TikTok Adds Text Posts, Threads Rolls out ‘Following’ Feed; ChatGPT Now Available on Android; Apple Hit With Billion Dollar Brit Class Action

With chaos at what used to be Twitter, and is now being called ‘X’…at least by Elon Musk…TikTok has announced a new text-based format for posts. According to Mashable, the text posting option will be in addition to formats for posting photos, videos. and live streams. On the camera page, you can choose text ask an option, type it, then customize with sound, stickers, backgrounds, and more. It appears to allow up to 1,000 characters.

Not to be outdone, Meta’s Threads app is rolling out a ‘following’ feed…one of the most requested features. According to TechCrunch.com, it is a gradual roll-out, so even if you update the app, you may not see it right away. I updated earlier today, and still don’t have the ‘following’ feed, but some accounts I follow already have it. Mark Zuckerberg said Threads is adding translations, too…and posted ‘More to come’ on his Instagram channel. 

ChatGPT is now available on Android. Engadget.com says that like the iOS version, you can talk to the generative AI to get advice, answers, and other responses. ChatGPT subscribers can also switch between the standard….or GPT 3.5 to the GPT-4 language model at will. You need to be running at least Android 6.0 to use the ChatGPT app. 

Apple has been hit with a billion dollar class action suit on behalf of some 1500 developers in the United Kingdom over App Store fees. Macrumors.com reports that the suit accuses Apple of abusing a dominant position by charging a 15% to 30% fee on in-app sales in the ‌App Store‌, a policy that has been criticized by antitrust regulators in other countries. It also argues UK consumers are missing out because developers are being deprived of money that could be spent on research and development to help drive app innovation. It is an opt out suit, so developers in the UK don’t have to register to be included.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.