Google Android- Reaching a Mobile Market

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Gardner/?p=2571

While surfing around the Internet, I came across this blog talking about Google Android, and through it's development would come the end of the personal computer. I like my personal computer, so I was fairly interested in reading this. Google Android, along with the Open Handset Alliance is looking to make a common open platform that can work on any mobile device, turning your cell phone or PDA, into a mobile Internet enabled device able to run different programs and applications with relative ease. Basically it will make it easier for programmers to go across providers.

The best example of a mobile device according to Dana Gardener, the author of the blog, is the i-Phone. If you were to hook an i-Phone up to a monitor and keyboard, you would basically have all the functionality of your home computer. Android gives the possibility of carrying around a laptop in your pocket, instead of in your brief case.

http://code.google.com/android/

Google's information on the subject says similar things. It totes its openness, and your ability to access the core of the functionality of your mobile device. The applications on your phone will be equal, or seamless. You won't be able to tell the difference between the first party applications and the Google applications, neither will have preference over the other. It will break down boundaries by allowing you to use information on the Internet in sync with your phone, or information in your phone with the Internet. It also allows for fast and easy development.

For marketers this is a dream come true. Finally a way to code once what may have taken six. You can reach people on a vehicle that they always have handy. You can provide useful applications and put your name on it. Or you could install an application that alerts consumers of special deals, upcoming sales and the like. Heck you could just come up with advertisements that will work on media enabled phones, and it will be easier.

That's all the rambling for today
Peace

Irony in Advertising

If I were advertising for a high speed Internet connection like Time Warner Cable's Road Runner, I would make sure that everything about my message said high speed.

This Sunday at the Bengal's horrible performance against the Cardinals there was a sign for Road Runner. It was a digital sign, but the animations made it look like it was running on a dial-up connection. The words stuttered instead of having a fluid animation.

I think that whoever worked on the creative, or whoever placed those particular ads should fix this problem, as Marvin Lewis should fix the Bengal's, before the next game.

And that's enough rambling for today.
Peace

New Advertising Method-Tatoos

OK, I have to be an advertising geek. It's official. This weekend, while at dinner with my girlfriend, I freaked out and found the topic of this post. Advertising in the shape of temporary tattoos.

We were sitting relatively close to the entrance to Chipotle when a couple walked through the door. I looked up to see a tattoo on the guy's neck. I thought, how strange that someone would have a tattoo on their neck. It was even stranger that it said Beowulf. So, like an ill-mannered 4th grader, I continued to stare, till I remembered about the Beowulf movie that was coming out soon. And that this must be a form of advertising for the movie.

I've heard of boxers renting out their bodies as ad space with the same kind of temporary tattoos, but I've never thought of the general public doing the same. And it was amazing.

Oddly enough, a little later that night, we found the temporary tattoos in a cookie shop. I picked a few up (I have since lost them, I know, it blows).

Well that's enough rambling.
Peace

Billboards=Strongest Message?

Last week, one of my professors stated matter-of-factly that billboard messages provide the strongest messages. I don't know whether or not this is true, but I've never heard this statement before. Why is the advertising world looking at different avenues for advertising, if billboards speak so strongly?



I have nothing against billboards, but aren't other advertising vehicles successful. If billboards provide such a strong message because of their brevity, then shouldn't they just put pictures all over of the brands symbol? That would be a "strong message." I guess I'm just confused about the message, and would like to see the research on the statement before I openly believe it.

Well I think that is enough rambling for today.
Peace