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Wireless providers and social networks scheming for the future
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All of the recaps and chatter from the Mobile World Conference focus on the same major trend: mobile’s integration with social networks. Wireless providers want to make it as easy and seamless as possible for their customers to connect with their friends, add content, and update status via their mobile phones.
Myspace announced deals with Nokia and Palm and the Facebook phone won handset of the year. These wireless providers are courting existing networks; however, a lot of developers are trying to create new ones specifically designed for the mobile device. Mobile to the web is not a simple apples to apples translation. So they think their understanding of mobile applications will give them an edge.
However, getting people to completely migrate their from existing network is no easy task. I think in the end, the people who figure out how to completely rework Facebook for mobile will win.
Ivy leagues go open source
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An Ivy league education has always been reserved for the elite. However, thanks to Yale grad Richard Ludlow, now anyone can have access to a world-class education. Ludlow just launched Academic earth, a Hulu-type site for nerds. Academic Earth catalogs videos of lectures from the best professors at the best schools across the nation. You can search by university, subject or top rated content, tune-in or out at your own leisure, or subscribe to a “playlist” and get a full course-load of knowledge.
Found via Slate.
Affecting change
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When Facebook changed their terms and conditions, people were not quiet about their feelings. The blogs, radio stations, status messages all hated on the invasion of privacy, loss of control and overall creepiness factor.
So, Facebook immediately changed back to the old terms, PRing their way out of public scrutiny.
Real-time response + owning up + giving people what they want = game changer
Skype on your Nokia phone
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Skype and Nokia announced a partnership that will bring the Skype experience to your mobile phone. The integration is tight–super intuitive and simple. Your address book shows who is online at the moment, and through your menu you can send instant messages or initiate skype-skype voice calls. Sweet.
Only on the Nseries phones for now. Stay tuned on progress.
Current art project
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This project is escalating into a bit of an obsession. It’s actually scaring some of my friends. But I think it’s a big idea so I decided to share.
I loved spin art birthday parties when I was a kid. I couldn’t get enough of that. So, when I saw Damien Hirst’s spin art paintings I kind of fell in love all over again. I can’t afford his work, by any means. So I decided to tap into my childhood and create my own.
This weekend will be my third attempt and I think I finally nailed it. See plan below (illustrations by Rob, thanks for the help dude). I anticipate magic.
A pandora for movies and TV shows
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You probably know Pandora. It’s is a music discovery tool and it’s been around since 2005. But if you don’t here’s how it works: Pandora analyzes characteristics of individual songs and recommends new music that shares similar attributes. So, if I select “Wolf Like Me” by TV On the Radio, it might recommend “Golden Skans” by the Klaxons because those songs share a similar composition or tone.
Well, now Jinni is offering this discovery tool for movies and TV shows. Unfortunately it’s in private beta and I don’t have an invite. So I can’t really tell you if it’s useful. But, it does make me think about other extensions.
Here is my personal wishlist of Pandora type tools:
1. Pandora for clothes
2. Pandora for restaurants
3. Pandora for wine
4. Pandora for books
The list goes on.
A good read and a good video
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A friend I worked with in Chicago (also a planner) posted this video on her blog. Check it out if want to understand Augmented reality. Also, check out her blog if you want to feel smarter and more interesting.
What has the Obama craze done to our culture?
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I got this email today selling Valentines presents. The name of the product, “romance stimulus package,” was the first thing that stood out. (the second was, how did I get on this list?) With Shepard Fairy making art out of our president’s likeness, hip hop artists remixing the inaugural speech into a rap song, and now a lingerie company creating a Valentines package around our country’s economic stimulus package, I think it’s safe to say that politics and pop culture are colliding head on. I think it’s great that for the first time in a long time our country is taking such an active interest in politics. I even find myself tuning into NPR much more consistently. The economy and election continue to creep into water-cooler conversations. Subtle changes, but they are changes. I just wonder what is the point where culture and politics need to draw the line? Or is it only beneficial?
