zeebox

Why Apple dumped Google Maps

Thursday's CNET Update hit a fork in the road:

You've seen the mockery over Apple's new map app and how it will sometimes give users wrong information. But a report from All Things Digital is shedding some light on why Apple cut off Google, even if Apple's maps were not perfected. In short, it comes down to voice navigation, which has been included on Android phones for years. Apple wanted it, and Google wanted to keep that perk for Android. Google may have been open to negotiating (it wanted Google branding on the app) but Apple … Read more

Social TV app Zeebox lands in U.S. with programmer backing

Second-screen TV app Zeebox, which touts itself as new way for TV viewers to find and discover content, is landing in the U.S. with the backing of 30 broadcasters, including Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, HBO, and Cinemax.

With more than 1.5 million users in the U.K., the free Zeebox app for Android and iOS devices seeks to marry TV programming information with interactive features, including social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

The new app is likely to blend well with the activities of millions who already use portable devices in conjunction with TV viewing; a recent Nielsen … Read more