Announcing the @DJShadow App
posted by Michael Arcand
Joshua Paul Davis, otherwise known as DJ Shadow, has been at the forefront of instrumental hip hop and turntable sampling since the early 90s. His first full-length album, Endtroducing, was hailed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the first completely sampled album. His work is exceptionally varied, featuring elements of funk, rock, hip hop, ambient, jazz and soul; all from his collection of over 60k album titles. The Mobile Roadie staff is a big fan of his work, and we’re proud to be able to present his work in a mobile platform supported by our very own CMS. In addition to being the first app to use our new API, the DJ Shadow app is also the first to use Soundcloud integration and custom theme. It’s perfect timing too, with a tour coming up in just a few days and brand new website that just launched today.
I recently had a chance to catch up with Michael Fiebach from Reconstruction Productions, who is the project, marketing and merchandise manager for DJ Shadow. We had a great discussion about the new Official DJ Shadow app and what the future plans are for this new mobile tool.
First, I asked Michael why they decided to get a mobile app and what he thought it brought to their business model. Among the reasons he mentioned is the fact that it’s another important way to build the fan base. They already have a huge email list and a website that gets good traffic, along with an online store. Push notifications are also important to the team, because it represents a new type of email list, to push information out to the fan base. They know it’s important if you have your own business, to have an app. As Michael said, a mobile app is like the new website. Every business these days has a website, and within 3-5 years he believes it will be the same way with mobile apps.
The app contains streaming bonus tracks, but in addition it features the Shadow radio show within the app. These are hour-long radio sets of DJ Shadow mixing unique and obscure music. The app currently has six shows listed, so there is already over six hours of music on the app, with plans to continue updating these sets moving forward.
The team’s promotion of the app thus far has been interesting and unique. In addition to promoting the app via the website, DJ Shadow plans to utilize a visual screen during his shows to engage the audience and encourage people to download the app and to share photos of the event they are attending. It also promotes the DJ Shadow website, so those without an app can participate. Then the app syncs the content between the app and the website, so people can access it using either method.
As for why they decided to go with Mobile Roadie, it was access to the API that made the deal. The new API allows them to engage fans, show comments and sync everything to the website, which helps drive people to the site. Michael indicated that they couldn’t find another company that had a system in place that was as easy as Mobile Roadie. For them, consolidation of these points was key.
The show pages that sync with the Mobile Roadie API can all be viewed at djshadow.com/tour (click on a corresponding show link to see that show’s page, which utilizes the MoRo API). Notice you can check in, comment and add photos from a show; all of this content is shown in the app and at the djshadow.com show page.
After our conversation about the DJ Shadow app, I asked Michael what he thought about Mobile Roadie’s services. Here’s what he had to say:
“I think MoRo is a great company and that they offer anything anyone would need in terms of mobile apps. They have great plans for the future and plans to engage customers and I’m really looking forward to working with them as this market expands and evolves. I encourage anyone looking to get a mobile app to check out Mobile Roadie and if you like good music, download the DJ Shadow app.”
You can download the DJ Shadow app here: http://road.ie/dj-shadow
International Spotlight: Lena Meyer-Landrut App
posted by Michael Arcand
With so many new Mobile Roadie apps from around the world going live every day it can be hard to keep track but once in awhile we see stand-outs that have extensive adoption very quickly.
Lena Meyer-Landrut’s app is the perfect example. If you haven’t heard of Lena, and if you’re in the U.S. odds are high you haven’t, she’s the most recent winner of the 55th annual Eurovision Song Contest 2010 (think American Idol) that involved representatives from 39 countries vying for the top spot. She represented her home country, Germany, and snagged the title, a huge honor, as it’s the country’s first win in 28 years and only its second since the contest’s inception.
Lena released her first album this past May, which debuted at number one in German album charts. She also set an all-time chart record with three songs appearing simultaneously in the top five of the German singles chart. Her Eurovision winning song, Satellite, debuted at number one in Germany and has been certified triple gold since. Not bad for a musician with no formal voice training!
Her popularity on the charts is clearly reflected in the adoption of her app. In under two weeks it’s already been downloaded over 67,000 times.
Currently the app is only available in Deutschland. If you’re a local there check it out for yourself. Get the app at: http://road.ie/lena
Mobile Roadie Hiring in the U.K.
posted by Michael ArcandMobile Roadie recently expanded our operations into Europe, and the time has come for us to find someone to work with as a representative in the United Kingdom. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a part of the Mobile Roadie team, then we want to meet you!
We’re looking for an entrepreneurial soul to be our eyes and ears on the ground in the U.K. Our co-founder and CEO Michael Schneider will be visiting the U.K. in a few weeks and would like to set up interviews with qualified applicants beforehand.
Main duties of this position include the following:
- Local sales and support for Mobile Roadie clients
- Business development
- Partner relationships
There’s no need to worry about coding or working on the app process. All product will still be done in California. So if you have a drive for success, love a challenge and would like to work with a fast-paced mobile tech company, here’s your chance. Send your resume and cover letter to — hello (at) mobileroadie.com — and put “UK Position” in the subject line.
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?
New App Spotlight: Seven Venues, Sydney Party, iShade, GirlGamer & ADA
posted by Michael ArcandEach week the number of Mobile Roadie-powered apps continues to grow, and with that growth comes continued diversity. In the last two weeks alone we’ve seen apps created to help users find parties, locate cool destinations within a particular city and share their experiences, and a girls’ gaming portal. But it’s not all fun and games. We’ve also seen apps designed particularly for a professional group, as well as a medical association’s upcoming event. Check out these unique apps below, and think about what a Mobile Roadie powered app could do for your city, group or business!
SevenVenues: This app is all about the city of Norfolk, Virginia. Released on June 7, this app allows visitors to find shows for Chrysler Hall, Harbor Park, Attucks Theatre, Harrison Opera House, Wells Theatre, The Scope, and the Prism Theatre at The Scope Arena. In addition, app users can get concert updates and discount tickets to events as well. It’s a must-have app if you’re planning a recreational trip in Norfolk.
Dowload the SevenVenues app here: http://road.ie/sevenvenues
Sydney Party: Sydney Party is all about, you guessed it, Sydney, Australia. This one isn’t from the chamber of commerce though, and is actually a crowd-sourced app where users can provide feedback and ratings for clubs and party locations listed. Stay up-to-date with all the happening things around Sydney. If you plan on partying in Sydney, this seems like the app to have.
Download the Sydney Party app here: http://road.ie/sydney-party
iShade: This mobile app ties in with the iShade website, providing a new community model for the accounting profession. iShade is a business networking web portal developed exclusively for the accounting industry where you can build and manage your online identity as a CPA or Chartered Accountant. If you are an accountant, this specialized app and community is just for you. I think this is a great example of the range of diversity from which mobile apps can be utilized.
Download the iShade app here: http://road.ie/ishade
GirlGamer: Well, the title says it all. Girl gamers rejoice! This site (and app) are all for you. The site features news, reviews, profiles, forums, blogs for female gamers, and the app allows users to keep in touch with the blog and the latest videos, editorial, live casts, and giveaways. I have a few female friends who will probably be interested in this one!
Download the GirlGamer app here: http://road.ie/girlgamer
ADA: As a newly-diagnosed diabetic myself, this app was of particular interest to me. However, it’s not about information for the general public, but rather it’s going to feature information from and about the American Diabetes Association 70th Scientific Sessions taking place June 25 – 29, 2010, in sunny Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center (West Building). Bottom line here is that if you are a diabetic professional involved in research or care, this app is for you. This is another one that falls under the category of an event app, yet the target user is much different than we’ve seen in general for other event apps. I think this shows the continued expansion of app adoption in the fields of professionals.
You can download the ADA app here: http://road.ie/ada
Media Temple iPad Contest Promotes New Community App
posted by Michael Arcand
Do you know Media Temple? Maybe you’ve seen this – (mt) – on one or two wristbands at any of the 20-30 events they host a year. Or maybe you own one of the 600,000 domains they manage, making them one of the top 25 hosting companies in U.S. and top 50 in the world. Whatever the case, (mt) has quite the client roster and fan base.
The (mt) Community app went live recently and to promote it they’re holding a contest (ends tomorrow!) to win a year of hosting or an iPad or iPhone 3GS. Here’s how to enter (full details on their blog):
1. Download the (mt) Community app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to the “Feedback” area in the app (via the ‘more’ tab).
3. Leave a comment letting them know what you think of the app . You’ll need to login via your Twitter or Facebook account.
We love the creative approach they’re taking to promote their app and get their audience engaged straight away. We caught up with Ryan Goodman (@ryangoodman), brand manager at (mt), to learn more.
(mt) has a history of being a first mover with technology, especially mobile. They were the first hosting company to build a dedicated web app tailored to the iPhone upon first release and they’re one of the first to have a native app to communicate with customers and that offers capabilities to manage their hosting accounts, get support and buy domain names through the (mt) AccountCenter.
When we asked him why they decided to build a native iPhone app Ryan told us they saw it as a useful way to get customers engaged in a different channel and have a presence in app store.
“We’re a very open company in terms of communication which is why we decided to initially focus the app on our community to give them a way to keep up with everything we’re doing in one place.”
I don’t know if you know any (mt) customers but they tend to be a rowdy and fun bunch. Ryan said that their customers range across verticals and in size but they’ve always paid close attention to the creative community since day one.
“We get a lot of support from the creatives (designers, artists, developers, media, music.) There are a lot of designers who were fans of our company and service when they were young (company was founded in 1998) and have since become creative directors and decision makers. We’ve also seen the developer crowd increase a lot.”
The app has only been out about a week and already it’s had well over 1,000 downloads. And people are using it too.
“Initially we weren’t sure how people would use the fan wall but it’s been really cool. We’re seeing people post questions and users answering and helping one another.”
Want to see it for yourself? Get it!
You can find them on Twitter: @mediatemple and the ole Facebook.
Ryan also mentioned they have a staff of people available 24/7 that is dedicated to responding to every Twitter mention…must be in part why they get so much praise for their customer service…
What iPhone 4 Means for Apps
posted by Michael Arcand
The new iPhone 4 was officially announced at the WWDC 2010 earlier this week by Steve Jobs during his keynote speech. Here are some of the highlights of the new iPhone 4 features and what they mean for Mobile Roadie, and more importantly, you, our customers.
First, Steve addressed a common misconception that has been bantered around lately, in terms of market segmentation between the iPhone and other mobile smartphones:
“I’d like to give you two pieces of data to help you make your own judgments. The first is a report that just came out from Nielsen: what is the marketshare in the US? RIM is #1 with 35%. iPhone is #2 with 28%, WinMo #3 with 19%, Android 9%. Nielson says iPhone is over 3x that of Android.”
He also mentioned that in the US, over 58% of all mobile browser usage takes place on the iPhone. So if you are looking to hit the ground running with a mobile app, the iPhone is the way to go. And if you want to hit the iPhone and Android platforms at the same time, Mobile Roadie is here for you.
Another key point that Jobs made is that there is a huge ecosystem of current users out there, ready for your mobile app. In fact, there are already 100 million iOS devices out in the hands of consumers, representing a great opportunity for anyone who is pushing a mobile app on the Apple platform.
One feature we’re really excited about here is the new screen resolution of the iPhone 4: 960 x 640 at 326dpi, which represents 78% of what the iPad offers, right in the palm of your hand. Steve Jobs compared this to the human eye’s ability to perceive pixels, called retina display. According to Jobs, the human eye can only “see” around 300dpi at 10-12 inches away. In essence, this means the display on the new iPhone is as crisp and clear as the human eye can see. This means your apps will significantly improve in visual quality. This will have a big impact on our customers who utilize the picture and video sharing features within our CMS, such as photographers, artists, and filmmakers. The bottom line is that graphics will look incredible; basically like a magazine picture (same resolution).
When you couple this new display resolution with the sheer upgrade in power behind the iPhone 4, the results are going to be amazing. The new processor used in the iPhone 4 is a 1 GHz chipset with 512 MB of RAM on board. Compared to the iPhone 3GS with its 600 MHz and 250 MB of RAM, this represents almost a double in computing power. This should equate to a significant increase in speed, as well as powering the multitasking capabilities of the iOS 4 operating system. You thought 3G was fast? Wait until you see this bad boy in action.
The bottom line for you, our customer, is that the iPhone 4 will showcase your business in a better way than ever before, opening up opportunities for better quality video and photos as well as faster load times and multitasking your app in the background. Of course, we’re already working on enhancing key UI elements to take advantage of the increased pixel count. At Mobile Roadie, we’re a design-focused platform, and will take full advantage of the retina display to make a visual impact.
We’ll be here all the way to support your app and your business into the next iPhone revolution.
(Note: While the iPhone itself was the bulk of the presentation at WWDC, there were aspects of the iOS 4 discussed as well. You can check out our post on the new iPhone operating system here.)
Victor e Leo’s Mobile Roadie App Wins Award
posted by Michael Arcand
Released on December 18, 2009, the Victor e Leo app recently won an award in Brazil at the Tela Viva Mobile Awards, in the music category. We are always glad to hear about the successes of our customers, and wish to congratulate Sony Music Entertainment Brazil and Victor & Leo on this accomplishment.
The application contains excerpts from all of the tracks on the band’s album “Live and in Color,” as well as news, photos, and YouTube videos (which have already received over 45 million views!). In addition, the app also features a link to an online store, discography information, music lyrics, biography / release info, links to the main channels of the band, and a channel called “Fan Wall”, which allows users to post comments and interact with each other by connecting their accounts Twitter or Facebook. The app recorded over 15,000 downloads in the App Store, with over 3,000 video views through the application, and another 181,000 songs played via the app.
This app shows what can be done in another language other than English, using Mobile Roadie’s unique CMS with foreign language support. This particular app appears in full Portuguese, which is the native language spoken in the band’s home country.
Don’t put a limit on what you can do with a mobile app, and we won’t either.
You can download the Victor e Leo mobile app here: http://road.ie/victor-e-leo
Announcing the Toby Keith App
posted by Michael Arcand
Mobile Roadie is proud to welcome Toby Keith to the family of Mobile Roadie apps. This is Toby Keith’s official iPhone app, and it’s just in time for his Ford Trucks sponsored American Ride Tour, which kicks off June 19th.
Toby Keith has been among the top musical performers in any genre throughout this decade, and is ranked among the top selling artists in all-genres at #3 on Billboard’s Top 200 Artists of the Decade. He was also named Billboard’s #1 Country Artist of the Decade and #1 Country Songwriter of the Decade, and was honored by Nashville Songwriters Assn. International (NSAI), which awarded him its prestigious Songwriter/Artist of the Decade Award.
He is also a three-time BMI Country Artist/Songwriter of the Year with his catalog generating more than 65 million performances. Keith’s business empire is as expansive as his hit making ability, encompassing restaurants, movies, a dclothing line and his own record label. In this decade alone, his singles have spent more than a year at No. 1 on the charts.
As for Mobile Roadie, we’re totally excited to add Toby Keith to our lineup.
“The country music fan audience is unlike any other we’ve seen. They tend to have a higher level of engagement between artist and fan and consume a lot of content. We’re excited to add Toby Keith to our line-up of A-list artists using app technology to further engage with their audience.” – Michael Schneider, Mobile Roadie, CEO
Through the application, fans will be able to listen to tracks, view show schedules and purchase tickets, access the official store and engage with other fans who’ve downloaded the app via the Fan Wall. It also features news, music, photos, videos, & more! Keep up with the Big Dog Daddy and get all of the latest updates from Toby Keith directly on your iPhone.
You can download the Toby Keith iPhone app free at http://road.ie/toby-keith
Why “free” isn’t a good price point
posted by Michael Schneider (Mobile Roadie CEO)There’s so much to love about getting something for “free.”
There’s the emotional reaction… it feels good to get something for free.
There’s the financial aspect… “free” is a great price point on your wallet.
There’s a visceral reaction… “free” breaks down most immediate barriers and suspicions – you have “nothing to lose” so you just go for it.
It sounds great. Why wouldn’t you want something that feels good, has no impact on your wallet and is an easy choice?
Because “free” simply isn’t sustainable when building quality products that require continuous innovation and development.
Let’s take the website business. Back in 1994, it was expensive to get a website. You could hire a developer for tens of thousands of dollars if you were lucky. Towards the late 90’s, companies like Geocities popped up and made it inexpensive to get on the web. Much later companies like MySpace and WordPress popped up, and eventually pushed the price down to “free” for a basic website.
So today, are the majority of websites made for “free?” Yes – by consumers. But the majority of professional websites are still paid for. Even people that get WordPress, which is free in its basic form, often spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on a developer, template, plug in, etc. to customize it to their needs. Magento, a great open source ecommerce platform, is free at its core, but to get it to look and feel like you want, it costs money.
Free only works at scale. Facebook is free for consumers. But Facebook had to raise nearly a billion dollars to scale to the point where advertising, virtual goods, and business partnerships made up the financial slack to get it to break even.
Wordpress is free. But Wordpress makes money with professional services and custom templates, and has a vibrant developer community surrounding it that charges for professional work. Same for Magento. In both cases, it’s the developer community that surrounds these “free” platforms that pushes it forward and continues to innovate.
MySpace is also free… but they’re losing a lot of money in its current form. Their scale no longer covers the base cost of innovating on a massive scale for their users.
As a long-term play, “free” is a crap shoot. The majority of “free” platforms are either brand new (and yet to be proven if they can remain free or survive) or have reached a massive scale to support their efforts through advertising and enterprise services.
Fast forwarding to our industry – mobile apps – it’s the wild wild west. App developers are:
1) developing custom apps
2) developing platforms (like Mobile Roadie) that lower the cost dramatically
3) giving apps away for free and monetizing “later” through revenue sharing on paid apps and/or in app advertising.
I founded and ran a digital agency for 11 years so I understand the custom game very well. And while there will always be a place for it, it’s not sustainable for the majority of customers. There’s a lack of ROI and flexibility investing tens of thousands of dollars in a custom app, which is the exact reason we started Mobile Roadie.
In the platform game, prices range from $99 to $10,000. Some charge monthly, some annually, some just once. Platforms offer a variety of functionality – from plugging in feeds on the low end with minimal or no customization options, to a fully customizable experience on multiple platforms. These platforms continue to innovate because they are paid services and have a vested interest to do so with their customers. And I would dare say that the ones that innovate the most aren’t the bottom of the barrel in price.
Then there’s free (or the equally unproven “rev share” models). With a “free” app you get what you pay for. There isn’t the same attention to detail when it comes to design, technology, customer support, and feature set.
One of the biggest complaints we hear from users of “free” apps, and brands looking to upgrade, is that users aren’t engaged. If you don’t have a great user experience and the tools to update it often, users don’t come back to the app. Suddenly, your app that didn’t cost anything isn’t being the effective marketing/sales tool you hoped it would be.
Businesses need motivation to continue to innovate and an important part of that motivation is financial. We all want to provide the best possible product for customers and best experience for end users but we need to be able to afford to do so.
Mobile Roadie is a technology company at its core. We release new features and functionality every single week. We do major updates every month. Our customers get the benefit of this innovation, and don’t have to chase what Apple, Google, or Blackberry are doing next. We’re on it, and our clients can focus on their brand and own customers.
You’ve heard the saying “you get what you pay for” a million times. Nothing is truer in the app space. Beware of a “free” or “cheap” app that is the “same” as Mobile Roadie or any other premium platform. Do a side-by-side comparison of features and see which is going to help your business and customer relationships in the long run.
If you’re serious about the app space – and you’ll only be successful if you are – you have to put a quality experience out there or risk your app going into the oblivion.
