ITV

Category: Software

  • Google buys new startups-Emu and Directr

    Google buys new startups-Emu and Directr

    MUMBAI: Google recently acquired two start-up companies; a movie making app Directr and a messaging app Emu. The acquisitions were made to augment its messaging technology and its video advertising business.

     

     The move was confirmed by the Emu team on its website. The announcement said, “As of 25 August 2014, we’ll be shutting down the Emu app. It will no longer be available in the App Store and existing users won’t be able to send, receive or download messages.”

     

    Founded by a former employee of Apple and Google Gummi Hafsteinsson and Dave Feldman, who previously worked for Microsoft and Yahoo, Emu, the instant mobile messaging app also integrates Siri or Google Now-like virtual assistant.

     

     “We know it’s an inconvenience and we regret that,” Emu said on its website.

     

    The Emu messenger app made its debut on Android in October last year, while the Emu for iPhone app began in April this year.

     

    Google’s YouTube unit acquired a mobile-video app Directr- a two-year old company used by small businesses to create marketing promotional videos. According to an announcement by the company, the app will now be available free without the in-app fees, which was up to $500 for the premium offering.

     

    Corroborating the acquisition, the Directr team said “We are incredibly excited to take the next step on that journey and announce that we are joining the video ads team at YouTube. For now, everything you love about Directr is staying the same and we’ll continue to focus on helping businesses create great video quickly and easily. One immediate bonus: Directr will soon be all free, all the time.”

     

    Directr offers a mobile app for Apple iOS platform that makes it easy for small businesses to shoot, edit and upload short videos. It assists users with frame selection and building a storyboard, adding background music, and subtitles. The Directr iOS apps come in two variants; one for personal use and one for business.

     

    YouTube also declared the acquisition on Google+ saying, “Directr is joining the YouTube ads team, where they’ll help us make it easier for advertisers to create and upload awesome videos.”

  • Vh1 goes mobile

    Vh1 goes mobile

    MUMBAI: Vh1, India’s coolest destination for international entertainment, is set to step out of television sets and go mobile with the launch of Vh1 Mobile-app. Smartphone users now have the opportunity to tune-in to exciting international entertainmentas well as their favourite content from the channelwhile in transit.

    The launch of Vh1 Mobile App makes the best of English entertainment and international content available for FREE on iOS,Android, Windows as well as Nokia X series, customized for both, mobile and tablet users.

    TheVh1 mobile-app gives music-enthusiasts a chance to experience the awesomeness of Vh1 on the go by making videos and episodes of shows airing on the channel available on the website. Apart from music and videos, the mobile-app also links users to featured articles as well as live twitter feeds by their favourite artistes, making all important music-related information available on one page.

    The mobile app will additionally provide information such as the best of gigs taking place around town, gripping Celebrity gossip, regular Entertainment news, VH1 top music charts and much more.

    Announcing the Vh1 mobile app launch, Ferzad Palia, EVP & Head – English Entertainment, Viacom18 says, “The emergence of smartphones has revolutionized the way entertainment is consumed by viewers.With the launch of Vh1 Mobile-app, we aim to further engage with the youth on-the-move. This launch helps take the brand Vh1 a step ahead by offering the best of English entertainment through just one-touch on their screens.”

    Commenting on the offering of Vh1 Mobile app, Rajneel, VP & Business Head – Digital Media, viacom18 says, “The launch of Vh1 Mobile App is a more effective way to connect with today’s screen-agers. This audience is constantly on-the-move and heavily dependent on technology. The mobile app is not restricted to being just an extension of the channel; Vh1 Mobile App offers the best of international content that is not even available on the channel. The app is designed to be user-friendly and is regularly refreshed ensuring users are offered updated content at all times.”
    Known for offering the best of international music and entertainment, the launch of Vh1 mobile-app makes it convenient for all music-enthusiasts to carry their entertainment wherever they go!

  • Google’s Android eyes TV market

    Google’s Android eyes TV market

    MUMBAI: The fight isn’t limited to content alone; the battle amongst various players is now all about who will come up with a smarter TV viewing experience. Launched recently, Google interface Android TV aims to do just that.

     

    The new interface is an extension of Google’s operating system which will take Android to the living room in the form of its upcoming version Android L. It can run on various products mainly smart TVs, set top boxes (STBs), smart watches and cars. Google’s earlier TV product, Chromecast, that was launched in 2010 as a plug-in device for television sets allowed viewers to send data from their phones and tabs on to the big screen using wi-fi. The product had failed to excite users.

     

    The USP of the new interface is that Android tablets, phones and watches can be used as remote control; all one needs is a D-pad and a microphone to send audio commands. The screen has three parts: recommendations, games and applications. It will also hold custom-made apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Pandora along with its own apps like YouTube, Hangout etc. The smart TV powered by Android TV can also reorganise its screen based on usage patterns.

     

    All of Sony’s HD and 4k (ultra HD), Phillips, Sharp and TP Vision television sets will support Android TV from 2015. Asus and Razor are the only confirmed set-top boxes to have taken up Android TV to focus on gaming.

     

    The software development kit for Android Auto will be launched later with Google’s list of nearly 40 partners such as Bentley, Ferrari, Audi, Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Suzuki, Skoda and Honda.

     

    Android TV runs on various hardwares and isn’t restricted to just STBs unlike its competitors Apple TV and Amazon Fire. Its main objective is to enhance the internet viewing experience on television. Google will launch Android TV and Android L simultaneously post September 2014. 

  • Enjoy music offline, thanks to Hungama PRO

    Enjoy music offline, thanks to Hungama PRO

    MUMBAI: Various studies have highlighted the increase of smartphones and tablets in the country which in return has been a boon for the Indian telecom industries.

     

    There are nearly 850 million mobile subscribes in the country according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and while the total mobile services market revenue in India currently is $ 29.8 billion, it can reach $37 billion by 2017.

     

    Mobile accounts for 90 per cent of digital music consumption and 73 per cent internet penetration is fuelled by the proliferation of smartphones, there is an upswing in the digital consumption of media content in India.

     

    With an aim to cash in on this digital wave Hungama Digital Media Entertainment has launched a PRO service for its mobile app which the company claims has grown exponentially. The service introduces a new feature, caching of content which has been developed specifically for markets like India.

     

    The app was launched last year in April with over five and a half million installations.

     

    What lead to the upgradation of the app is based on consumer feedback. The company believes that today people don’t just listen to music but watch it as well. Hence, with the PRO service Hungama has become one of the first platforms to offer integrated music video streaming on its app.

     

    What is its USP? It allows content to be saved on the consumer’s device which can be accessed without an internet connection!

     

    “For the first six to seven months of the Hungama app, we got constant feedback from the consumers with regards to high consumption of data on data packs. We realised that consumers are facing a lot of problems related to quality of connectivity and congestion at certain places which we have changed with the new version,” asserts Hungama Digital Media Entertainment COO Sidharth Roy. 

     

    On the basis of feedback, the company has also decided to make videos available online apart from just audio.

     

    So if a customer upgrades to the premium version, he/she can encash on entire video streaming plus unlimited access to the audio and video from the offline cache.

     

    Moreover, the price point has remained untouched. “The app was launched with the premium tag price of Rs 99 and Rs 110 on Google wallet price point. The price point today also remains the same. We have built the entire feature holding the same price point,” says Roy.

     

    The service is ideal for consumers who rely on wi-fi connections to stream their content. The feature is aimed at helping consumers reduce the data usage for the same content, thereby encouraging them to increase their engagement with the platform.

     

    The company is also providing free version to a customer where he can experience three songs offline and then move to the paid version. It also provides 30 days of free trial.

     

    The feature is available on the Hungama app for iOS and Android versions.

  • Apple to acquire Beats Music to strengthen mobile segment

    Apple to acquire Beats Music to strengthen mobile segment

    NEW DELHI: iPhone maker Apple today announced a $3 billion deal to acquire subscription streaming music service Beats Music and Beats Electronics.

     

    Apple will expand Beats Music subscription service and Beats headphones, speakers and audio software to more markets through the Apple Online Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple authorised resellers.

     

    Currently, Beats is more popular in the United States. Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dre will join Apple, as part of the acquisition.

     

    “Music is such an important part of all of our lives and holds a special place within our hearts at Apple,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “That’s why we have kept investing in music and are bringing together these extraordinary teams so we can continue to create the most innovative music products and services in the world,” he added.

     

     The acquisition of Beats will assist the device vendor to spruce up its music offerings, from free streaming with iTunes Radio to subscription service in Beats.

     

     In five years since launch, the Beats “b” has become the brand of choice in the music and sports worlds, and is the market leader in the premium headphone market, said Apple in a statement.

     

    Music superstars including Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj have designed their own customised Beats headphones and speakers.

     

    Fashion designers and street artists such as Alexander Wang, Futura and Snarkitecture collaborated on special limited products, while athletes including LeBron James, Serena Williams and Neymar use Beats as a critical part of their training and game day process.

  • Global Exhibitors to Launch Latest Products at CommunicAsia2014 and EnterpriseIT2014

    Global Exhibitors to Launch Latest Products at CommunicAsia2014 and EnterpriseIT2014

    MUMBAI: An extensive line-up of product launches and showcases will elevate the excitement quotient at CommunicAsia2014 and EnterpriseIT2014. The shows will return to Marina Bay Sands Singapore from 17 – 20 June 2014 with a strong emphasis on mobility and connectivity, featuring cutting-edge technology updates and latest products from leading global industry players and thought-leaders.

     

    Preferred Platform for Product Launches and Showcases

    The CommunicAsia2014 and EnterpriseIT2014 media briefing kicked off today with Sennheiser Electronic Asia and Panasonic Tough Book giving live demonstrations of their game-changing products that will serve as key enablers for businesses in an increasingly mobile world. Other launches to look forward to:

    ·BioSenze Life Science / Shopster: To be launched for the first time worldwide, BioSenze’s self-administered diagnostic kits provide accurate readings for common health tests utilising the patient’s blood, urine or saliva samples. These metered readings are transmitted to cloud servers via the patient’s smartphone and the patient’s health dashboard is reflected in the mobile application that is available on multiple platforms. This reduces the cost and time required for conducting these diagnostic tests and at the same time, improves the efficiency in doctor-patient consultation.

    ·Huawei: The Huawei Ascend P7 Android smartphone will be launched, for the first time in Asia, at CommunicAsia2014. The smartphone, a combination of technology, design and performance, features an 8 MP camera and is set to open doors to a more connected world

    ·NEC: NEC is proud to launch the SmartDECT handset G966 for the first time in Asia. The sophisticated handset provides enterprise-grade capabilities and proven DECT voice quality to contribute to the effectiveness of staff in various industries

    New Additions to CommunicAsia2014 and EnterpriseIT2014

    Some of the world’s leading companies in their respective areas of expertise have joined CommunicAsia2014 and Enterprise2014 for the first time,  such as Aglient Technologies, BIMAR, Ericsson, KTsat, NEC, Sennheiser, Siemens and Toshiba.

    Preferred Platform for Networking and Knowledge Sharing

    The refreshed CommunicAsia2014 Summit will unveil 14 keynotes as well as seven new tracks that highlight current trends and challenges related to BYOD/CYOD, Big Data and Internet of Things, Mobile Banking, Payments and wallets and more, featuring over 200 well-respected industry thought-leaders and C-level speakers from industry giants such as EMC Corporation, Google Enterprise, Huawei Technologies, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), KORE Wireless, Mastercard, MediaCorp, Robert Bosch, SES, SingTel, StarHub and Twitter.

  • Launch of ‘Modi Tsu’namo’ mobile game by Milestone Interactive Group

    Launch of ‘Modi Tsu’namo’ mobile game by Milestone Interactive Group

    MUMBAI: With BJP’s recent win and Narendra Modi all geared up to take charge of India, Milestone Interactive Group, India’s leading game publishing, marketing, retail and distribution organization has launched the Modi Tsu’namo’ mobile game. The game is available on the Google Play Store and celebrates the spirit of elections in a fun and casual manner whereby the player has to match at least three or more faces of popular Indian election candidates including Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and Mamta Banerjee in a single swipe of each leader in any continuous motion combination and earn points. Combinations containing Modi will fetch more points than those containing any other leader. Play the game and celebrate this win for Modi and for India and lead the change by sharing it on Facebook.

    Commenting on the launch of the game, Mr Jayont R. Sharma, Chairman & CEO, Milestone Interactive Group said, “The win for BJP and Narendra Modi in the recent Loksabha elections, has encouraged us to launch theModi Tsu’namo’ mobile game. The game is part of our celebration of this momentous occasion. We are certain that with all the support Shri Narendra Modi has garnered, the players will have a good time playing this mobile game.”

    The game is available on: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.milestone.moditsunamo

  • Times of India releases major upgrades to its Android and iOS apps

    Times of India releases major upgrades to its Android and iOS apps

    MUMBAI: Timesofindia.com, India’s go-to destination for news across web, mobile and social platforms, releases version 3.0 of their iPhone and Android app.

     
    The latest apps boast of a sleeker design, enhanced user experience and a host of new features. While the iOS app for iPhone & iPod touch gets an entirely new user friendly design, day/night themes, adjustable font size and the ability to zoom in to photos, the new Android app has a contemporary card layout, an expandable widget with choice of section and refresh rate, an additional color theme and the ability to effortlessly switch between Portrait and Landscape modes.

     
    Speaking on the occasion, Puneet Gupt, Business Head, Times of India digital, says – “We have evolved the apps into an entirely new experience based on feedback from millions of our users. Along with the depth and breadth of Times of India’s news coverage, these apps now come packed with a stronger feature set to ensure that staying up-to-date is now an even more pleasant and enriching experience.Version 3.0 apps are our best apps for iOS and Android till date.”
     

    Other improvements to the apps include visibly faster response, an entire new line of push notifications, complete Election coverage and better handling of memory and space used by the applications.

     

    Version 3.0 apps can be used on iOS 6 and above for Apple users and Android 2.3 and above for the Android platform.

     

    To Download the new TOI V 3.0 app for  iPhone / iPad touch & Android : visit http://toi.in/mapps

  • Times Now launches Election Mobile App

    Times Now launches Election Mobile App

    MUMBAI: In order to enhance viewers’ access of the ongoing general election, Times Now has come up with its election mobile application. In partnership with Nokia, the app has been developed to provide real time information through video, image and text feeds on the general election.

     

    Users can download it on Android, iOS, Nokia X and Windows phone. People can watch feeds in the form of YouTube videos and it also provides options to like, reply or share feeds and plug in Times Now’s social feeds from Twitter and Facebook.

     

    Users can chat with each other while shows are on air. Apart from this, they can also watch live telecast of the channel from the Indiatimes website link that is given in the app.

     

    Speaking on the launch of the app Times TV Network MD and CEO MK Anand said, “We have launched an exclusive app for all the people on the move so that we can keep them informed regarding all news, updates and the entire coverage on election news. We have created this app to empower them to make the right decision as to who they want to see as their next leader.”

  • TCS ties up with Twitter India for election app

    TCS ties up with Twitter India for election app

    MUMBAI: Arguably the country’s largest software services firm Tata Consultancy Services has tied up with social media giant Twitter to launch an app, iElect, to help users gain social insights into the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

    “The TCS iElect app is a completely new way to observe, analyse and participate in the social conversations around the world’s largest general elections,” TCS said in a statement.

    The app harnesses the power of social media, big data, analytics and mobility to make sense of what seems to be a complex web of conversations, it added.

    “TCS iElect will be new and engaging for them to participate through the entire process with its gamified and interactive features,” TCS VP and head corporate communication Pradipta Bagchi said.

    Users of iElect app will have access to insights and trends on a real-time basis. Plans are afoot to launch an iOS version as well.

    “iElect makes real time Twitter data and analytics around key political events and content accessible to every Indian. The app has opened up a unique engagement opportunity with Twitter content for our users,” Twitter India market director Rishi Jaitly added.

    More that 814 million voters, including over 23 million in the age group of 18-19 years, are exercising their franchise in the world’s largest democracy where polls are being held in nine phases up to 12 May.

    India has the third-largest number of internet users at more than 238 million, with a majority of them youth. This includes over a 100 million people active on social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter.

    According to a study by IRIS Knowledge Foundation and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), there are 160 high-impact constituencies in India out of the total 543, which are likely to be influenced by social media during the general elections.