A recent Apple patent reveals a wearable video device with a flexible touch-screen display and a “slap bracelet” mechanism. Adding fuel to the “iWatch” fire, the patent details a wearable accessory that connects to a portable device via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to display information in real time. The patent application contains some other interesting features, including the use of both “a solar panel beneath the display” and a mechanism to capture the kinetic energy of the user’s arm motion. This smartwatch will obviously do more than simply tell time.

 Google has also taken major strides into the wearable computing space with its Google Glass project and is actively exploring the idea of making its own smartwatch.  Pebble, the company that raised a whopping $10 million on Kickstarter, is getting ready to ship its smartwatches to more than 69,000 new customers. There are also a handful of other companies working on similar projects, including Cookoo and I’m Watch.

According to Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster, wearable-computing devices could eventually replace the iPhone and other smartphones over the next ten years or so.  If Google ends up releasing a wristwatch, it would fit in nicely with the company’s local search strategy of giving you information before you even ask, and providing that information very quickly.

Video killed the Radio Star and the Smartphone killed the watch, which just killed the Smartphone… right??

Does wearable computing sound like something you would use? iRolex perhaps?

Apple’s stock slipped below $500 for the first time in a year as investors reacted to reports that the company’s latest iPhone is falling further behind Android devices (which represent 75 percent of smartphone shipments worldwide) according to the research firm International Data Corp.

The latest indication that Apple, the world’s most valuable company, is seeing sluggish demand for its iPhone 5 emerged in separate stories published Monday in the Japanese newspaper Nikkei and The Wall Street Journal. Sources claim that Apple has dramatically reduced its orders for the parts needed to build the newest iPhone because the device isn’t selling as well as the company hoped.

In addition to the lack luster sales of the iPhone 5, industry analysts are also worried about the recent introduction of the less expensive iPad Mini cutting into the company’s profits.

iPhone upgrades in the past two years have extremely disappointed gadget lovers who have been clamoring for Apple’s well known innovation to do more to stay in front of other device makers.

Here are 5 reasons we have heard the iPhone5 has been unsuccessful:

1. Software running on the iPhone, iOS 6, is lagging behind its main competitor, Android.
2. No Innovative use of NFC (Near Field Communication) Technology
3. No Battery Improvements
4. That D@#n New Connector
5. Don’t Forget The Maps Debacle

What do you think? Can the Cult of Mac be successful by demanding better innovation from Apple? Or are the days of buying an Apple iPhone  just “because it’s an Apple” over?

In Walter Isaacson’s biography, he quotes the late Steve Jobs as having said:
“I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use [...] It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud [...] It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.”

The time has finally come and as the forerunner in disruptive technologies Apple could introduce the first Social Television Network with full social and commercial integration.

Tim Cook, CEO, Apple, recently stated, “When I go into my living room and turn on the TV, I feel like I have gone backwards in time by 20 to 30 years. It’s an area of intense interest. I can’t say more than that.”

It seems Cook understands that the TV experience can no longer be “just about TV.” It has to also be about you “the viewer.”

Imagine a Superbowl Sunday that allows you and your buddies to watch the game in different time zones while sending virtual high fives to each other. And as you watch the game, iTV will allow you to “like” certain plays or “thumbs down” a bad call from a referee. Commercials would be given “like” buttons and your “likes” would be stored in a way that would allow advertisers to do a better job of providing you with targeted products that suit your lifestyle.

Here are 3 reasons we think you will want iTV:

1. FaceTime Video Calling & Gesture Controls
With a FaceTime HD webcam and a motion sensor – conferences and gaming will be one step closer to virtual reality.

2. Integrated / Active Content
With the most comprehensive digital entertainment store at your fingertips- socially interactive TV shows, movies, videos, apps and games will be a heartbeat away.

3. iPhone / Siri Remote
Controllable with iPhones and iPads, but the real remote control will be Siri, Apple’s voice recognition system will be the heart of the new Apple TV, enabling you to choose channels and control the TV’s functions with voice alone.

If Apple gets this right the company can easily own the TV market.

The era of Jetsons television is upon us. Are you ready for the future of Social Television?

A month following their original announcement, Apple was able to finally roll out their newest edition of iTunes. It features many new aspects that seek to create an ease of use for customers, and remain competitive amongst a myriad of media clients that are available for the general public. Apple hopes that with their newest update, it will inspire users to continue purchasing Apple hardware and elevate the level of sharing through iCloud services.

Some of the newest features include a completely redesigned app, a new store, the ability to play purchases from iCloud, “Up Next” (a way for users to glance at upcoming songs in a playlist), new mini player, improved search functions, playback syncing, and a redesigned desktop icon. The redesigned functionality allows users to better organize their music, make playlists, and grab recommended songs and albums from the store. The new iTunes features a much more aesthetically pleasing look that has done away with the old sidebars and now has an “edge-to-edge” design. The store is further integrated into your own library as users can view their history and previously previewed media. Additionally, with the redesign, the iCloud integration service no longer feels like a “tacked-on” product.

Now, all Apple has to do is further increase their competitive advantage. Some of their biggest competitors, Rhapsody, Spotify, and Grooveshark, all offer features that can make them more accessible for users. Spotify seems to be the top competitor for Apple due to its easy-to-use software that allow users to quickly transport and share information. The largest draw for Apple’s apps and products

is that they are already integrated with their hardware. Thus, one’s MacBook or iPhone is preloaded with the appropriate software, and upon turning on the device one is ready to access their multimedia. On the other hand, Spotify requires a few extra steps, but it still has Apple in its hand with the overall popularity it has gained within the software sharing programs for their mobile and desktop apps. Apple is hoping to change this path with a better design that emphasizes images and artwork over a spreadsheet diagram.

What’s the next step for Apple’s media player? Will they be able to compete with Spotify’s optimized media sharing programs?

Tuesday, Apple announced the debut of several new products. The biggest news was the release of the iPad Mini, which finally propels Apple into a competitive status with several other small tablet manufacturers such as Google (Nexus 7), Amazon (Kindle Fire HD), Barnes & Noble (Nook HD), and Samsung (Galaxy Tab 2). It is expected that Apple will likely take the forefront of this tablet market due to their design, branding, software, and advertising superiority. Consequently, Apple is poised to make a greater push into the classrooms that will broaden their target demographic.

The streamlined release of their new products represents a void in their annual product release cycle. Within the past few months, Apple has updated all of their major products. Now, the company has almost an entire year to surprise the world with their next latest and greatest innovation. How else can Apple change the world? The next phase of development for Apple not only involves changing educational technology, but more importantly the way we view television. Google and Samsung have partnered to release a smart tv which they think will change the industry. However, it would be presumptuous to theorize that Apple has no comeback for this new product. Apple has already released the Apple TV which has been a huge hit.

However, this has not quite reached the clientele that is needed to make an industry-wide change. For Apple to become more successful, they need to invade America’s living rooms with  expanded services, networks, and “a-la-carte” content. Imagine having the ability to pick and choose programming that is specific to your life and not be required to pay for extra channels. For instance, if one likes soccer and movies, the only packages you would pay for are sports, and a premium films bundle that could hypothetically include HBO, Showtime, IFC, etc. Honestly, out of the all the channels received with a standard Comcast contract, the vast majority of those are left untouched. It’s like going to the grocery and being forced to buy items on a monthly basis that you never eat and will only serve a purpose to grow mold and stink up your fridge and pantry.

Lastly, by introducing a TV, Apple will deliver a completely new experience. This will take advertising to an entirely different level as they will have to cater towards Apple’s instructions. No longer will an individual be required to sit through countless hours of commercials in between movie showings and television episodes. Users of Apple TV will likely be able to experience one of two payment plans: higher subscription services for no commercials or lower subscription services which include some commercial programming. Obviously, there will be a great many people who will want the former instead of the latter. To remain competitive, Apple will need to offer lower socioeconomic customers ultra-competitive rates that will drive them from using cable and dish services. This second offering will deliver network television unlike anything previously viewed. Furthermore, it changes the landscape for advertising agencies and corporations who take advantage of the air space we currently view with much disdain.

Will Apple release an iTV this coming spring? What’s next for the technology giant?

Who is to blame for the iPhone 5?  We are.  Constantly bemoaning “When is it coming?! When is it coming?!”… well, now you have it… happy?

Not quite the Star Trek Communicator we were looking for – nothing earth shattering, nothing noteworthy, just a bigger, lighter phone with less mapping capability.  We just wanted to believe so badly.. take a look at this Jimmy Kimmel sketch where he presents iPhone 4s as iPhone 5 it’s Reality Distortion Field at its best! You have to ask what would Steve Jobs do? WWSJD.  I think you know the answer to that. 

With so much pressure on Apple to innovate and continue in Jobs’ footsteps to be the revolutionary brand – did they just merely renovate?  Or is our expectation of Apple getting out of hand? MacAddicts will disagree considering Apple sold a record 5 million iPhone 5s in the three days after Friday’s launch, selling out its initial supply. That compares with 4 million iPhone 4S units sold in the same time period last year. So obviously demand is at an all time high.

Do you think the Cult of Mac should accept these simplistic upgrades since many competitors on the market have had larger screens and faster networks for a while – or will the brand be shamed back to its core and deliver exceptional technology?

Let us know what you think…

Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame celebrates his 81^st birthday today.  Happy birthday Mr. Spock, you’ve lived to see the day when the “PADD” moves from science fiction to real world fact.  “PADD” is an acronym for “Personal Access Display Device”, a hand-held computer that Star Trek officers used for a variety of functions including logging manifests, compiling duty rosters or diagnostic reports, entering personal data, and/or accessing library computer systems.  The new Apple iPad tablet actually far surpasses the functionality envisioned by iconic Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.  But to avoid any confusion, please don’t call it the “iPad 3”!  It’s the “iPad “or the “Next Generation iPad” thank you very much.  When the new iPad landed in retail stores March 16^th, I just had to stop by the Apple Store to check it out… here’s a quick summary of what I found:

iPad is Indeed Transformational.  From a marketing perspective, the iPad is definitely a Killer Platform to share ideas, broaden existing experiences, organize and engage in consumer conversations, and influence buying decisions and sell a lot of stuff.  In short, it’s a marketers’ dream device. The constant challenge though is how to harness the tablet effectively to create impactful, relevant and consumer-actionable campaigns.  According to Mobex Director Chris Bourke, “Tablets will grow faster than any public prediction. Brands will wake up and realize that linear, interruptive tablet advertising – the kind that mimics magazine advertising can be so much more.”  The iPad currently rules the tablet category by a wide margin with close to 70% market share and those figures should make marketers sit up and take notice- the days when mass-media channels (TV, radio, print) were the go-to medium for reaching consumers with messages about products, brands or services are now over or at least now those messages must be integrated with your mobile devices.

Meeting Our Insatiable Cravings. Consumers want more speed, more flexibility, more portability, more efficiency, more smarts in our devices… along with all the aesthetic qualities that thrill and delight.  Does the new iPad deliver? Not surprisingly, it does.  At first glance, it’s impossible not to notice the stunning photos, vibrant colors, and crisper text but as I probe a bit deeper it’s the subtle differences that delight, such as an updated camera to make my photo portfolio shine, there’s also a reading light- that’s something my Kindle can’t deliver.   With 4G LTE connectivity, the beautiful HD retina display and a longer-life battery, the Next Generation iPad will keep us satiated (at least for now).

Brand Communicates Value Not Price. Emerging from the recession, we consumers are more frugal than ever with our disposable income.  That said, when it comes to the Apple brand, all rationale and penny-pinching goes out the window!  At a starting price of $499, the cost of the new iPad is still too dear for a lot of people to just run out and buy (let alone stand in line for).  Nonetheless, they’re flying off the shelves again at a record pace – why is the Apple brand so irresistible? Well, they’ve certainly packed a lot of value into the small package, but let’s face it: Apple’s marketing wizardry has made just made it irresistible.  We consumers have fallen in love with this Killer Platform and it’s ability to fulfill our personal productivity wants, entertainment needs and water-cooler bragging rights!  Or maybe, we’re all just victims of a “Vulcan Mind-Meld”!

If you really think about it, a brand is nothing more than a container for the promises and benefits that your company makes and delivers to your target audience. Therefore, branding is really about managing your company’s reputation. If you make a promise, you better deliver on it. Break a promise and your reputation will suffer. Just like a personal reputation, a brand reputation is formed based on the behaviors and actions of the company (or a person within the company) and how those behaviors and actions are perceived by the target audience. Since most people understand what a personal reputation is, it makes it easier to understand what “branding” is all about.

In today’s socially-networked world, it is imperative for brand owners to actively monitor Social Media channels like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as well as track blogs, forums and online communities where conversations about the brand may occur. Whether the conversation is positive, negative, humorous, or just sarcastic, you must track the sources of such content and gauge the sentiment and underlying emotions in order to protect and enhance reputation.

The key to making the transition from brand to reputation management lies in the examination of the company through a set of filters designed to gauge how you are shifting from a reliance on the traditional art of persuasion to the adoption of the disciplines of authenticity.

Download our latest white paper to learn more about the shift from brand management to reputation management by practicing a discipline of authenticity – and if you’re a B2B marketer there are a few additional recommendations just for you.

Research in Motion (RIM) had it all:  they were the leading suppliers of cell phones to American businesses and had the lion’s share of the Smartphone market. But that was not enough for RIM, they wanted a slice of the consumer market too and developed the Blackberry PlayBook tablet to join in the competition with Apple and a plethora of Android-based competitors. But delusions of grandeur and targeting the wrong market have led RIM to land on our Marketing FAIL page.

Since its launch in 2003, the BlackBerry Smartphone led the way in business communication with its QWERTY keyboard and ability to give users access to their corporate email. The BlackBerry had RIM riding high by 2009 as Fortune Magazine named RIM “the fastest growing company in the world with a growth of 84% in profits over three years despite the recession.” By September 2010, RIM announced that the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet computer would be launched the following spring despite the fact that Apple had already taken the lead by successfully launching the iPad in April 2010.  Trying to “one-up” Apple,  RIM claimed to be a superior tablet thanks to its support for Flash technology for streaming video content. RIM’s Co-Chief Executive Officer, Jim Balsillie, said, “The PlayBook is compelling because it works with the BlackBerry, allowing those hooked on the RIM Smartphone to continue using their preferred communications device.” But RIM has struggled mightily to market the product effectively… notably marred by the departure of Chief Marketing Officer, Keith Pardy,  just a month before the launch.  However, there are far more serious problems with the PlayBook: an unfamiliar operating system (QNX); a screen that users claimed was too small and a price that was too high.  These issues combined with the fact that a BlackBerry phone must be tethered to the Playbook in order to access email services may have put success out of RIM’s reach.  With lackluster sales, the company recently undertook a price-slashing initiative by cutting $50 – $150 off the Playbook – a “fire-sale” move that just underscores their irrelevance with consumers.  The company’s stock value has taken a plunge and the future looks bleak as many consumers seem hooked on the Apple iPad and various Android-based tablets.

Check out Dave Sutton’s live interview on TrendPOV to get more details on how RIM could have avoided this failure – and also how they may be able to yet recover.

Many companies today are struggling with understanding social media and the potential impact on their business.  New technologies and “social media experts” are in abundance – but deciding what is right for your business and your customers is tough.

At the Call Center Executive Forum held today in Atlanta,  I presented TopRight’s unique perspectives on how to generate a productive and profitable social life for your business.  Our approach starts with the  formulation of a sound social strategy for your business – a strategy that is aligned with your competitive strategy and the structure of your industry, that identifies specific trade-offs that you should make in social marketing activities (i.e. what you don’t do) and that optimizes the “fit” of your social marketing activities with other value-adding activities going on in your business today.   Regardless of whether you are just in the experimental stage with social media or you feel like you’re off and running,  we’ve got a roadmap that will help you tune out the noise, navigate the pitfalls, avoid the snake-oil salesmen, and generate superior returns on your social marketing investments.   If you’re interested in learning more, download the presentation and please let us know your thoughts!