Chrome to Become the #2 Browser by End of Year

October 5th, 2011

Google Chrome is poised to become the second most popular browser in the world by the end of 2011. And they deserve it. Their speed, security and simplicity is what a great Web browser should be. And these features contain to grow Chrome’s popularity – with an anticipatory end-of-year due-date when it will pass Mozilla Firefox for the coveted #2 spot, probably for good.

Now, all that’s left is Internet Explorer – the browser people use who don’t think they have a choice or care. I say it again – a wonderful business lesson for how important a first-to-market strategy is for your product. You learned on Internet Explorer. You stay with Internet Explorer. Unless there’s an extremely compelling reason to switch.

For many of us, Google Chrome has given us that reason. I think Android tablets defaulting to the Chrome browser may be the real long-term answer for getting that #1 spot over time.

posted by Nicole White at 7:03 am

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Google Analytics Launches Real-Time Traffic Reports

October 5th, 2011

Google Analytics is launching real-time site traffic reporting, so you can stare at your screen all day and watch your site traffic grow in real-time.

Personally, I don’t understand the benefit?

Now, I understand the desire for post-facto real-time analysis. For instance, it would be helpful to see what hours in the day most of my audience is watching the recorded video information sessions on my site. Because then I could make sure my live chat staffing was on call when they would be most wanted.

Perhaps I’m just unimaginative, but I can’t figure out what you would do with real-time analysis, except create yet another tab in your monthly Google analytics report that no one will read – because it’s relatively impossible to take action upon.

posted by Nicole White at 5:53 am

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Does Spotify Kill Music Pirating or the Very Need for It?

October 4th, 2011

Some have painted Spotify as the final answer in preventing music piracy.

But, I’m not sure if what Spotify really does is prevent the need for it altogether? Because I’ll be honest. I was a regular iTunes buyer who hasn’t purchased a single song since I signed up for Spotify.

Why? Because now I can stream nearly any song I want. Not on a mobile device without paying for it of course. And perhaps if I purchase this premium subscription, it will roughly counter the amount I had been spending on iTunes? But is that their break-even plus game plan? Or are the record companies content to make their money on solely extracurricular concerts, merchandise and more?

And for those non-paying users, I suppose they are forced to listen to the occasional advertisement. Hmm…maybe they did solve it?

posted by Eric Olsen at 6:39 am

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Posted in Apple, mobile-marketing | Comments Off

As Facebook Catches Up, Google Plus Goes Public

October 3rd, 2011

Last week, Facebook caught up with all of the innovations that were making Google Plus so interesting. In fact, one could argue they Facebook sped right past.

But, nearly simultaneously, Google Plus went public. (Did you even know it was still in an invite-only beta?) And in that first week Google+ went public, traffic to the network grew by 1269%, with 15 million total (non-mobile) U.S. visits.

Are these people just going to check out what all the no-longer fuss is about? Or more people looking to make an exodus? But from what – now that Facebook offers the features (social filtering and others) that made Google+ so tempting in the first place?

And just to compare, Google Plus’ traffic is not just far behind Facebook’s – it’s still behind MySpace’s.

posted by Bjorn Torling at 6:25 am

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Does Facebook See Everything I Do?

October 3rd, 2011

The cool thing about the semantic Web is that Facebook can connect with everything you do.

The bad thing about the semantic Web is that you might not want Facebook to see everything you do.

For example, Facebook is set up to automatically reveal in the new ticker what you’re listening to on Spotify. Now, I’m going to have to censor myself. No more guilty pleasure MC Hammer on a Monday morning. Because people will see. And what else are they seeing? Every site I visit. Every blog I browse.

In fact, is it possible that, even while logged out, Facebook knows where I’m going?

Well, many sites have Facebook integration. So, even when you’re offline, you may not really be that. Because new tests have shown that even logged out requests still send cookies, which identify you as a Facebook user.

I am no longer anonymous. Perhaps I never was, but it felt like it.

posted by Bjorn Torling at 5:20 am

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Hulu Incorporates Social Commentary Integration

September 30th, 2011

Last month, we talked about how Facebook Movie Rentals had begun testing social integration, allowing users to add captions and comments to movie timelines for their friends to view when they watched the same show or movie.

Now, this Facebook integration has grown to include Hulu’s streaming media content. With this Hulu app, you will be able to provide similar commentary directly within Hulu (directly within Facebook).

Plus, Hulu Plus users get access to their entire library directly on Facebook. And you have easy control access over how private you want your viewing/commenting to be.

Expect this new feature to become extremely popular, extremely fast. I’m already excited for it.

posted by Alisha at 6:07 am

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Skype Connecting Classrooms with Classrooms

September 30th, 2011

This is either a really cool online learning initiative, or the beginning of a global conspiracy to completely outsource teaching.

Skype in the Classroom has a goal of connecting 1 million teachers with teachers. Teachers can sign up and create teaching profiles that describe their classes and learning interests – and search through a directory of teachers by student age range, language and learning subjects.

A classroom in Chicago can chat with students in Chile. Boston to Barcelona. Even cities without shared alliteration.

Imagine a teacher taking advantage of resources bigger than their individual minds. My favorite part about this? Skype is doing this just because it’s awesome. Not because there’s a big profit motivation behind it.

posted by Alisha at 5:41 am

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Does New Facebook Hurt Google Plus?

September 29th, 2011

People are already claiming the death of Google Plus. But, are these digital prophecies a bit premature?

Because Google Plus isn’t exactly a graveyard. It has more than 43 million users and counting. There was a desire for something different. Perhaps Google Plus’ Circles feature offered the wake-up call Facebook need to evolve. Now that they have, is Google Plus necessary any more?

Well, your mom’s not there. It’s a little better looking. It’s quieter. If Facebook evolves quick enough, perhaps they can quell the social exodus. And if they do, yeah, Google Plus might be in trouble.

Or it becomes something different. For instance, as both networks move to a profile-based experience – in the future, are you going to want future employers to see your Google Profile, or your Facebook profile?

posted by Rich Miller at 6:13 am

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Posted in facebook, Google, Google Plus, Social Media | Comments Off

Facebook Catches Up and Moves Fast into the Future

September 29th, 2011

Facebook has officially redeemed themselves.

I’ve been upset with Facebook for more than a year now. They just weren’t innovating. Twitter allowed you to follow people without friending, which ushered in a whole world of celebrities on the Twitter train.

Facebook didn’t change. And Twitter went mainstream.

Recently, Google Plus has come out with a whole new innovation of social media  filtering. The ability to share status updates, news and video with select circles of friends – without letting other friends see. They beat Facebook to this seemingly obvious evolution of social sharing.

But finally, Facebook is catching up, and it looks like they’re moving far ahead.

At the F8 conference last week, Mark Zuckerberg shared a world of Jobs’ian beauty. It’s exciting. It’s beautiful. It gives users more control. It takes the best features that Twitter and Google Plus have to offer (following & filtering). I’m proud of Facebook. I’m excited about Facebook once again.

But, here’s my one big concern, and it’s probably everyone’s. This “semantic Web” that Zuckerberg is so excited about, and the privacy issues that we’re so fearful of. Your interaction with Facebook apps now automatically ends up in, no longer your timeline, but your ticker (the new right sidebar feature).

You don’t get to opt-in to this. You don’t get to say no. This just isn’t smart. I’m going to be self conscious about the songs I choose to listen to on Spotify now. Do I want people to know I’m listening to the new Jay-Z album? Now I don’t get a choice. If I want to do something, I am forced to do it publicly. Sorry Zuckerberg. This ain’t going to fly. Fix this. Focus on making things easier while giving us more control. And you’ll stay in the lead for good this time.

posted by Rich Miller at 5:20 am

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Posted in facebook, Google Plus, Internet Marketing, Social Media, Twitter | Comments Off

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