If what’s been lacking out of your life is a video-centric app from a platform that also considers itself to be the world’s city sq. run on the whims of an (ahem) extraordinarily eccentric billionaire and that has in some ways given up on any semblance of moderation that might make it the type of place you’d need to admit hanging out, welcome to X TV.
The app is now stay on the varied app shops — we’ve discovered it on Google Play, LG’s app retailer, and the Amazon App Retailer (trying to find it on Apple TV solely returned the legacy Twitter app as I write this). There are totally different launch dates relying on which platform you’re . Amazon reveals it as having been stay since late July, however LG’s app retailer says August 29, 2024.
You need to have an X account to log in and watch something, which is X’s modus operandi at this level throughout the platform. Screenshots for the app promise unique content material, plus stay occasions and information. From that 30,000-foot view it very a lot seems to be like a YouTube type of clone, solely probably with much more objectionable content material, and lower-rent promoting. (If any.) YouTube, by the best way, made $15.5 billion in promoting within the first half of 2024, and $31.5 billion for all of 2023. So simply maintain that in thoughts anytime somebody calls it a YouTube competitor. (Or worse, a YouTube killer.)
The app description on Google Play reads “The X app is the trusted world digital city sq. for everybody, in your TV! Uncover a brand new option to expertise the world of X, as we convey you distinctive and fascinating content material proper to your front room.” Whether or not that’s true stays to be seen. Early app critiques don’t seem like useful, however one fast look from a DT comrade resulted in saying “the content material obtainable is an actual dumpster fireplace.” In order that’s in all probability fairly on model for X in 2024. It’s additionally rated T for teen on one retailer, and 12+ on one other. So there’s in all probability nothing to fret about, proper?
It’s additionally price noting that there no less than are call-outs that seem like hyperlinks to X’s privateness coverage and phrases of service. You may choose both one on LG’s model of the app, however not really click on to open mentioned privateness polity or phrases of service. You may’t even choose them on the tvOS model. And Amazon helpfully means that others who downloaded X TV benefit from the right-wing video service Rumble, Banned Video, Actual America’s Voice, and RSBN apps.
Up to now, so good.
