Category: Facebook

WhatsApp’s VOIP functionality for iOS Leaked in a Screenshot

During WhatsApp’s recent Facebook acquisition, CEO Jan Koum hinted that WhatsApp may get voice call functionality by the summer. This new leaked screenshot of the App’s upcoming update for iOS shows off those supposed calling capabilities, designed to work along with iOS 7’s design layout.

The camera button on the top also hints at video call functionality. WhatApp will allow free voice calls and video calls with your friends on your WhatsApp list over Wifi and Cellular.

It is also rumored that this functionality comes via Skype or using Skype’s voip technology as Facebook currently integrates Skype calling within its chat windows.

With this feature WhatsApp may become the single point of social networking that everyone has been looking for. Now if only they could work out their battery drain.

March 16, 2014
Flipboard Buys Rival Zite From CNN

Flipboard, the magazine-style news reading app, is buying competitor Zite from CNN, the companies announced Wednesday.

The Zite app was a part of CNN for three years, since it had acquired the company for nearly $20 million. The terms and money involved in this deal have not yet been disclosed clearly. The move is a sign of ongoing consolidation in the space and comes in the wake of Facebook launching a Flipboard competitor called Paper. Flipboard benefits by cutting one more competitor from the field through the sheer act of buying it.

“We’re going to integrate the technology into Flipboard in the coming months,” Flipboard CEO Mike McCue said during a press call Wednesday. “We do not plan to continue to evolve Zite, we think we should focus on a single product.”

He added that Zite users will be able to use their logins to set up a new Flipboard account, and that Flipboard will continue to support Zite for the time it takes to complete the integration of its technology.

If you are not familiar with Zite, it is a personal news reading application that launched on the iPad in 2011. Essentially, Zite was a big recommendation engine that gives you articles based on what you like to read—based on your social feeds like Facebook and Twitter, but also based on your reading history and preferences.

March 6, 2014
Facebook Acquires WhatsApp: Here is Everything You Would Like to Know

The big news for today is from Facebook, the company has agreed to acquire the most used instant messaging service all around the world. Facebook acquires WhatsApp for $19 Billion and the WhatsApp team will now work with Facebook.

With the mission of connecting people around the world, Facebook has taken another initiative to make that possible. “Our mission is to make the world more open and connected. We do this by building services that help people share any type of content with any group of people they want. WhatsApp will help us do this by continuing to develop a service that people around the world love to use every day” – Mark Zuckerberg

450 Million people across the world use the WhatsApp application out of which 70% are active every day. If facts are to be believed, the users to this application are growing(currently adding more than 1 million new registered users per day).

Jan Koum, WhatsApp co-founder and CEO, said, “WhatsApp’s extremely high user engagement and rapid growth are driven by the simple, powerful and instantaneous messaging capabilities we provide. We’re excited and honored to partner with Mark and Facebook as we continue to bring our product to more people around the world.”

WhatsApp as a brand will be maintained, its headquarters will still remain in Mountain View, CA. Jan Koum(WhatsApp co-founder and CEO) will join Facebook’s Board of Directors and WhatsApp’s core messaging product and Facebook’s existing Messenger app will continue to operate as standalone applications.

[toggles behavior=”toggle”]
[toggle title=”More Details”]Upon closing of the deal, all outstanding shares of WhatsApp capital stock and options to purchase WhatsApp capital stock will be cancelled in exchange for $4 billion in cash and 183,865,778 shares of Facebook Class A common stock (worth $12 billion based on the average closing price of the six trading days preceding February 18, 2014 of $65.2650 per share). In addition, upon closing, Facebook will grant 45,966,444 restricted stock units to WhatsApp employees (worth $3 billion based on the average closing price of the six trading days preceding February 18, 2014 of $65.2650 per share). As of February 17, 2014, Facebook had 2,551,654,996 Class A and B shares outstanding plus approximately 139 million dilutive securities primarily consisting of unvested RSUs. The Class A common stock and RSUs issued to WhatsApp shareholders and employees upon closing will represent 7.9% of Facebook shares based on current shares and RSUs outstanding. [/toggle]
[/toggles]

Why did Facebook Acquire WhatsApp ?

WhatsApp as an application has more than 315 Million active users each day. Facts say that the number of messages sent through WhatsApp is approximately the same as the total number of SMS traffic throughout the world. Not only here in India, but in countries like Brazil, Mexico and South Africa; WhatsApp is the most used messaging service.

WhatsApp team’s intentions of keeping the application ad free still remains, so we will have to see what change does Facebook brings to this app for generating revenue. For now, WhatsApp’s core messaging product and Facebook’s existing Messenger app will continue to operate as standalone applications

February 20, 2014
Facebook Paper Coming Soon To Rival Flipboard

After the entire 2013 passed with rumours about Facebook’s news reader being launched, the time may finally be upon us. Facebook could launch a brand new app called Facebook Paper next week according to Re/code’s Mike Isaac.

Facebook Paper will act like Flipboard, aggregating media content from mainstream publications like CNN and the New York Times, while also adding status updates from Facebook into the mix.

Facebook’s developers are believed to be taking Paper back to “a time before digital devices” in its aesthetic, with ReCode reporting that the name refers to a new “paper-like” format.

Re/code explains that the project spun off from an attempt to redefine the news feed :

Like many Facebook initiatives, the Reader project originally began years ago as an idea to completely overhaul the News Feed itself, but after numerous delays and design refreshes, the project was split into pieces. Parts of the redesign made it into Facebook’s March refresh of the News Feed, according to three sources, when the team had not finished what would eventually turn into “Paper.” While this initiative has been Cox’s pet project, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also been directly involved (as he has final oversight over Facebook products), according to sources.

Facebook Paper would fit in with the company’s strategy of trying to become the go-to place for internet users looking to know what is going on in the world, a strategy Mark Zuckerberg pointed to at the launch of Facebook’s revamped news feed.

January 15, 2014
Microsoft, Facebook & Google Says ‘Current Laws and Practices Need to be Reformed’
Microsoft, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Yahoo and AOL have together asked the world’s governments to reform its current laws and practices.

All of these companies have issued a letter to the government directly and also posted it in various publications to spread it worldwide. This is what the letter says:

The undersigned companies believe that it is time for the world’s governments to address the practices and laws regulating government surveillance of individuals and access to their information.

While the undersigned companies understand that governments need to take action to protect their citizens’ safety and security, we strongly believe that current laws and practices need to be reformed.

Consistent with established global norms of free expression and privacy and with the goals of ensuring that government law enforcement and intelligence efforts are rule-bound, narrowly tailored, transparent, and subject to oversight, we hereby call on governments to endorse the following principles and enact reforms that would put these principles into action.

All of this will work on five principles as per these companies:
1. Limiting Governments’ Authority to Collect Users’ Information
2. Oversight and Accountability
3. Transparency About Government Demands
4. Respecting the Free Flow of Information
5. Avoiding Conflicts Among Governments
All these companies have openly acknowledged the government’s need to take actions for the public good. Here is what the CEO’s of these company have to say:

Reports about government surveillance have shown there is a real need for greater disclosure and new limits on how governments collect information. The US government should take this opportunity to lead this reform effort and make things right.”

—Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Facebook

People won’t use technology they don’t trust. Governments have put this trust at risk, and governments need to help restore it.”—Brad Smith, General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft

The security of users’ data is critical, which is why we’ve invested so much in encryption and fight for transparency around government requests for information. This is undermined by the apparent wholesale collection of data, in secret and without independent oversight, by many governments around the world. It’s time for reform and we urge the US government to lead the way.”

—Larry Page, CEO, Google

[Reform Government Surveillance]
December 9, 2013
Now Facebook Will Tell You If Your Friend is Online Through Web Or Mobile

After updating its Messenger app recently Facebook is now updating the web chat. The social network giant is currently testing a new messaging feature that lets you know not just which friends are online at the same time as you are, but also if they are using the mobile or desktop version of Facebook.

Facebook is testing this new function, which will show green colored icons in front of your online friends. If your friend is online through mobile it will display “mobile” and in the same way if your friend is online from a desktop it will display “web”. Like others, this features is still not visible to everyone using Facebook. It might roll out once its official as a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement to techcrunch:

We are testing a feature that gives you a better understanding of where your friend will receive your message,” a spokesperson said, who said she would keep us posted on when and if it rolls out more broadly.

[via]

November 19, 2013
One Click Login For Facebook Coming To Windows Phone 8

Android and iOS users have been using their Facebook account for single click logging in to apps from a long time now, and soon Windows 8 and Windows Phone users will be able to do the same as well.

This feature on Windows Phone 8 is still in the early stages, Microsoft has announced that Foursquare, Adobe and iHeart Radio are the first to get in on this action. Just like the Facebook Login on other platforms, by using this it will be easier to share content from within the app, and to connect account information without the need to input anything again and again.

[via,via]

November 15, 2013
Facebook’s New Messenger App to Reach More Users On Android and iOS

Facebook announced a while back that it will be testing new messenger app for its users, now with time users will be able to see the change for Facebook’s Messaging application.

The new version of the messenger app reached few Android devices a day back and the company has claimed that the app will also reach iOS devices as well. Facebook is no new to updates, but this time around it seems that Facebook has made some necessary changes to the messenger app. The new app is said to be faster while swiping to switch between conversations, users will now know which friends are using the app if you see the Messenger icon –displayed at the extreme left-– next to their name. If you see the Messenger icon, that means your friend is also using the mobile Messenger app, and will get notified instantly about your message.

The new update is now available to more devices, but all devices have still not got the latest update. Fore more information you can check out the source.

[Facebook]

November 14, 2013
Facebook Teams Up With Microsoft, Offers Bounty For Bugs

Microsoft has recently announced an extension for its Windows 8.1 bug bounty program, but it turns out that it also wants to make the Internet safer with help from its rivals.

Facebook and Microsoft joined forces for a new project called Internet Bug Bounty, which encourages hackers and security researchers to submit bugs for cash rewards.

The Internet Bug Bounty program will pay a minimum for $5,000 for flaws in sandboxed applications or for bugs in fundamental internet technologies such as DNS and SSL. Lower payouts are offered for spotting problems in Ruby, Python, PHP, Apache, Perl, and other software.

“Our collective safety is only possible when public security research is allowed to flourish. Some of the most critical vulnerabilities in the internet’s history have been resolved thanks to efforts of researchers fueled entirely by curiosity and altruism,” the Facebook and Microsoft said on the bounty program’s website.

“We owe these individuals an enormous debt and believe it is our duty to do everything in our power to cultivate a safe, rewarding environment for past, present, and future researchers.”

To qualify, flaws must found in code that is in widespread use, of serious or critical severity, or be an unusual or novel hack that no one has thought of as yet. Once reported and verified, software providers will have 180 days to fix the problem before any announcement is made of money paid out.

The 10-person judging panel is dominated by Microsoft and Facebook staff, but there will be input from Google’s security researcher Chris Evans, director of security engineering at Etsy Zane Lackey, and penetration tester from iSec Jesse Burns.

The contest is open to anyone in the world, except those countries under US trade embargo. There’s no age limit, but if you’re not yet a teenager then a parent or guardian will have to claim the money for you.

November 7, 2013
Soon To Be A Billion? Facebook Now Has 874 Million Monthly Active Mobile Users

Facebook is on a tear. The company reported its Q3 earnings for the three months ending September 30th today, and investors have renewed reasons to be excited about the world’s largest social network.

Facebook beat analysts’ estimates by posting revenue of $2.02 billion, earning $0.25 per share on non-GAAP net income of $611 million. The company now derives 41% of its overall revenue from mobile — 49% of its advertising revenue comes from mobile, too. Overall ad revenue for the quarter was $1.80 billion.

On the user base side, Facebook is now used by 874 million mobile users per month, a 45% increase from the same period a year ago. Overall usage is now 1.19 billion people, 699 million of whom log in daily. Daily active users on mobile totalled 507 million, meaning mobile users are more likely to log in every day than those who keep strictly to the web.

The market is reacting quite positively to the earnings announcement, sending the stock shooting up 15% in after-hours trading.

October 31, 2013
Facebook Testing Softwares To Track What Your Cursor Hovers On

Facebook is testing a technology that will supposedly increase the data it collects for its users, company’s head of analytics group said in an interview.

Facebook might start collecting data on minute user interactions with its content, such as how long a user’s cursor hovers over a certain part of its website or whether a user’s newsfeed is visible at a given moment on the screen of his or her mobile phone, Facebook analytics chief Ken Rudin said Tuesday during an interview.

Ken Rudin tells the Wall Street Journal that Facebook is testing a system which targets ads based on where users mouse cursors hover. This tracking technology is not new, but implementing it on more then 1.2 billion users can be a big task for the company. Rudin notes that there won’t be a decision on this technology for another “couple of months,” and it may never see the light of day. What are your thoughts on this ?

October 31, 2013
Facebook Acquires Onavo To Speed Up Its Mobile Application

Facebook announced on Monday it has acquired Onavo, an Israel based startup focused on intelligence around mobile application data. For more than three years, Onavo has plied its trade reducing internet costs for smartphone users.

Under Facebook’s guidance, Onavo will work with members of the Internet.org coalition to increase the efficiency and lower the cost of web access. Expect Facebook’s apps to get a speed boost in the future, helping it deliver its growing influx of ads. Users if Onavo app may not worry as the company will continue to operate under its own brand.

Our service helps people save money through more efficient use of data, and also helps developers, large and small, design better experiences for people,” Onavo co-founders Guy Rosen and Roi Tiger wrote in a company blog post early Monday morning. “We’re excited to join their team, and hope to play a critical role in reaching one of Internet.org’s most significant goals – using data more efficiently, so that more people around the world can connect and share.”

[via]

October 14, 2013
Facebook App for Windows Phone now allows multi-photo uploads and unfriending

The Facebook app for Windows Phone has been updated to add two of the most essential features to any modern Facebook user. Photography enthusiasts will love the fact that now from their Windows phone they can upload multiple photos at the same time, essential for all those Lumia 1020 buyers.

The new update also allows users to be able to unfriend and unlike people and posts, a simple yet essential feature for Facebook users. The Facebook app for Windows Phone update brings more to the table than just the two updates mentioned above, such as inline @ tagging and speed boosts for both posts and check-ins.

If you dawn a Windows Phone and are an avid Facebook user then getting the Facebook app for Windows Phone update might help you be a little more social, but at the same time keep your : fren-emies in check.

October 5, 2013
Faces of Facebook: View Yourself Along With the Other Increasing Number Facebook Users

A new website showcases profile photos of Facebook users in an clickable collage. Faces of Facebook is the web site which lets users see all the Facebook users throughout the world.

Designed by Natalia Rojas, The Faces of Facebook starts off with a running count of Facebook’s growing membership, with each person represented by a tiny dot. Click anywhere in the static like screen and the page zooms further and shows a thumbnail structure of the faces which handful of Facebook users. Click on any thumbnail, and that person’s public profile pops up.

Miami-based Natalia Rojas has developed the project using HTML5, Javascript, CSS, jQuery, EaselJS, Ajax, FB API, PHP and MySQL.

It seems impossible for one to find a particular face, however, the site also lets you connect with your own Facebook account to let you find your face number and see where your face appears along with your friends being visible on the screen. You can try to find your face here.

October 1, 2013
Apple is Worlds Top Brand, Coca-Cola Left Behind

The Best Global Brands report is coming up since 2000, the previous brand which was at the top most position was Coca-Cola which now fell to number 3. For the first time in its 13-year history, Best Global Brands have a new leader of its annual study of the most valuable brand names, which is Apple.

Not only has Apple replaced Coca-Cola as first among the 100 most valuable brands based on criteria that include financial performance as well. Apple came over Coca-Cola, which had led the study since it began in 2000, with a brand value Interbrand assessed at $98.3 billion. However, Google came in at second place with a brand value of $93.3 billion, ahead of the soft drink maker’s $79.2 billion value.

Other positions of different brands can be seen below:

September 30, 2013