I love this site - www.mobile17.com - for its ability to let you, the consumer, upload song clips/backgrounds from your computer for use on your mobile phone. It's pretty simple to use, and it's free. I believe it works with all types of mobile phones.
I actually just uploaded (then downloaded) some of those HDR images Hegs shared via Seth Godin's post.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
What brands have the most fans?
As a frequent Facebook user, I've been intrigued by the popularity of the "fans" application. With a quick click on a thumbs up icon, the user can easily indicate their affinity toward a soda, politician, or sports team.
In the same way that Google Trends can show the ebb and flow of a topic of conversation, the Facebook "fans" function can give insights into how Facebook users feel about various brands. Unfortunately, it's not very scientific, but there are some interesting insights.
Before I get into that, it's important to note just who the Facebook user is. Danah Boyd, prominent researcher, Berkely PhD student and Harvard Law School Fellow, controversially contended that Facebook users are educated/higher class than MySpace users. Though Boyd contends that Faceboook users are higher class, we still cannot definitively say that the user is a homogeneous group. The Facebook user mix is getting older, as noted in this TechCrunch chart below, and probably more diverse.
That said, here were some interesting observations from the "fans" application.
Politics
Obama - 731,000
Hillary - 141,000
McCain - 100,000
Any chance we can finagle some super-delegates out of this stark contrast?
Products
This surprised me the most. Ticketmaster, Basketball, and Marmite? Really?
TV Shows
Who knew that Top Gear was so popular?
Check out this link for some views on additional topics.
In the same way that Google Trends can show the ebb and flow of a topic of conversation, the Facebook "fans" function can give insights into how Facebook users feel about various brands. Unfortunately, it's not very scientific, but there are some interesting insights.
Before I get into that, it's important to note just who the Facebook user is. Danah Boyd, prominent researcher, Berkely PhD student and Harvard Law School Fellow, controversially contended that Facebook users are educated/higher class than MySpace users. Though Boyd contends that Faceboook users are higher class, we still cannot definitively say that the user is a homogeneous group. The Facebook user mix is getting older, as noted in this TechCrunch chart below, and probably more diverse.
That said, here were some interesting observations from the "fans" application.
Politics
Obama - 731,000
Hillary - 141,000
McCain - 100,000
Any chance we can finagle some super-delegates out of this stark contrast?
Products
This surprised me the most. Ticketmaster, Basketball, and Marmite? Really?
TV Shows
Who knew that Top Gear was so popular?
Check out this link for some views on additional topics.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter: Resurrection + Confection
Like many American Christians, I took part in the annual Easter ritual. That's right - I went to the local pharmacy to stock up on Easter candy. I'm pretty particular about my Easter candy... Give me some Reese's Easter Eggs and some Cadbury Creme Eggs and I'm good to go. But don't get me near any Peeps or Bunny-Shaped Circus Peanuts. Who eats these things, really? (Say that in your best Jerry Seinfeld voice.)
Gross.
Grosser.
Gross.
Grosser.
The Return of Zubaz
You remember Zubaz, right? The zebra print, hammer pants used by 80s weightlifters and couch potatoes alike.
Do we really need to bring these back? Apparently so, says the Minneapolis Star Tribune, an opinion leading fashion magazine and sometimes newspaper.
Do we really need to bring these back? Apparently so, says the Minneapolis Star Tribune, an opinion leading fashion magazine and sometimes newspaper.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Individualist vs. Collectivist Societies
Interesting article from the NYT detailing the contrast in reading emotions between Eastern and Western societies. It's amazing how one illustration could produce such different perceptions.
Paper or Plastic?
No, I'm not auditioning for a new job...
Being someone prone to carry ALL my groceries at one time, I've had my divorce from paper grocery bags long ago. They inevitably break on me. I realize that it's partially my fault - my fault of trying to make one efficient trip from parking lot to apartment.
I've realized that the folks at the local Trader Joes's and Whole Foods tend to give me a look when I insist on plastic. Joke's on you, hippie liberal grocery dudes. Turns out my choice of plastic over paper may not be so bad after all.
"The making of paper can waste many thousands of gallons of water, as can the recycling of paper. The human and mechanical efforts and costs are very high, not forgetting the physical cost to loggers and those who work around the numerous chemicals. Plastic is, by comparison, efficient and low energy to produce, and, easily and efficiently recycled. Plastic reduces, recycles marvelously, and in that, is reused. After contrasting the efforts behind the making of paper and plastic, it is our unbiased opinion that plastic is indeed more beneficial to the environment, in that it is less harmful. The next time you are asked the dreaded question, "Paper or plastic?", you can answer knowing that you are making the informed choice." And yes I reuse and recycle them, thank you for asking.
Link courtesy of Freakonomics.com.
Being someone prone to carry ALL my groceries at one time, I've had my divorce from paper grocery bags long ago. They inevitably break on me. I realize that it's partially my fault - my fault of trying to make one efficient trip from parking lot to apartment.
I've realized that the folks at the local Trader Joes's and Whole Foods tend to give me a look when I insist on plastic. Joke's on you, hippie liberal grocery dudes. Turns out my choice of plastic over paper may not be so bad after all.
"The making of paper can waste many thousands of gallons of water, as can the recycling of paper. The human and mechanical efforts and costs are very high, not forgetting the physical cost to loggers and those who work around the numerous chemicals. Plastic is, by comparison, efficient and low energy to produce, and, easily and efficiently recycled. Plastic reduces, recycles marvelously, and in that, is reused. After contrasting the efforts behind the making of paper and plastic, it is our unbiased opinion that plastic is indeed more beneficial to the environment, in that it is less harmful. The next time you are asked the dreaded question, "Paper or plastic?", you can answer knowing that you are making the informed choice." And yes I reuse and recycle them, thank you for asking.
Link courtesy of Freakonomics.com.
Whoa Steve
Apple now has a 25% dollar share of US PCs. Whoa.
How's "Borg" gonna receive this one? Anyone? Anyone?
Link courtesy of extratexture.com.
How's "Borg" gonna receive this one? Anyone? Anyone?
Link courtesy of extratexture.com.
Another Great Band Cuts Out The Middleman
The Raconteurs, Jack White's indie band side project, is following in the footsteps of Radiohead, releasing its new LP, Consolers of the Lonely, directly to consumers. I think we're at a point where we'll see more and more established yet untethered artists go the way of a direct to consumer model.
This byte is also good news, as the last Raconteurs album was one of my favorites of 2006. Level and Hands are really good songs. Looking forward to the new one.
Link courtesy of extratexture.com.
This byte is also good news, as the last Raconteurs album was one of my favorites of 2006. Level and Hands are really good songs. Looking forward to the new one.
Link courtesy of extratexture.com.
Only In America
So, I'm in Orlando, Florida this week conducting some "market research." Universal Studios (Hollywood and Florida) has a great marketing research service that allows you to capture a wide swath of Americana on one fell swoop. It's cost effective, and gives you a great sample.
I spent tonight heading to the Universal "City Walk," which is an outdoor mall of oversized signs and a few restaurants. On my way into City Walk, I hop on the horizontal escalator, or "people mover" as people may call it. I expect that my fast-paced East Coast gait would propel me to my destination more expediently than walking alone.
Nuh-uh, wait a minute!
The whole damn people mover was moving people, but the people were not adding to the great synergy of the people mover by not moving themselves. Just standing there, clogging up the people mover, as if it's a substitute for their own damn two feet. This ain't a ride, kiddos!
Only in America.
I spent tonight heading to the Universal "City Walk," which is an outdoor mall of oversized signs and a few restaurants. On my way into City Walk, I hop on the horizontal escalator, or "people mover" as people may call it. I expect that my fast-paced East Coast gait would propel me to my destination more expediently than walking alone.
Nuh-uh, wait a minute!
The whole damn people mover was moving people, but the people were not adding to the great synergy of the people mover by not moving themselves. Just standing there, clogging up the people mover, as if it's a substitute for their own damn two feet. This ain't a ride, kiddos!
Only in America.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Great new band - Bon Iver
I've heard these guys a ton lately on my local radio station - my favorite radio station of all time to be exact - 89.3 The Current in Minneapolis. They're Bon Iver - pronounced Eevair- and I think they'd fall into the category of a certain friend's chill music. I tend to be a fan of music that's a little more rocking, but I like a few songs from these guys. The singer has an odd yet pleasing melodic falsetto voice that sounds good on the album. But, it's overdubbed, so their upcoming performance at SXSW may not be as good. For Emma and Skinny Love are great tunes.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=155754525
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=155754525
Signs of Spring in Minneapolis
Spring must be coming soon for Minneapolis. I observed the following today...
- Birds chirping
- Local rap station playing everyone's favorite bootie music, including "Daisy Dukes"
- Second layer of thermal underwear now superfluous
- Ghastly tan now more apparent without camouflage of snow
- Birds chirping
- Local rap station playing everyone's favorite bootie music, including "Daisy Dukes"
- Second layer of thermal underwear now superfluous
- Ghastly tan now more apparent without camouflage of snow
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Minnehaha Falls
Headed to Minnehaha falls today with Katie. They're pretty impressive - even in winter. They look like something out of a doomsday movie.
Defending Earth's Natural Wonders: The Law Of The Sea
No, this isn't a shout out to the most underrated superhero of all time, Aquaman...
I read this editorial today in the NYT Sunday Paper - my favorite weekly indulgence. While I believe that global warming is a phenomenon that deserves the attention of the public, the polluting and exploitation of our oceans is also an affront to the environment that deserves our attention. When are people going to start to get upset about this?
I read this editorial today in the NYT Sunday Paper - my favorite weekly indulgence. While I believe that global warming is a phenomenon that deserves the attention of the public, the polluting and exploitation of our oceans is also an affront to the environment that deserves our attention. When are people going to start to get upset about this?
Riddle Review
Work has been pretty busy as of late, as I'm dealing with insane demand stimulus and capacity issues. I took off work on Friday to get some personal things done, as well as finish up Andrew Razhegi's new book, The Riddle.
A few people have asked for a review, and I think the true review of a business book is the amount of useful insights or enlightening ideas you can draw from it and apply. With this as my yardstick, there are some really great takeaways from The Riddle that I'll share with you. I recommend reading the book - and it's a quick read. If you're a brand manager, product developer, or entrepreneur, this is a great book for the library.
Here's some of my 3 favorite notes from the book. There are many more useful tidbits, but I found these to be foundational and useful.
- If you don't have a well defined problem to attack, your innovation will be off the mark. Don't innovate for the sake of making something novel (unless you're in the art business). Innovate to solve problems.
- Consumers have a difficult time communicating what they need. As opposed to asking them what they want, observe what they are unable to do.
- Great thought exercise: Ask why 5 times to your problem, and you'll likely come to a deep understanding of root causes. When you have your solution, make sure you also ask Why Not?
A few people have asked for a review, and I think the true review of a business book is the amount of useful insights or enlightening ideas you can draw from it and apply. With this as my yardstick, there are some really great takeaways from The Riddle that I'll share with you. I recommend reading the book - and it's a quick read. If you're a brand manager, product developer, or entrepreneur, this is a great book for the library.
Here's some of my 3 favorite notes from the book. There are many more useful tidbits, but I found these to be foundational and useful.
- If you don't have a well defined problem to attack, your innovation will be off the mark. Don't innovate for the sake of making something novel (unless you're in the art business). Innovate to solve problems.
- Consumers have a difficult time communicating what they need. As opposed to asking them what they want, observe what they are unable to do.
- Great thought exercise: Ask why 5 times to your problem, and you'll likely come to a deep understanding of root causes. When you have your solution, make sure you also ask Why Not?
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