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Screenshots suggest TikTok is circumventing Apple App Store commissions | TechCrunch

May 1, 2024 1:18 AM0


TikTok may be routing around the App Store to save money on commissions. According to new findings, the ByteDance-owned social video app is presenting some of its users with a link to a website for purchasing the coins used for tipping digital creators. Typically, these coins are bought via in-app purchase, which requires a 30% commission paid to Apple.

The feature may be hidden from most users, either by design or because it’s only shown to users in a specific group, like testers or high spenders. In any event, those who do have access to the new option are seeing a screen that encourages them to “recharge” — that is, buy more coins — via tiktok.com. Although these screenshots were discovered within the iOS app by TechCrunch tipster, David Tesler, it’s not clear how many TikTok users are seeing them or when or how they’re being shown.

Tesler says the option to purchase via the web was displayed to an account that had previously purchased a large amount of coins.

Image Credits: Screenshot from TikTok app

In some cases, users are shown a screen that includes a message such as “Try recharging on tiktok.com to avoid in-app service fees” followed by a “Try now” link. Other times, they may get a pop-up that says “Try recharging on tiktok.com” with another message about the potential savings. This one reads, “You can save the service fee and get access to popular payment methods,” and is followed by a big, red “Try now” button or a less prominent option that says “Don’t show again.”

Image Credits: Screenshot from TikTok app

Users who follow the provided link are taken to the website for buying coins: tiktok.com/coin. From this web view, they can pay using a variety of methods, including Apple Pay or debit or credit cards. The website reminds users that purchases made directly with TikTok will save them around 25% “with a lower third-party service fee.”

On the web, users can purchase packs of coins ranging from 70 coins to 17,500 coins, or even enter a custom (higher) amount. Inside the app, however, coin packs are available starting at 20 coins up to 16,500 with no option for a custom amount.

Image Credits: Screenshot from TikTok app

That could suggest TikTok is only showing the web links to those users who typically buy larger packs of coins at one time.

While Apple did begin to allow developers of select apps to add links to their websites from inside the app back in 2022, the use case was limited. The only apps that qualify to offer these lines for “account management” are what Apple calls “reader” apps — or those apps that provide access to paid digital content as their main functionality. (Think: Netflix, not Facebook.) In addition, apps that choose to use the External Link Entitlement cannot offer in-app purchases via the App Store as well. It’s an either/or situation.

Typical IAP flow. Image Credits: Screenshot from TikTok iOS app

Given that TikTok is also offering most of its users the option to buy via in-app purchases, it seems it’s not abiding by the External Link Entitlement rules even if it had been granted the exception (which would be surprising.)

TikTok and Apple have not returned requests for comment at this time.

Tesler noted that when Fortnite inserted an option that routed users around Apple’s in-app purchases, ahead of filing its antitrust lawsuit against the company, Apple banned the app from the App Store. It’s unclear what, if any, action Apple will take against TikTok now, given the current politics around the Beijing-based app.

TikTok’s current U.S. fate is uncertain, as a bill to ban the app has now been signed into law by President Biden. However, the company said it plans to fight the ban in court, as it did before under President Trump. Biden had originally put the effort to ban the app on hold until a new bipartisan bill passed both the House and Senate.




Software Development in Sri Lanka

Robotic Automations

Spotify is developing tools that would let users remix songs, screenshots show | TechCrunch

April 13, 2024 1:48 AM0


Spotify is working on mixing tools that would allow users to remix songs on the streaming service, according to screenshots captured by tech veteran and app researcher Chris Messina. While music aficionados use software like Adobe Audition or Ableton Live to create mixes of their favorite songs, the new capabilities would allow people to do so directly in Spotify. The screenshots indicate that the mixing tools would be available under a new “Music Pro” premium subscription tier. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, whose sources say discussions about the tools are early and that licensing agreements have not been worked out yet.

A Spotify spokesperson told TechCrunch that the company constantly explores ideas to improve its product offerings and offer value to its users, but that it won’t comment on speculation around new features.

In the screenshots shared with TechCrunch, the app’s code references different mixing tools that would enable users to “flex their DJ skills with different transition styles to create the ultimate mix.”

The tools would also let users “set the tempo range for your mix and “set the vibe for your mix” by filtering by “genres, moods, activities, and more.” The code suggests that users would be able to create remixes of songs to fit a certain scenario. In theory, you could create an upbeat, sped-up version of a slower song to create a remix to listen to while working out.

Image Credits: Chris Messina

Image Credits: Chris Messina

The code suggests users could leverage a mixing tool that “quickly blends in the next track to keep the energy going.” Another tool “maximizes overlap for layered and immersive blend of tracks,” while a different one “instantly switches from one track to another for high impact.”

In addition, users could “insert” and “edit” transitions between tracks.” Users could also decrease or increase BMP (beats per minute) and “danceability.”

Image Credits: Chris Messina

It appears that the mixing tools wouldn’t just be targeted toward users who already have experience mixing songs. The code references a tool that “automatically reorders your mix by sequencing tracks with a similar key, tempo, and style together,” while another lets users “choose how to order your mix, or select auto order to have Spotify sequence it for you.” These lines of code suggest Spotify would help users create their perfect mix, even if it’s their first time doing so, with the help of automated tools.

Image Credits: Chris Messina

Image Credits: Chris Messina

While traditional user-created remixes that are uploaded to streaming platforms or social media don’t generate revenue for artists, Spotify’s mixing capabilities would likely allow musicians to earn money from remixes that are tied to their original tracks. Since fanmade remixes are often altered to the point that they aren’t flagged for copyright violations, Spotify is filled with unofficial remixes with millions of streams. While Spotify’s mixing tools can’t get rid of this issue altogether, they could help remedy it to a certain extent.

It’s not surprising that Spotify is developing mixing tools, especially as sped-up songs and mashups are having a moment thanks to TikTok. According to TikTok’s 2023 year-end report, the most popular songs on the app were sped-up remixes of songs.

The trend of sped-up songs has become so popular that artists are seeking to cash in on it. For instance, after a fan-made sped-up remix of SZA’s song “Kill Bill” was being used across TikTok, she released an official sped-up version of the song. Other artists like Lana Del Ray and The Cab have also released official sped-up versions of their songs in order to get people to listen to their official tracks, instead of fanmade versions. 

As with any other feature in development, it’s unknown if or when Spotify plans to launch the mixing tools.




Software Development in Sri Lanka

Robotic Automations

X is testing NSFW adult communities, according to screenshots | TechCrunch

April 13, 2024 1:30 AM0


X is living up to its name. The platform, formerly Twitter, is working on an addition to its Communities feature that would let X users create groups for X-rated material, according to app researchers.

Researcher Daniel Buchuk of Watchful, which analyzes app development and performance, spotted the feature in development. He shared screenshots with TechCrunch exclusively that show what X’s NSFW Communities could look like.

An independent researcher, Nima Owji, also spotted the feature in development last month.

Twitter introduced its Communities feature in 2021. It allows users to post within smaller, interest-based subgroups, like a subreddit. When Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022, he enacted sweeping changes to the app’s brand identity, verification systems and creator monetization efforts — but some features, like Communities, remained stagnant.

X also hasn’t taken much initiative in working with its sizable population of online sex workers, who turn to the platform — one of few that allows adult content — to promote their paid offerings from sites like OnlyFans.

“Twitter really is the primary advertising venue at this point for sex workers,” Dr. Olivia Snow, a dominatrix and researcher at UCLA’s Center for Critical Internet Inquiry, told TechCrunch last year. So, the platform’s more lenient policy on adult content is critical for online sex workers to grow their businesses.

X did not reply to a request for comment.

Adult creators are allowed to post explicit content on X, though they can’t monetize it on the platform. But if they can create their own fan communities, this feature could give creators a more direct way to reach their audience.

Even though X seems to be working on this NSFW Communities feature, that doesn’t mean it’ll come to fruition. Shortly after Musk took control of the platform, reverse engineers uncovered possible features that would allow creators to monetize paywalled videos or charge money for DMs. These mock-ups looked similar to features on OnlyFans, which could be a strategy for Musk to recoup his $44 billion investment: monetizing “X videos.”

But as it stands, X doesn’t seem poised to reverse its stance on adult content monetization. Even before Musk’s takeover, Twitter had been working on an OnlyFans competitor, but it was shelved because Twitter could not adequately detect non-consensual content and child sexual exploitation (CSE). But X says it’s mitigating that dire problem. According to X CEO Linda Yaccarino, in 2023 the platform suspended 12.4 million accounts for violating child sexual exploitation policies, up from 2.3 million accounts removed in 2022.

Should Twitter embrace porn and compete with OnlyFans?

Sex workers explain why blue check stigma and #BlockTheBlue aren’t so straightforward




Software Development in Sri Lanka

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