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Mobile Apps Connect Your Automobile to the World

We are a society on the move.

Many of us eat in our vehicles, watch DVDs, map out travel plans, and use our mobile phones. Now that list is set to expand, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Google and German auto manufacturer Audi will announce that they are working collaboratively to develop in-car entertainment and information systems based on Google’s Android software.

This move will allow vehicle passengers and drivers to access music, navigation, and other services available on the Android platform. Google says that there is also interest from Toyota and Tesla.

Not to be outdone, Apple is staking out its own territory to add its technology into new vehicles. The company has said that it expects about a dozen carmakers to adopt Apple technology in 2014, citing the current support of automakers BMW, Daimler AG (Mercedes Benz division), GM, and Honda Motor Corporation.

In another developments:

• GM and Audi have announced plans to equip vehicles with fourth-generation cellular chips for connection to the Web without use of a smartphone.
• GM’s 2015 cars are expected to feature a constant wireless broadband connection.
• Ford announced that it is adding App integration to 3.4 million cars already on the road through a software update.

The goal, according to industry insiders, is that technology providers are seeking to advance the mobile agenda, producing technology that doesn’t require drivers to take their eyes off the road or hands off the wheel.

To read the full article, click here

2013: The Year of Social Media

2013 was “The Year of Social Media”, according to many media watchers.

The Huffington Post featured a recent article that shared a look back at 2013’s social media influence. Here are some of the key take-aways:


2013 Trends:

1. Social media continued to grow:
There were times when social media’s impact and reporting surpassed traditional media. Social media trumped traditional media most often in reporting and capturing audience on cultural topics, and more advertisers got on board as well.

2. Social media jumped in mobile:
More mobile users accessed social media than ever. “About half of the global web users use a mobile device as a primary or singular method to go online,” said Henry Bramwell, President of Visionary Graphics + Marketing.

3. Young people left Facebook in favor of Instagram, SnapChat, and Tumblr:
No surprise there, but the article also predicts that the exodus will turn in favor of Facebook in 2014.

4. Ads took on a more prominent profile in social networking feeds:
Facebook and Instagram were among these – and advertising was reported to have been very effective. “Our clients are increasingly reporting interest and results from advertising on social networks,” stated Bramwell.

5. Photos were the predominant social share:
Instagram and Pinterest became increasingly important as engagement vehicles. “Pinterest is really exploding for some of our clients,” Bramwell agreed. “We are seeing more clients finding ways to engage clients with visually compelling images.”

6. Google+ expanded and added some cool features drawing some more brands to experiment with the platform:
“Google Plus hasn’t hit its stride yet, but it’s getting there,” declared Bramwell. “Google’s influence is huge, and Google Plus is a big part of that equation.”

For the complete article and for predictions for 2014, click here

Photo credit: Shutterstock

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