Hashtag Trend April 21-Netflix subscribers decline. Google’s fiber optic cable from Canada to Asia.UK self-driving car owners are not responsible for crashes

Netflix will lose subscribers for the first time in 10 years, Google will build the first ever high-speed fiber optic cable connecting Canada and Asia, and UK self-driving car owners will not be responsible for the collision.

Here’s all the tech news that’s currently trending. Welcome to Hashtag Trends. It’s Thursday, April 21st. I’m your host, Tom Lee.

Netflix has lost its subscribers for the first time in over 10 years. Streaming services lost 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter, well below expectations of adding 2.5 million subscribers. The company lost 700,000 members, citing the war in Ukraine after suspending services in Russia after the invasion. In addition, Netflix states that intensifying competition and inflation are also contributing to the decline in viewership. With subscriber growth stalled, Netflix is ​​now considering offering a lower-priced version of its ad-advertised service, citing the success of similar services from streaming rivals HBO Max and Disney +. .. Netflix shares rose more than 25% earlier this week after the company reported losses. Netflix predicts that the loss of global paying subscribers in the second quarter will be further reduced to 2 million. Netflix last lost its subscribers in October 2011.

source: Reuters, CNBC, BBC

Google plans to build the first high-speed fiber optic cable that connects Canada and Asia. The submarine fiber cable, the width of the garden hose, is expected to be completed in 2023. We plan to cross the Pacific floor from Port Alberni on Vancouver Island to Mie and Ibaraki prefectures in Japan. This cable, called Topaz, is meant to speed up access to Google products such as YouTube and Gmail. The company is working with partners in Canada and Japan to create the cable, which will be accessible to other internet providers.

Source: MSN

Self-driving car owners are not responsible for crashes in the UK. Sky news Report. In addition, self-driving car owners can watch TV while holding the steering wheel under the proposed highway code changes. According to the Department of Transportation (DfT), instead, if the vehicle is involved in a collision, the insurance company, not the individual, will be responsible for the claim. The highway code update makes it clear that the driver needs to be ready to control the vehicle as needed. DfT is also intended to allow drivers to watch TV on the built-in screen of self-driving cars, but the use of mobile phones is illegal. Currently, no vehicle is approved for autonomous driving on the road in the UK, but the first model may be approved in late 2022.

Source: Sky New

Japanese people may be able to enjoy their favorite salty meals without worrying about sodium levels.Report by Parents Researchers have revealed that they have developed chopsticks that artificially create a salty taste to reduce high sodium levels in some of the country’s most popular dishes. Chopsticks work using electrical stimulation and a minicomputer that the diner wears on the wristband. This device sends sodium ions from food through chopsticks to the mouth, where it creates a salty taste. Researchers have worked with food and beverage manufacturers to develop this device. In Japan, traditional meals tend to be salty due to ingredients such as miso and soy sauce. Chopsticks creators want to improve their prototypes and make them available to consumers by 2023.

Source: Parents

Here’s all the tech news that’s currently trending. Hashtag trends are part of the ITWC podcast network. Add us to your Alexa Flash briefing or Google Home daily briefing. Sign up for the Daily IT Wire Newsletter to get all the important news directly in your inbox every day. It also catches the next episode of Hashtag Tendance, a weekly hashtag trend episode in French that drops every Thursday morning. If you have any suggestions or tips, please contact us in the comments or email. Thank you for listening, Tom Lee.