Netflix promises to stop billing inactive accounts

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Do you have a Netflix account that you haven't used in a long time? The company will help make it easy for you to ditch the account by automatically pausing subscription payments if you haven't used it in two years. The move was revealed last Thursday in a letter to investors released along with its second-quarter earnings. Netflix acknowledges that it will take a "slight hit" to its revenue, but the long-term goal is customer satisfaction. And that it would be easy for you to jump back into your account, too.

"While this change resulted in a slight hit to revenue, we believe that pro-consumer policies like this are the right thing to do and that the long term benefits will outweigh the short term costs," the letter explained. "In a world where consumers have many subscriptions, auto-pause on billing after an extended period of non-use should be how leading services operate."

Source: Deadline

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Facebook Messenger brings screen sharing to mobile 

Skype for iOS now offers background blur 

Skype for iOS now offers background blur

Microsoft updates Skype for iOS to add background blur support. It's similar to what iPad and iOS users can do on the Microsoft Teams app. Background blur is also available on Skype's desktop app since last year. With the help of artificial intelligence, the app can blur everything in a room so that the focus is on you. It detects hair, arm, and hands to avoid obscuring essential body language while you're on a video call. It won't wholly blur your surroundings, but it helps keep the focus on you. We don't know yet if or when Microsoft plans to bring the feature to Android.

Source: The Verge

Facebook Messenger brings screen sharing to mobile

As video conferencing tools become necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic, companies work to add more and more features to their offerings. For its part, Facebook is introducing screen sharing to its iOS and Android apps, allowing you to share whatever it is you want to on your phone. It's available for up eight people on the main app or up to 16 people using Messenger Rooms. Facebook is working to bring screen sharing for up to 50 participants—which is the maximum number of people on a Messenger Rooms call—and allow Room creators to decide if screen share can just be limited to them or be available to all participants. Screen sharing is also available on Messenger Rooms on the web and desktop.

Screen sharing is rolling out globally with the latest versions of Messenger's Android and iOS apps, desktop app, and web version.