Building Equitable Products: Strategies for Success in Product Innovation

Building Equitable Products: Strategies for Inclusive Product Innovation

Timothy Bardlavens, Director of Product Equity at Adobe, believes that historically, product innovation has often neglected marginalized communities. Many products have been designed for the majority, leaving behind those who are unable to access digital products due to various reasons. However, with the rise of Gen Z, who prioritize brands that align with their beliefs and values, companies are now being held to a higher standard.

To succeed in today’s market, companies must build for the margins and expand to many. This means intentionally creating products for the full spectrum of human difference and ensuring that historically excluded communities are included in the product development process. By doing so, companies not only create more inclusive and accessible products but also drive greater business impact.

Here are Bardlavens’ top five strategies for building equitable products:

1. Implementing product equity from the start and beyond: Building equity into the product development process from the beginning leads to faster launches, broader audiences, and greater success. Quick fixes after product release can be more costly and come with accessibility challenges. By leveraging the expertise of product equity teams, organizations can ensure that historically underinvested communities are included in the development process and hold themselves accountable for outcomes.

2. Prioritizing equity across the organization: To build equity into the development process, organizations need to make it a priority across all aspects of their products, services, and company culture. This requires assessing goals and principles to ensure that teams are building equitable products and experiences. Accessibility, inclusive design, and other aspects of equity should be modeled across the organization.

3. Build reciprocal, co-creative community relationships: Traditional qualitative insights derived from researcher interpretations are inadequate. Product teams should partner with communities and experts to leverage their lived experiences in the co-creative process. Representation is crucial for identifying previously missed opportunities.

4. Reassess success: Leaders must be willing to interrogate their ability to articulate guardrails and balance potential metric loss for societal gain. A culture focused on short-term gains and market wins often overlooks the long-term impact of equitable approaches. Increased brand trust, market penetration, and efficiency are all benefits of focusing on previously overlooked communities.

5. Build for one, expand to many: Rather than solely focusing on a majority group of people who have no problem accessing and using digital products, product teams should build for those on the margins. True innovation lies in addressing the needs and limitations of skeptics and those who face barriers to access. Targeted universalism, focusing on the most marginalized groups, can help achieve a universal goal.

In conclusion, building equitable products is essential for both inclusivity and business success. Companies must prioritize product equity, involve historically excluded communities, and rethink their approach to success. By doing so, they can create products that work for everyone and drive growth and innovation in the market.

The post Building Equitable Products: Strategies for Success in Product Innovation appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/building-equitable-products-strategies-for-success-in-product-innovation/

Blue Apron Sells Itself to Wonder Group for $100 Million: The End of a Public Company

The End of an Era: Blue Apron’s Sale to Wonder Group

News that Blue Apron is selling itself to Wonder Group — Marc Lore’s latest — for around $100 million marks the end of the former startup’s life as a public company.

Blue Apron, a popular meal kit business, initially raised $135 million in a Series D funding round back in 2015. However, after going public in mid-2017 with a valuation of just under $1.9 billion, the company’s fortunes took a nosedive.

Wonder Group has agreed to purchase Blue Apron for $13 per share in cash, with an equity value of $103 million. This represents a significant premium to the company’s preceding worth, being 77% more than its “30-day volume weighted average price,” and a staggering 137% increase from its value at the close of trading on Thursday.

Understanding how Blue Apron reached this point is an interesting journey, one that we’ll explore from the company’s IPO to the present.

Rewinding the Clock

When Blue Apron went public, AsumeTech applauded its impressive growth:

The company is showing a rather incredible amount of growth. Blue Apron said it generated nearly $800 million in revenue in 2016, up from $341 million in 2015. For the first quarter this year, Blue Apron said it generated $245 million in revenue, up from $172 million in the first quarter last year.

Despite initially aiming for a $15 to $17 per-share IPO price range, Blue Apron had to adjust its expectations to $10 to $11 per share. During its first day of trading, the company barely maintained that price.

The post Blue Apron Sells Itself to Wonder Group for $100 Million: The End of a Public Company appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/blue-apron-sells-itself-to-wonder-group-for-100-million-the-end-of-a-public-company/

Elon Musk’s Plan for Charging Users Sparks Confusion: X CEO Linda Yaccarino Caught Off Guard

The Controversial Move: Will Users Have to Pay for X?

In a live chat earlier this month, Elon Musk said X would charge users “a small monthly payment” to use its service — a necessity, he explained, in order to combat the “vast armies of bots” on the platform. But in an interview this week at the Code Conference, X CEO Linda Yaccarino seemed to be caught off guard by a question about this plan, asking the interviewer first to repeat the question, then asking if Musk had actually said if X was planning to move to a subscription for all users or was he “just thinking about it?”

The Potential Impact on X’s Business Model

CNBC’s Julia Boorstin, who was conducting the interview, had wanted to know how such a shift would impact X’s business, which today is largely reliant on ad revenue. Yaccarino, who joined X from NBCU where she had been chairman of its advertising and partnerships group, would surely have known if X was attempting to shift away from its largely ad-supported model to one that also relied on user subscriptions to generate revenue. (Or at least keep the bots at bay!)

Yaccarino’s Ambiguous Response

When asked how many users X might lose with such a change, Yaccarino seemed flustered. She asked Boorstin to clarify if Musk had said X was moving to this model or rather if he had just floated the idea.

Musk’s Announcement

(For the record, Musk had announced in a live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 18, that the company was “moving to a small monthly payment” for use of the X platform. He did not appear to be suggesting it was just a passing thought at the time, as he went on to explain how a small fee paid by all users would make it prohibitive for spammers to profit from their bots.)

The Decision-Making Process at X

When Yaccarino didn’t directly answer the question, Boorstin pressed, asking if the X CEO had been consulted about the decision. “We talk about everything,” Yaccarino vaguely replied, again side-stepping an answer.

Conflict of Roles?

The interviewer noted Yaccarino’s background was in advertising — a point she made likely because it would be surprising if Musk had made his decision about charging fees without the former ad exec’s input. But Yaccarino cut her off. “Why wouldn’t he?” she responded, somewhat combatively. “Do you think Elon brought me to the company to be the head of advertising…or do you think he brought me to run the company and to deliver to our users the best possible experience?”

X’s Future Vision

She then went on to expound upon the future of X, a platform that planned to broaden its horizons in a number of ways — by allowing users to watch videos, for example, and soon, transact. She also touted her past experience in pushing legacy media companies to innovate. “That is a whole experience where there is no surrogate. There is no surrogate for X,” Yaccarino said.

Unanswered Questions

But as the question of user subscriptions was still not addressed, Boorstin tried once again, asking if Yaccarino thought a subscription-based X was a good plan, if she was consulted, and whether or not she thought X should still retain some free tier. She also questioned if Yaccarino was really in more of a COO role, given that product teams at X still report to Musk. Or perhaps a CEO in name only.

Yaccarino’s Response and Lack of Clarity

“Yeah, not nice,” Yaccarino responded, referring to the final comment about her lack of power, before continuing to explain. “[Musk] runs product. He runs technology. He leads a team of exceptionally talented engineers…Who wouldn’t want Elon Musk sitting by their side running product?”

A Messy Interview

Unfortunately, however, the CEO of X never directly answered any of the questions about the proposed subscription model at X that Musk had discussed. If anything, her responses indicated she was either unaware of such a plan or didn’t think it was anything beyond being in the idea phase at this point. It wasn’t clear she even understood what the intention was, as she was unable to touch on the bots issue or how fees would work to keep them off the service.

Conclusion

Overall, the interview was a messy one, with Yaccarino seemingly flustered by basic questions about X’s business as well as those regarding Musk’s activity, whether that was his proposed lawsuit against the ADL, subscriptions, or staffing for election integrity. In fact, she denied X was disbanding X’s election integrity team hours after Musk had posted on X that they were “gone.” She also seemed to not have a precise grip on X’s user numbers, at one point saying X had “200 to 250 [million]” daily active users…”something like that.” She also said that X had 540 million global monthly active users, even though Musk had said only days ago that figure was 550 million.

The Larger Picture

The larger takeaway from the discussion was that Yaccarino and Musk were not, perhaps, quite on the same page when it came to running X and that on some of X’s biggest moves, the CEO was out of the loop.

The post Elon Musk’s Plan for Charging Users Sparks Confusion: X CEO Linda Yaccarino Caught Off Guard appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/elon-musks-plan-for-charging-users-sparks-confusion-x-ceo-linda-yaccarino-caught-off-guard/

Apple Urges Supreme Court to Reconsider Ruling That Could Change App Store Rules in Epic Games Battle

Apple Requests Supreme Court Reconsideration in Epic Games Battle

Apple challenges ruling in App Store battle with Epic Games

Apple has filed a petition with the Supreme Court, urging it to reconsider a previous ruling in the ongoing legal battle against Epic Games. The ruling in question could potentially change the rules of the App Store, requiring Apple to allow app developers to provide alternative payment options to users.

Apple criticizes the broad scope of the ruling

In its petition, Apple criticized the previous decision, which would force the company to allow payment workarounds in its app marketplace. The ruling, if applied, would impact not only Epic Games but all app makers. Apple described it as “breathtakingly broad” due to its potential implications for millions of app developers on the App Store’s United States storefront.

Controversial universal injunction

Apple highlighted the district court’s universal injunction that prohibits the company from enforcing one of its contractual guidelines against all developers of apps on the App Store’s United States storefront, including approximately 100 other app developers. The company expressed concern that the courts did not thoroughly assess the necessity or appropriateness of extending relief to all affected non-parties, beyond the specific case involving Epic Games.

Epic Games also petitions the Supreme Court

On Wednesday, Epic Games filed its own petition to the Supreme Court, focusing on alleging that Apple violates federal antitrust laws with its App Store business. While the lower courts sided with Epic Games on the issue of promoting external payment options, the majority of the ruling favored Apple’s position.

View this document on Scribd

The post Apple Urges Supreme Court to Reconsider Ruling That Could Change App Store Rules in Epic Games Battle appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/apple-urges-supreme-court-to-reconsider-ruling-that-could-change-app-store-rules-in-epic-games-battle/

Being: The Mental Health App Helping Users Navigate Everyday Issues

Being: A Mental Health App Helping Users Navigate Their Everyday Issues

Being, a Delaware-based startup, is on a mission to scale its mental health app, which aims to help users create a map of their concerns to better navigate their everyday issues.

Finding Relief Through Personal Experience

The company, founded in 2020 by CEO Varun Gandhi and CTO Abhishek Sharma, emerged from Gandhi’s personal experience dealing with anxiety and struggling to find effective treatments. This inspired him to create Being, a solution designed to provide support and guidance to those facing similar challenges.

Creating a Map of Concerns

The app allows users to search for and add any issues or feelings they are currently experiencing. For example, they can start with a statement like “I’m not feeling too great about myself today” and then add additional aspects such as physical health concerns. If a concern hasn’t already been mapped by another user, they can create a new entry. This way, users can build a comprehensive map of their personal struggles.

Connecting the Dots

Once the user has added their concerns, the app generates a map that provides an overview of the different areas they want to work on. The app then attempts to make connections between these concerns, offering a bigger picture as to why the user may be feeling a certain way.

Continuous Growth and Development

“The map is only growing as people are sharing more and more of their issues,” says Varun Gandhi. “People are moving from one thing to another, and the map is developing all kinds of dynamic connections.”

Addressing Mental Health Challenges

Being currently offers three different ways for users to address their mental health concerns:

1. Mini Interactive Therapy Sessions

The app provides mini interactive therapy sessions designed by licensed mental health professionals. These sessions focus on techniques such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), offering users targeted support.

2. AI-Powered Journaling

Users can engage in AI-powered journaling sessions that provide prompts to reflect on their current experiences. As they write, the AI prompts them with additional questions. However, the app features only basic AI functionalities, as it does not aim to replace science-backed therapy with AI.

3. Quick Bites of Psychoeducation

Gandhi refers to this option as a “quick bite” of science-based psychoeducation. It caters to individuals with limited time who want to quickly understand why they may be feeling a certain way.

Starting from Where the Person Is

Gandhi believes in approaching mental health by understanding what a person is currently feeling, without automatically labeling them with specific concerns like depression or anxiety. “We start to see mental health as what the person is experiencing at any point in time, because most of us are not okay in different ways,” he explains.

Accessibility and Subscription Tiers

Being is available on both iOS and Android platforms and offers two subscription tiers:

1. $9.99 per month (DIY Experience)

The first tier provides a self-guided experience for users.

2. $19.99 per month (Additional Support and One-on-One Chats)

The second tier offers additional support and the opportunity for one-on-one chats with a mental health professional.

Investment and Growth

The company is currently in the midst of closing a $3 million seed round, building upon its previous success in raising $1.4 million in funding through two pre-seed rounds led by Multiply Ventures and Better Capital in 2021 and 2022.

The post Being: The Mental Health App Helping Users Navigate Everyday Issues appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/being-the-mental-health-app-helping-users-navigate-everyday-issues/

Reddit Revamps Privacy Settings: Removes Ability to Opt Out of Ad Personalization

Reddit Revamps Privacy Settings to Enhance Ad Personalization

Reddit said Wednesday that the platform is revamping its privacy settings with an aim to make ad personalization and account visibility toggles consistent. Most notably though, it is removing the ability to opt out of ad personalization based on Reddit activity.

Improved Accuracy and User Experience

The company said that it will still have opt-out controls in “select countries” without specifying which ones. It mentioned in a blog post that users won’t see more ads but they will see better-targeted ads following this change.

“Reddit requires very little personal information, and we like it that way. Our advertisers instead rely on on-platform activity—what communities you join, leave, upvotes, downvotes, and other signals—to get an idea of what you might be interested in,” Reddit said.

The company is essentially removing the option to not track you based on whatever you do on Reddit.

Consolidation of Ad Settings

Additionally, Reddit is consolidating two toggles on showing ads based on activity and information from partners into one toggle. So there is no way to separate those two settings now.

Post Recommendations and Advertising Categories

Reddit is seemingly removing toggles for getting post recommendations based on “general location” and activity on partner sites and apps. It’s not clear if this means those parameters will be used for post suggestions by default and there is no way to turn them off.

The social network said it will also roll out controls to limit certain advertising categories such as alcohol, weight loss, dating, gambling, pregnancy, and parenting.

Limiting Ads but Ensuring Accuracy

The company noted that ad-limiting controls will possibly show you fewer ads from mentioned categories if the toggles are turned off, but won’t possibly filter out all ads. Reddit justified this by saying it uses manual tagging and machine learning to label ads, so there is a chance that it is not 100% accurate.

Simplifying Location Customization

Reddit is also simplifying its location customization setting under a single menu, which will be easily accessible through settings on apps and on the web.

Monetization Efforts and Future Plans

The social platform has made several changes to increase monetization. It infamously made changes to its data API terms that led to many third-party clients shutting down and subreddits protesting in retaliation. Last week, it rolled out a new creator rewards program to incentivize people to post more and better content on the platform. But it also introduced a change that made it easier for users to purchase Gold rewards.

In an interview with The Verge in June, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman responded to IPO rumors and said, “Getting to breakeven is a priority for us in any climate.”

The post Reddit Revamps Privacy Settings: Removes Ability to Opt Out of Ad Personalization appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/reddit-revamps-privacy-settings-removes-ability-to-opt-out-of-ad-personalization/

Vivaldi Launches iOS Version of its Browser: Features, Tab Bar, Customization, and More

Introducing Vivaldi: The New Browser for iOS

Almost eight years after former Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner launched a new browser for desktop users, his company named Vivaldi has introduced its iOS version today.

Building from Scratch for iOS

As it’s mandatory for browsers on iOS today to use WebKit as the core engine, Vivaldi uses the same engine. Von Tetzchner told AsumeTech that this was the primary reason why they had to start building the iOS version from scratch. Notably, the company launched its browser for Android devices back in 2018.

Potential for Better Performance and Customization

Von Tetzchner mentioned that the upcoming EU regulations would hopefully allow developers to use engines other than WebKit for better performance and customization.

Desktop-Like Tab Bar

Vivaldi for iOS offers a desktop-like tab bar, so you can see what other tabs are open without going to the tab switchers. If you don’t like this view, you can turn it off from settings.

Convenient Tab Switcher

The tab switcher gives you access to open tabs, private tabs, synced tabs with other Vivaldi instances, and recently closed tabs. A long press on the tab switcher will let you quickly open a new or a private tab or close the current tab.

Customizable “Speed Dials”

Any new blank tab page will show you “Speed Dials,” which is Vivaldi speak for bookmarks and you can customize them according to your preference.

Notes and Reading List Features

Vivaldi for iOS also offers a handy notes feature and a reading list feature — both of these features can be synced across devices.

In-Built Tracker Blocker and Ad Blocker

Additionally, the new app offers an in-built tracker blocker and ad blocker, custom app icons, and the ability to easily switch between search engines.

Expanding to iPad

Along with the iOS version, Vivaldi is launching its browser on iPad as well. It has made a sidebar for the iPad, which lets you access things like bookmarks, reading lists, history and notes.

Popular Choice with Millions of Users

Von Tetzchner told AsumeTech that Vivaldi has 2.5–3 million users across platforms. The company generates revenue from deals with various search engines — von Tetzchner emphasized that Google is not one of them.

Vivaldi: Available on Multiple Platforms

With this launch on iOS, Vivaldi is now present on multiple platforms including Windows, Android, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi and even in cars through Android Auto. Last September, Google included Vivaldi in the Play Store for Android Auto.

The post Vivaldi Launches iOS Version of its Browser: Features, Tab Bar, Customization, and More appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/vivaldi-launches-ios-version-of-its-browser-features-tab-bar-customization-and-more/

Testing Smartphones: Focusing on Features, Photography, Battery Life, and Performance

Introduction

 

In our phone testing process, we thoroughly examine every aspect of a phone’s performance, design, features, camera capabilities, battery life, and overall value. We constantly update our initial review to reflect any new software updates and to compare it with the latest phones from competitors like Apple, Samsung, Google, and OnePlus. The methodology outlined below applies to testing both smartphones and flip phones.

Photography

One of the key aspects we focus on is photography. We capture pictures and videos in various settings and lighting conditions to gauge the phone’s camera performance. We also test any new camera modes introduced by manufacturers, such as the Action mode on the latest iPhone 14 line or the Unblur photo tool offered with the Google Pixel 7 series.

Battery Life

We conduct battery tests in different ways to assess performance. This includes evaluating the phone’s endurance during a typical day of use, as well as specific scenarios like video calls, media streaming, and gaming. Additionally, we measure pure battery life through a video playback test, which provides a reliable benchmark. Although this test may not always be included in the initial review, it may be added later in an update.

Performance

We use benchmarking apps to measure the performance of each phone. In addition, we rely on our own experiences using the phone for the review. We pay particular attention to graphics and animations, assessing their smoothness and responsiveness. We also evaluate how quickly the phone transitions between horizontal and vertical orientations, as well as the speed at which the camera app opens and is ready to capture a photo.

Furthermore, we engage in processor-heavy tasks such as photo editing, video exporting, and gaming to gauge the phone’s capabilities. We assess whether newer models offer substantial features that justify an upgrade from older versions of the same phone.

For more information: How we test phones

The post Testing Smartphones: Focusing on Features, Photography, Battery Life, and Performance appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/testing-smartphones-focusing-on-features-photography-battery-life-and-performance/

Epic Games Files Cert Petition with Supreme Court to Examine Apple’s App Store Fees and Antitrust Violations

Epic Games Takes Fight Against Apple to the Supreme Court

We haven’t heard the last of Epic’s crusade against Apple over the iPhone maker’s App Store fees.

In a significant development, Epic Games, the maker of the popular game Fortnite and operator of the Epic Games Store, filed a cert petition with the Supreme Court on Wednesday. This move has set things in motion for the highest court in the land to reexamine whether Apple’s software business violates federal antitrust laws.

A Protracted Legal Battle

The legal battle between Epic Games and Apple has been ongoing for nearly five years. In 2020, Epic Games initiated a lawsuit against Apple after the tech giant removed Fortnite from its App Store. This action by Apple was a response to Epic Games intentionally breaking App Store rules by introducing a direct payment option for Fortnite’s in-game currency, thus circumventing Apple’s fees. This incident marked the beginning of Epic Games’ campaign to rally developers against Apple’s longstanding software practices.

Apple’s Previous Victory and Epic’s Partial Win

In a previous round of litigation, Apple emerged as the winner. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld most of a federal judge’s decision, dismissing Epic Games’ argument that Apple violates federal antitrust laws by preventing alternative software markets on iOS. However, the federal judge did rule that Apple violated California’s Unfair Competition Law by restricting developers from informing consumers about alternative payment options, giving Epic Games a minor victory. The appeals court affirmed this decision.

Heading to the Supreme Court

Now, the ongoing legal fight has reached the doorstep of the Supreme Court. Epic Games has requested that developers be allowed to direct iPhone users towards payment options other than Apple’s App Store. However, Justice Elena Kagan rejected this request in August, effectively maintaining Apple’s existing rules unless the Supreme Court decides otherwise.

The stage is set for a potential Supreme Court battle between Epic Games and Apple. It remains to be seen if the Supreme Court will select the case, thereby reopening the legal battle between these two corporate giants.

The post Epic Games Files Cert Petition with Supreme Court to Examine Apple’s App Store Fees and Antitrust Violations appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/epic-games-files-cert-petition-with-supreme-court-to-examine-apples-app-store-fees-and-antitrust-violations/

Artifact Launches New Feature Allowing Users to Make Posts, Expanding Beyond News Aggregator Service

The Launch of Artifact’s New Feature: Posts

Artifact, a platform built by Instagram’s co-founders, is launching the ability for users to make posts. Up until now, the platform has been an aggregator for news and links, but is now becoming more of a social network by allowing users to create posts. Artifact co-founder and CTO Mike Krieger announced the launch of the new feature at today’s Code Conference.

Sharing Content Directly on Artifact

With this new feature, users will be able to post their own content directly on Artifact without needing to include a link. The company wrote in a blog post that the new feature builds on the recent launch of Links, which lets anyone share a URL they believe is notable enough to resonate with other readers. This also feeds into the personalization algorithms, helping people discover new content they may not have otherwise.

“Posts builds on the recent launch of Links, and allows anyone to share thoughts, reviews, ideas or anything they find useful into the feed of content from the community,” the company wrote in a blog post. “Posts, along with Links, expand what’s possible to discover, share, and create on Artifact.

Creating Personalized Posts

Users can get started with the new feature by tapping the “+” icon on the top right corner of the Links tab. From there, you can add your own images, title and text. Artifact notes that you can post whatever you’d like, including restaurant reviews, how-to guides, family recipes, app breakdowns, design inspo and more.

Increased Visibility and Sharing

Artifact explains that just like links, your posts will appear in the visual feed of content shared by the community. Posts will be distributed to your followers and be shown to anyone on Artifact who has read on similar topics. All posts have a unique URL that can be shared with anyone, which will make it easier to share them on different platforms.

Expansion Beyond Aggregator Service

The launch shows that Artifact is expanding beyond simply being a news aggregator service and that the company is interested in competing with social networking platforms. Although Artifact had been slowly inching into social networking territory with recent launches that added commenting on articles and tools for writers to claim their profiles and track their readership, the new Posts feature brings Artifact in direct competition with social networks.

Continued Exploration and Future Prospects

Today’s announcement comes a week after Artifact co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom spoke onstage at AsumeTech Disrupt 2023. The executive said that Artifact is still exploring product-market fit and that he believes that machine learning, LLM (large language models) and mobile are key to the app’s potential success, but that the startup is still trying to figure out how to achieve scale.

Systrom also spoke about how he doesn’t believe in AI doomerism, even as he’s developing a new app that’s embracing novel AI technologies. The executive noted that although it’s good that people are questioning the potential impacts of AI, he feels it’s more likely that people will become “super-powered” because of these technologies.

The post Artifact Launches New Feature Allowing Users to Make Posts, Expanding Beyond News Aggregator Service appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/artifact-launches-new-feature-allowing-users-to-make-posts-expanding-beyond-news-aggregator-service/

Meta Teases Meta Quest for Business: A New Enterprise AR Platform Launching in October

Meta Quest for Business: The Next Step for Enterprise AR

Meta’s Quest headsets have long been reliably consumer focused – at least until last year’s Quest Pro launch. Meta, like Magic Leap and Microsoft before it, has seen the writing on the wall. The real money is in enterprise.

At today’s Connect conference in Menlo Park, CA, Meta teased Meta Quest for business. The platform is designed to offer enterprise AR applications in a single spot. The new service is set to launch in October.

The Rise of Enterprise AR

The offering arrives four months after Apple unveiled its own Vision Pro headset back at WWDC. Spatial computing is at the heart of Apple’s offering, creating workspaces in augmented reality. Despite being an unproven platform thus far, Meta has clearly seen the potential in the idea.

Compatible with Leading Applications

Meta Quest for Business will be compatible with a number of different enterprise applications, including Microsoft 365, which is set to arrive for the platform later this year. No further details were offered during today’s keynote.

Conclusion

As technology continues to advance, the shift towards enterprise-focused applications is becoming increasingly evident. Meta Quest for Business is Meta’s foray into the world of enterprise AR, providing a single platform for businesses to explore augmented reality applications. With compatibility for leading applications like Microsoft 365 on the horizon, Meta is positioning itself as a key player in the growing industry of enterprise AR.

The post Meta Teases Meta Quest for Business: A New Enterprise AR Platform Launching in October appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/meta-teases-meta-quest-for-business-a-new-enterprise-ar-platform-launching-in-october/

Snap Closes Down Division Offering AR Expertise to Enterprise Customers: What Happened and the Future of Snap’s AR Strategy

Snap Shuts Down AR Enterprise Service

Snap is closing down a division of its company designed to offer its AR expertise to enterprise customers. The initiative, called AR Enterprise Service, or ARES, was first announced in March of this year, and included a Shopping Suite for brands that allowed them to access AR try-on features, a 3D viewer for looking at a product from multiple angles, fit and sizing recommendation technology and and enterprise manager were brands could host and manage all digital assets.

Competition and Technological Complexities Lead to Closure

The closure was first reported by Bloomberg, based on an internal memo sent from Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, which Snap confirmed. In the memo, the exec pointed to the emergence of AI tools that impacted Snap’s competitive advantage as well as the need to invest more heavily into web tools, rather than mobile — technology that he described as “technically complex and less engaging for our customers.”

Challenges with AI

On AI, specifically, Spiegel wrote, “the advent of generative AI has made it easier for companies of all sizes to create try-on experiences for their customers and made it harder for us to differentiate our offering.”

Impact on Jobs and Future Direction

The company made the decision that building up ARES would take “significant” investment and it couldn’t continue to fund those efforts. The memo says the shuttering of the business will cut 170 jobs at Snap, but some employees may be rehired for other roles, including support for  CameraKit, Sponsored AR advertising, and others. Snap noted in the memo it has 250 million people still engaging with its AR experiences every day.

Past Demonstrations and Expansion of Shopping Suite

After the introduction of ARES in March, Snap demonstrated the offering to brands at its Partner Summit in April, where it also rolled out a new offering called AR Mirrors, designed to bring AR tech to physical screens in the real world. Coca-Cola was using the tech to make an AR-enabled vending machine and other retailers, including Men’s Wearhouse and Nike, have tested the product, Snap said.

The shopping suite, meanwhile, was expanded with features like Live Garment Transfer, a tool that makes AR asset creation easier for retailers by allowing them to upload 3D assets in Lens Studio. Businesses would access Snap’s Shopping Suite solution via a front-end dashboard and backend infrastructure where they create and manage their AR assets, build AR experiences, manage 3D asset catalogs, and implement the Shopping Suite SDK.

Snap also provided an in-house team to help clients with onboarding and using the suite’s features.

Declining Revenue and User Growth

The division closure comes at a time when Snap has seen declining revenue. The company saw its first revenue decline as a public company in Q1 and reported $1.07 billion during Q2, another year-over-year drop. However, the company did grow its daily active users, which were up 14% year-over-year to 397 million in the second quarter, and recently announced it has topped 5 million paid subscribers for Snapchat+.

Farewell from Evan Spiegel

“I am deeply grateful for the hard work of our AR Enterprise team,” wrote Spiegel. “It is very difficult to create a new business, and incredibly painful to wind it down, but it is the willingness to take risks and try new things that moves the world forward through innovation and experimentation. The courage and strength of our AR Enterprise team members embodies so much of what I love about Snap and I am so sorry that this venture did not work out as we had hoped. Leading in augmented reality means that sometimes we will fail, and I am proud that our team dared to build this business even if we did not succeed,” he said.

The post Snap Closes Down Division Offering AR Expertise to Enterprise Customers: What Happened and the Future of Snap’s AR Strategy appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/snap-closes-down-division-offering-ar-expertise-to-enterprise-customers-what-happened-and-the-future-of-snaps-ar-strategy/

Which iPhones are Compatible with iOS 17? Check If Your iPhone Can Run the New Software

Apple iOS 17 Compatibility

Introduction

Apple’s iOS 17 software has been available to most iPhones since Sept. 18, but some people never got the update. That’s because some older iPhone models were left out of the newest software upgrade, including those from 2017 or before. If that’s you, you won’t be able to try out the new features in iOS 17 unless you buy a supported iPhone.

How to Check if Your iPhone is Compatible

If you aren’t sure which iPhone you’ve got, a quick check in your settings can show you. Open your Settings app and tap General > About. Next to the Model Name, you’ll see which iPhone you have.

We’ll show you how to find out whether your iPhone is compatible with iOS 17. Also, check out our list of the best iPhones to compare and see if there’s a newer model that might work for you.

Go Inside the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro

See How the New iPhones Look and Work

See all photos

Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 17?

If you’ve got one of these iPhones, you should now have access to iOS 17, Apple said.

Which iPhone models won’t run the new iOS 17?

With the release of iOS 17, three more iPhone models won’t run Apple’s latest mobile operating system: iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. Apple stopped providing feature upgrades for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 series with the release of iOS 16 last year. Those phones still run iOS 15.

What if your iPhone isn’t on the iOS 17 compatibility list?

If your iPhone isn’t listed above, it won’t support iOS 17, and you won’t get a notification to download the newest software. For instance, if you have an iPhone X or iPhone 8, the latest software you’ll ever be able to use on that phone is iOS 16.

Although older iPhones won’t support the latest version of iOS or get any of the new features, they should still be functional for a while. They will also continue to receive security updates for iOS 16. Apple released the latest security update for iOS 15 in July 2023 and will continue to release iOS 16 security updates in the near future.

The post Which iPhones are Compatible with iOS 17? Check If Your iPhone Can Run the New Software appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/which-iphones-are-compatible-with-ios-17-check-if-your-iphone-can-run-the-new-software/

Google Launches Earthquake Alert System for Android Devices in India

Google has announced the launch of its earthquake alert system for Android devices in India. The system uses smartphone sensors such as accelerators, which can act as small seismometers and detect tremors.

The company on Wednesday said the system, developed with consultation from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Seismology Center (NSC), will provide early earthquake alerts for Android users in an area that’s likely to be impacted. These alerts will be available in local Indian languages supported by Android.

The company sends two types of alerts: Be Aware and Take Action. The “Be Aware” alerts are sent to users experiencing MMI 3 & 4 shaking during an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 or greater. It just shows an alert on your screen and doesn’t play any sound if your phone is on Do Not Disturb mode or in silent mode.

Experience Earthquake Alerts

Google said that the alerts are sent to users experiencing MMI 5+ shaking during an earthquake of 4.5 magnitude. In this case, the alert will bypass the system’s notification settings, including Do Not Disturb, and play a loud sound.

The alert also suggests to users what action — such as taking cover under a table — they can take for safety.

Google said it detects a potential earthquake through many Android phones noting seismic activity in an area. The company claims that alerts often reach many seconds before shaking.

How to Enable Earthquake Alerts

In 2020, Google introduced Android Earthquake Alerts for people in California. Users should be using a phone with Android 5 or later and have Wi-Fi or cellular data connectivity. To get earthquake alerts, users also need to have the location settings enabled on their devices.

Users can start getting earthquake alerts by going through Settings > Safety & emergency  Earthquake alerts. Alternatively, they can also enable earthquake alerts through Settings > Location > Advanced > Earthquake alerts.

Expanding Public Safety Measures

Google already issues AI-powered flood alerts to all Indian regions. The company began the flood alert pilot in Patna, the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, in 2018. Later, it expanded flood alerts to all of India in 2020.

The post Google Launches Earthquake Alert System for Android Devices in India appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/google-launches-earthquake-alert-system-for-android-devices-in-india/

Apple Podcasts App Gets Upgraded Experience and Subscriptions Integration with New iOS 17 Update

The Upgraded Experience of Apple Podcasts with iOS 17

As Google is shifting its podcast listeners over to YouTube Music, Apple today announced an upgraded experience for its own Apple Podcasts app, following the release of iOS 17. With the software update, the service will now support a refreshed design with full-screen artwork, a more streamlined queue, episode art, interactive widgets, search filters and support for the iPhone’s new StandBy mode.

Access to More Than 60 Original Podcasts

In addition, subscribers to Apple Music, Apple News+, and partners Calm and Lingokids will gain access to more than 60 original podcasts, the company says, including Apple Music Radio shows that will now be available in the Apple Podcasts app.

New API for Subscription-based Shows

Other apps with subscriptions will also be able to integrate with Apple Podcasts with a new API that will make their subscription-based shows available to paying users within the Podcasts app. This includes any app that provides premium audio content — like podcasts, news briefs, narrated articles, radio shows with music, educational courses, guided meditations, sleep sounds, and more.

Integration with Third-Party Apps

The feature, for example, could be adopted by an app like The York Times Audio app launched in May if it chose to do so. The app, which offers exclusive audio podcasts not available through other services, was criticized because it misunderstood how people like to consume podcasts and audio news — even if they’re NYT superfans, they’re not likely to want to seek out a dedicated NYT audio app for that purpose. People already have their preferred ways of consuming podcasts, and Apple Podcasts is at the top of that list for many iPhone owners.

Streaming Across Apple Devices

Third-party apps that integrate with this API to import their content will also be available in Apple Podcasts, where their own subscribers will be able to manually sign into their account from the Podcasts app. This allows them to stream the content across Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, CarPlay, and Apple Watch with AirPods, the company says.

Early Adopters and Apple’s Own Narrated Audio News

Early adopters of the feature include Bloomberg, Curio, L’Équipe, Mamamia, Sleep Cycle, The Economist, The Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, WELT News, and Zen. Starting next month, listeners will be able to connect their subscriptions with Apple Podcasts. Apple is leading by example here by making its own narrated audio news articles from Apple News+ publishers available in the Apple Podcasts app for its subscribers. The feature is now branded as Apple News+ Narrated and will now be available in both Apple Podcasts and Apple News.

Apple Music Shows and Coverage

Meanwhile, Apple Music’s coverage of the 2024 Apple Music Halftime Show will be available to subscribers on Apple Podcasts, along with anchor-hosted shows from Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, and Kelleigh Bannen, and artist-hosted programs like “Angel Hour Radio” with pop singer-songwriter Reneé Rapp, “Time Crisis” hosted by Vampire Weekend’s frontman Ezra Koenig, “OTHERtone” featuring artist and producer Pharrell Williams, and others, like “Deep Hidden Meaning Radio” and weekly playlist shows like “Rap Life Radio,” and many more.

Regional Variations and Requirements

The ability to connect your app subscriptions to Apple Podcasts requires iOS 17, iPadOS 17, or MacOS Sonoma and support from the app’s developer and may vary by region. Apple News+ is available in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, while Apple Music is available in more than 67 countries and regions.

The post Apple Podcasts App Gets Upgraded Experience and Subscriptions Integration with New iOS 17 Update appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/apple-podcasts-app-gets-upgraded-experience-and-subscriptions-integration-with-new-ios-17-update/

Google to Shut Down Google Podcasts App and Transition Users to YouTube Music in 2024

Google to Shut Down Google Podcasts App in Transition to YouTube Music

In an effort to enhance its podcast experience, Google announced today that it will be shutting down its Google Podcasts app by 2024. This move is part of Google’s broader plan to shift its streaming listeners to YouTube Music. Earlier this year, Google revealed that YouTube Music would begin supporting podcasts in the U.S., with plans to expand globally by the end of the year. More recently, Google also announced that podcasters would be able to upload their RSS feeds to YouTube.

Investing in the Podcast Experience on YouTube Music

Google intends to increase its investment in the podcast experience on YouTube Music, making it a destination of choice for podcast enthusiasts. The company plans to introduce features focused on discovery, community engagement, and seamless transitioning between audio podcasts and video content. These efforts somewhat mirror Spotify’s strategy, as the rival music streaming platform rolled out video podcast support and community features like Q&As and polls last year.

Transitioning from Google Podcasts to YouTube Music

Google’s decision to make YouTube Music the new home for podcasts entails moving users away from the existing Google Podcasts app. The company justifies this move by citing the listening habits of users. According to Edison, YouTube is the most frequently used service for 23% of weekly podcast users in the U.S., while only 4% prefer using Google Podcasts.

To assist users in transitioning to YouTube Music, Google plans to offer a migration tool and the ability to add podcast RSS feeds to the YouTube Music library. This includes shows that are currently not hosted by YouTube. While these migration tools are not yet available, Google will be working on them over the next few weeks and months for eventual rollout to all users.

Supporting Users’ Preferences and Smooth Migration

For users who prefer not to move to YouTube Music, Google will support the option to download an OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) file of their show subscriptions from Google Podcasts. This file can then be uploaded to any app that supports importing. Google wants to ensure a seamless and convenient migration process for its users.

Google acknowledges that this transition will take time, but the company sees it as an opportunity to create an excellent product and a single destination that benefits podcast creators, artists, and fans. Google reassures users that there will be no immediate changes, and they will still have access to YouTube, YouTube Music, and Google Podcasts. The company is committed to transparent communication and will provide more information about the transition process in the coming months.

Consolidation Trend in the Music and Podcast Industry

Google’s move to shut down the Google Podcasts app aligns with its broader strategy to position YouTube Music as a strong competitor to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other music streaming platforms. In 2020, Google implemented a similar transition plan when it shifted music listeners away from Google Play Music prior to its shutdown. However, podcasts present a unique challenge due to the widespread practice of using YouTube itself to listen to podcasts instead of relying solely on the dedicated Google Podcasts app. In contrast, YouTube Music only recently started supporting podcasts.

With the shutdown of Google Podcasts, Apple remains the only major player in the industry that has not consolidated music and podcasts into a single destination. Spotify, Amazon, and Pandora all offer both types of audio content within their flagship applications.

The post Google to Shut Down Google Podcasts App and Transition Users to YouTube Music in 2024 appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/google-to-shut-down-google-podcasts-app-and-transition-users-to-youtube-music-in-2024/

Uber Eats and Getir Partner for Grocery Delivery Expansion in the UK and Europe

Uber Eats and Getir Announce Grocery Delivery Partnership in the UK

Uber Eats has teamed up with quick commerce player Getir to offer grocery delivery services, starting in the UK. Their partnership will expand the range of groceries available to Uber Eats users and is expected to roll out in other European markets soon. Getir, which recently faced challenges in the q-commerce space, aims to tap into Uber’s larger user base for growth.

A Challenging Time for the Q-commerce Space

The q-commerce sector has experienced a tumultuous few years, with the surge in demand during the pandemic followed by a sharp decline as people regained confidence in in-person shopping. Many platforms had to adjust their strategies and scale back their operations due to tumbling valuations and high burn rates. Getir, for instance, reduced its global headcount by 14% and exited several European markets.

Getir’s Efforts to Drive Growth

Despite the setbacks, Getir is determined to achieve growth and has now partnered with Uber to make its services available on the ride-hailing platform. The Turkish startup plans to leverage Gorillas, a dark store network acquired by Getir, to support this grocery delivery partnership with Uber Eats. The pan-European collaboration will initially go live in UK stores, offering Uber Eats users access to over 2,000 products with deliveries promised within minutes.

Expanding Uber Eats’ Grocery Offering

Uber Eats has been steadily expanding its grocery delivery capabilities in the UK, including partnerships with major supermarkets like Tesco and Waitrose. During the pandemic, Uber also collaborated with Carrefour in France and Galp in Spain to enhance its regional offerings. The partnership with Getir will further bolster its grocery services in other European markets while providing faster delivery times for UK customers.

A Growing Demand for Groceries

Uber Eats reports a significant surge in demand for groceries, with orders in New Verticals reaching over $5 billion in Gross Bookings in Q1. Recognizing the need to cater to various tastes and preferences, Uber Eats aims to collaborate with different brands to drive this growth. The rollout of Getir stores on the Uber Eats app will feature Getir couriers for speedy deliveries, ensuring a seamless experience for users.

“We are delighted Getir has joined Uber Eats today. We want to ensure customers can use Uber Eats to get almost anything delivered in a matter of minutes, at the touch of a button. Getir’s vast selection of everyday essentials and ultrafast grocery delivery model will further enhance our marketplace and ensure more choice and convenience for millions of customers across key European markets.” – Eve Henrikson, Regional General Manager, Uber Delivery EMEA

Getir is also enthusiastic about this collaboration, as it allows them to reach a wider customer base and provide an exceptional quick commerce service. This partnership between two established international brands benefits both Uber Eats customers and Getir, contributing to their respective growth.

The post Uber Eats and Getir Partner for Grocery Delivery Expansion in the UK and Europe appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/uber-eats-and-getir-partner-for-grocery-delivery-expansion-in-the-uk-and-europe/

Introducing Spotify Jam: Blend Your Musical Tastes in Real-Time with Friends

Introducing Spotify Jam: Blending Musical Tastes for Real-Time Group Listening

Spotify is today introducing its latest social feature, Jam, which allows multiple people to blend their own musical tastes into a combined playlist. However, the new feature, which builds on technology previously used in multi-person playlists like Blend and Duo Mix, is designed for real-time listening among a group of people — like at a party — where anyone can contribute to a shared queue of songs to play next.

A New Era of Musical Control

Now, explains Spotify, instead of having one person in control of the music at a social gathering, everyone can have their say.

Creating a Jam

A new Jam can only be created by Spotify Premium subscribers, but any Spotify users, free or paid, can contribute. To get started, you’ll tap on the speaker icon at the bottom of your screen or the three-dot menu at the top then select the new option “Start a Jam” from any song, album, or existing playlist. You can also control which device you want to play the tunes on, like your phone or, more likely, a speaker.

Joining the Jam

Anyone who’s on the same shared Wi-Fi network will be prompted to join the Jam when they open their Spotify app.

Inviting Contributors

You can also directly invite users to contribute to the Jam by tapping your phones together with Bluetooth turned on, having a friend scan the QR code for the Jam from your phone, or by using the “share” feature to send a link over social media, iMessage, SMS and more.

Collaborative Listening Experience

As people add to the shared queue, you’ll see profiles next to the track of those who’ve added the song in question. Up to 32 people can be in the Jam’s private session at the same time, Spotify told AsumeTech.

Host Controls and Guest Interaction

As the Jam’s host, you’re still largely in control of the music, by default, as you can determine who’s in the Jam, change the order of the tracks, or remove songs that you don’t want played. But Spotify does allow the host to enable “Guest controls” that let everyone remove songs or change the order of the tracks. Over time, the company says it expects to add more features to Jams, though it wouldn’t confirm if some sort of voting mechanism to move tracks up the list would be among them. (We can only hope!)

Personalized Recommendations for Group Listening

In addition to simply being a shared queue for group listening, Jam also brings Spotify’s personalization technology into the mix, which makes the feature unique.

Spotify’s Recommendation Technology

Jam takes into account the listening preferences of the entire group to generate suggestions based on everyone’s tastes. This is the same technology that powers Blend — a popular addition to Spotify’s app which has now been used to create over 45 million personalized, blended playlists. In total, Spotify users have listened to over 200 million hours across all its collaborative playlists, with Gen Z listeners in the lead.

Spotify tells us that even if the people in the group have different musical tastes, the company has developed recommendation technology that can handle that problem. This involves a variety of different inputs and different signals, the company says, but the specifics are a part of Spotify’s secret sauce, so to speak, and vary based on the user and the shared session.

Enhanced Recommendations for Real-Time Listening

“We are able to create great personalized recommendations because of our dynamic systems that consider a wide variety of inputs such as what you’re listening to, which songs you’re adding to your playlists, how others with similar tastes listen, and more,” explains Bryan Roy, Design Director at Spotify. “And with Jam, we have improved our recommendations to allow for more real-time listening,” he says.

Reasons to Subscribe and Pay for the Service

With Jam, Spotify is giving users another reason to subscribe and pay for the service, despite its recent price hikes. For now, the company is still doing well on the subscriber front, having reported 220 million subscribers in Q2 2023, up 17% year-over-year. However, it’s possible that the price increases could lead to more cancelations, though the company downplayed those concerns in its most recent quarter, assuring investors the price increase would have “minimal impacts” in Q3.

Availability

Jam is rolling out to all Spotify users globally on September 26.

The company is also rumored to be developing a HiFi tier with lossless audio for $20 per month, compared with the $10.99 per individual user in the U.S.

The post Introducing Spotify Jam: Blend Your Musical Tastes in Real-Time with Friends appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/introducing-spotify-jam-blend-your-musical-tastes-in-real-time-with-friends/

New Code Reveals Audio and Video Calls Coming to X App, But Only for X Premium Users

Video Calls Coming to X App with Premium Membership

Last month X CEO Linda Yaccarino confirmed that video calls would be coming to the app formerly known as Twitter as part of its transition into an “everything app.” Now, new code in the X app reveals that both audio and video calls will be supported. However, the feature will not be available to all X users — only those with an X Premium membership, it appears.

New Discoveries in X App Code

The new findings were uncovered by tech veteran-turned-investor Chris Messina inside the X app’s code. As currently described, the feature will allow X users to opt to receive both audio and video calls from other Verified users, from people they follow, or from people in their address book, depending on their selection.

Opt-In Nature and Privacy

“Take messaging to the next level with audio and video calls. Turn the feature on and then select who you’re comfortable using it with,” the feature’s description reads, indicating its opt-in nature.

Premium Feature and Subscription

Other lines of code refer to a warning that appears when someone tries to DM another user on the app which explains that “audio and video calls are a premium feature,” and entices them to “subscribe to gain access.” That means users will have to pay for X Premium, the subscription previously known as Twitter Blue, which includes a number of upgraded features including verification, a reduced ad load, the ability to edit posts, support for longer posts, prioritized rankings in search and conversations and more.

Comparing X Premium to Competitors

To date, X has not been able to make a compelling case for X Premium, as independent research indicated that the company has only sold roughly 1 million subscriptions, according to researcher Travis Brown, who’s been tracking the success of the product over on GitHub. For reference, X owner Elon Musk recently said the app has 550 million monthly active users.

By comparison, Snapchat’s premium subscription Snapchat+ just topped the 5 million user mark. Meanwhile, analysts are forecasting Meta’s subscription, Meta Verified, will have 12 million subscribers by early next year.

X App’s Lack of Response

X no longer responds to requests for comment after Musk’s takeover, only replying with an automated message to incoming press queries.

The post New Code Reveals Audio and Video Calls Coming to X App, But Only for X Premium Users appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/new-code-reveals-audio-and-video-calls-coming-to-x-app-but-only-for-x-premium-users/

Snapchat Announces Advertising Partnership with Microsoft for AI Chatbot: Sponsored Links to Connect Users with Relevant Partners

Snapchat Partners with Microsoft for Ads in AI Chatbot

Snapchat has a new advertising partner in Microsoft for the ads it’s inserting into its AI product, My AI, an AI chatbot introduced earlier this year to the wider Snapchat user base. The company in May said it would begin testing Sponsored Links in My AI — link suggestions that are paired with a user’s conversation with the AI helper.

Enhancing Conversations with Sponsored Links

For example, if a user asked My AI where to have dinner, the chatbot could reply with a link sponsored by a local restaurant or food delivery app, Snap explained. Or if the user wanted suggestions for a weekend trip, My AI could return a link from an airline or hotel. It could also recommend where to buy a product the user was inquiring about from a local retailer.

Now, Snap and Microsoft will be partnering on these link suggestions, Microsoft announced at its advertiser event last week. Powered by Microsoft Advertising’s Ads for Chat API, Snap’s Sponsored Links will connect the user with relevant partners related to their conversation, while also allowing advertisers to reach customers at the moment they have an interest in their offering, Snap explains. The feature will be available to Microsoft Advertising’s clients in the U.S. and other select markets.

Following the Trend

Turning AI chatbot conversations into a new ad landscape is not unique to Snap. Bing Chat, launched by Microsoft, also experimented with ads inserted into the chat from its partner brands. Google, too, joined the trend with ads in its AI chatbot in Search.

Snap’s ads will function similarly to those provided by Bing and Google, as they will be presented as Sponsored Links related to the conversation.

Customized Ad Experience

Microsoft’s Ads for Chat API, introduced in May, is built on Bing’s technology and allows third-party partners to control and customize the experience. This means partners can choose ad formats that best suit their audience while integrating them seamlessly. Early adopters, including Snap, have the opportunity to shape the API’s future by providing feedback to Microsoft.

Boosting Microsoft’s Ad Business

This ads partnership is another win for Microsoft’s ad business, which has been powering ads for other tech companies looking for an alternative to Google. Snapchat could potentially become a place where younger Gen Z users search for products and services through AI chats, instead of relying on traditional search engines like Google.

Snap stated that the Sponsored Links feature is still in an early experimental phase to ensure thoughtful and useful experiences for the community. Additionally, the company is working with various partners to further enhance My AI in the future.

The post Snapchat Announces Advertising Partnership with Microsoft for AI Chatbot: Sponsored Links to Connect Users with Relevant Partners appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/snapchat-announces-advertising-partnership-with-microsoft-for-ai-chatbot-sponsored-links-to-connect-users-with-relevant-partners/

Goodnotes Invests $1.9 Million in South Korean Digital Stationery Company WeBudding

Goodnotes Invests $1.9 Million in South Korean Digital Stationary Company WeBudding

Weeks after launching a digital stationary store within the app, notetaking company Goodnotes said today it has invested $1.9 million into South Korea-based digital stationary company WeBudding.

From Physical to Digital

WeBudding was founded by Donghwan Shin, Donggyun Ko, and Chaeyoung Lee in 2018. The trio started by selling physical paper notebooks catered towards university students, but eventually, they made a digital pivot. Now it sells various digital stationary items such as planners, journals, stickers, and notebooks. The company told AsumeTech that 80% of its sales come from mobile while 20% of it comes from its websites.

Series A Funding

Apart from the investment from Goodnotes, WeBudding has also got a $200,000 investment from Strong Ventures — making this a $2.1 million Series A round. The digital stationary startup has received $4.7 million in funding to date. While the company didn’t disclose the exact valuation, it told AsumeTech that the latest round brought a 52% jump in valuation.

Expanding the Goodnotes Store

WeBudding already hosted a lot of Goodnotes-compatible assets on its platforms. With the recent Goodnotes store launch and the strategic investment, WeBudding plans to develop globally relevant content for the notetaking app’s store.

Focusing on Mobile App and Content Localization

Shin, CEO of the digital stationery startup, said that WeBudding is looking to improve its mobile app and also work on content localization for different countries.

“We are also working on expanding our offerings to things like KakaoTalk [a South Korea-based chat app] themes. Additionally, we want to work with famous IPs such as entertainers and musicians to create branded digital stationary,” Chin said.

The Power of Creator Community

WeBudding said that it has 2,500 creators on board with more than 16,000 items in the store. It didn’t disclose how it compensates these creators and what percentage cut the company takes from the sales of the digital stationary.

Goodnotes’ Recent Updates

In August, Goodnotes updated its app in four years with features such as AI-powered handwriting and a digital marketplace. The company, which got the iPad App of the Year award from Apple in 2022, has 21 million monthly active users.

The post Goodnotes Invests $1.9 Million in South Korean Digital Stationery Company WeBudding appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/goodnotes-invests-1-9-million-in-south-korean-digital-stationery-company-webudding/

How to Quickly Access Recent Photos and Videos in Messages on iOS 17

iOS 17 Hidden Feature: Accessing Recent Photos and Videos in Messages with a Single Tap

If you’ve recently updated to iOS 17, you might have noticed that the app icons above your keyboard in the Messages app have disappeared. Instead, you can now access your apps through the new plus (+) button located to the left of the text field. This means you’ll need to tap at least twice to access the same apps as before.

However, there’s a hidden feature in iOS 17 that allows you to quickly access one of these applications with just a single press.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to swiftly access your most recent photos and videos in your camera roll, so you can easily send them via text messages on iOS 17.

Downloading and Installing iOS 17

If you haven’t updated to iOS 17 yet, here’s how you can download and install it on your iPhone:

Step 1: Check for Compatibility

Before updating, make sure your iPhone is compatible with iOS 17. You can refer to this list of iPhone models that support iOS 17 to confirm.

Step 2: Download iOS 17

Once you’ve verified compatibility, go to your iPhone’s settings and tap on “Software Update”. If iOS 17 is available, tap “Download and Install” to begin the update process.

Accessing Recent Photos and Videos in Messages with a Single Tap

This hidden feature is incredibly simple to use. To bring up your camera roll in a text message thread, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Messages.
• Step 2: Enter a text message thread.
• Step 3: Press and hold down on the plus (+) button for about a second.

After performing these steps, you should see your keyboard disappear and be replaced by the most recent photos and videos in your camera roll.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to change which app opens when you press down on the plus button. So, if you want to access any other apps within Messages, you’ll need to tap the plus button and browse through the list.

While you’re here, why not check out our reviews of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max?

The post How to Quickly Access Recent Photos and Videos in Messages on iOS 17 appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/how-to-quickly-access-recent-photos-and-videos-in-messages-on-ios-17/

Check If Your iPhone is Compatible with iOS 17: List of Compatible Models and How to Find Out

iOS 17 Update: Compatibility and Features

The iOS 17 update was made available to most iPhones on Sept. 18, but some people are not getting the update. If you have an iPhone from 2017 or before, unfortunately, you will not be able to enjoy the new features in iOS 17.

How to Check if Your iPhone is Compatible

If you are unsure about the model of your iPhone, you can easily check by navigating to the Settings app. Open the app and tap on General, then select About. Next to Model Name, you’ll find the information about your specific iPhone model.

Which iPhones are Compatible with iOS 17?

Apple has confirmed that the following iPhone models are compatible with iOS 17:

• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max

Which iPhone Models Won’t Run iOS 17?

Unfortunately, the latest iOS 17 update is not supported on the following iPhone models:

• iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone X

Furthermore, Apple stopped providing feature upgrades for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 series with the release of iOS 16 last year. These devices can still run iOS 15.

What to Do if Your iPhone Isn’t Compatible?

If your iPhone is not listed among the compatible models mentioned above, it means it won’t support iOS 17, and you won’t receive a notification to download the newest software. For example, if you own an iPhone X or iPhone 8, the latest software version you can use on your device is iOS 16.

Even though older iPhones won’t support the latest iOS version or receive new features, they will remain functional. They will also continue to receive security updates for iOS 16. Apple released the latest security update for iOS 15 in July 2023 and will continue to release iOS 16 security updates in the future to ensure your device’s safety.

Take a Look at Apple’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro: New Colors, Prices and More

See all photos

Consider Upgrading to the Latest iPhone

If you are unable to use iOS 17 on your current iPhone, you might want to explore the option of upgrading to a newer model. Check out our list of best iPhones to see if there’s a model that suits your needs. Additionally, you can also preorder the upcoming iPhone 15.

The post Check If Your iPhone is Compatible with iOS 17: List of Compatible Models and How to Find Out appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/check-if-your-iphone-is-compatible-with-ios-17-list-of-compatible-models-and-how-to-find-out/

Everything You Need to Know About iOS 17: New Features and How to Use Them

Introducing the iOS 17 Update: New Features and More!

Get ready for the latest iOS 17 update! In this article, we’ll look at what you can expect from this exciting update, how to make the most of its new features, and additional information about iOS 17.

Zachary McAuliffe, Staff writer

Zachary McAuliffe, our trusted staff writer, has been with CNET since November 2021. With five years of experience working for a broadcast news station in Cincinnati, Zachary brings his expertise and passion for technology to deliver insightful articles. In his free time, he enjoys reading and drinking coffee, as well as watching TV series with his wife and their dog.

Expertise
Zachary specializes in web hosting, operating systems, applications, and software.
Credentials

• Apple software beta tester, “Helps make our computers and phones work!” – Zach’s grandparents

The post Everything You Need to Know About iOS 17: New Features and How to Use Them appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ios-17-new-features-and-how-to-use-them/

PhonePe Launches Indus AppStore Developer Platform With Zero Platform Fee and No Commission on In-App Purchases

PhonePe Launches Indus AppStore Developer Platform

PhonePe, the fintech startup backed by Walmart, has launched the Indus AppStore Developer Platform in a bid to attract Android developers in India. The platform promises several advantages for developers, including zero platform fees and no commission on in-app purchases. This move comes as PhonePe aims to win over developers who have been dissatisfied with Google’s platform in the country.

Registration and App Uploads Start Today

Starting today, developers can register and upload their apps on the Indus AppStore. This “made-in-India” app store features a range of locally relevant features, such as support for third-party payment providers, 12 Indian languages, and a login system based on phone numbers. PhonePe has also partnered with phonemakers for app distribution.

No Listing Fee for the First Year

PhonePe has announced that it will not charge developers any listing fee for the first year. After the initial year, developers can expect to pay a “nominal” cost. Additionally, PhonePe will not impose any commission on in-app purchases, which is a significant departure from Google’s 15-30% commission rate.

Dedicated India-Based Support Team

In a move to address the concerns of local developers, PhonePe has set up an India-based support team to offer assistance. This initiative aims to resolve the frustrations surrounding Google’s delayed responses and U.S. timezone operating hours.

Strategic Importance for PhonePe

The launch of the Indus AppStore Developer Platform is deemed a crucial strategic move for PhonePe. The fintech startup, which leads the UPI-based payments market in India, has been working on the app store for years. The platform not only provides an alternative to Google Play Store but also offers better app discovery and consumer engagement with its localized approach.

Necessity for an Alternative App Store

Many Indian businesses and startups have grown increasingly frustrated with Google, whose Android mobile operating system powers over 95% of all smartphones in India. Until now, app developers in the country have been compelled to work exclusively with Google Play Store for app distribution. Indus Appstore Developer Platform aims to address this issue and provide developers with a credible alternative.

Previous Attempts to Challenge Google Play Store

PhonePe’s initiative follows similar efforts by local entrepreneurs to combat what they see as exorbitant fees imposed by Google Play Store. Some businesses even formed a Paytm-led mini app store alliance. However, PhonePe is optimistic that with the push from India’s watchdog and the demand for features tailored to local needs, such as real-time analytics and competitor evaluations, this latest attempt will be more successful than past endeavors.

Google’s Presence in the Indian Market

India represents a crucial overseas market for Google, where the company has invested over $10 billion in the past decade. With a user base of over 700 million internet users, Google has faced criticism and regulatory intervention in the country. Google was hit with two antitrust fines in India and made changes to its business agreements following pressure. The company warns that further changes may result in expensive devices and security threats.

PhonePe’s Expansion into New Categories

The Indus AppStore Developer Platform is the latest move from PhonePe as the fintech startup expands into new sectors. With a valuation of $12 billion, PhonePe launched an e-commerce app this year and introduced Share.Market, an app where users can open trading accounts and invest in stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs, last month.

The post PhonePe Launches Indus AppStore Developer Platform With Zero Platform Fee and No Commission on In-App Purchases appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/phonepe-launches-indus-appstore-developer-platform-with-zero-platform-fee-and-no-commission-on-in-app-purchases/

Top Camera Phones: Apple, Samsung, Google, and More Test-Driven: Pick the Best Option for Your Budget and Photography Needs

Choose the Perfect Phone: A Comprehensive Review of the Top Smartphone Brands

Introduction

When it comes to selecting a new phone, it can be a tough decision. Whether you are seeking the absolute best phone on the market or a more budget-friendly option, we have taken the time to thoroughly test and review the top smartphones from renowned brands such as Apple, Samsung, Google, and many others. We have also compiled a list of phones with the most impressive camera capabilities. Read on to find the perfect phone that suits your needs.

Apple

Apple has long been renowned for producing high-quality smartphones, and our testing confirmed this. Their iPhones consistently deliver outstanding performance, sleek designs, and a seamless user experience. From the latest iPhone models like the iPhone 12 Pro Max to more budget-friendly alternatives like the iPhone SE, Apple offers a range of options that cater to various consumer preferences and budgets.

Samsung

Samsung is another key player in the smartphone market, offering an impressive lineup of devices. Samsung phones deliver vibrant displays, powerful processors, and a versatile Android operating system. Whether you opt for their flagship model, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, or a more affordable choice, such as the Samsung Galaxy A52, you can expect a feature-rich smartphone experience.

Google

Google Pixel phones stand out from the crowd due to their exceptional cameras and pure Android experience. Google’s commitment to providing timely software updates and an intuitive user interface ensures a seamless user experience. If having a top-notch camera is a priority for you, consider Google Pixel smartphones like the Google Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a.

The Best Camera Phones

If capturing stunning photos with your smartphone is your primary concern, we have extensively reviewed the top contenders in the camera department. Phones like the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and Google Pixel 5 consistently impress with their exceptional camera systems. These devices boast impressive low-light performance, high-resolution sensors, and advanced image processing capabilities.

Conclusion

Whether you’re searching for the best overall phone or a more affordable option, our comprehensive review has covered the top offerings from leading brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google. Additionally, if capturing breathtaking photos is a priority, our list of the best camera phones will help you make an informed decision. Consider your needs and preferences, then select the perfect smartphone that suits your requirements.

The post Top Camera Phones: Apple, Samsung, Google, and More Test-Driven: Pick the Best Option for Your Budget and Photography Needs appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/top-camera-phones-apple-samsung-google-and-more-test-driven-pick-the-best-option-for-your-budget-and-photography-needs/

Meta-Owned Twitter Rival Threads Adds Multiple Account Switching Feature

Threads Adds Profile-Switching Feature for Easier Account Management

Meta-owned Twitter rival Threads has finally added a way to switch between multiple accounts without logging out.

The social networking app announced Thursday that users can now swap accounts on its mobile apps by long pressing on the profile icon in the bottom right. Users can tap on the “Add profile” option after the long press to add a new profile.

Easier Account Management

This new feature makes it easier for users to switch between work and personal profiles, eliminating the need to log out and log back in. With a simple long press on the profile icon, users can now seamlessly switch between accounts, providing convenience and flexibility.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri didn’t specify if there was a limit on the number of accounts you can add to the profile-switching feature, giving users the freedom to manage as many profiles as they need.

Threads and Facebook’s Simultaneous Announcement

Interestingly, the text-based social networking app’s profile feature was announced on the same day as Facebook enabling people to have multiple personal profiles on the Blue app. This further highlights the competition between Threads and established social media platforms as they strive to offer similar functionalities to attract users.

Continued Innovation and Expansion

More than three months after its launch, Threads is continuously evolving and introducing new features. In addition to the profile-switching feature, the app recently tested full-text search features in New Zealand and Australia. The company has since launched the search functionality globally, enhancing the user experience and making it easier to find specific content.

Threads has also rolled out other useful features, such as the option to turn on notifications for 24 hours for a particular post and the ability to quote posts on the web. These additions further enhance the app’s functionality, providing users with more control and flexibility in managing their content.

Competition in the Social Media Landscape

Threads’ rivals are also actively shipping new features, reflecting the intense competition within the social media landscape. Recently, Mastodon introduced version 4.2 release with various improvements, including enhanced search for profiles and posts, automatic quick action suggestions in the search box, and a new web interface with better thread indicators and article previews. Additionally, Mastodon introduced a new Privacy and Reach settings tab, giving users more control over their privacy settings.

With constant innovation and new feature releases, social media platforms continue to evolve, offering users an ever-improving experience and an array of options to choose from.

The post Meta-Owned Twitter Rival Threads Adds Multiple Account Switching Feature appeared first on asumetech.

from Technology - asumetech https://asumetech.com/meta-owned-twitter-rival-threads-adds-multiple-account-switching-feature/