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Zynga, the world’s largest social networking gaming company introduces CastleVille, a new online game depicting medieval world and helping players to get happy ending

The world’s largest social networking gaming company just announced a new online game platform in its “Ville” franchise.  The announcement was made on October 11 (Tuesday) during a news event dubbed Zynga Unleashed.  At today’s event, the famous gaming company also announced a new site which will let players to play online games without going thru Facebook or other partners (i.e., Google Plus) with a project code named as “Project Z.”

Popular Zynga games are mostly available via Facebook including CityVille, FarmVille, FrontierVille, and others.  According the latest sources, Zynga has over 232 million active players and capturing about 40% of social networking gaming market share.

As per Zynga official blog post, the new online game was built by a team located in Zynga Dallas, Texas.  CastleVille game depicts medieval world with several interesting storylines and supported by various characters. The new game also adds soundtrack with original music recorded in Seattle.  As the new game will be released soon, players can check out CastleVille updates thru facebook.com/castleville

(Image: Zynga.com)

Let’s say hello to Facebook iPad app: the world’s largest social networking meets the world’s top selling tablet personal computer for the first time

Starting Monday (Oct 10, 2011), over 800 million users of the world’s largest social networking will be able to connect to their friends and families thru an iPad app.  This touch-screen device is manufactured by Apple, the world's largest mobile device company.  iPad is now also the world’s top selling tablet personal computer.  Users can get the full Facebook experience via touch-screen iPad tablet computer. 

According to Facebook official blog post, users worldwide have been asking for an iPad app to run on their iPads since the popular mobile device went on sale in April 2010.  With high number of users accessing Internet via wireless mobile gadgets, Facebook appears to match its users demand for more gadgets.  However, it took almost 18 months for Facebook engineers to get a solid iPad app for a general release this week.

Among great features on the new iPad app include users can chat with friends, user can play games in full-screen mode, users can flip through bigger photos album similar to a slideshow.  The top and left navigation bars also enhanced, so users can get notifications and messages at the top of their iPad screen easily.

 
(Screenshot: Facebook blog post)

800 million users worldwide: Facebook conquers global languages by adding a new translation tool which is powered by Microsoft Translator

With over 800 million users from around the world, Facebook is trying to help readers from the top non-English speaking countries, such as Brazil and Indonesia.  The world’s largest social networking launched a new translation tool this past weekend.  The new tool is powered by Facebook’s partner and investor, dubbed as Microsoft Translator.   This new tool helps its users to read public posts in other languages.

Facebook urged administrators (admin) for community pages to setup and enable the new translation tool on public pages, so any users can translate the pages in their own languages.  By adding the tool, pages will show a new blue-color link “Translate.”   The link is located after “Like” and “Comment” or between “Comment” and “Share.”  Similarly, for personal pages, each individual can install Microsoft Translator app via Microsoft Bing decision engine.  In order to allow friends from non-English speaking countries to read posts, individuals must setup and enable the translation tool on each page. 

Images: (left) MicrosoftTranslator.com; (right) Facebook.com Pages

California Dream: the largest state in America approves a new bill known as the "Dream Act" that let undocumented students with status as illegal immigrants to receive public or private funds for their college education

While most people in America generally have been suffering from the economy turmoil since 2007, and many believe it is harder to achieve American Dream, but not in California.  Governor of the largest state in America, ‎ Edmund G. Brown Jr. a.k.a. Jerry Brown, has signed a new bill called the "California Dream Act." 

Any high school students, legal or illegal, who graduated from a local school in California, will be allowed to pay in-state tuition and fees when they got accepted into state universities.  With the new bill, undocumented immigrant students who have great grades could receive public or private financial aid

 
According to the governor website, the new bill will be taking effect starting the 2013 school year.  Students with illegal immigration status can apply for Cal Grants and other state aid.  On the average, each top student usually receives about $4,500 in tuition reduction, as per latimes.com.  Each year over 370,000 low-income students received grants from various institutions in California.

(Image: Cal Grants)

All-in-one system: Microsoft's acquisition of Skype got two thumbs ups from two continents, America and the European Union, as the deal valued at $8.5 billion

With a ton of cash on hand, Microsoft will spend at least $8.5 billion to pay for the world’s largest peer-to-peer communication technology.  According to Microsoft press release, the acquisition of Skype had received approvals from two continents America and the European Union.  Brad Smith, Microsoft’s top level executive counsel sent out a statement and noted “We’re pleased that the European Commission has approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype. This is an important milestone, as we’ve now received clearance from both the United States and the European Union.”  The acquisition of Skype communication technology system was announced on May 10 this year.  Microsoft is hoping that the deal will be completed within weeks. 

Among Microsoft popular products and services, Windows OS, Office, and Bing decision engine will be benefited from the acquisition.   The P-2-P communication system could increase web traffic to Bing.  While Bing has several close partners, Facebook will be the top winner among others.   This past summer, Facebook added Skype’s features into the largest social networking site and helping its 800 million users to communicate via video and voice.  Users can connect via voice and watching their friends and families from around the world. 

iRIP Steve Jobs (1955-2011), Apple's co-founder and visionary dead at 56, on Wednesday, October 5, 2011

 
The world’s largest mobile devices company co-founder and ex CEO Steve Jobs died on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, at the age of 56.  Mr. Jobs had been battled with pancreatic cancer and other health issues since 2004.  Mr. Jobs had a liver transplant in 2009 from a young man after taking a leave of absence due to health problems.

In honor of Steve Jobs, apple.com website changed its homepage and showing a full page of Steve Jobs photo and also added a new sub section in apple.com/stevejobs.

Screenshots: (top) apple.com and (bottom) apple.com/stevejobs

Trends in America’s smartphone market share in August 2011: Google Android captured 43.7% shares, Apple iOS has 27.3% shares, while RIM BlackBerry dropped to 19.7% shares, and Microsoft Windows Phone remained stable at 5.7% shares

More people in America switched their handsets to smartphones in recent months. According to data from the comScore MobiLens service, close to 85 million people in America used smartphones to communicate, texting, and access mobile Internet. 

Google Android remained strong and captured 43.7% shares of smartphone market by the end of August 2011.  Compared to three months ago ending May 2011, Android captured 38.1% shares (an increase of 5.6% shares).

While many phone subscribers were disappointed with the announcement of newest Apple iPhone 4S on Tuesday, October 4, the world’s largest mobile devices company’s share of smartphone market remained at stable level.  Apple iOS has 27.3% shares by the end of August 2011, compared to 26.6% shares in May 2011, or an increase of 0.7% shares.

While RIM BlackBerry launched several new models in recent months, the smartphone's pioneer continued to lose market share.  BlackBerry has only 19.7% shares in August, compared to 24.7% shares in May, or a drop of 5.0%.

The world’s largest software company new mobile operating system dubbed as Windows Phone 7 and 7.5 continued holding its shares as per the latest data from the comScore MobiLens service.  Windows Phone has about 5.7% shares in August, compared to 5.8% shares in May, a tiny drop of 0.1%.

(Table: comScore)

Bummer… no iPhone 5: Apple only has iPhone 4S running on the new iOS 5 with extra iCloud and more powerful microprocessor running on dual-core A5 chip, available on October 14, 2011

After a lengthy wait for new products from the world’s largest mobile devices company, Apple’s new CEO Tim Cook didn’t showcase a new iPhone 5, but he announced a new iPhone 4S on October 4, 2011.  From outside, this new iPhone is similar to iPhone 4.  From inside, the new iPhone 4S has more powerful microprocessor running on dual-core A5 chip, better 8 megapixel digital camera, and can record full 1080p HD video. 

The new iPhone 4S will run on new iOS 5.  Several cool iOS 5 features include built-in Twitter integration and iMessage.  iMessage is almost similar to BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).

During the showcase, Apple’s top level executives also introduced new voice-recognition technology using Siri.    This is a new system to understand words and voices from users.

In America, phone subscribers can start ordering the new iPhone via AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless starting this Friday, October 7.  The new phone will be shipped shortly and will arrive on customer’s doorstep on October 14.  On the same date customers in other countries include Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan, will get their new iPhones as well.

There are two type of colors for the new iPhone 4S, black or white.  The cheapest will carry a price tag of $199 for the 16GB model plus two years contract with phone providers.  Other models will carry price tags of $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the new 64GB model. 

(Image: Apple iOS 5)

Freedom to read for Californians: privacy protections for buying, reading, and borrowing books, e-books, and library records, starting January 1, 2012

California Governor Jerry Brown made the Reader Privacy Act as an official law for the largest state in America.  The privacy law also known as Yee’s law will protect California consumers from unwarranted searches of any type of books or e-books purchased thru brick-and-mortal bookstores or online stores. Yee’s law or the Reader Privacy Act will take effect starting on January 1, 2012. 

Yee’s law was authored by California State Senator Leland Yee, Ph.D.  As a very powerful lawmaker from the Democratic Party who handles San Francisco and San Mateo County, California, Senator Lee really understands the important of privacy law for human being.   Senator Lee immigrated to America when he was three years old, from Guangdong, China where people do not have freedom of speech and freedom to read in the Great Wall nation.  

Yee’s law had support from many organizations, institutions, and corporations.  Two powerful organizations sponsored Yee’s Bill including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).  It also had support from top Silicon Valley’s technology companies such as Google and TechNet.

(Image: California State Senator Leland Yee, Ph.D)

Electric cars customers who have given down-payment can test-drive a prototype of Model S Sedan during a special event at Tesla Motors factory in Fremont, California

The largest electric carmaker in California, Tesla Motors, opened its factory doors to customers who have given down-payment at Tesla Motors factory in Fremont, California on Saturday evening (October 1).  The future customers and guests can drive a prototype of Model S Sedan during the special event.  Former PayPal founder, who sold his online payment system company to eBay and now Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, gave a presentation of the Model S.  Musk also urged its future customers to support the carmaker for a long run.

The new electric car Tesla Model S has a price tag of about $57,400.  Previous model Tesla Roadster has a price tag of $109,000.  During the President Obama administration, new electric car buyers can get $7,500 federal tax credit.  Buyers can get their electric car sometime in early 2012.

According to reuters.com, the new electric cars Tesla Model S will come in three types based on its battery power.  Those three types of battery power include a car that can drive for at least 160 miles/257 km, 230 miles/370 km or 300 miles/483 km.

(Image: teslamotors.com)

Top 10 most visited websites in America in August 2011 include Google, Facebook, Yahoo, MSN/Bing, YouTube, Microsoft, AOL, Wikipedia, Amazon, and Apple

According to nielsen.com, there were over 215 million people in America connected to the Internet in August 2011.  Compared to July 2011, the total users for August 2011 increased about 1.2%.  A record of over 275 million people in America had access to Internet today.  Each month, Internet users in America spent more than 30 hours browsing websites, checking emails, and connecting friends in social networking, or averaging 1 hour per day.  On average each user had visited about 100 URLs (websites) during August 2011.  

Over 176 million unique visitors from America visited the search engine giant Google website in August.  Google remained the number one most visited website in America today.  The top 10 most visited websites in America in August 2011 include Facebook, Yahoo, MSN/Bing, YouTube, Microsoft, AOL, Wikipedia, Amazon, and Apple.

Facebook captured the most attention among web visitors in America.  On average, users connected to the world’s largest networking site for over 7 hours 45 minutes per month, averaging 15 minutes per day, or representing 25% of total hours spent online.

(Table: nielsen.com)