Sarah Perez
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This Week in Apps: Twitter launches livestream shopping, Netflix snags new games, Tile gets acquired
Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the weekly TechCrunch series that recaps the latest in mobile OS news, mobile applications and the overall app economy. The app industry continues to grow, with a re
Spotify tests a TikTok-like vertical video feed in its app
TikTok has seen its short-form video feed copied by a host of competitors, from Instagram to Snap to YouTube and even Netflix. Now it looks like you can add Spotify to that list. The company has confi
Netflix’s gaming service adds two more titles, including the return of Gameloft’s Asphalt Xtreme
Earlier this month, Netflix’s new gaming service became globally available across both iOS and Android with a debut lineup that included two “Stranger Things”-themed games and a few
Spotify debuts a ‘Netflix Hub’ featuring music and podcasts tied to Netflix shows and movies
Looking for the soundtrack from your favorite Netflix show? Now, it will be easier to find thanks to an expanded partnership between Netflix and Spotify. The streaming music service today introduced a
Family locator service Life360 to acquire Tile for $205 million
Lost-item tracker company Tile, which competes with Apple’s AirTag is being acquired by family communication service Life360. The deal is valued at $205 million and will see Tile continue to be
Roku customers report streaming issues after 10.5 update
A number of Roku customers are experiencing problems with their Roku TVs following the Roku OS 10.5 update. According to reports published to Roku’s own customer forums and other sites, like Red
Walmart will be the first retailer to test Twitter’s new livestream shopping platform
Twitter’s e-commerce initiatives now include livestream shopping and Walmart will be the first retailer to test the new platform. Over the past year, Walmart has invested in live shopping by hos
TikTok brings its TV app to more devices across the US and Canada
Just ahead of the U.S. Thanksgiving holidays, TikTok is expanding its footprint in the living room. The company earlier this month launched its TV app in North America in partnership with Amazon Fire
This Week in Apps: Apple defends app ad buying, Spotify gains lyrics, Instagram kills Threads
Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the weekly TechCrunch series that recaps the latest in mobile OS news, mobile applications and the overall app economy. The app industry continues to grow, with a re
Hulu + Live TV is adding Disney+ and ESPN+ to its service for an additional $5 per month
Hulu is getting a sizable upgrade starting next month that will give its Live TV subscribers access to both the Disney+ and ESPN+ streaming services as part of their plan. Beginning on December 21, 20
New app Snax combines short-form movies with interactive games
Short-form video apps have seen major successes, like TikTok, as well as dramatic failures, like Quibi. Now, a new app called Snax wants to offer a twist on the popular vertical video format by giving
Amazon officially launches its more natural ‘Conversation Mode’ option on Echo Show 10
Alexa is learning to have more natural conversations. Amazon today announced it’s rolling out the new “Conversation Mode” feature to its Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen.) devices which allows
Hulu launches its own online shop, with ugly holiday sweaters and other merch
This summer, Netflix launched its own shopping site that allowed fans to purchase apparel, accessories and other lifestyle products from their favorite shows, like “Stranger Things.” Now,
Spotify finally rolls out real-time lyrics to global users
After years of ignoring consumer demand for in-app lyrics, particularly in the U.S., Spotify announced today it will make a new Lyrics feature available to all global users, both Free and Premium, acr
Waldo brings its ad-free, private photo-sharing service direct to consumers
Waldo, a photo-sharing platform that has historically targeted businesses, schools, camps, sports leagues and other organizations, is capitalizing on the growing anti-Facebook sentiment to promote its
Instagram will shut down its companion app Threads by year end
Instagram’s standalone messaging app Threads is shutting down. The app will no longer be supported by the end of December 2021, the company confirmed to TechCrunch after reports of its impending
Spotify’s new Podcast Subscriptions expand to global markets
Just a few months after launching support for podcast subscriptions to U.S. creators, Spotify today is making the service available to creators in global markets. The company says the service, which a
AllTrails raises $150M after COVID accelerates people’s interest in exploring the outdoors
Following a COVID-driven boost, the popular AllTrails resource for hikers, bikers, climbers and anyone else who enjoys the outdoors, announced today it’s raised $150 million from the growth fund
TikTok updates Safety Center resources following research on harmful challenges
TikTok has developed a bad reputation for hosting dangerous viral “challenges” on its app, which at their worst, have led to serious injury or death — as in the case of the blackout
Runway raises $2M seed, launches its ‘air traffic control’ system for mobile app releases
Runway, a startup that emerged from the challenges that faced Rent the Runway’s first iOS team, is now exiting beta and launching its service that simplifies the mobile app release cycle —