Skip to main content

Sorry Uber, you’re not ‘in’ in Germany anymore

Über bad news for Uber in Germany — the car service giant is pulling out of Hamburg, Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt after a long and arduous battle over driver licenses. And for now, it looks like Uber has lost. Citing regulations that the company has deemed harsh and restrictive, Uber noted in a statement on Friday that “the process of registering an independent rental car enterprise has proved as too costly and time consuming” for many of their prospective partners. Guess you can’t win ’em all.

The move isn’t particularly surprising for Germans who decided nine months ago that Uber drivers need to obtain the same licensing as commercial taxi drivers in order to transport passengers to and from their destinations. While you can still call a car in Berlin and Munich, this latest retreat seems to mark a turning point in the longstanding battle between German lawmakers and the often controversial company.

Recommended Videos

“Plenty of people in Germany want to press a button on their phone and get a safe, affordable ride with Uber,” said Christian Freese, general manager at Uber Germany, in an emailed statement to The Verge. “Yet we’ve found the requirements, even for licensed services, to be very complex. Uber is increasingly popular in Munich and Berlin so we have decided to focus our efforts there.”

In the meantime, the service has promised to “intensify the dialogue” with legislators in hopes of making a stronger comeback. “Uber remains committed to expanding its services in Germany, and will therefore continue its engagement and dialogue with politicians and regulators,” Freese noted, but even so, Germany is by no means the only European enemy Uber has made in its period of rapid growth and expansion. The company has seen significant pushback in the form of protests, arrests, and full-out bans in countries like France, Italy, and Span.

So don’t get too attached to those black cars overseas. They might not be available from your mobile phones for all that much longer.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
You’re going to have to wait a while longer for Samsung’s first trifold phone
The Huawei Mate XT.

We already know quite a bit about Samsung's 2025 schedule. The company plans to launch the Samsung Galaxy S25 in January, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 later in the year. There have also been rumors of a trifold phone, and it seems like they might be more than rumors. Unfortunately, an insider says not to expect Samsung's first trifold until early 2026.

Ross Young commented on a post on X, stating that the suspected Galaxy trifold is more likely to launch in 2026. From a business perspective, the trifold gives Samsung an opportunity to draw in customers who want more real estate than anything in the current lineup offers.

Read more
The Siri upgrade you’re waiting for might not be ready until 2026
Siri being shown on an iPhone 15 Pro on iOS 18.

It looks like Apple's Siri will be getting more intelligent — in time.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently highlighted that Apple is reportedly working on a more conversational version of its digital assistant, Siri. The goal is to enhance Siri's capabilities and compete with advanced voice services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This upgraded version is expected to integrate more sophisticated large language models (LLMs), enabling more natural interactions.

Read more
Future Apple Watches could tell you if you’re at risk for diabetes
Someone wearing an original Apple Watch Ultra showing the weather app.

An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but an Apple device on your wrist could replace them altogether. Well, sort of. The Apple Watch is already chock-full of health-focused applications, but according to a recent report from Mark Gurman, an app for testing blood sugar levels is in development.

Apple has always been good at keeping a lid on its projects, but that approach has reached the next level with this app. Multiple layers of non-disclosure agreements and vetting were required before anyone could participate in the employee-only trial, so details regarding the progress of this app are limited. However, it's another step toward needle-free measurements of your blood sugar levels.

Read more