If you’re gearing up for Google’s big annual developer event this year, you might be wondering what the company will be doing with its full two-day event, which kicks off Wednesday. Google’s focus this year is expanding to include more information and value for the gamut of app and software makers. That means speaking not just to developers but also to designers and marketers. But for the average user, there’s still plenty to look for here in terms of news and excitement, too. Android Wear A key focus this year, according to people familiar with the matter, will be Android Wear.Google announced the project earlier this year, and released it to developers in beta form. It’s an extension of its mobile OS that is designed specifically for use on smartwatches and other wearable form factor devices, and we’ll almost certainly hear a lot more about it at I/O this year. Two manufacturers are set to debut the first shipping smartwatches running Android wear this year, including Motorola and LG. Both had promised a summer launch window for these devices, which are the Moto 360 and LG G Watch, and we’ve just entered into summer technically, so we’re almost guaranteed to hear more about these at I/O, if we don’t get a full-fledged launch of both. We’ll almost certainly get a good long look at Android Wear in a consumer-ready form, with more details and specifics on how it’ll work in terms of both basic built-in functionality and third-party support, and there will probably […]

For many, smartphones and tablets have become so integral to everyday life that “mobile” is no longer considered a separate entity from the rest of one’s marketing strategy. In this vein, mobile and marketing have become nearly synonymous, with it being impossible to think strategically about marketing while ignoring mobile altogether. To help businesses gain a firmer grasp on the mobile landscape, we’ll go over 10 mobile-related statistics that every marketer should be aware of, along with some key takeaways to consider as you fine tune your mobile strategy. Monetizing on Mobile 82% of mobile shoppers use search to influence their purchasing decisions. (Google) 52% of mobile shoppers realize that they buy more with cross-channel personalization. (MyBuys) 79% of smartphone owners also use their devices to shop. (Google) Key Takeaways: Today’s mobile users are also mobile shoppers, turning to their devices to inform purchase decisions and complete purchases. Aside from having a mobile presence, e-commerce companies should also leverage first party data to personalize shopping experiences and encourage future purchases. Mobile Usage Nearly half of American smartphone owners used shopping apps in June 2012. (MarketingPilgrim) Smartphone use most often occurs during travel (72%), in restaurants (64%) and in stores (63%). (Vocus) 62% of emails are opened on mobile. (Econsultancy) Tablet users access search 73.9 percent of the time, more than any other activity. (eMarketer) Key Takeaways: Mobile users are shopping, reading emails, and searching for information on their devices, among other activities. By understanding how consumers are interacting with their devices, businesses […]

Google performed well in 2013 (read our ‘Year in Review‘), launching a plethora of new and improved products, ramping up its profits each quarter and maintaining its dominance in the mobile OS race. As we enter a new year, our attention turns to 2014 and where Google will focus its efforts next. What follows are my predictions (I can’t foresee the future, unfortunately) about how Google will develop its business over the next 12 months. Feel free to post your own ideas in the comments section at the bottom of this piece – it’s always fun to guess what a company like Google will be up to next. Very likely: More Google Glass Google kept Glass, its intriguing head-mounted personal computer, rather low-key in 2013. There was a notable hardware revision which bundled in a mono earbud, as well as some welcome software improvements, such as support for Google Play Music and the ability to take a photo with a casual wink. Google is now touring the United States to let the public try Glass for themselves. Although Google has missed the end of 2013 release window previously given to The Verge, we can’t help but feel that the device is nearing public availability. Google’s Eric Schmidt pointed to a 2014 launch in an interview with the BBC, which seems far more realistic. Google will almost certainly be showing off more of Glass and releasing further software updates in 2014. Will it be on store shelves before Christmas? Probably – expect some new details at the Google’s next I/O conference, which will most likely […]

The concept of the connected home is not easy to understand. At first blush, it seems simple: devices and tools connected to each other in an automated way to save labor and effort in the home. But in reality, the connected home remains an elusive ideal, with no clear breakout hit present in our lives or even clear on the horizon. With the near-ubiquity of Internet access in the home and the onset of Internet-connected devices of all shapes and sizes, it seems a foregone conclusion that the connected home is right around the corner. Wire up a coffee maker and toaster to the Internet, and you’ve got breakfast ready in the morning with a touch of an app. But that gastronomically satisfying vision of the future has not come about yet. Nor has another vision of the connected home: the automated home-entertainment system that has your music follow you from room to room. While this aspect of the connected home has been installed in various homes, the cost and complexity has kept it out of reach of all but the wealthiest and most determined audiophiles. That’s just one definition. Ask one connected-home advocate what the connected home is, and you might get an answer that a connected home aligns everything from computers, smartphones, TVs and set-top boxes to systems such as lighting, appliances and heating/air conditioning systems and makes them controllable through a single interface. But a connected-home expert more interested in media systems might promote the idea of […]

Atari, the company responsible for the widely popular video game “Pong” released in 1972, has officially filed for Chapter 11 Protection. Atari management has stated that they expect to “sell or restructure all [its] assets in the next 120 days.” The company has changed leadership several times since its inception, which, no doubt, meant multiple shifts in its business model. What started as an arcade and console focused gaming company has just recently jumped on the digital platform bandwagon. In December 2012, Atari launched a successful “Atari’s Greatest Hits” application in the AppStore and the Android Marketplace. This bold move suggests that the firm is ready to join its competitors in the digital revolution to attract a financer for the $5.25 million needed to continue operations. Could this late transition spell disaster for the legendary Atari? The Atari story is ominously similar to the once great photographic equipment company—Kodak. In January 2012, Kodak’s average closing price on the NYSE had been below $1.00 for 30 consecutive days after the NYSE had already warned the firm about raising stock prices lest it be removed. From being a strong member of the photography industry at $90 a stock in 1997, Kodak failed to innovate and fell from grace, closing at 76 cents on January 3rd 2012. Could Atari share the same fate as Kodak? Or has Atari saved itself by the skin of its teeth? We will find out over the next 120 days!