09 · 03

Visual Website Optimizer: Another Way To Run A/B Tests On Your Site

A/B testing, which entails running multiple versions of a site at once and tracking which one performs best with users, is a key part of launching a new version of any website.Visual Website Optimizer, which I’ll just call VWO from here on out, helps users manage this often complex process. The service shares some similiarities with a Y Combinator-funded startup called Optimizely, which launched in July.

Among some of VWO’s features are multivariate testing (you can adjust more than one item on your site and VWO will run them in various combinations to determine which ones have a positive effect), heatmaps showing off where users are clicking (which are useful for visualizing where your visitors are clicking for different variations of a site), and split URL tests, which gives you the option to redirect
traffic to two alternate versions of your website.

The site also has WordPress, Drupal and Google Analytics plugins, and allows testing of pages which are behind login/signup wall and enables segmentation and running targeted tests (say, for example,
you want to test only new visitors who came to your site searching for ‘Techcrunch’.

Customers can use VWO’s API to integrate the data and management into their own dashboards. And VWO will track conversions across different domains via third party cookies, send email notifications of test results, and will send automatic screenshot generations of variations for archiving and reporting,

The bootstrapped startup is also seeing significant growth in traffic handles by its severs; its servers are now handing 540 million pageviews per month, a 500 percent increase in month-to-month traffic.

And VWO’s platform is being used by a number of well known companies including Microsoft, RackSpace and Vendio.

09 · 03

Google Hopeful Of 2010 Launch For iTunes Rival Despite Lack Of Signed Label Deals

We all know Google Music is coming, it’s just a question of when – and what it’ll look like, of course. According to Reuters, Google hopes to launch the service as early as December 2010.

Citing unnamed ‘people familiar with the matter’, Reuters says Google’s VP of Engineering Andy Rubin (which we likened to a Steve Jobs-caliber product fanatic in the past) is spearheading talks with music labels on plans for a digital music download store and cloud-based song locker service, which he hopes will see the light of day before year’s end.

Only thing that could get in the way of a pre-Christmas debut: the company has yet to sign a single licensing deal with the music labels, those same sources told Reuters.

It’ll be interesting to see if Google can get some of those deals signed in time for the launch of Android 3.0, code-named Gingerbread, which is expected to come in the fourth quarter of this year. Perhaps writing Santa a letter will help?

We recently broke the news that Google had hired well known music attorney Elizabeth Moody to assist them with negotiations with music labels and other rights holders for their upcoming iTunes rival. Needless to say, such negotiations aren’t exactly a walk in the park.

Each major label has different goals and strategies for digital music, and people in the know we’ve spoken to in the past say it’s nearly impossible to get them to agree to terms that will make a streaming music service viable. In particular, they tend to disagree over how long a free trial period might last, and whether or not a credit card from the user needs to be on file before the trial starts.

That’s not to say the industry isn’t excited about Google’s imminent entry into the digital music arena. As good as Apple’s iTunes, which just got a new, social-network enhanced version with the launch of iTunes 10 earlier this week, has been for them, executives at the major music labels have long considered Apple’s immense stronghold in the field an issue.

Surely, they welcome competition from a rival the size and reach of Google, as the iTunes Music Store has cemented itself the king of the hill over the years, accounting for approximately 70 percent of all digital music sales in the United States. Dependence on a single player isn’t exactly the industry’s vision of a bright future.

One label executive, who asked not to be named, told Reuters as much:

“Finally here’s an entity with the reach, resources and wherewithal to take on iTunes as a formidable competitor by tying it into search and Android mobile platform. What you’ll have is a very powerful player in the market that’s good for the music business.”

Another unnamed label executive expressed more caution despite his or her optimism, stating that Google lacks a track record in “selling stuff” (which is true).

It’s also worth questioning if Google’s entry in the digital music space leaves much breathing room for smaller, innovative startups to compete and maintain viable relationships with the music industry.

With Apple, Google and Amazon fighting for every penny, it’ll become even harder for the likes of Spotify, Rdio and MOG than it has already been so far. Which, to be clear, isn’t to say none of them will thrive or attract sizeable audiences – I just wonder if they’ll be left battling for increasingly smaller pieces of the pie rather than grow into giants themselves.

09 · 03

Samsung Fascinate appears in Verizon system, accessories in tow

Verizon internal system shot

What's that you say?  How about a picture of Verizon's internal system showing the Samsung Fascinate ready and waiting to make it's way to your hot little hands.  We still are pretty sure the release date will be September 9, and we know it's already making its way into a few hands, so it makes sense that Big Red is getting things ready. 

Oh yeah, there's also a shot (after the break) of some accessories, including a 2200 mAh battery.  That should keep you going for the best part of the day.  Seven days my friends ... seven days.  Thanks to you-know-who!

Fascinate accessories

via androidcentral.com
09 · 03

Skyfire updated, in the Market now

Skyfire Android browser updated to 2.3.2; available in the Market now

Skyfire, an alternate browser available for multiple platforms, has updated its Android browser to 2.3.2 today with some fixes and a couple of new features. What's fixed? Well there was a pesky bug that caused the browser to force close for some users, and they say that's gone now. They have also enhanced their video search feature, as well as updating the UI to look better on higher resolution devices. Skyfire is the browser that brought Flash videos to Android before true Flash was an option. So if you're a Skyfire user, hit the market and grab the update!?

[Skyfire]

09 · 03

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pricing And Full Spec List

Samsung has been hush-hush on pricing since the Galaxy Tab was announced this morning. Probably, because they are working with carriers to get it at subsidized pricing. This has not kept some stores online from putting it up for pre-order though. The pricing looks like it will be ranging from €699 ($890) to €799 ($1,020) in Europe.

In the UK, the retailer Expansys is taking pre-orders at £680 ($1,050). They are saying that the tablet will be available around the 11th of October, and we are thinking that pricing seems a little rich for our blood. It is a little more money than the iPad but, we are really thinking that Samsung is focusing on working with the carriers to get it at a cheaper rate. Anyways, we are still glad to see that it is being sold as a stand alone device and not just as a subsidized device. No mention on the US info yet but in due time we will know. If you would like to see the specifications they are listing about the tablet, hit up the gallery below.

[via Android And Me]

Kyle Reddoch

I am an aspiring Web Developer, Android Fanatic, Family Man, and all around Web Geek! I also do Freelance Development work.

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