Netflix slashes prices in over 30 countries

Image: Netflix

Unfortunately, that doesn't extend to Canada. Netflix is trying to find what it calls the right balance between global revenue and subscriber growth as viewer habits change post-lockdowns. The streaming service has cut prices for some of its tiers by as much as half in parts of Europe (Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria), the Middle East (Yemen, Jordan, Libya and Iran), Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines), Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya), and Latin America (Nicaragua, Ecuador and Venezuela).

In Netflix’s January earnings call, co-CEO Greg Peters said the company wants to find areas where it can raise prices to help fund new content investments. The regional price increases allow the service to add subscribers to global markets where its share could be higher. As mentioned, though, Netflix has been raising fees in this part of the world, including that new monthly fee for those password sharing. In Canada, this fee has rolled out and costs $8 a month.

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Spotify has an AI-driven DJ for a built-for-you radio station

Spotify joins many other companies using artificial intelligence for its service. The app beta tests its new DJ feature in Canada and the US for Premium users. With an AI-generated voice, the app can create a customized radio station built around your musical taste. It isn't too far off what it's doing now with algorithmically-generated playlists. But now, you'll hear a voice intro and commentary we've typically only gotten from the radio experience. If you aren't feeling the recommendations it offers, there's the DJ button you can switch to change up the tracks.

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Valve catches and bans 40,000 accounts in 'Dota 2'

Image: Valve

Valve recently patched a known issue in Dota 2 that uses third-party software to cheat. At the same time, the developer set up a honeypot trap to catch players using the exploit. Valve has permanently banned over 40,000 accounts caught red-handed using the software to cheat. 

Valve said this cheat is giving users an unfair advantage by accessing information used internally by the Dota client that shouldn't be visible during gameplay. After investigating how it worked, the developer then identified and removed the "bad actors" from the active Dota player base.

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Classic 'Angry Birds' game gets delisted on Google Play

Graphic: Rovio

If you want to get your hands on the rebuilt version of the classic Angry Birds game on Android, you must do that quickly. Rovio Classics: Angry Birds will be delisted from the Google Play Store this Thursday due to "the game's impact" on Rovio's games portfolio. Strangely, the Apple App Store version will remain, but the developer plans to change the game's name to Red's First Flight.

The Verge speculates that Rovio is delisting the game, so people use its free-to-play titles that rely more on microtransactions. The Rovio Classics version is a one-time purchase, so it won't make them as much money as the other Angry Birds titles. It's unclear why Rovio didn't just decide to rename the game like on the Apple App Store. If you're looking for the game, it's technically listed as Rovio Classics: AB, making it look like Rovio is really trying to bury the title.