Consumers Choose Products With More Tech Specs

Interesting Article: http://gizmodo.com/5110687/consumers-choose-products-with-more-tech-specs

A recent study in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals that we are heavily influenced into choosing products with heavy technical specs—even when those specs mean nothing.

Five related studies were performed in which participants had to choose between two items in various categories, including digital cameras, towels, sesame oil, cell phones, and potato chips. And in every study, the participants preferred the items with the most specifications.

The study's author concludes that there is indeed a practical lesson for marketers here, though I'm pretty sure that digital cameras alone have pretty much proven that point already. [Lab Spaces Thanks Elizabeth!]

 

Behind The Curtain: The Trouble With the iPhone Apps Business

Behind The Curtain: The Trouble With the iPhone Apps Business



Posted using ShareThis

Etherpad Shows Google Docs How It’s Done

Etherpad Shows Google Docs How It’s Done

Posted using ShareThis

360 Cities Brings Stunning Spherical Panoramas To Google Earth

360 Cities Brings Stunning Spherical Panoramas To Google Earth

Posted using ShareThis

NOW – Visually displayed by Sprint

This is a very fancy representation of  the blogosphere… slightly overpowering, but pretty darn interesting. It’s also well set to expand with the incorporation of widgets for iGoogle, Yahoo, Vista, etc.

I saw the original snip on the rb.trends blog, which links to the article here: http://infosthetics.com/archives/2008/11/statistical_visualization_ueber-widget.html

I looked it up at http://now.sprint.com/widget/ and shot my view of now below.

The phrasing makes me think back to Eckhart Tolle, a very interesting author and speaker. Less about technology (in all respects) than about learning from one’s self… and experiencing the Now. Check out his teachings here: http://www.eckharttolle.com/eckharttolle-powerofnow

Soccer Game Viewing – Via Feel

I can see so many applications for this technology for the blind… and wouldn’t you know it that entertainment tech is leading the way.

from: http://www.unwiredview.com/2008/10/31/swedish-technology-cell-phone-vibrations-might-let-us-watch-soccer-games-without-actually-watching/

So, whenever someone kicks the ball, your phone should vibrate. The vibrations should be of different frequencies and lengths, according to the area where the ball is located. If it’s in midfield, for example, the phone should produce a weak, short-time vibration. When someone scores a goal, the vibration could be long and more powerful.

Turning Pedometers into Interactive Games = Great Idea

This is from here: http://gizmodo.com/5065140/bandai-rpg-pedometers-like-nike%252B-for-the-extra-masochistic

“As users walk, their characters will both level up and reach new destinations on the map, unlocking new chapters in a story that unfolds over 90 days of exercise.”

The Corporate Social Media Curve

LOL… well if it wasn’t so absolutely smack dab on painfully true.

Changing your resolution on Windows Mobile - Nice Video

Found this great video on YouTube after seeing the Tweet from @PocketnowTweets

Using this app allows you to crush more things on to your screen in Windows Mobile; it’s a great idea… but you better make sure your glasses prescription is up to date.

Here’s a snip from the video How-to producers website:

“Update: I've just added a video that further demonstrates the before and after. Also, it doesn't look like RealVGA works with non-touchscreen devices. For that, download the file and run through the steps posted on AllShadow, but again, we caution that it may not work on all devices.

Take a look at the bottom two screen captures, taken off of the Palm Treo Pro that we just reviewed. See the difference? The one on the top is default, and the one on the bottom is set to 96dpi, which shrinks the top and bottom bars, plus makes the icons smaller (more like a VGA screen), allowing you to really maximize screen real estate. After doing this modification, I'm able to see more on the screen in all programs, and the Treo Pro now feels like a very high resolution device.

To do this on the Treo Pro or any WinMo touchscreen device, it's going to require some experimentation and bravery. First go to XDA-Devs and download the RealVGA_11 CAB and install it on your device. Then, download and install either the 96dpi or 128dpi CAB, and run that too. Then, open the RealVGA program on your device, and select which dpi setting you want to use. What works on my device may look different on yours, so experiment if you don't get desired results.

Caution: changing the dpi setting your device can have adverse effects. There are some icons on the Treo Pro that don't render properly now, but I think it's a fair exchange for all of the extra screen space that I'm enjoying. Thanks to kanzlr for the idea to do this =D.”

Windows Live Writer (WLW) Recommended Plug-ins

I was browsing some posts today on various blogs, newsgroups, etc. and a number of folks recommended the following plug-ins.

Code Formatter

syntax Highlighter

SkyDrive file attachment

Technorati Tags: windows live writer,blogging,cool apps

Visualize Social Networking

I found this post on the rb.trends blog.

It’s the standard idea of how to visualize large sums of complex, sometimes divergent data… applied to social networks..

http://www.visualcomplexity.com/vc/project.cfm?id=617

“commenTree uses Adobe Flash to essentially mine through hundreds of thousands of MySpace profiles, their biographies, their interests, and their comments. This data is then presented in the form of a graphical network interface displaying users in a organically connected manner. CommenTree aims to explore the various functions meshing real world and online interactions.”

Technorati Tags: social networking,adobe flash,commentree,MySpace,rb.trends

Water Art

I found this on rb.trends too.

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/4093/ex-iles-by-electronic-shadow-at-the-biennale-of-contemporary-art-seville.html

“the duo of electronic shadow, naziha mestaoui, architect and yacine ait kaci, multimedia creator, who work to
merge the built environment with digital imagery, will be presenting their project 'ex-îles' at this year's
biennale of contemporary art, seville, spain. 'ex-îles' is an interactive installation which consists of a 5 by 2 meter,
20 cm deep pool filled with luminous water and a numerical extension on the internet. physical water is triggered
into motion by a water pump that projects interactive images, as well as sounds, created by real water.
two islands of light are located at either end of the pool.  one represents a 'real' island and is located on
the ground, while another situated in the pool is interpreted as a 'virtual' one. as visitors enter the space,
they produce a natural luminous shadow which appears swimming across the pool.  this silhouette leaves
an illuminated line from one island to the other.  the line indicates the presence of the visitor and corresponds to
the course taken by the luminous shadow in the water.”

Where can I get one you ask http://www.electronicshadow.com/?

Technorati Tags: cool tech,water art,Spain,rb.trends

Obama iPhone App – Social Politics, Network Style

I found this on the rb.trends blog; I love what he finds!

http://gizmodo.com/5058149/obama-08-iphone-app-is-grassroots-gadgety-perfection

“It sorts your contacts by battleground states and turns them into a checklist, making it easy, and almost obligating, to harass your loved ones to vote O. (Worth noting for tinfoil types: It does keep track of how many people you call, but it's totally anonymous.) It finds local events and Obama news using GPS, constantly updated. And it delivers more video highlights and newsreels than you'll be able to stand (though videos were kinda crashy for me). There is some hucksterism, yes, like a dedicated button to call and make a donation—it makes it easier than ever, which is part of the power here. Also it's a campaign app, what do you expect?”

Technorati Tags: iPhone,Obama,politics,cool apps,rb.trends

Flexible Displays – a new approach

I just read this snipit on a simpler flexiible display concept that avoids some of the pitfalls. SnipIt here

It’s fun to watch cutting edge coolness evolve… we’ll all be rolling up our laptop displays in a few years.

Technorati Tags: cool tech,flexible display,e-ink,Sony

Homeland Security Detects Terrorist Threats by Reading Your Mind

Why do things like this scare me? Oh, that’s right… it’s the whole invasion of privacy thing!

Original story here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426485,00.html

“MALINTENT, the brainchild of the cutting-edge Human Factors division in Homeland Security's directorate for Science and Technology, searches your body for non-verbal cues that predict whether you mean harm to your fellow passengers.

It has a series of sensors and imagers that read your body temperature, heart rate and respiration for unconscious tells invisible to the naked eye — signals terrorists and criminals may display in advance of an attack.

But this is no polygraph test. Subjects do not get hooked up or strapped down for a careful reading; those sensors do all the work without any actual physical contact. It's like an X-ray for bad intentions.”

Dual Monitors, Now Dual Backgrounds

I found a tool a few months back that I just love… it allows you to display two different pictures on your two monitors (or one huge picture). Best of all it links into photo sharing services to support your viewing photos not on your local machine.

The app is called John’s Background Switcher (no relation to me).

I really LOVE it on my home office setup in conjunction with this cool tool from those brainiacs at MS Research, AutoCollage (license key valid on five machines).

I create collages of our adventures and set the size to the maximum resolution of my current environment (which AutoCollage detects). This ends up being the full width height of my dual 24” setup.

Here’s an example:

I then setup John’s Background Switcher to rotate through the adventure collages once a day… a nice little collection of photos to view all the time around my working windows.

Interesting Consumer How-to Video Style

I came across this video today and it’s a pretty darn interesting way to communicate complex ideas…

Simple style, easy to understand, friendly…

Checking out www.getsatisfaction.com for product feedback. Interesting how many companies / products are listed.

I see Windows Mobile, but no feedback or questions yet.

Something to RSS no doubt... http://ping.fm/DuMay

Trying out Ping.fm.

You gotta like the idea of one holla out to your friends... and it spreads to twitter, facebook, myspace, etc.

Urban Forest Restoration – West Duwamish Greenbelt

We got our team together and joined The Nature Consortium in an effort to rid a small section of this beautiful forest of infesting weeds (think blackberry picking, digging and general eradication all day).

Good Times!

This was all part of the Microsoft Day of Caring, a full day where Microsoft employees volunteer in partnership with community groups (e.g. United Way).

Here’s an Animoto video montage…

or the pictures themselves on Picasa…