Mobile Behavior: an Omnicom Group Company

POLITICS
Obama takes campaign to the iPhone [CNN]
While McCain tries to figure out the difference between Macs and PCs, Barack Obama is busy launching his very own iPhone application. How about some GPS features that tell me how to get to my polling station?

MARKETING
Sporting goods brand Vans uses mobile for branding [Mobile Marketer]
Vans has launched a mobile destination through FunMobility (“America's largest mobile content community”) that allows users to receive daily text messages and free wallpapers (also on Vans.com ).

Leveraging the mobile phone for guided in-store product tours [EverydayUX]
Who needs to flag down a guy in a maroon vest?  A Quantum grill spotted at Lowes has a 1-800 number right on the box you can call for a real-time audio tour of the product. We expect shortcodes and wap links to be a regular feature on packaging and at POS, cool to see the beginnings...

HANDSETS
Mobile browser Skyfire 0.8 released, opens the gates to full-desktop browsing experience for mobile [UberGizmo]
Skyfire has released a new version of its free software that can give you a PC-like browsing experience on any Windows Mobile (and soon Symbian) phone. Who needs an iPhone?

Megapixel race hits the mobile realm [Engadget]
...or a camera? Nokia N95 and Motorola’s upcoming ZN5 each have 5 megapixels, but just wait... Gizmodo was recently jonesin’ on an 8 MP shooter from Samsung, and Electronista has heralded the arrival of its 8 MP brother from another mother – the KC780 from LG.

MUSIC
What Song Is That? Shazam Will Tell You [Mediabistro]
In January we said Shazam’s iPhone app was “definitely the coolest one out there.” Looks like Samsung agreed: They just announced that they will embed the mobile music discovery service into the new Samsung Beat handsets. Will be interesting to see how this “comes with” offering stacks up to a subscription model like AT&T’s Music ID.

Nine Inch Nails Version of Tap Tap Revenge Coming to iTunes [Gizmodo]
Video games have become a launching pad for new music, why not mobile video games? A soon-to-be-released premium version of Tap Tap Revenge, the iPhone equivalent of Guitar Hero, will include a NIN-centric theme and a bunch of the band’s songs. The partnership comes on the heels of Snow Patrol’s interactive app for their latest album.

ACCESSORIES
Carl Zeiss Cinemizer Mobile Eyewear [UberGizmo]
Remember Virtual Boy from Nintendo? Well, you won’t be able to play Nester’s Funky Bowling in Predator-vision on these new shades from Carl Zeiss, but you will be able to watch 3D movies without having to settle for Mylie or Beowulf.

TECHNOLOGY & APPS
3D Force Field Opens Door for Holodeck, Virtual Touchable Leia [Gizmodo]
Check out the groundbreaking Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display – a “high-fidelity 3D force field on the air that allows you to actually touch virtual objects with your bare hands.” Most likely the new technology will first be applied to virtual keyboards, but we should probably expect Sims-like action at some point.

Visa Bringing Mobile Banking Application to Android [Mobile Burn]
Visa is developing a mobile banking application that will allow Google Android-based smartphones to receive financial alerts and special offers. Not only will Visa members soon be able to make contactless payments, but they will also be able to “quickly locate nearby ATMs or other banking locations” through Google Maps.

YOUTH
Generation of Fear [Laurel Papworth]
Gen Y fear not finding their passion. "By not connecting to their passion and with others that share similar passions, Gen Y fear they will not have a voice and will end up being ignored." They find these like-minded others online, where their creativity is recognized, and they are self-empowered. Gen Y see the world as full of information and believe that leadership comes from their environment, thus many don't see the same value in an elite college education as older generations.

Are ‘Millenials’ the Smartest or Dumbest Generation? [Education Weekly]
While social networking and video games have generally lead to “an abandonment of serious leisure reading,” young people’s “leisure pursuits today are ‘more sophisticated’” than those of the baby boomers. Millenials watch “multilayed dramas,” sustain a trend of rising IQ scores, write computer software, create robots and show a great “reversal of self-destructive behaviors.”