Category:

Tech

Addison Rae signs with Snapchat after TikTok ban

Addison Rae has signed on to do more content on Snapchat following a TikTok ban.

The New York Post is reporting that the 21-year-old social media star has signed a deal with Snapchat for an unscripted series, Addison Goes Home. The show will revolve on the star returning to her home state of Louisiana for the first time since moving to LA.

According to the report, Rae will introduce viewers to the Bayou State “quirks” and fans will meet members of her family.

Rae was temporarily banned from TikTok last week due to “multiple Community Guidelines violations” but was reactivated within 24 hours. In addition to the Snapchat deal, Rae also has a multi-film deal with Netflix which included He’s All That, which was a critical failure.

Rae has 16 million Snapchat followers and over 80 million TikTok followers.

19 October, 2021 0 comment

Business Entertainment Music Tech

The Beatles are on TikTok

written by Ruben Jay

Hey Jude, you’re on TikTok.

The Beatles have officially launched a TikTok account and have licensed their music to be used on the video platform. You can follow the band on TikTok by searching @TheBeatles.

With over 180,000 followers since Friday, the Beatles account is growing. The news comes just a few days after Disney+ announced The Beatles: Get Back docuseries.

Variety reports that the creation of the account on TikTok is to be able promote the docuseries on the streaming platform.

Each of the members of the Beatles have their own profiles.

18 October, 2021 0 comment

Business Entertainment Featured Music Tech

[Editorial] Apple Music’s new “Voice Plan” is stupid

written by Ruben Jay

Apple has introduced a new Apple Music plan – The Voice Plan, for $4.99 a month.

According to TechCrunch, Apple unveiled the new plan at their Apple Event in which users can pay $4.99 a month to be able to listen to commercial-free music streaming using their AirPods and HomePods sounds fun. However, users will only be able to access the streaming service via voice activation – hence the name.

Users will have to use voice commands to start, pause, skip, and replay music. They will also be able to create playlists and listen to curated playlists via their Pod devices. The idea is stupid.

Why Apple’s new plan is stupid?

While I like the idea of a cheaper Apple Music plan (The current plans start at $9.99), this limited access service just seems like a bad idea.

Listen, I understand that you need to limit the service for users who are paying less (Spotify has a free and cheap option that are ad supported as does Pandora), but to make it exclusively for voice activation alone is just dumb. I don’t see the service being very popular at all.

I can see this being a really cool idea for those who are visually impaired. Having a voice activated service for those who need the extra help would be a great idea – but across the board for users who either can’t or don’t want to pay $9.99 a month is stupid.

Apple could have easily made this cheaper plan better by allowing users to use it on their phones, tables, etc. without the AirPods and allowing full service access while maybe limiting some features.

Apple could have easily made this service the same price and made the $9.99 plan full service by limiting the amount of skips you get on curated playlists, or limiting the amount of curated playlists you have access to. Apple could have also introduced ads on curated playlists.

What is next for Apple Music?

Apple Music is launching the Voice Plan later this fall. I just hope that they decide against making it only voice activated.

18 October, 2021 0 comment

Business Tech

PLUS ONE: Tinder announces feature to help people find wedding dates

written by Ruben Jay

Tinder announced a feature to help users find plus ones to weddings.

According to TechCrunch, the dating site has rolled out the feature to help users find their plus one for year end weddings. As of Thursday, users can opt into “Plus One” and the app will automatically begin to pair users who are looking for wedding dates.

“We know many of our members are looking for a Plus One for their next wedding and we’re excited to now give them a way to do exactly that on Tinder,” said Kyle Miller, the vice-president of product innovation at Tinder, in a blog post.

Tinder is also partnering with a company to help cover the costs of travel and gifts for wedding guests. WeddingWire, a wedding planning company, lans to give 100 Tinder users $460 to cover cost associated with weddings.

Tinder says the new feature comes as they have seen a 45% increase in the term “plus one” in users bios since the start of 2021.

15 October, 2021 0 comment

Business Tech

Amazon is offering Black Friday specials early

written by Ruben Jay

Amazon has announced plans to offer Black Friday like specials early this year.

Amazon joins the likes of Target and Ulta Beauty in doing special pricing far in advance of the traditional Black Friday.

Details on what the early deals will look like were not released.

4 October, 2021 0 comment

Apple TV Business Streaming Tech

Apple claims their streaming service has less than 20 million subscribers

written by Ruben Jay

Apple TV+ may be in trouble.

It was revealed by the New York Post that Apple TV+ has less than 20 million subscribers. The news comes from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, a union in the entertainment business.

To compare, Netflix had 209 million subscribers in Q1 of 2021 and Disney+ has 116 million subscribers. According to the report, streaming services with less than 20 million subscribers can pay union members less money. The report says the pay difference is “meaningful.”

Apple doesn’t currently offer any major cult-favorite shows like The Office or Friends. In fact, Apple’s streaming offerings are all original shows and productions. Apple has spent billions of dollars to build up their Apple TV+ roster.

Commentary: I have said since day one, Apple’s streaming service should be an additional offering to Apple users. Currently, you can get Apple TV+ for free with the purchase of a new phone, tablet, or computer from Apple. I think it might be a good idea for Apple to make it free for all Apple users and offer good enough shows that may be able to catch onto larger audiences that non-Apple users may pay the $4.99 fee.

27 September, 2021 0 comment

Business Tech

DoorDash will now deliver alcohol

written by Ruben Jay

DoorDash has announced their rollout for alcohol delivery.

DoorDash rivals UberEats and GoPuff already offer alcohol delivery (UberEats through their Postmates acquisition), so the company has plenty of ground to try to make up. The initial rollout will be across 20 states, Australia, and Canada.

The app will allow users who meet legal requirements to order alcohol for doorstep delivery. According to the New York Post, the move into alcohol delivery could see the average order increase by 30%.

20 September, 2021 0 comment

Business Featured Tech

Elon Musk donates $50 million to St. Judge’s Children’s Research Hospital

written by Ruben Jay

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has donated $50 million to St. Judge’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Musk announced shortly after SpaceX made a successful launch. On Twitter, the CEO said “Count me in for $50M”. With his donation, St. Judge was able to raise over $200 million.

Other donations came from tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who donated $100 million, and $60 million raise from other donations from the public.

19 September, 2021 0 comment

Business Entertainment Featured Tech

HBO Max slashes their price for Amazon Prime users

written by Ruben Jay

HBO Max is not longer going to be available on Amazon Prime after WarnerMedia cut off Amazon users from the service.

After cutting off Amazon users, HBO Max has slashed its price to $7.49, almost half of its normal $14.99 a month price. WarnerMedia is competing with Amazon Prime since Amazon charges $8.99.

HBO Max is expected to lose 5 million subscribers from the Amazon Prime cutoff. WarnerMedia is owned by AT&T.

18 September, 2021 0 comment

Business Tech

Yahoo names new CEO

written by Ruben Jay

Yahoo Media, the new owner of Yahoo, has named a new CEO for the company, Jim Lanzone.

Lanzone comes over from Tinder. Yahoo employees are reportedly happy with the appointment of Lanzone. The New York Post reports some employees said “Finally someone who knows media.” Yahoo had previously been owned by Verizon and was purchased by Apollo Global Management for $5 billion. Prior to the Verizon acquisition, Yahoo was an independent company ran by Marissa Mayer.

Lanzone takes over as CEO on September 27, 2021. Yahoo Media has 9,000 employees as of today.

While many at Yahoo are worried that cost cutting measures are imminent, many see Lanzone’s appointment as a good sign. “Jim Lanzone is the beginning of a real resurgence for Yahoo,” a source told The Post. “The worst thing Apollo could do is strip the business to the bones.”

10 September, 2021 0 comment