Tech
Spotify Coming to Azerbaijan and 84 Other Markets – Caspian News
By Nigar Bayramli February 23, 2021
The world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service Spotify has revealed that it will arrive in new markets across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean basin. Azerbaijan is one of the 85 new locations where the Swedish audio streaming service is going to launch its services.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to building a truly borderless audio ecosystem — connecting creators, listeners, and content — Spotify is embarking on a sweeping expansion that will introduce the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service available to more than a billion people in 80+ new markets around the world, and add 36 languages to our platform,” reads a statement issued by the service on February 22.
“As we shared during today’s Stream On event, this expansion will help ensure that sounds and stories that once remained local can reach a global audience.”
Spotify is a Swedish audio streaming and media services provider, launched in October 2008. The service offers digital copyright-restricted recorded music and podcasts, including more than 70 million songs, from record labels and media companies. As a freemium service, basic features are free with advertisements and limited control, while additional features, such as offline listening and commercial-free listening, are offered via paid subscriptions. Users can search for music based on artist, album, or genre, and can create, edit, and share playlists.
The service will reportedly offer Free and Premium plans, full global music and podcast catalogs, as well as Mobile and Desktop players in the new markets over the coming days.
With stepping into new markets, the company expands its geography to 170 markets. Spotify expects that by 2025 the company will have as many as 50 million creators whose art is enjoyed by one billion users around the world.
Azerbaijan is the third country in the Caspian Sea region to use Spotify services. In July 2020, the service was launched in Russia and Kazakhstan.
Tech
BikeRadar Podcast | Sea Otter 2024 mountain bike round-up | BikeRadar – BikeRadar
In this episode of the BikeRadar Podcast, George Scott and Jack Luke look back over the best MTB tech they sniffed out at Sea Otter 2024.
Neko Mulally’s bonded DH frame is discussed, alongside the much anticipated Maxxis Aspen ST tyres, which have been teased by professional riders over the past couple of years.
George and Jack also share their thoughts on Atherton’s new S-Range alloy bikes, with the S.170 making its trade show debut after being released in February.
We’ve also put together an article on all the new and oh-so-shiny MTB tech from the show, so be sure to check that out.
How to subscribe to the BikeRadar Podcast
The BikeRadar Podcast takes you to the heart of the issues that matter for bike riders, whether you’re a roadie, mountain biker, gravel rider or commuter.
From the latest tech news, reviews and debates, to interviews with the biggest and most interesting personalities in cycling, the podcast is your direct line into the BikeRadar team.
To make sure you don’t miss a future episode, you can subscribe via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Tech
Apple's FineWoven cases rumored to get one final release – AppleInsider
Apple has probably stopped production of its poorly-received FineWoven cases for the iPhone, but a new report from the same herald of its death says there is one last set of seasonal colorways coming.
Now according to leaker Kosutami, who first reported the cancellation, there could still be one more push for the FineWoven cases.
Pressed on the rumor, Kosutami emphasizes later in the same thread that if this is correct, it will be for only one more season. It’s now almost eight months since the launch of the iPhone 15 range, so it’s unlikely that there is to be a new mid-cycle color of the iPhone, but perhaps there can yet be new colors for the FineWoven cases.
Consequently, this rumor can at best be said to be possible, especially if Apple had already committed resources to the new colors. However, since FineWoven has proven to be startlingly poor at stain resistance or even just durability, it’s more believable that it is gone for good than it is that FineWoven will get a last hoorah.
Tech
Meta Expands VR Operating System to Third-Party Hardware Makers – MacRumors
Facebook parent company Meta today announced the upcoming expansion of Meta Horizon OS, a virtual and augmented reality operating system that will be available to third-party hardware manufacturers that want to design their own headsets.
Right now, Meta sells the Quest line of headsets, but the company wants to provide the software for third-party VR and AR products in the future, much like Microsoft offers Windows for all manner of third-party PCs.
Meta Horizon OS is the mixed reality operating system that Meta created for its own Quest headsets, and it has support for eye, face, hand, and body tracking along with passthrough, spatial anchors, scene understanding, and other features. There is a “social layer” that will allow the identities, avatars, and friends of users to move between virtual spaces on different devices.
According to Meta, multiple companies are working on devices that will use Meta Horizon OS. ASUS ROG is developing a performance gaming headset and Lenovo is working on mixed reality devices for productivity, learning, and entertainment. Meta says that it is also creating a limited edition version of Meta Quest in partnership with Xbox.
With the expansion of Meta Horizon OS to third-party hardware manufacturers, Meta is making it easier for any developer to ship VR software on the platform by removing barriers between the Horizon Store and App Lab.
By creating an operating system that can be used by other hardware manufacturers, Meta is inserting itself into the growing AR/VR ecosystem and creating opportunities for it to outpace Apple in mixed reality development. Apple launched the Vision Pro headset earlier this year, but software is lacking given the high price and limited distribution of the device.
According to a report from earlier today, interest in the Vision Pro is already waning at Apple’s retail locations with fewer people requesting demos.
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