Tech Brew Ride Home Tue. 05/04 – How Many People Still Pay For AOL?
May 4, 2021
Twitter expands its live audio feature, allowing more users to engage with unique content. The platform's acquisition of Scroll hints at a shift towards subscription services, raising eyebrows among publishers. Meanwhile, Apple hires a top AI scientist amid internal turmoil at Google, aiming to bolster its AI initiatives. In the realm of self-driving tech, groundbreaking advancements in LiDAR promise enhanced object detection. Lastly, the podcast uncovers the surprising fact that 1.5 million people still pay for AOL, primarily for tech support and identity theft protection.
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Spaces Access
- Twitter opened Spaces to users with 600+ followers, allowing scheduling and co-hosting.
- This is based on tests showing larger audiences offer better live conversation experiences.
Twitter Acquires Scroll
- Twitter acquired Scroll, a service that removes ads from partner news sites for $5/month.
- Scroll's Nuzzle service will shut down, but Twitter plans to integrate core elements.
Twitter's Subscription Ambitions
- Twitter is building a subscription service including Scroll, Revue (Substack clone), and ticketed Spaces.
- It aims to take a cut of revenue generated through these services, offering publishers an alternative to ads.