Spotify’s podcast tech chief is leaving the company

Anchor co-founder Michael Mignano is leaving Spotify, where he has led the podcast tech team over the last few years. The company told The Verge that Mignano has submitted his resignation and will move on from Spotify at the end of June.

Spotify bought Anchor in 2019 for a reported $150 million to help people create, record and manage their own shows. Mignano, who co-founded that company in 2015, started overseeing podcast tech at Spotify as a result.

He played a role in Spotify becoming a major player in podcasting and was involved in the company’s push into live audio. Around 85 percent of new podcasts on Spotify are uploaded from Anchor. The platform reportedly hosts 4 million podcasts, four times the number it had in 2020. Anchor now even supports video podcasts. 

Although Spotify is firmly entrenched as a leader in the podcasting space, that side of the business is going through a shakeup. It was reported last month that Courtney Holt — who was involved in the Anchor acquisition and helped sign the Obamas, Joe Rogan and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to exclusive podcast deals — has stepped down as a Spotify executive but will remain as an advisor. Lydia Polgreen also left her position as managing director of Gimlet Media in April.

Barack and Michelle Obama are moving on from Spotify as well. The company says it opted not to offer them a new deal. Their production company, Higher Ground, is looking for a new partner and is said to have been in discussions with the likes of Audible and iHeartMedia.

Firefox 100 includes subtitle support for picture-in-picture video

Following some concerns that it might break some websites due to the version number, Firefox 100 has arrived. While Mozilla hasn’t exactly celebrated the milestone with massive updates, there are some useful new features for both desktop and mobile.

The desktop browser now has support for subtitles and captions when picture-in-picture mode is active. This is a welcome accessibility improvement for multitaskers, and one that users requested. PiP subtitles and captions will be initially available for YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video and sites that use the WebVTT format (such as Twitter and Coursera).

There’s a new first-run language switcher feature too. When someone opens Firefox for the first time, it will check whether their device language is different from the browser’s own default language. In that case, it will ask the user if they want to use one of more than 100 other languages as their default in Firefox. Meanwhile, the credit card autofill tool is now available in the UK, France and Germany. It was previously only active in North America.

On Android, there’s now an HTTPS-only mode. That will automatically connect you to the HTTPS version of a website for increased security whenever possible. Mozilla added a similar feature to the desktop browser in 2020 and the Android version of its privacy-focused Firefox Focus browser in March. Other new Firefox mobile features include new wallpapers on both Android and iOS. 

The latest version of the app offers clutter-free history and tabs on both platforms too. Duplicate sites will be removed from your history and items will be grouped (if you’re looking for new shoes, for instance, all the options you looked at will be combined under the search term). There’s also the option to search for things in your history too.

Tabs that haven’t been opened in 14 days will be made inactive and moved out of immediate view, though you’ll still be able to access them. Mozilla is bringing that feature to iOS after debuting it on Android last year. 

The Firefox 100 features for desktop and Android are available now. They’ll arrive on iOS later this week.

Meta’s Project Cambria VR headset likened to ‘a laptop for the face’

Meta plans to release a new high-end virtual reality headset this year, which is codenamed Project Cambria. Some more details about the product, as well as Meta’s VR headset roadmap, have emerged in a report.

Cambria has been described internally as a “laptop for the face” or “Chromebook for the face,” according to The Information. It’s believed to have specs similar to that of a Chromebook and will use Meta’s own VR operating system, which is based on Android. It’s expected to be compatible with web-based tools and services, as well as some Quest apps. However, despite Meta pitching Cambria as a future-of-work device, it may not be able to run native desktop apps that are commonly used by many businesses.

Cambria is said to have high-resolution image quality. This could allow wearers to clearly read text, so they’d be able to send emails or code while wearing the headset. In other words, it may be viable for professional purposes.

Cambria will provide wearers with a view of their surroundings using outward-facing cameras. This feature, called full-color passthrough, will allow for mixed-reality experiences. When it announced Cambria in October 2021, Meta said the headset will include eye-tracking and facial expression recognition features. Users’ avatars in the likes of Horizon Worlds and Workrooms will reportedly mirror their expressions and where they’re looking.

The headset is believed to be heavier than Quest 2 due to a larger battery. However, it appears this is positioned at the rear for better balance.

Cambria will reportedly hit shelves around September and will cost over $799. It was originally earmarked for release last year, according to the report, but it was delayed due to supply chain issues and other complications brought on by the pandemic.

Looking ahead, Meta is said to have three other headsets it plans to release within the next few years as it presses forward with its metaverseambitions. The Information suggests Meta will release Quest headsets in both 2023 and 2024, as well as a successor to Cambria, currently codenamed Funston, in 2024. Additionally, it was recently reported that Meta plans to release its first augmented reality glasses in 2024.

Peacock will start streaming Lionsgate movies like ‘John Wick 4’ in 2024

Peacock has signed a multiyear deal to stream Lionsgate movies, starting in 2024. The agreement starts with the studio’s 2022 slate and the first film that will reach Peacock as part of the deal is The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, which stars Nicolas Cage.

Other Lionsgate movies that will eventually end up on Peacock for an exclusive streaming period include John Wick: Chapter 4, Borderlands and Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The deal also covers Expendables 4 (or, ugh, Expend4bles), Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and White Bird: A Wonder Story.

Peacock won’t be the first to get its hands on these films, however, as they’ll ping pong between various platforms in the coming years. They’ll initially stream on Starz, and then for a while they’ll be available to watch for free on The Roku Channel.

Also on Monday, Peacock announced that three movies from its NBCUniversal sibling Universal Pictures will debut as streaming exclusives in 2023. They include The Killer, John Woo’s remake of his own classic 1989 thriller. Also on the way are Praise This (which stars Chloe Bailey) and Shooting Stars, a LeBron James biopic covering his years as a high school basketball player.

Paid Telegram features appear in latest beta

Telegram appears to be testing the waters for another way to generate revenue. The latest beta version of the iOS app includes reaction emoji and stickers that users will only be able to unlock if they subscribe to Telegram Premium — a service that’s not currently available.

Anyone who selects these stickers or emoji in the beta is nudged to join Telegram Premium, Android Police reports. It seems users who receive one of the premium reactions won’t see it until they sign up as well. The reactions include the likes of a sobbing duck.

No other details about Telegram Premium have been revealed as yet. Nor has Telegram officially announced the service. Founder Pavel Durov has been clear about the need for the messaging app to make money. In December 2020, he announced Telegram would start serving ads in public channels the following year. He also mentioned plans to add premium features aimed at enterprise and power users.

Telegram has long been adamant that it won’t start charging for existing features. It remains to be seen what shape Telegram Premium takes or even if the company will actually release paid features for everyday users.

Apple Music arrives on Roku streaming devices, smart TVs and speakers

Apple Music will be available on the Roku platform starting today. You’ll be able to stream music from the service on any Roku device, including streaming devices, Roku-powered TVs and speakers and soundbars (such as Roku Streambar Pro).

Not only will this be useful for Apple Music subscribers who already have Roku devices, the move could help Apple find more subscribers who might be put off by the likes of Spotify. Newcomers will be able to sign up to Apple Music through the app, which is available in the Roku channel store. After a one-month trial, the service costs $10 per month.

Subscribers get access to a library of more than 90 million songs and 30,000 curated playlists. They can also watch music videos in 4K, check out original shows and concerts and stream Apple Music Radio.

Apple Music is landing on Roku three years after it hit Fire TV and almost as long since its Android app gained Chromecast support. Roku will now have most of the major music streaming services on its platform. It already offered access to the likes of Spotify, Amazon Music and Tidal.

Google adds some useful features for finding flights and hotels

The summer is fast approaching and many people are perhaps gearing up for their first big vacation in a few years. To help them plan, Google is rolling out some handy travel updates. These include upgraded flight price tracking and ways to find and save hotels for later.

If you know where you want to go and have flexible travel dates, this one’s for you. Google Flights will let users track flight prices between two cities for up to six months. If it detects fares that are lower than usual during that time, you’ll receive an email notification. Google has long allowed people to track flights between two airports for specific dates, but this should particularly come in handy for long-haul destinations, to which flights can be much more expensive.

Once you know when and where you’re going to, you’ll need a place to stay, and Google is adding some hotel-related features that might help. If you’re traveling for an event such as a conference or wedding, you might want to rest your head somewhere close by. Starting today, Google’s travel site will show places to stay within a 15- or 30-minute walking or driving distance — just search for a landmark or address to get started. New map filters can also help you find neighborhoods with great sightseeing, dining or shopping options.

The Explore Nearby option in Google Travel
Google

Similarly, the travel site’s Explore option now has an “Explore nearby” option with a filter for locations within easy driving distance. It will show details like expected weather and average hotel prices. That could help you plan a much-needed weekend getaway.

There’s also a new bookmark icon for hotels and vacation rentals, which you can use to save them for later. This could be especially useful if you want your travel partner’s input on where to stay. You’ll be able to view properties you’ve saved through the right-hand panel on desktop or by accessing the Saved tab on mobile.

Airbnb will stop offering refunds when a host or guest contracts COVID-19

Airbnb bookings made on or after May 31st will no longer be eligible for refunds for COVID-19-related issues. The upcoming change to the extenuating circumstances policy will apply to cases where a host or guest contracts COVID-19.

The company says the host’s standard cancellation policy will apply instead. It says nearly two-thirds of active offer policies that allow guests to cancel up to five days (under the moderate policy) or up to 24 hours before check in (as per the flexible policy).

Reservations made before the end of next month may still be eligible for a COVID-19-linked refund if they meet the terms of Airbnb’s policy. There are exceptions for domestic reservations in South Korea and mainland China. Airbnb said refunds will still be available there for some COVID-19-related circumstances for the foreseeable future.

“Some in the travel industry stopped this type of policy months ago, while others didn’t provide one at all,” Airbnb wrote in a blog post. “After consultation with our medical advisors, as well as our community, we feel the time is now right to take the same step.”

For what it’s worth, Airbnb will soon start offering travel insurance. The product will be available in the coming months. Until then, the company says, those concerned that COVID-19 may disrupt their travel plans can buy insurance elsewhere.

The onset of the pandemic devastated the travel industry and Airbnb wasn’t immune from the impact. The company laid off 25 percent of its workforce, or around 1,900 jobs, in May 2020. It seems Airbnb is hoping to get back to business as usual. It noted that “many countries have now implemented living with COVID-19 plans.”

Still, the pandemic is not over. Around a third of the global population has yet to receive at least one vaccine dose. Data shows that, on average, 629,798 cases have been recorded worldwide in each of the last 14 days.

Salesforce and Slack will loosen NDA restrictions for all US employees

Salesforce says it will loosen non-disclosure agreements for all of its employees in the US, including those at subsidiary Slack. The company was required to do so for workers in California under the state’s Silenced No More Act, though it will extend the measures to workers across the country.

The law gives employees more freedom to discuss instances of workplace harassment and discrimination even if they have signed NDAs. It took effect on January 1st. Salesforce says it will extend the protections to all US employees by the end of this year. “Our employees are key stakeholders, and it’s critical that we offer them the support to ensure they’re happy, healthy and protected,” the company wrote in a blog post.

A group called the Transparency in Employment Agreements Coalition has been using shareholder proposals to pressure the likes of Salesforce, Meta, Alphabet and Apple to extend Silenced No More protections to all employees, as Protocol notes.

Alphabet affirmed in an SEC filing this month that even if they had signed NDAs, employees are free to discuss workplace assault, harassment or discrimination as well as any retaliation for reporting or opposing those. Before the law came into effect, Pinterest said it would not enforce NDAs in cases of racial and gender-based discrimination.

In a proxy statement in January, Apple said that “employees are permitted to speak openly about unlawful acts in the workplace, including harassment and discrimination.” For that and other reasons, it urged shareholders to vote against a proposal that would require the company to prepare and publish a report that examines the possible risk to the company related to “concealment clauses in the context of harassment, discrimination and other unlawful acts.” However, shareholders approved that proposal at a meeting in March. Meanwhile, the SEC is reportedly investigating Apple’s use of NDAs following a complaint by a whistleblower.

Elon Musk reportedly wants to charge for tweet embeds

Should Elon Musk’s planned takeover of Twitter be finalized, he may bring in some changes for how tweed embeds work on third-party websites and services. Musk has floated the idea of charging users to embed or quote tweets from verified accounts, according to Reuters, but that wouldn’t stop anyone from simply screenshotting a tweet and using that instead.

Even before Twitter’s board accepted Musk’s offer, there were signs of changes for how embeds work. The company altered some JavaScript, which led to the text of deleted tweets disappearing from sites they were embedded on. A Twitter senior product manager said the change was made to “better respect when people have chosen to delete their tweets.” However, after a backlash from the likes of open web and preservation advocates, Twitter backtracked on the move.

Musk reportedly mooted the idea of charging for embeds while attempting to secure debt to finance his $44 billion buyout. He secured $13 billion in loans against Twitter and a $12.5 billion margin loan tied to his Tesla stock (which he this week sold $8.5 billion worth of).

In addition, Musk has mentioned other ways of improving Twitter’s bottom line but hasn’t made firm commitments on those as yet. He has suggested making changes to the Twitter Blue service to make it more appealing to potential subscribers. In talks with banks, Musk reportedly raised the possibility of job cuts, but isn’t expected to make firm decisions on that front until/if he takes the company private. In addition, Musk has publicly mused about getting rid of salaries for board directors, which would save the company around $3 million per year.

Twitter’s potential new owner is also said to have plans to replace CEO Parag Agrawal, who took the reins from Jack Dorsey in November. Agrawal is expected to stay in charge until the sale to Musk goes through. According to Reuters, Musk told Twitter chairman Bret Taylor that he wasn’t confident in the company’s management. However, a lot of details about what Musk’s takeover will mean for the company remain up in the air and won’t be clear for a while.