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.

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Irdeto's Company Highlight Continued

We feel that Irdeto is the strongest player in the market because of our ability to offer end-to-end solutions that truly meet our customers’ needs in a rapidly changing market place. Our technology is amongst the best on the market, and the flexibility of our solutions allows operators to obtain real value from the delivery of content to consumers.

For example, in the last year the Apple iPad has emerged as the hot device for “anytime, any place” premium content consumption. To the pay-TV operator, this is an opportunity to extend its brand and value as a content provider to the users of this new generation of devices. We have been one of the first in the market to help our customers realise this opportunity with the Irdeto Broadband solution, which has helped many operators around the world to maximise the value of their content via secure content delivery to any device platform, including the iPad and iPhone.

However, the same promise of “any time, any place, any device” video consumption that presents a huge opportunity for operators also presents a significant challenge when it comes to meeting studio requirements for securing premium content over the Internet for playback on portable devices. The popularity of the Apple platform, combined with the lure of premium content such as HD movies, creates an attractive target for the hacker community. In this environment, content protection becomes critical to the ongoing financial viability of a streaming video service. To combat the ongoing threat of digital piracy in this new video ecosystem, Irdeto’s Cloakware Platform utilises a Security Lifecycle Management approach to protecting digital assets throughout their economic life.

The combination of our Broadband and Cloakware solutions is a world-leading offering that is enabling our customers to take advantage of the opportunities presented by technological advances. We are striving to ensure that we will continue to provide the best solutions to meet industry needs now, and in the future.

Content submitted by Irdeto.

Apple opens iOS update to developers

Apple has started notifying members of its iOS developer community that version 4.2 of the company’s mobile operating system has hit GM status.

iOS 4.2 is the next incremental update to iOS 4, Apple’s latest major version of the operating system powering iPhones, iPod touches, iPads, and now even the Apple TV(second generation).

Apple itself promised back in September that iOS 4.2 would drop sometime in November for iPhone, iPod touch and, most notably, for iPad users who will soon get a bunch of new features that only iPhone and iPod touch users have been enjoying since the initial iOS 4 launch.

Since iOS 4.2 will bring all the existing features of iOS 4.1 to the iPad, plus the new ones Apple touted during the Sept. 1 keynote, upcoming additions specifically targeting the iPad include:

- Multitasking
- Folders
- AirPlay wireless music, movie, and photo streaming
- Printing support over wireless networks
- Game Center for multiplayer and social gaming
- Unified and improved Mail inbox
- Search text within Safari
- Enhanced enterprise support
- Accessibility enhancements
- Keyboard and dictionary enhancements

For the complete article, please click here.

Smartphones + Tablets Most Popular Consumer Electronic Products as Holiday Season Approaches

Parks Associates reports consumer electronics buying in the U.S. rebounded in the first half of 2010, with 63% of broadband households making at least one purchase, a rate 6% higher than in the first half of 2009.

Smartphones promise to be the highest selling product through the end of the year, fueled by both repeat and first-time purchases. Twenty-one percent of broadband households intend to purchase a smartphone by year’s end, according to the report Consumer Decision Process: 1H 2010 and 2010 Summer Update. Of those intending to purchase a new smartphone in the next four months, 28% report an iPhone preference, 23% want a Blackberry, and 20% want an Android-based phone.

The study found that, on average, buying households purchased 4.3 CE products and spent $1,094 in the first half of 2010. Smartphones were a top purchase across most demographic segments, particularly among younger consumers, and 3-4% of broadband households bought at least one Apple iPad tablet. The study also reveals that standard iPad buyers are typical early adopters – they are younger than 35 with a graduate degree and household income greater than $100,000.

Parks Associates is currently launching 2010 Holiday Intentions, which will provide incidence of product ownership and data on 3Q 2010 purchases and purchase intentions for the 2010 holiday season.

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.