Cool New Marketing Technologies: Caught and Served

Posts Tagged ‘Gadgets’

Two interesting gadgets that launched this week.

By Rob Everton

Two gadgets launched this this week that are worth mentioning here. The first is very well-known – the iPhone 3G. The second launched the day after to considerably less fanfare, but has big potential: The new HP TouchSmart2.

copy-of-3giphonekeynoteshots03.jpg

The iPhone is the easiest to talk about. The stories of it’s runaway success are second only to the stories of how it has completely changed the cell phone industry in the United States. Now the iPhone 3G is poised for a worldwide distribution at a price point that may very well keep it sold out for the rest of the year. Adding a support for the high speed 3G networks, better battery life, true GPS, and a host of software improvements that will be shared with it’s older brother and the iTouch line of media players, the iPhone 3G is a significant evolutionary improvement to the iPhone. At $199 and $299 for the 8 Gigabyte and 16 Gigabyte versions it is now cheaper than the Motorola Razor (at launch) and more functional than any handheld gaming system, all mobile phones, and many, if not most, laptop computers currently in use today. Some of us were a little disappointed at the lack of Flash support, lack of streaming video from the onboard camera, and lack of a 32 Gigabyte version, but this is still the coolest smartphone on the planet right now.

copy-of-cd_touchsmart-600.jpg

The HP TouchSmart 2 greatly improves on the previous model in form factor, functionality, and price. At $1300, it’s a pretty easy way to add touch and gesture control to a trade show demonstration kiosk. Take a look at the video on this link, but make sure you have the sound OFF first. You have been warned.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Marketing Technology | 1 Comment »

One Laptop Per Child? But I want one!

By Rob Everton

Perhaps you have heard of the OLPC campaign – Nicholas Negroponte’s vision of outfitting the children of the world with tools that allow them to access a larger world and experiment with creative expression. It is a noble idea, funded through a buy two, give one program at a very low price point. His initial program has run into fatal competitive pressure due to ultra cheap options from mainstream manufacturers. But now, apparently, a new vision has risen from the OLPC ashes that has many of us standing up saying “wait a minute – that’s not half bad, and I want one now!”

copy-of-xo-ds.jpg

Here we have the OLPC 2.0, or, XOXO concept- a hybrid dual touchscreen, laptop, ebook thingy. It looks amazingly flexible and futuristic, but it doesn’t seem remotely possible to produce these cheap enough to sell at $75 as reported. I’m also not sure if this type of thing will inspire a child, especially one that is worried about his next meal or how to find clean water, but I can tell you – the conceptual design has inspired me.

Note to Steve Jobs: get your touch OS on this thing and sell it for $500 as an internet/media browser and e-book reader and I’m sold.

Seen also on Gizmodo.

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Nintendo’s Influential Miyamoto and Wii Fit

By Rob Everton

Nintendo’s creative master wizard, Shigeru Miyamoto, has blessed the gaming and pop culture world with Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Nintendogs, and that is only the tip of the iceberg. He is often called the “father of modern gaming” and is largely responsible for the runaway success of the Wii console. It is safe to say that when Shiggy talks, people listen. And that point has been clarified, solidified, and immortalized by a recent Time readers poll that places Miyamoto clearly at the top of the list of “most influential people in the world”.

page-1-miyamoto.jpg

I don’t have a big idea around this announcement other than to offer some digital applause to an industry maverick and creative genius. But since we’re talking about him as a top “influencer”, we should really pay attention to his latest prophecy.

Wii Fit, Nintendo’s latest phenomenon, hits the United States this month after a rather stunning bit of success in Japan. I would have thought that a fitness game would have about as much chance of succeeding in the gaming world as George Bush does of properly pronouncing “Nuclear”. Apparently the “new” gaming world whole-heartedly disagrees. Wii Fit, which comes with a unique accessory called the Balance Board, compels gamers to get off the beanbags and participate in body-rocking aerobics, yoga, and sports games. It’s well-designed, fun, and addictive. It is also selling like crazy – there have been about 2 million copies of Wii Fit sold in Japan – nearly matching the sales of the Sony Playstation 3 – a console that is supposed to compete with the Wii itself, not one of it’s game/accessories. In the UK, stores have reported selling Wii Fit at a rate of one every 4 seconds. Will it catch fire in the US, especially so shortly after the release of the highest-rated, fastest-selling, highest-grossing media title of all time, the ultra-ridiculously-violent Grand Theft Auto IV? Almost certainly, since the Wii audience, which is the largest segment if the US gamer population, can’t buy GTA for their console.

wiifit.jpg

But other than giving you a shopping tip (pre-order it), and wondering why it didn’t come out in time for Mothers Day or the critical New Year’s Resolution day, I mention Wii Fit so you can start planning it as an incentive gift, as an interactive audience attraction at trade shows and mobile exhibits, and as an investment in your employees work/life “balance”. “Wii Fit won’t make you fit”, says the most influential person in the world, but it will make you aware of your body. Let’s see how we can use it to make people aware of you.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Marketing Technology | 1 Comment »