Rich Site Summary (RSS) was first released in 1999 but really became popular in the mid 2000s with the rise of the readership of blogs. The idea behind RSS is that content from various sources such as blogs or newspapers can be aggregated and read in one place without having to visit various different websites.

For Google, this represented a challenge to its advertisement business. If different blogs and websites were displaying Google ads next ...]]> The End of Google Reader

This week Google announced the death of Google Reader, its RSS reading solution. Is it possible that the iPhone was one of the major causes of the failure of Google Reader?

What is Google Reader and What did it Bring to Google?

Rich Site Summary (RSS) was first released in 1999 but really became popular in the mid 2000s with the rise of the readership of blogs. The idea behind RSS is that content from various sources such as blogs or newspapers can be aggregated and read in one place without having to visit various different websites.

For Google, this represented a challenge to its advertisement business. If different blogs and websites were displaying Google ads next to its content, Google would stand to loose those ad impressions and clicks if users read content in a different environment.

Hence, in 2005 Google released its web-based reader service that would allow users to collect RSS feeds in one place, and read the content in an environment that Google controlled. That meant that Google would be able to continue to display ads next to the content. This was a huge win for Google for several reasons: they learnt more about the user and no longer had to share ad revenue with the content publisher.

Over time, Google increased the offer of RSS management tools, notability by purchasing Feedburner, making it easy for users to add RSS feeds to Reader. Effectively, Google crowded-out other RSS services from the market and then stopped innovating their RSS services.

The Rise of the iPhone and a Challenge to Google Reader

Feedly RSS Reader on iPhone

In 2007 Apple released the iPhone which began a big change in how we consume content and use the Internet. The iPhone, once opened up to applications, began a shift in consuming RSS from the web, and Google’s Reader, to applications. iPad, released in 2010, only accelerated this trend as Internet use started its migration from the desktop web browser to tablet applications, and funding models from ads to paid apps.

Most of these new generation of RSS applications continued to use Google Reader as the data store for RSS feeds and content, but didn’t show any ads. Hence Google was taking the cost of storing the content without generating any revenue from its investment. This clearly led to its decision to discontinue the service.

What Must We Take Away from this Debacle?

There are a few lessons to take away from this debacle:-
• if you don’t pay for a service, it might become untenable and be closed.
• if you pay for a service, are you paying enough?
• if you are building a service, have you a clear way to profit while running the service?
• if you’re running a backend service, how are you charging for it?
• don’t trust Google
• if you stop innovating, you risk being disrupted.

Didn’t Twitter Kill RSS?

It’s true that many people who used RSS migrated to twitter as their preferred way of discovering new content. Yet many people preferred RSS readers and aggregated content. It’s really a question of preference!

Mobile offers a great opportunity to provide much more than just a store front. A person’s mobile device is their most personal device. They have it with them all the time, they hold it close and have an emotional attachment to what they do with it. Because they can touch products and manipulate them with on screen directly with their fingers, they can more easily create an emotional link between product and ...]]> One of the key trends of 2013 is the expected uptake of mobile e-commerce. But what form will that take? What we’ve seen with some of the more adventurous companies to-date is a mobile enablement of their website, either through responsive design or a targeted mobile site. But is that enough?

Mobile is about Emotion.

Mobile offers a great opportunity to provide much more than just a store front. A person’s mobile device is their most personal device. They have it with them all the time, they hold it close and have an emotional attachment to what they do with it. Because they can touch products and manipulate them with on screen directly with their fingers, they can more easily create an emotional link between product and customer.

Emotion is very important because it elevates a purchase decision above a simple feature comparison. That allows a retailer to sell the product at a higher price and it makes the consumer more likely to buy. Emotional connection can be made through beautiful images, telling a great story about the product and linking its use to certain people or groups.

How do we communicate emotion through an application?

By providing beautiful images of the product, with short story stubs and a very engaging, rapid user-experience. Think of a mobile application as a glossy magazine with a direct route to a shopping cart. You can use an image to draw consumers into a product, tell a story that they can attach themselves to, and then use more standard product shots to show it in detail.

Here’s the thing that’s the big difference. On a mobile device, you want to allow a customer to browse and discover more easy. The response on a tablet, for example is immediate, hence the pleasure of discovery is much greater.

Why are Websites Different?

Most website-based e-commerce solutions tend to be more functional than emotional, and tend to be bad at telling stories. This is why they fail to engage an emotional response.

On a technical level, websites, because they need to load data over the Internet with each page change, they tend to be slower and less smooth. While this may only be a question of milliseconds, it is noticeable and makes the overall experience less pleasant, creating a barrier between the emotional being and the product. When you want someone to buy, you want them to have the best possible experience.

Take a Look at Frank and Oak

Montreal’s Frank and Oak have had a blistering first year of existence. They have fully understood the importance of great visual design and have applied this to both their e-commerce website and their mobile application.

But here’s the thing, Frank and Oak’s mobile experience is much more agreeable than their website due to faster loading speeds and a more reactive interface. In addition, their mobile application allows customers to purchase anywhere and compare their products whilst out shopping. Expect more retailers to be providing similar experiences in 2013.

Frank and Oak have done an excellent job, but we feel that they are not perfect and we can do so much more. We’re really excited to see what leading-edge retailers will be launching in the mobile space this year.

Where do you want to be in 2013?

As a retailer, where do you want to be? Do you want to be ahead of your competitors, creating great relationships with your customers on their tablets and smartphones?

On February 1st, 2013 Netflix released its first commissioned series, House of Cards. Not only was this a first for the company, it was a first in another sense too.

Television series have been traditionally released on a schedule. This made sense in an era of over-the-air broadcasts when distribution was limited by available slots.

However, in an era where television is distributed by broadband internet, people are consuming programmes at their own speed. For some, that might be occasionally, but for many they binge on a series until it’s finished. This ...]]> There are several trends in television that will concentrate hardware sales in the hands of just a few companies, but will enable consumers to have a much deeper televisual experience.

How Television Will be Consumed

On February 1st, 2013 Netflix released its first commissioned series, House of Cards. Not only was this a first for the company, it was a first in another sense too.

Television series have been traditionally released on a schedule. This made sense in an era of over-the-air broadcasts when distribution was limited by available slots.

However, in an era where television is distributed by broadband internet, people are consuming programmes at their own speed. For some, that might be occasionally, but for many they binge on a series until it’s finished. This was Netflix’s bet, that consumers would seen value in being able to consume the whole series at once, which many did.

A Second Screen

The way in which TV is being consumed is also being changed by viewers’ use of tablets and smartphones to compliment their consumption. These devices are being used for social media, to look up actors bios, or for more cutting edge uses, as a compliment during broadcast.

Republic of Doyle Companion App

For example, on Canada’s CBC, The Republic of Doyle has a companion application that allows the viewer to receive: trivia, bios, evidence and more. They can connect with other fans, cheer at certain events (hey, user experience tracking!) and collect evidence to participate to some degree in the show.

Not only does this improve the overall experience of the show, it also changes it from being a passive to and active experience and should increase viewer loyalty. These applications will very much feature in the future of our television experience.

The problem with Companion Applications

There is, however, a problem with such companion applications, and that is demonstrated by House of Cards. Programmes will not be watched, for the most part, on a scheduled basis, but will be consumed on an adhoc basis.

Hence, for companion applications to work effectively, they really need to know when a user a watching a programme and at what point they are in the show and a second by second basis. In order for this to work effectively, tablets and smartphones need to be able to talk to televisions on a low level. Today, there are only really three companies that can provide such communication between devices: Apple, Microsoft and Samsung.

The Players in Interactive Television

Apple TV Today

Apple is best placed to benefit from this movement with the popularity of the iPad, iPhone and buzz around Apple TV. Although their TV solution today has not sold widely, those that have bought it do tend to rave about its benefits.

Samsung doesn’t have necessarily the technical vision, but they have a lot of marketshare in televisions, Android smartphones and some success in tablets.

Microsoft, to some extent, is the surprise player. They have several advantages, the biggest being their installed base of Xbox users. However, Microsoft has yet to demonstrate that it can be successful in the tablet and smartphone space, so may suffer from a lack of developer interest in their platforms. They need to increase their tablet market share to be positioned for success in the TV market.

What will the Future of TV look like?

What will this future of television look like? Here are some ideas. While watching a programme, viewers will be able to:

• view others’ comments – kind of a timed and delayed twitter timeline.
• receive information about the show as it happens, such as the evidence in Republic of Doyle.
• see information about new cast members and actors as they appear in the show.
• see information about locations, both real and in the story.
• view maps with the location of characters at a given time in the show.
• be prompted to use social media to promote the show.
• share ideas on the outcomes of shows, great for ‘whodunits‘.
• prevent spoilers by keeping information within a closed, time-delayed environment.
• create communities of like-minded viewers.
• allow viewers to comment on what they saw in real time – great for interview shows.

It’s obvious that the future of television with a second screen is very powerful. There is a lot of potential to completely redefine the viewing experience, and it is possible that some shows will require a second screen to be viewed.

In any case, the actors who will be able to deliver on the experience will be concentrated, and consumers will be increasingly locked into those vendors. Choose your camps now.

What possibilities do you think this televisual world will offer?

Skeuomorphic design is the concept of taking design patterns from one context and placing them in another. For example, you can take the design of a book in the physical world, and then add page turns to an electronic version.

Some hold the opinion that skeuomorphic design is good for users because it gives them something to relate to. If you already fully understand how an object works in one world, you can apply the same clues into another world. In our example of a book, because you ...]]> According to legend, Steve Jobs had the interface of the iPad’s calendar application modelled on the type of leather he had in his private plane. Whether or not this is true, it speaks to a design concept called Skeuomorphism.

What is Skeuomorphism?

Skeuomorphic design is the concept of taking design patterns from one context and placing them in another. For example, you can take the design of a book in the physical world, and then add page turns to an electronic version.

Some hold the opinion that skeuomorphic design is good for users because it gives them something to relate to. If you already fully understand how an object works in one world, you can apply the same clues into another world. In our example of a book, because you understand how a page-turn works in the physical world, you’ll be able to move to a new page in the digital world by using an electronic page turn.

Detractors of skeuomorphism in the digital world, and there are many, believe that it brings in unnecessary design complexity. Because the digital world is not the same as the physical world, objects and concepts need to be built to be optimal for the digital world. If we return to our book example, turning digital pages is not optimal on a tablet, but perpetual scrolling works much better.

The Future of Skeuomorphic Design

Steve Jobs liked skeuomorphic design, and many examples of it can be found in design throughout Apple. The best and worst example is the calendar application with Steve’s Corinthian leather and a slow and cumbersome page turn animation. Many of Apple’s best fans disliked this and wish it to be gone.

In late 2012, Apple announced that Jonny Ive, will be taking over software design at Apple. Ive is know for his clean model hardware designs. There has been no hints of skeumorphism in his design, so we can expect a new language to permeate throughout Apples applications. Expect, in 2013, for some of the worst offenders to be replaced.

Apple’s lead can be expected to be replicated elsewhere. In the very least, given the bad press that skeuomorphism has received, very few application designers can be expected to create such designs.

That being said, not all skeuomorphism is bad. It can be fun when applied well. Take Apple’s Podcast application. Once a podcast is playing, you can see a reel to reel tape-player in the background. Hence when it’s fun, doesn’t get in the way of user visually or in what they want to accomplish, then why not?

There are very different design philosophies, skeumorphism, minimalism, cartoonism, high-density or other styles.

At Digital Possibilities, we see an increased trend towards minimalist design. More and more applications are being released with such a design and are being warmly welcomed. The poster-child for this movement has been twitterific 5.

Minimalist design entails creating an interface with only the information required on it. Usually it also involves leaving-off a lot of chrome, for ...]]> Design is an interesting subjects and to many, design is very much in the eye of the beholder. One things is sure, design on mobile is very difficult due to smaller and more fixed screen sizes. Yet Apple has always placed a priority on striking visual design, making it important throughout the whole sector.

There are very different design philosophies, skeumorphism, minimalism, cartoonism, high-density or other styles.

At Digital Possibilities, we see an increased trend towards minimalist design. More and more applications are being released with such a design and are being warmly welcomed. The poster-child for this movement has been twitterific 5.

Minimalist design entails creating an interface with only the information required on it. Usually it also involves leaving-off a lot of chrome, for example navigation bars, tab bars etc, and leaving a lot of white space.

That is not to say that minimalism is easy. It’s not. It’s much more precise than being heavy on photoshop drop-shadows. You need to get line spacing just right, choose the right fonts at the right size and colour. Twitterific uses different colours to highlight different information, but without putting that in your face.

Many will decide that minimalism is not for them because it does not fully represent their brand. That it fine, but it could also be an error. Brand values and visually identity can still be reflected through a minimalist approach by selecting appropriate colours and fonts.

Minimalism can be great for users too, as it allows them to focus on the core of the activities they wish to perform or the information they wish to consume. There are fewer distractions, and if it is done well, the users brain will be less taxed by visual overload.

Given the success of applications like Twitterific and feedly, I think we can expect to see many more examples of minimalist design in applications in 2013.

We believe also that Apple’s Passbook is an important technology that will move us towards the e-wallet nirvana, and that this technology should be embraced by consumers and businesses alike.

Hence we have launched a Passbook Pass generator. We wanted to make it open and easy to use, hence there are no sign-ups necessary, it’s really a case of configuring your pass and receiving it on your iPhone! Easy Peasy.

Take a look now:

Passbook Generator →

When using the Passbook Generator, think about how you may integrate it into your business. Would you like to ...]]> They say that the best way to understand a new concept is to try it out, and at Digital Possibilities we heartily agree with that sentiment.

We believe also that Apple’s Passbook is an important technology that will move us towards the e-wallet nirvana, and that this technology should be embraced by consumers and businesses alike.

Hence we have launched a Passbook Pass generator. We wanted to make it open and easy to use, hence there are no sign-ups necessary, it’s really a case of configuring your pass and receiving it on your iPhone! Easy Peasy.

Take a look now:

Passbook Generator →

When using the Passbook Generator, think about how you may integrate it into your business. Would you like to offer coupons, discounts, a store card, a method of paying for purchases? How would they look? What information might you put on there? What do your customers need?

Using our Passbook Generator can really help you get a handle on some of these concepts and better get a feeling for how Passbook can help your business.

Let us know what you think of the Passbook Generator, what Passes you’ve created, and what ideas it has given you about your business.

Whitepapers traditionally have been distributed as printed pieces, or their online equivalent, the Adobe PDF.

The way people are reading is changing. Probably before, you’d print out a whitepaper and ready it one paper, but now you can skip that step and just read it on your tablet.

READ.IT.ON.YOUR.TABLET

Yes, the iPad is the new paper.

So here’s the thing, if you are creating a whitepaper that will be read on a device that has internet access, a colour screen, supports interactivity, sound and video, shouldn’t you be including elements that take advantage of this in ...]]> The whitepaper is a very important part of the business to business marketeer’s toolset. It enables a company to describe and educate potential customers about the potential of their product.

Whitepapers traditionally have been distributed as printed pieces, or their online equivalent, the Adobe PDF.

Why Whitepapers are Changing.

The way people are reading is changing. Probably before, you’d print out a whitepaper and ready it one paper, but now you can skip that step and just read it on your tablet.

READ.IT.ON.YOUR.TABLET

Yes, the iPad is the new paper.

So here’s the thing, if you are creating a whitepaper that will be read on a device that has internet access, a colour screen, supports interactivity, sound and video, shouldn’t you be including elements that take advantage of this in your whitepaper?

Oh yes. And so the penny drops.

The iPad is huge for B2B marketeers because we can now use interactive elements to better describe our products and solutions. Videos, interactive diagrams, interviews, images and links to websites.

A Whitepaper Written as a PDF in 2013 is an Abomination

Let’s lay it down. Anyone writing any whitepaper (or book for that matter) that is not written around the capabilities of a tablet is performing a criminal act.

Apple has Made it Easy for You

At the beginning of 2012, Apple launched iBooks Author to enable anyone to write interactive ebooks. Anyone. That includes you, dear B2B Marketeer.

iBooks Author is relatively accessible, so anyone can get their company’s whitepapers in an iBooks format for distribution. You can also generate a PDF version without the interactivity for those without a tablet.

It is another increasing advantage of the Apple ecosystem and their ability to make it easier and easier to create great content. All marketeers should be really excited by this and planning their 2013 whitepapers.

See How We’ve Done it

Our whitepaper is available from our website. See how we have positioned the tablet version as well as a PDF copy for those who don’t have access to an iPad. At Digital Possibilities we can even help you with yours. Give us a call.

The current iPad version 4 has a retina quality display with a size of 9.7″ whereas the iPad mini is smaller, lighter with a lower resolution screen with a diagonal size of 7.85″.

Each iPad has its merits, and at Digital Possibilities we’ve previously argued that each iPad has its merits and that depending on what the principal use is expected to be, each iPad will find its audience.

Indeed, in conversation with a potential purchaser today, they stated that a primary use for them would be to view boat navigational charts, and that the extra space on the iPad 4 would be more than welcome.

Yet, the question that is important for ...]]> On November 2nd, Apple launched the iPad Mini, a smaller, cheaper version of their incredibly popular iPad.

The current iPad version 4 has a retina quality display with a size of 9.7″ whereas the iPad mini is smaller, lighter with a lower resolution screen with a diagonal size of 7.85″.

Each iPad has its merits, and at Digital Possibilities we’ve previously argued that each iPad has its merits and that depending on what the principal use is expected to be, each iPad will find its audience.

Indeed, in conversation with a potential purchaser today, they stated that a primary use for them would be to view boat navigational charts, and that the extra space on the iPad 4 would be more than welcome.

Yet, the question that is important for anyone developing applications for the iPad, is which one will have the greatest market share and what the impact on apps will be.

According to a report by Business Insider, Citi has reported that Apple has ordered 12-14 million iPad minis for Q1 2013 and 5-7 million iPad 4s. This would suggest a roughly 2:1 sales of the mini. Of course, this will take a few years to be reflected in the installed base, but the trend and tendency is very clear.

Hence, when companies are designing their iPad applications, they should design them taking into account the smaller physical screen size of the iPad mini. This means that buttons must be much larger than on the iPad as fingers do not become smaller as tablet screen size decreases.

An interesting example of this is the new twitteriffic application that has an arguably inefficient use of screen estate on the iPad, but which would be wonderful on the iPad mini.

Another impact for business is that with the increased portability of the iPad mini, many more applications and use cases can be foreseen. This will be witnessed both in the consumer arena and in business to business uses.

For example, the iPad mini can be more easily used to complete paperwork; whether it’s when the piano tuner comes or the telephone repair man is fixing issues in an exchange.

The big question for businesses now is:
• how can I profit from the increased use of the iPad mini?
• how can the iPad mini make my business more efficient?

Let’s say you are waiting in line, thinking about that great widget you saw an advertisement for. You decide to check it out on the internet while you’re waiting. Looks good. Time to buy.

When the impulse comes to buy, where-ever the user may be, it’s a retailer’s responsibility to make that sale as easy and straightforward as possible. Every barrier to purchasing needs to be removed, because if it’s easier to buy elsewhere, then users will go.

Two companies already have a huge advantage, but it’s not an unassailable one. Amazon and Apple both have your credit card number on file and can enable you to purchase an item in one click.

For other retailers, it’s not always easy ...]]> Buy on impulse. Make it possible for customers, in 2013.

Let’s say you are waiting in line, thinking about that great widget you saw an advertisement for. You decide to check it out on the internet while you’re waiting. Looks good. Time to buy.

When the impulse comes to buy, where-ever the user may be, it’s a retailer’s responsibility to make that sale as easy and straightforward as possible. Every barrier to purchasing needs to be removed, because if it’s easier to buy elsewhere, then users will go.

Two companies already have a huge advantage, but it’s not an unassailable one. Amazon and Apple both have your credit card number on file and can enable you to purchase an item in one click.

For other retailers, it’s not always easy or desirable to keep credit card numbers on file, but there are options to making payments easier:

• Use Apple. Apple may take a cut of 30% on in-app purchases, but for some retailers that are vertically integrated, they may be left with enough margin. After all, most retail organizations take a 30%+ margin for goods.

• Use Paypal. Although Paypal is far from the most convenient way of enabling purchases, they do offer a mobile SDK which can be integrated into an app, or a standard integration within a mobile website. For some users this is an acceptable and viable option for them.

• Take Credit Cards. While we all realize that entering a credit card number of a mobile device is not easy, it’s entirely possible. Create an interface that helps the customer and makes it as easy as possible. Could you also use the camera on the phone to record the credit card number?

Add in this functionality to a general retail presence on mobile for product discovery, and the channel will be well covered.

What does Mobile eCommerce Mean for Consumers?

Mobile ecommerce is giving consumers an increased amount of flexibility and enablement for their purchasing decisions. The convenience factor, as well as the ability to act on time-sensitive and emotional triggers makes this a great service for them.

Making customers happy makes them more brand loyal and increases their customer lifetime value. Treat your customers well, enable them to buy your products and services when it is the best time for them where-ever they are, and they will be better served.

The drivers for change in retail are many, and have already started some time ago with the expansion of e-commerce on the web. Giants such as Amazon have been slowly but surely building market share and eroding the margins of traditional retail players.

Customers are increasingly at ease with purchasing on the web and entering their credit card details; but as mobile become more popular they will have even more options.

A retail organization has not to see this as an attack on multiple fronts, rather an opportunity to engage across ...]]> Retail is on the cusp of big changes facilitated and driven by the use and availability of mobile applications. The traditional model of store+salesperson=sale is very quickly changing. How will this impact retailers?

The Growth of Multichannel Selling

The drivers for change in retail are many, and have already started some time ago with the expansion of e-commerce on the web. Giants such as Amazon have been slowly but surely building market share and eroding the margins of traditional retail players.

Customers are increasingly at ease with purchasing on the web and entering their credit card details; but as mobile become more popular they will have even more options.

A retail organization has not to see this as an attack on multiple fronts, rather an opportunity to engage across multiple channels. This hard part is that many retailers will have to be present on all those different channels to address their customers. These range from physical presence, specialist trade shows, on their website, social media sites and mobile.

How is Mobile Impacting the Retail Channel Mix?

In 2012 the term showrooming started to gain traction as more and more customers were using their photos in stores to check on prices. Indeed, Amazon even promoted this use of their application.

For retailers, showrooming is particularly nefast. They invest in a physical presence and in a physical service, but don’t gain the sale.

Unfortunately, a direct attack on showrooming, for example by banning mobile phones, is unlikely to be effective and is most likely to be counter effective.

Yet, whilst mobile is the cause of a problem, it also offers a multitude of solutions.

How can Mobile Provide Help Defend Against Showrooming?

The best form of defence is often the attack. Here mobile can help, and it helps in the form of enabling retailers to build a presence and relationships through the channel.

Customers coming to stores will either choose to purchase immediately or to purchase online. The need or desire to purchase immediately is obviously valued more highly than a price saving by the customer. And that’s okay – customers are effectively happy to pay a premium for that extra value.

However, other customers are more price-sensitive and are happy to wait in order to pay a reduced amount too. The goal of the retailer should be to capture these purchases even at a lower margin. Some marginal profit it better than none at all.

So if customers are going to be using an application to check prices online, make sure it’s yours, and let them buy easily. Tie the application into a loyalty card scheme so you can lock in purchasing, build relationships and learn more about your customer. Use Apple’s Passbookto show location aware prompts for your application and pertinent coupons and discounts.

Using Mobile to Deepen the Retail Experience

Every product has a story. During product development, particular materials were selected, different use-cases imagined and special purposes conceived. Stores chose to stock a product with a particular idea in mind.

Tell your story. Make sure consumers can learn about it. Imagine being in a store and trying to decide between different items. If you can tell a story about them you will engage the customer in a much more emotional way leading to a happier, more valuable sale. You can include comments from other customers to help in the selection process.

Mobile is strong in this area because it allows the customer in store to quickly identify a product, either through search or through scanning and then find information about it. Quickly and easily.

From a product point of view, it allows the product story to be told directly to the customer, not via a sales assistance who may not be knowledgeable or may have their own particular bias.

Retailers must start looking at this technology to offer a more engaging retail experience, both in and outside the store.

The Future for Retail in 2013

Smart retailers will already be looking to implement mobile solutions to ensure a channel presence, fight against revenue loss through showrooming, to build stronger relationships with customers and provide a better overall customer experience.

Don’t miss our future article on how mobile is enabling the endless-isle for retailers