Crafting specific campaigns that are geared towards flash sales and are targeted towards tablet-wielding consumers will help kick retailers’ mobile email efforts into shape this holiday season.
NBCUniversal drives TV tune-ins with innovative Twitter partnership
NBCUniversal is leading the charge with how broadcasters are tying together mobile, social and television with a new tool that aims to ensure consumers are glued to multiple devices while watching their favorite TV programs.
Vine outshines Instagram for branded short-form video opportunities
Savvy marketers have latched onto mobile short-form video this year, showing a preference for Twitter’s Vine platform despite Facebook’s launch of Video on Instagram several months ago. However, as Instagram video continues to improve, its significantly larger user base could start to attract more brands.
Motorola teases augmented reality project with clever pop-up art
Earlier this year, at Qualcomm’s Uplinq conference, Motorola showed off a teaser of a child-focused augmented reality concept they were working on. Today, it looks like that project is a lot closer to being announced, as Motorola shares a sneak peek with us.
InsideAR Report: New Augmented Reality Apps to Hit the Real World
InsideAR, one of the world’s largest augmented reality events, was held last week. It was indeed one of the most exciting AR events of the year where over 800 attendees hailing from over 45 nations came to Munich for celebrating Metaio’s 10 years of experience in developing and deploying AR technology. InsideAR 2013 organized at Munich’s Olympic Park provided a platform to interact with some of the best AR experts of the world, apart from showcasing some of the coolest AR demos.
Fashion Brand Uniqlo is Using Augmented Reality in Stores
Did you know that there are some retail stores that use augmented reality? Personally, I have yet to shop in a store that has interactive mirrors but it’s cool the option exists in stores like Uniqlo.
Quad/Graphics Enhances Interactive Offering with Expanded Services and App Updates
("Quad/Graphics") announces major enhancements to its interactive offering that provide publishers and marketers with a comprehensive and integrated solution for seamlessly connecting print and digital media for improved reader and consumer experiences. The enhancements include creative design, data analytics, video marketing and optimization, and social media capabilities as well as the newest version of Quad/Graphics' Actable®interactive print application.
Vodafone: Digital Public Library
Facebook’s share of digital advertising growing fast, thanks to mobile
Facebook will nearly triple its share of global mobile advertising in 2013 compared to 2012, according to research firm eMarketer. They forecast that Facebook will have about 15.8 percent of the total global ad market, ahead of Pandora, Twitter and others. Google, however, is still the big kahuna with 53.17 percent of the overall market, up from 2012. The overall mobile ad market is forecast at $16.65 billion — up 89 percent from 2012.
Burberry solidifies brand image via weather-focused mobile, social efforts
British fashion brand Burberry is marrying its heritage and the elements through its first weather-themed campaign that comprises an application sponsorship, out-of-home ads and social media.
CastAR Augmented Reality Glasses Blow Up on Kickstarter
Vehicles Get Transparent with Augmented Reality
Drivers can now see what is happening in front of a car or bus moving in front of them, thanks to augmented reality technology. Researchers from Portugal are developing an AR technology to make this a reality. The system will be integrated into a car and it is likely to be very helpful in preventing accidents as drivers will have more information about the road ahead and can take proper and safe decisions when it come to passing a large vehicle.
Hasbro figures successfully bridge mobile, real-world play
Hasbro has sold one million Telepods figures allowing kids to blend the physical and virtual by teleporting real-life figures into mobile applications.
Earlier this summer Hasbro launched its first line of Telepods for Rovio Entertainment and Lucasfilm’s Angry Birds Star Wars II, and it is gearing up for a new line of Telepods for Angry Birds Go!, a new Rovio app. When a child buys a set of Telepods, he can then access a feature within the Rovio app, place the Telepod on the device’s camera and teleport the Telepod into the app for play.
Read more here.
Orbitz taps into the physical world with loyalty features in mobile
In an effort to connect with travelers who are more often turning to mobile as part of the travel purchase funnel, Orbitz has relaunched their mobile application with an emphasis on loyalty rewards.
The program, set to officially launch on Monday, will allow members to earn loyalty currency, or "orbucks,'' as soon as they book a flight, hotel or travel package that they can redeem to lower the cost of a hotel stay.
One of the ways Orbitz is using the loyalty program to enhance its relationship with mobile users throughout their journey is with the new Zap that Bag Fee feature, which enables app users to click a photo of their checked baggage fee receipt and send it to Orbitz to earn $25 in bonus Orbucks through Nov. 30.
HGTV Magazine Tests Social Sharing Feature in Print
HGTV Magazine is jumping on the e-commerce and social sharing trend. Its November issue, which hits newsstands Oct. 22, will let readers shop and share from the pages using technology from digital watermarking provider Digimarc.
Digimarc did a similar deal with Hearst Magazines sibling pub House Beautiful back in 2011, but HGTV is the first to use its new content-sharing feature, Digimarc Share. Read more.
Google Glass and the Common Man
Google Glass is undoubtedly one of the most closely observed tech innovation in recent times. While the jury is still out on how the world will react to the new levels of intrusion into people’s personal space that this device promises to bring, here are a few of my ideas about how Google Glass can and might become indispensable part of our lives in future. This is not a complete list and I plan to add more uses to it as I discover them. Readers are also encouraged to suggest their ideas about the same.
Ubuntu Launches Converged OS for Desktop and Mobile
Canonical has launched Ubuntu 13.1, its first step towards offering a screen-agnostic, open source platform that works across desktop, tablet and smartphones.
Ubuntu 13.1 now includes a number of mobile core apps created by its developer community, including a browser, calendar, clock, weather and calculator. Ubuntu 13.1 also introduces a Smart Scope function on both desktop and phones, which combines search results from many different websites automatically and learns user preferences to improve its performance.
PayPal Testing Face-Verification System for Mobile Payments
While we're not quite scanning retinas à la Mission Impossible and Minority Report, PayPal is now testing face verification for mobile-payment transactions.
The ecommerce company's app has a tab labeled "Local," which helps users find nearby stores and restaurants that accept mobile PayPal payments. Once customers check in to a venue online, their name and photo appear on the store's PayPal app. Shoppers can then use the app to pay for items (cashiers complete the transaction by clicking on their profile pic).
castAR 3D projection glasses off to a good start on Kickstarter
Launched just hours ago on Kickstarter, the castAR virtual reality headset has already received over $300k and will reach its goal of $400k very soon. It was developed by Jeri Ellsworth and Rick Johnson. Below, Jeri tells the story of the making of the castAR.
Amaze project aims to take 3D printing 'into metal age'
The European Space Agency has unveiled plans to "take 3D printing into the metal age" by building parts for jets, spacecraft and fusion projects.
The Amaze project brings together 28 institutions to develop new metal components which are lighter, stronger and cheaper than conventional parts.
Additive manufacturing (or "3D printing") has already revolutionised the design of plastic products.