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Meta to test premium subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp | TechCrunch

Meta to test premium subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp | TechCrunch

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Meta plans to test new subscriptions that give people access to exclusive features on it apps, the company told TechCrunch on Monday. The tech giant said the new subscriptions will unlock more productivity and creativity, along with expanded AI capabilities.

In the coming months, Meta said it will offer a premium experience on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp that gives users access to special features and more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free. Meta doesn’t appear to be locked into one strategy, noting that it will test a variety of subscription features and bundles, and that each app subscription will have a distinct set of exclusive features. 

Meta also shared that it plans to scale Manus, an AI agent it recently acquired for a reported $2 billion, as part of its subscription plans.

Meta is taking a two-fold approach to Manus. The company is  going to integrate Manus into Meta products, while continuing to sell standalone subscriptions to businesses. Meta has already been spotted working on adding a shortcut to Manus AI on Instagram, according to a screenshot shared by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who often finds unreleased features while they’re still under development.

Additionally, Meta plans to test subscriptions for AI features, such as Vibes video generation. Vibes is Meta’s AI-powered short-form video experience built into the Meta AI app that lets people create and remix AI-generated videos. Although Vibes has been free since its launch last year, Meta now plans to offer freemium access to Vibes video creation, with the option to subscribe to unlock additional video creation opportunities each month. 

While it’s unknown what the paid features on WhatsApp and Facebook will look like, Paluzzi notes that the new subscription on Instagram will let users create unlimited audience lists, the ability to see a list of followers who don’t follow you back, and the option to view a Story without the poster seeing that you viewed it.

It’s worth noting that the new subscriptions will be separate from Meta Verified. The tech giant says it’s going to use what it learned from Meta Verified to evolve its subscription business to include more offerings it thinks everyday users, creators, and businesses will want.

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Meta Verified is aimed at content creators and businesses, as it comes with a verified badge, 24/7 direct support, impersonation protections, search optimization, exclusive stickers, and more. While these features aren’t aimed at everyday users or non-creators, the new subscriptions will be designed for a broader audience.

The launch of additional subscriptions will allow Meta to generate more revenue; however, many users may be deterred by subscription fatigue. With so many paid services competing for monthly spending, Meta will have to offer a compelling product to get users to sign up for yet another subscription.

Snap has proven there is a market for social media subscriptions, as its Snapchat+ offering continues to be a revenue driver. Snapchat+, which starts at $3.99 per month for exclusive features, has topped 16 million subscribers, more than doubling since early 2024.

Meta says it plans to listen to its community of users and gather feedback as it starts rolling out the subscriptions in the coming months.

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I was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text. This one’s biggest weakness is definitely the screen, which is true of just about every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it’s stretching 1920 x 1200 pixels across a large, 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a great value, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB of storage. For a Chromebook that’s often on sale for $350, it’s a steal.

While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two dirt-cheap Chromebooks that I tested last year that I was mildly impressed by. The Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as $130. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.

With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).

Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than $200, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.

Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for $100 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.

Other Good Chromebooks We’ve Tested

We’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.

Image may contain Computer Electronics Laptop Pc Computer Hardware Computer Keyboard and Hardware

Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster

#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google">The Best Chromebooks Are Doing Their Best to Course CorrectI was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text. This one’s biggest weakness is definitely the screen, which is true of just about every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it’s stretching 1920 x 1200 pixels across a large, 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a great value, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB of storage. For a Chromebook that’s often on sale for 0, it’s a steal.While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two dirt-cheap Chromebooks that I tested last year that I was mildly impressed by. The Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as 0. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than 0, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for 0 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.Other Good Chromebooks We’ve TestedWe’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google

Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as $130. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.

With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).

Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than $200, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.

Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for $100 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.

Other Good Chromebooks We’ve Tested

We’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.

Image may contain Computer Electronics Laptop Pc Computer Hardware Computer Keyboard and Hardware

Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster

#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google">The Best Chromebooks Are Doing Their Best to Course Correct

I was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text. This one’s biggest weakness is definitely the screen, which is true of just about every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it’s stretching 1920 x 1200 pixels across a large, 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a great value, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB of storage. For a Chromebook that’s often on sale for $350, it’s a steal.

While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two dirt-cheap Chromebooks that I tested last year that I was mildly impressed by. The Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as $130. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.

With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).

Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than $200, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.

Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for $100 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.

Other Good Chromebooks We’ve Tested

We’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.

Image may contain Computer Electronics Laptop Pc Computer Hardware Computer Keyboard and Hardware

Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster

#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google

TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor back on sale for $499.99, knocking $400 off its $899.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.

$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away. 

As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to $499.99 from $899.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting. 

Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels.

It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.

If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over $400 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is $300 off at Amazon.

#gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon">Best gaming monitor deal: 27-inch LG UltraGear OLED now 0 off at Amazon TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor back on sale for 9.99, knocking 0 off its 9.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification. 9.99 at Amazon 9.99 Save 0 OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away. As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to 9.99 from 9.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting. Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata. Mashable Deals By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels. Mashable Deals By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over 0 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is 0 off at Amazon. #gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon

back on sale for $499.99, knocking $400 off its $899.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.

$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away. 

As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to $499.99 from $899.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting. 

Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels.

It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.

If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over $400 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is $300 off at Amazon.

#gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon">Best gaming monitor deal: 27-inch LG UltraGear OLED now $400 off at Amazon

TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor back on sale for $499.99, knocking $400 off its $899.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.

$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away. 

As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to $499.99 from $899.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting. 

Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels.

It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.

If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over $400 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is $300 off at Amazon.

#gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon
#SpaceX #cuts #deal #buy #Cursor #billionAI,Business,Elon Musk,News,Science,Space,SpaceX,Tech,Twitter – X,xAI">SpaceX cuts a deal to maybe buy Cursor for billionSpaceX and Cursor are now working closely together to create the world’s best coding and knowledge work AI.The combination of Cursor’s leading product and distribution to expert software engineers with SpaceX’s million H100 equivalent Colossus training supercomputer will allow us to build the world’s most useful models.Cursor has also given SpaceX the right to acquire Cursor later this year for billion or pay billion for our work together.#SpaceX #cuts #deal #buy #Cursor #billionAI,Business,Elon Musk,News,Science,Space,SpaceX,Tech,Twitter – X,xAI

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