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Toshiba pushing Web-enabled HD DVDs

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hd-dvd.jpgToshiba said today the next generation DVD format it backs – HD DVD – will begin offering new titles which offer Web-enabled network capabilities. The goal of this new feature is to offer a higher degree of interactivity for HD DVD users.

Folks who update the firmware on their Toshiba HD DVD players, the consumer electronics company said, will find their device now supports improved network connectivity for downloading web-enabled network content. Going through the Ethernet ports one will be able to download and store bonus features or unlock content on the disc which requires a downloadable key. HD DVD owners will also be able to upload content and interact with content providers.

Web-enabled network content became available on June 26 with the launch of Bandai Visual’s anime title “Freedom” volume 1. This title is the first HD DVD anime title available in the United States, the first web-enabled network content disc and the first “twin format” disc (featuring both HD DVD and DVD on one side of the disc).

Originally posted on June 29, 2007 @ 3:01 pm

iPhone research generates many searches

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As the final hours of an iPhone free world count down Internet research firm comScore released data related to U.S. search activity for the last few months about Apple’s hot gadget. This data in summary shows an average of 274,000 iPhone searches per week since the beginning of the year.

The study shows that through June 24 nearly 6.9 million searches were conducted which include the term “iPhone.” The most commonly searched for related topics included iPhone price and iPhone release date. When the product was first announced in January iPhone searches hit over 1.1 million during the first week alone, settling down to a smaller range in the weeks following. After Apple did a big advertising push earlier this month search results jumped back over 1.2 million for the week ending June 24.

“The iPhone launch is likely to be one of the biggest product launches in history, and the activity we’re seeing online clearly reflects widespread consumer interest,” said James Lamberti, senior vice president of search solutions at comScore. “This study also helps underscore the significant role search plays in both online and offline retail, since many of those researching the product online will be lining up at the bricks-and-mortar retailers to purchase their new iPhones.”

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Originally posted on June 29, 2007 @ 2:40 pm

Google launches Google Gadget Ventures

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Google Developer Blog announced the the launch of Google Gadget Ventures, “a new pilot program for distributing grants and seed investments to gadget developers and gadget-related businesses.”

Tom Stocky of Google Developer Programs explained the kinds of funding that they will offer:

The program will provide two kinds of funding. First, we’ll invite promising gadget developers (individuals or businesses) to apply for $5,000 grants to fund further development. These are not loans or equity investments; they’re simply grants for gadgets that already have a thriving user base and we think have potential for even more improvement. To be considered for a grant, your gadget needs to have more than 250,000 pageviews per week, and you need to provide a one-page proposal on how you’d like to improve your gadget. This is a no-strings-attached grant; we won’t ask for repayment of any kind. We simply ask that you work on your project in good faith.

Originally posted on June 28, 2007 @ 9:14 am

The ‘LikeBelt’ Now Lets People Thrust Their Way to Facebook Updates

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Somewhere along the way someone decided they like to dance and move their bodies, but they couldn’t be away from Facebook. After all, if you’re out doing some great you want everyone to know about it in your status. Pulling out your phone and typing in a status can be a drag. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just move your body to update your Facebook status? Well you guessed it—a new technology known as the LikeBelt makes this possible. No, I’m not joking.

The belt was created by design and development company Deeplocal. The way it works is this: If you’re walking down the road and see something that you like and you want to Facebook “like” it, all you have to do is thrust your hips into the direction of what you like. This thrust will then register with your android smartphone and let all of your Facebook friends know what you “like” at the very moment you have decided you like it. You can see a photo of the LikeBelt taken from Deeplocal up above.

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Understanding the Mobile Medium: Getting Your Message Across

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One of the reasons that online marketing is particularly interesting is because the barrier for entry is absolutely minimal. No matter what you’re advertising, if you’re not a big corporation with a big budget, you’re probably not going to be able to afford a billboard on a highway or an expensive TV commercial. But, with a tiny budget and some knowledge of how the mobile medium works, you can hit your online markets and targets right in their attention span.

It does take some observation, experimentation, and consideration of the way all of this works with reference to things like telecommunication and podcasting however. Consider data sets like processing performance numbers, transfer technology, how podcasts work, video or audio mediums, and the social factor in your next advertising project. [Read more…]