AllThingsD » synching

Spooking Flipboard: Yahoo's Livestand -- Followed by Google's Propeller -- Set to Launch Next Week

Kara Swisher — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:35:03 +0000

Memo to Flipboard, as well as Pulse, CNN’s Zite and AOL’s Editions: You might want to make some room in the already-crowded news and social reader space, because you’re about to get some bigfoot company.

Next Wednesday, according to sources close to the situation, Yahoo will finally officially unveil its offering, called Livestand.

And perhaps as early as next week or in the weeks soon after, Google will also weigh in with its version of the genre — code-named Propeller — which also might be the product’s name. Another moniker under strong consideration: Currents.

As I have previously reported, Google Propeller is an HTML5 reader for the Apple iPad and Android — essentially a souped-up version of similar apps such as Flipboard, AOL’s Editions, Zite (which was just bought by Time Warner’s CNN) and Pulse.

All these apps are part of the drastically changing habits of media consumers, helping users better navigate numerous social and media feeds — such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as news sites and more — using handsome interfaces and touch technologies on tablet devices.

Flipboard, the most prominent and elegant of these offerings, is now available only on the Apple iPad.

Flipboard’s traction among elite users, along with its high-level design ethos and strong reviews, is why Google tried to buy the well-funded company last year, sources said.

But Flipboard — which is backed by some of tech’s biggest venture players, who have invested more than $60 million at a $200 million valuation — declined the kind offer.

At the time, sources said, Google told Flipboard execs that if it did not buy the start-up, it planned to do a version of its own.

Hence, after I heard about the product earlier this year, I dubbed it the Flipinator.

According to sources, Propeller will launch with a plethora of media partners, as well as integration into the Google+ social network. The aim of the search giant is to offer media companies easy tools for publishing content on these devices, as well as a better path to monetization.

That is essentially the same plan at Yahoo, which has been working on Livestand with hopes of it being a product that will woo publishers into tight collaboration with the Silicon Valley Internet giant.

Livestand was announced by Yahoo’s now-fired CEO Carol Bartz in February, at a speech at the World Mobile Congress in Spain.

At the time, Bartz demoed a magazinelike platform that would allow publishers to put up content easily and give users the ability to personalize their selections based on search history and interests.

Bartz called it “content in context.” (You can see the demo video below.)

But while Bartz promised the product within three months, development has been slowed by its complex technologies, bugs and the need to sign on publishers.

Yahoo’s Chief Product Officer Blake Irving is pushing the product hard as a way for the company to reinvigorate its media products.

It’s not clear how many publishers Yahoo will have at launch, and neither are the distribution plans, beyond flacking it from the Web site and being present in app stores.

Google, on the other hand, has its Android platform to push out Propeller, although it all must work as well on Apple’s iPad, which is the dominant tablet on the market.

But just because both Yahoo and Google are big companies is by no means a guarantee of success — think Yahoo 360 or Google Wave or Buzz — and their lateness might be a hindrance.

And, in fact, other news reader apps are much further along. The leader, Flipboard, has already had four million downloads and 50 partnerships with leading publishers.

It also has started to introduce rich advertising products and, perhaps most importantly, has tight social integration with Twitter and Facebook.

There will be social elements on both Yahoo’s Livestand and Google’s Propeller. But news reading will be stressed more, making them more like Pulse, a tiny but highly innovative start-up.

Each of the existing apps will presumably compete by adding on more features. Pulse recently added cross-platform, cross-device syncing, while Flipboard is close to unveiling an iPhone version it has said it was working on.

Yahoo and Google PR declined comment.

Here is the Livestand demo video from February:

Inside Ford's App-Happy Fiesta–But No Manilow (and BoomTown is a Fanilow)!

Kara Swisher — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:51:41 +0000

Last week, outside the Facebook f8 developers conference, BoomTown checked out the new 2011 Fiesta model, which will be the first vehicle in which smartphone apps can be voice-controlled via its in-car synching software.

While getting a test, I interviewed the Ford dude–Julius Marchwiki–who has been in all the YouTube videos of late touting its digital prowess.

Ford has been trying to fast-forward its automobiles in the digital space to try to differentiate itself from other car makers, using SYNC AppLink, as well as other innovative Web-friendly features.

In December, Ford (F) said it would make the next generation of its SYNC-enabled vehicles into Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing drivers and passengers to connect to the Internet everywhere much more seamlessly in a moving car.

Presumably, the ultimate in mobile.

One speed bump: SYNC AppLink will work only with Google (GOOG) Android and Research in Motion (RIMM) BlackBerry devices for now, although Ford promises an Apple (AAPL) iPhone solution soon.

Pandora Internet radio, online talk radio aggregator Stitcher and mobile Twitter client OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled mobile applications.

Here’s my interview with Marchwiki, as well as Scott Monty, Ford’s social media guru:

[ See post to watch video ]

Ford Launches Voice Control of Apps in Car: No More Phone-Fiddling While Driving?

Kara Swisher — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:15:45 +0000

Ford, which has been trying to fast-forward its automobiles in the digital space, announced today that its 2011 Fiesta model will be the first vehicle in which smartphone apps can be voice-controlled via its in-car synching software.

One issue: Initially, Ford’s SYNC AppLink, downloadable as an upgrade, will work only with Google (GOOG) Android and Research in Motion (RIMM) BlackBerry devices.

As to the more popular iPhone from Apple (AAPL)?

“Ford will introduce AppLink on all SYNC-equipped vehicles next year, as well as provide interoperability with iPhone and other smartphones,” the auto company said in a statement.

Still, anything that stops dodos from fiddling with a smartphone while driving can’t be bad.

Ford (F) has been trying mightily to differentiate itself by digitizing its cars.

In December, Ford said it would make the next generation of its SYNC-enabled vehicles into Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing drivers and passengers to connect to the Internet everywhere much more seamlessly in a moving car.

Pandora Internet radio, online talk radio aggregator Stitcher and mobile Twitter client OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled mobile applications.

Ford also said it is launching a developers’ network to boost the number of apps that can be used in SYNC-enabled cars.

Here are some videos showing the system in use:

Pandora

Sticher

OpenBeak

And here’s the full press release from Ford:

SYNC APPLINK TO LAUNCH ON 2011 FIESTA, MAKING FORD FIRST TO DELIVER VOICE CONTROL OF SMARTPHONE APPS

• Ford will first offer SYNC® AppLink, a downloadable software program, on the 2011 Fiesta, allowing owners to access and control AndroidTM and BlackBerry® smartphone apps with voice commands and vehicle controls

• Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled mobile applications

• Ford to create SYNC developer community with launch of new “Mobile Application Developer Network” (www.syncmyride.com/developer), giving developers a pathway to partner with Ford on SYNC-enabled applications

• Ford’s platform approach with SYNC is poised to harness smartphone app development and mobile web access; apps expected to be a $4 billion industry by 2012; analysts predict the mobile device to become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 2010–Customers have spoken–asking for safe, convenient access to their smartphone apps while in the vehicle–and Ford is responding by announcing the new SYNC AppLink software that will allow hands-free voice control of popular smartphone apps.

SYNC AppLink, a downloadable software upgrade, will be released for 2011 Ford Fiesta owners with the award-winning SYNC communications and infotainment system later this year, allowing drivers hands-free control of apps on their Android or BlackBerry smartphones via voice commands and vehicle controls. Ford will introduce AppLink on all SYNC-equipped vehicles next year, as well as provide interoperability with iPhone and other smartphones.

“The growth in smartphone mobile apps has been explosive, and Ford has worked hard to respond at the speed of the consumer electronics market,” said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford’s Connected Services Organization. “SYNC is the only connectivity system available that can extend that functionality into the car. AppLink will allow drivers to control some of the most popular apps through SYNC’s voice commands and steering wheel buttons, helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”

The Android MarketTM and BlackBerry App World™ are among the leading growth markets for mobile apps. The new SYNC AppLink will seamlessly integrate apps using the vehicle’s voice and user interface controls, including buttons on the steering wheel, increasing eyes-on-the-road and hands-on-the-wheel time.

The first SYNC-enabled apps available later this year include Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak app for Twitter, with additional apps on the way. Updated versions of each app, incorporating the SYNC application programming interface (API), will be available through Android Market and BlackBerry App World for customers to download.

Built-in, Beamed-in and Brought-in: The SYNC App Ecosystem

From its introduction, Ford has been building an ecosystem of available SYNC apps, continuously improving the consumer experience.

• Built-in apps, including Vehicle Health Report and 911 Assist™, are downloaded and installed directly on the in-car SYNC operating system

• SYNC apps like Traffic, Directions & Information rely on beamed-in, or “cloud-based,” information. Drivers access the Ford Service Delivery Network, a network of data centers providing turn-by-turn directions, business searches, and on-demand news, sports and weather information, through a simple voice-connection using their cell phone.

• SYNC AppLink represents the third category of the ecosystem, brought-in apps, leveraging apps installed on a user’s smartphone, such as Pandora, Stitcher and OpenBeak

Studies show mobile app development–a niche market just three years ago–is expected to blossom into a $4 billion industry by 2012. Sites serving specific mobile operating systems, such as Android and BlackBerry OS, have experienced massive growth, with analysts predicting the mobile device will become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015, surpassing the home computer.

Ford and SYNC will answer the consumer demand by offering the only platform available for drivers to safely control their mobile devices and applications in the car. Leveraging SYNC’s safer voice commands and steering wheel controls, drivers are able to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. “Brought-in” apps residing on a consumer’s smartphone also eliminate the need for yet another piece of hardware to be installed in the car which only serves to add cost and complexity.

Customers will be able to download SYNC-enabled mobile apps through the same app store interfaces currently used. As SYNC-enabled versions of existing apps are released into the app stores, users will be prompted to download the latest version upon connection. Also, as developers grasp the notion that the vehicle interior has opened to them, a new dimension of apps designed from the outset to maximize the unique in-car environment will follow.

Opening the door to developers

To facilitate future SYNC-enabled app development, Ford has also activated a new developer network on its SYNCmyride Web site (www.syncmyride.com/developer). Interested developers can find a link to submit innovative ideas, and sign up for the latest information and news about the SYNC application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK). The package will allow developers to modify existing applications and create all-new apps that can successfully interface with SYNC.

Working with trusted partners, Ford is completing beta-testing on the SDK. Once beta-testing is complete, a broader release of the development tools is planned for later this year. Initial reports have been positive, with one of Ford’s development partners creating a SYNC-enabled version of its app just three days after receiving the development tools.

“We’re very pleased by the rapid development time and positive feedback we’ve seen from our first partners,” said VanDagens. “We want to encourage all developers to visit our site and submit ideas, helping us tap into the global pool of innovation and creativity.”

Xobni Soups Up BlackBerry; No Mac Support

Katherine Boehret — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:22:09 +0000

Stacey Delo of Digits and MediaMemo’s Peter Kafka talk with Katie about her review of Xobni, a BlackBerry app for Outlook contact synching. In the video, they discuss the lack of Mac support, pricing and the need for having all your contacts in one place.

[ See post to watch video ]

Apple Breaks Palm Pre Media Synch a Third Time

John Paczkowski — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:00:03 +0000

“As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.”

When Apple said it does not support iTunes integration with third-party digital media players, it meant it.

With iTunes 9.0.2, Apple (AAPL) has once again disabled the Palm Pre’s ability to synch with the media software, a feature re-enabled by Palm (PALM) earlier this month after Apple disabled it in response to Palm’s re-enabling of it following its first disabling by Apple.

And if you think that round-and-round sounds asinine, just wait until Palm releases webOS 1.2.2.

Return of the Steve

John Paczkowski — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:00:36 +0000

[ See post to watch video ]

iTunes 9 Breaks Palm Pre Media Sync Again

John Paczkowski — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:02:57 +0000

Like we didn’t see this one coming. Among the new features of Apple’s iTunes 9 media software is one that wasn’t announced this morning: An update that prevents the Palm Pre from synching with it. This should come as no surprise since Apple (AAPL) has done this before, most recently with iTunes 8.2.1, which, as Apple spokesperson Nat Kerris explained to me at the time, “disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre.”

Reached for comment this afternoon, Kerris had nothing much else to add beyond that first statement: “Yes, as we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.”

Palm (PALM), of course, re-enabled the synching feature a few weeks later with a point release to its webOS. It will come as no surprise if the company does the same this time. And the two companies will go round and round until someone gets tired or the lawyers are called in.

UPDATE: Palm has confirmed to me that iTunes 9 does indeed break WebOS media sync. The company had no further comment on the issue, beyond the ones it gave me in July.

Palm’s media sync works with iTunes 8.2. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we can consider.

Palm believes that openness and interoperability offer better experiences for users by allowing them the freedom to use the content they own without interference across devices and services, so on behalf of consumers, we have notified the USB Implementers Forum of what we believe is improper use of the Vendor ID number by another member.

Live from Apple's "Let's Rock" Event: iTunes 9, iTunes LP

John Paczkowski — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:10:11 +0000

Speaking at Apple’s music event, CEO Steve Jobs, in his first public appearance since his medical leave of absence, introduces iTunes 9. After noting that iTunes is the largest music store in the world, boasting some 100 million accounts, Jobs rattles off some of the software’s new features. Among them: Genius Mixes and improved synching. The latter enables more specific synching and supports a new way of managing applications for the iPhone and iPod touch with a nice drag-and-drop feature. Very easy to organize and reorganize applications. The crowd really likes this one.

Also included in this update: Home Sharing, which allows songs, movies and TV shows to be shared and copied to up to five home computers. Another very slick feature that allows users to simply drag and drop songs between computers to copy them.

iTunes 9 also features a new store with redesigned music, movie, TV pages and a handy new navigation bar. Beyond this, there’s also support for Twitter and Facebook.

“You know, some of us here are old enough that we actually bought LPs,” says Jobs. “You used to get liner notes, essays and photos, but that stuff left us when we moved to digital music.”

With that, Jobs announces iTunes LP–the official name of the company’s rumored “Cocktail” album bundle. As expected, these iTunes LP bundles will feature additional art, photos and whatnot. Apple is working directly with artists and labels to develop them.

A Doors “LP” is offered up as an example and it includes some videos exclusively recorded for iTunes–Ray Manzarek talking about how Jim Morrison named the Doors (“Not a door-door, man. Like the door in your MIND.”). Surprisingly nice little video, actually. Certainly, it’s likely to appeal to die-hard fans.

Apple (AAPL) is doing something similar with movies–iTunes extras. Movies bundled with additional photos, etc.

Live from Apple’s “Let’s Rock” Event

iPod Updates, Games, Nano Video Cameras

iTunes 9, iTunes LP, Home Sharing, Genius Mixes

Steve Jobs: “I’m Vertical, Back at Apple and Loving Every Day of It”

Event Photos by Adam Tow

Live from Apple's "Let's Rock" Event: iTunes 9, iTunes LP

John Paczkowski — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:10:11 +0000

iTunes 9 also features a new store with redesigned music, movie, TV pages and a handy new navigation bar. Beyond this, there’s also support for Twitter and Facebook.

“You know, some of us here are old enough that we actually bought LPs,” says Jobs. “You used to get liner notes, essays and photos, but that stuff left us when we moved to digital music.”

Apple (AAPL) is doing something similar with movies–iTunes extras. Movies bundled with additional photos, etc.

Live from Apple’s “Let’s Rock” Event

iPod Updates, Games, Nano Video Cameras

iTunes 9, iTunes LP, Home Sharing, Genius Mixes

Steve Jobs: “I’m Vertical, Back at Apple and Loving Every Day of It”

Event Photos by Adam Tow

Xobni Can Make Good Old Email Even More Useful

Walter S. Mossberg — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:20:43 +0000

For all the hype about “social networking” Web sites, the most popular and successful way to network over the Internet is still the oldest: email. If it’s organized properly, boring old email can reveal as much or more information about the people you know, and their relationships with you, than hipper services like MySpace or Facebook.

This is especially true if you are the kind of person who saves most of his or her email. That mound of messages can be a treasure trove of contact information and a history of your interactions with hundreds, or thousands, of personal and business acquaintances. It can tell you the phone numbers and job titles of people, and even who you and your correspondents most often copy on email. It’s a sort of social network all its own.

[ See post to watch video ]

The trouble is, it’s hard to tease all that information out of the typical email program. And that goes double for the most popular, but most bloated and dense, email program of all, Microsoft Outlook (MSFT).

Now, however, there’s a new, free plug-in module for Outlook that adds a set of social-networking and data-mining features right inside the venerable program. This new plug-in for Outlook is called Xobni, which is “inbox” spelled backward and is pronounced “ZOB-nee.” It is completely contained in a colorful vertical panel that lives on the right side of your Outlook screen and doesn’t block or intrude upon Outlook’s own panes or functions.

I’ve been testing Xobni and I like it. The product has some flaws, and is still a work in progress, but I found that it made Outlook much faster and more useful. Xobni turned my Outlook experience from one that was organized by messages and dates into one that was organized by people, relationships and histories.

Xobni, available at Xobni.com, works with the 2003 and 2007 versions of Outlook, whether you are running Windows XP or Windows Vista. The San Francisco start-up behind Xobni, also called Xobni, is working on versions for other email readers, such as Yahoo Mail (YHOO).

Xobni indexes all your stored email, starting with the most recent messages. Once the email is indexed, the Xobni sidebar shows a profile of the sender of any email you have selected in the message list in your inbox or other folders. Each profile is divided into useful sections, and as you drill down into the specifics on each person, the entire sidebar may fill with more detailed information.

At the top of the Xobni panel is a huge search box. This in itself makes it worth installing the program. It is much faster and better than Outlook’s own search, returning results almost instantly and in two lists — people and mail — with the search terms highlighted.

But that’s just the start. Under the search box is the name of the sender of any email you have selected, with a photo, if available, and a bar chart showing how many emails you’ve received from that person and the times of day when that person appears to be most or least active on email. The latter can be a handy guide to deciding the best time to send an email for a quick response.

Under that is a section carrying the person’s phone number, extracted either from Outlook’s contacts or from the person’s email signature or the body of his or her emails. If Xobni can’t find a phone number, you can click on a link that appears where the phone number would have been, to generate an email asking for a number.

Similarly, Xobni can generate an email asking for a meeting with any person in its profile and fill in that email with your open times for the next few days, drawn from your Outlook calendar. You can also open a new, blank email form, preaddressed to the person in the profile, with a single click.

If the person has a profile on the business-oriented LinkedIn social-networking service, the Xobni panel will display his or her job title, employer, and a photo from LinkedIn.

The final three sections in the Xobni sidebar are even more useful. The first one shows the person’s email “network” — a list of everyone that person has placed in the “To” or “Cc” fields of emails you’ve exchanged. The next section is called “Conversations” and displays the entire threads of all the email exchanges you’ve had with the profiled person. Finally, there’s a section listing all the files you have exchanged as attachments with the profiled person.

Each of these sections has its own search, and allows you to open the entries it contains.

There are some bugs. In my tests, Xobni mistakenly merged the profiles of a few people. It also failed to recognize that the emails bearing different versions of a person’s name — like “Thomas” and “Tommy” — but with the same email address, were the same person and should have a single profile. Xobni also can cause glitches during manual syncing of BlackBerrys and other devices. The company says it is working on fixing those bugs.

But, overall, Xobni is a smart addition to Outlook that makes email much more useful.

Find all of Walt Mossberg’s columns and videos online, free, at the new All Things Digital Web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com. Email him at mossberg@wsj.com.