Apps
YouTube enables gifts, expands Shopping affiliate program to SEA
More ways to earn via social media content creation
YouTube is introducing more ways to earn for content creators. In the latest MadeOn YouTube roundup, the video streaming platform bared that it will now enable gifts for creators.
Powered by Jewels, YouTube gifts provide creators with new ways to earn and engage with their fans on the platform.
If this sounds all too familiar, it’s because YouTube’s counterpart, TikTok, already has this feature. Facebook, meanwhile, has Stars to help pages monetize their video content as well.
While it’s more voluntary for Facebook, on TikTok, various creators go on livestreams to do all kinds of entertaining, funny, and sometimes even embarrassing things so viewers can send them gifts in real-time.
Now, YouTube is offering the same. Viewers simply have to purchase Jewels, which becomes the credit to send gifts to streamers to show their appreciation and support.
YouTube Shopping affiliate program expands
Moreover, aside from gifts, YouTube is expanding its YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program, making it available in Indonesia.
It is another way for users to earn money through product commissions. Qualified YouTube accounts will have the ability to tag products from various sellers on the videos they upload on YouTube.
Users may tag products both on uploaded videos via the YouTube Studio or during livestreams via Live Studio.
It is quite a development in the region, considering major ecommerce players like Shopee and Lazada have both integrated livestreams on their apps to let affiliates earn for every product they sell through their stream.
Hype videos
Furthermore, YouTube is giving new users the chance to find their niche on the platform. That’s through Hyped Videos.
Every week, YouTube will compile the Top 100 hyped videos of the week from creators who have just 500 to 500,000 subscribers — or what YouTube considers “small creators.”
Each week, these creators have the opportunity to hype up to three videos for a chance to be on the leaderboard. It is separate from YouTube’s main trending videos, and can be found on the Explore.
It is currently in an experimental phase for small creators in Brazil, Turkey, and Taiwan. YouTube mentioned it will announce when the test group expands to more people.
For relevance?
YouTube remains one of the most popular video streaming platforms in the world. That’s in spite of the birth of younger counterparts.
And as it is no secret that we are well into the visual age of social media where everyone can be a content creator, it looks like YouTube is doing everything at its disposal to remain a relevant video streaming platform in the years to come.
As the line between ecommerce and social media continues to become blurred as it stands, there’s no harm in taking these calculated risks if you’re the OG video streaming website.
YouTube gifts and the expansion of its Shopping affiliate program are just two of the major updates YouTube introduced in its latest MadeOn roundup.
Apps
Disney+ launches a TikTok-coded vertical feed called Verts
TikTok has changed how we consume media. Everything is now vertical. Even the most established streaming services, often a bastion for traditionally horizontal content, is adopting the different format. Now, Disney+ is getting a vertical feed called Verts.
Like its contemporaries, Verts presents a continuous feed of content but tailored to show the plethora of titles from the Disney+ library. This might include the first scenes of shows or notable highlights. The hope, of course, is to direct users to the longform content.
Directly from the Verts feed, users can easily add the respective title to their watchlist or go straight to the title’s page. In turn, the feed is accessible from the homepage since it has its own tab.
According to Disney, early experiments with the feature have driven engagement to available content. Right now, the feed is mostly for clipping enticing content from shows. However, the platform will experiment further with the format for new ways to tell stories.
Though Verts surely stands for “verticals” in this case, “adverts” might fit better as its full government name. Still, it might be a useful tool if you’re figuring out what to watch for the night.
Currently, Verts is available for Disney+ subscribers in the United States. Disney also has plans to expand the feature to ESPN for sports-related content.
SEE ALSO: Live NBA action on Disney Plus now available in the Philippines
Some of today’s navigation apps are living in the future. Instead of a two-dimensional map, these apps render the user’s surroundings in 3D. It’s a nifty upgrade that helps drivers more accurately visualize directions on the fly. Finally, Google Maps is getting a much-needed upgrade and will take navigation to the third dimension.
In a new update rolling out today, the new Immersive Navigation feature will bring your surroundings to life. The 3D view creates a render of the surrounding buildings, overpasses, and terrain around the car. It takes the guesswork out of navigation by showing precisely where to turn and what landmarks to look out for.
In the same vein, you can now use Street View to preview your destination before you arrive. Google Maps will also highlight your destination’s entrance, side of the street, and nearby parking.
Outside of how the map is visualized, Google Maps is also infusing its service with Gemini. The new Ask Maps feature will let you engage with the app in a conversational manner. For example, if you’re in the middle of a long drive, you can now ask Maps where the best place is to stop over and have a coffee break. Ask Maps will provide directions, a potential itinerary, and even helpful links to book a reservation ahead of time.
Now, availability for both of these features is still a bit limited. Immersive View is rolling out today to compatible devices and vehicles in the United States. Further, availability will expand over the coming months.
Meanwhile, Ask Maps is available now in the United States and India for Android and iOS. A desktop version is coming soon.
SEE ALSO: Google Maps is finally getting a power saving mode
Apps
Apple Music, TikTok launch Play Full Song, a new music discovery experience
Rolling out worldwide exclusively through Apple Music
Ever came across a viral 15 or 30-second music snippet on TikTok that instantly became your jam on repeat?
For years, TikTok has been a regular source of songs that have become part of our playlists. And together with Apple Music, listening to the music you discover has just gotten even easier.
That’s through Play Full Song, a new music discovery experience, which launches exclusively though Apple Music.
With the new feature, Apple Music subscribers can now enjoy full-length tracks that they discover on TikTok. That’s without ever leaving that popular streaming app.
Fans who discover a song that they love on their For You or Sound Detail page can simply tap the Play Full Song button to open up an Apple Music player and enjoy the song in its entirety.
From there, subscribers can continue listening to a personalized stream of recommended songs. That means no more need to switch apps and search separately.
The new Play Full Song experience helps music fans move seamlessly from the moment of discovery to deeper listening. It’s also designed to be instant and all within the same environment.
Moreover, users can also save their favorite songs to Your Music and add them directly to their Apple Music playlists.
Built using Apple’s MusicKit, full-length song playback takes place on Apple Music. This way, streams are paid within the Apple Music service, supporting artists and rights holders while giving fans a smooth, uninterrupted experience.
Listening Party also launched
The feature builds on the success of TikTok’s Add to Music App. This was previously launched to help artists and fans convert discovery on TikTok to a playlist save in Apple Music and other streaming services.
To cap the announcement, TikTok and Apple Music are also introducing Listening Party. This new feature is designed to bring artists and fans together around music.
It creates a shared environment where fans can listen to songs from their favorite artists in real time, interact with each her, and engage directly with the artist during the session.
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