News

Spotify Desktop Gets A New Look And Upgraded Features

The update includes a “now playing” view plus access to tour dates and artist merchandise.

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2023

Nour Nasir

Spotify

In recent years, the Spotify desktop app has fallen by the wayside as the music streaming giant focused its attention on mobile devices and podcast content. Now, however, the original desktop version of the service has received a welcome overhaul, which the company claims is “one of the biggest revamps yet”.

The main content and music-playback panels remain unchanged, with the same browsing functionality and recommended songs. However, the app window now features a “Your Library” panel on the left side, which Spotify began testing a few months ago. The library gives immediate access to saved music and podcast collections and helps to save time when changing between playlists. If you’re not using the panel, it can also be collapsed by clicking on the Library icon.

On the right side of the screen, a new “Now Playing” view displays the current track you are listening to, complete with artist information and access to merchandise, plus a look at upcoming tour dates. When listening to podcasts, a transcript will also be automatically generated and populated — though this feature won’t yet work with all content.

Also Read: Best Music Streaming Services In The Middle East

The “Friend Activity” feed has been moved to make room for the new features but can be moved back easily by dragging and dropping the “friends” icon next to your profile picture in the top-right corner of the main window. On the other hand, users preferring a more minimalist look can remove both the “Friends Activity” and “Now Playing” panels entirely.

The latest changes to the Spotify desktop app come with an eye-catching color upgrade to make everything feel more cohesive and polished.

News

AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs

Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.

Published

1 week ago

November 1, 2025

Nour Nasir

AltoVolo

AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.

The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.

“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.

The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.

To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.

Also Read: Snapchat Opens Qatar Office To Deepen Gulf Presence

Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.

Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.