RBI launches UPI-linked Rupay credit card; Tinder got hot dogs

Sep 21, 2022

And goes one more edition of nextbigwhat’s newsletter. Grab some CHAI and enjoy!

The newsletter brings you summary of all the important tech news this morning.

Slack adds persistent information layer to channels called Canvas

Slack recognized a limitation in its channel feature and decided to combine Quip’s collaborative tooling with Slack’s communication capabilities in a new tool Slack is calling Canvas
Slack is also opening up the Slack platform, a way for developers to build modular and reusable building blocks in Slack to create more customized workflows.

Twitter’s new opt-in feature will remind you to add alt text to photo uploads

Once enabled, the feature sends you a prompt on web and mobile reminding you to add alt text when you’re about to tweet an image.
The feature is designed to get you into the habit of adding alt text to every image you share on the platform to ensure that it’s accessible by all.

Tinder is adding adoptable dogs to its app!

The adoptable dog profile card can be added to your Tinder profile within the app or by visiting rescuematches.com.
Another reason – albeit kind of selfish – for users to add a shelter dog to their Tinder profile is to get more matches with fellow dog lovers.

Facebook adds new Pages features to help creators connect with fans and get discovered

In the future, Facebook plans to roll out a new setting for creators that will allow them to give some fans early access to special content.
The social network is also rolling out new post and story templates for creators to auto mention new top fans.

Walmart App Virtually Tries Clothes on Your Body… If You Strip

Walmart is testing a new feature for women to virtually try out their clothes online, but there is one weird catch:
You have to strip for the software to accurately determine your body shape and size.
Walmart says its app even accounts for how fabric might drape depending on its weight, and realistically simulates shadows.

Will you try this?

RBI launches UPI-linked Rupay credit card

The move is believed to have the potential to expand the market for credit by almost five times. Currently, UPI is linked through debit cards and bank accounts.
With the linkage of RuPay credit card on UPI payment platform, customers of Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, and Indian Bank will be the first to benefit.

Drive Thor: NVIDIA reveals powerful chipset for autonomous vehicles

NVIDIA says that Drive Thor can unify all the various functions of vehicles – including infotainment, the digital dashboard, sensors, parking and autonomous operation – for greater efficiency.
The company designed the chip using the latest advancements in graphics and processing to provide 2,000 teraflops of performance, all while keeping costs down.

Survey of US adults: 31% get news on Facebook, 25% on YouTube, 14% on Twitter

Facebook was followed by: YouTube (25%), Twitter (14%), Instagram (13%), TikTok (10%), Reddit (8%), LinkedIn (4%), Snapchat (4%), Nextdoor (4%), WhatsApp (3%) and Twitch (1%).
The portion of Americans who often get news from television has also decreased, from 40% in 2020 to 31% in 2022.

YouTube decides to share ad revenue with Shorts creators in a bid to catch TikTok

YouTube announced the Shorts revenue sharing model where “current and future” creators can earn money from ads aired between short-form videos starting in “early 2023.”
To join early next year, you need 10 million views from YouTube Shorts over 90 days, as well as over 1,000 channel subscribers. Shorts Creators will get access to the existing monetization methods.

FTC probes Amazon’s proposed $1.7B iRobot acquisition deal

The FTC on Monday requested that both Amazon and iRobot provide “additional information and documentary materials” about the proposed acquisition.
The agency made the request in connection with an antitrust review of the deal. The filing stated that Amazon and iRobot both expect to promptly respond to the request as well as “work cooperatively” with the FTC.

Twitter to depose Elon Musk in a long-standing legal battle over $44 bln buyout deal

A Tuesday filing in Delaware’s court of chancery said Musk’s deposition is scheduled for 26-27 September and may stretch into 28 September if necessary.
Subpoenas have been issued to billionaire Larry Ellison, Intel Corp’s former CEO Robert Swan, and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Dorsey was set to be deposed by Musk’s legal team on Tuesday morning.

Crypto.com invests in web3 back-office platform Headquarters’ $5 million raise

Web3 back-office platform Headquarters has closed a $5 million round co-led by Crypto.com Capital, Forge Ventures and MassMutual Ventures.
It’s starting with the launch of HQ Teams, a tool for web3 firms to manage their financial operations.

Nasdaq is preparing to launch an institutional crypto custody service

Equity exchange operator Nasdaq has been plotting a move into institutional crypto custody service. Nasdaq is also establishing a new crypto-focused division in tandem with its exploration into crypto custody, Nasdaq Digital Assets.
Custody is a lucrative, yet crowded, market in the crypto space, with institutional custody providers fetching multi-billion dollar valuations.

Amazon-owned Twitch prohibits gambling sites from its platform

Twitch will no longer allow “streaming of gambling sites that include slots, roulette, or dice games that aren’t licensed in the U.S. or other jurisdictions that provide sufficient consumer protections.”
The list currently includes Stake.com, Rollbit.com, Duelbits.com, and Roobet.com though Twitch says that it may expand as the company continues to evaluate the situation.

Spotify launches Audiobook service; currently available in US only

Spotify has launched a US audiobook service with 300K titles from major and independent publishers; users purchase and download individual books to play in its app .
While audiobooks represent just a 6%–7% share of the wider book market, the category is growing by 20% year over year.

Salesforce Announces Carbon Credit Marketplace, Empowering Any Organization to Take Climate Action on Their Journey to Net Zero

Any organization can access Net Zero Marketplace and buy carbon credits. New Net Zero Marketplace connects buyers with ecopreneurs in a trusted, transparent carbon credit platform to scale climate-positive impact.
Net Zero Marketplace will be available for carbon credit purchases in the United States starting in October 2022, and will be expanding to additional markets in 2023.

YouTube announces Creator Music, a new way for creators to shop for songs for use in videos

The service gives them a way to gain access to a larger catalog of popular music, instead of being limited only to stock music or no music at all.
The popularity of short-form video has exploded on YouTube, with over 30B daily views and 1.5B monthly logged-in users.

Windows 11 gets its first major update: Start menu folders, more Snap Layouts, dark mode improvements and more

With enhancements to Snap layouts, the new Focus feature, and performance and battery optimizations, the new Windows 11 2022 update will help you be your most productive yet.
Windows 11 still feels like the familiar Windows we’ve had for decades, but the 2022 Update gives it even more modern features that I think most Windows users are going to really enjoy.