Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says mobile apps the top focus, we say it's about time]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/12/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-says-mobile-apps-top-focus/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/12/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-says-mobile-apps-top-focus/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/12/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-says-mobile-apps-top-focus/#comments Mister Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook has been making a lot of promises during a tour to drum up interest in its ever-nearing IPO, but the one gadget-heads have been wanting to hear the most, a commitment to its mobile apps, has been elusive -- until now. Everyone's favorite hooded CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is telling investors in his home 'burg of the San Francisco Bay that mobile is front and center in his company's plans. We're hoping that means new app features, although Zuck is likely referring to money-making as well: shareholders are jittery knowing that Facebook makes most of its money on web ads that it's not running on smartphones and tablets. Paid titles in App Center will go a long way towards scratching that itch, mind you. As for us, we'll just be happy if Facebook takes less than a year and a half to produce a major tablet app.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says mobile apps the top focus, we say it's about time originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2012 03:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingapp centerAppCentercellphonecellphonesfacebookfacebook appfacebook app centerfacebook appsFacebook IPOFacebookAppFacebookAppCenterFacebookAppsFacebookIpoinitial public offeringInitialPublicOfferinginvestorinvestorsipomobilemobilepostcrossshareholdershareholderssmartphonesmartphonessocial networksocial networkingSocialNetworkSocialNetworkingtablettabletsSat, 12 May 2012 03:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook testing 'highlight' feature, lets users pay $2 to promote their status updates]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/facebook-highlight-feature/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/facebook-highlight-feature/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/facebook-highlight-feature/#comments Facebook testing 'highlight' feature, lets users pay $2 to promote their status updates

Finding ways to throw money at Mark Zuckerberg is notoriously difficult, but a new 'highlight' feature could be just the trick. Currently being tested with a small population of users, it allows an ordinary member to pay $2 to ensure that their latest status update crops up in more of their friends' news streams. Ordinarily, the degree to which a status update is streamed depends on the number of likes or comments it has, which ensures that users generally only see the juiciest gossip, but paying this little premium would cause Facebook's algorithms to distort that in your favor. In other words, it's money replacing popularity, or simply -- sigh -- life.

Facebook testing 'highlight' feature, lets users pay $2 to promote their status updates originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingcashcashing infacebookfacebook highlightfacebook highlightsFacebookHighlightFacebookHighlightshighlightmonetizationmoneypopularitypromotionselling outsocial networkingSocialNetworkingstatusstatus updateStatusUpdateFri, 11 May 2012 06:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre internal Apple video shows Steve Jobs rallying the troops against IBM]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/bizarre-internal-apple-video-shows-steve-jobs-rallying-the-troop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/bizarre-internal-apple-video-shows-steve-jobs-rallying-the-troop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/bizarre-internal-apple-video-shows-steve-jobs-rallying-the-troop/#comments Image

We're going to warn you up front: what you're about to see is eccentric, puzzling, and perhaps even disturbing. And undoubtedly, it's the fanboy film to end all fanboy films. According to Network World, who managed to get ahold of an internal 'rally the troops' video, the referenced clip was produced with a $50,000 budget and shown to an international sales force at a 1984 meeting in Hawaii. The film, entitled "1944," was purportedly provided by one-time Apple employee Craig Elliott, now CEO of Pertino Networks. The vintage footage shows then-CEO Steve Jobs as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the nine minute film drags on to show Apple-clad soldiers lining up to do battle with IBM -- a massive, massive rival in the space during that era. The full watch can be found in the source link below (embedding was disabled), and again, this will absolutely freak you out. Fair warning.

Bizarre internal Apple video shows Steve Jobs rallying the troops against IBM originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingappleCraig ElliottCraigElliottibmmacmicrosoftpertinoPertino NetworksPertinoNetworksretrosteve jobsSteveJobsvideovintageWed, 02 May 2012 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba sings NAND Flash's praises, thinks you should too]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/toshiba-sings-nand-flashs-praises/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/toshiba-sings-nand-flashs-praises/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/toshiba-sings-nand-flashs-praises/#comments Toshiba sings NAND Flash's praises, thinks you should too

Have you taken a moment today to stop and thank NAND Flash for existing? No? Well, Toshiba would like to say tsk, tsk. Today the company launched a full-scale campaign to promote this storage technology -- and by full-scale we mean a dedicated "25 Years of NAND Flash" website, a "NAND Flash Deprivation Experiment" video series, new Facebook and Twitter accounts and a Toshiba Excite 10 giveaway. We must have missed the memo that NAND was dangerously underappreciated, because we're still trying to figure out why it needs a marketing campaign of its own. Toshiba has a slew of laptop refreshes and the Excite 7.7 and 13 tablets just around the corner -- and that interim period between announcement and launch date can be killer -- but somehow talking up NAND Flash doesn't seem the right course of action. Take a look at the campaign's first video below the break and decide for yourself.

Continue reading Toshiba sings NAND Flash's praises, thinks you should too

Toshiba sings NAND Flash's praises, thinks you should too originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 02:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>25 Years of NAND Flash25YearsOfNandFlashadadsadvertisingcampaigncampaignsflashflash storageFlashStoragemarketingmarketing campaignMarketingCampaignNANDNAND flashNAND flash memoryNandFlashNandFlashMemorystoragetoshibatoshiba exciteToshiba Excite 10Toshiba NANDToshibaExciteToshibaExcite10ToshibaNandvideoWed, 02 May 2012 02:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile Miscellany: week of April 16th, 2012]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/21/mobile-miscellany-week-of-april-16th-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/21/mobile-miscellany-week-of-april-16th-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/21/mobile-miscellany-week-of-april-16th-2012/#comments Mobile Miscellany: week of April 16th, 2012

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Verizon announced that its LTE service now covers two-thirds of the US population, and T-Mobile dropped its 'nice girl' image in attempt to position its HSPA+ network as a viable competitor to LTE. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of April 16th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of April 16th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 16th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4gadvertisingandroidapolloappappleapple iphone 4sAppleIphone4sappsattbbm musicBbmMusicblackberryBlackBerry Messengerblackberry playbookblackberry travelBlackberryMessengerBlackberryPlaybookBlackberryTravelbobsledcanadacricketcyanogenmodgalaxy rugbyGalaxyRugbygooglegoogle mapsGoogleMapsinternational callsInternationalCallsiosiphoneiphone 4sIphone4sleap wirelessLeapWirelessltemarketingmmmobile miscellanyMobileMiscellanymobilepostminiplaybookresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimrogersrogers wirelessRogersWirelessrugby smartRugbySmartruggedsamsungsamsung galaxy rugbysamsung rugby smartSamsungGalaxyRugbySamsungRugbySmartsmartphonet-mobiletargettmobileupdateupdatesverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvoipwikipediawindows phonewindows phone 8WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone8Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Google announces Brand Activate Initiative for online advertising, hopes to establish new standard]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/google-announces-brand-activate-initiative-for-online-advertisin/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/google-announces-brand-activate-initiative-for-online-advertisin/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/google-announces-brand-activate-initiative-for-online-advertisin/#comments

When Google makes a new move in advertising, people are bound to take notice, and it's made a fairly big one today. It's announced what it's dubbed the Brand Activate Initiative at the Ad Age Digital Conference today, something that initially consists of two new services for advertisers: Active View and Active GRP. The latter is a so-called gross rating point metric that's modeled to some extent on TV advertising, while Active View is something that Google hopes will become a standard for all online advertising. In short, it measures both how long an ad remains on a person's screen and how much of it is viewed -- if at least 50 percent of it is viewable for at least one second it's counted as an viewed impression. Both of those options are rolling out today, but they're apparently just the beginning of the broader initiative. You can see Google itself explain it in the video after the break, and on its DoubleClick blog linked below.

Continue reading Google announces Brand Activate Initiative for online advertising, hopes to establish new standard

Google announces Brand Activate Initiative for online advertising, hopes to establish new standard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active grpactive viewActiveGrpActiveViewadadsadvertisingBrand Activate InitiativeBrandActivateInitiativedoubleclickgoogleinternetvideowebweb adsweb advertisingWebAdsWebAdvertisingWed, 18 Apr 2012 13:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook revealing the personal data it collects, won't spare your drunk-poking blushes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/facebook-revealing-the-personal-data-it-collects-wont-spare-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/facebook-revealing-the-personal-data-it-collects-wont-spare-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/facebook-revealing-the-personal-data-it-collects-wont-spare-yo/#comments
Facebook's massively expanding its Download Your Information service into an all-encompassing archive of the data Mr. Zuckerberg collects about your daily dose of people-stalking. DYL was introduced in 2010 and allowed you to pull down all the photos, posts, messages, friend lists and chat conversations in the archives -- but now will also offer stored IP addresses, previous names you've used, friend requests you've made, with further categories due in the future. It'll have to sate the concerns of privacy organizations worldwide, since it's rumored to collect 84 different categories of information about you (85 if you count all those Instagram photos it just bought). It'll be gradually rolled out to all 845 million users in the coming weeks and is available from your general account settings.

Facebook revealing the personal data it collects, won't spare your drunk-poking blushes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdvertisingConsumerConsumer RightsConsumerRightsDataData CollectionDataCollectionDownload Your InformationDownloadYourInformationFacebookMark ZuckerbergMarketingMarkZuckerbergOnline PrivacyOnlinePrivacyPrivacySocial NetworkSocial NetworkingSocialNetworkSocialNetworkingThu, 12 Apr 2012 11:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's AdHub Market advertising platform set to debut this year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/samsung-adhub-market-advertising-platform/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/samsung-adhub-market-advertising-platform/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/samsung-adhub-market-advertising-platform/#comments Samsung's AdHub Market advertising platform set to debut this year
Would it be such a bad idea if Sammy were to try squeezing more revenue out of those five million (and counting) Notes? Not by any means. According to The Wall Street Journal, Samsung, in partnership with OpenX Technologies, is planning to launch an advertising platform of its own at some point during the second half of this year. Dubbed AdHub Market, the service will be able to run on the company's handsets and slates, following a model similar to that of Apple's iAds. The AdHub Market would essentially allow advertisers to shell out cash in exchange for real estate within apps running on most of Samsung's devices. What's not clear, however, is how Google will react to the news...

Samsung's AdHub Market advertising platform set to debut this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adad platformadhubadhub marketAdhubMarketAdPlatformadsadvertisingadvertising platformAdvertisingPlatformandroidiadsmarketmobilepostcrosssamsungsamsung adhubsamsung adhub marketSamsungAdhubSamsungAdhubMarketWed, 04 Apr 2012 15:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Australian court holds Google responsible for misleading search ads]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/australian-court-holds-google-responsible-for-misleading-search/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/australian-court-holds-google-responsible-for-misleading-search/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/04/australian-court-holds-google-responsible-for-misleading-search/#comments Australian court holds Google responsible for misleading search adsIn a turnaround from a lower court ruling, three Australian Federal Court judges ruled yesterday that Google was responsible for its advertisers' content and that it breached the country's trade law by hosting misleading ads. The case centered on four ads in particular, in which the advertisers used the names of their competitors to ensure the ads appeared in search results for said companies. That, the court ruled, was likely to mislead folks searching for those competitors. While there's no fine imposed on Google with that judgement, the judges are asking Google to change its practices and to pay court costs. The ruling also, of course, sets quite a precedent if it is upheld. Not surprisingly, Google disagrees with the judges' decision, noting that it believes "advertisers should be responsible for the ads they create on the AdWords platform," and that it's now considering its options (including an appeal to the High Court).

Australian court holds Google responsible for misleading search ads originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisingaustraliacourtdecisiongooglemisleadingsearchsearch adsSearchAdsWed, 04 Apr 2012 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Xperia's 'Made of Imagination' TV spot, directed by Wes Anderson (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/sony-xperia-made-of-imagination-commercial-wes-anderson-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/sony-xperia-made-of-imagination-commercial-wes-anderson-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/sony-xperia-made-of-imagination-commercial-wes-anderson-video/#comments ImageSony certainly has its fair share of legendary commercials, but its first major spot since taking over the smartphone torch from Sony Ericsson is a real gem. Dreamed up by an eight-year old longing for understanding of what happens within a pocketable computer and directed by the famed Wes Anderson (you know, the guy responsible for The Royal Tenenbaums and Fantastic Mr. Fox), the 'Made of Imagination' ad features a gaggle of robots powering Sony's Android family. The rest, of course, we'll leave to you to enjoy. Head on past the break for the clip, and have a peek at the TechCrunch via below for a bit of the backstory.

Continue reading Sony Xperia's 'Made of Imagination' TV spot, directed by Wes Anderson (video)

Sony Xperia's 'Made of Imagination' TV spot, directed by Wes Anderson (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingcommercialmarketingmobilepostcrosssmartphonesonysony xperiaSonyXperiavideoWes AndersonWesAndersonxperiaThu, 22 Mar 2012 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[GroupM and Nielsen work to combine online and TV metrics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/groupm-and-nielsen-work-to-combine-online-and-tv-metrics/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/groupm-and-nielsen-work-to-combine-online-and-tv-metrics/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/groupm-and-nielsen-work-to-combine-online-and-tv-metrics/#comments ImageFor too long Nielsen ratings have dealt with TV commercials and web ads as completely separate entities. Episodes of your favorite show streamed through a service like Hulu or from the channel's website often didn't get factored into the pricing and sales of television ads, and vice versa. That is about to change, however, as the media monitoring company has joined forces with GroupM to create Nielsen Cross-Platform Campaign Ratings. The new product will combine its Nielsen Online Campaign Ratings, which measures internet advertising, with its traditional TV monitoring service to create a medium-agnostic tool for creating media metrics. Hopefully, with a unified pool of data and better monitoring services, content producers may be more likely to experiment with online distribution -- especially if they influence the flagship ratings. Check out the complete PR after the break.

Continue reading GroupM and Nielsen work to combine online and TV metrics

GroupM and Nielsen work to combine online and TV metrics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisinggroupmhdpostminiNielsenNielsen Cross-Platform Campaign RatingsNielsen Online Campaign Ratingsnielsen ratingsNielsenCross-platformCampaignRatingsNielsenOnlineCampaignRatingsNielsenRatingsonline advertisingOnlineAdvertisingratingsTVtv ratingsTvRatingsThu, 22 Mar 2012 05:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Google patent outlines ads targeted to 'environmental conditions']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/google-patent-outlines-ads-targeted-to-environmental-conditions/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/google-patent-outlines-ads-targeted-to-environmental-conditions/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/google-patent-outlines-ads-targeted-to-environmental-conditions/#comments Image
The ad game is all about targeting: demographics, locations, keywords -- and really, few companies are more equipped to target users than Google. In case you were worried that the search giant doesn't have enough information to harvest, a newly surfaced patent outlines the company's interesting utilizing environmental conditions, including things like temperature, humidity, sound, light or air composition, in order to serve up advertisements to devices. Of course, as with other interesting ad patents from the company, the fact that Google applied doesn't necessary mean we'll be seeing this specific technology rolling out any time soon -- or ever, for that matter.

Google patent outlines ads targeted to 'environmental conditions' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisingenvironmentgooglegoogle adsGoogleAdsmobilemobile adsMobileAdsmobilepostcrosspatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationtemperatureusptoWed, 21 Mar 2012 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft patent application details branded web browser frame]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/microsoft-patent-application-branded-browser-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/microsoft-patent-application-branded-browser-bar/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/microsoft-patent-application-branded-browser-bar/#comments Originally filed in the halcyon days of 2010, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has just published a web browser-centric patent application from the fine folks in Redmond. Microsoft's "Branded Browser Frame" app details a "computer-readable storage media" that can be specifically executed (presumably by surfing over to a website that's capable of handling said execution), and then used to present a varying interface based on what the underlying instructions are telling it to do. According to the independent claims put forth, we're told about a "control layout area... wherein one of the selected controls comprises a website-branded control that serves as a website's homepage button, and a navigation control that provides an input field."

In lay terms, that sounds a lot like a browser function that would enable many of the typical graphical elements we see atop our URL bars today to be adjusted and dynamically tweaked based on inputs from whatever address it was currently on. We aren't putting words in the applicant's mouth, but we're envisioning a top bar in Internet Explorer that turns red and features DVDs as the forward and back buttons when surfing over to Netflix.com (perhaps a stretch, but you catch the drift). IE9 does a bit of that color changing today, but it's possible that more is in store. Naturally, it'll take some time to see if this here app is actually granted, and it's possible that it'll look / function quite differently in its final form, but there's no doubt that someone at Microsoft is dreaming about a sexier (if not more sellable) browser bar.

Microsoft patent application details branded web browser frame originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbrandedbrowsercontrolcontrol layoutControlLayoutdesignguiIEinterfaceinternet explorerInternetExplorermarketingpatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationsoftwarewebweb browserWebBrowserThu, 15 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Google patent could replace the ringback tone with adverts (updated)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/13/google-ringtone-advertising-patent/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/13/google-ringtone-advertising-patent/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/13/google-ringtone-advertising-patent/#comments
It's a patent, so we can't promise it'll appear in the next version of Android, but since Google's filed it, you never know. Mountain View's best and brightest (Ronald Ho and Jennifer W. Lin) have patented adverts that replace the cellphone ringtone. Once it's identified the caller and the location, rather than playing your specially selected "Mom" song, it'll play a relevant advert -- say, for a local florist or the nearest drug store. Advertisers are billed depending on how much of the track gets played: so they'll be paying top-dollar when you take a few seconds to pause before answering to your boss.

Update: Patents, eh? As many of you pointed out, it's less about your ringtone and more about the ringback: so when you're waiting for the other person to pick up, you'll be treated to advertising.

Google patent could replace the ringback tone with adverts (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advert RingtoneAdvertisingAdvertRingtoneGoogleGoogle PatentGooglePatentJenifer W. LinJeniferW.LinMobile AdvertisingMobileAdvertisingmobilepostcrossMountain ViewMountainViewPatentRonald HoRonaldHoTue, 13 Mar 2012 12:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft expands Internet Explorer push with new TV ad]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/microsoft-expands-internet-explorer-push-with-new-tv-ad/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/microsoft-expands-internet-explorer-push-with-new-tv-ad/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/microsoft-expands-internet-explorer-push-with-new-tv-ad/#comments
Internet Explorer may still be the world's number one web browser, but Microsoft has a declining market share to deal with, as well as the small problem of folks hesitant to upgrade from an earlier version for one reason or another. The company's now making a new push to address both issues, however, and has today unveiled a relatively rare Internet Explorer TV commercial extolling the virtues of IE9. That ad continues the "beauty of web" campaign Microsoft has been promoting as of late, and focuses more on web-based apps and games than traditional web sites -- or, for that matter, the browser itself. What remains to be seen is just how big a marketing push Microsoft plans to put behind the new ad campaign, but it is an actual TV ad, not just a web ad. Press play above to render your own judgement.

Microsoft expands Internet Explorer push with new TV ad originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 02:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingcommercialieie9internet explorerinternet explorer 9InternetExplorerInternetExplorer9marketingmicrosoftminiposttv commercialTvCommercialvideoTue, 06 Mar 2012 02:24:00 EST<![CDATA[This Week in Facebook: Offers, Ads and Timeline for Pages]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/this-week-in-facebook/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/this-week-in-facebook/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/this-week-in-facebook/#comments
Facebook's gently unveiled a raft of changes to its policies to boost advertising on the social network. It unveiled Timeline for pages, meaning that companies can now start uploading baby pictures and changing the cover photo every day. While adverts have been traditionally restricted to the right-rail of the site, now they'll be jammed in at will -- including in your mobile app (which the company conceded it wasn't "monetizing"), timeline and log in / out pages. Advertisers will also have access to a reach generator: once your brand reaches a set (unspecified) number of fans, you can pay to contact up to 75 percent of them with your adverts each month. Finally, there's offers: a way for businesses to share discounts and promotions with users that can then be whipped out at the store on your cellphone, which is certainly cooler than slicing out sections of the penny saver.

[Thanks, Chris]

Continue reading This Week in Facebook: Offers, Ads and Timeline for Pages

This Week in Facebook: Offers, Ads and Timeline for Pages originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdvertisingFacebookFacebook MobileFacebook TimelineFacebookMobileFacebookTimelineMobilePrivacyTimelineThu, 01 Mar 2012 16:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Face-recognizing billboard ad identifies gender: no boys allowed (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/face-recognizing-billboard-ad-identifies-gender-no-boys-allowed/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/face-recognizing-billboard-ad-identifies-gender-no-boys-allowed/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/face-recognizing-billboard-ad-identifies-gender-no-boys-allowed/#comments A new face recognition ad will only reveal its full contents to women. It uses a "high-definition" camera to scan people's faces, detecting their gender with an apparent 90 percent success rate. The charity, Plan UK, is looking to raise funds to sponsor education for girls living in developing countries; the outdoor display will run the full advert for female viewers, while men will get a brief glimpse followed by directions to the charity's website. It's aiming to demonstrate the limits put on young women in some countries -- and is a pretty admirable use of facial recognition technology. Well, it's not withholding pudding from minors. Check the bus display in action on the streets of London right after the break.

Continue reading Face-recognizing billboard ad identifies gender: no boys allowed (video)

Face-recognizing billboard ad identifies gender: no boys allowed (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingcharityface recognitionface scanFaceRecognitionFaceScangenderno boys allowedNoBoysAllowedplan ukPlanUkvideoFri, 24 Feb 2012 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Android apps on the PlayBook can keep their built-in ads, won't support RIM ads]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/20/android-apps-on-the-playbook-can-keep-their-built-in-ads/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/20/android-apps-on-the-playbook-can-keep-their-built-in-ads/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/20/android-apps-on-the-playbook-can-keep-their-built-in-ads/#comments Let's face it: a free PlayBook is nice, but it's not enough. If Android developers are to be persuaded to give up soccer practice and hot dates to stay home and re-package their apps for PlayBook OS 2.0, then they're going to need some advertising income too. Which is why a report over the weekend, claiming that ported apps would not support mobile ads, caused no end of fuss. Fortunately, it was the result of some kind of miscommunication and RIM quickly clarified that the updated PlayBook OS would support the ad services that come built into Android apps, but wouldn't support RIM's own BlackBerry ad services in that context. So what's it to be, the shin guards, the cologne, or the keyboard?

Android apps on the PlayBook can keep their built-in ads, won't support RIM ads originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisementsadvertisingadvertsandroidandroid appsAndroidAppsapp playerAppPlayerblackberryblackberry playbookBlackberryPlaybookgooglemobile advertisingMobileAdvertisingplaybookplaybook os 2.0PlaybookOs2.0Research In MotionResearchInMotionRIMMon, 20 Feb 2012 11:34:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ: Safari loophole lets Google track Apple users through web ads]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/wsj-safari-loophole-lets-google-track-apple-users-through-web-a/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/wsj-safari-loophole-lets-google-track-apple-users-through-web-a/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/wsj-safari-loophole-lets-google-track-apple-users-through-web-a/#comments Stanford researcher Jonathan Mayer has discovered a curious Safari loophole that allows Google to track a user's browsing activity via cookie-laced web ads. As it turns out, Apple's browser normally accepts cookies from sites that a user visits, but automatically blocks them from third-party advertisers. As Mayer found out, though, advertisers can still circumvent this filter by enticing users to interact with ads in different ways. In the case of Google, the search giant embedded a "+1" button on ads produced with its DoubleClick technology, as part of an opt-in feature for Google+ users. If a user was logged in to Google+ and had agreed to see +1 ad displays, he or she would have a cookie planted on their device, thanks to a system that sent invisible forms from Apple computers or iPhones. This made it seem as if a user actually submitted the form intentionally, thereby convincing Safari to allow cookies. These cookies were only temporary, with shelf lives of up to 24 hours, but they could open the door for many more, since Safari allows sites to plant them after having received access to install at least one.

After the Wall Street Journal notified Google of this loophole, the company promptly disabled it and duly apologized, adding that it didn't realize that its +1 system would plant tracking cookies on a user's device. "We didn't anticipate that this would happen, and we have now started removing these advertising cookies from Safari browsers," Google's Rachel Whetstone explained. "It's important to stress that, just as on other browsers, these advertising cookies do not collect personal information." An Apple spokesperson, meanwhile, issued the following statement: "We are aware that some third parties are circumventing Safari's privacy features and we are working to put a stop to it."

WSJ: Safari loophole lets Google track Apple users through web ads originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingapplebrowserbrowsingcookiedataDoubleClickgooglegoogle plusgoogle+GooglePlushistoryiframeiosiphonemobilepostcrosspersonal informationPersonalInformationprivacysafarisocial networkingSocialNetworkingstanfordtrackingwebFri, 17 Feb 2012 07:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Droid 4 advertises 16GB internal storage, only reports 8GB -- here's why]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/10/motorola-droid-4-advertises-16gb-internal-storage-only-reports/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/10/motorola-droid-4-advertises-16gb-internal-storage-only-reports/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/10/motorola-droid-4-advertises-16gb-internal-storage-only-reports/#comments After the numerous leaks that preceded the Droid 4's launch, you'd think we'd have a handle on every detail (read the review here) but some day one buyers have one more question. While the spec sheets indicate 16GB of internal storage, a few readers noticed their units only report 8GB. So why the variance in what's being reported and what the phones actually show? While Android vets may be used to this, not all are aware of how some phones are partitioned, and Motorola has opted to go with an 8GB for the user / 3GB for apps / 5GB for OS and updates split (just like the Razr). So the phones do have the 16GB you were promised, it's just how it's being used that may not be immediately evident -- and now you know.

[Thanks, Chaz]

Motorola Droid 4 advertises 16GB internal storage, only reports 8GB -- here's why originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>16gb8gbadvertisingandroiddroiddroid 4Droid4mobilepostcrossmobilepostminimotorolaqwertystorageVerizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessFri, 10 Feb 2012 23:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Google launches PSA-style 'Good to Know' ad campaign, wants to keep us safe]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/google-launches-psa-style-good-to-know-ad-campaign-wants-to-k/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/google-launches-psa-style-good-to-know-ad-campaign-wants-to-k/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/google-launches-psa-style-good-to-know-ad-campaign-wants-to-k/#comments Google's no stranger to privacy-related controversy, which may explain the motivation behind its latest ad campaign. On Tuesday, the company will launch a series of ads across major newspapers, magazines and billboards, as part of its new "Good to Know" initiative, designed to make the internet "a safer, more comfortable place." According to Google, these ads will offer tips and advice on how to secure your personal information online, including details on how to protect your passwords from web predators. The entire campaign has a distinctly PSA flavor to it, though there's also a different subtext at work here, since Google is effectively branding itself as "the one you can trust." There are certainly some who would dispute that, but at a time when most privacy concerns are focused squarely on the government, it may be a good time for Google to crank up its PR machine. Find out more at the links below.

Google launches PSA-style 'Good to Know' ad campaign, wants to keep us safe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad campaignAdCampaignadvertisingawarenessbusinessgood to knowGoodToKnowgooglegoogle good to knowGoogleGoodToKnowindustrymagazinemoneymountain viewMountainViewnewspaperonlinepasswordprivacypsasafetysecuritysopaTue, 17 Jan 2012 14:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel mounting 'biggest advertising campaign since 2003' for Ultrabooks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/intel-mounting-biggest-advertising-campaign-since-2003-for-ult/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/intel-mounting-biggest-advertising-campaign-since-2003-for-ult/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/intel-mounting-biggest-advertising-campaign-since-2003-for-ult/#comments Intel's betting the farm on Ultrabook PCs with its biggest-budget advertising campaign since 2003. April will see the start of a massive advertising campaign designed to convey the benefits of thin and light notebooks to the masses. Kevin Sellers, Santa Clara's head of advertising was boasting ahead of Tuesday's Intel press conference where we're expecting plenty of juicy revelations about the company's Medfield smartphone platform. We'd say "keep your eyes peeled" for the adverts, but given how deeply ingrained the Intel bunnies are on our subconscious, we'll just wait for the PR onslaught to begin.

Intel mounting 'biggest advertising campaign since 2003' for Ultrabooks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdvertisingBusinesscesces 2012Ces2012IntelIntel BunnyIntelBunnyMarketingUltrabookTue, 10 Jan 2012 06:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's master plan: the AdHub platform for Smart TVs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/samsungs-master-plan-the-adhub-platform-for-smart-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/samsungs-master-plan-the-adhub-platform-for-smart-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/samsungs-master-plan-the-adhub-platform-for-smart-tvs/#comments Cunning move, Sammy! Taking advantage of your Smart TV prominence to start up your own global ad platform is pure textbook, and calling it 'Samsung AdHub' is equally shrewd. It'll enable both mobile and big-screen smart TV app developers to embed ads that exploit features like HD and 3D, and Samsung -- never shy of talking money -- hopes it'll become a "lucrative new business model." The logical next step? A Kindle-style discount on that nice little TV set in the picture, please.

Samsung's master plan: the AdHub platform for Smart TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adad platformadhubAdPlatformadvertisementsadvertisingadvertsappapp developersAppDevelopershdpostcrossplatformsamsungsamsung adhubsamsung smart tvSamsungAdhubSamsungSmartTvsmart tvsmart tv appsmart tv appsSmartTvSmartTvAppSmartTvAppsMon, 09 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint merging consumer and business sales / marketing units, giving four execs the boot]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/sprint-merging-consumer-business-sales-marketing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/sprint-merging-consumer-business-sales-marketing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/sprint-merging-consumer-business-sales-marketing/#comments According to a brief report that just went live at Reuters, Sprint is "merging its sales and marketing operations for its business and consumer operations in a streamlining that includes the departure of four top executives." Reportedly, that news was delivered by none other than CEO Dan Hesse himself, who has been in the news a fair amount since 2012 began. Reportedly, the carrier is aiming to "gain efficiencies" in a market where hordes of customers snap up services as individuals, but actually use services tied to "employer-related contractual discounts." Hesse's exact words? "As the wireless market has evolved, the lines between consumers and businesses have blurred." Evidently, they've blurred enough to oust four unnamed bigwigs, too.

Sprint merging consumer and business sales / marketing units, giving four execs the boot originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4gadvertiseadvertisingbusinesscdmaclearwireconsumerdan hesseDanHesseindustryltemarketingmobilepostcrosspromotionalsprintwimaxFri, 06 Jan 2012 15:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe's Todd Teresi to lead Apple's iAd unit, fully purge himself of Flash reliance]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/adobe-todd-teresi-hired-by-apple-iad-business/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/adobe-todd-teresi-hired-by-apple-iad-business/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/adobe-todd-teresi-hired-by-apple-iad-business/#comments It had to happen at some point, right? Adobe and Apple -- two names in a similar field -- would inevitably end up hiring someone that worked at the other firm in a past life, and unsurprisingly, the world is up in arms about an acquisition that would go unreported if not for the past drama between the two outfits. As the story goes, Todd Teresi (formerly of Adobe) has been hired to be the new chief of Apple's iAd mobile advertising division, but since the hire hasn't been officially confirmed, it's all based on "sources familiar with the matter." Interestingly, Bloomberg BusinessWeek asserts that the iAd team has been "cutting prices to keep customers from jumping ship to rivals, including Google," noting that the dominance seen in the tablet market isn't exactly translating on the advertising side. Something tells us Apple's got a few bills to lose while experimenting, though.

Adobe's Todd Teresi to lead Apple's iAd unit, fully purge himself of Flash reliance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Adobeadobe flashAdobeFlashadvertiseadvertisingapplebusinessexecutiveflashhirehiringiadindustrymarketingTodd TeresiToddTeresiweirdWed, 04 Jan 2012 16:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel's Ultrabook portal jabs at limited functionality of tablets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/intels-ultrabook-portal-jabs-at-limited-functionality-of-tablet/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/intels-ultrabook-portal-jabs-at-limited-functionality-of-tablet/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/intels-ultrabook-portal-jabs-at-limited-functionality-of-tablet/#comments Love 'em or hate 'em, there's no question that tablets aren't capable of handling the same rigors (with the same efficiency levels) as a full-on laptop, and Intel's using that very point to promote the Ultrabook category as a whole. Given that we're just days away from seeing what's apt to be a flood of these things at CES, Intel's new Ultrabook portal (and linked "Ultra Excited For Ultrabooks" preview paper) is priming the masses for what to expect. In the note, Intel Technical Marketing Engineer Shirley Chen notes the following:

"Tablets have introduced some great features that support some of these use cases with longer battery life and touch capabilities in order to provide a more enriched experience. However the screens are still small, local storage is generally miniscule and restrictive, and tablets lack performance compared to that of a traditional PC. At the other end of the portable scale there are laptops, which for many are just too big, and place power and performance above user experience, which both hardware and software play a part in. Ultrabook systems marry thin and light with the best in performance, responsiveness, security and battery life - filling the gap between desktop/laptop and tablet. We are reinventing the PC again. An Ultrabook device is ultra-responsive and ultra-sleek."

Nothing here is truly groundbreaking, per se, but it's the first time that we've seen such a giant company take a meaningful swing at a product sector that has caught fire for myriad reasons. 2012 is shaping up to be the year of the inexpensive tablet, but if Intel has its druthers, you'll be shaking off the hype and picking up a full-fledged computing tool instead. Have a look at the rest in the PDF sourced below.

Intel's Ultrabook portal jabs at limited functionality of tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingatomintellaptopmarketingminipostnetbooknotebookslatetablettablet pcTabletPcultrabookMon, 02 Jan 2012 13:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Shocker! Tablet ad requests up 700 percent during 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/shocker-tablet-ad-requests-up-700-percent-during-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/shocker-tablet-ad-requests-up-700-percent-during-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/shocker-tablet-ad-requests-up-700-percent-during-2011/#comments Good news: all those new tablets you see reported on these pages aren't being stolen by elves; they're entering the human population at large and -- most Christmassy of all -- they're displaying ads. Google told TechCrunch that its AdMob platform saw eight billion ad requests from tablets during the month of November, compared to one lonely billion back in December 2010. Total AdMob requests amount to roughly three billion per day, however, so tablet advertising is still sugary froth compared to that on smartphones.

Shocker! Tablet ad requests up 700 percent during 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011admobadvertisingchristmasgooglegoogle admobGoogleAdmobmobile advertisingMobileAdvertisingshockerstatstablettablet PCTabletPctabletstrafficThu, 22 Dec 2011 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Google outs two new Galaxy Nexus commercials, touts Face Unlock and Hangouts (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/google-outs-two-new-galaxy-nexus-commercials-touts-face-unlock/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/google-outs-two-new-galaxy-nexus-commercials-touts-face-unlock/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/google-outs-two-new-galaxy-nexus-commercials-touts-face-unlock/#comments Go figure -- it's Galaxy Nexus day. Again. And as such, Google has just pushed out two new commercials in its "Calling all..." series. The new spots tout the new smartphone's Face Unlock feature as well as Google+ Hangouts, where Ice Cream Sandwich is proudly showcased. We'd bother explaining more, but we're pretty sure the two play buttons after the break are more than sufficient.

Continue reading Google outs two new Galaxy Nexus commercials, touts Face Unlock and Hangouts (video)

Google outs two new Galaxy Nexus commercials, touts Face Unlock and Hangouts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4g4g lte4gLteadadsadvertisementadvertisingcommercialfacesgalaxy nexusGalaxyNexusgooglehangoutshangoverltemobilepostmininexussamsungvideoThu, 15 Dec 2011 11:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung takes aim at Apple with Australian Galaxy Tab ad, credits Cupertino for its popularity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/samsung-takes-aim-at-apple-with-australian-galaxy-tab-ad-credit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/samsung-takes-aim-at-apple-with-australian-galaxy-tab-ad-credit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/samsung-takes-aim-at-apple-with-australian-galaxy-tab-ad-credit/#comments
Now that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been cleared for sale in Australia, Samsung is taking the opportunity to publicly celebrate its courtroom victory, at Apple's expense. Exhibit A: a local newspaper ad that flatly brands Sammy's slate as "the tablet Apple tried to stop." The spot, which ran in the Sun-Herald this week, came just a few days before Samsung Australia's mobile head openly credited Cupertino for making the Galaxy Tab a "household name." Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Samsung Australia's vice president of telecommunications, Tyler McGee, declined to say how much his company lost in sales revenue due to Apple's temporary injunction, but was more than willing to laud the iPad maker for inadvertently turning the spotlight on the Galaxy Tab. "At the end of the day the media awareness certainly made the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a household name compared to probably what it would've been based on the investment that we would've put into it from a marketing perspective," McGee explained. The exec went on to say that the manufacturer is bringing to market "as many units as we can," since it expects the device to be in "short supply against the demand." To the courtroom victor go to the spoils -- including, apparently, bragging rights.

Samsung takes aim at Apple with Australian Galaxy Tab ad, credits Cupertino for its popularity originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingappleaustraliabusinesscourtgalaxy tabGalaxyTabinjunctionipadlawlawsuitlegalmarketingnewspaperpatentpatent lawsuitpatent warPatentLawsuitPatentWarsalessamsungsamsung galaxy tabSamsungGalaxyTabTyler McGeeTylerMcgeeThu, 15 Dec 2011 05:12:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC tells advertisers to CALM down, lowers the volume on commercial breaks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/14/fcc-tells-advertisers-to-calm-down-lowers-the-volume-on-commerc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/14/fcc-tells-advertisers-to-calm-down-lowers-the-volume-on-commerc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/14/fcc-tells-advertisers-to-calm-down-lowers-the-volume-on-commerc/#comments Pretty soon, you won't have to scramble to lower the volume during noisy commercial breaks -- that's if you even watch live TV. After making its way through Capitol Hill, the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (or CALM) -- which aims to keep the sounds coming out of your flat panel even-keeled -- has just been adopted in a ruling by the FCC. Starting next December, ads and promos will have to remain in-step with the audio levels of scheduled programming. While the affected parties have a full year to get their acts together, the main burden of enforcement lies with broadcasters and MVPDs like Comcast and Verizon FiOS. So, come next holiday season, you'll be able to tune in and tune out without being blown away.

FCC tells advertisers to CALM down, lowers the volume on commercial breaks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actadvertisingaudiocalmcalm actCalmActCommercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation ActCommercialAdvertisementLoudnessMitigationActcommercialscongressdecibelsfcchdpostcrosslawlegallegislationloudloudnessnoisenoisynuisancepassedrulesoundtvtv commercialsTvCommercialsvolumeWed, 14 Dec 2011 14:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Ads will possess your phone using subliminal sound waves]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/ads-will-possess-your-phone-using-subliminal-sound-waves/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/ads-will-possess-your-phone-using-subliminal-sound-waves/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/ads-will-possess-your-phone-using-subliminal-sound-waves/#comments Er, we don't want to sensationalize this or anything, but your phone could soon be at the mercy of inaudible sound pulses that trigger location-specific ads, sales promotions and other potentially demonic notifications. Unlike normal advertising within apps, and also different to sound-responsive apps like Shazam and Shopkick, a new platform called Sonic Notify is meant to work discreetly in the background, without the need for any user activation. Its creators, NY-based digital agency Densebrain, plan to attach small high-frequency sound-emitting beacons to store shelves, which will "set people's phones off" when they stand in front of a particular product. It's not clear how the platform might affect your battery life, or why you wouldn't just disable it at the first inopportune alert, but drug stores, TV networks and big players like Proctor & Gamble are nevertheless said to be gripped by the concept.

Ads will possess your phone using subliminal sound waves originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingcellphonecommercialdensebraininaudiblemobilenotificationsProctor and GambleProctorAndGamblepromopromotionsmartphonesonic notifySonicNotifystorestoressubliminalsubliminal advertisingSubliminalAdvertisingFri, 09 Dec 2011 08:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Yahoo's San Francisco billboard closing up shop after more than a decade]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/yahoos-san-francisco-billboard-closing-up-shop-after-more-than/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/yahoos-san-francisco-billboard-closing-up-shop-after-more-than/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/yahoos-san-francisco-billboard-closing-up-shop-after-more-than/#comments Oh, 1999. Simpler times, those. IT departments were frantically prepping for Y2K, Jeff Bezos (or his head, at least) was named Time's "Person of the Year" and the tech bubble was getting ready to burst at the seams. That same year, the lights on Yahoo's "A nice place to stay on the internet" billboard turned on for the first time on the highway leading to the Bay Bridge. Those lights, which have seen their share of ups and downs for internet companies, will be turned off for the last time in the coming weeks. Clear Channel confirmed that there will, indeed, be vacancy in that space come next month.

Yahoo's San Francisco billboard closing up shop after more than a decade originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingbay bridgeBayBridgebillboardfreewayhighwayinternetsan franciscoSanFranciscosearchyahooMon, 21 Nov 2011 23:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon begins collecting user data for targeted ads, is kind enough to offer 'opt-out' escape route]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/verizon-begins-collecting-user-data-for-targeted-ads-is-kind-en/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/verizon-begins-collecting-user-data-for-targeted-ads-is-kind-en/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/verizon-begins-collecting-user-data-for-targeted-ads-is-kind-en/#comments
Verizon still wants to collect your personal information, but it'll understand if you decide to opt out. Really, it's cool. No hard feelings. The provider said as much yesterday, in an e-mail titled "Important notice about how Verizon Wireless uses information." The missive, sent to all VZW customers, essentially lays out the company's revamped privacy policy, originally unveiled last month. Under the new framework, Verizon will be able to monitor your browsing history, location, app usage, and demographic data, all in the name of targeted advertising and vaguely-titled "business and marketing reports." The good news is that you can always opt out of the scheme, either by phone or online. The bad news is that you'll probably have to explain the whole thing to your grandma.

Verizon begins collecting user data for targeted ads, is kind enough to offer 'opt-out' escape route originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingappbrowsingbusinesscarrierdemographicindustrylocation dataLocationDatamarketingmobilepostcrossmoneyopt outOptOutpersonal informationPersonalInformationprivacyprivacy policyPrivacyPolicyprovidertargeted advertisingTargetedAdvertisingVerizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessThu, 17 Nov 2011 04:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: The problem with bad product names and what we can learn from it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/11/editorial-the-problem-with-bad-product-names-and-what-we-can-le/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/11/editorial-the-problem-with-bad-product-names-and-what-we-can-le/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/11/editorial-the-problem-with-bad-product-names-and-what-we-can-le/#comments
Product names generally fall into one of four different categories: good, safe, meaningless and bad. There may be better categories to group them in, but we'll use these for the purpose of this editorial. In the first category I'd put something like Kindle, arguably one of the best new product names of the last ten years. iPhone and iPad, and their subsequent suffixed versions, are in the safe category. They're perfectly fine names for a cellphone and a tablet, but they're not as original or distinct as iMac or iPod were, which I'd consider good (iPod nano, shuffle and touch, on the other hand, are all safe names).

In the meaningless category are things like the MSI GT683DXR or ASUS XU6280, one of which I just made up. Some meaningless names can also be good in their simplicity -- like the Nokia N9 or Nikon D3S -- but they are still basically nothing more than differentiators. This is an acceptable option.



The names aren't just bad -- they're noise.

In the bad category are the majority of smartphones released in the past few years. Rezound. Rhyme. Vivid. Epic. Sensation. Thrill. Skyrocket. Conquer. Triumph. Enlighten. Infuse. Prevail. Arrive. Can you name the company behind each phone? And those are just a few examples from this year. The names aren't just bad -- they're noise. Some names might fall into a fifth, slightly murkier okay category, but there are certainly more phones (and, increasingly, tablets) in the bad category than any other, and I'd argue that's a sign of a larger problem.

Continue reading Editorial: The problem with bad product names and what we can learn from it

Editorial: The problem with bad product names and what we can learn from it originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementadvertisingamazonapplebrandbrandingbrandsbusinesseditorialindustryiphonekindlemarketingmotorolanamingproduct namesProductNamesxoomFri, 11 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google promises 'greater transparency' for targeted ads, gives users more control over them]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/google-promises-greater-transparency-for-targeted-ads-gives-u/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/google-promises-greater-transparency-for-targeted-ads-gives-u/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/google-promises-greater-transparency-for-targeted-ads-gives-u/#comments
Chances are you've visited at least one Google site or another today, and chances are you were delivered some ads tailored just for you while you were there. Exactly how those ads got from the advertiser to you hasn't always been clear, but Google's now announced a new effort that it promises will provide "greater transparency and choice" regarding the ads you see. The most immediate change is a new "Why this ad?" link that will be displayed in search results and on Gmail -- click on it and Google provides a brief explanation of how that particular ad came to appear on your screen (based on your current search terms, your location, etc.). You'll also soon be able to access a new Ads Preference Manager, which will let you block specific advertisers or opt out of personalized ads entirely. Google says those options will be appearing "over the coming weeks," but you can get a peek at what's in store in the video after the break.

Continue reading Google promises 'greater transparency' for targeted ads, gives users more control over them

Google promises 'greater transparency' for targeted ads, gives users more control over them originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisementsadvertisingadwordsgmailgooglegoogle adsGoogleAdssearchtargetedtargeted adsTargetedAdsvideoTue, 01 Nov 2011 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint buyback ad deems HTC Arrive too old, iPhone page lightly suggests you chuck it (update: official response)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/16/sprint-buyback-ad-deems-htc-arrive-too-old-iphone-page-lightly/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/16/sprint-buyback-ad-deems-htc-arrive-too-old-iphone-page-lightly/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/16/sprint-buyback-ad-deems-htc-arrive-too-old-iphone-page-lightly/#comments Ready to trade in that phone you just got? Sprint thinks you are, teasing you from its iPhone landing page to "go green and get green" by recycling your probably still in-contract HTC Arrive. Sure, its $73 buyback kickback might help you subsidize something fresher, but you aren't tired of Metro already, are you?

Update: We just received word from Sprint, mentioning that the HTC Arrive was chosen at random and that no actual connection exists between it and the BuyBack program.

Sprint buyback ad deems HTC Arrive too old, iPhone page lightly suggests you chuck it (update: official response) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingapplebuybackHTCHTC ArriveHtcArrivemobilepostcrosssprintsprint buybackSprintBuybacktrade-intrade-in programTrade-inProgramwindows phoneWindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Dean Kamen files patent application for an inflatable, illuminated wind turbine]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/dean-kamen-files-patent-application-for-an-inflatable-illuminat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/dean-kamen-files-patent-application-for-an-inflatable-illuminat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/dean-kamen-files-patent-application-for-an-inflatable-illuminat/#comments
Inflatable wind turbines may not be an entirely new idea, but prolific inventor Dean Kamen has detailed one of a slightly different sort in a recently published patent application. In addition to generating energy for general use, the turbine would also be able to power a set of LEDs adorning the turbine itself, which could be used to display advertising or other information using a persistence of vision effect. The application even suggests that multiple turbines could be linked together and synchronized to form one large billboard. Of course, it is still just that, a patent application -- but it is assigned to Kamen's DEKA company, so it may not be quite as far off from reality as some other applications.

Dean Kamen files patent application for an inflatable, illuminated wind turbine originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbillboarddean kamenDeanKamendekaenergyinflatableinflatable turbineinflatable wind turbineInflatableTurbineInflatableWindTurbinekamenpatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationpowerturbinewind turbineWindTurbineSat, 17 Sep 2011 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget takes over Times Square, courtesy of TS2 (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/engadget-takes-over-times-square-courtesy-of-ts2-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/engadget-takes-over-times-square-courtesy-of-ts2-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/engadget-takes-over-times-square-courtesy-of-ts2-video/#comments Remember when we took over Times Square last month? Contrary to comments-based speculation, we didn't drop several years' salary to see our names and faces (and pets) up in lights. We were actually shooting a segment for the Engadget Show about a new service from Times Square2 (TS2). The NASDAQ / Thomson Reuters alliance is working to increase engagement on the giant electronic billboards it controls in one of the most heavily trafficked spots in the US. The organization has designed a free API for developers, making it possible to create applications for its giant ad spaces on the side of the Thomson Reuters and NASDAQ buildings, and it showed us some of the fruits of its labor in the video clip that you'll find after the break.

Gallery: Engadget in Times Square

Continue reading Engadget takes over Times Square, courtesy of TS2 (video)

Engadget takes over Times Square, courtesy of TS2 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingapibillboardengadget showEngadgetShownasdaqnew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCitynycpomegranateshowsignsignagethe endgadget showTheEndgadgetShowthompson reutersThompsonReuterstimes squaretimes square2TimesSquareTimesSquare2videoSat, 17 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New York Times envisions Microsoft Surface kitchen table, just don't spill your OJ (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/new-york-times-envisions-microsoft-surface-kitchen-table-just-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/new-york-times-envisions-microsoft-surface-kitchen-table-just-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/new-york-times-envisions-microsoft-surface-kitchen-table-just-d/#comments Long since gone are the days of sitting at the breakfast table, drinking a cup of coffee and sharing the Sunday paper... or are they? The New York Time's R&D Lab is developing a "kitchen table" based-on Microsoft Surface touchscreen technology, designed to take individuals that are normally face down in their iPads, back to the table for a more social way to consume and share content. The display gives multiple readers the opportunity to sit at the table and interact, with options to share across the surface by swiveling and enlarging images or articles. The Times envisions that it will also be a mode of discovery, where users could get more information on a certain product by placing it on the table to find prices and related NYT articles, which could also an interesting method for advertising -- just be careful where you put that Starbucks cup.

Continue reading New York Times envisions Microsoft Surface kitchen table, just don't spill your OJ (video)

New York Times envisions Microsoft Surface kitchen table, just don't spill your OJ (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingMicrosoftMicrosoft SurfaceMicrosoftSurfaceMultiTouchmultitouch tableMultitouchTablenew york timesNewYorkTimesnieman journalism labNiemanJournalismLabsocialtouchscreenvideoWed, 31 Aug 2011 20:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Droid Bionic ad has pretty much everything but a phone (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/droid-bionic-ad-has-pretty-much-everything-but-a-phone-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/droid-bionic-ad-has-pretty-much-everything-but-a-phone-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/droid-bionic-ad-has-pretty-much-everything-but-a-phone-video/#comments The new Droid Bionic ad sure has it all: a Portman-esque lady in an illuminated leather blouse, brandishing a giant sword against a Terminator-looking 'bot shooting lasers from his hands, all taking place in some crazy sky coliseum thing. As for the actual handset? Not so much on that front, save for a name at the end and a promised September release date -- oh, and the implied promise that the phone will literally slice the heads off of its Android brethren. Video after the break.

Continue reading Droid Bionic ad has pretty much everything but a phone (video)

Droid Bionic ad has pretty much everything but a phone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingandroidcommercialdroid bionicDroidBionicmobilepostcrossmotorolaverizonvideoWed, 24 Aug 2011 16:01:00 EST