The future is here. And it's on the iPhone.
NCAA Basketball iPhone App for March Madness
InGameNow has released updates to all of its iPhone Apps - just in time for March Madness and the NCAA Tournament: - Live scoreboard - New format for in game results / chatter - Live scores in the header of each game page - Scoring alerts (live across the iPhone, Gtalk, AIM, etc)
If there is ever a time to download an InGameNow iPhone App... it's now! Below is a screenshot of the new NCAA Basketball App - click it to download in iTunes:
Get all the iPhone Sports Apps by InGameNow:
- InGameNow iPhone App
- NFL iPhone App
- NBA iPhone App
- UFC / MMA iPhone App
- NCAA Football App
- NCAA Basketball App
- Soccer iPhone App
Widgetbox Introduces Facebook App Compatibility
Last week, Widgetbox launched the ability to simply (a couple clicks) turn your widgets into Facebook Applications. They run on the profile page, have their own 'canvas page', are sharable, and hit the Facebook newsfeed.... making the widgets viral and accessibleacross your Facebook network. A couple examples / screenshots:
My Blidget Pro
Converting it into a Facebook App
It is a step-by-step flow that allows users to customize the look of version that appears directly on the Facebook Profile:
Facebook App: On The Profile (different example)
There are two versions of the Facebook App: one for the profile page (think of it like a mini-app) and the full version on the canvas page:
Facebook App: Full Canvas Page
Twitter, Facebook's Feed, Facebook Connect and Seesmic: Navigating it All
I've been using Seesmic's Adobe Air Facebook application for a few days now. Despite all of it's inadequacies (see below), it raises a larger question to me - and one that I have written about before: Is there room for both Twitter and Facebook feeds? Both on the consumption and creation side - navigating between both is a pain.
If a user has to choose between the two, which would it be? This is where I struggle the most: as a consumer of content, Facebook's stream is more interesting and 'valuable' to me. It is more relevant, less noisy and generally less promotional. Hence why I have converted to the Seesmic client (again, despite it's inadequacies). As a marketer (in other words, a producer of content), Twitter has the larger reach (because it is open rather than closed) and consequently a more effective promotional lever. But again, navigating between both communities is troublesome.
These questions arose as my desktop real estate (and more importantly... my time) were looking at Twhirl, Tweetdeck and now Seesmic for Facebook. And, at least for now, I have opted to use Seesmic because I still find Twitter to be too noisy and too cluttered to make the experience both relevant and efficient. But it is not without it's limitations:
- First, it is really a glorified sized-browser of my Facebook feed - There is no ability to post, reply, navigate, etc... it is purely for reading - There is no customization other than window size - Ideally, you could post to Facebook and have it also post to Twitter (which would solve 90% of my complaints). Twitter currently allows the opposite flow... - Finally, I am confused how this fits in with Seesmic and, if it doesn't, why it is branded as such ("Seesmic for Facebook")
Apple's App Store Going Premium Apps?
The hot weekend rumor is that Apple will be adding its own version of a Rodeo Drive within the App Store. The Premium Store (if you will) will be a showcase for higher end applications - supposedly at the $20.00+ rate. In addition to the promotion, there would likely be other incentives for Premium Applications... perhaps ala Facebook's preferred developer program.
This makes total sense for Apple as it responds to two major issues:
- Gallery navigation has failed as its size has swelled. Ask eBay what happens when too many listings exist and you rely on the search box? Twitter is falling into a similar navigational issue....
- 99% of applications are better off being free or $0.99... and it is in Apple's best interest to have successful, more-expensive applications.
The rumor, however, sounds less like a Premium Gallery and more like a sort option. I hope it is something more bolder - because otherwise it is merely another tab or box on an already cluttered experienced.
Hulu In-Video Ads Offer Choice: Preroll or Midstream?
Like 100,000s of others, I cam to Hulu to watch the Jim Cramer / Jon Stewart debate... so what if it was my fifth viewing?
Before the video played, I got the following option: - watch a sponsored pre-roll for the movie "Miss March" (kill me... it looks awful) - and then watch the show commercial-free - or watch the "normal commercial breaks"
I love that Hulu gives me the choice. And advertisers should love it to. Wouldn't Miss March (or any other brand advertiser) prefer to have engaged viewed who elected to view the ad? Particularly in such a captive model (either an upfront unit or mid-show).
Imagine the next evolution when we can select from multiple advertisements(rather than formats). I think Miss March looks miserable and would therefore prefer to see a different ad. And Miss March would probably prefer this too... rather than paying $20CPMs for viewers like me who will never see it. Meanwhile, Hulu can charge higher CPMs because the ads are better targeted and higher value.
Facebook Connects Comes to iPhone, Game-Changing
The best iPhone Apps are those that engage across other properties beyond the iPhone. Zynga, SGN, Playfish and others iPhone power-developers have done a brilliant job of those. For most though, building cross-platform, socially-aware applications has proven difficult and consequently made the majority of applications 'un-sticky'.
But this will all change with Facebook's announcement that Facebook Connect is available for iPhone Applications.
Suddenly gaming becomes social. Applications that before were content delivery mechanisms now have a social graph to relate to.
It's big. In a way it is akin to what Xbox Live does for Xbox... put probably bigger because it is open and more flexible.
InsideFacebook has some screenshots:
Facebook's announcement can be read here:
Now your iPhone apps can enjoy the benefits that Facebook Connect sites and Facebook Platform apps already enjoy, including:
Making API calls so your app can access users' profiles and share information on Facebook. Publishing to Facebook via Feed forms.
Asking users for extended permissions, like offline access, so you can still interact with their data when they're offline.
Adam Carolla Sets Podcast World Record: 550,000+ Downloads of Single Podcast
When Adam Carolla started his new podcast series, I wrote that radio and satellite radio was officially dead... why would talent like Adam Carolla stick with those formats when they can reach instant success via podcasting?
A week later... the data is even more overwhelming:
- Carolla set a world record for podcast downloads with over 550,000 to a single podcast (Carolla with ESPN host Dave Damechek) - Carolla is averaging 2,000,000 downloads per week (thats 400,000 per show) - He still hasn't fully figured out the format - the sound quality varies and the website is still amazingly simple
This is great news for consumers:
- I get access to daily content that is available commercial free and on-demand - Carolla is clearly happy, excited and engaged... and he's producing great content - Much like the way the web moves, podcasting does a great job of introducing listeners to other content providers / sources. Dave Damechek's subscription rate must be through the roof... and so it moves serendipitously - Apple and iTunes are making it easier to download podcasts via wifi on the iPhone - making it even easier to subscribe
And most importantly, Carolla's podcasting success means that he will find financial success through the format - which in turn means that he will continue and others will follow. We all win.
Montgomery Technology Conference 2009
I will be at the Montgomery Technology Conference through Wednesday. If you will be attending or are in the Santa Monica area - please let me know!