TechCentral·7wGoogle poised to lose ad crown to Meta
Meta Platforms is projected to surpass Google in global digital advertising revenue by end of 2026, with Meta forecast at $243.5B versus Google's $239.5B. Meta's accelerated growth rate of 24.1% this year, driven by its Advantage+ automated ad suite, WhatsApp and Threads ads, and Instagram Reels competing in short-video, is the key driver. Google, Meta, and Amazon together are expected to control 62.3% of global digital ad spending in 2026.
TechCentral·6wJohn Ternus and the battle for Apple’s soul
John Ternus, Apple's incoming CEO effective September 1, is a 25-year hardware veteran known for his product-first philosophy and meticulous attention to detail. Unlike rivals at Microsoft and Google aggressively pushing AI, Ternus treats the technology pragmatically — focused on leveraging it to build better products rather than shipping AI for its own sake. He oversaw Apple's landmark transition from Intel to Apple Silicon, the iPad, AirPods, the ultra-thin iPhone Air, and the $599 MacBook Neo. Analysts describe him as widely respected internally, and his philosophy echoes Steve Jobs' customer-experience-first approach. The key question analysts raise is whether his hardware-centric mindset will be sufficient to navigate the AI platform era, where rivals like Samsung, OpenAI, and Meta are betting Apple has stumbled.
TechCentral·6wWhatsApp to go premium with new Plus subscription
Meta is testing a paid subscription tier for WhatsApp called WhatsApp Plus, currently in limited Android beta. For around $2.99/month, subscribers get cosmetic perks like premium stickers with effects, customisable themes and icons, up to 20 pinned chats, premium ringtones, and custom chat-list controls. Core messaging, calling, and end-to-end encryption remain free. The subscription is additive and optional, not a paywall. Meta confirmed the test but has not announced broader availability. The move aligns with Meta's wider strategy to introduce paid tiers across Instagram and Facebook as well.