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When you think about it, Uber’s deal with Spotify is an awful idea

Nov17
by on November 17, 2014 at 4:32 pm
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web, deal, Music, Opinion, spotify, uber

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Today’s partnership between Uber and Spotify to allow riders to control the music at first seems like an entirely good thing. Passengers are paying for a service, so why shouldn’t they be allowed to choose what they listen to? And for drivers, it’s not mandatory. Uber’s CEO, Travis Kalanick, says they won’t be forced to offer the option if they’d rather not drive wannabe DJs around all day. But the truth is, if the feature takes off, drivers will be forced to offer it on pain of their ratings being affected by negative feedback from mithering music fans who wanted control…

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Less is more

Nov17
by on November 17, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Posted In: Analysis and Opinion, Around the Web, Insider, PSF, Roundups

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Sifting through the cacophonous crackle of the white-noise Web is becoming an increasingly laborious affair. It may be something of a truism, but the amount of information and content at our disposal online can be overwhelming at times. 20 million-plus songs on Spotify? Awesome. But I rarely listen to a new album more than thrice these days before I’m being pulled in another direction. This is why Spotify Radio can be appealing, leaving the decision on what music is played to someone (something) else. A similar principle applies to video-streaming. Netflix has so many TV shows and movies, it can…

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Shazam is bringing interactive ads to malls throughout the US

Nov17
by on November 17, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

Shazam today announced a partnership with Adspace Networks that will bring interactive ads to over 200 malls across the United States. By using the Shazam app while viewing video advertisments, shoppers will be able to access special content and offers. The company says that the partnership will make use of its ‘ultrasonic watermark’ technology to be able to recognize ads up to 40 feet away. The technology is active regardless of whether a commercial is being displayed on a screen or not – simply being in the vicinity of a screen should be enough. Shazam has been taking steps to expand the capabilities…

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CareerFoundry And TeacherTube team up to bring coding courses to teachers across the US

Nov17
by on November 17, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

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There’s no question that in the 21st century, knowing how to code is one of the most widely useful skills a student can have. But many students aren’t exposed to code until college, partly because school teachers themselves don’t have sufficient coding experience. CareerFoundry, an online platform for learning vocational skills, and TeacherTube, a community for teachers to share educational videos, are teaming up to help change this. With their new Teaching Teachers to Code program, the companies hope to prepare educators with the skills they need to get their students interested in writing and understanding software. The program is…

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Amazon’s UK Prime Air drone test flights branded ‘barking mad’ by locals

Nov17
by on November 17, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Posted In: amazon, Amazon Prime Air, Around the Web, Cambridge, drones, Gadgets, UAVs, UK

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Plans to run UK test flights of Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service in Cambridge have been branded “barking mad” by the the managing director of a local flying club. News of jobs running Amazon Prime Air test flights emerged last week. Terry Holloway, managing director of Cambridge Aero Club, told the Cambridge News that he had to check his calendar to make sure it wasn’t April Fool’s Day when he heard the news. Holloway continued: “It makes no sense to me, a barking mad idea. From a legislative point of view the Civil Aviation Authority rules as they currently…

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