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Creative Ways to Use QR Codes for Your Small Business

What are QR codes? Glad you asked. Quick response codes, or QR codes, are quite similar to barcodes in that they can be printed on virtually any surface. They originated in Japan and were seen on the sides of buildings, in brochures and even on public transport. The little codes became so popular that other countries wanted to cash in on their popularity. Why use a QR code at all? Many times consumers may want to know more about an advertisement, but they don’t have pen or paper while putting information on your phone can be time consuming and a hassle. So QR codes truly are the perfect solution. To put it mildly, QR codes are quickly becoming local internet marketing’s best assets

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Creative Ways to Use QR Codes for Your Small Business

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Google gets Siri-ous about virtual assistant

Not one to ignore the success of others, Google has acquired app-maker Clever Sense, sparking rumours it may be planning to build its own Siri-like software. Makers of local recommendation app Alfred, Clever Sense utilises artificial intelligence to generate recommendations for users based on their dining choices. The app searches for other customers and reviewers with similar tastes and uses their preferences to generate suggestions for users. “Today, we are excited to join Google and start a new chapter in curating the world around us,” Clever Sense co-founder Babak Pahlavan wrote on the company website . “Together with the Google team, we will accelerate our efforts toward this shared vision. “Google helps local businesses connect with potential customers, and its worldwide presence can bring the value of Clever Sense to a much larger audience.” While Alfred does not have a voice recognition function, similarly to Siri, it makes use of internet search to provide recommendations to user queries, and learns user preferences and tastes over time. “Discovering local information is extremely important to both users and businesses, and the acquisition of Clever Sense will benefit both,” Google said in a statement . “The Clever Sense team is at the forefront of developing a recommendation engine that connects the online and offline worlds by delivering personal and sophisticated information to users at the right time, the right place, and within the right context. “By combining their technology and expertise with our team and products, we’ll be able to provide even more people with intelligent, personalized recommendations for places to eat, visit, and discover.” Rumours that Android is developing its own voice recognition software have been circulating for some time, and the acquisition of Clever Sense’s Alfred may be the missing piece of the puzzle for the smartphone platform in its efforts to go head-to-head with the iPhone

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Google gets Siri-ous about virtual assistant

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Consumers excited and confused by Ice Cream Sandwich

Ice Cream Sandwiches for everyone; at least for UK consumers in the market for the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The hotly anticipated device hit shelves in the UK yesterday, and will be available in other markets around the world by the end of the month. Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich software is the biggest selling point for the smartphone. The multi-platform OS release completely redesigns the Android user interface and offers a wide range of new features – including Android Beam, a NFC-driven application for exchanging content, and facial recognition to unlock the phone. Many existing Android users are wondering when or if their smartphones will get the new software, but manufacturers have been vague about the roll out and it’s unclear what devices will benefit and when it will happen. The uncertainty about which devices will get Ice Cream Sandwich is part of the larger market confusion that surrounds the rapid evolution of the Android operating system. In the three years since the Google OS has been on the market, there have been dozens of hardware options for Android phones, six major software releases excluding Ice Cream Sandwich, as well as several minor updates.

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Consumers excited and confused by Ice Cream Sandwich

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iPhones to get airbags – maybe

Clumsy smartphone users may soon have a fighting chance when their iPhone slips from their fingers, as it’s emerged that Apple has filed for a patent that would provide smartphones with additional support. According to CNET , Apple has filed for the rights to a shock mount system that would help the device withstand a fall. Special pads underneath the smartphone’s glass screens will be inflated when the device senses it’s been dropped – to better shock absorb and screen save. The design also makes it possible to switch shock mounts in the event they’ve been used, so the device could withstand another fall in future and stand a better chance at speedy repair. The patent reads: “In general, the thicker the glass, the stronger it is

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iPhones to get airbags – maybe

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Facebook users like to clip coupons

Even in today’s digital world, clipping coupons is still a time honoured tradition. Dealmongers like Coupons.com are cashing in on this trend by offering social network based coupon platforms, and their recently launched Bancaster Social helps brands offer printable coupons on their Facebook pages. According to a recent Ad Age/Ipsos Observer survey, coupons – rather than daily deals – are the top reason consumers “Like” brands on Facebook. “Brands can always post a coupon on their Facebook page by dropping a link on their wall,” said Coupons.com CEO Steven Boal.

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Facebook users like to clip coupons

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Google faces the music

Google has launched its new service – Google Music – offering users cloud music storage and full-length album and song samples. At a press conference in Los Angeles, Google’s director of digital content Jamie Rosenberg took to the stage to announce some of the features included in the search seraph’s foray into music. With the service, users can upload up to 20,000 songs to the cloud – a feature already available in the beta version of the service. Google also announced it will be bringing music to the Android store. Android’s director of conference partnerships Zahavah Levine said : “We’re the first store that enables users to share their purchased music with their friends. This is the single most important way that people discover new music. I think that has the potential to transform purchasing power.” Google Music will also generate suggestions through its ‘recommendations engine’ to help users discover new artists – making use of selections made by friends. One of the most notable features – Artist Hub – gives small and independent musicians an opportunity to share their music and gives them control over how it’s sold, allowing artists to set the price of their songs – a huge contrast to Apple’s iTunes music store. Under the scheme, artists can create a page for an initial start-up fee, and keep 70 per cent of profits generated through song and album sales – there are no annual fees or upload costs.

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Google faces the music

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Samsung overhauls Apple in smartphone sales stakes

Smartphone maker Samsung broke free from the pack, leaving rival Apple in its dust. Milton Keynes-based analysts Strategy Analytics estimate that Samsung shipped 27.8 million smartphones during the last quarter, accounting for almost 24 per cent of the smartphone market worldwide. Samsung’s success has been attributed to Google’s Android operating system, which is specifically designed for smartphones and tablets. Apple has been relegated to second place, shipping 17.1 million and taking up only 14.6 per cent of the market. The launch of the new iPhone 4S however, is expected to boost sales, so the race isn’t over yet

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Samsung overhauls Apple in smartphone sales stakes

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Google Gaining Marketing Share with Smartphones, Browsers

Google is gaining ground in both the smartphone and browser worlds, according to reports mentioned in a Search Engine Land report this week. The site cited Nielsen numbers from November which show that Google Android is poised to overtake Apple’s iPhone as the leading smartphone operating system. Meanwhile, December numbers from Net Applications show strong growth of the Google Chrome operating system versus industry leaders Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.

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Google Gaining Marketing Share with Smartphones, Browsers