Carbonite sells SMS Backup & Restore to SyncTech

If you constantly switch devices, you might be familiar with SMS Backup & Restore. The app was bought by Carbonite last year and now it’s switching hands again to go to Australian company SyncTech. As its name suggests, it easily backs up and restores your SMS, MMS, and call log. At the moment, the app is still listed on Carbonite’s site as one of their products but with the holiday weekend we aren’t surprised that hasn’t been updated yet. We got the news from the update of the app on the Play Store where SyncTech announced plans to have an opt-out option for advertisements as well as updated contact/support details. No other news about what the company has planned for the app though.

Source: Android Police

Amazon purchases Blink to expand its connected home lineup

Amazon’s latest acquisition shows us how the company is taking the expansion of its connected home line very seriously. They just bought Blink, the company behind the wire-free home monitoring system. Blink offers both an indoor and outdoor home security camera models as well as a video doorbell. According to Blink, nothing will change for the company and its customers now and they will continue to operate as usual and support clients as needed.

Source: Engadget

Apple reportedly buying Shazam, deal might be announced on December 11

Apple is supposedly finalizing a deal with the company behind the music recognition app Shazam to buy the latter for a rumoured amount of US$401 million. The deal will reportedly be finalized over the weekend with the deal being officially announced on December 11, Monday. Shazam currently already integrates with Apple’s Siri and Apple Music—on top of working with Spotify and Snapchat as well. Both companies haven’t commented on the report. What this potential deal could mean to the other services Shazam is available on we can’t say. For now, we just have to wait for confirmation that this deal pushed through.

Source: NME

Sources claim Disney and Fox are close to reaching a deal, might announce plans next week

WDWNT.com

We reported earlier last month that Disney and 21^st Century Fox have been in talks for the former to acquire Fox’s studio and television production assets, with Fox retaining its news and sports arms. And report has it the two are close to reaching an agreement, even with Comcast in the picture, and sources claim the deal could be announced as early as next week. The deal will have Disney owning entertainment assets like 20^th Century Fox film and TV studios, FX Networks and National Geographic Cannels cable groups, regional Fox Sports and 39% interest in Euro satcaster Sky, as well as international channels like Star India outlet. Disney is also supposedly buying out Fox’s 30% interest in Hulu, which is seen as Disney’s initial step to building its standalone streaming service. The deal is expected to be an all-stock transaction with Fox’s assets valued at around US$60 billion.

The move is also seen as a way to resolve Disney’s CEO succession issue. Bob Iger has had to extend his contract twice since setting his retirement back in 2015. But with the likes of 21^st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch and 21^st Century Fox President Peter Rice in the mix, they’re seen as possible candidates to replace Iger.

Source:  Variety + CNBC