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Design, marketing, observations, intellectual and spiritual pursuits. Always seeking to dig simple truths out of overwhelming complexity.

Enjoy.

Thursday
25Feb2010

Ambition to build

"I had no ambition to make a fortune. Mere money-making has never been my goal, I had an ambition to build."

--John D. Rockefeller

Thursday
18Feb2010

Education and the digital generation

Interesting view of Gen Y/Millennial/digital generation and how they process information. Don Tapscott presentation at BIF-5.

 

Thursday
18Feb2010

Facebook Mobile strategy - 16min video

Video capture of Facebook's presentation at GSMA's Mobile World Conference.

Text summary and key slide/screen shots on TechCrunch.

 

Thursday
11Feb2010

Going to Vegas, baby!

I always hated that phrase...and set of ad messages. But, I guess it was effective enough to stick in my brain.

More importantly, I was just invited to speak at the "Industry Coupon Conference" being hosted by the Association of Coupon Professionals in, of course, Las Vegas (April 27-29, 2010). I will update them on the latest things happening with the mobile Internet - mobile shopping phenomenon, and how digital incentives are shifting the marketing promotions landscape.

The press release and more info is over at the diji site.

Tuesday
09Feb2010

Mobile Marketing to double in 2010, grow to half of online ad spend 2013?

In what will likely otherwise be an unremarkable year for media ad spending, mobile marketing is expected to surge in 2010 as the number of portals, such as iPhone apps, multiply, an industry analyst said Monday.

"We believe that this will finally be the breakout year after all the other the other breakout years we heard about in the past," said Kip Cassino, Borrell Associates VP of research and development.

Speaking at Borrell's 2010 Local Online Advertising Conference in New York, Cassino said he expects mobile marketing to double this year, rising from 4% to 8% of all online marketing. By 2013, about half of all online ad dollars will be spent on mobile, he said.

"By the next decade, we think mobile devices are going to replace computers, " said Cassino, explaining that the number of iPhone apps alone — which give advertisers opportunities to target consumers — has grown from 30,000 to 150,000 in just one year. "You won't buy a laptop anymore. Online will be moving."

 

more...

Thursday
04Feb2010

Inside the Focus on the Family - Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad

15 minute video from the guy behind the production of the ad. Includes clips and quotes from multiple media sources.

"Celebrate family, celebrate life."

Wednesday
03Feb2010

Microsoft Tag - 2D code video update

Nothing new here, but gives a look into Microsoft's current pitch regarding its "tag" - 2D barcode efforts.

Wednesday
27Jan2010

Apple iPad Hands-on video - Engadget

Hands-on video from Engadget following Jan. 27 press conference. Pre-release iPad, shows basic functionality and speed.

 

Wednesday
20Jan2010

diji(tm) - digital incentives journal international

Just launched diji(tm) - digital incentives journal international. www.diji.us

diji(tm) operates as a clearing house for best practices, critical-path insights, and a "hype filter" in service to the digital incentive ecosystem. By participating in various industry groups, conducting in-depth research, and creating reporting, intelligence gathering, and communications tools, diji(tm) provides clear guidance for the best way to execute digital incentive programs.

Literally dozens of industry associations are debating technological and economic architectures that will provide the delivery backbone for these new kinds of promotions. The current, global economic realities make it extremely difficult for brands, retailers, and even the program enablers themselves to keep up with the rate of change that is occurring.

Services provided to facilitate greater success in digital incentive programs include:

  • Custom research, analysis, and project/initiative based consulting
  • The periodic publication of the diji(tm) Journal (current editions available here)
  • "Insider" network insight, communication tools, research, webinars, technology reviews, and more (available soon)
Wednesday
06Jan2010

Nielsen data on mobile and social, via MediaPost

Mobile Phones

U.S. mobile phone users 13+

223M

Number of mobile Web users

60.7M (up 33% from 2008)

Percentage of mobile devices that are smartphones

18% (up from 13% in 2008)

Percentage of mobile device owners that streamed audio

8%

Percentage of mobile device owners that viewed video via their mobile phone

7%

Percentage of mobile devices sold in Q3 2009 that were smartphones

25% (estimated 40%-50 in 2010)

Source: The Nielsen Company, November 2009

 

Looking Ahead To Mid-2011

Estimated smartphone user base

150M

Estimated mobile subscribers

300M+

Estimated users of mobile web

120M

Estimated users watching mobile video

 90M

Source: The Nielsen Company, November 2009

 

Growth of cellphone only homes in the U.S.

  • 2009... 21%
  • 2008... 18%
  • 2007... 15%

Top 5 Smartphones (% Ownership)

Blackberry 8300 Curve

 17%

Apple iPhone 3G

 15%

Apple iPhone 3G S

12%

Blackberry 9530 Storm

 6%

Blackberry 8100 Pearl

 5%

Source: The Nielsen Company, November 2009

 

Top 5 Mobile Web Sites

  • Google Search
  • Yahoo! Mail
  • Gmail
  • Weather Channel
  • Facebook

Top Social Networks on Mobile Phones

  • Facebook
  • MySpace
  • Twitter

Top 5 Mobile Video Channels

  • YouTube
  • Fox Interactive Media
  • Weather Channel
  • Comedy Central
  • CBS

Internet

  • 195M Active U.S. Internet users
  • 160.3M People who accessed the Internet via a broadband connection: (93.3%... up 16% from 2008)
  • 138.4M Unique viewers of video (up 11.4% from 2008)
  • 11.2B Total online video streams viewed monthly (up 17% from 2008)
  • 200.1 minutes Average time spent viewing online video per viewer monthly (up 12.5% from 2008)

Social Networking

  • Facebook reaches 56% of the active U.S. Internet universe with an average usage of 6 hrs a month per user
  • Facebook is the #3 site visited by users 65 and older
  • Twitter grew 500% year-over-year
  • Time spent on social networking sites in the U.S. increased 277%
  • The average U.S. worker spends 5 hrs a month visiting social networks at the office
  • 32% of all mobile web users visited a social network

Source: MediaPost Center for Media Research, "Just the Facts" Jan 6, 2010.

Saturday
12Dec2009

Garmin Nutcracker Ad

Maybe not quite as good as the originals to this tune...but I still like it.

Monday
07Dec2009

GS1 claims cameraphone barcode scanning is a reality for consumers

Specifically through Extended Packaging standards development efforts, GS1 claims that consumers see this as a reality and it is important for the industry to ensure that proper standards are in place.

A specific quote from the press release:

"Extended Packaging is a reality for consumers. It’s our job to make sure the services we offer reach the widest audience. That’s only possible with the right standards in place," commented Vanderlei Roque dos Santos (Nestlé), co-chair of the GS1 MobileCom group.

Several pilots are underway in different countries, involving some of the world's largest brands and retailers. Full press release is attached.

Mobile couponing was also a subject of discussion at the event, including the roles that various industry participants should play.

GS1 Paris Press Release

Wednesday
14Oct2009

Economist "Did You Know" Digital Media Convergence Video

Great 4 minute presentation concerning current media stats, uses, comparisons, etc.

Sunday
13Sep2009

Bobby McFerrin - World Science Festival - Pentatonic Scale

Wednesday
09Sep2009

Desire to study

Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in."

--Leonardo Da Vinci

Friday
19Jun2009

 

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope."

--Bill Cosby,
actor and comedian

Sunday
14Jun2009

A Debate with Mobile Pornography Kings (and Queens)

I was recently compelled to respond to a question about "erotic content" on mobile devices that was posted in a mobile technology professionals group I am a part of on LinkedIn.

What ensued is an eye-opening discussion on how blind and oblivious people engaged in that industry are.

The worldwide trafficking and enslavement of sex workers is a horrendous injustice. With an economics and marketing background, I have to ask where the market for such a thing comes from. Of course this is not a unique thought, but any reasonable person should be able to make a connection between the proliferation of pornography in every imaginable medium to be a key driver. Porn has become "cool," "funny," and even glamorous at some levels of our society. All the while, millions of lives are being destroyed because untold numbers of spectators are not satisfied until they become participants; in reality that transforms them into predators.

Here is what engaging with some of the profiteers on the chic, public facing side of the industry looks like:

[I will insert tips for following this within these brackets. Keep in mind that this was taken from a forum with international members, so the language can be difficult to follow at times. Also know that LinkedIn connects everyone from their professional profiles, so these are not anonymous rantings. I redacted actual names of participants to avoid any issues that might cause. I also left out ancillary comments that did not add anything significant to the discussion.]

The LinkedIn Group Forum Question:

M.C. -- Erotic content - still most interesting part of this business?

Hi all,
besides java games, there was always the erotic content most internesting part of this business. I suppose, it is still so :) What is your oppinion, am I right? The next question is - hard or soft?

P.S. I am looking for soft erotic content suppliers... Does anyone have something for me?
thanks,

Responses:

L.A. -- Simple truth - sex sells . LIke it or not, it is very very profitable and people buy it on a subscription basis. I've heard of services where you pay 6 pounds sterling per month (about $9) to send and recieve erotic messages to a virtual girlfirend or boyfriend. Whatever.

-

A.B. [a woman] -- Interesting query you have there. [L.A.] is right, Sex sells. Regardless of the global recession that we are experiencing. The demand for such contents are still on the run. Our company provides this kind of contents. From soft to hard. Our official website is...

-

C.D -- As stated above already, surely adult content sells! In our extensive experience as an adult content provider we see that Hardcore content is selling better than Softcore. Luckily we are able here in the Netherlands to sell hardcore through the portals of the operators:-) Please check our website...

-

J.C. -- and while we are on the subject, a sister company of our creates and manages iPhone, Blackberry, G1 and 3G mobile adult branded subscription sites. If you are a studio. content producer, have a subscription site, webmaster or have Cable TV channels or print magazines we can do business!

-

R.D -- HI [M.C.],

Check [].com these guys sell soft and hard both.

Regards

-

T.M. [another female exec] -- [].com are no more than thieves. They illegally distribute modified versions of our original [removed titles] games.

If you are interested in legal distribution of adult and non-adult content, please feel free to contact me.

-

R.D. -- Hi T.M.,

Didnt know that fact. In our previous company we used to get few content from them. Thanks for your advice. Will inform my previous company about this and hopefully they would take some action. Also would refer them to you guys.

-

Laird [me] -- Sure [in reply to 'most interesting part of business' question]...and what better way is there to market extremely addictive, exploitative and destructive content to young teens, with little to no access filters? So, not only do you get a fresh new crop of abusers and the abused, you also feed an international human trafficking industry that has 2 million child slaves being sold for sex and raped for profit on a daily basis.

Congratulations, I hope everyone driving this market sleeps well at night.

-

R.D --Hey Larid,

Apologies if we have hurt your sentiments, we are only talking about legal distribution content, As per your knowledge there are filters like age factor once you are on operator wap site.

On one here promotes piracy and illegal content mate. We always make sure that we or our partners have all the rights to sell the content and the content belongs to them.

Regards

-

Laird -- Who said anything about piracy or illegal content? I'm not about to guess at the legal requirements in multiple countries.

Print, video, Internet, mobile...pervasive porn isn't enough for hundreds of thousands of predators as they provide the market for 2 million children and 10 million women in forced prostitution.

Little girls in cages, literally, raped 30 times a day...is it worth it?

You, along with all of the other positive "commenters," seem to be reasonably intelligent. You guys are at the top of the funnel, taking untold thousands of people down this path. I would think you could find another way to make a buck.

-

R.D. -- Yes Laird,

I am in total agreement with you on this but the fact remains the same. This is the demand and the supply chain. We all here are because of the very fact that there is requirement from the companies we work for. Also this is not the only way to make money. I would say if Operators kept on asking these content then companies would provide these contents. We always tend to take content from legitimate companies who are not into child or forcefully make these content.

I would say we all here are social and society responsible persons.

Regards,

[In other words, he is a victim of supply and demand. He owns his own company, by the way, or so it is listed on his profile. Since there is demand, he has no choice but to supply it. I still haven't figured out what he is in "total agreement" about.]

-

J.C. -- In every area of industry their are those who seek to exploit, bully, extort, torture and murder. Look at the oil industry, the pharma industry even in banking. The adult industry has its dark places too but people should be aware that as in every industry there are strict laws and regulations but there are those who seek to break these regulations in the most vile and terrible ways.

-

L.A. -- So what are you saying Jeremy? Exploitation is OK because it runs across many sectors? I'm sure that is not your personal opinion but it supports a dangerous notion; something is really only illegal if you get caught. Hey, I'm all for porn if it is between consenting adults; if that's what they what to do, great, have at it. If you don't like porn, don't watch it. Abusing kids; totally different. Unconscionable

And here's the naked truth: No distributor HAS to make kiddie-porn, they CHOOSE to, using the twisted justification that there is a market and if they don't someone else will and reap the profits. Cha-ching!

I wonder if anyone selling that kind of trash has ever looked the abused in the eye, knowing they have ruined that person's life for money.

Shame on anyone who is in that business and shame on all of us for allowing it to continue. Major paradigm shifts needed here folks!

-

S.P. -- Porn has it's place. It's up to users and operators to ensure content is legal. It shouldn't be stopped because of a sick minority. We all know that wouldn't stop them anyway.

-

S.H. -- Hi Laird,

You look sensitive to child porn, abuse, rape and selling it to audiences. The fact is, at lot more places in the world where you are called by children and youngsters offering sex.

Each situation has different views. In every sector, there is abuse and rape. Someone rapes everybody and the fact is we all are pigeons of life. If you cannot be saved, then you are the target, this is law of nature. And no so-called civilized society is exception for this.

You are crying for those whom we see on screen, what you say about those which are killed in thousands of thousands world wide in racism, and just dumped in form of a figure in UN reports.

The topic here is adult content on mobile; task is legal and business is legal, I request you not to take things personal. Be professional!

-

Laird -- Unfortunately for those looking to justify their business interests, or assuage their consciences, I was referring to the straight-up "soft and hard core" listed above. It's not about my sensitivities, it's about the realities of an industry that is propping up unbelievable oppression.

2 million children held as sex slaves.

10 million adult women held as sex slaves.

Talk to me about consent again? Who are the ones providing the market for this kind of injustice but hundreds of thousands of the customers in this industry who just can't get enough? They have to find a way to try out all of the different fantasies portrayed in your garbage.

Is it really that hard to see that for every "star" that rises to the top of the heap, hundreds of thousands have their lives destroyed in the process?

At least R.D. seems to be honest...he says it is worth it. Hey, have to make some money, right?

S.H....what a dark view of the world you have. And I don't think you really understand the hell I am describing that these women and children are living in. And this is directly on-topic. Read the initial question. I am just trying to encourage anyone listening to get out of it. Interesting, profitable...so what? It's not worth it.

-

V.H. -- Re: 2 million children held as sex slaves. 10 million adult women held as sex slaves.

What this has to do with professionally made porn films? Those are just acting like any movie. I would be more concerned about those amateur porn clips when somebody put's hidden camera to someones else bedroom.

###

And this is where it ended. I had nothing more to say with the likes of V.H. either not caring or being actually incapable of making the connection.

Some of the others obviously hold a view of humanity that is utterly predatorial. Kill or be killed, rape or be raped. They will do their best, but overall it is no big deal--as long as what they are doing is legal by somebody's definition.

God help us.

Two organizations working to do something about this:

Thursday
18Dec2008

BusinessWeek's best innovation & design books 2008

Click for the annoying BusinessWeek "slide show" of 2008's top 10 innovation and design books. Includes pictures and short summaries.

Or, here's the alphabetical list:

The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures

Author: Dan Roam
Publisher: Penguin Portfolio

Closing the Innovation Gap: Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in a Global Economy

Author: Judy Estrin
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Books

Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns

Authors: Clayton Christensen, Curtis W. Johnson, Michael B. Horn
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Books

The Endless City

Authors: Ricky Burdett and Deyan Sudjic
Publisher: Phaidon

The Game-Changer: How You Can Drive Revenue and Profit Growth with Innovation

Authors: A.G. Lafley and Ram Charan
Publisher: Crown Business

Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies

Authors: Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff
Publisher: Harvard Business Press

Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations

Author: Clay Shirky
Publisher: Penguin Press

The New Age of Innovation: Driving Cocreated Value Through Global Networks

Authors: C.K. Prahalad and M.S. Krishnan
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Books

The Numerati

Author: Stephen Baker
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

The Venturesome Economy: How Innovation Sustains Prosperity in a More Connected World

Author: Amar Bhidé
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Thursday
18Dec2008

Rock Solid Principles

Evidently this is the season of quotes...I keep running into ones that I simply must pass along.

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

Thomas Jefferson

 

Monday
15Dec2008

Kinetic Wave Sculpture Video

Mostly dropping this in to try out Vimeo, but it is pretty cool...and really high quality video.


Kinetic Wave Sculptures from make magazine on Vimeo.