March 29, 2024

Web and Technology News

This Week in Apps: WWDC preview, hitting the Top Charts, Instagram’s AMBER Alerts

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 record number of downloads and consumer spending across both the iOS and Google Play stores combined in 2021, according to the […]

Chasing TikTok, Meta rolls out new Reels features and expands Instagram Reels to 90 seconds

As it continues to chase TikTok, Meta today announced a series of updates and new features for its Reels products across both Facebook and Instagram. Most notably, it’s offering a Sound Sync feature on Facebook Reels and adding support for longer Instagram Reels of up to 90 seconds, instead of 60 seconds, previously. The expansion […]

Snapchat’s new ‘Director Mode’ will help anyone become a video creator

In its ongoing battle with TikTok, Snap announced today it’s launching a new feature called Director Mode, aimed at providing easier access to Snapchat’s native creative tools for publishing video on its platform, including to its short-form video feature known as Spotlight. At launch, Director Mode will include a new Dual Camera future that will […]

Gravity Sketch draws $33M for a platform to design, collaborate on and produce 3D objects

Platforms like Figma have changed the game when it comes to how creatives and other stakeholders in the production and product team conceive and iterate around two-dimensional designs. Now, a company called Gravity Sketch has taken that concept into 3D, leveraging tools like virtual reality headsets to let designers and others dive into and better […]

Gravity Sketch draws $33M for a platform to design, collaborate on and produce 3D objects

Platforms like Figma have changed the game when it comes to how creatives and other stakeholders in the production and product team conceive and iterate around two-dimensional designs. Now, a company called Gravity Sketch has taken that concept into 3D, leveraging tools like virtual reality headsets to let designers and others dive into and better […]

TikTok partners with GIPHY on new video creation tool, ‘TikTok Library’

TikTok today is announcing a new in-app creation tool called TikTok Library, which the company hopes will make it easier for creators to access entertainment content and participate in trends. Initially, the Libary will be populated with select content from GIPHY, including its collection of GIFs with sound, known as GIPHY Clips. Over time, TikTok […]

TikTok partners with GIPHY on new video creation tool, ‘TikTok Library’

TikTok today is announcing a new in-app creation tool called TikTok Library, which the company hopes will make it easier for creators to access entertainment content and participate in trends. Initially, the Libary will be populated with select content from GIPHY, including its collection of GIFs with sound, known as GIPHY Clips. Over time, TikTok […]

Instagram’s Boomerang and Hyperlapse apps disappear from app stores

A week after Instagram confirmed its plan to shut down its standalone IGTV app in order to better focus on initiatives, like Reels, the company has now pulled two more of its older apps from the app stores. This includes its timelapse video app Hyperlapse, first launched in 2014 and looping video app Boomerang, launched […]

Instagram’s Boomerang and Hyperlapse apps disappear from app stores

A week after Instagram confirmed its plan to shut down its standalone IGTV app in order to better focus on initiatives, like Reels, the company has now pulled two more of its older apps from the app stores. This includes its timelapse video app Hyperlapse, first launched in 2014 and looping video app Boomerang, launched […]

Facebook Reels rolls out worldwide along with new creative tools and ads

After publicly launching in the U.S. this past September, Facebook Reels today is becoming globally available in over 150 countries. The feature, which is a key part of Meta’s response to the TikTok threat, allows creators to share short-form video content on Facebook or cross-post Reels from Instagram in order to reach a broader audience. […]