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Blog Post: A different take on the war of map apps

In full disclosure, once Google Maps was re-released in the iOS App Store, I added it to my home screen and haven’t looked back. Every once in a while, Siri makes me use Apple’s version, but that’s it.

The Cupertino giant has the same problem as other tech companies in that they can’t find enough good talent. It’s unfair to make them catch up to Google who is years ahead in development and resources.

Perhaps Apple decided to change the tenor of the pace by altering its focus.

The shared link today comes from GigaOm details the recent purchase of indoor location startup WifiSlam by Apple. This industry is not an unknown to Google, they already employ it in many countries in public locations. If Apple could get a step ahead of their main competitor in this space, however, think how the conversation could change in regard to mobile applications.

WifiSlam uses wifi signals to position devices within a 2.5 meter radius of your location. Just think how that could change app development in the next few years.

I’m not naive enough to think this could be in time for iOS 7, but what about next years WWDC? Interesting indeed.

Blog Post: A different take on the war of map apps

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Blog Post: Can Online Ad Sales Ever Catch Up?

According to Pandora, they apparently can. The company CEO Joe Kennedy claims new data surrounding the ratings they have mirror that of terrestrial radio. “Pandora will now be there side by side, apples to apples,” he said recently to The Verge.

Can that really happen?

I am interested in all of your thoughts. Even in this enlightened day of online availability, many feel that online ads are still worth way less than the traditional powers. Part of this mantra could be due to more accurate data. Nielsen announced recently they will be measuring online ratings more closely, and ABC announced they will utilize these numbers to gauge rates for the bevy of online media portals (ESPN chief among them).

If that is the case, then the Internet as a media power has been severely under appreciated over the last few years. Numbers being the way Kennedy sees them shaking out, you better lock up your banner and click-through rates now before they sky rocket.

The Wild West may be soon annexed by Traditional Media.

Blog Post: Can Online Ad Sales Ever Catch Up?

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Blog Post: Apps That Real People Use

All of this conjecture is a bit easy to pose after the fact, but I am amazed when I read articles like this offering from Forbes. Apparently, the highest rated apps based upon current analytics are pieces of software that have features people will actually use.

Of course, that brings up the very relevant point: just how exactly do you know which features people want on their mobile device?

The short answer is, it depends. Since this article is in the retail industry, lets use that as an example. Mobile devices are meant to connect people who would otherwise not be. For retailers, usually that means getting them into the store. If you can utilize some sort of digital retailing system, or rewards based upon location, that drives traffic to the building.

The days of half-built mobile platforms are gone. If you don’t want to end up like the infamous in this article, know your brand and increase its awareness with an app people will love telling their friends about!

Blog Post: Apps That Real People Use

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Blog Post: Most Interesting Story From #MWC2023

People were foaming at the mouth for a Galaxy announcement from Samsung (which they sort of received with the Note 8), but instead the chief competitor to Apple gave the media something greater.

A physical form of anticipation.

Members of the media were handed a physical invitation to the upcoming Galaxy S4 announcement. It was well designed, and the printing looks top notch.

One Infinite Loop had owned this arena for years, but should now be taking notes. Especially without a Jobs-like address in their back pocket anymore.

This from a self-admitted Apple fanboy. As much as it pains me, this makes me actually think about the grass on the other side for once.

Blog Post: Most Interesting Story From #MWC2023

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Blog Post: All-Star Reading

I write this post for a few reasons. First, it’s All-Star Sunday for the NBA and I love basketball. Second, this article highlights one of Bill Simmons greatest ideas (reheated, but still great reading). Finally, it’s a holiday weekend for me so I wanted to take a break from the normal fare.

The Ewing Theory brings up a great idea related to work. There are very few of us who aren’t replaceable. Even those people, who present so much value to their organization, can be missed. Your team won’t look the same without you, but they can and would make it without you.

Value is a relative term. Cherish the value you have and fight to keep it. That comes with attitude, effort, and innovation. Harness that and your ceiling will soar.

Blog Post: All-Star Reading

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Blog Post: Race For Better Data

Control over data, regardless of the type, is where power truly lies today. Even though it is my body, I don’t really have control over my medical files. The content I create on social media is not something I have power over (unless I jump through a million hoops). 

So what does that mean for data ownership? It lies in the collectors.

This article from All Things D references the kind of data we are collecting today in the digital age and how gathering more isn’t the answer. It argues why and how better data could procured. Problem is, it uses antiquated thought processes behind the hangups.

We haven’t owned our data in years. Some types aren’t thought of the same as others, but it doesn’t change the ownership. We are fine with credit card companies owning and selling our purchase data (get your head out of the sand), but we don’t want Apple and Google telling advertisers where we are currently.

I am going to be inundated with advertising messages until the day I die. Maybe I am different than most, but I’m fine with it. Some products out there are awesome, and I would like to know about them. If data that my devices record are going to help deliver more of what I’m looking for currently so I can make better purchasing decisions, bring it on.

The company that finds the best way to craft that message and gets us all to drop the faux upheaval over privacy and ownership of data will print their own stacks of cash. This company will easily collect, aggregate and transmit the information I need advertisers to use. They will know where I am, what I am interested in buying, and tell me how to do so.

I can’t wait.

Blog Post: Race For Better Data

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Blog Post: Can You Design For Collaboration?

Even though they are not in the same industry segment I inhabit, everyone in the Agile world knows Zappos. Not only are they one of the top companies to work for in the US, they continue to rethink and innovate their internal processes. 

In this post on the InVision App site (great prototyping app for mobile dev teams, I recommend), Donny Guy from Zappos discusses how they designed their offices for more than fun. It’s laid out with the express intent of encouraging collaboration.

Again, just like culture, many decision makers think this concept can be casually decided upon. Where the coffee maker or eating areas can actually hinder people working together. Maybe you have too many (or not enough) breakaway rooms. The game room could actually be seen as a bad thing depending on where you put it.

I could go on, but Guy’s words are worth reading about. Regardless of your building’s space requirements, you have options. Did you know that Zappos figured out that the more space we have to stretch out individually, the less we collaborate? They are actually making efforts to put teams closer together, forcing interaction.

Sound crazy? That’s your old mindset telling you that this is weird. 

Take your team and shake up the room they sit in this week. Work for a day at a Panera Bread (or IHOP, I don’t judge). Ask someone new to lead the meeting. These little things can really help increase collaboration (and by proxy, engagement).

What will you try new this week?

Blog Post: Can You Design For Collaboration?

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Blog Post: Latest From ComScore Tells Mobile Users Much

Everyone latched on to the headline of this latest top 10 ranking from ComScore, with Facebook taking the top spot in terms of unique visitors, but I don’t think this is by far the biggest takeaway for developers. With the hiccup in users while Google Maps was moving from a native iOS app to third-party, it’s understandable this would happen. The fact that everyone is sharing this story shows how we just look for headlines.

The bigger takeaway is despite which mobile platform is utilized, Google is ruling mobile traffic. I don’t even want what the rankings would look like if you used traffic coming from mobile browsers (personally, I use YouTube in Chrome as opposed to the native app), or other applications (anyone else read their Gmail on the other mail apps too?). What you are reading is correct, after Facebook the next top five apps have the word “Google” associated with it.

On top of that, the biggest surprise for me is how over 36 million people use Yahoo messenger on their mobile devices. I thought everyone used texts, Facebook, and Twitter to communicate these days. There is something to be said for branding inertia carrying over to other platforms. I will be very interested in seeing where Yahoo Messenger’s traffic trends in 2013. The same could be said for Pandora, which many have argued was on the decline in streaming media. With Spotify utilizing it’s own streaming radio, again we will see what happens this year.

Blog Post: Latest From ComScore Tells Mobile Users Much

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Blog Post: I Am The Vine, But Who Are The Branches?

By now, many of you have heard of Vine, the new platform to share your animated GIFs. For those that don’t know what an animated GIF is, Google is your friend. There’s only a few terabytes of data set aside for you to view.

Granted, the biggest news that Vine has made in the last few days has been related to how Facebook hates it and has put a pox upon it’s soul. Besides that, we are left with what could be the end of the 30 second commercial.

In terms of television advertising, I don’t know if we will ever be through with the 30-second spot. For decades, we have been spoon-fed product ideas for that length of time and I don’t see that medium changing course any time soon. Recently, Internet marketers have tried to add value to the advertisements they place by adding time (often in strange increments) to the spots placed online. 

Vine may change all that with their six-second clips.

Imagine being able to flow through your feed, whether it is on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or any other desired framework. It’s filled with still images (for the most part) begging you to click on the image or link for more information on the next great product in your life. Instead, imagine that same feed with small commercial clips, telling you about products in six-second-looped clips. More information could be parsed quickly and easily than ever before!

Will this require some innovation? Of course! When it comes to the great minds that have transformed ads into every possible medium provided, they haven’t failed us yet.

Keep your eye out for more of these “Vines” in your social media feeds. My guess, is that you will see more and more of them in the year to come. A new standard could be on the horizon, and we are watching it pass in short loops.

I am Jack’s interest piqued.

Blog Post: I Am The Vine, But Who Are The Branches?

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Blog Post: Integration, Integration, Integration

My developer friends either just threw up in their mouths or rolled their eyes at that title. For those uninitiated, the integration part of developing software is for most the most challenging and rewarding part.

According to the survey in this article, 60 percent (think about that for a few minutes) of small businesses are having an issue integrating their data across multiple networks. Meaning, businesses that store their sales, finance and marketing data in multiple sources. That should worry us all right?

Wrong, it provides an opportunity.

New platforms are launching every day. Sure, they start out as decent apps. What separates them from a culture-altering platform is users. That’s how Salesforce, Quickbooks and other amazing platforms became household names. As much as we would like to think the software small business owners purchase are going to work as smoothly with their other programs and platforms, data shows differently.

This is leverage we as entreprenuers can use to make better platforms that can actually personify the word “seamless”. Of course, this requires people with the insight and architecture to handle all of this information. Partnerships are needed; deals to be struck. For all of the so called “partners” that companies like Salesforce has in tow, people still struggle to integrate with platforms such as theirs on a daily basis. 

There are times I get frustrated on my team during the integration stage of a sprint. Nothing like the action of weaving new code into your framework to point out the flaws in your design. Of course, I’m not the one doing the work so I trust them to sort their own side out. To further integrate all of these wonderful ways of accumulating data in the modern business world, we must strive to integrate better.

I can think of a few friends of mine running said small businesses that would be appreciative.

Blog Post: Integration, Integration, Integration

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