Best Memorial Day headphones and earbuds deals: Best Bose deal Bose QuietComfort $229 at Amazon (save $120) Get Deal Best budget earbuds deal Soundcore by Anker P20i Wireless Earbuds $19.98 at Amazon (save $20.01) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $148.99 at Amazon (save $30.01) Get Deal Best Sony deal Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones $298 at Amazon (save $101.99) Get Deal Best mid-range earbuds Nothing Ear (a) earbuds $79 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Headphones have become an essential part of life these days. We're tuned into our favorite playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks, and that's thanks to our favorite pair of headphones or earbuds. If you're in need of an upgraded pair, Memorial Day sales are coming in hot with the deals. You'll be able to save up to 50% on a new pair that'll be great for upcoming travel or lounging at the park this summer. SEE ALSO: Sony's new flagship XM6 headphones are here — but there's a catch We've been closely tracking all of the long weekend's headphones deals at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and beyond, and we've picked out the top savings for music lovers. Here are some of our favorite deals to shop today.Best Memorial Day headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones $229 at Amazon $349 Save $120 Get Deal Why we like itLike the name suggests, the Bose QuietComfort headphones bring ultimate comfort for all-day wear. The headphones usually sell for $349, but thanks to Amazon's Memorial Day sale, you can snag a pair for $229. Plus, this sale extends to the brand new Twilight Blue colorway. Getting up to 24 hours of battery life, the Bose QuietComfort impress when it comes to sound and noise-cancellation. That'll come in handy during your upcoming summer travel plans. But you can also toggle them to Aware Mode should you wish to hear your surroundings.More Memorial Day headphones dealsSoundcore V20i by Anker Open-Ear Headphones — $28.48 $49.99 (Save $21.51)Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Headphones — $39.98 $59.99 (Save $20.01)Sony WHCH720N Wireless Headphones — $99.99 $149.99 (Save $50)Skullcandy Crusher Evo Headphones — $103.99 $199.99 (Save $96)Sony ULT Wear Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones — $149.99 $199.99 (Save $50)Beats Studio Pro Headphones — $199.95 $349.99 (Save $150.04)Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones — $228 $348 (Save $120)Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones — $298 $399.99 (Save $101.99)Apple AirPods Max — $479.99 $549 (Save $69.01)Best Memorial Day earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore by Anker P20i Wireless Earbuds $19.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like itIf you keep misplacing your earbuds, snag a fresh pair of Soundcore by Anker P20i earbuds for just $19.98 during Amazon's Memorial Day sale. At this price, you might as well grab a few pairs. Keep one in your work bag, one on your nightstand, and one in your travel bag, eliminating that heart-sinking feel of forgetting your earbuds at home.On the Mashable list of the best earbuds, the Soundcore by Anker P20i are the top pick if you're shopping for a budget-friendly option. Getting an impressive 30 hours of battery life before they'll need a recharge, this pair is perfect for travel.More Memorial Day earbuds dealsSoundcore C30i by Anker Open-Ear Earbuds — $48.99 $69.99 (Save $21)JBL Endurance Race TWS sport earbuds — $49.95 $79.95 (Save $30Samsung Galaxy Buds FE — $64.99 $99.99 (Save $35)Nothing Ear (a) earbuds — $79 $109 (Save $30)Beats Studio Buds Noise-Cancelling Earbuds — $99.99 $149.99 (Save $50)Bose QuietComfort Earbuds — $149 $179 (Save $30)Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro — $189.99 $249.99 (Save $60)Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds — $198 $299.99 (Save $101.99)Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $199 $249 (Save $50)Sennheiser Momentum Earbuds — $249.95 $299.95 (Save $50) The best Memorial Day deals you can get right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Earbuds — $198.00 (List Price $299.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 With Code "4KNEWFTV" Blink Mini 2 Indoor Wireless 1080p Camera (2-Pack) — $37.99 (List Price $69.99) Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm, Sports Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Phone With $50 Amazon Gift Card (Pre-Order) — $1,099.99 Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus (2021 Release) — $119.99 (List Price $179.99) Aiper Scuba S1 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner (2024 Model) — $529.99 (List Price $699.95)

A year ago, I started reading again. I say “again” because, like the countless friends and colleagues I’ve spoken to who have also found themselves swept up in the reading renaissance that’s currently reshaping the book industry—the U.S. market is projected to grow from $40.5 billion in 2024 to $51.5 billion by 2030, with audiobooks and ebooks seeing explosive growth—I’d lost the habit somewhere between the demands of a growing career and the chaos of early parenthood.  For too long, reading was relegated to vacations—and even then, I’d be lucky to get through a full book. But last year, something shifted. Twelve months later, I’ve read over 100 books and listened to countless more on audio. I sleep better, stress less, have a better work/life balance, and—for the first time in years—have an actual hobby that’s purely for my personal enjoyment.  Small but strategic changes How’d I do it? Call it a perfect storm: I stumbled into the world of BookTok, finally succumbed to the siren call of the Kindle, and I made a few small but strategic lifestyle changes that opened up a whole new world of reading. Below, I’ve included five of the tactics that helped me make reading a priority (read the other ten on my Substack, Two Truths). My method won’t apply to every person or be conducive to every career: I’m primarily a stay-at-home parent of two young kids who works part-time in the margins of my “free” time as a writer. But it’s my hope that some of what worked for me will help you find more free time, too—whether it’s to read one book, 100 books, or do something else entirely.  1. I typically read three different books at once. This might sound chaotic, but hear me out. Here’s how I break down my three-book method . . . One book is on my Kindle, which travels with me everywhere so I can fill any spare moments (waiting at the doctor’s office, sitting in the school pick-up lot, or standing in line at the grocery store) by sneaking in a few pages. This is also what I read at nighttime when my kids’ bedtime books are done and I’m waiting for them to doze off—the tablet’s screen has a dark mode that doesn’t disturb them, and it’s a nice way to wind down my day. One is a hard copy, either something from the library, or something I want to annotate (I appreciate the aesthetic nostalgia of highlighters and sticky tabs). This is how I read most of my nonfiction, which I prefer to hold in my hand. Since these books are often for work, research, or self-improvement, I often read them in the morning (more on that below), during naptime, or while both kids are playing independently. One is an audiobook, which I listen to while I’m driving or doing work around my home. I regularly find myself cleaning out closets or reorganizing the pantry just so I have an excuse to keep listening to a book. I typically reserve my audiobooks for easier-to-follow, lighthearted reads.That way, if I get distracted and miss something, I won’t be completely lost. 2. I stopped watching unintentional TV. There was a time when I’d end the day by crashing on the couch and searching for something to watch before inevitably ending up on The Office (. . . again). Now, I only watch TV when I truly want to invest my time into a series, and I really cannot stress enough how much time this opened up for me in the evening. 3. I wake up early and read before the kids wake. I never thought I’d say this (I’ve never been a morning person), but having young kids trained my body to wake up at 5 a.m. These days, they usually sleep until 6—but if the house is still quiet when I wake, I take the chance to read a few pages of my book before the day begins. It’s a peaceful ritual that keeps me off my phone—and away from notifications and mindless scrolling—until I’m ready to address whatever’s waiting. 4. I keep a running list in my Notes app with every book I’ve read, plus a few emojis or keywords to represent how I felt about it. This helps me remember what I loved or didn’t love about a book, which is crucial when someone asks me for a reading recommendation. I also like the sense of accomplishment that comes from scrolling through my list. 5. I chose to prioritize reading, and then built boundaries around it. Bottom line: I could certainly be doing a host of other things during the extra time I’ve dug out of my days and nights; the unpacked boxes that have been sitting in my basement since our move two years ago would probably like a word. Maybe I’m missing out on some great series or films that I would have stumbled upon, and I could always tackle my overflowing inbox in that open hour at 5 a.m. But for me, reading offers a pretty effortless and accessible escape from the news, noise, and inevitable dilemmas that pop up daily—and those moments of peace are priceless.

Apple Music (for iPhone)4.5 ExcellentBottom LineApple Music’s radio stations, curated playlists, lossless playback, Dolby Atmos support, and excellent music-related content make it one of the best streaming audio services.US Street Price$10.99Learn MoreApple Music ReviewVSSpotify4.5 ExcellentBottom LineSpotify leads the streaming music pack with its deep music well, countless podcasts, early album access, collaborative playlists, and AI-powered curation.US Street Price$11.99Learn MoreSpotify Review (Credit: Apple/Spotify/PCMag)Plans and PricesApple Music's Individual plan ($10.99 per month) and Family plan ($16.99 per month, covering six people) cost slightly less than Spotify's equivalent tiers ($11.99 and $19.99 per month, respectively). Both services offer a discounted Student rate for $5.99 per month. These premium packages lack ads and offer unlimited skips per hour. You'll enjoy offline playback on mobile, too. That's where the price similarities end.Spotify has a Duo package ($16.99 per month) aimed at couples that saves a few bucks if you don't need a full Family plan. Don't want to spend any money on streaming music? Check out the ad-supported Spotify Free, which limits your skips per hour and only lets you listen to shuffled songs—you can't play tracks on demand.Apple Music, on the other hand, lacks a free tier. It's a subscription or bust. However, you get a free three-month trial upon purchasing AirPods, an iPhone, or another eligible Apple hardware.If free sounds good, Spotify is a worthwhile choice. If an ad-free subscription with a lower price than Spotify's premium offerings is more your speed, go with Apple Music. Winner: Tie(Credit: Apple Music/Spotify/PCMag)Content: Music, Video, Podcasts, and AudiobooksApple Music and Spotify have more than 100 million songs on their platforms, plus many playlists and videos. That means no matter the service you select, you'll have a lifetime's worth of tunes. So, it's the other content that may sway you in one direction or the other.Apple Music offers live radio, which Spotify lacks. That includes local stations and six dedicated Apple stations. However, Spotify trounces Apple Music with nearly seven million podcasts and 250,000 audiobooks. Those are huge numbers. Apple Music features just two million podcasts and zero audiobooks. Simply put, Spotify has more entertainment variety.Winner: Spotify(Credit: Spotify/PCMag)Music DiscoveryAny streaming music service worth its salt must have a good search engine and recommendation system. Spotify is the older and more experimental of the two platforms, giving you many ways to find content. For example, its For You page has a fantastic, easy-to-read layout that displays playlists and recently played albums. Scrolling up or down spotlights the latest releases from your favorite artists and related music acts.Recommended by Our EditorsSpotify's algorithms auto-generate playlists based on your listening preferences. For example, the Discover Weekly playlist is a cool, weekly mixtape of new music and deep cuts catered to your listening preferences. In addition, AI playlists are a cutting-edge feature that Spotify is exploring. Although still in beta, it lets you generate playlists via text prompts and even emoji. It’s a fantastic way to discover new music if you’re in an adventurous mood. However, if you're more of a hands-off listener, fire up Spotify's AI-powered disc jockey, DJ X, who queues your favorite tracks and adds new ones for variety. Of course, Spotify has curated playlists that cover a wide gamut of musical genres. Like Spotify, Apple Music's Home tab gives you quick access to new and familiar songs. The service also lets you create Stations, which are essentially endless queues of music based on whatever you’re listening to at the moment. Apple Music's Discovery Station is similar to Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist, as it features a music queue based on your listening habits. Apple Music features many curated playlists across different genres, just like Spotify.Both services have a search-by-lyric feature. So, if you can't quite remember a song title but you remember the hook, you can use those words to prompt a search. For example, type, "I said, 'Hey what’s going on,'" into the search box and you'll get results for the song "What’s Up?" by 4 Non Blondes (as well as the arguably superior Slackcircus cover). Apple Music's discovery and recommendation systems are good, but Spotify's AI-powered DJ and playlists top them.Winner: Spotify(Credit: Apple/PCMag)Music Streaming QualitySpotify supports audio streams of up to 320kbps. The audio is serviceable for casual listening and could potentially save you money due to its lower data usage compared with Apple Music. That said, Apple Music has better quality audio, no question. Apple Music streams range between 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) and lossless 24-bit/192kHz audio files, which is crisp, high-definition audio. The service also supports spatial audio with Dolby Atmos. Not every track supports it, but many do. Apple even provides extensive playlists with music that takes advantage of this audiophile-centric format. Keep in mind that this audio disparity may not affect your day-to-day listening experience, depending on how you consume music. This is especially true if you listen via Bluetooth headphones. Bluetooth streaming comes with audio compression and bandwidth limitations, so you won't enjoy the depth and richness Apple Music delivers. Wired connections are a different story. So, audiophiles with high-quality headphones may pick up Apple Music's sonic superiority.Winner: Apple Music

Submitted by WA Contents Call For Ideas: Tiny Library 2025 Architecture Competition India Architecture News - May 24, 2025 - 09:35   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" As the world is continuously transforming and expanding, the amount of data and information created every day is also increasing constantly. Human intellect today is expected to evolve at the same rate as our world to continue our journey into the future. Despite all the information, reading and self-learning remain the most powerful tools available to mankind to consume knowledge. Learning bolsters awareness, exposure and productivity, which in turn results into development.Despite its importance, education is still inaccessible to many communities in remote locations around the world. Self-learning, especially through reading, is crucial for the society’s development. It is necessary to have places promoting education and self- learning to educate the local population within the closest proximity. It will make them accessible to gainful employment opportunities in their home towns and will thereby avoid the need for migration elsewhere."Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela (Political Leader, Philanthropist and former President of South Africa)."OpportunityBooks are considered to be the torchbearers for knowledge, helping mankind develop its intellect and create a world that is constantly developing. With an aim to make education more accessible, we have transformed books to digital, audio and visual formats.Despite all these efforts, books in any format are still inaccessible to various communities across our planet. It is now utterly important to focus on this lack of accessibility and prioritize towards creating a source of knowledge to isolated communities.Libraries as an educational incubator is a space that not only sheds light on conventional means of knowledge but also encourages its users to interact, share ideas and grow together. Rather than accepting urban migration as a given, a library can be designed with an aim to restore dignity and induce development.Can we rethink a library of the 21st-century public space where knowledge is not limited to books? Can we ignite the new age movement of learning?“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero (Roman statesman and philosopher).ChallengeParticipants are to design a Tiny Library optimized for 50 users with engaging multifunctional spaces for all ages and spatial experience. The Tiny Library would be equipped with traditional reading material along with modern formats like e-books, audiobooks, audio-visual books etc.The space would be designed as a centralized think tank for the local communities with a focus on activities and functions of public interactions and community development.Participants should consider affordability and optimum use of space while designing. The designed space should be augmented to hold a maximum number of books in a limited space. The structure should not exceed 300 sq.mt. of built-up area.The proposed design should also be easy to maintain. The proposal should be iconic, inviting, and creating a statement of its own on the chosen site. The proposed design should have contact between humans and nature.The proposed designs can be visualized as mobile or stationary. One could also develop the given space as a flexible module that can be replicated so as to adapt to different site conditions, making it versatile in nature. Participants will be required to provide a justification for their design choices.The designed spaces should be innovative, encourage self-learning as well as strengthen the communal spirit. Energy saving and sustainability should be given a thought. We encourage the participants to develop their programs. The space designed should not be limited to the standard activities viz. reading and self-learning space, sanitation space, administration, reception or information desk. The design should provoke innovative activities that stimulate and accelerate learning.Site selectionRural populations across the globe face a mass exodus of its young population owing to the lack of education, health care, employment opportunities among many others.Participants are to choose a site in a rural or remote context for the proposal, wherever they feel accessibility to knowledge may change the existing circumstance. The design should be well integrated into the context.The site selected should be in a dire need of connecting to education and learning. The site should justify the participant’s design.AwardsPrizes of total USD 4500, broken down as follows:1st Prize: USD 2000 + Certificate + Publication2nd Prize: USD 1200 + Certificate + Publication3rd Prize: USD 800 + Certificate + Publication Student Award: USD 500 + Certificate + Publication10 Honourable mentions: CertificatesWinners and Honourable Mentions will be published on Volume Zero website and several international architecture and design magazines.To show our appreciation, all the participants would receive a participation certificate.ScheduleEarly Bird Registrations: 1st March 2025 to 15th May 2025 Standard Registrations: 16th May 2025 to 12th June 2025Last day for queries 10th June 2025Closing date for Submissions: 20th June 2025 Announcement of winners: 28th August 2025EligibilityTINY LIBRARY 2025 – Architecture Competition is open to all. We invite architects, students, engineers, product designers, thinkers, companies, organizations, and everyone interested in the mission of the competition to submit their ideas. No professional qualifications are necessary.Jury panelAvinash Ankalge A Threshold, IndiaBernardo Quinzaños CCA, MexicoChen Xi Atelier Xi, ChinaChenchen Hu HCCH Studio, ChinaDavid Barragán AL BORDE, EcuadorPetchimuthu Kennedy Earthscape Studio, IndiaPeter Rich Peter Rich Architects, South AfricaSong Yehao THAD SUP Atelier, ChinaSoumitro Ghosh Mathew and Ghosh Architects, IndiaSwapnil Valvatkar Collage Architecture Studio, IndiaRegistration feesEarly Bird Registrations:Participants from India – 2700+18% GST = INR 3186 (per team) Participants from Other Countries - 80 + 18% GST = USD 94.4 (per team)Standard Registrations:Participants from India – 3200 + 18% GST = INR 3776 (per team) Participants from Other Countries – 95+ 18% GST = USD 112.1 (per team)Download the competition brief from here: TL25 Brief.pdf.The top image courtesy of Volume Zero. > via Volume Zero 

First lady Melania Trump signs the 'Take It Down' Act. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Melania Trump announced on Friday that she is releasing an AI audiobook version of her memoir, Melania.In an X post, the first lady welcomed followers into "a new era in publishing" and announced that an audiobook featuring an AI-generated version of her voice will be released in the ElevenReader app."I am honored to bring you Melania — The AI Audiobook — narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice. Let the future of publishing begin." You May Also Like The First Lady's book, Melania,Melania AI audiobook was released on May 22 through the ElevenReader app, a text-to-voice AI app that also lets authors create audiobooks from their work. Variety reports that the AI audiobook will soon be available in additional languages, from Spanish to Hindi.“Writing this memoir has been a deeply personal and reflective journey for me," Trump says in a trailer for the book. "As a private person who has often been the subject of public scrutiny and misrepresentation, I feel a responsibility to clarify the facts. I believe it is important to share my perspective, the truth.” Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! AI is set to transform the audiobook industryAudiobooks featuring AI-generated voices are a hot topic in the publishing world. On May 13, Amazon announced that it was working with publishers and authors to expand Audible's catalog of AI-narrated audiobooks. In a blog post, the company said it was "committed to working closely with authors, narrators, and publishers to ensure these technologies meet their creative and business needs while maintaining the quality standards our listeners expect."Using artificial intelligence tools, it's now possible to recreate someone's voice, and in virtually every language. So, rather than Trump going into a recording studio and reading her book line by line, AI tools can generate an entire audiobook recording based on samples of her voice. When done correctly, it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between the real voice and the AI version. Thus, companies can save significant amounts of time and money, and not just for audiobooks. Just this week, The New York Times reported that AI is already being used to reduce the costs of producing animation by up to 90 percent.Many artists — including actors and voice actors — see the use of artificial intelligence as a direct threat to their livelihoods. When the video game Fortnite recently introduced a Darth Vader character with an AI-generated voice based on actor James Earl Jones, the SAG-AFTRA union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. Mashable has also reported on the backlash to the use of artificial intelligence to recreate the likeness of Agatha Christie and to generate material for movies like The Brutalist and Late Night With the Devil.ElevenLabs, the company that makes the ElevenReader app, recently received a $3.3 billion valuation. Variety also reports that the ElevenReader app features audiobooks with the voices of deceased celebrities, including Judy Garland and Jerry Garcia. These types of AI resurrection projects are becoming more common and more controversial.You can order the new AI audiobook at the First Lady's website. Topics Books Politics Timothy Beck Werth Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men's product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.Tim studied print journalism at the University of Southern California. He currently splits his time between Brooklyn, NY and Charleston, SC. He's currently working on his second novel, a science-fiction book.

If you use Spotify to listen to audiobooks on your iPhone, you now have fewer hurdles to clear to purchase and download titles to your device. Apple has approved an update that allows Spotify users to view pricing and buy individual audiobooks as well as add "top-up" listening hours right from the iOS app. How in-app purchases are changing on iOSThis change is the outcome of a recent court ruling that requires Apple to allow app developers to provide links to external sites outside of the App Store to make purchases. Previously, users had to seek out where to sign up for subscriptions—in an external browser, for example—or potentially pay a premium price to cover the App Store's 15 to 30 percent cut. In response, Spotify quickly updated its iOS app with links to its various subscription options under the Premium tab, which previously had simply acknowledged that such subscriptions existed and that users could find sign-ups through their web browser. How to purchase audiobooks on SpotifyWith the update, users will now see a Buy button under individual titles in the iOS app and will no longer need to make purchases on Spotify's web player before returning to mobile to listen. Spotify includes 15 hours of use-it-or-lose-it audiobook listening time with Premium plans and the separate Audiobooks Access subscription—you can now add "top-up" listening hours within the app as well. To manage your listening time on mobile, go to Profile > Settings and privacy > Account > Plan name > Manage audiobook time. Top-ups cost $13 for 10 hours. Finally, if Spotify isn't your go-to, check out our top picks for audiobook services.

Quebec Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe has introduced Bill 109, which would require streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify to feature and prioritize French-language content. CBC.ca reports: Bill 109 has been in the works for over a year. It marks the first time that Quebec would set a "visibility quota" for French-language content on major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney and Spotify. [...] The legislation, titled An Act to affirm the cultural sovereignty of Quebec and to enact the Act respecting the discoverability of French-language cultural content in the digital environment, would apply to every digital platform that offers a service for watching videos or listening to music and audiobooks online. Those include Canadian platforms such as Illico, Crave and Tou.tv. It would amend the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to enshrine "the right to discoverability of and access to original French-language cultural content." If the bill is adopted, streaming platforms and television manufacturers would be forced to present interfaces for screening online videos in French by default. Those interfaces would need to provide access to platforms that offer original French-language cultural content based on the government's pending criteria. Financial penalties would be imposed on companies that don't follow the rules. If the business models of some companies prevent them from keeping to the letter of the proposed law, companies would be allowed to enter into an agreement with the Quebec government to set out "substitute measures" to fulfil Bill 109 obligations differently. "We don't want to exempt them. We're telling them, 'let's negotiate substitute measures,'" Lacombe told reporters. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Spotify says its ability to direct its customers to external payment links in its iOS app has already had a positive impact on sales. In a newly filed amicus brief in support of Epic Games in its ongoing legal battle with Apple over external payments on the App Store, Spotify claims its internal data indicates that its recent update supporting web payments has resulted in “a significant increase in iOS users upgrading to a Premium subscription.” Shortly after the U.S. District Court in Northern California ruled in favor of Fortnite maker Epic Games on the matter of external payments, Apple was forced to finally allow U.S. app developers to direct their customers to other ways to pay from within their iOS apps without having to pay Apple’s commission. Now, iOS app developers in the U.S. can choose to tell their customers about web billing options and whether there’s a discount for paying directly. Spotify was one of the first to update its iOS app to take advantage of the new policy. The updated version explains to customers what subscriptions cost, points them to its website to purchase, and allows users to purchase audiobooks directly. The results have been largely positive, Spotify wrote in the new filing. “The 2025 Order has created substantial benefits for developers and — more importantly — consumers,” the filing states. “Spotify’s internal data show that its iOS app updates have already resulted in a significant increase in iOS users upgrading to a Premium subscription. Apple’s compliance has also enabled new product innovations that would not have been possible without the Injunction.” Spotify said that its revised “Premium Destination Page” in its iOS app tells free users how to upgrade to a paid subscription by offering information about prices and a link to a checkout page. Since adding the link and pricing information, Spotify says it’s seen the immediate impact of the changes. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW In the two weeks the new page has been live, Spotify says the rate of conversions from the free to Premium tier has remained “relatively constant” on Android, where Spotify has already been able to offer basic pricing information. Meanwhile, the conversion rate among iOS users has increased substantially, the company says. “This strongly suggests that the increase is due to Apple finally complying with the Injunction thanks to the 2025 Order,” Spotify wrote. Plus, the company adds that it’s beginning to see the effects on audiobook purchases just three days after the new product options were launched. Spotify declined to share specific numbers related to the increases when reached for comment. Its brief joins those from Microsoft and others in support of Epic Games, as Apple tries to fight the injunction that upended its U.S. App Store business. Apple doesn’t want to comply with the court’s decision, which it’s in the process of appealing, until all legal matters are fully settled. It also tried to keep Epic Games’ Fortnite out of the App Store for the same reason, but the judge pressured Apple to allow the game back in the App Store or return to court to explain why Apple was in non-compliance with the ruling. On Tuesday, Fortnite went live on the U.S. App Store after a five-year hiatus. The case between Apple and Epic now continues in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Apple filed an Emergency Motion so it could revert to its old policy while its appeal was underway. However, the court decided not to grant the motion, saying the panel of judges would follow the default briefing schedule and then rule on the motion in “due course.”

Spotify was one of the first companies to take advantage of recent changes to the App Store Guidelines. The company swiftly submitted a new version of its app with links that make it easier for users to subscribe to Spotify Premium using external payment methods. In an amicus brief filed in support of Epic Games this week, Spotify touts that it has already seen a measurable increase in Premium subscription conversions thanks to these changes. Spotify says: “Apple claims that only it is harmed by the 2025 Order without any corresponding benefit to the public. This is wrong. By forcing Apple’s long-overdue compliance with the Injunction, the 2025 Order has created substantial benefits for developers and—more importantly—consumers. Spotify’s internal data show that its iOS app updates have already resulted in a significant increase in iOS users upgrading to a Premium subscription. Apple’s compliance has also enabled new product innovations that would not have been possible without the Injunction.” The company adds that it is confident this increase is due to the changes to the iOS app: “In the two weeks since Spotify updated its iOS app in accordance with the 2025 Order, the rate of conversions from the Free- to Premium-tier service has remained relatively constant on Android, while conversion among iOS users has increased substantially. This strongly suggests that the increase is due to Apple finally complying with the Injunction thanks to the 2025 Order.” Apple was forced to change its App Store Guidelines after an injunction was handed down in its legal battle with Epic Games. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers barred Apple from charging commission or otherwise interfering with developers’ ability to direct customers to payment methods outside of the App Store. The latest version of the Spotify app for iOS shows pricing details and promotional information with a link that lets users subscribe via Safari. It’s also now easier to purchase audiobooks in the app. Apple has requested a pause of the initial injunction. It is also formally appealing that decision. My favorite iPhone accessories: Follow Chance: Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon.  Main Document Brief – 011926- 00004 – Ninth CircuitDownload Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

In case you haven't heard, Fortnite — the megahit video game from Epic Games that's stuffed with characters from every media franchise imaginable, not to mention real celebrities — has become a cause célèbre after it introduced Darth Vader as an in-game boss. This was no ordinary homage to the "Star Wars" villain. It uses "conversational AI" to recreate the iconic voice of the late actor James Earl Jones, allowing gamers to chat with the Sith Lord and ask him pretty much any question they want.Though it's resulted in plenty of light-hearted fun, gamers, being gamers, immediately set to work tricking the AI into swearing and saying slurs.But that's only the beginning of the controversy, if you can believe it. On Monday, the Screen Actor's Guild blasted Epic Games for its AI Vader stunt and filed an unfair labor complaint against the developer with the National Labor Relations Board, arguing that Epic's use of AI violated their agreement by replacing human performers without notice."Fortnite's signatory company, Llama Productions, chose to replace the work of human performers with AI technology," SAG-AFTRA said in a statement. "Unfortunately, they did so without providing any notice of their intent to do this and without bargaining with us over appropriate terms." SAG-AFTRA is still on strike against the video game industry, though actors are still allowed work on Fortnite and some other exempted projects, . Voice actors, in general, have struggled to win the same protections against AI as other performers in other fields. It's easier and far cheaper to fake someone's voice and pass it off as real than it is to mimic a visual performance.For this stunt, Epic used Google's Gemini 2.0 model to generate the wording of Vader's responses, and ElevenLabs' Flash v2.5 model for the audio.Whatever your thoughts on the ethics of resurrecting a dead actor's voice with AI, no theft is involved with Epic's AI Vader  — just, if SAG is to be believed, dubious labor practices. It was created in collaboration with Jones' estate, according to an Epic press release featuring a statement from the family. Jones, shortly before he passed away, signed a contract with Disney allowing the AI startup Respeecher to clone his voice. That's all fine with SAG-AFTRA. It doesn't necessarily have a problem with actors — or their estates — licensing AI replicas of themselves. "However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members," the union wrote, "including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader's iconic rhythm and tone in video games."We'll have to see what the labor board and Epic make of SAG-AFTRA's claims. In the meantime, it's pretty jarring to see an AI version of Jones' legendary Vader performance out in the wild and answering silly questions in a video game.More on AI: Even Audiobooks Aren't Safe From AI SlopShare This Article