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Apps: To Download or to Browse via Internet, a look into Native vs. Web Apps

                               This isn't a debate of whether native applications are superior to web applications (or vice versa) but rather the functionality of either pertaining to what kind of interaction you want your user to have when he/she  operates  the application. To figure that out, it’s helpful to know how these two types of apps differ from one another.

                In basic terms a native app is an app that you would find sitting on your home screen of your iPhone /Android/BlackBerry. These are normally found through the device’s app store and are created for that specific device.  You Facebook and Twitter application, along with games like Plants vs. Zombies, are all found within the app store/market and are downloaded directly to your smartphone.

                The benefits lie in that these native apps can be found in one place, which facilitates browsing and downloading. Also, you’ve heard someone say something along the lines of, “You should check out this app … “, which is most commonly referring to a native app. It’s rare to hear a user refer to a mobile web app in the same fashion.  These apps sit on your home screen, a constant reminder to use it, often with the ability to have push notifications to encourage further usage.

                Since the many of native apps aren’t dependant on 3G/4G/internet connect like web apps, loading times are less and allows for a faster visual experience. You can allow these apps to connect to your camera, music, contacts, etc. for an enhanced experience. Categories like social networking, gaming, and entertainment based apps are most likely native.  Lastly, native apps are more secure in that they don’t need to connect (not frequently or even at all) to a network in order to function.

                Moving on to web/mobile apps, the benefits here coincide with some of the downfalls of creating a native app. Thanks to HTML 5, jQuery/Javascript, web apps are looking and functioning better than ever. Though having your web app work across different smartphone maybe a concern, there are plenty of options to help conversions.  Regardless, these apps can be developed more quickly than a native app.

                Having a web app also ensures that the app is current. Updates can happen almost instantly and without prompt. If there are bugs or glitches, you don’t have to wait until a later version is released to have these incidents fixed. This helps to smooth a user’s interaction and experience.

                Anyone with a smartphone with internet access can reach these mobile sites. Though there is a cost on the development side for these apps, for the consumer they’re typically free (there are some subscription based web apps). When compared to buying an app or using one for free, free will always have a higher conversion rate. Also, since it is the internet, you are approved automatically and without having to jump through hoops to get past filers. There isn’t an app market to control what you’re looking at … a bonus for an adult themed apps.

                Though native apps have enhanced access capabilities, mobile apps have the ability to utilize geo-location as well.  With the help of GPS, the mobile version of Facebook or Foursquare, a business can run local based specials with this feature. This goes along as well with off-line caching. The user can shop online and save items in the shopping cart and to return to it later without having to worry about searching through the app again. In addition to shopping, categories such as news, print, and broadcasting are apt to be more web based app.

                Again, this isn’t a contest between the two types of apps because each has specific functionality that can be customizable. It’s just a question of which one is better suited for you and/or your business’s needs.

Written by: Charlotte Zoda 

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Google Deleting Private Profiles on Google+

Starting on July 31st , Google has decided to delete, not change to public, all private profiles on Google+ in efforts to expand its user base. The reasoning used behind this is that private profiles defeat the purpose of having an online existence, which is used to connect with friends, family, and networking. 

Google+ states in its help articles that:

“The purpose of Google Profiles is to enable you to manage your online identity. Today, nearly all Google Profiles are public. We believe that using Google Profiles to help people find and connect with you online is how the product is best used. Private profiles don’t allow this, so we have decided to require all profiles to be public.

Keep in mind that your full name and gender are the only required information that will be displayed on your profile; you’ll be able to edit or remove any other information that you don’t want to share.

If you currently have a private profile but you do not wish to make your profile public, you can delete your profile. Or, you can simply do nothing. All private profiles will be deleted after July 31, 2011.”

 Facebook made a similar motion last year with a change its privacy policy. Non friends can still view your name, gender, and profile picture in a search even on the most private settings.

This may be a concern to those who still wish to have private or unsearchable profiles.  Google+ counters this issue with the use of Circles, option of limited posts, ability to delete your profile and data associate with your profile.  You can also control your Google search visibility with an option located at the bottom of your profile. Google+ profile requires your name and gender only, to help your friends find you easier.

Whether or not this will help increase usage of Google+, at least Google made an announcement about the changes so current users aren’t surprised with a deleted account on July 31st.

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What is Google+

So, what is Google+? Google+ sounds like the prettier, younger sister of Facebook, but with similar user characteristics and a sleek, clean, barely touched by annoying advertisements interface (so far). What’s the big deal with using Google+, besides gaining social media geek street cred? It’s what Google learned from other social media platforms that makes all the difference in how you interact with your friends, family, and co-workers,

With the failure of Wave and Buzz it’s no wonder that Google was anxious in the release of Google+.  The issue with the previous features was perhaps that it wasn’t given enough of a chance to generate a solid user base, especially with the excessive popularity of Facebook and Twitter. Google limiting the amount of new users accepted during the field testing trial is annoying when you want to instantly connect with your friends and family when the invite process is on hold until further notice. One of the appeals of using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites, is that there’s already a massive user base instead of a small group of fortunate techies. So much potential is being harnessed due to limited access to invitations.

Limited access isn’t the only frustrating aspect of Google+. New are providing feedback, hopefully being used to further better the new social networking site. In an article written by Ben Parr, users discussed areas where Google+ can be improved, such as being able to connect with Google Apps. Another was to add a stream search, a Facebook feature that allows you to search your friends’ content for specific information. As with all beta testing there isn’t much use in complaining too much about annoyances as its being constantly being updated.

Now for the fun part, what’s awesome about Google+.  The biggest talked about feature is creating Circles. Now you don’t have to worry about your Aunt Susan seeing your party pictures from the weekend nor do your friends need to see baby pictures of your second cousin, whom they’ve never met. The creation of circles allows you to share what you want to share with specifically those who actually care about what you’re sharing, especially with the instant upload of photos from your mobile device. You can share what you find searching through Sparks, which is similar to Stumbleupon. Websites are generated in a newsfeed that are related to your key word interests that you can save.

Facebook has group chat ability but the majority of the groups created are based on a general interest or subject with thousands of members. Google+ has a feature called Huddle which allows you to create group chats via text messaging with your friends only. It’s reminiscent of a group chat on AIM but more accessible because it’s on your phone.  The Hangout aspect allows you to basically do a Huddle but with the addition of video. It’s an alternative option to Skype and you can have up to 10 users in a Hangout without having to pay a premium price for that feature.

                The simply designed interface is easy enough to navigate even for the most basic internet user. You’re able to use Google+ along with other Google tabs, like Gmail and Reader. It’s just another extension (get it, Google plus) of the toolbar. You can connect with friends and family and surf the web without ever having to leave Google. Facebook and Twitter can’t do that. We see what you did there Google and it was clever.

                Lastly, there are some well appreciated privacy elements to Google+.  You can disable comments on your posts and you can disable other users sharing your posts to their friends, a big added bonus. Also, you can “defriend” someone without offending them by simply removing them from your circles. They no longer can see what you share but avoid that awkward moment where they find out that they can’t see your page anymore. Of course, if blocking is necessary that option is available as well.

                All in all, what is Google+? It provides competition for other social networking sites that shouldn’t be taken lightly. However, once you get your hands on an invite, established sites will have the leg up until Google+ is open to anyone and everyone. The fact that it’s new and unavailable will also generate interest but people aren’t just going to drop their Facebook or Twitter accounts just yet. We’ll just have to wait and see if Google+ lives up to the hype and hopefully it won’t disappoint. 

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Facebook vs. Google

We’ve seen it before. A fast-growing service starts to rub up against a rival and eventually upsets the equilibrium. Soon enough, the rival, who controls something vital to the growth of the other service, begins to use its upper hand to disadvantage the upstart. Typically, the newcomer has very little choice but to give in to the rival’s demands.  In the past, this was the story of Google versus Apple. But more recently, this is the story of Facebook and Google—one that could redefine the way we view the web and technology.

So what’s all the hype about?

Presently, Facebook does not allow its users to export contact data to other Internet services. As a result, Google will not allow Facebook to integrate with the contacts list on Android phones, which happens to be exportable.

But why does the contacts list even matter?

Well, in the battle for social networking supremacy, Google has been struggling to get a stronger lead on Facebook. In light of such heightened competition, Google is hanging on to every advantage it has over rivals, one of them being the contacts list.

So, what does this mean for Facebook?

In the past, Google has answered back to its rivals by introducing its own software platforms. If history is any indication, Facebook will follow in the footsteps of Google and redefine the game by introducing a “Facebook phone.”

Eventually, Google may decide to do what Apple once did—exerting more control over its OS. If this is the case, Google may put heavier restrictions on which services can and cannot run on its platform. This may put Facebook at a major disadvantage.  Until then, however, Facebook will continue dominating the social networking market.

By Sam Moe

(via Financial Times)

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2011 Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon

This past Sunday, February 20th 2011, iAnalyst sponsored our own Jessica Cooper in the A1A Marathon benefiting Feeding America.  Jessica, an Account Executive at iAnalyst’s Miami office, successfully completed the race through Fort Lauderdale contributing to this great cause.

One of Feeding America’s branches, Feeding South Florida, was the recipient of the event's charitable donations.  According to the organization, “One in six Americans [go hungry every year], and many of them are children and the elderly … 20% of all food produced in the United States goes to waste.  And that’s where Feed South Florida comes in.”

Feeding South Florida distributes over 23 million pounds of food annually and feeds about 1 million people each year.  Given these current economic times, Feeding America is an especially important and crucial cause to contribute to.

iAnalyst is proud to be part of such a great charity event benefiting South Florida communities.  We look forward to getting involved in future events in the area! 

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Fashion Week Goes Social

With the increase of technology, the iconic Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is becoming increasingly integrated in social media systems. From live streaming to Twitter updates to constant blog posts, you can now be chic and savvy while sitting in your pajamas on the couch. Social Media has completely revolutionized Fashion Week; the shows and events that were once impossible to get into are now easily accessible via the Internet. A large majority of the shows are streamed live, so you get to see the collection the minute it hits the runway. Twitter updates allow fans to hear about the latest buzz and events going on. Blog posts are taking readers behind-the-scenes where only the fashion elite used to have access to. So if you’re discouraged about getting that front row seat, stress no more! Mashable gives you the low-down of the best ways to experience Fashion Week on the web.

Written by: Melissa Miller

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Super Bowl Predictions

With social media buzz playing a larger role in determining marketing trends, it is no surprise that it is being used to determine chance events such as this weekend’s Super Bowl winner. Infegy, a social media analysis company, has collected data since 2008 on Internet chatter pertaining to Super Bowl teams. During the month of January, Internet buzz on teams most discussed was collected and analyzed for trends. What were the findings? In the last four years, the Super Bowl team that was most mentioned or discussed ended up being the Vince Lombardi trophy winner.

Is this a coincidence or does more buzz translate to more wins? According to CEO Justin Graves, the buzz doesn’t necessarily determine the win. Rather, people are more likely to be talking about teams that they believe are going to be victorious. As a result, this creates more buzz for that particular team.

Well, what does that mean for this year’s Super Bowl predictions? Unfortunately, the social media buzz for both teams is marginal—12.28% and 12.02% for both Green Bay and Pittsburgh, respectively. The buzz, alone, isn’t enough for Infegy to make a prediction. This, however, did not stop Graves from making a prediction. Analyzing the data even further, Infegy delved into the sentiment behind the online buzz and found that 78% of the chatter revolving around the Packers was positive. Comparatively speaking, Pittsburgh only received 69% positive feedback. If this theory about buzz is true, Green Bay is going to be very happy Sunday evening.

Hopefully this growing importance of social media can find a way to reverse the reason for dwindling Internet discussion around the big game, which is down a full 26% from last year.

(via Mashable)

Written by: Sam Moe

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The Power of the Beauty Blog

Beauty Blogger Michelle Phan for Lancome

The beauty blog world is becoming an increasingly powerful force in the beauty industry, particularly for its ease in reaching a global audience instantaneously.  The days of traditional beauty ad placements in magazines are quickly becoming irrelevant.  Perhaps the most influential purpose of the beauty blogger is the relationships they form with their audience and the trust the audience has in the blogger for his or her advice.  The conscious consumer is becoming more and more knowledgable, and they don't necessarily trust the big corporations and magazines in their recommendations for beauty and cosmetic advice.  Most young consumers now understand that these traditional methods are driven purely by money and not the best interest of the reader.  The beauty bloggers are revolutionary to the industry, as they are regular girls and boys who create loyal bonds with their audience.  They will tell their viewers which products are great, and not afraid to tell them which products are terrible.  They give honest, truthful advice as if they were your best friend.  More and more beauty junkies are turning to the advice of these beauty bloggers, many of whom spend their days testing tons of products and researching the latest beauty news and technology to spread to their viewers.  With the increase of the beauty blog power, many large cosmetic corporations are attempting to tap into the top bloggers, some of which who have millions of loyal viewers, to keep them on good terms with their company and help promote their products.  Some of the really successful bloggers have even landed main beauty campaigns for massive beauty companies such as Lancome and CoverGirl due to their enormous popularity to the beauty consumer world.  The beauty bloggers' incredible success has created an entire new marketing strategy for the modern cosmetic and beauty companies. 

Written by: Melissa Miller

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Great article from Mashable about checking in and your online identity!

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What is Architizer

What is Architizer? Architizer is one of the the most prominent, up-and-coming social media platforms of 2010. Unleashed in second quarter of 2009, Architizer set its sights on syncing the architectural community with those actively seeking a firm that fits all of their aesthetic requirements. Within a fiscal year, Architizer was able to capture the hearts of the social community by creating a niche platform capable of laying out a firm's portfolio embedded with geolocation-based services, and an in-depth meta tagging system allowing for a full functional, dynamic archive of key terms for a truly enriched search function.

Architizer is the first Web 2.0 network to provide Architects with a truly powerful voice. Included in the community itself is a linked-in like job section allowing for both job seekers and employers the opportunity to align visions and better the company. This is a unique feature to have in such a distinct market.

Moreover, the social community within Architizer thrives off friendly design competition.  There are constantly new challenges being posted, enticing firms to actively participate and put their names on the map. In some cases, these are put on by those seeking the work of architects, as a measure of showing which firm may best capture the true needs of the client.

With their powerful relationships with major Architectural publications like Dwell, and Architectural Digest - Architizer will do nothing but to continue to build momentum in the new year. As their community strengthens, their overall presence in the market will continue to strengthen the voice of Architects across the country - an asset this community has been looking desperately for some time now.

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Barnes & Nobles released its first color e-book reader, the NOOK color, priced @ $249. Check out this article by PC Magazine. What do you think, does the NOOK color compete with the iPad and Amazon Kindle?

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How Foursquare Reaches Consumers and What it Means for Businesses

                                                               The web landscape, particularly in the sector of social media platforms, is extremely dynamic and ever evolving. Social Media templates are changing, and quickly at that. As one blogger mentions, the question prompts on the home pages of these websites have become increasingly personal. Facebook asks elusively, “What’s on your mind?”, while Twitter asks, more transparently, “What are you doing?”, while Foursquare asks, in a tone one might presumptuously interpret as invasive, “Where are you?”  

Foursquare, a mobile GPS-style interactive map that synchs your location to mainstream social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook, facilitates a new and more personalized medium through which one can communicate to his/her social cloud.  Because the mobile phone is as strong as the computer in this technological era, there is no chance Foursquare will fade in popularity or usage. Businesses have hopped on board the Foursquare bandwagon, further strengthening and maintaining their prevalence on the web landscape. Through Foursquare, managers can see who is checking in: taking into account attributes such as what age group or demographic to which their consumer belongs, and during what time of day they enter their store.  Essentially, they are able to see the metrics of their consumer in the most accessible way possible. 

Corporations such as Starbucks are taking initiative with this one-year-old start-up company. This Summer, Starbucks announced that any customer to check in 5 times would earn the “Barista badge,” which will include invites to special Starbucks events and even online reputation scores. (Mashable) Other, smaller companies are also allocating rewards for repetitive check ins. Some are even posing prompts upon check in, like Emack and Bolio’s most recent, “perform a moonwalk and get a free ice cream”. In this way, businesses are incentivizing their consumers through the unique platform that Foursquare presents through its GPS-like grid system.

Foursquare’s rapid expansion cannot be solely accredited to the power of the mobile device, but also to its ability to synch with Facebook’s API and twitter. It is now as recognized as Facebook, becoming the optimum tool for businesses to directly communicate and access their clientele as well for a person meet-up with their friends. At this rate, Foursquare is going to remain a giant in the social media world, and is only going to grow exponentially as time elapses, for both business and recreational purposes.

Written By: Alyssa Deitchman

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Why Youtube is One of the Most Powerful and Influential Sites on the Web

Google bought YouTube for a staggering $1.26 billion for its immense influence, as indicated by its heavy traffic and its impressive metrics of growth. Since this merge, YouTube has grown even more and shows no signs of slowing. With 100 million videos being watched per day and traffic increasing up to 75% in just the past month (Uncovering The Power Of Youtube ), the world of video upload is undeniably centered on YouTube. What is it, then, about this user-generated video-upload portal that makes it so special? How do marketing and advertising sectors of a corporation harness this power and influence to increase exposure and reach a mass market?

            First, let’s analyze its general presence and location relevant to the entire web landscape to understand how and where marketing and “business” fit in. YouTube has repetitively illustrated its uncanny ability to make the average Joe into a viral superstar. Take Greyson Chance, a used-to-be-unknown thirteen year old, now a nationally recognized, record-label signed superstar in a matter of weeks after posting a YouTube video of a middle school talent show in which he participated. As amazing as this is, the transformation of an average person into a virtual superstar is not an isolated situation.  An exorbitantly wide array of people with as high of a variety of talents, have been made famous with the only common denominator being YouTube.

            If you’re not a teenage, Lady Gaga singing-prodigy sporting a Justin Bieber hairstyle, YouTube can still work for you in a surprisingly beneficial way.   In fact, because of its priority search indexes, courtesy of its merge with Google, having a YouTube channel to broadcast features of your business will increase SEO (Search Engine Optimization) all the while using video, a dynamic and arguably more interesting medium than text or pictures, to optimize your expression of creativity and reach a mass market of clientele.

            YouTube, as well as all other social media platforms have presented a new and more personal way to connect with clients; essentially giving managers the opportunity to establish a one-on-one customer service style second best to actually meeting face-to-face with that person, which can sometimes be difficult if your company is expansive.  YouTube’s power is an excellent example of how social media has shifted the way in which we communicate with one another in all contexts of interactions; and the possibilities have become increasingly endless.

Written by: Alyssa Deitchman

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