add a little apple store style to your retail experience
Square Up looks like an awesome credit card payment solution for retail. It's a credit card processing system that works with mobile phones. Scan credit cards for payment. Get photo verification of your customers. Send receipts via email rather than paper.
Seems like a sweet way for small business to add a great service, and look cool in the process. The next best thing to being the apple store. From @miconian
Labels: apple, iphone, mobile, retail, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM
1 comments
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
what would an apple site look like in 1983?
If the interwebs were around back in 1983, here's what the Apple website might have looked like.
Someone should create an entire internet of 1983, and link it all together, as part of a campaign. This could be loads of fun. From Nathan McDonald.
Labels: apple, creativeinspiration
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:31 AM
0 comments
Monday, August 24, 2009
apple engineers: you need this guy
BrandFlakes friend Lee Washington shows us a most awesome invention: a product design for iPod headphones that don't tangle.
Apple: please give this man a million dollars and get me these headphones. Mine are a tangled mess.
Labels: apple, iphone, productdesign
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:27 AM
3 comments
Monday, August 17, 2009
the apple store: your new production studio
There's something totally infectious about this kid, and the fact that he produces and broadcasts his videos from the Apple store.
He's evolved and has gotten to be quite good - look at one of his earlier broadcasts and you'll see that he wasn't always entirely comfortable performing in the space.
Just begging to be a part of a fun campaign.
Labels: apple, pop culture, retail, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
0 comments
Thursday, August 06, 2009
the history of rounded rectangles
I love this post on UI&us - not for the discussion of more efficient graphical user interfaces, but for the history of the rounded rectangle.
It's cool to see how the digital concept of rounded edges was born - and how they're all around us in life, protecting us from sharp edges or a good poke in the arm. Thanks, Steve Jobs.
Labels: apple, design, productdesign, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
1 comments
Thursday, July 23, 2009
cables and batteries still suck
Michael Surtees is mad. His old MacBook Pro has a dead battery, he doesn't want to spend big bucks to replace it, and he can't move his desk due to all the cables. He wants better batteries. So he wrote a post, we're linking, and soon Apple will fall to its knees admitting it must boost R&D spending on product lifecycles so we all don't have to rush back to buy new Mac toys every 18 months...
Yeah, right. Which reminds us, how do you pry the back off an iPhone?
Labels: apple, product obsolescence, productdesign
posted by Ben Kunz @ 7:14 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
music video shot with iphone video
Check it out - an entire music video shot with nothing but the new 3GS iPhone. Proof that you don't need a film budget to produce a music video. Although a stellar production team, director, studio and killer editing can't hurt, of course.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:16 AM
0 comments
Monday, June 15, 2009
you don't need an iphone app in your new campaign
Before you approve that budget for the iPhone app that seems absolute necessary right now, consider these numbers regarding their actual usage:
+ Minutes per use: 9.6 (Greystripe)
+ Uses per user: 19.9 (Greystripe)
+ Only 20% of users return to use the app after the first day (Pinch Media)
+ After a month, this number drops to 5% (Pinch Media)
On the flip side - you could say the same thing about videos and internet sites intended to go viral. (When was the last time you watched the Nike car jumping ad?) Short user spikes don't mean that this wasn't effective - it's just not necessarily a long term device.
As with everything, the answer to whether or not your marketing plan needs an iPhone app may indeed rest with your overall marketing strategy plan. There. I said it. Strategy rocks.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
that's stuff "for you kids"
You have to read the exchange between Nick Kinney at American Copywriter and his mom.
You'll find this absolutely hilarious, and likely completely indicative of the battle you're fighting in your own organization. Trying to get the company old schoolers to understand and embrace new internet tools and ways. Even when they know they have value. "That's for you kids."
When will the curmudgeons just leave?
Labels: apple, apps, iphone, pop culture, trends
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:42 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 23, 2009
how the iphone will create its own economy
This is a little scary, because it reminds me of similar stories about the micro economies within Second Life during its peak. Mashable has an excellent post on how the new iPhone capabilities could indeed launch a new mobile economy. But at least people are using their iPhones.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:57 AM
0 comments
Thursday, January 22, 2009
get well steve
Someone's created a website devoted to the world's most loved CEO, Steve Jobs.
You can download get well badges for your blog or website, send him a get well note and even subscribe to Steve's get wellness RSS feed. Thanks, Ryan!
Labels: apple, pop culture
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:13 AM
1 comments
Thursday, July 10, 2008
where will you be tomorrow morning?
In line for the new iPhone? Possibly nothing compares to the iPhone devotion (or nutiness) of Twitter buddies Brad and Joe.
Brad has been without an iPhone for 26 days.
Joe is traveling halfway across the country to wait in line with Brad so they can both buy the new iPhone.
Why? Because the iPhones that they sell in Indiana are so much better than the ones in the northeast. Or maybe Joe really wants an Indiana area code, for "cool factor." Or because Joe really supports his buddy's struggle without an iPhone for 26 days. Or maybe it's just that Joe's travel schedule had him in Indiana tomorrow. Clearly, someone needs to produce a documentary to answer these questions.
Happy iPhone eve.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:05 AM
1 comments
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
video to watch again and again
Really cool video produced from the desktop of a Mac. This may have you watching again and again. And again. And Again. From 30gms.
UPDATE: Here's an attempt at producing the same video, on a PC.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:25 AM
0 comments
Monday, April 14, 2008
microsoft: let's be more like apple.
Rumors have it that Microsoft is planning to go into retail. You know, just like Apple. Only, they won't be selling Apple products. Bummer. From Brian, via Twitter
Labels: apple, retail, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:28 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
the next round of mac parodies is here
Someone's produced a Nintendo version of the Macbook Air spot. The Apple copyfight attorneys keep taking it down from YouTube, but for now, you can see it here. Found on Engadget.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:46 AM
0 comments
Friday, February 15, 2008
people are really using iphones
Google sees 50 times more searches from the iPhone than any other mobile handset.
“We thought it was a mistake and made our engineers check the logs again,” says Vic Gundotra, head of Google’s mobile operations. (Yeah, like Google can make mistakes.)
This is an important trend. Not that you aren't already sick of hearing how 'mobile is the future.' But here's tangible evidence that users are actually using. As the Financial Times points out, when other manufacturers make the internet as easy as Apple, this will be huge. Internet. Maybe this thing is catching on.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
turn your house into an apple store
Here's everything you need to turn your house into an Apple store. And why wouldn't you? Oobject outlines every detail, and even includes links to all of the manufacturers and suppliers, so that you can get everything you need.
Have fun. Let me know when you're open - I'd like to stop by the Genius Bar. From Advertising Lab.
Labels: apple, architecture
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:59 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
the trailer for the movie for mac heads
The trailer for Macheads the Movie is out. This should be riveting. Will the stars live until the end? Will the special effects be believable? Spoiler alert: I predict that in the end of the film, the characters will really like Apple.
Thanks Brian!!
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 21, 2008
bring your site down to generate traffic and buzz
David Rydell points to an interesting Apple tactic, that works as a part of their massive buzz generation machine.
There are so many things that brands can learn from Apple and their product announcements. Pingdom, (ironically, the people whose business stems from keeping servers LIVE) points to one in particular that others haven't latched onto. With each major new Apple product announcement, the Apple site is brought down. Essentially closed up for a short period of time while they prepare to add the new products.
This down-time adds to the buzz. Why is Apple the only one to leverage down-time? A couple of years ago, the Gap did something similar - (although I'm convinced it was by accident, as it lasted days.)
Certainly, not every brand or business has the necessary factors to make this successful. You'd need massive regular traffic (so that people notice), significant press attention (so that people notice) and something worthy of the relaunch (so that people notice.) But there are other brands out there that could pull this off.
What about you? If you pulled the plug, would people notice?
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:37 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
obligatory mac post.
What? Everyone else is doing it.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
1 comments
Sunday, November 25, 2007
everyone wants to be an ipod
Check out these two advertising images. The one on the left is from iPod. The one on the right is from Sony. Hmmmm.
Labels: apple, photography, productdesign
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:50 PM
0 comments
Thursday, October 18, 2007
sacre bleu! france gets unlocked iphone
Aside from the possibility of running into Johnny Depp at a Paris cafe, there is really little reason to move to France, unless of course you want an unlocked iPhone. Its as if Steve Jobs WANTS you to hate him. Enjoy your new freedom phone France.
posted by Wilson Cleveland @ 9:01 AM
2 comments
Monday, October 08, 2007
zune just wants to be an ipod
Here's a great lesson for every brand. Don't try and be like your competitor. Be different (or better), instead.
Check out this great post about how Zune has attempted to utilize one of the signature Apple brand statements/unboxing experiences. And why it fails miserably.
Labels: apple, branding, mac, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:26 AM
0 comments
Thursday, September 27, 2007
dear apple...
John January (coolest rock star name ever) over at American Copywriter has
a great "Dear Apple" letter. And good advice for media planners. I won't spoil it, but I couldn't agree more.
Labels: apple
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:08 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
how to market like apple
A former Apple marketing executive has published an eBook on marketing Apple-style. I haven't read it yet, but it sounds like a good read.
In the meantime, you could just make a really good product, hire great designers, and treat your customers like good humans (most of the time).
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:45 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
cool idea for a promo giveaway
iphone give-aways already blend in like wallpaper. But what about lime green iPhones? Or iPhones themed to your brand's color scheme? Cool idea for your upcoming trade show. From Macenstein.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:19 AM
0 comments
Friday, July 06, 2007
more people have iphones than are in SL right now
More people have iPhones than are currently logged into Second Life. A LOT more. What is your brand creating for them? There's a massive opportunity here for branded applications, games, and even simple things like wallpapers. iPhone wallpaper above is from one of my favorite artists, COOP.
Labels: apple, branding, iphone, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:32 AM
1 comments
Saturday, June 30, 2007
what i learned waiting in line for an iphone
I won't gush about the wonderous new phone. If you're looking for iPhone porn, there's plenty of other places for that.
But I'd like to thank Apple for an excellent customer experience. Like many others, I went to my local Apple store Friday afternoon, and waited in line. I'd never done anything like that before. (I'm not very good in one place, for any longer than 50 minutes.) But Apple made it easy. Here's how:
+ Open wifi. Sure, they have that on every day. But on Friday, I was able to continue my workday, (until my laptop battery ran dry), which helped pass the majority of time.
+ Apple employees greeting line waiters, and handing out Smart water. (Maybe that's what the Apple geniuses drink?) Simple. Didn't cost them much. But showed they cared.
+ Great company. It was funny to see a line of a hundred or so people, 50% of them with ibooks on their laps. We all had something in common. Many demographics, but a love for one brand that brought everyone together. I got to meet Richard Shear (two people down from me in the line), who owns another design firm, LMS Design. Really cool guy. (And awesome package designers.)
Richard's friend in line was none other than Grant McCracken, whose blog (this blog sits at the...) I subscribe to. I've been a fan of his brilliance for a while, and had no idea we lived in the same state - much less shopped at the same Apple store!
+ When the doors opened, and we were ushered in, I was greeted by a wall of Apple employees applauding and cheering. A little overwhelming, but momentous. As I left the store with the Jesus phone in hand, the wall of employees cheered and applauded more. I can't remember the last time that I felt that great about spending $600.
I've reaffirmed a few great brand lessons here:
1. Treat your customers like heroes. They are.
2. Find a way to let your customers share their brand love.
3. Show (and let your customers share) in your over-the-top brand pride.
Now, I'll get back to my iDevice.
Labels: apple, branding, package design
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:28 PM
1 comments
Friday, June 29, 2007
this week at Plaid:
Here's what happened this week at the world's most plaidilicious design and branding firm:
Only about TWO WEEKS until the Plaid tour kicks off. We're getting more and more stoked by the day, as preparations are being made. You can follow it on the tour blog, and we expect to launch the tour dashboard on Monday. Rob designed tour t-shirts, and they're sweet.
We're beginning to schedule stops along the tour, too. If your state is on the route and you'd like us to stop by, let us know!
Brian got a call from the Mentos intern. We think they're plotting to take over the world.
Matt begin apartment shopping, so that he could stop commuting from New Jersey. Or wherever he's from.
We started the week with a really awesome new business pitch (fingers crossed), and finished a lot of great work this week. Uber productivity at Plaid to close out a fab June!
I'm in line right now at the Apple store. I'm guessing that I'm in the 50 - 75th person range. Feeling positive and daydreaming of multi-touch.
Labels: apple, thisweekatPlaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 1:48 PM
0 comments
Monday, June 11, 2007
video killed the video store
Wow. Say goodbye to video rental stores. Or the ones that are left anyway. And AppleTV may just become more relevant than ever.
Labels: apple, technology, television, video
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
24 days until the iphone is here
Which means 24 days of fandom, hype, pre-celebration and rumors. Check out the spec spot that Ryan Landels created for it, using classic 2001 footage. From Adrants.
Labels: ads, apple, mobile, pop culture, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:02 AM
0 comments
Thursday, April 05, 2007
changing tv habits
Here's a great article about how iTunes is changing the tv watching habits of 20-somethings.
It's not just iTunes. It's the internet. And just wait for products like Joost to hit the mainstream. TV. Not your father's idiot box.
Labels: apple, technology, trends, tv
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:35 AM
0 comments
Monday, April 02, 2007
apple iphone ad a ripoff?
DaBitch points to a story claiming that the Apple Hello spot is a total ripoff of a sequence from artist Christian Marclay's 1995 film Telephones. At first, it seemed like a coincidence - but now Marclay claims that Apple actually contacted him about using his piece. When he wasn't interested, they just created their own version. Pretty scummy, if it's true.
Labels: adindustry, ads, apple, mac
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:28 AM
0 comments
Thursday, January 11, 2007
just one iphone post
One of the true amazing stories here - other than Apple pretty much wiping CES off the map, is how they kept the iPhone a secret. With so many partners, like Cingular, Yahoo, Google, and the countless employees who worked on the project.
This Fortune article gives some insight into how they kept everything hush hush. And now, I'll do the same, and try hard not to fall into the iPhone multiple blog post syndrome that you can get everywhere else.
Labels: apple, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:49 AM
0 comments
Thursday, December 21, 2006
vista is NOT a copy of osx
The New York Times reviews Microsoft's Vista - and proves that it IS NOT just a rip off of Mac's OSx. The video looks like it was shot from a cell phone, with lint on the lens, on a foggy day - but other than that, pretty cool. Thanks Dave!
Labels: apple, productdesign, technology, video
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
1 comments
