EA’s social games to run on Facebook Credits

The last of the big social gaming companies to sign such an agreement, Playfish’s games will be exclusively using Facebook Credits as an e-commerce system for the next five years.

Microsoft Giving Up On Silverlight, Joining HTML5 Party

We now have further confirmation that Microsoft is giving up on its Silverlight rich Internet application platform. Bob Muglia, Microsoft’s president in charge of server and tools, told ZDNet that the company is “shifting away” from Silverlight as a cross-platform development framework, and pushing the HTML5 web standard instead.

There’s been plenty of evidence to suggest this was the case. After all, with the launch of Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft has fully embraced and touted many of HTML5′s features. But it doesn’t just stop there; Microsoft will be leveraging HTML5 for the latest version of its Bing search engine, and is using H.264-encoded HTML5 video in lieu of Silverlight Smooth Streaming for delivery of live video on its Xbox 360 game console.

Microsoft will continue to develop and lean on Silverlight, especially for application development on its recently launched Windows Phone 7 operating system for mobile devices. However, Muglia told ZDNet, “HTML is the only true cross-platform solution for everything, including (Apple’s) iOS platform.”

That Microsoft would align itself with Apple, especially in the embrace of a web standard, might seem peculiar to some. After all, the two software makers have been battling for decades in the PC space, and now are bumping heads in mobile as Microsoft tries to offer up a compelling alternative to Apple’s iPhone.

But it also makes sense that Microsoft would begin de-emphasizing Silverlight as a cross-platform development platform. Despite some of the advances Microsoft was able to push with its development, including HTTP and adaptive bit rate streaming, it wasn’t able to dethrone Flash as the de facto rich Internet application and video platform on the web. And with the emergence of HTML5, it was no longer a matter of playing second fiddle to Adobe, but lagging behind a web standard that was also being rapidly adopted.

To see what Adobe CTO Kevin Lynch has to say about adoption of HTML5 and its positioning against Flash, come see him speak at NewTeeVee Live on November 10 in San Francisco.

Related content on GigaOM Pro:

• HTML5’s a Game-Changer for Web Apps
• Three Reasons Over-The-Top TV Apps Will Beat Big-Cable
• How to Market Your iPhone App: A Developer’s Guide

YouTube Won’t Fix Google TV’s Content Problems

Updated. There’s been an interesting development in the recent Google TV saga, in which the search giant has shifted responsibility for the new TV operating system into its YouTube division, according to a report the SF Chronicle. By doing so, Google hopes its online video site can help Google TV with a lesson in striking content deals. But if that’s the case, it will probably be disappointed.

The whole issue revolves around the lack of premium content available through Google TV and a number of high-profile content companies that have blocked their content from being available on TVs, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes powered by the Google OS. Broadcasters such as ABC, CBS and NBC have all declined to let their web content be played back through the integrated web browser built into Google TV devices built by Sony and Logitech.

The broadcasters were unhappy with the prospect that viewers would be able to watch their web offerings in lieu of live broadcast content on the biggest screen in the home. Since those companies rely on high-value broadcast advertising, as well as increasingly high retransmission fees from cable operators, the idea of giving viewers access to web programming that they can’t monetize as well was a bit of a turn-off. The whole affair has caused a bit of a stir, especially since it takes away from Google’s initial pitch for the TV OS, which was to enable viewers to mix and match web and TV content on the big screen.

But Google TV is primarily a technology platform, and the folks there don’t necessarily have a ton of experience in media matters. As a result, Google is reportedly shifting responsibility for the fledgling TV division into YouTube, which actually has some experience striking content deals with broadcasters like CBS.

The problem is that YouTube itself has had a hard time bringing real high-value, prime-time content onto the site. Most partnerships thus far have included short-form clips of new shows or full-length episodes of older programming. It hasn’t really proven that it can negotiate to add new hit shows or the kind of stuff you’d find on Hulu or broadcast sites.

YouTube is trying to change that, having recently added a pair of execs — Robert Kyncl, former vice president for content acquisition at Netflix, and Dean Gilbert, former vice president of product management for Google TV — to bolster the amount of premium content on the site. But in the short term, it’s difficult to see broadcasters getting on board, unless Google can somehow write a check that makes up for the billions of dollars in broadcast advertising and retrans fees that are at stake if web video competes directly with broadcast programming on Google TV.

We’ve reached out for comment from Google, but haven’t gotten confirmation or more information from YouTube or Google TV representatives about the reported move just yet — but it’s early here on the West Coast. We will update if we hear back.

Update: Google has issued the following statement, denying the key assertion of the SF Chronicle story, that Google has reorged the division to move Google TV within YouTube:

Google TV has been closely aligned with YouTube for years. Although we did reorganize a division within YouTube a month ago, that was based on streamlining our operations so we could make faster decisions and align team goals with the company’s overall business objectives. Just like any rapidly growing organization, it is important for YouTube to evolve and grow to ensure further success in the future. The recently created YouTube Content Organization is run by VP of Content Partnerships Dean Gilbert.

While YouTube says there’s no actual story there, we stand by our initial take on the idea of YouTube leading Google TV content negotiations, which is: Google TV and YouTube will have a hard time convincing broadcasters to unblock their content without writing some very large checks.

To hear what Google TV product lead Rishi Chandra has to say about bringing broadcast content to Google TV, come see him speak at NewTeeVee Live on November 10 in San Francisco.

Related content on GigaOM Pro:

• Will Cable Operators Let the Google Fox Into the Henhouse?
• Cord-cutting? Hold the Phone
• Pay-TV’s Ala Carte Tipping Point

Boxee Offers HD Streaming Movies with VUDU

When it comes to streaming media, it looks like Boxee has the best of both worlds. That is, its hardware solution – the Boxee Box – makes it easy to bring streams like YouTube, Netflix or Pandora to your disconnected television. Now, its software solution will perform a similar feat with the addition of VUDU, a previously hardware-only provider of HD movie rentals.

In reality, both the hardware and software version will be bringing VUDU to your screen, whether TV or computer monitor. This morning, the two companies announced that VUDU would be coming to the Boxee platform in November.

Sponsor

VUDU was previously available on a number of devices, including Blu-ray players, HDTVs and home theater systems. Its inclusion in Boxee will be a win both for VUDU and for Boxee users, as VUDU finds a new distribution channel and Boxee users get a way to quickly stream HD, surround sound versions of newly-released movies. VUDU claims to have the largest HD library available, with more than 3000 HD titles available for $2 for two nights. In addition to coming to the Boxee software, VUDU will be integrated onto the soon-to-be released Boxee Box.

Avner Ronen, CEO and co-founder of Boxee, noted that “The fact that Boxee Box users will have access to the largest selection of HD content through Vudu in the highest quality available today really sets us apart from our set top box competitors.”

The movement to bring streaming, Internet video to the television is heating up with a number of providers, from Google TV to Roku to Apple TV and more, and any point of distinction could be a big one in this field. Newly-released movies (that you would only find on DVD and not on Netflix) could be a big attraction for some.

Discuss

Top 10 YouTube Videos of All Time

YouTube has come to define the era of online video, so let’s take a look at their most popular videos of all time. We first did this list in August 2007, at which point Evolution of Dance by comedian Judson Laipply was number 1 with nearly 56 million views. The next update was September 2008, when Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend pop music video was number 1 with 103 million page views (although commenters argued that it may have gamed the system). In January 2010, Charlie bit my finger – again ! was number 1, with 148 million views.

Our latest update shows that Justin Bieber is still the only video over the 300 million views mark, after knocking Lady Gaga off the top spot in August. Bieber is adding over 1 million views every day! New to the top 10 this month is the video for Eminem’s ‘Love The Way You Lie,’ featuring Rihanna. Here is the top 10, as of October 2010:

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1. Justin Bieber – Baby ft. Ludacris; 344,194,152 views

2. Lady Gaga – Bad Romance; 287,254,587 views

3. Charlie bit my finger – again !; 234,951,237 views

4. Shakira – Waka Waka(This Time for Africa); 202,317,896 views

5. Miley Cyrus – Party In The U.S.A. – Official Music Video; 161,423,252 views

Embedding disabled by YouTube.

6. Evolution of Dance; 153,302,372 views

7. Pitbull – I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho); 145,563,357 views

8. Hahaha – Small daring boy; 139,726,890 views

9. Eminem – Love The Way You Lie ft. Rihanna; 137,820,758 views

10. Miley Cyrus – 7 Things – Official Music Video (HQ); # 133,377,331 views

Editor’s note: Thanks to Deane Rimerman for the monthly updates.

Discuss

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Nokia touts simplified development via enhanced Qt SDK

Nokia (NYSE:NOK) issued an enhanced Qt software development kit promising a 70 percent reduction in the number of lines of code required to write apps for the company’s Symbian smartphone portfolio. Qt–a cross-platform app development framework–offers a complete toolkit touting an abbreviated workflow, simplified software creation and intuitive UI libraries; according to Nokia, the Qt SDK also enables developers to effectively future proof their apps by adapting their software to run on emerging mobile platforms like MeeGo, leveraging those operating systems’ additional features and APIs. The Nokia Qt SDK also features the Qt Simulator, allowing developers to test their apps on a computer. The SDK is available for download here.

In related Nokia news, the handset maker will make over its Ovi Store content marketplace to incorporate a new look and feel promising a more integrated user experience–in addition, the company touted a series of developer enhancements including new pricing options. According to Nokia, the upgraded Ovi Store will simplify and accelerate application search and discovery; the store will also introduce in-app purchases, enabling developers to deliver expanded pricing options like subscription models, micro-transactions and ‘try and buy’ offers giving consumers the flexibility to download a free, lite version of an application for subsequent upgrade to a more feature-rich premium edition. Nokia adds it will improve operator revenue share on Ovi Store purchases made after Oct. 1, but did not offer specifics.

According to Nokia, Ovi Store developers now reach roughly 175 million Symbian-based smartphones worldwide. The store’s footprint spans across 190 countries and boasts relationships with 91 mobile operators. Nokia notes that more than 50 Ovi Store publishers have reached the 1 million download benchmark, with some topping more than 40 million downloads to date.

For more on Nokia’s Qt SDK:
- read this release

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Nokia signing Ovi apps for free
Nokia promises improved Ovi Store with N8 release
Nokia’s Ovi Store now averaging 1.7 million downloads per day

Apple loosens the reins–will its reign continue?

There are some mysteries that seem destined to remain unsolved: Who built the pyramids? Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone? Why do they call it Grape Nuts when it contains neither grapes nor nuts? But another of life’s great riddles–How Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) determines which iOS application submissions earn its official stamp of approval–reached an unexpected resolution last week when the computing giant finally published its App Store Review Guidelines, providing developers with rules and examples across a series of iOS software subjects like user interface design, functionality, content and technology restrictions. The guidelines are so direct and blunt you can’t help but wonder whether Apple CEO Steve Jobs typed them up himself: Highlights include “We have over 250,000 apps in the App Store. We don’t need any more Fart apps,” “If your app doesn’t do something useful or provide some form of lasting entertainment, it may not be accepted” and (my personal favorite) “If your App looks like it was cobbled together in a few days, or you’re trying to get your first practice App into the store to impress your friends, please brace yourself for rejection. We have lots of serious developers who don’t want their quality Apps to be surrounded by amateur hour.”

Other shoot-to-kill offenses, according to the App Store Review Guidelines: Apps that create alternate desktop/home screen environments or simulate multi-app widget experiences; apps that alter the functions of standard switches (e.g., Volume Up/Down and Ring/Silent switches); submissions that duplicate apps already for sale in the App Store, particularly if there are many of them; and apps deemed “defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place the targeted individual or group in harm’s way.” (Apple notes that professional political satirists and humorists are exempt from the latter restriction–earlier this year, the App Store rejected NewsToons, a political caricature app submitted by editorial cartoonist Mark Fiore, but reversed its decision after Fiore won a Pulitzer Prize. Exactly how Apple will determine what constitutes a “professional” satirist isn’t clear, however.) 

The App Store Review Guidelines also address the inherent subjectivity of the approval process–long story short, if you think your app is likely to run into trouble, it probably will. “We will reject Apps for any content or behavior that we believe is over the line,” Apple states. “What line, you ask? Well, as a Supreme Court Justice once said, ‘I’ll know it when I see it.’ And we think that you will also know it when you cross it.” Jobs’ stance on adult content is well known: During an April email exchange with a customer, he wrote “We do believe we have a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone. Folks who want porn can buy [an] Android phone.” Jobs also has no patience for tattletales: “If your app is rejected, we have a Review Board that you can appeal to,” the App Store Review Guidelines state. “If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps.”

Which makes it all the more interesting that Adobe Systems is earning a reprieve. After all, in the wake of Apple’s April update of its iPhone developer agreement to mandate that all applications must be written to run directly on the iOS platform, effectively banning cross-compiler translation tools like Adobe’s Flash Professional Creative Suite 5, Adobe platform evangelist Lee Brimelow publicly called out Apple in a much-publicized blog entry, ranting “This is a frightening move that has no rational defense other than wanting tyrannical control over developers and more importantly, wanting to use developers as pawns in their crusade against Adobe… Speaking purely for myself, I would look to make it clear what is going through my mind at the moment. Go screw yourself, Apple.” But last week, Apple unexpectedly lifted the ban: “We are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, as long as the resulting apps do not download any code,” Apple said in a statement. “This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need.” The changes to sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2 and 3.3.9 of the iOS Developer Program license will enable developers to design and build apps in Flash, then convert their efforts to Apple-approved code–the revisions do not mean consumers will be able to access Flash-based web content via their iPhone and iPod touch devices, however.

Here’s a new mystery: Why the change of heart? Or at least, why now? Jobs’ aversion to Flash is known to all, and it’s difficult to imagine him rethinking his stance. Apple credited its decision to remove the Flash ban on developer feedback–more likely, you can chalk it up to the rumored Federal Trade Commission antitrust inquiry to determine whether the company’s actions threatened competition by forcing developers to focus on one platform to the exclusion of others. No matter what happened, Adobe was quick to applaud Apple’s decision: An Adobe blog post titled ‘Great News for Developers’ explains the move has “direct implications for Adobe’s Packager for iPhone, a feature in the Flash Professional CS5 authoring tool. This feature was created to enable Flash developers to quickly and easily deliver applications for iOS devices. The feature is available for developers to use today in Flash Professional CS5, and we will now resume development work on this feature for future releases… We’re hearing from our developer community that Packager apps are already being approved for the App Store.” And what’s great news for developers is also positive for Apple, especially with Google’s rival Android OS surging: A more hospitable, more transparent App Store is a proposition that’s going to be tough for developers to resist. Apple’s moves are above all about maintaining iOS’s status as the development platform of choice–that’s no mystery. -Jason

Study: Absence of over-the-air updates slows iOS device upgrades

Almost twice as many Motorola Droid users have upgraded to Android 2.2 than iPhone 3GS users who’ve evolved to Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS 4.0, according to new data issued by mobile app analytics firm Localytics. Over two months after the June 21 release of iOS 4.0, more than 20 percent of iPhone 3GS users still haven’t upgraded their phones, Localytics reports–by comparison, 96 percent of Motorola Droid units now run Android 2.2, released on Aug. 12. Localytics credits the discrepancy to Android’s over-the-air upgrade approach, which is considerably more consumer friendly than Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS upgrade process, which requires users to connect their mobile devices to their computer.

“Apple’s upgrade process is very easy and virtually foolproof,” the Localytics Blog notes. “This works well for users who regularly plug-in their iPhone. However, the upgrade numbers suggest that many iPhone users are not regularly plugging-in, instead using their phone more independent of their Mac or PC… At some point, Apple will probably need/want to provide OTA upgrades to both the iPad and iPhone, at least over WiFi.” Localytics also offers a word of caution for Android developers: “Be aware that your entire customer base can migrate to a new OS in just days! For Apple developers, be aware that you’ll likely have a good mix of current and older versions of iOS running simultaneously. The good news is that mobile apps can already be upgraded OTA and staying under 10 MB means that apps can also be downloaded over mobile networks.”

In related news, Android 2.2.–a.k.a. ‘Froyo’–now powers 28.7 percent of smartphones running Google’s Android operating system, according to new data issued by the digital services giant. In recent weeks, Android 2.2 (which boasts faster browsing and support for Adobe Flash, among other enhancements) has expanded to devices including HTC’s Evo and Motorola’s Droid and Droid 2; Android 2.1 remains the dominant OS version, powering 41.7 percent of phones. Google adds that 17.5 percent of devices continue to run Android 1.6, with 12.0 percent of units running Android 1.5–just 0.1 percent of Android phones are still running obsolete versions of the OS.

For more on the OS upgrade contrast:
- read this Localytics Blog entry

Related articles:
Apple seeds iOS 4.1 SDK as app downloads top 6.5 billion
Apple issues iOS 4.1 beta update to developers
Apple adds iOS 4 application section to App Store
Apple issues iOS 4 update to iPhone 3GS and iPod touch
Apple now accepting iOS 4 app submissions

Adobe debuts HTML5 Pack for Illustrator CS5

Adobe Systems introduced an HTML5 Pack for its Illustrator CS5 vector graphics software, promising developers tools to make it easy to design, deliver and optimize content for mobile devices and the web. According to Adobe, the HTML5 Pack (available for free download here) enables users to leverage the latest HTML5 advancements via enhanced integration between Illustrator CS5 and Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 software–graphics generated by Illustrator will now display directly in compatible browsers, and Illustrator may also be used to create CSS code for styling of HTML content.

Also featured: Multi-screen authoring tools that take advantage of HTML5, CSS3, SVG and Canvas. Adobe adds that the HTML5 Pack’s SVG and Canvas enhancements simplify the creation of interactive web content, also enabling users to build Illustrator-based web widgets generated by dynamic vector art for data-driven web workflows, as well as map artwork appearance attributes from designer to developer tools by exporting from the Illustrator Appearance Panel to CSS3.

For more on the HTML5 Pack for Illustrator CS5:
- read this release

Related articles:
Adobe to add phone, tablet support to Dreamweaver
Adobe issues Creative Suite 5 despite Apple’s iPhone block