Spotify said it is introducing new social features to its Messages tool, allowing users to see what their contacts are listening to in real time and to quickly start shared listening sessions from within the app. The streaming company said the additions, called Listening Activity and Request to Jam, extend a messaging feature launched last year that was designed to let users share music, podcasts and audiobooks without leaving Spotify. Since then, almost 40 million people have used Messages to send nearly 340 million messages, a level of engagement the company said shows users are eager to interact around what…
Author: Lalu Jazidi
Meta Platforms said it has reached agreements with three nuclear energy companies to secure clean and reliable electricity for its expanding data center and artificial intelligence operations, deepening its involvement in U.S. nuclear power as energy demand from AI infrastructure rises. The agreements, concluded following a nuclear-focused request-for-proposals process, involve advanced reactor developers Oklo and TerraPower as well as power producer Vistra. Meta said the projects are intended to preserve and expand existing nuclear capacity, accelerate next-generation reactor development and strengthen the domestic nuclear supply chain, while supplying electricity to grids that support its operations. See also: Meta Strengthens Teen…
Samsung Electronics said it has completed the industry’s first commercial call using its virtualized radio access network (vRAN) technology powered by Intel’s Xeon 6700P-B processor series on a Tier 1 U.S. operator’s live network, marking a milestone in the adoption of cloud-native mobile infrastructure. The test, carried out on a commercial network, builds on Samsung’s earlier laboratory demonstration in 2024 and used a single commercial off-the-shelf server supplied by Hewlett Packard Enterprise along with a cloud platform from Wind River. Samsung’s vRAN software ran on Intel’s latest Xeon system-on-chip, which supports up to 72 cores. See also: Samsung and Toyota…
Apple on Tuesday unveiled Apple Creator Studio, a new subscription service that bundles its professional creative software into a single package aimed at video creators, musicians and designers, expanding its services business around content creation. The suite includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and Pixelmator Pro on Mac and iPad, alongside Motion, Compressor and MainStage on Mac, as well as premium features for productivity apps such as Keynote, Pages and Numbers. Apple said the tools deliver studio-grade capabilities while emphasizing on-device processing and user privacy. See also: Apple Announces iOS Changes in Japan to Meet Competition Requirements Apple Creator Studio…
Samsung Electronics said it will add Digital Key compatibility for select Toyota vehicles to Samsung Wallet, allowing drivers to unlock, lock and start their cars using compatible Galaxy smartphones beginning in January 2026. The feature will first be introduced on certain 2026 Toyota RAV4 models, with availability starting this month in the United States, Canada and Mexico. A broader rollout in Europe is expected to follow in line with Toyota’s regional vehicle launch schedules. See also: Volkswagen and Qualcomm Advance Plans for Connected Vehicle Platforms Samsung said the update is intended to make vehicle access more seamless by reducing reliance…
Samsung Electronics said it has signed an exclusive global partnership with guitar maker Fender to bring a television-based version of Fender Play to Samsung smart TVs, marking the first time the music education platform will be available on TV screens. Under the agreement, Samsung TVs will host a dedicated Fender Play experience starting in 2026, allowing users to access video-based instrument lessons directly from their television. The companies said the move is aimed at making music learning more accessible by integrating it into everyday home entertainment. See also: Samsung Launches AI-powered Freestyle+ Portable Projector Ahead of CES 2026 “With video-based…
Samsung Electronics and Netflix are offering a free collection of “Stranger Things” themes and wallpapers for Samsung Galaxy users as the two companies seek to engage fans following the release of the show’s final season. Beginning Jan. 12, Galaxy users in 186 countries can download the exclusive content from the Galaxy Store at no cost, provided they download or open the Netflix app. The promotion is scheduled to run through Feb. 22 and is available for a limited time. See also: Samsung Reveals Team Galaxy Athletes for Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games The initiative follows the global rollout of the…
Volkswagen Group and Qualcomm Technologies said they have signed a letter of intent outlining a long-term supply partnership focused on advanced infotainment and connectivity systems for future vehicles. Under the proposed agreement, Qualcomm would become Volkswagen Group’s primary technology provider for infotainment system-on-chips, supplying processors based on its Snapdragon Digital Chassis portfolio to support the carmaker’s zonal software-defined vehicle architecture, with initial deployments expected from 2027. See also: Volkswagen Details Retro-inspired Interior and New Software for Upcoming ID. Polo The software-defined vehicle architecture for the Western hemisphere is being developed through Volkswagen’s joint venture with Rivian Automotive, Rivian and Volkswagen…
SeaVerse has announced the global launch of a new AI-native creation and deployment platform, aiming to streamline how digital products are built, tested and published by unifying multiple artificial intelligence capabilities in a single environment. Introduced in Singapore, the platform integrates large language models, image and video generation, and AI agents, enabling users to turn a single text prompt into a deployable demo, application or web page. The company said the approach is designed to address the growing fragmentation of AI tools by centring development around a fully AI-native workflow. See also: OpenAI Teams Up With SB Energy on U.S.…
SB Energy, a company backed by SoftBank Group, has announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to develop next-generation artificial intelligence data centre and energy infrastructure in the United States, as demand for large-scale computing capacity continues to accelerate. The partnership is part of the Stargate initiative, which carries a planned investment commitment of up to $500 billion announced earlier this year in Washington. As part of the arrangement, OpenAI and SoftBank Group have each invested $500 million into SB Energy to support its expansion as a developer and operator of data centre campuses and associated energy systems. See also: OpenAI…