Month: May 2011

Put it in to perspective huh?

It’s all about the data.

This from digital trends:

“A new survey from telecom equipment maker Ericsson (PDF) finds that some smartphone users are very, very attached to their devices, finding that fully 35 percent of iPhone and Android users in the United States admit to using non-voice applications before they even get out of bed in the morning. Some 18 percent of those users say they log in to social networking apps before they get up—and Facebook is the most popular. However, social networking from bed only tied with late afternoon and early evening as the most common “situations” for tapping into social networking services. Smartphone users said they were more likely to use social networking apps in the late evening (34 percent), at lunch (26 percent), or in the morning (22 percent) after they got up.

“Our research found apps are appealing to people at an emotional level,” said Ericsson ConsumerLab heard of research Michael Björn, in a statement. “Consumers become attached to a certain set of apps that makes them feel more in control of their lives, and turns everyday chores into positive experiences. Apps even give consumers a new sense of freedom; if a new situation arises, there’s probably an app out there that could help them.”

Overall, Ericsson finds that apps are the key to consumers’ smartphone use, rather than the devices themselves or the platforms on which they run. Ericsson characterizes “app culture” as a new way of living, and notes it is spreading to other devices like tablets. Where before smartphones consumers tended to access the Internet for relatively large, discrete blocks of time during the day, smartphones enable users to access the Internet in relatively quick sessions more consistently throughout the day, and also access the net “the very instant the get the impulse.” Ericsson attributes some of the change of behavior to how apps simplify getting information directly to users: instead of navigating a file system, finding a bookmark, entering an address, potentially logging in to a service, then hunting around for information, apps tend to put what consumers want front and center without the hassle of a traditional Internet experience.

Ericsson also found U.S. consumers’ interest in tablets is almost as strong as their interest in notebook computers: when asked what device they were considering for their next technology purchase, 16 percent indicated a notebook was on their list, while 13 percent were considering a tablet. In comparison, 12 percent were considering a desktop computer, and six percent were eyeing netbooks and ereaders, respectively. And, another indication that the days of the iPod are over, only one percent were considering a digital media player.”

The first iAd from Guinness and it’s a pretty good effort. Cleverly, this isn’t just a complete silo and is part of a larger multi-platform digital campaign ‘There’s More Life in the Dark’. The campaign apparently aims to “inspire users to enjoy a great night out”.

I think it’s great that UFC want to reach out to a wider audience and to try to get the fighters to communicate more with their fans but essentially bribing them to get followers? A bit odd. It’s far too easy to artificially inflate these days anyway.

This from: The Next Web

“Starting June 1, UFC and Strikeforce fighters will be divided into four categories, based on how many Twitter followers they currently have. At the end of each quarter, three fighters from each category will be awarded a $5,000 bonus. The three winners will be based on who has gained the most followers since the start of the quarter, who gained the highest percentage of new followers and who wrote the most creative tweets. White will be the judge of the last category.”

From Business Insider:

“In our survey of iPad users, we asked which computing device is used primarily for “personal computing.” Our readers say they spend the largest percent of their personal computing time with the iPad.
This makes sense, since the iPad is a very casual computer, designed for surfing the web, playing games and other personal activities.”

From Mashable:

“International fashion retailer Topshop set up a virtual fitting room in its flagship Moscow store last week, an experimental move for the retailer.

The fitting room, which was built by Russian agency AR Door, uses Microsoft Kinect and augmented reality to let shoppers try on clothes without going into a fitting room. A built-in camera recognizes a human body and superimposes a 3D model of a garment; users can switch clothes using simple gestures, powered by Kinect.

Like virtual fitting rooms on the web and in mobile apps, the 3D fitting is awkward at best, but it does give an idea of what clothes shopping might be like a decade from now.”

Video, playing games and app usage is on the up.