Regarding the 'silence', personally I am going with the reason of NDA. THAT is very commonly an agreement and part of a contract between two negotiating companies prior to announcing a deal. There even could be a deal (contract) signed as of now and still a continuing NDA until an agreeable date by both parties. Many specifics have to be ironed out until the deal is official and thus the NDA lifted.

This was a company that PR'd almost everything 'back in the day'. Very amateur and scam-like in appearance, So to change with only pertinent and meaningful PR's, is fine with me. IMO acting way more professional. If we get that major partner announcement all will be forgiven by those 'silence haters'.