The news that the letter ‘K’ will be dedicated to Nestlé’s Kit Kat will surprise most technology commentators, who had widely thought the latest version would be Android Key Lime Pie. “We couldn’t imagine a better name for our Android K release than the tasty chocolate that’s been a favourite among the team since the early days of Android,” said Marc Vanlerberghe, Director of Android Marketing…
To mark the release of Android KitKat, more than 50 million specially branded Kit Kat bars will be available in 19 markets including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Middle East, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The packs will lead consumers to the website android.com/kitkat where they will have the opportunity to win prizes including a limited number of Google Nexus 7 tablets, and credits to spend in Google Play, Google’s online store for apps, games, music, movies, books and more. In 2000, Google turned down a $3m offer from Visa to brand its search page. Apparently this didn't cost Nestle a thing. And everyone knows how healthy chocolate is, and how obesity isn't a problem in the US or Europe. ]]>
What could help? Trials would help. That would allow someone to download an app and see the difference first hand, not just trust a screenshot. Apple has been clear, though. They prefer freemium. Getting out of the App Store itself can help. Building enough value to charge a subscription could help.
Productivity apps can’t survive and bring the long-term value customers demand at $2.99 or $4.99. At the end of the day, though, the app stores, whether Apple, Google or the like, are not going to solve our problem [2]. The only thing that will is rethinking the products so we can get out of the app stores and differentiate. Loren Brichter (author of Tweetie, which became the official Twitter app) then responds in the comments with data showing that trials can hurt sales of games. So what is the answer?]]>
Goddamnit.
The mandatory Kinect doesn't just make the Xbox One more expensive than its competitors, it also seems to be the work of advertisors and the marketing department more than a peripheral that gamers actually want or need. Nails the flaws in Microsoft's advertising and approach. That Surface RT advert may go down as one of the worst brand-building exercises ever. Did anyone know what the RT could do after watching it for the first time? (Thanks @Gaudie for the link.)]]>
"The case was set up last week after we received complaints," Fair Trade Commission spokesman Sun Lih-chyun told AFP.
He said the probe would look into allegations that Samsung engaged in false advertising and that if the allegations were upheld, Samsung and its local advertising agent could face a fine of up to Tw$25 million ($835,000).
Complaints emerged this month, with internet users alleging that Samsung, through its local agent, had hired students to write online articles attacking HTC and recommending Samsung cellphones, the United Evening News said…
in a statement on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SamsungTaiwan, Samsung Taiwan said it regretted "any inconvenience and confusion from the Internet event".
"Samsung Taiwan has halted all internet marketing such as posting articles on websites," it said.
Samsung was fined Tw$300,000 by the commission earlier this year for a misleading advertisement about the camera functions on Samsung's Galaxy Y Duos GT-S6102, according to Taiwan's state Central News Agency. Gosh.]]>
In a press release, Informa said it was "likely that sales assistants see the Samsung devices as a safe bet to earn greater commissions". More than likely.]]>
It might be surprising to note that Samsung spends considerably more than Apple and Microsoft. But it also spends more than Coca Cola, a company whose primary cost of sales is advertising. Though the post doesn't mention this, Samsung probably spent somewhere north of $1bn on its Olympics sponsorship this year. Even so, when you look at its "marketing expenses", they total more than $8bn in each of the previous two years - and perhaps $11bn this year. Apple spends around $1bn on marketing by the same comparator.]]>
Launch-day lines that turn initial sales into marketing events have become a phenomenon with big consumer brands ranging from Krispy Kreme stores to Apple devices. Some guy in New York is already lined up for Nintendo's Wii U, which goes on sale 18 November.
Microsoft must want to be sure there are enough people at its stores Friday to generate some buzz. Hadn't thought of it in that way, but it's true.]]>
Did my eyes deceive me? They did not. As I walked closer, I saw that the Envy signage on the boxes below the printer matched that on the printer itself. It was true. HP had developed an Envy printer and put it out to the public.
That’s the exact moment I knew the Envy sub-brand had jumped the shark. Envy was an outgrowth of HP's acquisition of gaming PC company Voodoo; now it is being applied to everything, to no good effect.]]>
Walk into a ‘big box’ retailer and you often find the opposite scenario. The devices are turned off and the screens are black. It should be no surprise that some of these retailers like Best Buy are in financial trouble and looking for ways to improve the customer experience.]]>