TikTok Unveils New App Whee; Threads Launches API for Developers; Apple Watch 10-Thinner with Bigger Screen; US Sues Adobe Over Fees

Without fanfare, TikTok has dropped Whee, its new Instagram-like app. Androidpolice.com reports that although the app resembles Instagram, it has a bit more of a personal touch…for sharing photos with friends and family only. It is only out in select countries on Android at the moment, but worldwide release may be coming. The app has a simple interface, with just tabs for camera, feed, and messages. With ByteDance already having the Notes app out…which is also Instagram-like, it’s not clear if Whee will stay as is, or eventually be rolled into Notes as a function for keeping pictures friends and family only. 

Meta has finally launched its long-due API for Threads, so that developers can build around it. According to techcrunch.com, Mark Zuckerberg posted that “The Threads API is now widely available and coming to more of you soon.” With the new API, developers can publish posts, fetch their own content, and build reply management tools. Meta will also allow developers to tap into analytics, with measurements like the number of views, likes, replies, reposts, and posts. 

Just yesterday, we reported on Apple going for making everything from iPhones and MacBooks thinner…again. Watches were also in their sights for a reducing plan. Now, macrumors.com finds that analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the Apple Watch 10 will not only be thinner, but will also get a bigger screen. Kuo says the smaller watch will go from 41 mm to 45mm…the size of the current larger watch. The bigger watch will get its screen increased from 45mm to 49mm. As for the Apple Watch Ultra, it will stay ‘roughly the same’ size this year…but may get a new dark or black case color option. As we reported months ago, Apple may be changing to a magnetic band attachment system…which will not only allow for the thinness and bigger screen, but also a bigger battery. It’s unclear if the new band system will be out this fall…we’ll just have to wait and see about that.

The Department of Justice has sued Adobe, saying in a complaint that it has been hiding expensive fees and that it makes it difficult to cancel a subscription. Theverge.com reports that the DOJ filing says Adobe “has harmed consumers by enrolling them in its default, most lucrative subscription plan without clearly disclosing important plan terms.” The suit alleges Adobe “hides” the terms of its annual, paid monthly plan in the “fine print and behind optional textboxes and hyperlinks.” The DOJ goes on to say that in doing so, the company fails to properly disclose the early termination fee incurred upon cancellation “that can amount to hundreds of dollars.” Recall just recently we reported the popup about changes to Adobe’s terms of service, where you couldn’t get rid of the box without checking yes…even to delete the app!

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