1）myvouchercodes.co.uk最近针对1239名英国用户的调查报告显示，英国人不可以超过一个小时脱离电脑、手机、广播和电视等科技产品，多数受访者称自己在清醒状态下，一天内仅有1.2个小时可以没有这类设备陪伴。

31%受访者称自己每天在电脑/笔记本上投入时间最长；

19%受访者称每天在手机上投入时间最长；

12%自称每天在平板电脑上投入时间最长；

7%声称在广播上投入时间最长；

4%每天在游戏掌机设备上投入大量时间。

还有87%用户表示自己随时随地都要带着手机。

2）尼尔森最新报告指出，2012年第二季度美国三分之二的手机购买者选择的是智能手机。

在所有智能手机用户中，Android平台在美国市场份额达51.8%（第一季度是50.4%），苹果iOS则是34.3%。黑莓智能手机占比8.1%，其他手机平台占比5.9%。

从最近三个月的智能手机销量来看，Android设备占比54.6%，iOS占比36.3%，黑莓手机占比仅4%。

三星在所有Android设备销量中占比17%，HTC占比14%。

今年第二季度Windows Phone新设备销量中仅占比1.3%，旧版Windows Mobile设备市场份额为3%。

3）据WPCentral reports报道，亚马逊日前聘请前Windows Phone主管Robert Williams任亚马逊Appstore主管。Williams在微软就职15年，曾带领团队推出首个版本的Windows Ultimate Edition，在过去四年则担任Windows Phone业务开发总监。

在五个月之前亚马逊雇佣前Windows Phone开发者体验总监Brandon Watson任Kinlde跨平台团队主管，有观察者据此推测亚马逊意在借用这些人才的Windows Phone背景推出自己的智能手机（游戏邦注：有传闻称亚马逊正在亚洲测试自己的智能手机）。

4）据pocketgamer报道，Epic Games联合创始人Mark Rein在最近的Develop Brighton大会上表示，他们推出《无尽之剑》的初衷是证明iOS能够成为一个具有盈利性的平台。他们在准备推出iOS游戏时告诉开发团队，他们希望制作iOS平台上的《Shadow Complex》。

5）Boss Alien总经理Jason Avent（游戏邦注：他曾就职于现已关闭的Black Rock Studio）最近表示，从App Store赛车游戏《CSR Racing》的开发经验来看，目前成功的开发者在iOS上的利润空间远大于主机平台，因为后者的开发成本太高了。

但从长远来看，由于大量拥有高质量游戏制作水准的开发者涌入iOS平台，这个市场的竞争也将日趋白热化，开发预算也将水涨船高，并且有可能重演主机平台现在遭遇挑战的一幕。

6）据gamezebo报道，继宣布将推出基于《SQUIDS》的漫画之后，Ape Entertainment公司日前又表示计划将其他著名手机游戏IP转化为漫画小说作品，例如《Temple Run》和《水果忍者》。

《Temple Run》开发商Imangi Studios首席执行官Keith Shepherd表示，这款游戏有许多想象空间，他们希望通过与Ape合作探讨其中更多细节内容。《Temple Run》漫画将登陆iPad、iPhone和iPod Touch平台，不久后将向实体书店推出印刷版本。

针对《水果忍者》漫画书，Ape首席执行官David Hedgecock表示，公司的写作人员不会受限于该游戏设置，他们将自由发挥想力，将切割水果的动作转变为漫画粉丝喜爱的内容。

7）据Ad Age报道，《水果忍者》在今年4月份广告收益达40万美元。该游戏本可以实现更多广告收益，但其开发商Halfbrick首席营销官Phi Larson表示，他们不希望在游戏中加入太多广告，因为广告越多就越难以管理游戏，并且他们也没有足够的带宽。

该游戏发布已有2年，至今下载量超过3亿次；无广告的付费版本目前是应用商店中第六大热销游戏，而免费版本则在热门免费游戏榜单位居第41名。据Larson所称，游戏多数收益来自下载量及IAP销售，每月总收入达100万美元。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，拒绝任何不保留版权的转载，如需转载请联系：游戏邦）

1）Brits spend just one hour a day away from tech

by Mike Shaw

87 per cent never go anywhere without their phones.

New research claims that Brits only manage one hour of the day without using any tech products.

The study, conducted by myvouchercodes.co.uk, polled 1,239 people with the aim of analysing Britons’ relationships with technology.

Taking into account everyday items such as computers, mobile phones, radios and televisions; participants spent on average just 1.2 waking hours a day not using any technology.

Those who took part were also asked which items they spent the majority of their time on each day, with the results being as follows:

1. Computer/Laptop – 31%

2. Mobile Phone – 19%

3. Tablet PC – 12%

4. Radio – 7%

5. Games Console – 4%

It was also discovered that out of those polled, 87 per cent of people admitted to never going anywhere without their mobile phone.

Speaking of the results, chairman of myvouchercodes.co.uk Mark Pearson said: “Whilst I think we’re all aware that we spend quite a lot of time on our computers and mobile phones, it’s quite an eye-opener to find out that, on average, we’re only not using tech products for a total of one hour every day.”

He continued: “A lot of people don’t realise how much time they do spend using tech products, especially when you include things like radio and watching TV. When you take into consideration that these days, even reading a book can be done on an e-reader, you begin to see how so much time can be dedicated to tech products.”（source:mobile-ent）

2）2 out of 3 U.S. consumers agree: We’re buying smartphones!

By Kevin C. Tofel

We’re now beyond the mountain top of a smartphone majority in the U.S., with 53 percent of consumers buying smartphones as of February. It’s all downhill from there and Nielsen noted on Thursday that 2 of 3 new phone purchases in the U.S. last month were smartphones. With less reliance upon voice as mobile apps and the web become more widely used, it’s safe to say we’re now witnessing the final death throes of feature phones.

Aside from the smartphone purchase data, Nielsen shared additional information on the platforms and handset makers that are winning and losing the battle for consumer awareness:

Among all smartphone owners, the Android and iOS platforms lead the way with 51.8 percent and 34.3 percent of sales respectively. BlackBerry devices account for 8.1 percent while all other platforms make up the remaining 5.9 percent of ownership.

A standout data point — broken out from all smartphone owners — is the sales share of those purchasing a smartphone in the most recent three months. There’s little change at the top:

Android is good for 54.6 percent of sales while iOS also makes a gain: Up to 36.3 percent of recent sales. But some of those gains come at the expense of BlackBerry devices, which only account for 4.0 percent. This drop in sales to recent phone buyers, compared to smartphone owners as a whole, underscores Research In Motion’s problems. Regardless of how good BlackBerry 10 may or may not be when it arrives early next year, it may be too late in the minds of buyers.

Being the only handset maker to use its own platform, save BlackBerry, Apple holds the lead among manufacturers. Samsung is a distant second with 17 percent of all Android device sales, while HTC has 14 percent; closer than I’d expect, although HTC’s One series launched before Samsung’s Galaxy S III in the U.S.
To date, Windows Phone devices are still being outsold by all other platforms, including Microsoft’s old Windows Mobile platform. The newer phones accounted for 1.7 percent of device sales in the second quarter of this year while Windows Mobile devices were 3 percent of the total smartphone market in the U.S.

There’s little data to suggest that what’s been happening in smartphone sales won’t continue to happen. Android and iOS hold momentum that RIM hasn’t had in some time and that Microsoft is still trying to find with its solid mobile platform revamp. We keep looking for the third horse this race, but at this point, there’s only a pair of ponies running at full speed.（source:gigaom）

3）Amazon snatches up another Windows Phone exec amid rumors it’s making its own smartphone

Ricardo Bilton

If Amazon really wants to launch its own smartphone, it’s going to need some help from people who really know smartphones.

That’s one the explanations for why the company has hired former Windows Phone director Robert Williams as the new director of its App Store, as WPCentral reports.

Williams made the announcement of the move on his LinkedIn and Twitter profiles. A 15-year veteran of Microsoft, Williams led the team responsible for the first version of Windows Ultimate Edition. But Amazon’s real interest in him lies in his experience with Windows Phone, which he ran as director of business development for four years.

Amazon is bringing Williams on board five months after it hired former Windows Phone developer experience director Brandon Watson to become head of the Kindle’s cross-platform team. And while two clearly doesn’t make a trend, it sure does get people speculating.

While this sort of high-level movement is pretty common in corporate circles, Williams’s defection comes at a particularly interesting time for both Microsoft and Amazon.

For Amazon, his move comes as the company is rumored to be testing its smartphone in Asia, a rumor that feels more true than theoretical.

For Microsoft, the departure means the loss of a key executive ahead of a significant time for the Windows ecosystem. With both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 dropping this fall, Microsoft is going to need all the experienced help it can get. So there’s a very good chance Williams will be sorely missed.（source:venturebeat）

4）Develop 2012: Infinity Blade designed to prove iOS could pack a punch, says Epic’s Mark Rein

by Keith Andrew

It seems fitting that, days after Epic CEO Tim Sweeney proclaimed Infinity Blade the “most profitable game we’ve ever made” – based on man years invested versus revenue – co-founder Mark Rein has revealed that’s exactly what the game was designed to do.

Just as Shadow Complex proved XBLA could generate major revenue for the studio, Rein said during a session as Develop Brighton, so Infinity Blade was pitched as a way to prove the same success could be enjoyed on iOS.

Infinity and beyond

“When it came time to do a game on iOS, we said to [Infinity Blade developer] Chair that we wanted them to make the Shadow Complex,” opened Rein.

“They initially thought we meant literally do Shadow Complex on iOS.”

“What we actually meant was, we wanted them prove that you can invest in an iOS game and make lots of money from it, just like they did on XBLA.”

Though the concept itself was lifted from a previously abandoned Kinect game by Chair, Rein said Infinity Blade was specifically designed to be a triple A release on smartphones with big billing – an aim the franchise’s success to date suggests it’s more than achieved.

Indeed, Rein himself named Infinity Blade a bigger hit than Shadow Complex back in March 2011. （source:pocketgamer）

5）Develop 2012: CSR Racing ‘more successful than all my other games put together’, says Boss Alien’s Jason Avent

by Keith Andrew

While scoring a runaway success on iOS might be easier said than done, when a game takes off, it really takes off.

That’s according to Boss Alien MD Jason Avent who, having previously served at the now defunct Black Rock Studio, is now enjoying life at the top of the App Store with CSR Racing.

Racing ahead

“CSR Racing is the most successful thing I’ve ever worked on,” Avent said of his success at Develop Brighton.

“It’s as successful as everything else I’ve ever done added up together – I couldn’t have expected that.”

Avent described his studio’s partnership with NaturalMotion, which published CSR Racing, as “perfect”, but admitted it’s a deal that might not have been signed had he not already proved himself at Split Second studio Black Rock.

“Our background had a massive influence on us getting the deal we got,” he said.

“I think the best way for complete newcomers to start a games business is to have clients – there are small jobs you can do for people at the start that will get you money in the bank that you can then use to invest in your own stuff.

“Once you have an audience behind your games, you can then also take that to an investor.”

Eye on iOS

Of iOS in general, Avent said working on Apple’s platform was a no brainer.

“The profit margins when you’re successful on iOS are much higher than on console now,” he admitted.

“Development budgets on console have just got too big – it didn’t used to be that way.”

It’s a problem that, in the future, may well be replicated on smartphones, however.

“I think more and more people skilled in high production quality are going to come to iOS, and that’s going to make things more and more competitive,” he said, suggesting development budgets will have to go up.

“It’s inevitable. There is a hell of a lot of investment money out there for iOS at the moment, however. If you have had success, you can get support for your project right now.” （source:pocketgamer）

6）Temple Run comics are on the way courtesy of Ape Entertainment

By Mike Bellmore

On the heels of this week’s announcement that Ape Entertainment will produce a SQUIDS comic, Ape has announced their plans to translate another popular mobile IP into a graphic novel.

Temple Run, an aptly named iOS arcade title in which players run through temples while avoiding traps and collecting treasure, may not be the most obvious choice for a comic.  Unlike SQUIDS, story is thin and action is thick… but this may be a good thing.  Ape Entertainment will have a lot of room to work with.

Keith Shepherd, CEO of Imangi Studios, says, “The Temple Run game left a lot to the imagination, with more questions than answers. We look forward to exploring the world of Temple Run and the adventures of Guy Dangerous in more detail with Ape Entertainment and the comic series.”

Ape Entertainment’s CEO David Hedgecock seems equally excited about the partnership.

“Temple Run is by far one of my favorite adventure games on the App Store,” Hedgecock says.  “The thrilling gameplay plays into our plans very nicely for an extraordinary storyline that we know fans will enjoy.”

The Temple Run comic is headed to the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.  For those who prefer paper, keep an eye out for a print version in the local comic book shop of your choosing.（source:gamezebo）

Ape Entertainment to tell the story behind the blade with Fruit Ninja comics

By Mike Bellmore

Ape Entertainment continues its mobile IP landgrab with the announcement that it will produce a Fruit Ninja comic.  That’s the third IP in what feels like as many days.  Ape Entertainment kicked off this series of announcements with news that SQUIDS, a story heavy strategy game, would see the comic treatment.  Then there was Temple Run, a slightly less likely choice as it is a game nearly devoid of story.  Ape’s treatment of Fruit Ninja is even odder, as Fruit Ninja is about a disembodied sword slicing up flying fruit.

What exactly will a Fruit Ninja comic look like?  Well… who knows.  Ape Entertainment’s CEO David Hedgecock says, “Fruit Ninja is a mobile masterwork and we’re very excited to turn every slice of juiciness into a comic series fans will love.”

Snarkiness aside, Ape’s choice to expand the universes of story-lite games like Temple Run and Fruit Ninja may actually be a great idea.  Ape’s writers won’t be constrained by existing lore.  They’ll essentially have free reign to write whatever they like.

Fruit Ninja’s developer Halfbrick agrees.  Phil Larson, chief marketing officer, says, “By expanding the Fruit Ninja universe with new stories, characters and adventures, Halfbrick and Ape Comics are free to explore an unlimited number of creative opportunities for comics and take the brand in even more exciting directions.”

Will we see any more comics announcements from Ape Entertainment this week?  My bets are on Draw Something.（source:gamezebo）

7）Here’s How Much ‘Fruit Ninja’ Makes Each Month From Ads

Laura Stampler

Screengrab from Fruit Ninja.

Fruit Ninja, the popular mobile game that allows users to slash apart fruit with a Samurai sword, made $400,000 from ad revenues in April, Ad Age reports.

And apparently the company would make more on the ads, which users see in between bifurcating pineapples, were they not filtering out spam from dating sites and the like via Mobclix, a mobile ad exchange that has ad networks bid for spots on mobile apps. But the filter is probably a good thing considering the flack apps get for showing ads for guns, virtual sex, and Scientology.

“We want as much control as possible, but the more control you have, the more micromanagement that is needed and we don’t have the bandwidth in-house nor do we really want it,” Phil Larson, Fruit Ninja CMO, told Ad Age.

Since Halfbrick, which developed the game, launched two years ago, Fruit Ninja has been downloading 300 million times and 1.5 trillion pieces of fruit have been sliced.

But the ad-free, pay version of the game is even more popular than the free version. Fruit Ninja is currently the sixth most popular paid game in the app store and the 41st most popular free game.

Thus, Larson said that the $400,000 ad revenue isn’t too impressive—most of the revenue comes from downloads and in-game purchases, making “Fruit Ninja” a total of $1 million a month. Bananas!（source:businessinsider）