cnnmoneytech:

Ok, journos, fess up: Who put their launch-event freebie Z10 phone on eBay? 

Also, holy hell, this thing is up past $800. Say this for BlackBerry fans: They’re loyal. -Stacy

dailyespress:

Smartphones: Oxygen or Asphyxiation?

I had the biggest panic of my life last week. It wasn’t being late for an important meeting or leaving my front door unlocked; the most overwhelming panic of my life was the worry that I’d left my mobile phone at home.

My mobile is my ever-present companion.

It does everything for me. It’s my personal assistant,

my portable television, my map and a hub for my personal and memorable moments. It keeps me connected to everything that is happening around me. It needs to be by my side 24/7. I’m not alone.

Mobile maniacs

Ofcom reported that more than a third (37%) of adults and

three in five (60%) teenagers admit to being addicted to smartphones.

More than three quarters (78%) of the UK population don’t leave home without it and half (50%) of Brits never switch their mobile phone off. We have never been more connected and analysts predict that nearly two thirds (65%) of the world’s population will own a smartphone within the next two years.

At this rate of penetration, there’s no doubt that smartphones are completely transforming consumer behaviour. Through social media initiatives and mobile technological advancements – such as incentivising social check-ins and Augmented Reality to name but a few – the physical and digital worlds are merging to create a whole new consumer experience.

But what does this mean for business?

Back to the future

The mobile is the dominant device of our age. EE’s roll-out of a 4G network, to be followed by the other major networks later this year mean this is only going one way. 60% of smartphone users seek out product information before they buy, 80% visit social networks and a growing number of us are watching videos on the move. We are app-enabled mobile junkies with access to anything and everything at a touch of a button.

But mobiles aren’t purely the property of entertainment.

They’re returning to their original state and becoming increasingly functional. Google Wallet is coming to the UK meaning all of your credit, debit, store, library and gym cards can be stored on your smartphone. Imagine, you can now have a locked wallet and even if it’s stolen you can simply disable it remotely.

Gone are the days of staying on the phone to banks cancelling lost or stolen cards, and gone too are the days of isolation, because as Mark (from Peep Show) said; “You’re never alone with a phone!”

 

By Ade Adeluwoye

Planner, Cake

dailyespress:

IS THE UK MUSIC FESTIVAL SINKING IN MUD?

Summer 2012 was London 2012. 

The clouds parted, an army of hyperactive games makers swept away the gloom and London rejoiced as the Olympic spirit conquered financial depression. Even the Brits rediscovered what it felt like to do something right.

Whitehall may still be debating the Olympic legacy, but for brands and festivals responsible for next year’s events,

the so-called ‘Olympic effect’ is a more pressing concern.

The dark side of the Games

The Olympics were blamed for creating a shortage of live acts and stealing the festival pounds from punters pockets meaning that in-between the sporting applause, 2012 was a disappointing year for live music.

When Festival Republic cancelled the Big Chill for the first time in its 18 year history, it sent shockwaves through the industry. Many more smaller-scale festivals soon followed suit as people blamed a combination of the recession, bad weather and, of course, the ‘Olympic effect’.

Could the UK be falling out of love with the great tradition of the summer music festival? …*shudder*…What would this mean for 2013?

What does the future hold?

While it’s too early to say how most festivals will fare, everybody knows that the big boy’s back.

Glastonbury sold out faster than ever before and many hope that a halo effect will trickle down into smaller festivals, after all – small is beautiful these days.

Whether it’s family fun at Camp Bestival or the award winning culture of Festival No.6; when it’s done properly, boutique can work. ‘Boutifully’.

For the middle of the pack, though, there’s a real danger that production costs and European competition will squeeze even some household names out of the game.

Unfortunately, there are so many different challenges facing festivals of the future that there’s no single answer.  

But here’s some food for thought…

Festival No. 6 promised the public “a festival unlike any other, in a place like no other”, and boy did they deliver

Welsh male voice choirs singing ‘New Order’, lantern processions and musical trees were just some of the highlights that came together at Port Merion.  How can your event stand out?

One way is to embrace co-creation with consumers.

Festivals like Loolapalooza in the US let fans create their dream line-up (although no-one knows the true influence this wields over the actual set list), and there’s plenty more chance for co-creation.  Fans can text set-list requests, social media can drive promotions…the sky – or perhaps the cloud – is the limit!

Think festivals are still all about mud.  They just got hi-tech.

By Will McHugh

Board Director, Cake

dailyespress:

Apple announces 40 billion App Store downloads. http://tnw.co/UyMSNp via @cakegroup @thenextweb

via @stuparkinson

brilliant spot. middle finger.