Christmas Icon Mariah Carey, together with Apple TV+, released the official trailer for Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special.

The holiday extravaganza will feature Carey and a fabulous line-up of superstars: Tiffany Haddish, Billy Eichner, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Misty Copeland, and Mykal-Michelle Harris. Carey’s nine-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe will also have a special appearance in the show.

The Special tackles a holiday cheer crisis where only one person can solve: Santa’s great friend, Mariah Carey. Through musical performances, dynamic dancing, and groundbreaking animation, the Queen of Christmas is about to bring a holiday spectacular that will make the whole world merry.

Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special will premiere globally on December 4, exclusively at Apple TV+. The soundtrack single and new music video for “Oh Santa!” will also be distributed by Sony Music and released on Apple Music and other streaming platforms on the same day. Other soundtracks will be available exclusively on Apple Music by December 4, and on other platforms by December 11.

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions. It’s also available on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku devices, as well as at tv.apple.com/sg, for S$6.98 per month with a seven-day free trial.

For a limited time, customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, or iPod touch can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. This special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device.

Announced during the Wonderful World of Globe event, K-Pop sensation BLACKPINK is now the newest brand ambassador of Globe Telecom. Specific details of the partnership have yet to be announced. But, we can expect to hear more from Jennie, Rosé, Jisso, and Lisa through Globe in 2021.

Globe also announced a few other things during the Wonderful World of Globe Event.

New data plan Surf4ALL

Surf4All, as Globe explains, is a fully convergent data offer that knows no boundaries across Globe brands. The promo gives users high GBs for all sites and a shareable GB allocation that is seamlessly accessible to up to four (4) users or devices. Now, you can share data with Globe Prepaid, Globe Postpaid, Globe Platinum, Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi, and even TM.

It can be accessed through the GlobeOne app. Currently there are two promos which are both valid for seven (7) days:

• Surf4ALL99 — 9GB of shareable data
• Surf4ALL249 — 20GB shared access (15GB + 5GB limited-time bonus data)

PureGo

Globe’s 917Ventures also partnered with supermarket store PureGold to give us PureGo. It’s an online grocery shopping platform that delivers groceries to customers’ doorstep with a next day delivery promise. It supports multiple payment options including GCash.

Globe for Gaming and Entertainment

Globe partnered with Riot Games for special data offers for the mobile game League of Legends: Wild Rift. But it doesn’t stop there. Globe also partnered with Niantic — makers of the once very popular Pokemon Go game. The partnership will explore opportunities in AR and 5G.

Speaking of 5G, Globe is also working with YouTube VR to bring VR experience to more people with the help of 5G connectivity.

On the more mainstream entertainment side of things, Globe also announced closer ties with HBO Go as well Filipino-centric live streaming platform Kumu.

Globe Platinum for gift-giving

In the spirit of the holidays, Globe Platinum has partnered with World Vision to create the #ForFutureHeroes program. It consists of virtual experiences in collaboration with BGC Arts Center, Electric Studio, and others that allow Globe Platinum customers to pursue their passions at home while making an impact on others.

Participation in every activity is matched by Globe Platinum with World Vision school kits filled with DepEd approved learning modules and supplies, so the children of Baseco Compound, Manila can continue their education.

Globe Platinum’s Thank-A-Hero program is also ongoing for the countless frontliners in the country. Apart from sending them treats from Auntie Anne’s, Coco, The Cookie Bar, and JCo Donuts,  Globe Platinum is also preparing a Noche Buena feast for our frontliners, to thank those who will be hard at work all throughout Christmas Eve, keeping Filipinos safe.

Globe at Home also donated modems to DepEd to equip selected public school teachers and ensure that education remains unhampered. The program continues as it now works towards raising funds to provide free WiFi modems for public school students.

For every Globe At Home Prepaid Wifi sold, PhP 100 will be donated to help fund internet connectivity of selected public school students.

Do more with GCash

Since social distancing protocols are still in effect, GCash now has Send Aguinaldo. With it, Ninongs and Ninangs (god parents) can send digital gift envelopes as aguinaldos (tokens/gifts) to their god children. They can even gift insurance thru the app’s GInsure service.

GLife, the newest GCash app feature, likewise, provides more gift and handaan options across different brands and e-commerce platforms, ranging from Lazada, Puregold, DataBlitz, Purego, Boozy, Goldilocks, Goama Games, and more.

GCash is also giving up to PhP 30 million worth of prizes just by using the app. Leading up to a few days to Christmas, consumers can get gifts just by buying load, or using GCredit to pay when they shop on their favorite online platforms. They will also get a chance to win a gift of their choice in the grand raffle.

Every social media platform today is obsessed with the disappearing short-form video. Stemming from TikTok’s success worldwide, everyone is developing or launching a rivaling TikTok feature — or, more subtly, a Stories feature. Even Snapchat, the platform most similar to TikTok already, has recently launched its own format. Now, joining the cast of unlikely TikTok adopters, Spotify is testing its own Stories feature.

Tagging along with its holiday lineup, Spotify has unveiled Instagram-like Stories currently exclusive to its artists. Right now, users can view videos created by artists like Jennifer Lopez and Pentatonix.

At the moment, the feature is only a test. The platform has not confirmed if Spotify Stories (or whatever the final name is) will eventually open up to ordinary users.

For every other user, Spotify can link up with other social media platforms for their Stories features. With its own Stories feature on the horizon, Spotify can cut out the middleman. However, no one knows if users will warm up to Spotify Stories in lieu of their social media platforms.

Besides a Stories feature, Spotify has also developed numerous functionalities throughout the year. Among others, the music streaming platform has introduced couple plans, searching by lyrics, and listening together.

Amid the pandemic, Spotify has risen up as a true performer this year, despite the strangeness of a Stories feature.

SEE ALSO: Spotify is adding a search-by-lyrics function