Yahoo debuts Livetext, ‘video messenger’ app

With the countless messaging apps out on the market, it takes a unique concept to get someone to use your app. What Yahoo has in their stable is a pretty unique one. The company released a new messaging app on iOS on the Hong Kong App Store called “Yahoo Livetext”. What the app offers is instead of exchanging texts and photos, you share “live video texting.” This video messenger shows you a live video of your friend texting but without the audio. This is said to make the conversation a bit more natural since you get to see the person you’re talking to. However, the app only works one-on-one, no group chats here.

It’s available in over 20 languages and will remain a free app. You can add friends through your contacts or by looking for their Livetext IDs. The app works with Apple devices running iOS 8.0 or later and it’s been optimized for iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. If this makes its way here, will you be trying this out?

Source: SlashGear

Yahoo and Google try out search partnership

After revising its 10-year partnership with Microsoft, Yahoo is testing the waters with Google search ads in some of its desktop and mobile queries. Google and Yahoo won’t talk about the specifics of its arrangement but according to Yahoo they work with other search providers from time to time to “create the absolute best experiences for Yahoo users.”

The revised deal of Yahoo and Microsoft allows them to get help from other providers for up to 49 percent of its search results. Google wanted to provide Yahoo with search ads back in 2008 but the plan was axed by U.S.’s Justice Department because it could deny “consumers the benefits of competition.” It hasn’t been made clear if the companies have cleared things with the agency yet.

Source: Engadget

Yahoo brings video app install ads to developers

Developers looking to market their apps to their target audiences are going to get some help from Yahoo. The company is introducing Yahoo Gemini video app install ads, which can be used to promote apps across different Yahoo properties and apps. With the self-serve UI of Gemini, it'll be easier to create video app install ads. They even integrated Flurry Personas so you marketers can target their apps to their intended audiences.  You can find out more information about Gemini over here and on Yahoo App Marketing over here. 

Get a sneak peek of season 6 of ‘Community’

Waiting for the sixth season a.k.a. comeback of Community? Well, Yahoo released a teaser of it through Variety. The show was previously cancelled by NBC after its rocky run. But the fans wouldn’t hear any of this. That’s why Yahoo decided to pick it up and premiere it on their standalone streaming service, Yahoo Screen, on March 17 (today!).

The whole cast and creator Dan Harmon are back for this season and the series introduces two new cast members, too, in Paget Brewster and Keith David. There will be 13 episodes for the season and rumours are a movie is even in the works (but that isn’t confirmed). The great thing is you’ll be able to watch this for free. However, this comes at the price of having to sit through ads. You have to take what you can get then.

Source: Variety | Via: Netflixlife