THE NEWS WRAP: Uber hopes Spotify deal will be music to its riders’ ears

Transportation network startup Uber has partnered with Spotify to allow those catching a ride with its service to select songs that will play during their trip, Engadget reports.

Riders will need to connect a Spotify paid streaming account to Uber’s mobile software to access the feature.

It’s set to launch on November 21 in Sydney, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Stockholm and Toronto, with a widespread rollout in the weeks that follow. Uber drivers will need to connect their phone to the car’s stereo, if the driver chooses not to play music, Spotify won’t show up as an option in the Uber app.

Shark Tank backed GrooveBook sold for $14.5 million

As Network Ten prepares to release its own Shark Tank, GrooveBook, a startup on the popular US version of the show, has been acquired by photo printing giant Shutterfly for $US14.5 million ($AU16.7 million).

GrooveBook is a photo-printing app and subscription service that creates personalized photo books with up to 100 of your photos, that is shipped monthly.

The startup received a $US150,000 investment from Shark Tank investors Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary for licensing rights only.

Airbnb launches Pineapple

Sharing economy startup Airbnb has launched its own print magazine, Pineapple.

According to the New York Times, Airbnb will formally unveil the new magazine at a convention in San Francisco later this week. The first issue carries no advertising and contains features on San Francisco, London and Seoul, which are popular cities among Airbnb hosts and guests.

Overnight

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 13.01 to 17,647.75. The Australian Dollar is currently trading at US87 cents.

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