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“Limited Selection: Apple’s Vision Pro Has Only 150+ Exclusively Designed Apps”

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It’s not just Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube that don’t have apps for Apple’s Vision Pro at launch. New App Store data indicates the new mixed reality headset and Apple’s foray into virtual reality has so far seen only a tepid response from app developers. The Vision Pro is theoretically compatible with iOS and iPad apps, unless a developer opts out. Meta, which makes its own VR headset, has also unsurprisingly opted not to specifically build native apps for the Vision Pro, Appfigures’ list reveals. That’s not to say there’s nothing for Vision Pro users to do with their new headset at launch.

“Revolutionary High-Speed Aircraft: Notion’s Cutting Edge Calendar App Takes Flight as CES Denies Sex Tech Entrance”

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Welcome, folks, to TechCrunch Week in Review (WiR), a digest of the past few days in tech happenings. As I write this, snow’s gracing New York City — an increasingly rare treat thanks to our changing climate. Notion launches a calendar app: Notion, the incredibly popular note-taking and project management service, has launched a stand-alone calendar service. AnalysisCES chases off sex tech: Despite being an industry that caters to a universal human experience, sex tech has always had an uneasy association with CES, Haje writes. And this year, the conference effectively managed to chase the sex tech industry off its show floors — for better or worse.

“Exploring the Path Forward: Contemplating a Vision Pro Launch Amidst a Netflix Rejection”

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It’s also unclear if YouTube plans to support Vision Pro in the future. However, this could change by the time Vision Pro launches on February 2. The music streaming service isn’t making its iPad app available on the Vision Pro store either. Spotify told us it couldn’t confirm the speculation about its app plans for the Vision Pro. Apple explains that unless developers say they don’t want to participate, their iPad apps in the App Store will automatically appear in the Vision Pro store by default.

Is TikTok Shop Responsible for the Decline in TikTok Usage?

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Now, new data indicates that TikTok’s growth has started to slow, begging the question if the app’s move into e-commerce via TikTok Shop is to blame. According to new data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, while TikTok’s growth remains positive, that growth is decelerating. The change comes on the heels of TikTok’s launch of TikTok Shop in the U.S. While TikTok users are adapting to their favorite social network turning into an online mall, TikTok’s Shop Seller app, which powers its e-commerce initiative, has grown. However, users aren’t yet so upset with TikTok Shop as to abandon the app for Instagram Reels.

New Feature for Android Users: Introducing Audio and Video Calls by X

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Elon Musk’s own social network X is rolling out the ability to make audio and video calls directly from the app to its Android client. One of the X engineers working on the project posted about the feature release and said it will be available to Android users after an app update. audio and video calls on X slowly rolling out for android users today! It’s one of the long list of things only paid users can do on X. Users can enable or disable calling through Settingle > Privacy and safety > Direct Messages > Enable audio and video calling.

Iowa Lawsuit Accuses TikTok of Deceiving Parents in Handling of Children’s Information

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The state of Iowa is suing TikTok, alleging that the social media company misleads parents about the kinds of content available to young users. The lawsuit from Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird accuses TikTok of hosting “sexual content, drugs, alcohol, intense profanity, self-harm messages, and other X-rated content,” making videos that aren’t age appropriate easily accessible for children and teens in the state. “TikTok represents to Iowa parents and Iowa children that inappropriate content on its platform, including drugs, nudity, alcohol, and profanity, is ‘infrequent,'” the lawsuit states, slamming those claims as “lies.”The state specifically takes issue with TikTok’s age rating in app marketplaces. Providing age ratings for social apps that surface endless waves of niche algorithmic user-generated content has always been more of an art than a science, but Iowa argues that TikTok intentionally misrepresents itself to parents. Iowa is the latest state to sue the app over concerns around the content it serves to underage users, joining Indiana, Arkansas and Utah.

Netflix announces no plans for dedicated app on Apple Vision Pro

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Netflix isn’t planning on releasing a dedicated app for the Apple Vision Pro, nor will the company modify its iPad version to run on the headset. Instead, users will have to resort to the web version, meaning they can’t access features like downloading titles for offline viewing. “Our members will be able to enjoy Netflix on the web browser on the Vision Pro, similar to how our members can enjoy Netflix on Macs,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement provided to TechCrunch. One user wrote:Mixed reality headsets are still niche products and Netflix likely believes the Vision Pro won’t be a huge hit with customers – at least not right away — especially given the outrageous price point ($3,500). The Apple Vision Pro will be available for purchase on February 2 and will include the ability to download and stream movies and TV shows from popular services like Disney+, Apple TV+, Max, Discovery+, Paramount+, Prime Video, Peacock, Pluto TV and Tubi, among others.

“Instant Cash for Your Belongings: Discover TipTop, the Latest App from Postmates’ Creator”

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The app, which includes instant cash offers and pickup, promises an easier way to sell your stuff. That led to TipTop’s first product, TipTop Cash, which makes it easy to sell the items you own. “TipTop Cash works like a reverse Postmates,” Lehmann explains. (Due to higher fraud risks, these may not be instant cash offers, however.) When they no longer needed the phone, they could unload it through TipTop Cash and buy their new one.

New App Store Guidelines: Excluding Video and News Partners from External Payment Options, Apple Takes Charging into Its Own Hands

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Apple this week updated its App Store rules to comply with a court order after the Supreme Court declined to hear the Epic Games-initiated antitrust case against Apple over commissions. This seems to skirt the court’s decision requiring Apple to remove the “anti-steering” clause from its agreement with App Store developers. But in its place is a complicated process that requires app developers to apply for permission to include their desired link or button, via something dubbed the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement. Apple has used entitlements to set up exceptions to its App Store rules — for example, last year when it allowed “reader” apps (apps that provide access to digital content, like audio, music, video, book, and more) to point to an external website where customers could manage their accounts with the app developers. In the case of the new U.S.-based Link Entitlement, Apple is again demanding to first vet which applications can include external links and control how they’ve been implemented.

“Limiting Teen Screen Time: Instagram’s Latest Feature Promotes Rest with ‘Nighttime Nudges'”

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Instagram is introducing new nighttime nudges for teen accounts to limit their time on the app, the company announced on Thursday. The new nighttime nudges will appear when teens have spent more than 10 minutes on Instagram in places like Reels or DMs late at night. The notice will remind teens that it’s late and encourage them to close the app and go to sleep. The nighttime nudges will be shown automatically and can’t be turned off, which means teens can’t opt in or out of seeing them. The new nighttime nudges join Instagram’s other features aimed at reducing teens’ time on its app.