Hasta La Gadget!

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Spotify is probably well-known to music lovers as a service in which they are able to stream songs. However according to recent rumors, perhaps streaming songs isn’t enough for the company and word has it that perhaps videos might be next on the list. Sources have indicated that Spotify is currently on the lookout for partners who can help them fund and create exclusive content for this alleged new service. If this is true and Spotify’s new venture takes off, this would pit them against the likes of Netflix who not only offer movies owned by movie studios, but who produce video content of their own, such as the original series House of Cards.

The reason behind Spotify’s alleged interest in video is because they aren’t making enough money from music alone. Since the music is owned by the major labels, a large chunk of royalties are instead paid to these labels rather than to Spotify, so we guess if Spotify were to create its own video content, they would be able to pocket most of the profits made from there. With the rise of smartphones and tablets, streaming videos and movies on the go has never been easier, although at this point in time we suggest you take this rumor with a grain of salt, but what do you guys think? Anyone interested in seeing Spotify start to offer video streaming as well?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Facebook Reportedly Rolling Out Single-Column Timeline Feature, SkyDrive to get Android App, Recycle Bin In July [Rumor],

Spotify is looking to change things up by adding exclusive video on-demand (VOD) content to its list of services. It wants to compete with the likes of Netflix, Amazon, and HBO, all of which who have their own exclusive video series that help generate revenue and attract subscribers. Spotify hopes that by developing its own original video content or TV series, it can increase its profit margins.

Sources have told Business Insider that Spotify is currently looking for partners to fund its video on-demand content. Right now, Spotify, even with its large list of subscribers, is suffering from extremely thin profit margins. It has been negotiating with music labels to lower their royalty fees so that it can both increase its profits and perhaps add a free music streaming service to mobile devices in the future.

While exclusive video on-demand content would help Spotify generate income (and one it doesn’t have to pay royalty fees for), it does seem out of Spotify’s niche. The VOD content would most likely be live concert footage and video interviews with various artists. Nothing is set it stone however. It would make more sense if Spotify finally brought music videos to its music streaming service.

On another note, Spotify is also looking to expand its subscriber base by finally entering into the world of television marketing. Its set to launch its first commercial today during the season 4 premiere of The Voice. This may be the first time that Spotify has ever aired a television ad in the United States. The company had previously shunned the idea of marketing, but now that it’s so successful, it’s decided to change its tune.

[via Business Insider]

Spotify reportedly plans to add video on-demand service is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Netflix is looking to boost the reality of cloud computing via its OSS, taking it to the next level and helping it realize its potential. How is it doing this? Via its Netflix Cloud Prize competition, which it is using to challenge developers across the world to come up with improvements in secure, reliable, and usable, among other things. There are ten categories in total.

The contest opened to entries yesterday, and will last six months ending on September 15 of this year. When the contest closes to entries, a judging panel will select the winners and reveal them on October 16. The lucky winners will be given their awards at AWS Re:Invent in Las Vegas in November, all expenses paid.

As we mentioned, the contest is split into ten categories. Each category will have its own winner who will get $10,000 in cash and $5,000 in AWS credits, as well as a nifty trophy they can place on their respective mantles. You can check out the full list of rules and how to apply at Netflix’s Github here.

Netflix’s CPO Neil Hunt had this to say: “Cloud computing has become a hot topic recently, but the technology is still emerging. No doubt many of the key ideas that will take it to the next level have yet to be conceived, explored, and developed. The Netflix Cloud Prize is designed to improve understanding of what it takes to build native applications for the cloud that take full advantage of the opportunities for scalable computing.”

[via PC Mag]

Netflix challenges developers to improve cloud computing, offers $100,000 is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Netflix has a vested interest in fostering cloud computing — after all, that’s increasingly the company’s core business. Accordingly, it’s not going to just sit around and wait for a breakthrough. The subscription service is kicking off its Netflix Cloud Prize competition in the hopes that developers can move technology a little faster. Programmers who build upon Netflix’s open-source code before September 15th can win from a pool of $100,000 spread equally among 10 categories, ranging from performance improvements to what has to be our automatic favorite: “best new monkey.” Each winner also gets $5,000 in Amazon Web Services credit, flights to Las Vegas and a spot at Amazon’s user conference this November. The challenge won’t completely make up for the end to Netflix’s public API, but it does show that at least some tinkerers are welcome in the streaming video giant’s world.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD

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Source: Netflix (GitHub)