Google Oracle lawsuit: Search giant paid Apple $1 billion to feature in iOS search bar

Image Courtesy - http://tech.firstpost.com

The ongoing lawsuit where Oracle is suing Google for allegedly using unlicensed software in the Android OS, has revealed something big indeed. In a public transcript an Oracle lawyer has revealed that Google actually had a revenue sharing agreement with Apple and that the company apparently handed over a percentage of the same two years ago.

Shedding more light on the topic revealed that the search giant may have actually paid Apple a percentage of the revenue, which was generated by iOS users searching via Google on their devices. This was speculation from many years but nothing could be confirmed until now.

The report from Bloomberg confirms another topic of discussion but eventually proves that Apple does reap more than $1 billion just from Google search referrals, even though both companies have never talked about the same officially.

The other topic which was speculation until now, proves that Apple indeed benefits (in a big way) by allowing Google to basically do what it wants with the data generated from iOS search results.

According to the same Oracle lawyer, Annette Hurst, interviews had revealed that at one point in time, that revenue share was 34 percent. But for now it remains unclear whether this fixed margin is the share that Google holds back or pays to Apple.

And yes, this is turning out to be a bad day for Apple as well. This is because Apple CEO, Tim Cook was noted for his statements that went against selling search data in the past. Now that things between Apple and Google are opening up, Apple may have some damage control to look after indeed.

The epic legal battle between the tech titans over use of Oracle’s Java in Google’s Android operating system has been raging on for quite a while. In a recent update, Google announced that it would be replacing the use of Java application programming interfaces (APIs) in Android with OpenJDK – the open source version of Oracle’s Java Development Kit.

Originally Posted on - http://tech.firstpost.com

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Apple’s First iOS App Development Center In Europe Will Be Located In Italy

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Apple is opening an iOS App Development Center in Naples, Italy. The facility will be the first of its kind in Europe as the U.S. company explores way to nurture mobile app developers and talent of the future from the region.

The center is designed, as the name suggests, to be a place where aspiring app developers can receive training and mentorship to develop their skills and ability with Apple’s iOS software. It isn’t clear when the Naples-based hub will open, but Apple did say that it will be located at a partnership institution in the city. The company added that the program will be expanded to other countries worldwide in the future.

In case you’ve been living in cave for the past five years or so, mobile apps are big business — and iOS apps, in particular. Though the number of Google Play app downloads was double that of iOS last year, the Apple operating system generated 75 percent more revenue than its competitor, according to data release by App Annie this week. Indeed, Apple racked in more than $1.1 billion from iOS app purchases and in-app purchases during the recent New Year period alone.

Explaining its decision to open the Italy-based center, Apple said its mobile ecosystem has helped developers in Europe earn more than €10.2 billion while it estimates that, in Italy alone, over 75,000 jobs are linked to its App Store.

“Europe is home to some of the most creative developers in the world and we’re thrilled to be helping the next generation of entrepreneurs in Italy get the skills they need for success,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement.

Originally Posted on - http://techcrunch.com

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Microsoft to pull the plug on IE 8,9 and 10 support next week

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Come January 12, 2016 only the most current version of Internet Explorer (IE) – i.e. Internet Explorer 11 will receive technical supports and security updates. IE 11 will continue to receive security updates, compatibility fixes and technical support on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

For users and enterprises, no security updates mean that vulnerabilities may be exploited by malware. Microsoft has issued instructions for its enterprise customers, SMB customers and home PC users on the website on how to upgrade. Citing the potential risks of using older versions of IE after the aforementioned date, Microsoft lists out businesses not being able to meet compliance requirements and lack of independent software vendor support. Of course, security can take the biggest hit.

Looking at the bigger picture, IE 11 is the last version of Microsoft’s old browser that is supported. The company seems to be making that transition to Edge — the browser on Windows 10.

Originally Posted on - http://tech.firstpost.com

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A NEW ERA OF COMMERCE INNOVATION

Image Courtesy - http://magento.com/blog

Today we announced the general availability of our next generation open source digital commerce platform, Magento 2.0.  The new platform empowers brands, retailers, and businesses across B2C and B2B industries to quickly and cost-effectively deliver engaging omnichannel shopping experiences.

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Google Maps iOS update brings offline navigation and up-to-date gas prices

Image Courtesy - http://thenextweb.com/

The changelog for yesterday’s Google Maps update mentions two feature updates: current gas prices and popular times. The former gives you information on all of the closest gas stations as well as the current gas price at each, while the latter allows you to avoid restaurants and retail establishments during their busiest hours.

It’s often what’s not mentioned that deserves the most attention.

In this case, what’s not mentioned is offline navigation. Originally reported by Venture Beat, and confirmed by TNW, Google is starting to unroll offline navigation to users on iOS.

Until now, users were only able to view a map of the area when offline. With the update, they can get turn-by-turn navigation, useful information about local businesses — like hours of operation, ratings and contact information — and destination-specific search, all while offline.

These features arrived on Android last month and now, iPhone users have it too.

➤ Google Maps for iOS gets offline navigation, popular business hours, and up-to-date gas prices [Venture Beat]

Originally Posted on - http://thenextweb.com/

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How can Drupal be an impeccable solution for mobile-friendly websites?

Businesses would love to gear up for Drupal platform knowing the grand features, facilities and solutions it provides. There are amazing line of opportunities for customers to choose your products and services based on what you offer on your website and how customers feel using your website features.

Consumers often browse on their mobile websites in their free moments, which shows that having mobile-friendly website does give your business the sharp edge over other rivals.

See Also - Why it’s Time to Get Responsive

We all seek convenience in whatever we do, and technology takes care of everything about it. Convenience-crazy consumers therefore go to their mobile handset to search their favorite products.

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What are the obstacles that spoil the intuitive ecommerce UX?

Web designers and developers who are actively involved in the world of website creation are compelled to believe that a web design must cater to the needs of the user. So it doesn’t strike as a surprise to say that emphasis on website design is most crucial to business success. While some web designs may stun users, there are certain obstacles that disturb the intuitive UX of your E-commerce Development store. Not all the elements about web UX design have the key to unlocking the true potential of online store. So let’s take a look at those obstacles that spoil the whole ecommerce broth.

Irrelevant audience

All the websites made serve particular purpose for specific group of users; not all the audience is going to be pleased with what you offer to them.

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