News Byte

Kiloo Touts 175 Million Downloads for Subway Surfers

Danish mobile games company Kiloo’s most popular app, the runner game Subway Surfers, has racked up 175 million downloads since it launched one year ago. In that time, the game has been played 5.5 billion times, the company said in a press release today. Subway Surfers is often used as a reference point among free-to-play game developers seeking to monetize their games with in-app purchases. Kiloo’s IAP store has kept the game in the top 50 of Apple’s “top grossing” charts for the past nine months.

News Byte

OtterBox Chomps Up Rival Mobile Casemakers LifeProof

OtterBox, one of biggest names in protective products and cases for mobile devices, announced on Wednesday that it acquired LifeProof, a rival growing company with a “comprehensive product offering” and “impressive intellectual property,” OtterBox said in a release. LifeProof’s 250 employees will remain in San Diego, where the company is currently headquartered. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

You Spend a Lot of Time With Your Mobile Device at Home — Even More if It’s an iPad

A huge spike in broadband use for mobile devices — when they’re still in your house. Apple accounts for nearly half of that.
jobs_ipad_demo

Caterpillar Aims to Make Splash With Rugged, Waterproof Android Phone

The $349 phone is designed to be able to withstand a six-foot drop onto concrete or a 30-minute dip in a pool, all without adding too much heft to a standard Android phone.
CAT_B15_FRONT_MASTER_V5alt-1-NO-HILITE-180x2851-feature

Co-Founder Yat Siu on Animoca’s Big Menu of “Fast Food” Mobile Games

With more than 350 games, Animoca is all about quantity, and its co-founder says being based away from Silicon Valley helps.
Pretty Pet Salon is one of the more popular games Animoca has published, and started a "Pretty Pet" franchise.

Pentagon Clears iPhone and iPad for Use on Secure Networks

The DOD grants Apple the same mobile device security clearances it gave to BlackBerry and Samsung last week.
Thatsthefactjack

Google Demos Linux Running on Hacked Glass

In a session at Google I/O, the company shows how to hack its Glasses, voiding the warranty but opening up new possibilities.
google_glass_penguin

Support for Facebook, Twitter and Video Streaming Coming to Google Glass, With New Tools on the Way

In addition to the new partners, Google says a broader set of developer tools are coming.
google_glass