Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Introducing The Apple Ipad


Finally! After years of speculation, Apple has introduced the Ipad to the world. In typical fashion Steve Jobs presented the new device in front of a packed audience of eager spectators and reporters. He stood on stage at the Yerba Buena Center in San Fransisco, site of other legendary launches, dressed in a black turtle neck and jeans. Job's described the device as "truly magical and revolutionary". He went on to say that it has created "third catagory" of devises next to the PC and Iphone. The crowd was in awe as he demonstrated several features of the device. "It's like hold the internet in your hands" he added.


The Ipad weighs a lean 1.5lbs and is half an inch thick. The device features a 9.7" LCD screen touchscreen combined with an updated Apple Iphone OS ripe for apps, music and movies. The Ipad also boasts a custom one-GHz possessor chip called the A4 which is the first of it's kind to be shipped in an Apple devibe. The new OS will be equipped with 11 pre-loaded apps including iwork and ibooks

It's no secret that Apple has been forming alliances with several different content providers for it's iBook application , a e-reading app for the Ipad. Books and magazines can include color, movies and sound. This feature alone will blow away current e-book readers. Five major publishers have signed on to the ibook store--HaperCollins, MacMillen, Penguin, Hachette and Simon & Schuster.

What really got people excited was the price! Originally expected to range from $800-1000. Apple announced that the Ipad's price will start at $499 for the 16gb, $599 for the 32GB and $699 for 64gb. 3G will be made available through an additional AT&T fee.

Obviously Apple has a good track record when it comes to pioneering new devices and categories. By the looks of today's event, we're in for a wild ride.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Squarepush Uses QR Codes To Share PingTags

Squarepush, a mobile web development firm, will be using QR codes in their latest mobile endeavor. They are calling it PingTag. It's a page that users can create using data from their Linkedin profile. The Pingtags will be assigned a QR code with the PingTag info stored inside. The QR codes are to be used on business cards where the code can be scanned by a camera phone QR reader to enable the users to easily store and share your PingTag. The results can be tracked by location allowing the ability see when and where your PingTag is being accessed and what people are doing with it. They are still beta testing with the project but expect to see PingTag up and running soon.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Adidas Augmented Reality Shoe Teaser

Adidas Originals is launching the first augmented reality experience in shoes. The AR "game pack" is a set of 5 shoes, each printed with an AR code on the tongue. When you hold the shoes up to a webcam, you'll enter the digitally augmented world of Addidas original neighborhoods. Over the next few months Adidias will be realeasing new interactive games within the neighborhood with your shoe being the controller. Sounds interesting. Here's a promo vid.

MTV Interactive Sign in NYC and What It Really Says

To promote their new series"The Buried Life" MTV asked street goers on 45th and 5th in NYC a personal question. They used Adhesive Vinyl to wrap the side of the building with cutouts for an large Iphone-like keyboard and a separate screen to view answers live as they came in. Answers can also be viewed at www.thebuiredlife.com. The series premiered this past Monday.



What do you want to do before you die? That's a questions that ANYONE can sit and ponder. It's personal and unique. People were engaging with the wall in 40 degree weather to share their dreams with MTV. Every brand needs to ask their customers this EXACT question and LISTEN to the answers. How do we fit into the lives and aspirations of our customers in the grand scheme of things, really? It's all about finding a way to resonate.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Mobile Barcode Readers Gaining Massive Popularity says Mplayit

Mplayit, who houses the largest cross-platform app store on the web, says that mobile barcode readers have shot to the top of app downloads. They looked at the top 3, Blackberry, Anrdoid and Apple app stats and saw QR readers emerging across all platforms. According to the analysis, each OS had similar apps that were popular including barcode readers.

Their website, myplayit.com , is an application hosted on Facebook. Pretty cool actually! This allows users to share and review apps easily amongst the Facebook community. When you think about it, Facebook is the best place to ignite app sharing. It is this type of community that will foster a viral enviroment for apps. In late December, Mplayit announced that they would now provide the entire Android catalog of over 15,000 applications on its app store on the Facebook platform.


According to Michael Powers, founder and CEO of Mplayit, the launch of the new Facebook service couldn't be more timely.

"App discovery on Android is frankly a mess," said Powers. "From our success with our iPhone Arcade on Facebook, we know how to socially engage users. We let them tap into their friends and networks to try and share apps, and we're bringing that know-how to the Android app marketplace."

One of the vehicles for app sharing across the web have been QR codes. It's easiest way to transfer links from your desktop to your phone. Instead of typing a long URL into your phone to get to the app page you can now just scan a bacrcode that will instantly take you to the download.

Powers, CEO, also said this about Anrdoid.

"Android is on the brink of prime time. It will be the single biggest audience for mobile apps in the very near future, and Mplayit will play a major role in helping those users find great apps," said Powers. "Compelling new devices like the Motorola Droid, Google's Nexus One and the truly mass-market devices that will shortly follow make Android the place to be. We believe that, with our new service, Android is at last getting the distribution ecosystem it deserves."

This is exactly what I've been predicting! No doubt that QR codes are starting to add value and convenience to our lives as the mobile web continues to evolve.



Sources: PRnewswire

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Window Perfs (Invisa-view) Powerful Storefronts!

Window Perfs or "Invisa-view" have become immensely popular in the digital print age amongst retailers. No wonder! UV protected and water resistant, this self adhesive media is PERFECT for storefronts. Tiny holes make up almost 30% of the surface giving the image transparency while viewing from behind. This is important to stores because restricting views from within due to window decals can raise safety concerns.



Storefronts are an important tool in engaging the shopper and prompting their curiosity. This type of media isn't for every storefront but it's a great option to consider. Window Perfs, Invisaviews and other self adhesive products should be in every brand's portfolio and shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to produce. Custom size availability and product lifespan are all things to consider when choosing a printer for this application.




Installation seems scary but it's actually a pretty simple process. The Duratran Co, experts on Window Perf printing, recommends using a soap and water solution to prep the window. They refer to in as a "wet install". After spraying down the window, peel off the backing on the graphic revealing the adhesive and lay it down on the glass. The soap solution will offer flexiblity when aligning the image to the window. Next, using a squeegee , flatten any air bubbles that exisit and set the graphic. Last, take a dry rag and remove any excess water. Most stores are quick to hire an install company but a few sets of hands and the soapy solution can get a majority jobs done.





Monday, January 18, 2010

Duratrans Should Be Simple, Fast and Effective


Duratrans are critical to any brand who is marketing savvy and has a retail presence. They can literally JOLT a shopper into your product with their life-like illumination. Placed in the right environment, they can be a powerful tool for brands to hammer home messages. Retailers featuring light boxes that are strategically placed throughout the store can influence shoppers and be a game changer in the decision making process. Shoppers are fragile when they enter your buy zone so deliver powerful images with clear messages, DO NOT confuse them with text and clutter. Great duratrans can augment the environment to favor YOUR BRAND. Fielding duratran requests from your retailers and recognizing where opportunities lie can literally be all the difference in how a store performs with your product. A MAJOR problem that brands face is that light boxes can be found in an wide variety of shapes and sizes causing a dizzying array of data for marketing coordinators to manage and process. Team this with robust roll-outs and layout customizations and you better grab some Tylenol. OR call The Duratran Co.



Traditionally brands would rely on their creative agencies to handle duratran production. Micro managemant of layouts and typical agency BS costs TIME and MONEY. If anybody starts to pay attention they realize that the agency charges you for EVERY layout as well as inflating the
duratran cost beyond recognition. In the days where companies had fat advertising budgets due to lack of competition, this was fine and dandy. We all know that today is different though. Brands need to be efficient with EVERY aspect of their image, especially duratrans. When looking for a company to print and process your duratran visual requests consider the following

1) How fast is fast?
-work with a company who archives your visuals and can provide quick custom layouts as needed
-48hours or less turn-around

2) NO layout fees
- you should only be charged for the duratran itself.
-adding retailer's logo and store specific text should fall into this category

3)Proof
-all orders should be followed up with a proof to eliminate errors
-keeps brands in the loop and is a safely net for mistakes

4) Online order management (most important)
-place and track orders online
-build profiles for stores to document sizes and history
-run reports based on creative, location, product and size




Motorola Shadow = Nexus Two?



Here is a recently leaked photo of the new Motorola Shadow. HOT! The devise looks a little like Motorola's Droid but boasts a fresh white keyboard and a wristband slot. Looks hip for a younger crowd. What's more exciting is the rumor that this will be Google's new flagship devise as it features Android OS. It's already being billed as the "Nexus Two". This looks like another push by Google to bring the mobile web to the masses. We are interested in how the phone will be marketed as well as how it will further position Google as the leader in mobile web devises.

UPDATE:
4.3-inch display with a screen resolution of 850x484 pixels. The phone is also said to be equipped with a 5 Megapixel cam but has an 8 Megapixel image sensor! It will also be possible to shoot HIGH DEF video in a 1080p with the Shadow. WOW. Also, there is said to be a bult in HDMI dock for easy connection to a TV.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Android is Iphone "Chiller"


Google to eat Apple.

The Iphone is losing it! YES, I said it. Apple better come up with something, and FAST. After spending a solid week the the Nexus One, Android's newest device, I have adjusted my outlook on Apple's future in the mobile scene. The Nexus, which is positioned to become the RAZR of smartphones, beats the Iphone....straight up. (more on that later)

Card insert for Nexus One packaging

The Iphone has too much cache and better marketing right now for anyone to admit this defeat or even recognize it. This is NOT about " Devise vs. Devise" though..... That's another story. It's about the BIG picture and how Google is about to swallow Apple.

Handset manufactures and carriers are flocking to Google's mobile OS, Android. Why wouldn't they? Google has tied everything together! Their mobile OS is smooth and friendly. Everything they do embodies Google's ease and honesty, naturally this would carry into the mobile world. Can you imagine Apple's Google Maps being better than Google's Google Maps? Lol.

I have been and Iphone user since the beginning.

I LOVE my Iphone!

Just starting to see the momentum shift.


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

QR Coded Building

The building is in the city of Tachikawa, Japan and is constructed with a QR Code facade covering the exterior. This is a video demonstrating it's use. Super cool. Users can get real time updates from the stores within and engage with them via games. I wish I could read Japanese!


Digital Magazines -The Future of E-Readers

I came across this video on Popular Science and was blown away. Credit to the developers in Bonnier R&D and BERG Design for their work on this. This prototype demonstrates the realism of a digital reading experience and the potential this will have to change the way we think about magazines.


Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Dell "Mini 5"


At a press conference during CES, Dell announced a new handset/tablet that will be hitting the market in the second half of 2010. The "Mini 5" boasts a 5 inch screen which is the entire surface on an Iphone! What's more exciting is the screen resolution will be higher than the Nexus One. Did I mention devise will be rockin Andoid OS? You bet it is! 2010 is going to get interesting !

Billboards Using QR Codes


Business Cards of The Future

Scan the code to instantly store contact information or get sent to a mobile bio page.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Awesome Podcast - Six Pixels Of Separation

Subscribe here

2D Barcodes Featured in March Esquire

This Ad was featured in an article today in the NY Times. Although I'm not a fan of Scanbuy or these particular 2D barcodes due to their closed capacity, they managed to get themselves in the new March Esquire. Readers can scan the codes and receive styling advise relating to the products. I'll have to see this first hand before I can fairly critique it. Chances are that the content is just a bunch of overpriced creative fluff that as agency came up with and will provide ZERO value to the consumer.

MY 3 S's of mobile content.

1) Sharable

2)Shopable

3)Simple

Let's hope that Esquires campaign follows these guidelines and pushes the ball in the right direction for future "print to smartphone" projects.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Adobe Flash 10.1 For Android and Nexus One

Pretty cool video demonstrating Flash on a Nexus One. What's interesting is that he's playing the game on the actual site w/URL. This is not an "App". You are going to see this become popular along with many other things as soon as flash get's incorporated into mobile. Look out Apple!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Marc Jacobs QR Code Art

I scanned the code and it works! It just brings you to a page with the same image which is lame. Not sure where or how this was used. Cool looking though.

The Sun Uses Sex To Build QRcode Excitement

The QR code directs users to the Sun's mobile site. Pretty basic but it got me fired up!They might be on to something

Evolution of The Cell


As I opened my Nexus One that came in the mail yesterday I admired the smooth texture of the packaging and sleek design of the device, it got me thinking about how far we've come. Mobile subscribers will hit 4 billion worldwide in 2010. NUTS!

In the beginning, the sole purpose of a "cellular phone" was to make and receive calls. It was an overweight, overpriced PHONE. That was it! For the next 10 years handset manufactures focused on bringing the size of the devices down, along with the price. For the most part, this which was achieved. You can literally find phones that are the size of a peanut that sell for $20.

Next, a camera would come into the fold. Hand held digital cameras had become popular in the late 90's. Naturally the demand would for ONE device that combined camera and phone. Initially the photo quality wasn't the greatest but it was CONVIENIENT. Having SOMETHING to capture life's unplanned moments what what was important. Kyocera introduced the first camera phone in 1997. By 2002 there were about 80 million camera phones worldwide and by 2004 that number jumped to 233 million. Today, Cameras are standard on phones and there are a BILLION of them worldwide. CRAZY!





IPOD: After the Ipod achieved ridiculous success there became a demand for phones to carry music as well. This demand reached a tipping point when the Iphone was released in June of 2007, the rest is history. Phones are now being designed for the sole purpose of downloading music and ringtones. You're are seeing smartphones hit the market with 16gb of memory and full multimedia capabilities. It all comes back to convenience. Having all of these mini devices merged into ONE is a dream come true. People are willing to sacrifice fidelity for convenience.

So what's the next craze? What are the people DEMANDING to be on their phones? I think we all know.






WEB and BEYOND. Insiders believe that we will see a flood of phones hit the market with full web browsing capabilities.The fierce competition between handset manufactures to improve function and design will bring costs down and improve overall function. We've already witnessed the success of Apple's Iphone and the App Store as a mobile online revenue model, but could that just be the tip of the iceberg? The "cellular phone" may reach a popularity like never before with the winds of the web behind it.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

QR Code Scan With Nexus One (Google)

Here is a video I took with my Iphone. I used the ShopSavvy barcode reader that I downloaded from Android Market. Very impressed with the Nexus One so far.



The 5 Segments of Anywhere Consumers



The Yankee Group is the authority in wireless communication behavior. Their research is focused exclusively on the emergence of ubiquitous connectivity, what they call "Anywhere," and its effect on networks, consumers and enterprises. They have come up with 5 segments of "Anywhere" consumers. Here is a breakdown...



1)
Analogs- This group has ZERO interest in connectivity. They avoid technology all together. Their VCR's still flash 12:00. lol!

2) Technophytes - Love cutting egde technology but doesn't have the disposable income to keep up with the latest and greatest. This group has the largest potenial as Anywhere devices come down in price. They see the value in connectivity but can't quite afford it.


3) Digital Shut-ins- This group has great interest in digital media in their homes but see's no need to take it with them when they aren't home. They basically shut themselves off to portable media and connected devices. Anywhere means any room in their house.


4)
Outlet Jockeys- Perfer portable mobile devices to an at-home wired experience. These devices include satalitte radio, digital camcorders and mobile internet devices. They are most likely to evole into Actualized Anywheres.


5)
Actualized Anywheres- May be the smallest segment (only 5%), but they are most important. They enthusiatically buy Anywhere products and are the most influential to the general population because people TRUST their feedback. Extrememly diverse group (race and age)

Where do you fit?


Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Print Ads Using QR Codes




Google-Favorite Places

Google has identified 100,000 businesses in the U.S. as "Favorite Places on Google" based on Google users' interaction with local business listings. Each business is receiving a window decal with a unique QR code that you scan with your phone to read reviews, star the business as your own favorite and more. Here is a video demonstrating how it works.

New Nexus One Google Phone Opens Doors

Behold Google's Nexus One. The device manufacturer is HTC and the phone features Android 2.1, Google's mobile OS. Initially available on T-Mobile's network as well as unlocked. Google said the phone will also become available from Verizon in April as well. Customers can buy the phone now on a new Google Web page . It costs $530 unlocked, or $179 with a T-Mobile contract.

Offering the phone unlocked is a significant move by Google because it opens the door for a wave of web based phones to follow suit. The anticipation is that an open phone with a sophisticated web browser will yield more revenues from apps and other media to help supplement the cost of voice and data plans. It's a new model that will soon become popular.

Mobile commerce is still in it's infancy but this is a BIG step forward for the mobile community. Everybody is looking for an Iphone killer but that's not what this is about. We're interested to see how this model evolves.


ANYWHERE: The book

Yankee Group CEO, Emily Nagle Green dicusses her new book: ANYWHERE : How Global Connectivity Is Revolutionizing the Way We Do Business.

I am in the process of finishing is now. There will be much more on The Yankee Group and their "Anywhere" philosophy.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

QR Codes used on CSI

I was looking for this! My friend called me a told me about it. Here is the clip from CSI involving QR codes.

Connect


We are making connections daily. Friends we meet, blogs we read, brands we love, ect.. These connections represent who we are and what we like. We are PROUD of them. We crave constant updates from these connections. To maintain these relationships, WE FOLLOW them closely. We get to know them. (Age, Location, Phone, Address, Like and dislikes) We call on them to help us make decisions and get honest information about what they are experts on. Social sites such as Facebook and Twitter have introduced a new, faster way to maintain these connections and keep up to date with them. Short and sweet, but memorable and informational. Loaded with sharable content and our friends have already pre-approved. What’s stunning is the DEMAND coming for all of this! People are dying for more connections!! They want to connect with their favorite products/places/hobbies almost much as their friends. They are basically BEGGING for advertising.

Think about it. Who are you connecting to?

Get Smart


Smartphones are exploding! I hate the word "smartphone" but for now we'll use it. Actually, they make up 15% of the cell phone population in the US. It feels like they are EVERYWHERE! Apple, Blackberry, Palm, HTC and Nokia have all contributed. Let's take a look at the features of a "smartphone"




-email
-sms/mms
-keyboard
-Camera
-video
-music/ipod
-INTERNET
-APPS

WOW!!
It should be called the "genius-phone" lol!

A consumer who is equipped one of these devises fits into a whole new stratosphere of marketing think. Not only can they access information via the web on their phones ANYWHERE, they have the ability to share the information that they deem valuable. They are like sponges, collecting and sharing. Advertisers should flock to this demographic as they have the capability to influence the masses.

Smart they are.

What is a QR Code?



The QR is derived from "Quick Response". QR codes can store mobile web addresses and provide smartphone users with a seamless connection to whatever the code is attached to. These may appear on signs, magazines, billboards, buses, business cards or just about any physical object that users might need information about. Download a QR code reader from your App Store to scan codes. The phone's browser will then launch you to the programmed URL within the code. You can then view more information via the mobile web. These have not become mainstream YET. This blog is dedicated to that cause. QR ANYWHERE.


We found 60 QR barcode readers on Itunes!


Here are some good ones that we recommend......

Scanlife

Beetag

Quickmark

SnapTell

QR App

Neo Reader