vSplash

iPhone Apps - from ideas to reality

admin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:21:28 +0000

One thing that excites me most is - discussing ‘ideas’. That lights up my face and I get passionately engrossed in that conversation. It is so much fun to be part of this ‘idea economy’ (or should I say ‘idea ecosystem’). I look forward to these discussions.

Today, a lot of the ‘ideapreneurs’ that I meet talk about I² - ideas and iPhone. These imaginative folks are from around the globe and they constantly ask me how to turn their ideas into iPhone apps. Some of the ideas I must admit are genuinely innovative. However they never see the light of the day. They die at the altar of financial constraints as iPhone apps are expensive to develop.

Lots of them try to persuade me to develop these apps in return for equity. However being a development house, it would be suicidal to work for equity or the promise of future returns for someone else right now. There is too much cash work out there. The developers willing to take risks on future returns would rather do this for their own application projects. That is a risk worth taking.

Here are some interesting numbers from O’Reilly and some other sources:

Number of apps in the App store:	56,801
Number of apps downloaded:	1 Billion+
Earnings of Top 1% app developers:	$50K to $ 2M+
Fastest growing app category:	Books
Largest category:	Games
% of paid apps:	78%
Number of apps added every week:	1500+
% of sellers who have produced one app:	52%
% of sellers who have produced less than 3 apps:	80%
Average rating of Top 100 paid apps:	4%
Number of downloads of the top spot app per day:	150,000 - 250,000
Number of downloads of the tenth spot app per day:	Approx 20,000

So what do you do if you have a limited budget but have a great idea for an iPhone application. No, it’s not impossible. You just need to sweat it out a bit more. You need to find offshore developers who are brilliant and are wanting to be a part of the iPhone development ecosystem. If you can rub your passion onto these folks, you may just be able to get some neat iPhone apps without spending tens of thousands of dollars. Cash is king, especially in a down economy. If you passionately believe in your idea and are willing to work hard, then you can certainly turn them into apps.

Yellow Pages iPhone Application popularity soars in Egypt

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:26:24 +0000

Yellow Pages iPhone Application popularity soars in Egypt
This month we showcase an iPhone application that is currently the number one free iPhone app in Egypt.Egypt Yellow Pages Ltd, the Local Search company and official publisher of Yellow Pages products in Egypt report that their recently released Yellow Pages iPhone application is now the Top Free Application download in the Apple Egypt AppStore.

“We are extremely happy that iPhone users have embraced our latest mobile offering,” commented Marc Lambert, Regional Managing Director for Egypt Yellow Pages. “Judging by the user ratings and reviews, we have delivered a very useful Local Search application and experience to iPhone users in Egypt and around the world.”
The Egypt Yellow Pages iPhone app is built on a hybrid-mode and helps businesses and consumers find local businesses on a couple of taps.

The Egypt Yellow Pages iPhone application is a free application download in the Apple AppStore. The application offers free access to Egypt’s most comprehensive, up-to-date, geo-referenced business listings database – the Yellow Pages.
The Egypt Yellow Pages iPhone application was developed in partnership with vSplash Techlabs, an industry leading web development and design firm with specialized domain expertise in online and mobile local search, SEO and iPhone application development.
To download the free Egypt Yellow Pages iPhone Application visit the Apple AppStore and search the keyword “Egypt Yellow Pages”.
Based in Maadi, Cairo - Egypt Yellow Pages Ltd is the official publisher of Yellow Pages branded products in Egypt. Egypt Yellow Pages Ltd is the exclusive owner of the Yellow Pages™, and Walking Fingers & Design™, YellowPages.com.eg™ trademarks in Egypt and is supported by over 400 employees and 15 regional offices throughout Egypt. Yellow Pages distribution will surpass 390,000 print directories in 2009 as well as deliver many millions of page views on in YellowPages.com.eg electronic properties.

Info Overload vs Info Synthesis

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:29:15 +0000

The term “information overload” was introduced about 35 years back.

Wikipedia defines information overload as a term coined by Alvin Toffler which refers to an excess amount of information being provided, making processing and absorbing tasks very difficult for the individual because sometimes we cannot see the validity behind the information. As the world moves into a new era of globalization, an increasing number of people are logging onto the internet to conduct their own research and are given the ability to produce as well as consume the data accessed on an increasing number of websites. As of February 2007, there were over 108 million distinct websites and increasing. Users are now classified as active users because more people in the society are participating in the Digital and Information Age. More and more people are considered to be active writers and viewers because of their participation. This flow has created a new life where we are now dependent on access to information. Therefore we see an information overload from the access to so much information, almost instantaneously, without knowing the validity of the content and the risk of misinformation.

In his latest book, Embracing the Wide Sky: A Tour Across the Horizons of the Mind, author and autistic savant Daniel Tammet writes:

“Many people lack a coherent worldview with which they can evaluate and assimilate new information. The problem of information overload, therefore, may not be the quantity of it but our inability to know what to do with it. One possible explanation for this is the common confusion between information and ideas. In his book, ‘The Cult of Information: A Neo-Luddite Treatise on High-Tech, Artificial Intelligence, and the True Art of Thinking’, history professor Theodore Roszak makes the point that the mind thinks with ideas, not information. Ideas are of primary importance because they define, make sense of, and create information. Roszak goes further still by arguing that the greatest ideas, such as the Founding Fathers’ ‘all men are created equal,’ do not contain any information at all. Rather, such ideas are the result of an innate human sensibility that reaches beyond strings of data to recognize and synthesize transcendent patterns of thought. A personal worldview then helps put information back into perspective, giving it an intuitive place in our minds like the books in a library.”

As a marketer, business owner, consultant, or executive, do you have a coherent worldview of today’s marketplace? Do you have a model that allows you to filter and make sense of new information, examples and tools? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Because when I ask people to help me understand their rationale for particular decisions and activities, I typically hear rationalizations.

So do we need information overload or ideas? Or a synthesis of information from the various pieces of data? Information synthesis thus can be described as below:

Synthesis, is the point at which everything is brought together. All separate notes, facts, outlines, scraps of paper and observations are tied together into a finished product, which could take any number of forms. Sounds simple, but to a layman, this process can feel overwhelming. Synthesis provides the researcher the opportunity to take information and present a new product or share a new concept. Not only is synthesis a way to repackage information found in the academic research process, it is a chance to engage in new ideas, thoughts, communication and research.

In Web search, the user first issues a search query and the search engine returns a list of ranked pages. The user then browses some top ranked pages to find what s/he is interested in. This classic paradigm is sufficient if one wants to find a specific piece of information, e.g., the homepage of a person or the pdf file of a research paper. If the user is interested in an open-ended exploration or the complete information about a search topic, it leaves much more to be desired. It will be very useful if the system can combine individual pieces of information from multiple pages to form a coherent picture of the search query. We call this kind of search - Deep Search, and the process of discovering and integrating different pieces of information, information synthesis.

Does this open the floodgates for new opportunities? Tomorrow’s search engine then needs to be based on information synthesis and not information overload. Google, are you listening?

Custom Design vs Template

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:20:33 +0000

We keep hearing the pros and cons of each often. Here, we attempt to simplify the concepts and the benefits associated with each.

For some, templates seem like the most convenient and economical answer, especially when launching a website for a new business. In the last few years, designers have created templates that are more appealing and more functional. Templates seem to be a quick fix when you need an event site, module or a small company site. They are so affordable. Using a pre-determined design takes away the pain of describing the needs to a designer. There is something visually available as a base to begin with. A major drawback in the case of templates is the exclusivity issue - you’re not the only website using that design. The same “smiling, energetic, enthusiastic businesspeople giving the high-five” can be seen in a bunch of business websites, and who knows, in your rival’s too!

The case of a custom site: it has an attitude of abundance as it is designed around a company’s existing brand image or spun around an overall branding strategy which is intended to make your company stand out from the crowd. The site is designed with your corporate flight plan in mind to increase the likelihood that you will reach your destination on schedule. It is always easy to integrate new phases and features into the site without losing the integrity and groundwork that you have worked hard putting together for your site. As a customer, you should consider what you require your site to do for you today, as well as have the flexibility to make continual course corrections to accelerate your progress. Where do you see your business in the future? How do you see your website transitioning? The ability of a site to meet your needs along each step is essential for every growing business, and that’s a consideration that is far more valuable than any quick-fix solution. The biggest drawback of a custom site is the time and cost associated with it.

Our verdict – go for a hybrid model. Select a template and then customize it royally.

Top 5 Reasons to shop at a particular website

tushar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:40:40 +0000

Reason	% of Respondents
I went to the retailer I have purchased from in the past	62
I found the retailer through search engines	38
I received a catalog in the mail from the retailer	31
I came across an email promotion from the retailer	25
I subscribe to e-newsletters from retailers	25

Source: Nielsen

Top internet product categories of 2008

tushar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:15:44 +0000

Here are the top 10 internet product categories. They have been compiled based on the common categories reported in various measurement surveys of Comscore and Nielsen.

1.   Beauty
2.   Toys/Videogames
3.   Apparel
4.   Consumer Electronics
5.   Computer Hardware/Software
6.   Home and Garden
7.   Books/Music/Video
8.   Flowers and Gifts
9.   Shoes
10.  Retail

What this means for businesses – if you are in the business of selling products that belong to any of the above categories, it is vital that you have a good online presence. Not being able to sell online means substantial lost opportunities.

10 must-use social media tools

tushar — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:18:34 +0000

Social Media has changed the way we interact. Millions have made this their passion and use it every single day. Some are addicts while some make a living out of it. Corporate world has realized the power of this phenomenon and is adopting the usage faster than you and I think. This had given rise to tens of thousands of social media tools.

Here are 10 picks that I believe are very special and make life easy:

1.       Flock Browser

A browser designed for social media and with lots of social services integrated. Helps you stay connected.

2.       Spokeo.com

Search social media information from 41 different networks.

3.       Ping.fm

Simple service that helps you update your entire social network.

4.       SecondBrain.com

Helps you consolidate all your content at one location.

5.       Friendfeed.com

Combine all your different social networks into one single feed.

6.       TweetDeck.com

Helps organize and make sense of your twitters. You can group tweets based on search terms, time frame and in many other ways.

7.       Minggl.com

A browser plugin that integrates friends and feeds from Facebook, Myspace, Flickr, Digg, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.

8.       Jott.com

Capture thoughts, create to-dos and set reminders with this service. Mind-blowing!

9.       Blogpulse.com

Search the blogosphere and review the latest trends.

10.   Twhirl.org

Desktop client for social software

I am sure there are tons of others. If you come across ones that are really cool and make life easy, post them here.

Mind-mapping the new age user

tushar — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:51:00 +0000

Studying the mind patterns of today’s web user has become very complex. The inherent contradictions are far too many. However a modern marketer has no choice but to follow the demands of this new-gen, new-psyche user.

Here is what I could see when I peeped into one such mind:

1. The world is shrinking

Distances are becoming shorter – connections are becoming virtual and ‘now’.
Cultures are morphing into a new ’one world culture’ – googles and facebooks are leading this.
Languages are becoming one – age of SMS dialect; smileys are the new punctuations and grammar.
Computing is turning palm – my mobile is my new computer.
And the sleep time is shrinking too. What’s my time zone?

2. Experience is everything

Large corporations spend billions of dollars in giving me an experience that is surreal. I soak in that experience.
I don’t care whether you are small or big. Are you willing to match or better that? Only then I am willing to share my ‘shrunk’ time with you.
Build interfaces that are smart and don’t make me think. I have no time.
Do everything to enhance that experience for me when I spend those moments with you. Please. Please.
Creative cheating is ok with me.
Provide me all help at every step. I want to do everything myself but you got to make it easy.

3. I am impatient

I have choices. Tons of them.
Get to the point.
Deliver me when I want, what I want, where I want, how I want.
I don’t have time to come to you. You need to come to me.

4. I am confused

Being confused is ok. It’s hip.
Everything is a tag cloud in my mind.
I like structure but I don’t like being structured.
Can you break through this confusion?

5. What’s my Style Quotient?

Classic yet Contemporary
Distinctive yet Universal
Atmospheric yet Soulful
Harmonious yet Impulsive
Elegant yet Simple
Didn’t I say, I am confused and I don’t like structure?
One who follows me gets me.

6. I leave my imprints everywhere. Privacy is hogwash.

Everyone talks about privacy policy. There are laws around it. But thou art collect all my imprints, every move, every click. And then you speak of privacy. That’s complete hogwash.
Did I not talk about all my exs on the facebook profile? This is exactly how private I want to get.
You even track where I am having dinner right now. Isn’t this the best privacy I could get ?
Study all my prints and make sense out of it if you want to make money. That’s all I can give you for making the billions that you want.

7. Engage me to Connect with me

Ever wondered why you never succeeded like facebook?
You never made ‘ME the center of your universe’!
When did you last talk to me or ask me for my opinion? That would have spawned the opinions of all the communities that I make or break.
Did you collaborate with me for your new product?
Did you try to be part of my community?
So why the heck are you sad that you lost out. I am simple yet demanding.
It’s all about ‘ME’….

8. I set up my own multiple communities

My dad made friends when he jogged in the morning or went to clubs.
I make friends and join communities where people share my likes and dislikes. And they are spread across the world.
I have an orchestrated presence in several such communities and I make or break them on facebook and orkut.
I do business on linkedin far more than what I do in my so-called office.

9. Local Search is my new concierge

I forgot the number of my plumber. Never mind. Local Search is my new concierge.
My concierge is with me 24X7. It never sleeps. And it is on my palm.

10. Are you Listening?

Check me out on the Social Media circuit.
Did you analyze the imprints that I left behind everywhere?
Did you analyze the user reviews and ratings?
Did you pay homage to the psyche of the users?
Did you listen to your sales agent who punctured some time of mine?
Did you make sense out of my attitudes? I have loads of it.

The new age user is screaming - Listen. Talk. Engage. Communicate. Build. Generate. Help.

Companies that pay attention to these details will truly taste the flavor of success. Tune in!

The 10 Commandments of Web Design

tushar — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:41:55 +0000

In this article, Business Week has presented 10 cardinal rules that top web designers followed to the letter T in 2008.
These 10 commandments are:

1.       Thou shalt not abuse Flash.
2.       Thou shalt not hide content.
3.       Thou shalt not clutter.
4.       Thou shalt not overuse glassy reflections.
5.       Thou shalt not name your Web 2.0 company with an unnecessary surplus or dearth of vowels.
6.       Thou shalt worship at the altar of typography.
7.       Thou shalt create immersive experiences.
8.       Thou shalt be social.
9.       Thou shalt embrace proven technologies.
10.   Thou shalt make content king.

If you want to read the full article, click on the link below.

The 10 Commandments of Web Design

Social media marketing for small businesses

tushar — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 10:51:47 +0000

Social Media Marketing is ideally designed for small businesses. At the core of social media is something called ‘relationships’. For relationships, you need to invest time and not money really. While small businesses are in short supply of money, they can afford time.

So in effect, in traditional marketing (which is what large companies do), the exposure is directly related to the amount of money spent. In social media marketing, exposure is directly related to the time spent at it and the ability to build a network (‘relationships’).

Social media is thus bringing about a fundamental paradigm shift in the marketing world.

But then, what is social media?

Social media, I would say, is a confluence of technology, interaction and networking through words, pictures, videos and audios. It is used for a whole lot of different things on the web.

And what is social media marketing then?

Social media marketing (SMM) can be best described as a method of using social media to create awareness and credibility leading to profits for the business.

So what are the benefits of SMM?
1. A lot more online conversations about your brand
2. Quick turnaround in traffic when you hit a major social network
3. Partial or full replacement of traditional marketing at a fraction of the cost
4. Major impact on search engine rankings through huge quantities of backlinks
5. The power of recommendation is huge and one can reach influencers with SMM
6. Online advertising (read banner ads) blindness is increasing and SMM has the potential to send visitors to your website

How do I start using SMM for my business?
1. Blogs - The first step is blogging. Read blogs, comment on them and start your own blogs. Of course on subjects that you really like to talk about.
2. Social Search – See what people are talking about your business and get active on this circuit. Manage your reputation here.
3. Social Bookmarking – Participate in social bookmarking communities and keep tagging. Contribute to the community.
4. Participate in Yahoo Answers! and other such sites.
5. Social Networking – there are tons of sites where you can build your ‘business case’ but ensure that you have a good case. Site examples: facebook, myspace, linkedin etc.
6. Don’t forget micros like Twitter, Thwirl, Friendfeed.
7. Take photos and videos and share them on youtube, flickr.
8. Join groups and mailing lists.
9. Be on the search for other interesting sites where people network. Contribute where you can. Once you get active on the social media circuit, you will keep coming across a 1000 such new opportunities.

Summary —–

Investment: Time and small amounts of money

Return: Relationships, Traffic, Links