Man the folks over at Waze have been pretty busy. What is Waze you ask? Well it’s a user-generated mapping application for the iPhone, Andriod phones, and even Windows Mobile phones. The interesting part is the social interaction in the app. Some very smart people have been enriching mapping content. The best part is the app is FREE.

The Waze team originates from Isreal. Where thier app created maps of the roads from their users driving. No base map was used. User data created all the roads. The value of crowd-sourced data is amazing. Di-Ann from Waze states that roads in Italy were mapped in only 10 days by users. Users are deemed Wazers.

As for features, there are turn-by-turn directions, traffic flow, speed traps, even a live ETA for your trip. Join in by reporting speed traps, accidents, and construction. Wazers driving on new roads can hit the record road button and upload new roads to the Waze database. Of course all this comes with the general caveat that Waze’s app is only as good as the data from all their Wazers. So join today and improve the experience for all.

What makes mapping even more fun? Games! Waze has gaming features built-in. wazers can munch pellets like Pacman and earn points. Other goodies including cherries and hammers appear on the map as well. Check out the Waze blog where you can earn prizes during special promotions: http://www.waze.com/blog/

Pros:
Don’t get stuck in traffic
GPS based for accuracy
Inaccuracies are reported and fixed by users
Typing is disabled while in motion for Safety
Makes driving fun with game integration
Side roads are added (anywhere Wazers go)

Cons:
GPS based so battery drain happens
For safest use the driver needs a passenger

Check out these videos for more information and take a look into the future of Waze:
Click “OK” to begin.

Yesterday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain Microsoft introduced their next offering to the mobile OS platform. Windows Phone 7 Series. And I do have to say the design looks impressive.

Microsoft has taken a step back and started to innovate. They’ve looked at phones as a different kind of platform a small platform not a mini PC. Geometric design which has a clean simple look, using grey, blue, and white with the integration of photos. Also using green to delineate games and cue to Xbox. Meant to deliver a task oriented experience as opposed to an application focused approach.

On a hardware note three buttons will be featured on all Windows Phone 7 Series hardware: Start, Search, and Back. Hardware will also always have a touch screen. The lock screen slides up; wouldn’t this be a problem putting the phone in your pocket? The homescreen/start experience features live tiles which update with information from the internet and exchange. The tiles are also referred to as hubs. The tiles are People, Calendars, Pictures, Outlook, Office, Games, Web pages, and Individuals. Described as destinations or hubs for an integrated experience by larger categories rather than application specific.

People

Contacts are filed together Recent people, All people (windows live, online e-mail services, Facebook), and a What’s New category. Keyboard features a face button for all your emoji in their original text only form. Also on a nice humorous note you delete an tile for a person by touching a broken heart icon to severe ties.

Calendar

Work and home events featured are together in your calendar. The calendar has Day, Agenda and Month views. Locations are built in with the Bing map service. As you zoom in on the map closer to the ground it automatically goes from graphic data to satellite photo data (aerial view).

Bing

When searching you see web, local, and image result categories. In a humorous choice of demonstration; the search example used was “Sushi” same as with Apple’s iPhone demos. Also featured in the results for each restaurant will be reviews via partnerships with other companies like Yelp. The browser is based on desktop version of IE; using sub-pixel positioning to make web pages appear with greater clarity.

Pictures

Categories include Gallery, Albums, and What’s New (your friend’s photo activity). Direct uploading to Facebook from phone. Syncing of photos from Windows Live and Facebook.

Outlook

Categories include Unread, Flags, Urgent, and All. The interface is clean with check boxes next to e-mails making it easy to delete multiples similar to on the iPhone edit mode.

Office

For productivity Office includes One Note, Documents, and SharePoint categories. Take notes on your phone or computer in text, photo, or voice memo formats. Documents for viewing on the go. SharePoint for consumption on a variety of devices as well as editing on the go.

Games

Categories here include Spotlight, Xbox Live, Requests, and Collections. Spotlight posts announcements about games and your gaming activity as well as your friend’s. Multi-player gaming with other phones, PCs and even Xbox devices is said to be supported.

Music/Video

Every phone will be a Zune. Categories here include Music, Video, Podcast, Radio, and the Marketplace. Music features History and New for easy access to what you were last listening to or recently upload tunes. Pin content to have it appear in a separate category (somewhat like favoring an album or song).

Zune software for syncing. Very iPhone like experience on the device tab. Bar graphic of space on phone and content. Last sync listing and device graphic.

Hardware partners include Qualcomm, LG, Samsung, Garmin/Asus, HTC, HP, DELL, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba.
Carrier partners will include T-Mobile, Telefonica, Sprint, Vodafone, AT&T, Orange, SFR, Verizon, Telstra, and Telecom.

Taking a stab at Apple and the iPhone by changing the focus from apps to a phone experience with hubs meant to work together. A glance and go experience versus the in and out experience of apps. Not sure I buy that. It’s pretty much the same thing said in a different way.

With all that said the bottom line seems to be a new UI with a spin on the phone experience. As for NEW features the Xbox Live integration is the main add over other phones. We will see if the Windows Phone 7 Series will prove to be a step forward or simply another player in the market.

Adidas is ushering in a digital age in footwear with their new Originals AR Game Pack shoes. That’s right augmented reality on your feet.

The shoes come in a set of five colors exclusive to select Champs Sports locations and Eastbay online. The experience is part of Adidas’ virtual Originals Neighborhood. Wearers will be able to hold their shoe up to a webcam unlocking a challenging gaming experience and exclusive content with the AR codes on the tongue. Users play games by using the shoe as a controller. New games will be launched each month starting in February and ending in April of 2010. Shoes range in price from around $70 to $99.

The games come in a variety of flavors. Starting with a Star Wars game where the user fires blue paint balloons at Stormtroopers. In the second game the user skateboards through a 3-D neighborhood performing tricks and navigating their way through obstacles. The third game being released in April is more musically oriented. Users become their own DJ and create beats.

From a retail perspective; Adidas is doing a great job engaging their consumers by creating a lasting conservation. Not only do they engage with their consumer in-stores and online during the purchase experience; they keep them coming back for more. Consumers will show their pride for the brand by wearing their products around as well as engaging online. The experience builds the brand and makes consumer feel a part of something exclusive and cutting edge. Word of mouth and digital WOM will be huge spreading the message of Adidas’ innovation. It’s great to see a brand staying fresh and taking a risk of trying out new technology. Let the conversation begin.

What do you think of the shoes, another gimmick or actually a good use of AR in the marketplace? Leave a comment below and let us know.

Want to buy a pair check out these styles online:

Superstar LTO

Forum Mid

Teaser trailer for the online experience:

Follow Adidas Originals on Twitter at @adi_originals

UPDATE:

Finally found a link to all the shoes on Eastbay.com You can see the line-up here

Also got my hands on a pair and have been trying to get them to work. Turns out that most of my problems were because of my work firewall and port blocking. Video of experience and tips/review to come shortly.

Augmented reality has hit the mainstream. The first AR app to make it to the iPhone app store was Metro Paris Subway by French developer PresseLite. Unfortunately you need to be in Paris to experience the AR features of the app.

Lucky for us, with the latest release of Yelp you can experience augmented reality on the iPhone 3GS for yourself. Yelp is a handy location based directory app for finding restaurants, bars, banks, etc. in your area. In order to use augmented reality in the Yelp app you need enable a hidden feature called Monocle. Follow these simple steps:

1. Grab the app here, Yelp.

2. Launch it and shake your phone. You need to shake it 3 times. TUAW got it working with one good shake, while other TUAW bloggers needed more than 3.

3. A message appears indicating that you’ve activated “Monocle.” That’s what they call the AR feature.

4. A monocle button appears on the top right of the app. Press it.
( Directions provided by: www.tuaw.com )

Now its time to play. Launch the Monocle augmented reality feature by clicking the new button in the upper right corner. As you move the phone around you will see your surroundings through the iPhone camera. Pop-up style windows display nearby business in their corresponding direction related to your location.

Note: Monocle only works on the iPhone 3GS.

For a more in depth review check out this video from GearLive:

Best Buy jazzed up their normal Sunday circular this week with the presence of augmented reality.

The circular ad directs the consumer to a website (BestBuy3d.com.) At the website the consumer can hold up the back page of their circular and see a Toshiba laptop in augmented reality. By creating some engagement with their normal Sunday ad Best Buy is able to create a little buzz and bring their consumer a unexpected experience. Best Buy is able to draw even more attention to its $499 (loss leader) laptop special. In turn hopefully getting more consumers to visit their store.

The electronics superstore used this tool to introduce their new TwelpForce Twitter® service. If a consumer needs help or has a question about anything electronics, they can just tweet to @TwelpForce. Best Buy employees will reply with a speedy answer to their inquiry. A handy service no matter where the consumer is or what their question?

]]> http://michael.dusing.com/2009/08/04/bestbuyar/feed/ 0 http://michael.dusing.com/2009/08/03/arretail/ http://michael.dusing.com/2009/08/03/arretail/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:18:12 +0000 Michael Dusing http://michael.dusing.com/?p=604

image courtesy of Geekologie blog.

Digital is making its way into the retail space. New tools have made it to the mainstream and are changing the way we shop. One such tool is Augmented Reality. For those who don’t know, augmented reality often referred to as AR, is the combination of real-world (live) and computer-generated data, where computer graphics objects are blended into real footage in real time.

So how does AR work? In its base form, you present your webcam with a high contrast marker. This marker is either printed from your computer or on a product itself (examples to follow).

You may have heard AR, but in retail? Most executions of augmented reality in general have been little more than, “Wow, that’s cool.” Retailers and brand giants like Walmart® and Procter & Gamble are taking notice and even flirting with the technology.

Walmart ran a print ad in People Magazine promoting their back-to-college your zone collection with an augmented reality twist. Their print ad encourages you to visit a website and see your room in AR. The room changes from various styles available at Walmart. Mainly an eye catching advertisement, but it does highlight the variety of styles available at Walmart for your college room necessities.

Procter & Gamble recently rolled out a similar campaign based in print. Highlighting the “magic” of AR technology, the print execution was developed for their Always tampon brand. The execution was targeted at 15 year-old girls and little more than a magic show. The teenage girl prints a marker from the website, featured in the print ad, and also installs a web plug-in. Then she is greeted with a top hat and a bunny rabbit, accompanied by the messaging “incredibly soft,” a feature of Always products.





However, some brands are taking this new tool and creating wonderful enhancements for their products and giving their consumers that same “wow” presence.

The USPS has a wonderful execution to help patrons choose the right box for their shipments. Accurately named, “Which box fits your shipment?” this dramatically simple execution helps you choose the correct size box for your shipment while saving you time. Instead of waiting at the post office with a line of angry patrons behind you; you are able to test it out in the comfort of your own home. This tool gives you a better idea of the cost to mail your item.





The USPS creates some great buzz for their brand by breathing life into what is generally a mundane experience (mailing packages). Through this interaction the customer not only gets the information they need, they might even come away with a pleasant feeling for their national postal service. Amazing, I know.

Want to learn more about Augmented Reality and see more examples in the retail space? Stay tuned here. New posts coming as more brands venture into this media along with an AR section of the website for easy access to Augmented Reality executions.

UPDATE:

The Procter & Gamble Always campaign is based on the idea that the product, “Works Like Magic.” This FSI (featured below) in the P&G BrandSaver which appeared in newspapers over the weekend adds some evidence to why magic and AR was used with the campaign.

Which green detergent should I use and how well does it work?

When it comes to green laundry detergent, my knowledge was extremely limited. Like most consumers the only brand I had really heard of was Seventh Generation. So I needed to do some research.

I was unable to find a good rating system of green detergents online. So like any blogger, I turned to the advice of my peers. What green laundry detergent have bloggers found to work?

The top three in the results of my research were as follows.
(well, actually 4 if you count nuts)

1. Sun & Earth- rated the highest by green laundry bloggers this detergent is not only good for the environment it does the best job.

2. Moutain Green- rated second across my blogger sources. This detergent was easier for me to find. I purchased some at my local Sprouts or Sunflower Market. Whole Foods however, did not carry this brand in my Colorado.

3. Bio-kleen- rated as third but still great for the environment and the easiest of the list to find. This brand in was present on the shelves in almost all my surrounding grocery stores.

The Best for Mother Earth: Soap nuts or Soapin. This is an all natural solution that does not come traditionally pre-packaged. You buy the nuts in bulk and use some in each load of laundry. Unfortunately I’m not aware of the best source to purchase these amazing laundry nuts.

So why no Seventh Generation? The rating on various blogs and in my personal experience was that Seventh Generation simply did not do a great job cleaning. On tougher stains it came up short. Great for the environment until you do the same load twice.

Want to get some green cleaning products for yourself and can’t find them locally? Try CleaningGreen.com



Read for yourself, here are my sources:

GRIST – IT’S A WASH: A review of six green laundry detergents

Inhabitat – Green Laundry Ball

Sprig – 10 Green Laundry Detergents

The first COLOR e-book reader will come to the market in April. The Fujitsu FLEPia e-paper mobile terminal, (as Fujitsu is referring to it) has an 8-inch XGA screen capable of displaying 260,000 colors.

This impressive device sports many desirable features including: Bluetooth, Wifi, Up to a 4GB SD card, Stereo-speakers, and a USB mini-B connector; all while being less than a half inch thick. It can be operated using the screen with an included stylus or the various function buttons below the screen.

Since the device only uses power when redrawing, Fujitsu says the battery will last up to 40 hours of continuous reading. The most futuristic feature however, is the inclusion of Windows CE 5.0 (Japanese version) which allows the user to access a browser, email and applications, even MS Office. With a software keyboard you could write an email with relative ease. The only major drawback is that the screen takes a full 1.8 secs to redraw. While that may hold you back, Fujitsu is really breaking new ground. With XMDF, .book formats and the capacity of up to 5,000 paper based books (assuming 300 pages at 600kb per book) the FLEPia is a real contender to the Amazon Kindle.

The device can be purchased starting April 20th through Fujitsu’s online store FrontechDirect for a mere $1,010 US (approximately). Full specs can be found on ZDNet. There is no word on whether the FLEPia will be available in any other markets around the world.

In all fairness after posting about Pepsi, I wanted to post about some cool Coca-Cola news. The Coca-Cola Company has created some clean-designed summer-themed cans. By taking their logo and some iconic summer items, Coca-Cola has created seasonal relevance to their product. What better way to enjoy an ice-cold Coke than on a summer afternoon in the sun?

It’s great to see a company make such clean packaging design using their logo and simple icons. Granted, this brand is extremely recognizable to every consumer in the world. The cans perfectly capture the outdoor feeling of summer and connect with where their product is being consumed.

So when you’re going to hangout with some friends this summer – be it on the patio, around the pool or in the park – make sure to grab some cool summer Coca-Cola cans on your way and hangout in style. Not sure how long they will be around though, they are listed as “limited edition.”

Since this limited edition soft drink is only available for 8 weeks you had better stock up. In the spirit of stocking up, PepsiCo is gifting you a limited edition t-shirt featuring the Throwback Pepsi logo with purchase of any (3) Pepsi Throwback products.

Check it all out at PepsiThrowbackHub.com

Update: Check out BevReview.com for their Throwback Contest and you could win all sort of cool PepsiCo Throwback swag. Better hurry through entries have to be in by April 30th at midnight CDT.

Update 2: After finishing a 12-pack of Pepsi Throwback, I have concluded that I like regular Pepsi better. Sadly I am used to and prefer the HFCS version. I have been trained over the years to enjoy the sweetness in Pepsi. Pepsi Throwback just doesn’t deliver on that burst of sweetness that I have come to love. Thank you for the try Pepsi; I really was intrigued and excited.