Apple Getting Social?
If the rumors are to be believed then the answer to the question everybody is asking appears to be yes. Tomorrows Apple music event hints that there may be new hardware coming which we all expect with an update likely to the iPod lineup. However when the talk turns to iTunes things get interesting. One of the rumors that has to do with the integration of social media into the music giant iTunes.
This time last year we were seeing the same rumors flying, especially after the appearance of leaked screenshots on the Boygeniusreport website. The photos are included below for those looking for a recap of the last round of rumors. It is time once again to speculate on when Apple will fully embrace social media.
The reality is that iTunes has not had a real significant change in its functionality in years, it is a music store at heart and it is a very popular. A change to introduce social media integration could be a minor one or it could amount to a complete overhaul of the interface we all know and have accepted. As it sits the rumors are pointing to the integration of social elements as a way for users to share not only information on what they are listening to but also for them to share recommendations with others. That sadly doesn’t mean that we will be able to share our favorite songs with our friends, but it is still a step towards making music and iTunes a friendly place.
The positive side of the rumored updates, assuming they are true, will be a new way to share music with friends. What worries me is the possibility we may see millions of “ (name) is listening to (blank) on iTunes” posts on Twitter… Then again there are easy and simple ways around that issue. Other music providers such as Last.fm already offer social media updating without the annoyance of thousands of posts about your listening habits to your friends and family. The model is in use already and works without issues.
Rumors of increased social media integration have been flying for a long time, iTunes is the logical first step if they are really intent on following through. The technology is there and services such as Facebook and Twitter are already in use by hundreds of millions of people. My personal bet is that Apple will bring some form of integration, tomorrow, I don’t know, but certainly it is on their radar.
Come tomorrow we will see if its going to be true and if Apple is really going to make a move into social media with iTunes.
Social Media and the 2009 Christmas Rush
This year is one of recovery for the retail industry as we enter “Black Friday” in the US, named as such because this is typically the day retailers generate enough revenue to get into the black or so I’ve heard. Anyway, I thought I would supply a quick list of examples on how some major brands are investing heavily into social media this Christmas season as opposed to 2008. There is a distinct increase in social media activity ahead and here are three examples.
First up is Starbucks:
Here’s a post from Econsultancy.com that outlines what Starbucks is up to. Below is an excerpt. According to Starbucks VP Chris Bruzzo, Holiday 2009 is all about scaling up Starbucks’ Holiday 2008:
It’s like we’ve taken the version 1.0 of last year and now we’re really doing it at scale and going to a lot more places where our customers already are. People are saying this is going to be a big year for social media and we’re a microcosm of that. Whereas last year it was a curiosity, this year it’s a core part of the program.
Some of Starbucks’ specific online efforts worth noting include:
- Facebook holiday photo uploads and branded virtual goods.
- A Flickr page encouraging consumers to upload holiday pictures of themselves.
- A branded playlist on Pandora, additional integration in Pandora’s iPhone app and traditional ad placements on the Pandora website.
Coca Cola:
In an article by Mediabiznet, an explanation is given as to what the beverage company is describing as their “largest social media campaign ever.” 206 countries, 365 days, 1 mission
Expedition 206, as it will be called, will send three 20-somethings to 206 countries and territories where Coca-Cola is sold. The trio set off on their 275,000 mile tour from Madrid on 1st January 2010, stocked with laptops, video cameras, smartphones and other gadgetry, in order to document their search for happiness to the masses.
Their journey will be tracked online via www.expedition206.com as well as Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Twitter. Fans following the trio will be able to weigh in on what the trio should do and who they should see at each destination.
BestBuy:
It’s no secret that BestBuy has been pushing further into the social web than probably any other electronics retailer to date with their Blue Shirt Nation experiment at the core.
They’ve decked out their Facebook page with a Christmas theme as a start, offering gift advice, a “hint helper” to let friends and family know what you want for Christmas, a Secret Santa area, and a smattering of “Christmas carol videos.”
The New York Times reports that BestBuy is building a large TV commercial campaign around their “Twelpforce” Twitter account, said to be manned by 2500 BestBuy blue shirts with the claim that “no knows more about electronics than BestBuy employees.”
Ask Premier Ed
Earlier this summer fusedlogic launched a social media website called “dearmrpremier.ca” in an attempt to enable an open and direct line of communications with Premier Ed Stelmach and his office. The thought is, Albertans could respectfully ask a question directly of Premier Stelmach and he could select one or more questions to respond to personally with the understanding that he couldn’t possibly answer every single one. The catch is that this would all be open to comment and vote by the public.
We started this prototype process by inviting college students to participate and in fact a few did. Because of ongoing discussions, we haven’t put any resources behind marketing the project, as we were waiting for a more opportune time to move forward. After the soft launch on Twitter we were notified in less than an hour that Premier Stelmach’s staff were actively searching for answers as to who was behind the site. After it was determined through our communications that our intent was not malicious we had asked if there may be an opportunity to discuss the future of the site and the potential of having Premier Stelmach’s direct participation. Those meetings have not as of yet happened.
In the meantime, so that Albertans have a better understanding of the differences in functionality and approach between dearpremier.ca and Ask Premier Ed we’ve prepared a brief comparison of models below.
| Dear Mr Premier | Ask Premier Ed | |
| Channels of Communication | Open post, can be shared on Facebook/Twitter | Twitter, YouTube, Online Form |
| Timeline | Launched March 15, 2009 | Launched November 25, 2009 |
| Openness | All posts are visible, moderation happens after | Moderation happens behind the scenes |
| Likelihood of a Response | Only upon a certain level of public involvement | For a chosen post, guaranteed |
| Discussion Around Ideas | Complete open citizen participation through comments or followup questions | No discussion functionality available |
| Importance Determined By | Public voting | The Premier’s office |
| Design | Simplicity | Integrated with other government resources |
Further Examples of Communication Models:
Open for Questions (Official WhiteHouse.gov page)
Prime Minister Harper’s Facebook Page
Connecting people in their “Thanks a Million” efforts around the world
Recently the team at fusedlogic inc. joined in with others on TinyChat to coordinate efforts around the Thanks a Million Food Bank Challenge and A Million High Fives (#AMHF) with @BJMendelson. We chatted and exchanged ideas with @sedonapies, @ckieff, @third_age, @suzviews and more that joined in during the conversation. It was somewhat surreal sitting in a TinyChat room with others across the planet who are passionate about collecting 1 million Food Bank donations for those less fortunate. For me it confirmed the power of social media and simple conversations between like minded people. Often people think of social media as just another marketing tool, but it can be so much more than that and it has the power to change the world.
My personal goal is to give at least $5 in Food Bank donations every week until December 15, 2009. For me, that’s the price of a Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks. I’m lucky enough that I have that option in my life — that I have the discretionary income to spend on luxuries like fancy coffees from Starbucks. Maybe for you that’s riding your bike to work rather than spending $5 in gas to get there. Maybe that’s one less drink at the bar on a Friday night. Maybe you borrow that book from the library, rather than buy a brand new one (and it saves paper too!)
Donating!
While $5 doesn’t seem like much to some of us, for many it’s the difference between life and death. Reading the statistic that every six seconds a child dies from hunger or related causes reminds me that I have a choice. And my choice is to make a difference. So we invite you to make a difference with the rest of the world. The fusedlogic “Thanks a Million” campaign isn’t really about us as a company at all, it’s about the community –worldwide – and how if we all work together, we will make a difference in the lives of millions around the world.
We are looking for local ambassadors — those who are excited about giving back in their communities and who want to lead the way and gather donations, documenting the journey by snapping pictures. By posting the photos online at www.thanksamillion.ca you join a worldwide initiative to see change take place. Or you can tweet the picture on Twitter and tag it with #1MPics or #thanksamillion and we’ll add it to the page. This project is meant to inspire hope, to show that you aren’t alone in your desire to help others, but that millions around the world hold that same dream, that same passion for change.
Are you interested in getting involved? Email us at kelly@fusedlogic.com or genoa@fusedlogic.com or leave us a comment. I love feedback and I look forward to starting conversations with you and with others around the world.
iPhone Public Transit Application
Here is a demo video of our iPhone public transit application, as produced by our applications division: fusedlogic Labs.
We designed this because many public transit users have expressed a desire for a full featured Public Transit Application for smart phones.
Should you want to have this for your city, please let your local transit authority know about this application. As always, we are appreciative of all suggestions, questions and feedback. Feel free to become a fan at our Facebook Group if you’d like to stay on top of development.
Please share your thoughts in the comments below or take a few seconds to answer this poll (lent to us graciously by the Business/IT Alignment blog)
