Daily Archives: August 4, 2009

iLike, the leading social music discovery service, today unveiled its new “Local Concerts” app, which provides personalized concert listings and notifications based on scanning the music on any iPod Touch or iPhone. iLike also announced unprecedented adoption of its recently launched iPhone app solution for artists. For a list of the top iLike artist apps, visit: www.iLike.com/mobile.
iLike’s Local Concerts app, already the top-ranking free concerts app in the iTunes App Store, lists upcoming shows in a user’s area and provides links to buy tickets. The new upgrade (available soon pending Apple approval) adds key features that leverage iPhone 3.0’s new capabilities:

Personalization: The app scans the music on an iPod or iPhone and provides custom concert listings to match.
Notifications: Users can opt to be notified whenever an artist in their music collection announces a local concert.
In-app Maps: Maps to venues are displayed directly inside the app.
Social Hooks: Users can share concert information with friends via email without leaving within the app.
“Finding out about local concerts has never been easier,” said Ali Partovi, CEO of iLike. “This is one of the first apps that’s optimized not just for the iPhone but also for the iPod, because it customizes itself to your entire music collection.”

In the two months since iLike announced its iPhone Apps for Artists program, more than 250 artists from all genres of music have already launched iLike-powered iPhone apps.

“As an independent artist, I truly appreciate this direct connection that I now have to fans, whether I’m announcing new tour dates, releasing a new album, or just have something to say,” said singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson.

“We’re encouraged by the positive response our create-your-own-app platform has generated, and this is only the beginning,” said Ali Partovi, CEO of iLike. “We’re helping artists save time, make money, and remain in constant contact with fans.”

More about iLike iPhone Apps for Artists

In May 2009, iLike announced a turnkey system enabling any artist to create their own app featuring concert dates, video messages, photos, blogs, bulletins, games, and exclusive content. Bands can post content and messages to fans who install their app via the iLike Artist Dashboard, already in use by more than 300,000 artists.

The iLike iPhone app platform has been selected by established and emerging artists, from proudly independent musicians to major label acts, across a variety of musical genres. The list includes:

Brushfire Records (includes Jack Johnson and Mason Jennings)

Reba McEntire

DeVotchka

Official Album App for Sonic Youth’s The Eternal

Information Society

Ingrid Michaelson

The Cribs

Josh Turner

John Butler Trio

Jimmy Cliff

Rusted Root

Sara Evans

Swing Out Sister

Tanya Tucker

Vertical Horizon

For artists, the benefits of using iLike to create a custom iPhone app include:

Ease-of-Use: Artists can create apps using a simple web-based wizard, and post new content at any time with the click of a button.
No Technology Headaches: iLike maintains a technology platform and team that supports artist apps, alleviating the need for an artist to hire programmers and designers whenever an update is needed.
Post Once, Publish Everywhere: Participating artists sync their presence on iLike, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and beyond, rather than posting redundant content multiple times.
Marketing: iLike promotes artist-created apps to its more than 50 million users, with 500,000 new users being added weekly.
In addition to artist iPhone apps, iLike’s “post once, publish everywhere” model helps artists reach their fans among more than 50 million music fans across the iLike network, including iLike’s leading music applications on iGoogle, Facebook, hi5, Bebo, Orkut, and iLike plugins for iTunes and Windows Media Player.

For Artists: To learn more or create an artist iPhone app today, go to: www.iLike.com/mobile.

For Consumers: To download an iLike-powered artist app or Like’s Local Concerts App, go to: www.iLike.com/mobile.

About iLike, inc

iLike is the Web’s leading social music discovery service and the dominant music application on iGoogle, Facebook® and other leading platforms. With more than 50 million registered users, iLike helps people share music recommendations, playlists, and personalized concert alerts. iLike offers musicians and labels a convenient Artist Dashboard from which to reach fans, manage their presence across multiple channels, and cultivate the viral spread of their music. iLike, inc also runs indie music site GarageBand.com.

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc. iTunes® is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. Windows Media Player® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.

KIPL.Net is primarily a turnkey New Media Consulting firm for more then a decade based in India and Singapore.

Given below is the link for recently launched Social Application ‘Bloodbank on Facebook’. This will be one of the KIPL.Net’s 20th applications in the past few months on Social Networks.

URL: http://apps.facebook.com/onlinebloodbank/

The same is the first ever easy use to Blood Bank Application on Face book ever designed by any Indian firm.

Given below are some of things KIPL.Net does in the New Media Space.

Conceptualizing, launching and managing websites / portals for clients, creating and adding new interactive content and converting the same into a high traffic online business destination.

Using search engines and social networks to create brand awareness and reach out to potential customers / partners who might be interested and would be looking out for services that your firms provide.

Conceptualizing, launching and managing unique viral marketing tools / applications.

Creating a very high quality buzzword across the web and mobile in targeted Geographic locations.

Developing highly addictive and unique social network applications (i.e. Facebook and iPhone applications) to cross promote client services and products.

Capitalizing on their past experience, KIPL provides turnkey services ranging from business analysis, consulting, project implementation, marketing and support.

Besides this KIPL.Net has a mega play on Mobile Application, Mobile VAS and Premium Content space under two different brands where they create, customize and distribute content across selected parts EMEA.

http://www.Mozomo.mobi

KIPL’s client list includes names like Tata Group, Orange, P & G, Reliance, Yahoo, GE, Star TV, HDFC Bank and many more

Room Candy Games is excited to launch the Open Beta of StripPRS™ for the Facebook social network. The premise of the game is simple – players dress up their avatars and challenge their friend(s) to a round of paper-rock-scissors. As the game title suggests, the losing player’s avatar will strip down to his/her undies!

“With any free-to-play games, especially social games, launching the game is just the first step in development,” explained Linny Cendana, founder and CEO of Room Candy Games. “We look forward to getting feedback from players of the Open Beta to help us decide which features to add and improve upon for Version 1.0 of StripPRS.”
Players can easily install the app at http://apps.facebook.com/stripprs after they log onto their Facebook accounts. During the Open Beta period, Room Candy Games encourages players to provide their feedback on the game through the app’s message board/forum, or to contact the company with any comments/suggestions at support(at)roomcandygames.com.

For more information about StripPRS™, please visit www.stripprsgame.com.

About Room Candy Games
Room Candy Games, LLC, is a game publisher focused on the “new” generation of casual gamers. The company’s mission is to introduce games that will appeal to the underserved female market but are also gender neutral. Room Candy Games’ upcoming product slate includes iPhone® and iPod® touch games, social games for social networks such as Facebook and MySpace, and free-to-play online browser based games. For the latest news on the company’s games, please visit www.roomcandygames.com.

In conjunction with the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Labor has re-named and re-launched its disability resources Web site to Disability.gov. Formerly called DisabilityInfo.gov, the site offers comprehensive information about programs, services and assistive technology to better serve more than 50 million Americans with disabilities, their family members, veterans, employers, educators, caregivers and anyone interested in disability-related information.

The new Web site (http://www.disability.gov) integrates content from 22 federal agencies and will be managed by the Labor Department. The former DisabilityInfo.gov site was revamped with social media tools to encourage interaction and feedback, and new ways to organize, share and receive information. Visitors can sign up for personalized news and updates, participate in online discussions and suggest resources for the site. New features include a Twitter feed, Really Simple Syndication feeds, a blog, social bookmarking and a user-friendly way to obtain answers to questions on such topics as finding employment and job accommodations. Additional tools will be added during the months ahead.

“Far more than just a directory of federal resources, Disability.gov is a meeting ground for Americans to learn, respond and communicate about a wealth of critically important disability-related topics,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “The new site has been vastly enhanced to provide more information in as efficient and interactive setting as possible.”

The site is organized into 10 subject areas: benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, employment, health, housing, technology and transportation. By selecting a category, visitors are directed to useful information on federal and state government programs and services, news and events, grants and funding opportunities, disability services, assistive technology and more.

“The Department of Labor is pleased to be the managing partner of Disability.gov and to help advance the independence and full participation of people with disabilities in the workforce, the classroom and their communities,” said Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary for the Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

Disability.gov contains thousands of links to reliable disability resources and information from its federal agency partners, as well as educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and state and local governments — as well as links to assistive technology.

ODEP is leading a 21st century federal response to the historic underemployment of people with disabilities. In collaboration with other government agencies, public and private employers, and additional stakeholders, ODEP facilitates the development and implementation of innovative policies and practices necessary to achieve a fully inclusive workplace. ODEP’s work primarily falls into three categories: employers and the workplace; workforce systems; and employment-related supports, which include education and training, health care, reliable transportation, affordable housing and assistive technology. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/odep.

U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.

Kia Motors America (KMA) today lets loose the paw-tapping, music-loving hamsters seen in its recent advertising campaign and unveils its “Go Hamster Go!” Facebook(R) application and continues launch momentum of the uniquely styled all-new 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle. Go Hamster Go! marks Kia Motors’ first-ever augmented reality game and first Facebook application. Demonstrating leadership in the online space, the Kia Soul application allows passionate fans the opportunity to have fun with the captivating vehicle using the popular, head-bobbing hamsters. The application is available now on the Kia Soul Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/kiasoul, through the ‘Go Hamster Go!’ tab.

The interactive application places any Facebook user with a Webcam-enabled computer into the game, allowing them to race against the clock in an augmented reality experience with the Soul ad campaign hamsters. Using facial recognition technology, the player controls the competition with his or her face using a virtual magnet that “connects” to his or her forehead. The object of the game is to grab a hamster with the magnet as it comes off of a conveyer belt and place it into a Soul as an onscreen clock ticks down.

Each hamster wears a colored t-shirt mirroring a Soul paint color (Java, Alien Green, Molten, etc.), and when the player successfully drops a hamster into a Soul, the car turns into that color and drives away, while the next empty Soul arrives. The exit window lists the final score as well as the many exciting personalization options the user managed to add to the Soul. Users can post their scores on a Soul leader board as well as challenge friends to compete and beat their scores.

“Soul’s energetic personality is a natural fit for this application and helps keep the vehicle top of mind with fans,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of KMA. “With a significant number of Facebook fans, the Kia Soul continues to be popular in the social media space, and we feel that this is the perfect platform to launch such an application as it hits Soul’s target demographic in a fun and interactive way.”

The application was created by digital marketing agency Total Immersion in association with marketing agencies Initiative and David & Goliath.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 630 dealers throughout the United States. For 2008, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline “The Power to Surprise.”

Kia Motors America is the “Official Automotive Partner of the NBA.” Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

Facebook (R) is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

Today INQ Mobile took the next step in its mission to bring easy-to-use mobile internet to the mass market with the launch of two new 3G Social Mobiles complete with internet-based Twitter and media sync capabilities.
The new phones offer high-spec functionality without the hefty price tag – shaking up the market by giving operators a unique proposition – a 3G social mobile with the speed, usability and suite of applications capable of driving data usage in the mass market.

The INQ Chat 3G is the company’s first qwerty-style phone, while the compact INQ Mini 3G expands the range and provides an entry-level social mobile ideal for the price-sensitive prepay market. They complement the award-winning INQ1.

For the two new phones, Twitter joins the suite of communications applications that INQ has already woven into the heart of its social mobiles, which include Facebook, Skype and Instant Messaging.

Working closely with the Twitter team, INQ has developed an authentic Twitter application for both its new Social Mobiles. After the initial log in, Twitter will be ‘always on’. Consumers can send tweets and retweet via the internet rather than using SMS. With the INQ Chat, a specially designed Twitter widget will deliver Twitter updates straight to the home screen.

The INQ Chat 3G was developed in response to consumer and operator demand for a qwerty-style keypad device from INQ. It has a new email client developed by INQ that incorporates free push Gmail – removing a cost for push mail typically borne by operators or passed on to consumers. The INQ Chat 3G comes complete with the expanded suite of INQ applications: Facebook, Skype, email, IM and Twitter.

The INQ Mini 3G is a slimline Social Mobile that offers Twitter, Facebook, IM, Skype and web-based email services like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail and Gmail. It brings the usability that INQ is known for to a new form factor. Like the INQ Chat, the INQ Mini offers impressive capability at a fraction of the price of other application-rich devices.

Both phones have plug and play HSDPA modems enabling high-speed wireless broadband on PCs and Macs.

The INQ Mini 3G and the INQ Chat 3G represent a new design direction for the company; both can be customized with a range of seven coloured backs.

The INQ Chat 3G and INQ Mini 3G applications can be updated over the air – a unique feature essential to keep pace with how online applications change and consumer usage evolves.

INQ is also introducing seamless media syncing between its devices and PCs or Macs. The software, powered by doubleTwist, syncs music from iTunes and WMP straight to your INQ mobile and, unlike most other sync solutions, doesn’t require the customer to give up using their favourite media player on their computer. The new mobiles from INQ will also be able to sync video and photos.

INQ’s ground-breaking platform was built from the ground up for the mobile internet and offers unprecedented integration throughout the handset. Popular internet applications are not simply bolted on (as they are with proprietary systems which are primarily voice and text) – but embedded within the underlying software, delivering benefits such as native messaging and an address book that consolidates phone contacts with those from relevant applications.

This allows INQ to remove many of the cumbersome steps that have made using these services on ordinary mobiles frustrating or time-consuming. INQ phones multi-task, so key applications like Facebook, Skype, IM and email are ‘always on’ and accessible with one click from the home screen; a log-in to any application is required only once.

Frank Meehan, INQ’s CEO, said: “We build phones that focus specifically on what people want to do most on mobile, and deliver it at a price point that’s easy for consumers and profitable for operators. We have completely broken the vice grip hold that high-end smartphones had on great mobile internet experiences, and made them available to everybody.”

“With the INQ Chat 3G, we’ve reinvented the qwerty for consumers by creating a fantastic social mobile. With the INQ1, we were blown away by how much consumers were writing just using the standard 12 keys – 30% of them were regularly sending emails. So we know that a keypad will go down a storm.”

INQ Mobile launched in 2008 to give consumers high-quality yet affordable mobile internet, and enable carriers to stimulate data usage across their customer base. The company recently released data detailing device usage on UK and Hong Kong networks that show usage patterns typically seen only on high-end smartphones. An average of 65% of INQ users use Facebook regularly, 30% use their INQ frequently for email, and Windows Live Messenger activity is three to four times greater than on comparably priced 3G phones. In February 2009, INQ1 won ‘handset of the year’ at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The INQ Chat 3G and INQ Mini 3G will be available in Q4 2009.