10 Things in Tech: iPhone subscriptions
Hello and happy Friday. It's the Oscars this weekend, and we heard Tim Cook is expected to attend (read up on Apple TV+'s — and Netflix's — chances at a big win). Speaking of Tim Cook — Apple is considering creating a subscription service for iPhones.
Ready? Let's get to it.
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1. The next subscription you might be paying for? iPhones. According to Bloomberg, Apple is working to launch a subscription service for the iPhone and other Apple hardware, similar to an auto-leasing program. Here's what we know so far:
- The potential subscription service "could make device ownership similar to paying a monthly app fee," an anonymous source told Bloomberg. Think of it like paying for Apple Music every month.
- Rather than pay installments that would equal the price of the device, the charge would be a monthly fee that hinges on which device the user chooses.
- Sources told Bloomberg the hardware subscription service is slated to launch at the end of 2022, but still might be pushed to next year — or nixed all together.
Everything else you need to know.
In other news:
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2. An Amazon drone crash sparked an acres-wide fire last summer. Last June, one of Amazon's drones crashed during a test flight, causing a wildfire in eastern Oregon. Here's a look at what happened.
3. Startup founders are bracing for a downturn. As VCs grow more cautious, some startups are turning to "extension rounds," small rounds of funding from existing or new investors in which they sell shares at the same price as those in the previous financing. Get the rundown on extension rounds.
4. Uber has agreed to list all NYC taxis on its app. After years of rivalry, Uber will be adding all of the city's roughly 14,000 cabs to its app. Taxi rides will be about the same as an Uber X ride, the company said. Get the full rundown here.
5. DoorDash's response to surging gas prices has upset some delivery drivers. DoorDash is avoiding adding surcharges to customer orders and passing that extra money on to drivers, making the company an outlier compared to Uber, Lyft, and Instacart. Here's what drivers told us.
6. TikTok is being sued by content moderators who claim to be traumatized by their work. The social media giant removed tens of millions of videos last year for violating its platform rules. Moderators claim they were subjected to "disgusting" videos and offered no mental-health support.
7. Amazon's advertising team added a new performance review question. Employees in Amazon's advertising business are now required to answer one additional question on their annual performance review: How did you perform against your key objectives this year? More on the latest twist to Amazon's controversial performance review system.
8. Ukraine is using facial recognition tech to identify dead Russian soldiers and inform their families. With tech provided by controversial startup Clearview AI, the Ukrainian government has also allegedly been identifying potential Russian infiltrators attempting to enter the country at checkpoints. Get the full rundown.
Odds and ends:
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9. We test drove the cheapest electric car in the US. The $27,400 Nissan Leaf has an enticingly low price, but you'll have to sacrifice some range and charging capability. We outlined four reasons the Leaf hatchback is a great buy — and two ways it falls short.
10. Meet the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus, a tablet alternative to the iPad. Samsung has been trying to make its tablets more useful for Samsung phone users, and it's paying off: The $900 Galaxy Tab S8 Plus is a gorgeous, powerful, and feature-rich tablet. Read our full review here.
The latest people moves in tech:
- Frank Bien, the CEO of Looker, quietly left the company last month.
- Kickstarter CEO Aziz Hasan will be leaving the crowdfunding company this month.
- Etsy just named Raina Moskowitz as its chief operating officer.
- Credit Suisse just snagged a tech banker from Amazon — one of 14 rehires in the past year.
- Goldman Sachs just lost another top exec from its Marcus consumer bank to JPMorgan Chase.
Curated by Jordan Parker Erb in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email jerb@insider.com or tweet @jordanparkererb.) Edited by Michael Cogley in London.
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