Netflix in Your Pocket? Yup, There’s an App for That!

Attention, all you movie and TV buffs! Netflix today released an app that puts its instant streaming service on Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch…and it’s free! (Well, almost — you still need to be a Netflix subscriber to access the vast streaming library.)

While the app was already available on the iPad, many Netflix fans are rejoicing over the fact that they can now carry Netflix around in their pockets. Initial reaction to the app’s performance seems positive, although many are recommending you watch over Wi-Fi rather than 3G wireless connections to avoid that pesky buffering nonsense.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m totally psyched about being able to watch old episodes of Boy Meets World during my commute (I heart Topanga).

- Danny

word. daily. (august 23, 2010)

Reverse Branding: Jersey Shore’s Snooki was always seen toting around a Coach bag on season one - but on the second season and recently while out on the town, she’s been photographed carrying various designers. According to the New York Observer, many designers are sending her free swag - but not their own brands. The fashion houses think the reality TV star(?) disgusts fans and anything she touches won’t sell, so by sending her competitor’s products, their product will do better.

Picture Poll: When trying to take a group picture in front of a landmark, you always face two difficult options: 1) One person has to take the picture and therefore is left out or 2) Ask a stranger to take the picture with the possibility of him running away with your new Canon SLR. Enter fotopol - a camera mount in tourist spots, one freestanding, and one made for balconies, so everyone can be in the pic.

Cloudy With a Chance of Music Video: Upon entering singer/songwriter Lissie’s website, you’ll be prompted to enter your ZIP code. Then, the first thing you’ll see, will be her music video for her song “Cuckoo” and the weather in the video is determined by the weather at your current location. You can also zoom in on any part of the world and the video’s weather will change accordingly.

Click here to let us know that you’d like to be added to the mailing list for the monthly edition of “word.”

—Lauren M.

Facebook Live - Will You Tune In?

On Friday, I read an article on PCMag.com about how Facebook launched Facebook Live, a video streaming channel that was created to keep Facebook enthusiasts up to speed on what’s happening behind the scenes at the social networking site headquarters. The new feature was not created as a platform for Facebook users to upload and share their own videos. Instead of it being a 2-way street like YouTube – where you can upload your own videos and watch other people’s videos – Facebook Live is simply a 1-way street.

Personally, I was as excited to read this announcement as I was to see Farmville and Mafia Wars all over my newsfeed (hint: not very excited). Seeing what goes on behind the scenes in Palo Alto is not how I want to spend my time online. If I find a few free minutes during the day where I can sign into Facebook, I’d rather go on a friending spree or look at the photos of someone I haven’t spoken to in over a year (don’t judge, you know you do it too!).

My initial judgments aside, I’m sure there are plenty of curious people among the 500+ million users on the site who would be interested to know what happens at the Facebook offices. Facebook Live is an extension of the Facebook blog, which is another avenue for the company to highlight new offerings and showcase its strong presence in the social media landscape. Example: America Ferrera was the first celebrity to be featured on Facebook Live when she swung by to chat about her new movie, which is being promoted through social media channels. Facebook – 1.  Traditional Media – 0.

Will Facebook Live be a success?  Will other social media sites take notice and start document behind the scene videos?  You’ll have to tune in to find out.

-Lauren A.

word. daily. (august 13, 2010)

Major Spillage: Toyota has launched an app to teach us how to lower our fuel consumption by changing our pedal-to-the-metal driving tactics (aggressive driving and frequent braking are huge fuel wasters — the less fuel, the fewer CO2 emissions). The Glass of Water app is a virtual glass of water that reacts to your driving as if this glass is actually on your dashboard. The app captures distance, driving time, average speed, idle time and water spillage, and you can analyze the results more closely at the website they’ve set up. Disclaimer: Do not check to see how much water you’ve spilled while still operating the motor vehicle. 

Let Me Take You Down: To promote the new Lennon exhibition at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the establishment “planted” die-cut strawberries in the Strawberry Field section of Central Park. Curious passersby picked the strawberries to reveal info about the exhibition.

Hearts Will Go On: Providing a look at the Titanic we’ve never seen before, the Expedition Titanic team (no Bill Paxton, unfortunately) will be diving the depths later this August to explore the famous shipwreck — in 3-D. Not only will there be this 3-D footage, but thanks to current social media and digital technology, the team will update Flickr and YouTube in real time and divers themselves will tweet about exploring the wreckage (once they come up for air, we hope).

Click here to let us know that you’d like to be added to the mailing list for the monthly edition of “word.”

—Lauren

Filling Up on News and Ads at the Pump

Michigan-based company Gas Station TV (GSTV) is capitalizing on the time people spend pumping gas by feeding them localized programming and advertising. According to a recent Nielsen report released last month, GSTV is exceeding 26 million monthly Nielsen-verified fueling impressions.

Yesterday, GSTV inked a deal with ESPN for brand integration with ESPN content, and according to Erik Sass of MediaPost, “Advertisers can couple brand integration with calls to action for products sold in gas station convenience stores…GSTV’s partnership with ESPN will now allow it to deliver full-motion video clips as part of its news content covering football, basketball, baseball and auto racing, among other sports.”

Do you feel that GSTV is too “in your face” for consumers, or do they appreciate the distraction from pumping gas?

-Rob

Will Hulu and YouTube Ever Replace TV?

Hulu and YouTube are popular for keeping up with TV shows if you don’t have cable or if you miss an episode of your favorite series and can’t wait for a rerun, but according to The New York Times, there is a rise in the popularity of original shows that live on the web. Actress Illeana Douglas started her own Internet show, Easy to Assemble, in which she plays an Ikea employee and even got the furniture company to sponsor it. The show gets 1.5 million views per month, which is pretty impressive.

Might the soaring popularity of online shows ever replace television? I doubt it; however, original online entertainment could be worth an investment. Douglas is looking for another sponsor for the third season…any takers?

-Cynthia

word. daily. (july 30, 2010)

All Hail the Giants: The New Meadowlands Stadium opening this fall will have a lot more than flat screens like their Texas rivals – there will be a suite of apps onlookers can use to check game stats, watch video replays and monitor live feeds from other games around the country. Oh – and let’s not forget – one app lets you check the concession stand lines to see which is the shortest.

Mail Art: Riitta Ikonen sends her friend Margaret Huber some of the most interesting/amazing mail – since 2004, Ikonen has sent Huber mail art made from hair, fish, a broken record, etc. Over 100 “postcards” were sent and you can count the ones that were returned on your fingers.

Not Your Average Wedding Video: Check out this music video wedding video done for Lauren and JP down in Georgia. Instead of the traditional vid with the best man’s sloppy speech and the DJ blasting “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” they took a more creative approach. Filmed by Matt Odom of Rock and Roll Hearts (iconic engagement and wedding photos and videos for couples who rock), watch it here.

Click here to let us know that you’d like to be added to the mailing list for the monthly edition of “word.”

—Lauren

word. daily. (july 29, 2010)

One a Days: Back in January Y2K, at age 19, Noah Kalina started a photography project called “Everyday” – where he was to take one picture of himself each day –take a look here for the 11 years worth of photos. (Spoiler alert: he gains weight and loses hair).

Street Art: Graffiti just got a heck of a lot easier (but perhaps lost the talent…). Artist Felix Vorreiter created a “one-hand guerilla tool” – by inputting your phrase into this handheld machine, then rolling it against a flat service, you (debatably) become a pro.

Be the One: Did you see the star-studded “Be the One” video last week urging people to sign a petition for restoration of the Gulf? If you didn’t, you can watch it here. But yesterday, ScanLife, makers of mobile barcode scanning technology, have backed the cause and have created a QR code as a call-to-action – the code will send users to a site where they can watch the video and sign the said petition. The code is floating online, T-shirts, and on the Thompson-Reuters billboard in Times Square.

Click here to let us know that you’d like to be added to the mailing list for the monthly edition of “word.”

—Lauren