Banning Bikinis and Booze – Advertising, Censorship, and Sexism – Episode 21

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Vintage print ad Del Monte ketchup - "You mean a woman can open it?"This week, discussion centers around advertising, censorship, sexism, and the media. Where should we draw the line between free speech and offensive content? Does controversy and banning empower the content or spark an important dialogue? Enjoy the heated debate.
  1. Flickr announced in late May that every user will get a free terabyte of space
  2. Windows 8: Less talking, more doing commercial for Asus Vivo Tablet mocks the iPad using Siri’s voice. The Windows tablet at 64GB is $449 vs. $699 for a 64GB iPad. Windows jabs the iPad for not being able to multitask (in the desktop sense of the word) and lacking Powerpoint (which is a weak point).

  3. Censorship and Sexism in Advertising – At Home and Abroad:

3.1 Turkey to ban alcohol ads

  OOH advertising - bus shelter ad space "No Alcohol Ads Here"
  • The Turkish Parliament passed legislation on May 24, 2013 to ban advertising of alcohol and to outlaw sales of alcoholic drinks between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. except in tourist zones.
  • Claim from government: protect youths
  • Sparked riots and protests in Istanbul and Ankura
  • Not unheard of: Los Angeles City Council considering a city-wide ban on alcohol advertising on municipal property; already prohibited on bus benches
  • Philadelphia already operates such a ban
  • San Francisco bans alcohol advertising on public transport
  • Alcohol ads are already mostly banned in Sweden, Malaysia, and Russia
  • US standard: alcohol ads can only be placed in media where 70% of the audience is over the legal drinking age (21)
  • Ofcom (the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries) has called for a review into existing rules – which ban alcohol ads from airing in shows that appeal to under-18s – after finding that between 2007 and 2011, number of alcohol commercials seen by children rose almost 19%

3.2 “Sexist and degrading” Pamela Anderson commercial for Crazy Domains banned in UK

Videograb of Pamela Anderson in Crazy Domains banned commercial (deemed sexist and degrading)

The Australian commercial was first broadcast in 2010 and was banned shortly thereafter. Much like the notoriously sexist GoDaddy Superbowl ads in the US, this ad for another web hosting company depicts females as sex objects to be consumed… but this time they are in a business setting. We’re not going to embed the video but you can view it at the Huff Post link below.

“Australian Advertising Standards Board decided the bikini sequence was sexist, exploitative and had “no relevance to the product.’” -Huffington Post

Last week, the Crazy Domains commercial was allowed to air in the UK after 9PM. A few days later on 6/5/13, the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned it but with slightly different reasoning:

“We considered it gave the impression that he viewed his female colleagues as sexual objects to be lusted after. Because of that, we considered the ad was likely to cause serious offence to some viewers.” -ASA

“Crazy Domains’ parent company Dreamscape Networks insisted that the dream sequence was not “gratuitous or pornographic”, saying it portrayed the women as ‘attractive, dynamic and confident business people.’” Dreamscape Networks is based in Dubai…
Emily and Melanie discuss censorship in advertising, the media’s portrayal of women, and argue over whether marketing and media inform culture and shape our minds, or gain their power from the attention society gives to controversial content.
  • Startling statistics about lack of female leaders (the US ranks 90th in terms of number of women in legislative positions, behind China, Iraq, Cuba and more). 67 nations have had female presidents or prime ministers. The US is not one.
  • Who is responsible for perpetuating stereotypes? Should we blame an ad for misrepresentation of women, or the society that makes the ad successful?
  • 2010 documentary film Miss Representation “exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.” Watch the full movie free here. Trailer:

Thanks to Digital Divas Atlanta for March 2013 screening.

TIPS ON TAP

  1. Sort Gmail inbox by sender: Go to your inbox and hover over the sender’s name. In a second or two a window will pop open. Now choose “emails” near the bottom. Your inbox will now be sorted by the sender you hovered over. You can now read, delete, or move all those emails at once. Quite a time saver!
  2. Tips to Keep Your Mac Running Like New:

    2a) Restart your computer somewhat frequently. Restart can help flush out some old gunk that’s slowing it down.

    2b) Keep desktop clean of files. Place them in folders and Finder will be faster.

    2c) Restart your browser and clear the cache.
  3. FrontFlip is a mobile loyalty and engagement app for businesses. Get customers to scan to win prizes and gifts from restaurants, shops, bars, salons, etc.

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Millennials Can’t Play Dodgeball – Episode 20

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Who are the Millennials?

The Digital Dive celebrates our 20th episode with a special video podcast. Millennials: scrutinized, fascinating, controversial. A bunch of overly coddled narcissists? Or the highly educated, tolerant, tech-savvy hope for our future? Watch those familiar voices Emily Binder and Melanie Touchstone in action as they report on Yahoo’s acquisition of Tumblr and tackle the ever-controversial subject of the Millennial Generation.

I. In a bold move (that follows Google’s and Facebook’s acquisitions of startups in hopes of gaining an edge), Yahoo acquired Tumblr for $1.1 billion, Yahoo officially announced Monday, May 20, 2013. A popular social blogging hub for photos and funny gifs, and a major meme birthplace, six-year old Tumblr has ~900 posts a second with 300 million monthly unique visitors and 120,000 sign-ups every day. It also does not have a revenue model, much like Instagram, which Facebook acquired in 2012 for about $1 billion in cash and stock. Tumblr is highly mobile and has a young user base, in contrast to Yahoo’s older users. Tumblr could help Yahoo compete with Facebook and Google in the social networking space.

II. The Millennial Generation: In the wake of the controversial Time magazine article Millennials: the Me Me Me Generation by Joel Stein, we discuss some of the most prevalent complaints and praises of the most talked about generation since the Baby Boomers, along with a few surprising statistics about work ethic, narcissism, and tattoos.

Referenced in this episode:

1. The Pew Research Center’s comprehensive 2010 report: Millennials: Confident. Connected. Open to Change. 2/4/10
2. David McCullough Jr.’s controversial “You Are Not Special” commencement speech:

Tips on Tap:

I. Artsy iPad cover: GelaSkins. Wraps front and back of iPad with your chosen artists design. Get free matching wallpaper for your screen.  $29.95

II. Houzz – Landscaping, decorating and home design app.

III. Custom Inspector Stamp and Card keychainCool alternative to a business card: Custom Inspector Stamp is a keychain stamp by Mikey Burton in collaboration with Cranky Pressman. The Salem, Ohio based online letterpress service was founded by its original owners in 1934. Read more about Cranky Pressman.

Infographic about Millennials (click on the image to view it in full): Caveat from Emily: we are also coddled narcissists who did not play enough dodgeball in gym class.

Millennials Infographic cropped preview

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You can download or stream The Digital Dive Podcast at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and/or leave us a review!

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Google Now for iOS, Amazon vs. Netflix, & Surprising Twitter Study – Episode 19

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Netflix vs. Amazon punching bagsTopics

  1. In response to Netflix‘s exclusive programming featuring their hit series House of Cards, Amazon announced in March 2013 that they were creating a Zombieland pilot. On April 19, 2013 they released Amazon Original Series as fourteen original pilots available free to Amazon Prime members. Users vote on their favorites and Amazon will likely produce two winners as full series. Emily gives the run-down on both House of Cards and a couple of the Amazon pilots: Those Who Can’t and Betas. Follow-up from Episode 14. P.S. Downton Abbey fans, by the end of 2013, Prime Instant Video will be the only paid streaming service to offer Downton Abbey. Hulu Plus and Netflix are out.
  2. Google_Now_iPad_and_iPhone_610x414Google Now comes to iOS.  Available since July 2012 for some Android users, Apple device owners now have access to the clairvoyant Google Now by signing into one’s Google account in the free Google app for iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
    The nascent Google Now is a savvy digital assistant in ways that Siri can’t compete. Because Google records its users’ actions in all of its products (from web search to Maps to Gmail to Google+ and more) it has access to massive amounts of data and the ability to triangulate personal information, behavior patterns, calendar events, contacts and more. The potential for Google Now is quite exciting. Some users have concerns over privacy issues. However Emily is happy to benefit from the data she is already sharing with Google in exchange for predictive, personalized assistance. How will Apple and Facebook compete?
  3. Instagram app update: 5/3/13: Now users can tag other IG users in photos like you tag friends in Facebook photos. Tags must be approved.
  4. Best Brands on Twitter: Social Media startup Nestivity released their list of the top 25 most engaged brands on Twitter – we look at the top 10 and why they are successful.

About the List:

  • Brands were selected based on the results of a study that examined how brands cultivate relationships with influencers, customers, and advocates on Twitter.
  • Primarily using push marketing on Twitter doesn’t work (obviously)
  • Conducted by Evolve Capital Inc. (private equity firm) and UCLA Anderson School of Management, the study looked at the top 100 most-followed brands on Twitter, analyzing over 739,000 tweets over one month.
  • Significant: study was backed by a private equity/venture capital fund. Investors are paying attention and putting money into researching the success of brands on Twitter. Investor attention is often a barometer of the times; the players who have a major say in the lifespan and  ultimate success of companies and industries are making a real connection between brand engagement on Twitter and a company’s bottom line.
  • High follower count also did not necessarily mean an engaged audience: “While all of the 25 most engaged Twitter accounts had over a million followers, so did the bottom 70% of the same.”
  • 76% of content that was shared (RT’d) had a photo attached, and 18% had a video as part of the message.

Top 10 Brands on Twitter:

  1. Notebook of Love
  2. Disneywords
  3. ESPN
  4. Playstation
  5. Disney
  6. Chelsea Football Club
  7. BBC Breaking News
  8. NASA
  9. CNN Breaking News
  10. Instagram

Tips on Tap:

  1. Twitter Keyboard Shortcuts:
    M = new direct message
    N= new tweet
    R = reply
    T = retweet
    GR = Mentions
    GH = Home
    GM – Messages
    . = load new tweets
  2. Tips to resize and optimize layout of web images:
    A. Two free tools to resize web images: Picresize and Resize Your Image
    B. When resizing, c    hoose small file sizes: Upload a PNG or JPG not too much larger than your desired image size. Choose PNG or JPG over BMP as the file format. Your site load times will benefit.
    B. Have subjects (people, animals, products, etc.) facing in toward the block of text instead of outward and away from the text.
  3. Smartskin Condoms for Smartphones
    Sex sells. This thermoplastic skin slips on and stretches to fit and protect your iPhone 4/4s/5 or Galaxy S3. Water-resistant plastic wraps retain touchscreen and call functionality and 98% camera clarity. Note that neither headphones nor cables can be used with Smartskin. Up to three uses per tab/pack. Smartskin from Firebox costs $18.50.

Show Notes:

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You can download or stream The Digital Dive Podcast at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and/or leave us a review!

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Diving Backward: Favorite Episodes

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FotoFlexer_Photo

an homage to terrible Photoshop work.

The Digital Dive Podcast looks back at our six favorite episodes:

Murder Kroger and Mobile Payments- Episode 3
Adventures in mobile payments.
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(Please excuse the less awesome sound quality on this early episode.)

U-Turn Into a Tech-Speak Future – Episode 5
Is text-speak destroying the English language? IDK.
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Twitstagram, Facebook iOS 6 Privacy Nightmare, and the Internet Down Under – Episode 8
Standing desks, kangaroos, and Facebook privacy issues. Special guest Liam Jose.
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Zoroaster Interview: Dan Scanlan on Digital Music Distribution – Episode 9
Does music pay in the digital age? (Sort of.) From the Victrola to Spotify and YouTube.
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Facebook Fake Accounts, Timeline Changes, and Your Digital Legacy – Episode 12
Who gets all of your Farmville winnings when you’re gone? Why you should leave behind a digital last will and testament.
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Love in the Digital Age: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly – Episode 16
Peace, love, and robots. Emily and Melanie debate Facebook dating etiquette.
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What was your favorite?
Thanks for listening. We will return with Episode 19 next week. And stay tuned for a very special Episode 20!

CYBER ATTACK! – Episode 18

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Cyber Attack - The Digital Dive Podcast

Almost daily, news reports of major corporations falling victim to cyber attacks flood the media. What does this mean for us as individuals? As consumers? As a society? How serious a threat are we facing, and how much of it is media hype?

I. Boston Marathon Bombing media coverage: Twitter’s integral role. From helping runners notify their loved ones amid the chaos, to hospitals communicating occupancy info, to the Boston Police Department announcing the capture of the suspect — Twitter played an important role in the devastating event. Emily and Melanie discuss. To find out ways to help the victims, click here.

II. Spamhaus and other recent/notable cyber attacks. The list of companies that have fallen victim to cyber attacks reads like a Fortune 50 list — Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, The New York Times, Sony, and even government entities such as the US Federal Reserve, South Korea, North Korea, etc. have reported major security breaches linked to hackers. Recently, the infamous Spamhaus attack caused a global Internet slow-down by what some experts are calling the biggest cyber attack in history. Click here to see the Cyberbunker building image referenced.

III. Portrait of a Hacker. So, who are the men and women behind cyber attacks? Melanie and Emily discuss hacking history, a common type of attack (denial-of-service attack, or DDoS), and three types of hackers: ethical hackers, hacktavists, and organized cyber crime groups. Is there a such thing as a good hacker?

DDOS

IV. What we’re doing about it. Governments and corporate executives are beginning to realize the severity of a potential cyber attack. Emily and Melanie discuss the ways the EU, U.S., and others are taking protective initiatives.

Tips on Tap

I. FireMe! App – New app which tracks certain negative phrases about bosses and jobs in social media and rates how likely they are to get the poster fired.

II. Vine – Emily’s love/hate relationship with Vine, a sometimes bagbiter new Twitter-owned social media platform that allows users to create six-second .gif-like looping video mash-ups. Less than three months after its January 2013 release, the popular video-sharing service topped the U.S. App Store’s list of free iPhone apps. Emily quoted John Constine’s 4/20/13 techcrunch article about Vine (and this is just poignant in general about how we use smartphones to memorialize moments):

It’s when Vines disintegrate that I get truly angry, though. It’s blatant violation of the implicit value exchange between a human and an app. Rather than live a moment, I recorded it. When I ended up with nothing to show for it, I feel cheated.

III. Shopping for Flights Online: When to Buy – Melanie offers tips on how and when to get the best deal on airfare online.

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You can download or stream The Digital Dive Podcast at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and/or leave us a review!

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Tracking Clicks, Eyes, and Bodies – Episode 17

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eye-trackingTechnology (read: customer or user tracking) is providing marketers with more data to effectively target ads and better plan brick and mortar store layouts. The improvements in customer tracking both online and offline can lower advertisers’ CPA and improve the shopping, browsing, or Facebook user experience. Emily and Melanie consider the accompanying privacy issues this episode.

I. Samsung Galaxy S4 and T-Mobile Update

Features a five-inch screen, 13 megapixel camera, Eraser on camera to remove photobombers, eye control, smart audio settings, instant translation tilt to scroll, and more. This might be Emily’s next phone.
T-Mobile announced that it will offer iPhone 5 beginning April 12, 2013 with no contract and an option for a monthly payment plan. This is a major contrast from other major carriers like Verizon and AT&T with two-year minimum contracts. Power to the people sort of!

II. Facebook Custom Audiences and Lookalike Audiences, Facebook hashtags and the new News Feed.

Recently launched Facebook Lookalike Audiences expands upon Custom Audiences. Advertisers can target ads to users similar to those in their Custom Audiences, which contains data like email addresses, phone numbers, and user IDs.

III. Facebook Exchange (FBX)

When it launched FBX in Sept 2012, Facebook was home to 25% of the Internet’s display ads.  In February, Facebook announced it was partnering with data brokers Datalogix, Acxiom, Epsilon, and BlueKai so that FBX program advertisers could get even better data about their target audiences. FBX takes users’ general Internet browsing history and uses cookies to target ads on Facebook. Here is a dizzying visual of how FBX works.
Retail customer traffic heatmap

Retail customer traffic heatmap. cnet.com 3/7/13

IV. Smart Retail Customer Tracking Using Security Cameras

San Francisco startup Prism Skylabs has developed sophisticated technology that helps business owners track and analyze customer behaviors in their retail stores. Store owners can create timelines and heatmaps showing areas of the store where customers gravitate. Officially launched in late November 2012, Prism Skylabs has dozens of major retailer clients who pay $50/month per store.

Tips on Tap

  1. After changing your Facebook password: How to reestablish the permission between Instagram and Facebook on iOS so that you can post directly to Facebook from Instagram. Apple’s instructions are not clear or complete — you will think you’re stuck in an infinite reset loop.
  2. Babbel app – “Learning languages online made easy.” Available in any browser and as an app for iOS, Android, KIndle Fire, and Windows 8.
  3. System Util: an app to monitor iPhone performance and CPU: System Util

Show Notes

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You can download or stream The Digital Dive Podcast at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review!

The Digital Dive Podcast is on Stitcher, the best free podcast streaming app. New to Stitcher? Please sign up with our link:

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Love in the Digital Age: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly – Episode 16

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Love in the Digital Age

This week on the DDP, Melanie and Emily discuss the way technology has radically changed the world of dating and relationships – for better and for worse. Take a walk through the good, the bad, and the ugly ways that social media, online dating sites, search engines, etc. impact the fundamentals of romance in modern culture. Is the level of transparency afforded by technology a good thing?

I. “Facebook me.” – When first meeting, how soon should you share your social profile? Is sharing a social profile more intimate than sharing a phone number?

II. Online dating websites – The popularity of online dating sites has skyrocketed over the past few years, and the average age of users is dropping. The co-hosts discuss the advantages and disadvantages of meeting organically vs. meeting online. Is there still a stigma?

III. Breaking up digitally - “Out of sight, out of mind” is increasingly difficult as individual online presences grow. Avoiding an ex online can be almost impossible when you have mutual friends. Listen for websites and apps that can help ease the pain.

Online Dating

Tips on Tap:

I. Block Your Ex -  Browser add on that blocks you from seeing your ex on social media, search engines, and blog networks. blockyourex.com

II. Never Liked it Anyway - Online marketplace to sell gifts from exes that are too hard to keep. neverlikeditanyway.com

III. What to do if your site gets hacked: Informative videos from Google Webmaster.

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You can download or stream The Digital Dive Podcast at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review!

The Digital Dive Podcast is on Stitcher, the best free podcast streaming app. New to Stitcher? Please sign up with our link:

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CAS Internet Piracy Crackdown and Outlook.com’s War on Gmail – Episode 15

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Melanie Touchstone and Emily Binder are back this week for lucky 15 covering the Center for Internet Security’s new Copyright Alert System, an ISP-backed online piracy crackdown plus Microsoft’s launch of Outlook.com email.

I. The 6 Strikes Copyright Alert System – MPAA Got Time For That

MPAA Anti-Piracy PSA

Appearing before your DVD feature film, the much-loved PSA from MPAA’s “Piracy — It’s a Crime” campaign c. 2005

The Copyright Alert System -  A collaboration between the Center for Copyright Information, the MPAA, RIAA, and Internet service providers aimed at curbing illegal downloads of copyrighted content. Watch the CAS Process video.

  • What it means for users, peer to peer downloads, online piracy, and your home Internet account status and speed. Remember, email and Dropbox etc. are safe from the CAS monitoring. However, MPAA and RIAA got time for that when it’s P2P.

II. Outlook.com

  • If you are a user of Hotmail, MSN or other Microsoft email services you will (if you haven’t already) notice a major change: When you sign in, you’re sent to a new service called Outlook.com.
  • “Outlook? As in what I use at work?” Yes. But Microsoft is now adapting the Outlook brand for personal, web-based email services as well. It’s part of a broad makeover that includes the company’s overhaul of the Windows operating system and the Office software suite.
  • Outlook.com is a challenge to Gmail in several ways, including the touted benefits:
    • Email content will not be used to target ads (something many users don’t like about Gmail)
    • Outlook integrates with social networks such as Facebook and Twitter
    • Users can alternate email addresses without signing up for additional accounts
    • Customizable filters like “shipping updates”
    • Clear the trash can and still have a chance to recover deleted emails from the server

Tips on Tap

      1. Slice – this free app “keeps track of what you buy, effortlessly” using your email inbox. Slice tracks your shipments, online orders, and triggers alerts when items you have recently purchased go on sale. For iPhone, Android, and web.
      2. Blackl.com – a “green” search engine powered by Google, Blackl is essentially Google search in your browser on a black background. AMOLED screens use a lot less power displaying black instead of white. (AMOLED = Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode, the technology used in most smartphone screens.)
      3. How to Evade the Copyright Alert System (CAS): The most obvious solution: Stream, don’t download. Jared Moya offers four more workarounds including Usenet, upgrading your residential account to a business account, and using a VPN. – zeropaid.com, 2/26/13

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You can download or stream The Digital Dive Podcast at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review!

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Stay Tuned – New Episode March 4th

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See You Next Week

The DDP will be back next week with a brand new episode!

Have a question or topic you’d like to hear on the show? Comment or let us know on Twitter @thedigitaldive_ .

To hold you over, here are a few stories we’re digging this week:

New Anti-Piracy System to Hit U.S. Next Week (The Daily Dot)

Oscars 2013 Social Media Moments (ABC)

Graphene Supercapacitor Poised to Eliminate Batteries (Sticher)

Samsung to Announce the Galaxy S IV on March 14 (Mashable)

The Geography of Marketing: Media Consumption Habits (1911 Main Street/Chad Thiele)

Super Bowl Ads, Netflix’s TV “Binge-Watching” Model & the Content Renaissance – Episode 14

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Topics: The most popular 2013 Super Bowl ads and advertisers’ attempts to engage viewers on social, Netflix’s game-changing business model, the television renaissance, and our predictions on the future of media consumption.

I. Super Bowl Ads
Melanie and Emily review the most talked about Super Bowl commercials & ads of 2013, including:

  • Ram Trucks – “Farmer” – Paul Harvey (Dodge – Chrysler)
  • Budweiser – “Brotherhood”
  • Jeep – “America Will Be Whole Again” – Oprah (Chrysler)
  • Mercedes-Benz – “Soul” – Willem Dafoe
  • Oreo – “Dunk in the Dark” (Twitter photo post) – total show stealer

Judge for yourself–you can watch this year’s Super Bowl commercials here

II. Netflix
Netflix is changing the traditional television viewing model from trickle out to “binge watching” with their new series House of Cards. Will this decisive shift in TV consumption change the future of television? Will the “I Want it Now” mentality extend to new film releases? Listen for Melanie’s prediction on the future of movie theaters.

Tips on Tap:

I. Prompt Me Nina — Password reminder app created by 14 year old British Teen Nina Devani. Customized password reminder question prompts.

II. UnoDNS — Paid Service lets you access your Netflix, Hulu & Spotify accounts from outside the country.

III. 1Weather App — Excellent free weather app for Android available on Google Play

Show Notes:
Most social TV event ever?
By Bluefin’s measure, Super Bowl social media activity peaked during Beyonce’s halftime performance with 366,000 comments per minute. By comparison, well ahead of the 261,000 comments per minute generated the moment Barack Obama was reelected.

Twitter: the Super Bowl generated a total of 26.13 million tweets, according to SocialGuide, which was nearly as many as all three of last year’s presidential debates combined (27.63 million total, peak of 10.87 million).
-Super Bowl is most social TV event ever 2/5/13

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You can download or stream The Digital Dive at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review!

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Fraley v. Facebook: A User Win? – Episode 13

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In the news:

1) Coca Cola addresses the obesity epidemic

2) Spam email hits a five-year low, but is still two-thirds of all email.
Considering how prevalent spam is, it’s no wonder many people who recently received the legal notice Fraley v. Facebook email were suspicious:

Fraley v. Facebook, Inc. Lawsuit – Sponsored Stories

If you’re an eligible Facebook user in the U.S. or UK, you may have already receiveFacebook sponsored story with gavel Fraley v. Facebookd an email (or may get one soon) from legalnotice@facebookmail.com titled: “Re: Legal Notice of Settlement of Class Action:”

You are receiving this e-mail because you may have been featured in a “Sponsored Story” on Facebook prior to December 3, 2012…

What are sponsored stories?

“Sponsored stories are messages coming from friends about them engaging with your Page, app or event that a business, organization or individual has paid to highlight so there’s a better chance people see them.” -Facebook

Who is the lead plaintiff, Angel Fraley? If the Fraley v. Facebook goes cy pres, which not-for-profit organizations will receive what’s left of the $20 million settlement? Why does this all smell fishy? What does the average user stand to gain (besides $10 max)?

Tips on Tap

1) Prevent cell phone frostbite: Keep your phone in your pocket in cold temperatures to prevent decline in the lithium ion battery when it’s below freezing.

2) Fashism.com – A fashion crowdsourcing website and app for iPhone and Android. “Post a photo, ask a question, get advice.”

3) Electronics buying guide – When to buy:

  • Computer monitors: January-February
  • Cell phones – Valentine’s Day (look for BOGO deals)

Show Notes

  1. “Spam hits a five-year low (but it’s still two-thirds of all email)” -NBCNews – Technology 1/25/13
  2. Fraley v. Facebook, Inc. – fraleyfacebooksettlement.com/
  3. Citizen Media Law Project- Fraley v. Facebook

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Facebook Fake Accounts, Timeline Changes, and Your Digital Legacy – Episode 12

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1) Passing Down Digital Assets After Death
Emily and Melanie argue about whether acknowledging your digital footprint in your last will and testament is ridiculous (and what is at stake).digital footprint social media

  • What happens to your email, social media, blog, photos, cloud documents, financial, professional, and gaming accounts when you die?
  • Why online accounts matter after death:
  • 1) Wishes of the deceased: do they want the FB account up as a memorial? for how long? who should be trusted with the emails, records, photos, videos, messages, etc.?
  • 2) Money: U.S. consumers value their digital assets, on average, at nearly $55,000. -2011 McAfee Survey. That includes MMOG (massive multiplayer online game) assets, photos, projects, hobbies, personal records, career information, entertainment, and email.
  • “Online companies face a ‘patchwork of state laws’ and are usually cautious when it comes to granting access to a deceased user’s account.” -via nbcnews.com
  • U.S. General Services Administration recommends you set up a social media will
  • Only five states’ estate laws include digital assets: CT, RI, OK, IN, and ID. Some statutes only relate to email. Just OK and ID clearly include social networking and blogging as part of an estate (well done, y’all).
  • How to: digital estate planning – Consider using a paid service on this list: thedigitalbeyond.com/online-services-list/

2) Fake Facebook Accounts – Categories, Prevalence, Issues Like Fake Clicks

  • The “bad actors” that Facebook targets are people with many fake accounts
  • As of 8/1/12, CNET reports 8.7%, or 83.09M accounts are fake: ”Facebook estimates that 4.8% are duplicate accounts, 2.4% are user-misclassified accounts, and 1.5% are undesirable accounts.”
  • “We want to ensure that one of the core tenets of Facebook is that you have your unique identity on Facebook.” -Facebook’s Vice President of Global Marketing Solutions Carolyn Everson to Business Insider

3) Facebook to roll out more Timeline changes

  • In New Zealand and parts of Europe, FB has started to roll out new changes to Timeline. Changes to expect for profiles (and probably brand pages eventually):
  • Boxes below your cover image will be replaced with a simpler, tabbed design. Posts in single wide column on the left as opposed to being randomly split into two columns.
  • New “collections manager” lets you drag to reorder your collections (e.g. maps and friends)
  • Nods to Twitter: 1) Subscribers will be called followers. Subscribers/followers are different from friends.
  • 2) Your name will appear in white over the bottom of your cover photo. Basic info including location and job will be located to the right of your profile pic instead of below.

4) Facebook Ads, Mobile, and Stock

  • Facebook shares are way up ($30/share).
  • Mobile has gone from being perceived as a challenge to Facebook toa huge opportunity.
  • Mobile revenues predicted to make up 20%-24% of Facebook’s overall top line in Q4-2012, up from 3% in Q2-2012.
  • Analyst Anmuth says mobile will generate $2.13 billion for Facebook in 2013, up from his previous $2 billion estimate.
  • FB mobile revenues to surpass desktop in 2014
  • Ads in the Newsfeed are much more effective than ads on the right side
  • Facebook Gifts – predicted to contribute $1 billion+ by 2015, and 5% of Facebook’s profits in 2013.
  • Advertisers love Facebook’s ad exchange, which has tons of room to grow. -Business Insider 2/2/13

Tips On Tap

1. Home Inventory: As we begin a new year, here’s a life admin tip to ensure that your home or renter’s insurance really will cover you if disaster strikes. With camera phones and free online storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox, you have no excuse not to make a video documenting your possessions and store it in the cloud. Try CNET’s recommended WhatYouOwn – home inventory software. Free trial version for Mac OS or Windows 8. Why create a home inventory:
  • Purchase enough insurance to replace things you own.
  • Get insurance claims settled faster.
  • Substantiate losses for income tax return.

2) AppGratis is a free iPhone app that recommends a new app each day that’s free for that day. It is available on Android in France and should be coming to the US soon. Emily downloaded the super skeuomorphic Daily Weather app. Its merits are discussed.

3) Digitally Imported App- http://www.di.fm/ “Digitally Imported – Addictive Electronic Music 24/7″

  • A free music streaming app with premium membership option.
  • Great for serious electronic and progressive music fans because it is genre-specific and very extensive in sub-genre channels
  • Social: Community tab displays Facebook and Twitter conversations
  • Radio shows can submit demos to be on the dozens of stations
  • They air popular shows like Armin Van Buuren’s A State of Trance, Carl Cox Global with Carl Cox and Friends at scheduled times, otherwise you can stream Channels

Show Notes

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You can download or stream The Digital Dive at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us an (authentic) review!The Digital Dive Podcast is on Stitcher, the best free podcast streaming app. If you’re new to Stitcher, please sign up with our link below.Hear us on Stitcher Smart Radio

Fake Online Reviews, Mobile in 2013 and Kindle Fire HD vs. iPad – Episode 11

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2013 mobile dominationI. Kindle Fire HD vs. iPad 2
Longtime Apple fan Emily Binder gives a surprising review of her newest device: Kindle Fire HD Tablet. Find out how it measures up against her beloved iPad 2.

II. Mobile in 2013
As we turn the corner into the New Year, Melanie and Emily give their predictions for the mobile industry in 2013.

III. Fake Online Reviews
Bogus online reviews are becoming an area of increasing concern as more and more studies reveal just how prevalent they’ve become. We explain how to spot a fake review. Gartner predicts that by 2014, 10-15% of online reviews will be paid for by companies.

Tips on Tap
1. Instaport
How to delete your Instagram account and download your photos: The new Instagram Terms of Use, effective 1/19/13, have many users concerned about how Instagram (and ultimately, its owner, Facebook) can use their photos and data. Whether you want to leave Instagram or not, Instaport is a useful free web app that allows you to download your Instagram photos to a ZIP file. Be prepared for a long wait time during peak hours. Photos will be 612×612 pixels. Export to social networks like Facebook and Flickr is supposedly coming soon.

2. RedLaser
This highly acclaimed app works as a shopping tool that allows you to scan barcodes while shopping to compare costs at nearby locations and online. redlaser.com

3. How to Hide Your Last Name on Foursquare
Effective 1/28/13, Foursquare’s updated privacy policy means that users’ full names will always be displayed. Sometimes Foursquare only shows the first name and last initial, but users found this confusing, according to Foursquare’s announcement email. You can alter your full name in your settings and make your last name an initial (or anything you want).

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You can download or stream The Digital Dive at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us an (authentic) review!The Digital Dive Podcast is on Stitcher, the best free podcast streaming app. If you’re new to Stitcher, please sign up with our link below.Hear us on Stitcher Smart Radio

What to Do When Phone Falls in Water + Social Media Catastrophes of 2012 – Episode 10

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I. What to Do When Your Phone Falls in Water- Many of us have faced that dreaded moment: one minute you’re sending a text, the next minute you’re panic-stricken fishing your phone

Smartphones don't come with floaties

out of a puddle/toilet/pool, etc. In the wake of Melanie’s recent iPhone nosedive into a cup of water, Rube Goldberg-style, the ladies give you step-by-step directions of what to do when that unfortunate digital dive occurs.

 

 

II. Top Social Media Catastrophes of 2012 (and What We Can Learn From Them)-

yeah, not good...

Chick-fil-A’s fake Facebook profile. An NRA journal’s untimely message. StubHub’s self-deprecating tweet. You’ve heard the stories, now Emily and Melanie look back at them and discuss what we can learn from some of the year’s biggest social media blunders.

Tips on Tap:

I. Ever wonder what you say in your sleep? Want to prove that your partner is snoring? With the Sleep Talk Recorder app, you can do just that. This handy little app for iPhone and Android picks up on your sleep babble and strange sounds in the night and records them (without all of that dead-space in between). Try it out, and take a look at some hilarious findings other users have submitted. sleeptalkrecorder.com

II. The Fiscal Cliff Calculator- how will it impact you? We’re all sick of hearing about the fiscal cliff, but as we near the metaphor’s edge it’s worth taking a look at how it will impact you. Enter your information (filing status, income, and the like) into the calculator and then choose from a drop down that then compares your tax withholdings, etc. under the current law with several potential outcomes. taxpolicycenter.org/taxcalculator/index.cfm

III. Learnvest.com – Learnvest is a website, smartphone app, and email newsletter geared toward professional women. It offers advice about myriad financial topics from negotiating a raise to navigating tax law, dealing with awkward financial situations or different money attitudes with friends and family, etiquette for paying the bill at a business meal, saving for retirement and your 401k, and getting the most bang for your buck at the grocery store, value out of your clothing, and investing in the stock market.
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You can download or stream The Digital Dive at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review!The Digital Dive Podcast is on Stitcher, the best free podcast streaming app. If you’re new to Stitcher, please sign up with our link below.Hear us on Stitcher Smart Radio Follow us on Twitter @thedigitaldive_ and Like us on Facebook

The Digital Dive PodcastTM: Get the most out of technology… without ever fully giving in

Zoroaster Interview: Dan Scanlan on Digital Music Distribution – Episode 9

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Melanie and Emily interview Dan Scanlan, drummer of psych metal band Zoroaster, about the changing landscape of music in the digital age.

    1. Distribution – pros and cons of reaching a wider audience through digital, loss of control
    2. Revenue sources for musicians – mysterious compensation algorithms on YouTube and Pandora
    3. Internet radio – Spotify, iTunes, streaming services
    4. MP3 downloads, CD sales, merchandise, touring, and ticket sales
    5. Amazon, CD Baby, and outlets selling physical albums
    6. Why Dan loves vinyl and 8 tracks

Cincopa WordPress plugin

Emily’s favorite song by Zoroaster- Odyssey (off Matador)

Tips on Tap

  1. Excel – how to open a new instance:
    If you or your company are still using antiquated versions of Microsoft Excel, you’ve likely discovered the frustration of not being able to open two Excel documents in two separate windows, and thus compare side by side in the same view.
    How to get around it:
    Open up the first Excel document
    Create a new shortcut for Excel on your desktop and open Excel using the shortcut
    You should now have two separate windows open for Excel
    In the blank worksheet, use File>Open to open the second document.
  2. How to clear the “other” space on iPad – the yellow bar can take up gigabytes of memory, with phantom files, email attachments, duplicate music files, corrupt data, notes, contacts, unfinished downloads, etc. First try this: Turn off the iPad, plug in to your computer, sync to iTunes. Try using iExplorer. iTunes will not display all the files that will take up “other.” Check your app usage in Settings -> General -> Usage and look for apps with unusually large memory usage. Otherwise, do a backup then full restore. Forum: Apple Support – Yellow Bar “Other” Capacity
  3. Wanelo shopping app and website – This very simple app shows a Pinterest-style mosaic of product images that you can endlessly scroll through. What sets Wanelo apart from Pinterest is that it provides a much easier shopping experience. Every image you see includes the price of the item. A simple tap will take you to the site where the image can be purchased. Yay for mobile commerce! Click here for the web version…be warned, it’s addictive.

Show Notes

Rob Zombie Woolite Commercial (correction: it was Woolite, not Tide):

Thanks Zoroaster for all the swag! We love the Matador posters with cover art by artist Brian Mercer. Zoroaster’s new album, Century of Light, will be released in early spring 2013, also with cover art by Brian Mercer. And thanks Jordan for the fantastic electronic refillable Tagger lighters from NBSP INC.
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You can download or stream The Digital Dive at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! The Digital Dive Podcast is on Stitcher, the best free podcast streaming smartphone app. If you’re a new subscriber, please sign up with our link below.
Hear us on Stitcher Smart RadioSay hi on Twitter @thedigitaldive_ and Like us on Facebook.

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Twitstagram, Facebook iOS 6 Privacy Nightmare, and the Internet Down Under – Episode 8

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This week Emily Binder and Melanie Touchstone cover Twitter photo filters, standing desk adventures, and a major privacy issue with Facebook/iOS 6 integration that hit a little too close to home for Ms. Binder. Your favorite digital divers are also thrilled to bring special guest Australian Crime Fiction Publisher Liam Jose on the show. Liam chimes in on Australia’s recent controversial policies regarding Internet censorship.

I. Standing Desk Update – How Melanie used stacks of office supplies to prevent cancer (original post link in show notes)

II. Twitstagram- Twitter to add Instagram-like photo filters in the next few months

III. Australian government tries to censor the Internet

IV. The Facebook iOS 6 integration nightmare: Em and Mel learn the hard way about the amount of information iOS Contacts pulls from Facebook based on mobile number and email address.

Source: Brian Farrington via townhall.com

Special Guest Liam Jose with Co-host Melanie Touchstone

Tips on Tap:

1. Zite: Apple’s #1 iPad news app of 2011 is still pretty great. Zite is “Your Personalized Magazine.” The app automatically learns what kind of articles, blogs, and videos you like and gets smarter as you use it.

2. Instagram spam comments are on the rise. How to delete Instagram comments and report abuse. (Tap the comment button as though you were going to comment. Then tap on the comment. Tap the trash icon that appears to the left.)

3. iOS 6 Ad Tracking: How to Opt Out. By default iOS 6 tracks iPhone and iPad owners’ browsing history to serve advertisements. How adjust your iOS ad tracking settings: Settings –>; General –>; About –>; Advertising. You’ll see Limit Ad Tracking. The default toggle is in the OFF position. That means ad tracking is turned on. If you want to opt out of targeted advertising, switch Limit Ad Tracking to the ON position. Note: Being tracked or not is a personal preference.

Show notes:

  1. The Standing Desk Adventure – Melanie Touchstone. missmelt.com, 11/14/12
  2. Twitter to Add Photo Filters to Compete With Instagram – NYTimes.com, 11/6/12

Co-host Emily Binder and Special Guest Liam Jose in the studio

Can’t get enough of Liam Jose? Check out thecrimefactory.com and follow Liam on Twitter.
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You can download or stream The Digital Dive at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–>; If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! The Digital Dive Podcast is on Stitcher, the best free podcast streaming smartphone app. If you’re a new subscriber, please sign up with our link below.
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Digital Presidents, Skeuomorphism, and Commerce With a Side of Content – Episode 7

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This week, Melanie and Emily offer their opinions and insight on a variety of topics, including the ousting of Apple iOS miracle worker and polarizing executive Scott Forstall, the design debate over skeuomorphism, presidential campaigns and voting in the digital age, and commerce as content.

Topics:
I. Adventures in Mobile Payments Part 3: SUCCESS
Melanie and Emily offer a happy update on their ongoing pursuit of mobile-friendly vendors. Square and Level-Up

II. Apple Kicks Scott Forstall to the Curb; Skeuomorphism

thermo app thermometer skeuomorphism design

Skeuomorphic design

After refusing to sign a formal apology for Apple Maps, among other things, iOS chief Scott Forstall was ousted from Apple. Em and Mel discuss one of his Jobs-like signatures, skeuomorphic style (replicating the shape of necessary parts of old forms in a new medium where those elements are no longer required). Forstall was a mobile software leader and prolific inventor but also a divisive figure. “Forstall’s name is second on the patent that lays out exactly how the iPhone and iPad work. The first name on that patent is Steve Jobs.”

III. Commerce as Content (and vice versa)
Pinterest, Fab, and Shopkick

IV. Digital Media and the Presidential Election
Electronic voting, ballots, and recounts. Security and hacking at the polls. The future of voting.

Show Notes:

You can download or stream this show at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! The Digital Dive Podcast is on Stitcher, the best free podcast streaming smartphone app.


Hear us on Stitcher Smart RadioFollow us on Twitter @thedigitaldive_ and Like us on Facebook.

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Xbox Music, Microsoft Surface, and Avoiding Death-by-Cubicle – Episode 6

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This week we dive into Pinterest’s new privacy features, Xbox Music and Windows 8, Microsoft Surface, and LinkedIn Endorsements.

I. Mobile Payments- After another Atlanta festival, we follow up on Murder Kroger and Mobile Payments (Ep. 3)- Adventures in trying to pay with mobile while ducking under a funnel cake vendor’s oil vat to reach a power strip

II. Pinterest ups their privacy settings; stalkers wince

III. Microsoft launches Xbox Music, Windows 8, and announces the Microsoft Surface tablet: game changer or another “me too gadget”?

IV. M is crushing on Spotify–but will an upgrade to a Premium account put an end to the honeymoon? (stay tuned)

V. LinkedIn Endorsements – How it works (and why we don’t like it)

 

Tips on Tap:Mother In Law's Tongue plant

1. Dolphin browser for mobile: A fun alternative to your smartphone or tablet’s native browser. Based heavily on gestures. An excellent free app for iOS and Android.

2. Standing desks, dimming your monitor, and other ways to not slowly kill yourself in an office environment. Ergonomics.

3. Emily tells you how to literally clear the air with your Mother-In-Law’s-Tongue…yes you read that correctly. (The best low maintenance, worker-friendly office plant that removes pollutants.)

Listen or subscribe in iTunes

 

Show Notes – Links

1. Pinterest Blog – Announcing Blocking & More Controls 10/17/12

2. Microsoft launches Xbox Music: What you need to know – PC World, 10/14/12

3. More Time Spent Sitting Linked to Higher Risk of Death; Risk Found to Be Independent of Physical Activity Level. Science Daily, 7/23/10

The Microsoft Logo Infographic mentioned in Ep. 6:

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You can download or stream this show at thedigitaldivepodcast.com or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory–> If you like the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! The Digital Dive Podcast is on Stitcher, the best free podcast streaming smartphone app. If you’re a new subscriber, please sign up with our link below.
Hear us on Stitcher Smart RadioPing us on Twitter @thedigitaldive_ and Like us on Facebook

The Digital Dive PodcastTM: Get the most out of technology… without ever fully giving in