Sigh. Guess what mega-huge interactive conference is happening right now in Austin? SXSW. Guess who didn’t get to go? Me… a social media blogger that blogs weekly on social media news, and I couldn’t be at the single most important interactive conference of the year. Yeah… It’s ok. At least I can pretend #fakesxsw.
March 1st brought joy to many Facebook users, a date which marks the end of Facebook app Notifications. Apps on Facebook are no longer able to send updates via Notifications, which are now reserved mainly for friend activity. Find out what alternatives app developers now have at this Mashable article.
Twitter and YouTube are also rolling out new features. On Twitter, the new “Be Found On Twitter” feature allows users to opt-in to share their email address and/or phone number, making it easier for contacts to find them. For YouTube, it’s a massive redesign that will improve the user experience by adding a video queue feature and improved playlist design. The redesign also includes the release of an AutoPlay feature, which will allow YouTube to be consumed more like TV, allowing the user to sit back and just watch one video after another in a push model rather than the current pull model. Find out more about these releases under the New Features heading below.
“Have you heard of Chatroulette?” The latest fad of social media, Chatroulette is a video chat service which will randomly pair you to another video conferencing user. It’s a bare bones interface with minimalistic functionality- basically just two web cam windows and a chat room. The site connects users to complete strangers, there is no way to control who will pop up on the other side. Some believe that Chatroulette will become as popular as Twitter, though it’s not the first interactive video conferencing site, and probably won’t be the last. I don’t think Chatroulette will be able to go mainstream without significant investment and added functionality. If the interest continues to increase, there’s a good chance that established social networking platforms like Facebook will adopt video conferencing as a new feature, which may kill Chatroulette before it has a chance to get out of the gate.
Want to know how your brand compares to your competitor in social media? Try uberVu Compare. A freemium social media comparison tool, Compare is a new product from uberVu that performs a side-by-side comparison of two brands based on their social media performance. It could be considered overly simplistic for veteran social media analysts, but this a great tool for a quick snapshot of social media presence.
“Crowdsourcing” is a still a hip buzzword. Grogger is a new platform that allows you to crowdsource your blog content. Mash together the words “group” and “blog”, what do you get? A “Grog”! For people that believe two heads are better than one, Grogger is an appealing tool that allows a community of users to write, edit, and vote on blog content. For more details, read the TechCrunch review.
It’s back! Social Media News has been on hiatus for a couple weeks, as my client work (and spending time with my Valentine) always comes first- but I am getting back on track with this week’s update.
In the social media sphere, change happens in a blink of an eye. While I was on break from blogging a lot of big things happened in this space, most notably the release of Google Buzz. The buzz about Buzz is that it’s Google’s latest life-streaming social media portal. Like Twitter and Facebook, Buzz allows users to keep in touch with friends and by sharing status updates, links, photos, and more.
Is Buzz a formidable threat to Twitter and Facebook? Maybe, but probably not. Buzz is integrated with Google’s email platform Gmail, and I’m guessing Google thought that would be a good way to gain immediate adoption en masse. But for many internet users, email use is in decline as social media use continues to rise. If Google had released Buzz two or three years ago it could have gained real traction, but unfortunately many would-be early adopters have already abandoned their Gmail accounts in favor of Facebook messaging (which is moving towards a full webmail service, code named Project Titan).
Also while I was off the grid, I missed a couple of birthdays. Flickr and Facebook both turned six years old this month. That’s a pretty long time in Internet years; do you think they’ll make it another six?
I’ve been trying really hard not to write a blog post about iPad- simply because the bloggersphere is absolutely flooded with iPad blog posts and everyone has an opinion. Alas, I am weak. I need to get this out of my system. I have just two points that I want to make, and I’ll do my best to keep it short.
Point #1
The iPad is not like other eReaders. Many observers and critics believe that the iPad will be a huge threat to Kindle and Nook. Even if Apple does land a deal with Harper Collins and even though Apple will allow publishers to control the pricing of eBooks, there is just one little nagging feature about the iPad that makes me believe that it won’t draw crowds of eBookworms overnight… the iPad’s LED screen.
Ever wonder why Nook and Kindle seem to have a bland, black and white, 1980’s type of electronic screen? It’s because the technology behind this digital display is known as eInk. The screens in the Kindle, Nook and other eReaders are designed to have a low res screen that does not support animation and has a very low refresh rate. This is to reduce eye strain.
The iPad is equipped with an LED screen, a standard for notebooks. So while the iPad will support eBooks, the biggest consumers of eBooks (those eBookworms) are likely going to stick with devices that are most comfortable for long periods of reading. The iPad is nice for magazine browsing, where color is important for flashy photos and rich content. But for those people that buy the most eBooks, the iPad will not replace a conventional eReader.
Bottom line: the iPad is not an eReader category killer.
Point #2
The iPad is not like other Netbooks and Tablets. A Netbook is a slimmed down laptop PC meant for basic computing and generally runs on web-based applications. They are small, light weight, and generally inexpensive. The WiFi enabled iPads can be considered as Netbooks, given that the iPad will primarily be used to access the web and Apple Apps. Also, many Netbooks do not have conventional hard drives, and the iPad is like these devices because it only contains a solid-state flash drive.
A Tablet PC is a slim laptop with a touch-screen interface. Some can be used with or without a stylus, and all Tablets can function without a physical keyboard (Tablets that have keyboards are called hybrids or convertibles). Most of the Tablets currently on the market run Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. This operating system is everything that Windows XP is, with additional features that support a tablet, such as pen sensitivity. So any program compatible with Windows XP will work on a tablet running Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.
In a sense, the iPad is trying to be both a Netbook and a Tablet, but it is not really good at being either of those things. The iPad operating system is based on the iPhone OS, not the Mac OS. This creates a lot of limitations, especially with productivity and creating. Many have called the iPad a giant iPhone, and this is why: The main purpose of the iPad is to run Apps.
If you’re looking for a Netbook, I’d say skip the iPad and wait for the Chrome Tablet. The folks over at Google have been working on the Chrome OS, known to be part of the Chromium Project. The goal is to develop an open-source operating system built with the web at the core, instead of a computer hard drive. It’s the cloud computing OS, and most ideal for a Netbook, which is why I believe the Chrome Tablet would be superior to iPad for this purpose.
Now if you’re looking for a Tablet, the question is “why?” Is it to have a productive mobile computer, or is it because you want a toy? I believe the iPad is a toy, it is really cool and very flashy- perfect for those long commutes on the train. I want one, I’ve been drooling over this device since its big reveal. But it’s not something that would help me be a better and more efficient Interactive Producer. For word processing, spreadsheets, and project management, a Tablet that runs Windows XP, though not as sexy, would help me get the job done.
Bottom line: The iPad is not a revolutionary Netbook or Tablet PC device.
What’s your take on the iPad? If you think I’ve got it all wrong, leave a comment and tell me about it.
Apple’s iPadwas the biggest news last week, drawing attention from every corner of the web. Within minutes of the announcement, hype turned into hysterics as the jokes started pouring in. Apparently #iTampon was the third most trending topic that evening. Many see the Maxi- I mean iPad as a huge threat to existing eBooks like the Kindle. I’m not so sure about that. Yes the iPad has a full color LED display, but one very important feature of a true eBook is eInk. This is a low res, black and white display with a low refresh rate that reduces eye strain, making the screen more like reading printed paper. To me the iPad is like a glossy magazine, but the Kindle is like a simple black and white novel. The bookworms that consume the most eBook content are going to stick with Kindle, and the iPad will appeal to people looking for a Netbook first, eBook second.
Interested in measuring ROI from your Facebook efforts? That’s about to become a little easier when Facebook rolls out its new conversion tracking tool. Facebook announced the upcoming feature at last week’s OMMA Social event in San Francisco. MediaPost embedded video from the discussion on this article.
Proctor & Gamble is officially in favor of social media marketing, embracing Facebook in particular and encouraging its brands to do the same. I found it interesting that in the article reporting on this topic, AdAge felt it was necessary to quote Ted McConnell, general manager-interactive marketing and innovation for P&G, with contradictory remarks from 2008. This one caught my eye:
“Who said this is media?” he said. “Media is something you can buy and sell. Media contains inventory. Media contains blank spaces. Consumers weren’t trying to generate media. They were trying to talk to somebody. So it just seems a bit arrogant. … We hijack their own conversations, their own thoughts and feelings, and try to monetize it.”
With this quote AdAge is perhaps trying to demonstrate a riff in P&G’s ranks, though the remarks were said over a year ago and I have the suspicion that it may have been out of context. Whether McConnell supports social media marketing or not, this is a great quote with a lot of truth behind it. We can’t treat social media as advertising, it’s an entirely different kind of game. Ignite’s Jim Tobin was on the same wavelength in a recent Web Trends episode when he said, ”The web is the worst place in the world for interrupting people.” I couldn’t agree more.
I’ve made a change to SMN that I hope will be helpful to you. Instead of listing news articles by source, I’ve listed this week’s set by topic. This should help bring a little more context to the list, and allow you to skim the headlines faster to find the news that most interests you. And as a bonus, it will improve my blog’s SEO. I would love to hear your feedback, let me know if this is better.
A pizza shop in New York has discovered how to generate a lot of social media buzz and sell more pizzas from it, without having any corporate presence in social media. Read about Crocodile Lounge and their strategy here. The key is to craft a compelling story that people will want to share. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but if you want social media to work for you, offer something of value.
Be sure to check your Twitter stream this Wednesday, as rumors have been swirling that Apple will officially announce the iSlate tablet, or possibly the iPhone OS 4.0. Other rumors have claimed that Apple will end its exclusivity with AT&T for the iPhone, and make the announcement at this event. The invitation-only Apple event is said to be held in San Francisco at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts this Wednesday at 10am pacific.
I love the Intel ads. But I love Intel’s “Value Point System” even more. Developed with media agency OMD, Intel has developed a points system for website interactions that allows it to measure the effectiveness of its advertising. This is web marketing genius, read about it here.
Another thought to ponder is what does local, on-the-go mobile advertising mean for the likes of Yelp, Foursquare and Gowalla? Will one of these location-based social networking portals discover a new revenue model in location-based advertising? Maybe, maybe not. Leave a comment and tell me what you think. Each day, we’re moving closer to having our digital content on any screen, at any time, at any place. Marketers need to keep that in mind.
Many bloggers and industry analysts have pointed to how our society uses social media in a time of crisis. Haiti, of course, has seen a huge reaction in social media- the devastating loss and suffering has touched people from around the world. Like most people, I’m sure, I first heard of the news through my social media channels. And through social media, the Red Cross has raised an astounding $5 Million towards their rescue effort in Haiti. Below is a special section about the reaction to Haiti in social media.
Take a look at the computer you’re using. Imagine what it would look like if you took away all the peripherals- the monitor, the keyboard, the mouse if you’re using one. The computer doesn’t need those things to run, that stuff is just for the humans. Also take away the CD/DVD drive, the USB toys you have plugged in and all the cables. What you have left is the CPU, the Central Processing Unit. Now imagine squeezing that CPU with your hands to make it as tiny as possible. Mold it into a neat little box. Behold, this is the Plug Computer.
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. is a company in the business of digital storage, communications, and consumer silicon solutions. They’ve come up with something so revolutionary, they’re not even sure just how much it might change the world. Marvell debuted the new Plug Computer 3.0 this week at the International Consumer Electronic Show. I almost can’t wrap my head around this device:
It’s tiny. The picture above is pretty close to actual size.
It’s energy efficient. Most computers consume between 95-650 watts. The Plug Computer is only 3 watts.
It’s powerful. 2.0 GHz of processing power. Yowza.
It’s roomy. 2GB of flash memory for storage and 1GB of system memory.
And it’s cheap. The Plug Computer 3.0 isn’t ready for the consumer market just yet, but it should retail for around $49 per unit. (You can buy a SheevaPlug right now for $99.)
Ok, so what. It’s a computer processor that I can plug into my wall like a night light. There’s no screen, and no buttons. Why would anyone want this thing?
This is the kind of product at CES that I might have completely missed. If it wasn’t for Guy Kawasaki sitting on the panel at the Plug Computing Pavilion, I probably wouldn’t even make it over to the Marvell booth. It’s easy to be seduced by the likes of the Intel booth, or the cool helicopter Drone controlled by an iPhone. The Plug Computer isn’t much to look at, but I now realize its potential is quite astounding.
From left to right: Guy Kawasaki, Rob Enderle, Jon Van Bronkhorst, Marek Mokryn, and moderator Paul O'Donovan
Why the Plug Computer matters
Panelist Jon Van Bronkhorst said at the conference, “Storage is the root of everything we do.” Yes, of course the Executive Director of Product Marketing for Seagatewould say that, but he’s right. Over the years, the majority of us have come to rely on computers to store everything from family photos to banking statements. Computers have become the most important medium for keeping record of our lives.
But for a lot of people, our most important computer files are stored away on a home computer. This makes it really difficult, if not impossible for some, to access those files while being away from home. And even when you are home, those files are susceptible to damage or permanent loss if anything were to happen to the hard drive.
There’s no reason the average consumer would buy a Plug Computer right now. What Marvell has created is essentially a blank slate. It’s a platform that other developers and programmers can build from. Software is really going to be the driving force for the Plug Computer’s wide-scale adoption. Can you imagine what the iPhone would be without Apps? “Paperweight” comes to mind.
At the panel discussion, Guy Kawasaki reflected on what it means to be an Apple Evangelist, and how the Plug Computer is designed with the same spirit of innovation and commitment to developers. “If you give engineers a really rich platform, the tools, and the marketing promise… you’ll be amazed at what they create,” he said.
An alternative to the Cloud
“We like to call it your personal cloud,” said Bronkhorst. The Plug Computer can be used as a simple and cheap personal home server, giving you secure access to any of your files 24/7. All it takes it just plugging it into the wall.
The Plug Computer will appear as a mountable drive from your laptop, just like a USB flash drive or a camera does. It’s an “always on” device, and it can be password protected. It uses Ethernet and Bluetooth to connect to other computing devices, serving both data and applications, and its accessible from the internet. The Plug Computer runs on Linux, the most popular open source operating system.
With this device, a personal server environment can be a reality for common computer users. Marek Mokryn, a marketing director for Marvell, was also part of the panel, “Imagine what if most servers are not in the web, but in the home?” Mokryn explained that the Plug Computer can be the means for a content delivery network to your home, a center for all multimedia and connect to many common devices like the iPhone and Sony PS3.
And impressively, a network of Plug Computers is completely scalable. You can have one, ten, even hundreds of Plug Computers working in unison. The processing power and storage capacity increases incrementally with each additional unit. It is completely feasible to build a supercomputer right your own home, if you really wanted that.
More than just storage & web accessibility
“This is the tip of the iceberg,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at The Enderle Group. Enderle pointed out that before the Plug Computer, processors and memory had been expensive. Now that cost isn’t a limiting factor, there’s really no telling what developers can create with this platform. Enderle believes that the Plug Computer can manifest very practical solutions for home automation, automobiles, health, safety, entertainment and beyond.
Imagine that the computer in your refrigerator communicates with your plug network and sends you an alert on your mobile phone that you’re out of milk when you’re near a grocery store. Or perhaps a small computer on your mountain bike detects that you’ve had a serious fall, and it connects to the plug network to alert your doctor and calls 911.
The capabilities of the Plug Computer are only limited to the developers’ imagination. Marvell had produced a website, PlugComputer.org, which houses the Plug Wiki and Plug Forum and serve as informational resources for developers.
Nerdy fact, today’s date is a palindrome. Ok, moving on.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the yearly international tradeshow of the Consumer Electronics Association held every January right here in Las Vegas. It’s a pantheon of gadgets, computers, cameras, phones, TV’s, network technology and everything in between. At this year’s event more than 2,500 technology companies introduced over 20,000 new products, drawing 120,000 industry professionals from around the world. With more than 5,000 reporters, analysts and bloggers in attendence, the web is flooded with news coverage. If you have some time, explore social.cesweb.org, CES’s own social media aggregator.
This is the personal career blog of Rachelle Maisner, an Interactive Producer for R&R Partners advertising agency. I blog about my work for R&R, my experiences in starting a career in interactive marketing, and what I have learned about marketing in social media. The anchor of this blog is my weekly Social Media News posts every Monday, which began as weekly email digest that I send to clients and co-workers.
Posted by Rachelle Maisner 
