Snapchat acquires Bitmoji maker for US$100 million

In what looks like a way to compete with Facebook in the mobile messaging market, Snapchat has snapped up Bitmoji creator, Bitstrips Inc., for over $100 million USD in cash and stock. If you’re unfamiliar with the Bitmoji app, it lets users create cartoon avatars based on themselves that they can send via a special smartphone keyboard. This acquisition is seen to help Snapchat further its library of visual filters and lenses to its over 100 million users. Earlier this month, Facebook bought Masquerade Technologies to let users enhance their videos with filters and “swap” faces with someone else in the picture, a popular feature on Snapchat.

Source: MarketWatch

You can now download Google's Nik Collection of $149 photo tools for free

Google is generously giving away its $149 Nik Collection suite of digital photography desktop plugins. Google acquired the company to bolster its Snapseed application and it looks like it is done with the remnants of the company.

Nik Collection includes Analog Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, Viveza, HDR Efex Pro, Sharpener Pro, and Dfine, all of which work in Photoshop, Lightroom, and Aperture. Buyers of the suite will be duly refunded. The download is available here.

Source: The Verge

Apple releases solution to stalling iOS 9.3 updates

It seems that the recently released iOS 9.3 update has been problematic on some older devices which have stalled in mid-update and effectively left those devices useless.  During installation, the update requires the Apple ID and password originally used to set up the device - the common problem is this ID might not match your current one. Apple has responded by releasing a series of workarounds found here. Apple will be issuing an update to the update to fix the issue affecting older iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices.

Apple’s upcoming TV show will be about apps

Apple is not exactly falling far from the tree with one of its first attempts at original programming. The tech giant is partnering with TV executives Ben Silverman and Howard T Owens as well as rapper Will.i.am to produce a show about app economy. It won’t be following in the vein of HBO’s Silicon Valley but will be unscripted. Yes, it seems more like a documentary. Silverman was the one who brought the idea to Apple. There’s no word yet on how Will.i.am figures into the production but we should find out more details in the future. There’s also no word yet on production schedule, where it’ll air or be available to watch, and when it will launch. Eddie Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet software and services, has made it clear that Apple doesn’t plan on being a production company anytime soon. So perhaps, the rumoured Dr. Dre show before will just remain a rumour.

Source: Engadget