Zynga
Today in Tech: Why 'Draw Something 2' will be a social network
March 19, 2013: 3:00 AM ETAlso: Funny or Die makes a Steve Jobs film; EA's CEO resigns.
A peek at "Draw Something 2"?
Zynga looks to revive Draw Something with a sequel that's much more of a social network [TECHCRUNCH]
From what we hear, it sounds like it will be much more of a social platform where players get to keep and show off their drawings instead of having them disappear into the game.
This way the very best artists can accumulate followings inside the game and the content will become a lot more long-lasting for the players.
It's a smart move for the company because it may make the game a lot stickier. Plus, it gets Zynga into game genres that are much more creative than its casual sim, Farmville history would suggest.
Funny or Die makes a Steve Jobs movie [THE NEW YORK TIMES]
"In true Internet fashion, it's not based on very thorough research — essentially a cursory look at the Steve Jobs Wikipedia page," said Ryan Perez, who wrote and directed "iSteve." "It's very silly. But it looks at his whole life."
Making fun of Mr. Jobs, the Apple co-founder who died in 2011 and who is considered a deity by many people (at least in the tech world), is a risky proposition, even if done gently. But Allison Hord, who produced "iSteve," said the tone was such that "even the harshest fanboy critics will be able to laugh with us."
Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitello to step down [FORTUNE]
EA also said its revenue and earnings-per-share will be at the low end or below its January guidance. The company reported lower revenue for the last three months of 2012 than it did for the same period a year earlier. EA had the top-selling video game in February with its action-horror title Dead Space 3. But U.S. retail sales of new video games fell for the fifteenth straight month, year over year. Sales of new video game hardware, software and accessories fell 25% from a year earlier to $810 million in February, the NPD Group reported.
Short term thinking vs. long term thinking [A VC]
But when I think about who is developing the strongest franchise in mobile, it is obviously Google. They have gmail on so many phones. They have google maps on so many phones. They are getting the majority of searches on mobile phones. And that doesn't even begin to address Android itself. It is the dominant mobile operating system around the world. Just think about all the data they are getting from this enormous mobile footprint they have assembled.
Uber, Data Darwinism and the future of work [GIGAOM]
The coming intellectual and societal upheaval brought on by the state of connectedness is aptly reflected in the recent fracas between Uber, a San Francisco-based personal transportation platform, and the freelance army of drivers who man its cars. They were protesting what they thought was unfair treatment by the company. "They're running a sweatshop with an app. They don't have the balls to come down and talk to us," Raj Alazzeh, a driver with SF Best Limo and a spokesperson for the drivers, told Liz Gannes. "Uber chooses to call us partners for their tax benefit. If they called us employees, they'd have to cover us all."
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Today in Tech: No Apple TV until 2013?
Also: Why HP should have listened to its CFO; is Foursquare overvalued?
HP should have listened to its CFO [FORTUNE]
As Fortune wrote in its May cover story How Hewlett-Packard lost its way:
"...with no warning to Apotheker, Lesjak made an impassioned case against the acquisition before the board. "I can't support it," she told the directors, according to a person who was present. "I don't think it's a good idea. I don't think we're ready. I think it's MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Nov 21, 2012 5:30 AM ET -
Today in Tech: Is the Wii U Nintendo's last hope?
Also: How Microsoft may be risking an $18 billion empire on Windows 8; Zynga's shares pop.
Nintendo slashes profit outlook [THE WALL STREET JOURNAL]
The Wii U, an overhaul of Nintendo's popular but aging Wii game machine, will test whether traditional videogame consoles can still prosper amid a technological shift that is providing consumers with vast options for games ranging from online personal-computer titles to free-to-play social games on smartphones. Not only is MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Oct 25, 2012 12:35 PM ET -
Today in Tech: Will Amazon buy Texas Instruments' mobile chip business?
Also: Softbank to buy Sprint Nextel for about $20 billion; 13-inch MacBook Pro may be unveiled later this month.
Amazon looks to acquire TI mobile chip business, report says [CNET]
If Amazon buys out Texas Instruments' mobile chip business, it would mark a dramatic shift for the e-retail giant. Amazon uses Texas Instruments' processors in its mobile devices, including the latest Kindle Fire HD. Barnes & Noble, one of its chief competitors, does, as MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Oct 15, 2012 1:48 PM ETPosted in: Apple, iPad, MacBook, MacBook Pro, Retina, Retina Display, Softbank, Sprint, Sprint Nextel, Texas Instruments, Zynga -
The real reason Zynga is out of steam
The games are lacking. If the social gaming company wants to save itself, it needs better titles.
FORTUNE -- Zynga can't catch a break.
Shares are down nearly 74% since its stock market debut. User engagement has dropped 53% in less than three years according to social game analytics firm dystillr. And its biggest bet -- the $183 million acquisition OMGPOP earlier this year -- proved a flop. But the company's biggest MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Oct 15, 2012 6:36 AM ET -
Today in Tech: Apple remembers Steve Jobs one year after his passing
Also: Zynga continues to plummet; Facebook's nonsensical 1 billion users video.
Apple remembers Steve Jobs on anniversary of his passing [9 to 5 MAC]
Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S on Oct. 4, 2011, but one seat left open for Jobs at the packed event notably sat empty. The next day, Jobs died. After he passed, at just 56 years old, news of his death flooded the Internet, TV, newspapers, and homes. Millions of people immediately emailed Apple, MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Oct 5, 2012 12:25 PM ET -
Today in Tech: New Apple Maps attacked for alleged inaccuracies
Also: Apple iOS6 reviewed, and Zynga loses yet another exec.
New Apple maps app under fire from users [BBC]
Among the user complains regarding Apple's maps sent to the BBC: ... Users also reported missing local places, such as schools, or strange locations. Another screenshot showed a furniture museum that was apparently located in a river.
Review: Refined iOS6 highlighted by stunning Maps overhaul [MACWORLD]
The new Maps app alone, while occasionally rough in spots, are MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Sep 20, 2012 12:52 PM ET -
Today in Tech: Is Microsoft's mobile moment finally here?
The behind-the-scenes story of video game startup OnLive's demise; Zynga loses its Chief Creative Officer.
Microsoft's mobile moment: Will consumers buy in? [THE WALL STREET JOURNAL]
For wireless store manager Luke Connell, the problem with Windows phones is that he can't play the popular game "Words With Friends." For Swedish designer Jacob Ravn, the issue is that the Microsoft phone interface doesn't match the iPhone's ease of use. And for Ryan Matzner, a MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Aug 29, 2012 5:00 AM ET -
Today in Tech: Why are Groupon sales reps fleeing?
How Facebook and Zynga's businesses couldn't be more different; Motorola faces big-time staff cuts.
Groupon feels the heat [THE WALL STREET JOURNAL]
A Groupon attorney last month sent Mr. Silagadze a letter saying Top Hat was improperly recruiting Groupon employees. Top Hat's 25-person sales staff includes eight former Groupon employees. Groupon's turnover is "getting even worse when their best people are starting to leave," Mr. Silagadze said, adding that he plans to continue hiring MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Aug 13, 2012 5:00 AM ET -
Today in Tech: The Facebook-HTC smartphone
Meet the man engineering Facebook's revenues; a list of the Zynga insiders who cashed out before the stock crashed.
Facebook is said to work with HTC on mobile phone for mid-2013 [BLOOMBERG]
The companies had intended to release the device as early as the end of this year, and pushed back the timetable to give HTC more time to work on other products, said some of the people, who requested anonymity because the MORE
JP Mangalindan, Writer - Jul 26, 2012 1:45 PM ET
