Archive for April, 2011

Posted on April 28, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

Wow! News Corp to Sell MySpace for $100 Million

SocialTimes is reporting that News Corp is selling MySpace for $480 million less than they paid for it back in 2005. What a difference six years make.

Struggling social networking site MySpace is looking for a new owner and hopes to have one by this week’s end. According to The Wall Street Journal, News Corp is seeking $100 million for MySpace, much less than what they paid. The sale is projected to draw bids from several investment firms and companies who may try to buy parts of MySpace or the whole social network.

News. Corp paid $580 million for MySpace back in 2005. While the purchase appeared to be a solid investment at the time, Facebook grew to become the chosen social networking destination. MySpace users left and joined Facebook.

via News Corp is Selling MySpace for $100 Million – SocialTimes.com.

Do you think we’ll see another popular social network drop off like MySpace did in the near future?

Posted on April 28, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

Podcast: TheSocialGeeks Episode 35 – Tungle, Delicious, Yobongo and Fring

Click here to listen to the entire podcast: TheSocialGeeks: TheSocialGeeks Episode 35 – Tungle, Delicious, Yobongo, Fring.

Posted on April 28, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

A World Without Facebook – infographic

What would the world look and behave like without Facebook? Single Grain let’s us know in the World Without Facebook infographic below.

[Via: Single Grain]

Could you live without Facebook?

Posted on April 27, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

QR Codes and augmented reality continue to evolve with Daqri

Looking to see what role QR Codes will have with augmented reality then take a look at Daqri. It’s a new startup that will display custom augmented content after a user scans a QR Code. Cool right? It also reminds me of the “earthmark” technology the guys at Mirascape are using to do something similar. Regardless take a look at the Daqri demo video below.

Daqri had one of the whizziest demos at the Launch conference. This company makes an augmented reality service that overlays 3D images onto the real world through a smartphone, using QR codes as the anchor. In other words, point your iPhone running the Daqri app at the right matrix barcode, and a floating 3D (possible moving) image will appear on the phone’s screen. We’ve seen this effect in magazines and some ads already; Daqri is just trying to institutionalize the function.

Via Daqri connects QR codes to augmented reality | Rafe’s Radar – CNET News.

Have you scanned a QR Code to display augmented content before?

Posted on April 27, 2011 - by Wayne Sutton

PepsiCo Introduces new Social Vending System™

Ok, I just think this is cool and has NFC and/or QR Code but more so planned for NFC technology integration in the future. The problem is most USA smartphones outside of a few new Google smartphones are not equipped with NFC technology. Regardless it looks like Pepsi is getting ready and providing new innovative ways to interact with their mobile soda drinking customers/fans. See the press release below.

PURCHASE, NY, April 27, 2011 –Today, PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) announced the launch of its Social Vending System, a state-of-the-art networked unit that features full touch screen interactive vending technology, enabling consumers to better connect with PepsiCo brands right at the point of purchase. A prototype of the Social Vending System will debut at the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s One Show in Chicago, April 27-29.

Using digital technology, PepsiCo’s Social Vending System enables any user to gift a friend by selecting a beverage and entering the recipient’s name, mobile number and a personalized text message*. There’s also the option to further personalize the gift with a short video recorded right at the machine. The gift is delivered with a system code and instructions to redeem it at any PepsiCo Social Vending system. When the recipient redeems his or her gift, they’re given the option of either thanking the original sender with a gift of their own or paying it forward and gifting a beverage to someone else.

PepsiCo’s innovative use of telemetry with the Social Vending System also delivers tremendous operational benefits, allowing customers to closely manage inventory levels and delivery scheduling remotely, and easily update digital content online, enabling them to change messaging and media content as needed.

“Our vision is to use innovative technology to empower consumers and create new ways for them to engage with our brands, their social networks and each other at the point of purchase,” said Mikel Durham, Chief Innovation Officer at PepsiCo Foodservice. “Social Vending extends our consumers’ social networks beyond the confines of their own devices and transforms a static, transaction-oriented experience into something fun and exciting they’ll want to return to, again and again.”

Social Vending also enables “Random Acts of Refreshment” – the ability to buy a drink for a complete stranger through any other Social Vending system. For example, a consumer could send a symbol of encouragement someone in a city that has experienced challenging weather, or a congratulatory beverage to a student at a university that just won a championship. The platform holds potential to extend PepsiCo’s digital and social programs for its food and beverage brands

via PepsiCo Introduces Social Vending System™, the Next Generation in Interactive Vend Technology | PepsiCo.com.

What do you think about the new PepsiCo’s Social Vending System™ ? A great idea or does it need more technology to make it seamless