Meta, the technology parent company of Facebook and Instagram, may be entering the crypto marketplace soon. The social media platforms are reportedly preparing a feature that lets users create, sell and buy original non-fungible tokens. NFTs are essentially one-of-a-kind digital pieces of content that can't be reproduced.
Spotify was the largest music streaming service in the world as of the second quarter of 2021 with a market share of 31 percent. Apple Music was in second place at 15 percent, with Amazon Music and Tencent Music tied at third with 13 percent each. That's according to a report from Midia Research, a media and entertainment-focused research and analysis agency.
Amazon is opening its first-ever Amazon Style physical clothing store. The store will be in Los Angeles later this year. It will offer hundreds of brands from designers including Oscar de la Renta, Altuzarra and La Perla. The app will let you choose an item, size and color and send it directly to a fitting room or counter.
Global smartphone shipments grew only 1% year over year in the final quarter of 2021. Canalys says this is due to supply chain issues and bottlenecks. The impact is greatest among smaller manufacturers, who have had the greatest issues finding new suppliers. The quarter also saw Apple return to the overall top spot in the global market.
The Walt Disney Company is looking to lure more subscribers to its streaming services. The entertainment giant has formed an international content group to expand its pipeline in local and regional markets. The group will be helmed by Disney streaming executive Rebecca Campbell, who will directly report to CEO Bob Chapek.
Chinese domestic smartphone shipments totaled 342.8 million in 2021, up 15.9% year-on-year. That was strong growth compared to 2020 which saw the market take a hit due to the coronavirus outbreak in China. But 2021′s smartphone shipment figure is below the 371.7 million units shipped in 2019, before the pandemic.
Erik Thedéen, vice chairman of the European Securities and Markets Authority, said the main form of bitcoin mining was doing harm to the environment. He said the EU should weigh a ban on so-called “proof of work” mining in favor of the more energy-efficient ‘proof of stake’ mining.
China has notified some companies of new rules that would require the country's biggest internet firms to seek approval for investment deals. The mechanism is likely to curb domestic technology giants from growing even bigger through acquisitions.