Top Dog Might Come Out And Play

A couple of months ago, I received an e-mail invitation from a friend to join Groupon. For some reason I thought it was spam and didn't bother going into it. Even if it said half off for an amazing cruise. A few weeks later, I heard about how my friend's girlfriend went out to eat with a ton of friends at some nice Italian restaurant for dirt cheap because of a deal they got through Groupon.

Well, back when I had heard about it, Google offered about $6 billion to buy the booming deal-of-the-day website. According to the Chicago Tribune, Groupon is looking to quadruple Google's offer. "Going public would free more capital to pursue these kinds of strategies, putting Groupon further ahead of rivals." 

But Facebook could get in their way of getting that high IPO. The internet controlling social network plans to engage in the "deal of the day" market. Because Facebook knows where you live, your age, interests, etc., advertisers can reach certain target markets, making it way easier. 

Although Groupon is an app on smart phones, more than 200 million users use Facebook on their mobile devices. So if Facebook can do the same thing, or better, as Groupon regarding the best deals of the day, then the competition is over. Facebook is too powerful. In my opinion, Groupon shouldn't go public unless Facebook joins the game. 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0410-groupon-ipo-20110409,0,1651005.story

http://blogs.ocmetro.com/2011/04/07/facebook-vs-groupon-huge-opportunity-to-drive-revenue-to-your-business/

http://blogs.forbes.com/greatspeculations/2011/04/07/yahoo-can-get-going-by-going-local-like-groupon/

Technologic Update

Google Taking Over

About a couple of weeks ago, I was studying at my house until the wee hours of the night. I was craving a midnight snack and went across the street to Wendy's. When I was about to pay, I realized I left my wallet at home. It was a time like that one where I wish I had access to my credit card to make some sort of payment instead of going back home to get some cash.

According to sources, owners of Google smartphones can process mobile payments via-near field communications. This puts Google in competition with MasterCard, AT&T, and other companies that want in on this new technology. 

In other words, these users (Google/Android) can purchase goods on their mobile devices through Google Checkout. 

In my opinion, I trust Google because they're very secure and efficient. But there's no reason dealing with a third party when it comes to my bank account. Now people all over are going to go crazy spending money, which these companies want, and college students such as myself will have to beware of overdraft charges and things of that nature.

One huge problem I see is what privacy do they have when your phone is stolen? When people steal your credit card, they ask for ID or a pin number, so there are some precautions. But most people have their password automatically saved on their mobile device. It's something I'm sure they're working on.

Maybe I'd have to see the final product. I like what they're doing, however, I feel a little skeptical about it. 

Facebook: We Got Answers

Slowly, Facebook is becoming a monopoly of the Internet. Yes I said it! There's over 500 million users and it's only getting bigger.

Last year when the Social Network came out, Mark Zuckerberg spoke about the new changes Facebook was going through in a 60-Minutes interview.

One of the new additions he had stated was that Facebook was going to be able to change it's search filter so that friends can see what people say about products or anything they search on.

Let's say I'm interested in buying a pair of Nike Basketball shoes. I put the model of the shoe in the search button and then I can see what friends or other friends have to say about them. Instead of reading some random rating from someone, I can see what MY friends have to say.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11053577/1/googles-mobile-payments-challenge.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN

https://checkout.google.com/seller/mobile/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1znhVrb8Yek

We're All In Trouble... Or Are We?

Most college students own a Facebook, Twitter, or even a MySpace. If you don't, I'm sure your friend does. I'm also sure that you've been to a party or a social function where your picture has been taken. Just when you thought you were protected because your profile is private, or not connected to a social network, think again.

This baby is already in tons of websites 

and he or she will never know

For someone like me who has made questionable decisions in front of a camera, this might be the end of my future. Or is it? I know that there are tons of people out there who have way worst things posted up online. So what does this mean? In about 30 to 40 years, the President of the United States will have a leaked picture of him doing a keg stand when he was 17. Who cares?


In the future no one will be able to hide. Your camera can automatically recognize and tag someone without even filming or taking a picture.


Maybe instead of trying to find ways to stalk and creep people out, these geniuses should be like researcher Yin and help us interact with technology. Not find a way to expose their whole life out there.


http://inventorspot.com/articles/i_know_faceadvanced_facial_recognition_software


http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/39015/video-microsofts-incredible-face-recognition

Dead Space

I can remember towards the end of my junior year in high school creating a MySpace account. I had a friend in college who was using it and he said through it he had discovered some good bands and met cool people. During my senior year in high school, everyone had it. People didn’t get phone numbers anymore. It was like “I’ll send you a message on MySpace.” Me along with many others were part of the MySpace generation.

With the big boom in 2006-2007, everyone and their mother (literally) was connected to the network. Although I connected to Facebook when I got to college with my .edu e-mail (when it used to be exclusive to college students), MySpace was still the primary source for me to communicate with my friends. 

But when Facebook opened its network to every e-mail and created the instant messaging “Chat” application to its website, way more people started using Facebook. Not even that, users would stay connected all day to wait for a friend to sign on so that they could talk to each other. Because of Chat, more users got addicted to Facebook, therefore slowly killing off Facebook.

Throughout the years, MySpace has been trying to catch up with Facebook by adding the "Like" button along with the timeline format, so that users can feel familiarized with both networks. Fail. While MySpace lost 30 million users, Facebook gained 40 million.

As of recently, MySpace is now my____, but that hasn't made much of a difference. News Corp., owners of MySpace, has hired investment bank Allen & Co. to explore possible deal opportunities for the website.

Personally, I think it's too late to salvage the website. Younger users are appealed to its funky layout, but it doesn't draw their attention for too long. The MySpace generation has grown out of this teen phase to go back to it. Users in their thirties and up feel like it's too hip for them.

The only way I see the website being resurrected is that it becomes a network solely for music, movies, entertainment, etc. Even then, it would be difficult to attract users to join the site. At the end of the day, everything will be connected with Facebook, and it would be almost impossible to take them down... unless Apple steps up to the plate!

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/myspace-nostalgic-memories-of-what-once-was/8894

http://online.wsj.com/video/digits-myspaces-fuzzy-future/0092A9F0-9E50-4180-B907-D18C1A0C034B.html?KEYWORDS=myspace

Social Networking Without Manners

In today's modern world, everyone should be a part of a social network to get a better grasp of what is going on. Whether you're a student goofing off in class using Facebook, or a high-profile celebrity on Twitter, most of society is connected to social media.

Companies have been cashing in on this trend with this social media craze, creating pages where users can "like" or "follow" these pages. This is how they advertise promotions and exclusive deals for those following them. Just the other day I was at Smoothie King in front of FIU's Modesto Modique Campus when I read a sign saying that if I post my location on Facebook, I would receive a free enhancer with my smoothie. This type of publicity helps the company and rewards the consumer. But that's not always the case.

There's been other times where I've shared my location or mentioned a company's name on my social networks and received nothing in return. A simple "thank you"would have done the trick. Consumers want to feel appreciated for their commitment; makes us feel special inside. The fact that a company took the time to reply to our post, whether thanking or welcoming us back, really shows that they care.

Maybe this is the reason why consumers are showing less interaction with these social networks. All they do is post about their promotions and sales, but they don't pay attention to what the consumer has to say. This is what drives consumers away. They feel like they're not being heard.


http://www.bizreport.com/2010/02/social_media_-_its_about_listening_as_well_as_selling.html

http://www.one.com/en/web-hosting-news/website/social-media-not-connecting-with-consumers$800384982.htm

Implementation of Geotagging

According to the movie, "Back To The Future II," in 2015 there should be flying cars and dehydrated Pizza Hut that takes less than 10 seconds to prepare. Well, none of that is going to happen by then. But with the way how technology is advancing, things might turn out to be different the way we all thought the future was going to be panned out.


About two years ago, an Android phone that had a barcode scanner app was the newest sensation going around the market (name of my blog). By taking a picture of a product's barcode, you can compare different prices for the best value around the area. This theory has created new ideas, one of which is the Starbucks Card Mobile App. Through the consumer's smartphone (iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry), they make their purchase and the barista at the register scans the generated barcode on the screen of the phone.


According to Starbucks, the new app is looking to enhance the speed, ease, and convenience of customers paying with their mobile phone.  Wait a minute. Don't you still have to wait for your order? Isn't that what always takes long?


Personally, I don't like coffee, so I'm rarely at Starbucks. However, the few times I've been there, I find myself waiting about 3-5 minutes (depending on the traffic of customers) for my Vanilla Bean Frap. So this new app would eliminate me waiting in line, but I still have to wait? 


Nonetheless, there is one idea I do have that can make this app more successful and efficient: Geotagging. Through geotagging, the app can detect the closest Starbucks from where you're located. This way if you're in a rush, the user can choose the Starbucks where they're going (because in some places there's 5 Starbucks in one block) and a simple transaction can be done. Barcode for coffee. No lines, no waiting, quick pick up. 


Another idea I have in relation to the geotagging is to share the location of the customer through social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter. Although there's apps like Loopt and FourSquare that share your location to social media, the Starbucks app can be link your purchase to these outlets to share your recent experience to your friends and followers. This works for Starbucks because are always craving it. Especially when they read a post, "Melany ordered a Grande Cafe Mocha at GL FIU Starbucks," as her recent tweet. 


Although my ideas are great, I don't like where this app is going. It takes away from the experience a consumer has with Starbucks. When someone thinks of Starbucks, they picture an urban, lounge-environment place to drink coffee, read a newspaper or surf the web through the free Wi-Fi they provide.


This new app and evolution of technology reduces human interaction. From buying clothes, to getting a traffic ticket in the mail. People are talking to each other less and less on a personal basis. From social media, texting, e-mail, etc. I can go on about this forever, but I end here. 


http://www.appolicious.com/shine/articles/4969-starbucks-rolls-out-payments-nationwide-with-starbucks-card-mobile-iphone-app


http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/10/20/smartphone.location/index.html?iref=allsearch