Showing TLC To Your (Mobile) Companion
We take care of our bodies. We take care of our pets. We wash dishes. We vacuum our floors. We wash our cars. Basically we upkeep our lives to ensure things stay nice and fresh. What about your smartphone.
If you want to ensure your smartphone works and works well for many years to come, take care of it.
1. Clean it once a week to ensure that all the muck and grime on the screen and in between the keys are gone.
2. Check the battery to ensure it's still able to hold a charge as long as it's designed for.
3. Check your cables to ensure there are no shorts in it and that all the end connections work well.
4. Upgrade your applications to ensure you're using the latest versions (better security and improved features)
5. Make sure you really know how to use your device. Keep in mind all devices are different and run programs different. If you need to do video conferencing, for example, then make sure your smartphone can do it.
6. Download the right applications. Plan ahead and be sure you install the applications you need for maximum
7. Consider a new smartphone. Always be on the look out for a new smartphone that might have a new feature you need.
July 9, 6:52
am
Where Are You? Using Location Based Shopping
I was speaking to a friend of mine, who knows quite a bit about technology and media. He told me that the next "hottest" thing in mobility is location based services. This means that you'll not only be able to shop or just hang out but you can let friends know where you are (and see where they are). Furthermore companies, with your permission, can target advertisements to you based on where you are.
For example, if you're shopping in New York City's SOHO district, a local store could send you a text alert offering you a coupon for stopping by. Or maybe you're driving to a mall in Austin, Texas - your favorite retailer can email you a "hello" inviting you to stop by.
Of course there are privacy issues involved with location based services, but don't let this deter you from using them.
Location based services are not only of interest to individuals who want to connect to each other or find a great place to shop. They're also of growing interest to businesses. While Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are powerful tools, if you're a local business relying on foot traffic to your store, then you really should investigate location based services and see how you can best leverage them to GROW your business. How can you build a "tribe" (ie Seth Godin) of customers and potential customers using their local location.
July 6, 9:08
am
The Right Tool for The Right Job
I'm not a frequent shopper, but I'm frequent enough, often accompanying my wife, that I know that the right shoes can make or break a shopping experience. Your mobile shopping is no different. The type of phone you have can be the difference between success, failure or utter frustration when shopping. A few things to keep in mind when shopping online.
1. Ensure you're phone has a real keyboard that you can type as comfortably as possible. The thinner the keyboard the more difficult it will be too type
2. A phone with as large a screen as possible will ensure you get the most viewing experience possible
3. Ensure that the browser installed on your phone is compatible with as wide number of shopping sites as possible
4. If you're shopping on your phone and mobile, make sure you have a spare battery or portable charger
Shopping online is best done when you are comfortable so instead of trying to shop for something while walking down the block, wait until you get inside a taxi or are at the airport - you'll make less mistakes.
It's also nice if you can log on to your favorite retailer and they have your information stored, so there's less for you to type.
June 14, 9:17
am
When Shopping Online: Go to Smartphone Friendly Web Sites
All malls are not created equal. Some are enjoyable to shop in - great views, easy layout, nice amenities and features to make the overall shopping experience better.
All web sites are not created equal. Some are great for shopping from a large computer screen, but don't look so well when shopping on the small screen of a smartphone.
To make your shopping experience easier, you should consider what shopping you like to do and find mobile sites, made for your smartphone that can make shopping easier.
Web sites that are optimized for your smartphone use limited graphics. Limited graphics mean the screen loads much faster. They also are easier to navigate on a small smartphone screen. Instead of forcing you to scroll back and forth and zoom in, there's often an easier vertical scrolling with easy to use fields and check boxes for ordering.
Shopping online is great, but it's even been, when you're losing your laptop, if you use a web site that's smartphone friendly.
June 11, 5:11
pm
Shopping Online. Don't Let Hackers Join You.
Shopping, whether online or offline can be fun, for some. If not fun, it's something that needs to be done. Going to the mall is nice and shopping online (and avoiding the long lines) is even better. However, sometimes you need to buy something when you're not near your computer or you might have decided to lose your laptop and shop online.
When shopping online, one of the most important things you must keep in mind is security. Shopping online with a mobile device, such as the HTC Tilt 2 can be fun, however, it can also be dangerous if you're not careful when shopping online.
There's a few things to keep in mind:
1. When you enter your user name and password, do it discretely, not for the world to see
2. Ensure you are not connecting to a rogue hot spot (a hot spot setup by a hacker to steal your data)
3. Use a VPN (virtual private network), for the best security
June 7, 5:34
pm