senior vice president Archives

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

OREO launches special edition cookies in partnership with ‘A Minecraft Movie’

OREO has partnered with 'A Minecraft Movie,' set to release on April 4, 2025, introducing four Special Edition cookies featuring Minecraft symbols: Pickaxe, Crystal, Sword, and Creeper. The collaboration includes a unique gaming mechanic where fans can bite the cookies into square shapes and scan them to unlock an augmented reality experience related to the movie. Additionally, fans can win exclusive OREO x 'A Minecraft Movie' merchandise. OREO aims to enhance playfulness through this partnership, which aligns with the creative themes of the Minecraft franchise. Fans can engage with the campaign at www.oreo.eu or on social media at @OREOUKI.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Apple TV+ App to Be Offered for Android Devices

Apple TV+ will be available on Android devices starting February 12, marking the first time the app is accessible on Android platforms, specifically for devices running Android 10 or newer. Users can subscribe to Apple TV+ and the MLS Season Pass through the app. Prior to this, the app was compatible with various devices, including Roku and smart TVs. Apple reported .12 billion in revenue from its services sector in the fourth quarter, a 14% increase year-over-year, and has surpassed 1 billion subscriptions. In October, Apple TV+ was added to Amazon Prime Video's subscription options in the U.S. The streaming industry is facing challenges such as consumer dissatisfaction and rising subscription costs.

Tech Optimizer

February 4, 2025

EDB Bridges Open Source Innovation and Enterprise-Grade Impact with CloudNativePG’s CNCF Milestone

EnterpriseDB (EDB) has announced that its open-source Kubernetes operator for PostgreSQL, CloudNativePG (CNPG), has been accepted into the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) Sandbox. This acceptance underscores the significance of Kubernetes in enterprise strategies and EDB's commitment to innovation. CloudNativePG is recognized as the most popular PostgreSQL operator for Kubernetes on GitHub, with over 5,000 stars. EDB provides a data and AI platform that supports over 1,500 customers globally, including major government agencies and leading companies in various sectors.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

PlayStation removes PSN account requirements for some PS5 games on PC

Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to eliminate the requirement for PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts when playing select first-party titles on PC, responding to player feedback regarding accessibility issues in various regions. This change currently applies to a limited selection of games, and while specific titles like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart or Ghost of Tsushima were not mentioned, the company aims to enhance the gaming experience. Players who link their Steam and PSN accounts will receive incentives, including managing friends across platforms, sharing trophy data, and accessing game-specific benefits. Examples of these benefits include early unlocks and bonus features for titles such as Marvel's Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, God of War Ragnarok, and Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered. Each studio is developing further incentives to be announced soon.

AppWizard

December 9, 2024

EA just made another 23 accessibility patents available for devs

Electronic Arts (EA) has released 23 accessibility patents for developers to enhance the gaming experience for all players. The patents include: - Intelligent Personalised Speech Recognition - Express Speech Audio Generation - In-Game Speech Generation - Voice Modification via Machine Learning - Adaptive Music Selection - Dynamic Speech Functionality Kerry Hopkins, EA's Senior Vice President of Global Affairs, highlighted the company's commitment to making games accessible to everyone and removing barriers to access. This initiative builds on EA's accessibility patent pledge introduced in 2021.

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Unity hires Jarrod Yahes as its new CFO

Jarrod Yahes has been appointed as the new chief financial officer and senior vice president of Unity, succeeding Luis Visoso, who left the company in August. Yahes previously worked at Shutterstock and Zeta Global. Unity's CEO, Matt Bromberg, expressed enthusiasm about Yahes' appointment, highlighting his operational rigor and growth orientation. Yahes expressed excitement about joining Unity and supporting its mission in the gaming and interactive experiences ecosystem.

AppWizard

October 29, 2024

Tencent pushes back on games layoff reports

Tencent has denied rumors of layoffs within its gaming division, stating that no restructuring efforts are underway and that the Timi Studio Group is actively hiring. The company refuted reports suggesting a reduction in workforce and consolidation of its 13 development studios into four. However, there have been leadership changes within the Interactive Entertainment Group, including the amicable departure of Vice President Zeng Yu and ten other management transitions, including Huang Lanxiao stepping down as General Manager of Timi's Level 1 studio.

AppWizard

October 17, 2024

Google announces big reorg: Gemini app team moves to DeepMind, Assistant now part of Pixel/Android

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a reorganization involving the Gemini, Assistant, and Search teams to enhance operational efficiency and innovation. The Gemini app team will move from the Knowledge & Information division to the Google DeepMind organization to improve feedback loops and expedite new model rollouts. The Assistant teams focused on devices will be reassigned to the Platforms & Devices division to consolidate AI-powered home initiatives. Prabhakar Raghavan will step down as chief of Google Search to become Chief Technologist, collaborating with Pichai on technical direction. Nick Fox will take over the Knowledge & Information division as Senior Vice President, leveraging his experience to drive innovation.

Winsage

October 16, 2024

Microsoft Projects Wave of Passkey Signups as Password Attacks Double | PYMNTS.com

Sangeeta Ranjit from Microsoft reported a significant increase in password attacks, with incidents rising to over 7,000 per second and a 58% rise in phishing attempts. She projected that by 2027, the global cost of cybercrime could reach one trillion dollars. Ranjit proposed the adoption of passkeys as a biometric alternative to passwords and indicated that Microsoft plans to phase out password creation for new accounts. Research shows users are frustrated with passwords, and major companies like Mastercard and Visa are adopting passkeys. Visa's Mark Nelsen noted that passkeys could enhance transaction security through immediate facial scans. Adam Lowe from CompoSecure/Arculus highlighted the security advantages of hardware-bound passkeys over cloud-stored ones, especially in banking applications.

BetaBeacon

October 16, 2024

NetEase Games announces tactical RPG Marvel Mystic Mayhem for iOS, Android

- NetEase Games and Marvel Games have partnered to create a new free-to-play team-based tactical RPG called Marvel Mystic Mayhem for iOS and Android. - Players will team up with iconic Super Heroes to combat Nightmare, the malevolent ruler of the Dream Dimension. - Doctor Strange and Sleepwalker must gather dream energy to equip their allies and prevent reality from collapsing. - NetEase senior vice president Ethan Wang and Marvel Games general manager Haluk Mentes expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration and the release of Marvel Mystic Mayhem.