{{Short description|American software distribution company}} {{Infobox company | name = SweetLabs | industry = Application Management, Devices | logo = <!-- | 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 | homepage = {{URL|SweetLabs.com}} }}
'''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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=29 September 2011|title=SweetLabs raises $13M for desktop apps interface|url=https://venturebeat.com/2011/09/29/sweetlabs-raises-13m-for-desktop-apps-interface/|work=VentureBeat|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="bizapp2">{{cite web|last=Wauters|first=Robin|date=29 September 2011|title=SweetLabs Raises $13 Million From Intel, Google And Others For Pokki App Platform|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/09/29/sweetlabs-raises-13-million-from-intel-google-and-others-for-pokki-app-platform/|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref>
== 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,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Protalinski|first1=Emil|title=SweetLabs' new App Install Platform helps Android and Windows OEMs take the crap out of crapware|url=https://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/05/16/sweetlabs-new-app-install-platform-helps-windows-android-oems-take-crap-crapware/|newspaper=TNW | Insider|date=16 May 2014|accessdate=25 June 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Frank|first1=Blair|title=SweetLabs helps OEMs lose bloatware with new service|url=http://www.geekwire.com/2014/sweetlabs-helps-oems-lose-bloatware-new-service/|website=GeekWire|date=16 May 2014|accessdate=25 June 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mlot|first1=Stephanie|title=New Acer PCs to Come Pre-Loaded With Pokki, Zynga Games|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420970,00.asp|accessdate=19 June 2014|publisher=PC Magazine|date=June 25, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bass|first1=Dina|title=Lenovo Turns to a Startup to Bring the Start Menu Back to Windows|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-22/lenovo-turns-to-a-startup-to-bring-the-start-menu-back-to-windows.html|accessdate=19 June 2014|publisher=Bloomberg|date=Aug 22, 2013}}</ref>
In June 2011, SweetLabs launched Pokki, a replacement for Windows 8's Start Menu<ref>{{cite web|last=Chang|first=Alexandra|date=16 October 2012|title=Pokki Brings the Start Menu Back to Windows 8|url=https://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/pokki-brings-the-start-menu-back-to-windows-8/|work=Wired|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="techland.time">{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Jared|date=16 October 2012|title=Pokki Aims to Fix Windows 8 with Replacement Start Menu|url=https://techland.time.com/2012/10/16/pokki-windows-8-start-menu/|work=TIME|access-date=19 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Molt|first=Stephanie|date=16 October 2012|title=Pokki Brings the Start Menu to Windows 8|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2411042,00.asp|work=PC Magazine|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Whitney|first=Lance|date=17 October 2012|title=How to restore the classic Start menu with Pokki for Windows 8|url=http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33642_7-57534343-292/how-to-restore-the-classic-start-menu-with-pokki-for-windows-8/|work=CNET|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Zuckerman |first=Erez |date=23 October 2013 |title=Pixsta review: This is the Instagram desktop client you've been waiting for |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2056553/pixsta-review-this-is-the-instagram-desktop-client-youve-been-waiting-for.html |accessdate=25 June 2014 |work=PC World}}</ref> Pokki is classified as a malicious program, i.e. "viruses and spyware" by Sophos antivirus software.<ref>[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<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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.<ref name="malwarebytes">{{citation |title=PUP.Optional.OpenCandy |url=https://blog.malwarebytes.com/detections/pup-optional-opencandy/ |publisher=Malwarebytes |accessdate=3 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="sophos">{{citation |title=OpenCandy |url=https://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/adware-and-puas/OpenCandy/detailed-analysis.aspx |publisher=Sophos |accessdate=3 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="trendmicro">{{citation |title=ADW_OPENCANDY |url=https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/threat-encyclopedia/malware/adw_opencandy |publisher=Trend Micro |accessdate=3 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="virustotal">{{citation |title=Virustotal analyses of OpenCandy |url=https://virustotal.com/en/file/81196839f19269ce807e43c8b9669459dc833d6fd2d510646fc0bebc0e0ef2eb/analysis/#comments |publisher=Virus Total |accessdate=3 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="techsupportalert">{{citation |last=Richards |first=Gizmo |title=Controversial Advertising Program Now Being Embedded in More Software |date=16 April 2017 |url=https://www.techsupportalert.com/content/controversial-advertising-program-now-being-embedded-more-software.htm |publisher=Tech Support Alert |accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{URL|sweetlabs.com}}
{{Software distribution}} {{Software digital distribution platforms}}
Category:Software distribution platforms Category:American companies established in 2008