Software : Facebook Messenger app finally swoops onto iPad screens

Facebook Messenger app finally swoops onto iPad screens
Salesforce adds mobile reporting functionality to Salesforce1
Amazon prepares for a legal tussle with the FTC over in-app purchases
Facebook acquires online advertising platform LiveRail
NVIDIA Shield Tablet breaks cover certified for LTE

Facebook Messenger app finally swoops onto iPad screens

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No more having to reach into your pocket to message someone back via Facebook while browsing on the iPad, thanks to the universal build now available.

Facebook today updated the standalone Facebook Messenger app for iOS to version 7.0, and iPad owners finally have something to cheer about now that the app works natively on their favorite smartphone as well as tablet.

If that wasn't enough for iOS users to get excited about, the update also allows videos shot inside of the Messenger app to be saved to the device Camera Roll, where they can be shared to other apps as well.

Facebook is also making it easier than ever to invite friends already using the social network to join the ranks of Messenger users, and promises the app will also be "more reliable" thanks to other, unspecified fixes.

Big talk

Now a universal build offering a native experience across iPhone, iPod touch or iPad from a single app, Facebook Messenger 7.0 appears to be making the most of the larger tablet display.

On the iPad, the Recent, Groups, People and Settings tab now appear on the left edge of the screen in both portrait and landscape views, while your ongoing conversions have plenty of room to breathe on the righthand side.

The iPad is also a great place to send friends some of those decorative Facebook stickers, which are now displayed across the bottom of the screen, where they presumably look pretty awesome on a Retina Display.

Otherwise, Facebook Messenger 7.0 for iOS offers the usual complement of free text and call options (including internationally), private photo sharing, the ability to record voice messages and one-tap access to jump between Messenger and Facebook apps.

Find out the latest on Apple's rumored iPhone 6 right here!

Salesforce adds mobile reporting functionality to Salesforce1

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Salesforce.com has added mobile reporting to its Salesforce1 app development tool. Now, mobile app developers will have access to real-time performance data on mobile devices.

The mobile reporting dashboard will provide access to data within the Salesforce1 Mobile App via a customizable interface. Features include the ability to drag and drop data between multiple records and real-time collaboration within charts and datasets.

During the second half of 2014, users will be able to copy data from Salesforce1 into Salesforce Chatter, the CRM company's enterprise social network. By the end of July, users will also have drill-through functionality for charts and dashboards, as well as the ability to embed reports into external apps.

What is Salesforce1?

When Salesforce launched Salesforce1 in November the company listed Dropbox, Evernote, and LinkedIn as clients of the service, which is focused on helping mobile app developers develop, market and sell sales, service and marketing apps.

Salesforce1 is designed to provide organizations with the tools to create CRM applications that provide desktop functionality across Android and iOS devices. By enabling reporting features, Salesforce has now given Salesforce1 users another reason to invest more heavily in smartphone and tablet-based CRM.

All Salesforce CRM and Salesforce1 clients have access to the mobile reporting tool.

Which 10 CRM systems should your business know?

Amazon prepares for a legal tussle with the FTC over in-app purchases

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Amazon isn't backing down in a fight against the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The world e-tailer submitted a letter to the FTC warning the commission it would take it's case to court regarding a legal spat that stems from a lack of parental controls over in-app purchases (IAPs) preventing kids from ringing up tens to hundreds of dollars in faulty charges.

To reimburse outraged parents the commission has demanded Amazon pay significant fines. However, the company insists it has already implemented plenty of safeguards to prevent tikes from accidentally unlocking every level in Plants vs. Zombies 2 and other virtual purchases.

The web warehouse claims it clearly highlights apps and games that contain IAPs in its Kindle store. What's more, Amazon says it also sends out real-time notifications and allows users to set parental controls to prevent small hands from inadvertently making purchases.

Sticking to its guns

Earlier this year Apple decided to settle in a very similar case with the FTC over circumstantial in-app purchases.

Rather than taking the case to court as Amazon plans to, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company forked over $32.5 million (about £18.9 million, AU$34.4 million) to 37,000 customers demanding money back for faulty charges. The iPhone maker also implemented an additional step in the iOS app store to prevent children from buying digital items without explicit parental consent.

In Amazon's letter, the company's lawyer Andrew DeVore wrote, "The commission's unwillingness to depart from the precedent it set with Apple despite our very different facts leaves us no choice but to defend our approach in court."

The FTC is adamant that Amazon still needs to pay significant fines to repay the "thousands" of consumers saddled with charges they never agreed to.

Amazon stands its ground just as it unveils a new Fire Phone

Via The Verge

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Facebook acquires online advertising platform LiveRail

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No one likes advertising intruding on their online experience, but Facebook is looking for ways to deliver more relevant ads to users of its social network by acquiring one of the companies responsible for feeding such content to big media brands.

Facebook today announced an agreement to acquire LiveRail, an advertising technology company best known for wedging themselves between content providers and users with online video ads.

Founded in 2007, LiveRail currently powers the advertising pushed to websites and apps owned by Major League Baseball, ABC, A&E Networks, Gannett and Dailymotion, specializing in the delivery of only the most relevant ad content.

With hundreds of millions of digital video viewers watching LiveRail-powered advertising each and every month, Facebook aims to satisfy publishers and marketers alike with more "interesting and engaging" online ads.

Joining forces

Facebook Vice President of Ads Product Marketing and Atlas Brian Boland describes LiveRail as "a complete advertising solution for video publishers," although the announcement Wednesday doesn't offer details on how the acquisition might improve the experience for social network users already fatigued by online ads.

At least for now, Facebook plans to keep LiveRail and its staff of 170 people operating independently of the House That Zuckerberg Built, although Boland hopes to use the combined expertise to "make video advertising much better for everyone."

Although Facebook has primarily focused advertising on the web thus far, the clock is ticking on that front after announcing a mobile ad network initiative called Facebook Audience Network at the F8 conference back in May.

The acquisition of LiveRail is likely to dovetail nicely with Facebook's own burgeoning advertising network, which the social network hopes to expand beyond the walls of its own branded mobile apps.

Get your tablet on with our Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review!

NVIDIA Shield Tablet breaks cover certified for LTE

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NVIDIA may want to brush up on how to plug internet leaks following the release of yet another online document providing new confirmation the graphics chip maker has a gaming tablet on the way.

Android Community reported that a certification registered last week with the Global Certification Forum (GCF) provides the most compelling evidence yet that NVIDIA is about to bring its A game to the tablet market.

Dubbed the "Shield Tablet," the 3G and LTE-capable hardware was registered with the GCF on June 27, suggesting NVIDIA could be prepping the device for a summer release, with rumors pointing at a July 22 launch.

Although this isn't NVIDIA's first foray into the tablet world, the forthcoming hardware is noteworthy due to the very specific Shield branding, implying its next device might be a tabletized version of the company's popular handheld gaming console.

Tegra tablet

While there's no official confirmation of hardware specs beyond the cellular connectivity options and "Notebook/Tablet" classification outed by the GCF, earlier rumors have pointed to a 7.9-inch tablet powered by the company's Tegra K1 processor and Android 4.4 KitKat.

The screen resolution apparently won't quite hit the lofty heights of QHD, but the report notes it will come pretty close at 2048 x 1536, with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage rounding out the package.

The mere concept of a gaming-centric tablet is certainly enough to raise a few eyebrows, although the report posits the Shield Tablet could be a "combination of gamepad and tablet" instead.

It remains to be seen if the world is ready to get their game on with a tablet form factor or not, but we may only have three weeks or so to embrace the concept.

Speaking of console gaming, check out our review of Xbox One!

Yahuui Blog

Thursday, July 3, 2014