Latest Software News

Elon Musk's X partners with Visa on payment service in an effort to become an 'everything app,'

Jan. 28, 2025 14:18 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — X is teaming up with Visa to soon offer a system for real-time payments on the social media platform — signaling some progress in a yearslong vision from billionaire owner Elon Musk to create an “everything app.” Visa is the first partner for the platform's...

UK watchdog targets Apple, Google mobile ecosystems with new digital market powers

Jan. 23, 2025 07:56 AM EST

LONDON (AP) — Google's Android and Apple's iOS are facing fresh scrutiny from Britain's competition watchdog, which announced investigations Thursday targeting the two tech giants' mobile phone ecosystems under new powers to crack down on digital market abuses. The Competition and...

Content creators respond to TikTok's uncertain future in the US

Jan. 19, 2025 18:31 PM EST

TikTok content creators who make a living promoting their businesses and personal brands on the app were afraid Sunday that they would have to find new ways to engage consumers and make money as the app's future in the United States remained uncertain. TikTok told U.S. users that it...

TikTok refugees are pouring to Xiaohongshu. Here's what you need to know about the RedNote app

Jan. 17, 2025 19:55 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance, U.S. TikTok users are flocking to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, also called RedNote – making it the top downloaded app in the U.S. Some of the “TikTok refugees,” as they call themselves, say the TikTok...

Apple pulls error-prone AI-generated news summaries in its beta iPhone software

Jan. 17, 2025 12:49 PM EST

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple is suspending an error-prone feature that used artificial intelligence to deliver bogus news alerts to some iPhone owners. The decision was disclosed Thursday as part of a test version for the next software release, iOS 18.3. The beta version is only...

How to prepare for a TikTok ban, including how to save your content

Jan. 17, 2025 12:03 PM EST

TikTok has cemented itself as a quintessential entertainment app, offering everything from funny skits and makeup tutorials to social commentary and news. Without a sale to an approved buyer, the platform is expected to vanish from U.S. app stores by Sunday now that the Supreme Court...

A TikTok ban is just days away. A list of other apps available

Jan. 17, 2025 12:02 PM EST

With a possible TikTok ban just days away, many U.S. users are looking for alternative social media platforms to help them keep up with pop culture or provide the type of entertaining videos that popularized the short-form video app. The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld...

US TikTok users flock to Chinese app Xiaohongshu in protest with TikTok ban looming

Jan. 14, 2025 13:22 PM EST

HONG KONG (AP) — As the threat of a TikTok ban looms, U.S. TikTok users are flocking to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu – making it the top downloaded app in the U.S. Some of the “TikTok refugees,” as they call themselves, say the TikTok alternative, a Chinese app,...

New labels will help people pick devices less at risk of hacking

Jan. 07, 2025 12:47 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is rolling out a consumer labeling system designed to help Americans pick smart devices that are less vulnerable to hacking. Under the voluntary program, called the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark Initiative, manufacturers can affix the label on their...

Losing your kids to doom scrolling? Greece is building a government app for that

Dec. 30, 2024 14:20 PM EST

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece announced plans on Monday to enhance parental oversight of mobile devices in 2025 through a government-operated app, that will help get digital age verification and browsing controls. Dimitris Papastergiou, the minister of digital governance, said the...