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Facebook opens Swedish data centre, first outside US

Agence France-PresseJune 12, 2013 13:43

Social network Facebook Wednesday opened its first data centre outside the United States, in Luleaa, a coastal Swedish town near the Arctic Circle. In opening the facility in the arctic north, Facebook joins Google and other tech companies attracted by chilly temperatures that rarely exceed levels that require special cooling capabilities which critics say hurt the environment. Luleaa's mayor, Karl Petersen, said the centre "puts Sweden and Luleaa on the map."

Google outbids rivals, buys online mapping service Waze to get more traffic information

The Canadian PressJune 11, 2013 13:36

SAN FRANCISCO - Google is buying online mapping service Waze in a $1.03 billion deal that keeps a potentially valuable tool away from its rivals while allowing it to gain technology that could improve the accuracy and usefulness of its own popular navigation system. The acquisition announced Tuesday ends several months of speculation as Waze flirted with potential buyers interested in its rapidly growing service. Waze blends elements of a social network into its maps to produce more precise directions and more reliable information about local traffic conditions.

Google grabs maps app Waze in billion-dollar deal

Agence France-PresseJune 11, 2013 15:35

Google on Tuesday announced a deal reported to worth over $1 billion for crowd-sourced map app Waze in a move to stay ahead of Apple and Facebook in lifestyles centered on smartphones and tablets. The US Internet search giant did not reveal the price it is paying for Israel-based Waze, but Israeli news outlets Globes and Calcalist over the weekend estimated the deal's value at $1.3 billion.

Apple unveils long-expected music streaming service, iTunes Radio

The Canadian PressJune 10, 2013 18:35

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Apple unveiled an Internet radio service called iTunes Radio and said the service will personalize listeners' music based on what they've listened to and what they've purchased on iTunes. Apple said iTunes Radio will be available this fall in the U.S., it said Monday. It will be free with advertisements included, although subscribers of Apple's iTunes Match music-storage service will get a commercial-free version of iTunes Radio. That service costs $25 a year.

Apple jumps into streaming with iTunes Radio

Agence France-PresseJune 10, 2013 20:34

Apple on Monday unveiled its hotly anticipated iTunes Radio Service as it announced a dramatic overhaul of the touch-screen interface for its popular smartphones and tablets. The free Internet radio service features over 200 stations "and an incredible catalog of music from the iTunes Store," Apple said in a statement as it opened its annual developers conference in San Francisco.

APPLE EVENT: Apple updates software, MacBooks, unveils music service at conference

The Canadian PressJune 10, 2013 14:39

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple announced a digital radio service, new MacBook Air laptops and updates to its operating systems for Mac and mobile devices Monday. The announcements came at the company's annual conference for software developers in San Francisco. Among the highlights: Apple showed off a simplified look on iPhones and iPads. It is the most radical design change since the iPhone made its debut in 2007. It's part of iOS 7, the new operating system for mobile devices coming this fall.

Google finalizing $1.3 billion deal for mapping company Waze: source

Thomson ReutersJune 9, 2013 15:49

By Alexei Oreskovic and Alistair Barr SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc is finalizing a deal to acquire online mapping company Waze for $1.3 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter. The deal is expected to be announced this week, though it was unlikely to occur on Monday, another source told Reuters.

Apple music service, mobile software update expected at San Francisco conference

The Canadian PressJune 9, 2013 11:30

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Apple is expected to reveal a digital radio service and changes to the software behind iPhones and iPads on Monday as the company opens its annual conference for software developers.

Luxury firm Mulberry signals exit of creative chief

Agence France-PresseJune 10, 2013 10:38

British luxury handbag maker Mulberry on Monday announced the departure of its creative director Emma Hill, confirming media speculation. "Mulberry confirms that Emma has informed the company that she wishes to leave after a very successful period at Mulberry during which she has built a strong and talented creative team working for her," the group said in a statement. "The main SS14 (Spring/Summer 2014) collection has been completed and Emma continues to work in the business finalising the London Fashion Week collection which will be launched on 15 September 2013.

Smartphone life shakes up website world

Agence France-PresseJune 9, 2013 20:38

Internet giants from Google and Facebook to Yahoo and Zynga are scrambling to adapt to an online world where people reach for smartphones or tablets instead of traditional computers. Social games pioneer Zynga, which rose to stardom making titles played at Facebook's website, is cutting nearly a fifth of its staff as part of a move to focus on titles for mobile gadgets. After taking over as chief executive at Yahoo last year, former Google executive Marissa Mayer laid out a turn-around strategy that made a priority of tailoring offerings to smartphones and tablets.