a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

Xiaomi continues its overseas expansion as it lands in Malaysia, bringing the $277 Mi 3 first

May19
by on May 19, 2014 at 7:48 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Asia, Gadgets, Malaysia, Product Updates

Popular Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi is taking one step further in its overseas expansion plans as it announced today that it is landing in Malaysia, with its Mi 3 flagship smartphone going on sale tomorrow. The 16GB version of the Mi 3 will retail for RM889 ($277) unlocked. To mark the launch of Xiaomi’s handsets in Malaysia, the company has also released a custom theme in its store that can be used on MIUI, its highly-customizable firmware based on Android. Xiaomi promises the release of more products in Malaysia soon. The Redmi 1S, Xiaomi’s budget Android phone that boasts updated…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , ,
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

YouTube taps into Thailand’s content producers with localized site and partner program launch

May19
by on May 19, 2014 at 7:01 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Asia, Google, Thailand, youtube

youtube logo
Thailand is the latest stop for YouTube, after the Google-owned company introduced a localized version of its site and its YouTube Partner Program in the country. The move will allow the company to work more closely with local content producers to help export their work across Thailand and the rest of the world. The company will also begin working with local advertisers to place ad spots inside content on Youtube.co.th. Ariya Banomyong, who heads the company in Thailand, outlined the potential of the localized initiatives in a blog post: We hope that bringing this program and the fully localized YouTube site to Thailand will help encourage more…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: ,
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

Facebook is reportedly preparing to take on Snapchat once again with a new ephemeral messaging app

May19
by on May 19, 2014 at 4:03 am
Posted In: Around the Web, messaging app

facebook_android_3-786x305
After having a billion dollar acquisition offer reportedly spurned by Snapchat and killing off its unsuccessful challenger Poke, Facebook is now planning a new effort to take on the ephemeral photo and video messaging app, the Financial Times reports. The new app dubbed ‘Slingshot’ will likely be a standalone app apart from Facebook Messenger, according to the FT. Slingshot is also said to be different from Snapchat in that users tap or hold a friend’s profile picture to send a photo or short video clip, which can be viewed only once, and is reminiscent of TapTalk’s approach instead. This new stab at a Snapchat competitor comes…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , ,
a couple of laughzillas on a blue diamond background

Google reportedly wants to buy video-streaming service Twitch in a $1b deal to boost YouTube

May19
by on May 19, 2014 at 2:10 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Google, live streaming, video

Google is reportedly in early discussions to acquire live video-streaming platform Twitch, though they aren’t close to a deal yet, the Wall Street Journal reports. The deal, if it goes through, would be a boost for Google-owned YouTube, in particular its live-streaming section. US entertainment magazine Variety pegs the deal at more than $1 billion in an all-cash offer. Twitch launched as a fork of the Justin.tv livestreaming service and is focused on gamers. Sony’s gaming console PlayStation 4 has supported Twitch streaming since its launch, and it also recently got integrated into Microsoft’s Xbox One. Last year, at the Game…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: ,