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☆ Sega nears deal to acquire Angry Birds maker Rovio for $1 billion, Wall Street Journal reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

April 14 (Reuters) - Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings Inc (6460.T) is nearing a deal to acquire Rovio Entertainment (ROVIO.HE), the company behind the 'Angry Birds' mobile game, for about $1 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. Tokyo-based Sega could finalize the deal to complete the acquisition of Rovio by early next week, the report said citing people familiar with the matter. Israeli peer Playtika (8II.F), had made a preliminary bid in January to buy Rovio for 683 million euros ($750.96 million), but the Angry Birds maker confirmed last month talks had ended. Rovio and Sega did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. ($1 = 0.9095 euros)Reporting by Rahat Sandhu in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A new Mercedes-Benz will have TikTok, Angry Birds, and Zoom built into a touchscreen that extends across the dashboard to the passenger side
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mercedes-Benz unveiled its 2024 E-Class on Wednesday. And a new app store that lets drivers watch TikToks, play Angry Birds, or attend Zoom meetings. Mercedes-Benz unveiled its 2024 E-Class on Wednesday, featuring a giant touchscreen extending across the passenger side. TikTok, Angry Birds, and Zoom are already set up on the display. The first batch of Mercedes' 2024 E-Class is expected to arrive in European dealerships this summer, and in the USA in autumn.

☆ The 2024 Mercedes E-class will have TikTok built in
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —For those who have ever felt the urge to whip off a TikTok video from inside their car, Mercedes-Benz owners will be able to do that from inside the 2024 E-class without even having get out their phones. Angry Birds will be one of the applications available in the new Mercedes-Benz E-class. These features will be part of the new 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-class, a redesigned model that will be fully revealed later this year. The E-class is Mercedes’ mid-level model, larger than the entry-level A-class and the more compact C-class, but smaller and less expensive than the ultra-luxurious S-Class. Mercedes has not yet announced pricing for this new version, but prices for the 2023 E-class start at around $56,000.

☆ Rovio posts Q4 profit drop, says mobile game market shrank last year
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 9 (Reuters) - Finnish game maker Rovio (ROVIO.HE), best known for its Angry Birds franchise, posted a fall in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday and said the global mobile game market in 2022 declined for the first time ever. Rovio, which is currently the target of a takeover offer from larger U.S.-listed rival Playtika , said game developers' revenue was also dented by privacy changes on Apple's iPhone. "Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework has heavily impacted game publishers' ability to target high-value players," the gamemaker said. Rovio reported a 55% decline to 5.9 million euros ($6.3 million) in its fourth-quarter adjusted operating profit, while its revenue declined 2.5%. The mobile gaming market showed signs of stabilising towards the end of the year, it said, adding it expects flat revenue and profit development this year.

☆ Breakingviews: Toyota without Toyoda takes a small step forward
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Jan 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Akio Toyoda, grandson of the founder of the world’s largest automaker, is handing over his title as Toyota (7203.T) president, which effectively means chief executive, to Koji Sato. The new boss is currently chief branding officer and president of the Lexus luxury unit. Sato’s role at Lexus might be more pleasing to climate activists who have lambasted Toyota for not transitioning to pure electric vehicles quickly enough. (By Pete Sweeney)Follow @Breakingviews on Twitter(The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Diageo fortunes rest on reviving America’s thirst
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Investors in Diageo (DGE.L) are suffering from fading animal spirits. The share price of the $97 billion drinks company, which makes Guinness and Baileys, slumped 6% on Thursday, even though its 9% net sales growth beat analysts’ expectations of 8%. It’s possible that drinkers are getting more cautious, fearing a possible recession, and tempering their purchases of pricier booze. Sales in North America grew by just 3% year-on-year in the most recent six-month spell, compared with 14% a year earlier. But if the dry spell continues, Diageo shareholders may be nursing a more lasting headache.

☆ Even bad news is good news for Rupert Murdoch
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Jan 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A remarkable thing about Rupert Murdoch is that the wily media mogul makes out OK even when his plans fall apart. Despite abandoning the idea to recombine his Fox (FOXA.O) and News Corp (NWSA.O) empires, simply proposing and studying the idea helped uncover some hidden value. In any case, he’s likely try to unite them again someday anyhow. Both Fox and News Corp conceded on Tuesday that a merger wasn’t a good idea for shareholders “at this time.” It suggests that Murdoch, who tends to get his way, will eventually try again. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Juul is worth at least one more puff
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Philip Morris International (PM.N), Japan Tobacco (2914.T) and Altria (MO.N) may want to buy Juul, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. There’s a big regulatory cloud hanging over the smokeless trailblazer, but there are reasons to spark up a deal. Juul stands accused by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of marketing its product to underage users, prompting the agency to seek removal of its products from shelves. Juul would need to hawk some $250 million of e-cigs annually to justify today’s imputed $1 billion valuation, based on the multiple of sales the Altria enterprise fetches. At a big discount, it makes the business worth one more puff.

☆ Thrive Capital kicks off bestie race
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Josh Kushner is getting some help from friends. Thrive sold that same small stake to Goldman Sachs (GS.N) in mid-2021, then bought it back last December. If Kushner has trouble raising capital down the road, it’ll help having wealthy friends with an established rolodex. As the venture market faces a downturn the likes of Kushner haven’t seen, a seasoned set of confidants will be needed. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ ‘Angry Birds’ Owner Gets Takeover Bid From Playtika
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Dominic Chopping | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

‘Angry Birds’ became a hit with gamers when it was launched in 2009. Rovio Entertainment Oyj said it received a takeover proposal from Israel’s Playtika Holding Corp. for 751 million euros, equivalent to $813.5 million, sending its shares up 38% Friday. Rovio, which helped pioneer the now-booming mobile-gaming industry with its 2009 “Angry Birds“ hit, said the 9.05 euro-a-share bid represented a sweetened offer, following an earlier, undisclosed 8.50 euro bid by Playtika. Playtika specialized in casino-style mobile games before moving into casual games similar to “Angry Birds.“ Rovio said it isn’t engaged in deal talks with Playtika, and said there was no assurance a deal would be reached.

☆ “Angry Birds” buyout may have more levels to beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Remember “Angry Birds”? Finland-listed Rovio Entertainment (ROVIO.HE) has used the round-headed creatures to create a long series of mobile games, two films, plush toys and more. That makes strong long-time brands like “Angry Birds” more attractive. Rovio’s share price was hovering around 7.50 euros on Friday morning, or 20% below Playtika’s bid. That’s probably because Rovio’s board, which said it learnt about the offer “nearly simultaneously” with its public release, sounded unimpressed.

☆ Playtika offers to buy 'Angry Birds' maker Rovio for 683 mln euros
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 19 (Reuters) - Israeli gaming firm Playtika Holding Corp (8II.F) said on Thursday it offered to buy Finnish game maker Rovio (ROVIO.HE), best known for its "Angry Birds" franchise, for 683 million euros ($737.50 million) in a sweetened all-cash deal. The offer price of 9.08 euros per share represents a premium of about 60% to Rovio's close of trading on Jan. 19. Rovio did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Playtika's offer is roughly 40 million euros more than its previous offer in November. The latest offer comes as the gaming industry is going through a round of consolidation.

☆ North Korea Wants Dollars. It’s a Sign of Trouble.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Choe Sang-Hun | Pablo Robles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +18 min

Media Korean Studies 2016 2008 New Finished New buildings Repainted TAEDONG RIVER TAEDONG RIVER Pyongyang in 2008. Media Korean Studies 2008 2016 New Finished New buildings Repainted TAEDONG RIVER TAEDONG RIVER Pyongyang in 2008. Under Mr. Kim, North Korea has opened a new terminal at the city’s international airport, renovated subway stations and opened new amusement parks. Missile tests this year alone cost North Korea hundreds of millions of dollars, according to estimates by South Korean and American researchers. An array of cell phones, assembled in North Korea with components imported from China, is on sale and advertised on state TV.

☆ Jack Dorsey criticizes Elon Musk's decision to rebrand the Birdwatch feature to Community Notes, saying it's the 'most boring Facebook name ever'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey failed to see eye-to-eye on the name of a Twitter feature that flags misleading posts. Musk renamed Birdwatch to Community Notes but Dorsey said it was "the most boring Facebook name." It was first piloted in 2021, but Musk said on Saturday he wanted to rename Birdwatch to "Community Notes." Musk replied: "As judged by the people of Twitter via Community Notes (formerly Birdwatch)." "Community notes is the most boring Facebook name ever," Dorsey said in response to Musk.

☆ Twitter suspended comedian Kathy Griffin's account after she changed her name to Elon Musk to make fun of him
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Comedian Kathy Griffin's Twitter account was suspended after she impersonated Elon Musk. Griffin now joins a range of several celebrities and figures who had their Twitter handles suspended for parodying Musk. Any name change at all from a verified account would lead to "temporary loss of verified checkmark," he added. In a similar case, former NFL punter Chris Kluwe had his verified account suspended when he changed its details to match Musk's profile. Too many bird groups fighting each other internally other at Twitter," Musk wrote.

☆ Как возникает зависимость от Интернета: четыре этапа
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-11 | by ( Mld Media Srl | ) noi.md time to read: +2 min

Нир Эяль, предприниматель из Силиконовой долины, объяснил в изданной в нынешнем году книге, как возникает эта зависимость. В книге «Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products» (Покупатель на крючке: Руководство по созданию продуктов, формирующих привычки) утверждается, что зависимость пользователей складывается в процессе, состоящем из четырех этапов. Нир Эяль говорит, что установил эти четыре этапа на основе наблюдений над эволюцией онлайн-продуктов и услуг, а также неврологических и психологических исследований, отмечает wired. Первый этап – это манипуляция с помощью триггера (психологического импульса, посылающего в мозг сигнал к действию), и Нир Эяль пишет, что он наиболее эффективен, если пользователь Интернета испытывает чувство дискомфорта. Когда мы чувствуем себя одинокими, открываем Facebook, когда чувствуем себя изолированными, переходим на Twitter», – объясняет Нир Эяль.

Persons: Нир Эяль Organizations: Facebook Twitter, Facebook, Twitter, Интернет Locations: Силиконовая долина

☆ Mark Cuban says this is Shark Tank's 'No. 1 success story' after start-up sells for $22 million
▼ + stars: | 2018-11-01 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

All Bruno Francois wanted to do was to make a viral app. The Atlanta-based entrepreneur did exactly that, and then he sold the resulting start-up — backed by Mark Cuban — to online used car-seller Carvana for $22 million. 1 success story" of all the start-ups to ever appear on ABC's "Shark Tank." But long before Francois hit on Car360, he was an entrepreneur looking to create the next viral app — a goal that would take him through multiple products. Then "I Googled 'How to promote an app,'" Francois now tells CNBC Make It while laughing.

Persons: Bruno Francois, Mark Cuban, Francois, Carvana, Car360, he'd Organizations: Apple, University of Central, CNBC, Ventures, Francois, YouTube Locations: Atlanta, Phoenix, University of Central Florida

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