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Tech World Sees Streaming Price Hikes, Tourist Fees, AI Advancements, and Software Sunsets
The tech landscape experienced a series of significant changes this week, ranging from streaming service price increases and new tourist fees to advancements in AI content creation and the discontinuation of a long-standing animation software.
Crunchyroll, a popular anime streaming platform, raised its monthly subscription prices by up to 25 percent, according to Ars Technica. This increase comes after Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll from ATT in 2020. At the time of the acquisition, Crunchyroll had 3 million paid subscribers and 197 million users with free accounts. The platform previously offered tiered subscriptions costing $8, $10, or $15 per month. The company made controversial decisions after the acquisition.
In Rome, tourists hoping to visit the Trevi Fountain now face a 2 euro ($2.35) fee, implemented on Monday, February 2, 2026, according to the Associated Press. The city introduced the fee to raise money and manage the large crowds at the popular attraction, NPR reported. Tourists seemed unfazed by the new tariff, noting it was a small price to pay for access to the fountain.
Meanwhile, Indian media giant JioStar hired Emmy Award-winning creative technologist Stephan Bugaj as senior VP of GenAI content and technology, Variety reported. This move signals JioStar's increasing focus on artificial intelligence-driven content strategy.
Adobe Animate, formerly known as Flash, will no longer be available for purchase after March 1, 2026, according to multiple news sources including The Verge. Adobe cited the emergence of better platforms as the reason for the discontinuation. Existing users have until March 1, 2027, or 2029 for enterprise customers, to download their files. The decision frustrated some users who still rely on the software for animation projects.
In other news, a Chinese app called Sileme, which translates to "Are You Dead?", has gained popularity, according to NPR. Users check in with the app daily, and if they miss a number of check-ins, the app notifies a designated emergency contact. Johnny Miller, 57, a user of the app, said, "It's kind of nice. It's almost like someone cares."
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