ITV

Tag: App

  • Disney launches an interactive Frozen app for kids

    Disney launches an interactive Frozen app for kids

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney Studios’ animated movie Frozen has found a new way to attract kids. The movie which is set to release on 27 November has released an app on Apple’s iTunes. The app is set to enable young readers to explore the story told in the upcoming movie even before it releases.

     

    As with the other apps, the interactive Frozen storybook is designed for young readers, who have just started reading on their own. The app allows kids to record their voices or listen to narrated text. The app also features original music composed for the project. That apart, it also has drawing tools and other games like creating snow globes and puzzles.

     

    The app is Disney’s third interactive storybook, developed with Disney Publishing, after producing ones for Pixar’s Monsters University and Disney’s Planes. In both instances, the apps gave audiences a detailed look at the films before their release.

     

    Disney Publishing calls the release of the apps a “new normal” for thecompany, especially as it looks to introduce new characters and potential franchises to audiences before the films’ opening. Frozen will introduce Disney’s 12th princess, Anna which will be integrated in its popular ‘Disney Princesses’ brand of consumer products and theme park attractions.

  • Google readying ‘Mobile Meter’ app that offers rewards for tracking mobile usage

    Google readying ‘Mobile Meter’ app that offers rewards for tracking mobile usage

    MUMBAI: Google wants to dig a little deeper and monitor a user’s app usage as well. Reports reveal that the company is readying new mobile apps that compensate users if they allow their mobile behavior to be monitored. The project, known internally as “Mobile Meter,” utilises iOS and Android apps that intelligently monitor app usage and web browsing habits and send the data back to Google.

    According to rumors doing rounds the Mobile Meter program will be totally voluntary. Participants will be required to give their consent (or opt in) before joining. Google isn’t the first to reward users to gather mobile trends either: Nielsen has been conducting research into mobile trends with an Android app.

    Google already passively collects data to improve its apps and resources. The Google Maps app, for instance, regularly feeds back location metrics to enhance the service. The app will presumably enable the company to evaluate the different habits of Android and iOS users, gaining an important insight into Apple’s ecosystem. Talks are that Google will organise all of the information it collects to ensure the privacy of its panelists.

    Google has confirmed development of the new apps, which it says are part of its Screenwise market research project that began rolling out last year. The Mobile Meter apps will replace an older method that allowed panelists to participate, helping Google measure media consumption across all screens but with more accurate results on mobile. Both the Android and iOS apps will be submitted to their relevant app stores in the near future, although only panelists will be able to actually use them. The company notes that while there isn’t an open call for volunteers right now, it recruits for panels on an ongoing basis and compensation varies based on the panels people participate in.

  • Netflix said to negotiate with US cable companies for set-top box app

    Netflix said to negotiate with US cable companies for set-top box app

    MUMBAI: Netflix is in talks with several US cable companies with the aim of making its video streaming app available on set-top boxes, according to various reports. The reports say that Netflix’s discussions with US operators, including Comcast and Suddenlink, are at an early stage with no deal expected soon. Last month the UK’s Virgin Media became the first cable operator to offer Netflix to its customers; companies in the US have so far been reluctant to embrace streaming services, seeing the technology as broadly competitive with their traditional content offerings.

    One reported sticking point in the negotiations is that Netflix is pushing for the cable companies to adopt its Open Connect content delivery network, which it argues will provide the best streaming quality. Previously Netflix had restricted 3D and what it calls “Super HD” content, which requires a higher bitrate, to internet service providers that participated in the Open Connect initiative, but Time Warner Cable argued that its network was “more than capable of delivering this content to Netflix subscribers.” Netflix later opened up Super HD streaming to all ISPs.

  • ESPN re-ups with Twitter Amplify for college football

    ESPN re-ups with Twitter Amplify for college football

    MUMBAI: Television networks and publishers are really getting on board with Twitter Amplify.

    In the second development of its kind during the last few days, ESPN will quickly deliver college football highlights from numerous games this season – which kicks off this weekend—through its Twitter handle and via the social-TV Amplify platform. ESPN will run the same highlights across its Web and mobile app properties.
    In all cases, an eight-second pre-roll ad for Verizon Wireless will appear as part of a larger “#DidYouSeeThat” campaign for the telecom that will include spots on ESPN channels during the full college season.

    It’s the second year in which ESPN and Twitter have partnered for the Amplify program. The deal is probably a thing of beauty – the ability to focus on single games via the living room flat-screen TV while getting snippets galore of other contests on your laptop, tablet or smartphone.

    Twitter Amplify head Glenn Brown said, “Programs like this are a win-win-win for everyone involved. Brands get new opportunities to reach consumers, networks can distribute their content across multiple platforms and generate new revenues, and users get amazing content from the best plays happening in college football.”

    Earlier this week, Twitter debuted a similar agreement with the United States Tennis Association for the US Open, where the tourney is relaying top video highlights via the social site.

    In that example, Heineken has bought the exclusive sponsorship for the event, which runs through 8 September.

  • Introducing redBus.in Windows 8 App

    Introducing redBus.in Windows 8 App

    MUMBAI: Booking Bus Ticket online just got a lot easier on your Win 8 device! redBus.in, India’s largest online bus ticketing company, has launched app on the Windows 8 store. This new app brings redBus.in’s signature bus booking experience to both Windows 8 PC and Tablets in a unique titled Modern UI that is immersive and engaging. The app can be downloaded for free today, from Windows Store (http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-gb/app/redbus-in/5b4cfb9e-e7a4-460d-8dd7-622ac65693f8)

    The app comes with a sleek new design and allows you buy ticket across 1200 operators across 10,000+ routes.

    The redBus.in team has kept the design of app refreshingly different from its website and all previously launched mobile apps by introducing a new design paradigm that’s optimized for touch. 

    Said Alok Goel, Chief Operating Officer redBus.in, “Windows 8 platform is gaining rapid traction in India and hence strategically important to us. As largest bus ticketing company, we want to provide best in class experience to every platform that our users choose. This app is a significant addition to our solid app offerings.”

    Speaking on the launch of the app on Windows Store, Amrish Goyal, Director – Windows Business Group, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. said, “We are very happy to add the redBus.in app on the Windows Store. The Windows Store is growing by leaps and bounds, and we are sure consumers will love using the latest rich and engaging Windows apps.”

  • Google revamps Android Maps app, drops Latitude

    Google revamps Android Maps app, drops Latitude

    MUMBAI: Google has overhauled its Maps app for Android smartphones and tablets, giving it some new search, navigation, and discovery features. The changes will also soon be making their way to the company‘s iPhone and iPad apps.

    “Today‘s update is an exciting step forward for Google‘s maps – one that we hope will make it faster and easier for you to explore and discover places you want to go,” Google Maps director Daniel Graf wrote in a blog post Wednesday.

    For starters, the revamped app aims to help in navigating around traffic a little easier. In addition to current traffic conditions, one can also see reports of problems on the road and tap to see incident details. While driving, Google Maps will now alert if there‘s a better route, and more quickly reroute the driver to his destination.

    There‘s also a new Explore feature, which offers up places one might like to eat, drink, sleep, and shop. On tapping the search box, a list of suggested places without even having to type anything can be seen.

    To help one decide on where to go, the app includes a new 5-star rating system that will give the user an idea of how the user‘s friends and others have rated places like restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Zagat badges and curated lists are also now integrated into search results, so one can quickly spot expert-approved places.

    This is also Google‘s first dedicated Maps app for Android tablets and iPads.

    “A dedicated tablet design brings all the features of this new app to Android tablets

    and iPads, which makes exploring the world from the comfort of your living room much more fluid, smooth and fun,” Graf said.

    But alongside all the new goodies, some older features are going away, including Latitude and check-ins, which is no longer part of the new Google Maps app and will be retired from older versions on 9 Aug. Google, is instead pushing the newly added location-sharing and check-in features of Google+ for Android. My Maps is also not included in this release, but will return in future versions of the app, Google said.

    Finally, the offline maps feature for Android is also no longer available. You can still access maps offline, however, by entering “OK Maps” into the search box when viewing the area you want for later.

    The new Google Maps app is compatible with devices running Android Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, as well as iOS 6 and above.

  • Australia’s Ten unveils Xbox app

    Australia’s Ten unveils Xbox app

    MUMBAI: Through a new agreement with Microsoft, Network Ten is launching the Network Ten Xbox app, which is the first commercial free-to-air (FTA) channel VOD application available in Australia.

    The app gives Xbox Gold Live users instant access to a library of more than 25 programs, among them Offspring, The Graham Norton Show, Bondi Rescue and Totally Wild. It will also update with the latest news from Ten News At Five and Ten Late News as it breaks.

    Network Ten chief digital officer Rebekah Horne said: “We are delighted to be the first Australian commercial free-to-air network to join forces with Xbox to provide its consumers with new entertainment, comedy, reality and news content.”

    “This is the first product release in Ten‘s TV anywhere strategy. Our goal is to deliver a TV experience anywhere that consumers are engaging with video content. Ten‘s TV anywhere strategy will be realised over time by a number of product releases across different platforms and devices,” she added.

    Microsoft Australia interactive entertainment business lead Jeremy Hinton said: “We are thrilled to be adding Network Ten content to the Xbox platform and our content library.”

    “Our aim is to provide Australian Xbox Live members with the best and most popular television content, alongside movies, music and games, and now they will be able to access some of Australia‘s highest rated local and international shows,” he added.

  • Cannes Lions 2013 launches special app, online game

    Cannes Lions 2013 launches special app, online game

    Mumbai: The 60th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity- 2013 is here and with full fan fare. One of the most prestigious advertising festivals of the world, Cannes Lion has launched a special pre-festival app for iPhone and Android users.

    The international festival is also launching an online contest which will be PHD’s multi-player online game. The lucky winner stands a chance to return to Cannes 2014 as a VIP delegate.

    Each year, around 11,000 members of the global creative communications industries come together to be inspired and educated at Cannes Lions. Cannes Lion 2013 can be downloaded for free on the iPhone or any 4.0 and up Android phones and will take 16 mb of space. What’s more? The app has a high rating of 4.6 on the Android platform.

    This is where you can find out everything about attending the festival as a delegate, from the registration packages available and where you can stay, to the latest news about the world-class seven day learning programme. This year’s festival will be held during 16 – 22 June in Cannes, France.

    Some of the key features of this app are listed below:

       *Full Festival programme with calendar and sharing options
       * Social feeds, news, photos and videos
       * Insider tips on locating ‘the best place in Cannes to…’
       * The last 60 years of the Film Lions Grand Prix winners
       * A massively multi-player online game
       * iPad version coming soon

    Social media and digital platforms are increasingly becoming an indispensable aspect of marketing. How could Cannes 2013 be left untouched by this phenomenon.

  • Sandesh goes on mobile; launches augmented reality app

    Sandesh goes on mobile; launches augmented reality app

    MUMBAI: Sandesh has become the first regional newspaper brand in India to bring digital content through its newspaper with the launch of Sandesh Smart – an augmented reality app.

    With this, Sandesh allows readers to use the augmented reality app to gain access to additional multimedia contents like videos, slideshows, social media connect, polls, interactive quizzes and much more by simply scanning the newspaper with their Smartphone.

    Sandesh MD Parthiv Patel said, “We are proud to be the first regional newspaper to fully integrate Sandesh Smart into our editorial workflow and bringing the print alive on reader‘s smart phones.”

    For the development of Sandesh Smart app, Sandesh has partnered with TELiBrahma, a mobile advertising solutions company specialising in augmenting real world context with digital engagements.

  • Nick launches its first global mobile app

    Nick launches its first global mobile app

    MUMBAI: Kids broadcaster Nickelodeon has launched its first worldwide mobile app Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rooftop Run in more than 150 countries and eight languages.

    Available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices, the app features 3D characters and environments based on the CG-animated series.

    This is a runner ninja combat game, where players run, jump and fight their way across the rooftops of New York in an attempt to save the city from the invading Kraang and ultimate destruction.

    The app will be translated into eight languages, English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish (Latin America) and Spanish (Spain).