DMDB
Posted at 09:52AM Sep 02, 2010 by
Digital Media Daily Briefing
*iPhone*
Apple's Steve Jobs ups ante for dominance in home entertainment
In a year already marked by innovations, Apple on Wednesday unveiled advances on multiple fronts that drove home its ultimate goal: to become the architect of home entertainment.
A miniaturized and cheaper Apple TV will let people rent movies and TV shows from Apple's iTunes or Netflix. A new service will allow users of iPhones, iPads and upgraded iPod Touches to stream content from those devices to their television sets. A new social network built around music will be aimed at the 160 million customers of iTunes. And a new social gaming platform will let gamers play against friends and strangers on their iPhones or iPod Touches, and then video chat about the outcomes.
Autodesk's 3D engineering design software coming to Apple computers after a 20-year absence, with new mobile apps for iPad, iPhone. Hoping to cash in on growing Mac sales, Autodesk has brought its AutoCAD design software back to Apple's computers after an absence of almost 20 years.
Autodesk on Tuesday also embraced Apple's other popular products by introducing the AutoCAD WS mobile application for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. The software makes it possible to edit and share AutoCAD designs in the field. AutoCAD is 3D design software for engineering.
Alcatel-Lucent Buys Mobile Apps Dev-tool Vendor OpenPlug
Alcatel-Lucent has acquired OpenPlug, the creator of ELIPS Studio, a tool that allows developers write an application once, and then translate it into native code that can run on iPhones and Android-based smartphones.
The acquisition of OpenPlug is Alcatel-Lucent's latest push into the mobile application space. Alcatel-Lucent, like so many others in the post-App Store world, has realized the importance of applications and developers, and hopes to become the middle-man between service providers and developers.
*Mobile*
Nokia recruits Samsung content chief
Nick Turner-Samuels, former head of content at Samsung Mobile, has joined Nokia as a senior programme manager as the Finnish firm readjusts its content strategy.
He joined Samsung in 2003, working on the company’s online marketing strategy and later heading its mobile content offering.
*Branded Entertainment*
IBM Touts Mobile, Develops Apps For U.S. Open
Hoping to be perceived as the genius who sits in the background and waits for the perfect moment to say something profound, IBM wants people to know it touches more than 1 billion mobile phone subscribers daily and continues to develop about 80% of the world's smartphone software made possible through a $100 million investment supporting mobile communications in semiconductors, cellular towers, mobile apps, networks and more.