Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Google protests Apple's developers agreement
SAN FRANCISCO, US: Google Inc said recent changes to Apple's developers agreement would effectively cripple Google's advertising tools for the iPhone, creating "artificial" barriers to competition.
Apple changed the language of the agreement . As written, it appears to prohibit certain third-party ad agencies from collecting critical usage data from iPhone applications.
This would hamper rival ad agencies' ability to target their ads and make it more difficult to compete with Apple's own ad network, which is set to launch July 1.
"This change is not in the best interests of users or developers," Omar Hamoui, founder of mobile ad company AdMob, said in a blog post. AdMob was recently purchased by Google.
Hamoui said Google will raise its concerns with Apple, which has declined to comment on the new terms of its developers agreement.
"Artificial barriers to competition hurt users and developers and, in the long run, stall technological progress," Hamoui said.
AdMob recently disclosed that roughly one-third of the ads it served in April were for devices running the iPhone platform. The iPad and the iPod touch also use the software.
The initial language of Apple's new iPhone developers agreement, which emerged in April, prohibited data about app usage to be transmitted to any outside analytics companies, which help agencies target their ads.
Those rules rankled some app developers and generated questions from the Federal Trade Commission, one developer said.
The updated language -- which was first noted by the MediaMemo blog -- appeared to put in place significant new restrictions, particularly when it comes to Google.
It allows user data to be transmitted only to "an independent advertising service provider whose primary business is serving mobile ads," one that is not affiliated with "a developer or distributor of mobile devices, mobile operating systems."
This would effectively bar Google, which designed the Android mobile operating system and makes the Nexus One smartphone.
Google paid $750 million for AdMob. After holding the deal up for six months, the FTC approved it last month, saying Apple's entry into the mobile ad market would increase competition.
Apple purchased mobile ad company Quattro Wireless in January, after being outbid by Google for AdMob.
In April, Apple unveiled iAd, its own advertising network, which will sell and host ads on the iPhone platform. Apple said it has already reeled in $60 million worth of commitments for mobile ads.
Apple changed the language of the agreement . As written, it appears to prohibit certain third-party ad agencies from collecting critical usage data from iPhone applications.
This would hamper rival ad agencies' ability to target their ads and make it more difficult to compete with Apple's own ad network, which is set to launch July 1.
"This change is not in the best interests of users or developers," Omar Hamoui, founder of mobile ad company AdMob, said in a blog post. AdMob was recently purchased by Google.
Hamoui said Google will raise its concerns with Apple, which has declined to comment on the new terms of its developers agreement.
"Artificial barriers to competition hurt users and developers and, in the long run, stall technological progress," Hamoui said.
AdMob recently disclosed that roughly one-third of the ads it served in April were for devices running the iPhone platform. The iPad and the iPod touch also use the software.
The initial language of Apple's new iPhone developers agreement, which emerged in April, prohibited data about app usage to be transmitted to any outside analytics companies, which help agencies target their ads.
Those rules rankled some app developers and generated questions from the Federal Trade Commission, one developer said.
The updated language -- which was first noted by the MediaMemo blog -- appeared to put in place significant new restrictions, particularly when it comes to Google.
It allows user data to be transmitted only to "an independent advertising service provider whose primary business is serving mobile ads," one that is not affiliated with "a developer or distributor of mobile devices, mobile operating systems."
This would effectively bar Google, which designed the Android mobile operating system and makes the Nexus One smartphone.
Google paid $750 million for AdMob. After holding the deal up for six months, the FTC approved it last month, saying Apple's entry into the mobile ad market would increase competition.
Apple purchased mobile ad company Quattro Wireless in January, after being outbid by Google for AdMob.
In April, Apple unveiled iAd, its own advertising network, which will sell and host ads on the iPhone platform. Apple said it has already reeled in $60 million worth of commitments for mobile ads.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Google Buys Bump Technologies
Google has been making acquisitions at a rapid clip and May 3,2010 added another new company to the fold in Bump Technologies, maker of 3D desktop offering BumpTop.
The Bump Technologies acquisition boosts the number of public acquisitions that Google has made so far in 2010 to nine.Bump Technologies revealed the deal on Friday. Google reportedly confirmed the purchase of the three-year-old Bump Technologies, but did not disclose financial terms or additional information. Google could not be reached for additional comment.Google's acquisition of BumpTop could be a sign that Google is looking to take on Apple and its widely popular iPhone smartphone and iPad tablet. BumpTop uses what the company calls pile creation techniques for 3D multitouch desktops on Windows and Macs. The technology lets users scroll through and shuffle documents from the desktop, as seen in this video demo of BumpTop.
Google could add the BumpTop technology to its line of Google Android smartphones and rumored Android tablet to enable multitouch and offer a unique interface experience with a 3D desktop UI.
The acquisition of BumpTop follows a string of recent pickups by the US-based search giant, which this year has acquired a host of other companies including social search company Aardvark; hardware maker Agnilux; Microsoft Office collaboration suite DocVerse; video streaming company Episodic; game application and widget maker LabPixies; online photo editor Picnik; visual search provider Plink; and mobile email provider reMail.Google's 2010 acquisitions follow a trajectory started in late 2009, with the August purchase of video codec provider On2 Technologies followed by the $750 million acquisition of mobile ad maker AdMob, which is still pending approval by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The Bump Technologies acquisition boosts the number of public acquisitions that Google has made so far in 2010 to nine.Bump Technologies revealed the deal on Friday. Google reportedly confirmed the purchase of the three-year-old Bump Technologies, but did not disclose financial terms or additional information. Google could not be reached for additional comment.Google's acquisition of BumpTop could be a sign that Google is looking to take on Apple and its widely popular iPhone smartphone and iPad tablet. BumpTop uses what the company calls pile creation techniques for 3D multitouch desktops on Windows and Macs. The technology lets users scroll through and shuffle documents from the desktop, as seen in this video demo of BumpTop.
Google could add the BumpTop technology to its line of Google Android smartphones and rumored Android tablet to enable multitouch and offer a unique interface experience with a 3D desktop UI.
The acquisition of BumpTop follows a string of recent pickups by the US-based search giant, which this year has acquired a host of other companies including social search company Aardvark; hardware maker Agnilux; Microsoft Office collaboration suite DocVerse; video streaming company Episodic; game application and widget maker LabPixies; online photo editor Picnik; visual search provider Plink; and mobile email provider reMail.Google's 2010 acquisitions follow a trajectory started in late 2009, with the August purchase of video codec provider On2 Technologies followed by the $750 million acquisition of mobile ad maker AdMob, which is still pending approval by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Google comes with services, apps for iPad
Search engine giant, Google announced that it has optimized few services and introduced apps for the recently launched Apple iPad.
Google released an experimental user interface, with two-pane view for list of conversations and messages, for the iPad built on the Gmail for mobile HTML5 web app.
This interface was launched last year for the iPhone and Android devices.
“ Tablets like the iPad give us even more room to innovate,” said a blog post by Punit Soni, product manager, Google Mobile.
The blog further said that the iPad user would see something different of Gmail than what is seen on the desktop.
“ We’ve evaluated the behavior of each Google web app using the iPad Simulator, and we are serving the interface we feel works best. If you’d like any help using our products on iPad, please click the 'Help' link within the product,” wrote Soni.
iPad would also feature various other apps of Google, such as YouTube, Maps, search by voice and My Location. These can be downloaded at the App store.
Another blog post by Alastair Tse, Software Engineer at the Google Mobile website said, “ While this first version of Google Mobile App for iPad is essentially the same app we’ve built for iPhone, we’re working on improving Google Mobile App so that it takes advantage of iPad’s features.”
Google released an experimental user interface, with two-pane view for list of conversations and messages, for the iPad built on the Gmail for mobile HTML5 web app.
This interface was launched last year for the iPhone and Android devices.
“ Tablets like the iPad give us even more room to innovate,” said a blog post by Punit Soni, product manager, Google Mobile.
The blog further said that the iPad user would see something different of Gmail than what is seen on the desktop.
“ We’ve evaluated the behavior of each Google web app using the iPad Simulator, and we are serving the interface we feel works best. If you’d like any help using our products on iPad, please click the 'Help' link within the product,” wrote Soni.
iPad would also feature various other apps of Google, such as YouTube, Maps, search by voice and My Location. These can be downloaded at the App store.
Another blog post by Alastair Tse, Software Engineer at the Google Mobile website said, “ While this first version of Google Mobile App for iPad is essentially the same app we’ve built for iPhone, we’re working on improving Google Mobile App so that it takes advantage of iPad’s features.”
Friday, April 9, 2010
Sybase extends support for iPad, Android devices
DUBLIN, Calif.: Sybase, Inc., a provider in enterprise and mobile software, recently announced support for iPad and Android devices with the latest release of Afaria.
With strong consumer adoption of highly functional mobile devices, enterprises are now able to embrace this widespread demand by providing secure access to corporate information.
With the new ability to secure and manage iPad and Android, Sybase extends its ubiquitous device support to a list that includes iPhone, Windows Mobile, Windows, Symbian and BlackBerry, said a press release.
The features of the solution include:
* Ability to manage Android devices from the Afaria console, enabling IT to configure devices, control password
policies, perform remote kill and more.
* Expanded management capabilities including the ability to perform a remote kill for iPhone and iPad.
* Expanded security to block unknown or non-compliant devices from accessing corporate assets for the
iPhone, iPad, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms.
* Enhancements to scalability, ensuring iPhone and iPad management is highly scalable for on-premise
deployments as well as when managed in a hosted environment.
With strong consumer adoption of highly functional mobile devices, enterprises are now able to embrace this widespread demand by providing secure access to corporate information.
With the new ability to secure and manage iPad and Android, Sybase extends its ubiquitous device support to a list that includes iPhone, Windows Mobile, Windows, Symbian and BlackBerry, said a press release.
The features of the solution include:
* Ability to manage Android devices from the Afaria console, enabling IT to configure devices, control password
policies, perform remote kill and more.
* Expanded management capabilities including the ability to perform a remote kill for iPhone and iPad.
* Expanded security to block unknown or non-compliant devices from accessing corporate assets for the
iPhone, iPad, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms.
* Enhancements to scalability, ensuring iPhone and iPad management is highly scalable for on-premise
deployments as well as when managed in a hosted environment.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Google launches Nexus One mobile handset
The device combines the latest in hardware from HTC Corporation with the newest Android software.
"The Nexus One belongs in the emerging class of devices which we call 'superphones,' with the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset making it as powerful as your laptop computer of three to four years ago," said Andy Rubin, VP of Engineering at Google.
"It's our way to raise the bar on what's possible when it comes to creating the best mobile experience for consumers."
Google's Nexus One is only 11.5mm thick and weighs just 130g.
Onboard memory consists of 512MB Flash memory and 512MB RAM.
Expandable memory consists of a 4GB removable SD Card, expandable to 32GB.
The Nexus One runs on Android 2.1, a version of the platform's Eclair software, which offers advanced applications and features including Google Maps Navigation, including offering turn-by-turn driving directions with voice output; email; and Android Market to access over 18,000 applications.
Consumers can buy the Nexus One through Google's Web store at www.google.com/phone without service (so that any GSM network SIM card can be inserted into the device) for US$529, or with service from one of Google's operator partners.
Google has announced that it will initially take orders from consumers in the US, UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
"The Nexus One belongs in the emerging class of devices which we call 'superphones,' with the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset making it as powerful as your laptop computer of three to four years ago," said Andy Rubin, VP of Engineering at Google.
"It's our way to raise the bar on what's possible when it comes to creating the best mobile experience for consumers."
Google's Nexus One is only 11.5mm thick and weighs just 130g.
Onboard memory consists of 512MB Flash memory and 512MB RAM.
Expandable memory consists of a 4GB removable SD Card, expandable to 32GB.
The Nexus One runs on Android 2.1, a version of the platform's Eclair software, which offers advanced applications and features including Google Maps Navigation, including offering turn-by-turn driving directions with voice output; email; and Android Market to access over 18,000 applications.
Consumers can buy the Nexus One through Google's Web store at www.google.com/phone without service (so that any GSM network SIM card can be inserted into the device) for US$529, or with service from one of Google's operator partners.
Google has announced that it will initially take orders from consumers in the US, UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Microsoft to introduce new licensing scheme for Office 2010
Microsoft is implementing a new sales strategy with the coming release of its Office 2010 it says should make it easier to sell and deploy for channel partners, but one that could take away their opportunities to sell upgrades.
With the launch of Microsoft Office 2010, expected on June 15, the vendor wants to pre-load a new Office image that includes all three versions of the application on between 80 percent and 100 percent of all new systems sold, said Vic Barakat, OEM distribution partner account manager at Microsoft.
With the launch of Microsoft Office 2010, expected on June 15, the vendor wants to pre-load a new Office image that includes all three versions of the application on between 80 percent and 100 percent of all new systems sold, said Vic Barakat, OEM distribution partner account manager at Microsoft.
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