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February 13, 2013

Serving developers of all types, all languages and all platforms

Top Story

Facebook wants to be the go-to source for app discovery
Facebook wants to be the application-discovery platform of the future. The social network is now integrated within 200,000 apps, according to Vice President of Partnerships Dan Rose, and accounts for 23% of all mobile-app engagement time, per comScore. "We are trying to find the right balance between delivering a great user experience and creating value for partners by sending traffic to them and honoring their content," Rose said. In addition to games, Facebook wants to highlight book, movie and fitness apps this year. CNET (2/12)

Developer Economics

Microsoft reveals 4 "impressive" in-app ads for Windows 8 tablets
Microsoft is hoping to set its Windows 8 platform apart with the unveiling of four new in-application ad campaigns for tablets -- a Delta ad within NBC News' app, a Jeep campaign within AccuWeather, Ford within the Chicago Tribune app and Paramount's "Jack Reacher" within the BBC Top Gear app. The strategy "is part of an overall shift away from selling pre-packaged media to buyers," writes Mike Shields. "The results are impressive. ... Microsoft seems to have unleashed the creative potential of tablet ads," he writes. Adweek (2/12)

Toolbox

Yahoo CEO outlines mobile's role in boosting impressions
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer on Tuesday discussed mobile-centric prospects for the company's online discussion boards and outlined steps being taken to increase usage of Yahoo's sites. Mayer said Yahoo would reduce its number of mobile applications to about 12 core apps. She was critical of Yahoo's mobile-mail experience, and said she would seek to strengthen ties to Facebook as a way of "bringing valuable content to our users." Separately, Yahoo said it has bought Alike, a mobile-app-recommendation outfit. Business Insider (2/12), Bloomberg (2/13), Computerworld/IDG News Service (2/12), The Wall Street Journal/Digits blog (2/12), CNET (2/12)

Regulation & Policy

Obama announces executive order on cybersecurity
President Barack Obama says he has signed a cybersecurity executive order that aims to boost data sharing between the government and the private sector and to serve as a launchpad for best practices related to online security. "We cannot look back years from now and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our security and our economy," Obama said in announcing the order during his State of the Union address. The Hill/Hillicon Valley blog (2/12), Computerworld/IDG News Service (2/12)

Immigration groups, tech industry argue for more visas
Tech companies and immigration advocacy groups are joining forces to lobby for more visas for highly skilled workers, which IT companies believe are key to filling talent gaps. AOL co-founder Steve Case will testify at an upcoming hearing on immigration reform. The White House has indicated it's on board with revamping immigration law and boosting more visas to spur innovation. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (2/12)

Industry Spotlight

Sound-experiences app educates users at S.F.'s Exploratorium museum
The Frank Oppenheimer-founded Exploratorium museum in San Francisco has launched Sound Uncovered, an iPad application designed to educate users through auditory experiences. "Oppenheimer said the way to measure learning is if you enjoy it enough to want to share it with someone else," said Jean Cheng, project director of the museum's online engagement group. "We are simply giving you access to the magic of these existing phenomena." VentureBeat (2/12)

App Developers Alliance News

Build a mobile app, support sustainable cities, go to Brazil! (Free passes available)
Ericsson and AT&T are hosting an exclusive hackathon event at MWC for 30 rock star developers to build mobile applications targeting the sustainable, connected city of the future. Seats are limited so please register early. Lucky participants will be notified as soon as possible.

This is a winner-take-all competition. First prize is an all-expenses paid trip to the NEW CITIES SUMMIT, to be held in Brazil, plus £5,000. This Mobile App Hackathon is produced by Ericsson and the AT&T Developer Program. E-mail mike@appalliance.org for your chance to win a pass.

Free passes to Tablet Strategy West are available! (Feb. 20, Burlingame, Calif.)
Through a mix of real-life deployment presentations by corporate end-users, interviews with IT trendsetters and panel discussions between tech experts, this one-day event will help you plan, develop and manage the most productive tablet project in your organization. Join speakers from Lenovo, Box, Genentech, MobileIron and Creative Strategies. E-mail mike@appalliance.org for a free pass. Passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more.

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