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[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[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[Apple patent app details 'active packaging,' a new level of window shopping]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/05/apple-patent-app-active-media-packaging/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/05/apple-patent-app-active-media-packaging/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/05/apple-patent-app-active-media-packaging/#comments apple active media packagingApple's generally not one to go overboard with packaging; a simple white box with a few unmistakable logos is just about all it takes to get the point across. But in a future world -- one where people have digitized skin and NFC readers in their fingernails -- we'll obviously need something with a bit more... flamboyance. A patent application originally filed on December 12th, 2011 (and just made public today) details an "active electronic media device packaging," which outlines a method for packaging gizmos in a box that "may include one or more electrical traces in-molded or printed onto the packaging."

It gets a little ambiguous from there, but it sounds as if "one or more wireless power techniques" may be tapped into in order to keep marketing material humming when folks walk by. Speaking of which, the app also explains that POM sensors could be used to "detect various movements events," potentially activating as prospective consumers stroll by. To reiterate, an application for a patent doesn't mean that any of this stuff will get close to coming to fruition, but if you'd like to make absolutely sure you don't live in a world where products call to you from the shelves, we heard Sir Richard Branson can assist.

Apple patent app details 'active packaging,' a new level of window shopping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appledatamarketingmedia deviceMediaDevicepackagingpatentpatent apppatent applicationPatentAppPatentApplicationpowerpromotionThu, 05 Apr 2012 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Flurry's analytics: Apple's App Store revenue still leading, but Amazon Appstore close behind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/31/flurrys-analytics-apple-app-store-amazon-appstore-android-google-play/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/31/flurrys-analytics-apple-app-store-amazon-appstore-android-google-play/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/31/flurrys-analytics-apple-app-store-amazon-appstore-android-google-play/#comments ImageNot like we haven't seen this dog-and-pony show before, but Flurry's latest round of analytics -- which measured revenue of 11 million daily active users from mid-January through the end of February 2012 -- shows Amazon's Appstore pulling in a shocking amount of revenue given the short life that it has lived. Apple's strength in sales has been well documented, but the latest report shows that for every $1 generated in the iTunes App Store, $0.89 is being spent in the Amazon Appstore. Looking more broadly, the numbers show that just $0.23 are generated in the Google Play halls for every $1 spent in the App Store, but that's hardly a new phenomenon; the ease of sideloading (amongst other factors) has raised complaints from Android developers for years now. Flurry's conclusion is that Google's core strength simply isn't in running a store -- something it's about to do once more with Android slates -- while both Apple and Amazon excel in doing just that. Curiously, Windows Phone and BlackBerry were left off of this report, but we're hoping to see those cats thrown in the next 'go round. After all, RIM sure seems certain that its developers are making out just fine.

Flurry's analytics: Apple's App Store revenue still leading, but Amazon Appstore close behind originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon appstoreAmazonAppstoreanalyticsandroidandroid marketAndroidMarketapp storeappleAppStoreblackberry app worldBlackberryAppWorldbusinessflurrygoogle playGooglePlayindustryioskindle fireKindleFiremarketmarket sharemarketingMarketSharemobilemobilepostcrossplay storePlayStorerevenuerimstoresurveySat, 31 Mar 2012 11:26:00 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[Where's Steve Wozniak? He's doing his regular waiting-in-line thing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/steve-wozniak-waiting-in-line/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/steve-wozniak-waiting-in-line/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/steve-wozniak-waiting-in-line/#comments Steve Wozniak waiting in line for his new iPadSure it's marketing, but it's also a nice little ritual. Speaking to an interviewer from What's Trending, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak acknowledged he doesn't have to wait in line for his new iPad, but said he'd "rather be genuine, like the real people". They're the ones you can see pretending to sleep / read in the background.

Where's Steve Wozniak? He's doing his regular waiting-in-line thing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleco-founderipad 3ipad 3gIpad3Ipad3gLos AngelesLosAngelesmarketingnew ipadNewIpadqueuesteve wozniakSteveWozniakvideowozwozniakFri, 16 Mar 2012 07:39:00 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[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[Sony plans largest ad campaign in 'many years' to launch new Xperia smartphones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/sony-plans-largest-ad-campaign-in-many-years-to-launch-new-xpe/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/sony-plans-largest-ad-campaign-in-many-years-to-launch-new-xpe/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/26/sony-plans-largest-ad-campaign-in-many-years-to-launch-new-xpe/#comments
Sony didn't just reveal some new smartphones at its Mobile World Congress press event today. It also took the opportunity to announce that it will be launching what Sony Mobile CMO Steve Walker describes as "by far the largest brand advertising campaign that we have run for many years." He went on to say that Sony would be "significantly increasing" its marketing investment in 2012, but failed to get any more specific than that, noting only that the company would be "engaging consumers in new and very creative ways." There's also no word on when that campaign might start, but the company's two latest smartphones are slated to roll out sometime in the second quarter of this year.

Sony plans largest ad campaign in 'many years' to launch new Xperia smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementmarketingmobilepostcrossMWC 2010Mwc2010sonysony mobileSony Mobile CommunicationsSonyMobileSonyMobileCommunicationssteve walkerSteveWalkerSun, 26 Feb 2012 13:44:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM launches BlackBerry 'Be Bold' ad campaign, superheroes nowhere to be seen (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/rim-launches-blackberry-be-bold-ad-campaign/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/rim-launches-blackberry-be-bold-ad-campaign/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/rim-launches-blackberry-be-bold-ad-campaign/#comments RIM launches Blackberry 'Be Bold' ad campaign, superheroes nowhere to be seen (video)
To many's disappointment, superheroes weren't exactly on RIM's list to be the face of its latest advertising crusade. Simply dubbed "Be Bold," the ad campaign focuses boldly on the famed BlackBerry Messenger, as well as the productivity aspects found in the 9900. Research in Motion is also taking a swing at its competitors with expressions like "I'm about action, not distraction" and "we need tools, not toys." At this point, the Canadian manufacturer will take what it can get, thus it shouldn't come as a surprise that it's showing off what some consider its best traits. Wondering what all the fuss is about? Head on past the break to take a quick 30-second glimpse and see if it's enough to get you over to the Bold side.

Continue reading RIM launches BlackBerry 'Be Bold' ad campaign, superheroes nowhere to be seen (video)

RIM launches BlackBerry 'Be Bold' ad campaign, superheroes nowhere to be seen (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9900ad campaignAdCampaignbe boldBeBoldblackberryblackberry be boldblackberry boldblackberry bold 9900BlackberryBeBoldBlackberryBoldBlackberryBold9900boldbold 9900Bold9900commercialmarketingmobilepostminiResearch In MotionResearchInMotionrimvideoThu, 02 Feb 2012 04:56:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM: It's okay, we have superheroes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/rim-its-okay-we-have-superheroes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/rim-its-okay-we-have-superheroes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/rim-its-okay-we-have-superheroes/#comments It's a common human trait that, when faced with a series of calamities, the brain will retreat into a fantasy world in which everything is the exact opposite of reality. Could this be the inspiration for RIM's four new cartoon characters, which the company hopes will spread its "Be Bold" marketing message? The pattern certainly seems to fit. From left to right: there's GoGo Girl, who "saves the day with a brilliant strategy" (translation: we don't have a strategy). Then comes Justin Steele, who's "always ready to stick up for his friends" (translation: we don't have friends). Trudy Foreal "isn't afraid to call it as she sees it" (translation: our shareholders are complaining). Finally, the adventurous Max Stone is "able to jump out of a plane" (translation: we're going to crash).

Update: RIM has provided a little update stating that this is "not a new ad campaign." Still, it's fun to imagine what might have been.

RIM: It's okay, we have superheroes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>be boldBeBoldblackberrycartoonmarketingprResearch In MotionResearchInMotionrimsuperheroesTue, 31 Jan 2012 08:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix is looking for a new Chief Marketing Officer, if you think you can do better]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/netflix-cmo-management-change/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/netflix-cmo-management-change/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/netflix-cmo-management-change/#comments Considering how 2011 progressed for Netflix, it's not entirely surprising to hear some changes are in store at the top when it comes to marketing and communications. The video rental giant announced that its Chief Marketing Officer of the last dozen years, Leslie Kilgore, will be taking a position on its board as a "non-executive director", replaced in the interim by Jessie Becker as it conducts an external search for a permanent replacement. Also shifting positions is Jonathan Friedland who will be the new Chief Communications officer, and both Becker and Friedland will report directly to CEO Reed Hastings. Netflix's relationships with its customers were definitely damaged by last year's price hike and the shocking Qwikster spinoff announcement / unannouncement that followed, with a slate of original content on the way and some changes in store for its content licensing, we'll see if it can get the magic back in 2012 -- we're not so sure that the latest round of ads featuring beavers and hamsters (one's embedded after the break) are the way.

Continue reading Netflix is looking for a new Chief Marketing Officer, if you think you can do better

Netflix is looking for a new Chief Marketing Officer, if you think you can do better originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardchief marketing officerChiefMarketingOfficercmoexecutivehdpostcrossmanagementmarketingnetflixreed hastingsReedHastingsvideoSat, 21 Jan 2012 13:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized CES Edition: Behringer's iNuke Boom speaker dock, a 10,000-watt altar for your iPod]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/visualized-ces-behringer-inuke-boom-10000-watt-dock/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/visualized-ces-behringer-inuke-boom-10000-watt-dock/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/visualized-ces-behringer-inuke-boom-10000-watt-dock/#comments
No word on whether it goes to eleven.

Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.

Visualized CES Edition: Behringer's iNuke Boom speaker dock, a 10,000-watt altar for your iPod originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10000applebassbehringerbehringer inuke boomBehringerInukeBoomboomcesces 2012Ces2012dubstephugeiNukeiphoneipodloudlowmarketingmassivespeakerspeaker dockSpeakerDockWed, 11 Jan 2012 21:37:00 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[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[Kraft vending machine teases children with adult-only pudding dispenser (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/kraft-vending-machine-teases-children-with-adult-only-pudding-di/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/kraft-vending-machine-teases-children-with-adult-only-pudding-di/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/kraft-vending-machine-teases-children-with-adult-only-pudding-di/#comments We've seen odd and law-swerving vending machines before, but none as meanspirited as Kraft's collaboration with Intel that only gives pudding samples to adults. The unimaginatively titled iSample denies the youthful its sweet nectar by taking a facial scan and determining dessert deservedness based on biometric data, like how far apart your facial features are. Part experiment, part publicity stunt, Intel is trying out technologies that could recommend products based on age. The company also claims it may retrofit the technology into existing machines to let companies study who's buying its products; Kraft is clearly in it just to deny children some pudding. To see if you have spent enough time at the fountain of youth, head down to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium or New York's South Street Seaport, and take your place in the line of parents ordering one for their progeny. Check the promo video after the break to see the machine wiping disappointment all over the kids' little faces.

Continue reading Kraft vending machine teases children with adult-only pudding dispenser (video)

Kraft vending machine teases children with adult-only pudding dispenser (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adult onlyAdultOnlyage recognitionAgeRecognitionface recognitionFaceRecognitionintelkraftmarketingpublicitypublicity stuntPublicityStuntpuddingscanvending machineVendingMachinevideoTue, 27 Dec 2011 21:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint, NBA strike multi-year partnership, celebrate with a new Android app]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/sprint-nba-strike-multi-year-partnership-celebrate-with-a-new/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/sprint-nba-strike-multi-year-partnership-celebrate-with-a-new/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/sprint-nba-strike-multi-year-partnership-celebrate-with-a-new/#comments
NBA Commissioner David Stern is all smiles these days. Why? Because the most pointless labor dispute in human history has finally drawn to a close, and Chris Paul isn't a Laker. He must also be elated over a new deal the NBA has just signed with Sprint, which replaces T-Mobile as the Official Wireless Service Partner of the NBA -- a phrase that will likely be repeated ad nauseam during every single halftime report this season. Under the marketing partnership, announced on Wednesday, Sprint will launch its own "Sprint NBA Mobile" Android app, giving subscribers access to highlights, stats and the latest news on why Chris Paul isn't a Laker. According to All Things D, an iOS version is still in the works, though it remains unclear whether it will sport the same features as its Android counterpart. Sprint says the app should be available in time for the NBA's December 25th season opener, which won't feature Chris Paul, because Chris Paul isn't a Laker. The terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but All Things D reports that it's valued somewhere "in the millions" -- which should help shore up some of the revenue the NBA will lose in potential Chris Paul jersey sales, because Chris Paul isn't a Laker.

Continue reading Sprint, NBA strike multi-year partnership, celebrate with a new Android app

Sprint, NBA strike multi-year partnership, celebrate with a new Android app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid appandroid marketAndroidAppAndroidMarketappApplicationbasketballbusinesschris paulChrisPauldavid sternDavidSterndealiosiphonelockoutmarketingmobilepostminimoneyNational Basketball AssociationNationalBasketballAssociationnbanba lockoutNbaLockoutpartnershipprofessional sportsProfessionalSportssportssprintSprint NBA MobileSprintNbaMobileT-MobileThu, 15 Dec 2011 15:48:00 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[WikiLeaks' Spy Files shed light on the corporate side of government surveillance]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/wikileaks-spy-files-provide-glimpse-into-the-world-of-governmen/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/wikileaks-spy-files-provide-glimpse-into-the-world-of-governmen/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/wikileaks-spy-files-provide-glimpse-into-the-world-of-governmen/#comments
WikiLeaks' latest batch of documents hit the web this week, providing the world with a scarily thorough breakdown of a thoroughly scary industry -- government surveillance. The organization's trove, known as the Spy Files, includes a total of 287 files on surveillance products from 160 companies, as well as secret brochures and presentations that these firms use to market their technologies to government agencies. As Ars Technica reports, many of these products are designed to get around standard privacy guards installed in consumer devices, while some even act like malware. DigiTask, for example, is a German company that produces and markets software capable of circumventing a device's SSL encryption and transmitting all instant messages, emails and recorded web activity to clients (i.e., law enforcement agencies). This "remote forensic software" also sports keystroke logging capabilities, and can capture screenshots, as well. Included among DigiTask's other products is the WifiCatcher -- a portable device capable of culling data from users linked up to a public WiFi network. US-based SS8, Italy's Hacking Team and France's Vupen produce similar Trojan-like malware capable of documenting a phone or computer's "every use, movement, and even the sights and sounds of the room it is in," according to the publication.

Speaking at City University in London yesterday, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said his organization decided to unleash the Spy Files as "a mass attack on the mass surveillance industry," adding that the technologies described could easily transform participating governments into a "totalitarian surveillance state." The documents, released on the heels of the Wall Street Journal's corroborative "Surveillance Catalog" report, were published alongside a preface from WikiLeaks, justifying its imperative to excavate such an "unregulated" industry. "Intelligence agencies, military forces, and police authorities are able to silently, and on mass, and [sic] secretly intercept calls and take over computers without the help or knowledge of the telecommunication providers," wrote Wikileaks in its report. "In the last ten years systems for indiscriminate, mass surveillance have become the norm." The organization says this initial document dump is only the first in a larger series of related files, scheduled for future release. You can comb through them for yourself, at the source link below.

WikiLeaks' Spy Files shed light on the corporate side of government surveillance originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brochurebusinesscomputerconfidentialcybersecuritydataDigiTaskdocumentdocument dumpDocumentDumpespionagefilesfrancegermanygovernmentindustryJulian AssangeJulianAssangelawlaw enforcementLawEnforcementleaklegalmalwaremarketingmonitoringpersonal dataPersonalDatapoliticspresentationssecuritysmartphonespySpy FilesSpyFilesspywaresurveillancetransparencytrojanwebwhistleblowerWiFiwikileaksFri, 02 Dec 2011 09:35:00 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[Nokia publishes Lumia 800 'making-of' documentary (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/nokia-publishes-lumia-800-making-of-documentary-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/nokia-publishes-lumia-800-making-of-documentary-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/nokia-publishes-lumia-800-making-of-documentary-video/#comments You've already heard Nokia's Peter Skillman talk design regarding the N9, and now it's Nokia's turn to show you what kind of magical mayhem went into the the making of the Lumia 800. It's an eight-minute long clip discussing the decisions behind the company's "first Windows Phone," with Nokia calling it "as much a story about collaboration and taking risks as it is about design." Taking risks, indeed. It's a good watch regardless of your platform affiliation, and it can be found just after the break.

Continue reading Nokia publishes Lumia 800 'making-of' documentary (video)

Nokia publishes Lumia 800 'making-of' documentary (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>documentarylumialumia 800Lumia800mangomarketingmobilepostcrossnokiapromosmartphonevideoWindows PhoneWindows Phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe to lay off 750 workers, restructure around digital media, marketing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/adobe-to-lay-off-750-workers-restructure-around-digital-media/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/adobe-to-lay-off-750-workers-restructure-around-digital-media/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/adobe-to-lay-off-750-workers-restructure-around-digital-media/#commentsThe company made famous by the ubiquitous Flash Player and multimedia software like the Adobe Creative Suite has announced its plans to eliminate 750 full-time positions in attempts to reposition itself as a leader in digital media and marketing. In two separate press releases, Adobe gave a glimpse into the restructuring, which it will cover in-depth at a financial analysts meeting in New York tomorrow. The company expects the plan to result in pre-tax charges somewhere in the ballpark of $87 million and $94 million, a large chunk of which will come from expenses "related to employee severance agreements."

According to one of the two press releases, the master of Flash plans to continue offering the Creative Suite as well as expanding "tablet-based touch apps" and cloud-based software. It's also promised to invest further in HTML 5 through tools like Dreamweaver, the recently announced Edge and PhoneGap, which it acquired with the purchase of Nitobi. Despite the shakeup, Adobe expects to meet its previous Q4 projections of between $1.075 billion and $1.125 billion. A bunch of corporate what-nots await you in the dual press releases after the break.

Continue reading Adobe to lay off 750 workers, restructure around digital media, marketing

Adobe to lay off 750 workers, restructure around digital media, marketing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobedigital mediaDigitalMediaearningslayofflayoffsmarketingq4restructuringrevenueTue, 08 Nov 2011 23:14:00 EST<![CDATA[What's in a name? Nokia's new Lumia and Asha line explained]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/whats-in-a-name-nokias-new-lumia-and-asha-line-explained/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/whats-in-a-name-nokias-new-lumia-and-asha-line-explained/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/whats-in-a-name-nokias-new-lumia-and-asha-line-explained/#comments What rhymes with Nokia? Why, Lumia, of course. And there, fellow gadget freaks, lies the poetic branding key to Espoo's first, great Windows Phone. Alright, it's not that simple, but the company's marketing team did make a concerted effort to find a moniker ending with a vowel sound. Of course, before this catchy, albeit odd, name could be settled upon, a list of potential winners had to be cross-checked with over 300,000 tech trademarks. After broaching that hurdle, "only a handful" survived and were then parsed by linguistic experts to avoid any embarrassing malapropisms and pronunciation difficulties across 84 dialects. Despite finding "lumi" to be an out-of-date Spanish slang term, resulting surveys found most Spaniards associated the term with "'light' and 'style'," and thus it was saved. We know how this genesis story ends, so we'll spare you the obvious marketplace conclusion. And as for that new Asha range? Well, the thinking there is quite simple. It's the word for hope in Hindi, and as the line is intended for emerging markets, that just seemed apropos. Click through to the source for a more detailed walk through this mobile origin story.

What's in a name? Nokia's new Lumia and Asha line explained originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AshabrandingLumiamarketingmobilepostcrossnamenamingNokiaNokia Ashanokia asha 200nokia asha 201nokia asha 300nokia asha 303Nokia LumiaNokia Lumia 710nokia lumia 800NokiaAshaNokiaAsha200NokiaAsha201NokiaAsha300NokiaAsha303NokiaLumiaNokiaLumia710NokiaLumia800Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft doles out the dough to Nokia and Samsung, plans Mango marketing bonanza for year's end]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/microsoft-doles-out-the-dough-to-nokia-and-samsung-plans-mango/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/microsoft-doles-out-the-dough-to-nokia-and-samsung-plans-mango/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/microsoft-doles-out-the-dough-to-nokia-and-samsung-plans-mango/#comments Know who loves it when other OEMs call him big poppa? Ballmer, that's who. So much so that he's opened up the company's coffers to Nokia and Samsung for a holiday blitz of Mango marketing. Hold onto your hats though, it's no carte blanche access to Redmond's Gringotts. According to a report on Mobile Magazine, inside sources claim MS has set aside ₤28 million (about $44 million) for the endeavor, with about ₤20 million of that reserved for Nokia's first Windows Phone 7.5 handset. This joint marketing effort is reportedly a broader extension of the cooperative agreements all parties agreed to, ensuring future WP devices get the media saturation they deserve. So, keep your eyes peeled this upcoming winter. We have a feeling you won't be able to escape the commercial onslaught, anyway.

Microsoft doles out the dough to Nokia and Samsung, plans Mango marketing bonanza for year's end originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MangomarketingMicrosoftmobilepostcrossNokiapartnershipsamsungsteve ballmerSteveBallmerstrategicstrategic allianceStrategicAlliancestrategyWindows Phonewindows phone 7.5Windows Phone MangoWindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7.5WindowsPhoneMangoFri, 14 Oct 2011 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Senator Schumer blasts OnStar for 'brazen' privacy violation, calls for FTC investigation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/senator-schumer-blasts-onstar-for-brazen-privacy-violation-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/senator-schumer-blasts-onstar-for-brazen-privacy-violation-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/senator-schumer-blasts-onstar-for-brazen-privacy-violation-ca/#comments Last week, OnStar issued a privacy notice informing customers that it would continue to collect data on vehicles still connected to its servers, even for those who have already canceled their subscriptions. The move elicited a chorus of protests from Democratic privacy advocates in the Senate, including Chris Coons, Al Franken and, most recently, Charles Schumer, who wrote a letter to the FTC yesterday calling for an investigation into what he sees as a bold violation of consumer rights. "By tracking drivers even after they've canceled their service, OnStar is attempting one of the most brazen invasions of privacy in recent memory," the New York Senator said. "I urge OnStar to abandon this policy and for FTC to immediately launch a full investigation to determine whether the company's actions constitute an unfair trade practice." Find out more about OnStar's new policy, after the break.

Continue reading Senator Schumer blasts OnStar for 'brazen' privacy violation, calls for FTC investigation

Senator Schumer blasts OnStar for 'brazen' privacy violation, calls for FTC investigation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>al frankenAlFrankenautocarcharles schumerCharlesSchumerchris coonsChrisCoonsconsumercustomerdatademocratFederal Trade CommissionFederalTradeCommissionftcGPSinvestigationletterlocationmarketingonstarpoliticsprivacyprivacy policyprivacy rightsprivacy violationPrivacyPolicyPrivacyRightsPrivacyViolationsenatesenatorthird partyThirdPartyvehicle trackingVehicleTrackingviolationweatherMon, 26 Sep 2011 09:43:00 EST<![CDATA[QReo is for cookie, that's good enough to scan (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/25/qreo-is-for-cookie-thats-good-enough-to-scan-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/25/qreo-is-for-cookie-thats-good-enough-to-scan-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/25/qreo-is-for-cookie-thats-good-enough-to-scan-video/#comments The medium is the message. That's really all you need to know about this junk food marketing. Integrated ad agency RedPepper, which prides itself on communication via "human-centered, highly-spreadable 'things'," assembled a group of stoners employees to answer the age-old question: can cookies convey QR codes? No, never pondered that ultimate mystery before? Well, bust out the smartphone and get to scanning this collection of 441 black and gold Oreos for the answer. We won't ruin the URL-directing surprise for you, but prepare to be minorly underwhelmed -- it's not like the company's heralding the return of glorious trans fat. Curiosity piqued? Then head past the break for the how'd they do that? hyper-speed video and its Daft Punk backing track. (Disclaimer: No cookies were harmed in the filming of this project, only consumed.)

Continue reading QReo is for cookie, that's good enough to scan (video)

QReo is for cookie, that's good enough to scan (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad agencyAdAgencycellphonecellphonescookiecookiesmarketingoreosQRQR codeqr codesQrCodeQrCodesQReoRedPeppervideoSun, 25 Sep 2011 21:18:00 EST<![CDATA[SanDisk's Memory Vault will store your photos longer than anyone cares]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/sandisks-memory-vault-will-store-your-photos-longer-than-anyone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/sandisks-memory-vault-will-store-your-photos-longer-than-anyone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/sandisks-memory-vault-will-store-your-photos-longer-than-anyone/#comments According to a survey commissioned by SanDisk, family photos are the first thing people would save in a house fire, after relatives and pets. Personally, we'd rush for our laptop and let the dog take care of itself, but hey let's get to the point: SanDisk wants to sell you its new Memory Vault. This ruggedized flash drive contains proprietary Chronolock memory management technology that has been subjected to "accelerated temperature cycling tests" to prove it can preserve data uncorrupted for up to 100 years. Maybe the product is a boon to future generations, or maybe it's just a way of convincing people to spend $90 on 16GB of storage instead of picking up a Corsair Flash Survivor for $35. Decide for yourself once you've seen the further info and weird survey tidbits in the PR after the break.

Continue reading SanDisk's Memory Vault will store your photos longer than anyone cares

SanDisk's Memory Vault will store your photos longer than anyone cares originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doghouse fireHouseFiremarketingmarketing nonsenseMarketingNonsenseSandiskSandisk Memory VaultSandiskMemoryVaultWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung delays Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch in Australia amid patent battle with Apple]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/samsung-delays-galaxy-tab-10-1-launch-in-australia-amid-patent-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/samsung-delays-galaxy-tab-10-1-launch-in-australia-amid-patent-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/samsung-delays-galaxy-tab-10-1-launch-in-australia-amid-patent-b/#comments Just a few days after suffering a legal setback in Dutch court, Samsung has now decided to delay the launch of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, amid its heightening patent infringement battle with Apple. In a hearing today, the Korean manufacturer announced that it would refrain from selling or marketing its new tablet within Australia, before September 30th. Samsung made a similar concession earlier this month, agreeing to halt sales of its slates until today's hearing and to provide Apple with product samples at least seven days prior to its Australian launch. The company says it presented the samples on Thursday, but Cupertino's lawyers insisted that the Australian version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 still infringes upon its patents. Samsung, meanwhile, said in a statement that it's preparing to launch a counter-attack down under, telling reporters that it "intends to file a cross claim against Apple Australia and Apple Inc regarding the invalidity of the patents previously asserted by Apple and also a cross claim against Apple regarding violation of patents held by Samsung by selling its iPhones and iPads." The next formal court hearings are scheduled for September 26th and 29th. Stay tuned.

[Thanks, Geoff]

Samsung delays Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch in Australia amid patent battle with Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 04:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleaustraliacourtgalaxy tabgalaxy tab 10.1GalaxyTabGalaxyTab10.1hearinginfringementipadipad 2Ipad2iphonelaunchlawlegalmarketingpatentpatent infringementPatentInfringementsalessamsungsamsung galaxy tab 10.1SamsungGalaxyTab10.1slatetabletMon, 29 Aug 2011 04:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Face-to-Avatar blimp soars through SIGGRAPH, melts the heart of Big Brother (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/sonys-face-to-avatar-blimp-soars-through-siggraph-melts-the-he/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/sonys-face-to-avatar-blimp-soars-through-siggraph-melts-the-he/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/sonys-face-to-avatar-blimp-soars-through-siggraph-melts-the-he/#comments Telepresence, say hello to your future. Humans, say hello to the next generation of Chancellor Sutler. All jesting aside, there's no question that Big Brother came to mind when eying Sony Computer Science Laboratories' Face-to-Avatar concept at SIGGRAPH. For all intents and purposes, it's a motorized blimp with a front-facing camera, microphone, a built-in projector and a WiFi module. It's capable of hovering above crowds in order to showcase an image of what's below, or displaying an image of whatever's being streamed to its wireless apparatus. The folks we spoke to seemed to think that it was still a few years out from being in a marketable state, but we can think of a few governments who'd probably be down to buy in right now. Kidding. Ominous video (and static male figurehead) await you after the break.

Gallery: Sony's Face-to-Avatar blimp soars through SIGGRAPH 2011

Continue reading Sony's Face-to-Avatar blimp soars through SIGGRAPH, melts the heart of Big Brother (video)

Sony's Face-to-Avatar blimp soars through SIGGRAPH, melts the heart of Big Brother (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisementadvertisingavatarblimpcameraconceptface to avatarface-to-avatarFaceToAvatarhands-onmarketingprivacyprojectorprototyperesearchsiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011sonytelepresencevideowebcamweirdThu, 11 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Qualcomm overhauls complex naming scheme, introduces simpler Snapdragon levels]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/qualcomm-overhauls-complex-naming-scheme-introduces-simpler-sna/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/qualcomm-overhauls-complex-naming-scheme-introduces-simpler-sna/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/qualcomm-overhauls-complex-naming-scheme-introduces-simpler-sna/#comments Say it with us now: "Huzzah!" For years, Qualcomm's Snapdragon brand has been held back from general understanding by one thing: befuddling model numbers. Hearing about an MSM 8255 doesn't really stick with the average consumer, and even for members of the press (and folks neck-deep in the supply channel), it wasn't exactly easy to keep track of. In a bid to put on a more consumer-facing suit, Qually has announced its intentions to move away from complex processor names and move towards a simpler "series" model. For now, you'll find S1, S2, S3 and S4, with "1' being a mass market device and "4" being the product you actually want. The slide just after the break explains where the cutoffs are for each level, but curiously enough, it sounds as if more of these will be added as technologies improve, speeds increase and capabilities soar. In other words, we hope your great-grandson is eager to get his hands on a Snapdragon S498. Wait, wasn't this suppose to reduce complexities?

Continue reading Qualcomm overhauls complex naming scheme, introduces simpler Snapdragon levels

Qualcomm overhauls complex naming scheme, introduces simpler Snapdragon levels originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbrandbrandingchipchipsetcpudesignmarketingprocessorqualcomms1s2s3snapdragonvideoWed, 03 Aug 2011 10:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Cosmo For Guys viral marketing video is a head-turner (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/cosmo-for-guys-viral-marketing-video-is-a-head-turner-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/cosmo-for-guys-viral-marketing-video-is-a-head-turner-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/cosmo-for-guys-viral-marketing-video-is-a-head-turner-video/#comments We don't know iPad Head Girl's name, or what she really looks like under that clever environment-reflecting helmet. What we do know, however, is that our mama didn't raise us to go stroking people's faces in the street -- which is exactly what one unseemly chap eventually does in the viral marketing video after the break. Is he an actor on Hearst's payroll, remitted an hourly rate to feign fascination with their new Cosmo For Guys iPad magazine, which magically appears on the poor girl's face? By all means, analyze his forward behavior and make up your own mind. But if you're only into couture, darling, you'd better look away now.

Continue reading Cosmo For Guys viral marketing video is a head-turner (video)

Cosmo For Guys viral marketing video is a head-turner (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadAppleIpadcfgcosmo for guysCosmoForGuyshearstipadipad appipad magazineIpadAppIpadMagazinemagazinemarketingpublishingstuntvideoviralviral marketingviral videoviral videosViralMarketingViralVideoViralVideosTue, 02 Aug 2011 10:41:00 EST<![CDATA[ZTE emerges from carrier shadows with direct sales strategy in UK]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/zte-emerges-from-carrier-shadows-with-direct-sales-strategy-in-u/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/zte-emerges-from-carrier-shadows-with-direct-sales-strategy-in-u/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/zte-emerges-from-carrier-shadows-with-direct-sales-strategy-in-u/#comments In spite of Nokia still reeling from its direct sales-induced hangover, ZTE is pursuing this very sales model with hopes of bolstering its brand recognition -- and it's going to start with the tea and crumpets crowd of England. Following a recently-inked deal, unlocked ZTE handsets will be sold to British consumers through Brightpoint's online and retail distribution channels. While far from mainstream (despite 60 million units sold in 2010), the Chinese manufacturer is looking to escape its private-label shackles and "become a household name synonymous with high quality smartphones and tablets." Of course, the company must contend with a trending consumer preference for carrier-subsidized handsets, blamed by the bigwigs in Espoo as the reason for Nokia's direct-to-consumer pains. Still, if the Shenzhen-based company finds any luck, Londoners will soon discover scores of Amigos, Blades and Skates popping up on the Tube. Hungry for more details? Just follow the link after the break for the full PR.

Continue reading ZTE emerges from carrier shadows with direct sales strategy in UK

ZTE emerges from carrier shadows with direct sales strategy in UK originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agreementbrightpointbritishdistributionenglandeuropemarketingmobileonlinepartnerpartnershipretailsalessmartphonesmartphonesukunlockunlockedzteMon, 18 Jul 2011 20:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Vitamin Water bus-stop ad lets devices juice-up before the commute]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/17/vitamin-water-bus-stop-ad-lets-devices-juice-up-before-the-commu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/17/vitamin-water-bus-stop-ad-lets-devices-juice-up-before-the-commu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/17/vitamin-water-bus-stop-ad-lets-devices-juice-up-before-the-commu/#comments
Battery running low during the rush-hour commute? Glacéau's Vitamin Water Energy Bus Shelter by Crispin Porter & Bogusky wants to help you get charged while you're waiting to board. The new billboards feature a bottle of the vitamin / caffeine-packing drink, sporting a triple-USB port, which you can plug your devices into for some extra juice. Apparently, you'll be seeing these if your daily public-transit hustle takes you through the fine cities of Boston, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles -- we'd imagine owners of HTC's Thunderbolt will find them very useful.

Vitamin Water bus-stop ad lets devices juice-up before the commute originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 03:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisementadvertisingapplebostonbus stopBus stop adBusStopBusStopAdchargechargerchargingEnergy Bus ShelterEnergyBusShelterideviceipadipodipod touchIpodTouchlalos angelesLosAngelesmarketingnew yorkNewYorknyusbusb chargingUsbChargingvitamin watervitamin water adVitamin Water Energy Bus ShelterVitaminWaterVitaminWaterAdVitaminWaterEnergyBusShelterSun, 17 Jul 2011 03:27:00 EST<![CDATA[McDonald's interactive Pong billboard brings big-screen elation, tomorrow's lunch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/mcdonalds-interactive-pong-billboard-brings-big-screen-elation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/mcdonalds-interactive-pong-billboard-brings-big-screen-elation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/mcdonalds-interactive-pong-billboard-brings-big-screen-elation/#comments
You could enjoy that Big Mac in the peace and artery-clogging quiet of your local McDonald's, or you could just catch the next flight to Stockholm, where Ronald apparently serves his meals with a side of interactive, outdoor gaming. It's all part of something called Pick n' Play -- a new (and pretty ingenious) ad campaign that invites pedestrians to play a game of Pong on a giant Mickey D's billboard, using only their smartphones. All you have to do is stand in front of the display, log on to Pick n' Play's site from your handheld, and wait for your phone to verify your location. From there, you'll have to manipulate an onscreen paddle using your device's touchscreen, while doing battle with a game that gets increasingly more difficult. Last thirty seconds, though, and you'll get a free, lipid-drenched treat of your choice, courtesy of the Golden Arches. Best of all, you won't even have to download an app to get your Pong on -- putting you one step closer to that coronary you've always wanted. Trot past the break to see it for yourself.

Continue reading McDonald's interactive Pong billboard brings big-screen elation, tomorrow's lunch

McDonald's interactive Pong billboard brings big-screen elation, tomorrow's lunch originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad campaignAdCampaignadvertisingadvertising campaignAdvertisingCampaignbillboardcampaigndisplayfast foodFastFoodgameinteractiveinteractive billboardInteractiveBillboardmarketingmcdonaldspick n playPickNPlaypongsmartphonestockholmswedentouchscreenvideoSun, 05 Jun 2011 23:58:00 EST<![CDATA[HP thinks the TouchPad will be 'better than number one,' if that's even possible]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/hp-thinks-the-touchpad-will-be-better-than-number-one-if-that/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/hp-thinks-the-touchpad-will-be-better-than-number-one-if-that/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/hp-thinks-the-touchpad-will-be-better-than-number-one-if-that/#comments
HP's expectations for its new TouchPad tablet are running pretty high -- so high, in fact, that they can only be expressed with a make-believe number. During a recent press conference in Cannes, HP's Eric Cador boldly declared that his company's new slate won't just be the best on the market, it'll be the bestest. Cador explained:

"In the PC world, with fewer ways of differentiating HP's products from our competitors, we became number one; in the tablet world we're going to become better than number one. We call it number one plus."

A spokesman later confirmed that the device will launch in the UK with apps from the Guardian, Sky and Last.fm, but promised that "thousands" of other apps are on the way. The metrics might sound a bit optimistic, but the message is clear: HP thinks the TouchPad will annihilate the iPad and blow our minds to smithereens. We'll just have to wait and see whether it's as explosive as advertised.

HP thinks the TouchPad will be 'better than number one,' if that's even possible originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 May 2011 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appbusinesscanneseric cadorEricCadorhphp touchpadHP webOSHpTouchpadHpWebosindustryipadlast.fmlastfmmarketmarketingnumber onenumber one plusNumberOneNumberOnePlusPredictionsSkyslateSlatePctabletthe guardianTheGuardianwebosMon, 23 May 2011 03:59:00 EST<![CDATA[NVIDIA CEO disappointed by Android tablet sales, blames pricing and poor app selection]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/15/nvidia-ceo-disappointed-by-android-tablet-sales-blames-pricing/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/15/nvidia-ceo-disappointed-by-android-tablet-sales-blames-pricing/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/15/nvidia-ceo-disappointed-by-android-tablet-sales-blames-pricing/#comments It won't have escaped your attention that just about every Honeycomb tablet shipping in the first half of this year features, or will feature, NVIDIA's Tegra 2 hardware. Unfortunately for NVIDIA, reception for the Android 3.0 slates has been a little underwhelming, and the company's Chief Eloquence Officer, Jen-Hsun Huang, has had a few words to say about it. He sees the relative paucity of tablet-optimized Android apps as a weakness, while also expressing the belief that cheaper WiFi-only models should've been the standard shipping config rather than fully fledged 3G / 4G variants as Motorola has been pushing with the Xoom. All in all, his is a very sane and accurate analysis, but Mr. Huang loves to look to the future as much as he enjoys talking about the present, and in his opinion all these major downsides have already been "largely addressed" by "a new wave" of Android tablets. He doesn't specify the devices that constitute said wave, but his emphasis on thinness and lightness leads us to believe he's talking up Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9 models. Hit the source links to read more from the bronzed stallion in charge of NVIDIA.

NVIDIA CEO disappointed by Android tablet sales, blames pricing and poor app selection originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 May 2011 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysisandroidceocomponentshardwarehoneycombJen-Hsun HuangJen-hsunHuangjhhmarketingnvidianvidia ceoNvidiaCeoopinionpricingquotequotedsalesslatesoftwaretablettegra 2Tegra2Sun, 15 May 2011 20:05:00 EST