NOTED: Kris Jenner Speaks On Jay Z and Beyonce Absence From Kim and Kanye’s Wedding

Kris Jenner Speaks On Jay Z and Beyonce Absence From Kim and Kanye's Wedding



There were two celebrities missing from Kim and Kanye's blowout wedding in Italy: Jay Z and Beyoncé.



On the big day, Bey sent her blessings via Instagram, then she and Mr. Carter camped out in the Hamptons, instead of making the trip overseas. Of course there were lots of questions about why Kanye's "Big Brother" didn't attend, and Kris Jenner has the answers — sort of.



On Tuesday (June 10), the Kardashian matriarch addressed the issue in an interview with Australian radio station KIIS 106.5 FM. And by "addressed," we mean that she wormed her way out of giving a straight answer, pretty skillfully.



"There was so much commotion and excitement, I never really gave that a second thought," Jenner claimed, via US Weekly. "If you had been there, you would have thought that was the last thing on anyone's mind."



"[I] just assumed they were working," she added. Sure.



There was plenty of speculation that Jay and Bey were simply trying to keep a low profile after that elevator fight on the night of the MET Gala. Rachel Roy was rumored to be at the center of the drama, and the designer was definitely a guest at KimYe's wedding.



"Wishing you a lifetime of unconditional love. God bless your beautiful family," Bey wrote to KimYe on Instagram, ahead of the wedding.

____________________________________



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SHOCKING NEWS: Nicki Minaj’s “Pills N Potions” Video Gets Over 2 Million Views In 24 hours!

Rapper Nicki Minaj released the video for her new single "Pills N Potions" yesterday.



The video features The Game and it has already racked over 2 million views on YouTube in a 24 hour period. 

____________________________________



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NOTE: Read Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s Full Biography

His Royal Highness, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi 'was born into the Fulani Sullubawa clan of Kano on the 31st of July 1961. He was crowned on the 8th of June 2014 as the emir of Kano, succeeding his late great-uncle Dr Ado Bayero (who died on friday 6 June 2014).

Malam Sanusi was a successful banker and was a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He was appointed on 3 June 2009 for a five-year term, but was suspended from office by President Goodluck Jonathan on 20 February 2014 after he was accused of exposing some financial recklessness by the president's regime. Malam Sanusi is the grandson Muhammadu Sanusi (the 11th Fulani emir of Kano ). He was a career banker and ranking Hausa nobleman, and also serves as a respected Islamic scholar.

The global financial intelliegence magazine, The Banker, published by the Financial Times, has conferred on Sanusi two awards, the global award for Central Bank Governor of the Year, as well as for Central Bank Governor of the Year for Africa. The TIME magazine also listed Sanusi in its TIMES 100 list of most influential people of 2011.

Banking career
In 1985 Sanusi joined Icon Limited (Merchant Bankers), a subsidiary of Morgan Guaranty Trust Bank of New York, and Baring Brothers of London. He moved to the United Bank for Africa in 1997 in the Credit and Risk Management Division, rising to the position of a General Manager. In September 2005, he joined the Board of First Bank of Nigeria as an Executive Director in charge of Risk and Management Control, and was appointed Group Managing Director (CEO) in January 2009. He was also the Chairman, Kakawa Discount House and sat on the Board of FBN Bank (UK) Limited. Sanusi is recognized in the banking industry for his contribution towards developing a risk management culture in Nigerian banking. First Bank is Nigeria's oldest bank and one of the biggest financial institutions in Africa. Sanusi was the first northerner to be appointed CEO in First Bank's history of more than a century.

Governor of the Central Bank
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua nominated Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on 1 June 2009 and his appointment was confirmed by the Senate on 3 June 2009, in the middle of a global financial crisis. Analysts believed that Sanusi's tempered mien would serve as a counterpoise to the more aloof disposition of his predecessor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Based on his past record, it seemed probable that as governor of the central bank he would impose stricter controls.

In August 2009, Sanusi led the Central Bank to "rescue" Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Union Bank, Oceanic Bank and Finbank by bailing them out with 400 billion naira of public money, and dismissed their chief executives. Some point to other factors including religious, ethnic and existing bank records and plans to say he in fact had a hidden agenda. He said "We had to move in to send a strong signal that such recklessness on the part of bank executives will no longer be tolerated." 16 senior bank officials faced charges that included fraud, lending to fake companies, giving loans to companies they had a personal interest in and conspiring with stockbrokers to boost share prices, and today he has been appointed as the Emir of Kano by Gov. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano following the departure of Alh. Ado Bayero. In September 2009, he said that 15 of the current 24 Nigerian banks might survive reform in the banking sector.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Financial Times in December 2009, Sanusi defended the extensive reforms that he had initiated since taking office, dubbed by some as the "Sanusi tsunami". Some believe that he had a personal vendetta against some of the bank CEOs while others point to proof of mismanagement of funds by some of the CEOs, most notably Cecilia Ibru as justification for the steps he implemented. He noted that there was no choice but to attack the many powerful and interrelated vested interests who were exploiting the financial system, and expressed his appreciation of support from the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the finance minister and others.

In January 2010, Sanusi said that banks will only want to give credit to Nigeria's small and medium enterprises (SMEs), if the government gives adequate attention to the provision of infrastructure.

In January 2010, Sanusi admitted that since 2005 the Central Bank had not conducted routine examinations of the 14 banks allocated to it under the sharing arrangement with Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). Abubakar Nagona, president of Integrated Development and Investment Service (IDIS), a venture capital investment company urged Sanusi to "not be cowed and succumb to undue pressure from operators of the same sector he is striving to bring sanity to."[16] At a February 2010 conference on banking in Nigeria, Sanusi described his blueprint for reforming the Nigerian financial system. He said that it was built around four pillars of enhancing the quality of banks, establishing financial stability, enabling healthy financial sector evolution and ensuring that the financial sector contributes to the real economy. Talking later that month, Sanusi said that the crash in the capital market was due to high level of financial illiteracy on the part of Nigerian investors.

The Banker unanimously recognized him as the Central Bank Governor of the Year 2010 citing his radical anti-corruption campaign aimed at saving 24 banks on the brink of collapse and pressing for the managers involved in the most blatant cases of corruption to be charged and, in the case of two senior bankers, imprisoned.

Sanusi has spoken at many distinguished events, including Warwick Economics Summit in February 2012 where he spoke about banking reforms in Nigeria and their impact on the economy.

Sharia authority
In parallel to his banking career, Sanusi contributed to the debate over Sharia law. In 1997, Sanusi obtained a degree in Sharia and Islamic Studies from the African International University in Khartoum, Sudan. Writing in the Weekly Trust in September 2000, he noted the problem of reconciling "belief in the universal and eternal applicability of the Shariah with the need for a wholesale adoption of its historically specific interpretation to meet the requirements of a particular milieu." He further said that "Even a cursory student of Islamic history knows that all the trappings of gender inequality present in the Muslim society have socio-economic and cultural, as opposed to religious roots."

At a conference in 2000 in Kaduna, Sanusi delivered a lecture on Islamic economics called Institutional Framework of Zakat: Dimension and Implications. He argued that although collection of zakat is the responsibility of the state, it may be the responsibility of the Nigerian government rather than the emirs in Northern Nigeria. In July 2001 at a seminar in Abuja he talked on Basic Needs and Redistributive Justice in Islam – The Panacea to Poverty in Nigeria. He took the mainstream position that zakat is an instrument for redistributing income, but argued in favor of giving the role of redistribution to the government.

In October 2002 he published a paper on The Hudhood Punishments in Northern Nigeria: A Muslim Criticism. In July 2003 he presented The Shari'a Debate and the Construction of a 'Muslim' Identity in Northern Nigeria: A Critical Perspective at a seminar at the University of Bayreuth. In August 2003 he presented Democracy, Rights and Islam: Theory, Epistemology and the Quest for Synthesis at an international conference on Shari'ah Penal and Family Law in Nigeria and in the Muslim World: A Rights-Based Approach in Abuja.

There are two underlying themes to Sanusi's position. First, Islam is concerned with delivering justice and should not be a tool for self-seeking political agendas. Second, the Wahhabist rhetoric of fundamentalists is counter to genuine Muslim interests. He explains that Sharia is not divine but merely religious, and is neither uniform nor unchanging.

Nigeria 'Fuel Subsidy' removal
Economists have tended to favor the removal of subsidies. He cites the high level of corruption engendered by the practice, the inefficiency of subsidizing consumption instead of production leading to slower economic growth, and the fact that the government borrows money to finance the subsidy, in effect taxing future generations so that current Nigerians can consume more fuel.

Sanusi, other economists and development practitioners[25] also cite that the subsidy is heavily biased in favor of the small middle- and upper-class who use most of the fuel. Additionally, some people purchase the subsidized gas in Nigeria to resell it in other West African countries.

Emir of Kano
Being a royal descent, Sanusi was selected to succeed his great uncle Ado Bayero as the Emir of Kano on the 8th of June, 2014 and his formal coronation took place on the 9th of June, 2014 making him the 57th Emir of Kano.

____________________________________



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Yaw on WAZOBIA FM OAP, Loses Dad

Wazobia FM OAP, Yaw  Loses Dad

On Air Personality, Yaw has lost his father, Apostle O.N Onukwube.

                 

Apostle O.N Onukwubedied on Tuesday at Umuogwalu Village in Awka, Anambra State aged 88 years.   

 

He was survived by children and grand childrenamongwhom is Steve Onu (Yaw), one of Nigeria's most successful On Air Personality, Actor and ace comedian.    

              

Yaw described his late father as loving and caring and expressed happiness that he lived a very fulfilled life.

                                                       

 "He was a man of honour and integrity who thought his children to always be above board in whatever they do as well as appreciate hard-work.

____________________________________



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EXCLUSIVE Studio Life: Big Sean, Rihanna & Calvin Harris (Photos)

Big Sean got the new week started off right, hitting the studio with a few big names over the last 72 hours.



"@Calvinharris x Sean Don workin on Sunday, that's always tho #FFOE," Sean posted on Instagram, taking a break from working on new music with hitmaking Scottish DJ-producer Calvin Harris.



On Tuesday night West Coast time, the G.O.O.D. Music rapper spent some time with Rihanna, who was sporting a "Trapstar" shirt and colorful bucket hat. RiRi later posed for pic in the smoke-filled studio with Big Sean and Finally Famous artists SAYITAINTTONE and Earlly Mac.













____________________________________



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NOTE: Read Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s Full Biography

His Royal Highness, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi 'was born into the Fulani Sullubawa clan of Kano on the 31st of July 1961. He was crowned on the 8th of June 2014 as the emir of Kano, succeeding his late great-uncle Dr Ado Bayero (who died on friday 6 June 2014).

Malam Sanusi was a successful banker and was a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He was appointed on 3 June 2009 for a five-year term, but was suspended from office by President Goodluck Jonathan on 20 February 2014 after he was accused of exposing some financial recklessness by the president's regime. Malam Sanusi is the grandson Muhammadu Sanusi (the 11th Fulani emir of Kano ). He was a career banker and ranking Hausa nobleman, and also serves as a respected Islamic scholar.

The global financial intelliegence magazine, The Banker, published by the Financial Times, has conferred on Sanusi two awards, the global award for Central Bank Governor of the Year, as well as for Central Bank Governor of the Year for Africa. The TIME magazine also listed Sanusi in its TIMES 100 list of most influential people of 2011.

Banking career
In 1985 Sanusi joined Icon Limited (Merchant Bankers), a subsidiary of Morgan Guaranty Trust Bank of New York, and Baring Brothers of London. He moved to the United Bank for Africa in 1997 in the Credit and Risk Management Division, rising to the position of a General Manager. In September 2005, he joined the Board of First Bank of Nigeria as an Executive Director in charge of Risk and Management Control, and was appointed Group Managing Director (CEO) in January 2009. He was also the Chairman, Kakawa Discount House and sat on the Board of FBN Bank (UK) Limited. Sanusi is recognized in the banking industry for his contribution towards developing a risk management culture in Nigerian banking. First Bank is Nigeria's oldest bank and one of the biggest financial institutions in Africa. Sanusi was the first northerner to be appointed CEO in First Bank's history of more than a century.

Governor of the Central Bank
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua nominated Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on 1 June 2009 and his appointment was confirmed by the Senate on 3 June 2009, in the middle of a global financial crisis. Analysts believed that Sanusi's tempered mien would serve as a counterpoise to the more aloof disposition of his predecessor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Based on his past record, it seemed probable that as governor of the central bank he would impose stricter controls.

In August 2009, Sanusi led the Central Bank to "rescue" Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Union Bank, Oceanic Bank and Finbank by bailing them out with 400 billion naira of public money, and dismissed their chief executives. Some point to other factors including religious, ethnic and existing bank records and plans to say he in fact had a hidden agenda. He said "We had to move in to send a strong signal that such recklessness on the part of bank executives will no longer be tolerated." 16 senior bank officials faced charges that included fraud, lending to fake companies, giving loans to companies they had a personal interest in and conspiring with stockbrokers to boost share prices, and today he has been appointed as the Emir of Kano by Gov. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano following the departure of Alh. Ado Bayero. In September 2009, he said that 15 of the current 24 Nigerian banks might survive reform in the banking sector.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Financial Times in December 2009, Sanusi defended the extensive reforms that he had initiated since taking office, dubbed by some as the "Sanusi tsunami". Some believe that he had a personal vendetta against some of the bank CEOs while others point to proof of mismanagement of funds by some of the CEOs, most notably Cecilia Ibru as justification for the steps he implemented. He noted that there was no choice but to attack the many powerful and interrelated vested interests who were exploiting the financial system, and expressed his appreciation of support from the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the finance minister and others.

In January 2010, Sanusi said that banks will only want to give credit to Nigeria's small and medium enterprises (SMEs), if the government gives adequate attention to the provision of infrastructure.

In January 2010, Sanusi admitted that since 2005 the Central Bank had not conducted routine examinations of the 14 banks allocated to it under the sharing arrangement with Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). Abubakar Nagona, president of Integrated Development and Investment Service (IDIS), a venture capital investment company urged Sanusi to "not be cowed and succumb to undue pressure from operators of the same sector he is striving to bring sanity to."[16] At a February 2010 conference on banking in Nigeria, Sanusi described his blueprint for reforming the Nigerian financial system. He said that it was built around four pillars of enhancing the quality of banks, establishing financial stability, enabling healthy financial sector evolution and ensuring that the financial sector contributes to the real economy. Talking later that month, Sanusi said that the crash in the capital market was due to high level of financial illiteracy on the part of Nigerian investors.

The Banker unanimously recognized him as the Central Bank Governor of the Year 2010 citing his radical anti-corruption campaign aimed at saving 24 banks on the brink of collapse and pressing for the managers involved in the most blatant cases of corruption to be charged and, in the case of two senior bankers, imprisoned.

Sanusi has spoken at many distinguished events, including Warwick Economics Summit in February 2012 where he spoke about banking reforms in Nigeria and their impact on the economy.

Sharia authority
In parallel to his banking career, Sanusi contributed to the debate over Sharia law. In 1997, Sanusi obtained a degree in Sharia and Islamic Studies from the African International University in Khartoum, Sudan. Writing in the Weekly Trust in September 2000, he noted the problem of reconciling "belief in the universal and eternal applicability of the Shariah with the need for a wholesale adoption of its historically specific interpretation to meet the requirements of a particular milieu." He further said that "Even a cursory student of Islamic history knows that all the trappings of gender inequality present in the Muslim society have socio-economic and cultural, as opposed to religious roots."

At a conference in 2000 in Kaduna, Sanusi delivered a lecture on Islamic economics called Institutional Framework of Zakat: Dimension and Implications. He argued that although collection of zakat is the responsibility of the state, it may be the responsibility of the Nigerian government rather than the emirs in Northern Nigeria. In July 2001 at a seminar in Abuja he talked on Basic Needs and Redistributive Justice in Islam – The Panacea to Poverty in Nigeria. He took the mainstream position that zakat is an instrument for redistributing income, but argued in favor of giving the role of redistribution to the government.

In October 2002 he published a paper on The Hudhood Punishments in Northern Nigeria: A Muslim Criticism. In July 2003 he presented The Shari'a Debate and the Construction of a 'Muslim' Identity in Northern Nigeria: A Critical Perspective at a seminar at the University of Bayreuth. In August 2003 he presented Democracy, Rights and Islam: Theory, Epistemology and the Quest for Synthesis at an international conference on Shari'ah Penal and Family Law in Nigeria and in the Muslim World: A Rights-Based Approach in Abuja.

There are two underlying themes to Sanusi's position. First, Islam is concerned with delivering justice and should not be a tool for self-seeking political agendas. Second, the Wahhabist rhetoric of fundamentalists is counter to genuine Muslim interests. He explains that Sharia is not divine but merely religious, and is neither uniform nor unchanging.

Nigeria 'Fuel Subsidy' removal
Economists have tended to favor the removal of subsidies. He cites the high level of corruption engendered by the practice, the inefficiency of subsidizing consumption instead of production leading to slower economic growth, and the fact that the government borrows money to finance the subsidy, in effect taxing future generations so that current Nigerians can consume more fuel.

Sanusi, other economists and development practitioners[25] also cite that the subsidy is heavily biased in favor of the small middle- and upper-class who use most of the fuel. Additionally, some people purchase the subsidized gas in Nigeria to resell it in other West African countries.

Emir of Kano
Being a royal descent, Sanusi was selected to succeed his great uncle Ado Bayero as the Emir of Kano on the 8th of June, 2014 and his formal coronation took place on the 9th of June, 2014 making him the 57th Emir of Kano.
____________________________________

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BB PIN: 260158B5

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EXCLUSIVE Studio Life: Big Sean, Rihanna & Calvin Harris (Photos)

Big Sean got the new week started off right, hitting the studio with a few big names over the last 72 hours.

"@Calvinharris x Sean Don workin on Sunday, that's always tho #FFOE," Sean posted on Instagram, taking a break from working on new music with hitmaking Scottish DJ-producer Calvin Harris.

On Tuesday night West Coast time, the G.O.O.D. Music rapper spent some time with Rihanna, who was sporting a "Trapstar" shirt and colorful bucket hat. RiRi later posed for pic in the smoke-filled studio with Big Sean and Finally Famous artists SAYITAINTTONE and Earlly Mac.






____________________________________

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NOTED: Kris Jenner Speaks On Jay Z and Beyonce Absence From Kim and Kanye’s Wedding

Kris Jenner Speaks On Jay Z and Beyonce Absence From Kim and Kanye's Wedding

There were two celebrities missing from Kim and Kanye's blowout wedding in Italy: Jay Z and Beyoncé.

On the big day, Bey sent her blessings via Instagram, then she and Mr. Carter camped out in the Hamptons, instead of making the trip overseas. Of course there were lots of questions about why Kanye's "Big Brother" didn't attend, and Kris Jenner has the answers — sort of.

On Tuesday (June 10), the Kardashian matriarch addressed the issue in an interview with Australian radio station KIIS 106.5 FM. And by "addressed," we mean that she wormed her way out of giving a straight answer, pretty skillfully.

"There was so much commotion and excitement, I never really gave that a second thought," Jenner claimed, via US Weekly. "If you had been there, you would have thought that was the last thing on anyone's mind."

"[I] just assumed they were working," she added. Sure.

There was plenty of speculation that Jay and Bey were simply trying to keep a low profile after that elevator fight on the night of the MET Gala. Rachel Roy was rumored to be at the center of the drama, and the designer was definitely a guest at KimYe's wedding.

"Wishing you a lifetime of unconditional love. God bless your beautiful family," Bey wrote to KimYe on Instagram, ahead of the wedding.
____________________________________

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Yaw on WAZOBIA FM OAP, Loses Dad

Wazobia FM OAP, Yaw  Loses Dad
On Air Personality, Yaw has lost his father, Apostle O.N Onukwube.
                 
Apostle O.N Onukwubedied on Tuesday at Umuogwalu Village in Awka, Anambra State aged 88 years.   
 
He was survived by children and grand childrenamongwhom is Steve Onu (Yaw), one of Nigeria's most successful On Air Personality, Actor and ace comedian.    
              
Yaw described his late father as loving and caring and expressed happiness that he lived a very fulfilled life.
                                                       
 "He was a man of honour and integrity who thought his children to always be above board in whatever they do as well as appreciate hard-work.
____________________________________

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SHOCKING NEWS: Nicki Minaj’s “Pills N Potions” Video Gets Over 2 Million Views In 24 hours!

Rapper Nicki Minaj released the video for her new single "Pills N Potions" yesterday.

The video features The Game and it has already racked over 2 million views on YouTube in a 24 hour period. 
____________________________________

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TOP NEWS: Apple marketing revamp could involve enormous in-house ad team of 1,000 creatives

Riled by Samsung's clever ad campaigns poking fun at Apple's core customers and frustrated that its own more recent marketing initiatives appear to be missing the mark, the Cupertino company is reportedly putting in place its own in-house team in a bid to get things back on track.

We heard last week that the tech giant is assembling a team to create its own TV ads as its long-running relationship with agency TBWA\Chiat\Day – maker of the legendary Macintosh ad that aired during the 1984 Super Bowl – apparently comes under increasing strain.

An AdAge report Tuesday has furnished us with a few more details of Apple's ad-based ambitions, which are said to include plans for a 1,000-strong – that's right, a thousand – army of creatives all working toward bolstering its brand.

Apple is said to be already in the process of staffing its in-house agency, snagging at least a couple of people from Media Arts Labs (MAL) – a unit of TBWA.

AdAge claims Apple is even pitting TBWA/MAL creatives against its in-house ad team in a bid to drive competitiveness to produce the most effective ideas, a method generally frowned upon in the marketing world.

With Apple facing increasing competition from the likes of Samsung and other global tech players, the iPhone maker appears to be rattled by its apparent inability to hit back effectively at rivals' powerful ad campaigns with ones of its own that connect strongly with consumers.

The situation was highlighted by correspondence between Apple's senior VP of marketing Phil Schiller and TBWA/MAL president James Vincent revealed during the recent Apple/Samsung patent trial that showed Schiller's alarm at Samsung's marketing moves.

"I watched the Samsung pre-Super Bowl ad that launched today," Schiller wrote in the email sent last year. "It's pretty good and I can't help but think these guys are feeling it (like an athlete that can't miss because they are in a zone), while we struggle to nail a compelling brief on iPhone."

While the idea of 1,000 people setting to work on a TV ad for Apple's expected iWatch may seem absurd, we nevertheless can't wait to see what the team comes up with. Considering the kind of time and money such a vast project could swallow up, let's just hope the words "cooks" and "broth" don't spring to mind when we see the result.

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EXCLUSIVE: Google buying Skybox satellite firm to boost Maps and further Loon project

Google said Tuesday it's set to acquire Skybox Imaging for $500 million.



The company uses relatively small and low-cost satellites to gather high-quality images that Google will use for Maps and Earth.



In a short statement posted on its website, the Web giant confirmed the agreed purchase, adding that "Skybox's satellites will help keep Google Maps accurate with up-to-date imagery."



It added that over time it hoped the technology will be able to help out with its plans to bring Internet access to remote locations around the world and help with disaster relief.



Skybox – like Google, based in Mountain View, California – said Tuesday that in its five-year history it had "built and launched the world's smallest high -resolution imaging satellite," adding that the time was right to "join a company who can challenge us to think even bigger and bolder, and who can support us in accelerating our ambitious vision….to revolutionize access to information about the changes happening across the surface of the Earth."



The acquisition complements Google's April purchase of Titan Aerospace – a New Mexico-based company specializing in high-altitude drones – with both buyouts helping to further Google's Project Loon balloon-based initiative, geared toward spreading Internet access across the globe.



Tuesday's development also fits nicely with news that leaked last week revealing Google's plan to launch hundreds of satellites as part of its Loon initiative. A network of satellites, drones and balloons could ultimately help Google to boost its ad-based revenue as the company brings more people online. And it's not the only one with the idea – Facebook is also working on a similar project, with the social networking giant leading a group of big-name tech firms in a project to bring Internet access to unconnected locations around the world also using satellites and drones.



Google's acquisition of Skybox is subject to customary approvals and closing conditions, both companies confirmed.

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EXCLUSIVE: SwiftKey for Android is now free, adds more customizable keyboards

SwiftKey has always been popular with Android users, but it's about to attract a lot more: the company announced that its alternative keyboard app will now be available for free on the Google Play store. The app is also adding new customizable keyboard themes and support for 800 emoji characters.

If you've been paying the premium price for SwiftKey all this time, the app's creators will reward you with a free "Premier Pack" of 10 keyboard themes, which normally costs $5. It's not too big of a perk, but it's better than nothing.

SwiftKey wants to reassure its faithful users that the decision to make the app free, doesn't mean it will become a freemium app with limited functionality. The only feature you won't have access to are all the different keyboard themes. If you want a certain pack of themes, you'll have to pay for it. However, many of the 30 new themes are free. The default theme is called Nickel. All of the themes are simple, but some are more elegant than others. It's nice to be able to decide what color background you want and whether you want inconspicuous keys, nearly invisible ones, or solidly defined ones.

The good news is that whether you buy themes or not, you'll still have access to all the core SwiftKey features. The keyboard app's accurate word prediction, SwiftKey Flow slide-to-type function, and autocorrect will work just fine. In fact, all these features have been improved, SwiftKey says. In our tests of the new app, all the things we know and love about SwiftKey were still there and fully functional, free or not. The keyboard accurately predicted our word choices and even kept up with manic typing speeds, despite the sloppy input from our fingers.

In addition to all the new themes, SwiftKey also added an optional number row to the top of the keyboard and prediction for 800 emoji characters. Based on the words you type, SwiftKey will suggest a specific emoji, or series of emoji, to accompany that thought. For example, if you always add a heart emoji after you text an "I love you," SwiftKey will suggest that you do so every time it thinks you'll want to use it.

The app now supports Belarusian, Mongolian, Tatar, Uzbek, and Welsh, bringing its total number of languages up to 66. The new version of SwiftKey is also better for multilingual speakers. You can tell the app to recognize a few different languages, so that autocorrect doesn't mistake your Spanish for English and tell your significant other "the ammo," instead of "te amo" (true story).

In our tests, the new and improved multilingual support worked almost perfectly while switching from English to German to Spanish. Any attempts to do the same using the built-in keyboard apps on the iPhone 5 and LG G3 ended in complete and utter disaster. It's just not possible to type using words from three very different languages on your average mobile keyboard, that is, without having to switch language input settings every time you want to switch over.

Overall, this latest SwiftKey update adds a lot of great new features and improved functionality, all for the premium price of $0.00. SwiftKey is also working on an app for iOS 8 devices. So far, there is no word on whether it will include all the same great features for free or not.

____________________________________



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EXCLUSIVE: Apple gets into the Android app business with Beats

The acquisition of Beats Music gives Apple a foothold into the music streaming market. Cupertino may have led the way with iTunes, but iTunes Radio was late to the music streaming party. Apple only jumped in after Spotify, Google, and others proved that there is a real demand for a monthly subscription music service. Now, Beats Music presents a chance for Cupertino to restore the balance. To sweeten the deal, Beats comes with the bonus of new hardware, a relatively sexy brand and apps on two competing platforms.

The main question on many people's minds is this: Will Apple keep the Beats Music app on Android and Windows Phone? Well, now we know.

"It's on Android now, and we want to keep it that way."

There it is, straight from the horse's mouth, or more accurately the mouth of Eddy Cue, Apple's Senior VP of Internet Software and Services, during a speech at the Code Conference. But why is Apple keeping the Android and Windows Phone apps alive, you might ask.

Crossing the platform divide

There are many compelling reasons why Apple finally decided to spend some of its gold on an eye-catching purchase like Beats, but the deal has garnered plenty of criticism as well. Still, one of the most important implications of the purchase may have just flown under the radar. Apple is now the proud owner of Beats Music apps on Android and Windows Phone devices.

In the immediate aftermath of Apple's $3 billion Beats acquisition, few would have raised an eyebrow if the apps on rival platforms quietly disappeared, but they're still there – for now.

In the past, Apple moved quickly to shut down the Android versions of the apps it purchased. It eliminated the app discovery service Chomp in 2012 for that very reason. But then, Apple is in the habit of shuttering everything it buys and folding it into the ecosystem, like it did with Lala back in 2010. However, it looks as though Beats could be the exception to the rule.

And the Beats go on

Streaming music is a numbers game and Apple needs every subscriber it can get if it really expects Beats Music to compete with the likes of Spotify, which is now home to more than 10 million paying subscribers. It's a tough space for Beats to break into and apparently the numbers have not been impressive so far. Cutting Android out wouldn't help Apple turn that around, but that's not the only reason why Apple is keeping the Android version of Beats around.

"Keeping [Beats] on Android is similar to when Apple launched iTunes for Windows," suggested Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin, in an interview with Tom's Guide. "If you think about what iTunes meant to them in terms of selling iPods, it made sense to be on Windows. With the billion-plus Android users, some of which are in smaller markets, using a service from Apple leads to a long-term line of thinking."

Apple isn't a complete stranger to the charms of a cross-platform service. If you're going to be pragmatic about it, then it certainly makes sense to keep supporting the Android and Windows Phone apps, but even if Apple does keep them, there's no guarantee it will actively develop them. The apps may be allowed to wither slowly away. As Eddy Cue also claimed at the Code Conference, "Everything is better on iOS," and with Beats, Apple can make sure that's true.

The times they are a-changin'

"We put iTunes on Windows in order to sell more iPods," Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson. "But I don't see the advantage of putting our own music app on Android, except to make Android users happy. And I don't want to make Android users happy."

We'll never know what Jobs would have made of this deal, but Apple is moving beyond WWSJD thinking. There is actually a good reason to keep Beats Music on Android and it's not to make Android users happy.

Bajarin expanded on his longer term thinking idea on his Techpinions blog suggesting that, "Much great research exists that points out that once a customer tries one of your products they strongly consider more in the future. What is Apple's halo product for billions of mid-low end Android users that could sway them into the Apple ecosystem? Perhaps Beats Music, or even the headphones, are a step in that direction."

The grass is greener

When Cook was asked about porting an iOS app to Android at D11 last year he said, ""We have no religious issue with doing that. If we thought it made sense for us to do that, we would do that."

The interviewer was talking about iCloud, but you could apply the same logic to iMessage or other Apple apps. Putting out a version on Android could potentially tempt users to switch to Apple, but it's a fine line to walk because you don't want to give away the crown jewels, in terms of what makes the iOS experience good. Beats could be a chance for Apple to dip a toe in the water and see if it's warm. There are parallels here with Microsoft's hope that a cheap Nokia Android device with an inferior Windows Phone-like experience might encourage owners to upgrade to full-fat Windows Phone.

Could a good experience with Apple-owned Beats bring people into the church of Apple? Cook certainly spent plenty of time criticizing Android in his WWDC 2014 keynote, claiming that the 50 percent of new iPhone owners in China switched from Android because "they wanted a better experience." Let's be honest, though, it probably had something to do with the fresh availability of the iPhone through China Mobile.

The point is still important. If there's a natural progression from a budget phone, which is probably going to be an Android because Apple doesn't do budget, to a premium phone, then Apple needs to get better at tempting Android users to jump ship. Beats Music could be the gateway drug it's looking for.

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​RUMOR of iPhone 6: 4.7-inch model spotted in photo with pop star Jimmy Lin (UPDATED)

Apple could add HD Voice and VoLTE support, if networks are ready

AT&T introduced HD Voice using VoLTE technology recently, and although the Galaxy S4 Mini is its first device to support the feature, the iPhone may follow. According to 9to5mac, iOS 8 may bring VoLTE compatibility, allowing Apple phones to enjoy higher quality calls, and the chance to use 4G data at the same time. However, Apple is never a fan of adding in pointless features for the sake of it, so if networks haven't got their act together with HD Voice before the phone launches, then it may be pushed back until they do.

Add solar charging to that indestructible screen

Then comes solar charging screens, which we saw demonstrated at CES this year. Though 3M and SunPartner told us that their screens wouldn't be ready until 2015, Matt Margolis of Seeking Alpha believes that this type of solar screen is being built in the Arizona facility. While he could be right, we're uncertain this innovation will appear on the iPhone 6, especially given the rumors of how thin it will be. There's little room for more screen layers in a 6mm phone.

No Home button? Liquidmetal?

There are some non-screen related rumors. We've got an old report which talks about the abolishment of the Home button. Instead, some believe that the new iPhone 6 will rely more on gesture controls to navigate around the OS. It sounds plausible, but Apple will have to find somewhere else to put its new fingerprint sensor, something which wasn't known when this aging report was published.

A Forbes article by Anthony Kosner suggests Apple's upcoming mobile payments platform will integrate a Touch ID fingerprint sensor into the entire screen of the next (big) iPhone, eliminating the need for a Home button. Again though, this will add yet another layer to the thickness of the screen, which diminishes speculation that this will be a super thin 6mm phone.

It's also possible the iPhone 6 will have the first liquidmetal chassis. This has been a long-standing rumor, and while Apple has filed many new patents related to the technology, it's still considered a challenging material with which to work.

Faster RAM is a possibility

Apple may use new, faster, and more efficient LPDDR4 RAM in its upcoming iPhone, according to industry watcher Mark Margolis. He claims Apple will use Micron Technology's RAM – not only in the iPhone 6, but in all Apple mobile hardware – which should bring performance and battery life improvements with it. Additionally, Apple's 64-bit mobile processor should benefit from more memory too.

Better camera and iOS 8

There are a few rumors regarding the introduction of 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which came to Mac computers recently, along with a 128GB storage capacity. The camera could get an upgrade to 13-megapixels, although not everyone agrees, with others indicating the existing 8-megapixel camera will see improvements. Analysts from Nomura Securities are saying that the iPhone 6 will have better image stabilization.

According to a recent report from MacRumors, sources familiar with Taiwan's industrial chain are suggesting that the next iPhone will have at least a 10-megapixel camera, but even more interesting is that it will have an aperture of f/1.8, an upgrade from the current f/2.2. The sources also claim Apple will replace the current hybrid IR filter with a resin lens filter made by JSR, a Japanese company known for resins used in imaging equipment with CMOS sensors; the resins are said to be lighter and thinner, and capture clearer images because of their ability to minimize color shifts.

The iPhone 6 will logically come with iOS 8 installed, and although nothing has been heard about it at this early stage, it'll be interesting to see where Apple takes its newly redesigned OS next.

Picturing the iPhone 6

There's a lot of information to take in regarding the possible specs, look, and configuration of the iPhone 6 already. To help visualize what the next iPhone may look like, concept videos are often produced. They're speculative, of course, but usually based on the most likely configuration presented by the rumors. Most recently, Techradar put together the video you see below, which shows a super slim iPhone with a bezel-less display, allowing Apple to squeeze a larger display onto a small body. 

MacRumors published a set of concept images comparing the iPhone 5S, with a 4-inch screen, and the iPad Mini with its 7.9-inch screen, to the rumored 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhone models. They've been based on the leaked schematics mentioned above, and although they aren't official, it does show how complete Apple's 2014 range would look, in terms of screen sizes, should they be announced. 

Oh, and one more thing…

Yes, there could be one more thing at the next Apple event, and it may be the iWatch. If Apple is going to come out with its own interpretation of the smartwatch this year, it makes sense for it to launch alongside the latest phone. We've pulled together all the talk about the iWatch here, so make sure you take a look. 

The iPhone 5S was joined by the iPhone 5C when it was announced in 2013, and unless Apple deems the experiment a failure, we should see the iPhone 6C up on stage in some form. However, at the moment, all the attention is being lavished on its more expensive sister phone, the 5S.

That's about all we have for now, but we'll be updating this article regularly with more juicy iPhone 6 talk.

————

Article updates

Updated on 06-09-2014 by Malarie Gokey: Newly leaked photos from China show super-thin iPhone 6 body and hint at light-up notifications from the Apple logo located on the back of the device.

Updated on 05-20-2014 by Andy Boxall: New rumors say the iPhone 6 could have a 1704 x 960 pixel resolution, and Apple could include HD Voice and VoLTE support. 

Updated on 05-09-2014 by Andy: A new rumor points to an August release for the 4.7-inch iPhone, and September for the 5.5-inch model, plus another set of pictures showing a dummy phone have leaked.

Updated on 05-08-2014 by Andy: We've updated with the latest iPhone 6 mockup images, along with a new comparison video, and some rumors about the start of production.

Updated on 04-25-2014 by Andy: Added in a video showing a possible iPhone 6 case being compared to the iPhone 5S and the Nexus 5, plus more speculation about a curved glass screen, and another suggestion the new phone will launch before September.

Updated on 04-15-2014 by Andy: Following yesterday's leaked screenshot, we've now been given a look at a possible iPhone 6 front panel, showing a considerably larger screen. Additionally, there's talk of a price increase coming with the iPhone 6

Updated on 04-14-2014 by Andy: A leaked screenshot supposedly shows iOS 8 running on a larger iPhone, complete with a higher amount of app icons on display. Plus, more leaks point to the iPhone 6 being thinner than previous models.

Updated on 04-10-2014 by Andy: Further evidence has emerged we could see a pair of iPhone models announced this year, perhaps with a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch display. We've added in news on this, plus talk of faster RAM being used inside the device, a new concept image, along with a product roadmap created by an analyst.

Updated on 3-18-2014 by Andy Boxall: Added a few more rumors regarding the iPhone 6′s screen size, its resolution, and the pixel density. Also, a new report says production will begin between April and June, in a factory run by Pegatron, a long-time Apple manufacturer. Finally, we've put in a cool concept video, showing what the iPhone could look like if it has a bezel-less display.

Updated on 3-31-2014 by Jeffrey Van Camp: Leaked schematics further confirm that a larger iPhone is in the works and we uploaded a few new concept designs.

Updated on 2-07-2014 by Jeffrey Van Camp: Added a bunch of new concept photos of the iPhone 6 by Italian designer Federico Ciccarese (Thanks for the tip, CNET). Added a number of rumors to the mix but it looks like the Arizona facility may be able to produce 100-200 million phone-sized screens per year, and it could start production this month.

Updated on 2-07-2014 by Les Shu: Add in news about report from sources close to Taiwan's manufacturing chain, indicating that the iPhone 6 will have a faster lens and at least a 10-megapixel sensor.

Updated on 1-30-2013 by Andy: Add in news on a document which seems to have revealed Apple's new manufacturing plant will start producing sapphire components in February.

Updated on 1-27-2013 by Jeff: From the time of editing to publishing (over the weekend), Apple rumors surrounding solar screens and sapphire have emerged. I've added them into the roundup.

(Concept artwork courtesy of ADR Studio, Fabrizio Bianchi, Fuse Chicken, and Martin Hajek)

Article originally published on 01-27-2013.

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TOP NEWS: Apple marketing revamp could involve enormous in-house ad team of 1,000 creatives

Riled by Samsung's clever ad campaigns poking fun at Apple's core customers and frustrated that its own more recent marketing initiatives appear to be missing the mark, the Cupertino company is reportedly putting in place its own in-house team in a bid to get things back on track.

We heard last week that the tech giant is assembling a team to create its own TV ads as its long-running relationship with agency TBWA\Chiat\Day – maker of the legendary Macintosh ad that aired during the 1984 Super Bowl – apparently comes under increasing strain.

An AdAge report Tuesday has furnished us with a few more details of Apple's ad-based ambitions, which are said to include plans for a 1,000-strong – that's right, a thousand – army of creatives all working toward bolstering its brand.

Apple is said to be already in the process of staffing its in-house agency, snagging at least a couple of people from Media Arts Labs (MAL) – a unit of TBWA.

AdAge claims Apple is even pitting TBWA/MAL creatives against its in-house ad team in a bid to drive competitiveness to produce the most effective ideas, a method generally frowned upon in the marketing world.

With Apple facing increasing competition from the likes of Samsung and other global tech players, the iPhone maker appears to be rattled by its apparent inability to hit back effectively at rivals' powerful ad campaigns with ones of its own that connect strongly with consumers.

The situation was highlighted by correspondence between Apple's senior VP of marketing Phil Schiller and TBWA/MAL president James Vincent revealed during the recent Apple/Samsung patent trial that showed Schiller's alarm at Samsung's marketing moves.

"I watched the Samsung pre-Super Bowl ad that launched today," Schiller wrote in the email sent last year. "It's pretty good and I can't help but think these guys are feeling it (like an athlete that can't miss because they are in a zone), while we struggle to nail a compelling brief on iPhone."

While the idea of 1,000 people setting to work on a TV ad for Apple's expected iWatch may seem absurd, we nevertheless can't wait to see what the team comes up with. Considering the kind of time and money such a vast project could swallow up, let's just hope the words "cooks" and "broth" don't spring to mind when we see the result.
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​RUMOR of iPhone 6: 4.7-inch model spotted in photo with pop star Jimmy Lin (UPDATED)

Apple could add HD Voice and VoLTE support, if networks are ready

AT&T introduced HD Voice using VoLTE technology recently, and although the Galaxy S4 Mini is its first device to support the feature, the iPhone may follow. According to 9to5mac, iOS 8 may bring VoLTE compatibility, allowing Apple phones to enjoy higher quality calls, and the chance to use 4G data at the same time. However, Apple is never a fan of adding in pointless features for the sake of it, so if networks haven't got their act together with HD Voice before the phone launches, then it may be pushed back until they do.

Add solar charging to that indestructible screen

Then comes solar charging screens, which we saw demonstrated at CES this year. Though 3M and SunPartner told us that their screens wouldn't be ready until 2015, Matt Margolis of Seeking Alpha believes that this type of solar screen is being built in the Arizona facility. While he could be right, we're uncertain this innovation will appear on the iPhone 6, especially given the rumors of how thin it will be. There's little room for more screen layers in a 6mm phone.

No Home button? Liquidmetal?

There are some non-screen related rumors. We've got an old report which talks about the abolishment of the Home button. Instead, some believe that the new iPhone 6 will rely more on gesture controls to navigate around the OS. It sounds plausible, but Apple will have to find somewhere else to put its new fingerprint sensor, something which wasn't known when this aging report was published.

A Forbes article by Anthony Kosner suggests Apple's upcoming mobile payments platform will integrate a Touch ID fingerprint sensor into the entire screen of the next (big) iPhone, eliminating the need for a Home button. Again though, this will add yet another layer to the thickness of the screen, which diminishes speculation that this will be a super thin 6mm phone.

It's also possible the iPhone 6 will have the first liquidmetal chassis. This has been a long-standing rumor, and while Apple has filed many new patents related to the technology, it's still considered a challenging material with which to work.

Faster RAM is a possibility

Apple may use new, faster, and more efficient LPDDR4 RAM in its upcoming iPhone, according to industry watcher Mark Margolis. He claims Apple will use Micron Technology's RAM – not only in the iPhone 6, but in all Apple mobile hardware – which should bring performance and battery life improvements with it. Additionally, Apple's 64-bit mobile processor should benefit from more memory too.

Better camera and iOS 8

There are a few rumors regarding the introduction of 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which came to Mac computers recently, along with a 128GB storage capacity. The camera could get an upgrade to 13-megapixels, although not everyone agrees, with others indicating the existing 8-megapixel camera will see improvements. Analysts from Nomura Securities are saying that the iPhone 6 will have better image stabilization.

According to a recent report from MacRumors, sources familiar with Taiwan's industrial chain are suggesting that the next iPhone will have at least a 10-megapixel camera, but even more interesting is that it will have an aperture of f/1.8, an upgrade from the current f/2.2. The sources also claim Apple will replace the current hybrid IR filter with a resin lens filter made by JSR, a Japanese company known for resins used in imaging equipment with CMOS sensors; the resins are said to be lighter and thinner, and capture clearer images because of their ability to minimize color shifts.

The iPhone 6 will logically come with iOS 8 installed, and although nothing has been heard about it at this early stage, it'll be interesting to see where Apple takes its newly redesigned OS next.

Picturing the iPhone 6

There's a lot of information to take in regarding the possible specs, look, and configuration of the iPhone 6 already. To help visualize what the next iPhone may look like, concept videos are often produced. They're speculative, of course, but usually based on the most likely configuration presented by the rumors. Most recently, Techradar put together the video you see below, which shows a super slim iPhone with a bezel-less display, allowing Apple to squeeze a larger display onto a small body. 

MacRumors published a set of concept images comparing the iPhone 5S, with a 4-inch screen, and the iPad Mini with its 7.9-inch screen, to the rumored 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch iPhone models. They've been based on the leaked schematics mentioned above, and although they aren't official, it does show how complete Apple's 2014 range would look, in terms of screen sizes, should they be announced. 

Oh, and one more thing…

Yes, there could be one more thing at the next Apple event, and it may be the iWatch. If Apple is going to come out with its own interpretation of the smartwatch this year, it makes sense for it to launch alongside the latest phone. We've pulled together all the talk about the iWatch here, so make sure you take a look. 

The iPhone 5S was joined by the iPhone 5C when it was announced in 2013, and unless Apple deems the experiment a failure, we should see the iPhone 6C up on stage in some form. However, at the moment, all the attention is being lavished on its more expensive sister phone, the 5S.

That's about all we have for now, but we'll be updating this article regularly with more juicy iPhone 6 talk.

————

Article updates

Updated on 06-09-2014 by Malarie Gokey: Newly leaked photos from China show super-thin iPhone 6 body and hint at light-up notifications from the Apple logo located on the back of the device.

Updated on 05-20-2014 by Andy Boxall: New rumors say the iPhone 6 could have a 1704 x 960 pixel resolution, and Apple could include HD Voice and VoLTE support. 

Updated on 05-09-2014 by Andy: A new rumor points to an August release for the 4.7-inch iPhone, and September for the 5.5-inch model, plus another set of pictures showing a dummy phone have leaked.

Updated on 05-08-2014 by Andy: We've updated with the latest iPhone 6 mockup images, along with a new comparison video, and some rumors about the start of production.

Updated on 04-25-2014 by Andy: Added in a video showing a possible iPhone 6 case being compared to the iPhone 5S and the Nexus 5, plus more speculation about a curved glass screen, and another suggestion the new phone will launch before September.

Updated on 04-15-2014 by Andy: Following yesterday's leaked screenshot, we've now been given a look at a possible iPhone 6 front panel, showing a considerably larger screen. Additionally, there's talk of a price increase coming with the iPhone 6

Updated on 04-14-2014 by Andy: A leaked screenshot supposedly shows iOS 8 running on a larger iPhone, complete with a higher amount of app icons on display. Plus, more leaks point to the iPhone 6 being thinner than previous models.

Updated on 04-10-2014 by Andy: Further evidence has emerged we could see a pair of iPhone models announced this year, perhaps with a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch display. We've added in news on this, plus talk of faster RAM being used inside the device, a new concept image, along with a product roadmap created by an analyst.

Updated on 3-18-2014 by Andy Boxall: Added a few more rumors regarding the iPhone 6′s screen size, its resolution, and the pixel density. Also, a new report says production will begin between April and June, in a factory run by Pegatron, a long-time Apple manufacturer. Finally, we've put in a cool concept video, showing what the iPhone could look like if it has a bezel-less display.

Updated on 3-31-2014 by Jeffrey Van Camp: Leaked schematics further confirm that a larger iPhone is in the works and we uploaded a few new concept designs.

Updated on 2-07-2014 by Jeffrey Van Camp: Added a bunch of new concept photos of the iPhone 6 by Italian designer Federico Ciccarese (Thanks for the tip, CNET). Added a number of rumors to the mix but it looks like the Arizona facility may be able to produce 100-200 million phone-sized screens per year, and it could start production this month.

Updated on 2-07-2014 by Les Shu: Add in news about report from sources close to Taiwan's manufacturing chain, indicating that the iPhone 6 will have a faster lens and at least a 10-megapixel sensor.

Updated on 1-30-2013 by Andy: Add in news on a document which seems to have revealed Apple's new manufacturing plant will start producing sapphire components in February.

Updated on 1-27-2013 by Jeff: From the time of editing to publishing (over the weekend), Apple rumors surrounding solar screens and sapphire have emerged. I've added them into the roundup.

(Concept artwork courtesy of ADR Studio, Fabrizio Bianchi, Fuse Chicken, and Martin Hajek)

Article originally published on 01-27-2013.
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EXCLUSIVE: Google buying Skybox satellite firm to boost Maps and further Loon project

Google said Tuesday it's set to acquire Skybox Imaging for $500 million.

The company uses relatively small and low-cost satellites to gather high-quality images that Google will use for Maps and Earth.

In a short statement posted on its website, the Web giant confirmed the agreed purchase, adding that "Skybox's satellites will help keep Google Maps accurate with up-to-date imagery."

It added that over time it hoped the technology will be able to help out with its plans to bring Internet access to remote locations around the world and help with disaster relief.

Skybox – like Google, based in Mountain View, California – said Tuesday that in its five-year history it had "built and launched the world's smallest high -resolution imaging satellite," adding that the time was right to "join a company who can challenge us to think even bigger and bolder, and who can support us in accelerating our ambitious vision….to revolutionize access to information about the changes happening across the surface of the Earth."

The acquisition complements Google's April purchase of Titan Aerospace – a New Mexico-based company specializing in high-altitude drones – with both buyouts helping to further Google's Project Loon balloon-based initiative, geared toward spreading Internet access across the globe.

Tuesday's development also fits nicely with news that leaked last week revealing Google's plan to launch hundreds of satellites as part of its Loon initiative. A network of satellites, drones and balloons could ultimately help Google to boost its ad-based revenue as the company brings more people online. And it's not the only one with the idea – Facebook is also working on a similar project, with the social networking giant leading a group of big-name tech firms in a project to bring Internet access to unconnected locations around the world also using satellites and drones.

Google's acquisition of Skybox is subject to customary approvals and closing conditions, both companies confirmed.
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EXCLUSIVE: SwiftKey for Android is now free, adds more customizable keyboards

SwiftKey has always been popular with Android users, but it's about to attract a lot more: the company announced that its alternative keyboard app will now be available for free on the Google Play store. The app is also adding new customizable keyboard themes and support for 800 emoji characters.

If you've been paying the premium price for SwiftKey all this time, the app's creators will reward you with a free "Premier Pack" of 10 keyboard themes, which normally costs $5. It's not too big of a perk, but it's better than nothing.

SwiftKey wants to reassure its faithful users that the decision to make the app free, doesn't mean it will become a freemium app with limited functionality. The only feature you won't have access to are all the different keyboard themes. If you want a certain pack of themes, you'll have to pay for it. However, many of the 30 new themes are free. The default theme is called Nickel. All of the themes are simple, but some are more elegant than others. It's nice to be able to decide what color background you want and whether you want inconspicuous keys, nearly invisible ones, or solidly defined ones.

The good news is that whether you buy themes or not, you'll still have access to all the core SwiftKey features. The keyboard app's accurate word prediction, SwiftKey Flow slide-to-type function, and autocorrect will work just fine. In fact, all these features have been improved, SwiftKey says. In our tests of the new app, all the things we know and love about SwiftKey were still there and fully functional, free or not. The keyboard accurately predicted our word choices and even kept up with manic typing speeds, despite the sloppy input from our fingers.

In addition to all the new themes, SwiftKey also added an optional number row to the top of the keyboard and prediction for 800 emoji characters. Based on the words you type, SwiftKey will suggest a specific emoji, or series of emoji, to accompany that thought. For example, if you always add a heart emoji after you text an "I love you," SwiftKey will suggest that you do so every time it thinks you'll want to use it.

The app now supports Belarusian, Mongolian, Tatar, Uzbek, and Welsh, bringing its total number of languages up to 66. The new version of SwiftKey is also better for multilingual speakers. You can tell the app to recognize a few different languages, so that autocorrect doesn't mistake your Spanish for English and tell your significant other "the ammo," instead of "te amo" (true story).

In our tests, the new and improved multilingual support worked almost perfectly while switching from English to German to Spanish. Any attempts to do the same using the built-in keyboard apps on the iPhone 5 and LG G3 ended in complete and utter disaster. It's just not possible to type using words from three very different languages on your average mobile keyboard, that is, without having to switch language input settings every time you want to switch over.

Overall, this latest SwiftKey update adds a lot of great new features and improved functionality, all for the premium price of $0.00. SwiftKey is also working on an app for iOS 8 devices. So far, there is no word on whether it will include all the same great features for free or not.
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EXCLUSIVE: Apple gets into the Android app business with Beats

The acquisition of Beats Music gives Apple a foothold into the music streaming market. Cupertino may have led the way with iTunes, but iTunes Radio was late to the music streaming party. Apple only jumped in after Spotify, Google, and others proved that there is a real demand for a monthly subscription music service. Now, Beats Music presents a chance for Cupertino to restore the balance. To sweeten the deal, Beats comes with the bonus of new hardware, a relatively sexy brand and apps on two competing platforms.

The main question on many people's minds is this: Will Apple keep the Beats Music app on Android and Windows Phone? Well, now we know.

"It's on Android now, and we want to keep it that way."

There it is, straight from the horse's mouth, or more accurately the mouth of Eddy Cue, Apple's Senior VP of Internet Software and Services, during a speech at the Code Conference. But why is Apple keeping the Android and Windows Phone apps alive, you might ask.

Crossing the platform divide

There are many compelling reasons why Apple finally decided to spend some of its gold on an eye-catching purchase like Beats, but the deal has garnered plenty of criticism as well. Still, one of the most important implications of the purchase may have just flown under the radar. Apple is now the proud owner of Beats Music apps on Android and Windows Phone devices.

In the immediate aftermath of Apple's $3 billion Beats acquisition, few would have raised an eyebrow if the apps on rival platforms quietly disappeared, but they're still there – for now.

In the past, Apple moved quickly to shut down the Android versions of the apps it purchased. It eliminated the app discovery service Chomp in 2012 for that very reason. But then, Apple is in the habit of shuttering everything it buys and folding it into the ecosystem, like it did with Lala back in 2010. However, it looks as though Beats could be the exception to the rule.

And the Beats go on

Streaming music is a numbers game and Apple needs every subscriber it can get if it really expects Beats Music to compete with the likes of Spotify, which is now home to more than 10 million paying subscribers. It's a tough space for Beats to break into and apparently the numbers have not been impressive so far. Cutting Android out wouldn't help Apple turn that around, but that's not the only reason why Apple is keeping the Android version of Beats around.

"Keeping [Beats] on Android is similar to when Apple launched iTunes for Windows," suggested Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin, in an interview with Tom's Guide. "If you think about what iTunes meant to them in terms of selling iPods, it made sense to be on Windows. With the billion-plus Android users, some of which are in smaller markets, using a service from Apple leads to a long-term line of thinking."

Apple isn't a complete stranger to the charms of a cross-platform service. If you're going to be pragmatic about it, then it certainly makes sense to keep supporting the Android and Windows Phone apps, but even if Apple does keep them, there's no guarantee it will actively develop them. The apps may be allowed to wither slowly away. As Eddy Cue also claimed at the Code Conference, "Everything is better on iOS," and with Beats, Apple can make sure that's true.

The times they are a-changin'

"We put iTunes on Windows in order to sell more iPods," Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson. "But I don't see the advantage of putting our own music app on Android, except to make Android users happy. And I don't want to make Android users happy."

We'll never know what Jobs would have made of this deal, but Apple is moving beyond WWSJD thinking. There is actually a good reason to keep Beats Music on Android and it's not to make Android users happy.

Bajarin expanded on his longer term thinking idea on his Techpinions blog suggesting that, "Much great research exists that points out that once a customer tries one of your products they strongly consider more in the future. What is Apple's halo product for billions of mid-low end Android users that could sway them into the Apple ecosystem? Perhaps Beats Music, or even the headphones, are a step in that direction."

The grass is greener

When Cook was asked about porting an iOS app to Android at D11 last year he said, ""We have no religious issue with doing that. If we thought it made sense for us to do that, we would do that."

The interviewer was talking about iCloud, but you could apply the same logic to iMessage or other Apple apps. Putting out a version on Android could potentially tempt users to switch to Apple, but it's a fine line to walk because you don't want to give away the crown jewels, in terms of what makes the iOS experience good. Beats could be a chance for Apple to dip a toe in the water and see if it's warm. There are parallels here with Microsoft's hope that a cheap Nokia Android device with an inferior Windows Phone-like experience might encourage owners to upgrade to full-fat Windows Phone.

Could a good experience with Apple-owned Beats bring people into the church of Apple? Cook certainly spent plenty of time criticizing Android in his WWDC 2014 keynote, claiming that the 50 percent of new iPhone owners in China switched from Android because "they wanted a better experience." Let's be honest, though, it probably had something to do with the fresh availability of the iPhone through China Mobile.

The point is still important. If there's a natural progression from a budget phone, which is probably going to be an Android because Apple doesn't do budget, to a premium phone, then Apple needs to get better at tempting Android users to jump ship. Beats Music could be the gateway drug it's looking for.
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NOTE: Glass update brings World Cup notifications, improved photo sharing, and more

Google's army of Glass 'Explorer' testers has expanded significantly recently, and to keep them interested the Mountain View company is continuing to roll out software updates bringing new features and a more refined user experience to its face-based tech.

On Tuesday it posted details of its latest update, this one partly geared toward pleasing soccer fans waiting patiently for the World Cup to kick off this week.

So when the competition in Brazil finally gets underway, you can use Glass to keep up with news of unfolding events by setting up notifications on Google Now. Choose your team and you'll get the latest information on upcoming matches, matches in progress, completed matches and table standings.

Glass's photo functionality continues to be enhanced, with this latest update offering improved sharing for Android users via the MyGlass app (coming later to iOS).

Glass team member Yury Pinsky explained in a blog post: "With the updated app, when you take a picture on Glass, you'll see it instantly on your Android phone when you open the MyGlass app. Tap the image to open it, apply your filter du jour (or wave the #nofilter flag), and export it to the photo-sharing app of your choice – Instagram, Facebook, VSCO – whichever strikes your fancy."

Pinsky adds that a Wi-Fi connection isn't necessary to perform the task.

If you're the type of person that tends to park your car only to forget where you left it when you return, you can now pull up a Parking location card to help you locate your vehicle via a map.

The update also brings with it shipping information for any packages you've ordered. Simply go to settings on the Google Now mobile app and give the OK to "package updates based on your Gmail."

Finally, in response to Explorers' requests for more battery data, the Glass team has added a notification that pops up when Glass's battery drops below 20 percent.

Google's wearable computer is yet to get a full-scale commercial release, though with marketing expert Ivy Ross joining the team last month it's thought it won't be too long before we see the gadget finally go on sale. 

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SHOCKING NEWS: Turtle Beach dishes delicious earsnacks at E3 with DTS Headphone:X headsets

E3 is now in full swing, and it's no surprise that Turtle Beach, perennial maker of some of the best gaming headsets on the market, has a loaded arsenal of its latest gear to show off in LA. Among the lineup are are TB's latest Tournament Audio Controller, and updates to its PC headsets, as well as some genre firsts, including the first Xbox One headset with wireless chat, the first noise-canceling headset for the PS4, and the first Xbox One and PS4 headsets with DTS Headphone:X 7.1, a revolutionary virtual surround sound system. So yeah, it's a good time to be a gamer.

DTS Headphone:X 7.1 headsets

Headphone:X has been slowly creeping its way into the tech vernacular since DTS first demonstrated the system at CES 2013. The highly-anticipated virtual surround processing may have taken its sweet time to land in gear you can actually take home, but as those who've heard its remarkable talents can attest, it was worth the wait. The technology can do some amazing sleight of hand when it comes to tricking your brain into believing the sounds really are all around you – and now it's landed in two high-end gaming headsets. That makes us happy.

Ear Force Stealth 500X (Xbox One)

The latest addition to Turtle Beach's seminal wireless headset for Xbox, the all new Stealth 500X for Xbox One, is loaded with features to help keep you immersed in the action. The headset pulls digital sound from the Xbox One's digital optical connection, and sends the signal to separate wireless channels for gameplay and chat – a first. The headset utilizes Headphone:X 7.1 virtual surround, with a suite of presets to choose from. TB says it has "completely re-imagined" its preset system to focus on different game types, such as first person shooters, racing, or sports games, as well as presets designed for movies and music.

Other highlighted features for the Stealth 500X include a 15-hour battery, a new Wi-Fi system that promises to ensure an "interference-free wireless experience," and a mobile cable to take the 500X with you for  listening on the road (or in the air – you jet setter, you). The Ear Force Stealth 500X will be available in Fall 2014 for $230.

Turtle Beach Elite 800 (PS4)

Touted as "the most technologically-advanced wireless gaming headset ever made," Turtle Beach apparently isn't afraid to raise expectations for its latest centerpiece for the PS4 universe. The Elite 800 incorporates a wealth of features that promise to bury you deeper into the action than ever before. To that end, the 800 not only employs Headphone:X 7.1, but also adds noise-cancellation, to nullify virtually all peripheral distractions – both firsts for the genre.

Like the Stealth 500X, the Elite 800 employs multiple presets, but in signature Turtle Beach style, the headset also allows for advanced customization of the presets. However, instead of fumbling with preset downloads, or onboard controls, all customization for the presets are done through a new mobile app. Other features for the headset include dual "invisible microphones" for clear chat without the boom mic, available snap-on speaker plates to change up the style, and a magnetic charging stand. A 15 hour rechargeable battery, and the new Wi-Fi connection for playback are also part of the package, as well as Bluetooth connection for your mobile device.

The Elite 800 are priced at $300 and will be out this fall.

Entry-level headsets

Ear Force XO One (Xbox One)

For those on a budget (and if you've recently picked up one of the next-gen consoles that may be you), the $80 XO One makes an enticing choice. The stereo headset is pretty bare bones, but does offer a few options, including multi-step bass boost, Microphone Monitor, which allows you to hear your own voice from within the headset for better chat communication, and a removable mic boom. Like its brethren above, the XO One is available this fall.

Ear Force Stealth 400 (PS4, PS3)

If you're looking for a wireless companion for your PS4 or PS3, the $100 Ear Force Stealth 400 is a very affordable way to get the job done. The headset sports a new design that cuts down on weight for better comfort in longer sessions. Other features include onboard controls for game and chat volume, as well as controls to switch presets for the headset's virtual surround sound. Like its premium counterparts, the 400 incorporates Wi-Fi for audio connection, and boasts a 15 hour battery. The removable mic can also be switched out for a cable with an inline mic to use with your mobile device, all of which could make the 400 a great budget buy when it premieres this fall.

Ear Force P12 (PS4)

At $60, the P12 is about as low as you can go in the Turtle Beach family. The headset employs an inline amplifier for controlling volume and mic mute, powered through a USB connection to the PS4. Features include adjustable bass boost and Microphone Monitor, and a separate cable that allows for connection to a PS Vita or mobile device for gaming on the go. The P12 will hit stores earlier than the rest of the lineup, landing July 10th. (note: since PS Vita utilizes a 3.5mm headphone input, virtually all of the spotlighted headsets are compatible with the device.)

PC Headsets

Ear Force Recon 320

Those who've raised their heads outside the console world know that PC gaming can offer a lot of spoils at a very affordable price. The Recon 320 seems to embody that trend. For $80, the headset offers a nice pack of features, including Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound, a "high-sensitivity" flexible boom mic that is removable, and dual removable cables for USB connection to your PC, or 3.5mm connection to your mobile device with an inline mic/control piece. The Recon 320 will be available this fall.

Heroes of the Storm Stereo PC Gaming Headset

Those who are crazy about Blizzard gaming – and want to show it off to any who enter their living room – will want to check out the new Heroes of the Storm headset from Turtle Beach. Like the game itself, the headphones draw from characters through the Blizzard universe with removable speaker plates that allow you to dawn characters from Warcraft, Diablo, and Starcraft. Players can also download in-game skins when they register with Turtle Beach. As for gaming features, the $80 stereo headset comes with breathable cushions "optimized for noise isolation," a removable mic boom, and inline controls for volume and mute. The headset will be available, you guessed it, this fall.

Tournament Audio Controller

Finally, Turtle Beach has unveiled its all new audio controller, designed to optimize tournament game play for your gaming platoon. The system is compatible with PS4, PS3, PCs, Macs, and Xbox 360, though Xbox One is still out of the loop. The new system includes Dolby AC3 decoding to DTS Headphone:X 7.1, to allow use of the vivid surround sound feature across the system. Other features for the system includes master volume control, both a game and chat mixer slider, and what Turtle Beach calls "groundbreaking mic controls," whatever that means.

The controller is fully posed for pro-grade audio output for professional tournaments, as well as recording of full gameplay and chat audio – you know, for that gameplay Christmas album your team has been pondering. The TACs can be daisy-chained for live tournaments, or LAN play, and even allows for an aux input to connect a mobile device for cranking tunes, or even taking calls. The new Tournament Audio Controller comes out this winter.

Pricing and availability for all of Turtle Beach's new toys are listed below.

Product Compatibility Availability Pricing

Ear Force Stealth 500X Xbox OneFall 2014  $230

Turtle Beach Elite 800PS4Fall 2014$300

Ear Force XO OneXbox OneFall 2014$80

Ear Force Stealth 400PS4, PS3Fall 2014$100

Ear Force P12PS4July 2014$60

Ear Force Recon 320PCFall 2014$80

Heroes of the Storm HeadsetPCFall 2014$80

Tournament Audio ControllerPS4, PS3, PC, Mac, Xbox 360Winter 2014unavailable

As you can see, there's a ton of new gear to explore. We'll be pulling in some of these brand new pieces for review soon, so stay tuned, and keep checking out our E3 coverage through the week.

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