In what is possibly the best app demo video I’ve seen, the guys behind Birdhouse explain why you, An Important Businessperson, need to purchase their app.
Described as a “notepad for Twitter,” Birdhouse is designed to let you jot down your ideas whenever, and then publish it later. You know, it’s perfect for those times when creepy people approach you on the subway platform, and you can’t tweet about it due to the lack of cell service. I’m considering it, only so I can be filled with the inner joy that comes with being fave’d. It’s available for $4 on the iTunes app store.
I’ve probably heard about the new Terminator movie at least once a week since it’s been announced, courtesy our Fearless Leader, Josh. I sent him a link to TerminateYourself.com with a note saying “your next twenty minutes are gone.” I was right.
I could pretend to tell you how we had an in-depth discussion about how great of an online marketing tool this was, and how it was a really smart use of the brand. But really, Apex just got terminated.
The fantastic folks at Quirk Books were kind enough to send a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies our way, and while I haven’t gotten a chance to finish it, I can certainly say it’s everything I’d hoped it could be. I hate to use such a cliche line, but in this case, you really can judge a book by its cover. The scenes of Victorian English romance and social drama mesh surprisingly well with vicious attacks by the decomposing undead.
I’ll admit I’m not crazy about Jane Austen, but how can you not love passages like this:
His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien – and the report which was in circulation within five minutes of his entrance, of his having slaughtered more than a thousand unmentionables since the fall of Cambridge.
The book’s currently sold out on Quirk Book’s page, but Amazon’s still got it.
It’s March Madness time again, and to celebrate we put together this swanky interactive bracket for Sports Gaming Edge.com, a sports picks site with some of the heavy hitters of the industry. I’m still working on my bracket, but at least I have a fancy way to get everything printed out and professional-looking. Looks much better than than the time I tried to make it in MS Paint and fill it out with a crayon.
This past January, I remember my typical routine of picking up a bagel at the place around the corner and while my onion bagel (w/ scallion cream cheese) was getting made, I decided to pick up some OJ. I reached into the fridge and… what the hell were these unfamiliar cartons staring me in the face? Tropicana had changed their packaging.
My problem with the new packages wasn’t the design itself – in fact, I kind of liked the artwork and new look. The problem is this is a case of “good design, wrong client.” Removing the iconic orange and straw for which the brand has been known for years made it confusing (or worse, invisible) to consumers.
From my own experiences in marketing, I’ve learned one thing: no two clients are alike, and what works for one might be disastrous for another. To the delight of orange juice fans everywhere, Tropicana has done the right thing and is reverting to the old packaging style.
I’m pretty positive this is the most thought I’ve ever put into orange juice. I’m thirsty now.
In a digital twist of the old 7″ singles clubs (”pay us a bunch of money now, and we’ll send you a bunch of stuff that we promise will be cool”), Depeche Mode have just announced they’re releasing their new album Sounds of the Universe as an iTunes Pass subscription.
$19 gets you the album when it comes out, as well as exclusive singles, remixes, and videos, all DRM-free. Not a bad price, if you’re a massive David Gahan fan.
Just another example of what I love about digital distribution: with no physical product to worry about, artists are able to release anything they think their fans will be into.
In the world of iLikes, Last.fm, MySpace pages, and whatever other ways to get music from bands, it’s rare to see an official page of an artist get everything so right. Phoenix’s page for their new single “1901″ is stellar.
Great music, well-designed, and it accomplished what it set out for: I was vaguely familiar with the band, but I’ll certainly be waiting for the album to drop now. Click here for free (French!) jams.
(It’s taken Apex awhile to get over the fact that it’s actually 2009. We’ll get back to our regularly scheduled blogging about new music, videos of kittens, and cool gadgets. You can thank us later.)
