Marketing Pilgrim Published: “Google Previews Android 3.0 for Tablets” plus 2 more

Google Previews Android 3.0 for Tablets
Starbucks Changing Logo. Good Move or Bad Move? You Tell Us!
Trackur Launches Free “Actively Listening” Seals for Your Web Site

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 04:35 AM PST

Google is working very hard to get ahead of any news that Apple may have cooking regarding the possible roll out of the iPhone on the Verizon network or the iPad2. They have even given a sneak preview of the new Android 3.0 called Honeycomb.

Let’s face it, they need to work hard because they are facing very good competition. It’s nice to see Google fight for something isn’t it? Kind of let’s us ‘test their mettle’ so to speak. Here is the video from the Official Google Blog post.

The post was done by Andy Rubin who is the lead for Google in all things Android. Here is his description of what makes this new version something special.

Honeycomb is the next version of the Android platform, designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. We've spent a lot of time refining the user experience in Honeycomb, and we've developed a brand new, truly virtual and holographic user interface. Many of Android's existing features will really shine on Honeycomb: refined multi-tasking, elegant notifications, access to over 100,000 apps on Android Market, home screen customization with a new 3D experience and redesigned widgets that are richer and more interactive. We've also made some powerful upgrades to the web browser, including tabbed browsing, form auto-fill, syncing with your Google Chrome bookmarks, and incognito mode for private browsing.

Marketers are particularly interested in how this battle plays out because they are looking at budget allocations for apps and just their presentation online in general. It’s not good business to just take sides with one or the other platform because each audience is very attractive for various reasons. Android is growing and the Android tablet market could see the same movement that the Android phone market has as many new devices hit the stores in the coming months.

It’s always an interesting race and this one is not a sprint either. Who is better conditioned for the long haul or is there really room for both?

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Starbucks Changing Logo. Good Move or Bad Move? You Tell Us!

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 04:14 AM PST

There has been some hubbub in the past few days about a change in one of the iconic brands of the modern business era. Starbucks is dropping its name from its logo to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

We know our readers are very savvy marketers in general and that Internet marketing is more than just clicks and followers so we wanted your opinion on this move.

Is it a good idea for a brand, no matter what the size or power, to drop its name from the logo when it has been there since forever? What are the potential upside gains and / or downside losses? Tell us in the comments. Here's the redesign.

My vote is to keep the company name. It's what I used to see first in the logo and I honestly paid little if any attention to the mermaid. That's just me though. What about you?

Trackur Launches Free “Actively Listening” Seals for Your Web Site

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 10:52 AM PST

Surf around the internet and you’ll see all kinds of security, privacy, and trust seals–pasted to consumer web sites. With good reason, too! These sites want to assure visitors that it’s safe to do business with them. You can trust the transaction, the shipping, the experience.

But what about after the transaction? Where’s the seal that says, “Hey, once you become a customer, we’re going to take great care of you”?

Oh wait, here it is: Introducing the Trackur Actively Listening seal.

What’s different about the Actively Listening seal? Two things. First, this seal tells your customers, prospects, business partners–anyone really–that you care about their experience with your company. It assures them that whether they post to Facebook, Twitter, a blog or forum, you’re listening for that conversation.

It tells them that you care.

The second difference? It’s absolutely free!

Simply grab your free Trackur account and then pick the seal from the options available. Don’t want to link back to Trackur? Then don’t! Don’t want to pass on precious PageRank? Add a “nofollow”- we don’t mind. What we do want is for more businesses to listen to what their customers are saying about them.