SweetLabs explained

SweetLabs
Industry:	Application Management, Devices
Operating Systems:	Android, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP -->
Genre:	Digital distribution, Software update, Application software
Foundation:	2008
Locations:	2
Products:	App Install Platform, Pokki Start Menu and App Store.
Num Employees:	70

SweetLabs is a software distribution company based in San Diego and Seattle. SweetLabs has raised at least $21.5 million in venture capital from Bessemer Venture Partners, Google Ventures, Intel Capital, and O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures.^{[1] [2]}

Products

SweetLabs creates products primarily designed for use by software developers, advertisers, and manufacturers of devices that run on Android and Windows.

In May 2014, SweetLabs released the App Install Platform,^[3] cloud-based and client-side services which include an App Ad Server designed to give manufacturers the ability to customize and manage the apps that are delivered to devices.^[4] This includes an advertising network that opens a marketplace for app install ad-space, as well as analytics and data collection related to these advertisements. The App Install Platform was used by device manufacturers including Acer, Toshiba and Lenovo.^{[5] [6]}

In June 2011, SweetLabs launched Pokki, a replacement for Windows 8's Start Menu^{[7] [8] [9] [10]} Pokki is designed to return the core functionality of the Start Menu, to restore features such as the ability to find and launch programs and apps, access folders and files, search the computer and the web, manage settings, and shut down. The Pokki Start menu also includes a notification center, a smartphone-like home screen to organize apps, sites, files, and folders, an app store, and access to web and desktop apps such as Pixsta.^[11] Pokki is classified as a malicious program, i.e. "viruses and spyware" by Sophos antivirus software.^[12]

SweetLabs also produced an adware module called OpenCandy. This software is classified as malware by many anti-virus vendors, due to the software's use of invasive browser hijacking.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Takahashi. Dean. 29 September 2011. SweetLabs raises $13M for desktop apps interface. VentureBeat. 19 June 2014.
2. Web site: Wauters. Robin. 29 September 2011. SweetLabs Raises $13 Million From Intel, Google And Others For Pokki App Platform. TechCrunch. 19 June 2014.
3. News: Protalinski. Emil. SweetLabs' new App Install Platform helps Android and Windows OEMs take the crap out of crapware. TNW | Insider. 16 May 2014. 25 June 2014.
4. News: Frank. Blair. SweetLabs helps OEMs lose bloatware with new service. GeekWire. 16 May 2014. 25 June 2014.
5. Web site: Mlot. Stephanie. New Acer PCs to Come Pre-Loaded With Pokki, Zynga Games. 19 June 2014. PC Magazine. June 25, 2013.
6. Web site: Bass. Dina. Lenovo Turns to a Startup to Bring the Start Menu Back to Windows. 19 June 2014. Bloomberg. Aug 22, 2013.
7. Web site: Chang. Alexandra. 16 October 2012. Pokki Brings the Start Menu Back to Windows 8. Wired. 19 June 2014.
8. Web site: Newman. Jared. 16 October 2012. Pokki Aims to Fix Windows 8 with Replacement Start Menu. TIME. 19 June 2014.
9. Web site: Molt. Stephanie. 16 October 2012. Pokki Brings the Start Menu to Windows 8. PC Magazine. 19 June 2014.
10. Web site: Whitney. Lance. 17 October 2012. How to restore the classic Start menu with Pokki for Windows 8. CNET. 19 June 2014.
11. Web site: Zuckerman . Erez . 23 October 2013 . Pixsta review: This is the Instagram desktop client you've been waiting for . 25 June 2014 . PC World.
12. https://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/viruses-and-spyware/Pokki.aspx Pokki - Viruses and Spyware - Advanced Network Threat Protection | ATP from Targeted Malware Attacks and Persistent Threats | sophos.com - Threat Center