In a call with investors earlier this week, Marissa Mayer summarized her plan for getting on track as a “chain reaction.” “We’re starting with great people, the foundation for creating great products,” she said. “These great products and increased ubiquity will drive user growth and higher engagement. And finally, higher adoption and engagement causes higher advertising spend, and ultimately, more revenue.” Yahoo’s focus has been on step one, talent, since Mayer took the helm in July: The company has acquired six startups, mostly for talent purposes, and its attrition rate for top talent is half of what it was a year ago. Now signs of what Yahoo hopes will fall under step two, better products, are making their debut. On Thursday, the company launched a weather app for iPhone and an email app for tablets–its first new mobile products under Mayer’s leadership.
