Bring back the FUN

Yes

Finally I have been reading more than crappy all high-techie mobile stuff:

Please view the videos down below:
Fist one is making fun off Sony and actually about the whole industry.



Personally I have been so fed up with the battle of the gigabytes and storage AND TV stuff here in Finland - so this video truly made my day :) Hope that other countries will end up with digital TV sh*t as well. That whole thing is just so lame and useless (at least for now).

Next up:

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

This video to some extent indicates/shows off how cocky the iPhone and Apple media/advertising strategy (***) has been for the past years.

--> In the end the video showcases the end-usage of techie devices.

Lastly: How does this i.e. Paris Hilton help increase Nokia 5800 (Tube) sales?
http://www.dlisted.com/node/30412

Funny text and nice video portraying the hollywood glam :( Noooot!

Br. Vesa

Back with a few cloud news :)

Hi

Huh - Back after a few weeks of non-blogging. I do read blogs and try to keep my self up-to-date. However I am currently also working for my living, so therefore I have not had the time to think about writing this blog. Which sucks kind of since I was already at the very beginning quite unsure of whether I would drop to the one year blogger status? Statistics reveal that most people start blogs, but in the very end they will not do any updates... that is more or less under a year of trying.

I have been quite busy i.e. do not really understand how people (bloggers) have the time to write out long and interesting topics/posts.

Anyways: http://uk.gizmodo.com/2009/01/29/acer_launching_1st_smartphone.html

Seems that also the PC manufacturers have realized the mobile and internet AND PC convergence. They are all stepping to the mobile space with Smartphone i.e. PDAs.

http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2008/10/29/china-mobile-lenovo-join-hands-to-launch-android-2009/

Lenovo aka IBM ThinkPad owner is building a Smartphone. Idea is to manufacture/sell the first Google powered android phone in China.

http://www.mobilewhack.com/dell-to-launch-a-smartphone-in-february/

Dell is also getting interested on the matter/subject. Seem like the smaller laptops are not enough for the PC manufacturers.

Interesting will be to see just how the new mobile manufacturers will come out. Who will be their UI platform partner? Mac OS (No), Microsoft (Maybe), Android (Maybe), Symbian (No?)
Strategically a very interesting move from min PC/Laptops to mobile devices YET again proves that mobiles will surely be the dominant way of communication within the internet age. Power words: mobile, internet and convergence etc.

From the likes of Internet we will come to the next post:

http://www.t3.com/news/will-the-google-gdrive-kill-off-the-pc?=37934

VERY interesting!! So cloud computing and the likes have been hip words for some years now. Everyone has an idea of them. However only some services are currently running around cloud computing. Is data i.e. email synchronization cloud computing? Maybe - or at the least it is a starting point.

Anyways: How about a Google GDrive? You are probably aware of how much computers need processor power. In addition they need memory and storage memory. Well make those PCs thinner please? Google is on the works of giving you bootable Google hard drive in the sky. This remote-storage service could replace the hard drive, operating system, and the PC itself. And then potentially have a profound effect on mobile devices.

So to make things near future: http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-in-labs-offline-gmail.html

Google is now using their Gears engine to offer offline Gmail access, allowing Gmail users to read e-mails offline. "You get the same Gmail experience whether you're online or offline, all in a web browser, just like you're used to."

Watch the demo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOAZaIaeIrI

Then to the final blog post:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/21/the-day-live-web-video-streaming-failed-us/

"Yesterday was supposed to be the day that live Web video streaming took on TV broadcasting. With millions tuning in from their PCs to watch President Obama’s Inauguration speech, it was one of the biggest tests yet for live video streaming. But live streaming failed. " So seems that the online world is partly not ready for the masses :)

Well that's it for now. Back in February.

Br. Vesa

New year starts fast

Hi and Happy 09

This year sure starts fast. At the end of last year we saw Nokia announcing their new touch UI N97. I personally like the fact that it in addition to the touch UI it also has a QWERTY keyboard.

Anyways analytics are already making scary predictions for other players: http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/2008/12/02/nokia-netbooks-apple-tech-personal-cx_bc_1202nokia.html

"N97 device could compete with low-cost laptops. Not that the N97 meant to compete, directly, with the Asus Eee PC, Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 or HP's Mini 1000. That, however, is what makes it so dangerous: The N97 isn't a laptop scaled down to be more portable and more connected. "

Anyway back to 09. Finally someone took the leap and changed the DRM issue in music. This time unsurprisingly it was iTunes i.e. Apple. Why on earth is Nokia always following behind? Nokia surely has more "power" OR are they in fact powerless due to the operators?? I feel that it is both: Have to keep operators happy and at the same time shareholders/investors, so being revolutionary/first might scare people.

Here a link to the iTunes news: http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/3794556

There is more news on the way. Behold of CES related news:

** Need to recharge your phones battery "wirelessly": http://www.powermatusa.com/

Yet again please keep in mind that this is new and stuff like this will surely evolve. At the end all surfaces could be charging your electronics.

** Also what has previously been addressed in this blog has been the 3D and sunglass style video "watching". Anyways also here big changes are happening: http://www.vuzix.co.uk/

There has also been quite much talk on receiving some electronic surfaces right "inside" your eye. It is supposed to work similarly as a contact lens.

** LG Electronics has announced a "watch" phone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR50ZcHrmC0&feature=related

Other interesting news is that at least some firms dear to show the mobile marketing results: http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/commerce/2211.html

"Pizza chain Papa John’s International Inc. has generated more than $1 million in sales from mobile Web orders in less than six months after offering that option to consumers.” Other milestones include: "Papa John’s earlier this year crossed more than $1 billion in overall online sales – up from $400 million in 2007.”

Last "post" item is in my opinion the best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUnA7HzGFbo

Br. Vesa

Mobile advertising

Here it goes

* Well talk about talking over nothing: MMA study finds increase in mobile marketing receptiveness and adoption.

http://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/news_wire/114279/MMA_study_finds_increase_in_mobile_marketing_receptiveness_and_adoption_.html

The data is in my opinion of no interest/value? Most of the findings are common throughout the industry. "Overall interest levels in the mobile marketing concept vary by market and geographic region - however, common in all markets is the importance of mobile phones in daily life.” No way - I did not think of this :) I must rebuild all my campaigns and marketing needs.

Anyway if not familiar with mobile ads/marketing go and check it out. Reading through the bullets takes around 2 minutes.

* Then to another post: Five-step plan to turn mobile advertising's potential into something more tangible

http://www.mobilemarketingmagazine.co.uk/2008/10/kick-starting-t.html

I agree with the following: "The challenges arise from trying to introduce a diverse, growing and substantial new advertising channel to an established industry which already has significant high volume business delivering into print, TV, radio and online."

1. Make it worthwhile for the media buyers to focus attention on the mobile channel
2. Apply creative revenue and delivery models to mobile advertising campaigns, rather than simple per-impression remuneration
3. Simplify the mobile message for the advertising industry
4. Fit in with existing advertising industry practices
5. Do not artificially segment the mobile advertising audience

This post is more like it. It actually does have some tangible ideas/benefits to it. Eventhough they steps are quite normal Dos and Don’ts . The part of actually "realizing" them is more difficult.

* To sweeten up things. The next post is once again on device and UI development: "Samsung showed a mobile phone prototype that has a flexible OLED display. The phone is like a clamshell, but the inside screen is full sized, and then it is folded when the phone is closed. "

http://www.oled-info.com/video-samsung-mobile-phone-prototype-flexible-oled-display

You can also check out the video from here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2SCZvU8sGU&eurl=http://www.oled-info.com/video-samsung-mobile-phone-prototype-flexible-oled-display

Br. Vesa

UPDATE!!

Alright

For all those who think ideas do not turn into reality:

http://oblong.com/

Please see the introduction video - it's the bomb!

And please keep in mind this is a "commercial product" - There is definitely more to come out of geeky labs around the world.

Br. Vesa

Coming back again

Here we go again

Things are surely moving fast forward. Pixel and Gigabytes here and there. According to news SonyEricsson is building a pretty neat concept/device.

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20081107/160903/

"High-function terminals, in the future, will be equipped with a 12- to 20-Mpixel camera and support full HD video shooting capability". Seems that "HD" is the power word for the 2009 devices. HTC and Apple have both been rumored to bring in their own HD devices. Never the less please keep in mind that Samsung already hit 10 megapixels in Korea two years ago.

Going onward: As VISA and MasterCard etc are still planning to launch and market mobile payments Japan has already been very active in this segment.

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE4AA0R020081111

In Japan, more than 50 million, or about half of all cell phone users, already carry phones capable of serving as wallets. In addition some 700 million people worldwide are expected to own such phones by 2013. "Success in Japan and in trials abroad have shown that the technology is ready for cell phones to replace credit cards, cash as well as serve as transportation and movie tickets and electronic keys for homes and offices."

I have already been preaching on building easy payment methods i.e. mobile wallets.

Then to my other "favorite" news: UI and touchscreen development

Here comes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZyErkPjOR8

This is yet again innovative - although it might not come across that way:) By the way: These posted videos etc are naturally only protos and foremostly do not violate corporate patents and other confidential issues. Therefore we can assume that there is soooo much more going on in big development labs. Anyway back to the video: We are seeing these UI things on a daily basis. Seems however that the video screen portrayed in the movie: Minority report is becoming reality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwVBzx0LMNQ

Well that's all for now.

Br. Vesa

Some News News

Here it goes again

Interesting to see where the mobile devices will evolve within the next few years. Below are just some headline rumors. Samsung is already making headlines with their cameras:

http://www.unwiredview.com/2008/10/24/samsung-says-8mp-phones-with-3x-optical-zoom-next-year-12mp-later/

The upcoming devices include a 8 megapixel cameraphone with 3x optical zoom. Samsung is also said it is working on a small 12 megapixel camera module.

Similarly Nokia has made some patent license agreement with Kodak:
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/10/26/kodak-signs-into-patent-cross-license-agreement-with-nokia/

Also apple is making news with a possible HD iPhone: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/read-my-lips/

Apple product with a display somewhere between an iPhone and a MacBook. Is it the iPhone 3.0 or the NetMac 1.0?

Enough of interesting new device rumors. Here is some cold data on subscription i.e. device sales. Fresh news form Indian markets.

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/34239.php

There were 3.9 new connections every second during the month of September. By the time you have read this there are already numerous new connections. Impressive data. In addition due to the new subscriber additions, the total market reached 310.62 million users with a penetration rate of 27.5%.

Also mobile Europe has similar news:
http://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/news_wire/114241/Emerging_markets_drive_telecom_service_revenue_growth%2C_says_report.html

All five emerging markets saw double digit growth in 2007 due in large part to continued strong uptake of mobile services. Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Emerging Asia-Pacific and Central/Latin America all had 20% or more growth in mobile revenues. In comparison; mature markets in North America, Western Europe and Developed Asia-Pacific, where only North America had more than 10% growth.

Time to move to India and thereafter to Africa.

Last but not least the industry has long predicted that big brand companies will take the mobile internet by storm. Well yet again one brand has taken the leap:

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2008/10/24/ralph-lauren-launches-an-iphone-application-anyone-care/

What is more interesting is that this is surely partly due to the web usage.
Notice this: http://www.mobiadnews.com/?p=2908

The mobile internet around the world is skyrocketing. The Indonesian market has grown extremely rapidly, with 2008 be over 13 times bigger than 2007. This chart shows the annual growth for the top 5 markets - US, Indonesia, UK, South Africa, India.

Where is Europe? Anyone?

Br. Vesa