Pocket-lint daily - Spotify, Roblox, Instagram, and more

Good morning! By Stuart Miles | Thursday April 5 2022 Good morning! - If you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( Spotify makes its metaverse move opening Spotify Island in Roblox Spotify What's happened? Spotify and Roblox have [announced]( the opening of Spotify Island, a virtual venue for gigs and artist interaction. Why does it matter? It's not the first time that we've had concerts in games - Fortnite, for example, has run many of them - but the level of interaction provided through the gamification that Roblox allows adds a new dimension. What's my take? While many companies throw out the word "metaverse" just to get top points in buzzword bingo, Spotify and Roblox are showing how it's actually done. And, before you simply disregard Roblox because it's a kids game, I feel this is the closest thing we've got to a fully working version of what the metaverse will probably end up looking like. So much so, that I suspect Meta (formerly Facebook) will at some point see it as a way to cut some corners, and possibly look to either invest or buy the games company outright. Instagram going all TikTok with full-screen home feed test Instagram What's happened? Instagram is [testing]( a TikTok style feature whereby videos are served full-screen on the home page. Why does it matter? The social media network wants to "bring video more front and centre", and the design change means that Reels will become a more significant part of the mobile app. What's my take? Amazing how Instagram has gone from the social network that was the place to showcase your best photography to trying to be a TikTok clone, filled with video memes and instant stories. - [What is Instagram and how does it work? Plus 29 top tips and tricks]( A MESSAGE FROM SPONSOR These new HiTune T3 ANC Bluetooth Earbuds are such great value for money Ugreen At only $35.99, the new HiTune T3 ANC Bluetooth Earbuds offer an amazing value for money. [Find out more](. Final UX3000 review: Affordable ANC bliss Pocket-lint What's happened? Final is usually associated with extravagant (and painfully expensive) headphones that have their own dedicated listening room and wires that have to be handled with satin gloves, but the UX3000 is a headset you would happily rock on your morning commute. Our quick verdict The Final UX3000 headphones offer sound quality that's largely unmatched at this price point. There's very little in the way of features, and the styling is unlikely to knock your socks off, but you'll struggle to do better without doubling your budget if superb noise cancellation and audio fidelity are at the top of your wish list. [Read our review.]( In Case You Missed it [Obi-Wan Kenobi]( gets a longer trailer for Star Wars Day. --- Marshall introduces the [Emberton II speaker]( with a 30-hour battery. --- Amazon's Echo Dot 3rd gen [is just 99 cents]( at the moment, when you get a month of Music Unlimited at $7.99. This is with an 81% saving from the two combined, with access to 90 million ad-free songs. From The Gear Loop Flipp Nekhaev / Unsplash Best beginner surfboards: Easy to master boards to get you up and riding waves. [Read more.]( And finally... Amazon / JVC / Pocket-lint What is Freevee? Amazon's free streaming service explained. [Read more.]( Have you checked out our weekly podcast that comes out every Friday? It's packed with news, interviews, and top things to get. You can subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via [iTunes]( and [Spotify]( or access it on the web via [Acast](. This week, we talk about the new Stream by Virgin Media TV service, review the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G smartphone, and discuss the future of emotional writing with the help of AI. [Listen to the new episode today.]( Thanks for reading , if you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [The Trust Project][Why you can trust Pocket-lint]( Copyright © 2022 Pocket-lint, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website Our mailing address is: Pocket-lint PO Box 4770Ascot, Berkshire SL5 5DP United Kingdom [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. [Mailchimp Email Marketing](