Battle of the voice assistants: Siri vs. S-Voice (infographic)

When Samsung introduced S-Voice on its Galaxy S III smartphone, it was clear that it was ripping off Siri, the Apple iPhone 4S’ voice assistant. The world clearly has room for more than one, but how do the two voice assistants stack up when it comes to accuracy and response times?

Siri is the incumbent here, and Apple has heavily advertised it heavily with a stream of celebrities. I’ve never found Siri to be incredibly helpful, but with updates in iOS 6 around the corner, Siri looks more promising. S-Voice is a brand-new creation that is mostly playing catch-up with Siri but has some handy integrations with Facebook and Twitter, while Siri can interact with many functions inside the device itself.

Online phone retailer Dailaphone has created an infographic showing a face-off between Siri and S-Voice with some slightly surprising results, including that Siri takes an average 5.6 seconds to respond while S-Voice takes 7.9 seconds. That said, based on average accuracy, start-up times, and response times, I’d almost rather not use either voice assistant and just find the information with a smart Google search.

Let us know in the comments if you use Siri or S-Voice and how they work for you in your daily life. Check out the full infographic below:

 

Related articles

• Voice assistant battle royale: Siri vs. S-Voice (infographic) (venturebeat.com)
• Siri = Eliza? (zdnet.com)
• Siri is rubbish, claims analyst (news.techeye.net)
• IBM bans Siri: Privacy risk, or corporate paranoia at its best? – ZDNet (blog) (zdnet.com)
• Study gives Apple’s Siri a ‘D’ for accuracy (techradar.com)
• One-third of Siri users don’t make it beyond calls, web use and texts (mobile-ent.biz)
• Siri Still Behind Google Search On Comprehension & Accuracy (devicemag.com)
• Here’s Why Google Now Is Better Than Apple’s Siri (GOOG) (businessinsider.com)
• Wait, So Apple’s Siri Won’t Kill Google Search After All? (forbes.com)
• Google Voice Search In Android 4.1 Trumps Siri In Everyday Q&A (redmondpie.com)

ICS Wins Gold Prize At UX Award For Best User Experience

 

 

As noted by BGR, Google’s own Matias Duarte announced on his Google+ page that Android, specifically Ice Cream Sandwich, has been awarded the Gold Prize for best platform at the Parsons School of Design’s 2012 User Experience Awards:

Ice Cream Sandwich won the Gold Prize for best platform experience at Parsons’ 2012 User Experience Awards! Way to go team!

Thanks to Parsons for hosting a great event and thanks to IXDA, NYC UPA, and NYC CHI. We need more celebrations of UX like this!

 

Related articles

• Ice Cream Sandwich awarded best platform at Parsons User Experience Awards (9to5google.com)
• ICS Wins Gold Prize At UX Award For Best User Experience (goandroid.co.in)
• Ice Cream Sandwich named best platform experience by Parsons (bgr.com)
• ICS wins the Gold Prize for “best platform experience” (androidauthority.com)
• Google shows their inspiration and exploration of Android 4.0 ICS design [Video] (androidcommunity.com)
• Βραβείο καλύτερου User Experience για το Android ICS στα Parsons School of Design Awards 2012 UX (funday.gr)

9 Ways to Measure Your Brand’s Social Media Health

Thanks to the variety of social media marketing tools available today, there is a nearly endless stream of data available to marketers. That could make it tough to determine what metrics actually matter for your campaign or brand and why.

Here are nine key performance indicators and explanations for why they might matter to your brand.

1. Share of Voice: The number of mentions of your brand versus competing brands on the social web.

Why You Should Care: Your Share of Voice can be a good indicator of the consumer awareness of your brand as compared to your competitive set. It essentially shows how much of the social conversation your brand has earned or is currently earning.

2. Brand Volume: The total number of brand mentions over a given period of time.

Why You Should Care: If this number isn’t growing, your campaign probably isn’t working. Tracking brand volume week-over-week and month-over-month can be a good way to measure the overall health of your social presence.

3. Engagement: The overall number of times a user talks to your brand on social sites.

Why You Should Care: You can push out all the content in the world, but if no one cares to reply or discuss then what’s the point? Social media is a conversation, after all. The more highly engaged your followers and fans are, the more likely they are to be brand-loyalists, or become influencers and evangelize your products or services on their own personal networks.

4. Interaction Per Post: The number of replies or comments you receive on a given post, tweet, or update.

Why You Should Care: Similar to the engagement metric, the more times a user makes the effort to comment or reply, the more likely it is that they will grow to care about your brand and what you have to say.

5. Sentiment Analysis: The process of determining how the people who talk about your brand on social media actually feel about your brand, products, or company.

Why You Should Care: Although P.T. Barnum famously said, “All publicity is good publicity,” it’s an obvious problem if your brand is consistently being trashed on social media. Also, if the sentiment is mostly neutral, that could be a sign your marketing is not making a big enough impact, and no one cares enough to have a strong opinion either positively or negatively.

6. Social Click-Through Rate: The number of times a user clicks on a link to one of your owned web properties shared via social media.

Why You Should Care: Typically, one of the goals of a social media campaign is to drive traffic to a brand’s website, microsite, or other owned media, thereby creating consumer awareness and subsequently sales or conversions. The growth in the number of clickthroughs can be one of the indicators of a successful, engaging campaign.

7. Key Influencer Mentions: The number of mentions by users you’ve designated as “key influencers” due to their substantial and loyal social media following.

Why You Should Care: Having influencers discuss your brand and serve as a brand ambassador is an extremely powerful way to organically extend your reach within key communities. While having anyone mention your brand on social media can be proof your tactics are working, mentions by key influencers are considered more valuable since they have a deeper reach or more pull/influence with your target demographic or communities.

8. Platform Reach: The number of social platforms that your brand appears on, or the social “reach” across various online networks.

Why You Should Care: Your brand might be a hot topic of discussion on various forums, but your Twitter mentions are low. Whether or not this is a problem depends on the social networks your targets actually use. After all, having a popular Pinterest page, which has a predominantly female user-base, doesn’t really help if your brand is trying to target teenage males.

9. Mobile Mentions: The number of mentions of a brand on mobile social sites.

Why You Should Care: Social media is an increasingly mobile form of communication, and posting updates while on the go is quickly becoming part of nearly everyone’s lifestyle, thanks to smartphones and tablets. If consumers aren’t bringing your brand with them via mobile apps, this could be a sign you are getting left behind. It is especially important if your campaign involves mobile coupons, QR codes, or anything else that’s tied into the Android, iPhone, Blackberry, or Windows phone operating systems.

Even with all these metrics, it is important to remember that there is no magic formula that will simply turn your social media marketing efforts into dollars. The social realm is and always will be a rapidly evolving marketplace of information. What all marketers know is that people want to talk candidly and honestly about their experiences with a brand’s services and products, they want to hear directly from the voices of brands themselves, and that they will use multiple public channels to do so.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, pressureUSA

 

via [http://mashable.com]

Branding 101

Image Source: Writetodone.com

It may be a cliche statement in the Marketing world, but the term “Brand Power” is a solid truth. The concept has existed since the 1880′s in brands such as Quaker, Heinz and Campbells. It has gone through several evolutionary phases adapting to changing consumer dynamics and marketing platforms (IE Social Media is the new “Town Crier”).

It safe keeps the business and creates a relationship and a faith in consumers. It is essentially, that which bonds consumers with businesses and develops product and service recognition. Simply put Branding is what creates a recognition for a businesses and carries them past their competitors.

Companies like Apple, Coca-cola, Nike, Adobe, Old Navy and more, all started out small. No more than concepts, ideas and passions. They often began as garage run businesses or chemistry experiments in rented building. Regardless of their humble beginnings, regardless of their industry background, their services and their products, each of these companies has one key and crucial element in common.

Branding.

Brilliant, innovative, thoughtful Branding.

…and Branding is what?

In past posts we have dug into the concept of Branding. What it is, what it does. Suffice to say Branding is all about determining a core philosophy and image for your company. It must start from the foundation of your business and resonate outwards through out your sales divisions, manufacturing facilities and employees, service teams, marketing campaigns and promotional materials.

Branding Is A Key Element To Small Business Survival.

Branding is the means with which you begin to identify your business to consumers. It is the image you cultivate for your cliental. It is the association that people naturally develop with specific products and services. It is more than just your logo and colour scheme: it includes and relies on your employees, your customer communications day to day, your end products, and your after sales service. Successful companies provide quality products and excellent service. They treat after sales with as much importance as making the sale, because successful companies understand the need for repeat business and customer relationships. This consistency in service from start to finish builds their reputation and establishes them as a brand.

Successful branding is all about determining your core values, strengths and weaknesses as a business and then comparing those to what matters to your Target Market. Play your strengths into what matters to your Market through consistent and engaging communication.

Marketing To Your Targets.

Know Your Target When Developing Your Brand

Remember, Branding needs to keep the consumers priorities in mind at all times.

Put another way, “do not try to sell steaks to vegans”.

This painfully obvious right?

Nope, not always. Take a look at Coca-Colas flop with “New Coke”.

Coca-Cola is a brand story for the ages. They have a multitude of successful brand campaigns under their belt, and currently lead the pack when it comes to Social Media Marketing. However even giants trip on their shoelaces.

The Cola-Wars: In a galaxy not so far away…

It was 1985, Coke had long been the forerunner and number one cola drink in North America, in fact shortly after WW2 Time Magazine praised Coke’s “Peaceful near-conquest of the world’. However there was a new kid on the block and Pepsi-Cola’s successful re-branding as a “drink of the youth” was beginning to narrow the gap in market shares. More pressure was placed on Coke when Pepsi began a slew of celebrity endorsements, including Don Johnson and Michael Jackson.

Pepsi Rolled Out A Formidable Branding Campaign In The Cola Wars Of The 1980′s

Added to that was the increase in performance by other of Coke’s products, including Diet Coke, which had further reduced “The Real Thing’s” market share.

Then, Pepsi released the “Pepsi Challenge”. Consumers were blindfolded and tasted tested both products – the bulk of them preferring Pepsi’s sweeter recipe.

The writing was on the wall, the gap was narrowing and Coca-Cola had to act and act fast. Their answer? “New Coke”

Based on the results of the “Pepsi Challenge”, they misplaced their priorities and Target Market research by assuming that all that mattered to their consumer base was taste. When they implemented the “New Coke” they effectively alienated one key thing they still had going for them in the Cola-Wars – dedicated customers. So many of their previously faithful consumers boycotted the product that Coke was forced to step back from the campaign, announce the return of the Classic Coke and admit failure.

This is a classic example of good intent, but misplaced priority. It cost Coke in dollars, reputation and landed them a disenchanted consumer base. They recovered of course and continue to implement terrific Marketing campaigns.

Effective Branding.

It is not enough to Brand yourself by image only. Branding is more than a logo or a ad campaign. Branding needs to be embedded into your business on all levels and then followed through on. It requires buy-in from employees as much as consumers.

The best Branding incorporates a consistent message across your entire business platform. Everyone involved in the company needs to be preaching the same thing – EVERYONE. Nothing will kill a brand quicker than multiple message contradicting themselves.

The Advent Of Web 2.0 Has Sped Everything Up Including Brand Recognition. Image Source: bullseyenj.com

While Branding seldom happens quickly – most elevated brands have been working at it for decades – the advent of Web 2.0 and Social Media has begun to move everything more quickly.

Still long term consistency is the key. Product lines that have a proven track record still dominate the marketplace.

Branding creates in consumers, a natural association between your name and a specific product or service. Whether that association is good or bad is determined by all aspects of your business. A brand can be soured by any negative experience, whether it is a defective product, poor service, or bad communication. Likewise a Brand can be built up and thrive based on all of these things.

Consumers who relate good services, products and after sales work with a brand are going to be faithful to that brand. If you give a consumer a stand-alone experience or product you will have them for life. That is Brand Power, the power to create faith and relationship with consumers, thus securing their business for the future.

A happy customer will always refer others to a brand. Providing good service and products will always cause ripples and your brand name will spread very quickly through word of mouth.

What is more, Brand Power is what creates the “Badge-effect”. It creates within consumers a natural association with a brand as a status symbol. Right or wrong, good or bad, consumers will pursue brands for the status it gives them.

Consumers Are Often Driven By The Status Related To A Brand

Their is a common joke that Apple user’s pay the extra money for the status it gives them. One meme even re-named the Ipad the “Ipaid”.

Apple is an amazing brand, a stand-alone success story with great products and even better service. Their brand power lies in more than just the “status” given to their consumers, however there is a definite truth behind the status and the Badge-effect behind Apple, inc. It is the same story for many brands.

Branding Is A Badge.

Let’s face it we have all purchased clothing, accessories and swag based on the brand and the logo. What we use, what we purchase, what we wear… these things project an image outwards of who we want people to believe we are.

Grade Ten, (1997 for me) an era of tear away track pants, angst ridden music and bleach blonde hair. It may not have been the same everywhere, but at my High School, if you were cool you wore Nike or you wore Adidas. Those were the brands in writ and those were the brands that publicized you as street savvy.

Ugh, glad those days are well behind us right? Wrong! we have simply traded in those brands for new ones. I went through my skater phase, my “gonna-be-a-rockstar” phase and several others since then, and with each on, different brands came into play.

Brands Become Badges, Status Symbols. We Use Them to Cultivate Our Image. As We Grow Out Of Certain Brands, We Embrace Others.

Branding is a badge, we ascribe to specific brands for our own individual reasons, and we stick to certain brands based on the image we wish to cultivate. Brands will establish s specific customer base, a target market that associates the brand with the image desired.

Clever brands exploit this. Brilliant brands surpass this. Let’s consider Apple again. Do they have a specific customer based founded on image? Yes. Do they rely on this specific customer base? No. Apple has created a product line, a service infrastructure, an image and an experience that transcends “almost” all cliques.

Poll iPhone users, you will find people from every possible demographic within the user base.

Many brands seek this by attempting to gain relevance in areas outside of their current image. The equivalent of Nike pursuing the skateboarding demographic or LaSenza pursuing the denim market.

Some Re-Positioning Campaigns Fall And Fall Hard

They re-position themselves in order to breech other markets. Some, like 80′s era Pepsi and their campaign for the “next generation”, are successful. Others, such as Harley Davidson’s bid to enter the perfume market, fail.

Beginner branding is all about knowing your target and staying true to both your commitment and your promise to said target. Build faith, build reliability, build relationships and you will build a business.

via [transitionmarketing]

Lightbox closing its doors as the team joins Facebook

Seems like the Facebook train just keeps on rolling, with todays news that the Lightbox team will be joining the social network. For Lightbox users, the end is sadly nigh as the service will be closing down completely from June 15. Existing users can continue to use the service until then, but no more new signups will be accepted.

This isn’t an acquisition, not like the $1 billion buyout submitted for Instagram. As such, none of the user data stored by Lightbox will become the property of Facebook. The staff is the only part transitioning, and as such closing the doors for good. Until June 15, all your photos can be exported, and the Android application has already been removed from Google Play. Additionally, parts of the code will be open-sourced in the coming weeks.

 

via [androidcentral.com, blog.lightbox.com]

Related articles

• Lightbox is joining Facebook! (lightbox.com)
• Facebook Snaps Up Team From Mobile Firm Lightbox (mashable.com)
• Facebook gets even more aggressive with photo sharing, acquires the Lighbox team (thenextweb.com)
• Instagram rival Lightbox also purchased by Facebook (androidcommunity.com)

69% Of Tablet Owners Surf The Web While Watching TV

A recent report by Nielsen reveals some insightful findings about how we use our tablet devices while watching TV.

According to the report, 69% of tablet owners watch TV and use the internet simultaneously, several times a week. 45% of tablet owners would do so at least once a day. Only 12% of tablet owners surveyed said they never used the device while watching TV. Last year the findings would have been shocking, but given the fast-growing presence of mobile devices, the findings are not surprising.

There were also discrepancies between men and women. Men were more likely to use their tablets to look up info related to the TV program they were watching, while women were more likely to look up information related to an advertisement. Men were also more likely to check sports scores than women (44% to 24%).

The younger generation also uses tablets differently than their older counterparts. Younger people were more likely to check social networking sites, while older adults checked their email more.

Checking email remains the most popular tablet activity while watching TV, where 61% of people surveyed checking their email while watching TV. The second most popular activity was with 47% of people checking social networking sites.

It seems with this information that TV stations will strive to produce tablet based apps for their viewers. Do you think there will be more tablet activity like this in the future? Let us know.

via [WholeLottaWonder!]

Related articles

• Report: 69% Of Tablet Owners Watch TV And Surf The Web Simultaneously (techcrunch.com)
• Women email, visit social networks while watching TV (vator.tv)
• Nielsen: Most U.S. tablet owners use their device while watching TV – paidContent (digitaltvnewssummary.wordpress.com)
• Nielsen: Women more likely to visit a social networking site while watching TV (gigaom.com)
• Nielsen study says 88% of tablet owners tab away while watching TV (slashgear.com)

Flipboard for Android

Flipboard is finally coming to Android. Exclusively on the Galaxy S III, we’re told, at least for some amount of time. Now, thanks to one enterprising member over at the XDA forums, an unofficial build of Flipboard for Android is available to all, and it looks great.

Waiting for end of the month (or later, depending on the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S III) didn’t sit well with XDA forum member Valcho, and considering he had an SGS III “lying around,” he decided to extract the APK and share it with the world. You can grab it at the link below.

Download Flipboard for Android here.

The app is definitely nice! Eye candy is there, smooth animations are present and functionality is maintained from the iOS counterpart. There’s also a Flipboard widget that was not covered in the video, which allows you to view your most recent cover photos in a 2×4 widescreen view.

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• Flipboard Unofficially Available For Any Android Device And Here’s How To Install It (techcrunch.com)
• Flipboard for Android leaks (thetechblock.com)

Samsung Galaxy S3 hands-on preview: Yes, it’s amazing

It’s here. The Galaxy S3, Samsung’s flagship phone for the 2012/2013 smartphone battle, has just been unveiled at the official launch in London. We’re here, and we’ve had a chance to get hands-on and close-up with what could well be your next phone. What’s the big deal? Read on to find out.

So, this is the Samsung Galaxy S3. After more rumour, speculation and hype than a Samsung launch has ever been involved in before, we’ve had the privilege of being personally introduced to it. The verdict? It’s an absolute stonker.

The phone has a huge 4.8-inch HD Super-AMOLED display, which really, really shines. Samsung says the resolution is HD – 1280 x 720. In real life terms, that means it’s amazing, but to your eyes there’s nothing between it and the iPhone 4S’ Retina Display, albeit the monstrous size.

Inside there’s the Exynos 4412 1.4GHz quad-core processor, which we’ve known about for a while. On paper it’s insanely powerful, but it’s hard in such a small amount of time to get a feel for what that can really do. We’ll tell you this: you can’t break its brain.

We’ve flicked around from screen to screen, app to app, with no problems whatsoever. Want something that puts it through its paces? How about Pop-up Play? If you’re watching a video, you can press an icon in the bottom right and a small version of it appears on the home screen, or whatever app you open. You can reposition it to allow you to watch Sky Go while checking Facebook, for instance. That’s really powerful stuff.

The version of the TouchWiz UI Samsung’s using here is brand new and totally tricked out with loads of other new features, like S Voice, a smart voice assistant that you can wake up simply by saying “Hi Galaxy!” We had mixed results with this, but we’ll put it down to the noise at tonight’s event. Smart Stay is another very clever feature, which keeps the screen on as long as you’re looking at it. Meanwhile, Direct Call will ring the person you’re texting if you bring it up to your ear.

Galaxy S3: Does it beat the best of Android?

In terms of build, the Galaxy S3 is a looker, not dissimilar at all to the Galaxy Nexus. It’s designed around nature, with a ‘Hyperglaze’ mold. It’s very hard to avoid using stupid phrases when describing how a phone feels, but this has a destinctive airiness about it. Of course, screen size is still a dividing issue, and this is far bigger than the competition from Apple. Still, despite the 4.8-inch size, Samsung’s made a good job of fitting it in your hand, thanks to a thinner bezel than the Galaxy S2 had.

Available initially in Pebble Blue and Marble White, Samsung said that it will introduce a variety of additional colour options at a later date.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Full Product Specifications

Network: 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
3G (HSPA+ 21Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
4G (Dependent on market)
Display: 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED (1280×720) display
OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera Main(Rear): 8 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Flash & Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
Camera Sub (Front): 1.9 Mega pixel camera, HD recording @30fps with Zero Shutter Lag, BSI
Video Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, DivX3.11, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark
Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p)
Audio Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, OGG, FLAC, AC-3, apt-X
Connectivity: WiFi a/b/g/n, WiFi HT40, GPS/GLONASS, NFC, Bluetooth® 4.0(LE)
Sensor: Accelerometer, RGB light, Digital compass, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer
Memory: 16/ 32GB User memory (64GB available soon) + microSD slot (up to 64GB)
Dimension: 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm, 133g
Battery: 2,100 mAh

Related articles

• Samsung Galaxy S3 features at a glance (telegraph.co.uk)
• Galaxy S III set for May 29th release (slashgear.com)
• Samsung Galaxy S3 Coming in Blue and White? Screen Protector Leaks (gadgetian.com)
• The Samsung Galaxy SIII Arrives (insydetech.info)
• Meet The New Android Emperor: The Samsung Galaxy S III (GOOG) (businessinsider.com)
• Samsung Galaxy S III: Meet the New Android Emperor [Galaxy S Iii] (gizmodo.com)
• Samsung Galaxy S III official (slashgear.com)
• Samsung Galaxy S III official – 4.8 inch HD display, quad-core Exynos CPU in tow (intomobile.com)

 

Every Modern Superhero Movie Packed into a Five Minutes Video

Appropriate for the impending release of superhero conglomeration The Avengers, editor sleepyskunk has put together this awesome five-minute montage containing pretty much every superhero movie you can remember–and even some you can’t remember until you see Robert Townsend and shout, “Oh, shit, so Meteor Man WAS real!”

 

See the YouTube description for a full list of the films. Consider the lack of Superhero Movie clips a merciful omission.

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• K’s Review: The Avengers Are The “World’s Greatest Heroes,” but are they The World’s Greatest Superhero Movie? (hypethemovies.wordpress.com)
• Five Minutes Of What Seems Like Every Superhero Cartoon, Movie and TV Show Ever (gizmodo.com.au)

Samsung Unpacked 2012 teaser, Galaxy owner or iSheep

Samsung’s first teaser containing the countdown has ended and bring in a new teaser video. There are two videos that are presented to welcome the unpacked event to be held May 3 the next. In the event, Samsung is expected to showcase the next Galaxy.Teaser time is also still contains mysteries. Only mention of a new universe, ‘A Whole New Universe’. No additional information can be obtained even though the video is displayed will invite curiosity. In this teaser were also asked about the technology that is considered really smart, which according to Samsung must correspond to one’s life naturally. These features are thought to be indicative of eye tracking, wireless charger, or other functions on the Galaxy S III.

Asked in a second teaser of the Galaxy is mentioned that fits perfectly in hand, the larger the display, and can be explored freely and quickly. In the final part noted that this technology will make a person stand on top of another, symbolized by a flock of sheep.

Related articles

• isheep (nvarsos.wordpress.com)
• Samsung begins countdown to Galaxy S3, anagram a start to an online treasure hunt? (nvarsos.wordpress.com)

Make my logo bigger cream

Designers, don’t be annoyed by clients anymore who want changes to your carefully crafted design: use the “Make my logo bigger”-Cream! Not enough? Use the “Whitespace Eliminator”. Interesting viral marketing from Agency Fusion, a web development company in Utah, USA. View the full commercial on the Make My Logo Bigger Cream website, or watch the YouTube video.

My logo is so much BIGGER now!

isheep

isheep = A follower of the Apple cult regardless of the usefulness or real worth of the product. Believes with without question the cult propaganda which installs the almost mythological belief that what they have just bought is the fastest or most user friendly product ever, only to be re-sold the same product, with a few minor tweaks, a few months later with the same rhetoric and complete disregard for reality. Easily mislead by their own egos and think they are being unique and innovative.

source: urbandictionary

Related articles

• More Than Half Of All Households In America Now Own An Apple Device | Cult of Mac (cultofmac.vanillaforums.com)
• The Cult of Apple (churchofpossibility.com)
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• Apple is Becoming a Patents Cult (techrights.org)

Samsung begins countdown to Galaxy S3, anagram a start to an online treasure hunt?

A couple of hours ago, Samsung mobile tweeted the following message: “Destination tgeltaayehxnx”. After some thinking it quickly became clear that tgeltaayehxnx is an anagram for “The Next Galaxy”.

When visiting the url tgeltaayehxnx.com you will see a count down timer on it. What could this mean?

Samsung marketing at its best

The last few weeks things have been crazy with daily leaks, rumors, fakes, pictures and information on Samsung’s upcoming phone. However, we still know almost nothing, the only thing we do know is that Samsung will announce “The Next Galaxy” on May 3rth. However, what this “next galaxy” is remains unknown, could it be the Samsung Galaxy S3?

The tweet that stared this all

One thing is sure, with this new website Samsung will create a huge buzz about the next galaxy.

Further investigation

Of course, we didn’t want to wait until tomorrow so we had a look at the source code to see if we could find some hints about what will happen tomorrow. Luckily for us, we found the following directory:

• http://www.tgeltaayehxnx.com/src_pz/

It contains all the files for the website and gives us a clue about what will happen tommorow. By the looks of it, tomorrow we will have to solve another puzzel to get new information. See the following pictures we found hidden on the website:

The Hint button telling you what you will need to do

And the letters that need to be put in the correct order:

A button we have found that will be shown once you have finished the puzzel. We have no idea where the button will take us

Solving the puzzle

We know the goal, and we know the letters, so time to solve the puzzle. Of course this is a piece of cake and the answer of the puzzle is: TheNextGalaxy.

So the logical thing to do was visit thenextgalaxy.com, but our path ended their since the site is locked with a password, for now. It seems logical that when the count down timer ends, the puzzle and the site thenextgalaxy.com will be available to the public.

What we will see there is unknown, but it will probably be more teasing from Samsung. We can’t imagine Samsung to announce an device on this site tomorrow, not with a Samsung unpacked event just around the corner.

What could it be? Perhaps Samsung will show a teaser video on the website, similar to what they did with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S2. Let’s hope it won’t be another puzzle and this time some real and valuable information!

What do you think will be visible on that website? Let us know in the comments!

via [samsung-galaxy-s3.net]

Related articles

• Samsung to held Galaxy S3 Launch event on 22nd May in London (nvarsos.wordpress.com)
• Samsung teases Galaxy S III with new countdown site (venturebeat.com)
• Samsung begins teasing Galaxy S III launch with countdown on cryptic teaser site (thenextweb.com)
• Report: Samsung Launching Cloud Service on May 3 (pcmag.com)
• Will Samsung follow Apple with its “Galaxy S3″ proto plans? (slashgear.com)
• Samsung’s May 3 Round-up: Galaxy S III and more (slashgear.com)

Oh, How Pinteresting!: Addressing Spam on Pinterest

Addressing Spam on Pinterest

As Pinterest grows, spammers have also grown within our community. While the technology we use to detect spam becomes more advanced each day, we want Pinners to know what to do in case you come across suspicious content or links while browsing Pinterest.

First: What is spam and how can you report it?

Similar to spam emails that have plagued Internet users for years, it’s possible that you’ll encounter spam while using Pinterest. In most cases, spam accounts on Pinterest create pins with misleading links and follow many people in hopes that you’ll visit their boards.

You don’t need to be concerned if a spam account follows you on Pinterest, but you should definitely feel empowered to let us know about it.

Report one or more of their pins using the Report Pin button. Just click on any pin to view it in full-size. Then, on the right-hand side of the pinned image, you’ll see the Report Pin button which will open a menu to choose your type of report.

Reporting a pin helps everyone by removing the pin from public feeds. A reported pin also gives us information about the suspicious account and the spam links they’re trying to promote.

Second: How can you protect your account?

There are many online spam tactics, but following general Internet-safety practices will go a long way:

• If you click on a link and the resulting page isn’t what you expect, return to Pinterest.com.
• Don’t click on a pin that promotes a free giveaway or looks like an advertisement. Pinterest doesn’t have any advertising and we don’t post surveys, giveaways, or other promotions. If an offer seems too good to be true, it’s very likely spam.
• Pinterest will only ask for your login and password details on Pinterest.com or on our official iPhone app. Don’t log in on other websites or on other apps.
• Pinterest.com is the only Pinterest website; other addresses containing the name “Pinterest” are not legitimate.
• Avoid interacting with accounts where their pins do not link to relevant content or their pins all link to the same source.
• You should choose unique, difficult-to-guess passwords for all of your online accounts, and you should update them regularly. Don’t reuse passwords across websites. If you’re ever concerned about your account, create a new password.

 

via [blog.pinterest.com]

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