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Thoughtpick: A unique perspective of the Web and social media...
A unique perspective of the Web and social media...

January 30, 2010

Sociology of Apple Products – Brain-Engaging Retrofuturistic Art

Apple. Sociology. Illustration. Technology. Design. Semiotics. Geekdom.

What the hell do all these things have in common? Well, nothing, really. But French artist/designer/culture-fanatic Stéphane Massa-Bidal somehow managed to shove all these ideas together in some super blender and to actually come up with art. ART.

Beautiful, geeky art. Exactly the kind that we ThoughtPick staff find fascinating.

Before we delve, here is the series “The Sociology of Apple Objects” by French artist Stéphane Massa-Bidal.

Sociology of Apple Objects — iMac
Sociology of Apple Objects — iMac
Sociology of Apple Objects — iPhone
Sociology of Apple Objects — iPhone
Sociology of Apple Objects — iPod
Sociology of Apple Objects — iPod

Sociology of Apple Objects — iSlate
Sociology of Apple Objects — iSlate
Sociology of Apple Objects — iTunes
Sociology of Apple Objects — iTunes
Sociology of Apple Objects — iTunes Store
Sociology of Apple Objects — iTunes Store

Sociology of Apple Objects — Lisa
Sociology of Apple Objects — Lisa
Sociology of Apple Objects — Mac Classic
Sociology of Apple Objects — Mac Classic
Sociology of Apple Objects — MacBook Pro
Sociology of Apple Objects — MacBook Pro

Sociology of Apple Objects — X-Serve
Sociology of Apple Objects — X-Serve

[read full article >>]

Filed under: Web News — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Roba @ 4:45 pm

January 29, 2010

Learn Social Media by Example: The Zack16 Campaign

Campaign Name: The Meet Zack Campaign
URL: zack16.com
SM Channels used: Youtube, Blog, Twitter
Target Audience: Teens and Youth
Date: April-June/2009
Campaign Duration: 2 months

The Meet Zack Campaign, by Leo Burnett USA, is quite the fascinating and boundary decimating campaign. It really pushes the limits of what kind of approach a marketing campaign can take and it blurs the lines of what is an ad.

[read full article >>]

Filed under: Social Media By Example — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — M. Bamieh @ 4:50 pm

January 28, 2010

Will the iPad Change Social Media?

We’ve all heard it now. The most over-hyped non-product in history of the world is finally a product.

It even has a name. It’s not the “iSlate” nor the “Apple Tablet” that people have been using for a while, it’s actually called the iPad (naturally, #iTampon was a trending topic on Twitter soon after).

The gorgeous Apple iPad

The gorgeous Apple iPad

While many people are disappointed, saying that the iPad is nothing more than an over-sized iTouch, I personally believe that it will be game-changing. Maybe this particular release won’t knock us off our heels, but eventually, with the proper support, a large list of applications, and a little mind-set change from the consumer side, this device is going to be the iPod of “handheld companions“.

Let me explain…

[read full article >>]

Filed under: Future of the Web — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Roba @ 4:06 pm

January 27, 2010

How Addicted Are You to Social Media?

How addicted are you to social media?

How addicted are you to social media?

If you’re reading this checklist in the first place, the answer to that question is probably a yes. But don’t let us judge you too fast. To be a hundred percent sure though, read these 20 signs that mean you’re addicted to social media and check those you agree with.

Which of these statements apply to you?

1. You check your Facebook account before you check your email in the morning.
2. You are constantly updated with your distant friends’ lives in Canada, South Africa, and France but you don’t even know your neighbors.
3. You agree that people with no Twitter accounts are like, seriously, not people.
4. On the other hand, you wholeheartedly believe people who have not even heard of Twitter should probably kill themselves. Now.

[read full article >>]

Filed under: Tips and How To’s — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Roba @ 5:03 pm

Facebook’s VitaminWater “Connect” Flavor

Social media is what we love to talk about at Thoughtpick. In a effort to allow you to better understand and grasp the right use of social media for your upcoming campaigns, we are dedicating this regular section for you tailored to analyze old, new and current campaigns in terms of audience, success, lesson learned and more so you could learn about social media by example!

Stat Box:
Brand Name: VitaminWater “Connect”
Campaign URL: Facebook Fanpage
Social Media Channels Used: Facebook & Twitter
Appeal: Cash prize, sense of belonging & quenching thirst in a healthy way!
Target Audience: Mostly US based Facebook & Twitter users, Vitamin Water consumers, both females & males of ages between 13 and 28
Date: 7 January, 2010
Campaign Duration: Mid January

“Vitamin Water has just launched a new Black Cherry-Lime Facebook flavored drink with Caffeine and 8 other nutrients. Now you can hydrate, take your vitamins and connect with thousands of others on Facebook all at the same time”.

First it was Reddit’s Bacon Soap, and now it is Facebook’s VitaminWater: “Connect”! What is going on with those social media sites and venues? Are they going nuts? Trust me, they are not; they are seeking to gain attention and loyalty and further expand their target audience!

Good move VitaminWater and consequently Facebook, although I have to stress the fact that I saw this coming and I think Twitter is on the way! [read full article >>]

Filed under: Social Media By Example — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Beirut @ 1:04 pm

January 26, 2010

Twitter Tips: Best Way to Track ‘em Tweets

In the past, brands and websites expected the conversations to be carried on their own website, but the situation has drastically changed nowadays. Nowadays, comments and mentions can occur on many different platforms and services and it’s hard to keep up with the conversation if you are not using the appropriate tool(s).

One of the most popular platforms is Twitter, and you would want to be in-the-know about what people are talking on it. Tracking conversations and mentions on Twitter can be a bit mind boggling and time consuming but if you use the right tool for the job then you’ll be able to get ahead.

Tracking a Bunch of Websites Really Quick

Mentioned?

Mentioned?

If you are interested in checking Twitter mentions of several websites and pages that don’t fall under any specific topic then you need to use Kutano. Kutano is the easiest way to check any Twitter mention of a webpage. All you have to do is go to their website and install the appropriate plug-in for your browser and then sign up and log in to the service.

After logging in, you will be able to find mentions of the website using the “Tweets on Page” icon. As an added bonus, you can also check if anyone had any discussion points on that webpage as well. Discussions are tweets that don’t directly link to the page but mention it either with a related  hashtag or keyword.

This is really useful if you are trying to gauge the popularity of a page, or to see the type of people who mention it and what they say about it with a couple of clicks.

[read full article >>]

Filed under: Tips and How To’s — Tags: , , , , , , , — M. Bamieh @ 3:54 pm

January 25, 2010

Learn Social Media By Example: Dunkin Donuts Campaign

Social media encompasses a wide variety of tools, options and venues for strong product, service and individual campaign promotion and measurement. When utilized correctly, social media can reap great coverage, profits and exposure as well, igniting interest, creating awareness and enhancing a brand’s overall image. Therefore, and in efforts to allow you to better understand and grasp the right use of social media for your upcoming campaigns, the Thoughtpick team has dedicated a regular section for you tailored to analyze old, new and current campaigns in terms of audience, success, lesson learned and more so you could learn about social media by example!

Brand: Dunkin Donuts
Campaign URL: Not available anymore
SM Channels Used: Facebook, Twitter & Blog
Appeal Used: Prizes (air conditioners, an iPhone, JetBlue vouchers, a flatscreen TV and more)
Target Audience: US Social Media users, both genders and all ages
Date: June, 2009
Campaign Duration: N/A

Dunkin Donuts’ approach is one which I would call one of “a man with a plan”! Their continuous promotions to their fans through innovative, creative and fresh campaigns provide an an element of dial-up and dial-down within their social media venues; keeping consumers engaged but not overwhelmed and helping to create a longer term relationship!

[read full article >>]

Filed under: Social Media By Example — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Beirut @ 4:00 pm

January 23, 2010

Haunted by Facebook: The Smoking Baby!

A very old saying goes along this line: “Every coin has two sides“.

Although I don’t entirely agree that this applies all the time, I must admit that I have faith in its meaning on more than one level and that it does really apply in many different situations. The argument of this post is definitely listed under those situations!

Social Media: Into Play

Since the emergence of social media, its tools, sites, ideas and influences, many things have changed such as:

  • The way people interact with each other.
  • The loose approach towards privacy.
  • The amount of information we share.
  • The way people handle their own personal feelings.
  • The reactions of people towards different crisis, problems or even causes.

In return, these newly adopted trends have created a gray area for wrong and right thus influencing our abilities to make well-studied, worthwhile judgments and, consequently, decisions as well!

[read full article >>]

Filed under: Controversial Picks — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Beirut @ 3:57 pm

January 22, 2010

Green is the New Black: A Mobile Campaign with Potential!

In fashion, black has always been “the trend”; it is a classic and never gets old, dull or boring.

Nowadays, I see green mobiles having the potential to turn into trendy and highly used and adopted phones, if special attention and clever strategic thinking are used to decide how they will be marketed, where and to whom.

Stay Connected, With a Cause!

As I read The Most Exciting Developments In Green Cell Phones, my interest in this category of mobile phones grew, encouraging me to find a unique and fresh approach to promote them in order to be a part of a bigger cause: helping the environment! I mean, who wouldn’t want to have a phone that uses solar power cells, non-toxic recyclable plastic and eco-friendly paints?

Sticky Phone concept by Liu Hsiang-Ling

Sticky Phone concept by Liu Hsiang-Ling

Since these phones are meant to reduce toxic waste without forcing you to give up your mobile communication habit – or even addiction, combining fashion, trend, creativity and eco friendliness in one product should be able to pay off depending on some major factors.

[read full article >>]

Filed under: App Reviews, Tips and How To’s — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Beirut @ 5:04 pm

January 21, 2010

8 Ways to Use Social Networks in the Classroom

Twitter in Education

Twitter in Education

Earlier, we talked about a few great resources for educators that are available for free online. These services were more focused on education and catering to their needs for creating internal social networking platforms, open-source blackboards and conferencing applications. They were great resources but they all required some amount of set-up and involved a bit of a learning curve to get used to them.

Today we are just going to share some ideas that help educators bring social networks into classrooms, utilizing some of the services that we all use. Ranging from Twitter to Skype we will share 8 ways that they can be used in the classroom.

Create a Twitter Account

Using Twitter for Teacher – Student communication allows for short and quick messages exchange. This is useful for students and teachers to ask questions and might be a great resource for the teacher in the preparation of her class notes allowing her to know which areas to focus on.

[read full article >>]

Filed under: Tips and How To’s — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — M. Bamieh @ 4:02 pm
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