Alexa+ gets a new ‘adults only’ personality option that curses but won’t do NSFW content
The new Sassy style can curse and roast you, but the fun ends there.
Apps
Disney+ is rolling out its TikTok-like ‘Verts’ short-form video feed
Following the success of TikTok and Instagram Reels, Verts is designed to boost daily engagement and reach mobile-first viewers, all while increasing discovery across Disney+’s catalog.
Google Maps is getting an AI ‘Ask Maps’ feature and upgraded ‘immersive’ navigation
The tech giant says the “Immersive Navigation” launch is the biggest update to Maps in over a decade.
Google Play is adding new paid and PC games, game trials, community posts, and more
The updates indicate that Google is focused on transforming Google Play into an enhanced gaming hub.
Ride-hailing inDrive acquires Pakistan’s Krave Mart to bolster grocery delivery
inDrive has closed its acquisition of KraveMart, expanding grocery delivery in a market dominated by Foodpanda.
Alternative app store AltStore PAL joins the fediverse
AltStore PAL now supports the fediverse, using its own Mastodon server to let iOS developers share app updates and alerts across platforms like Mastodon and Threads.
WordPress debuts a private workspace that runs in your browser via a new service, my.WordPress.net
WordPress’s new browser-based service lets users create private sites without hosting or signing up, turning the platform into a personal workspace for writing, research, and AI tools.
Alternative app store AltStore PAL is joining the fediverse
AltStore PAL, the alternative iOS app store available in the European Union and Japan, is joining the social web. In a post on Wednesday, AltStore PAL announced that users across Mastodon, Threads, and Bluesky can now interact with apps that developers choose to federate on its explore.alt.store website. Any likes from the social web will […]
WhatsApp is launching parent-linked accounts for pre-teens
WhatsApp is rolling out parent-managed accounts for under-13 users, limiting features to messaging and calls while giving parents PIN-protected controls, alerts, and approval over contacts and groups.