TikTok, Samsung partner to introduce StemDrop music collab tool

Source: TikTok, Samsung

TikTok and Samsung are introducing a new way to record and mix music on the platform. Stems are what you call the building blocks of a song broken down into elements like vocals, drums, and bass. TikTok is getting a StemDrop Mixer to help you mix and master songs to your liking. Simon Cowell is the creative director behind this initiative, with Syco Entertainment and Universal Music Group on board. 

This feature will launch on October 26 with a new 60-second song from music producer Max Martin (who has worked with Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Taylor Swift, and more) and his collaborators Savan Kotecha and Ali Payami. You can access the stems through the feature to make the song your own. You can check out the project over at its TikTok account or its website for access to the downloadable stems. StemDrop will also share curated versions of the song from week to week.

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TikTok gets a Photo Mode to rival Instagram

We've gotten used to hearing Instagram borrow features from TikTok, but now it looks like the latter is borrowing an Instagram feature, too. The company recently announced a new Photo Mode in a carousel format, allowing users to share still images on the app. As with TikTok videos, you have the option to add music to your posts. The feature is accessible through the "+" icon, too. TikTok says the feature is available in the US and most global regions.

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TikTok can see what you type and tap in its in-app browser

Whenever you tap a link in TikTok, the app will open it through an in-app browser, which is a way to keep you within the app. But security researcher Felix Krause found that when you open links in TikTok's browser, it injects JavaScript into the external site so it can monitor all keyboard input and taps. But TikTok denies it's used for malicious reasons.

According to Krause, the in-app browser "subscribes" to all inputs while interacting on the site, including sensitive details like passwords and credit card information. 

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TikTok starts testing in-app mini-games

Source:TikTok

TikTok has quietly added a small collection of mini-games into its app. There are nine games available during this testing period. Of course, you can record gameplay for these titles and share these videos on TikTok. You can just add the game on its own through the "Add link" option and selecting "MiniGame" This will allow your viewers to play a linked game by tapping the link. They can still watch videos while they play. The test is running in the US, but it's also been spotted in the UK version of the app. 

Third-party gaming studios developed the games for the platform, including Vodoo, Nitro Games, FRVR, Aim Lab, and Lotum. But ByteDance also bought a game studio, the Shanghai-based Moonton Technology, last year. This pilot test comes after a Reuters report says TikTok plans to make a "major push" into gaming. It is looking for ways to keep people in its app and increase its advertising revenue, and gaming is one of those methods. None of the current games available don't have ads or in-app purchases for now. But we wouldn't be surprised if it gets that in the future.

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