Blog

The end of the Kodak moment?

For a generation, the “Kodak moment” branded family memories. Your family didn’t just visit Disney World—it had a “Kodak moment” there. You would think that such a timeless concept would sustain a brand long into the future, but Kodak’s recent bankruptcy proves it takes more than a memorable slogan to succeed long term. So what did Kodak do wrong? What could it have done to successfully transition into the digital realm? Is there still hope for the Kodak brand even though the corporation looks like less than the picture of health right now?

More able than cable? How smart are smart TV makers?

Rumor has it that Apple wants a bite out of your living room. The tech world anxiously anticipates the introduction of the “iTV” in the near future—a significant remodel of the traditional television set that is more able than cable featuring Internet connectivity, streamed live cable & network content, direct on-demand digital content and more. Samsung, Sony & Google have already made a foray into this realm with their smart TV designs, and others like LG and Microsoft have ideas up their sleeves as we’ll likely see at the Consumer Electronic Show next week.

There’s an app in their lap! The second screen scramble

When was the last time you watched TV with just a remote control and a bag of chips? Instead, I bet you have out your laptop, tablet and/or smartphone—multitasking—checking email, tweeting, Googling for more detail on the content you’re seeing, shopping online, watching YouTube, checking the weather or something else. If you are, you are not alone. Viewing the “second screen” as it has come to be known has become common practice for many users and it is only going to become more prevalent as smart devices proliferate.

3D Movies—Ticket for Success?

3D movies are no new phenomenon in the world of film technology, but their newfound success has many filmmakers considering 3D revamps as a ticket to profit in a time when making money in the movie business is increasingly difficult.

Tablet Market—iPadlocked?

What is the combination to the iPadlock, Apple’s lock on the tablet market? That is the question HP and so many others are asking themselves as they watch their gallantly organized efforts at a tablet computer competitor decisively fail, overshadowed by the ruling iPad. Clearly TouchPad couldn’t touch iPad. But why? Does Apple just have the Midas touch? Is everyone else out of touch with what consumers want? Or is there another missing combination?

A few initial thoughts on the new iHeartRadio

You can try the new iHeartRadio here. A few initial thoughts from us at knowDigital:

(1) There’s no branding other than the (somewhat feminine) iHeartRadio name—what is iHeartRadio, and what does it mean to me? Is Clear Channel making a mistake by assuming the masses know what iHeartRadio means? What makes it cool/special/different/important/must have? All I hear about is a concert in Las Vegas, and I’m not sure how that relates to the coolest new online music experience.

Spotify—Spot On?

Spotify is in the spotlight. The music-streaming service from Europe entered the US last week to the delight of many. And we wondered—what makes it so delightful? We already have iTunes, Pandora, Grooveshark, Rhapsody, Amazon, Google Music, etc. etc. etc….why should American consumers want yet another digital music service? What separates Spotify from the crowd in terms of both features and branding?

Is your message getting through the filter?

In a world of Starbucks, you can order every type of coffee under the sun, your way, to the point you aren’t even sure its coffee anymore: “Quad, Grande, 6 pump, whole milk, a little dry, no whip, white mocha.” Some of us are such Starbucks regulars that the barista doesn’t even have to ask us our order anymore—our “usual” is blended up and waiting before we hand over our Visa. In this increasingly individualized world, personalization is all the rage.

Facebook: More Than Just Friends

Face it. If you’re a business and you’re not on Facebook, you should be. Why? The answer is simple—immediate access to over half a billion potential consumers at no cost other than your time investment. What’s more, in recent focus groups, Facebook users told us they “live on Facebook,” spending four to six hours a day on the site, either on computers or smartphones. They expect businesses to be on Facebook—not being there can make your brand appear out of touch.

Forecast Calls for Clouds

The big leaguers are here. Apple and Google are joining the ranks of music “cloud” contenders ready to compete with the likes of early entries like Amazon. The clouds just got a little more crowded, but that can only be a good thing for consumers.

Syndicate content
Share |