Archive for the ‘Mobile’ Category
Images & Mobile Apps: Showcasing Photography (@caephoto @tpurifoy @davidlebovitz)
posted by Michael ArcandPerhaps one of the most overlooked opportunities for mobile apps is in the area of photography. While many apps take advantage of the medium to share images and allow their customers or fans to do the same, photographers may shy away from the mobile app simply because they don’t feel it will present their work well. With the debut of the iPad and the new HD iPhone 4, it’s time to revisit these ideas and see just what a mobile app can do with photographs.
While there are many Mobile Roadie apps that utilize photo collections generated by their users, there are also a few that generate photos as part of their product, which makes an app’s ability to showcase pictures even more important. Let’s take a look at a few of these apps and how the use the Mobile Roadie CMS along with their app to promote their work.
Caesar Lima Photography utilizes a mobile app to showcase their work and bring in new customers. For them, the app is all about the pictures, along with the customer interaction. With this app, the company’s customers can stay up to date on advertising photography, video and design. Not only does the app feature Caesar Lima’s portfolio, it also has Pixelpasta news and updates, behind the scenes video and a fan wall to leave feedback and interact with other customers. As you can see from the screenshot, the pictures are highlighted very well within this app.
You can download the Caesar Lima app here: http://road.ie/caesar-lima
Another app that utilizes the mobile platform to showcase photography is Purifoy Photography. This app not only allows Purifoy’s customers to view the photo galleries 24/7, but they are also providing exclusive content just for their mobile users. In addition, customers can contact them directly through the app to schedule a photography session. As you can see, they’ve leveraged the Mobile Roadie CMS as well to create a unique app that’s just right for their business.
You can download the Purifoy Photography app here: http://road.ie/purifoyphoto
However, you certainly don’t have to be a professional photographer to take advantage of what mobile images can do for promoting your business. Chef David Lebovitz shares recipes via his iPhone app, but when you add pictures to the mix, the result is absolutely stunning. The visual interaction on the menu, using CoverFlow, creates a unique impact. And if the photos of all the desserts don’t make you hungry, well, I don’t know what’s wrong with you. His unique application of the photo features complement his app and make it a great example of thinking outside the box.
You can download the David Lebovitz app here: http://road.ie/davidlebovitz
With the new Retina Display of the new iPhone 4, these apps are only the beginning. The mobile marketplace is opening up to photographers and graphic artists in new and exciting ways. If you’re in one of these fields, why not contact us today to see what we can do for your business?
Apps For Everyone… With Quality Content and An Audience
posted by Michael Schneider (Mobile Roadie CEO)Our catch phrase at Mobile Roadie has long been “apps for everyone” and our mission has always been to democratize the process of getting an app. No longer do you need to pay $10,000+ for a high quality app, or wait months for development.
We’ve been noticing, however, examples lately that don’t meet minimum quality guidelines for content and audience, and I wanted to take a minute and explain our threshold.
Quality content
This is the biggest one… make sure you have good content. What defines good content? You know it when you see it. Videos, music, news, photos, etc. that your users will actually care about. Don’t put in blurry photos, videos that don’t play on mobile, or single sentence news releases. Your content is the main reason people will come to your app – so make sure it rocks.
Quantity of content
In addition to providing the good stuff (quality content), you need to put in enough content in each section you choose to use that the user feels like it’s a complete experience. Don’t just add one video to your video section and say you’re done. Either flush out an area of the app, or remove it and add it later (with our fully dynamic tab system, you can add/remove sections at any time without resubmitting to Apple).
Audience
So you’ve got great quality and quantity content. You also need to have a solid audience. By “solid” I mean a) an audience beyond just you and your family (for example), and b) an audience that warrants the app being available for public consumption. If you need a private app for your organization, Apple has special certificates you can use for private distribution. If you need an app for only a few people, we can give you an “ad hoc” distribution.
Our process
Before sending your app to Apple, we quality check it internally. This includes checking both the quality and quantity of content, in addition to the functionality. We reject apps that don’t meet our minimum standards, because Apple is likely to do the same. If you get rejected, don’t worry – we’ll give you suggestions on what you need to change in order pass QA and be submitted to Apple.
The bottom line
We have one big goal at Mobile Roadie – to empower you with the tools to create beautiful, highly functional, high quality apps yourself. And we’re going to be releasing even more customization options in the near future. Get serious about your app, use our customization tools, and create something that will blow people away. Go for it!
MIPTV Panel on Mobile Engagement 2.0
posted by Michael Arcand
During a recent trip to Cannes, France, Mobile Roadie CEO Michael Schneider made an announcement about our expansion into the European mobile apps market. However, this wasn’t the only reason he went to the MIPTV conference. He also was invited to sit on the MIPTV Panel on Mobile Engagement 2.0.
The panel was moderated by Jason DaPonte, Managing Editor for BBC Mobile (UK), whose first question out of the box was “How would you summarize what’s different about engaging people on mobile, compared to engaging people on the web, TV, or other media?” Michael was the first in line to answer the question, pointing to the higher level of engagement than the desktop, because it is mobile.
Other panelists included Claire Boonstra, Co-founder of Layar DV (Netherlands); Rudy de Waele, Chief Networking Officer from DotOpen (Spain); and Kurt Sillen, VP and Head of Customer Business Development from Ericsson (Sweeden). The panelists were also asked about the commercial opportunities provided by the mobile web. I have to admit that I was intrigued by the theory posited by Kurt Sillen, that the mobile app is dead. By the end of the video he agreed it really isn’t dead, but his reason for throwing out that position was to challenge the panel not to get too connected or tied in to one technology alone.
I may be biased, but I think that Michael made the best defense in terms of the future of the mobile app:
“Until the mobile web becomes as engaging and as pretty, and frankly, as sexy as an app, it’s not going to provide the same value to the user. One of the reasons the iPhone is as successful as it is, is because of the apps.”
You can watch the entire eight minute video at the MIPTV website here.
(Note: The Mobile Engagement Panel is the second video on the right. )
Feed Only Apps
posted by Michael Schneider (Mobile Roadie CEO)Thinking of a “feeds” only app? Think again.
We’ve long prided ourselves on creating highly customizable apps (but not custom apps) for a wide range of industries with our powerful content management system. Mobile Roadie’s CMS is the magic behind the scenes, and allows our customers to customize their app down to the color, section name, and of course, content. There are other solutions out there that offer apps that pull in “feeds” – such as your Twitter feed, RSS feed, and YouTube Channel. Before you pull the trigger on the “same thing” as Mobile Roadie for less money, consider the following.
1. Customization. Feed-only apps lack the ability to customize the app experience and rely solely on other content sources. Yes, this may sound like a good thing since it’s easier for you to update the things you’re already updating. But the problem is you don’t get customization options such as color themes, section names, and native app features. Our CMS allows you to pull in feeds as well – but does much more than just that.
2. Exclusive Content. Exclusive content is what makes an app. Give a reason to people to download your app and they will. But if the app is sucking in feeds available elsewhere on the Internet, you lack the ability to offer app-only exclusive content.
3. Approval Process. Apple likes apps that have a reason to be apps. If your app is only sucking in your Twitter feed and RSS feed, it really doesn’t need to be an app, and you may have issues with approval.
Quality pays in the mobile world – and engagement and retention is key. It’s hard to keep your audience engaged with feeds they can get elsewhere. It’s hard to keep the user experience high quality when you have little to no customization options. Don’t get an app to say you have an app.
Mobile Roadie and the iPad
posted by Michael Arcand
This weekend Apple is launching their latest in a line of new and revolutionary products, the iPad. Described by Steve Jobs as “magical” some customers may have concerns about their Mobile Roadie apps and how they will perform on the iPad. Well, we’re here to reassure you that the Mobile Roadie platform puts your app among the 150,000+ current apps that Apple says will run on the iPad. And we know (and have been hearing) that you are excited by the opportunities presented by the iPad as well.
While there may be some inherent challenges with increasing the resolution of videos and pictures from the current iPhone apps when displayed on the iPad (simply because of the resolution contained within the files themselves), we also want you to know that we will be working to maximize the performance of the Mobile Roadie platform to take advantage of the new features and opportunities presented on the iPad through the iPhone OS version 3.2. Look for future iPad support from Mobile Roadie, scheduled for the third quarter of 2010.
We know that the future of computing lies in the mobile web and applications that can access and provide quality information in the best possible format. Mobile Roadie is committed to doing just that for our customers – helping you to reach your best potential and put the best foot forward for your business, whether that is music, writing, conference presentations, etc. The bottom line is that as the requirements for future mobile applications change with advances in technology and new gadgets like the iPad, we’re here to help you along the way.
It’s time to take mobile seriously
posted by Michael Schneider (Mobile Roadie CEO)I meet a lot of people every day in a wide variety of positions in companies. Some people get it, and some people don’t.
Morgan Stanley predicts that within five years, more people will connect to the internet via a mobile device than via desktop PCs. This is game changing for everyone.
Lack of mobile friendly shopping experiences
It’s unbelievable that big companies still don’t prioritize making a mobile version of their ecommerce site. Just do it, stop wondering if it’s worth it. I know several Fortune 500 companies that do tens of millions of dollars a year in ecommerce business that don’t even have it in their long term plan.
Carrier billing is a con
Carriers need to get over themselves. No one is going to give them 50% just to have the privilege of having the charge billed to the consumer’s cell phone bill. Apple and Google take 30% for purchases through their store. That’s a lot, but they’re also providing a lot of value. Carriers are providing less value and charging nearly double. If carriers got smart, they would reduce carrier billing to 5% and start taking business from credit card companies.
Your mobile strategy needs resources
Don’t get an app to just have an app. You’d never get a website and then not maintain it, right? Mobile is just as important if not more. Give your mobile customers exclusive content. Update the app and your mobile website often. Engage with customers where they are (huge advantage of mobile vs. desktop).
Flattening world
In many countries around the world, there are more people connecting to the web through mobile devices than desktops. This is mostly due to economic reasons – but is extremely powerful in reaching demographics you might never be able to reach if you just have a website.
Bottom line
Apps and mobile are here to stay, and the opportunity is real. Don’t slack. Grab the bull by its horns and go for it. You won’t regret it and frankly don’t have a choice (your competitors are making a move). It’s time to take mobile seriously.
