The EU’s latest concerns about TikTok’s DSA compliance center on the launch of TikTok Lite.
TikTok has been given 24 hours to provide the risk assessment for TikTok Lite.
It’s not clear whether TikTok conducted a DSA risk assessment for the new reward program ahead of launching TikTok Lite in the two EU markets.
But the regulation’s focus on systemic risk essentially makes such a step obligatory for features that are likely to appeal to minors.
TikTok did tell us it requires TikTok Lite users to verify that they are 18 or older in order to collect points through their use of the app.
Spotify announced on Tuesday that it’s bringing its free audiobooks perk to Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Users in these markets will be able to access 15 hours of free monthly audiobook listening time.
Spotify says users have listened to more than 150,000 titles since the free service’s launch last November.
If you run out of listening hours, you can purchase additional 10-hour allocations for CAD $14.99, IRE €12.99, and NZD $19.99.
Spotify recently launched a $9.99 per month plan that allows its free users to access its audiobooks collection in the U.S.
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After adding 15 hours of free audiobooks listening to its subscription plan late last year, Spotify today is introducing a $9.99 per month option that will allow its free users to also access its audiobooks collection.
With the addition, free Spotify users will able to continue to stream music and podcasts via its ad-supported service, but pay to listen to audiobooks without having to buy a Spotify subscription.
However, the move could allow Spotify to upsell audiobooks to customers who aren’t as interested in its music service, or who regularly use another app for that.
15 hours is fairly generous, as it often encompasses more listening time than one audiobook alone, if not two shorter books.
The company today also offered an update on the interest that free users have for audiobooks, noting that since launching audiobooks for its Premium subscribers, it’s seen a 45% increase in free users searching for and interacting with audiobook content each day.
BLKFAM considers its platform the first and only Black-owned and Black-focused family streaming service.
The company’s goal is to serve Black audiences who often feel misrepresented/underrepresented in mainstream media even though it’s the demographic that watches the most TV.
According to Nielsen, Black audiences consume over 81 hours of media on a weekly basis.
BLKFAM aims to release content that “entertains, educates, and celebrates Black American family-friendly content,” the company wrote in its press release.
BLKFAM is now available on Amazon Prime Video Channels, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Vizio, LG, and iOS and Android devices.
Officially unveiled this morning at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona after a few months of teases, the OnePlus Watch 2 does get some points for originality.
Battery continues to be the lowest hanging fruit in the smartwatch world.
Like the Apple Watch, OnePlus’ Watch 2 has a Power Saving Mode.
The company notes,WearOS apps and the Always On Display will not work when the device is in Power Saving Mode.
Other features such as calling, messaging, and exercise modes will still work on Power Saving Mode however some of their more power intensive functions will be limited to preserve battery life, eg.
All smartwatches should offer multiple days of battery life, full stop.
According to a blog post, the company took a “three-year hiatus and a reflective pause following the OnePlus Watch 1.”Battery is precisely the sort of thing OnePlus needs to lean into.
That said, it doesn’t take hours of direct conversations with users to know that battery life is paramount on smartwatches.
Perhaps leaning into battery life in a meaningful way will improve its fortunes for round two.
That said, anything that re-centralizes the importance of better battery life is probably a net positive for the category.
OnePlus launched the OnePlus 12 series globally today, bringing an R-series device to North America and Europe for the first time.
The company also launched the $99 OnePlus Buds 3 wireless buds apart from the OnePlus 12 (starting at $799) and the OnePlus 12R (starting at $499).
Last year, OnePlus launched just the $699 OnePlus 11 in the U.S., while the OnePlus 11R was limited to India and China.
The OnePlus 12 boasts a 6.82-inch 1440p display with the company claiming it reaches up to 4,500 nits of brightness.
OnePlus is opting for a triple camera setup in the OnePlus 12 with a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 sensor, which has a f/1.6 aperture.
