WhatsApp ordered to host rival AI assistants for free
Meta has been ordered by the European Commission to restore free WhatsApp access for chatbots made by rival AI providers while the regulator finishes its antitrust investigation. …
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Free Spotify users can create kids accounts now, too.
… Link: Spotify Expands Music Access for Young Listeners, Extending Managed Accounts to Free Tier — Spotify | https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-05-13/managed-accounts-free-tier-expansion/ | Spotify
Xbox fans want exclusives, more backward compatibility, and free online multiplayer
… Microsoft already offers free online multiplayer for its Xbox PC games, but console players still need a subscription to access this feature. …
Apple Music could be adding a free or low-cost tier.
Some code spotted in a recent Apple Music beta for Android includes messages referring to “Premium Access” and a “skip limit.” That suggests a free or low-cost plan is in the works. …
Prime Video’s pricier “Ultra” plan goes live today.
… It also comes with “exclusive” access to 4K streams. Link: Amazon Prime Video nearly doubles the price to go ad-free and stream 4K video | https://www.theverge.com/tech/894466/amazon-prime-video-ultra-ad-free-price-hike | The Verge
The studio from the creator of PUBG is laying off staff.
PlayerUnknown Productions is restructuring to a “smaller team” and stopping work on Prologue: Go Wayback, the survival roguelike launched in early access last year. The studio plans to release one more update and then bring the game out of early access and make it free. …
The creative software industry has declared war on Adobe
… People love free. One example that was announced this week is Autograph, motion design software akin to Adobe After Effects. Autograph was acquired by Cinema 4D maker Maxon last year, and has now been relaunched with free access for individual users. …
A year of Walmart Plus is half off ahead of Prime Day
… The membership includes perks like free delivery on orders over $35, free next-day and two-day shipping from Walmart.com when available, and free home pickup for returns. …
Ikea and Samsung promise glitch-free Matter integration
… So it’s a little troubling to see this level of effort required to make Ikea’s promise of a cheap, accessible, and reliable smart home a reality.
Amazon’s Echo Hub gets a customizable new look and Ring’s AI features
… Access granular device settings – Tap the 3 dots on any connected device to access more detailed controls. Try tapping your lights to access precise dimming 0-100% and color adjustment or use the color wheel on compatible bulbs to select from a variety of colors. …