’s now possible to delete your account and the accompanying data right from your smartphone. Before uninstalling the app doesn’t entail that your data gets deleted from Uber’s server. You had to go through the tedious process of contacting Uber’s support team to get your data removed. The new process will begin a 30-day countdown from the Privacy Settings page from when you delete your account. After those 30 days, it’ll remove all your data. According to Uber’s Product Manager Zach Singleton, this makes things a bit easier for them. “Internally, this lets us manage it better in terms of scale.”

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Uber loses VP of Global Vehicle Programs

One more Uber executive has left the company. This time its Sherif Marakby, Uber’s vice president of Global Vehicle Programs, who helped launched the company’s self-driving program in Pittsburgh. It isn’t clear why Marakby left Uber but according to Automotive News, it isn’t related to the lawsuit the company has with Waymo. It can’t be said if it’s related to sexual harassment allegations either. Marakby joined Uber back in April after working for Ford for 25 years.

“Sherif’s deep experience and knowledge of the automotive industry have helped us tremendously in working to make self-driving cars a reality,” an Uber spokesperson told TechCrunch in a statement. Marakby joins at least five other execs who’ve left the company in the past few months, including its head of comms, president, head of AI Labs, SVP of engineering, and VP of growth.

Uber loses its president after 6 months on the job

Amidst all the controversies it finds itself in, its second in command has left the company. The news first broke on Recode and has now been confirmed by the ride-sharing company. Uber President Jeff Jones has left the company. According to a statement from Uber they “want to thank Jeff for his six months and the company and wish him all the best.” Prior to his job at Uber, he previously ran marketing for Target. Jones headed Uber’s operations, marketing, and customer support. But it seems the difficult past few months for the company proved to be too difficult for him.

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Uber finally finds its way to Android Wear 2.0

It was promised back in Google I/O 2015 and it took a full 21 months but it’s finally here. Uber now has a standalone app on Android Wear 2.0. You don’t need to have the app installed on your phone to get it to run. You can request rides right from your wrist. Select bookmarked destinations such as your work and home. The app also lets you check prices, ETAs as well as your driver’s progress and what his or her car model and plate number is. And yes, you can follow the ride inside the car, too. The downside is the app is only available for Android Wear 2.0, which means if you don’t have one, you still don’t get the app. You can install it from the Play Store right on your smartwatch.

Source: Android Police