News to Us: Lifestreaming Camera, Dopamine-Driven Texting, Service-Based Search and More
Samsung camera keeps vanity in focus [LA Times]
The DualView camera was created specifically with lifestreaming in mind. It features view screens on the front and back, meant to simplify taking self-portraits for social networking sites.
The Powerful and Mysterious Brain Circuitry That Makes us Love Google, Twitter, and Texting [Slate]
All our electronic communication devices—e-mail, Facebook feeds, texts, Twitter—are fueling our unquenchable, hard-wired drive to explore and discover. When we indulge, we stimulate our "pleasure center" and deliver dopamine to our systems, potentially causing obsessive behavior similar to lab rats and drug addicts.
Belarus Develops School Uniform That Makes Tin Foil Hats Obsolete [Net Effect]
A Belarus textile company has designed a school uniform that has a special pocket where kids can put their cell phone that protects them against electromagnetic radiation.
Making the Case For Search-Based Marketing [MarketingVOX]
Advertisers traditionally port creative to the web without much though towards search integration. Google and Bing want to improve on this with better use of location-based searches, as well as voice- and image-based search features to take advantage of the growing smartphone market. This goes beyond a product-focused search to a service-based one, from things such as restaurant finders to repair services.
The Universal Phone For The Blind And Sighted [Yanko Design]
Created by Seunghan Song, the Universal phone is the first full touchscreen mobile for both blind and sighted people. Micro pins on the surface are raised so sighted people can feel whatever is written on the screen, and a button transforms the whole interface into braille for the blind.
Cell Phone TV Watching Prime Time is 1 to 2PM: Who Are These People? [MobileContentToday]
FLO TV has just released metrics showing that the majority of mobile TV viewers are watching between 1 and 2 PM. The data contrasts sharply with regular TV peak times, further highlighting the singular characteristics of mobile usage.
Red Cross reaffirms Faith in Mobile Fundraising [Mobile Marketer]
The Red Cross garners approximately 40% of all US mobile phone donations. Although the total amount is not comparable to other forms of donation, the organization considers the medium to be the future for charities.
$1.5 Million In Checks Deposited Via iPhone App In First Three Days [mocoNews]
Three days ago USAA launched an iPhone app that allowed its customers to just take a picture of check to deposit it. Since then, $1.5 million in checks via the app.
Biz Stone, Twitter founder, Talks About the Hack on Tavis Smiley [PBS]
Biz Stone talks about the denial of service attack that Twitter fell victim to last week. That type of attack is relatively common online and sites can only prepare for them not prevent.
Coming In For A Hard Landing [MediaPost]
Many marketers are making the same mistakes with mobile ads that they did with the web, from annoying banners to confusing campaigns. Advertisers need to take the medium seriously or else the consumer won't.
