10 mayo 2012 – Gabriel Catalano®

Wordless Web | coolhunting.com

Ji Lee’s simple plug-in removes text from any site to let images stand alone
coolhunting.com

The endless stream of information available on the web can easily get clogged with an overload of messaging. To simplify your daily surfing sessions, former Google Creative Lab Creative Director Ji Lee—with the coding help of Cory Forsyth—has come up with the Wordless Web, a simple browser plug-in that takes any website and gets rid of the text, leaving only pictures. As longtime supporters of Lee’s «special projects«, we were keen to see a substantial array of websites‘ content reduced to a context-free assortment of images with one simple click.

By presenting the Internet as a palette of pictures only, the website reader becomes a viewer. «No text means no context,» says Lee. «You’re free to enjoy the images in their purest form, without names, labels, definitions, or purpose. It makes the pictures we see across the web more mysterious and open to interpretation of our own imaginations.» Continuar leyendo «Wordless Web | coolhunting.com»

100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design

The most influential concepts in the history of the industry

by James Thorne | coolhunting.com

In the new chronologically ordered book «100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design«, Steven Heller and Véronique Vienne explore the most important moments in an industry they themselves helped to define. Part of publisher Laurence King‘s popular «100 Ideas» series, the combination of symbols, techniques, archetypes, tropes and trends represents some of the major creative explosions that continue to inspire an array of visual mediums today. The scope is broad but intelligently refined, connecting all aspects of graphic design, from the age-old technique of text ornamentation to the relatively nascent appearance of pixelated images and digital type.

Heller, winner of the prestigious AIGA medal and former New York Times art director for 33 years, continues to write the «Visuals» column for the paper’s Book Review, as well as The Daily Hellerfor Imprint magazine. Vienne also comes from an art direction background and has published a number of books on the subject of graphic design. They draw enlightening and occasionally surprising connections, their observations identifying hidden meanings that inform images, such as the sun ray-inspired Mickey Mouse graphic created for his 80th birthday, which is actually a riff on Maoist propaganda posters. Continuar leyendo «100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design»

Don’t Turn Off The Internet We Have A Revolution | Jeffbullas.com

Written by Lisa Galarneau | jeffbullas.com

One reader commented that in my recent post about our social [media] revolution in the Cloud, I didn’t mention Egypt, Libya, etc. etc. or any of the other populaces who are using their knowledge of new media as a powerful weapon in democracy.

It seems a long time ago now, but I was once a linguist in the U.S. Army. Russian. The Cold War. One of my potential jobs would be ‘psychological operations’ and also involved Airborne training, so I could more readily distribute fliers and pamphlets. Propaganda is a popular device, and something to be wary of, yet we find ourselves awash in it continuously: from governments to corporations to teachers and parents who decide (often based on so-called expert opinion) what is right and good for everyone. Or at least, in line with their own agendas for you. I also lived in Chile under Pinochet in the late 1980s… one state-run tv channel and only an old-fashioned two-way radio patched through to landline phones for communication back home. Information is life-blood to me, as a node in the network, so much so that I literally feel like a limb is cut off when I am denied access for too long.

Information as a Mechanism for Social Transformation

There is a long history of using information as a mechanism for social transformation. Margaret Sanger, who founded Planned Parenthood, fought epic battles with the American postal service for the crime of distributing information pamphlets helping women understand birth control options, particularly the new-fangled French diaphragms (she later married a mega millionaire and hired a scientist to make her the magic ‘pill’ that we now take so for granted). World War II was a major information war, before we had memes to understand it at all. Telegraph, radio and telephone services had been flourishing for some time. The Nazis targeted intellectuals of many persuasions, sometimes singling them out based on the eye-glasses they wore to assist with their myopia (itself an adaptation that is selected for in families that read a lot). The Japanese had their own radio station blasting the South Pacific (Tokyo Rose) with their distorted claims and barely disguised imperialist agenda. Voice of America responded with its own conversations, and continues to be a major force in communicating democratic possibilities (at least our variety), even now. The Soviet Union fell because of Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms. Glasnost (open-ness) and perestroika(transformation) edicts were issued as a way to pull the Soviet Union our from behind the iron curtain that kept it economically and culturally stultified for so long. The burden of knowledge and ramifications of transparency were too much for the early 20^th century has-beens (the ‘Communist’ revolution in Russia occurred in 1917). Continuar leyendo «Don’t Turn Off The Internet We Have A Revolution | Jeffbullas.com»

Why We Can’t See What’s Right in Front of Us

TONY MCCAFFREY

http://blogs.hbr.org/

Tony McCaffrey developed the Obscure Features Hypothesis for innovation as his dissertation in cognitive psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is currently funded by the National Science Foundation’s Center for e-Design to implement his innovation-enhancing techniques in software. Beta testing will begin in summer 2012.

The most famous cognitive obstacle to innovation is functional fixedness — an idea first articulated in the 1930s by Karl Duncker — in which people tend to fixate on the common use of an object. For example, the people on the Titanic overlooked the possibility that the iceberg could have been their lifeboat. Newspapers from the time estimated the size of the iceberg to be between 50-100 feet high and 200-400 feet long. Titanic was navigable for awhile and could have pulled aside the iceberg. Many people could have climbed aboard it to find flat places to stay out of the water for the four hours before help arrived. Fixated on the fact that icebergs sink ships, people overlooked the size and shape of the iceberg (plus the fact that it would not sink).

More mundane examples: in a pinch, people have trouble seeing that a plastic lawn chair could be used as a paddle (turn it over, grab two legs, and start rowing) or that a candle wick could be used to tie things together (scrape the wax away to free the string).

The problem is we tend to just see an object’s use, not the object itself. When we see a common object, the motor cortex of our brain activates in anticipation of using the object in the common way. Part of the meaning of an object is getting ready to use it. If a type of feature is not important for its common use, then we are not cognizant of it. The result: our brain’s incredible inertia to move toward the common. Efficient for everyday life, this automatic neural response is the enemy of innovation. Continuar leyendo «Why We Can’t See What’s Right in Front of Us»

Briggs & Stratton unveils its new QR code-based operator manuals

qrcodepress.com

Industry first missing guidebook solution based on mobile technology for ease of finding engine information.

Briggs & Stratton has just launched a new solution involving serialized QR code labels that will provide a first-ever opportunity for individuals to obtain the information in their misplaced operator’s manuals for everything from lawnmowers to snow blowers.

Their hope is to use mobile technology to end the frustration of the missing documents… Continuar leyendo «Briggs & Stratton unveils its new QR code-based operator manuals»

4 Tools to Enhance Brand Engagement on Facebook

Leyl Master Black | http://mashable.com

Over the past few years, Facebook marketing has moved from the domain of early adopters to a mainstream focus for nearly all businesses. During that time, a large number of social media marketing tools have emerged to help companies reach and engage with fans, run promotions and contests, and even integrate Facebook Ad programs with the rest of their social marketing.

But while most marketers are currently using the myriad applications that allow them to run their ongoing programs, they may not be as familiar with tools they can use to enhance their day-to-day activities and make their programs more effective.

Here are four services that offer specific functionality to boost the impact of your Facebook marketing every day.

1. EdgeRank Checker

Several billion pieces of content and “Stories” are shared on Facebook every day, so it would be completely overwhelming if the news feed showed all of the possible stories from your friends and the brands you like. For this reason, Facebook created an algorithm — known in the industry as “EdgeRank” — to predict how interesting each story will be to each user and decide which stories will appear in a news feed.

While this may benefit the typical Facebook user, it creates a challenge for brands. If your posts aren’t performing well, fewer people will see them. In fact, according to data from EdgeRank Checker andAllFacebook, the average Facebook brand post reaches only about 17% of its fans due to this filtering mechanism.

“Understanding and leveraging EdgeRank is quickly becoming the new social ‘organic SEO,’” says Chad Wittman, founder of EdgeRank Checker. “Brands that are able to leverage EdgeRank to their advantage, without heavily relying on paid media, will be able to maximize efficiently their Facebook ROI.”

EdgeRank Checker has developed an algorithm that measures the average effect of EdgeRank on a brand’s content. With an understanding of how EdgeRank is impacting its content, a brand is then able to begin the process of improving this average effect.

EdgeRank Checker’s free tool allows you to see your “EdgeRank Score” and your best and worst average days of the week, while the “pro” plan (which starts at $15 per month) gives you more in-depth analysis and recommendations to boost your rank.

2. PageLever

Continuar leyendo «4 Tools to Enhance Brand Engagement on Facebook»

101 aplicaciones que debes probar antes de morir

http://onsoftware.softonic.com
Por Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti

Hay millones de programas allá afuera. Tan solo para Windows se calculaque hay más de cuatro millones de programas conocidos. A los que hay que añadir centenares de miles de apps para Mac, móviles, tabletas…

Las aplicaciones que impresionan son pocas. Las que dejan un surco indeleble en la memoria, menos todavía. Hablamos de apps que, bien por su originalidad, bien por su calidad, brillan con luz propia.

Vamos a presentarte una selección de 101 aplicaciones que todos deberían probar al menos una vez en la vida, tanto para Escritorio (Windows, Mac, Linux) como para teléfonos móviles y navegadores web. ¿Estás listo para descubrir nuevos mundos?

Aquí están las 101 aplicaciones, mezcladas sin seguir ningún orden porque todas merecen estar aquí. No es un Top 100 de programas (para eso ya están los listados), sino una selección de aplicaciones que a nuestro parecer son únicas en su género y merecen un mayor reconocimiento.

1. Pinterest: imágenes en lugar de palabras. Un enfoque distinto para las redes sociales.

2. Evi: un asistente personal que reconoce tus preguntas y contesta con una voz sintética.

3. Make Me Old: te muestra cómo serás dentro de 50 años. El móvil como espejo mágico.

4. Google Earth: viajar a todo el mundo sin moverse. Esta es la maravilla que consigue Earth.

5. Google Goggles: apuntas la cámara de tu móvil y Goggles reconoce lo que se ve. ¡Impresionante!

6. Shazam: ¿cómo se llama esa canción? Pones el móvil y al rato tienes la respuesta.

7. Path: cuenta tu vida en el diario más revolucionario jamás inventado para móviles.

8. Quora: tú preguntas, la comunidad contesta. Resultado: una mole de conocimientos asombrosa.

9. BOINC: aporta tu granito de arena en proyectos científicos con… un salvapantallas.

10. ArtRage: con esta aplicación, tú también puedes ser pintor (con el ratón o una tableta).

11. mIRC: si nunca has entrado en un #canal de IRC, no sabes qué significa chatear.

12. Solar System Scope: el sistema solar como nunca lo habías visto. En tu navegador.

13. Electric Sheep: salvapantallas aleatorios y psicodélicos directamente desde Internet.

14. ScummVM: ¿revivir las aventuras gráficas de antaño en cualquier móvil o PC? Oh, sí.

15. Gaikai: ¿Jugar los mejores videojuegos a distancia, con retraso inapreciable? ¿Dónde se firma?

16. Google Sky Map: el mejor mapa estelar cabe en la palma de un mano; está en tu móvil.

17. Fing: la herramienta definitiva para saber qué hay conectado en tu red local.

18. WindowBlinds: porque tu Escritorio se merece un aspecto mejor. ¡Personalízalo!

19. Zattoo: a día de hoy, una de las mejores televisiones virtuales a través de Internet.

20. ChemSketch: siéntete un químico por un día moviendo bellas moléculas en 3D.

21. jKiwi: un simulador de maquillaje. Ya no hace falta probar delante del espejo.

22. Notepad++: el Bloc de notas definitivo. Una vez lo pruebes no querrás volver al Notepad.

23. Virtual DJ: te gusten o no las discotecas, este programa da ganas de ponerse a mezclar.

24. Wikango: con este detector de radares, se acabaron las multas inesperadas (y los accidentes).

25. Cloud: quizá la manera más sencilla y elegante de compartir un archivo en un Mac.

26. Vienna: el lector de noticias para Mac que hará que no quieras probar ningún otro.

27. Audacity: el editor de sonido de código abierto más famoso. Imprescindible.

28. Google Traductor: traduce texto entre decenas de idiomas. Casi de ciencia-ficción.

29. SkyFire: ¿el mejor navegador alternativo para móvil? Muchos opinamos que sí.

30. Pixelmator: la mejor alternativa a Photoshop para Mac. Sencillamente brillante.

31. DiskDigger: el recuperador de archivos borrados más eficaz. No se deja nada.

32. Justin.TV: un PC conectado a Internet, una webcam… y tu emisora de TV ya está lista.

33. Q10: un editor de textos anti-distracciones diseñado con inteligencia y esmero.

34. SnagIt: es el capturador de pantalla más completo y fiable. ¡Click!

35. VirtualBox: al menos una vez en la vida hay que ejecutar un PC… dentro de otro.

36. Wine: ¿quién dijo que en Linux no se puede abrir Office? Con Wine se puede…

37. After Dark: los salvapantallas más originales y divertidos siguen vivos.

38. Qustodian: una forma poco convencional de ganar dinero viendo anuncios.

39. GOM Media Player: un reproductor de vídeo al que no le falta de nada.

40. Calibre: quien tiene un eBook, tiene Calibre. Es el iTunes del libro electrónico.

41. Wubi: ejecutar Linux como si fuera un programa más de Windows, toda una experiencia.

42. Viber: con esta aplicación, llamadas y SMS ya no tienen motivos para existir.

43. Panda Cloud: un antivirus distinto, que destaca por su sencillez y ligereza.

44. Mindomo: en cuanto creas tu primer mapa conceptual, ya no puedes dejarlo.

45. eMule: puede que esté de capa caída, pero sigue siendo un clásico del P2P.

46. AIDA64: todas las características de tu PC en una ventana. Pero toda, toda, ¿eh?

47. TeamViewer: acceder al Escritorio del PC de casa desde otro PC es divertido.

48. Fences: esta aplicación ha conseguido acabar con el caos de los iconos. No es poco.

49. Camtasia Studio: ¿para qué largas explicaciones? Graba un vídeo de tu Escritorio y envíalo.

50. Rdio: hay muchos servicios para escuchar música. Rdio es original y muy prometedor. Continuar leyendo «101 aplicaciones que debes probar antes de morir»

Quick Response Code

QR codes are growing popularity as a result of their flexibility, data capacity and the explosion in the number of smart phones available
By John R Joyce, Ph.D
http://www.scientificcomputing.comThe Quick Response Code was created by Denso-Wave Incorporated,¹ a subsidiary of Toyota, in 1994 and is a two-dimensional bar code. I mention it because it has rapidly become one of the most commonly publicly used matrix codes, though you might be more familiar with it under the Denso-Wave trademark of QR Code. If you were in attendance at Pittcon 2012, despite a tweet from someone saying that they hadn’t seen a QR code anywhere, you will no doubt have noticed that they were everywhere! You could find them on everything; including business cards, programs, part of exhibit booths, and even printed on T-shirts.This growing popularity is a result of their flexibility, data capacity and the explosion in the number of smart phones available. While the use of QR codes in the United States has grown rapidly, we are well behind their use in Japan, where it is found everywhere, with places such as the Netherlands and South Korea only a little behind.

QR codes come in a variety of versions with different data capacities, but always appear in a square pattern containing a number of fixed data elements. These are illustrated in th embedded Wikipedia graphic in Figure 1.²Because of the encoding used, the capacity for a given version varies with the specific data to be stored in it. For example, Version 1 consists of a 21 by 21 matrix and can hold between 10 and 25 characters. Version 4 consists of a 33 by 33 matrix and can hold between 67 and 114 characters. By the time you reach Version 40, with a 177 by 177 matrix, the code can contain between 1852 to 4296 characters. If you are only encoding numbers, instead of alpha-numeric characters, the maximum number of digits that can be encoded rises to 7,089. This gives you the ability to encode a great deal of information, but the numbers above only tell part of the story.

Figure 2: Customized QR Code from 360i

Using Reed–Solomon error correction, damaged codes still can be read. How much damage can be absorbed depends on the level of error correction used. For example, Level L error correction allows seven percent of the code words to be restored, while Level H error correction allows 30 percent of the code words to be restored.

However, this code restoration capability does come at a price. For code restoration to work, redundant data must be included in the code, meaning that fewer data characters can be encoded. The bottom line is that how much you can actually store in this code, as with so many things in life, is a trade-off. The full description of version 2 of this code can be found in standard ISO/IEC 18004:2006.^{3 Continuar leyendo «Quick Response Code»}

The Beginner’s Guide to Mobile App Marketing

Calculate the number of downloads you’ll need to get into the Top Charts

Every category requires a different number of downloads to move into the Top Charts for that category. Do your homework and find out just how many downloads per day you’ll need to get into the Top Charts. Finding the exact number can be challenging, but you’ll be able to approximate that amount of downloads your app needs to move its way up the Top Charts rankings.

To estimate your targeted download number, keep an eye on how many downloads/ratings/reviews the apps in your category’s Top Charts have and how they change on a daily basis. If the app store doesn’t offer a way to follow number of downloads, do your best to approximate. Use your app as a guide for what percentage of users also rate and review it, and approximate the other apps using this same percentage. As an example, if your app has 100 downloads and 5 ratings (5%) while your competitor has 10 ratings, you can assume that your competitor has around 200 downloads. You should be able to triangulate on a reasonable estimate for the number of downloads per day needed to rise in the Top Charts.

Run burst campaigns to rise in the Top Charts, then lower your spend and stay ranked organically

One of the best ways to rise quickly in the Top Charts is to run a burst paid ad campaign to drive rapid downloads. Once your ad campaign begins, you’ll see an increase in the number of downloads and users of your app. If your app is valuable, you’ll get great ratings and reviews, and the app will be shared by users with their friends. Due to the increase in downloads, you will now begin to rank higher in the app stores’ Top Charts.

Once you’re ranking highly in the Top Charts, you’ll be able to decrease your ad spend while your app continues to rank highly on its own. This creates a virtuous cycle of organic app growth: your app ranks highly in the Top Charts, which drives downloads and ratings, which causes your app to continue to rank highly in the Top Charts.

Conclusion

Building an app is hard, and marketing an app is even harder. It requires a multi-faceted approach that is coordinated and coherent. Each of the steps above will contribute to a successfully marketed app, but none of them are silver bullets.

You have to create a great app and consistently promote it through as many channels as possible for a shot at success in the app store ecosystem. With a lot of work, and a little luck, you can build a massively successful mobile app that will drive your business forward.

Have you marketed a mobile app yet? Did you learn any tricks to share with the world?

About the author: Ian Sefferman is the founder and CEO of AppStoreHQ and MobileDevHQ. Through those 2 companies, he helps companies market their apps so that they can rank at the top charts.

by Guest Author
http://www.quicksprout.com

Getting your app discovered is the fundamental challenge every app marketer faces. With millions of apps across iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and other platforms, standing out in the boundless sea of available apps is becoming increasingly difficult.

The best app marketers will pursue a comprehensive, well-rounded app marketing strategy that includes pre-launch work and post-launch work. The best strategies will include organic and paid app marketing channels.

Here’s the complete guide to app marketing that every app owner needs to follow.

Before Launch

Contrary to popular belief, your marketing strategy needs to start well before your app goes live in the app store. Like any successful product, understanding who your customers are and where you can find them is one of the most important pieces of the app marketing puzzle. There are a few steps you need to take before you launch your app: