GoKawiil
Tech News
Spotify is testing a new mobile layout that moves pinned playlists, albums and podcasts out of the main Your Library feed into their own dedicated carousel shelf. The test, spotted by a Reddit user, adds a 'Library layout' menu letting users choose List, Grid or Compact view for pins independently of the rest of their library. It appears to be a server-side rollout reaching a limited set of Android and iOS users.
Spotify plans to roll out a subscription add-on, costing $4-5 monthly on top of regular fees, that lets users remix songs with AI and upload the results to the platform, according to the Financial Times. Royalties would flow to original artists, and remix plays would count toward the source tracks' chart performance, with artists able to veto use of their music even if their label has signed on. Spotify has reportedly secured deals with Universal Music Group, Merlin and Believe, while talks continue with Sony Music and Warner Music.
Spotify is reportedly developing a separate AI-powered service that would let subscribers create remixes and covers of existing songs, targeting a first-quarter 2027 launch, according to the Financial Times. The feature would cost Premium subscribers an extra $4 to $5 monthly, and Spotify is still negotiating licensing deals with major record labels before it can launch.
A project called Sprout is developing a replacement logic board for select older iPods, including 1st and 2nd-gen iPod minis and 3rd and 4th-gen iPods, adding USB-C charging and, in one version, Wi-Fi support for streaming apps and AirPlay. The feature set is still under development, and the Crowd Supply campaign has not launched, with no pricing or release date confirmed yet.
A roundup identifies five Spotify settings—covering audio quality, content recommendations, and privacy—that remain in default states for many users but can noticeably change the listening experience. Most of these options are limited to Spotify Premium subscribers and can be adjusted through the app's settings and privacy menu on mobile or desktop.
Users seeing low-storage warnings may find Spotify high on their device's storage list, often due to downloaded music and cached data rather than the app itself. Both iOS and Android offer built-in menus to check per-app storage use, and Android allows clearing an app's cache separately from its stored data.
The Bose New Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is currently selling for $279 on Amazon, a $70 cut from its $349 list price and the lowest price it has reached since launch. The compact wireless speaker supports AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth 5.3, and can be controlled via the Bose app.
Apple has clarified that HomeView's support for third-party apps works through the same mirroring technology used in CarPlay, rather than running apps natively. When an iPhone is nearby, HomeView can access compatible apps, but all processing happens on the iPhone itself. Currently only CarPlay-compatible audio and video apps, such as Spotify and Deezer, are supported, with no option to install apps directly on the device.
Spotify is enforcing its longstanding rule that Family and Duo plan members share the same address by prompting users to scan a QR code on the plan manager's device. Users who don't scan within seven days are demoted to the free tier and barred from joining another Duo or Family plan for 12 months. Spotify's support documentation confirms the policy after users reported the prompts on Reddit.
Spotify is using QR codes that refresh every few seconds to confirm that Family Plan subscribers live together, blocking screenshot workarounds some users relied on. Reddit users say they've still managed to scan the codes remotely via video calls. Spotify co-CEO Alex Norström said on a Thursday earnings call that this is a routine update to verification methods, not a new crackdown.
Spotify acknowledged it is tightening verification for its Family Plan subscriptions, which require members to share a household address. The company described this as a routine, ongoing update to its verification methods rather than a one-time crackdown with a set end date.
Spotify confirmed on its Q3 earnings call that it is rolling out QR code verification for Family Plan members, requiring them to scan a code from the plan manager's phone to prove they live together. Members who miss the seven-day verification window lose access and must wait 12 months before joining another Family or Duo plan, or switch to an individually paid plan. Co-CEO Alex Norström described the change as a routine update to existing verification tools rather than a crackdown.