- Google has acquired online shopping start-up Like.com for
$100m. Like.com is based on a visual
search engine and has an automated cross matching for products such as
clothing.
- Chinese online gaming and messaging company Tencent has
acquired social network Comsenz for $60m.
Comsenz is venture-backed by backed by Google Inc, Sequoia Capital and
Morningside Ventures.
- An Economist survey of mobile operator executives
revealed they expect app downloads to overtake voice services to become their
major source of income in developed markets by 2013.
- The IMRG/Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index revealed online
sales in July rose by 18% YoY, the best July performance since 2007, with
shoppers spending an average of £81 each.
- Apple seems to have shelved its TV subscription plans for
now but is close to signing a deal with News Corp and Walt Disney to offer TV
shows in the iTunes store on a rental basis for 99 cents. Other media groups
have cited concerns that this will undercut existing DTO iTunes sales (at $1.99
per episode).
- Apple is expected to announce new iPod releases next
week, for pre-Christmas launch.
- iPhone hit game Angry Birds is rumoured to have signed
licensing deals in Hollywood for Angry Bird toys and possibly a TV show and
movie.
- New version of Amazon’s Kindle which is out tomorrow, has
already sold out. The new version will
retail for £109 and lighter (249g), have better contrast and page turning
speed.
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