Apple scales App Store ads for performance: More search placements turn high-intent discovery into a larger, more competitive acquisition channel.

31.2% of consumers have used a mobile wallet in-store as of September—nearly triple the rate three years earlier, per PYMNTS Intelligence report. Apple Pay’s dominance is likely to stick for now, but its lead will narrow as PayPal, Cash App, and Google Pay strategies draw in more users. As wallet competition ramps up, features that help users manage more of their financial—and even non-financial—lives will help providers create stickier wallets that attract more volume. That includes subscription management services, order tracking, and interactive airline and event tickets.

Apps dominate mobile activity and are essential for marketers and publishers to reach audiences. Key data shows how app users are shifting, which apps they prefer, and the outlook for consumer spending and ad revenues.​

US proximity mobile payment spending is growing faster than its user base as tapping phones to pay becomes an ingrained habit. Leading wallets must now focus on maximizing usage.

Pinterest is giving users control over the flood of genAI content on the platform with a new tuner that allows users to control how much genAI content they see in specific categories, per a Thursday announcement. By giving users control over how much genAI content they see, Pinterest is creating a safer environment for advertisers, reducing the risk for brands by ensuring ads don’t appear alongside content that audiences dislike or want to avoid.

Video games now reach players of all ages, but kids and teens remain key to growth. Recent data shows who's gaming, what revenue forecasts look like, and gamers' sentiments about ads.

Google is launching a new Gmail feature called Manage Subscriptions, giving users a streamlined way to bulk unsubscribe from newsletters and promotional emails. The tool—rolling out across web, Android, and iOS—centralizes subscription management and ranks senders by frequency, making high-volume emailers easier to flag. With fewer barriers to opt-out, brands risk higher unsubscribe rates if they rely on one-size-fits-all content. Gmail's update reflects a broader trend toward more curated inboxes and less tolerance for irrelevant messaging. Marketers now face heightened pressure to improve targeting, pacing, and value—or risk being silently purged by users looking to clean house fast.

Apple’s Fortnite feud, Amazon’s device division cuts, and Apple Music’s new user lure reveal how tech titans are adjusting strategies in a volatile regulatory and consumer landscape.

Netflix’s AI search test takes aim at content fatigue: By letting users search more intuitively, Netflix hopes to edge out rivals and helps viewers navigate its library.

Apple News’ “abysmal” ad revenues requires advertisers to rethink: Poor ROI and a lack of changes to improve the platform could spell trouble.

With iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16, it’s overhauling interfaces to spark consumer interest, boost sales, and bridge the gap before delayed AI features arrive.

Its partnership with Perplexity aims to create an action-oriented AI smartphone, but market competition and questionable demand makes this a risky venture.

Update adds visual intelligence features, app integrations, and automatic opt-in for Apple Intelligence features—which could boost adoption, or annoy users.

xAI’s plan for a standalone app may expand user access, but controversial outputs and app store policies could undermine its adoption and growth.

Apple will manage Apple News inventory itself: Company stands to gain a larger share of spending by deprioritizing third-party vendors.

US retail sales via mobile wallets are growing much faster than overall sales. To meet this demand, wallet providers must address consumer expectations and solve growth hurdles.

Apple feels the pain of Apple TV+ struggles: Its Q4 revenues missed the mark in some divisions including Services, which includes advertising.

Skipping its usual fall roll-out event, Apple will announce M4 devices and AI betas. It may be aiming to align launches with feature readiness.

A US ruling requires Google to abandon exclusivity practices, potentially empowering smaller developers to enter the Android app market more easily.

Apple patches major iOS bugs before the iPhone SE 4's expected announcement, but its missing AI features are the real problem.