Instagram reaches 150 million users, expects to sell ads in 2014

Instagram announced over the weekend that the photo- and video-sharing site reached the 150 million mark after 50 million more users joined in the past six months. And these aren’t just U.S.-based users, Instagram has said that over 60 percent of its users are from outside the United States.

With this growing number of users, the Facebook-owned online service now wants to cash in. Instagram’s new Director of Business Operations Emily White says in an interview with Wall Street Journal that they should be prepared to sell ads next year. The challenge for White and the Instagram team is to integrate this marketing tool without putting off its members, particularly its large teen and young adult base.

Microsoft set to launch Surface 2 on September 23 as per press invitations

Microsoft is going to launch new Surface tablets on September 23 in New York City. Almost a year since Redmond dove headfirst into its first in-house tablets, the company is set to deliver the refreshed version of its discounted tablet. What's on the docket for Surface 2? Adjustable kickstands, a Tegra 4 processor, 1080p HD screen, thinner and lighter form factor and  Windows 8.1. The "RT" tag will also get deleted for version 2.0. 

The Surface Pro will likely rock an Intel Haswell processor for longer battery life and a new Power Cover to offer additional battery life. 

Adobe Introduces new Generator features For Photoshop CC and Edge Reflow

Adobe today announced Adobe Generator, new technology that fundamentally changes the way people work with Photoshop for web and screen design. Generator is a platform that brings Photoshop to the heart of the design process, enabling greater interoperability between Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Creative Cloud and third party applications.

Also new -- and available today for Creative Cloud members -- is a Photoshop CC feature built using Generator technology, which streamlines web and screen design by delivering image assets in real-time to save users the tasks of extracting, cropping, sizing and exporting. Additionally, new connectivity between Adobe Edge Reflow CC and Photoshop gives users the ability to take Photoshop assets directly into Edge Reflow with just one click. Edge Reflow is a design tool focused on creating responsive web designs.

U2's Bono, Apple's Jony Ive collaborate on gold EarPods for charity

Apple's Senior VP of Design Sir Jony Ive during WWDC 2013 - Photo by Gadjo C. Sevilla

Continuing on the gold theme bandwagon. Apple's Senior VP of Design Jony Ive has joined forces with his old buddy Bono and industrial designer Mike Newson to produce limited edition pieces for charity. Ive and Newson collaborated on 18k rose gold Apple EarBuds as well as other delectable rarities including a Leica rangefinder camera, a Steinway & Sons Parlor Grand Piano, a Range Rover, and a Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos "561" clock which all received makeovers from the design duo. The pieces will be part of a 40-item auction for Bono's Product (RED) charity which hopes to benefit The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Would those EarBuds match an upcoming iPhone? We'll find out tomorrow as we cover the Apple Announcement live from Cupertino.

Source: AppleInsider

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