Angry

Despite the growth of Google's Android Market, Apple's App Store is still the top dog among mobile app stores.

Looking at different app stores this past year, research firm Distimo found that sales of iPhone apps alone in Apple's iPhone App Store generated four times the revenue seen by Android Market. Sales of iPad apps in the App Store chalked up the second highest revenue total.

The standings were compiled by looking at the total revenue created by the 200 highest grossing apps across each store. For the purposes of its report, Distimo separated Apple's store … Read more

Angry Birds maker Rovio is looking to go public. But it might surprise you just where it plans to do so.

Speaking to Reuters in an interview published today, Rovio's chief marketing officer and "Mighty Eagle" Peter Vesterbacka said that his company plans to go public in 2013 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He cited the Asian market's growth, as well as its "people and the money" to justify the decision.

Rovio has been talking about an IPO for months now, but its focus on Hong Kong is new. Back in May, the … Read more

As if sailing past the 500 million download mark wasn't enough, Angry Birds developer Rovio has signed a global deal with playground manufacturer (best job ever?) Lappset Group, the Telegraph reports.

The first playgrounds will arrive in Finland next year, winging their way to British parks shortly after.

Sand pits, animal spring rides--you know, the ones you'll inevitably fall off--climbing towers with slides and swings will all be part of the park lineup, with the planet's favorite furious feathered ones incorporated into the artwork.

Read more of "Angry Birds playgrounds land on parks near you in 2012" at Crave UK.… Read more

Facebook and Google both scored spots near the top of the list of the 15 most popular Android apps, according to new ratings by Nielsen.

Breaking down the results by age range, Nielsen found that Android Market was the top app--not surprising, since that's where most Android users go to find their favorite apps in the first place.

But in second place was Facebook, popular among 80 percent of those 18 to 24 years old, 81 percent of those in the 25-to-34 bracket, and 77 percent of those 35 to 44.

From there, the results varied based on age. … Read more

To wrap up the penultimate week (for the year) of the 404 Podcast, we're running through Apple's year in iTunes--from the best-selling apps to the most-downloaded movie online.

We'll also tell you about a woman who made $1,200 exploiting dudes on Match.com, give you a tour of Amazon's massive Costconian warehouse in Seattle, and question the artistic merits of photo-filtering apps like Instagram.… Read more

On today's Most Epic Buzz Out Loud Episode Ever, we interview the founders of Skout.com and find out there's an easier way to find love and friendship all around you than the way you have to do it in Sweden. Also, how Verizon is trying to murder the Galaxy Nexus and Google is letting it. Plus, David Lucatch (don't get his name wrong, take it from me) and Gene Simmons (yes, THAT Gene Simmons) join us to talk about the magic wand that is Ortsbo. We'd believe it even if Gene didn't say so.

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RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS (640x360)… Read more

Is there anywhere Angry Birds won't go?

Research firm Ovum doesn't think so, and expects hits such as Angry Birds to drive growth in the digital gaming market. The firm predicts that the market, which comprises any online games played on the PC, console, or smartphone, will double over the next five years to $53 billion.

The market for mobile gaming alone is expected to triple to $17.5 billion by 2016, Ovum said.

"With the addition of more and more casual gamers, the market is no longer the sole preserve of the teen male hardcore gamer,&… Read more

After more than two years of suffering without titles like Angry Birds and Air Penguin, South Korean iOS users are finally getting to join in on the fun.

That's because Apple on Wednesday began including games in its South Korean iOS App Store, a change that came several months after the July decision by the Seoul-based Game Rating Board to relax rules governing violent and sexual content.

Because of those restrictions, both Apple and Google had declined to include games in the Korean versions of their app stores, meaning that owners of iOS and Android devices in that country … Read more

As if stretching a mighty slingshot from Finland aimed at the heart of Beijing, Rovio says it will open its first Angry Birds retails stores in China this year.

Speaking at the TechCunch Disrupt conference in Beijing this week, Rovio Chief Marketing Officer Peter Vesterbacka laid out plans to bring the company's own merchandise outlets to multiple spots within China, its fastest-growing market, in hopes of generating more than $100 million in revenue there next year.

There are no details yet on exactly where or when these stores will open their doors, but the shops will sell Angry Birds tie-ins such as stuffed animals, toys, T-shirts, smartphone cases, shoes, and other merchandise that the billion dollar Rovio claims accounts for about 10 to 20 percent of its business, according to Bloomberg. … Read more