According to TechCrunch, Uber is quietly prepping a new program that would offer online shoppers same-day delivery service via UberRUSH couriers and Uber drivers. Sources indicate that Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus and Tiffany’s are among the retailers in talks with the Uber Merchant Delivery program. More than 400 merchants are reportedly in discussions with Uber or have already been testing the service. “Experimenting and finding new, creative ways for the Uber app to provide even greater value to our riders and driver partners is a way of life at Uber,” said a company spokesperson. “We have been piloting UberRUSH with multiple retailers for the last year.”

Flywheel is trying to save taxicab businesses with Uber-like apps, including a new way for passengers to pay for rides with their smartphones. “After getting into a cab, passengers merely open the Flywheel app to automatically link up with the driver’s app,” reports Fortune. “After the ride ends, the passenger can pay directly through the app.” Flywheel is currently available in five cities, where it is helping cab companies fend off popular services such as Uber and Lyft. DeSoto Cab in San Francisco even rebranded its entire fleet into Flywheel cars. Flywheel collects a 10 percent cut from fares and charges passengers $1 per ride.

BuzzFeed is sharing details about a new tech it calls Pound (Process for Optimizing and Understanding Network Diffusion), intended to enhance Web and social media analytics by tracking how a story progresses from one user to another. At this week’s NewFronts, BuzzFeed Publisher Dao Nguyen said the company is seeking beta partners to help transform Pound into a useful product. “She also talked about data that BuzzFeed gathers to categorize videos based on whether they offer information, emotion or appeal to a viewer’s identity,” reports TechCrunch, adding “that informational videos do better on YouTube, while identity-driven videos do better on Facebook.”

Amazon, Google, the National Association of Broadcasters, and Pandora Radio are among the launch members of the MIC Coalition (Music, Innovation, Consumers). The group plans to advocate for music policies that are “balanced among all participants rather than just those of the major record labels and publishers,” according to Broadcasting & Cable. Other members include CEA, Cox Media Group, iHeartMedia, and National Public Radio. “American music is the most successful in the world, aided in part by intellectual property laws that do not tilt in favor of record labels over the millions of daily listeners who consume music,” said NAB President Gordon Smith.

Shortly after becoming the first pay TV provider to provide access to HBO Now, Cablevision plans to offer Hulu Plus to its broadband customers. This will mark the first such deal between Hulu and a traditional pay TV provider. “Cablevision also last week debuted a pair of ‘cord cutter’ Internet packages, which include the option to bundle in HBO Now,” reports TechCrunch. “Hulu Plus, like HBO Now, will be offered to Cablevision’s Optimum Online customers who pay for high-speed Internet access through the telecommunications provider.” At the Digital NewFronts this week, Hulu announced SVOD rights to 180 “Seinfeld” episodes and a new multiyear agreement with AMC.

During a conference call with analysts yesterday, HBO chief exec Richard Plepler suggested that the new HBO Now streaming service could possibly include non-HBO TV and film programming in the future. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Plepler said “Warner and Turner could be involved.” When asked about plans for expanding, Plepler explained that additional deals are expected by the end of the year, while HBO and Amazon are “in discussions about the size and scope of our relationship.” Regarding HBO Now’s performance, the CEO is “clearly thrilled at early returns and also argues that it vindicates the position that having a streaming service takes nothing away from viewers watching HBO in more-traditional ways,” notes THR.

Jaunt VR is launching its Jaunt Studios division to create live-action virtual reality experiences. The new studio, to be located on the west side of Los Angeles, will hire a team of directors, artists, and staff in the next few months to work with Jaunt VR’s engineering team, which plans to remain in Palo Alto. “Jaunt Studios will be led by Cliff Plumer, former CEO of Digital Domain and chief technology officer of Lucasfilm,” according to Variety, noting that Plumer has been involved with VR since before the first Oculus Rift dev kit. “He has since helped introduce VR tech to Hollywood and got involved with live-action VR production,” explains the article.

Facebook has introduced a video calling feature to its Messenger app for mobile users connected via Wi-Fi or LTE. The free calling feature is activated by a tap of the camera icon in the chat interface. It is expected to bring new competition to services such as Facetime, WeChat and Skype. The feature — initially rolling out in North America and Europe — is another move by Facebook to expand its offerings. “Just last month, the company introduced a feature that lets Messenger users to send money to each other. A few days later, it opened up Messenger to outside developers, and now users can download dozens of apps to send funny GIFs, personalized emoji and other enhanced messages,” reports The New York Times.

Sony is launching a new line of 4K UHD TVs powered by the Android TV operating system. Sony previously featured Google TV software in some of its sets, but made the change to simplify the user experience (and to add built-in Google Chromecast and more than 300 streaming apps). “The new 75-inch, 65-inch and 55-inch Android TVs (priced at $4,999, $3,499 and $2,199) will be shown first at Video & Audio Center’s store in Santa Monica and will go on sale Tuesday at the L.A. area retailers’ three stores,” notes USA Today. “Nationwide availability begins the following week.”

Since Google announced pulling the plug on Google Glass and its Explorer program, the company has suggested that a new version would be developed under the guidance of Tony Fadell, head of its Nest connected home division. Details have been scarce, but Massimo Vian, CEO of Italian eyewear maker Luxottica (Oakley, Ray-Ban), said on Friday that his company was working on a new version to be released soon. “Glass chief Ivy Ross in January said the updated gadget will be cheaper and have longer battery life, improved sound quality and a better display,” reports The Wall Street Journal.

The NeuroGaming 2015 Conference and Expo is scheduled for May 6-7 in San Francisco, with the ESCoNS Pre-Conference Summit slated for May 5. VRLA members can receive a $100 discount by entering the discount code: VRLA. The email invitation reads: “Come play with over 40 experiential technologies in the expo ranging from Neurogames to VR to Neuroware to AR to gesture control for entertainment, health, wellness, performance and education. Hear from nearly 70 executives, investors and game designers sharing their insights into this new market.”

Deluxe and Technicolor have joined forces on Deluxe Technicolor Digital Cinema, a Burbank-based joint venture that will provide digital cinema mastering, distribution and management services. “It will combine elements of the two companies’ technologies, personnel and work processes with the intent of providing service on a global scale,” reports Variety. “This transformational partnership will be optimally positioned to offer our companies’ existing and future customers industry-leading digital cinema services with greater efficiencies,” said David Kassler, CEO of Deluxe Entertainment Services.

WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned instant messaging app, recently introduced voice-calling for Android users. Next, iOS users will also be able to call anyone using WhatsApp for free, thanks to an update that hit the iTunes Store earlier this week. Updating the app is the first step, as access to the feature will roll out over the next few weeks. “The other big update is that WhatsApp now plays nicely with iOS 8’s new sharing system, which means you can share photos, videos, links, or other bits of info using the share button in other apps,” notes The Verge.

AT&T U-verse and Disney announced earlier this week the launch of a new subscription VOD service based on the Disney Story Central platform, which enables kids and parents to read along with narrated Disney books. According to Multichannel News: “The new $8 SVOD service brings the read-along platform to TV screens for the first time, the companies said. New titles will be added every few months.” AT&T U-verse subscribers also have access to live and on-demand programming from Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD.

The 2015 edition of the National Association of Broadcasters Show (NAB) opens Saturday with a weekend schedule filled with technical conferences and an exhibit floor, opening Monday, that promises a range of innovative product introductions. ETC@USC will be at the NAB Show to both present and report. The centerpiece of ETC’s participation is Tuesday and Wednesday’s Media Management in the Cloud Conference produced by ETC for NAB. Leaders in the field will be on hand to present the latest advances in reliability and security in the Cloud. ETC is also involved in the SPROCKIT program for media and entertainment entrepreneurs. Frequent ETC reporting contributor Debra Kaufman will feature ETC and its programs in live Daily video reports on NAB Live.