This Week in Apps: Twitter, Netflix, Tile

This Week in Apps: A Recap of the Mobile World

Welcome back to This Week in Apps, a TechCrunch series dedicated to summarizing the latest developments in mobile operating systems, applications, and the broader app economy.

The app industry demonstrates continued expansion, achieving a record 218 billion downloads and $143 billion in global consumer expenditure during 2020. Android users alone spent an astounding 3.5 trillion minutes utilizing apps last year. Furthermore, app usage in the U.S. now surpasses the time dedicated to watching live television.

The Growing Significance of the App Economy

Apps are no longer simply a means of leisure; they represent a substantial business opportunity. Companies prioritizing mobile platforms held a combined valuation of $544 billion in 2019, a figure 6.5 times greater than those without a mobile focus.

Investment in mobile companies reached $73 billion in 2020, marking a 27% year-over-year increase.

This Week in Apps provides a centralized resource for staying informed about this rapidly evolving industry, offering news, updates, funding announcements, mergers and acquisitions, and recommendations for new apps and games.

Interested in receiving This Week in Apps directly in your inbox every Saturday? Sign up here: techcrunch.com/newsletters

Top Stories

Twitter Introduces Livestream Shopping

this week in apps: twitter launches livestream shopping, netflix snags new games, tile gets acquired

Twitter has expanded its e-commerce capabilities with the launch of livestream shopping, announced this week. Walmart will be the initial retailer to test this new platform.

The Live Shopping service will leverage Twitter’s existing livestreaming functionality and its recently introduced e-commerce features, such as the Shop Module for business profiles.

During live events, users can watch the stream, participate in conversations via the Live Events page, and browse products on the “Shop” and “Latest” tabs. Purchases will be completed on the retailer’s website, ensuring uninterrupted viewing.

Walmart’s participation is logical, given the retailer’s increasing investment in livestream events across various social media platforms.

The retailer hosted over 15 livestream events in the past year on platforms including YouTube, TikTok, and its own website.

The Twitter livestream, focused on Cyber Deals, will begin on November 28 at 7 PM ET in the U.S., and will also be broadcast on Walmart.com/live, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

This marks Twitter’s first foray into e-commerce livestreaming, with plans to introduce similar experiences in the future.

However, Twitter’s identity remains somewhat undefined. The platform is experimenting with numerous features – live audio, creator subscriptions, newsletters, bitcoin tipping, NFTs, and private communities – but it’s unclear which will ultimately succeed.

The platform’s previous attempt at a Stories feature, Fleets, was discontinued due to lack of engagement. Early results from Super Follow, its subscription service, have also been modest.

The success of live commerce on Twitter remains to be seen.

Weekly News

Platforms: Google

Google Play Store Updates: Google is testing a new “Offers” section, distinct from the existing “Offers & Notifications” page. This section will feature carousels of deals, limited-time specials, and free apps.
Android OS Usage: Android 10 remains the most widely used version of the Android OS, with a 26.5% market share, slightly ahead of Android 11’s 24.2%. Android 12 has not yet appeared in the data.

E-commerce and Delivery Services

Uber and Cannabis Delivery: Uber has entered the cannabis delivery market in Ontario, Canada, listing Tokyo Smoke on its Uber Eats app. Expansion to the U.S. is contingent on legal clarity.
Tapjoy Shopping: Tapjoy launched a rewarded shopping product, allowing users to earn rewards in apps for purchases from hundreds of brands and retailers.
Wish Removed in France: France has requested search engines and app stores to remove Wish due to concerns regarding fraud, product safety, and counterfeit goods.

Augmented Reality

Snapchat’s AR Holiday Market: Snapchat will launch the Snap Holiday Market on Black Friday, featuring immersive AR experiences from brands like Amazon Prime Video, Coca-Cola, and Walmart.

AR Try-On and E-commerce Lenses: Snapchat will also offer AR try-on and e-commerce Lenses from brands including American Eagle, Fendi, and Shein.

Snapchat AR Usage: Snapchat now sees over 6 billion AR Lens plays every day on average.

Fintech

N26 Exits U.S. Market: The German neobank N26 will close its U.S. operations on January 11, focusing on its core European business.

Social

TikTok’s Diversity Hire: TikTok hired Shavone Charles as its new head of diversity and inclusion comms.
Kuaishou’s Earnings: Kuaishou, a Chinese short-form video platform, reported a 33% revenue increase.
Twitter’s Birdwatch Update: Twitter now allows anonymous submissions to its crowdsourced fact-checking program, Birdwatch.

Other Notable News

Reddit Shuts Down Dubsmash: Reddit is shutting down Dubsmash and integrating its video tools into its own app.
Peanut’s “Go Global” Feature: Peanut, a social networking app for women, launched “Go Global,” allowing users to connect with women worldwide.

Funding and M&A

🤝 Life360 Acquires Tile: Family locator app Life360 acquired lost-item tracking company Tile for $205 million. Tile will continue to operate as a separate brand.

💰 Niantic Raises $300 Million: Pokémon GO maker Niantic raised $300 million to build a “real-world metaverse.”

🤝 Triller Acquires Thuzio: Triller, a live events company, acquired Thuzio, a live events company co-founded by Tiki Barber.

💰 LTK Raises $300 Million: Creator-driven marketplace LTK raised $300 million from SoftBank’s Vision Fund.

💰 Bitrise Secures $60 Million: Mobile DevOps company Bitrise raised $60 million in Series A funding.

💰 Column Tax Raises $5.1 Million: Income tax software company Column Tax raised $5.1 million in seed funding.

💰 Yababa Raises $15.5 Million: Same-day grocery delivery app Yababa raised $15.5 million in seed funding.

🤝 Coinbase Acquires BRD Team: Coinbase acquired the team behind crypto wallet startup BRD.

💰 TabTrader Raises $5.8 Million: Crypto exchange data aggregator TabTrader raised $5.8 million in Series A funding.

Downloads

Fold AR (Fold)

Niantic, the creator of Pokémon GO, has launched Fold AR, an AR bitcoin mining experience in partnership with the bitcoin rewards app, Fold. Currently in beta, Fold AR allows users to earn bitcoin and in-app benefits by exploring their surroundings using augmented reality.