Instagram is working on a “Spins” feature for Reels, its short-form video TikTok clone, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. The feature, which was first spotted by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, would allow other users to swap out the text or audio in your Reels. Instagram says Spins is an internal …
Read More »Spotify’s Audiobooks will get their own ‘Countdown Pages’ to tease upcoming new releases
Spotify is enhancing its audiobooks streaming service with a feature that may be familiar to the app’s music consumers: Countdown Pages. These YouTube-like Countdown Pages were launched alongside other new additions for Spotify’s artists last year, offering a dedicated space on artists’ profiles where a timer could count down to …
Read More »Pinterest rolls out its ‘body type ranges’ tool to the US
Pinterest announced today that its tool for filtering searches by different body types has officially rolled out to users in the U.S. The platform started experimenting with the feature last year and is currently testing it in Canada. As part of today’s launch, Pinterest now features size-inclusive brands on its …
Read More »A third of Bumble’s Texas workforce moved after state passed restrictive ‘Heartbeat Act’ abortion bill
Bumble has lost a third of its Texas workforce in the months since the state passed the controversial abortion SB 8 (Senate Bill 8), also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, over a year ago. This new data point was shared by Bumble’s Interim General Counsel, Elizabeth Monteleone, speaking on …
Read More »Bored? Go play this hidden game in your Instagram DMs
Instagram has quietly added a secret emoji game that you can access in your DMs. The goal of the game is simple: use your finger to move the paddle at the bottom of your screen to keep your emoji afloat and continuously bouncing. Drop your emoji, and it’s game over. …
Read More »Apple releases a new API to fetch transactions from Apple Card and Apple Cash
Apple’s iOS 17.4 update is primarily about adapting iOS to EU’s Digital Market Act Regulation. But the company has also released a new API called FinanceKit that lets developers fetch transactions and balance information from Apple Card, Apple Cash, and Savings with Apple. At launch, the company has partnered with …
Read More »Spotify calls Apple’s €1.84B antitrust fine a ‘powerful message,’ but cautions that the next steps matter
Spotify is cheering the European Commission’s decision to hold Apple accountable for anticompetitive practices in the streaming music market to the tune of a massive €1.84 billion fine, announced today. The streamer called the fine a “powerful message” that sends a signal that even “a monopoly like Apple” is not …
Read More »MWC 2024: Everything announced so far, including Swayy’s app to tell friends where you’ll be next
The TechCrunch team is in Barcelona this week to bring you all the action going on at Mobile World Congress 2024. You already know what we’re expecting, so sit back, relax and stay tuned throughout the week as we bring you the products, announcements and startup news from MWC that …
Read More »Spotify launches a $9.99/mo standalone audiobooks service for its free users
After adding 15 hours of free audiobooks listening to its subscription plan late last year, Spotify today is introducing a $9.99 per month option that will allow its free users to also access its audiobooks collection. The company announced on Friday its new “Audiobooks Access Tier,” which, similar to the …
Read More »Text-to-speech app Speechify launches Gmail integration and voice cloning
Text-to-speech startup Speechify is launching a new version of its iOS app (v3.0) with features like a redesigned home page, the ability to scan documents, Gmail and learning platform Canvas integration, and an explore page for in-app content. Speechify is revamping its homepage to provide shortcuts to import files with …
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