Friday, July 2, 2021 at 1:54PM 
Photo by Amanda Vick on Unsplash
TikTok started testing three-minute videos in December. Now, the social media app is ready to bring this feature to all users. It gives creators on the app more flexibility with the kind of content they produce on TikTok. It's being rolled out for everyone on the app "over the coming weeks."
Source: The Verge
Friday, July 2, 2021 at 9:35AM 
The pandemic might seem like it's over in parts of the world, but it's still a big problem in others. So, Apple, through the extension of its partnership with (RED), will continue to redirect 100% of eligible proceeds from its PRODUCT(RED) line to Global Fund's COVID-19 relief efforts. Last year, Apple extended this COVID-19 relief effort until June 30, 2021, and now, the company will do so until December 30.
Apple updated its PRODUCT(RED) page to note that all donations from sales will that usually go to helping fight HIV/AIDS will be temporarily redirected to pandemic relief. In April 2020, Apple and (RED) started offering a portion of eligible proceeds to COVID-19 relief, but it's been bumped to 100% now.
Source: 9to5Mac
Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 9:03PM 
Checking out purchases online can be a hassle. According to Mastercard, 40% of Canadians still prefer to use guest checkout, where they have to manually enter personal payment information each time. But as many as 38% admit this "process is pain," and one in four Canadians will abandon an online shopping cart because of a slow or complicated checkout process.
Mastercard's solution is bringing its Click to Pay tech to more Canadian merchants. Canadian Tire, Mark's, and Sport Chek just joined a growing list of major online retailers in Canada (including Pizza Pizza, Lowes, Roots, and many others), enabling their customers to click to pay. This tech brings secure, password-free online checkout by mirroring the checkout process in physical stores where one terminal accepts all cards. On the merchant side, it offers a smoother digital checkout experience that helps lower shopping cart abandonment. You can find out more details here.
Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 11:08AM 
Instagram doesn't want to be known as the "square photo-sharing app" anymore. At least that's what Instagram head Adam Mosseri is saying. The Facebook-owned social network wants to lean more into entertainment and video, not unlike its competitor, TikTok. Aside from offering features like IG TV, Reels, and Stories, Instagram's plans involve "embracing video more broadly," starting with "full screen, immersive, entertaining, mobile-first video."
The company also plans to test recommendations over the next few months, showing content on your Instagram Feed that you might not be following yet. According to Mosseri, Instagram users plan to experiment more in this area "over the coming months."
Source: Adam Mosseri | Via: MacRumors
