Tech News Today 1804

Microsoft will lay off 10 percent of its sales force in an effort to reorganize the way it sells its cloud platform, Azure. The jobs will likely be mostly outside of the US and some affected workers will be given other jobs within the company in what Frank Shaw, corporate VP of communications and jargon, says are intended to evolve the skill sets Microsoft needs.

In other layoff news, SoundCloud is laying off 40 percent of its staff, according to a blog post by the company's founder, Alex Lyung. The decade old music and podcast streaming service will close offices in San Francisco and London, but Lyung says SoundCloud will still be available 190 countries globally.

Tesla’s stock has fallen almost 17 percent this week, despite the news that that the cheaper Model 3 is three weeks ahead of schedule. The Wall Street Journal notes that delivery of Model S cars and Model X sport-utility vehicles were lower than analysts expected due to a battery supply issue, causing many prominent analysts to give the company a "sell" rating.

Jason Snell from MacWorld and Six Colors joins us to talk about all of these stories, plus iPhone rumors for this year and next, how iOS 11 will improve podcasts, and a service that will give you free energy bars in the back of your Lyft or Uber, in exchange for your personal information.

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-today.

Thanks to CacheFly for the bandwidth for this show.

Links

• Microsoft plans thousands of job cuts in a sales staff overhaul to fuel cloud growth
• SoundCloud Cuts 40% of Staff in Push for Profitability
• Tesla’s Sales Raise New Fears Ahead of Model 3
• This startup helps Uber drivers make extra cash by selling random stuff in their cars
• This ‘third thumb’ is the unnecessary prosthetic of my dreams
• Controllable Third Thumb lets wearers extend their natural abilities
• Apple to use OLED screens in all new iPhones launching in 2018: sources
• 4 ways iOS 11 will improve how you listen to podcasts
• Shocked commuters gawp as woman brings desktop computer on First Class Virgin train
• Google Earth adds live video feeds for watching natural wonders in real-time