This Week in XR: Google’s AR Maps, Goodbye to Gear, VR Trains MDs, And Out of Home VR News

August 16, 2019

stella-jacob-JwlB3ZXHfZU-unsplash — Photo by Stella Jacob on Unsplash under the Creative Commons License

Forbes reports: “It’s been a long time since we’ve written about the pioneering Samsung Gear mobile VR HMD. Probably because they were stinky and ended up in a drawer. They also introduced millions to VR. We’ve come a long way, baby. Mobile phones are more powerful than ever, as illustrated by Google’s brilliant new AR enhancement of its indispensable maps, available on most new handsets. Lots of other news this week, although it is the second week of August.”

Amazon’s Twitter Ambassadors are Blurring the Line Between Fact and Fiction

Staff Report

August 16, 2019

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The Verge reports: “One of the big lessons of Amazon’s HQ2 debacle, at least from my perspective, was that the company can be weirdly tone-deaf. A purported nationwide search to find a home for a “second headquarters” looked, as soon as the company announced it had settled on New York and Washington, DC, as if it had been a ruse. New York pushed back, Amazon dropped its plans, and the entire episode has faded into memory.”

8 Million Android Users Tricked Into Downloading 85 Adware Apps from Google Play

Staff Report

August 16, 2019

christian-wiediger-70ku6P7kgmc-unsplash — Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash under the Creative Commons License

TechCrunch reports: “Dozens of Android adware apps disguised as photo editing apps and games have been caught serving ads that would take over users’ screens as part of a fraudulent money-making scheme. Security firm Trend Micro said it found 85 individual apps downloaded more than eight million times from the Google Play — all of which have since been removed from the app store.”

Spotify’s Daniel Ek Disputes iHeart CEO’s ‘Far From True’ Claim on Listenership

Staff Report

August 16, 2019

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Billboard reports: “Just how concentrated is Spotify’s core of dedicated listeners who actually use the service? During Thursday’s second-quarter earnings call, iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman sought to illustrate the “fundamental difference” between the two wings of the audio marketplace: radio and what he called the “music collection me-time segment,” or on-demand streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify.”

Apple is suing Corellium

Staff Report

August 16, 2019

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TechCrunch reports: “Apple is suing virtualization software company Corellium, according to documents filed today in Florida. Corellium allows customers to create and interact with virtual iOS devices — a software iPhone, for example, running actual iOS firmware, all within the browser.”

How YouTube’s Clean-Up Act Inadvertently Impacts Creators: “It’s Very Frustrating”

Staff Report

August 16, 2019

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Hollywood Reporter reports: “In its latest effort to create a safe environment, the Google-owned video giant is changing its search algorithm and directing younger visitors to its Kids app channels, leaving some baffled: ‘We’re now trying to understand what the new rules are.'”

iHeartMedia Digital Revenue Up 33% in Second Quarter

Staff Report

August 15, 2019

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Billboard reports: “iHeartMedia boosted total revenue with the help of its fast-growing podcast segment in its first quarterly earnings report since emerging from Chapter 11. The media giant pulled in $913 million in the three months ended June 30, an increase of $21.6 million, or 2.4%, compared to the same period a year ago.”

Instagram Says Growth Hackers Are Behind Spate of Fake Stories Views

Staff Report

August 15, 2019

ben-kolde-_zqJaEyo6I4-unsplash — Photo by Ben Kolde on Unsplash under the Creative Commons License

TechCrunch reports: “If you use Instagram and have noticed a bunch of strangers watching your Stories in recent months — accounts that don’t follow you and seem to be Russian — well, you’re not alone. Nor are you being primed for a Russian disinformation campaign. At least, probably not. But you’re right to smell a fake.”

Beyond Netflix: Showrunners Testing Waters With Multiple TV Overall Deals

Staff Report

August 15, 2019

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Hollywood Reporter reports: “How much work is too much for a top showrunner? In a Peak TV era overflowing with choice, content creators big and small are leveraging the demand for their services with deals for exclusivity on different platforms.”

Alibaba Quarterly Results Beat Expectations, With Entertainment Up 6%

Staff Report

August 15, 2019

austin-distel-744oGeqpxPQ-unsplash — Photo by Austin Distel www.distel.co on Unsplash under the Creative Commons License

Variety reports: “China’s Alibaba Group posted stronger earnings than expected in its first financial quarter thanks to growth in its core e-commerce and cloud computing sectors, reporting Thursday a 42% rise in quarterly revenue.”

Digital Media Wire