Weekly news: Apple talks to Hollywood, Microsoft’s big return rate, Taxify settles in Romania
Apple and Hollywood said to continue talks around early digital movie rentals
Movie studios including Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures continue to hold talks with Apple and Comcast about plans to introduce premium digital rentals for new movies only a few weeks after their theatrical debut, Bloomberg reports.
The plan to build an early rental offering whereby consumer could pay between $30 and $50 per movie to get access to current releases as few as two weeks after they premiere in theaters has been covered before: Back in late December, Bloomberg described the plan, noting that it’s part of the studios’ effort to shore up declines and stagnation in the home video and DVD sales market.
Leaked Microsoft memo reveals high Surface Book return rates
Microsoft dismissed Consumer Reports’ Surface reliability ratings last week, but a new internal memo sheds some light on the issues that the software maker has faced. Consumer Reports surveyed 90,000 tablet and laptop owners and found roughly 25 percent of Surface users have encountered issues by the end of the second year of ownership. High Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book return rates could have impacted Consumer Reports’ findings.
In a leaked chart, return rates for Surface Book hit around 17 percent during its launch period, and remained above 10 percent for six months. Surface Pro 4 return rates also reached around 16 percent during launch, but dropped below 10 percent after just over a month.
Taxify opens branch in Romania
Estonian company Taxify OÜ, owner and developer of smartphone app Taxify, opened a branch in Romania, in order to collect and use data, manage online web pages and grow other activities. The Romanian company is Taxify.ro SRL and its unique partner is the mother company Taxify OÜ. The administrator of the local company is no other than Markus Villig, CEO and one of the two brother founders (23 years).
Taxify.ro SRL is located in Bucharest, in the Onix Residence building and its initial social capital is 300 lei.
Sainsbury’s trials 30-minute click and collect
Sainsbury’s is trialling what it says is the UK’s first 30-minute click and collect service. The launch comes as the country’s grocers work towards ever faster and more convenient fulfilment in a highly competitive market. Shoppers can order their groceries via the Android version Chop Chop app and pick it up from the supermarket’s Pimlico store just half-an-hour later. They can choose and pay for up to 25 items, seven days a week. When they arrive they show their order number, available through the app or sent by email, at the Chop Chop desk and take delivery of their items.
The service is currently free, and adds to a one-hour service already available through Chop Chop.
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