Apple is flipping the switch on its iBeacon Bluetooth Low Energy sensors across its 254 US stores today. It’s the largest deployment of the technology into stores, and it will only work if you have the Apple Store app and have given it permission to track you. When you walk into the store, the app will go into “In-Store mode,” and it will let you know about deals in the areas around you. Ultimately, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before; we’ll just have to wait and see how consumers react, and whether the technology actually drives sales. For now, it’s still a shiny toy.
Category: Percolate
Twitter Touts More Relevant Ads With Tailored Audiences
In a blog post today, Twitter announced Tailored Audiences, a new way to define groups of existing and potential customers, and to connect them with relevant brand messaging. In principle, the service will target users on Twitter who have also visited a product or brand’s website, so as to provide a sense of relevancy to the ads being served. The goal is to find groups of existing target customers who have already expressed interest, and use Twitter to convert them into sales. Though it seems straight forward, Twitter wants to build the service out to include other forms of targeting in the future.
Foursquare Smart Notifications Come To iOS
The smart notification system touted by Foursquare earlier this year are finally coming to iOS users today. The notifications are geared to show nearby places that are important to specific users – so if you haven’t checked in at a sports bar, it likely won’t be recommending the hockey-bar a few blocks away. The goal is to make every notification worthwhile, so that users will take care to actually go into the app as opposed to ignoring the notification. Now that it has actually rolled out, we’ll look to see if the update takes hold, and makes check-ins that much more valuable.
Piixls Jetpack PC Is Gaming Set-Top Box
Piixl has debuted a PC called the Jetpack that runs on Steam OS, and fits flat behind a flat-screen TV to act as a SteamOS gaming machine. The machine utilizes an open hardware platform that allows the user to customize their experience. Starting at $1,000, it represents an attractive, Steam-based gaming and media-viewing option in the living room for those already baked into the system, and for those who want a set top box that doesn’t disrupt the space.
R/GA Announce Startup Accelerator
R/GA and Techstars announced an unprecedented partnership to form a startup accelerator around Connected Devices. Having already designed Nike’s FuelBand, R/GA has plenty of experience in the field, and in combination with the startup knowledge of Techstars they’ve chosen 10 companies to mentor in the three-month intensive program. The ultimate goal of the venture is to build connected products and services while providing business mentorship and brand consulting. From R/GA’s side, the accelerator makes sense as well; it keeps the company on the front foot in terms of innovation, and leverages new technology to keep them ahead of advertising and internal branding opportunities. And, at the same time, it keeps R/GA in touch with the connection of physical and digital realities, but in a quite visceral manner. What’s more, the Lab’s own Alexander Rea is one of several mentors on the project, so we’ll be sure to have all the latest details from the ground-breaking work happening in the accelerator. Stay tuned: the startups will be presenting their projects at a special SXSWi event in March, and to angel investors and R/GA clients in New York.
Beats Launches Streaming Music
Beats Electronics announced a new streaming music service called Project Daisy. On the heels of acquiring MOG last year, Project Daisy aims to sell listeners – and Beats owners, of course – music by every artist you can think of. According to Beats, Trent Reznor had a big hand in the project. There’s no word on when the service will launch, and there’s no word about pricing or the complete artist library that’s promised; nor is there any word on royalties or how the service will actually run on a profit. What’s for sure, though, is that the music streaming sphere is becoming awfully saturated, awfully quickly.
BSkyB Brings Sky Go To Android Tablets
Sky Go, BSkyB’s live and on-demand TV platform, is now available to Android tablet users. In a move that caters to mobile users across the board, the app unifies the mobile user base, as the app has already been available on smartphones and all iOS systems for some time. The app is available for free to those with an existing Sky subscription. It’s yet another indication, if you needed any, that networks are increasingly catering to the cord-cutting, lean-back users who want their content on whichever device pleases them, when they want it.
Hobbit Campaign Encourages Users To 3D Print Props
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will be in theaters in two weeks time, and Warner Brothers is throwing a tech curveball into their campaign to promote the movie: users will be able to download 3D-printing blueprints for the Key of Erebor, a prop that will feature in the film. Granted, 3D printers aren’t quite ubiquitous such that there will be tons of these keys floating around; nonetheless, there’s precedent for this type of campaign, as Ender’s Game announced last month that it will offer 3D-printer downloads of prop replicas. It’s a nifty move, but for the time being feels fairly niche.
BMW Now Supports Amazon Cloud Player
If you own a BMW or a Mini, you’ll now be able to use the Amazon Cloud Player for iOS. The service provides the ability to import existing music files onto mobile devices, and car owners with BMW Apps – or the ‘Mini Connected’ – can now access these files through the car’s dashboard. It’s a step forward in the connected car trend, one that allows users to access the cloud from directly within their car interfaces. Whether it will drive more users to Amazon Cloud Player is another question entirely, but what’s sure is that further personalized, cloud integration into vehicles is coming soon.
Spotify Artists Tries To Appease Musicians
Spotify announced tools for musicians and managers to monitor their songs’ popularity, with a real-time analytics dashboard, explanations about how Spotify pays out its royalties, and how the company can help expose artists to gigs and merchandise. Though Spotify only clocks in at over 20 million users, it’s trying to get more music and users, with a goal to get to 40 million subscribers. This move, though, seems pretty transparent: the service has come under fire, most prominently from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, for its small payouts to artists, and it’s doing its best to placate the musicians that are feeling disenfranchised by the royalty rates. Whether it works, or is too little too late, will surely be seen in the near future.
