YouTube continues to expand their distribution, now coming to Freesat satellite TV customers in the UK. The joint venture between BBC and ITV brings free-to-air TV for over 60 channels and now includes an interactive YouTube app built on HTML 5. While the Freesat’s 1.7 million homes will not extend YouTube’s reach significantly, it’s a great example of digital content travelling across screens. Keep an eye on YouTube and Netflix as they continue to disrupt the living room.
Tag: google
Google Now’s Grammy Ad Takes Shot At Siri
Google Now took direct aim at Siri last night during the Grammy’s with an advertisement that showed users around the world making use of the new service. Google Now is a response to Siri, but instead of taking on the voice-recognition features directly Google Now focuses on providing useful information instantaneously in one place. It works through the power of Google’s massive database; it analyzes everything Google knows about where you are, your schedule, who you’re with at that time, etc., and feeds back relevant information based on these variables. For instance, if there’s traffic on the highway I use to commute to work, Google Now will let me know to leave a few minutes early.
Though there’s no direct mention of voice-activated interaction in the advertisement, Google Now ostensibly does precisely what Siri is advertised to do, only more effectively and though a slicker interface. Whereas Google Now can keep your day on track by giving you transit updates and the best time to leave based on this information, Siri can, at best, direct you to the app store to buy a good transportation apps. In brief, this is a developing battle, and the heartfelt ad that aired during the Grammy’s took direct aim at Siri’s functionality. And if it’s anything to go by, this will be a large part of the ongoing back and forth between iOS and Android devices for the foreseeable future.
Microsoft Outlook Attacks Gmail Over Privacy Concerns
Microsoft has been promoting its revamped Outlook email client in continued attacks on Gmail in its “Scroogled” campaign. With the tagline of “Think Google respects your privacy? Think again,” Microsoft systematically explains how Google looks through emails for keywords which translate into personalized ads. Microsoft attempted a similar takedown last year with a full page ad in newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, but this time around Microsoft is really pushing its Outlook platform while simultaneously attacking Google, rather than just lashing out at its opponent. But where is the distinction between how Outlook and Gmail tailor their ads? The Wall Street Journal claims that Outlook looks at the subject lines of emails for ad content, while Microsoft claims it doesn’t use email subject lines to target ads at users. Despite how private, or not, Outlook is in relation to Gmail, Microsoft is making privacy a prime selling point, playing on consumer fear that everything they do on the Internet is tracked and recorded.
Google’s ‘Ingress’ Mobile Game Turns Duane Reade Into Your Next Adventure
Google took social gaming to the next level with its Augmented Reality adventure game, “Ingress,” and it recently partnered with Duane Reade to expand its boundaries inside of the pharmacy’s locations throughout New York. In brief, Ingress is a sci-fi AR game for Android handsets where the player collects exotic matter (XM) to be spent at other locations, known as portals – which can be found at accessible public locations like libraries or subway stations – to unlock missions. Now, players can pick up that XM or start new missions in Duane Reade stores. Each Duane Reade location will have a participation sticker outside, alerting gamers that game items are hidden inside. Once gathered, players can scan the asset for one-time use codes or in-game weapons, adding a live-action scavenger hunt aspect to the game. Zipcar and Jamba Juice were already ahead of the NYC-based Pharmacy chain in partnering on Ingress, creating an advertising strategy for Google that’s specifically designed to combat in-game banner ads. The game is currently in closed beta, but when it goes public it has the potential to bring AR to Android users in a very tangible manner.
Google Updates Mobile Wallet
This could be another interesting incremental step in the industry’s path of figuring out the ideal UI for NFC payments.
Asus’ Qube Set Top Box For Google TV
The Qube looks a lot like a Boxee box and is powered by Google TV coming with the latest features like voice controls and the updated YouTube app. The set-top box has a very unique interface with everything on screen “rotating on a on-screen cube shape.” Google TV has been mostly a pet project for Google, but expect aggressive expansion in the next year or so.
Kia to Integrate Google Maps and Places Into Its Cars
The same reason google maps is important to marketers on your phone is why it is important in a car dashboard.
Google’s Free Music Lockers
Google is releasing music lockers, allowing users to store their music to the cloud. While Amazon and Apple offer similar services for 25 dollars a year, Google’s product will be free of charge. So far, cloud music storage has not been embraced by the mainstream, but the zero fee model might change that in the future.
YouTube Capture App
YouTube is getting into the micro video sharing business with the launch of its Capture app for iPhone and iPad. Just hit the record button, write a caption and share the clip directly on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter simultaneously. YouTube’s entry into the space could be bad news for companies like Tout that are just starting to get traction with a similar product.
Google Search’s Quiet Revamp
Google has overhauled search over the past year, building out new features to improve the user experience. Today, Search can incorporate formulas, gmail text, and even “knowledge graph” results that pull photos and descriptions in a wiki-like box. Additionally, they’ve focused on optimizing for mobile which includes a new ux and algorithms that take into account the different engagement on the devices. Check out the full article to learn how the Google’s flagship product has moved from a list of links to more of a software application.
