Amazon confirms purchase of Twitch.TV to the tune of $970 Million
Earlier in the day there were rumors and internet banter that Amazon was going to be buying Twitch.TV. Originally it had been rumored that Google was in negotiation to pick up the game streaming service and word that Amazon might be doing so ruffled some feathers. Later in the afternoon Amazon pushed out the official press release that confirmed the chatter that Amazon was indeed picking up Twitch.TV. The deal put a cool $970 million cash on the table to seal the deal. (figuratively of course. However, I’d love to see a truck show up with all that cash during a negotiation and see what happens.)
“Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month – from The International, to breaking the world record for Mario, to gaming conferences like E3. And, amazingly, Twitch is only three years old,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. “Like Twitch, we obsess over customers and like to think differently, and we look forward to learning from them and helping them move even faster to build new services for the gaming community.”
“Amazon and Twitch optimize for our customers first and are both believers in the future of gaming,” said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. “Being part of Amazon will let us do even more for our community. We will be able to create tools and services faster than we could have independently. This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world.”
Amazon picking up Twitch does make some sense though. While streaming games is a big part of the service, it is also a solid place for watching video game videos, watching gaming competitions and plenty of other things all game related. Lewis Ward, IDC’s consumer market director, seems to think that the purchase is a good match. Amazon has been looking for ways to make the Amazon Kindle Fire and Fire Phone a bit more appealing and Twitch has been itching to get into the mobile gaming arena. The pair could potentially bring a mash-up of services that will be Amazon packed. Think about the Fire TV for instance, it has a gaming controller. While it is no PS4, XBox One or PC, there is potential for people to game together, broadcast and share their achievements.
To top off another thought, there has been another rumor floating around that Amazon is gearing up for an Ad network launch similar to Google AdSense. With Twitch.TV under its belt, all the gaming videos and feeds can be interlaced with Amazon ad network ads and links, giving Amazon a game centric YouTube of sorts that will generate revenue for both Amazon and for affiliates.
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 25, 2014– Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Twitch Interactive, Inc., the leading live video platform for gamers. In July, more than 55 million unique visitors viewed more than 15 billion minutes of content on Twitch produced by more than 1 million broadcasters, including individual gamers, pro players, publishers, developers, media outlets, conventions and stadium-filling esports organizations.
“Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month – from The International, to breaking the world record for Mario, to gaming conferences like E3. And, amazingly, Twitch is only three years old,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO ofAmazon.com. “Like Twitch, we obsess over customers and like to think differently, and we look forward to learning from them and helping them move even faster to build new services for the gaming community.”
“Amazon and Twitch optimize for our customers first and are both believers in the future of gaming,” said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. “Being part of Amazon will let us do even more for our community. We will be able to create tools and services faster than we could have independently. This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world.”
Twitch launched in June 2011 to focus exclusively on live video for gamers. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by Twitch’s shareholders, Amazon will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Twitch for approximately $970 million in cash, as adjusted for the assumption of options and other items. Subject to customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2014.
About Amazon.com
Amazon opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by three principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, and Fire TV are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.
About Twitch
Twitch is the leading live video platform and community for gamers where more than 55 million have gathered to broadcast, watch and talk about video games. Twitch’s video platform is the backbone of both live and on-demand distribution for the entire video game ecosystem. This includes game developers, publishers, media outlets, events, user generated content and the entire esports scene. In February 2014, The Wall Street Journal ranked Twitch as the 4th largest website in terms of peak internet traffic in the U.S., fortifying the brand as an entertainment industry leader and the epicenter of social video for gamers. For more information, visit: www.twitch.tv
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s financial results is included in Amazon.com’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
Source: Amazon Press page Also: Adweek
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Nexus 6 Actually Nexus X?! LG G-Watch 2 is Beautifully Round! – ManDroid Daily
Monday is over, so time to check out what is happening in the Android world. Seems that the next Nexus phone might be called the Nexus X, as opposed to Nexus 6. Makes sense, given the name “Nexus 6″ has been used in a little book, that was then adapted to a movie called Blade Runner. LG seems to have kept their word about announcing a new G-Watch at IFA, and it looks pretty glorious. Enjoy the Daily!
Android News
Nexus 6 to be called the Nexus X
LG G-Watch 2
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact with new smartwatch
ASUS Smartwatch concept
LG G3 Stylus
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HTC is teasing a high-powered eight-core, 64-bit handset for China
Looking forward to 64-bit smartphones, but not sold on Sprint’s incoming budget handset? HTC has another phone for you — an unnamed device that it claims will be the very first 8-core 64-bit smartphone on the market. HTC teased the smartphone on its Weibo page, showing a mock-up of the device’s corner featuring a camera, some proximity sensors and a metallic-looking blue outline. The octa-core processor probably means this is a mid to high-end devices (unlike the model outed for Sprint), probably with a Qualcomm-sourced processor like the Snapdragon 615. Curious? You’ll find the teaser image after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Source: Weibo
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A fight about seat reclining privileges grounded a flight today
If you’ve ever flown coach, you know that it doesn’t provide much legroom — in an effort to maximize passenger loads, airlines make a conscious effort of eliminating the divide between seating rows, often cutting out the customer’s leg-room in the processes. Some sense of personal space can be regained reclining the seat, but this can impact the leg-room of the person sitting behind you. On a recent United Airlines flight, this became a problem: a passenger was using a device called a Knee Defender to disable the reclining function of the seat in front of them and, well, trouble ensued.
The Knee Defender is really just a pair of plastic nubs that attach to the seat’s tray table, but they act as a brace against the chair’s reclining action. The product doesn’t violate any FAA safety standards, but several airlines (including United) have banned them privately. On United Flight 1462, a 48 year old man elected to use it anyway, refusing to remove the device at the flight attendant’s request. The man reportedly got into a fight with the woman sitting in front of him: words were said, cups of water were thrown and the plane eventually landed early in Chicago to evict both of the unruly passengers.
For what it’s worth, the Knee Defender website specifically advises removing the devices at the request of airline personnel, and throwing courtesy beverages at another passenger is never appropriate behavior. Still, it’s easy to sympathize with both passengers: nobody wants to relinquish personal space on a cramped flight, but nothing’s worse than trying to use a laptop while the person in front of you is reclining. On the other hand, both passengers were enjoying the extra four inches afforded by economy plus — so next time you fly, maybe just don’t be a jerk, regardless of which side of the tray table you’re on.
[Image credit: Alamy]
Filed under: Misc, Transportation
Via: Gizmodo
Source: Associated Press
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LG G3 Stylus is official! Don’t get too excited Though
Looks like LG decided it was time to take the wraps off the LG G3 Stylus, and I don’t mean just a stylus for your current G3. No, I mean a totally new device. As the name would suggest, it does offer the wondrous stylus pen and carry the G3 flagship name scheme. Much like the LG G3 Beat though, this is just a spin-off device that packs a fairly excitable line of specs. It does look pretty though, minus those hideous on-screen nav keys. What’s up with the white LG? Clear I can do, even a solid black, but that solid white in the images is just atrocious.
As for specs:
- 1.3GHz quad-core processor ( no mention on which one in the press release.)
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB internal storage
- Micro SD slot
- 5.5-inch qHD display at 960 x 540
- 13MP rear camera
- 1.3MP front shooter
- 3,000 mAh battery (removable)
- Android 4.4.2
- Will be in Black, White and Gold
Another interesting bit of information from the press release also tosses out the network type as 3G. Seems like, at least right now, that this won’t really be looking like a device that will be headed stateside. It is possible that a 4G LTE variant could become a thing at a later date though. LG doesn’t offer much in the way of a price tag either, simply stating a “fairly-priced package.” The LG G3 Stylus will pack in a number of the same software features as its higher-end cousin tough. Features like Knock Code and dual-window along with Gesture Shot and QuickMemo+.
LG will have the device on hand at IFA next week and we are sure to see more of the device pop up online then.
I can understand the need to cover the various price points with a flagship branded device, but I still find it rather annoying. Especially with something like this. I was fully expecting a G3 with a pen stylus and few new apps designed for it with maybe a few tweaks to the hardware. It will do well for those that can’t spring for something a bit more pricey, like the upcoming Note 4, and should fare well for LG.
Source: LG Via Android Police
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ASUS smartwatch gets concept art tease ahead of IFA 2014 announcement
We’ve seen ASUS tease their new wearable already, however they may have felt inclined to reveal a little more about their device after LG showed a much more revealing teaser of their own. The result is the above image, showing what look like concept art that helped design the ASUS smartwatch, which will presumably look very similar to the product that ASUS announces at IFA 2014 next month. The same quote by Khalil Gibran from the previous teaser is present again as if to confirm the new smartwatch’s innovative credentials.
Details about the ASUS smartwatch are a bit hazy, but we’re fairly certain the wearable is going to be running Android Wear after ASUS was announced as one of the partners of the operating system at Google I/O. The ASUS smartwatch is going to have some stiff competition at IFA as it will be announced alongside devices from Samsung, LG and Sony, and those are only the ones we’ve heard about. Still, it’s going to be an exciting event and we won’t have long to wait as the announcement event is scheduled for September 3rd.
What do you think about the concept art of the ASUS smartwatch? Let us know your opinion.
Source: Facebook via TalkAndroid
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Microsoft cuts prices for its Surface 2 tablet by $100
Have you been holding out for a price cut on the Surface 2 before taking the plunge? You now have your chance. Microsoft has slashed $100 off the price of its second-gen Windows RT tablet, regardless of the model you buy. It now costs as little as $349 for a base 32GB WiFi edition, while splurging on the 64GB LTE slate is slightly more reasonable at $579. Just be aware that the folks in Redmond aren’t doing this out of the kindness of their hearts. The Surface 2 is nearly a year old — Microsoft is very likely clearing inventory, whether it’s ahead of a new model or just to focus more attention on the Surface Pro 3.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Via: TechCrunch, Ars Technica
Source: Microsoft Store
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BlackBerry’s leaked roadmap shows when its revamped phone line arrives
BlackBerry has been more than willing to tell you about most of the smartphones coming down its pipeline, but it hasn’t been very clear about when they’ll show up. There aren’t many mysteries left now, though: N4BB has posted a roadmap (below) revealing most of what’s happening in the remainder of 2014, as well as how the devices are positioned. Both the wacky, squarish Passport (“Windermere”) and the luxurious Porsche Design P’9983 (“Khan”) are tentatively slated to arrive near the end of the third quarter, or around September. They’ll represent the “innovation” and “prestige” models, respectively. There’s no mention of the Classic or a leaked Z3 with LTE, although the timetable has the Classic launching with a BlackBerry 10.3 update (10.3.1) due in the fourth quarter. You’ll have to be patient if you prefer that old-school BlackBerry feel, in other words.
The roadmap is also notable for what’s not making the cut. While we knew that many existing BlackBerry devices weren’t long for this world, it now looks like all but the Z3 and legacy 9720 will be gone by the end of this year. If you’ve been jonesing for a Z30 or Q10, you’d better act quickly — they’ll be museum pieces within a few months.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Blackberry
Via: CrackBerry
Source: N4BB
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Robo Brain teaches robots how to understand the world
For a robot to be able to wash clothes, vacuum carpets or serve you cocktails on a Friday night, it needs to be loaded with the appropriate software and data. In the future, though, a robot will easily be able pull info they need to do those things (and more) from a single online service called Robo Brain. Researchers, roboticists and companies, for instance, will be able to download whatever skill they want and then load it onto their creations. Robots already deployed to do their jobs, on the other hand, can go online to use the service and look up anything it comes across that it can’t recognize.
According to project lead Ashutosh Saxena from Cornell (the study’s a joint effort between Brown, Cornell and Stanford Universities as well as the University of California, Berkeley), his team’s goal is to “build a very good knowledge graph — or a knowledge base — for robots to use.” Think of Robo Brain as Wikipedia (without all the unsourced information) that robots can tap into when they need to understand how we speak and how we see the world — both extremely important if they are to organically perform their tasks. Those are a lot more complicated than what they sound like, since we have to program machines to make connections that we do. For example: A mug, for them, is only just a mug, whereas we know that it’s used to drink liquid, particularly hot drinks like coffee or chocolate.
This isn’t the first project that aims to build a comprehensive source of knowledge and skillset for machines — European researchers are working on a similar endeavor called RoboEarth, which was demoed in January. As for Robo Brain, well, it has a ways to go, as you can imagine: right now, it’s in the midst of processing and storing info from a billion images, 100 million how-tos and manuals and 120,000 YouTube videos. Thankfully, the project’s at least well-funded and supported by a healthy number of sponsors, including Google, Microsoft and Qualcomm. If you’d also like to help advance the project in your own way, you can do so by fixing any mistake you spot on the Robo Brain website, where the team posts all the new info the service has learned.
[Image credit: Getty/Petrovich9]
Filed under: Robots
Via: Wired
Source: Robo Brain
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Engadget Daily: Amazon’s war on e-books, Ralph Lauren’s smart shirt and more!
Today, we break down Amazon’s controversial e-book-pricing model, learn about Ralph Lauren’s smart shirt for athletes, anticipate LG’s round-faced G Watch R and more! Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last 24 hours.
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AIVAnet 