Location-Based Coupons: Lots Of Deals But Not All Are Good

I recently tried to redeemed a coupon that I bought off LivingSocial.  It's for a restaurant called Cafe 322 in Southern California.  I had hope to write about my wonderful experience there but it was not the case.  In fact, we did not mange to get in.

The reason was that there was a coverage charge to get into the place, something that LS forget to mention.  And on top of that, while the email described it as a Finnish restaurant, it was selling pizza and pasta.  Even a sign on the cafe said "Italian".

On top of that, it was a very loud place and we had children with us.  We thought about sitting outside but there were people there.  And there is no smoking allowed in restaurants in California.  

While I hope to go back before my coupon expires (which I think is probably not legal to  have an expiration date), you really have to be careful with what appears to be good deals on LivingSocial, Groupon, or other up-and-coming companies that offer these deals.  

I got a couple AMC movie ticket yesterday for $4 each.  That was a good deal.  But these are and far in between the massage and manicure coupons.  

So, my suggestion is to watch out.  Do a lot of research.  I did so for Cafe 322 but apparently it was not enough.  Apparently, there were a few Yelp reviewers who used their LS coupon there and the rating was just par.

I think it's important that LS and Groupon also provide a feedback on user experiences so they themselves can see who they want to associate with.  

Official Pokemon Coming to Mobile

Never thought I would be able to blog about this so here it goes. From the first post I've read, Phandroid is reporting an official Pokemon game is making it's way to Android and the iPhone.



So far few details are available. It will be available this summer and It'll be free (Touch Arcade).

It will be a tapping game based on Pokemon music.

What? You expected something more? With Nintendo just announcing the Wii successor and the 3DS coming a long nicely, it is unlikely we will see a full featured title. Obviously, such titles would be very popular with mobile gamers on the iPhone and Android devices.

Short of hell freezing over, simple tapping Pokemon games are all we can expect for now.

Location Based Revenue to Reach $10 Billion by 2016

Strategy Analytics, a research firm that I've referenced on a few occasions, is saying that location-based services, like Foursquare, will likely reach $10 billion by 2016 - with half of that coming from advertising.  In addition to that, GigaOM mentioned that privacy issues regarding location tracking will remain a big concern.  I think it's a valid point but I also think $10 billion is a small pond given the number of players that are involved.

I've already mentioned Foursquare, but others like Facebook and Google are also angling for a piece of this market.  And there are probably half a dozen other services that I can think of right of the top of my head that will vie for some of the mobile consumers' attention.  

My concern is the privacy of consumers like myself.  As a Foursquare user, I have yet to see any returns and yet, I've been offering Foursquare information regarding some of my habits.  I am sure with other users, they likely have more to gain from their check-in experiences than I do.  Having said that, storing of GPS information on mobile devices as well as the ease with which these companies can track users can be quite daunting and I reckon most users have not really thought things through.

It will be the comfortable level, as the post mentioned, that will ultimately decide if this market takes off.  And a lot is at stake.  Revenues from coupons and advertising is only the beginning.  And there are probably other innovative means to accrue profit that we have not yet seen.  And consumer and privacy issues aside, the market would need to be much bigger than just $10 billion five years from now.  Why is that?  Interests from the above mentioned companies are going to be needed.  Research and innovative energy must also be brought to focus on this market.  

With a sizable pie, the location based market could just something a few hard-core users dwell in.  

I have a few predictions I like to share.  In a few years, we will see a few of these companies consolidate or snatched off the market.  While I am not sure that Google and Facebook, with a larger user base would be interested but companies like Yahoo, Microsoft, or even wireless carriers could see value in a large installed base.  I have seen some level of loyalty among the location-based market.  Such loyalty could be of some value.  

Not to be outdone, Pyramid Research, via Marketing Mag, reckons the $10 billion target will be reached a year earlier, 2015.  PR mentioned Yelp as a candidate to benefit from this.  

Only time will tell if either of these researches are accurate.  Personally, I hope the privacy issue will be resolved first before the market takes off.  There is pending legislation in Congress that will limit the use of location based data.  The Center for Democracy and Technology has a very good article on this issue pending.  Honestly, would you really trust Facebook to know your every step and selling that information to the highest bidder?

Source:  GigaOM, Marketing Mag.

Microsoft's Lasso Feature Shows It Can Still Innovate If it Wants To (iPad App)

Microsoft just released a new Bing app that requires no typing for search. And it can probably expand this features for other purposes like copy and pasting or just opening up a contextual menu.

It just goes to show that Microsoft can still innovate.  So, for all us haughty Android and iPhone fans, don't get too cocky.  Maybe, just maybe Windows Phone's future is brighter than anyone expects if Redmond can truly bring more innovate energy to the market.

So, what is Lasso?  The feature is only on the Bing app for the iPad for the moment.  By using your finger to draw a circle around the word or phrase you want to be selected, you can begin a search.  Also, users can save up to nine Lasso'd items.  

No word on this working with Honeycomb tablets but this feature is a part of Microsoft's own tablet tools. 

I'm looking forward to trying this out on my iPad when I get home.

Source:  Cnet.

Verizon Wireless Ends Unlimited Data Access Plan This Thursday

For readers out of the US, I don't know what kind of data plans you get.  From what I'm reading, not many of you have unlimited data plans For the US market, AT&T first moved away from that a little more than a year ago.  This week, Verizon Wireless will officially join the growing number of carriers around the world in killing of the unlimited wireless data plan.

According to iSmathphone, a VZW spokesman made the official declaration.  I had latched on to this a while back and took the plunge last week by signing up for a Verizon plan, forgoing my 8-year relationship with T-Mobile.  I was very interested in the LTE phones but the battery lives just don't cut it for me.  

So I went for the iPhone 4 even though I know the next update is probably just around the corner.  No loss there as I'lll probably give this one to a family member.  Still, sucks that VZW is doing this.

And as far as I know, VZW does offer truly unlimited data access.  While T-Mobile doesn't say that it offers unlimited data plan, it's not true.  It's unlimited up to a point.  The only other carrier who still offer an unlimited data plan is Sprint but their phone selection does not do it for me and their network is very spotty in my area.

Starting Thursday, the $29.99 plan goes away and are replaced by the following:

• $10 gets you 75 MB per Month - seriously, what a joke
• $30 gets you 2 GB per Month - nothing new here.  Same as AT&T.
• $50 gets you 5 GB per Month - I can see a lot of people going this route but will opt for the $30 plan for the most part
• $80 gets you 10GB per Month - ouch.
• Go over your monthly allotment and you get charged $10 per GB

So, if you've been waiting a newer iPhone or better Android, your wait will soon end because you really don't have a choice now.  Personally, I'm not sure why VZW is doing this right now.  Surly, its network can handle the deluge of potential iPhone defectors from AT&T and other networks as well as its own customers looking to upgrade to LTE later in the year.  

Why Did I Switch From T-Mobile To Verizon? Were You Previously Very High On T-Mobile?  Yes.  I like my service with T-Mobile even if no one else does.  I don't really have an issue with dropped calls the way iPhone users have with AT&T.  However, I was going to leave T-Mobile anyway because of the buyout from AT&T.  

It is just inconceivable that T-Mobile's culture will be able to withstand the bad influence of AT&T's approach to sales, customer service, and fudging of features and plans on the fly.  I don't know if VZW is any better but at least they're not AT&T.  I was trying to explain my reasons for getting the iPhone to a friend over weekend and when I brought up the buyout, he said pointedly "AT&T did not get its reputation by accident".  

So, there you go.  If you're looking to lock into a wireless plan with Verizon Wireless, you've got until Wednesday.

NFC-Equiped Macs

Apple files a lot of patents that never come to the market.  But this interesting patent has Apple equipping Macs with near field communication (NFC) capabilities. Pair this with an iPhone or iPod touch, and you've got something really special.

Macs can be turned into cash registers for mobile payment and other potential mobile uses.  

Supposed if you're buying grocery.  You can pick all the things you need, go into the market, link your iPhone to the NFC-Mac and tell them what you've ordered and the people in the supermarket can put your order together for you.  This is just my simple application of how I think it could work.  I am certain smarter folks than I am are already salivating over the possibilities.

The current iPhone 4 has no NFC capability and it is possible that Apple might offer NFC features in the next iPhone update.  There are rumors about it but no one knows for sure.  There is also a chance that Apple will forgo offering NFC until 2012 since NFC adoption has not taken off.  Only Google is offering trials at this time in Portland, Oregon.

There have been other mobile payment methods.  For instance, I've been paying for my Starbucks drinks since app Card app was made available and it requires no special hardware.  On the other hand, if Apples does offer NFC capability in the next iPhone slated for release later this year, it would be just the right signal to the mobile market, carriers, device makers, and other industries that is it "okay" to adopt its use.

As someone who hates carrying around his wallet around and considers his iPhone more dear than his driver license, I can't wait for the future to start.

Source: Electronista.

Rubinstein

Jon Rubinstein, formerly of Palm but now with HP, compared the dismal reviews for Touchpad to the first version of Mac OS X (Wikipedia) when it debuted back in 2001.  This came from an e-mail to his troops in the midst of the Touchpad launch.

Obviously, it is a clear association on its face value.  Rubinstein was a former Steve Jobs understudy with deep involvement in the iPod development and Apple's resurgence in the last decade.  So, you have to kind of listen to him when he talks.

However, there is one different I would like to point out:  Apple had legions of loyal Mac supporters numbering in the tens of millions across a wide spectrum - home users to educators to professionals in law, medical, media, and art. And that was during Apple's darkest days when it was just weeks from declaring bankruptcy.  

Web OS, however, lack this number as far as the number of loyal followers who are willing to flock to the platform at this time.  What Jon Rubinstein and his troops do have is the deep pocket of HP who at this point in time seems determined to make Web OS a viable challenger to iOS and Android.

But comparing Web OS to OS X is a mistake.  HP isn't Apple and never will be.  Apple's iOS will never be like Web OS.  Touchpad was rushed to the market and could have benefited from more refinement.  That is what Rubinstein and his team should focus on.  

I look forward to its update before I personally make any kind of declaration on it.  

Source: Macrumors.

Note: And yes, Apple should have bought Palm  Though the Web-based implementations in Web OS isn't something that is out of Apple's expertise.  It's its patents that I think Apple should have retained.