Verizon agrees to buy Yahoo for $4.83 billion
Yahoo has agreed to sell its core business to Verizon for $4.83 billion, signaling an end to one of the internet’s most pioneering companies as a standalone entity.
Under the deal, Verizon will acquire Yahoo’s search, mail and instant messaging services, along with its ad platform and a few real estate holdings. Yahoo’s ad business and digital content services — including Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Sports — will be of significant value to Verizon as it looks to expand its offerings in this space following the acquisition of AOL last year for $4.4 billion. The move puts Verizon behind Google and Facebook in the U.S. digital ad segment, with a total share of 4.5%.
Yahoo will retain its stake in Chinese internet giant Alibaba and Yahoo Japan, which have a combined value of over $40 billion. CEO Marissa Mayer isn’t likely to join Verizon, but she will receive a severance package valued at $57 million.
Verizon to acquire Yahoo’s operating business
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 25, 2016 — Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) today announce they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Verizon will acquire Yahoo’s operating business for approximately $4.83 billion in cash, subject to customary closing adjustments.
Yahoo informs, connects and entertains a global audience of more than 1 billion monthly active users** — including 600 million monthly active mobile users*** through its search, communications and digital content products. Yahoo also connects advertisers with target audiences through a streamlined advertising technology stack that combines the power of their data, content and technology.
Lowell McAdam, Verizon Chairman and CEO, said: “Just over a year ago we acquired AOL to enhance our strategy of providing a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers. The acquisition of Yahoo will put Verizon in a highly competitive position as a top global mobile media company, and help accelerate our revenue stream in digital advertising.”
Yahoo will be integrated with AOL under Marni Walden, EVP and President of the Product Innovation and New Businesses organization at Verizon.
Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, said: “Yahoo is a company that has changed the world, and will continue to do so through this combination with Verizon and AOL. The sale of our operating business, which effectively separates our Asian asset equity stakes, is an important step in our plan to unlock shareholder value for Yahoo. This transaction also sets up a great opportunity for Yahoo to build further distribution and accelerate our work in mobile, video, native advertising and social.”
Mayer added, “Yahoo and AOL popularized the Internet, email, search and real-time media. It’s poetic to be joining forces with AOL and Verizon as we enter our next chapter focused on achieving scale on mobile. We have a terrific, loyal, experienced and quality team, and I couldn’t be prouder of our achievements to date, including building our new lines of business to $1.6 billion in GAAP revenue in 2015. I’m excited to extend our momentum through this transaction.”
Tim Armstrong, CEO of AOL, said: “Our mission at AOL is to build brands people love, and we will continue to invest in and grow them. Yahoo has been a long-time investor in premium content and created some of the most beloved consumer brands in key categories like sports, news and finance.”
Under Armstrong, AOL has invested in and grown global premium brands, including The Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Engadget, MAKERS and AOL.com, and market-leading programmatic platforms — including ONE by AOL for both advertisers and publishers.
Armstrong added, “We have enormous respect for what Yahoo has accomplished: this transaction is about unleashing Yahoo’s full potential, building upon our collective synergies, and strengthening and accelerating that growth. Combining Verizon, AOL and Yahoo will create a new powerful competitive rival in mobile media, and an open, scaled alternative offering for advertisers and publishers.”
The addition of Yahoo to Verizon and AOL will create one of the largest portfolios of owned and partnered global brands with extensive distribution capabilities. Combined, AOL and Yahoo will have more than 25 brands in its portfolio for continued investment and growth. Yahoo’s key assets include market-leading premium content brands in major categories including finance, news and sports, as well as one of the most popular email services globally with approximately 225 million monthly active users****. Additional technology assets in the advertising space include Brightroll, a programmatic demand-side platform; Flurry, an independent mobile apps analytics service; and Gemini, a native and search advertising solution.
The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, approval by Yahoo’s shareholders, and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in Q1 of 2017. Until the closing, Yahoo will continue to operate independently, offering and improving its own products and services for users, advertisers, developers and partners.
Verizon will generally issue cash-settled Verizon RSUs for Yahoo RSUs that are outstanding at the close.
The sale does not include Yahoo’s cash, its shares in Alibaba Group Holdings, its shares in Yahoo Japan, Yahoo’s convertible notes, certain minority investments, and Yahoo’s non-core patents (called the Excalibur portfolio). These assets will continue to be held by Yahoo, which will change its name at closing and become a registered, publicly traded investment company. Yahoo will provide additional information about the investment company at a future date.
Yahoo intends to return substantially all of its net cash to shareholders and will determine and communicate a specific capital return strategy at an appropriate time.
Vainglory gains improved bots and more ways to get Sunlight in summer update
The development team behind Vainglory has unleashed version 1.20 (referred to as the Summer Update), which introduces improved bots, more convenient play options, as well as easier ways to obtain Sunlight. Those of you who may not be familiar with the title of this iOS and Android game, it’s a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena title, similar to the likes of DOTA 2 and League of Legends. The only difference being Vainglory is played on your smartphone.
The improved bots is quite the major enhancement in Vainglory, enabling players to choose from five difficulty levels (from very easy to very hard). The team has also teased both hard and very hard difficulties will be further improved in future updates to make the bots even more of a challenge. As well as the aforementioned, Vainglory now sports kill streak announcements. Those who shatter the hopes and dreams of two or three players will be awarded a double and triple kill, respectively.
We highly recommend you see the official announcement for a full run through of everything that has been changed in 1.20.
You can save $100 on various Nexus 6P models at Newegg right now!
Newegg is currently offering $100 off the Nexus 6P in all storage capacities, dropping the price of the base model down to just $399. Whether you’ve missed out on previous deals, or are getting excited for the upcoming release of Android Nougat, you won’t want to pass up on this special. You’ll have your choice of multiple colors for each size, so you can pick the one that you prefer.
This deal won’t last long, and some of the colors and sizes are already sold out. If you are interested be sure to hit the link below to pick one up for yourself right now!
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Galaxy Note 7 iris scanner instructions leak, this is how the scanner will work
With the Galaxy Note 7 due to be announced in the next couple of weeks, leaks are suddenly getting more detailed. The latest leak virtually confirms one of the features we’ve long heard will be part of the next flagship phablet’s spec list.
Along with the usual fingerprint scanner, the Note 7 is expected to have an iris scanner. In use, the iris scanner is likely to be used for the same purposes as the fingerprint sensor. That’s to say, it will be used to recognise the user, and ensure no one unauthorised can use the device.
Galaxy Note 7 Iris Scanner: What is it?
The best way to describe it simply is to say the iris scanner is essentially a camera with a very specific function. The sensors required will almost certainly sit on the front panel of the phone, at the top, near the earpiece. Previous leaks have shown an extra ‘window’ in the front panel, which looks like the perfect space for an additional camera or sensor.
Android Authority
Galaxy Note 7 Iris Scanner: How will it work?
In the Lumia 950 XL, a device on the market which already has the feature, there’s an infrared camera as well as a secondary camera. The infrared sensor lights up the user’s eye, so that the second camera can snap a good image and record the data, then turn it in to an encrypted piece of information stored on the device. We can only assume the Note 7’s will work in a very similar manner.
Leaked instructions and disclaimers mention an LED light, suggesting that a light will work in conjunction with a high-resolution camera to detect and recognise the iris.
The leaked setup instructions state the following:
- Use the recognition indoors or away from direct sunlight
- Remove glasses or contact lenses
- Hold the device 23-35 cm away from your face
- You can choose to register only 1 iris
The most recent leak also shows part of the security settings menu, and includes a disclaimer explaining the many, many conditions that may cause the scanner to fail at recognising your iris.
Those conditions include wearing glasses, contact lenses, having narrow or “puffy” eyes, shaking or tilting the device, covering the scanner or LED with a screen protector, dirt on glasses, when your iris is registered in bright light and you try to scan them in low light (or vice versa), when light reflects on to your eyes or glasses, or just when you’re in bright sunlight or low light conditions.
In other words, the fingerprint sensor is going to be the easiest, least frustrating way to unlock your phone. It sounds as if the only way the iris scanner works flawlessly is if you’re in good (but not too good) light, with the phone level with your face and pointing directly at wide-open, glasses-free and contact lens-free irises. In short: It’s going to be a pain.
Galaxy Note 7 Iris Scanner: What can it do?
Much of what the iris scanner well be used for – presumably – is security related. That means unlocking your phone, and perhaps purchasing goods online using Samsung Pay, or downloading apps from the Galaxy Apps store.
The Galaxy Note 7 is being officially unveiled on 2 August, at which point we’ll get our first look at exactly how the iris scanner looks and works, and what Sammy thinks we should use it for. Stay tuned until then be sure to read up on all we know about the Note 7 so far.
US military creates ‘Space Mission Force’ to wage satellite war
If a major war ever happens, low-Earth orbit could turn into a combat zone. To that end, the US Air Force Space Command has created the “Space Mission Force” to train soldiers to operate military satellites in response to threats. “Adversaries have developed and fielded capabilities to disrupt and deny the space systems we operate on behalf of the United States and our allies,” writes US General John Hyten. “Consequently, [we] must organize, train and equip our space forces in a way that maintains our vigilance.”
The Air Force already has Space Command squadrons to defend and attack military satellites, but wants to jack up the number of personnel. The goal is to provide airmen with up to six months of training, then have them work four to six months with experienced Space Command personnel. “Our space forces must demonstrate their ability to react to a thinking adversary and operate as warfighters in this environment,” says Hyten.
Schriever Air Force Base’s Standard Space Trainer Integrated Training Center
The paper was light on the specifics of the training, but clear on the goals. Hyten said that the US military must stay ahead of potential enemies by taking a hard look at its current practices and, if necessary, overhaul its space defense systems. Two squadrons have already started training, and the space wing that mans the Air Force missile warning satellites will move over to the Space Mission Force next, year, according to Space News.
Via: Space.com
Source: Space News
Verizon is buying struggling giant Yahoo for $4.83 billion
After months of gesturing and negotiations, Yahoo has finally found a buyer: Verizon. The mobile operator, which is also the parent company of AOL and Engadget, confirmed today that it will pay $4.83 billion for Yahoo’s web business. All of the company’s advertising, content, search and mobile operations will be transferred to Verizon and merged with AOL.
As you may already know, Yahoo has a solid portfolio of services and websites. The Yahoo homepage is the default destination for over 43 million people and its Weather and Finance portals are also very popular. The company also owns blogging service Tumblr and photo-hosting site Flickr.
The deal will leave Yahoo with its existing cash, a 15 percent stake in Alibaba and investment in Yahoo Japan. Once everything has been given the green light, the company will then change its name and become a “registered, publicly traded investment company.” Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, who has spent the last year looking to “unlock shareholder value” won’t lead the merged entity forward, that will be the job of Verizon EVP Marni Walden, who also oversees AOL’s role within Verizon.
In a statement, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong says that the buyout “will create a new powerful competitive rival in mobile media, and an open, scaled alternative offering for advertisers and publishers.” Yahoo’s finance, news and sports brands are listed as particular draws, as is the company’s popular email service, which counts more than 225 million monthly users.
As with any major takeover, the acquisition will need to be given approval by regulators, but also Yahoo’s shareholders — the people who have been waiting for Marissa Mayer to “unlock” Yahoo’s inherent value. Verizon expects the deal to close in the first quarter of next year, with Yahoo continuing to “offering and improving its own products and services for users, advertisers, developers and partners” in the meantime.
Source: AOL
First Alleged Leaked Images of 12.9-inch ‘iPad Pro 2’ Surface
Amidst the recent flurry of videos and images of iPhone 7 mockups coming out of China, one pair of pictures that emerged over the weekend claims to offer evidence of Apple’s successor to the first iteration 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Sent in to AppleInsider and said to originate from a Chinese supplier, the combined image below shows a device identified with model number MH1C2CD/F, which has yet to be assigned to an iPad by Apple so far.
While the identifier proves little, the nomenclature is in line with Apple’s existing numbering convention for its iPad Pro range, and Apple is due to refresh its largest tablet this fall.
AppleInsider notes that the device’s screen shows a 12GB capacity, which is just enough for installing an OS and apps for internal testing and debugging, suggesting the device could be a pre-production model or prototype.
Based on previous updates to the company’s tablet range, customers can expect a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro to feature a faster A10X processor and a better camera, with a good chance it will inherit the True Tone display seen in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. 3D Touch is also a possibility, although Apple would need to have overcome the challenges involved in porting the technology to a larger screen.
Apple is also expected to launch thinner and lighter MacBook Pro models this fall, with some rumors suggesting a dynamic OLED touch panel could feature as part of a planned redesign.
Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer’s Guide: 12.9″ iPad Pro (Neutral)
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Redbox Testing New Movie Rental Streaming Service With Customers
DVD rental company Redbox has started to test a new movie streaming and download service with some of its customers, according to Variety.
Known for its DVD rental kiosks, Redbox has dubbed its latest online service “Redbox Digital”, which comes two years after the company shut down Redbox Instant, the ill-fated joint venture with Verizon that officially launched in early 2013.
The subscription-based service was patently unable to compete with the likes of Netflix, and Redbox has reportedly learned from the experience: it’s staying away from subscriptions in order to concentrate on transactional video on demand, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans.
An app for the service similar in appearance to Netflix showed up on the App Store last week, allowing trial users to stream or download content from the company’s digital catalog. A company spokesmen contacted Variety via email to confirm the news:
We are testing a potential new transactional digital VOD and EST offering, with a small subset of our customers, designed to complement our core kiosk rental business. As we test and learn from our customers, we will make evaluations that determine any future course of action.
The Redbox Digital catalog is said to be dependent on the company’s deals with movie studios, meaning some movies could be available at kiosks when they’re not available for streaming. However, the digital catalog will have a much larger offering than kiosks, which usually only hold a few hundred titles.
No word was given on pricing, but typical one-off streaming costs are likely work out more expensive than the $1.50 Redbox customers currently pay for physical disc rentals.
Tag: Redbox
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Pocket-lint Adventures: Go karting with the TomTom Bandit
As keen karters we often visit one of the many TeamSport go-kart tracks in London, so when we decided to expand our Pocket-lint Adventures to take in a few laps, we could think of nowhere better.
The fact that we hadn’t raced at TeamSport’s London Docklands indoor track before was an added incentive to get down there. It’s a one-level course, using petrol karts and a keen, winding track, so would give us a real work out.
We took along a TomTom Bandit action camera to document our experience and managed to capture some excellent moments of fast, frenzied fun.
The TomTom Bandit has a series of attachments, and we ended up using a wide array of them during our half an hour on the track. The helmet mount certainly proved useful to get those all-important first-person view shots.
As we say, the London Docklands track has excellent, fast straights with a couple of corners you can take at full pelt, so placing a camera on the side of the kart, using an adhesive covered mount, captured some great, close-to-the-ground moments.
The camera is also light enough to hold so, when the racing wasn’t quite as furious, it was comfortable to hold and steer at the same time.
Perhaps the scariest moments came when driving and using the camera on a pole mount, held like a selfie stick, at the same time. It’s not really advisable when full pelt racing (or even permitted), but while we were setting hot laps it captured a fantastic overview of the action.
Wearing a heart rate monitor at the same time gave us a great idea of how thumping go-kart racing can be at times. And thanks to a clever built-in feature, the action camera adds highlights of interest when your heart rate spikes. It did often and helped when editing the footage.
Having the TomTom Bandit to hand gave us some great evidence of why we love go-karting so much. We’ll also be continuing to take it out on other Pocket-lint Adventures over the coming weeks.
Titanium-gold alloy could lead to super-strong implants
Many bone implants (such as for hips and teeth) need to be replaced after a decade simply because they’re not strong enough to survive for any longer. Rice University might put an end to those regular surgeries, though. Its researchers have crafted a titanium-gold alloy that’s the strongest ever to be friendly to organic tissue — four times stronger than pure titanium, and so strong that the team had trouble grinding it into a powder to check its purity. They created it by preparing titanium-3-gold (that is, three parts titanium for every one part of gold) at a high temperature, forming an extremely sturdy crystal structure.
The full potential of the alloy isn’t clear (the lab actually specializes in electrical and magnetic properties, not resilience). Scientists already see it being extremely useful for implants, however, as it’s even gentler on the body than pure titanium. It could be stronger, too, as it’s possible that chemical doping will make it that much harder. The discovery won’t necessarily eliminate the need for replacement implants, but anything that cuts the number of trips to the hospital is bound to be helpful.
Via: BBC
Source: Science Advances, Rice University
