Mediaboss Marketing

Whether you're using a laptop as your media center or you just need to quickly turn off your music to take a call, Flutter is a great app that lets you use hand gestures for simple media control.

Smartphones and tablets are spoiling us for our other devices. It's so easy to swipe, tap, and gesture our way through our mobile lives that we sometimes get frustrated with more traditional tech like laptops. Flutter aims to help solve one small problem in a fun way -- playing and pausing music quickly -- and it works great. Here's how to use it:

That's it, for now. It's almost ludicrously simple, but it's a great way to control your music quickly.This teaser pageimplies that the brains behind Flutter are adding a skip feature to the app, and I am certainly looking forward to that, and whatever else they cook up. Here are some more pieces on media players:

Thanks toThe Red Ferretfor the tip!

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Control media using hand gestures with Flutter

LONDON (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee will sail in to unchartered waters next week when the Games open in London, at the mercy of the millions of fans around the world on Facebook and Twitter who will give instant reaction to everything that unfolds.

The explosion of social networking offers huge opportunities to the IOC, but with much of its revenues dependent on the billion-dollar deals agreed with broadcasters, the body overseeing the Games will also have to protect those long-held rights.

Fans inside a stadium will be allowed to use their smartphones to film Usain Bolt on the track or Michael Phelps in the pool, but they will not be allowed to upload it to Facebook in a ruling that may surprise many tech-savvy fans who now upload clips on a regular basis.

Anthony Edgar, head of media operations for the IOC, freely admits that he does not know what to expect in London following the explosion of social media, with some 900 million people using Facebook in 2012 compared to the 100 million who used the site just four years ago at the time of the Beijing Games.

"Yes you can't hold a camera when you're running down the 100 meter straight and do an exclusive broadcast. That's for the broadcasters," he told Reuters in an interview. "But you can certainly talk about it. You can certainly take photos of it. And you can certainly write about it.

"We're having to deal with things now that didn't exist in Beijing, with a voice that wasn't so loud in Beijing. Everyone is allowed to film who goes into a venue ... but it's for personal use only."

YOUNGER AUDIENCE

Ian Maude, an analyst in online media at the British-based Enders Analysis firm, said he thought it could pose a huge challenge to the social networks and IOC, as many fans will not know the rules.

"Everyone has a mobile phone which is also a video camera these days and they're going to want to record the moment for posterity," he said.

"I think there will be an issue with people not realizing the rules but also some people could think about how much they've paid for those tickets and they may not care about the rules anyway."

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Social media throws up new challenge to the Olympic Games

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Apartment Guide, a leading resource for apartments for rent nationwide, today earned victory in the Atlanta market Social Madness competition, a matchup of Atlanta-based companies vying to show leadership in social networking influence. By beating 10 large company category competitors in the Atlanta market, Apartment Guide now moves on to national bracket competition, potentially facing companies such as FedEx Corp., Target and Southwest Airlines for the honor of being named the organization with the most social influence.

Were pleased to have come out on top in the Atlanta competition and hope to further validate our emphasis on social media as a key business driver when we compete in the upcoming national phase, said Arlene Mayfield, Senior Vice President, PRIMEDIA and President, Apartment Guide, Rentals and Homes divisions. Social media tools are highly effective for extending our advertisers reach, driving more qualified leads and facilitating faster filling of vacancies, and this is why weve embraced the technology so wholeheartedly.

During the local market phase lasting from June 1 July 16, Apartment Guide garnered 6,507 votes earned through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn activity and direct votes during competition. In total, 127 companies competed in the Atlanta market. In moving on to the national phase, the company will be one of 64 entrants, seeded according to total points earned during the local rounds. The national competition consists of seven weeks, from July 24 Sept. 10. Head-to-head matchups based on seeding (#1 seed vs. #64 seed, #2 seed vs. #63 seed, etc.) will take place each week for the first five weeks, as the 64-company field is narrowed to two finalists. The two finalist competitors will participate in a two-week final round, with the company receiving the highest vote total from the start of local competition through the end of the final round being named the victor.

We encourage all individuals connected to us through social channels including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to cast their votes and show their support, said Mayfield. Well face intense competition from well-known organizations, but we know our social presence is strong enough to help Apartment Guide prove worthy of inclusion among industry leaders.

The Social Madness competition is presented by Capital One Spark Business. The 43-city local and national promotion, designed to measure the growth of companies social presence,involved thousands of companies in three categories based on organization size large (500-plus employees), medium (100-500 employees) and small (fewer than 100 employees).

About Apartment Guide

A 36-year apartment industry expert, Apartment Guide helps millions of consumers nationwide find an apartment through innovative Internet, mobile and social media solutions. A trusted brand, it is a primary apartment search resource, offering potential renters content-rich apartment listings and information. For more information visit http://www.apartmentguide.com or http://www.listonapartmentguide.com.

About PRIMEDIA

PRIMEDIA helps millions of consumers nationwide find apartments, houses for rent or new homes for sale through its category-leading web sites and mobile applications, including ApartmentGuide.com, Rentals.com, RentalHouses.com and NewHomeGuide.com. PRIMEDIA continues to simplify the consumer home search and drive leads that result in occupancies for property management companies, landlords, new home builders and real estate professionals. PRIMEDIA was acquired by TPG July 13, 2011. For more information, visit http://www.primedia.com .

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Apartment Guide Wins Large-Company Category of Atlanta Social Media Competition

Is New Mexico a swing state again? Well, probably not.

Public Policy Polling released the presidential results of its poll in New Mexico. It showed that Barack Obama's lead over Mitt Romney is just five percent. This is closer to the razor-thin margins of Bush/Gore and Bush/Kerry than the blowout of Obama/McCain.

As with any poll in any race, you have to caution that it is just one poll. Looking at the average of all polls in a race will always be more accurate than relying on any one poll. If other polls start to show Romney closing the gap, then maybe New Mexico will move towards swing state status. But also expect it to mean those devastating ads tying Romney to Bain capital that have been helping Obama in other states will start showing up on news broadcasts in New Mexico.

One interesting thing to note about the poll -- it was of all New Mexico voters, not likely voters as other recent polls have been.

However, the fake document was dated Dec. 10, 2011, five days before the state auditors Dec. 15 deadline for the document.

Continued here:
Morning Word, 07-19-12

UK version of The Inbetweeners.

A NEW trailer for the US version of hit British comedy show The Inbetweeners - the pilot for which was directed by Taika Waititi - has been slammed by viewers.

As reported by NME.com, since being posted on YouTube three days ago, the trailer has had just 465 'likes' - and more than 26,000 'dislikes'.

The original version of the show - which follows the increasingly awkward antics of four teenage school friends - ran for three successful seasons in the UK and sparked a hit spin-off movie in 2011.

The creators of The Inbetweeners, Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, are executive producers on the US version, which begins screening on August 20. Taika Waititi directed the pilot, which was picked up by MTV for one season of 12 episodes.

But viewers of the show's first trailer have reacted angrily, venting their frustration online.

"This looks so stupid and unreal. The thing about the original was that it seemed real and natural as that's what school is actually like," said one commentator. "Totally ruined it. Fact."

"Same plots and even the same jokes yet it has gone from hilarious (UK) to absolute garbage (US).

"If people in the US want to watch The Inbetweeners, just broadcast the UK version not this crap," said another.

Digital Spy reported Morris took to Twitter to defend the show, and pointed out Waititi's successful track record.

Excerpt from:
US version of The Inbetweeners 'stupid'