Wes Davis

Former Weekend Editor

Gizmodo’s staff isn’t happy about G/O Media’s AI-generated content

Wes DavisJul 8, 2023

At least one third-party Twitter app may be working again, too.

Following word that the good version of TweetDeck is back, an update from Harpy developer Roberto Doering said they were able to get the app functioning again by switching user profiles to use the old v1 API, but they don’t expect to begin maintaining the app again:

Please note that this doesn’t mean that harpy will be maintained again, seeing as Twitter will most likely shut down access to their legacy api (again) soon and third party apps are still against their TOS.

The good version of TweetDeck is back, but for how long?

Wes Davis

Jul 8

Wes DavisJul 8, 2023

Twitch is finally making it easier to find new streamers to follow.

Twitch revealed a lot of new features today at TwitchCon, coming over the next few months.

Updates include a new discovery feed that will surface streamers you aren’t following; the ability to export clips to TikTok; a new shared streams update letting streamers go live on their individual channels during a Guest Star session; and a new “stories” format.

Everything We Announced at TwitchCon Paris

[blog.twitch.tv]

Wes DavisJul 8, 2023

Meanwhile, on Threads.

Threads has quickly blown past the other Twitter alternatives in terms of registered accounts. The highest account number badge I’ve seen on Instagram so far this morning puts its count at over 86 million.

At the current pace, it’s likely Threads will hit 100 million today.

A screenshot of Wendy’s tagging Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and saying he should go to space just to make “him” mad. Zuckerberg responds with a laughing emoji.

Zuck engages the brands.

Screenshot: Richard Lawler / The Verge

The good version of TweetDeck is back, but for how long?

Wes DavisJul 8, 2023

I want a retro-futuristic robot with a TV for a mouth, too.

Last week, Will Cogley published a video showing how he fused a vintage TV with animatronics and Alexa to create something infinitely more charming than Amazon’s Astro.

It looks so cool, but I’m not sure I want Alexa making eye contact with me as it continues with, “by the way...” For what it’s worth, Cogley says at the end he wants to change that, too:

The big change that I would like to see — you guys have probably been yelling at the screen this whole time — is that we need to dump the Alexa platform and adopt a GPT AI platform because as far as interactivity goes, it would be so much more powerful.

Twitter is being sued by its ex-employees again

Wes DavisJul 5, 2023

The Government of Canada is pulling its advertising on Facebook.

Responding to Meta blocking news on its platforms there over a new law requiring platform owners to negotiate with and pay news publishers for content, Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez announced the country will no longer buy ads on Facebook:

We cannot continue paying advertising dollars to Meta while they refuse to pay their fair share to Canadian news organizations.

Two major Canadian firms, Quebecor and Cogeco Communications, also announced they and their subsidiaries are suspending advertising on Meta’s platforms.