Yesterday Apple launched their first social network, Ping. Less than 24 hours later this new platform has received extremely mixed reviews and users are already highlighting issues with the system. With numerous social networking sites already established, and platforms such as Facebook and Twitter dominating the arena, where does Ping fit in?

Embedded in the latest version of iTunes, Ping, as you might imagine, revolves around music. Ping is designed to aid the discovery of new music and facilitate conversations between music lovers. When you login you can see the activity of your friends, including information about music they’ve purchased and are listening to. Apple are also plugging the fact that users can follow celebrities, much as they can with Twitter and Facebook, allowing celebs another opportunity to connect with their fans and endorse artists/albums. Fans can then purchase the music their idol loves by clicking the handy link taking them to the Apple store. Genius.

It is worth mentioning that privacy restrictions on this site allow users to choose whether their updates can be seen by all users or only by users they have allowed to follow them.

So what does this mean for social media? Well, with an already established fan base there is a strong likelihood that Apple’s Ping could push similar platforms, such as Last.fm and Spotify, off the radar. This also doesn’t bode well for MySpace, the site has already been dwarfed by Facebook and is now clinging to its status as a platform for new artists to showcase work. It could be that Ping becomes the new, more convenient, networking site for music related conversations…

However, so far reviews have not been great. Users have pointed out flaws such as the fact that Ping only displays music people have purchased in the iTunes Store, not their entire collection, resulting in a skewed view of a user’s music tastes. Further, users are limited to listing only three genres of music that they are interested in, and the music suggestions that Ping generates based on these three genres are extremely generic and mainstream, not the niche, up-and-coming bands that music fans may be looking for!

So, will it or won’t it take off? Right now it’s anybody’s guess. With mixed, predominantly negative, reviews, Ping hasn’t got off to a great start. But let’s not forget this is an Apple product, they have a huge, dedicated, fan base that has to have any product Apple releases.

All that’s left now is to sit back and watch how this unfolds… Ping has arrived. For now.

To be continued…

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• Ping: First Look at the iTunes Social Network (nytimes.com)

Having declared last week that it was not illegal to jailbreak iPhones the U.S. government effectively gave consumers the right to fiddle with their proprietary software, allowing them access to other providers or to use apps and music from sources other than Apple’s own iTunes Store. This all became possible thanks to the exemptions made to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA.)

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF,) a selfstyled civil liberties group defending consumers’ digital rights, more than a million iPhone owners are said to have jailbroken their handsets in the past few months. The EFF hails the DMCA exemptions as a landmark victory and a good percentage of iPhone users might agree with them.

Apple on the other hand has warned that although jailbreaking may not be frowned upon by the law of the land, it won’t take the matter so lightly. Not only will jailbreaking void the warranty, but there is a risk of bricking the handset, effectively turning it into an expensive door stop. However, according to a journalist friend of mine it can be easily restored to a non jailbroken state.

If you’re after my personal opinion,  I’m torn. On the one hand, I agree that Apple should be able to protect their IP with some legal recourse, however, emotionally I’m with the EFF (who remind me a bit of the Wolverines from mediocre 80s action flick Red Dawn) who believe a handset shouldn’t be locked down once you’ve purchased it. This battle will continue to rage. Choose your side carefully, maybe grow a mullet, wear khaki, buy an AK.

Let me know what you think about jailbreaking; a digital taboo, or your revolutionary right?

mmmmm the 80s

Image via Wikipedia

The much anticipated iPad was finally launched, just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend. I sat in the pub the other night talking about this amazing, latest must-have-gadget with my friends. We established, as has everyone else, it’s a large iPhone, minus the calling facility; I know this is a very simplified analysis. However, no one seems to really know the function of the iPad, not to mention being able to point out any of the life enhancing benefits that come with it.

The iPad has the possibility to be great when it comes to entertaining purposes – in the space of your own home that is. Standing in a crowded tube during the rush hour, trying to watch something on an iPad is a definite faux-pas. It ranks up there with loud music lovers and equally loud conversationalists on public transport. If you haven’t played with an iPad yet, let me tell you it’s not only of an inconvenient size, but it is surprisingly heavy! Standing on a crammed tube, trying to balance an iPad, is really not for me.

The design of the iPad is, admittedly, sleek. Size has been and always will be an issue and the iPad is no different; if I can’t fit it in my bag, it’s not leaving the house with me. This, in my opinion, undermines the purpose of a latest must-have-gadget completely. What’s the point with it if it can’t be easily shared?

Everyone I know refers to the iPad as “a screen” rather than “tablet”. What does the average, non-techy consumer associate with when talking about a tablet? Probably nothing more than medication or old, I mean really old, writing boards. Oh yes, that reminds me: weren’t the 10 Commandments meant to have been written on tablets?

Copying Moses or not, Apple is definitely creating history with their latest gadget. They know their audience: whether or not there is a need for it, they have managed to offer their followers the most desirable toy, and managed to that 6 months before Christmas to ensure everyone will want one come December 25th. Yes,  I’m referring to the iPad as a toy. Toys are disposable, they are short lived, as I believe is the iPad. At least this model, or should I say prototype. Bring on a flexible screen, light in weight and shock proof frame and you might have a winner.

Having criticised the iPad before it even launched and having played with one since it was released, I still haven’t been told why I can’t live without this magical toy. What will it do to enhance my existence? If you can enlighten me, please do, as I am really starting to get pretty desperate. Am I the only one daring to ask a question everyone wants to ask?

I’ve always been intrigued by the use of competitions as a PR tool. How effective are they in reaching the right people for your brand, and do people take notice of much else other than the prize on offer?

With this in mind, I wanted to look at Twitter and how it’s currently being used for competitions in online PR. Search for the word ‘competition’ and you’ll immediately come across a number of different ways that they are currently being hosted and talked about. Three such examples are:

Retweeting or following to enter, often asking you to include a web link or similar

Asking a question or for an opinion – the answer being your entry into the competition

Announcing a competition initiative hosted elsewhere i.e. company website

Obviously, they all demand a varying degree of involvement and as such the ‘RT and win’ option seems to spread most effectively around the Twitterverse. The obvious problem with this is that the competition host isn’t providing much reason for potential entrants to engage or remember them, apart from the one or two people that actually end up winning!

It raises the question as to whether it’s better to build up a large number of followers using these tactics, or whether you invest in a competition idea that gets followers interacting with you (hopefully creating brand advocates in the process).

There’s bound to be many examples of those who have reaped rewards with both methods but I think it’s important to keep in mind the following when deciding on the best way to use Twitter competitions for your brand.

What is your long-term social media strategy? If you’re using a competition to boost follower numbers, have you thought about to maintain these numbers and ensure they stay engaged and interested.

Is the prize relevant? Countless competitions on Twitter lure in entrants and followers by offering iPods, mobile phones and other desirable products. Think about the message the prize you choose conveys, is it benefitting your PR image or Apple’s?

How creative or thought-provoking is your competition? If you come up with something quirky and unusual, you may find it inspires discussion outside the competition itself.