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HTC has posted another quarterly loss, its second in three quarters after nearly five years of profitability.

The company's loss was NT$1.88 billion ($62 million) as sales slowed down before the launch of the flagship One (M8), a thorough upgrade from last year's smartphone of the same name.

Released on March 25th, the M8 is the centerpiece of the company's turnaround efforts, which will also include more low and mid-range range phones that can appeal to larger groups of consumers.

Chief Financial Officer Chang Chialin added that revenue fell to NT$33.1 billion ($1.1 billion) from NT$42.8 billion year over year, below expectations and forecasts.

"The company expects to see positive trajectory of its revenue in April from March and forecasts quarter-on-quarter revenue growth in the second quarter," HTC said, based on sales of the M8 and the new Desire 816.

Waze, the social mapping application acquired by Google last year, sold for $1.15 billion says the company's CEO.

The Israeli startup sold for $1.15 billion says CEO Noam Bardin. Previous reports had said Facebook was also a likely suitor, and that there had been a bidding war.

Most interestingly, Bardin admitted that the founders of the company diluted their stakes in the company during funding rounds with investors. The venture capitalists and other investors took over real control of the company, and over time forced them to make some costly mistakes.

Reads the post: "There has been some speculation that we sold due to investor pressure. That was never a factor in selling! The point is that since we owned so little of the company at that point, we felt that we were "working" for our board and not ourselves and so decided we would rather work for Larry Page than our investors."

The full post is an excellent and interesting look into the startup world, and I recommend it: A Unicorn in Israel

Twitter has confirmed its acquisition of Cover, a lockscreen app for Android devices that lets users customize what applications and shortcuts they want to see when the phone is locked.

Cover founders Todd Jackson, Gordon Luk and Edward Ho says the app will remain live in the Google Play Store, but that could change. "If that changes down the road, we'll provide another update here," reads the blog post.

While it is unclear what Twitter will do with Cover, or what the companies are working on, the deal will certainly help Twitter to integrate better with Android. "Twitter, like Cover, believes in the incredible potential of Android," reads the post. "They share our vision that smartphones can be a lot smarter -- more useful and more contextual -- and together we're going to make that happen. We'll be building upon a lot of what makes Cover great, and we're thrilled to create something even better at Twitter."

Twitter, which is primarily a mobile-based service, makes most of its ad revenue from its mobile users and having Twitter prominently in the lockscreen is a good way to make sure users don't forget about the service. Cover was moderately popular, with over 300,000 users.

Windows Phone's Joe Belfiore has confirmed that Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview will be available next week, during the "first part of April."

All registered developers (or anyone who has registered at App Studio) will have access, but it will be notably missing some Nokia features like Cyan bits and hardware drivers for Miracast.

Among the new features not previously known, Local Scout will be available in Maps, Bing Vision is available via the native camera app, and QRcode reading is its own separate application.

Cortana, the voice-activated assistant, will also have Bing Music built-in.

The full software update will be available over the summer.

Starting from tomorrow, Xbox One gamers will be able to share gameplay footage directly to their YouTube channel.

Microsoft has confirmed that the YouTube app on Xbox One will get an update that integrates the Game DVR and Upload apps with YouTube, simplifying the process of capturing and sharing your clips now on the world's video portal.

You will be able to use Game DVR to catch gameplay moments and then edit them in Upload studio, and then by just clicking a button inside the YouTube app you can send it straight to your YouTube channel.

The YouTube app update also adds the ability to watch YouTube videos in Snap Mode, add YouTube videos to your Pins, earn Media Achievements and add YouTube channels to OneGuide.

The update will start rolling out tomorrow, Tuesday, April 8.

Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 810 and Snapsragon 808 chips that will power next-generation smartphones from 2015.

The chipmaker says the 810 and 808 are its most powerful chips yet, with vast improvements for video, imaging, graphics and connectivity. Both 64-bit chips implement Cat 6 LTE Advanced on-chip, designed with 20nm fabrication technology which delivers more performance at comparatively low power consumption.

The Snapdragon 810 is definitely the one to covet of the two. Here is a run down of what it boasts.

Snapdragon 810

• 20nm technology
• Four Cortex A57 cores for intensive, power hungry tasks
• Four Cortex A53 cores for non-intensive tasks
• Supports 4K Displays (external via HDMI 1.4)
• 14-bit dual Image Signal Processors, 1.2GP/s throughput, image sensors up to 55MP
• High-speed LPDDR4 memory
• New Adreno 430 Graphics Processing Unit
• Adreno 430 is 30 percent faster than Adreno 420, 100 percent faster for GPGPU operations.
• Adreno 430 reduces power consumption by up to 20 percent
• Integrated CAT-6 LTE Advanced on-chip
• Supports VIVE 2-stream 802.11ac with MU-MIMO
• Bluetooth 4.1, USB 3.0, NFC and Qualcomm IZat location core

Snapdragon 808

• 20nm technology
• Two Cortext A57 cores for intensive, power hungry tasks
• Four Cortex A53 cores for non-intensive tasks
• Supports 2K Displays, WQXGA (2560x1600), (External 4k via HDMI1.4)
• LPDDR3 memory
• Adreno 418 GPU
• Adreno 418 GPU provides 20 percent faster graphics performance than predecessor Adreno 330
• Integrated CAT-6 LTE Advanced on-chip

The Snapdragon 810 and Snapdragon 808 won't be deployed in products until 2015 at earliest, as the 64-bit Snapdragon 610 and Snapdragon 615 were only announced in February and will only be deployed in the forthcoming holiday season.

As the fourth season of Game of Thrones kicked off on Sunday night, HBO Go crashed and burned under the demand from HBO subscribers.

HBO is perfectly entitled to guard its blockbusters close to its chest while web streaming services fight over content licensing and make their own programming, but if it insists on limiting Game of Throne's web availability to its own HBO Go service, at the very least make sure it can handle the demand.

After the premiere of the fourth season of Games of Thrones aired last night, the demand to see it through HBO Go hit the roof, then blew the roof off altogether. HBO Go acknowledged the trouble it was having in a tweet.

Looks like there's trouble in the realm. Apologies for the inconvenience. We'll be providing updates, so please stay tuned. #GameofThrones

-- HBO GO (@HBOGO) April 7, 2014

It then went on to remind fans that Game of Thrones will be available on HBO On Demand with some cable providers, and that it will air again on HBO at 11PM EST. After a few hours, it announced that service was restored.

According a WSJ report, Yahoo is looking to jump into online video in a big way with original web series like Netflix' House of Cards.

The Wall Street Journal cites sources familiar with Yahoo's plans in reporting that Yahoo is actively looking to acquire good original programming to rival content available through Netflix, Amazon or on cable TV.

In terms of investment, Yahoo is looking for 10-episode, 30-minute comedies with budgets anywhere from $700,000 to a few million dollars each.

"They want to blow it out big time," the WSJ quotes one of its sources as saying. "They're looking at the same type of shows that Netflix and Amazon are eyeing."

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer hopes to show advertisers TV-caliber content on April 28 at Yahoo's NewFront event.

Increasing numbers of Americans and viewers elsewhere in the world are turning to on-demand services, catch-up apps and subscription services like Netflix and Hulu to get their fill of TV content. Some have even dropped Cable or Satellite TV subscriptions completely to get all of their content through the web.

Microsoft will dip its toes into the original TV programming pool starting in June, with a total of six series ready to roll out.

Following the success of shows like House of Cards, more players are looking to original programming for future revenues, and to lure consumers to their content delivery platforms without paying high fees to secure rights to popular third-party shows.

Among Microsoft's line-up is a collaboration with Channel Four in the UK called "Humans", an English-language adaptation of Sveriges Television and Matador Film's acclaimed series "Real Humans."

The features 'Synths', which are robotic servants that have the likeness of their live counterparts.

"'Humans' not only questions personal relationships, we loved how this sci-fi show toys with reality and our connection to technology," said Xbox Entertainment Studios President Nancy Tellem.

Tellem was recruited by Microsoft 19 months ago to spearhead its foray into TV show production.

Another production through the Microsoft studio is a reality show called "Every Street United", which is timed to coincide with the World Cup this summer. Users will be able to unlock extra scenes and play mini-games based on the show.

The Intellectual Crime Property Unit of the City of London police will be targeting users of piracy sites with adverts of their own.

An infringing website list (IWL) has already been created by the police force. The first step is to contact the owner or operators of the site and encourage them to voluntarily change their practices. If that fails, the police target the revenue sources by contacting 60 brands, agencies and advertising technology businesses with instruction to cut them off.

The idea of starving piracy sites of revenue is not a new idea at all, but it is intriguing that police intend to ad their own messages to the sites for users to read. How they intend to do this is unknown, but it will be interesting to witness.

"Together we have created a process that first and foremost encourages offenders to change their behaviour so they are operating within the law," said DCI Andy Fyfe, head of the PIPCU.

"However, if they refuse to comply we now have the means to persuade businesses to move their advertising to different platforms and, if offending continues, for registrars to suspend the websites."


Sources and Recommended Reading:
Police crack down on Game of Thrones illegal downloads: www.bbc.co.uk

Microsoft is still thinking through its options as it works on ways to bring Xbox 360 titles to the Xbox One console.

Since the Xbox One console adopted X86 architecture instead of the PowerPC-powered Xbox 360, it was always going to be a challenge to bring Xbox 360 titles to the new console. "It turns out to be hard to emulate the PowerPC stuff on the X86 stuff," Microsoft's Frank Savage said during a panel discussion at Microsoft's Build conference.

"There are [plans], but we're not done thinking them through yet, unfortunately," he added.

It may be possible that Microsoft will give up on trying to go with the emulation route, and will simply follow Sony's PlayStation Now model, which uses the cloud instead to deliver PS3 experiences on the PS4 console.

Xbox One director Albert Penello told GameSpot last year that it could be possible that Microsoft will use the Azure cloud platform to stream Xbox 360 games to Xbox One owners.

Earlier this week, Amazon broke its silence on its long-awaited set-top box: the Fire TV.

The device, which rivals a growing amount of consumer set-tops and HDMI dongles including those from Apple, Roku, WD and Google, is another gateway to Amazon's ever growing ecosystem of applications, games, movies, TV and cloud storage.

In differentiating itself from other similar devices, Amazon has promised better gaming, better voice search and of course, the easiest access to your Amazon life. It succeeds in may of its endeavors, but the biggest question remains whether the device is worth shelling out $99 for a set-top so similar to what you may already own.

Design, Remote and Set Up

The Fire TV is as plain as you can get, but it remains sleek, at least compared to rival boxes. The tiny black box is thin, perfectly square and does a good job of hiding its port on the back. There is a small LED light on the front that lets you know the box is turned on, but other than that there is nothing else to speak of. It blends perfectly into your entertainment center, or will subtly complement your TV.

Thanks to the Xbox One's independent developer program, it appears that a Plex client is on the way for the console.

Developer Tyson Edwards says he has been approved by Microsoft to develop a Plex client, which could be a game changer for the console that currently lacks decent streaming from home servers with dedicated apps.

Edwards says the client will be based off the current Windows 8 Modern UI Plex app and will also include voice and motion control via Kinect.

Universal Windows apps will not be available until the launch of Windows 8.1 later this year, so the Plex client is probably a few months away at best.

Regardless, the developer says the platform has been quite easy to develop for, which is a good sign.

Source:
Plex for Xbox One is a Go! Plex

Google has added a new section to its Play Store, "People," which shows off what your friends and other users are downloading.

The move comes just days after the search giant added an activity feed to the mobile app,

In the activity feed, you can see your recent reviews, ratings and of course purchases. The People section will show off what friends have recently downloaded or reviewed.

Google says the People feed will be closely tied to Google+, allowing for easier following on the social network and their full profiles.

If you are running Android, you most likely have the feed now.

Source:
9to5Google

The British government has reportedly signed a milti-million pounds deal with Microsoft to continue using Windows XP in public services across the island.

Windows XP SP3 officially reaches its end of support on Tuesday, April 8, thirteen years after the operating system first launched. After April 8, XP users are strongly recommended to either get a new PC, upgrade to a newer Windows OS, switch to Linux or find a more limited, offline usage for the operating system.

The British government has no plans to rush to upgrade systems across its public services however, and has reportedly signed a £5.548 million deal with Microsoft to continue support through the Redmond giant's "custom support" program.

Brits are not the only ones paying for continued support either; the Dutch are also reportedly using Microsoft's custom support options for over 30,000 computers still running the XP operating system.

The U.S. government also reportedly has hundreds of thousands of systems still running the ageing operating system, for which it will require its own deal with Microsoft.

To be fair to Microsoft, the company has been warning about the EOS for Windows XP for years.


Sources and Recommended Reading:
Dutch, British governments pay to keep Windows XP alive: www.arstechnica.com/