It’s not surprising that statistics show that Smartphone use is on the rise. Everywhere you look, you see someone on an iPhone, Blackberry, or an Android device. It’s when you see someone with a flip phone circa 2004 that actually stops you in your tracks.

Digital has also become prevalent in today’s commerce industry, where a customer can scan a QR code or bar code and obtain information on the product, or even if the product is sold cheaper elsewhere. Near Field Communications (NFC) is also taking off, as is the iPhone square payment system.

What does this increase in popularity in mobile and digital use mean for businesses?

Well, simply put in this article, going forward businesses will have to become nimble to survive and thrive. They will need to make the decision to either embrace these trends and determine a course of action, or they’ll end up being the next Blockbuster.

The author suggests four trends that will change the future of business. I would argue that mobile and digital will be the biggest instigators in changing how businesses interact with their customers. For example, eBay has recently launched a campaign marketed to today’s “on-demand shopper”, which is completely devoted to those that shop whenever and wherever the moment hits them to purchase an item.

It will be interesting to see what changes take place in the commerce industry over the next 12 months due to advances in digital and mobile.

Is your business gearing up for this revolution in how we shop? Are you ready to go mobile?

Suggested reads:
PayPal goes Mobile
eBay Launches New Campaign Aimed at Mobile Shoppers

Google has never been a product company, nor has it ever sold anything other than advertising. So it’s interesting to note that they have entered into a game where all the heavy hitters own software and hardware. Can Google play in this game and what’s its strategy?

This article takes a look at the implications involved in Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility. Was it really a patent that Google was after or does it have a bigger plan?

And now, Google has to deal with Microsoft’s patent lawsuit against Motorola Mobility and it’s Android OS. But really, who’s not suing who these days?

Let the games begin!

Suggested reads:

The strategic rationale behind Google’s Acquisition of Motorola

Why Microsoft should buy Nokia

Once again, we are are looking at another major shift in the media industry. Remember when music companies said they would never lose control of the marketplace and the idea of people downloading music was a pipe dream? Well, I know people who have never even purchased music in physical form (i.e. LP, cassette, CD, DVD). This is amazing to me…BUT we are here to talk about the new television.

The big broadcasting companies should be worried and the content makers should be taking cues from the music industry. The concept of web TV did not work out the first time around in 1999, but that was due to a lack of understanding on how people wanted to use web TV and a giant keyboard with a cord and built in mouse was NOT it. It seems that those issues have been resolved and we are now seeing some big changes in the home video market.

Similar to how Tower Records, Sam the Record Man, and HMV have disappeared, so have the Blockbuster’s and Jumbo Video’s of the world. Cable companies are working hard to come up with something that will keep us tied to them for a while longer, but companies like Boxee, Google TV, Netflix, Hulu, Joost, etc. put the concept of cable and even the PVR in trouble. With the advent of boxes like Apple TV and Western Digital’s set-top box, we can now get shows on demand from the web – where and when we want them.

The wild west of video content has not been won just yet, but the game is afoot. It was announced this year that all new Sony and Toshiba TV’s would come with Internet connectability. What does it all mean for you? Well, Netflix is saying viewers will have access to better shows and movies whenever they want for under $10 a month. What others are saying is you will now be able to mix your social, video, and gaming experiences into one and it will finally be personalized. The living room is one of the last frontiers, but with offers like these, we are seeing the uptake come pretty quickly. When was the last time you went to a video store?

I am guessing your next question might be what does is have to do with the web? We are witnessing a huge impact on online interaction with the integration of web video and social media. The mobility of content is also becoming a factor for many projects. The living room experience has made the jump to other devices and this is now building expectations for it. The idea of using a tablet device to control and interact with the big screen (notice I say big screen, not TV here) in the living room is a real thing. You can expect that the TV will become a central device for all interactions that are currently passive engagements in the home. On a side note, you can bet the form factor will change. Embedded screens are a thing of the future and will be a part of all of our utilities and devices. These screens are too big and dominate too much space in our homes to remain the same.

With Google going hard into TV and advertising, it is no wonder we are seeing innovation in this area. I think we can expect other companies with a lot of personalized data about us getting into the TV game. Think Facebook meets PVR/on-demand TV.

Check out this infographic survey we came across on Lab42.com that illustrates how Americans are watching TV.

What are you waiting for? Consider looking into competitive products to the old TiVo and PVR. Why are you paying for content you don’t watch?

Things you should know:

www.plex.com Use an old computer and hook it up to your flat screen – you’ll be amazed!

Your game consoles (Wii, Xbox, Playstation, etc.) all allow you to buy movies from Netflix.

This week we got the lucky opportunity to be in the right place at the right time. Our partner at Teknision, a UX, embedded screen design company, and our friends at Blackberrycool got together to talk about the design and innovative technology of the new Playbook coming out, and we were there to capture it. Have a look at the results:

You can read the accompanying article here.

As we all know the Playbook has been getting some good and bad press. However, one thing that is certain is that people are excited about the interface and how it reacts. Blackberry has not given many bloggers the privilege of testing  the final version of the OS, and the little they have shared has not been substantial enough to garner good reviews.

All that said, Kyle McInnes from Blackberrycool had a great interview that covered some these interesting topics. Among others, they discussed the QNX OS on the new Playbook as well as the future of what Teknision’s president, Gabor Vida, saw as the direction of that embedded screens will take.

Since Teknision was the early design team on the Playbook, this video is well worth a watch. As the launch of the Playbook inches closer, we are looking forward to what competition it might bring to the currently Apple iPad dominated market.

Other Links:

http://www.blackberrycool.com/2011/04/08/teknision-the-company-behind-the-playbook-ux-design/

http://youtu.be/xo3RirAquhM

http://www.teknision.com/

http://www.blackberrycool.com

http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/13/blackberry-playbook-review/

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/blackberry-playbook-review/

Life Without Google
Content
It’s pretty hard to imagine life before Google. From search to collaboration to email, if it wasn’t for Google most of us wouldn’t be able to find distracting content and social meme’s on the web.

All kidding a side, Google is playing a big role in the growth and transition from what web was to what web will be. Here’s an infographic showing the timeline of when Google released some of it’s most popular features along with a brief explanation for each. It’s worth having a look to see what your work/life/play might be like without Google. Feedback welcome, I would like to hear your thoughts.

Infographic courtesy of SingleGrain

For more information on how Google is changing the web and the world at large, check out the links below:

3 Things Google is doing new today:
Why Google Is Investing $168 Million in a Giant Solar Farm
http://www.fastcompany.com/1746534/why-is-google-investing-168-million-in-brightsource-energy

Your Web, Half a Second Sooner
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/lets-make-web-faster.html

Google’s Android 3.0 Honeycomb for tablets: a guided tour of the UI (video)
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/googles-android-3-0-honeycomb-for-tablets-a-guided-tour-of-the/

Sometimes you need to give up the applications you love to use, especially if you are the only one left using it. I am sorry to say, Gowalla it’s you. We’re breaking up.

We often carry extra apps on our smart phones/tablets that don’t get used that often. Some are for productivity, some for fun and others don’t really have much use at all. From time to time we need to weed these useless ones out to make room for great new tools, and there are definitely plenty to choose from.

I have been trying out a few location based tools for over a year now, like foursquare, Gowalla, SCVNGR and others. I try to ‘check-in’ as much as I can, which is great fun because it shows you location based deals, information about friends and is similar to a game, but the playground is the city you’re roaming.

Austin, Texas is the home of Gowalla and seems to have a great following there, but that didn’t seem to make the app more appealing to me when I went for SXSW this year. I aggressively checked-in at every possible opportunity with both Gowalla and foursquare in order to help push the virtual goods. However it didn’t seem to have an effect, and I’ve come to the unfortunate conclusion that there is only room for one check-in service, and foursquare, hailing from NYC, seems to be it.

I think a few reasons for Gowalla’s lack popularity seem to be:

- No one that I met in SXSW was using it, which is a big deal since it was developed in Austin.

When I checked into sessions and events with both applications, there was a considerable difference. While Gowalla had 67 people checking in, foursquare had 350+. Gowalla had hardly any locational data on happening events, and how do you get wisdom from a crowd when there is no crowd?

- Stats and common sense say that Facebook is King, while foursquare and SCVNGR are close runners up in comparison to Gowalla, which is basically off the radar.  Note: This is based on funding and valuation. Not user-base.

- foursquare consistently posts new tools that I can use in my business, are very service orientated and email me back to help me around bv02. They engage.

- Gowalla offered me the ability to check-in to other tools like foursquare. A blatant sign of defeat and capitulation.

- Lastly, but most importantly, it’s a pain in the ass to check-in on too many services. Period.

However, as with all break-ups a few kind words should be said in parting.

Gowalla, you did a lot of things that I liked:

Nice design and clean layout
Events flamed when people were grouping together to gather ‘hot topics’
Badges were personalized and could be traded
The application for my iPhone worked very well

So with that in mind, I’m going to keep my account open in the hopes that Gowalla will find that magic that will bring our relationship back to life. For now, we need to part ways. I will delete your app to make space for all the new relationships and tools I want to try this year.

So Long and Goodluck.

Love,

@Andrew_milne

Follow me on foursquare, or better yet stop by the bv02 HQ and check in, I will buy you a coffee. Let me know which location based tools you are trying. There are some really good ones coming online. Get in the game.

Here are some links to:

Gowalla
foursquare
SCVNGR
Facebook

Check in at the bv02 office on Foursquare

I have a confession to make, I suffer from technophilia. I am a lover of all things new and shiny and I take great satisfaction in discovering new ways to interact with content.

Needless to say, when I bought my iPad I was not sure I had made the right choice. Many in the market were calling it a limited space and most people were skeptical of this new fangled gadget.

So was I kidding myself when I thought I needed another e-device that situated itself between my desktop and my cellphone? As it turns out, I do need it and use it extensively in my day to day life.  From taking notes, drawing, making presentations, home automation to watching videos and listening to music, the list is endless and worthy of a separate blog post.

When I arrived in SXSW 2011, I was expecting to get a chance to try all the new shiny devices that marketers were buzzing about online, like the Samsung Galaxy and highly anticipated BlackBerry Playbook. However, when I arrived at the show everyone, and I mean almost every person, had an iPad. I began asking around about other devices, like the Honey Comb Android platform, but no one had seen or heard more than what was profiled on Mashable.

Luckily, I reconnected with Michelle from client services at BlackBerry who managed to get me a demo of the new Playbook. At last I had gotten my hands on a device that was supposedly comparable to the iPad.

Here is what I learned:

-Smaller interface, like a Kindle, but still a good size.
-Super intuitive and slick.
-It was quite heavy at first, but really solid to hold.
-In the limited time I got to test it seemed really fast.
-The screen was bright and clear.
-The touch screen seem durable and up to some abuse.
-The gaming was really quick and responsive. Different from the iPad, but not in a bad way.

It seemed like the hardware was comparable to the iPad, albeit different. So with such a great first impression, what really makes the iPad tablet stand out from the rest? In my opinion it’s the application marketplace. These devices are obsolete without flexibility and a wide range in the tools or applications people can use on them. Think about everyone you know using a smartphone. They all use it differently once you get past the basic tools. Everyone personalizes their device from reading and gaming to social media, web access and more.

All that said, I’m not writing the Playbook off just yet as many others have. I think BlackBerry might have a couple of tricks up their sleeve. However, they really need to find a  way to allow users to personalize their Playbook so its use is not limited to the work or office environment. In fact, it could be a totally different user type that buys this new device, and if they play up the QNX software integration and the interface designed by Teknision, it could really give some of the other devices a run for their money. I for one am looking forward to the rumored launch in early April. After all, Apple needs some good competition in order to keep innovating. The tablet market is only 11 months old and I think there is still a lot more  ahead of us.

If you don’t have tablet yet, you will want one soon. Let me know how you use yours. I am always on the look out for new applications and tools.

So far, 2011 has been an amazing year for new technology. There is a lot of promise on the horizon for the internet and interactive media, and it’s having a significant impact on the world as we know it. That’s why these next two weeks are going to be an eye-opening and rewarding experience…

For the past 2 years I have traveled to Austin, Texas for the annual SXSW festival. This year I will bring along Matt Davidson, our technical lead at bv02, to join in on the festivities and take in the best new innovative ideas the international community has to offer.

If you don’t know Matt from bv02, you should. He’s a smart young strategist and renaissance man, boasting an extensive knowledge of all types of multimedia and technology. He is an integral part of many of the successful and interesting projects at bv02 and he’s definitely one to watch.

Matt and I are planning big things for 2011 with the team at bv02, and this show is the cornerstone of all new tech hitting the web. From tablets like the Ipad 2 to a new version of Foursquare and  some 30 new location based apps i’ve heard about through the grapevine. If you’re in the tech biz, you’d better have a good excuse NOT to be here.

SXSW is a great place to visit, especially when thousands of people descend on it from all over the world. The buzz is palpable as people converge to discuss tech, listen to great music and see new films. It’s basically a trifecta of awesomeness.

We’re going to SXSW to hear interesting stories, absorb as much information as possible and meet fellow developers, community mangers and tonnes of interesting people from all around the world.

If you’re going, connect with us on Twitter: @andrew_milne and @Mattdavidson, we are always up for a beer over some good tech marketing talk.

If you’re not going, and don’t mind hearing me ramble on, stay tuned as I post about new tools and tech live from the show on the bv02 blog.

To close, I’d like to share some of my predictions for this year’s show:

1. I will meet at least 20 people I don’t know, online and off, that will blow my mind with new ideas.
2. I will find 3 new technologies and approaches to work that will change how I do things.
3. I will lose my voice.
4. My mobile device will die on me twice a day due to overuse.
5. I will bump into 50 Canadians, we seem to be magnetically attracted to each other in a crowd.
6. I will eat the world’s best BBQ at least twice at Rudy’s.

To tide you over until the festivities begin, here are some links to a hot new trend – Group texting: Yobongo, Groupme and Beluga.

Well, it looks like it’s time to say goodbye to an old friend, or rather an odd kid standing in the corner who always wanted to be liked.

It has been over ten years since the inception of Internet Explorer 6. It spawned lawsuits, security leaks and was downright difficult to use, yet it stuck around and some became very attached.

Finally, the day has come to wipe it off the face of the planet. 12% of the world’s internet population are still using this archaic software, but the majority say it’s time to stop designing backwards for a browser that limits what the web can do. Have a look at the IE6 usage around the world and see for yourself.

If not for your own sanity, help the rest of us out and transition to a browser that cares about your online experience and makes it the best it can be!

Need some ideas? Try these:
Internet Explorer 9
Firefox 3.6 (Beta 4 is out)
Chrome
Safari (Beta 5 is out)
Opera

Here is a great info graphic showing the rise of the QR Code with a brief history.
We have been watching and testing QR codes for a while now, but in the past two months we have seen the adoption rate take a huge jump.
From large media printers (see FESPA America) to magazines publishers, the 2D Codes are everywhere.

The opportunity for marketers to extend the relationship with the brand is pretty tempting.
Now that these tools are becoming a standard edition to smart phones and mobile marketing at large, it is creating a more immersive experience for the user. QR codes are even making an appearance on T.V. shows, like this one featured on Jimmy Fallon Live:

This is a great technology, but lets hope the content behind the hype lives up to the clicks.

Thanks to
Image courtesy of JumpScan.