Archive for June, 2010
Fan of Drake’s (@drakkardnoir)? Get the app!
posted by Michael Arcand
Just in time for summer…it’s the official Drake app!
Aubrey Drake Graham, better known simply as ‘Drake’, is a Canadian recording artist whose latest album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. However, his first claim to fame came as an actor on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation. He officially signed with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment in 2009 and his first studio album, Thank Me Later, was released earlier this month.
So far, Drake has worked with quite a few recognized names in the hip hop industry besides Lil Wayne, including Jeezy, Kanye West, Eminem and Jay-Z. Drake was also nominated for a Grammy Award and was selected to perform at the 2010 Grammy Awards based on the success of an earlier mixtape that was turned into a successful EP, So Far Gone. He won Best New Artist and Rap Recording of the Year at the Juno awards earlier this year.
Now, with his new official app on the Mobile Roadie platform, you can be the first to hear brand new music, news, tour dates, photos, and more features available anywhere else!
Download the new Drake app for free here: http://road.ie/drake-app
In London on 6/29? Join us for a Digital Music Event @DeanStudios
posted by Michael Arcand
Mobile Roadie CEO, Michael Schneider, will be traveling to the U.K. next week and already has a packed schedule. One event we’re especially looking forward to is an evening focused on digital technology companies changing the future of music. The fun is taking place at Dean Street Studios and is presented by Underdogs Management.
It all goes down on Tuesday, June 29th, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at 59 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 6AN. Other guests who will be leading the discussion include David Haynes, the UK representative from SoundCloud, as well as Wil Padley, founder of BandCentral, and Shamal Ranasinghe, co-founder of Topspin Media.
During this event you will get a chance to preview the products and hear specifically why these companies are influencing the future of digital music media.
Oh, and did we mention there will be cocktails?
If you’d like to attend, please RSVP jazz@deanst.com or faye@underdogsonline.com.
Infected Mushroom App in Time for #EDC! (@infectedtwitt)
posted by Michael Arcand
Psy-Trance innovators, Infected Mushroom, (@infectedtwitt) have become one of the biggest electronic bands on the planet. Twice ranked among the world’s 10 best DJs by the bible of the scene, the U.K.’s DJ Magazine, the Israel-bred, Los Angeles based duo bring a frenetic rock energy to the form. Their explosive show, featuring guitars, live drums, intensely passionate vocals and an ambitious multimedia backdrop, ranks among the genre’s most unpredictably joyous events.
The band’s founders, Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani (also known as I.Zen and Duvdev), started performing together as a duo in 1998. By 1999, they’d created Infected Mushroom and released their debut album, The Gathering. Guitarists Tom Cunningham and Erez Netz were brought on board in 2004 and Brazilian percussionist Rogério Jardim joined in 2007 to play percussion and drums. The band has a total of nine albums released to date, with their latest offering, Legend of the Black Shawarma (2009), reaching the number nine spot on the U.S. Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart. The track “Killing Time” featuring Perry Farrell is currently #24 on the Billboard dance charts.
The release of the app is timed with the internationally-attended Electric Daisy Carnival in Los Angeles, happening June 25 and 26th in downtown’s Exposition Park & The L.A. Coliseum. Infected is a headliner and will be performing live at the Circuit Ground Stage on Friday the 25th from 8:00-11:00pm. Want a taste? Download the app (http://road.ie/infected-mushroom) and get official news, listen to tracks, watch show and behind-the-scenes footage from a selection of 25 videos, browse photos, post comments on the fan wall, get the latest show schedule, and more. What else do you want, a cookie? Get on it!
If you’ve never had the chance to attend EDC and shake your shizz, check out the official 2010 trailer below.
Announcing the @DJShadow App
posted by Michael Arcand
Joshua Paul Davis, otherwise known as DJ Shadow, has been at the forefront of instrumental hip hop and turntable sampling since the early 90s. His first full-length album, Endtroducing, was hailed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the first completely sampled album. His work is exceptionally varied, featuring elements of funk, rock, hip hop, ambient, jazz and soul; all from his collection of over 60k album titles. The Mobile Roadie staff is a big fan of his work, and we’re proud to be able to present his work in a mobile platform supported by our very own CMS. In addition to being the first app to use our new API, the DJ Shadow app is also the first to use Soundcloud integration and custom theme. It’s perfect timing too, with a tour coming up in just a few days and brand new website that just launched today.
I recently had a chance to catch up with Michael Fiebach from Reconstruction Productions, who is the project, marketing and merchandise manager for DJ Shadow. We had a great discussion about the new Official DJ Shadow app and what the future plans are for this new mobile tool.
First, I asked Michael why they decided to get a mobile app and what he thought it brought to their business model. Among the reasons he mentioned is the fact that it’s another important way to build the fan base. They already have a huge email list and a website that gets good traffic, along with an online store. Push notifications are also important to the team, because it represents a new type of email list, to push information out to the fan base. They know it’s important if you have your own business, to have an app. As Michael said, a mobile app is like the new website. Every business these days has a website, and within 3-5 years he believes it will be the same way with mobile apps.
The app contains streaming bonus tracks, but in addition it features the Shadow radio show within the app. These are hour-long radio sets of DJ Shadow mixing unique and obscure music. The app currently has six shows listed, so there is already over six hours of music on the app, with plans to continue updating these sets moving forward.
The team’s promotion of the app thus far has been interesting and unique. In addition to promoting the app via the website, DJ Shadow plans to utilize a visual screen during his shows to engage the audience and encourage people to download the app and to share photos of the event they are attending. It also promotes the DJ Shadow website, so those without an app can participate. Then the app syncs the content between the app and the website, so people can access it using either method.
As for why they decided to go with Mobile Roadie, it was access to the API that made the deal. The new API allows them to engage fans, show comments and sync everything to the website, which helps drive people to the site. Michael indicated that they couldn’t find another company that had a system in place that was as easy as Mobile Roadie. For them, consolidation of these points was key.
The show pages that sync with the Mobile Roadie API can all be viewed at djshadow.com/tour (click on a corresponding show link to see that show’s page, which utilizes the MoRo API). Notice you can check in, comment and add photos from a show; all of this content is shown in the app and at the djshadow.com show page.
After our conversation about the DJ Shadow app, I asked Michael what he thought about Mobile Roadie’s services. Here’s what he had to say:
“I think MoRo is a great company and that they offer anything anyone would need in terms of mobile apps. They have great plans for the future and plans to engage customers and I’m really looking forward to working with them as this market expands and evolves. I encourage anyone looking to get a mobile app to check out Mobile Roadie and if you like good music, download the DJ Shadow app.”
You can download the DJ Shadow app here: http://road.ie/dj-shadow
International Spotlight: Lena Meyer-Landrut App
posted by Michael Arcand
With so many new Mobile Roadie apps from around the world going live every day it can be hard to keep track but once in awhile we see stand-outs that have extensive adoption very quickly.
Lena Meyer-Landrut’s app is the perfect example. If you haven’t heard of Lena, and if you’re in the U.S. odds are high you haven’t, she’s the most recent winner of the 55th annual Eurovision Song Contest 2010 (think American Idol) that involved representatives from 39 countries vying for the top spot. She represented her home country, Germany, and snagged the title, a huge honor, as it’s the country’s first win in 28 years and only its second since the contest’s inception.
Lena released her first album this past May, which debuted at number one in German album charts. She also set an all-time chart record with three songs appearing simultaneously in the top five of the German singles chart. Her Eurovision winning song, Satellite, debuted at number one in Germany and has been certified triple gold since. Not bad for a musician with no formal voice training!
Her popularity on the charts is clearly reflected in the adoption of her app. In under two weeks it’s already been downloaded over 67,000 times.
Currently the app is only available in Deutschland. If you’re a local there check it out for yourself. Get the app at: http://road.ie/lena
Mobile Roadie Hiring in the U.K.
posted by Michael ArcandMobile Roadie recently expanded our operations into Europe, and the time has come for us to find someone to work with as a representative in the United Kingdom. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a part of the Mobile Roadie team, then we want to meet you!
We’re looking for an entrepreneurial soul to be our eyes and ears on the ground in the U.K. Our co-founder and CEO Michael Schneider will be visiting the U.K. in a few weeks and would like to set up interviews with qualified applicants beforehand.
Main duties of this position include the following:
- Local sales and support for Mobile Roadie clients
- Business development
- Partner relationships
There’s no need to worry about coding or working on the app process. All product will still be done in California. So if you have a drive for success, love a challenge and would like to work with a fast-paced mobile tech company, here’s your chance. Send your resume and cover letter to — hello (at) mobileroadie.com — and put “UK Position” in the subject line.
Images & Mobile Apps: Showcasing Photography (@caephoto @tpurifoy @davidlebovitz)
posted by Michael ArcandPerhaps one of the most overlooked opportunities for mobile apps is in the area of photography. While many apps take advantage of the medium to share images and allow their customers or fans to do the same, photographers may shy away from the mobile app simply because they don’t feel it will present their work well. With the debut of the iPad and the new HD iPhone 4, it’s time to revisit these ideas and see just what a mobile app can do with photographs.
While there are many Mobile Roadie apps that utilize photo collections generated by their users, there are also a few that generate photos as part of their product, which makes an app’s ability to showcase pictures even more important. Let’s take a look at a few of these apps and how the use the Mobile Roadie CMS along with their app to promote their work.
Caesar Lima Photography utilizes a mobile app to showcase their work and bring in new customers. For them, the app is all about the pictures, along with the customer interaction. With this app, the company’s customers can stay up to date on advertising photography, video and design. Not only does the app feature Caesar Lima’s portfolio, it also has Pixelpasta news and updates, behind the scenes video and a fan wall to leave feedback and interact with other customers. As you can see from the screenshot, the pictures are highlighted very well within this app.
You can download the Caesar Lima app here: http://road.ie/caesar-lima
Another app that utilizes the mobile platform to showcase photography is Purifoy Photography. This app not only allows Purifoy’s customers to view the photo galleries 24/7, but they are also providing exclusive content just for their mobile users. In addition, customers can contact them directly through the app to schedule a photography session. As you can see, they’ve leveraged the Mobile Roadie CMS as well to create a unique app that’s just right for their business.
You can download the Purifoy Photography app here: http://road.ie/purifoyphoto
However, you certainly don’t have to be a professional photographer to take advantage of what mobile images can do for promoting your business. Chef David Lebovitz shares recipes via his iPhone app, but when you add pictures to the mix, the result is absolutely stunning. The visual interaction on the menu, using CoverFlow, creates a unique impact. And if the photos of all the desserts don’t make you hungry, well, I don’t know what’s wrong with you. His unique application of the photo features complement his app and make it a great example of thinking outside the box.
You can download the David Lebovitz app here: http://road.ie/davidlebovitz
With the new Retina Display of the new iPhone 4, these apps are only the beginning. The mobile marketplace is opening up to photographers and graphic artists in new and exciting ways. If you’re in one of these fields, why not contact us today to see what we can do for your business?
Mobile Roadie Partners with R04R for Church Apps
posted by Michael ArcandMobile Roadie is once again proud to announce a partnership, this time with R04R, a company focusing on faith-based apps for churches and other congregations of faith. With over a decade of pastoring youth in one of the largest churches in America, R04R CEO Matt McKee has a burden to get a message out using the best means available. Looking at the upcoming generation of church-goers and the drive of technology, Matt decided that mobile devices were a key to leveraging technology to reach this group.
However, as it often happens in business ventures, the first attempt was a bust. The idea was to use content from a large Christian publisher and make it into an app, but the project never really got off the ground. Still, Matt knew there was something in the usability of mobile phones that would get the message out. Finally, it all came together with Mobile Roadie’s API and the church marketplace, which seemed ripe to move forward.
The company launched their services at a church conference in April of this year, and they have already picked up over 20 customers, which another dozen or so inquiries looking into the options available. The service is now reaching out to nine different states, spanning the country from New York to California.
Most of R04R’s customers so far are churches that are using a mobile app to reach the adults and special groups within the church. There are currently no youth oriented apps, but hopefully that will change. Matt says that most pastors see a mobile app as an extension of who they are, rather than a separate website or media outlet. It enables churches to bring their Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other online activity together into one place, and make it accessible on a mobile platform.
Going forward, their goal is two-fold. First and foremost, they want to get as many churches involved as they can in using this new technology to promote their message. Secondly, they are reaching out to other companies that already service churches and are working with their developers to be able to integrate with the Mobile Roadie platform.
When asked why he decided to go with Mobile Roadie, it was pretty cut and dried…
When I looked at all the other platforms out there, they were the best. The depth of their CMS and how fast they were rolling out to other mobile platforms such as Android – that’s why we went with them. We want to be associated with the best mobile developers in the business.
R04R was created with a very simple mission, and that’s to see as much faith-based content on mobile platforms as possible. We say faith-based and not christian because we believe that there are other faiths out there with a message that should be heard. And that’s our motto, “You will be heard.” – Matt McKee, CEO, R04R
New App Spotlight: Seven Venues, Sydney Party, iShade, GirlGamer & ADA
posted by Michael ArcandEach week the number of Mobile Roadie-powered apps continues to grow, and with that growth comes continued diversity. In the last two weeks alone we’ve seen apps created to help users find parties, locate cool destinations within a particular city and share their experiences, and a girls’ gaming portal. But it’s not all fun and games. We’ve also seen apps designed particularly for a professional group, as well as a medical association’s upcoming event. Check out these unique apps below, and think about what a Mobile Roadie powered app could do for your city, group or business!
SevenVenues: This app is all about the city of Norfolk, Virginia. Released on June 7, this app allows visitors to find shows for Chrysler Hall, Harbor Park, Attucks Theatre, Harrison Opera House, Wells Theatre, The Scope, and the Prism Theatre at The Scope Arena. In addition, app users can get concert updates and discount tickets to events as well. It’s a must-have app if you’re planning a recreational trip in Norfolk.
Dowload the SevenVenues app here: http://road.ie/sevenvenues
Sydney Party: Sydney Party is all about, you guessed it, Sydney, Australia. This one isn’t from the chamber of commerce though, and is actually a crowd-sourced app where users can provide feedback and ratings for clubs and party locations listed. Stay up-to-date with all the happening things around Sydney. If you plan on partying in Sydney, this seems like the app to have.
Download the Sydney Party app here: http://road.ie/sydney-party
iShade: This mobile app ties in with the iShade website, providing a new community model for the accounting profession. iShade is a business networking web portal developed exclusively for the accounting industry where you can build and manage your online identity as a CPA or Chartered Accountant. If you are an accountant, this specialized app and community is just for you. I think this is a great example of the range of diversity from which mobile apps can be utilized.
Download the iShade app here: http://road.ie/ishade
GirlGamer: Well, the title says it all. Girl gamers rejoice! This site (and app) are all for you. The site features news, reviews, profiles, forums, blogs for female gamers, and the app allows users to keep in touch with the blog and the latest videos, editorial, live casts, and giveaways. I have a few female friends who will probably be interested in this one!
Download the GirlGamer app here: http://road.ie/girlgamer
ADA: As a newly-diagnosed diabetic myself, this app was of particular interest to me. However, it’s not about information for the general public, but rather it’s going to feature information from and about the American Diabetes Association 70th Scientific Sessions taking place June 25 – 29, 2010, in sunny Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center (West Building). Bottom line here is that if you are a diabetic professional involved in research or care, this app is for you. This is another one that falls under the category of an event app, yet the target user is much different than we’ve seen in general for other event apps. I think this shows the continued expansion of app adoption in the fields of professionals.
You can download the ADA app here: http://road.ie/ada
Media Temple iPad Contest Promotes New Community App
posted by Michael Arcand
Do you know Media Temple? Maybe you’ve seen this – (mt) – on one or two wristbands at any of the 20-30 events they host a year. Or maybe you own one of the 600,000 domains they manage, making them one of the top 25 hosting companies in U.S. and top 50 in the world. Whatever the case, (mt) has quite the client roster and fan base.
The (mt) Community app went live recently and to promote it they’re holding a contest (ends tomorrow!) to win a year of hosting or an iPad or iPhone 3GS. Here’s how to enter (full details on their blog):
1. Download the (mt) Community app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to the “Feedback” area in the app (via the ‘more’ tab).
3. Leave a comment letting them know what you think of the app . You’ll need to login via your Twitter or Facebook account.
We love the creative approach they’re taking to promote their app and get their audience engaged straight away. We caught up with Ryan Goodman (@ryangoodman), brand manager at (mt), to learn more.
(mt) has a history of being a first mover with technology, especially mobile. They were the first hosting company to build a dedicated web app tailored to the iPhone upon first release and they’re one of the first to have a native app to communicate with customers and that offers capabilities to manage their hosting accounts, get support and buy domain names through the (mt) AccountCenter.
When we asked him why they decided to build a native iPhone app Ryan told us they saw it as a useful way to get customers engaged in a different channel and have a presence in app store.
“We’re a very open company in terms of communication which is why we decided to initially focus the app on our community to give them a way to keep up with everything we’re doing in one place.”
I don’t know if you know any (mt) customers but they tend to be a rowdy and fun bunch. Ryan said that their customers range across verticals and in size but they’ve always paid close attention to the creative community since day one.
“We get a lot of support from the creatives (designers, artists, developers, media, music.) There are a lot of designers who were fans of our company and service when they were young (company was founded in 1998) and have since become creative directors and decision makers. We’ve also seen the developer crowd increase a lot.”
The app has only been out about a week and already it’s had well over 1,000 downloads. And people are using it too.
“Initially we weren’t sure how people would use the fan wall but it’s been really cool. We’re seeing people post questions and users answering and helping one another.”
Want to see it for yourself? Get it!
You can find them on Twitter: @mediatemple and the ole Facebook.
Ryan also mentioned they have a staff of people available 24/7 that is dedicated to responding to every Twitter mention…must be in part why they get so much praise for their customer service…
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