acquisitions Archives

Winsage

February 18, 2025

Windows Mobile Pos Terminal Market Size by Application, Type, Geographic Scope, and Forecast 2025-2032

The global Windows Mobile POS Terminal market is expected to grow significantly from 2025 to 2032, driven by the rise of mobile payment systems, digital transactions, and technological advancements. Key factors include the demand for flexible payment options in retail and hospitality, the increase in e-commerce and contactless payments, and ongoing innovations in security and software. Challenges such as high initial costs, regulatory complexities, supply chain disruptions, and market saturation in developed regions may hinder growth. Emerging trends include the integration of AI, automation, and IoT, a focus on sustainability, and a demand for personalized offerings. The competitive landscape features intense rivalry among key players, with a focus on product innovation and regional expansion, particularly in North America, Europe, and the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region. Emerging markets in Latin America and the Middle East & Africa show potential for growth, despite facing economic and regulatory challenges.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

TikTok is back in US app stores for Apple and Android

TikTok has returned to the app stores of both Apple and Android in the United States after being removed due to a divest-or-ban law enacted by former President Joe Biden, which raised national security concerns about its parent company, ByteDance. The app was inaccessible since late January, despite its service remaining operational. A Supreme Court ruling on January 17 upheld the ban, leading to TikTok's reinstatement by Apple and Android shortly thereafter. During TikTok's removal, there was a surge in secondhand sales of used iPhones pre-installed with the app, and competitors like Meta-owned Instagram announced new applications to rival TikTok. Users also explored alternative platforms like Clapper and RedNote during TikTok's absence.

AppWizard

February 7, 2025

Game Development Software Market to Grow by USD 70.7 Billion from 2025-2029, Driven by PC Games and Gaming Consoles Demand, with AI Impact

The global game development software market is projected to grow by USD 70.7 billion from 2025 to 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.8%. This growth is driven by increased demand for PC games and gaming consoles, as well as the rising popularity of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) games. Key players in the market include Adobe Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Electronic Arts Inc., Epic Games Inc., and Unity Technologies Inc. Emerging trends include cross-platform development and the adoption of DevOps practices. Challenges include the rise of open-source game development software, high development costs, technical compatibility issues, and the resource-intensive nature of continuous updates. The game engine segment is significant for game design, development, and testing. Technavio provides insights into market trends and opportunities in the gaming software sector.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo-Backed UFL, Rival To FIFA Games, Plans To Release PC Version This Summer

Cristiano Ronaldo-backed UFL is set to expand with a PC edition launching this summer and a mobile version next year. Since its December launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, UFL has gained over 3 million downloads. The studio has partnered with FIFPro to feature popular players, despite lacking rights to many official team kits. The anticipated PC version is expected between May and August, with an alpha test planned for February or March. UFL operates on a free-to-play model with paid downloadable content, aiming for frequent updates and a live-service approach. Currently, UFL holds a user score of 3.4 out of 10 on Metacritic, while EA's "FC 25" has a lower score of 2.6. EA maintains a strong player base with 18 million to 20 million users in its Ultimate Team mode.

Winsage

December 24, 2024

Windows Central Tech Awards 2024 — Ranking the top PCs, tools, accessories, and software innovations of the year

This year has seen significant advancements in consumer technology, particularly in artificial intelligence, highlighted by Microsoft's Copilot+ PC initiative in collaboration with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor, introducing fanless, battery-efficient laptops to the Windows ecosystem. AI companies like OpenAI have expanded their offerings, prompting competitors such as Google, xAI, and Facebook to enhance their products. New brands like XREAL have emerged, while established companies like ASUS have innovated with dual-screen laptops. Accessory manufacturers have also improved their products. The Windows Central Tech Awards for 2024 recognize standout devices and features across various categories, including Tech Innovator of the Year, Best Processor, Best Overall Laptop, Best Keyboard, Best Pre-Built Gaming PC, Best Mini PC, Best Gaming Laptop, Best Gaming Headset, Best Tech Accessory, Best Monitor, Best Gaming Input, Best Gaming Hardware, Best Desktop All-in-One, Best Budget Laptop, Best Business Laptop, Best Mobile App for Windows Users, Best Windows Feature, Best Mouse, and Best Windows PC App. Looking ahead to 2025, advancements in AI, robotics, cloud computing, and potential breakthroughs in 6G and quantum computing are anticipated, with Microsoft focusing on AI server technology acquisitions and developments in PC gaming handhelds and new Xbox hardware.

Tech Optimizer

November 26, 2024

EDB: Interview With Chief Product Engineering Officer Jozef de Vries About The PostgreSQL Contributor Company

EDB is a leading company in PostgreSQL development, with Jozef de Vries serving as the Chief Product Engineering Officer. De Vries has nearly 15 years of experience at IBM, where he established the IBM Cloud Database development organization. EDB has introduced EDB Postgres AI, a platform designed for transactional, analytical, and AI workloads, offering deployment options as cloud, software, or physical appliances. Key features of EDB Postgres AI include rapid analytics, unified management for databases, secure support for vector data, uptime assurance of up to 99.999%, and modernization of legacy systems through Oracle Compatibility Mode. EDB has achieved significant milestones, including being recognized as the most loved database globally and the fastest-growing database management system in a market valued at approximately 3 billion. The company has formed strategic alliances with Nutanix, Red Hat, and SADA, and secured investment from Bain Capital. The acquisition of Splitgraph has enhanced EDB's analytics capabilities. Over 1,500 enterprises and government organizations rely on EDB, with notable customers like LSE and Smals utilizing EDB Postgres for critical data needs and modernization efforts. EDB aims to further integrate AI and machine learning into its platform, expand its global presence, strengthen partnerships, and maintain its leadership role in the PostgreSQL community.

AppWizard

November 14, 2024

Xbox still interested in M&A opportunities

Microsoft is exploring further mergers and acquisitions to enhance its gaming portfolio, with a focus on integrating the workforce from Activision Blizzard. Xbox chief Phil Spencer highlighted the company's interest in the Asian market, particularly China, and expressed a desire to partner with creative teams there to align with its gaming vision.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

Atari has acquired Transport Tycoon

Atari has acquired the Transport Tycoon franchise from its original creator, Chris Sawyer. The financial details of the transaction are undisclosed. This acquisition allows Atari to publish Transport Tycoon both digitally and physically, and it opens opportunities for new entries in the series, as well as merchandising and branding efforts. Transport Tycoon was first released in 1994, with the latest version being a mobile port from 2013. Wade Rosen, the chair and CEO of Atari, expressed commitment to honoring and advancing the franchise. This acquisition is part of Atari's strategy to expand its portfolio, which also includes the Surgeon Simulator series and publishing rights for Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, along with earlier acquisitions of Nightdive and Digital Eclipse.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

How AI will shape the games industry: Exclusive insights from the AI Gamechangers newsletter

OpenAI recently achieved record investments in AI, with ongoing funding announcements for AI in gaming. The Pocket Gamer Connects and Big Screen Gaming conferences featured over 10 hours of AI-related content, indicating strong industry interest. The AI Gamechangers newsletter was launched to inform readers about AI's impact on gaming, covering various platforms and aspects of game development. It offers weekly interviews with industry innovators and curated news on AI in gaming. Notable contributors to the newsletter include professionals from Charisma.ai, Quicksave, Kinetix, and others, discussing topics like interactive narratives, AI in game studios, and legal implications for intellectual property. The consensus among industry leaders is that AI will significantly impact gaming, but its implementation should enhance human creativity. Additionally, AI technologies may transform legal processes in mergers and acquisitions by streamlining document analysis. An upcoming AI-powered cozy game, AuraVale, is also mentioned, along with future interview topics related to AI in game development.

Tech Optimizer

October 22, 2024

Avira Free Security

Antivirus protection for personal computers is crucial, and free tools like Avira Free Security offer antivirus capabilities along with features such as a VPN, password management, and ad blocking. However, it lacks a typical security suite experience, missing components like firewall protection, backup, and spam filtering, with many features reserved for paying customers. Alternatives include Avast One Essential for a more streamlined free suite and AVG AntiVirus Free for basic protection, both recognized as Editors' Choice winners. Avira operates under Gen Digital, which includes brands like Avast, AVG, LifeLock, and Norton. The company has undergone several acquisitions since 2016, culminating in Norton acquiring Avast/AVG in 2021. These brands utilize four distinct antivirus engines, with efforts underway to develop a unified engine. Avira's installation process is user-friendly, prompting users to run a Smart Scan after installation. The Smart Scan checks for malware, evaluates privacy settings, identifies performance enhancements, flags apps needing updates, and scans for network threats. In independent lab tests, Avira received perfect or near-perfect scores from three labs, achieving a perfect score of 18 points from AV-Test Institute. It secured Advanced+ ratings from AV-Comparatives and passed tests for banking Trojans and general malware defense from MRG-Effitas. In personal testing, Avira quarantined 73% of curated malware samples, detecting 97% overall, earning a score of 9.3 out of 10. It successfully eradicated all ransomware samples but fell short compared to competitors in overall malware detection. Avira achieved a perfect score of 100% in phishing URL detection, ranking it among the top contenders in phishing protection. Its security features include virus scans, quarantine management, and software updates, though some features require an upgrade to Avira Prime. The privacy suite includes a browser safety extension, VPN with limited functionality, password manager, and file shredder. The performance features aim to optimize system efficiency but are often tied to the separate Avira System Speedup application, which promotes premium features.