Science & Technology

How soap opera-TikTok hybrids became a billion-dollar market | Equity Podcast

Over the past few years, a new category of mobile apps has quietly exploded into a multi-billion dollar business. They’re called “micro dramas” — short-form, mobile-first scripted shows designed to be watched vertically on your phone. Think soap opera meets TikTok, complete with secret billionaire romances, disapproving werewolf mothers-in-law, and cliffhangers engineered to keep users…

Published

7 months ago

March 25, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Rebecca Bellan and TechCrunch senior reporter Amanda Silberling sit down with Henry Soong, founder of Watch Club, who thinks the micro drama industry is still “in its MySpace era.” He has a vision for what the Facebook moment could look like.

Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:11 Why micro dramas, and why now?

04:25 What makes Watch Club different

07:29 The monetization model problem

18:52 Optimizing for intentionality, not engagement

24:23 Why Quibby failed (content, product & business model)

28:22 Defensibility: tech company or studio?

31:36 AI, the WGA, and the future of storytelling

33:44 Outro

CNET

This AI is Giving Doctors a ‘Report Card’ After Procedures

Northwestern Medicine has been using a technology called “Medtronic GI Genius” to assist with colonoscopies and has been harnessing AI to offer post-procedure feedback. You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below *CNET may get a commission on these offers Read more about it on CNET.com Timecode Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: AI…

Published

1 day ago

October 25, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Northwestern Medicine has been using a technology called “Medtronic GI Genius” to assist with colonoscopies and has been harnessing AI to offer post-procedure feedback.

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
*CNET may get a commission on these offers

CNET

We’re Folding the iPhone Duo Until It Breaks (ASMR)

Our custom-built Fold-A-Phone machine is folding the iPhone Duo constantly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, up until either one breaks. Catch the livestream every Monday through Friday on CNET’s YouTube from 1pm to 5pm ET. #foldaphone #iphoneduo #torturetest #foldablephone #allthingsmobile Video Credits: Shot and edited by Faith Chihil Add CNET as a…

Published

2 days ago

October 24, 2026

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Video Credits:
Shot and edited by Faith Chihil

CNET

Meet the Machine That Will Break the iPhone Duo, Eventually | All Things Mobile

Get a behind-the-scenes look at CNET Labs, where our team of engineers built a machine that folds and unfolds phones exactly like a human would, and measures exactly how many folds a folding phone can be folded. How many folds will the iPhone Duo handle? Read more about the Fold-A-Phone on CNET.com The iPhone Duo…

Published

2 days ago

October 24, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Read more about the Fold-A-Phone on CNET.com
The iPhone Duo Is Now in Our Custom-Made Foldable Phone Test Machine. Will It Beat the Galaxy Z Fold 8?

00:00 Introduction to Louisville Labs
00:17 Meet the Fold-A-Phone
00:22 Louisville Labs Testing Facility
00:53 Engineering the Fold-A-Phone Machine
1:26 Testing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
2:29 Replicating Human Folding Speed & Pressure
3:30 iPhone Duo Fold Count Predictions
4:15 How to Watch the Live Stream Test

Video Credits:
Host: Dillon Payne & Matthew Murray
Producer: Dillon Payne, Stephen Beacham & Owen Poole
Camera: Dillon Payne & Faith Chihil
Video Editor: Owen Poole
Thumbnail Designer: Tharon Green