New Technology Reviews!.: February

Google listed as a Zynga investor

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<img alt="Google listed as a Zynga investor" class="aligncenter" height="135" mce_src="http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2541/550xzyngalogo.jpg" src="http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2541/550xzyngalogo.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="Google listed as a Zynga investor" width="550" /></div>
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Monday afternoon Farmville developer Zynga reportedly filed a 619-page document (S-1) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), tripled in size compared to its original initial public offering (IPO) filing on July 1. What this means is that the new document is jam-packed with information not provided in the previous IPO filing including a long list of investors that just so happens to reveal Google in the #1 spot.</div>
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Does this mean Google is Zynga’s biggest investor? It may be just a coincidence that it resides at the top of the list, but at least the filing clearly verifies previous reports that Google has dumped money into the developer despite denials. It also <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_fixed="1" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">doesn’t</span> mean that Google plans to yank Farmville off Facebook, as the list also includes other notable investors like LinkedIn Chairman and co-founder Reid Hoffman, early Facebook investor Peter Thiel, investment firm Union Square Ventures and others.</div>
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News of Google’s investment has lingered for more than a year, noted as a possible “strategic move” against social rival Facebook. Google’s investment was initially reported at $100 million but has since grown. There’s also been talk that the investment was tied into the launch of Google Games which will supposedly reside within the just-launched social platform, Google+.</div>
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According to AllThingsD which originally discovered Google as an investor, the amount of capital Zynega raised has not changed. In the new filing, the developer claims that it raised three official rounds between February 2008 and February 2011, totaling $845 million. Zynega reports that its largest round summed at $490 million which was raised as early as February 2011.</div>
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In a separate post, the site reports that Zynga has a commitment with Facebook in that any game it develops for the social platform — which integrates the site or its data — will be exclusive to Facebook for the duration of the agreement. These titles include Farmville, Mafia Wars, FishVille, PetVille, Cafe World and a few others. These cannot be played unless users are actively connected through Facebook.</div>
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Zynga has also agreed to inform Facebook of any upcoming games at least one week before completion. The exclusivity terms kick in as soon as the game is launched on the social website. In exchange for its obedience, Facebook will help the developer meet “certain growth targets for monthly unique users of Covered Zynga Games.” Facebook will also sell ads planted next to Zynga games and share a redacted portion of the resulting revenue.</div>
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That said, any thoughts about Farmville heading to Google Games are out the door. The filing seemingly indicates that Facebook has first dibs on any game Zynga produces, and will claim exclusivity if it chooses to host a chosen title. So far it’s unclear as to how much control Facebook may have over other Zynga titles that are not on the Facebook platform.</div>
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So what now? With both Google and Facebook serving as rivals and Zynga investors at the same time, it will be interesting to see what happens with the developer’s public offering. Zynga is seeking to raise $1 billion from its IPO<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_fixed="1" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">.</span></div>
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SOURCE via <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_fixed="1" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;"><a href="http://allthingsd.com/20110718/zynga-updates-ipo-filing-to-list-investors-and-googles-one-of-them/" mce_href="http://allthingsd.com/20110718/zynga-updates-ipo-filing-to-list-investors-and-googles-one-of-them/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">All Things D</a></span></div>
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Google listed as a Zynga investor

Monday afternoon Farmville developer Zynga reportedly filed a 619-page document (S-1) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC...

US Army Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications program putting smartphones in soldiers' hands this February

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1A0N6Mkfi5kGl73tsO4Ay-6vVpCXCd4em87R2SyEbyWWIRx0cKoBKW7CNJqZclpU0IiFr3ugG-fb7wVrIlXnY086SJducPxr3bdEAt3im-zMteq11d_xw62lYNEJp_j-yDVU1Y_q2uo/s1600/101214-droid-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1A0N6Mkfi5kGl73tsO4Ay-6vVpCXCd4em87R2SyEbyWWIRx0cKoBKW7CNJqZclpU0IiFr3ugG-fb7wVrIlXnY086SJducPxr3bdEAt3im-zMteq11d_xw62lYNEJp_j-yDVU1Y_q2uo/s320/101214-droid-01.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br>
Earlier this year, DARPA put out RFIs with an eye on developing military apps and an app store for iOS and Android, and now the US Army's Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications (CSDA) program will put handsets, network equipment, and other equipment including tablets, e-readers, and pico projectors into the hands of the First Army Brigade this February.<br>
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US Army Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications program putting smartphones in soldiers' hands this February

Earlier this year, DARPA put out RFIs with an eye on developing military apps and an app store for iOS and Android, and now the US Army...

Windows Phone 7 to get second major update in February

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/Windows%20Mobile/Windows7_startscreen_web2-200-200.jpg"> </div><br>
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004AYPDM2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Microsoft is set to unleash two new <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3630952467398438450&postID=3698499034658385540">Windows Phone 7</a> updates in the New Year, with more phone functionality to be announced at Mobile World Conference.<br>
CEO Steve Ballmer is expected to take the stage at <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3630952467398438450&postID=3698499034658385540">CES 2011</a> in Las Vegas in January to show off new WP7 functionality, which includes the ability to cut and paste.<br>
Ballmer is now also set to show off another major update in February at Mobile World Congress.<br>
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Windows Phone 7 to get second major update in February

Microsoft is set to unleash two new Windows Phone 7 updates in the New Year, with more phone functionality to be announced at Mobile Wor...

iPad 2 Expected in February 2011

<P><img alt="iPad 2 Expected in February 2011" border="0" height="150" src="/113511matter.jpg" width="200"></P><br /><P>Did you get an opportunity to get your hands on the Apple iPad in India? It won't surprise me if you answer in the negative. Apple is yet to release the iPad tablet in several countries including India, but it continues to work up on its Annual Product Cycle schedule. While the first generation iPad is yet to get multi-tasking and other new features, Apple is busy working on the second generation iPad - we're calling it iPad 2. <BR>DigiTimes was informed by sources that Apple has finalized Ibiden, Tripod Technology and TTM Technologies as their initial printed circuit board suppliers.  These three companies will supply Apple with any-layer HDI boards for the iPad 2. Apple already uses any-layer HDI boards in iPhone 4, fourth generation iPod touch and iPad. Four more suppliers would be added in February 2011 when shipments of iPad 2 start ramping up.<BR>Back in September, research analysts stated that the iPad 2 would be slimmer and will have mini-USB. Honestly, I doubt Apple would ever go for mini-USB. Steve Jobs himself pointed that even Intel doesn't think that it's time for USB 3.0 yet, so forget the USB port. <BR><BR>We believe is that the iPad 2 will sport front facing VGA camera for FaceTime and if the screen size is scaled down then Apple would certainly use Retina Display. What are the features you would like to see in the iPad 2? Do mention them in the comments section below.</P>

iPad 2 Expected in February 2011

Did you get an opportunity to get your hands on the Apple iPad in India? It won't surprise me if you answer in the negative. Apple is ye...