Apple is making big changes to the App Store under Phil Schiller’s lead | Ars Technica

Apple is making big changes to the App Store under Phil Schiller’s lead | Ars Technica: "We're a few days out from the WWDC keynote, but Apple is already making some announcements. Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller was put in charge of the App Store back in December, and today he sat down with The Loop's Jim Dalrymple to detail his first major changes to the App Store.

Plenty of great Apple developer news in this article.

GNU cryptocurrency aims at 'the mainstream economy not the black market' • The Register

GNU cryptocurrency aims at 'the mainstream economy not the black market' • The Register: "GNU and an outfit called “Inria” have released Alpha code – version 0.0.0 to be precise – of an anonymous-but-taxable electronic payments system they say is “a currency for the mainstream economy, and not the black market.”"

When GNU farts, hackers listen.

Verizon could rule the ’90s cyberscape as owner of both AOL and Yahoo | Ars Technica

Verizon could rule the ’90s cyberscape as owner of both AOL and Yahoo | Ars Technica: "Verizon is submitting a $3 billion (£2 billion) bid to purchase Yahoo's core Internet business, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cites an anonymous source. Though at least one more round of bidding is expected, Verizon is reportedly the leading contender."

Turns out the most important part of being a successful Google executive is being at Google.

Apple's 'Shot on iPhone' video catalog gets 8 new videos

Apple's 'Shot on iPhone' video catalog gets 8 new videos: "In a friendly reminder that iPhone is the world's most popular digital camera, Apple on Monday added eight new user videos to its "Shot on iPhone" series, highlighting the handset's ability to capture high-quality footage in the most challenging environments."

How about a series of Made entirely on a Mac? Only a masochist would choose to edit on a mobile device.

NASA's Eyes: Eyes on Juno

NASA's Eyes: Eyes on Juno: "After a journey of more than 5 years, the Juno spacecraft is ready for its detailed look at Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system. "

Eyes on Jupiter.

Xiaomi’s path to the West gets a little easier with Microsoft patent deal | Ars Technica

Xiaomi’s path to the West gets a little easier with Microsoft patent deal | Ars Technica: "Xiaomi and Microsoft have announced a deal that will move the companies a little closer together, while giving Xiaomi a slightly less treacherous path for expansion into Western markets. Xiaomi is buying some Microsoft patents, and the two companies have inked a cross-licensing deal for patents, and, like many vendors, Xiaomi is committing to bundle Microsoft apps on its Android phones."

Could be a big win. Maybe a Xiaomi Windows phone is next!

WeChat is more than a messaging app, it might be a mobile OS

WeChat is more than a messaging app, it might be a mobile OS: "China's WeChat is a messaging app tha offers just about everything, from text messaging to instant payments. It's a monster, with mote than 1 billion registered users. "

His kung fu is very strong.

In China, you pay with cash or Alipay

In China, you pay with cash or Alipay: "App name: Alipay (Zhifubao) What it is: Almost-universal Paypal Owned by: Alibaba Group and its founder Jack Ma What it does: Allows you to pay for anything, anywhere. Special sauce: No transaction fees and an escrow service to verify goods before you pay"

This escrow "business" is the future of ecommerce.

The Windows Phone story: From hope to dusty abandonware • The Register

The Windows Phone story: From hope to dusty abandonware • The Register: "Spring cleaning the other day, my wife found a Windows wristband. It was in a box where ten year old 4MB MMC cards went to die, along with paperclips, odd screws and a lot of dust. Keep or chuck? Chuck, I said, before looking closer, and realising that it was a time capsule buried in another era: a USB drive with press materials on it.">

Windows Phone is dead, you know, just like how Apple was pronounced dead by Rolling Stone back in the late 1990s. Not only does Microsoft now have a Phone OS and a phone hardware division, they also have the best cross-platform mobile tools in existence: Xamarin. Windows Phone is dead, long live Windows Phone.