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Sony Unveils a Pro-Selfie Phone, Meet The Xperia C3

Now, Sony has made a move on the selfie trend by officially announcing its Sony Xperia C3 and Xperia C3 Dual smartphones, which have been designed keeping in mind selfie lovers.

The Xperia C3 is powered by the Snapdragon 400 chipset with a quad-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A7 processor, Adreno 305 GPU and 1GB of RAM. The rest of the specs include 8GB of expandable storage, an 8MP rear cam with a LED flash, and a super thin body at 7.6mm. Xperia C3 is also 4G-enabled and supports LTE Cat4 and a dual-SIM variant dubbed Sony Xperia C3 Dual, which supports not only dual-standby, but dual-call too.

The Xperia C3 sports an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera along with LED flash. The smartphone is Sony’s first to come with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera along with an LED flash reson for which it is touted as a pro-selfie phone. The front-facing camera features a wide- angle view to capture a group selfie without unnecessary squeezing inside the image.

Both front and rear camera include features like Superior Auto, Portrait Retouch v.2, Timeshift-burst, Picture effects, Movie Creator, Social Live, Sweep Panorama and a special dedicated app for Vine which lets users capture short 6-second videos and share it directly from the smartphone. Both cameras also provide HDR mode and number of filter effects.

The Sony Xperia C3 with 8GB of inbuilt storage which can be expanded via microSD card (up to 32GB). It comes with a 2500mAh battery, which is rated for up to 24 hours of talk time and 1,071 hours of standby time.

Right now, it is not specified when will Xepria C3 be launched in India, but there is no doubt that it will eventually make its way here. The first market to get it is China, but it will spread worldwide shortly after. Sony Xperia C3 will be available in white, black and mint colors starting in August. The pricing is yet to be announced.

Along with the launch of the Sony Xperia C3 sony has released a massive infographic in an effort to convince you that selfies are a lot more important than you think. Check it out here.

July 9, 2014
5 Useful Websites You Should But Never Knew Existed

It isn’t surprising that with the enormity of the World Wide Web we often find yourselves stumbling upon useful websites. These pages make work easy and makes us wonder why we didn’t know about the website earlier?

So here you go, we dug up some useful websites for you from shady parts of web-sphere which might make your work easier:

1. Print Friendly

PrintFriendly cleans and formats web pages for perfect print of your webpage. It removes Ads, Navigation and web page junk, so you save paper and ink when you print.

2. What The Font

Some of us have a thing for beautiful typography and often have a hard time identifying the font used in the image? Well, What The Font is the best website for you. It is a website and an app that figures out the name of the exact font something is when you upload a picture.

3. Mathway

Solves any kind of math problem, from basic math to chemical equations. We’re not recommending this site to encourage users to be lazy at school because actually knowing math is very important for times when you don’t have internet access to get to this site.

4. Camel Camel Camel

This website shows you the price history of anything on Amazon and alerts you when the price drops. You can even upload your entire Amazon wish list directly.

5. The Rasterbator

This sites let you turn any image into a life size poster. The website gives you varied options on effects and size and turning an image into an impressive poster you always wanted to hang on your living room

July 9, 2014
Top 5 Must-Have Gadgets For the Monsoon

After months of sweltering heat, the monsoon winds are a bliss. However, with the rainy season comes the scary possibility of unexpected rain drenching your gadgets. We may invest in the best technology, but with a single shower of the Indian Monsoon your favorite gadget’s fate may be sealed.

Here is a list of must-have gadgets and their equipment for this season:

5. BubbleShield PRO

If you are under the impression that adding a waterproof cover to your iPad will restrict you from using it, then you are wrong. The Bubble Shield Pro is IPX7 certified and lets the tablet work even a foot under water for 30 minutes. Your tablets are more at risk because you often carry them in your hands and not in the relative safety of bags or pockets. So, this amazing cover will not only help you save your tablet from the pouring rain but also let you work on your tablet while it’s raining.

4. Otterbox Armor Series

This rugged iPhone case by Otterbox is perhaps one of the best all-weather cases you can find for your iPhone, making sure you travel without even thinking about rain or cold. Its interior are made of silicone, which makes it shockproof and the metal latches lock the front and back covers together to protect the phone from dirt and dunks for up to 30 minutes in up to 6.6 feet of water. The case increases the size and weight of the phone, but that is a small price to pay for the protection it provides.

3. Braven BRV1

A perfect system for a pool party. Braven BRV1 is a portable speaker that has a rubberised exterior to handle not just monsoon rainfall, but also drops and scratches. It can also survive accidental dunks up to 1m of water for 30 minutes. The 3 Watts of audio output from its 70mm subwoofer definitely won’t blow you away, but should be adequate if you need some light music in wet outdoors.

2. Sony Walkman NWZ-W273

Fancy going for a run in the rain? Well, this product should be on everyone’s monsoon list. It has no mini or micro USB ports and that basically means there are no inlets for water to get in and damage the internal machinery. The plastic earpieces are connected by a rubber wire to fit snugly around the back of your neck and playback controls are neatly placed at the bottom of the two pods.

1. SXtreo WP61

Number one on the list is the super flashy SXtreo WP61. It is a tough shock resistant, waterproof and dustproof features and robust multi-tasking capability device. This smartphone is engineered to perform outstandingly in the harshest of environments. Military-rugged, super-secure, cutting edge, SXtreo smartphones aren’t meant for just anyone. It is meant for you! You don’t have to worry about your phone even if you jump in a pool.

July 9, 2014
Finally an Attractive Fitness Tracker! Check Out Withings Activité Watch

Well, you can’t say Withings’ Activité is a Smartwatch, atleast not in the typical sense. But it’s not just a conventional watch either. Withings describes it as the first Swiss-made watch that happens to be an activity tracker.

The French company’s new watch has computing brains to track steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled, and sleep patterns. The watch, for starters, has an analog dial, with real hands unlike typical smartwatches.

The accelerometer-based activity tracker built into the watch monitors steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled and sleep pattern. The Activité also builds in a second dial on the front of the phone that tells you how close you are to reaching your daily fitness goal.

It looks mostly like a classic watch. It’s chrome and round, available in black and silver, with an analog face and a classic design. You might never know there’s anything else inside the Activité were it not for the second, smaller dial in its bottom-right corner, known as the activity dial.

The Withings’ approach of a simplistic design certainly is ground breaking in terms of smartwatch. Cédric Hutchings, the CEO, said the company’s goal was always to be different from the standard screen-on-your-wrist design.

And that’s not just it, there’s more to take from this watch than just its simple design. The Activité lasts a year with a single watch battery, is waterproof up to 5 meters, and comes with a chic leather band. Withings focused on the materials and design of its new watch, and ended up with a device that people would probably be willing to wear even if it contained lesser “smart” capabilities.

At $390, the Activité costs quite a bit more than other smartwatches, but there’s a good chance people will pay the extra for its slick design. The new watch, and all of Withings’ wearables, reports its information into an app called HealthMate, which runs on both Android and iOS. The Activité, a part high-end, Swiss-designed watch, and part activity tracker, was announced in New York City at an event that was more like a fashion show than a gadget unveiling and will be available this fall.

July 8, 2014
Rumor Roundup: All You Need to Know About the Samsung Galaxy F

Samsung, is working towards breaking new grounds with it’s upcoming Galaxy F (also referred to as the Galaxy S5 Prime.) This one seems to be targeted towards the ‘premium’ metal smartphone segment.

A couple of leaks for the Samsung Galaxy Galaxy F have making rounds apart from the rumors of its production. Recently, new leaked live photo of the Samsung Galaxy F emerged and it seemed to confirm that the said smartphone will in fact feature a metal frame.

In terms of looks, Galaxy F, is not exactly different from S5. The buttons, the Samsung logo, even the finger scanner, the camera hump, and heart monitor; everything is where we’re used to seeing it in the S5. The biggest change is said to be the metal back that is made with brushed aluminum, a material which has a more premium feel and better heat dissipation properties than plastic.

Reports so far also pointed out that the Galaxy F will come with a super high-res Quad HD (1440 x 2560-pixel) with screen size of 5.24 inches, but given the most recent announcement of the Korea-only S5 LTE-A with a 5.1” Quad HD panel, it seems that the Galaxy F might also come with a 5.1” screen.

With an expected fall release date, it seems like Samsung may ship the Galaxy F with the latest and most powerful Qualcomm chip – the Snapdragon 805 with the new Adreno 420.

The F is also said to have a better finger scanner than the Galaxy Tab S tablets, while we are not expecting it would be a match for fast and accurate one on the iPhone, we would still love to see how Samsung will tackle this problem.

With a visual upgrade, this device not only will be a powerful smartphone but also a good looking one. Till now, we are not sure what the price of this S5 upgrade. The Galaxy F release date is rumored to be in September. With Apple’s rumored plans to bring in the next iPhone and a 5.5-inch iPhone ‘Air’ around the same time, Samsung might reconsider their plans.

July 8, 2014
Xiaomi Set to Launch its First Phone in India

In the battle field called the Indian mobile phone market, a new entrant will try to lay its claim on the throne. Beijing-based Chinese electronics company Xiaomi will launch a phone on the 11th of July to mark its arrival in the Indian market.

On its Facebook page, the company announced that it had “something special” in store for India which it will unveil on the 11th of this month. The company which is sometimes called the Apple of China will also compete with its compatriots Gionee, Oppo, Lenevo, ZTE, Huawei from China.

The company already has an Indian website which might get operational on the 8th of July. The website currently is hosting a contest for users to guess which phone the company will release in India. The winner will get to own the phone.

Like Alcatel and Motorola, Xiaomi has also said to have signed an agreement with the e-commerce giant Flipkart. As it’s just beginning in India, it might be a good step for Xiaomi to sense the water before diving in.

Launched in 2010 the company has since seen massive growth in China. It is one of the biggest manufactures in China which develops and sells Mobile phones. Along with Phones the company also sells mobile apps, routers and other consumer electronics.

Xiaomi really needs to bring some really distinguishable products to stand out in the market which is as populated as the population of India. Its colored backpaneled devices can also be a hit amongst the colorful Indians.

July 7, 2014
Motorola Releases KitKat 4.4.4 Update in India

Motorola is surely in it to win it. The brand with its fierce product placement is ruthlessly being a thorn in the eye of the competition. After being the first company to bring Kitkat to all price points, the company will become one of the firsts to have the Kitkat 4.4.4 running on all its devices.

We’ve begun rolling out Android, KitKat, 4.4.4 for Moto E, Moto G & Moto X this week in India! Expect an update on your #Moto soon!

— Motorola India (@MotorolaIndia) July 5, 2014

Motorola informed the users through its twitter account. The company claims that this new update will add an extra layer of security for web browsing. The company also stated that the new update will fix several stability, framework and OpenSSL-related issues. The phones will get a new phone dialer.

Android KitKat 4.4.4 update will give you all the features of Android KitKat 4.4.3 with an extra layer of security for browsing web (1/2)

— Motorola India (@MotorolaIndia) July 7, 2014

(2/2) content on your #Moto. The rollout is a gradual process and all your handsets will receive the update soon. Thanks for your patience.

— Motorola India (@MotorolaIndia) July 7, 2014

Motorola phones presently are the most feature-packed and competitively priced devices. All three phones have successfully become the leaders and have ushered speed in delivering updates in an update starved market. The company had released a 4.4.3 update just last month.

July 7, 2014
SCiO : A Chemical Scanner That Will Change The Way You Shop
Thanks to government laws, we have nutritional labels on packaging on most store-bought food. They give you a quick run down of their contents: fat, sugar, calories, and so on. But what about the melon in your fridge or the fresh cheese you bought from supermarket or the RO water in your glass?

A new handheld gadget called SCiO takes the guesswork out of analyzing your food. The device can be used to scan almost any food or beverage, analyze its chemical make-up and send the data to your phone.

SCiO contains a tiny optical sensor, called a spectrometer, which reads the molecular fingerprint of an object by shining an infrared light on it. The gadget then sends the data to the cloud for analysis and forwards the results to your phone, all in seconds. An accompanying SCiO app, which can be downloaded, then displays fat, protein and carbohydrate levels down to the milligram.

Touted as the world’s first affordable molecular sensor, it fits in the palm of your hand. The same technology has been used for decades by corporations in quality control of oil and chemicals, although SCiO is being pitched as the first portable spectrometer for consumers. The sensor can only detect materials and objects that were previously uploaded to its database. But the device is so smart that the more items you scan with it, the more it learns to recognize items and their ingredients.

Company highlighted some use of the this portable sensors like:
- Get nutritional facts about different kinds of food: salad dressings, sauces, fruits, cheeses, and much more.
- See how ripe an Avocado is, through the peel!
- Find out the quality of your cooking oil.
- Know the well being of your plants.
- Analyze soil or hydroponic solutions.
- Authenticate medications or supplements.
SCiO was one of the biggest project on Kickstarter, where its creators pledged for $200,000 and reached their goal within 24 hours. They eventually raised more than $2.7 million, and have promised to deliver the first SCiOs, for $149 apiece, to early backers by the end of the year.
July 7, 2014
Neil Young’s Music Player is Designed to Deliver Quality Sound

Writing in his book Waging Heavy Peace, Neil Young expressed concern about digital audio quality, criticizing in particular the quality offered by Apple‘s iTunes Store. The Canadian Musician wrote, “My goal is to try and rescue the art form that I’ve been practicing for the past 50 years”

The Canadian Musician talking about Pono

Acting his part as a music legend, he has come up with revolutionary new music system called ‘Pono’ that promises the best possible experience when listening to your favorite music. The idea comes from the mind of musician Neil Young who founded the company by the same name back in 2012. The goal here is to use the FLAC format in order to provide listeners with “the finest quality, highest-resolution digital music from both major labels and prominent independent labels.”

For digital music, sound files get compressed to make them take up less storage space, squeezing out some of the music’s more finer details. It is a triangle-shaped music player, set to be released later this year, that will bring the quality of hi-fi stereo sound back to the mainstream in the age of the iPod. At first glance Pono Music seems to be just a regular mp3 player, but the technology behind it is what makes it truly special. The digital filter used in the PonoPlayer has minimal phase, and no unnatural (digital sounding) pre-ringing.

All sounds made (including music) always have reflections and/or echoes after the initial sound. There is no sound in nature that has any echo or reflection before the sound, which is what conventional linear-phase digital filters do. This is one reason that digital sound has a reputation for sounding “unnatural” and harsh.”

Though its $399 price tag might be troublesome for the consumers.The Kickstarter project to fund the device raised $6.2 million; the 3rd biggest campaign in the crowdfunding site’s history.

The player is said to have about 6 times more musical information than a typical MP3, which explains why all the songs sound better with Pono Music. The service is supported by all major labels and some independents ones across all genres.

July 6, 2014
Skully Brings Augmented Reality On-Road for a Safer Ride
Augmented reality has become a revelation in the gaming world; with products like Sony’s Project Morpheus and the Oculus Rift promising to make play time more entertaining and interactive. Furthermore Google Glass has opened up a new possibility with respect to augmented reality.

Skully, a San Francisco-based start-up, has given this technology a new meaning.

Skully AR-1, as the company claims proudly, is the world’s first augmented-reality motorcycle helmet. It is an anti-fog, anti-glare and face shield helmet, features a heads-up display that shows blind spots, GPS mapping, weather with other additional features. Skully also features Internet connectivity and a Bluetooth smartphone connection. The Skully AR-1 allows you to control the interface with your voice. You can control your music, send texts, make calls and change your GPS destination, all hands-free. Never before has riding been so connected.

With Synapse(TM) integrated Heads-Up Display (HUD), Skully provides an advanced situational awareness system, showing navigation and blind spot data, allowing you to stay focused on the most important part of your ride – The Road. Skully AR-1 has a patented integrated rear view camera system with a 180 degree viewing angle. The rear view camera feeds video to the HUD to provide complete situational awareness.

Skully AR-1 is already making waves in the tech world. The helmet won the coveted SXSW Accelerator Award in the Wearable Technology in Austin, Texas this year.

Key Features include-
- Lightweight, aerodynamic shell
- 3D laser-cut foam for a perfect fit
- Fully adjustable flow-through ventilation
- Anti-fog, anti-scratch, anti-glare face shield
- Quick release chin strap and visor
- SKULLY SYNAPSE (TM) Heads Up Display system with voice control
- Visual GPS navigation
- 180 degree wide angle rearview camera
- Bluetooth connectivity to smartphone
- Internet connectivity via smartphone
Presently, Skully AR-1 is not available for commercial sale. However you can apply to become an approved beta-tester for the Skully AR-1. Approved beta-testers may get to test a pre-released version of the AR-1 before the official release date.
July 5, 2014
Is iPhone 6’s Buddy Going To Be The ‘iPhone Air’?

Less than an year ago, we were introduced to iPhone 5s and now rumors are gathering about its replacement, which should, if previous versions are taken in consideration, be called the iPhone 6.

Will it be bigger, or stay the same size? Will it have standout features? Will it be joined by an iPhone 6C, or the iWatch? Everyone is anxious to know what Apple is planning to do with the new Flagship phone. Sadly we need to wait till September for an official word.

A new report from China details an astonishing new launch date for another iPhone variant from Apple. The report is accompanied with alleged pricing details, as well as the name of the anticipated larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variant: The iPhone Air. The company first used the “Air” appellation to tag its smaller MacBook model, and has later used it for the full-size iPad’s. Both times the end result was a sleek and sexy looker with good performance.

When the next-gen iPhone lineup does launch sometime this fall, many expect the handset to feature a complete redesign with a relocated sleep/wake button, slimmed-down profile and advanced innards like an “A8” processor. It is also believed that Apple plans to differentiate the denoted 5.5-inch version from its smaller variant by adding on features like optical image stabilization and higher storage capacities.

The report are pointing out to a September 25th release of the new iPhones. However, it is unlikely if the Apple’s history of Friday releases of previous iPhones are taken into consideration.

Apple has ‘Air’ variants for its Mac as well as iPad’s. Only the iPhones weren’t touched by Apple’s “Air”. This would be a momentous year if they do decide to launch an ‘iPhone Air’. It will be great to see Apple bring its slim on as its the pioneer of slim technology. We have already heard the rumour that Apple is planning to go for flatter headphones jack with the lightening port. Apple has no problems throwing out technology that they find redundant and soon the world follows. So it would be fun to see how the next avatar of this legendary device turns out in reality.

[poll id=”13″]

July 4, 2014
Magnetic Messaging, The Next NFC?

Near Field Communication (NFC) got a lot of people excited, especially the ones working in the commerce field. It’s a great technology with lots of uses. Phones can make the wallet obsolete using this technology. Though, our phones can’t carry condoms and paper soaps so we will hang on to our wallets for a while. Now Magnetic communication which is still in the rudimentry phase will try to usurp NFC’s claim to wallets throne.

A group of scientists at the University of Oulu in Finland are experimenting with the prospects of using the magnetometer in the phone to send data. Magnetometers are used in smartphones for Compass apps. Using a system called Pulse, the researchers were able to send magnetically encoded data at a distance of 2 centimeters at 40bits/sec.

The researchers uploaded a video which showed their technique working on an Android phone. They were able to send textual data as well as a MIDI track over their connection. This technique will be great for confidential message transfers as it cannot be intercepted from a distance.

The data speed and distance might appear slow but that works in favor of the device. An NFC sensor works at a distance of 12 centimeters so if it can be wiped off in the line by malicious interests. Mobile payments can be much more secure with reduced proximity. They state that this can also be used in advertising. By having a tiny electromagnet on a street poster, advertisers can connect with consumers more interactively. Unlike a QR code, an electromagnetic transmitter will have the ability to have their data renewed.

There are several new studies going on around the world to get the best possible use of the components in the smartphones like the Barometer, Hall Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Finger Print Sensor, Gesture Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer. Having multiple uses of these sensors will make the phones more efficient and help in bringing generational changes in now almost stagnant mobile phone development.

July 4, 2014
Apple Plans to Announce The iPhone 6 on 15th September

The blurred lines surrounding the release date of the iPhone 6 are finally sharpening up. Industry sources have reported that various media outlets in the region that Apple is planning to launch the device on 15th September and it plans to start sales September 25th onwards. China is expected to be in the first group of countries to get the device.

Mass shipments of the iPhone 6 from China to the United States are said to be starting during the last two weeks of August, and it is likely that Apple will announce the iPhone 6 during the first or second week of September. The first deliveries of the device will come later in the month on a corresponding Friday. Apple historically starts sales of new iPhone models on Fridays, roughly a week and a half after the event.

Regarding the pricing, Apple typically releases its new models at the same price as the old ones. If that stays the case for this new phone as well then we’d expect the 16GB model to cost Rs 53,500, 32GB model to cost Rs 62,500, the 64GB model Rs 72,500. Though with a larger screen we might see prices go up.

Also, a new render of Apple’s much talked about iPhone 6 created by graphic designer Mark Pelin is also making rounds on the internet. It is marked the first leaked iPhone 6 designs imagined, in a way, that might accurately represent an actual Apple device. Pelin’s work shows a completely redesigned handset that looks like it sticks to the leaked schematics quite closely. It also shows a device that is on par with the refinement and quality that Apple hardware always manages to achieve.

Apple’s iPhone 6 is expected to include a larger display size along with a thinner iPod-touch style design, A8 processor, and camera improvements. The 5.5-inch iPhone has, thus far, been positioned as a premium version and may include upgrades like optical image stabilization and a larger storage capacity.

July 4, 2014
Samsung’s Second Attempt at a Camera-Centric Phone : The Galaxy K Zoom

Samsung has launched the Galaxy K Zoom in India, a Galaxy S5 camera variant, and is now up for pre-order exclusively on Amazon India. The exclusive pre-order was opened yesterday at midnight. Its predecessor, the S4 Zoom was also launched on the same day last year but was not received well in the market because of its poor performance and bulkiness.

Samsung is now trying its hands again in the same segment with Galaxy K Zoom that holds a better processor and a leaner body. The leaner body might help this variant since the chunky lens of the S4 Zoom was a major deal-breaker. This s5 camera variant is priced at INR 29,999 and will be delivered July 9th onwards.

Samsung’s second crack at a modern “phone camera” is based on its popular Galaxy S5. The Galaxy K zoom fashions a huge 20.7-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor at the back accompanied by a Xenon flash and also features optical image stabilizer (OIS) for low-light imaging. The rear camera supports 10x optical zoom.

The rear camera comes with some advanced camera usability features and functions, including AF/AE (Auto Focus/ Auto Exposure) separation. Also Pro Suggest mode that comes with camera offers 5 optimized filter settings. The Selfie Alarm assists users in taking timed selfies. The Galaxy K Zoom also houses a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

When compared to the Galaxy S4 Zoom that came with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display, the Galaxy K zoom features a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD (720×1280 pixels) display. The new camera variant runs on Android 4.4 KitKat same as the Galaxy S5, the latest flagship device of the company.

Also it comes with a hexa-core processor (a quad-core 1.3GHz and a dual-core 1.7GHz), 2GB of RAM, 8GB inbuilt storage expandable via microSD card (up to 64GB), and a 2430 mAh battery. The Galaxy K zoom will be available in two variants – LTE and 3G – while other connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB and NFC.

The K zoom is thicker than the S5, it’s heavier and it has a lower-resolution display. The only area where the K zoom tops the S5, by a mile we might add, is where the camera is concerned. Though it certainly has a great camera, the deal breaker for most of the buyers will be the performance of the phone which also took the Galaxy s4 Zoom down the drain.

July 3, 2014
Facebook Bought The World’s Third Biggest Video Ad Seller, LiveRail

Facebook, in what has become an almost monthly affair, announced yesterday that it has the bought video ad tech startup LiveRail. Facebook seems to be on a roll. It has acquired close to 45 companies, with its largest acquisition being the purchase of WhatsApp, Oculus and Instagram. It had acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion, Instagram for $1 billion and Oculus for $2billion.

Now the social networking giant, keeping up the pace, has acquired LiveRail on Wednesday, with no terms of the deal disclosed. Though according to the grapevine, Facebook might have paid between $400 million and $500 million for LiveRail.

Liverail connects marketers to publishers on web and mobile. It automates the sale of video ads for publishers including Major League Baseball, ABC Family and Dailymotion. The start-up, which was founded in 2007, helps companies ranging from sports to entertainment optimize delivery of video ads on mobile and the web through real-time bidding and its proprietary market data. The company claims it delivers 7 billion video ads a month. Rather than negotiating deals over the phone or in person, publishers can upload their video inventory to LiveRail’s system, which provides buyers via real-time auctions. Publishers can also use LiveRail’s ad technology to process upfront deals without all the paperwork that can delay a campaign from airing at the right time and fashion.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Brian Boland” link=”http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2014/07/facebook-to-acquire-liverail/” author_title=”VP, Ads Product Marketing, Facebook”]

We believe that LiveRail, Facebook and the premium publishers it serves have an opportunity to make video ads better and more relevant for the hundreds of millions of people who watch digital videos every month. More relevant ads will be more interesting and engaging to people watching online video, and more effective for marketers too.

[/quote]

Facebook plans to keep LiveRail’s existing business of selling ads for non-Facebook publishers in operation. Though the company declined to comment on any plans to sell Facebook’s own video ad inventory through LiveRail.

Facebook undoubtedly is the biggest social media platforms. It has a base of 1.28 billion daily active users worldwide and so it offers a greater reach than TV. It launched its Premium Video Ads service with a test last December for Summit Entertainment’s ‘Divergent’ and opened it up to a select group of marketers this spring. In May, NBC became the first TV network to use the Facebook autoplay video ads to promote their shows.

Facebook has around 5.8% share of all global digital ad revenues in 2013, up from 4.1% the year prior. While, in the U.S., the social networking giant held 18.4% market share of digital display advertising in 2013, overtaking Google for the first time, according the statistics.

Of all the purchases made by Facebook recently, the Livewire purchase seems like the safest bet as it already have a bustling user base and profitable business model. After some hefty money spending, this ones a more crafty investment by Mr. Zuckerberg.

July 3, 2014