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Tech Companies Expand Features and Security in Streaming, Navigation, and Device Location
Several tech companies rolled out new features and security updates this week, impacting areas from music streaming and navigation to device location privacy. Spotify introduced group chats, Google Maps enhanced its navigation with AI, Apple bolstered location data security on iPhones and iPads, Tesla saw growth in energy storage, and Deezer opened its AI music detection tool to other platforms.
Spotify users can now share podcasts, playlists, and audiobooks with up to 10 people within group chats, the company announced. This feature is available for users who have previously shared content with each other, such as through collaborative playlists or Jams, according to TechCrunch. This move reflects Spotify's continued investment in making its streaming app more social, building upon features like podcast comments and the ability to follow other users.
Google Maps now allows users to access Gemini hands-free while walking and cycling, Google announced Thursday. This update follows the rollout of a similar Gemini-powered experience for drivers a few months prior. "When you're walking around and navigating with Maps, you can now ask Gemini questions like 'Tell me more about the neighborhood I'm in,' 'What are some must-see attractions?' or 'Are there cafes with a bathroom along my route?'" TechCrunch reported. Google stated that this feature aims to make navigation more conversational and accessible, especially when typing is inconvenient.
Apple introduced a new security feature for select iPhone and iPad models that limits the precision of location data shared with cell carriers. According to Apple, this feature, when enabled, protects user privacy by sharing a less-precise location, such as a general neighborhood instead of a street address. TechCrunch noted that this feature does not affect the precision of location data shared with apps or with first responders during emergency calls.
In other news, Deezer is now offering its AI music detection tool to other platforms, The Verge reported. The tool, which identifies, tags, and removes AI-generated music from recommendations, detected over 13.4 million AI tracks in 2025. This move comes as streaming services grapple with the increasing presence of AI-generated content.
Meanwhile, Tesla's energy storage business is experiencing significant growth. According to the company's official filings, Tesla deployed a record 46.7 gigawatt-hours of energy storage products in 2025, a 48% increase from the previous year, TechCrunch reported. Big, stationary batteries like the Megapack and Powerwall, along with solar installations, now drive nearly a quarter of Tesla's gross profit. The Megapack alone contributed $1.1 billion of the storage business's $3.8 billion in gross profit for the entire year.
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