Tag Archives: Google Play

How Does Google Really Feel About Facebook Home?

By Evan Niu, CFA, The Motley Fool

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Yesterday, social networking giant Facebook unveiled its new Facebook Home suite of apps and tweaks. The package features heavy integration of numerous Facebook services directly into various Google Android devices, and will soon be available for broader download from Google Play.

Facebook Home isn’t quite a full-fledged fork of the operating system, like the route that Amazon.com has successfully pursued. Instead, it’s just a heavy modification that sits directly on top of the operating system, but hijacks numerous key features. You might even consider it a “half-fork.”

The standard Google search box is removed from the home screen. Actually, both the home screen and lock screen are replaced by Cover Feed, which will eventually include Facebook’s ads — and not Google’s. Mark Zuckerberg even argued that Facebook Home will end up being “really good for Android.”

That may be true since his point is that Home may boost developer interest in Android, since most developers “put most of their efforts” toward Apple‘s iPhone. However, as Google continues to lose more and more control over Android, what’s good for Android as a platform may not be good for Google as a business.

Google’s open stance on platforms facilitated Home, and Facebook didn’t even have to collaborate with its ad rival, even though Big G knew what Facebook was up to. “Google’s Android is open so we don’t have to work with them,” Zuckerberg noted.

That’s in contrast to Facebook’s relationship with Apple. Since Apple is set on maintaining control at all times, Facebook would need a lot more cooperation from Cupertino to make Home for iOS a reality. Zuckerberg acknowledged that Apple would have to be willing to partner. For now, the existing levels of Facebook and iOS integration will have to suffice.

Facebook integration in iOS 6. Source: Apple.

In a statement to VentureBeat, a Google spokesperson said:

The Android platform has spurred the development of hundreds of different types of devices. This latest collaboration demonstrates the openness and flexibility that has made Android so popular. And it’s a win for users who want a customized Facebook experience from Google Play — the heart of the Android ecosystem — along with their favorite Google services like Gmail, Search, and Google Maps.

These services are still present on Home-equipped Androids, but far less prominent. I wouldn’t expect Google to shamelessly bash Home, but I also wouldn’t expect the search giant to tell investors how it really feels about the potential threat.

Home is the latest in a string of hijackings and the most recent evidence of how Google has lost control of Android.

It’s more important than ever to understand each piece of Google’s sprawling empire. In The Motley Fool’s new premium research report on Google, we break down the risks and potential rewards for Google investors. Simply click here now to unlock your copy of this invaluable resource.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Facebook Home Is Good for Apple

By Travis Hoium, The Motley Fool

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Facebook finally released a new mobile phone app called Home, which isn’t a full Facebook smartphone like some people wanted, but a step in that direction for the social media company. What it does is turn your Google Android phone into a giant Facebook app with constant updates.

At first, this may look like a positive step for Facebook or even another compelling reason to buy an Android phone. But I think it highlights the problems for both and will push consumers toward Apple .

Exacerbating Android’s problems
When Google created Android, the model was that it would give away the code (open source) in the hope that more people would use its other services like search, Gmail, Google Play, etc. As more versions of Android have been released and device manufacturers modify, or fork, the software, it dilutes the experience and becomes less of a benefit for Google. Facebook shows the weakness in Android because it essentially bypasses Google to make Android a Facebook device.

Amazon made a similar move when it launched the Kindle on a heavily forked version of Android. The company bypassed Google’s built-in ecosystem for its own ecosystem, which suited its own goals, which is the danger of creating open-source software.

The problem with so many different versions of Android and varying levels of modification is that it dilutes the experience for the user. An iPhone user knows how to use any other iPhone but every Android phone is different. The worst thing for Google is that a heavily forked Android device may not even use the programs Google was trying to promote in the first place.

All Facebook, all the time
I have a Facebook account, but I’ve said before that I’m about ready to drop it. I just don’t need useless updates from people I don’t talk to on a regular basis. And I definitely don’t need those updates on my home screen. 

I think Facebook Home runs the risk of overloading people with too much social media. Facebook is beyond the point where it’s a fun new app and it will eventually go too far. Maybe this is part of that breaking point for users.

It’s all about the experience
Where Apple has the lead over Android and now Facebook is in its consistent and elegant user experience. I think this highlights that difference and will comfort consumers who will become increasingly overwhelmed by the number of choices from Android.

Android offers a greater selection of devices, but it isn’t the same experience every time. For those who value consistency and ease of operation, Apple is still the way to go. I think Facebook Home only adds to the confusion about Android and will push users toward Apple.

Got Apple? Get smart.
There’s no doubt that Apple is at the center of technology’s largest revolution ever, and that longtime shareholders have been handsomely rewarded with over 1,000% …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Don't Laugh at the New Facebook Phone

By Rick Munarriz, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

We can finally bury the relentless Facebook Phone chatter.

There really is a Facebook-centric  phone coming, but thankfully it’s not as ridiculous as it may sound.

Facebook announced today that HTC and AT&T would be teaming up to introduce the first Facebook-optimized phone next week. HTC First will be available through AT&T Wireless on April 12 at a compelling price point of $99 with a two-year contract.

If this was the end, it would be a disaster for Facebook. Who wants a Facebook phone, especially one tethered to a two-year contract? Can anyone safely say that they will even care about social networking come 2015?

However, Facebook is actually doing this in a smart way. You don’t need to buy the HTC First to get the shiny new interface which powers up with visual updates and other nifty navigational features.

Facebook Home is a new home screen that will be available on several of the leading smartphones running Google‘s Android next Friday through the Google Play app store. HTC First naturally will have it pre-installed and the device itself is optimized for the interface, but anyone that doesn’t want to make that kind of investment can just stick with a Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One, or any of the other eligible devices.

If someone tires of Facebook Home and wants to revert back to a home screen that revolves around apps instead of people, it’s an easy process to undo.

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg began the presentation alluding to third-party data showing that more than 20% of someone’s time on a smartphone is spent engaging on Facebook — and that pops up to better than 25% when you tack on Facebook’s Instagram. Social apps make up the largest category of smartphone engagement.

Facebook is taking a logical and evolutionary step with Facebook Home, and that will hold true even if next week’s rollout of HTC First flops. Facebook knows what it’s doing.

Accept a friend request for deeper research
After the world’s most hyped IPO turned out to be a dunce, most investors probably don’t even want to think about shares of Facebook. But there are things every investor needs to know about this company. We’ve outlined them in our newest premium research report. There’s a lot more to Facebook than meets the eye, so read up on whether there is anything to “like” about it today, and we’ll tell you whether we think Facebook deserves a place in your portfolio. Access your report by clicking here.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Some Quick Privacy Thoughts On Facebook's 'Not-A-Phone-But-More-Than-An-App' Home

By Kashmir Hill, Forbes Staff

Facebook released a mobile thing today. It’s not a Facebook phone. But it’s more than an app. It’s like a digital skin that you slide your phone into so that it’s covered in sticky Facebook goodness. It’s a thing that you will be able to get pre-installed on some Android phones or download from Google Play. …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest

Playing the Numbers: Android Jelly Bean Users Hit 25%

By Chris Neiger, The Motley Fool

Distracted driver on phone doing makeup

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Just the other day, Google reworked how it determines which Android users are using which platform. The change caused the percentage of Android users on Jelly Bean to jump from 16% to 25%. But what does this change really mean?

The largest group of people who will most likely care about the change is Android app developers. Instead of gathering Android platform information when users access a Google server, the company is now looking at when a device accesses the Google Play store. This is relevant data for app developers who need to know which platform versions are most likely to download apps, so they can create apps that are compatible with the greatest number of Android devices.

Let’s take a look at how the Android devices break down:

Source: Android developer site.

I’ve written before about which devices developers want to create apps for, and these numbers play a key role in that decision. The smartphone wars aren’t just about bigger screens and better cameras — they’re also about whose operating system is the best and how many people are using it.

More than just numbers
There’s a back-and-forth battle going on between Apple and Google about how up-to-date their smartphone customers are. The problem for Android is that there’s major fragmentation across all of the platforms.

According to BGR, Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich (version 4.0) was supposed to be the unified platform that brought consistency to Android tablets and smartphones. But after launching in October 2011, only about 30% of Android users are on it, while almost 40% are on a version that was first released in 2010. In contrast, research firm Chitika reported at the end of February that 83% of iPhone users in North America are using iOS, Apple’s latest operating system.

Apple benefits from disjointed Android operating systems, given that smartphone user experience is a selling point for new devices. Lack off apps or apps that don’t update because the platform is outdated both hurt a user’s experience on that device.

But despite the varying Android operating systems on the market, Apple is fighting an uphill battle against the sheer number of Android phones on the market. Although Apple is typically more concerned about revenue market share and than shipment or sales market share, investors should take note that some users simply may not care which OS version they’re running. Time will tell whether or not fragmented Android versions will work in Apple’s favor, but for now I think the lack of cohesiveness among the Android versions and devices will eventually hurt Apple competitors.

There’s no doubt that Apple is at the center of technology’s largest revolution ever, and that longtime shareholders have been handsomely rewarded with over 1,000% gains. However, there is a debate raging as to whether Apple remains a buy. The Motley Fool’s senior technology analyst and managing bureau chief, Eric Bleeker, is prepared to fill you in on both …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

PCWorld Digital Magazine Enhanced iPad Edition now available to subscribers for free

At PCWorld we’ve been producing digital versions of our print magazine issues for the past 10 years. But during most of those years, the digital versions were available only in PDF format—first through Zinio, later through Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook, and most recently through Google Play—as exact copies of the print PCWorld magazine issues. In the past year, however, thanks to evolving technologies and capabilities, we’ve moved beyond the limitations of print (and PDF replication) to offer our readers a better digital magazine experience. Last May we launched the PCWorld Digital Magazine Enhanced iPad Edition, and now we’re now offering current print subscribers free access to it.

We’ve designed the Enhanced iPad Edition to deliver the best possible experience of PCWorld magazine on the iPad, optimizing the pages to work with all iPads (running iOS 5.0 or later) and including support for high-res Retina displays. The enhanced format enables us to provide rich multimedia content not available in print, including videos, interactive slideshows and features, and other multimedia elements. And because we’ve remastered the magazine content into an iPad-friendly layout, you can use the intuitive gestures and touchscreen capabilities native to the iPad to navigate through each issue. Your options include using the interactive table of contents, swiping from page to page, or gliding through article content from the tip of your finger. Embedded links take you directly to related information within the issue as well as to websites for additional content; and the app allows you to bookmark and share articles via email and Twitter.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Facebook Welcomes Investors Home

By Evan Niu, CFA, The Motley Fool

2013 Ford Explorer Sport in Yosemite with trees - front three-quarter view

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Today was a big day for Facebook . For the past week, investors have been scratching their heads wondering what the social network would unveil today at its media event, with the only clue being that it would have something to do with Google Android.

The company introduced Facebook Home, a layer of services that sits on top of Android phones. Shares are up almost 3% following the event, so investors are welcoming Home with open arms (and buy orders).

Facebook Home isn’t just an app; rather, it’s a set of Facebook’s services and features that gets integrated into Android devices. Mark Zuckerberg noted that smartphone usage is predominantly app-driven today. Even when you want to see what your friends are doing, you have to access various apps. Home seeks to put people first.

The company will accomplish this by replacing the home screen and lock screen with what it calls the “Cover Feed,” which displays what friends are currently doing. There will also be integrated messaging and notification capabilities. There is still a familiar app-launcher, but friends will take the spotlight.

HTC First. Source: Facebook.

The company has initially partnered with HTC and AT&T , and the first phone with Facebook Home will be, appropriately, the HTC First. AT&T scored early exclusivity not only with the First, but also with the first batch of Home-enabled smartphones. HTC‘s partnership is interesting, as Facebook Home would seemingly undermine its own new Blinkfeed feature found on its new flagship One device, which pretty much does exactly what Cover Feed does.

Facebook will also release Home in Google Play to open up all Android devices for integration. The company is also opening up a Facebook Home Program for other OEMs that want to add Home pre-installed out of the box.

Investors are encouraged by the fact that Facebook will eventually, though not at first, include ads in Home. That way Facebook can monetize Home in much the same way “sponsored stories” in its News Feeds have become a revenue generator.

After the world’s most hyped IPO turned out to be a dunce, most investors probably don’t even want to consider shares of Facebook. But there are things every investor needs to know about this company. We’ve outlined them in our newest premium research report. There’s a lot more to Facebook than meets the eye, so read up on whether there is anything to “like” about it today, and we’ll tell you whether we think Facebook deserves a place in your portfolio. Access your report by clicking here.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

LifeApps® Digital Media Inc. begins shipping the Golf Core Grip Workout System to Customers

By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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LifeApps® Digital Media Inc. begins shipping the Golf Core Grip Workout System to Customers

On April 1, 2013 LifeApps began fulfilling pre-orders for the Golf Core Grip Workout System

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– LifeApps Digital Media Inc. (OTCQB: LFAP), an emerging growth company and designer of applications (“apps”), new media, and next-generation social networks for sports, health, fitness and entertainment enthusiasts, is pleased to announce that the Golf Core Grip Workout System is immediately available for purchase at http://golfcoregrip.com. On April 1st, 2013 LifeApps began fulfilling pre-order purchases of the Golf Core Grip.

“We are very pleased to be shipping the Golf Core Grip. This is an important product for LifeApps that will drive revenues for the Company,” stated David S. Dawson, V.P. of Operations at LifeApps. “We’ve ramped up production and we’re driving the Core Grip to market now. We are seeing the results of our multiple revenue streams approach that we’ve been building towards and the Golf Core Grip launch is a key part of that strategy.”

The Golf Core Grip Workout System is a first of its kind golf fitness product designed to improve a golfer’s overall fitness, core strength, and stability. By incorporating golf-specific exercises and functional training drills the Core Grip develops key muscle groups while reinforcing the kinematic sequence of the golf swing of lower body, pelvis, torso, arms and hands. A companion Golf Core Grip app for iOS is available free on the App Store and is compatible with iPhone (3GS – 5), iPod touch, iPad and iPad mini. The app contains full instruction, HD video instruction and recording features for using the Golf Core Grip.

The Golf Core Grip App for iOS: http://appstore.com/golfcoregripcoregripworkoutsystems

The Golf Core Grip Website and Store:
http://golfcoregrip.com

About LifeApps Digital Media Inc.

LifeApps Digital Media Inc. (OTCQB: LFAP), is a digital media company focusing on health, fitness, sports publications, and next-generation social networks. The company is a leading, authorized developer, publisher and licensee for Apple iOS – iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad – and Android tablets on Google Play and Kindle Fire and Androids via Amazon Mobile Marketplace. Health, fitness and sports enthusiasts can benefit from the expertise of top-tier sports physicians, performance fitness trainers and professional athletes through LifeApps® multi-sport and fitness publications and mobile apps. These …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Facebook Introduces Facebook Home

By Evan Niu, CFA, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Social network Facebook (NAS: FB) has unveiled a new offering called Home at its media event today. Home is more than just a single app and is more of a layer of services that get integrated into Google (NAS: GOOG) Android devices. Mark Zuckerberg said the idea is to emphasize people over apps.

Part of Home is a Cover feed that replaces a smartphone’s home and lock screens and shows what friends are doing. There are also ways to chat and message friends easier, as well as a notification system.

Facebook is supporting a handful of devices initially, including the new HTC First, which is the first to get Home. Facebook said it will continue partnering with OEMs to have Home preinstalled, and Home will also be available for download from Google Play on April 12.


 

The article Facebook Introduces Facebook Home originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Facebook and Google. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

'Game On!' Says Tomoko Namba, Founder of DeNA

By Tatiana Serafin, Contributor

Check out Google Play‘s top grossing app chart and you will find Blood Brothers, Marvel: War of Heroes and Rage of Bahamut occupying three of the top five positions. In December Blood Brothers, where the vampire is the good guy uniting his allies against his enemies in a pact of blood, was No. 1 in 33 countries and regions. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest

Forget Google's Chromebook — Where's an Androidbook?

By Evan Niu, CFA, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Search giant Google‘s Chromebook push is less than three years young. In that time, Big G has expanded the lineup to include numerous OEMs, and most recently added a super high-end Pixel model that sports a touchscreen and $1,299 price tag.

There’s also been much speculation that Google may eventually merge Chrome OS and Android, a possibility that Fellow Fool Tim Beyers is betting on, even as Chairman Eric Schmidt seemingly shot down that idea last month. Android chief Andy Rubin stepping down and handing over the mobile keys to Chrome exec Sundar Pichai certainly fuels the speculative flames further.

What about an Androidbook?

That’s what DIGITIMES is now suggesting is in the works; the Taiwanese publication is pegging the late third quarter or early fourth quarter as a tentative launch date for such a device. There are some laptops running Android already out there, but none officially from Google.

While an Androidbook would theoretically be able to benefit from the massive number of Android apps available in Google Play, most of those apps are tailored for smartphone displays and to a lesser extent, tablet displays. Android has integrated scaling algorithms, but that sometimes results in wasted space in apps that are just scaled up.

At the same time, it would likely be a cheap experiment for Google to pursue. PC vendors would probably sign up to further diversify their portfolios away from Microsoft Windows 8, since that platform has received a lukewarm reception at best. Hewlett-Packard now offers Chromebooks for exactly this reason as part of its multiplatform strategy, making it conceivable that the PC giant could be interested in Androidbooks, too.

Thus far, Chromebooks have failed to make a meaningful dent in the broader PC market, while Android is taking the mobile world by storm. Would you buy an Androidbook?

As one of the most dominant Internet companies ever, Google has made a habit of driving strong returns for its shareholders. However, like many other web companies, it’s also struggling to adapt to an increasingly mobile world. Despite gaining an enviable lead with its Android operating system, the market isn’t sold. That’s why it’s more important than ever to understand each piece of Google’s sprawling empire. In The Motley Fool’s new premium research report on Google, we break down the risks and potential rewards for Google investors. Simply click here now to unlock your copy of this invaluable resource.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

What to Expect From Facebook's Android Announcement on Thursday

By Evan Niu, CFA, The Motley Fool

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We’re now just two days away from a media event that social networker Facebook is hosting. Despite intense competition with Google on the ad front, the main topic will be something related to Android. The event’s tag line makes it clear: “Come see our new home on Android.”

Source: 9to5Google.

While speculation has persisted for years that Facebook has been exploring a bona fide first-party Facebook Phone, that strategy has simply never made sense for the company. Even Mark Zuckerberg knows it, so investors can promptly rule out that possibility.

There’s also been talk that Facebook could fork Android in much the same way that Amazon has with its Kindle Fire family of tablets, although the problem there is that Facebook doesn’t have the necessary content pieces to launch a full-blown smartphone platform of its own.

Both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have pitched in with rumors of what Facebook has up its sleeve.

The only remaining possibility, then, is for Facebook to pursue a new level of integration with an existing platform in an effort to expand its reach and bolster user engagement. For example, Facebook inked an important deal with Apple to get the social network integrated directly into both iOS and OS X. Nokia also unveiled the Asha 205 last year, which features a dedicated Facebook button, a device similar to the HTC ChaCha that was launched a couple years ago.

Chances are that Facebook is hooking up with HTC again for a new smartphone dubbed “Myst.” Android Police was able to procure a system software dump of the unreleased device, and it appears that “Facebook Home” will be a launcher replacement for Android that taps directly into numerous Facebook apps and social services. Facebook Home will be built on top of HTC’s Sense 4.5, an older version of the OEM’s custom software layer.

The mid-range device looks like it will sport a previous generation Qualcomm Snapdragon and run on AT&T‘s network. There is also indication that Facebook Home is being built to support other Android layers, such as Samsung’s TouchWiz, which hints at a broader Google Play release.

By the looks of it, Facebook Home is exactly the strategy that Facebook should be pursuing: partnering with as many OEMs as possible to expand its reach and strengthen its network effects while leaving hardware to the OEMs.

After the world’s most hyped IPO turned out to be a dunce, most investors probably don’t even want to think about shares of Facebook. But there are things every investor needs to know about this company. We’ve outlined them in our newest premium research report. There’s a lot more to Facebook than meets the eye, so read up on whether there is anything to “like” about it today, and we’ll tell you whether we think Facebook deserves a place in your portfolio. Access your report by clicking here.

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Apple Continues Its Mobile-Browser Domination

By Evan Niu, CFA, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

In recent times, Apple has been trying to shift consumer focus away from market share in unit terms while emphasizing different usage statistics, arguing that even though people may buy competing devices, they might not be using them as much.

Well, if the Mac maker is looking for more ammo, it needs to look no further than new data out from Net Applications. The mobile version of Apple’s Safari browser has now reached 61.8% in March, well ahead of Google‘s Android browser at 21.9%. Opera Mini ranked third with 8.4% share, and Google’s Chrome grabbed a 2.4% share. Microsoft Internet Explorer earned just 2%.

Chrome for Android only launched just over a year ago, which means all smartphones running older versions of Android (which is a lot) don’t get the popular browser as a default. It can still be downloaded manually from Google Play, but the figures imply that most users just stick with what’s already there.

Apple’s figure in March was a jump from the 55.4% it posted in February, although its mobile browser share tends to fluctuate between 60% and 66% most of the time. Apple offers other browsers on its iOS platform, but subtly undermines them by only allowing Safari as the default and prohibiting alternatives from using the Nitro JavaScript Engine for better performance (Apple claims this is for security reasons).

Browser usage is just one of the numerous ways in which tech heavyweights vie for consumer mindshare, since browsers allow companies to shape how we view the Internet. Browser choice has even landed Microsoft in hot regulatory water recently, when it agreed to pay up a $732 million fine to the European Commission.

While you may think that Apple’s mobile browser share would draw regulatory scrutiny, it’s still hard to argue that Apple’s mildly anticompetitive practices are translating into total market domination, since regulators tend to focus more on unit share over usage share.

Still, the figures raise an obvious question: Why aren’t Android users browsing the web more?

It’s incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies. Find out “Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?” in The Motley Fool’s latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and AmazonClick here to keep reading.

The article Apple Continues Its Mobile-Browser Domination originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, Apple, Facebook, and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

WWE® and The Rock Unveil "Rockpocalypse" Mobile Game

By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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WWE ® and The Rock Unveil “Rockpocalypse” Mobile Game

STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE, in partnership with WWE Champion Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, today announced its first-ever 3D action mobile game titled WWE Presents: Rockpocalypse. The free mobile app is available for download from Apple iTunes and Google Play for use on iOS iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Android devices.

“This is WWE‘s first ‘action strategy’ game and we’re thrilled that WWE Champion The Rock is right at the center of it,” said Perkins Miller, Executive Vice President of Digital Media, WWE. “Our fans have come to expect compelling content from WWE on every platform and this high energy game with customizable experiences will once again deliver.”

“I am excited to partner with WWE and some of the best game developers in the world to bring something cool for fans to play,” said The Rock. “Boots to Asses style app…this will be fun!”

The game takes place on the set of a fictional Hollywood studio where The Rock is filming his latest blockbuster. Without warning, everyone around him is infected with a disease and starts changing into destructive personalities. The Rock must discover the truth behind the contagion and put an end to it. Players control The Rock as he powers through each battle, all the while looking for clues to help unravel the mystery and stop the contagion. Available in-app purchases for equipment and skills allow players to enhance their game play.

The app was built in partnership with Thruster, a division of BottleRocket.

For more information on the app, go to iTunes, Google Play or visit WWE.com.

About WWE:

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYS: WWE) , is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 600 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE (NYS: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Samsung's Latest Attempt to Steal Google's Spotlight

By Evan Niu, CFA, The Motley Fool

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There should be no doubting now that Samsung is trying to undermine Google as much as it is Apple. The South Korean conglomerate’s penchant for imitation shows no sign of abating, and the company is now broadening this strategy beyond hardware and aggressively trying to get into content and services.

Samsung is naming its storefront the remarkably self-explanatory Samsung Content & Services, which will take direct shots at both the iTunes App Store and Google Play. Following its latest Apple carbon copy of the Passbook app, Samsung is now introducing AllShare Play and Find My Mobile services, which are the company’s versions of AirPlay and Find My iPhone.

AllShare Play. Source: Samsung.

The repository was launched just two days ago and the app section looks uncannily similar to Google Play. Last month at Mobile World Congress, Samsung made it clear that bolstering its content and services platform was a critical strategic goal this year, according to Korea IT News.

Going rogue
There’s been some speculation recently that Samsung may be interested in forking Android at some point in the near future in order to gain more control over the user experience. However, that would entail some major risks and undoubtedly ruin its relationship with the search giant, which it still relies on for the operating system that powers all of its most popular mobile gadgets.

If Samsung were to theoretically go completely rogue, it would stop getting early access to the newest Android builds along with other forms of collaboration from Google. All of Big G’s services that tie directly into Android could potentially go by the wayside. That could prove fatal for Samsung’s prospects, especially in the important U.S. market.

It’s been done before
Although if history has any lessons for us, look no further than Amazon.com . To date, the e-tail giant has been the most successful Android forker with its Kindle Fire family of tablets.

Amazon grabbed 11.5% of the tablet market in the fourth quarter with 6 million units shipped, and all of those devices are feeding directly into its own content and services offerings instead of Google’s official Android outlets. Amazon is the success story for any would-be forkers to emulate.

It all started when Amazon initially set up its Appstore for Android back in March 2011 — six months before it launched the first Kindle Fire. At the time, there was much speculation that Amazon was preparing a new line of hardware, and opening a distinct Android store that was separate from Google’s made the e-tailer’s intentions crystal clear.

Amazon wouldn’t have been able to succeed without the Appstore, and it already had plenty of other types of digital content to complement. Setting up a separate storefront is the first step on the path to forking — a step that Samsung is now taking.

Baby steps
While it’s a long journey from setting up shop to going completely rogue with a fully …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Microsoft May Be in Better Shape Than You Think

By Doug Ehrman, The Motley Fool

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As much as the blogosphere and Wall Street analysts tend to love Apple , they tend to malign Microsoft . One of the Achilles’ heels that the company has faced in the smartphone wars is that its app store has not been on par with Apple’s. When Microsoft recently made a major push to “catch up,” even this move was not particularly well received by the Street. Ultimately, Microsoft is making important progress in smartphones, tablets, and gaming, while maintaining its core enterprise business. The naysayers may shout loudest, but I believe Microsoft remains an absolute must-own name in the space.

The app store shuffle
There can be no doubt that Microsoft has a truly Herculean task ahead of it if it is going to assemble an app store that can be seriously discussed in the context of Apple’s iTunes or Google‘s Play. To help address the problem, Microsoft debuted a development initiative called “Keep the Cash.” Under the promotion, developers can earn $100 for every app that they publish for either Windows Phone or Windows 8 through the company’s app store. The program caps the awards at $2,000 per user and a total of 10,000 awarded apps, meaning the company will spend up to $1 million to keep building out it offerings.

Rather than being praised for the initiative, one analyst, Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy, questioned the message the program sends. Other analysts questioned what level of developer would be incentivized by a paltry $100, and others expressed concern that the program would lead to high volume, not high-quality apps.

This seems to be another example of Microsoft’s poor reputation leading the story. While Microsoft currently has around 50,000 apps, it is pushing to grow this number. In many cases, being able to boast a high number is as important as what those apps actually do. The core apps that most people use are available across platforms in many cases. As the Windows OS becomes more popular, more and more commercial apps will be offered on Windows, so a push to hit some critical mass seems like something to be applauded, not ridiculed.

To put this in some context, at least in my opinion, when Google’s Android was sitting where Windows currently sits, the naysayers were just as loud. Why would anyone buy Android when there are so many more apps available for iPhone? Google ignored the doubters and swelled to own the global market. Furthermore, and I know that this is not specifically the point, but of the 700,000 apps available on both Android and iTunes, how many are regularly used? According to some reports as many as 400,000 of those apps have never been downloaded. But 700,000 is still bigger than 50,000.

Other developments
Beyond apps, Microsoft is expected to release its latest video game console in the next few days. The new device, Xbox 720, will face stiffer competition from mobile devices than any previous …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Chuck E. Cheese's Goes High-Tech Launching Augmented Reality App – Chuck E.'s Say Cheese!

By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Chuck E. Cheese’s Goes High-Tech Launching Augmented Reality App – Chuck E.’s Say Cheese!

The family entertainment leader’s first app invites families to interact and take photos with the brand’s updated mascot on their next visit

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Augmented reality took center stage at this month’s SXSW as many companies debuted apps allowing consumers to pre-plan living spaces or find their vehicle. This week, America’s favorite mouse is getting in on the action with the development and introduction of Chuck E. Cheese’s first-ever downloadable app, Chuck E.’s Say Cheese!, from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Available for free download today, the new Say Cheese! App makes trips to Chuck E. Cheese’s even more fun for kids of all ages. Using augmented reality, the app allows parents and kids to take fun photos with an animated version of Chuck E. Cheese on any visit to the family restaurant and gaming center.

After the meal has been enjoyed, games have been played and prizes have been chosen, a trip to Chuck E. Cheese’s is all about the lasting memories families make by enjoying time together. Knowing that photo sharing helps capture those moments of unleashed joy in a tangible way, family entertainment leader, Chuck E. Cheese’s, began researching and developing a new in-store attraction to enhance that part of the experience.

“What differentiates Chuck E. Cheese’s from other family entertainment options is interaction with Chuck E. himself. Since launching our contemporized mascot last summer, we’ve been committed to increasing the breadth of that interaction for families. Augmented reality is perfect for that,” said Scott McDaniel, chief marketing officer of CEC Entertainment, Inc., Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company. “We know our guests are very mobile, and from their feedback we also know they love sharing their memories and photos with their families, friends and even with us. By tapping into augmented reality technology we’ve created a completely unique experience that brings parents and kids into a Chuck E. performance like never before.”

After downloading the free Say Cheese! App at home or while in stores, guests can look for pink, orange and blue “Say Cheese Here!” signs that serve as in-store hotspots on tabletops, the sides of games and backdrops throughout every Chuck E. Cheese’s location to activate the app’s augmented reality camera. When launching the app for the first time, guests will see simple step-by-step instructions for putting it into action.

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

LifeApps® Digital Media Announces Acquisition of Today's New Deal

By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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LifeApps® Digital Media Announces Acquisition of Today’s New Deal

Today’s New Deal assets, including todaysnewdeal.com, acquired by LifeApps Digital Media to be enhanced for a Summer 2013 launch including an m-Commerce mobile app companion.

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– LifeApps Digital Media Inc. (OTCQB: LFAP), an emerging growth company and designer of applications (“apps”), new media, and next-generation social networks for sports, health, fitness and entertainment enthusiasts, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Today’s New Deal, a Southern California based daily deal website and email marketing newsletter service. LifeApps has acquired all assets of the Today’s New Deal website, newsletter system and Today’s New Deal’s approximately 40,000 registered users.

“We are looking forward to branding Today’s New Deal as a sports, health and fitness specific daily deals site combined with an m-Commerce mobile app companion,” stated LifeApps CEO, Robert Gayman. “The Southern California region, from Ventura County through Los Angeles and San Diego, is a very health conscious, e-commerce and mobile health friendly area. We know that the sports, health and fitness targeted daily deals that Today’s New Deal will be delivering are going to be of great interest to the approximately 40,000 existing subscribers of Today’s New Deal. We also believe narrowing the focus of the deals to our specific sports, health and fitness market will help us improve the deals that are offered through Today’s New Deal and grow its subscriber base.”

LifeApps will brand the Today’s New Deal service with a new look, new logo and a companion m-Commerce mobile app and will launch the new service this summer. David S. Dawson, LifeApps VP of Operations states, “We want to improve the usefulness of the service. We will make the online service more current and visually appealing. We will also build an m-Commerce Today’s New Deal mobile app that will further simplify users’ ability to access their deals after they’ve subscribed. We want to make Today’s New Deal Southern California‘s go-to e-Commerce and m-Commerce service for sports, health and fitness services and products deals.”

About LifeApps Digital Media Inc.

LifeApps Digital Media Inc. (OTCQB: LFAP), is a digital media company focusing on health, fitness, sports publications, and next-generation social networks. The company is a leading, authorized developer, publisher and licensee for Apple iOS – iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad – and Android tablets on Google Play and Kindle Fire and Androids via Amazon Mobile Marketplace. Health, fitness and sports enthusiasts can benefit from the …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance