Google brings shopping to Maps

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Google released an update for Maps that brings shopping information to the app—starting in the US first. You can search for the item you want to buy and Maps will show you nearby stores that are selling it. It allows you to search for clothing, home goods, groceries, and electronics. It will show individual product listings and the locations where generic examples of the item can be found.

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Pet care brand Purina launches game experience in 'Roblox'

Pet care company Purina introduces a new multiplayer experience in Roblox. The Nestlé-owned brand introduces "Purina Arena Pet Racing," where you can adopt, nourish, and race virtual pets. If the concept reminds you of the Tamagotchi, this is Purina's take on the pocket-sized virtual pet. The experience also includes personalization options, allowing gamers to collect gear to customize their virtual avatars and pets. You can unlock emotes to celebrate the wins you get on track. You can get a preview of the experience in the trailer above.

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Google TV adds pop-up home control support

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You can now access and control your smart home devices on Google TV. The new pop-out panel also shows your live camera feeds. Google has also improved the overview preview of popular shows. It displays more information about them to help you decide what to watch. However, it isn't available for all shows and providers.

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Spotify plans to pay creators of popular videos

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Spotify wants to go head-to-head with YouTube. It plans to start paying creators who post popular videos based on the engagement they get from paid subscribers. The streaming service also intends to eliminate automated ad breaks for paid subscribers to encourage them to watch more videos. These changes will take effect starting January 2, 2025, in Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia. This incentive will pit them directly against YouTube, which is also leaning heavily on video podcasts and paying creators in shared ad revenues.

Spotify creators can access their payout details in a hub called Spotify for Creators. The platform can also show if they're eligible for the payments, display more detailed analytics, and offer the option to upload short, vertical videos. It's unclear how much Spotify plans to pay the video content creators on its platform. However, Spotify spokesperson Grey Munford said creators will see their breakdowns in the hub. And Spotify co-president Gustav Söderström told The Verge that the rate will be competitive and consumption-based because "it makes no sense for them" otherwise.

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