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Archive | 2012 | May | 29

Facebook rumored to buy Face.com for $80-100mln

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May 29, 2012
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Israeli business publication Calcalist reports (in Hebrew) that the social networking giant Facebook is eyeing a purchase of face recognition technology company Face.com.

According to the Next Web, which cites Newsgeek’s data, the deal size could be between $80 million and $100 million.

In fact, Face.com has long been rumored to be an acquisition target for Facebook, even way before there was talk about the social networking company going public.

From what we heard, negotiations between the two companies have been held a number of times over the years, but Face.com has so far rebuffed offers because of the ‘low’ price Facebook was willing to pay.

Founded in 2007, the startup offers accurate facial recognition software that could help Facebook users identify people in photos faster, both on desktop and mobile.

The Israeli startup built a popular Facebook application itself called Photo Tagger, which lets people scan their (or their friends’) photo albums for known faces, and just recently launched a mobile facial recognition app for iOS called KLIK.

The startup also operates a platform of its own by offering a public API.

Facebook, meanwhile, just launched a camera app for the iPhone of its own, acquired Instagram and may very well end up building not only a proprietary mobile operating system but even its own phone, and it is rumored to be interested in acquiring Opera Software to gain cross-platform browser products and expertise.

Face.com has raised $5.3 million in funding from Yandex and Rhodium to date.

Source: PanArmenian.net

PICTURES: Photos show Madonna rehearsals

Posted on:
May 29, 2012
Category:
Celebrity, Music
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Snapshots captured during music icon’s rehearsals give sneak peak into her hotly awaited show

International music icon Madonna has began preparing for her sold-out show on Sunday afternoon, with rehearsals lasting well into the night.

Madonna, who arrived at the Ramat Gan Stadium with boyfriend Brahim Zaibat, started out her dance practice in sportswear. But as darkness fell upon the stadium, it was show time: The stage was set, the screens were turned on and the star was was in full costume.

The heavy security hired to guard the rehearsals failed to keep paparazzi out. According to die-hard fans, the snapshots captured during rehearsals show Madonna practicing the numbers for “Turn Up the Radio,” “Express Yourself,” and one of her newest songs, “Give Me All Your Luvin.’”

The hotly awaited performance, which is set to take place on Thursday, will kick off Madonna’s 84-show world tour for her latest album, MDNA. She last performed in Israel in 2009, on the “Sticky and Sweet” tour.

Source: Ynetnews.com