Nexon Giants, MapleStory, KartRider, Enter the Mobile Social Game Space

Nexon is entering the mobile and social gaming markets with versions of two of its most popular worldwide titles, KartRider and MapleStory. Nexon plans to publish KartRider Rush on iOS and Android platforms, and is set to launch later this month. They also plan to publish MapleStory Adventures on the Facebook platform, later this year.

KartRider Rush will be a mobile version of Nexon's KartRider, and is going to be a free app on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, as well as on Android devices, later this summer. KartRider Rush will allow KartRider's more than 200 million registered players worldwide to race up to four players against each other in both battle mode and time trial mode. Single player mode will allow players to compare their scores against friends using Facebook Connect.

MapleStory Adventures will be available on Facebook this summer, taking the original 2D side-scrolling adventure, and adapting it to a simpler interface. It will allow Facebook users to participate in quests and challenges, while having the ability to invite friends to help in combat. The game will also follow Nexon’s microtransaction-based model, which allows players to play all of MapleStory Adventures for free, with the option to enhance the gameplay experience by purchasing in-game items. Nexon was not only the world’s first game developer to successfully commercialize microtransaction games, but with the release of MapleStory in 2005, Nexon has also led the way in using the microtransaction business model in the U.S.

To read the full story, click here.

Verizon keeps unlimited data plan for iPhone--for now

Verizon Wireless will keep its $30 unlimited data plan for the iPhone, Lowell McAdam, chief operating officer of Verizon, said today at the company's quarterly investor meeting.

But the unlimited plan will not last for long. The company clarified its position on the unlimited data plan after its investor conference, stating that the iPhone unlimited data plan will be available for a "limited time." Verizon representatives declined to provide details about how long the window would last. But after the offer ends, Verizon will be moving to a usage-based billing model that is similar to what AT&T offers today. Verizon still hasn't disclosed pricing for its 4G LTE handsets, which are set to hit store shelves in the first half of 2011.

As for how long customers will get to keep their unlimited data plans, according to a Verizon spokeswoman, the unlimited plan will only be offered for the contract period. After the contract expires and customers buy a new device, they will be subject to whatever rate plans are available when they upgrade their phones.

For the complete article, please click here.

Verizon Unwraps iPhone

Verizon Wireless finally told the world that it will start selling the iPhone, but the carrier toiled in secret with Apple Inc. for two years to make it happen.

The country's largest wireless carrier said it would have the iPhone in stores on Feb. 10 starting at $199, the same price charged by rival AT&T Inc., which has had the phone to itself since its launch in June 2007.

The move will give Apple an important new source of sales in its biggest market for the iPhone and help it compete with rival Google Inc., which had made inroads for its Android operating system by teaming up with Verizon to develop high-end smartphones.

It also will shake up the U.S. wireless market, ending a deal that has driven much of AT&T's subscriber growth and forcing smaller carriers like Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA to compete against bigger rivals armed with an immensely popular phone.

For the complete article, please click here.

The Tablet Is Changing the Face of TV

iTunes offers a handful of apps that allow subscribers to watch live TV on their iPhone or iPad. But just browsing through the selections, and more importantly the reviews, it seems live streaming TV to a mobile device has not yet been perfected! Most apps are aimed at niche audiences, require additional hardware to view the video or simply provide an inferior playback experience due to unreliable bandwidth to properly stream the video.

I’d argue the biggest impediment to perfecting these apps is content. The biggest impediment to gaining the rights to content is content security. And who already has access to high-quality content and conditional access (CA) / digital rights management (DRM) systems in place? Digital TV operators. We believe the cable, satellite and IPTV operators that already have the rights to broadcast premium content are in the cat bird seat to offer the best live mobile TV experience.

The demand is clear. According to Sandvine, real-time entertainment, including video streaming, now accounts for about 43% of North American Internet traffic, up from 10% in 2008! And for the first time in history, the number of households paying for TV subscriptions is falling, in part due to the rise of Internet TV and over-the-top (OTT) services.

The technology is finally catching up to this demand when you consider what adaptive rate streaming can now enable.

Now, in this new OTT world, the issue of content rights is complicated. Take companies like Ivi and FilmOn.com for example. They have developed technology that captures over-the-air broadcast signals and streams them to mobile devices – without consent from the networks.

Clearly these broadcasters are not thrilled with the so-called loophole that they found in the U.S. Copyright Act. Both of these companies are already in an embattled legal fight with content owners to see if they have the right to do this. According to some attorneys, the law is on the side of the networks.

We recently launched our ViewRight LIVE app in iTunes, which enables secure distribution of premium pay-TV services via WiFi and mobile wireless networks – of live TV. The app provides subscriber/device registration and device-level authentication. ViewRight LIVE also allows operators to customize and brand their mobile TV channel to match the look and feel of their traditional channels.

So with the content rights, technology infrastructure and now the security available to enable a superior live mobile TV experience, digital TV operators have a tremendous opportunity. I’d say it is better to beat fledging online TV operators in the marketplace rather than the courtroom.

What are your thoughts?

--content submitted by Verimatrix--

Tech Behind Hit Games Comes to iPhone

The technology behind hit videogames such as “Batman: Arkham Asylum” and “Gears of War 3″ is coming to iPhone and iPad game developers this week, in another sign that mobile gaming is booming on Apple’s platforms.

Epic Games is planning to release an updated version of its game-development tools, known as the Unreal Development Kit, to the public soon. The kit, which is free to download, will include new tools to create high-quality graphics and animations on iOS, effectively simplifying and speeding up the development processes for games. Epic doesn’t charge license fees to tinker with the kit nor to make free games. But, if developers want to sell their apps, they have to pay a $99 licensing fee and 25% royalties after the first $5,000 in sales.

Apple has sold more than 125 million devices using its iOS operating system, strongly competing against the Nintendo DS, which has shipped roughly 135 million units, and the PlayStation Portable, which has sold more than 62 million units.

For the complete article, please click here.

Vidiator - Company Highlight

Vidiator have made a major product transition from being focused on mobile streaming (typically this means RTSP to mobile devices) to investing their resources and mobile video experience into delivering a converged HTTP streaming platform. This change has been very successful.

They now truly have a great product.

Vidiator believes they are the strongest player in the market because they offer all essential parts of the mobile video distribution from encoding to delivery. For example, they offer integration software that ensures HTTP streaming can be used with proper tracking and billing methods. Their flexible product and the fact that they go onsite and build large systems and ensure high class support to their customers, makes them unique in the business.

They are really excited to be releasing the 6th generation of our Xenon platform in the next few months. It contains delivery of iPhone, Flash and Silverlight in HD. Vidiator has a unique encode once for all formats approach where our customers can save a lot of hardware in converged solutions using our method.

Their company mission is to ensure service providers can deliver an excellent and consistent user experience on any device and network.

Oxygen Audio debuts car stereo with iPhone interface

French electronics manufacturer Oxygen Audio will introduce an audio system at CES 2011 that uses an iPhone as the head unit interface. The O'Car audio system physically integrates an iPhone by snapping it to the front of the audio deck. A cantilever swivels the phone horizontally or vertically, and angles it in any direction.

Using the iPhone as the software platform, you'll be able to use your favorite app-du-jour for traffic information and navigation or whatever new technology comes to the market--as long as it goes to your phone. A downloadable app controls the entertainment system, offering AM/FM/RDS radio, 4 by 55 watt amp and subwoofer control, and also provides seamless app multitasking.

The single DIN head unit, which will retail for $299 in first quarter of 2011 (although there's a chance European markets will get it before Christmas), is equipped with hands-free calling Bluetooth capabilities and an external speaker. While you won't be able to access programs on your phone using voice commands, the O'Car app will automatically dim audio programs for voice prompts if you're using turn-by-turn directions or receiving or making phone calls, said Oxygen Audio spokesman Gregory Borchardt. And should you decide to switch devices, the aftermarket manufacturer is developing adapters for Androids.

For the complete article, please click here.

Call Facebook friends for free with Vonage App

Vonage has introduced two apps that allow you to make free phone calls to your Facebook friends nationally and internationally. The apps, called Vonage Mobile for Facebook, are available free for the iPhone and Android phones.

The app is very simple to use. Load it and sign in as you do for Facebook. You will be asked what information you want to allow your friends access to, and you will probably at this point receive the message “Less than 5 of your friends have Vonage mobile for Facebook.” It then suggests that you invite some.

Calls can be connected over Wi-Fi or over 3G, although using 3G will use your data minutes. Connections made over Wi-Fi are free – and you save voice minutes even on local calls.

To read the full NY Times article, click here.

Owe Someone Money? Just Bump Your Phones

PayPal’s new iPhone application could finally change that. It promises to let you quickly divide a restaurant bill and send a friend the portion you owe just by bumping your iPhones together.

To send money, users choose a recipient from their cellphone contacts or bump two phones together. For that, the app uses technology from Bump Technologies, which developed it to swap contact information between two phones. The money is transferred immediately.

But now might be the time, for a few reasons. PayPal’s iPhone app is easier to use than the text-message service, in part because people do not have to remember the exact language to use in their messages. And most are familiar with PayPal —80 million people actively use it on the Web and 200 million are registered.

The number of PayPal mobile transactions climbed from 24 million in 2008 to 140 million in 2009, according to Eric Duprat, PayPal’s general manager for mobile. In addition to person-to-person payments with cellphones, PayPal has ventured into mobile commerce. Last year, people spent more than $500 million using eBay’s mobile apps, which incorporate PayPal.

For the full article, click here.

RedEye mini Turns Your iPhone Into Remote and Program Guide

ThinkFlood, maker of RedEye universal remote control products for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, announced RedEye mini. RedEye mini is the affordable ($49), portable way to turn any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into an advanced universal remote with free, integrated program/channel guide and infrared code database.

RedEye mini users can control their TVs, DVRs, stereos, game consoles, etc., whether they are at home or on the go, and can save button layouts for favorite activities such as, "Watch Blu-ray in Living Room," "Listen to Music at Work," or "Watch TV at Gym."

RedEye mini plugs into the headphone jack, which frees the dock connector for charging while while the remote is in use. This is a significant advantage because iPhone users will not have to flip their phones upside-down to use the remote, and having a low battery will never leave users stranded without a remote.

Free integrated electronic program guide allows users to access program and channel information without interrupting what is happening on the TV screen.

For more information, click here.

Industry-First Integration of Mobile Promotions With Facebook and Twitter

Mozes, the leader in mobile engagement, announced the industry-first integration of mobile promotions and social media. Marketers can now easily create mobile campaigns, like sweepstakes, that will spread virally using the new integrated social media features of Mozes Connect.

Fans can also participate in a variety of other exciting mobile promotions granting them VIP fan access to meet Grammy-award winning stars, attend amazing shows all over the country, and even get signed memorabilia.

Marketers can boost participation rates and encourage sharing of their mobile campaigns by logging in to the Mozes Connect platform and entering their Facebook and Twitter credentials to post customized messages to their pages. Marketers can also increase participation in their campaigns by promoting them to an existing mobile fan list, as well as through the Mozes iPhone application. You can download the free Mozes application for the iPhone or iPod touch here.

For the full press release, click here.

Eyecon Demonstrates User-Experience Application Platform at CES

Eyecon, a sponsor of Parks Associates Connections events, will be demonstrating its user-experience application platform for networked media players at CES.

As internet enabled televisions, broadband set-tops, networked audio systems and digital picture frames proliferate in the connected home, consumers require a common and portable interface to manage their media and player options. Discovery and navigation of multiple content sources including over-the-top content, music libraries, user-generated and premium video sites also poses a significant challenge not only for consumers but CE manufacturers, service providers, and content publishers as well.

EyeconTroller for the iPhone meets these challenges by providing a personalized, mobile interface enabling users to search, preview and queue content from multiple sources and control its play-out to multiple entertainment devices.

EyeconTroller works with EyeconManager, a free software download for the consumers networked PC or Mac. EyeconManager creates a virtual library of all the users authorized content – video, music and photographs, no matter where it resides, locally or on the web. It also discovers both DLNA and other popular connected players in the home.

You can see Eyecon’s user-experience application in several locations at CES including Intel’s invitation only Residential Gateway and Media Phone suites, Western Digital’s TV Live HD Media Player demo, Syabas’s Popcorn Hour suite, Marvells SheevaPlug Partner Pavilion, and CopperGates Home Connectivity Solution suite.

You can also contact molly@eyecontechnologies.com to schedule a demo at Eyecon’s demonstration suite in the Venetian.

ShopSavvy Finally Comes To The iPhone

ShopSavvy, one of the popular Android applications, is finally available for the iPhone.

Developed by Dallas based Big In Japan, ShopSavvy is an app that allows you to use your device as a portable barcode scanner. A shopper can point his/her phone’s camera at any barcode and it will read it, do a product look up, and give product information, as well as, online or at nearby stores including pricing.

Do retailers hate this? Not at all. Retailers have actually been working with ShopSavvy to come up with ways to allow shoppers to make buying in their stores even easier. All of this information is on the Internet, now ShopSavvy just gives you easy access to it.

With the iPhone 3GS's auto-focus camera, the iPhone now had the ability to scan barcodes. ShopSavvy is available for free in the App Store.

For the full story, click here.

RedEye (Universal Remote System for iPhone & iPod touch): Now Most Popular Remote Control Fan Page on Facebook

ThinkFlood, maker of the RedEye personal remote control for iPhone and iPod touch, announced that two months after launching its Facebook fan page, RedEye is already the most popular remote control page on Facebook.

With over 2,000 fans and counting, RedEye's popularity towers over all other remote control-related Facebook fan pages including Bobby, Unify4Life, Control4, Crestron, Logitech Harmony One, Marantz, OneForAll Xsight, Philips Pronto, and Universal Remote Control.

RedEye fans receive product updates like this recent video demo of RedEye accelerometer gestures http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=506PyY-iK1I, and the latest remote control and home automation news from the MoreControl Blog (http://morecontrol.com/).

For more information, click here.

Verimatrix and Envivio Extend Adaptive Rate Streaming Beyond the iPhone

Verimatrix, setting the standard in content security technologies that enhance the value of pay-TV networks, and Envivio, Inc. announced a collaborative solution that enables pay-TV operators to use Apple's HTTP adaptive bitrate streaming technology for the iPhone to deliver IPTV and over the top (OTT) content that scales effectively across mobile devices, PCs and other client types. The solution pairs Envivio's 4Caster C4 three screens encoder/transcoder with the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) to create a unified headend that delivers protected standard (SD) and high definition (HD) content over unmanaged networks to any Internet-connected consumer playback device.

Introduced as a component of Apple OS 3.0 for the iPhone, adaptive bitrate streaming delivers smooth audio and video streams using Internet-standard HTTP protocols. The technology supports automatic adaptation to available network types and automatically switches to the optimal bitrate for a smooth quality playback experience. Envivio 4Caster C4 enables its deployment by ingesting analog or digital sources and then encoding and encrypting the content for delivery at multiple bitrates to multiple devices. In this solution, the 4Caster C4 is integrated with Verimatrix VCAS, which provides for key management, user authentication and unified right managements. The combination enables pay-TV operators to create unique service offerings for multi-screen delivery. Furthermore, live and video-on-demand (VOD) content can be delivered using the same protocols with easy incorporation of targeted advertising segments.

For the full press release, click here.

Convergence Trends Drive Need for Improved Search & Discovery of Media

Followers of Parks Associates and their research have seen the explosive growth forecast for several significant consumer trends including home media storage, connected entertainment devices, cloud based media services, and ultra-portable touchscreen netbooks, MIDs and smartphones. eyecon, a sponsor of the upcoming CONNECTIONS Europe, operates at the intersection of these converging trends.

For the first time, eyecon will publicly demonstrate its iPhone and iTouch media experience browser at the International Broadcasters Conference (IBC) in Amsterdam, Sept 11th – 15th. The eyecon client enables users to discover, search, access and preview their media on their iPhone while also directing playback to connected televisions and digital audio systems.

eyecon’s media experience application includes an independent control point that automatically discovers and indexes all of a users movies, TV programming, music and photo libraries, whether stored locally or made available as a web service. It also discovers and indexes any connected home media players including TVs, digital picture frames and sound systems using standards like DLNA and UPnP. With the thin-client interface, consumers gain access to and control of their media wherever it resides, from wherever they’re at, and a unified controller for playback on any manufacturers connected players.

eyecon will be demonstrating it media experience browser in the Mobile/IPTV Zone at IBC, Hall 12, booth 203. Interested CE Vendors, Service Providers and Content Publishers can schedule a demo by contacting Bill Correll bcorrell@eyecontechnologies.com, VP Marketing.

PGA Live Streaming iPhone app released

Only $1.99 for the new PGA iPhone/iTouch application that went live last Friday. The new PGA application has been released right before the Aug. 13-16, 2009 PGA Championship.

Users can have live streaming video; in addition, they can receive up-to-the-minute scores and personalized alerts on select players.

Although sponsored by ING Groep NV, this is the first non-free golf application which includes more premium features and enables users to be alerted when players begin or complete their rounds or make a birdie or a double-bogey.

Golf fans can also log on to on to PGA.com for a live video coverage and interact via Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

AT&T & Apple Being Investigated By FCC On Google Voice App

Because AT&T rejected Google’s voice application for the iPhone, the Federal Communications Commission has opened an investigation into the telco giant as well as Apple.

Was is rejected because it duplicates an app that already comes with the iPhone? However, AT&T stated they do not manage or approve applications for the App Store.

The FCC has sent a letter to all three companies involved: AT&T, Apple and Google. To view these letters, click here.

iPhone Becomes Home Automation Controller

Many manufacturers are developing apps that make Apple's ubiquitous mobile device a touchpanel controller for automation, lighting, distributed audio and more. Apple’s iPhone is doubling as a new type of touchpanel controller these days.

Apple has already sold more than 6 million iPhones, and many home control companies are capitalizing on that trend by engineering their systems to communicate directly with the mobile device, as well as with Apple’s iPod and iPod touch products.

Most home control companies expect Apple’s mobile devices to be used primarily as a means of monitoring and controlling a home’s lights, thermostats and other equipment remotely from the office or the road. However, it’s feasible that the iPhone could also function as a main command center within the home.

To read more about this Electric House article entitled "Let Your iPhone Take Full Control," please click here.

iPhone in Europe

iPhone Comments in Europe

The iPhone launch in Europe was not as successful as in the U.S.

O2 reportedly activated 8,000 iPhones on the launch day, and T-Mobile claims it sold 10,000 by the afternoon on the launch day. Germany and the UK have a combined population of approximately 143 million, meaning 0.01% of people bought an iPhone on the opening day, a percentage significantly lower than that in the U.S. Some of the reasons for the lackluster performance include the following:

High price tag: iPhone prices have been slashed by 1/3 since launch in the U.S. whereas it’s still sold at more than $500 in Europe.
Lack of 3G support
A more competitive handset market
Lower iPod market share in the MP3 market

In the long term, we expect iPhone’s sales in Europe to continuously under-perform that in the U.S.