This week’s headlines from across Inside Network
A roundup of all the news Inside Network brought you between Dec. 17 and Dec.21.
Inside Mobile Apps
Tracking the convergence of mobile apps, social platforms and virtual goods.
Monday, Dec. 17
- Google Maps returns to iOS with an all-new app
- Google Maps for iOS downloaded more than 10M times in two days
- Google Maps, You Don’t Know Jack, Bubble Worlds and more on this week’s top free mobile apps
- Gamevil reaches 200M downloads mark
Tuesday, Dec. 18
- GREE invests in mobile game developer MunkyFun
- Exclusive: Mobile game developers allowing ads for games of the same genre can increase ad revenue without loss in retention, says PlayHaven
- Watch and share with Showyou
- Borderlands, Civilization, 1Password and more on this week’s top paid app charts
- Facebook enables mobile app installs direct from News Feed, offers developers more customization and reporting
Wednesday, Dec. 19
- CloudOn updates its mobile productivity app, expands to iPhone with Microsoft Office capabilities
- Share your highlights with Lightt
- The Inside Network Job Board: DoubleDown, Glu, GameDuell and more
- Clash of Clans, 1Password, The Hobbit and more on this week’s top grossing apps charts
- FTC updates child online privacy laws, exempts mobile apps
- New hires in mobile apps: Gamevil and Breaktime Studios
Thursday, Dec. 20
- Distimo’s 2012 year in review report analyzes the current state of the Apple App Store, Google Play
- Guest Post: Punch Quest – Optimizing UI Flow for IAP
- Make a music video with Strum
Friday, Dec. 21
- Mobile app news roundup: ZeptoLab’s new game, new funding for Flit and a an app from Coca-Cola and (RED)
- Speak to the world with iTranslate
Inside Social Games
Covering all the latest developments at the intersection of games and social platforms.
Monday, Dec. 17
- Angry Birds Star Wars arrives on Facebook
- Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (iOS) review
- Candy Crush Saga continues its run atop the fastest-growing Facebook games by MAU
- Middle Manager of Justice re-review
- Digital Chocolate partners with Spil Games for Race Track Rivals’ debut
Tuesday, Dec. 18
- GREE invests in mobile game developer MunkyFun
- Find & Climb review
- Wordz IQ review
- SGN launches MasterKey cross-platform development tool
Wednesday, Dec. 19
- Green Throttle Games announces new developer program and game portal
- Storm8 expanding its social mobile casino lineup with Bingo!
- Smurf Life (iOS) review
- Diamond Dash takes over this week’s list of fastest-growing Facebook games by DAU
- The Inside Network Job Board: DoubleDown, Glu, GameDuell and more
- Towers & Dungeons (iOS) review
Thursday, Dec. 20
- Doctor Who expands onto Kongregate, Newgrounds and Armor Games
- Knights & Dragons: Rise of the Dark Prince (iOS) review
- Guest Post: Punch Quest – Optimizing UI Flow for IAP
- You Don’t Know Jack (iOS) review
- PopCap and Wooga are the gainers, Zynga the big loser among this week’s Top 25 Facebook games of December
Friday, Dec. 21
- Marketland review
- The Million Slots takes top spot among emerging Facebook games
- Pong World (iOS) review
- 2012′s biggest rumors and controversies in social and mobile games
- Social games news roundup: Tetris Online launches bubble shooter, Dungeon Rampage’s got sweet new weapons and King.com gets in on the joy of cola
Inside Facebook
Tracking Facebook and the Facebook platform for developers and marketers.
Monday, Dec. 17
- Birthdays, Yahoo, JibJab, Photo Contest and more on this week’s top 20 non-game Facebook apps growing by MAU
- Instagram updates terms of use to include potential for Sponsored Stories
- Facebook makes big push into local search with Nearby feature in mobile app
- Facebook encourages page owners to make holiday posts
- Facebook ad results improve during holiday season, Kenshoo finds
Tuesday, Dec. 18
- Facebook prepping new video ads that could autoplay in the feed, sources say
- Facebook enables mobile app installs direct from News Feed, offers developers more customization and reporting
- Instagram says it doesn’t intend to ‘sell’ user photos, plans to clarify terms of use
- Platform industry hires: Adaptly, Offerpop
- Facebook to remove attribution when pages post via third-party apps
Wednesday, Dec. 19
- Facebook changes page post ads to increase engagement, but fan acquisition rate declines
- Facebook to halt mobile ad network test
- Metro, Madden, GameStop and more on this week’s top PTAT gainers among games and toys pages
- Facebook begins testing ‘Collections’ posts again with more retailers
Thursday, Dec. 20
- Facebook to test option for paid messages between users, announces new filtering controls
- Facebook updates cover photo and News Feed ad policy, limits text to 20% of image
- Facebook allows users to drag and drop photos into publisher for faster sharing
- Facebook works with brands on page post strategy during ‘Publishing Garage’ process
Friday, Dec. 21
- Instagram returns to original advertising terms of service in deft response to PR flak
- WashPo Social Reader, WhatsApp, Flickr, The Voice and more on this week’s emerging Facebook apps by MAU
- Instagram releases new filter, gives Android ability to post directly to Facebook pages
- Facebook releases standalone Poke app for iPhone with Snapchat-like features
- Facebook hires: privacy counsel, e-crime investigator, ads product marketing manager and more
- Facebook careers: creative strategist, SMB analyst, gaming client partner and more
- Facebook roundup: search, mobile ads, FBX, Netflix and more
Inside Social Commerce
Tracking the convergence of social media and commerce.
