Expedia to pay $3.9 billion for Airbnb competitor HomeAway
The short-term rental market is growing, and Expedia understandably wants a piece of it. After snapping up Orbitz and Travelocity earlier this year, it has now decided to purchase HomeAway. It’s an online service that focuses on renting out vacation homes, further intensifying Expedia’s rivalry with Airbnb. The travel empire has been displaying HA properties alongside hotels for a couple of years, but it will now completely own the company and all its brands. In its press release, Expedia admits that it has agreed to pay a hefty $3.9 billion for HomeAway, because it has “long had [its] eyes on the fast growing ~$100 billion alternative accommodations space.” Both companies are expecting to close the deal in 2016, and if they obtain regulatory approval, Expedia will pay in cash and stock worth $38.31 per share.
Source: Expedia, Bloomberg, The New York Times, HomeAway, Reuters, USA Today
Kickstarter’s 9.5 million users have pledged over $2 billion
You may hate how crowdfunding websites are being used for pre-sales, but Kickstarter’s new numbers report makes it clear that a lot of people don’t mind the practice. The website has announced that it has reached $2 billion in total pledges on October 11th, over six years after it went up in 2009. Moreover, it took four years and 10 months to reach a billion (with users pledging an average of $391 per minute), but only a year and seven months to reach the second billion (pledges per minute averaged $1,182 within that timeframe). The sharp increase in the amount of pledges started around the time the website announced that it’s simplifying its rules of submission.
Source: Kickstarter
Disney and ESPN channels are coming to PlayStation Vue
For all the channels that PlayStation Vue gives you, there have been a few conspicuous gaps: without Disney or ESPN, you didn’t have much in the way of kids’ programming or sports. That gap is closing today. Disney has announced that all of its media networks are coming to Sony’s streaming TV service, including local ABC stations, the Disney Channel and (of course) ESPN’s many offerings. Importantly, this is a rare chance to watch live Disney streams on multiple devices — you can watch sports on your iPad while your kids monopolize the TV. Disney hasn’t said when its channels are showing up or whether you’ll pay a premium to get them, but this is still big news if you’ve wanted to ditch cable or satellite without springing for a relatively barebones option like Sling TV.
Source: ESPN MediaZone
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Huawei Watch now available to buy in the UK
Huawei’s new Android Wear-powered smartwatch, the Huawei Watch, has been creating a lot of buzz with its premium design, but unfortunately, it hasn’t been available for our friends over in the UK. That changes today, as the Huawei Watch will be available to buy at vMall and Selfridges starting at £289.
The Huawei Watch is also available to buy through the UK Google Store. It goes without saying, these three options don’t provide a whole lot of availability, but Huawei says a much wider selection of stores will carry the new smartwatch starting at the end of November.
Huawei’s first Android Wear-powered smartwatch is undeniably one of the most beautiful smartwatches on the market today. However, there are many different premium options available for it, with prices starting at £289 and going all the way up to £599, not including VAT.
Anyone plan on picking one up?
source: vMall
via: Pocket-Lint
Come comment on this article: Huawei Watch now available to buy in the UK
TeamViewer 11 Beta brings Chrome support and improved remote access to Android devices
The TeamViwer 11 Beta is here, and it brought with support for both Chrome OS and Chrome, along with some additional functionality when it comes to accessing unattended Android devices. If you’re not familiar with TeamViewer, it’s one of the top tools/pieces of software as far as remote support goes. TeamViewer 11’s entry into beta takes things a step further, making it much easier to work on and access mobile devices than it is through other software.
Those of you interested can get the update here, and can download it for Chrome OS and the Chrome browser over at the Web Store. Keep in mind that for it to work on unattended Android devices, the owner of said device will have had to grant permission beforehand and will have to make sure a corresponding TeamViewer plugin is installed on their device.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Another cool feature that comes with TeamViewer 11 is that it uses 30% less bandwidth than previous versions, which can be a concern now that the remote software can be used on mobile devices. There’s also a new application available called TeamViewer Host, which allows you to mirror an Android device to your desktop. It’s neat in the event that you need more space to work or need to access important software on your computer.
TeamViewer 11 is compatible with all major operating system distributions, such as Windows 10, OS X El Capitan, Android 6.0, iOS 9, and the aforementioned support for Chrome OS. Keep in mind that this is a beta, and you’re bound to come across some frustrating bugs. Anyone taking it for a spin?
We’ve got the press release below.
TeamViewer Launches TeamViewer 11 Beta
- TeamViewer First Vendor To Deliver Easy Unattended Access To Android Devices
- TeamViewer First Professional Remote Control Solution Running On Chrome OS
- TeamViewer Allows For Easiest Connection to Headless Linux Servers
- Up to 30% Less Data Usage Rates, File Transfer up to 15 Times Faster
Tampa, Fla., November 03, 2015 – TeamViewer®, the global pioneer of remote control and online collaboration software, today announced the 11th version of its flagship software. TeamViewer addresses the need for increased functionalities for mobile working and support for the trend of “bring your own device”. TeamViewer 11 provides users with a smart solution, which can be seamlessly integrated into their business environment, for a consistent and efficient user-experience. TeamViewer 11 also comes with a variety of “firsts and easiests” – including unattended access to Android devices, support for Chrome OS and headless Linux servers. The wide array of features in TeamViewer 11 combine speed, with quality and efficiency, to give users a faster and optimized remote support experience with up to 30% less data usage rates, and file transfer now up to 15 times faster than before. An utterly revamped tool bar and a massive performance boost round off TeamViewer 11 to make it the first choice when it comes to connecting users to the people and to devices that matter to them.
Some of the key features and benefits include:
Unattended access to Android devices – TeamViewer is the first vendor in the market to provide easy and uncomplicated access to unattended Android devices. The significance of Android goes beyond smartphones and tablets. There are increasingly many devices, which rely on Android; such as point of sales (POS), ATMs, public displays, and vending machines. Unattended access is vital for companies maintaining these devices, because no staff has to be present to confirm the incoming connection. That makes the support of these devices tremendously easy, as qualified staff cannot always be close to faulty machines. At the same time, key security concerns such as data protection and privacy are guaranteed because the unattended access option will have to be granted initially by authorized staff.
First professional remote support solution for Chrome OS – Extending its far-reaching list of supported platforms, TeamViewer 11 is the first remote control solution to run on Chrome OS by Google. Users can now access their office or home computer or provide remote support via their Chromebook.
Easiest access to headless Linux systems – By simply connecting to the text console, TeamViewer 11 can now be used to provide support for Linux servers without monitor, keyboard, or mouse. This means a major improvement for supporters as they do not have to worry about setting up port forwarding, configuring SSH (secure shell), or having to install a graphics card. TeamViewer makes the connection to headless Linux servers as easy as no other software maker in the market.
Multiple platform usability – TeamViewer can be used from a plethora of platforms and operating systems. It is designed to run on a multitude of operating systems – including the latest versions such as iOS 9, Android Marshmallow, Windows 10 and OS X El Capitan – and still fully supports older operating systems such as Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
Need for more mobility and BYOD reflected – TeamViewer 11 addresses the need for more mobility by providing a new Android Host App which enables connections to a whole new set of Android devices. Additionally, the TeamViewer chat will now be available for iOS and Android devices so that chatting is possible from virtually anywhere. The new mobile TeamViewer chat also comes with such important features as chat history and end-to-end encryption.
Browser-based TeamViewer – TeamViewer 11 allows for browser based remote support or remote access. This provides a convenient alternative if users lack administrative rights to install TeamViewer but still need to connect to a remote device to provide support or work collaboratively on a project.
The QuickSupport SOS button – With the customizable QuickSupport SOS button in TeamViewer 11, it is now easier for customers to contact their supporters with just a simple click. The quickly accessible SOS button serves as a shortcut on the desktop of customers and is linked to the custom QuickSupport module.
Many other features are available in TeamViewer 11. A detailed description of all features is available at:https://www.teamviewer.com/version11.
“We believe TeamViewer 11 is a major step in the history and future development – not only of our organization, but also of the entire remote access and online collaboration market altogether. We integrated many features as the first supplier in the market, but also reflected major trends and made sure TeamViewer allows for the best possible ease of use,” said Kornelius Brunner, Vice President Product Management at TeamViewer. “The unbelievable performance and efficiency gains we deliver in combination with the vast amount of platforms we support make me extremely proud. In addition we keep supporting Windows XP as we know many of our customers will have to provide support for that.”
Availability
TeamViewer 11 Beta is available immediately for Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile and Chrome OS devices. The described feature set may vary depending on the operating system. Additional information and a download option are available at www.teamviewer.com/version11. For professional use, TeamViewer offers different licenses tailored to meet the specific needs of companies, no matter their size. More information can be found at:www.teamviewer.com/licensing. As always, for personal use in a non-commercial environment, TeamViewer software is free of charge.
About TeamViewer
Founded in 2005, TeamViewer is fully focused on the development and distribution of high-end solutions for online communication, collaboration and remote monitoring of IT systems. Available in over 30 languages and with more than 200 million users worldwide, TeamViewer is one of the world’s most popular providers of remote control and online meeting software. airbackup, a powerful cloud-based backup solution, and ITbrain, a valuable remote monitoring and IT asset tracking solution, complement TeamViewer’s product portfolio. For more information, visit:www.teamviewer.com Follow us on Twitter at @TeamViewer and on our blog at blog.teamviewer.com.
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Apple Opens Subsidiary in Vietnam Amid Strong iPhone Sales
Apple has opened a subsidiary company in Vietnam to import and distribute iPhones directly in the country, one of the fastest growing smartphone markets in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Reuters.
Vietnam’s national business registry website confirms that Apple Vietnam Limited Liability was established in Ho Chi Minh City on October 28 with a registered capital of 15 billion dong, or roughly $672,000 in U.S. dollars.
The Ho Chi Minh City-based firm will conduct wholesale businesses of various products including its signature smartphones, provide information technology and maintenance services as well as advising services, the announcement said.
Vietnam was one of Apple’s fastest growing markets after iPhone sales tripled in the first half of its 2015 fiscal year, which is a growth rate five times faster than India, despite having a significantly smaller population, according to the report.
Apple also operates a subsidiary in Ireland for corporate tax-related purposes.
Tags: Vietnam, Apple Vietnam Limited Liability
Buyer’s Guide: iPhone (Buy Now)
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Walgreens Officially Launches First Apple Pay Loyalty Rewards Program
Popular retailer Walgreens today announced that its Balance Rewards loyalty program can now be linked with Apple Pay and used by its customers across the country. The partnership will allow Apple Pay users to link their Balance Rewards card with the mobile payments service so they can earn and redeem loyalty points without having to scan their physical Walgreens card. Following Kohl’s launch of Apple Pay support for its store-branded credit card, Walgreens is the first retailer to support a loyalty rewards program within Apple Pay.
“We’re excited to be the first to provide our customers with increased ease of access to their Balance Rewards account and information when using Apple Pay,” said Sona Chawla, president of digital and chief marketing officer for Walgreens. “This offering supports our commitment to removing friction and enabling a simple and convenient customer experience.”
Users simply need to add their Balance Rewards card into the Wallet app, going through the same process as adding a traditional credit or debit card, to be able to use the new feature at Walgreens on an iPhone and Apple Watch. The announcement comes just over a week after NFC abilities were discovered alongside Balance Rewards cards in the Wallet app, hinting at incoming loyalty rewards support from Walgreens.
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Apple Orders Display Driver Chips From Synaptics for Next iPhones
Apple has placed LCD display driver orders with touchscreen supplier Synaptics for its next-generation iPhones, indicating the Cupertino-based company’s in-house development of touch and display driver integration (TDDI) chips may have fallen behind schedule, according to Taiwanese website DigiTimes.
iPhone 7 concept with integrated Touch ID by designer Martin Hajek
Synaptics acquired Renesas SP Drivers, reportedly the sole supplier of LCD driver ICs for iPhones, in September 2014 in an effort to maintain orders from Apple, and for now it appears the iPhone maker will remain one of its customers. The supplier also works with Google, HTC, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony and other smartphone makers.
Apple previously recruited senior Renesas engineers to internally develop TDDI chips with Touch ID integrated into the display. The single-chip solution could allow for the Home button to be eliminated on future iOS devices, but Apple ordering regular display drivers from Synaptics indicates the technology may not be ready for the iPhone 7.
Apple has filed multiple patents for displays with integrated Touch ID and trackpad capabilities over the past few years, and the iPhone 7 lineup is due for a significant redesign, but it remains too early to predict whether Apple will ever remove its iconic Home button on future iPhones.
In March, Synaptics announced the first TDDI single-chip solutions for smartphones and tablets, allowing for thinner and brighter displays with best-in-class capacitive touch performance. The reduced number of components, fewer lamination steps and increased manufacturing yield of TDDI chips also lowers production costs.
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HTC One A9 to be exclusively available in Topaz Gold at O2 in the UK
UK-based carrier O2 took to Twitter today to announce that HTC’s new flagship device, the One A9, will be available in Topaz Gold on November 12. This colour variation will be exclusively available through the telecommunications provider in the UK.
The HTC One A9 has undeniably created a lot of buzz with its design looking strangely familiar to the latest iteration of the iPhone. It also has decidedly low specifications compared to flagship hardware we’re used to seeing. However, Talk Android’s very own Justin Herrick took the device for a spin, and despite these minor issues, the One A9 is a gorgeous smartphone with a slick interface, promising extremely fast updates.
In addition to O2 announcing its exclusivity with the Topaz Gold colour, they also noted that the One A9 will be available in Carbon Gray as of today. Pricing for the smartphone starts at £33.50 per month with £0 upfront costs.
Any takers?
source: O2 (Twitter), O2 (Product listing)
Come comment on this article: HTC One A9 to be exclusively available in Topaz Gold at O2 in the UK
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