Tumblr’s iPhone app has gotten a major redesign that introduces more robust blogging features and a lot of new speed enhancements. Tumblr still doesn’t have a dedicated iPad app but the new 3.0 update should provide a lot of improved functionality for fans of the mobile app.
The dashboard has been redesigned to be simpler while the compose button offers some quick swipe short cuts to add photos or go right into the text editor. The app supports better tapping and is speedier overall, with faster uploading of posts.
Users can now include high-res images and there’s a new photo viewer to see pictures. Other nice additions include the Spotify support for sharing songs, the ability to search by tags and an offline option for composing, reblogging and responding to others when not connected.
The iPhone app follows in the footsteps of a similar Android update that hit Google Play a couple months ago. Both apps also feature Radar, the showcase for interesting blog posts on the Tumblr network. Tumblr CEO David Karp spoke at a conference last week and said that the new iPhone app Karp won’t feature ads immediately but will incorporate them soon after launch. That’s been one of the big business stories for Tumblr as it starts to roll out new organic advertising units as part of its effort to generate revenue.
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France Telecom wants to keep stake in UK venture - CEO - Reuters UK
MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - The French and German owners of Britain's largest mobile operator, Everything Everywhere, are not interested in selling and have enough cash to invest in the business, France Telecom's chief executive said on Thursday.
Investment banking sources had told Reuters last week that former chief executive Tom Alexander approached private equity groups six months ago to gauge interest in an 8 billion pound offer for the France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom joint venture.
Investment banking sources said firms Alexander approached included CVC, KKR and Providence, but he gained little traction in such difficult funding conditions.
"We are happy with the joint venture," France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard told journalists. "The Germans are also happy to be there, they do not wish to sell. We do not wish to sell either. If we receive an offer that makes sense, of course we will look at it. But that does not mean we will accept it."
France Telecom's Orange joined forces with Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile in 2010 to become the biggest operator in the competitive British market, with more than 27 million customers.
The group pledged 3.5 billion pounds cost savings, largely by creating one network and taking down excess towers. The synergies have taken time to come through and the group is only now starting to gain traction - on Thursday it announced an additional dividend of 250 million pounds for its parents.
A private equity deal of the size of Everything Everywhere would run against the trend in a market focused on deals under a billion pounds because banks have cut lending.
One person familiar with the thinking of private equity groups this week said it would be near impossible to finance an Everything Everywhere deal in the current market.
France Telecom chief finance officer Gervais Pellissier told Reuters earlier this month the two owners could consider floating a stake in the group although they would likely want to maintain control.
(Reporting by Gwenaelle Barzic; Writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Dan Lalor)
NZ shares fall, paced by Fletcher, Telecom, Auckland Airport - ONE News
New Zealand shares fell, paced by the biggest companies on the bourse - Telecom, Fletcher Building and Auckland International Airport - after the Federal Reserve offered less stimulus in the US than had been hoped.
The NZX 50 index fell 35.40 points, or 1%, to 3409.39. Within the index, 25 stocks fell, 14 rose and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was about $104 million.
Telecom, the largest company on the exchange, was down 2.2 percent to $2.425, while shares in Fletcher Building, the country's largest construction company, shed 2.9% to $6.03 and Auckland Airport fell 0.8 % to $2.41.
"We have seen some pretty big selling off of Telecom and Fletcher which are held by Aussie investors - they are selling out of the blue chip stocks and that has pushed them down," said Grant Williamson, director at Hamilton Hindin Greene.
Gains were led by stock exchange regulator NZX, up 2.4% to $1.29.
Starting later this year the NZX will list 49 percent of Genesis Energy, Mighty River Power. Meridian Energy and Solid Energy, together with the partial sell-down of already-listed Air New Zealand, adding about $4.8 billion to the NZX 50's free float market capitalisation.
"As we get closer to the SOE sell down, it's creating a lot of interest in the NZX - it creates more fees and improves the company's bottom line," Williamson said.
Retirement village operator Ryman Healthcare gained 0.3% to $3.44, matching June 19's record close.
"Ryman is one the favourite stocks - mainly due to the fact it's a defensive and growth stock," Williamson said. "Investors are slowly waking up to the fact that the population is ageing."
Retirement-village rival Metlifecare rose 1.9 percent to $2.20 after shareholders voted in favour of an amended merger proposal, after it reduced the amount of shares it will use to pay for the deal and abandoned plans to raise new equity capital.
Renaissance Corp, which used to have a monopoly on national distribution of Apple products, soared 26% to 13 cents after announcing the sale of its IT distribution division to Exeed Limited, halving the size of its balance sheet.
APN News & Media, the media company that publishes the New Zealand Herald, was unchanged at $1.01 on the NZX after announcing it had acquired an 82% stake in Australian online shopping club brandsExclusive for as much as A$66 million. The ASX-listed shares fell 2.7% to 71.5 Australian cents.
Shares in telecommunications company, Zintel Group, jumped 11% to 39 cents after it announced the sale of its subsidiary company, Zintel Cogent, for $1 million effective July 2.
Comvita shares fell 2.7% to $3.30 after the company said it bought 177,354 ordinary shares at an average price of $3.24, which it will use to reward loyal beekeeper suppliers.
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Foxconn chief: iPhone 5 will 'put Galaxy S3 to shame' - Techradar.com
The iPhone 5 was always going to be hotly anticipated, but now comes word it'll be streaks ahead of the competition.
It'll put the Samsung Galaxy S3 "to shame" according to the CEO of Foxconn, the company that owns the plant building the next Apple handheld.
Terry Gou sang the praises of the next iPhone at Foxconn's annual shareholder's meeting, according to Focus Taiwan.
Vs Samsung
But then maybe Gou's comments should be taken with a pinch of salt. It's in his interest for the next iPhone to do well after all. And the report says he has made it a lifetime goal to defeat Samsung, a company he describes as having "a track record of snitching on its competitors." So he's not exactly impartial.
(He was referring to when Samsung snitched on four Taiwanese companies in a 2010 investigation by the European Commission on price-fixing in the flat panel industry.)
Gou also spoke of Foxconn's relationship with Sharp. In March Foxconn became Sharp's single biggest shareholder, acquiring a 10 per cent stake in the Japanese company. Gou claimed Sharp's manufacturing facilities will give Foxconn a three-year lead on Samsung.
Sharp is expected to make the screens for the forthcoming Apple TV set.
Speaking of the deal with Sharp, Gou said: "I respect the Japanese and especially like their execution and communication styles. Unlike the Koreans, they will not hit you from behind."
So he's not one to mince his words.
The iPhone 5 is expected to launch in October, with a larger 4-inch screen and new striped back panel.
Via: CNET
iPhone 5 to be true 3G/4G world phone, says analyst - CNET News
The iPhone 5 will not only offer a major refresh but expand its appeal around the world, according to one analyst.
The sixth-generation iPhone is expected to sport three big improvements, says analyst Shaw Wu. Picking up intel from suppliers, Wu sees a new form factor, a slightly larger screen, and 4G LTE support built into Apple's next flagship phone. These features should help the upcoming iPhone outscore the iPhone 4 and 4S at picking up new customers and enticing existing ones to upgrade.
Other reports and various rumors have pointed to a redesigned body, a 4-inch screen, and support for LTE in the next model iPhone.
But given China's status as the world's biggest smartphone market, Apple will also make sure the iPhone 5 will appeal to Chinese consumers, according to Wu.
The phone will work with China Mobile's proprietary TD-SCDMA 3G network, says the analyst. Both China Mobile and China Unicom have been testing 4G LTE. But full adoption of LTE is a few years away, so support for 3G is crucial if Apple is to gain further traction in the Chinese market.
iOS 6 has already paved the way for greater support in China by giving Siri the ability to comprehend and speak Mandarin and Cantonese. The new OS will also offer an easier way to input Chinese characters and integrate with several Chinese online services, such as Baidu, Sina Weibo, Youku, and Tudou. Combine iOS 6 with the iPhone 5, and Wu sees Apple a few steps closer to a deal to offer the iPhone through China Mobile.
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