Amazon in talks to buy MGM Studios for $9bn

Amazon is reportedly in talks to buy the historic MGM Studios for $9bn (£6.35bn). MGM is one of Hollywood's most famous studios, with its Leo the Lion logo and an almost century-long history. The sale would give the technology giant's Prime streaming service access to a vast back catalogue of iconic content.

Read here: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57153680

How the API economy is powering digital transformation

Application programming interfaces (APIs) make the modern digital world go round. (...) APIs are the glue that holds most software together in 2021.

The benefits of APIs in modern software development are manifold, but at a top level they help power the shift from monolithic on-premises software to the cloud and microservices-based applications. Smaller, function-based components are easier to maintain, with individual developers or teams assuming responsibility for a specific part. 

READ HERE: 

https://venturebeat.com/2021/05/17/how-the-api-economy-is-powering-digital-transformation

Facebook to Acquire Kustomer

Facebook to acquire Kustomer: 

The social network was said to be paying close to $1 billion for the maker of customer relationship management software.

(...)

The deal could provide businesses and customers more support for interactions that occur on Facebook and its other apps, such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger. More than 175 million people contact businesses using WhatsApp, Facebook said.

Read more here: https://nyti.ms/3lrWITU

RIP Tony Hsieh from Zappos

Tony Hsieh, Longtime Chief of Zappos, Is Dead at 46

Tony Hsieh (pronounced shay)

In the early days of online retailing, he realized that the key to success was making people feel comfortable and secure shopping on the internet.

In the nascent period of internet commerce, Mr. Hsieh was a visionary who realized that getting customers to feel comfortable and secure buying online was the key to success and growth.

To do that, employees in the call center had to engage customers as if speaking to an old friend, with authentic-sounding welcoming banter. He also realized that buyers needed to try on shoes, so Zappos offered free overnight shipping and free return shipping, often sending customers multiple pairs at a time.

Mr. Hsieh, a soft-spoken and introspective executive, developed a philosophy of business built around the idea that happy employees were the conduit to satisfied customers who would return again and again.

>>>>>> Tony Hsieh, Longtime Chief of Zappos, Is Dead at 46 https://nyti.ms/2Jo2hoW

SoundCloud has unveiled The Upload, a feature to help listeners discover even more new music

Following Spotify’s Discover Weekly and Apple Music’s personalized playlists, SoundCloud has unveiled a new feature to help listeners discover even more new music.

Music discovery and personalization has become a way for streaming services to attract and retain users.

More about The Upload - 9to5mac.com

The upload is here: https://soundcloud.com/discover

35% of Snapchat’s daily users aren’t reachable on Facebook and 46% can’t be found on Instagram

Snapchat have reasons to claim that it has a base of young, obsessed users who can’t be reached as easily anywhere else.  According to Bloomberg, App Annie reports that:

"on an average day, 35 percent of Snapchat’s daily users in the U.S. aren’t reachable on Facebook that same day, and 46 percent can’t be found on Instagram. About 61 percent of Snapchat’s fans aren’t watching YouTube on a given day, either." 

More at www.bloomberg.com

Google Ad Crisis Spreads as Biggest Marketers Halt Spending

Google’s advertising crisis went global after some of the biggest marketers including AT&T Inc. and Johnson & Johnson halted spending on YouTube and the internet company’s display network, citing concern their ads would run alongside offensive videos.

Bloomberg:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-22/at-t-halts-spending-on-some-google-ads-after-youtube-controversy

Customer Service Chatbots Are About to Become Frighteningly Realistic

A startup gives chatbots and virtual assistants realistic facial expressions and the ability to read yours.

MIT Technology Review:

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603895/customer-service-chatbots-are-about-to-become-frighteningly-realistic/?set=603954