spotify Spotify Acquires AI Voice Startup Sonantic Behind Top Gun Maverick Tech Spotify purchases Sonantic, the AI startup that recreates realistic human voices from text and helped simulate Val Kilmer's voice in Top Gun: Maverick. The acquisition aims to introduce new text-to-speech personalization features to the streaming platform.
spotify Spotify Patents Voice Emotion Detection to Improve Song Recommendations Spotify secures a patent for technology that analyzes vocal emotions, age, and environment to suggest music without requiring manual user input.
spotify Spotify Brings Standalone Streaming to Apple Watch Globally Spotify rolls out standalone streaming for its Apple Watch app, allowing users to listen to music and podcasts without their iPhone. The global update follows a testing period and requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or newer.
zoom Zoom Unveils OnZoom Events Marketplace and Third-Party App Integrations Zoom introduces an events marketplace for ticketed virtual experiences alongside new third-party app integrations and upcoming end-to-end encryption. The announcements highlight a busy day in tech that also includes new tools for journalists and major startup funding rounds.
palantir Palantir and Asana Test Direct Listing Method as Alternative to Traditional IPOs Tech companies Palantir and Asana are going public this week through direct listings, doubling the number of tech firms that used this method in the past two years. The move bypasses Wall Street underwriters and avoids traditional IPO fees.
apple Apple Blocks Microsoft xCloud and Cloud Gaming From iOS Devices Apple confirms it prohibits cloud gaming services like Microsoft xCloud from the iOS App Store, requiring each game to submit to individual reviews. Microsoft criticizes the decision as unfair, pointing out that Apple does not apply the same rules to streaming video or music apps.
facebook Major iOS Apps Crash Due to Widespread Facebook SDK Glitch A sudden bug in Facebook's iOS software development kit causes massive crashing across popular apps like Spotify, TikTok, and Venmo. The social network resolves the issue quickly, highlighting its deep integration into the mobile app ecosystem.
spotify Spotify Acquires Bill Simmons's The Ringer to Expand Podcast Empire Spotify purchases sports and culture media company The Ringer to strengthen its growing podcast network. The streaming giant plans to retain all 90 employees while prioritizing the company's popular audio content.
spotify Spotify Reaches 271 Million Users as Podcast Engagement Doubles Spotify reports significant growth in its Q4 earnings with 271 million total users and a 200 percent surge in podcast consumption. Despite missing analyst revenue expectations, the streaming giant faces increasing pressure from well-funded competitors like Apple and Amazon.
engadget Engadget Reflects on 2019 Tech Trends and a Decade of Innovation Engadget kicks off its comprehensive 2019 year in review, highlighting the biggest tech stories, gadgets, and games while also looking back at the defining technology of the past decade.
podcasting Podcasting Transforms Into Corporate Mainstay After 15 Years of Growth The podcasting industry reaches a major milestone in 2019 as massive corporate investments fundamentally shift the medium's independent roots. Advertising revenues and high-profile acquisitions signal that audio shows are now big business.
spotify Spotify Pushes New Button to Boost Podcast Listening After Massive Investments After spending up to $500 million on podcast content in 2019, Spotify introduces a new button targeting users who have not yet explored podcasts on the platform. The feature aims to convert dedicated music listeners into podcast consumers as the company plans even more spending.
spotify Spotify Tests Real-Time Synced Lyrics Feature in Select Markets Spotify confirms it is testing a real-time synced lyrics feature powered by Musixmatch in a few international markets. This experiment follows Apple Music's recent launch of a similar live lyrics experience.
tesla Tesla V10 Update Brings Smart Summon, Streaming Apps, and In-Car Karaoke Tesla releases its V10.0 software update, equipping vehicles with the advanced Smart Summon driving feature and a variety of new entertainment options like Netflix and Spotify. The upgrade transforms parked cars into mobile theaters and karaoke lounges for owners.
apple music Apple Music Debuts Public Web Beta for Subscribers Apple launches a public beta of Apple Music on the web, allowing existing subscribers to access the streaming service directly from their browsers. The move expands the platform's cross-platform availability as it competes with rivals like Spotify.