Jun
29

Yelp & Healthcare: Sittin’ In a Tree?

by Feedback

Wondering aloud: Do people go to Yelp to research healthcare, or are they simply encountering Yelp reviews for non-retail/restaurant in searches?

As with all we do at Feedback, we start by examining the local culture of social media use first – because not all regions are alike (not by a longshot). In a recent study of a particular large region we saw relatively heavy use of Yelp in providing reviews of healthcare. We observed service-line specific reviews as well as general hospital comments. Obviously it varies by community, but it does beg the question that if you have heavy Yelp use in your town for other things, that even a minimal number of reviews could get high visibility. Plus, their system of reviewer ranks means the reviews have a high trust factor.

We don’t recommend putting too much or too little emphasis on any particular channel until you’ve done a thorough review and deep dive that helps you make strategic, informed decisions.

So what does everyone think about this?

We’ve spoken about Yelp before here on the Feedback blog, but we felt this was an important question. Feel free to email us at contact [at] feedbackagency.com with your thoughts.

-Dean (@dbrowell)

TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0
Jun
25

Anna’s Social Media Picks of the Week (06/25/10)

by Feedback

Do you have time to search the web everyday to find the newest social media tools? If the answer is no, then you have come to the right place. I have searched the World Wide Web for social media information all week, and stumbled upon a few favorites along the way.

Here are my picks of the week:

Viacom/YouTube Case Resolved:
The court has dismissed Viacom’s $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit against YouTube. As the YouTube blog explained, “This means that the court has decided that YouTube is protected by the safe harbor of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) against claims of copyright infringement…This is an important victory not just for us, but also for the billions of people around the world who use the web to communicate and share experiences with each other.”

iPhone 4 Released:
The iPhone iOS4 was released in the U.S. this past Thursday. The day was full of long lines at Apple stores nationwide, excitement, and some disappointment. Complaints are already mounting, mainly to do with a yellow discoloration on some iPhone screens, and poor reception. Still, 1.5 million iPhones were sold on the first day.

Privacy Issues Addressed:
This week, privacy issues within social media have been addressed. On Tuesday, the annual Computers, Freedom, and Privacy conference drew up a 14-point “Bill of Rights” for social network users. These include “1. Honesty: Honor your privacy policy and terms of service,” and “14. Right to withdraw: Allow me to delete my account, and remove my data.”

Twitter privacy issues were also addressed this week. After two high profile hacking incidents in 2009, the FTC investigated concerned about the ability of hackers to gain access to user accounts. This week, the FTC settled with Twitter. According to the FTC:

“Under the terms of the settlement, Twitter will be barred for 20 years from misleading consumers about the extent to which it maintains and protects the security, privacy, and confidentiality of nonpublic consumer information.”

Facebook- I Paid Too Much Attention to Twitter:
In an interview this week, Mark Zuckerberg admitted he paid too much attention to Twitter. The growth rate of Twitter had Facebook concerned at one time, but now, Zuckerberg says “As good as I think they are, I think I personally just paid too much attention to it,” and goes on to say “It’s a very nice, simple service. They do one thing really well – that’s powerful.”

Twitter- Facebook Won’t Be Friends:
On the flip side, Twitter is blaming Facebook for a failed new feature. This week, Twitter added a new feature to their mobile app that was supposed to allow users to find and follow their Facebook friends on Twitter. However, this feature is currently not working, and Twitter says Facebook is to blame. A spokesperson for Twitter said that Facebook blocked the update to the application, but are were working on a resolution, so hopefully we will see this new feature soon.

-Anna (@alucas9)

TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0
Jun
24

Facebook & The Search For Meaning / Meaning for Search

by Feedback

A must-read article, “Facebook Unleashes Open Graph Search Engine, Declares War On Google” from AllFacebook.com shows how the search worm is turning inside of Facebook, with the importance of “Like” rising as a key variable in search — at least inside of Facebook. This is dreadfully important as a concept.

This very change, as small and undramatic as it has been incorporated, provides a fantastic look into the future of search and the contextual web. Consider how the open display of credibility and validation will change how we find information. We already see the results of that, in theory, in how search already plays out. We assume that the relevance determined by the wizard behind the Google curtain with every click of a “search” button.

Is there an assumed trust that all of those people who find this useful or like something are being sincere and are for real? Certainly, just as we assume when we search now that what appears first is truly relevant (paid ads aside – not that the first unpaid ad hasn’t ostensibly paid to be listed high via optimizing, etc.). AllFacebook.com wonders aloud about “like baiting” as well, but in some ways that still feels less nefarious than engineering a page that has no business showing up so high in a ranking to appear first, even if it actually has no relevance– a practice that happens every day in our typical search.

But then imagine how the actual display of the relevance, such as number of likes, incorporates the, “Is This Review Useful”-ization of the web. In some ways it’s fundementally taking the algorithm away from tinkerers and into the hands of motivated consumers — for good or ill. (And I’m not saying this is a good or bad thing, just fascinated that and how it’s happening.) Facebook wants to create a “social semantic search engine” that essentially runs off of the interactions of people as relevance fuel, not meta data tricks. This very urge and their platform and critical mass of interactions in which to try it means we will have a lot to chew on in the near future as the underpinnings of information display in search give way to new supports.

Google’s caching Tweets and displaying in some first searches. Facebook is listing by Like. Where will we be next year as sentiment creeps not just into our results, but into the algorithm itself?

-Dean (@dbrowell)

TAGS: , , , , , , , , ,
2
Jun
18

Anna’s Social Media Picks of the Week (06/18/10)

by Feedback

Do you have time to search the web everyday to find the newest social media tools? If the answer is no, then you have come to the right place. I have searched the World Wide Web for social media information all week, and stumbled upon a few favorites along the way. Here are my picks of the week:

YouTube Video Editor:

You can now do quick editing to a video on YouTube. This week, YouTube announced a cloud based video editor that allows you to trim a video and replace background noise with music. To learn more about this feature, go here: http://bit.ly/dzsyZG

Like Even More on Facebook:

Ever like a comment someone posted on Facebook? As of this week, now you can now show it. Facebook is now allowing users to like comments on posts.  See an example below:

Twitter Places:

On Monday, Twitter launched a new feature called Twitter Places. Users can now tag tweets with existing Twitter Places, as well as add new Twitter Places on Twitter.com and Twitter mobile. Twitter places is also being integrated with Foursquare and Gowalla.

Record Breaking iPhone Pre-orders:

Apple took over 600,000 pre-orders for the new iPhones on the first day the gadget became available. This was a record number for Apple, 10 times higher than pre-orders for the iPhone 3GS last year.  The high demand for the new iPhone did cause some difficulties when it came to processing orders through U.S. carrier AT&T Inc.

FIFA Fever:

Have the FIFA Fever? If so, there are plenty of World Cup apps to ensure you keep up with the games wherever you are. Free blackberry apps include AP 2010 World Cup Coverage and Goal Mobile. Free iPhone apps include ESPN 2010 FIFA World Cup & Vuvuzela 2010. Android apps include World Droid Cup & World Cup 2010. There are also paid subscriptions such as Mobitv where you can watch games live. Twitter is also getting in on the action, with special hashtags, icons, & live Tweets for the World Cup. Go to twitter.com/worldcup for more details.

-Anna (@alucas9)

TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0
Jun
17

They’re Back!

by Feedback

The Feedback Mobile Lab has returned (finally!) from Bonnaroo.  Here at HQ, we continued to monitor Twitter feeds for ‘Roo, but those in the field have returned with video treats and observations about social media use at the festival.

Notes from the Home Front

When you think of Bonnaroo what pops into your head? Certainly not Brazil! Believe it or not, the Manchester festival seems to be quite popular in this South American country as demonstrated by the surprising number of tweets in Portuguese.

On Friday the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) posted an article entitled, “PR’s Role in Building Bonnaroo,” highlighting PR’s role in the evolution of the festival. In essence, the PRSA attempts to take credit for Bonnaroo’s success, and seems to discredit the festivals original crowd and perceived purpose.  We found it comical that the article was tweeted almost a week after its posting, used poor grammar, and came out when Bonnaroo attendance was low in comparison with recent years.

Saturday afternoon’s World Cup match between the United States and England was expected to be a popular topic among festival tweeters. However, surprisingly few tweets circulated around the world’s most popular sporting event over the weekend.  Much to our dismay, Bonnaroo was a little late starting the game’s live video stream, causing ‘Roo-goers to miss the opening ceremony.

The most common themes of the weekend centered around the heat and the bands.  Extreme temperatures caused tweeters to vocalize their discontent, but who could blame them? On Friday, Nashville was reported to have a heat index of 100!   ‘Roo goers, likewise, expressed their satisfaction/dissatisfaction with band performances on Twitter.  Reviews posted by Spin! and Rolling Stone magazines were frequently linked; however, it is indescernable if this was by those at ‘Roo or those at home living vicariously through the opinion of others. Our hearts were captured by The New York Times’ “4 Word Review” – short, sweet, and simple.

Another favorite of ‘Roo fans was Aziz Ansari’s photo with Beyonce and JayZ (http://bit.ly/d5005G) is staggering with 100 retweets.

Notes from the Field

In a previous post (Feedback’s Off To Bonnaroo 2010), we mentioned some of the apps the Feedback team was would be testing in the field.  Well test they did! Here are some of their findings.

The biggest issue at the festival, by unanimous vote, was cell and wi-fi service. According to Dean (@dbrowell), Bonnaroo’s problem is that it has an end customer that is savvier than they are.  They need the technology to accommodate them.  In spite of this, though, our field agents were able to get a pretty good idea of how some of these apps worked.

The team agreed that the official Bonnaroo app, while an improvement from last year, still has a few kinks to work out.  The schedule feature worked well, but Road Trip was virtually useless.  Bonnaroo radio’s purchase feature, while a good idea, was ineffective.  This function could greatly benefit bands, provided Bonnaroo and Apple can get it operating next year.

In the eyes of soccer fan Jeff (@ideaman), the FIFA app worked very well.  A banner for MobiTV ran across the top, and for $9.00 he was able to sign up for the service and watch live matches streamed to his iPhone.

Hot Potato, while a cool app, did not achieve the level of adoption we had hoped for.  It seems we were a bit ahead of the curve on that one though, because today an updated and much more efficient version of the app is available. Another new app, FriendMapper, was interesting, but likewise had glitches.  Friends have to be logged in for it to work properly because it doesn’t automatically find and geotag you.  The team believes that partnering with events or vendors would likely help remedy this issue and make the app more user friendly.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for observations from the field.  Feedbackers at Bonnaroo have seen some things no man should see.  Stay tuned for future updates and detailed reports on the utilization and success of social media at Bonnaroo.

Before we part, we at Feedback would like to send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Matt Sloan.  His untimely death was a shock and tragedy.  May his memory rock on.

— Feedback Intern Brittney Trimmer (@bntrim). Video montage edited by Feedback Intern Brad Carr (@bcarr).

TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0
Jun
15

Fear & Social Media: The Problem With Place

by Feedback

First off: No unicorns.

The analogy of a unicorn is one I’ve been using for awhile. Even though my company specializes in social media, one of the very first things we try to impress on anyone we work with is to stop treating it like it’s so special. So unique. So weirdly fantastic. Because the more we romanticize it, the more unattainable and unusual it feels. The more we trick ourselves into essentially not understanding it. It becomes this amazing unicorn, and while we stare at it up on the hill, we barely notice all of the unicorns standing at the bottom of the hill around us.

So many professionals have spent so much time fearing or idolizing social media that they’ve failed to notice how ubiquitous and “baked in” it has become. With all of the navel-gazing, they failed to realize that everyone else had incorporated social media into their daily lives, into every interaction. Perhaps it was never that separate for the average consumer to begin with. Suddenly surveys are splitting hairs about whether people “use” social media to make X or Y decisions without noticing that everyone’s using a form of social media for every decision—they just aren’t bothering to CALL it “social media.” Anymore than I say, “I am about to write my friend an electronic mail which I will thrust through the internets in order to communicate thoughts from afar!” The idea of social media is NOT new. Anymore than AOL messageboards or phone party lines are new.

Which brings us to place.

Currently there’s quite a lot of buzz over “check-in” applications such as Foursquare, PlacePop, SCVNGR, Gowalla and Hot Potato. People stumble a bit in sometimes claiming that this wave of geolocation is somehow the start of the trend, but it’s myopic to claim geolocation is in its infancy. It’s certainly not when you consider how long Google Maps, Google Reviews, Brightkite and Mapquest has been around. We have to be careful to not ignore the emphasis that GPS and place has had on search in the last ten years and only focus on the Foursquare vs Gowalla.

By treating geolocation as so special we bundle its effects into something to lift up or be scared of. We watch as institutions wonder aloud whether they should partake in it… as though the only way to partake was to dive completely in. I think there’s some low-hanging fruit that worth pointing out to both the managers struggling with what Foursquare is and the C-suite who may be unusually enamored or scared of it. It’s simply worth just taking the time to ensure that your college buildings, hospital, wellness centers, retail locations, etc. are just listed in these apps. With Foursquare in particular, someone has to add a location- they aren’t automatically there like in SCVNGR (which is pre-populated with Google Places data) or MyTown (which uses CityPages). Nevermind if you have the money or inclination to engage, do sponsored badges, etc. – but are you even listed so that someone could check in? Or perhaps listed incorrectly? Are you there and people are already talking about you? A good analogy is really the old use of the phone book. There’s buying into a Yellow Pages ad program, but there’s also just making sure you appear in it and appear correctly.

But if we treat geolocation as a unicorn, we miss the opportunity to simply be found. And when did we treat our address as so special?

The apps themselves are often more in tune with the shortcomings of locations than the locations themselves are. In our recent research on event tourism with the a music festival we found some interesting benefits and problems with Bonnaroo’s official use of Foursquare (we’ll be elaborating a bit on the blog and  in a full-throated report soon, free to our clients) while other check-in apps didn’t even have a single central location to check-in at.

PlacePop worked diligently to try and add one when we spoke to them, and kudos for them for taking the effort and responding to Feedback’s open worry, but what would have simply helped was for the institution of a massive music festival that becomes Tennessee’s fourth-largest city in a weekend to have taken the initiative to simply have their address in the phone-book that is the top 5-10 apps.

There’s much more, from ensuring our photos and videos are properly associated with place and more… The concept of place is so much bigger than just check-ins. It’s someone needing something and asking a search engine of any sort, be it the augmented reality view of a camera phone held aloft to simply a Google Maps search from an iPhone. We’ve recently seen maternity wards being reviewed on apps like Yelp, traditionally the app of restaurants, for goodness sakes! How long before we realize the consumer isn’t waiting for the institution to get on board or not?

The overall issue of place is as old as the phone book. It’s as old as maps. It’s as old as grave markers of any sort. The check-in-app of old was simply the letter sent back home to tell family that we made it to the new land. Now I let select friends know I’ve landed with a click, or I can flip through the virtual catalog of places, opinions, ideas and opportunities, without having to write or interact myself, just to find a great place to eat, or raise a family, or hear some music.

So. Beware of unicorns.  :)

-Dean (@dbrowell)

TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1
Jun
11

Anna’s Social Media Picks of the Week (06/11/10)

by Feedback

It’s Anna from Bonnaroo 2010! Want to extend your Bonnaroo experience? Perhaps you’re not going to make it but still want to catch its acts live? Anna’s got three great picks for you this week.

Watch Bonnaroo Live on YouTube
Catch plenty of the acts you would be missing in all of their HD glory over at Bonnaroo’s YouTube channel! The channel also has a schedule of bands they will be broadcasting.

Listen to Bonnaroo Live on NPR
NPR will be carrying Bonnaroo live all weekend on their website and will be archiving the broadcasts for on-demand listening even after the weekend festival ends.

FourSquare and Bonnaroo Partner Up for a Rock Star Badge
If you’re at the event and an avid FourSquare user, you’ve probably been dreaming about getting a Bonnaroo-specific badge. Your dreams have come true! Check in to the Bonnaroo’s subvenues throughout the event for your Bonnaroo Rock Star badge!

TAGS: , , , , , , ,
0
Jun
10

Observations from the Homefront — The Road to ‘Roo as seen from afar

by Feedback

In case you hadn’t noticed, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is upon us once again and Feedback is taking all this fun quite seriously!  While our Field Team has made the 600-mile trek and set up camp for four days of entertaining acts, innovative art and a ton of fun, the crew at HQ is glued to the Internet, hoping to gain whatever insights we may from ‘Roo-goers interacting online.  Having monitored Twitter and Facebook for the past week to measure the ramping up of excitement for the event, we’ve begun to notice some interesting trends and the bands are just now starting to play!  Check in with Feedback daily for our latest observations from home base, as well as highlights and experiences from our Field Team.

Without further ado, here’s what we’ve seen so far…

It’s Time for ‘Roo!

The majority of the early posts have been people counting down the hours, expressing excitement for their trip to Bonnaroo or, in some cases, scrambling to find or get rid of extra tickets.  On Thursday, however, the clamor changed.  Many commented on leaving for the festival and their specific journey, while others lamented, wishing they were going to be partaking in the fun.  While discussions about traffic were few and far between on Wednesday, come Thursday, they were everywhere! In fact, complaints about traffic and waiting in lines dominated the conversation today.

@Bonnaroo vs. #Bonnaroo

In our early monitoring of the Bonnaroo feeds on Twitter, we discovered that most people in the discussion were using the @bonnaroo account tag, as opposed to the #bonnaroo tag, by a large margin.  As the festival’s start has arrived, this trend has reversed itself.  As the overall volume of tweets continues to ramp up, we are seeing twice as many posts tagged #bonnaroo as @bonnaroo.  It is worth noting that over 55% of tweets that reference Bonnaroo use neither tag.  We will continue monitoring this trend, to watch and see how Twitter customs and usage patterns develop among Roo-goers.

Guides

Numerous tweets have arisen with embedded links to personal and/or professional guides on how to survive, what to pack, what to wear, and who to listen to at Bonnaroo.  Some of our favorites include Rolling Stone Magazine’s Bonnaroo 2010 Essential Sets, eMusic’s An eMusic’s Guide to Bonnaroo 2010, and Owl and Bear’s Guide to Bonnaroo.

Friendly Advice and Well Wishes

In line with helpful guides, we’ve noticed a lot of Twitter and Facebook users wishing ‘Roo-goers a safe and fun trip, while also offering some seemingly obvious advice: Don’t forget the sunscreen and bottled water!

The ‘Roo Rumor Mill –Manchester Going Gaga?

Thursday afternoon, a rumor began circulating that pop diva du jour, Lady Gaga, will be at Bonnaroo. No distinction was made as to whether or not she will be in attendance or performing; however, that was of little importance.  Tweeters went crazy posting comments and questions about the alleged coming of Gaga.  As of this posting, the rumor has been neither confirmed nor denied.  Hopefully, the thousands of merrymakers won’t lose their collective minds in anticipation.

Dirty, Stinky Hippies?

It is apparently common knowledge that hippies love music festivals.  Perhaps it’s the limited access to showers, or maybe the ample amounts of vegan-friendly food?  We kid because we love, but, for many, this ‘element’ is an unwelcome development.  As you might imagine, the terms “dirty hippies” and “smelly hippies” have been circulating on social media sites Twitter and Facebook.  People are preparing for the invasion and warning their brethren of what to expect.  Here are some notable “anti-hippy” comments:

  • @mitchholland1 camping with dirty hippies and watching acts like dave matthews band and weezer..and people ask why ive never been to bonnaroo
  • @Greg Gookin Just saw 2 hippies getting their car searched on the interstate. No Bonnaroo for you, dirty hippies. Their fashion crimes were far more egregious than any controlled substances they no doubt possessed
  • @Anonymous I smell hippies
  • @Israel Anthem Excited for Bonnaroo. Scared of the heat and 26% of Hippies.

When reached for comment, Joe Hippie said, “Dude, we were here first.”  Touché.

‘Roo Inspired Grub

Jiffy Burger’s Bonnaroo Burger and Ben & Jerry’s Bonnaroo Buzz have been making the rounds among the masses.  Mouths are surely watering over these festival-inspired foods!  We suggest you check them out if you’re in Manchester or near a Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop!

Experiencing Bonnaroo at Home

Numerous tweets and posts have made mention of the free Bonnaroo mix cds from Spin! Magazine and NPR online.  If you’re stuck at home, depressed that you’re missing out or just looking for a partial ‘Roo experience, they’re definitely worth downloading. Similarly, for those who prefer to watch from afar, YouTube’s Bonnaroo channel and NPR’s live streaming site have been linked in numerous posts.

KGB Spam?

Text message and online answer service KGB took advantage of the festival’s buzz by spamming Twitter users with messages telling users to tweet Bonnaroo to 542542 for special perks.  We’re all for free stuff and we’re sure your average ‘Roo-goer is, too.  That said, the approach was a bit over the top and felt like the feed was being bombarded.  Some tweeters we know (@thomasmcdonald) have un-followed people for less!

Everybody Loves the AP

Yesterday, the Associated Press posted a story entitled, “Bonnaroo Spreads the Festival Experience Online.” Everyone (seriously, everyone!), tweeted a link to this article.  While it’s difficult to track an exact number due to the variety of sites syndicating the piece, it’s popularity was undeniable.  In crude terms, it rehashes the YouTube, Fuse and NPR streaming that will be happening this year and makes the claim that, due to this online presence, attendance is no longer necessary to enjoy the Bonnaroo effect.  Clearly, we disagree, but it will be interesting to see whether such a message has validity.  Other festivals like the Jazz Festival and Coachella will surely be watching as well.  Is this a glimpse into the future of festivals and concerts in general?  Perhaps things are starting to look like they did in Demolition Man, with Bonnaroo offering itself up as a formaldehyde-soaked piglet to be dissected by the masses.  Here at Feedback, we have our scalpels ready.

That’s our wrap-up for today!  As we said before, be sure to check back with us for daily Bonnaroo-related content  from Feedback HQ, as well as highlights and experiences from our Field Team in Manchester, not to mention all the latest news from the world of social media and beyond!

— Feedbacker Thomas McDonald (@thomasmcdonald) and Intern Brittney Trimmer (@bntrim)

Keep up with us on our Feedback Facebook page and follow @feedbackagency for the latest on Twitter!

TAGS: , , , , , , , ,
0
Jun
09

On the Road to Roo

by Feedback

The time has come to make the long journey to this year’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. Here at Feedback, we’ve prepared for the “Road to ‘Roo” by downloading and testing some free iPhone apps that we think will help us (and you) get there with minimum hassle.

First things first, if you haven’t already done it, download the official Bonnaroo app! Manage your way around the festival and mark points of interest using the “Festival Map” feature. You can also plan your route and stops along the way from your current location with “Road Trip.” An excellent addition to the app is “Radio Bonnaroo.” Stream it to get you in the mood and and be sure to play around with “Roo Camera.” Take photos on your way and e-mail them to your friends to make them jealous.

Another friendly suggestion from your pals at Feedback – Use the schedule feature on the app to plan out your day so you don’t miss out on your favorite bands!

Now, on to the meat of this post.

Navigation Apps

>> Navigators

Making sure you don’t get lost is pretty important.  We’d hate for you to be headed to Bonnaroo, take the wrong exit and end up in West Virginia and not Tennessee.  Here are a few apps we recommend to help you get there.

Name of App: Mapquest 4 Mobile
Developed By: Mapquest
Link: http://bit.ly/cOlaNq

Mapquest 4 Mobile has some unique features that make it very useful for travelers.  With this app, you can choose to see icons for places like hotels, food, shopping centers, and gas.  Check out the name of places near you by tapping an icon on the map and, if you like, add it to your route.  Mapquest also provides the voice option typical of most GPS systems as a guide, which will help you avoid a near-death experience caused by checking your phone while driving.

Name of App: Maps
Developed By: Apple (using Google Maps)
Link: http://bit.ly/GF0Im

The iPhone’s preinstalled Maps app has different map views that might make finding where you’re going easier. Based on Google Maps, the app’s satellite feature enables you to see real-life views of where you’re going.  If you’re a visual person who associates landmarks with directions, give it a quick once over before hitting the road.  For safety’s sake, I wouldn’t use this en-route unless you have a passenger/navigator telling you the directions.

>> Traffic

Knowing traffic patterns, police alerts, and construction areas is valuable when traveling and can save you a lot of time and, if you’re lucky, money. The apps below have similar features in this regard but different aims.

Name of App: INRIX Traffic!
Developed by: INRIX, Inc.
Link: http://bit.ly/8vqiQS

INRIX Traffic! lets you know about, well, traffic.  This app made our list because it covered a lot of bases drivers would want to know about: accidents, construction, live police, and fixed camera traps.  You can even report incidents you see along the way and earn karma points.  As a warning, some of the apps options are a little misleading because you have to upgrade to INRIX Traffic! Pro ($9.99/year or $24.99/lifetime) to access them, but they don’t impact the overall effectiveness of the app.

Name of App: Trapster
Developed By: Research Unlimited Corporation
Link: http://bit.ly/FuWl

As you might have guessed, Trapster’s main focus is speed traps. From live police to cameras, it provides information on known enforcement points, toll booths, road closings, dangerous intersections, and school zones. “Known points” are permanent structures or favored police hideouts that will be of interest to drivers.  Another cool thing about Trapster is its ability to use social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter, so you can alert your friends as well.

Travel Apps

>> Gas Finders

Scrambling to find a gas station when you’re running on empty can be stressful; however, there are apps for that.

Name of App: Cheap Gas!
Developed by: GasBuddy.com
Link: http://bit.ly/35MMgv

This simple ad-supported app is all about finding the information on the variable that most affects your wallet when you travel (especially by RV like the Feedback Mobile Lab) gas prices! Harnessing the power of GasBuddy.com, the app allows you to search for gas by cost or by proximity to your location. Because Cheap Gas! uses a system that awards user input, prices are typically updated shortly after they change at the station, leading to greater accuracy and reliability.

Name of App: GasBag
Developed By: JamCode
Link: http://bit.ly/aErG46

What the GasBuddy application lacks, GasBag makes up for. Instead of a fast list style, the app utilizes Microsoft’s Virtual Earth to display pins with a station logo for bigger gas resellers (i.e., Texaco, Exxon, et al). Nearby stations are identified by GPS and populated onto the map in a clear manner. Gasbag also allows you to record gas purchases and calculates your vehicle’s fuel efficiency based on how often you’re filling up. Despite this unique feature, for us, it doesn’t offset the delay in updates compared to Cheap Gas!

>> More Finders

Name of App: AAA TripTik
Developed By: AAA
Link: http://bit.ly/czNH06

Unlike many of its other services, AAA’s TripTik is available to anyone.  Map out your destination using its search tool and find food, gas, and hotels along the way.  While such finds are common in map-based navigation apps, TripTik offers more unique options – campgrounds, service stations, and key places to visit like museums, wineries, and historical houses. The app offers details about each place and the option to call or get directions.

Name of App: Yelp!
Developed By: Yelp
Link: http://bit.ly/4zLIfd

We assume everyone already knows about Yelp, but, just in case, we decided to add it to the list anyway.  Yelp breaks down businesses near you into categories so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.  You can read/write reviews, get directions, add photos, and check-in to a business. This can be very helpful to you and the masses, especially if you’re traveling great distances to get to Bonnaroo.

This is just a short list of the apps we’ll be using as we make our way to Manchester.  As you can see, from navigators to gas finders and everything in between, there are all sorts of services out there to make your trip as pleasureable and hassle-free as possible. Use them well and have a safe and merry time on the “Road to ‘Roo!”

Be sure to follow our field team (@dbrowell, @ideaman, @alucas9) on Twitter for their latest updates and findings from Bonnaroo, as well as @feedbackagency for our observations from afar.  Feel free to use the #RoadToRoo tag to share your travel adventures and check the Feedback blog daily for recaps and other fun things from Bonnaroo 2010!

— The Feedback Interns: Brad Carr (@bcarr) and Brittney Trimmer (@BNTrim)

TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1
Jun
08

Feedback’s Off To Bonnaroo 2010

by Feedback

The Feedback Mobile Lab rolls out for the Bonnaroo Music and Art Festival tomorrow! While the Mobile Lab may seem like any other RV, it will be transporting Feedback’s eyes and ears to the festival. This excursion mixes both business and pleasure, as @dbrowell, @ideaman and @alucas9 observe social media activity among Bonnaroo artists and attendees while taking in the sights and sounds of the festival.

While Feedback Roo-goers are out enjoying Bonnaroo, those remaining at HQ will be tracking social media trends both at Bonnaroo and the series of tubes at large.

On-site, we will be testing geo-location services to see which most efficiently handles a gathering the size and scope of Bonnaroo. Our field team will be using FourSquare for the iPhones as well as at least one of the many competing social gaming/geo-location apps including Gowalla, PlacePop, and SCVNGR. Weather services will also be put to the test, with comparisons being made among applications from The Weather Channel, WeatherBug, and Weather Underground. In addition to regular Twitter updates, we’ll also be sharing parts of the Bonnaroo experience live via Ustream, the popular video streaming platform.

DryDay.com's Rain Forecast

But don’t think we’re waiting until Bonnaroo starts to track the related buzz on social media!  We’ve already started collecting data, revealing a few surprising trends, including widespread use of @Bonnaroo in place of the #bonnaroo tag on Twitter.

Collection and observation of such trends will continue as the event unfolds, so check back here daily for updates covering any major phenomena in the world of social media. We’ll also be maintaining a YouTube channel with live clips taken by the Mobile Lab team at Bonnaroo!

Let’s hope that the weather stays dry for Bonnaroo, though! According to DryDay.com, a favorite of Dean’s, it’s definitely favored to rain on a couple of days during the festival.

Hoping it won’t rain on the Mobile Lab,

— Feedback Interns: Brad Carr (@bcarr) and Brittney Trimmer (@bntrim)

TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0