Snapchat aims to make over $1 billion in revenue in 2017
Snapchat has raised another $1.8 billion in funding, TechCrunch reports today, making the platform’s current valuation somewhere in the neighborhood of $18 billion to $20 billion. While the company isn’t profitable just yet, it has some very high hopes to break $1 billion in annual revenue by 2017.
According to an internal presentation deck leaked to TechCrunch, Snapchat’s revenue jumped from $4 million to $33 million per quarter last year, to finish 2015 with $59 million total. For 2016, the company estimates it will bring in anywhere from $250 to $350 million. Next year, however, Snapchat expects to do half a billion in revenue on the low end, but could double that figure if its meets some aggressive sales goal. In other words: Snapchat may have finally figured out how to make money and it’s not by making users pay to revisit snaps, it’s by selling Discover tab spots to publishers and allowing anybody to buy a sponsored geofence.
That same deck also says Snapchat had about 110 million daily active users as of December 2015, or 50 percent growth over the 74 million users the platform boasted around the end of 2014. While that growth was likely fueled in part by the sudden wave of interest from age groups other than teenagers, it’s not exactly an explosive, exponential growth chart.
Also important to note here that these numbers were dated before Snapchat rolled out a number of new features like faceswapping, upgraded chat and video doodles — not to mention purely commercial features like selling movie tickets and cosmetics directly though the Discover tab. A switch to a more ad-friendly, algorithmic content feed is also rumored to be in the works.
Android doesn’t infringe on Oracle copyrights, jury finds
Google emerged victorious in court this afternoon, after a jury found that its use of Java APIs in Android doesn’t infringe on Oracle’s copyrights. The two companies have been battling it out over the past few years: Oracle originally sued Google back in 2010 because of how Java was integrated into Android. Oracle had a point though, as Google basically lifted entire portions of Sun Microsystem’s original Java code for Android. Google, meanwhile, argued that it was free to use the Java code since it was open to developers for many years. Another jury also ruled in Google’s favor back in 2012, but a federal court reversed that decision in 2014.
Basically, Oracle believes it deserves a slice of the mobile operating system’s profits. Had the trial gone the other way, Oracle could have asked for as much as $9 billion in damages, Ars Technica reports. The key with today’s decision is that the jury found Google’s implementation of Java to be “fair use,” which is good news to other developers working with open platforms.
Oracle didn’t waste any time commenting on the ruling, and it also says it’ll be appealing the decision:
“We strongly believe that Google developed Android by illegally copying core Java technology to rush into the mobile device market. Oracle brought this lawsuit to put a stop to Google’s illegal behavior. We believe there are numerous grounds for appeal and we plan to bring this case back to the Federal Circuit on appeal.”
And here’s Google’s take:
“Today’s verdict that Android makes fair use of Java APIs represents a win for the Android ecosystem, for the Java programming community, and for software developers who rely on open and free programming languages to build innovative consumer products
Dish’s HopperGo portable DVR is available today
Nearly five months after its introduction at CES 2016, the HopperGo is finally available to Dish customers. This portable DVR features 64GB of built-in storage, which you can fill with movies and TV shows you’ve recorded on your Hopper 2, Hopper with Sling or Hopper 3 set-top box. The magic of the HopperGo is that it creates its own private network, no internet needed, and allows up to five iOS or Android devices to connect to it using the Dish Anywhere app.
The only downside to the new device is its relatively short battery life, as it only supports four hours of video on a single charge. Still, that should be enough to handle a couple movies or a few show episodes. You can also load the portable DVR with other media, including pictures and videos. Dish is pricing the HopperGo at $99 for subscribers, and you don’t have to worry about paying any monthly fees.
ZTE’s Axon 7 is a $450 alternative to pricy Android flagships
Last year, ZTE surprised us with the Axon, an all-metal Android phone with surprisingly high-end specs for just $450. But while it was a noble attempt at an affordable flagship, we had issues with its slightly chunky design and lack of storage. Enter the Axon 7, ZTE’s followup which once again aims to take on much more expensive Android phones. It has a luxe-feeling unibody metal case, loads of storage options and a sharp 2K display. And best of all? It’s still just $450.
As soon as I picked up the Axon 7, it felt familiar. Between the slightly curved edges of its 5.5-inch display and its unibody case, I could have sworn I was holding my iPhone 6S instead. It feels natural in your hand, even more so than HTC’s 10. Speaking of HTC, the Axon 7 also shares a few design elements from the One series, from its rear antenna bands to its stereo front-facing speakers. At this point, every phone manufacturer takes a bit of inspiration from the competition (even Apple), so I’m not knocking ZTE.
Part of the credit for the Axon 7’s design goes to BMW’s Designworks, a renowned design firm that’s developed things like insane computing accessories for Thermaltake, a bobsled for the US Olympic team and even BMW’s own X series vehicles. The Axon 7 is the group’s first phone design, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at it.
Under the hood, the Axon 7 is running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor at 2.2GHz, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. You can also add a microSD card for up to 128GB of additional storage. Altogether, it’s a huge improvement over the mere 32GB of non-upgradeable storage from the previous Axon. There’s also a fingerprint sensor on the phone’s back, which at this point is pretty much expected.
Eventually, ZTE plans to release a $639 version of the phone with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a pressure-sensitive screen (similar to Apple’s 3D Touch technology). It’ll have a walnut “composite material” case option, but otherwise the company didn’t have much else to say about that device yet.
While the Axon 7’s screen is still 5.5-inches, it beats out its predecessor’s 1080p display with a quad-HD (2,560 x 1,440 pixel) resolution, and it also uses AMOLED instead of LCD. In typical usage you probably wouldn’t notice a huge difference, but ZTE says it also built the phone with Google’s Daydream VR platform in mind. Since VR pretty much requires low screen persistence (basically, incredibly fast refresh rates and low response times), they had to go with an OLED scree this time around. It’ll also launch a ZTE VR headset alongside the Axon 7.
The Axon 7 packs in a 20 megapixel shooter on its back (with optical image stabilization and a F/1.8 lens for solid low-light performance) and an 8 megapixel camera on the front. It can shoot 4K video at 30FPS, and and 240FPS slow motion at 720p.
As for those dual stereo speakers, they sounded even louder than the Boomsound offerings I’ve heard from HTC. There was a loud corporate event happening right near my briefing with some ZTE reps, and the Axon 7 had no trouble playing music loud enough to drown out that noise. Once again, there’s also a high quality DAC inside the phone supporting 24-bit/96kHz audio. ZTE also packed in Dolby Atmos headphone support, which gives you a few ways to hear audio in virtual surround sound.
ZTE isn’t saying when the Axon 7 will be available yet, but we expect to hear more soon. For now, it’s an intriguing curiosity. It could end up being a solid competitor to the Galaxy S7 or HTC 10 this year. And while it’s more expensive than the beloved OnePlus 2, it still packs in plenty of value compared to most other flagship phones.
Three to trial mobile ad blocking next month
Three will soon trial network-level ad blocking in the UK. Such a move was telegraphed back in February, when the carrier inked a deal with Shine, a company that specialises in the practice. The trial will take place on the week starting June 13th, for 24 hours. Three will contact customers beforehand and they’ll be able to sign up through the carrier’s website. The extent of the ad-blocking isn’t clear, but Shine says it can handle “all of the mobile web,” including display ads and display ads within apps.
“The current ad model is broken,” Tom Malleschitz, Three’s chief marketing officer says. “It frustrates customers, eats up their data allowance and can jeopardise their privacy. Something needs to change.” Indeed, the network has given three reasons for blocking mobile ads. Firstly, the company says customers shouldn’t have to pay for the data required to load ads on the web. Secondly, it argues that subscribers should be protected from advertisers who use mobile ads to track people without their knowledge. Finally, it says advertising should be more relevant and targeted.
The method by which Shine blocks ads at the network level is unclear. The company says it uses “machines” that are capable of performing deep packet inspection (DPI) inside the network. Using a mixture of “real-time analysis, artificial intelligence and algorithms,” the team is able to identify ads and stop them without breaking the original webpage or app.
Ad-blocking is a contentious issue. Countless companies rely on advertising revenue to survive — stripping that away jeopardises their business. But the practice has become more commonplace, as users discover and enable browser extensions that strip away web ads. One of them, Adblock Plus, is so popular that companies are now paying its creators to be “whitelisted,” ensuring their ads are still served to users. While adblockers have grown in popularity, they’re still a niche tool amongst the entire internet populace. Three’s partnership with Shine, meanwhile, could quickly switch millions of people onto the practice.
For now, it’s opt-in, but merely notifying customers that the option exists could trigger a wave of adoptees. That’ll put advertisers and publishers on edge — if Three and Shine proceed, we wouldn’t be surprised if a few legal tussles were initiated. The matter could grow exponentially too if EE and O2 adopt similar tactics; both are considering the practice, but have yet to confirm whether they’ll be offering the technology. Shine, meanwhile, says it’s talking to a whole range of networks. It’s already inked a deal with the Caribbean mobile operator Digicel, and others could shortly follow.
Via: FT
Source: Three UK
No Apple Store in India unless it sells more local-made goods
Apple has been making an effort to conquer India to boost its declining iPhone sales, but things aren’t going too well for the company. According to Reuters, the Indian government has rejected Cupertino’s request to allow it to open official Apple Stores in the country even though most of its products are made in China. See, under the country’s new laws (specifically the Make-in-India initiative), 30 percent of the goods a foreign high-tech retailer sells should made in India. A public official told Reuters that Apple “didn’t provide any material on record to justify” its request for a waiver. India also rejected the company’s plan to sell imported, refurbished iPhones in the country earlier this month.
A few days ago, Tim Cook met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss his plans for expansion, and sources said that those plans include opening up three Apple Stores by 2017. At the moment, Cupertino mainly sells goods in India through franchise stores that exclusively sells products from the company. While it’s very much possible for a multi-billion dollar tech titan to find a way around that requirement, it might take a while for Apple to launch official stores in the country.
Via: 9to5mac
Source: Reuters
Google might name and shame slow-to-update Android vendors
Google has tried a few (mostly unsuccessful) strategies to get Android device makers updating their software in a timely fashion. Remember the short-lived Android Update Alliance? However, it might be trying something different: embarrassing those vendors into doing something. Bloomberg tipsters claim that Google has created lists that rank Android manufacturers based on the timeliness of their updates. They’re private right now, but the company is considering making them public to shame vendors that drag their heels — it’s hoping those brands too sluggish to make the lists will strive to do better.
Other work has been going on behind the scenes, too. Google has been asking carriers to shorten their notoriously long update testing cycles (Sprint has confirmed it, but Verizon reportedly has too), and it’s even pressing carriers to skip tests entirely for security updates. Google isn’t commenting on the leak.
It’s far from guaranteed that the lists will work, assuming they’re ever made public. The Update Alliance fizzled out as commercial realities (the cost of maintaining phones, and the desire to sell you a new phone instead) took over. What’s to say that a list with no direct consequences will do any better? However, there isn’t as much pressure to update as there was in the past. Google Play Services delivers many updates without having to go through makers or carriers, and numerous official apps get updates through the Play Store. This is more about going the last mile to both improve security and reduce the chances that hardware creators leave you high and dry.
Source: Bloomberg
‘Miitomo’ players are apparently abandoning Nintendo’s app
Nintendo’s first big foray into mobile gaming, Miitomo, boasts 10 million downloads, but it’s more than a game — it’s a quasi social network that’s apparently turning into a ghost town. It’s generally understood that games see a big bump in players at the outset and gradually that number declines over time. For social networks, where the typical “gameplay,” so to speak, is interacting with others, once the user-base declines, there isn’t much else you can do. Just ask whoever is still on Ello. The folks at the SurveyMonkey Intelligence blog have been keeping an eye on Miitomo and have made some sobering observations on how Nintendo’s smartphone app has performed since launch.
Compared to mobile heavyweights Candy Crush and Clash Royale, Miitomo, on average, is only played half as much per week — something that could be a bad sign for its longevity. The amount average weekly users? By SurveyMonkey’s count, it’s just over 2.5 million. Meaning, only a quarter of the people who’ve downloaded it so far regularly open the app.
How Nintendo handles this and augments Miitomo with reasons for users to keep coming back is going to be interesting to watch. The firm already promised to bring Splatoon-inspired items into the fold, and while that’s a good step, it’s a bit on the minor side. Granted, Nintendo is still pretty new at mobile gaming and these could be seen as rookie mistakes. If it wants to keep people coming back to its apps (and there are a number en route this year), the company needs to start thinking about the long-term picture instead of simply relying on the Nintendo name alone to garner sustainable good will.
Source: SurveyMonkey
PayPal is killing its Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Amazon apps
On June 30th, PayPal is forcing all its Android and iOS users to update their apps to version 6 if they haven’t yet. Notice how Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Android Fire users aren’t included in that list? That’s because the company is killing its apps for those platforms on the same day. PayPal didn’t explain why it decided on shutting down its non-Android and non-iOS applications. In her announcement post, PayPal VP Joanna Lambert only mentioned that everyone can still access the mobile website and that it’s still possible to send P2P payments via BBM or to send money from their inbox on Outlook.
The announcement post also said:
“It was a difficult decision to no longer support the PayPal app on these mobile platforms, but we believe it’s the right thing to ensure we are investing our resources in creating the very best experiences for our customers. We remain committed to partnering with mobile device providers, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers.”
Whatever the service’s reason is, you can say goodbye to those apps — we doubt the company will change its mind before the end of June.
Source: PayPal
Florida man fined $48k for jamming cellphones while driving
The Florida man who stashed a high-powered phone jammer under the passenger seat of his Toyota Highlander has been fined a cool $48,000 for disrupting cellular service on his daily commute to Tampa. According to the FCC’s order to pay up, driver Jason Humphreys “caused actual interference to cellular service along a significant portion of Interstate 4, and disrupted police and other emergency communications.”
When he was busted in 2014, FCC agents and police had actually been tracking Humphreys for several days trying to pinpoint the source of the moving cell service deadzone. Humphreys, for his part, told authorities he was “fed up with watching cell phone usage while people were driving.” Despite his best intentions, Florida doesn’t actually have a ban on cell phone usage while driving, only texting. The FCC does, however, have some pretty strict regulations when it comes to messing with emergency workers and their ability to communicate.
As for the cell phone jamming devices themselves, the FCC doesn’t take kindly to those either. The agency recently fined Chinese company CTS Technology Co. just shy of $35 million for marketing 285 different models of signal jammers.
AIVAnet 