TapSense Announces Platform to Bring Contextual Ads to Apple Watch
Amidst the new and upcoming product launches at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, mobile marketing firm TapSense today unveiled its plans for a “programmatic ad platform” targeting Apple’s upcoming wearable, the Apple Watch.
The platform is promised to provide a full suite of programming solutions, including an SDK for app developers and programmatic APIs for brands, to get them started on making advertisements for the new Apple Watch. Though the platform not yet released, TapSense hopes the service provides businesses with a proof-of-concept demonstration on how ads can be delivered to customers using the new technology.
“Wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) are the next frontiers in the mobile revolution. We are excited to announce industry’s first programmatic ad platform for Apple Watch developers and brands. ” said Ash Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of TapSense. “While most of our competitors are focused on banner ads and legacy platforms, we are focused on innovation and next generation platforms. Apple Watch has the potential to be a category disruptor similar to iPod or iPhone and we believe that it provides great opportunities for brands and developers to deliver engaging experiences to consumers.”
With no official comment by Apple on how ads will officially integrate with the new technology, third-party developers using the WatchKit SDK will be left to fill in the blank spaces.
As highlighted by Reuters, brands and ad firms are mainly looking at delivering ad content through interactive wallpapers found on the Watch dial. TapSense chief executive Ash Kumar is well aware of toeing the line between informative and annoying, however, noting that businesses could use the customizable face of the Apple Watch to notify customers of special deals, but only ever within an already-open app.
[M]oderation is key. Push notifications and banner ads on smartphones can be turn-offs. Some marketers advise avoiding showing ads to users who typically click out of them or delivering the same ad too many times to any one user.
“If it feels like your smartwatch is turning into a spam box, you will take it off,” said Padden Guy Murphy, who heads business development and public policy at car-sharing service Getaround.
TapSense points to “hyper-local targeting” and Apple Pay integration as allowing for consumer-friendly versions of ads on the Apple Watch. The former suggests that because the Watch is far more accessible on a user’s wrist than a phone is in a pocket and that it uses a tethered iPhone’s GPS, this makes it a more ideal device to deliver location-based coupons and ads in more meaningful ways, such as an ad for a car service while a customer browses transit delays.
The latter perspective argues that most coupons and offers simply aren’t redeemed due to hassle, and thinks that Apple’s one-two punch of the Watch and Apple Pay could result in more ease of use in coupon-redeeming on the consumer side, and higher profits on the business side.
Still a few months out from release of the Apple Watch, TapSense’s visions of a well-received ad platform, by consumers and businesses alike, is a ways off from fruition. As Jeff Malmad, North American mobile director at media agency Mindshare, pointed out to Reuters, the new platform will also need to cover some similar ground that smartphones have tread over the past few years, particularly in regards to allowing users to opt in to the ads they care about, and block the ones they don’t.
CES 2015: Fugoo XL Hands-on, where we get to see just how waterproof it is
A few days ago, we shared the announcement of the Fugoo XL at CES 2015, the updated, bigger and better version of last year’s Fugoo speaker. Well, today, we got up close and personal with the new speaker, and we’re here to share some of the photos. As you can probably see in the photos, […]
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Sony Xperia Z3 to get Android Lollipop in February
There is a good news for Sony Xperia Z3 users! Sony Electronics COO Michael Fasulo announced that the company will start rolling out Android 5.0 Lollipop update for Xperia Z3 phones from next month. While Fasulo didn’t reveal the exact date for the update, his announcement at a CES 2015 press conference has definitely brought a breather for those who own Z3 mobiles.
Earlier in 2014, Sony’s had promised that the entire Xperia Z range would be getting Android Lollipop updates.
The company had even released a video of an AOSP build of the software running on its devices in November of last year. Those, who want to take a look what their devices would look like after the software update, can check out this link.
Do you think that Android Lollipop upgrade will make your Xperia Z3 perform better? Tell us your thoughts on the same.
Via: AndroidCentral
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Samsung announces new cooking and recipe app for Galaxy Tablets
Samsung has announced a new cooking application for its Galaxy Tablets that will help home kitchen chefs learn new recipes. The application updates with a new recipe every two weeks and shows step-by-step instructions for preparing the dish, which is a slightly better experience than reading a cookbook and looking up specifics from YouTube on the fly.
The app is set to launch on the Play Store in the next few weeks for some of Samsung’s tablets. No word on exactly which tablets that includes (or if we’ll see it on phones) but we should know fairly soon.
Keep up with the rest of our CES 2015 coverage here.
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HTC sees its first quarterly sales rise in three years
HTC could finally be on the road to recovery after it notched its first quarterly year-on-year revenue growth since 2011. The Taiwanese smartphone maker grew sales to NT $47.9 billion ($1.5 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2014 — a substantial increase on the NT $42.9 billion ($1.34 billion) it reported the same time last year. Of course, these numbers are a far cry from what HTC was generating a couple of years ago: in the fourth quarter of 2011, the company was pulling in revenues of NT $101.4 billion ($3.2 billion).
It’s no secret that HTC has been finding it difficult to compete in a crowded Android market. While its high-end handsets still receive critical acclaim, the company has struggled to compete with Apple’s iPhones, Samsung’s huge smartphone range and marketing budget, and low-cost handsets from newcomers such as Xiaomi. HTC’s revenues have, until now, been slowly tumbling and at least 22 execs have jumped ship since the start of 2012. The outlook has been pretty grim, but today’s numbers, combined with an operating profit of NT $180 million (USD $5.6 million) for the quarter, suggest the company might be pulling back with its latest mid-range offerings and the unusual, periscope-styled Re Camera.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Source: HTC
ZTE Nubia Z7 hands-on and first impressions
ZTE has already shown off a number of new devices at CES 2015 including the ZTE Grand X Max+ and the ZTE Star 2. But there is more – the ZTE Nubia Z7.
The Nubia Z7 is a 5.5 inch device with Quad HD resolution. The design is fairly standard however it does have some nice touches like the rounded corners and the soft-touch matte finish. Both of which make the phone comfortable in the hand. One unique aspect is the bright red home buttom, which is also complimented by other dashes of red through-out the design.
As for innards, the Nubia Z7 is powered by a Snapdragon 801 with 3GB of RAM. For your storage needs there is 32GB of flash. In terms of optics, the Z7 comes with a 13MP camera with built-in optical image stabilization (OIS). The Nubia Z7 can also record video at 4K. The included camera app has a mode for more advanced users, as well as an auto mode for those that just want to point and shoot.
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The device comes with a 3000mAh battery, so battery life shouldn’t be an issue even with that Quad HD display. The Nubia Z7 runs Android 4.4 KitKat but comes with ZTE’s own custom skin, which while colorful and bright, does lack the standard app draw. However, overall the UI experience is good.
The ZTE Nubia Z7 will be available initially in China and there isn’t yet any word of availability outside of Asia. If the device does become available world wide, you can be sure that we will let you know.
What are your initial impressions of the ZTE Nubia Z7? Do you like it?
Snail launches OBox gaming console powered by Android
Despite the incredible number of games available in the Google Play Store, there are a surprisingly few number of “game” consoles based on Android hardware. One of the first, the Sony Xperia Play, never really took off and the line ended then and there. Likewise, the Ouya home console had a lot of good ideas as well, but seems to be in a state of unknown limbo these days. Thanks to the efforts of Chinese company Snail, the Android console concept may get another shot at greatness.
Snail might be unknown to people in the USA, but in China it’s big news. According to its website, Snail was “the first 3D online game development company in China, and continues to pioneer in the industry after over a decade of success. [It is] recognized as one of the world´s top game developers and [employs] a development team of over 3,000.” And now, it is planning to release two major gaming devices, the OBox and the W 3D.
The OBox
The Obox is more-or-less a traditional gaming console, that is to say it is large, stationary, and requires a controller. According to The Verge, the OBox is going to be somewhat of a varied affair as multiple configurations will be allowed by retailers. While it will run on the Nvidia K1 CPU, two processor options are hinted at, as are two HDMI options and no less than four storage congifurations, ranging from 500GB to 4 terabytes. It will also output video in 3D and 4K for those with compatible setups. Even more impressive? The console will have interchangeable parts which would theoretically make it a gaming version of Google’s Project Aria.
According to an apparent leak that was featured on French blog Pet Forms Community, the device is claims the controller will feature “a 9-axis sensor with gyro and magnetometer, [and] the controller itself can be used as an air mouse.” To add an even more detailed layer to the spec claims, blog CNX Soft obtained an apparently leaked PDF promotional brochure for the device, which can be seen here.
The W 3D
The smaller (and therefore portable) W 3D is actually a smartphone with an Octa-core MTK6595/2.2GHZ CPU, LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, and front/back cameras. Where it spices things up however, are the inclusion of a pair of analog sticks, 4 physical buttons (plus four shoulder buttons), a D-pad, and a touch screen. The device will have a 5.5 inch display and offer glasses-free 3D with eye-tracking technology, however The Verge has indicated that the model displayed at CES 2015 offered somewhat lackluster 3D. It will be sold unlocked.
Snail’s US website also makes reference to a third device, the “W” (no 3D moniker attached) which may also indicate that a standard model will be available for those who want a presumably lower price.
While the pair of devices are set to launch in China during the second quarter of 2015, their release in the USA (and Mexico!) won’t occur until Q3. A representative from Snail indicated the price could range from $99 to $499.
Other than the aforementioned supposedly leaked PR material, nothing official has been detailed about the exact hardware specs, or the OS version to be included in these devices. Snail’s website does mention that the OBox will be running a skinned version of the OS however, and also details that all devices will come pre-installed with the company’s free gaming software.
Unlocked, SIM-Free iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Models Now Available in U.S. with 3-5 Day Shipping
As indicated yesterday, Apple has begun selling unlocked, SIM-free versions of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus on its U.S. online store.
Pricing for the SIM-free versions of both phones are the same as the other unsubsidized models. The 16, 64, and 128 GB versions of the iPhone 6 are sold for $649, $749, and $849 respectively, while the 16, 64, and 128GB configurations of the iPhone 6 Plus run $100 higher than the aforementioned iPhone 6 models.
The SIM-free versions of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are the same as the full-priced, carrier-specific models that have been sold by Apple since the launch of both phones. For example, the iPhone 6 models offered by T-Mobile have been unlocked since launch, although it is unknown why Apple chooses to advertise both. The SIM-free and T-Mobile versions of the iPhone 6 can be used with a number of GSM carriers around the world, as a user only needs to provide a compatible Nano SIM for cellular connectivity.
All storage capacities and colors of the SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are shown as ready to ship within 3-5 business days. The phones are also expected to be offered at Apple’s retail locations starting today.
HTC unveils the Desire 826 for Asia
I know a lot of people were hoping the HTC Hima would be unveiled this week at CES, but you will have to settle for the Desire 826. HTC has been committed to the budget category of smartphones, and the 826 is no exception.
The Desire 826 sports a polycarbonate body that includes a 5.5-inch 1080p (1920 x 1080) display, a 1.7 GHz octa-core 64-bit Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 13 MP rear camera, an Ultra Pixel front-facing camera, BoomSound, 2,600 mAh battery, Android 5.0 Lollipop, and the HTC Eye Experience.
It will land in Asia later this month with no commitment that it will make its way to other locations. No pricing was offered up.
Be sure to check out our complete CES 2015 coverage.
source: HTC
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Telegram Messenger Beta update allows you to set custom notification sounds
If you’re a fan of Telegram Messenger, you’ll be glad to know that the beta client just got an update that allows you to set custom notification sounds. Along with the ability to customize push notification sounds, version 1.1.4.0 is faster, features smoother animations and better optimized fonts for full-HD displays.
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