Uber CEO Steps Down
Uber’s 40-year-old man-child CEO has resigned. Travis Kalanick helped found Uber in 2009 and will step down as the CEO today. Earlier on Tuesday, five of Uber’s major investors demanded that the chief executive resign immediately. In the letter, titled “Moving Uber Forward” and obtained by The New York Times, the investors wrote to Mr. Kalanick that he must immediately leave. Kalanick consulted with at least one Uber board member, and after long discussions with some of the investors, he agreed to step down. He will remain on Uber’s board of directors. Led by Kalanick’s often inappropriate behavior, the company has been exposed this year as having a workplace culture that included sexual harassment and discrimination, and it has pushed the envelope in dealing with law enforcement and even partners. When is this movie set to hit theaters? We have our popcorn ready. (Source: The New York Times)
Netflix, Chill, Repeat.
Netflix released a new episode of Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale yesterday with an interactive twist. Netflix’s first interactive series allows the viewer to make decisions and choose from multiple possible outcomes, so viewers can rewatch and recreate the episode as they please. A second interactive episode for the children’s show Buddy Thunderstruck will be released next month. Imagine if this same technology was applied to adult shows: an episode of House of Cards where you have the power to influence Frank Underwood’s decisions, an episode of Stranger Things where you can hone in on Eleven’s supernatural powers, or an episode of Orange is the New Black where you help Piper escape prison. The possibilities are endless! (Source: The Verge)
Confessions of an Amazon-holic
Amazon released its beta version of Amazon Prime Wardrobe, the latest perk that allows subscribers to try on and return clothes for free. This Warby Parker-type business model lets customers pick three to fifteen Amazon Fashion products with no upfront cost. Amazon even offers discounts if customers keep at least three of the items. The steps are simple: choose your items, try them on at home, and return unused items to a UPS store or schedule a free pick-up. It’s literally as easy as one, two, three. Now amazon is trying to be Trunk Club, Stitch Fix, Birch Box, and Bento Box. With Amazon’s recent Whole Foods acquisition, if you order cowboy boots will you get a side of organic BBQ sauce? (Source: TechCrunch)
