David Lidsky's Blog, page 2757
March 29, 2016
Here's How SoundCloud Plans To Take On Spotify And Apple
Another music subscription service? Here's how SoundCloud Go plans to set itself apart in the age of Spotify and Apple Music.
Anytime somebody says they're launching yet another music subscription service, I'm skeptical. Oh really? Another millions-of-songs-for-ten-bucks-a-month deal like the one I've been paying Spotify for since 2011? What could you possibly have to offer? But this morning I'm sitting across from Alex Ljung and I don't need to ask that question.
NASA's Space Launch System Software Is Behind Schedule And Over Budget, Report Finds
An internal audit found the software, which will be used in Mars missions, is 77% over budget and a year behind schedule.
An internal audit carried out by NASA's inspector general has found that the in-house software the space agency is coding to be used in its Space Launch System, which aims to land astronauts on Mars by 2030, is way over budget and behind schedule, ABC News reports.
Automated Investment Service Betterment Raises $100 Million
"As we look ahead, we want to be the customer's central financial relationship," says CEO Jon Stein.
Betterment, a startup that automatically invests funds on its users' behalf, announced on Tuesday that it has raised $100 million at a $700 million valuation.
Samsung Pay Launches In China
It's got stiff competition, but trillions in mobile transactions are at stake.
After spending a month in beta, Samsung Pay officially launched in China today, reports Engadget. Samsung Pay is the company's mobile payment solution that allows owners of some of its smartphone to use those devices to make purchases in apps and also at brick-and-mortar retailers. The service is typically compared to Apple Pay, which rolled out in America in 2014 and in China this past February.
iPhone SE Pre-Orders Off To A Good Start In China
The country is a major target for the "budget" iPhone.
Pre-orders of Apple's new "budget" iPhone SE have exceeded 3.4 million units in China, reports CNBC. That number comes via data from the country's major online retailers since Apple hasn't released official pre-order numbers for the new 4-inch iPhone in any country yet. But if the data is accurate, it means the iPhone SE is off to a good (but not great) start in one of the most important markets for Apple.
How To Design Happiness
Experts from Lippincott, Disney, and SoulCycle weigh in on how they craft happy experiences.
Design, at its heart, is about solving problems. That's why it's so easy to talk to designers. They can explain exactly how their interface is built to help you navigate through your phone, or how a device was shaped to make it possible for mass manufacturing on the assembly line.
Invitae Hopes To Become The "Amazon Of Medical Genetics"
The company's genetic tests are designed to be affordable for most patients.
The cost of genetic testing has plummeted, but it's still out of reach for thousands of patients. But today, a San Francisco-based biotech company, Invitae, is expanding its suite of tests for neurological disorders, rare diseases, and pediatric conditions at a price point that is designed to be affordable to most people.
March 28, 2016
Justice Department Withdraws Court Order, Ending Six-Week Encryption Fight With Apple
The DOJ says a new method suggested by a third-party has succeeded in breaking into the iPhone used by San Bernardino gunman Syed Farook.
The Justice Department Monday withdrew a federal court order demanding that Apple help the FBI unlock the iPhone 5c of San Bernardino gunman Syed Farook.
What Does Pandora's CEO Shakeup Tell Us About Its Future?
The sudden departure of CEO Brian McAndrews brings cofounder Tim Westergren back as Pandora's head.
We knew 2016 was going to be a year of big changes for Pandora, but few expected this development. After more than two years as CEO, Brian McAndrews is stepping down. Taking his place will be cofounder Tim Westergren, long the public face of the streaming music company.
Choose Your Romantic Future With Jeff Buckley's Interactive "Just Like A Woman" Video
A new collection of covers is out, and a video for the Bob Dylan classic lets you play around with Buckley's signature brand of heartbreak.
On his masterful cover of Bob Dylan's "Just Like A Woman," the late Jeff Buckley manages to sound mournful, yet inspired; hopeful, yet cynical.
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