It’s “something we are actively working on today not only alone, but talking to other partners who’d also like to see more choice for how they can monetize on the phone,’’ Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said, per BNN Bloomberg. These plans have been public for a while, but are even more interesting now Microsoft owns Activision Blizzard (which has already explored doing something similar).
Here’s a selection of Google’s picks:
• Best app overall: Imprint: Learn Visually
• Best game overall: Honkai: Star Rail
• Best Everyday Essential: Artifact: Feed Your Curiosity
• Best with AI: Character AI: AI-Powered Chat (ChatGPT gets an honorable mention)
• Best for Watches: WhatsApp Messenger
• Best for Tablets: Concepts: Sketch, Note, Draw
• Best for Chromebooks: FlipaClip: Create 2D Animation
• Best for Google TV: Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies
• Best for Cars: Amazon Prime Video
Check out Google’s post for all the winners.
A month after Meta announced new subscriptions that give users the choice between paying or giving their “consent” to being tracked and shown ads, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 18 of its members have filed a complaint, Reuters reports. “People should not be asked to pay for protecting their privacy,” it says. A first step in what’s likely to be a long legal battle.
And the winners are:
• iPhone App of the Year: AllTrails
• iPad App of the Year: Prêt-à-Makeup
• Mac App of the Year: Photomator
• Apple TV App of the Year: MUBI
• Apple Watch App of the Year: SmartGym
• iPhone Game of the Year: Honkai: Star Rail
• iPad Game of the Year: Lost in Play
• Mac Game of the Year: Lies of P
• Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Apple also awarded “generative AI” with Trend of the Year:
Apps are a reflection of culture, and in 2023, generative AI captured users’ collective imagination with its evolution unfolding in real time. Apps started integrating AI throughout the year in a variety of ways. Although many features are still in their infancy, they gave users a chance to see, firsthand, the technology in action and come to their own conclusions about the benefits and risks.
Apple rounded up a few generative AI apps that exemplify the trend.
Several dubious characters have made it onto Forbes’ lists in the 13 years it’s been putting them out. Here are ten it regrets:
• Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO of FTX
• Caroline Ellison, Co-CEO of Alameda Research
• Charlie Javice, Founder of Frank
• Nate Paul, Founder of World Class Capital Group
• Martin Shkreli, Founder of MSMB Capital
• Cody Wilson, Founder of Defense Distributed
• James O’Keefe, Founder of Project Veritas
• Phadria Prendergast, Editor-in-Chief of Women Of the City Magazine
• Steph Korey, Co-founder of Away
• Lucas Duplan, Founder of Clinkle
