Notes from Google Play: wrapping up 2023

-

Reflecting on 2023, looking ahead to 2024

Popular Posts:

Telenav Seeks Disruption With Free In-Car Services

-
Image
Location-based solution provider Telenav is seeking to disrupt the in-car services industry with a new monetization platform designed to offer a variety of in-car services such as free navigation to consumers and monetize them through advertising. Originally announced at Las Vegas, Nevada-based Consumer Electronics Show in January, Telenav's offering is effectively targeted at bringing the ad-supported software business model that already proved its worth in the mobile industry to the in-vehicle tech segment. The company's internal studies and a number of independent surveys suggest the vast majority of consumers "would prefer free in-car services monetized through ads rather than pay for them" like they would traditionally, Telenav Executive Director of Strategy Ky Tang told AndroidHeadlines in an interview. Telenav says its in-car solution can be applied to a wide variety of use cases and technologies that consumers have come to expect from contemporary vehicles....
Continue Reading....

How Google Maps Made The Navigation Industry “Sweat”

-
Image
The arrival of contemporary smartphones and mobile apps in the late 2000s didn't just fundamentally change what consumers expect from their handsets, it also ended up disrupting a wide variety of industries, with mobile navigation being its first target.  Founded in 1999, Santa Clara, California-based Telenav was enjoying a relatively successful first decade of existence, having worked with major U.S. carriers such as AT&T and Sprint on offering navigation services. Following the arrival of Google Maps, it suddenly found itself having to rethink its flagship product after after Google's solution, offering a comparable navigation service free of charge, became available on every new smartphone.  "It made the industry sweat quite a bit at the time," Telenav Executive Director of Strategy Ky Tang recalled in an interview with Android Headlines, asserting Google Maps had changed the navigation game significantly. At a time when smartphones were enjoying massive globa...
Continue Reading....

BBC iPlayer Radio

-
Image
BBC iPlayer Radio BBC Worldwide (Ltd) Music-Audio VERSION/BUILD: 2.15.2.10976 UPDATED: 15 February 2018 REQUIRES ANDROID: 4.0 and up FILE SIZE: 21.17 M The official BBC iPlayer Radio app for listening to BBC Radio wherever you go. - Listen live to BBC Radio stations from the World Service and across the UK - Catch up or listen again to your favourite BBC Radio programmes - Download podcasts to enjoy anywhere, even when offline - Browse and listen to carefully curated BBC Radio highlights and collections - View daily schedules and categories quickly and easily - Discover audio and video clips, including many live performances - See what tracks are playing on air as well as track lists for on demand programmes - Wake up to and doze off to BBC Radio with a built-in alarm clock and night mode A network connection is required in order to access cont...
Continue Reading....

Amazon's samples let you try before you buy and give you credit back

-
Image
Free shipping is nice, but free food is better! Did you know Amazon Prime members get access to entire pages of samples and sample boxes that Amazon will actually reward you for trying? Whether you want some Optimum Nutrition protein bars for $7.99 or an $11.99 variety of treats for your pupper because he's such a good boy, Amazon's collection of sample boxes is growing every day. The fun thing about these boxes is after you've paid for the samples, Amazon will give you an equivalent credit on your account to spend on a full size item. This works even with individual samples, and Amazon has its own landing page for that! Not interested in an entire box? Get a $2 RXBAR chocolate peanut butter protein bar with free Prime shipping for just this item, and Amazon will give you $2 back you can spend here . These are great deals for the adventurous. It's a low risk way to try out brands, colors, and flavors you've never tried before, and then you can spe...
Continue Reading....

Samsung’s Harman acquisition approved by Fair Trade Commission

-
Samsung Electronics announced late last year that it was going to acquire Harman International for $8 billion . Even though there was some pushback from minority investors initially who thought that the price was too low, Harman’s shareholders eventually approved the acquisition during the shareholders’ meeting earlier this month. The relevant regulatory approvals are now required before Samsung can close this deal once and for all. The company has cleared one such hurdle. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has given its final approval to Samsung for the acquisition of Harman International. The decision is similar to the European Commission which also sees no harm in allowing the acquisition to go through. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission is of the view that this acquisition is not likely to cause a problem with regard to the Fair Trade Act and restriction of competition. With this regulatory hurdle taken care of, Samsung is well on its way to closing the Harman acquisition wit...
Continue Reading....