Spotify on the iPad now supports Split View and Slide Over modes

Spotify finally supports a couple of useful features for the iPad. Version 8.5.14.816 will let you access the app without having to open a full-screen instance of it. You can find new music or switch songs via a limited pull-down menu. If you want to use Split View, you just need to tap and drag the top of the Spotify view window to the top of the screen. This will then split your screen with your other app of choice at the bottom. You can adjust the size to suit your preference. As for Slide Over, you need to add Spotify to your iPad dock. You will then be able to open the app even if you’re using a different one. It’ll sit on top of the app you’re currently running.

Source: The Verge

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings blames price hikes & lack of original content for slower than expected growth in Q2 2019

Embed from Getty Images

Netflix’s Chairman and CEO Reed Hastings is looking within the company for what’s caused the growth slowdown for the second quarter of 2019. It only gained 2.7 million global subscribers, after it projected that it would add five million. And for the first time since 2011, when the company separated its DVD mail-order system and its streaming platform, Netflix saw a loss in US subscribers. It lost around 130,000 users. Hastings believes this happened because of the price hikes and lack of original content that came out in this cycle. At the start of the year, Netflix instituted higher pricing plans in some areas, which affected both new and returning subscribers.

Hastings wrote in his letter to shareholders, “We don’t believe competition was a factor since there wasn’t a material change in the competitive landscape during Q2, and competitive intensity and our penetration is varied across regions.” The CEO expressed his confidence that the next two quarters will see growth with the return of Netflix hits like Stranger Things, The Crown, and Orange is the New Black. But we’d also want to see what effect its competition will have once services from Disney, Apple, NBC, and Warner Media hit the market later this year. Netflix will need to continue to pump out compelling content to keep its subscribers. But one thing it has over its competition is the focus on excelling in territories where the competition isn’t competing with it. As The Verge points out, this is where the majority of the company’s growth has been coming from.

‘Detective Pikachu’ is now the highest-grossing video game film of all time

Embed from Getty Images

Detective Pikachu just dethroned Warcraft as the high-grossing film based on a video game. It earned US$436 million in worldwide ticket sales, which beats out Warcraft that grossed $433 million. The latter is based on the Blizzard Entertainment franchise and was produced by the same company behind Detective Pikachu, Legendary Pictures. While it wasn’t critically acclaimed, an enormous marketing campaign done in China boosted the sales of Warcraft. As opposed to Detective Pikachu, which has been well received on top of earning its new title. It comes as no surprise that a sequel is said to be in the works with 22 Jump Street writer Oren Uziel working on the script.

Source: The Verge

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G is tipped to get three storage configurations

Embed from Getty Images

Aside from supposedly launching the regular Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ (a first for this series), Samsung will reportedly introduce a 5G version of the phone. Unlike previous rumours that both models will get a 5G version, it’s being reported that this model will be based on the Galaxy Note 10+. And SamMobile reports that there will be three storage configurations: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The latter will get 12GB memory. And this phone will supposedly be a Verizon-exclusive in the US.

Click to read more ...