Pocket-lint Daily - Google Maps for Mercedes & Spotify AI DJ

All the tech daily! By Chris Hall | Thursday February 23 2023 - If you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here](. [Facebook]([Twitter]([Instagram]( [Website](  Google will help shape the future of Mercedes navigation and in-car entertainment MERCEDES BENZ What's happened? Mercedes-Benz has announced that it is [partnering with Google]( for its next-level infotainment and navigation systems, as part of a new, proprietary MB.OS in-car system. Why does it matter? The Google partnership will provide Maps-style navigation data for a Mercedes branded system. This will include real-time and predictive traffic information and automatic rerouting. What's my take? Google has been linked into a couple of interesting announcements recently. We heard that BMW are basing the next version of their in-car software on Android and while Mercedes hasn't explicitly stated that, the use of Google Maps is certainly interesting. Many cars offer Google searching, some will even offer you a Google Maps display, while some - like Polestar - offer a complete Android-based experience in the car. The shift to Google Maps perhaps sounds the death knell for many legacy systems: there's a lot more pouring into Google's Maps, there's massive scalability on the data that can be used to enhance them, as well as things like traffic. It's going to be interesting to see how the integrated data compares to using smartphone-based Google Maps for navigation. One immediate advantage is better integration between mapping and the car's hardware - which will make for a better driver experience.  Spotify jumps on the AI bandwagon with a personalised DJ DAVID DE GIOVANNI/PEXELS What's happened? Spotify says that it is looking to [harness the power of AI]( to boost the curation of its music. Why does it matter? The plan is to offer an AI-powered DJ that learns your musical taste and serves up songs it thinks you'll love, along with commentary around the tracks and artists you're listening to. What's my take? It's difficult to know, these days, how much of this sort of technology is new and how much already existed. Spotify has always tried to bubble up music it thinks you'll like to aid discovery. Of course, when the service started, no one was calling it AI, so whether this is revolutionary or simply evolutionary we can't really tell. But, it gets Spotify AI headlines and we imagine that's half the plan. Spotify claims that the system will look at your history and listening habits and make suggestions, all the while being voiced by an artificial version of Spotify's head of cultural partnerships, Xavier Jernigan. Last night an AI saved my life, anyone?  Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe review: Sweet as can be NINTENDO What's happened? Kirby took a giant leap in 2022, finally getting the full 3D adventure that he'd been due for a very long time, but that doesn't mean the franchise is only looking forward. Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a remake of a major outing on the Wii for Kirby, and takes things back to their classic side-scrolling days. It's ideal for families but might be a little staid for older gamers. Our quick verdict This cutesy platformer is ideal if you have kids you want to play with, and excels at couch co-op. For solo gamers in an older bracket, we're not sure it's got enough zip. [Read our review](.  In Case You Missed it A new [Razer Blade 15 has been announced]( with RTX 4070 graphics and a superthin build. --- Is Apple closer to [no-prick glucose monitoring]( for its Watch? --- Amazon Fire TVs have up to a [44% discount today](, where the 43-inch version is now $229.99 instead of $409.99. That's a $180 saving on the 4K television, with HDR10, Dolby Digital Plus and hands-free Alexa.  From The Gear Loop BERGHAUS The Berghaus MTN Guide Hyper Alpha jacket is an award-winning hybrid shell that's causing waves - [but why, and is it any good?](  And finally... SONY We've collected a gallery of the best supercomputers ever invented for you to enjoy. [Take a look here.](  Have you checked out our weekly podcast that comes out every Friday? It's packed with news, interviews, and top things to get. You can subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via [iTunes]( and [Spotify](,  or access it on the web via [Acast](. This week, the Pocket-lint Podcast takes a look at the announcements made during the OnePlus event, and chats with Peloton instructor, Sam Yo. [Listen to the latest episode today.]( Thanks for reading - if you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [The Trust Project] [Why you can trust Pocket-lint]( You are subscribed to this email as {EMAIL}. Click here to modify your [preferences]( or [unsubscribe](.