The Weekly: 03 June 2013
Highlights
Google goes loony, Facebook removes some adverts, Instagram now moves, Xbox shaken by PS4, Something may happen between Samsung and Facebook, AOL comes up with an RSS reader
Google goes loony, Facebook removes some adverts, Instagram now moves, Xbox shaken by PS4, Something may happen between Samsung and Facebook, AOL comes up with an RSS reader
Google Gone Loony
Google started running a new Project X, which are balloons launched into the stratosphere twice as high as that of commercial airline cruising height, acting as floating Internet transmitters. The project aims to provide Internet connection to parts of the world still without access without having to spend billions of dollars in infrawork.
The balloons are attached to mechanisms that will pump air into and out of itself in order to self-regulate and remain in the air, powered by solar. But I want you to visit this HERE site to get a better sense of how this works and what Google has planned for the world with this project.
No More Sponsored Advertisement in Facebook
Good. I hate Sponsored Ads because they're always In-Your-Face annoying. If you don't know, they are those ads stacked between your Newsfeed. That's the good news. The bad news, there'll still be ads everywhere else. Come on people, we're talking about Facebook here.
Instagram Does A Vine
Earlier this year Vine, owned by Twitter, launched in iOS and since then their momentum gained them first place in Appstore downloads. Then about a month ago they came to Google Playstore, same result. Now Instagram wants to have a piece of this action by introducing video.
Xbox One Reverts Gaming Policy
So now, after Sony's PS4 announcement, Microsoft decided to remove all those ridiculous restrictions previously introduced like Internet connection requirement and super-anal game sharing policies. WIN for competition, I say!
On another note Microsoft's extremely stringent policies with game producers are preventing many independent developers from building games for Xbox. Sigh.
Both top dogs were seen meeting up, possibly to discuss something awesome coming out. Many predicted Facebook Home being built on Samsung phones, kind of like what happened with HTC. Then again Samsung have been trying to build a strong Android-replacement OS for a while now and to actually own their own OS. This could be a door to this.
AOL Join The Reader War
We have Digg, Flipboard, Feedly and so many more smaller and insignificant RSS feed providers jumping in to take the place of Google Reader after their retirement announcement. And just recently AOL did the same. It's amazing how everyone wants a cut of the pie Google is throwing out. If you're an RSS reader still without the perfect replacement for Google Reader, try out AOL Reader.
AOL Join The Reader War
We have Digg, Flipboard, Feedly and so many more smaller and insignificant RSS feed providers jumping in to take the place of Google Reader after their retirement announcement. And just recently AOL did the same. It's amazing how everyone wants a cut of the pie Google is throwing out. If you're an RSS reader still without the perfect replacement for Google Reader, try out AOL Reader.
