Applications
Verizon Wireless delivers ‘Rock Star: Supernova” content to its customers
MUMBAI: US wireless network operator Verizon Wireless is giving its customers a front row seat to the music based reality show Rock Star: Supernoa which airs in the US on CBS.
In India, the show airs on Star World.
Verizon Wireless customers can not only help choose the next lead singer of a newly formed group of former members from some of the most acclaimed American rock bands – including Tommy Lee (Motley Crüe), Jason Newsted (Metallica) and Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses) – but they can also V Cast video performances from the show, V Cast music downloads, ringtones, ringback tones and wallpaper.
For the uninitiated Rock Star: Supenova is produced by reality TV guru Mark Burnett. It is a reality show that combines the world of rock music with a relationship-style unscripted drama performance competition. The lives of the contestants will be broadcast twice a week throughout the series from a Hollywood Hills mansion. The winner will front a new rock group Supernova.
Verizon Wireless V Cast customers can catch the latest action from the show with video content on their V Cast-enabled phones. Fans can watch musical performances, behind the scenes footage and eliminated performer interviews, as well as news coverage of post-show interviews. Customers also can check out each contestant’s performance from every show by visiting the V CAST Showcase Channel in the Entertainment aisle on V CAST-enabled phones.
Immediately following every show, Verizon Wireless customers with V Cast music-enabled phones can download the full song of each contestant’s performance to their phone. Customers can also get ring tones and Ringback Tones of these performances, plus the original versions of the songs by the original artists, from the V Cast Music catalogue.
V Cast will also feature the latest in music from the show in V Cast Music. This includes contestants’ cover performances and full music downloads. Verizon Wireless’ V Cast Music is the world’s most comprehensive, over-the-air mobile music download service with more than one million songs available for download.
Verizon Wireless customers can also purchase ringtones and Ringback Tones to personalise their phones from a selection of music from the show with the VZW Tones Deluxe application on select Get It Now-enabled phones. Customers can also choose from a variety of “ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA” wallpaper options by visiting getPIX on their phone, selecting featured PIX and then Rock Star Ring Tones and Graphics on Get It Now-enabled phones and purchasing select content.
Verizon Wireless customers with text messaging-capable phones can vote for their favourite contestant each Tuesday night following the performance show. To vote, Verizon Wireless customers send the text message with the word “VOTE” to the ROCK plus the number for their favorite contestant
Applications
Canva acquires animation and AI startups Cavalry and MangoAI
The deals strengthen Canva’s push into enterprise and AI-led design workflows
AUSTRALIA: Global visual communication platform Canva has stepped up its acquisition drive, buying UK-based 2D animation platform Cavalry and US-based AI startup MangoAI to deepen its AI-powered creative stack.
Cavalry, whose tools are used by brands including Amazon, Meta, Google and Netflix, will strengthen Canva’s motion design capabilities. The deal builds on Canva’s 2024 acquisition of Affinity, which has crossed four million downloads since launch. With Cavalry, Canva now counts seven Europe-based acquisitions, underscoring its global expansion strategy.
MangoAI, an early-stage startup focused on video advertising optimisation, will integrate its reinforcement learning systems into Canva AI. The move aims to enable brands to generate personalised marketing content in real time, cutting production cycles while improving campaign performance. MangoAI co-founder Vinith Misra will join Canva as reinforcement learning lead in its research lab.
Canva co-founder and chief operating officer Cliff Obrecht said the acquisitions reflect the company’s ambition to make professional-grade creative tools more accessible without sidelining human creativity. The goal, he said, is to bring everything from vector to motion design into a single, integrated suite.
The company now reports 265 million active users, including 31 million paid subscribers, and $4 billion in annualised revenue, up 36 per cent year on year. The latest buys further position Canva against rivals such as Adobe and Apple’s Creator Studio as it pushes deeper into enterprise workflows.
Canva head of pro design marketing Liam Fisher, said AI is intended to act as a creative assistant rather than a replacement, reinforcing the primacy of craft and individual design judgement.
