Spotify, the popular music streaming service available in Europe, has announced today the launch of two new variations of the service, Spotify Open and Spotify Unlimited.
“Unlimited” gives users “round-the-clock,” ad-free access to Spotify for €5 a month. Unlike the more expensive “Premium” version, you will not be able to move files to your smartphone or play in offline mode at all. You will need to be connected to the Internet at all times to play the tracks.
Premium is £9.99 per month, however.
“Open” is completely free, but also lacks most of the options of the other variations, including some that are even included in Spotify “Free,” which is free but requires an invite to sign up.
Spotify Open lets anyone sign up and receive 20 hours of streaming per month, with no other obligations. You will hear ads, just like in the Free version, however.
You can see the full comparison sheet here:
Result for: obligation
In January, Eastman Kodak said it was suing RIM and Apple over patent violations relating to the cameras used in BlackBerrys and the iPhone.
Today, Apple countersued Kodak, accusing the film pioneer of violating two digital photography patents that Apple owns.
Apple has accused EK of violating patents 6,031,964 and RE38,911, which are “a system and method for using a unified memory architecture to implement a digital camera device,” and a “modular digital image processing via an image processing chain with modifiable parameter controls.”
Adds Kodak: “As regards our intellectual property, Kodak has a long history of digital imaging innovation and we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars creating our industry-leading patent portfolio. We have an obligation to our shareholders and the other licensees to protect their interests. When others use our technology, we merely seek fair compensation for that use, in the same way that many other leading technology companies pay us to license Kodak technology.”
Kodak currently has 1100 patents relating to digital photography technologies and licenses them to over 30 companies.
Result for: obligation
Omar Ramos-Lopez, an angry ex-employee of the Texas Auto Center in Austin took out his revenge on his former employer by remotely shutting down 100 cars, using the company’s computer system.
After hacking into the vehicle immobilization system, Lopez either deactivated the starters of the cars, or activated the horns, leaving them honking all night.
80 of those affected complained to the company about missing school, work, or of having to get their car towed, or repaired.
The system, run by Pay Technologies (PayTeck) is only supposed to be used if a car owner fails to pay their loan or lease obligations.
Lopez was arrested and charged with breach of computer security.
