Like to Check-In?

Like to Check-In?

If you're one of those smartphone users who always want to boast where you're at or where your're currently shopping, oinkers will give you a reward for every check in and upload crazy photos. I don't work for oinkers nor am I fond of checking-in (because I think it is annoying and don't want would-be stalkers to know where to stalk me). The reward system of oinkers sounds like a credit card points policy.

Facebook goes head to head with Skype

Facebook goes head to head with Skype

I was checking my FB updates on my mobile and then it suddenly asked me to enter my phone number so my online friends on FB can call me. Does that mean they are now going up against Skype and iPhone's Facetime?

The growth of mobile marketing [infographic]

The growth of mobile marketing [infographic]

Reblog: The growth of mobile marketing [infographic]

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Time to Put an Anti-Virus on Your Mobile

Time to Put an Anti-Virus on Your Mobile

From the PC to social networking sites and now to your phone, malware has been increasingly being reported on mobile phones, specifically smartphones. Now that more mobile users are getting comfortable downloading apps on to their phones, malware writers are also refocusing their energy to infiltrate your smartphones.

Be careful what you download.

Pay Through Your Mobile Kashing!

Pay Through Your Mobile Kashing!

A slew of articles came out this week with talks that Amazon and Microsoft are planning to add mobile payments in cellphones. Honestly, paying with your mobile is nothing new. The US has just not been a leading source of mobile technology. For instance, mobile payments are already widespread in Japan- you can pay the vending machine (there are so many in that country!) and convenience stores- and even in the developing country in the Philippines- pay online shopping and game credits using Gcash or a similar platform that acts like a prepaid card inside the mobile phone. In Europe, you can pay by mobile for your street parking!

There are apps targeted to SMBs where a buyer can now swipe their credit card using a smartphone with hopes that business owners on the road, e.g. in trade shows, festivals, farmer's market, etc, will attract more sales by getting rid of the "cash only" sign, but of course, the Visas and Mastercards of the world will take their cut.

I really wonder if MS, AMZN and others in the pipeline will make something very similar to what is already well adopted in Asia and Europe or will it be something revolutionary.

Will Angry Birds Be The Next Hello Kitty?

Will Angry Birds Be The Next Hello Kitty?

Rovio, the Finnish maker of Angry Birds, must be in a happy disposition these days. After massive downloads of their Angry Birds game app on smartphones and tablet, the Angry Birds phenomenon has now taken the big screen. No, I'm not talking about their appearance in the animation film Rio, I'm talking about hitting the big league Hollywood style with the "Angry Birds: The Movie." The trailer was released yesterday on Youtube. See it to believe it! And oh btw the movie is directed by THE Michael Bay known for Transformers, Armageddon and Pearl Harbor just to name a few. (Updated April 6th: Sorry to trump the good news, but Rooster Teeth actually made a fake trailer. Hats off to them for a really well-made trailer! But there is real, credible news that a full-length animated Angry Birds movie will be coming out this summer so my analysis below stays the same).


Rovio has raised funding up north of $200 million from venture capitalist Accel- a VC firm that needs no introduction by the looks of their portfolio.


So back to the question- will Angry Birds be the next Hello Kitty? Comparing the two is like comparing oranges to apples. Hello Kitty is very kid friendly, while Angry Birds (note the word 'Angry'!) borders from being funny to being passive aggressive birds who kill ugly, greenish pigs using a slingshot to propel themselves. By no means are the birds cute and lovable unlike Hello Kitty.


Second, we've all grown up with Hello Kitty, while Angry Birds' rise to fame can be majorly attributed to the demand of iOS and Android smartphones- mostly carried by people on the go with their whole life (i.e. emails, pictures, etc.) dependent on their phones.


I remember the opening of the first Sanrio where I grew in the 80s and Hello Kitty was always there together with Kerokeropi and Little Twin Star among others. Now that I'm all grown up, I pass by the same store and still see little kids gawking at the Hello Kitty products tugging their parents to buy it for them.


A close runner-up to Angry Birds is another app phenom, Talking Tom. The cat mimics whatever noise he/she (?) hears and you can rub his belly, hit his toes or forehead and feed him milk. He is standing on a dirty alley with rubbish bins always with a smile and huge puppy-ish eyes even through all the harassment he is induced to. Who wouldn't want to take care of him, cuddle him and take him home? Talking Tom is somewhat a cuter version of the tamagotchi without the hassle of carrying an extra toy around. You can also try other Talking Friends although Tom the cat is the most famous of them all.


Outfit7, Talking Friends makers, is a Slovenian startup company that runs a management and research office in Palo Alto. According to insidemobileapps, with their 12 mil downloads a month which is more than enough to support the team, CEO Andrej Nabergoj is less interested in VC funding and on the lookout for other high-quality apps that coincides with their child-friendly demographic.


Seems like Angry Birds and Talking Tom are going to two different paths. Birds is going down the road of Hollywood stardom- milking the money while its hot- while Tom and his friends are seeking for more apps to join their quest for more downloads. Sooner or later, Rovio will be riped to go on IPO, while Outfit7 will go on the acquisition rampage.


If ever Tom does get a shot in Hollywood though, I'd suggest a story along the lines of a cross-over between Babies Day Out and Ratatouille where Tom becomes the hero saving the world from a 5-month old baby that would never stop crying! Trust me, this is a true story ok.


As for Hello Kitty, she will always remain in the people's hearts forever.