Economic Downtown Hits Social Networks

Image via CrunchBase

MMO Set to Change Mobile Gaming

With the iPhone and Andriod phone set to battle for mobile supremecy, mobile apps have taken off with more and more people looking to access their content on the go. iPhone has taken the lead with its App Store, which offers free and low cost apps, and has apparently sent the standard by which other competitors have designed their markets.

GPS-apps have been very popular with all types of geo-aware apps available for a variety of uses. Now imagine taking those geo-aware apps and turning it into a MMO game where players use their actual location as the point of reference for a game. That is exactly what Parallel Kingdom, set to launch later this month, will attempt to do.

Now at first glance, Parallel Kingdom does not compare to the desktop MMO’s such as World of WarCraft, but for a mobile platform, it appears to be a pretty decent entry. Naturally the designers will have to upgrade their graphics interface to get players to keep coming back, but for starters the concept is pretty intriguing. Users will utilize their current location as the basis for the game. If you are sitting in a restaurant, it will be such that the location may be inhabited with monsters or other such obstacles to overcome. Meanwhile, walking down the street or exploring nearby blocks might reveal new weaopns, treasure, and other real life peopel to interact with in-game.

The game is still somewhat limited, but future releases look to take mobile MMO to the next level. If Parallel Kingdom can find a way to attract players to return to their world, find a suitable price point, and keep the game fresh and interesting, then there is no limits as to where this game could go. The game will be free for users on both the iPhone and Android platforms upon release with a price plan coming down the road.

Access Your Music Anywhere with blueTunes

The concept of cloud computing has had its champions, but also its critics. Many believe cloud computing will be the future of information where nothing is stored locally. The critics feel that if the “cloud” goes down, so does all of our information.

Still, with the ability to access your documents, spreadsheets, pictures, and other media through various storage sites, you can now access your music anywhere, from any location as long as there is an internet connection. Welcome to the concept of blueTunes, where you can take your music to the cloud. The site allows you to upload and store your music to not only free up your personal storage space, but to allow free and clear access where ever you are.

The site is in beta right now, so invites are by email only, but sign up on their site and enjoy!

Gamefly Gives Gamers Mobile Access

For those of you who are dedicated gamers, and rely on Gamefly to feed your need, here’s even more of a reason to stay with the game renting site. Just announced, Gamefly is going to offer their site through mobile access.

What does this mean?

Now you can add games to your queue, purchase the games you want or are renting currently, and re-order your queue on the fly if something catches your attention. The gaming site boasts millions of users, and having access from your mobile device will only make it even more popular.Gamefly, which is to gamers what Netflix is to movie buffs, offers the latest in new games and even offers an extensive back catalog of older games for some of us more nostalgic players.

Signing is is just as easy with the power of your account at your fingertips!

BerryStore Steals Blackberry App Center’s Spotlight

BlackBerry has long been in need of a refreshing user defined experience similar to what Apple users experience with the iPhone. iPhone users are able to build the phone they want with a variety of free and pay-for apps that build on the already amazing functionality of the iPhone. BlackBerry has finally decided to jump into the applications market by announcing their BlackBerry Application Center which will launch with the release of the BlackBerry Storm software version 4.7.

This will allow BlackBerry users to define their experience by picking and choosing the apps they want to add to their very functional phones. RIM’s answer may come late compared to Apple’s and Google’s application markets, but BlackBerry users are sure to jump on board this concept.

Unfortunately RIM’s successful announcement has been deflated with the launch of an unaffiliated opening of a BlackBerry app site called BerryStore. The site boasts a growing 40 apps already for download and look to add more just in the weeks to come. The benefit of going through BerryStore is that it does not rely solely on the release of the BlackBerry Storm, but rather has apps that will work across old and new phones in the BlackBerry family.

So the question becomes, did BlackBerry just get upstaged? For those that can’t afford to make the switch or jump to the Storm, it appears an opportunity has opened up to them, which makes switching almost pointless, and puts some flavor into your existing BlackBerry.

Zoho Marketplace for the Masses

Zoho has always been and will continue to be the aggressive competitor for both Microsoft and Google. Zoho offers an online version of everything Word offers, and extends a wider variety of applications than online competitor Google Documents. Zoho has created a huge fan following of over 1 million users and established itself as the online Office Suite of choice.

With its already growing reputation, Zoho can now boast its new service, Marketplace. Marketplace offers a venue for developers to enhance, develop, and rebuild applications with Zoho’s Creator’s platform. As of this article, Zoho claims that there are over 100,000 offerings by independent developers who have found a way to build applications to further extend Zoho’s popularity and usefulness. What’s even more amazing is that Zoho is directing all “fees” affiliated with the cost of some applications directly to the developers.

Major companies are already on board with what Zoho offers which is sure to dramatically increase user figures over the next couple of months. By offering more in it’s office suite, Google Documents and Microsoft will have to pay close attention to what is happening before they are left behind!

iTunes Avoids Shutting Down

In recent weeks there has been a lot said regarding the possible rate hike for distributed music. Sites like iTunes, Amazon, and Napster to name a few, are all music distribution sites with business models that would have been greatly affected by this possible increase.

The Copyright Royalty Board was to meet to discuss a rate increase of almost 60%, which would hit deep into the profits that distribution sites make. Apple, so angered by this possibility threatened to shut down iTunes if the board passed the rate increase. Apple, who currently owns the largest margin of mp3 players on the market, the iPods, would have shut down their site? A part of me says no, perhaps an idle threat. All in all, the board has decided to keep rates the same, 9 cents per song. You can read more about the decision here.

Still, Apple may not have come out of this situation without egg on their face. The reality of one of the largest music distribution markets completely shutting down, with an mp3 player that is connected to propriety software, iTunes, may scare people into moving towards a more functional player that is not directly tied to any one site. Could Apple have shown it’s own weakness? Or is Apple relying on its millions of dedicated fans to stick with the “in” platform of choice?

For now iTunes is safe.

Socialtext 3.0 Leads Web 3.0 Revolution?

Web 2.0 was a buzzword that has been beaten to death, but for those that still use it know that the technology’s tools that have connected users through various social networks and other online applications have been what 2.0 has been all about. Pundits speculate just what 3.0 will be, and in my opinion the next level of the internet will be full blown collaboration across industries, disciplines, crossing borders, barriers, and timezones. The world is quickly becoming a connected society and collaboration has become key both in our personal and business lives. The internet is vital for our own successes and united online will further develop our dependency to one another.

Socialtext 3.0 is an online application that looks to lead the pack in 3.0 technology. This enterprise collaboration tool connects employees within a company, and the company with its customer base in a way that is all in one, and does not rely on jumping from social platform to social platform. Think of Socialtext as a combination of Twitter, Facebook, Wiki, and Blog, all wrapped into one with seamless integration and manipulation to maintain company identity.

In a market that is quickly becoming full of enterprise clones of Twitter and other social networks, Socialtext does have an uphill battle in the market. On their side is the fact that it’s a one stop shop and some major leaders in the industry have already recognized the importance of such an application such as IKEA, Kraft, Intel, Symantec to name a few.

In an article on TechCrunch, they best explain by saying “SocialText 3.0 has the feel of a technology that emerged in the open source, community-driven culture, yet is now well-positioned for adoption by small and medium-sized businesses that more and more are linking together across corporate domains and between workers, partners, and customers.”

The idea is to increase productivity and ingenuity by collaborating with your co-workers in a way that does not hinder the day to day operations of business. No more waiting for “water cooler” talk to exchange ideas or workout problems, Socialtext 3.0 brings the world within your company to you.

Apple Drops NDA for App Developers

In what I thought was an amazing move by Apple, the company has dropped it’s controversial NDA with developers which kept a strict strangle hold on developers interested in promoting their applications on the iPhone platform.

According to sources the NDA was dropped because it “created too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone’s success.” Too often developers were skeptical in their development due to Apple’s procedures on approval, ownership rights, and distribution rights. It’s understandable if Apple wanted to protect it’s IP from other developers who might get a glimpse on some of the innovative “behind the scenes” processes that makes Apple what it is today, but by burdening the developers you also limit the success of your products, specifically the iPhone.

A new NDA is sure to drafted, and I’m curious to see just how drastically different this agreement will be. If there are any iPhone app developers out there, please comment and share your experiences in dealing with Apple…of course that is if you can share.

Routenote Offers Independent Worldwide Further Exposure

After reviewing MySpace music, I thought I had found the definitive way to market your music and gain exposure within a target fan base. I could not have been further from the truth. A recent discovery led me to RouteNote, a music platform that allows artists to enter a non-exclusive agreement to share their music over some of the hottest music networks.

This amazing service allow independent artists to not only market themselves and their music, but gain notoriety across more than one network. RouteNote provide exposure on iTunes, Amazon, MySpace, and PumpAudio to name a few. By partnering with some of the biggest and hottest music distributing networks, RouteNote looks to establish themselves as the home for indie artists. This idea coming from the ever expanding shift of listeners moving towards digital distribution as opposed to traditional CD sales. RouteNote remains cutting edge and looks to expanding their partnerships to offer more for the artists.

Making money is easy with this well connected service. As soon as the online artists uploads their song or songs onto the network, and once they’ve selected which partner sites they want to carry their product, the music will earn money almost instantly thanks to RouteNotes world wide distribution model.

Users can keep up with their blog in order to find out what RouteNote is doing, and who their latest partners are. If you’re an indie artists I definitely recommend you check out RouteNote as a way to gain further exposure.

iKoto App for iPhone, Traditional Japanese Music at Your Fingertips

I’ve seen and played with a lot of iPhone applications, but iKoto take the cake on originality/education ratio. GClue, Inc., based out of Japan, has created a very innovative method to teach, practice, and empower musicians of the Koto. The Koto is a Japanese harp that creates a very distinct tone for traditional Japanese music.

The application allows users to record, play, and demonstrate their talent on the Koto all from a handheld device. The virtual strings vibrate with the tune so that the user can practice their hand and finger movements. The iKoto comes with the following selections: “Explanation of functions” “Play demonstration”; “Play recorded performance”; “Record performance”;
“Stop play or record”.

GClue has a long standing history of making outstanding mobile applications since 2000. This application can be found for .99 At the Apple iTunes store.

Here’s a video of the iKoto in action!

MySpace Music Launches

MySpace is known as one of the, if not the biggest social networks on the market. With millions and millions of users, advertisers get the attention of a lot of eyes, but it’s grown even bigger than that. MySpace has long been known to be the launching pad for music artists, knowing that the MySpace market is a target they just could not ignore. Users are able to listen, stream, and even “friend” artists and stay informed.

It just seems like a natural progression for MySpace to enter the music foray with their own MySpace Music site. Just 24 hours old and already MySpace Music has a huge following, and an interesting model that looks to beat out all other music sites. Four major labels on board (Universal, Warner, Sony, EMI), several major publishers, and even the largest independent music provider look to make MySpace Music stand out on its own merit.

Users are able to stream any of the music on the site for free, create playlists of up to 100 songs, share their lists, their streams, and even participate in ranking and viewing other users music selection. All of this creates a music social network that is bound to grow just as fast at their social network specific site, MySpace. New music is also introduced exposing users to new artists and up-can-comers, with the added ability to purchase music which is done through Amazon’s music download service. You want a ringtone? No worries, via Jamster any song on MySpace music can also be yours to carry on your mobile.

The flexibility of MySpace music is unheard of, and I look forward to seeing its growth.