Must-have apps for pup parents
New York goes to the dogs tomorrow as the annual Westminster Dog Show descends on Madison Square Garden.
But these apps are not aimed at the dog vying for Best in Show. Instead, they are aimed at the dog who is already best in the world and who just happens to live in your home.
Wag
(iOS, Android; free)
The company behind this dog-walking startup is hot. Wag just received a $300 million cash infusion from Japanese telecom giant SoftBank. The app offers “thoroughly vetted” dog walkers on demand, including several on Long Island. You can schedule a walker for a one-time jaunt or make it a regular event. Walkers will keep you apprised of Fido’s doings via text messages and photos.
Rover
(iOS, Android; free)
Like Wag, Rover has dog-walking services, but it is most used as a sort of Airbnb for pooches. If you hate the thought of leaving your best friend in a kennel while you’re on vacation, you can hire one of Rover’s sitters and ease your separation anxiety. You can choose to have your dog stay at the sitter’s home or have a pet sitter stay at your place.
Dog Walk
(iOS, Android; free)
This dog-walking app is for do-it-yourselfers. You can track your daily walks on a map and see how much exercise your dog (and you) are getting. And you can create a, well, pee and poo journal, where you can log Spot’s favorite spots, which may make your walks a little more efficient. Find a really great dog walk? Share it with your friends via the app.
Pet First Aid
(iOS, Android; free)
Hopefully this official app from the American Red Cross is one you’ll never need to use, but it’s a good just-in-case insurance policy. There’s a well-done tutorial on first aid steps for more than 25 common ailments and situations, and there’s also good advice on how to administer your pet’s medicines. The app also has medical information for cats.
Swan song
With streaming now the No. 1 way Americans listen to music, Best Buy will stop selling music CDs in its stores. Billboard says the retailer has told music suppliers it will pull CDs from its stores July 1. But one source of physical music will remain. Billboard says the retailer will still sell vinyl records, which have been seeing a sales resurgence. — PETER KING
Germ warfare
High-tech airport self-check-in kiosks help you catch your plane -- and may help you catch something nasty. A study by insurancequotes.com found check-in touchscreens “had the largest collection of bacteria most likely to make you sick” in the airport, averaging 253,857 colony-forming units per square inch. Bench armrests were second (21,630 CFU) followed by water fountain buttons (19,181 CFU). By comparison, home kitchen countertops average 361 CFU. — PETER KING
Facebook punts on NFL
Facebook has been buying live sports rights to stream on its social network, but it won’t bid for the NFL’s 2018 Thursday night package. Facebook has bid to stream the Thursday games in the past. Amazon paid $50 million for the streaming rights for the 2017 package. Fox, meanwhile, is paying a reported $660 million a year to televise the 2018 Thursday package.
— Bloomberg News
Yankees pushed to brink, game 3 wrap ... Queens County Farm ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
Yankees pushed to brink, game 3 wrap ... Queens County Farm ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV