Big black block, silver lining, rounded edges, a line for an earhole and a central button at the bottom. No I’m not talking about the iPhone. I’m talking about the new Nokia N97 mini.
Why innovate when you can just copy a surefire winner? Well because in the world of design and branding for products copycats are seen in a derisive light- especially for something as blatant as this.
If Nokia copied any other phone it wouldn’t have been as bad. In this case the iPhone is so distinct from other mobile devices that even mimicking slight features are noticed. Adding a pull-out keyboard doesn’t make it different.
Mobile devices like Microsoft’s Zune HD and Verizon’s DROID aren’t being pulled into the ’rounded rectangle’ trap and are still able to produce high quality, beautiful, buzzworthy devices. The next major cool-kid device won’t look like the iPhone. Apple already did that. Remember, nothing looked like the iPhone or the Sidekick or the StarTac when they came out.
Look for something completely different in style and functionality. I guarantee the next great mobile device won’t look like anything you’ve ever seen. You’ll be happy it doesn’t.
Sometimes not everything goes according to plan. When Tagged.com recently changed their registration process traffic to their site spiked. In this case study I take a look at the spike in relation to the circumstances surrounding it. I answer whether or not the spike was a reaction to events or the spike itself affected Tagged.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced today that the state of Texas had reached an agreement with Tagged, Inc., a social networking site that was accused of tricking users into providing access to their address books. As part of the agreement, Tagged has to pay $250,000, which includes the cost of the state’s investigation.
After Tagged had access to a user’s address book, the social networking site sent messages that appeared to come directly from the user, offering to share photos with the recipient. When a recipient tried to view the pictures, which often didn’t even exist, they were prompted to sign up, giving Tagged access to their address book and continuing the deceptive practice.
For branding and social media insights check out my Posterous.
The world is a changing place. Tools may come and go but you'll always have your toolbox.
What you do with it is up to you.
Damien Basile
Who:
Damien is a communications strategy consultant and entrepreneur. He currently is working on a stealth startup so don't ask him what it is. He won't tell you.
