Mind Candy, the UK company that acquired game company Origami Blue this week, has appointed former Playfish exec Ken Ward as the company’s “Director of Talent”. Ward oversaw Playfish’s 400 percent increase in employees before its acquisition by EA, and will be managing Mind Candy’s 80 as-yet unfilled positions.
Photo editor on Android, Aviary, has released the latest version of its app. New features include a better “enhance” tool as well as added filters. [Source: CNET]
TechCrunch is reporting that Wired editor Michael Copeland will be leading Andreessen Horowitz’s ‘content strategy.’ Copeland has covered the VC world for a variety of outlets, including Wired, Fortune, and Business 2.0. [Source: TechCrunch]
Despite reports claiming Apple’s upcoming iPad mini 2 housing a retina display, one analyst believes they won’t be ready for the upcoming shipment. According to an analyst from NPD DisplaySearch, the retina displays will ship sometime in 2014, whereas the latest upcoming batch will contain the iPad’s current display. [Source: BGR]
Today Facebook unrolled a new feature for its commenting system. Now users are able to comment with more than just words, being able to attach photos as comments. [Source: CNET]
Gnip, a startup that resells social data from the likes of Twitter and other social giants, has announced a shuffling of the executive ranks. Now, it’s former COO and president will be CEO. [Source: AllThingsD]
Facebook has redesigned its Page Insights, the tool that lets Pages user monitor their performance. This is the its first update to since October 2011. [Source: TechCrunch]
Despite some controversy with its transition to the Cloud, Adobe’s CEO says its Creative Cloud Suite is actually doing quite well. According to the company, it has 700,000 subscribers, up from 479,000 in the first quarter of 2013, which exceeded the company’s original expectations. [Source: GeekWire]
Viacom has joined Twitter’s Amplify program, a partnership for media companies to better implement second screen experiences. The first Viacom-Amplify will be the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards on August 25. [Source: VentureBeat]
Dan Bricklin, the co-creator of VisiCalc and “father of the electronic spreadsheet,” has been hired as the CTO for Alpha Software. In addition, the company announced the launch of Alpha Anywhere. [Source: AllThingsD]
Videopixie launched today, providing a marketplace for people who have rough video footage and editors. The service works by users uploading their raw footage, and then vie bid for the job by making a quick teaser trailer with the footage. [Source: TechCrunch]
Google today launched a new AdSense scorecard aimed at telling site owners their performance. The scorecard is divided into three categories: revenue optimization, site health and Google+. [Source: TechCrunch]
Intercom, a startup that seeks to make it easier for businesses to interact with their customers, has announced a $6 million Series A led by The Social+Capital Partnership. The funding will be used to expand the company’s product, which is already used by companies like GitHub, Buffer, and Heroku, among others.
[Source: Intercom]
Kiip, a rewards platform that allows app makers to reward users for “moments” — achievements in video games, completing a task list, and so forth — has announced that the opening of its self-serve marketplace to brands in a limited beta. Now, instead of being vetted by and working through Kiip, brands can offer rewards directly to the service’s users.
LG will begin mass-producing flexible displays by the fourth quarter of this year, the Korea Times reports. The company also intends to produce the first smartphone equipped with such a display this year.
[Source: The Korea Times]
Cisco plans to invest $15 million in Israeli VC funds, Reuters reports. The investment is part of a larger push to expand in the Middle East through acquisitions, the opening of a new development center, and other efforts.
[Source: Reuters]
Social Radar, which makes a location-focused service meant to make it easier to connect with friends, has raised a $12.75 million Series A led by Grotech Ventures, Swan & Legend Ventures, and New Enterprise Associates.
[Source: Social Radar]
Vdio, the video-streaming service created by Rdio, has made its public debut in the US and UK today. The service, which I reviewed during its limited beta, was previously limited to Rdio subscribers.
[Source: Rdio]
While testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, FBI Director Robert Mueller confirmed that the agency owns and operates drones for domestic surveillance, describing their use as “very seldom.” The laws governing operation such usage have not yet been established. [Source: Mashable]
Many startups are adjusting their Q3 roadmaps in light of the newly announced iOS 7 update, and according to CrunchFund partner Michael Arrington Android is the big loser. Several companies in Arrington’s portfolio and others he has spoken to have temporarily shelved their Android development plans and redeployed resources to focus on updating their apps ahead of the fall iOS launch. [Source: Uncrunched]
Apple has expanded the programming available to owners of its Apple TV set top boxes, adding HBO GO and WatchESPN, as well as Sky News, Crunchyroll, and Qello. [Source: Apple]
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