"Netflix and chill" just took on a new--and clean--meaning thanks to a book deal for its CEO Reed Hastings. Anticipated to be the biggest business book of the year, this deal is sure to put Hastings in a very "chillaxed" state of mind. In the US, Penguin picked up Hasting's unnamed title for a reported seven-figure advance, and UK's Ebury imprint got it for another … [Read more...] about Seven-Figure Advance for Biz Book by Netflix CEO
Apple App Store
Apple App Store turns 10 today
The Apple App Store is celebrating their ten year anniversary and it changed the way we interact with our smartphones. When the App Store first burst onto the scene in 2011 it totally disrupted the smartphone industry and companies like Blackberry and Nokia were caught off-guard by the tremendous success of iPhones and apps. Developers have collectively made more than $100 … [Read more...] about Apple App Store turns 10 today
Apple augments App Store to filter out garbage apps
One of the big problems with the Apple App Store is that there are a ton of opportunistic keyword-reliant garbage apps that swamp every possible search term. Unless you know the exact name of the app, you will likely run into a bunch of clones. Apple is hoping to solve this issue by developing a series of search algorithms that will aid app discovery. App rankings for … [Read more...] about Apple augments App Store to filter out garbage apps
Apple App Store is Battling Paid Review Services
Apple has realized that there are a large number of companies that pay app reviewers to get their apps on the App Store bestseller lists. One of the most popular ways they do it is to pay Chinese ranking manipulation farm who download, install, and uninstall specific apps over and over again to boost their App Store rankings. This all might change as Apple is shifting from … [Read more...] about Apple App Store is Battling Paid Review Services
Google Play Store May Offer Trials for Apps and Games
Despite the fact that all reports indicate Android dominates the smartphone market, being able to brag having an over 80% share, app revenue continues to lag behind Apple (by a shocking average of almost $4 million dollars per day). Understandably, Google would like to do something about that imbalance --especially with such a firm position as Android's biggest cheerleader. … [Read more...] about Google Play Store May Offer Trials for Apps and Games
Facebook Briefly Launches Snapchat Competitor: Slingshot
Once upon a time, Facebook tried to acquire Snapchat (for the bargain price of $3 billion). That bid failed, and Facebook decided to create a competitive product of their own. That product arrived to marked prematurely today when Slingshot was seen briefly in the Apple App Store. Luckily for those curious about the next generation of social media, a few things were seen before … [Read more...] about Facebook Briefly Launches Snapchat Competitor: Slingshot
Apps Magazine Dedicated to Apps Goes Entirely Digital
Apps Magazine happens to be one of the most sought after magazines dedicated entirely to apps. Ironically, the magazine had lacked a native digital edition so far, but the leadership behind the magazine has stated they intend to go entirely digital from now on. The company has so far been coming up with just a digital clone of the print version, but not any more. The new … [Read more...] about Apps Magazine Dedicated to Apps Goes Entirely Digital
Freemium Apps Prove Beneficial For Google, Apple App Stores
A new report by app analysis firm Distimo has brought an interesting revelation, that freemium apps are far more popular than anything else. Freemium apps are those that are available free, though users are required to pay to enjoy advanced services or features. It appears that is how users tend to spend, with an overwhelming 98 percent of revenue in the Google Play Store … [Read more...] about Freemium Apps Prove Beneficial For Google, Apple App Stores
Apple App Store Now Boasts of Million Plus Live Apps
The US Apple App Store has crossed one important milestone, that of playing host to over a million live apps for the first time ever. The above feat has been achieved in around five years’ time since the app store first came into being in July 2008. Apple had announced its worldwide app store has made it past the million approved app mark almost a year ago though back then; … [Read more...] about Apple App Store Now Boasts of Million Plus Live Apps
BBM Set to Debut at Google Play Store and Apple App Store Later This Summer
If you have been longing for a way to chat with your peers that are hooked on to their Android or iOS devices using the Blackberry Messenger, here comes your moment under the summer sun. The company, during the Blackberry Live 2013, made the announcement, though it will depend on Apple and Google approving such a move. “For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are … [Read more...] about BBM Set to Debut at Google Play Store and Apple App Store Later This Summer
$10,000 Gift Card Available via Apple in Celebration of 50 Billion Downloads
The Apple App Store is about to reach an important milestone: the 50 billionth app download. To celebrate the landmark, Apple has announced a $10,000 worth of gift cards to whomever downloads the 50 billionth app. The download figure now stands at 49.2 billion and counting, which means there are about 800 million downloads to go before the benchmark is reached. The last time … [Read more...] about $10,000 Gift Card Available via Apple in Celebration of 50 Billion Downloads
Google Catalogs now on Android tablets
Google Catalogs has now finally made it to tablets running its own Android OS, several months after it having already made it to the iPad. So while iPad users had the opportunity to shuffle through the plethora of offerings that the various retailers are doling out from August this year, their Android tablet counterparts can now also do the same as well. Also the good thing is, … [Read more...] about Google Catalogs now on Android tablets
iOS Customers Express Disdain on Changes to eBook Stores
Apple recently implemented new policies that demanded companies sell their digital content via iTunes. This strongly effected eBook stores that either sold content directly via their application or diverted customers to their websites. In the last few weeks, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Kobo, and other major applications all removed in-app purchasing of books. This has … [Read more...] about iOS Customers Express Disdain on Changes to eBook Stores
iPad Apps Store now has over 10,000 apps
The Apple Apps Store has grown in size so that it can now boast of over 10,000 iPad applications. The feat was achieved in only 63 days after the iPad was commercially launched on the 3rd of April. Also, this betters the earlier trend set by iPhone in 2008 when it had taken about five months to reach the 10,000 app mark. It was only towards the end of April that Apple had … [Read more...] about iPad Apps Store now has over 10,000 apps