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News, insight and tips from the social web.
The Hoop blog covers the evolving digital landscape, social media, mobile communications, content marketing and also includes 5 top finds and Fish on Friday. Feel free to make comments.
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5 top finds #42 »
Hoop's Dr Jim O'Donnell at Ignite, a nifty Instragram camera, TED talk on viral videos, a 'heavy' stop motion music video and a spray to waterproof everything! It's the end of the week so that means one thing: our 5 top finds.
1. Hoopster at Ignite
Hoop's very own Dr Jim O'Donnell gave a presentation about the sun at this years Ignite, hosted at 93 Feet East. In only 5 minutes - an Ignite rule - Jim prominences his knowledge (see what we did there) about earth's closest star and it's Coronal Mass Ejections (which are seriously cool).
In typical Jim style, he doesn't just talk the talk, he puts it online as he then goes on to talk about Solar Stormwatch (Twitter), a website he worked on that crowd sources data about solar activity. Your participation could actually help warn astronauts of impending doom.
A genuine Doctor of Astronomy, Jim is also the author of the much read Eat Your Greens Blog and an organiser for the popular London Web Standards(Twitter) event. Find him on Twitter.
2. Concept Instagram camera
Facebook buying Intsagram for $1billion (we have a feeling the meeting went down like this) was front page news. However, little has happened since then. Instagram has continued as normal, as has Facebook. That hasn't stopped people imagining, though. Experienced graphic designer Antonio De Rosa has created a concept design for the first Instagram camera, packed with features.
[Image from ADR Studio]
- 16 GB mass storage
- Wifi and Bluetooth
- 4:3 touchscreen
- 2 main lenses: first for capture, second for 3D filters, webcam applications and QR Code capturing
- Optical zoom
- LED Flash
- Internal printer to make your Instagram photos real
- Paper cartridge with Instagram Paper Sheets
- Dedicated 4 colors ink tanks
- InstaOS 1.0, the operating system built by Facebook and InstagramWhile it is only a concept - unless Antonio can raise some money on his Indeigogo - it is still incredibly cool, truly merging vintage, digital and social media in the physical world.
3. Why videos go viral
Viral video marketing can blow up a brand like nothing else. YouTube has helped give huge exposure for Old Spice, Rick Astley and Taz Zonday (Chocolate Rain). But how does it happen? Youtube's trends manager (job of the century?) Kevin Allocca spoke to the TEDYouth crowd on the four reasons a video goes viral.
We won't give you all four reasons but the most noticeable mention was the influence of 'tastemakers'. With a simple Tweet, celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel can turn a semi-watched video about a double rainbow into the most must see piece of film on the planet. Even this infographic by Online Schools shows how Oprah helped boost Kony 2012 from thousands of views to 9 million... in a day!
4. This stop motion video is heavy
Speaking of viral, this awesome stop motion video by Ian Robertson for Delta Heavy's 'Get By' has racked up over 1million views in three days. What could be considered quite a dark video - especially for fans of such retro, pre-iPhone games - Robertson hacks away at Rubik's cubes, Hungry Hungry Hippos and the original Finger Flick Footballers to create a vinyl record.
Maybe it is a reference to how the modern age is killing all the old games we used to love, or maybe it was just a lot of fun. Whatever the concept behind it is, we can't help but enjoy it. Out of curiosity, we had a quick look to see what 'tastemakers' made this video viral, finding out WiredInsider gave it a helping tweet.
5. Waterproof your life... without a tacky rubber casing
Water damage has ended the life for countless pieces of technology and devistatingly it isn't covered by your warranty. This can be painful when you have no idea how your digital device got water damage in the first place.
The only real option available is wrapping your device in a waterproof case that can look like it's about to go diving with James Cameron.
However, that all looks set to change thanks to a magical new spray called NeverWet. The spray, which works using "hydrophobic" nanotechnology, can waterproof your phone without a cover at all. The applications go beyond digital as spraying anything, from walls to clothes to books, will be waterproofed. We can't wait.
Categories: 5 top finds
Tags: 5 top finds, Ignite, Instagram, iPhone, Waterproof, YouTube
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5 top finds #39 »
Google make fools of us, have your own beatbox crew, the new generation is connected, texting can be bear-y scary and get prepared for the zombie apocalypse. It's another 5 top finds...
1. Google's April fools
Ok, so this was more of a find from last week but we were busy!
April 1st has always been an exciting day of the year, especially online, as we are treated to joke products, misleading websites and humorous pranks. This year was no exception and it was the world's most popular search engine, Google, who had us giggling away with 'new products'.
The best was probably Google Chrome's multitask mode. The video illustrats that people need better tools to multitask, leading Chrome to introduce the option to use two mice at the same time. The best part of the video is when a couple talk about how Chrome Multitask has helped them as they share one computer, "Who's David?"
Other pranks involve Kangeroo's in Google Street Roo, Google Maps in 8-bit for the SNES and Gmail Tap, a service to replace the QWERTY keyboard on your smartphone with a more-code dot and dash. Check out the full list here.
2. Incredibox
Slightly reminiscent of Bjork's 2004 album, Medúlla, is Incredibox, a music mini-game created by beatboxing samples that is incredibly addictive. The flash site gets you to put different samples on to your black and white beatboxing men, who get a nice outfit to suit their sample.
Think about what you're creating though, because, if done correctly, you are rewarded 3 cut away videos. However, if you just feel like listening to a quite funky but relaxing tune, hit the shuffle button and enjoy.
3. Generation C
According to this video, the class of 2015 will be considered generation C, for connected. We find it interesting that this is only three years away. However, we aren't surprised as we have believed for a long time in social and mobile.
Some insightful bits of information to take from this are that the class of 2015 are 3 times more likely to follow a brand than a family member, 66% will look up a store if they see a friend check in from their mobile device and 73% of them would have earned and spent virtual currency.
Actually, the most shocking thing about this video is that it isn't like this already.
4. Bear frightens man on mobile
Speaking about the world going mobile, this man was highly immersed in his until he saw a bear about 2 feet away. Even though it's a scary moment and shows how people don't look where they are going, it does demonstrate beautifully our belief that everything is mobile.
Ironically, he was probably checking the news about a bear loose in his area on his Twitter feed.
5. Map of the dead
Just watched the latest episode of The Walking Dead and worried how safe you would be in your home town? Maybe you have just finished reading The Zombie Survival Guide and want to know everywhere around your area to stock up. Either way, Map of the Dead has your back as it highlights infected areas, supermarkets, hospitals, shelters, gun shops and more using Google maps.
Definitely worth a look for fun... or for preparation.
Categories: 5 top finds
Tags: 5 top finds, Google, mobile marketing
