A mobile operating system is only as good as the apps it offers, with limited app offerings driving users into the arms of other platforms. It is such a philosophy that prodded Blackberry to lure in developers with a myriad of financial incentives, and Microsoft has enacted a similar incentive plan for developers. Word has
It seems no job is safe in this economy, as it’s being reported that IBM has begun its first round of layoffs in the US, starting with what is said to be at least 1,300 employees spread out amongst various departments at the company. The layoffs are said to be a part of a major
Microsoft Points are something most people either hate or are indifferent to, with not many people viewing the virtual currency favorably enough to champion it as something that should stick around. As such, we’ve heard rumors for quite a while now that Microsoft planned to ditch the system, replacing it with real currency, but Points
It’s no secret that there’s some contention between Pandora and the powers that be over how much it pays for every song its users listen to, with the Internet radio station feeling it pays too much, and with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, more commonly known as ASCAP, frequently trying to raise
Recently, we heard about how Zynga laid off 520 of its employees (18% of its total workforce), and closed down three studios in the process. In an effort to most likely raise awareness of the situation, one of the laid-off employees took the time to answer questions on Reddit about Zynga’s “games, processes, culture, infamous
It’s not exactly easy to build a new structure in cities, and not even all the money in the world will speed up the process. An environmental impact report is a necessary step in the that process, and Apple published theirs today detailing Campus 2 and the impact that the new campus will have on
Zynga, the once thriving social gaming company, is now in a tough situation, as they have announced that they’re laying off 18% of their workforce, as well as shutting down three of their studios, which include New York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas locations. The company called the decision “necessary to move forward.”
18% of Zynga’s workforce equals around 520 employees, all of which will be receiving “generous severance packages.” The company’s founder and CEO Mark Pincus confirmed the layoffs today, and although he doesn’t mention specific studio closures, it’s said that the three studios mentioned above received the ax.
Zynga says the layoffs and downsizing will save the company approximately $70 million to $80 million total, and the entire process will be completed by August later this year. Zynga also says that they expect a net loss of $39 million to $28.5 million for their second quarter earnings, and trading of Zynga shares was halted on Nasdaq since the announcement of the downsizing.
Zynga has been experiencing some difficulties for quite some time now, and this certainly isn’t the company’s first big layoff. The game developing company quietly laid off a handful of employees back in October during Apple’s iPad mini event, most likely to keep attention off of them while Apple was stealing the spotlight for the day, but that didn’t quite work out so well.
Later in January, Zynga shut down its Japan studio, and the very next month, they closed down their Baltimore studio in order to consolidate their offices. Zynga said this consolidation didn’t amount to any significant layoffs, but a closing of a studio is never a good sign. Today’s layoffs aren’t making the situation better either. Frankly, we’re curious as to how long Zynga can tread water before they drown, but if they’re able to crank out popular social games with a smaller team and less resources, then more power to them.
SOURCE: Zynga, AllThingsD
Zynga closing 3 studios, laying off 18% of workforce is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Hulu has been reportedly entertaining bids for some weeks now, with Yahoo! having been the latest company to hit the rumor mill. Various prices have been tossed around, such as the $800 million Yahoo is said to have bid for the video service, but none of them have reached the level of three alleged bids leaked by unnamed sources: $1 billion. While two of the bids were from companies unknown, one is said to be from Directv.
The information comes from people who are said to be “familiar with the bid.” Reportedly, the powers that be behind Hulu have been looking into seven bids for the service, with the next month or so being used to whittle those down to three or four. While most of those bids fall below the $1 billion mark, three are said to meet or exceed that figure.
Needless to say, such a figure could certainly increase the odds of Hulu’s board agreeing to a sale, something that hasn’t been set in stone. Directv would benefit from the service for obvious reasons, having another platform of content to offer the viewing public that expands beyond what it currently offers. It isn’t the only company to aim at grabbing the company, however.
In early April, we heard rumor from sources that former president of News Corp. – one of Hulu’s owners – Peter Chernin bid on Hulu for $500 million. Rumor of other bids began surfacing soon after, with bidders including Time Warner Cable, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Guggenheim Digital, and KKR & Co.
It was announced in late April that Hulu experienced massive growth in its first quarter, tacking on a million subscribers and seeing 1 billion videos streamed over a three-month period. That brought the total number of subscribers to over 4 million.
SOURCE: Bloomberg
Hulu reportedly receives 3 bids over $1bn is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Google has been accused by many of violating privacy with Street View, and those accusations may increase as the service is used by taxing authorities to find individuals guilty of tax evasion. Such is the case in Lithuania, where more than 100 cases have already been discovered, and where authorities are actively pouring over Maps in search of more violators.
Many locations in Europe have taken – or are attempting to take measures – that will limit Street View in certain locations. In Germany, residents who aren’t happy about having their property displayed on Maps, for example, can request to have it blocked. Such is not the case in Lithuania, however, according to the Wall Street Journal. Reportedly, the chief tax inspector Modestas Kaseliauskas says locals are more supportive than it was assumed they would be.
Those guilty of tax evasion don’t likely share in their support, however. The latest two cases that have resulted from Google Maps-based discoveries of possible tax evasion have resulted in $130,000 in owed taxes on top of fines. Such cases result from a team dedicated to looking at the detailed images available via Street View for construction and other buildings that haven’t been declared, for example.
One example given was an image taken of a woman in a hammock, an image that is now being used in a case against the owners of the property for the undisclosed structures it reveals. Another individual, Raimundas Baranauskas who previously served as chairman for Bank Snoras, was found to have undisclosed buildings on property that evaded the attention of the government until Street View revealed them.
The powers that be in Lithuania are praising Street View as being more effective in identifying undisclosed buildings than aerial photography, and likewise allowing the small teams in charge of finding them to accomplish more work in a faster duration that previously possible. Said Kaseliauskas: “We were very impressed. We realized that we could do more with less and in shorter time.”
SOURCE: Wall Street Journal
Street View being used by authorities to pinpoint tax evasion is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Facebook has once again come under fire for its content policy, which many organizations, companies, and users say is too lax in light of hate speech and violent content. Earlier this month, the social network finally banned videos of decapitations, but has still allowed large quantities of controversial content – many of it gender-based, according to some organizations – to persist. For this reason, more than a dozen big-name companies have pulled their advertisements from the social network.
Yesterday, Facebook announced that, in light of the latest round of criticism, it will be making changes to its content policy immediately, which includes revising the materials its review team uses to evaluate content, training its team on the new guidelines, establishing a better communication with organizations, and holding users more responsible for controversial content that is allowed to remain on the site.
While such changes are welcome and are earning it praise from some organizations and users, it is presently a case of “too little, too late,” with over 12 advertisers removing their advertisements from the social network because they were being displayed next to offensive, controversial, and hateful content. Nissan is perhaps the most notable company on the list, with the auto maker saying it will put ads back on the website when Facebook implements the changes it announced yesterday.
According to the Associated Press, many Facebook advertisers were slammed with in excess of 5,000 emails collectively on the behest of a campaign started by Women, Action and the Media. According to the organization, much of the objectionable content on Facebook being allowed to remain focused on endorsing and mocking violence of various natures against women and children, among others.
Women, Action and Media’s Executive Director Jaclyn Friedman said of Facebook’s announced changes yesterday: “We are thrilled with the commitment [the social network] made. It’s about stepping up and being the industry leader that they already are.” According to Facebook, the changes it outlined are going into effect immediately.
SOURCE: Yahoo!
Major brands pull Facebook advertisements over hateful content is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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