Sarah Perez
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The Latest from Sarah Perez
Amazon launches ad-supported music service to Echo owners
Amazon today announced the launch of a free, ad-supported music service in the U.S. that will be available to anyone who wants to play free music on their Echo speaker. Until today, Echo owners who wa
Sift’s ‘news therapy’ app aims to promote understanding, not anxiety
Is reading the news feeling a little stressful today? Can’t imagine why. Don’t worry: you’re not alone. A Pew Research study found that seven of 10 Americans today suffer from “
YouTube Music is now free with ads on Google Home devices
Following reports that Amazon is preparing to launch a free, streaming music service for Echo owners, Google today announced YouTube Music will be free on its Google Home smart speakers and other Goog
USDA launches pilot program allowing SNAP recipients to shop for groceries online
The USDA this morning announced the launch of a pilot program that will open up online grocery shopping to those on public assistance. During a two-year pilot program, those receiving SNAP (Supplement
Apple expands global recycling programs, announces new Material Recovery Lab in Austin
Apple announced today a further investment in its recycling programs and related e-waste efforts, which includes an expansion of its recycling program for consumers and the announcement of a new, 9,00
Google & Amazon reach an agreement to bring their streaming video apps to each others’ platforms
Google and Amazon are burying the hatchet to better serve users of their respective streaming video platforms, the companies announced this morning. In the months ahead, the official YouTube app will
Apple may combine ‘Find My iPhone’ & ‘Find My Friends’ apps, launch a Tile-like tracking device
Apple is working to combine its tracking apps “Find My iPhone” and “Find My Friends” into one unified app available on both iOS and Mac, according to a new report from the Appl
Apple Pay comes to Uber Eats in nearly 20 markets
Apple Pay has been a payment option in Uber’s app since fall 2014, but the payment option hadn’t made its way over to Uber’s food delivery app, Uber Eats. Now, that’s changing.
Wattpad partners with Sony Pictures Television in first-look deal for original programming
Wattpad, the online storytelling community whose authors’ works have been turned into Netflix movies, TV shows for Hulu and projects for other studios both in the U.S. and worldwide, announced t
Amazon launches a certification program for Alexa skill developers
Developers building voice-enabled applications for Amazon Echo and other Alexa-powered devices will now have a new way to validate their abilities, with Amazon’s launch of a new AWS Certified Al
Twitter to launch a ‘hide replies’ feature, plus other changes to its reporting process
In February, Twitter confirmed its plans to launch a feature that would allow users to hide replies that they felt didn’t contribute to a conversation. Today, alongside news of other changes to
Nearly two dozen of SiriusXM’s talk shows come to Pandora as podcasts
SiriusXM hasn’t wasted any time in capitalizing on its acquisition of streaming service Pandora. Following an exec shakeup and the launch of a Pandora-powered music station across both services,
Walmart partners with subscription-based children’s clothing startup, Kidbox
Walmart is getting into subscription-based fashion with today’s announcement of a partnership with Kidbox — a sort of “StitchFix for kids” where parents receive a personalized,
Apple hires A&E’s Molly Thompson as its head of Documentaries
In addition to a growing lineup of scripted fare, documentaries will be another key focus for Apple TV+, the company’s new streaming service set to launch in May. According to a new report today
HBO’s mobile apps to gain a million new downloads courtesy of ‘Game of Thrones’ premiere
In addition to exciting its loyal legion of fans, HBO’s “Game of Thrones” premiere was also once again great news for installs of the network’s app for cord cutters, HBO NOW, w
Smart speakers’ installed base to top 200 million by year end
Smart speakers’ global installed base is on track to top 200 million by the end of this year, according to a report out today from analysts at Canalys. Specifically, the firm forecasts the inst
Match Group restructures exec team with focus on Asia
Tinder parent company Match Group, also the owner of a suite of dating apps including OkCupid, Meetic, Match, PlentyofFish and others, announced this morning plans to restructure its leadership team i
Twitch’s first game, the karaoke-style ‘Twitch Sings,’ launches to public
Amazon-owned game-streaming site Twitch is today publicly launching its first game. But it’s not a traditional video game — like those the site’s creators stream for their fans. Inst
Password manager Dashlane closes on $30M, adds former Spotify CMO to board
Dashlane, a popular password manager and all-round identity management solution, has raised another $30 million in funding, the company announced today. The funding — this time a round of debt f
Apple’s iOS will now confirm you meant to subscribe to that app
Apple has added another step to prevent users from accidentally signing up for an iOS app’s subscription — or, from being tricked into it by a scammy app not playing by the rules. The comp