Alibaba Search Engine Division Form Alliances To Grow

UCWeb is interested in partnering with media organizations to increase its market share in the competitive world

The search engine division and web browser of Alibaba are looking to boost global growth by establishing new alliances with media service providers across the globe. The move follows its UC browser reaching a landmark of recording over 400 million monthly active users worldwide, which has added to its lead over Safari of Apple as the second-most famous browser of the world, revealed by the presentation of UCWeb at the annual Global Mobile Internet Conference held in Beijing on April 28, 2016.

Alibaba’s president of the mobile business division and UCWeb’s co-founder Yu Yongfu said the planned media partnership would turn the UC mobile browser into a new media network that proves to be beneficial for users with custom-made news feeds, whereas helping media companies add readership.

Yu said media organizations would have “content stores” on the UC browser in the same manner as online sellers have shops on Alibaba’s business-to-consumer online ecommerce platform. Media partners of UCWeb will be able to also include ads in the content showed inside, the customized news feed of UC Headline, which uses “big data” gathered across the products of the search unit to personalize content.

The tech feature is presently live for Chinese users and will be offered to global users in the upcoming month. The company has already tied up content partnership agreements with China Business News, online platform ‘Sina’ and the Chinese internet tech company ‘NetEase’. The media partnership tie-up will probably expand market share for UCWeb, which is currently dominating the mobile browser industry in China.

The Guangzhou-based company presently controls over half of the Indonesian and Indian markets for mobile browsers. It works on both Android and Apple iOS, and is offered in a dozen languages, including Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Hindi, English and Chinese. 9Apps helped UCWeb grow in the tech world.

9Apps is the global online marketplace of Alibaba for mobile apps. UC Headline news feed Chinese users generate over 570 million news views monthly, the company told. The marketplace website ‘Taobao’ shows a personalized front page for every user that includes tailor-made product recommendations depending on their search and purchase history.

Analyst at IDC Chua Chwee Kan said the new functionality in the browser capitalized on mobile application fatigue – a terminology named by pundits to give a description of the overcrowded application scenario, in which new applications keep emerging but don’t offer sufficient value for customers to continue using them.

Kan stated the data gathered by the search unit would be also useful for the cloud computation Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) of Alibaba since it was able to keep a track of interests and user preference based on interactions with the news feed and browsing habits. 

Facebook Targets Brand Name Of Littergram

Facebook points Littergram's name due to its similarity with the name of Instagram

The British anti-litter campaign’s founder is battling with Facebook regarding the choice of the name of application. Littergram has given an invitation to smartphone-users to share photos of rubbish on the streets of Britain and report the area to the council of that region. A 48-years-old businessman, Danny Lucas, from Kent designed that application with the intent to help clean up streets in UK and educate children regarding the issue.

Nevertheless, Facebook have hindered the idea, which states that the name of the application is quite similar to the Facebook-owned picture sharing application Instagram. The company’s US lawyers stated the name was “not acceptable” and should be changed. 3 to 6 months have been given to Lucas to “phase out” the title of the application or face legal action.

The founder of Littergram has responded by describing the claim as “absurd”. He has sent a video-message to CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, asking them to withdraw the demands and collaborate with them to support the new application.

In the video message, Lucas told that re-naming the brand would "destroy all our ingenuity and hard work". “Littergram has become a known name, it puts the Great back into Britain, I truly hope for the sake of the entire UK population, you will have the understanding and compassion to let Littergram continue,” says Lucas

Recently, the company announced earnings of $1.5 billion for the initial quarter of the next year – over 3 times greater than its earnings in 2015 during the same period. Instagram was purchased by the organization for a price of $1 billion 4 years. It is said that 400 million active users use this Facebook’s application on a monthly basis.

Facebook said it hadn’t yet filed a suit against the British app and wished to agree regarding the names outside court. If CEO Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t comply with the requests made by Danny then he will have no option other than to alter the app’s name in the upcoming months or fight a legal battle.

At this phase, the social network is raising an objection regarding trademark registration. The app gained momentum in the past year with many "grot spots" reported. It has also officially partnered with Malling Borough and Tonbridge  Council , and wishes to expand this to the rest of local authorities.

Facebook has not responded to the request for comment. 

Alibaba Plans Ruined By Chinese Government

Chinese regulators have frozen the collaboration deal between the online retailer and Walt Disney

The Chinese government has frozen the collaboration deal between Alibaba and Walt Disney company, which is popular as Disney in China. The measure has been taken amidst the imposition of stricter controls on web content by the Chinese regulatory bodies. Both organizations had collaborated in December last year. Under the partnership, the Chinese e-commerce company signed a multiyear licensing contract for the subscription service, Disney Life, which is intended to bring the games, films and cartoon series of the media company to Chinese screens.

Nevertheless, it is now reported that the facility is not being offered and that the online retailer is refunding its customers. Both organizations have refused to comment. Nevertheless, two people aware of the matter spoke to the Wall Street Journal that the facility was suspended as per instructions issued by the Chinese regulatory bodies. The Hangzhou based organization had started selling Mickey Mouse-shaped connecting device with the help of which the facility could be used.

The device also helped users to arrange visits to Disneyland parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai. It was offered at a price of $123 and needed just an internet access to stream the Disney content. The product was offered on the online marketplace of Alibaba Tmall. A customer of the service claimed that he was aware in the last month by the customer-service staff of Tmall that the service would not be offered for "an unknown period of time." He also stated that he has been refunded which included the cost of the product and a one-year membership fee.

In 2015, the American company introduced the same product in the United Kingdom, as its CEO Bob Iger has deliberated upon providing customers more options compared to a bundled-cable service to view the content of the Californian media organization including Star Wars, ESPN and its TV shows.

Past week, regulatory bodies suspended iBooks and iMovie services of Apple in China. The same authorities were responsible for the formation of new regulations in the previous month that were anticipated to put much more pressure on global entertainment amidst the campaign of President Xi Jinping to remove Western ideology from global influence, education and entertainment and promote Marxist ideology.

The US organization is making efforts to grow in the country, betting much on the rising middle class of China. Keeping a check on online content is a topmost priority for the Chinese government, which has heavily invested in a huge censorship apparatus known as the "Great Firewall." 

Many sites including Twitter, Facebook and Google are suspended, and even local social network platforms are censored to a huge extent. The authorities announced new regulations in February 2016 imposing restrictions upon what online content can be posted and who has the right to produce it. 

Indians can help Apple recover when iPhone sales are expected to decline

Apple's iPhone sales revenue and volume are both set to decline at a time when the Indian smartphone market can help it recover.

High expectations have not always been conducive for Apple. Low anticipations might be. When the American smartphone-maker will post results for its financial second quarter on April 26, 2016, it will become first in some different means. Sales of iPhone units and revenue will fall down on an annual basis.

The US consumer electronics-maker hasn’t reported a decline in quarterly sales revenue in a decade and 3 years. The iPhone has not recorded a negative sales quarter since the introduction of the smartphone in 2007.

This must not be shocking.

The company itself forecasted the revenue decline report in January. And while conflicting reports have surfaced lately about more manufacturing cuts, the performance brand is currently so low that it isn’t easy to see the organization not clearing it.

 Analysts are estimating the organization delivered its 50 million smartphones in the first quarter—an 18% decline on a yearly basis. Revenue is projected to decline by 10% to a sum of $52.1 billion, while per-share earnings are estimated to drop from 14% to $2.

 Why the numbers are bleak? The company is hugely a target of its success. iPhone 6 achieved such record-breaking growth in 2015 that its successor could barely be anticipated to achieve that much. The newly introduced iPhone SE might improve performance in the second quarter, but would not pull the organization out of the slowdown on its own.

Analysts estimate the unit sales of Apple’s smartphone to yet be declined by 7% by that time. The larger question is coming up. The Wall Street Journal does not still have iPhone 7’s leaked picture, or whatever the organizations take a decision to give a new name to its upcoming gizmo.

It must be good enough to help Apple grow once again. Analysts are currently modeling a gain by 6% in sales of the company’s smartphones for the next financial year, dominated by the new product. Now, the unnoticed smartphone has relevance for investors.

The shares of the Cupertino-based organization reached their peak around 12 months ago, when it was feared that slowdown in the growth of the organization’s smartphone would be witnessed. Since then, the organization has declined around $180 billion in terms of market value.

The slump of the phone is now greater than valued in 2003. At a time when iPhone is not helping Apple improve its financial position in the US market, they are doing a better job in emerging markets, like India.

As per reports from Quartz, a survey conducted by Morgan Stanley of 2626 smartphone purchasers in the Asian region is that almost 50% of the respondents are not aware of the brand image of the organization.

Amongst respondents, who want to pay at least a price of $400 for a single phone, 41% state they have bought an iPhone so it could be said that the organization has a presence in the region it just needs to build on it.

Court Fails To Settle Dispute Between Oracle and Google For Java

Oracle seeks billions of dollars from Google for unfairly using Java programming language

Google and Oracle were unable to settle a long-lasting copyright petition regarding the Android operating system before a re-trial scheduled in May, revealed a court docket. The lawsuit involves how much copyright security must expand to the programming language – Java. Oracle wants to receive billions of dollars in terms of royalties for use of Java, while Google claims it must be allowed to use the programming language without a fee.

In 2012, at trial in a federal court in San Francisco, the jury faced a deadlock on the fair use of defense by the search engine organization. Both companies took part in a court-ordered settlement conference, which was held on April 15, 2016 before a US magistrate in San Jose, in an effort to stave re-trial off in May 2016.

CEO of Google Sundar Pichai and CEO of Oracle Safra Catz both participated in the conference for 6 hours on April 15, 2016, but talks weren’t successful, US Magistrate Paul Grewal wrote in a concise statement. Representatives of the two organizations could not be contacted for comments.

Oracle alleges the search engine company of not legally imitating an essential part of the Java into its Android, earning billions of dollars in profit and crushing the chance of Java success in tablet, smartphone and other devices.

The Mountain View based organization refuses any wrongdoing. It claims that its use of the programming language is defended by the lawful doctrine of “fair use” which allows imitating in some of the circumstances. The two parties have already taken the issue to the court once, but the jury was unable to reach any settlement on the fair use of Java.

The computer tech company intends to inform the jury it is entitled to damages worth $8.8 billion, based on the huge profits Google has earned from using the language in its Android, majority from advertisements sold against mobile searches.

Google is battling to cut down the figure prior to the trail of the case. Lawyers of the 2 parties appeared in front of trial judge William Alsup in April 2016, arguing regarding which claims each party must be able to make before the jury.

At the closing of hearing on April 14, 2016, William reminded the lawyers of the company about the risks they bear by brining such a high-shares case before the court of law.

According to recent reports by Tech Eye, Google may replace with Swift as its “first class” language for Android. Although Swift will be not replacing Java, at least initially, it looks like the search engine operator has found out a way to hit the efforts by Oracle to screw out money from it.

General Motors Targets Tesla's Model S

General Motors executive Dan Nicholson has claimed that Chevy Bolt EV will be sold earlier than Model 3

In just 7 days, Tesla Motors was able to secure over 325,000 reservations for its recently launched Model 3, a famous tally which surpassed expectations and even gave a surprise to CEO Elon Musk. But due to the very competitive nature of the automotive industry, an executive of General Motors Dan Nicholson could not resist his urge to target the mass-market electric vehicle of Tesla during a late engagement.

Notably, General Motors via Chevrolet, has high expectations for its own affordable electric vehicle, the Chevy Bolt electric vehicle. Launched previously in 2016, the price of the vehicle is compared to that of Model 3( $ 37,500 vs $35,000) and supports a range of 200 miles.

Now, the Bolt electric vehicle might not have some whistles and bells that will probably be a part of Model 3, but it will hit the vehicle market certainly very soon, a point used by Dan to jab the California based organization’s way.

Official of GM, Dan Nicholson, stated the Chevrolet Bolt EV will be offered for sale long time before the Model 3 of Tesla- a vehicle that been much more famous.

Practically, it is a just point. The Bolt electric vehicle provides what’s needed: it is affordable for famous purchasers and has a Tesla-level range. What’s more, the snide remark by Dan regarding the Model 3 not being offered until 2018 is not off the mark.

From the Model S and Roadster to the newly launched Model X, each Tesla automobile ever released has been introduced in the market later than what Musk has initially pledged.

For what is worth it, the automaker has claimed that it has learned from its previous mistakes, though it continues to be seen if the organization can really launch its Model 3 on its launch date in late 2017.

The large question, though, is even if matters. There is too much excitement and hype regarding the Model 3 it is difficult to imagine that any rival’s EV could really dent the armor of Musk’s organization

One many even state that the only factor that can now stop Tesla is any product delays resulted by the mishandling of production.

Lastly, it’s quite worthy to note that the company had only kind words to talk regarding Bolt EV after it was unveiled in Jan 2016. Of course, it is not difficult to welcome rivalry with open arms when one is at the topmost end of the supply chain.

As per reports by Auto blog, after the demand for Model 3 has reached huge numbers, the company now needs to get the “ supply side” in its favor at  its huge Giga factory in Nevada. The automaker might be trying to broaden its supplies required to boost up manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries for its affordable car.

Specifically, the company might be taking offers from mining organizations Bacanora Minerals Limited and Pure Energy Minerals Limited. 

Another Google Project Helps Self-Driving Cars

Google Photos can help Google to successfully launch driverless cars in the industry

In last May, Google introduced a new facility that permit users to store and upload an unlimited number of videos and pictures free. A contributor at Forbes, Sam Abuelsamid, uploaded his 15-year archive of digital pictures to ensure that he has an offline backup of his family memories.

For him and many others, Google Photos was still amazing free service by the search company. Nevertheless, it usually thinks about larger plans and its photos facility is probably playing a quite significant role in its ongoing autonomous driving car program.

For an individual to successfully and safely control a car, the capability to view the road ahead, identify animals, objects and people  that may be near the path of one’s car and then react in an appropriate manner is essential.

Obviously, human beings frequently take incorrect decisions almost daily in their lives, but a human brain is quite remarkably adaptable and cunning enough to identify nuances that some computers yet struggle with at this time.

This is where Photos needs to play a role, but we need to go 10 years back. In 2007, smartphones used to represent a small segment of the market for phones, used mostly by technology geeks and businessmen. For an ordinary cellphone user, if he/she did not had a number stored in the normal limited memory of the device or in their own mind, it required a phone call to the directory assistance of the carrier, which would frequently charge a dollar or more to find a number and call.

The search engine developer viewed this opportunity and introduced a free directory facility, GOOG-411. Besides just earning money, the huge reason that telecoms charged such a huge amount to find a number was to pay the person who really did the work.

A call to GOOG-411 would bring an automatic voice asking for what the caller was searching. After hearing the response and parsing the language, the server would repeat whatever it thought it listened and question whether it was correct.

In the past years, the organization had the most robust and reliable voice-recognition tech system in the world. Once smartphones become ubiquitous, GOOG-411 was retired, but the voice recognition powering it was integrated into Android and Google search.

The importance of Photos for the success of the self-driving vehicle program is highlighted at a time when The Country Caller compared it with Tesla’s Autopilot and informed that 1.5 million miles have been covered by Google’s self-driving cars.