Are you thinking about snapping up a new iPad? The post-PC lifestyle is especially intriguing for business owners who travel on a regular basis and want to travel lightly. It’s easy to forget that the tablet, for all of its shiny tech and workable native apps, is still a blank slate for business. Luckily, that can be solved with a few quick tips — and the right apps. Here’s a round-up of what you need to maximize your iPad’s capabilities and ensure that you’re getting the most out of your new workhorse. Read entire article at Mashable.com
Despite criticism, the QR code continues to be a major player in the evolution of mobile commerce. But while many Fortune 500 advertisers may have embraced the QR code in their marketing efforts, the restaurant industry has proven a relatively late adopter of the technology.
When used to power speedier transactions and provide timely information, the QR code is a useful tool for restaurateurs seeking to augment the customer experience. On takeout menus, dine-in menus and real world advertising, the QR code has a purposeful place in the restaurant experience.
As any supporter of QR codes, near field communication (NFC) chips, or augmented reality will tell you, the key is the destination, not the mode of transportation. It doesn’t matter if information is delivered with zero friction, if the information itself isn’t wanted, it won’t pay off.
Are QR codes just a marketing fad, or can the mobile technology deliver real value for restaurants and consumers at the right place and at the right time? Here are four ways QR codes can be effectively leveraged in a restaurant environment to improving the overall dining experience.
Read the entire article on Mashable.com
You know that blue Twitter bird that’s always popping up these days? Well, the little guy’s got a name. It’s Larry. Larry the Bird. As in, Larry Bird, the Hall of Fame basketball player. This tidbit most recently came to light earlier this week, thanks to a tweet from Ryan Sarver, a platform and API manager at Twitter. He posted a photo of Twitter’s creative director, Doug Bowman, explaining how the company’s logo has developed over the years. Sarver’s tweet mentioned the “evolution of the Larry the Bird logo.”
The connection actually makes quite a bit of sense, if you do a little Internet stalking and connect the dots.
Twitter’s co-founder is Biz Stone. A 2009 interview from The Boston Globe tells us that Stone graduated from Wellesley High School, just outside Boston. And Wikipedia tells us Stone was born in 1974.
This means Stone likely was a wide-eyed, prepubescent youth at the same time Larry Bird was leading the Boston Celtics to two NBA championships, winning three consecutive league MVP titles from 1984 to 1986.
The Beantown hoops backstory has gained a fair amount of media coverage since Sarver’s tweet earlier this week. But Peter Stringer, the Celtics’ director of interactive media, was aware of the connection back in August, when he had this Twitter exchange with Stone:Read entire article at Mashable.com
If the rumors are to be believed, Microsoft is on the verge of releasing a version of Office for the iPad. While an iOS version of Office may have seemed unthinkable a couple of years ago, it could be a key weapon in Microsoft’s fight against Google Docs, Google’s free cloud-based productivity software.
The Daily reported Tuesday that Microsoft is expected to launch Office for iPad in the coming weeks. Citing “sources”along with an image of the app’s home screen, the report says Microsoft will soon submit the app to Apple for inclusion in the App Store. An Android version is reportedly not in the works.
Having a version of Office for iPad would give users a way to stay within Microsoft’s walled garden when viewing documents on their favorite tablet. At the moment, Office users must opt for other methods to open their files on the iPad — with one of the most popular being Google Docs.
Why would users trade free (Google Docs) for functionality (Office)? Microsoft reportedly plans to give users the following reasons to switch:
First, the iPad version of Office is said to borrow elements from Microsoft’s touch-friendly Metro interface, currently on Windows Phone but due to spread throughout the platform on Windows 8. The overall look is said to be similar to the current OneNote iPad app released last year. That app is due for a makeover as well.
Pinterest, the social image-sharing site that has exploded in popularity over the past few months, has found itself with a strange bedfellow: the U.S. Army. The Army’s Pinterest boards include topics such as “Goodwill,” “Humanitarian Relief,” and “HOOAH!.” Each board is designed to show some aspect of Army life and the Army’s mission or to connect with Army families (“DIY & Decor,” for instance, might be a favorite among Army moms).
It may seem strange for the Army to have a presence alongside the companies that dominate Pinterest, such as fashion, do-it-yourself (DIY) advice and retail brands. But Juanita Chang, director of the U.S. Army’s online and social media division, says that it’s important for the Army to be on different platforms so it can reach people it can’t find anywhere else.
“We recognize that each social media platform has a different audience,” says Chang. “With the growing popularity of Pinterest, we determined that there was a unique audience that we may not have been reaching through other social media platforms.”
Read article at Mashable.com
