It’s no secret we’re a society that loves the Smartphone. Given its prevalence in our day-to-day lives, there must be some decorum to follow, right? Here are a few habits we think an in-tune Smartphone user should avoid:

1.)    Walking &Texting

Nothing is more important than your safety. And, walking and texting can be distracting. If you must respond to a text: stop, move aside, text and move on. This will prevent you from causing harm by running into people or objects.

2.)    Driving & Texting

Like walking and texting, driving and texting can be dangerous. Put down the phone while in your car and wait to use it again until you have safely arrived at your destination.

3.)    Using Your Phone Around Company

While in the presence of others, and depending on the company, it could be considered rude to use your phone. Lack of eye contact can make others feel like you’re not listening. Consider your audience. If you are expecting an important call or email, inform the person first.

4.)    Whining For The World To See

Social media apps on our Smartphones allow us to share what’s on our mind at all times. Just because you have these apps, doesn’t mean you should always share all of life’s problems. Take a deep breath and move on. Most times, you’ll thank yourself later.

5.)    Forgetting The Art Of The Spoken Word

Yes, emails and texts are often a great way to deliver a message quickly. But, speaking is still an important form of communication. Don’t forget to pick up the phone and call the person from time-to-time instead of emailing or texting. Not only does this make an exchange feel more personal, you may find it will actually help you communicate a message clearer.

Smartphone users, can you think of other manners, rules or habits to avoid? What are some of your pet peeves regarding the use of our mobile devices?

Introducing the Ostrich Pillow: Designed for shorter periods of rest – a.k.a. the power nap – the pillow creates a private space for its user to relax and unwind, perfect (the company says) for comfortable napping at your desk.

Essentially, the pillow is a padded tube with a place for your hands and a hole for your mouth. The website says you can even use the pillow on a bench, on the train or at the airport. 

There has been talk for years about power naps at work; whether it’s appropriate or if they even help. The sales pitch for the Ostrich Pillow claims that a 20-minute power nap can increase productivity by 37%. If that is true, would you use it at your workplace?  

10 Suggestions on what to do with your old phone 

It happens every 6 months to a year, a new smartphone is released – and, you must have it. You anticipate, you wait and finally you become the owner of the latest-and-greatest device on the market. So, what do you do with your old phone? With the recent release of Apple’s iPhone5, many smartphone users have asked themselves the same question.  Here are a few suggestions:

1.       Donate it

Many non-profits recycle gently used phones for domestic violence victims for emergencies or for soldiers to call home. You can easily search the internet to find an organization near you accepting phones or, donate it to one of these reuse and recycle phone programs: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8818.html.

2.       Trade it in

Video game retailers often offer cash or store credit for gently used smartphones.  Take it to a local store and see if your phone is eligible for a trade in.

3.       Sell it

Post your phone on eBay, Craigslist or other personal selling websites for the opportunity to earn a little extra cash.

4.       Give it to your kids

Teach young kids how to use the device in emergencies. Have a teenager? A hand-me-down device makes for a good first phone. Or, you can download educational games for kids of all ages to play.

5.       New Alarm clock

For the heavy sleepers who need an extra budge to get out of bed in the morning, use your old phone as a second alarm clock. Place it somewhere different than your other alarm, we recommend somewhere far away.

6.       New mp3/iPod

Save space on your new phone by using your old phone as an iPod or MP3 player. You can even purchase a speaker dock to play and listen to music. 

7.       Use it as a camera

Take as many pictures as the phone can hold then transfer them to the computer. Viola! You have a new camera with plenty of storage space.

8.       Tiny tablet

With a Wi-Fi connection, you can use most smartphones for almost anything. Keep it charged and ready to use as a tiny tablet when your new smartphone is low on battery.

9.       Convert a friend

If you know someone who hasn’t taken the smartphone plunge but is interested, give them your old phone to use and test out.  If they like it, great – a provider can transfer the phone over. If not, then nothing is lost.  

10.   Keep it as a back up

Your new phone could break, have a defect or you could lose it! Keep your old phone as a back-up to use in case the unthinkable happens.

What are other ways you can use an old smartphone? Share them here. 

Last month, Apple kicked off its WWDC Keynote Address by introducing its newest addition to the Mac family, the MacBook Pro with Retina display. The technology company also announced multiple products and upgrades due out later this year.

The new MacBook Pro boasts a number of enhancements like Intel's latest Quad-Core i7 processor, all-flash storage and Nvidia's GeForce GT 650 graphics card. Simply put, the new Mac is fast. But what our creatives at 36i like most is the new display. The Retina display has more than 5 million pixels - more than a 60" HDTV - and, with a 2880 x 1800 resolution, text and images appear vibrant and sharp. In fact, retina-enabled apps for the MacBook Pro are already hitting the market. 

Additionally, the new notebook will be compatible with Mac OS X Mountain Lion, available in the App Store later this month. Mountain Lion will also integrate new features from the iPad and iPhone, including Notification Center and iMessage, meaning everything from emails to Facebook updates are organized for your convenience. With iMessage, you can also send photos, videos and messages to any Apple device right from your desktop.

While there was no mention of an iPhone 5, Apple hinted at its capabilities. This fall, users can expect a major revamp to its Maps application with the implementation of Flyover technology. Flyover renders vector-based views of cityscape making it easier to see and find your destination. Still having trouble? Its personal assistant, Siri, will direct you with turn-by-turn navigation.

Apple continues to innovate the marketplace. We look forward to its new products and applications. Which innovation are you most excited about?

Last week, Facebook standardized its Timeline platform for Brand Pages.  The new Timeline layout premiered last fall for profile users marking the social network’s most drastic layout change.

While the change to the Timeline format may have caught some online traditionalists off guard, as PR and marketing professionals, we think there are advantages to the new display.

The Timeline Brand Page has opportunities for businesses to engage visitors. For example, the layout offers a "cover photo" display at the top of the page which functions as a billboard for the brand.  Additionally, Brand Pages have the advantage of pinning the most important content so it appears first on its Timeline.

But what social media managers may find most useful from all of the new features is the Timeline’s archival function which chronicles the brand’s history into a compelling story. Companies like Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and McDonald's are using this feature to create a more personal experience between its brand and consumers.

What do you think about the layout of the Facebook Timeline? Is it good for brands?

Marking its “strongest iPad launch yet”, Apple recently announced that its third-generation tablet device sold more than three million units worldwide and in just four days. The latest iPad delivers a variety of new features including an enhanced camera and processor, 4G LTE compatiblity, and its most buzzed-about improvement -- its Retina Display.

But what is Retina Display and why is it getting so much attention?  Apple boasts that the new-and-improved iPad features a resolution that nearly doubles that of its predecessor producing four times the pixels of the iPad 2 and one million more pixels than an HDTV. Watch your favorite movie in crystal-clear quality. Read the fine-print of the New York Times’ best-seller. Or, play the internet’s latest game in High-Def. Consumers are raving that the iPad’s razor-sharp display provides an experience like never before.

At Res Publica Group and 36i, our services complement the full-scale of wireless technology; designing programs for and using handheld devices to advance a number of client projects. So, we are excited about the improved capabilities of the new iPad device. But, we want to hear from you. What do you think of the new iPad? Share your comments below. 

As Microsoft prepares to unveil its latest operating system Windows 8, the company is also preparing to unveil a new look for its internationally recognized brand. Windows has taken their logo back to its roots – a window. Originally introduced as panes of glass in Windows 1.0, the logo was designed to emblematize Microsoft’s new view on technology. Over the years, the logo evolved along with each new operating system.

With clean lines, shapes and typography paired with bold, flat colors, the new design is based on the principals of the Swiss International Style.

What do you think of Windows' new brand identity? Leave your comments below.

On your TV, the El, your Facebook feed, even the Wabash Ave. bridge – it seems everywhere you turn there’s an advertisement vying for your attention. In fact, it’s been said that the average American is exposed to as many as 3,000 ads each day.

Finding new and innovative marketing tactics can be challenging. To capture the attention of stakeholder audiences, marketers know they must be original and strategic. Take for example Plan UK, a not-for-profit organization that helps children in third-world countries. A first-of-its-kind, the company is currently trialing new outdoor digital ads that use high-definition cameras to determine the sex of its viewer before displaying a gender-specific ad.

The built-in system is 90 percent accurate in identifying its male and female onlookers. As a female passerby, you will see a 40-second spot promoting female education in developing countries. Males, however, are taken to the Plan UK website to convey how it feels “to have basic choices taken away.” The campaign runs for two weeks in the hopes of raising $40,000 in donations.

What do you think of gender-controlled advertising? Is it smart? Here to stay? What other ways will technology impact the marketing world? We know we’ll be watching. 

When it comes to technology and communication - we're always asking ourselves, "What's next?" That is why we launched our interactive web division 36i to further our clients' communication needs. It is also why we updated our business cards to feature QR codes.

Why? Access.

QR codes, or Quick Response codes, present the opportunity to offer more than just your name, telephone number, and email address. When the QR code on the business card of a Res Publica Group or 36i employee is scanned, the user is directed to that person's bio, including their LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.

We want you to know more about us.

A study conducted June 2011 revealed that 14 million mobile users in the U.S. have scanned a QR code on their mobile device. It shows that people want access to information immediately.

At Res Publica Group and 36i, we use QR codes to enhance clients' marketing and communication efforts. Given the popularity of SmartPhones and Droids, we see this as a trend that will likely stick around. 

From July 1, 2011 – August 31, 2011 the U.S. Postal Service will be giving a 3% discount on first class presort and standard postage rates for pieces containing a QR/mobile barcode. The promotion is designed to increase the value of Direct Mail and build awareness around integrating mobile technology into communications.

QR codes provide a connection between print and the digital world; when scanned, mobile barcodes can instantly direct users to a web page or display.

At Res Publica Group and 36i, we use QR codes to enhance clients’ marketing and communication efforts. Below is a sample of our latest work using the mobile technology on a client’s Direct Mail piece.

More information on this promotion is available here.

Have you been thinking about integrating mobile technology into your communication materials? Why not start now. We can help!