I’m an fandroid - knee deep in android handsets, I’ve owned three and soon I’ll be on my fourth. But like everyone else that is honest I’m genuinely confused and bewildered by the line-up of HTC phones, let alone the plethora of other options by other manufacturers.
The root of confusion, lies in the irony that despite talk of fragmentation and one-upmanship these handsets are all pretty much the same. With the exception of slide-out keyboards, the most different thing about them is the location and order of the 4 main buttons. This is so retarded it’s worthy of it’s own blog post - Google couldn’t even get this sorted between the Nexus One and the Nexus S.
Then came Xperia Play, which granted isn’t a phone I’m likely to own (you’ll have to look to Sony’s record of Android updates for one reason why), but it is important.
It is important because it’s the first phone that tries to be something other than just another android handset. It’s a gaming device with an android stack. It’s a device with a genuinely novel and substantial software layer the redefines what the device actually is.
So bring on the android phone that’s more camera than phone, or the one that’s more media player than phone, more GPS navigator than phone, and let’s stop this meaningless spec bragging and start making interesting diverse devices with an android stack at their core.
Now, I already own far too many gaming devices, and nowhere near enough free time to devote to one of them, so I won’t be buying this bad boy. But plenty will, roll out a CyberShot with some good glass and android stack for GPS/data and calling and you’ll have me dead keen.
Yes, I know all I post is Lotus pics, but c’mon this is genius. 600+HP Hybrid!? Yeah I still would love to work for these guys, they are like the Apple of the automotive world, except English, which I guess makes them the AMSTRAD… no wait…
Some people think QR codes make their campaign more digital, viral, or mobile - in short, more clever. I just wanted to share my thoughts on the topic.
QR (Quick Response) codes are industrial 2d [bar]codes designed to store reasonably complex data that can be encoded and decoded at high-speed by machines. They weren’t really intended for humans, or for simple URLs - unless a machine needed to parse a bunch of them.
Generally, QR codes aren’t a particularly good idea for using in campaigns because:
1. Other than in Japan pretty much no phones have a QR reader installed by default (downloading one is more hassle than just typing in the URL of the site you actually want to visit)
2. Even in Japan where QR codes were invented, around 90% of people don’t know what they are, or don’t use them.
3. QR codes are not very shareable - they aren’t good social objects. You can’t write one down, remember it, google it, share it as a link, email it etc etc.
So if you are using QR codes for a regular URL you are probably at best wasting your time, and worst compromising the effectiveness of your campaign.
So what is the point of QR codes then?
QR codes are great for what they were invented for - embedding packets of complex data into a (visual) form that can be decoded by another machine.
One great example in Japan is when you book flights, your ticket comes with a personalised QR code that contains a very complex URL to assemble travel insurance for your particular needs. It’s far too long to type out, even on a desktop keyboard but especially on a mobile, and it saves you having to fill out a complex form.
If you aren’t doing something like that, and you are just encoding a URL or doing a broadcast, then you are better off just… umm… well… using the actual URL.
Lotus release the Evora hybrid, making their work on the Tesla look like a prototype.
Range extending, audio and gearbox simulation for safer driving. Pretty amazing stuff.