Nintendo Is Ending X Integration on Switch in June
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
Nintendo announced that the integration of X on Nintendo Switch will be removed on June 10. After this date, users will not be able to send friend requests or share screenshots on the social media platform through Nintendo Switch.
According to Mashable , Nintendo’s decision is related to Elon Musk’s changes to the API service by adding a pricing model. The software service for integration was free until February 9 last year when the new tier system began “with Enterprise access starting at $42,000 per month.”
Microsoft and Sony also ended integration with the social network—for Xbox and PlayStation, respectively— after the announcement. Nevertheless, none of the companies have explicitly mentioned this as a reason.
Nintendo shared more details on how the disconnection from X will affect gamers through its Customer Support page and confirmed that it will apply to all models: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch’s OLED Model, and also Nintendo Switch Family.
Users will no longer be able to share the videos and photos on their Nintendo Switch HOME Menu to X, but they will be able to post on Facebook. However, Nintendo warned that this feature might also be unavailable for Facebook in the future.
The option to send friend requests through the Friend Suggestions menu linked to the social media network X will disappear, but users will still be able to get suggestions from Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and smart devices. Nintendo included in the report other specific features and adjustments related to the X API for games such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Splatoon 3, and Splatoon 2 .
X’s Response To Nintendo’s Decision
X has commented on this decision on its platform from its XGaming account, reassuring users of its commitment to the gaming community and suggesting a solution in the meantime. “Users will need to download Switch gameplay media directly to their smartphones and share it natively on our platform,” stated the network in its post.
According to X, this was a product decision and both companies are operating alongside each other. “Our partnership with Nintendo remains strong, and we are working together to ensure a smooth transition for all users,” XGaming added. However, users have not been convinced and added context to the post on X. “This is in direct response to X changing their API,” states the Note element.
The consequences of this decision, especially for X, are yet to be seen. The social network has been making multiple big financial moves recently, like charging new users a small fee to post , which could bring more debate in the near future.
YouTube Adds New “Jump Ahead” Feature Available to Premium Android Users
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by
YouTube has been testing a new AI-powered feature called “Jump Ahead” and recently made it available to all premium customers and YouTube content creators with Android devices in the United States.
The Jump Ahead feature skips to the most relevant part of a video based on the user’s personal behavior data as well as data about how other users watch the video. Data is collected through YouTube’s voluntary experiments and is used to determine where the most relevant part of the video is.
As explained by 9to5Google , users who request to test Jump Ahead will be able to double-tap the skip ahead button, which will reveal the Jump Ahead feature. Users will see the message “jumping over commonly skipped section” after clicking on it, and the video will play from the most relevant section.
For now, Jump Ahead is only available for English-language videos. Content creators don’t need a Premium account to test the feature.
According to Android Authority , Jump Ahead will only be available until June 1. However, this isn’t confirmed by YouTube, so this trial time could be extended or soon rolled out for all premium users globally.
This isn’t the first time a feature like this has been introduced. Google’s Key Moments service, for example, shows a relevant portion of a video in Chrome to help users spot the information they need faster.
But some aren’t so sure how helpful this AI-powered Jump Ahead feature will actually be. One reader commented on Lifekhacker’s article , “But doesn’t YouTube WANT me to watch the whole thing?” Another X user said, “Terrible idea, stop catering to low attention spans.”
Moreover, a few creators worry about their income and engagement in the long term, even if the feature is currently available only for Premium users with ad-free access. The consequences or benefits of Jump Ahead are yet to be seen as YouTube continues with trials.
