Mobile

To celebrate the holidays, AKQA teamed up with members of the Pacific Chamber Symphony and Music Director Lawrence Kohl to create a synchronized ‘Mobile Orchestra‘.  Carol Of The Bells ties devices together through individual, synchronised content streams to create a much bigger, immersive musical experience than possible on a single device.  A bit like Deeplocals ‘Deck the Screens‘ from 2011.

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Will 2013 be the year of the mobile?  I hope not, because if you’re still waiting then then you’ve missed the first boat.  Personally the year of the mobile was in 2007, the year the first iPhone was released.  The industry and market shifted dramatically and consumer behaviour went through a cataclysmic change.  Every year beyond 2007 has just further cemented the importance of the mobile screen.  Not convinced?  Then check out the following report by ThinSlices Mobile Development.

Telstra, the Australian telecom giant has partnered with the City of Sydney to create the worlds first integrated and interactive mobile experience for the forthcoming NYE’s firework extravaganza.  Sydney is well known for leading the world when it comes to huge and mesmerising light shows and with the development of this app they are once again leading the way.  The app itself incorporates a number of cool features that seem to hit right at the heart of the nights celebrations.  Firstly the app offers 50 free pre programmed texts after midnight, awesome, secondly you can get your name up in lights via a projection on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, awesome, thirdly, you can participate in the light show with a synched colour stream on your mobile handset, just hold up and wave, AWESOME!

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Well loved Norwegian milk brand Litago (in conjunction with B-Reel), has created a mobile game called Snap’n Play (or here for Android).  The idea itself is rather cool, you take a photo with your camera and the app generates a custom game level from the image.  Anyone thats game can then change the playing path, add obstacles  enemies and power-ups.  Once complete the game can be played and shared on Facebook.

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Forever paranoid?  Conspiracy theorist?  Scared of mind control?  Then this is for you.  Apparently Google has just taken the wrapper of Ingress, a new game concept that lets players use their smartphones as gateways to an alternate dimension or reality, and where the everyday can take on extraordinary significance. The game’s premise talks of “a mysterious energy has been unearthed by a team of scientists in Europe” who “believe it is influencing the way we think.” Players can choose to either embrace this energy as a powerful new tool or to resist it and become part of a rebellion.  Catch up with whats happened so far here.

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Who’s excited about Windows Phone 8?  I am.  Finally a mobile OS that feels fresh and ready to push the industry forward.  Don’t get me wrong, iOS is a great platform but its barely changed since 2007.  Android has merits but it basically a copy of iOS and other firms technology.  In fact 55% of all Android device sales are subject to licensing fees to Microsoft and other design manufacturers.  Windows Mobile 8 on the other hand has a fresh interface, has been built to work seamlessly with Windows 8 and I believe is a real long term competitor to the Android/iOS near oligopoly.  In fact Steve Ballmer recently said in an interview to Forbes that Microsoft are’All In’ on mobile (poker players will understand the gravity that idea holds), and not only are Microsoft all in but so is Steve Ballmer himself, narrating his own TV ad and sharing a little insight into his personal life.  Granted its no Steve Jobs ‘The Crazy Ones’ but it’s definitely a traditional Microsoft step forward.

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The wait is almost over, on November 8, Angry Birds and Star Wars collide in what I’m sure will be the biggest selling mobile game of all time.  The game has been teased endlessly while avoiding any actual gameplay footage…until now.  Early indications show that 73% Angry Birds fans will be opting for the rebellion, surprising given the power of the dark side!  So keep drooling and watch the following trailer with exclusive in game footage.  May the force be with all Angry Birds Star Wars fans!

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First laptops, then smartphones, followed by tablets, ultrabooks and phablets, there has never been a more opportune moment to become a mobile superhero.  Recent research by Unisys highlights the increasing importance and flexibility of todays superhuman workers who don’t seek work/life balance, they strive for work/life blend.

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Jameson Irish Whiskey and mobile technology specialists Blippar have teamed up to launch a ‘hidden’ mobile campaign for the launch of their new RTD line.  To play along simply Blipp the iconic Jameson Irish Whiskey bottle where ever you happen to see one, whether that be on a poster, on Facebook, in a bar or within a banner ad and prepare yourself for a round of Apple Attack!

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Lexus may call it CinePrint, but it actually feels more like a frankenzine!  Its a new technology that has been designed to operate at the intersect of print and iPad.  Simply open the Lexus CinePrint app and place it behind the printed ad, hit play, sit back and watch the fireworks!  The result does look kinda cool but it does feel like an over-engineered solution to a problem that never existed.  What do you guys think?

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