Spotify tests its Stories feature with popular musicians

This isn't the first time we've seen Spotify test out a Snapchat-like Stories feature. The company started testing this out last year, and it seems that the experiment is still ongoing. Some playlists and artists' albums show the Stories-like feature. It's been spotted on Spotify-created playlists like Christmas Hits, featuring singers like Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Lopez, and the enhanced version of Megan Thee Stallion's debut album, Good News. 

The company confirmed that it is still carrying out the test, but it won't say if this feature will be widely available to all its users. "At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience," a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement. "Some of those tests end up paving the path for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. We have no further news to share on future plans at this time."

Source: Engadget

Apple News+ offers free 3-month trial until Nov. 30

Source: Apple

Apple is offering a three-month free trial for its Apple News+ subscription service until Monday, November 30. The service gives you access to hundreds of magazines and leading newspapers, including The Atlantic, Vogue, Marie Claire, Bon Appétit, Sports Illustrated, and Hello! Canada, WIRED, Vulture, The Globe and Mail, Le Devoir Toronto Star, The Wall Street Journal, to name a few. Apple News+ is shareable for up to six family members via Apple's Family Sharing feature. Once the trial is over, you'll be charged $12.99 a month if you don't cancel the subscription.

Source: Apple

'Mechwarrior 5' Steam version, DLC release pushed back to spring 2021 to avoid 'Cyberpunk 2077'

Source: Piranha Games

Piranha Games doesn't want to go against CD Projekt Red's highly anticipated title and has opted to push back the release of an expansion for MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and its Steam and GOG versions. Instead of a December 10 release for the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC, it'll come out in the spring of 2021. 

"Any developer wants their titles to get as much attention as possible, and obviously sharing a release date with Cyberpunk was less than optimal," the studio noted in a blog post. "Day one sales and marketing are so important to a successful product launch, and we believe that rescheduling our release date will allow MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries to have the opportunity and attention it deserves."

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SiriusXM Canada ventures into podcasts, includes original, exclusive offerings

SiriusXM is now offering its subscribers access to podcasts, including original, exclusive, and popular shows. The service even gets access to "never-before-heard" original shows from Marvel Entertainment and Kevin Hart's first-ever, solo-hosted podcast, Laugh Out Loud Radio.

There will also be new shows from popular SiriusXM hosts including Jeff Lewis and Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo, as well as podcasts from leading creators and providers including Stitcher, NBC News, CNN, NPR, ViacomCBS, The Wall Street Journal, HBO, ESPN, Barstool, TED, and many more. 

SiriusXM subscribers can access these shows via the SiriusXM mobile app or online at www.siriusxm.ca/podcasts. And if you don't have a SiriusXM subscription, you can listen to podcasts for free until December 1 with the Listen Free campaign.

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