All posts tagged facebook

HTML5 - What is it and what does it mean to me? Apps not required?

by Mary Cook on December 9, 2011 in Industry News, Mary Cook, Mobile/Telcom, Varolii News with 2 Comments

Even if you're a Web novice, you may already have heard the term “HTML5” by now. You can almost feel the buzz amongst designers and web users!

Google, Apple, Facebook and others have been constantly in the mix -- and they're all pulling their socks up to maximize the benefits of this exciting new platform.

Even if you're not a web designer, you may get the feeling that HTML5 will be the next big thing when it comes to meeting the demands of the modern Web.

Should you care as an internet user (or a designer for that matter)? Yes!

HTML5 – what is the big deal?

The big deal is that pretty soon, you’ll find it everywhere on the web!

pic one1 HTML5 What is it and what does it mean to me? Apps not required?You know that with HTML4, websites usually have to depend on Flash or Silverlight plugins to show and play a video file (you may have observed this in video sharing sites like YouTube).

The DISADVANTAGE comes in the smart phones, iPads and iPhones.

Take Apple as an example. They had to drop support for HTML4 plugins to optimize the battery power of their phones. The lack of HTML4 support made much of the rich media (like video content), plainly inaccessible through these phones.

With HTML5, web designers can directly embed media with simple HTML tags like “<video>” and “<audio>” – thereby eliminating the need for plugins.

Facebook and HTML5 – How do they mix?Facebook1 HTML5 What is it and what does it mean to me? Apps not required?

Facebook has also launched its HTML resource center in an attempt to help designers build, test and deploy web applications.

As you may know, Facebook has an excellent platform on mobile; it's evident that it is pushing ahead to encourage designers to create applications with HTML5 on mobile phones.

Facebook is predominantly using HTML5 in its specific mobile products, as this makes the access to other various interrelated devices much simpler.

Amazon Adds HTML5 to Updated Kindle E-Book Format

kindle HTML5 What is it and what does it mean to me? Apps not required?With the launch of the fire tablet, Amazon has also sprung up a new book format that provides crafty designers with an opportunity to access a variety of updated features, including HTML5.  In August, Amazon also released its Kindle Cloud Reader which is an HTML5-based reading application.

Along with that, Amazon’s KF8 is a new HTML5 kindle book which is designed to enable publishers to create picture books, graphic novels and comics – all done thanks to the HTML5-rich formatting capabilities and elements of design.

Brightcove and HTML5HTNL5 HTML5 What is it and what does it mean to me? Apps not required?

Brightcove, a leading worldwide provider of cloud content services, has also announced their rousing new features that come with their video cloud online- platform smart players.

These smart players help beat a lot of discrepancies and inconsistencies when it comes to HTML playback. Moreover, the integration with the HTML5 also enables reliable reproduction with both the analytics and integration with the third party services -- take ad serving solutions for example.

The Bottom Line

future HTML5 What is it and what does it mean to me? Apps not required?The bottom line is -- as a web user and designer, you would be benefiting a lot from HTML5 without even realizing it. Popular web browsers like Safari, Chrome and Firefox all have support for at least some elements of HTML5.

Through Chrome or Safari, you can check out some of the experimental versions of YouTube that makes use of HTML5’s video features.

Google reader and Gmail also have embraced some parts of the standard. Additionally, any site which is listed as being “iPad ready” is sure to be opting for considerable use of HTML5. Take examples of the New York Times, CNN and CBS.

Yes, Flash may not be going anytime soon of course, as it is still extensively used and supported. The flash games which we have a definite affection for are still impossible to recreate from HTML.

So when you hear the term “HTML5”, more than anything, it refers to the future of the World Wide Web.

In Conclusion – What does this mean to me?

HTML5 essentially brings application capabilities to browser capability and the web experience, so the big news is that HTML5 could render mobile apps obsolete. No more downloading and parking app icons on your mobile device. You get that functionality through a browser experience. So what it means is that the communication between businesses and their customers could change radically. But you need someone who understands what this means for the patient experience in healthcare, or the consumer in finance, or the passenger in airlines (and all sorts of other customers and companies). Furthermore you will need to understand how to get the most out of your customer experience communication strategy - which means you may need a trusted vendor advisor…with knowledge and experience…like…like…Varolii!

So – Call us. 800-206-2979. Or email me, tweet me, respond to my blog, or send me a smoke signal.

References Used

What's New in HTML-5?

Amazon's new e-book format brings HTML5 support to your Kindle library

Facebook launches HTML5 Resource Center

The Present and Future of HTML5 Video Experiences

Facebook vs. Google+: Which Social Media Platform is the Best for You?

by Mary Cook on October 18, 2011 in Mary Cook, Social Media with 4 Comments

Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate with one another, and like it or not, the platforms you’re already acquainted with are here to stay.  With that being said, how does each one measure up when compared with another?  Is Facebook better than Google+?  Is Commonred as user-friendly as Formspring?

It’s anyone’s say, really. Social media platforms ultimately have one goal in mind and that’s to give people alternative ways to connect with one another.  Each network, however, appeals to different cultures and are used in entirely different ways.  So, in all fairness, you can’t say that all social media platforms are created equally.  You can, however, decide which ones are the most worthwhile by giving them a test drive.  This allows you to see how each network stacks up against another.

If you’re pressed for time like I am, a short review highlighting the positives and the negatives of each social media platform is an immense help.  After researching some of the heavy-hitters, I came up with this review to help you determine which network is right for you.  Let’s start with the two most popular: Facebook and Google+.

google v facebook Facebook vs. Google+: Which Social Media Platform is the Best for You?Facebook. Love it or hate it, this network dominates.  A household name worldwide, it has 800 million active members and over 70 different language settings to choose from.  Not only do you have the ability to connect with people on a personal level through wall posts, photos, instant messaging, and private messaging, you can also create pages for your business, association, and group.  Facebook can also be accessed from a number of mobile devices putting you in control of your communications wherever you go.
Overall impression: Facebook is great for one-on-one conversations as well as group updates and messages.

Google+. Not nearly as popular as Facebook (yet!), the network has surpassed 25 million users (many of which were former FB users who didn’t like all the changes Mark Zuckerberg and his crew implemented on the site).  There are some really great things that this social media platform features. The first is its navigation bar.  Alerts on network activity are pushed through to you but never are intrusive. The star of the network, however, is the group video chat function, Hangouts.  It’s easy to operate and surpasses any other video chatting service currently available.
Overall impression: Google+ needs to ramp up its platform by getting more users on board and using the network.

Commonred. One of the newest social media platforms available today, Commonred brings people together through commonality.  You can link your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts to connect to fans and followers that you may have not been formally introduced to. The platform uses the information that you post on your profile to make matches based on these common threads which ultimately expand your social circle.
Overall impression: Although the network is currently accessible through invitations only, it will only be a matter of time before the idea takes off.

Formspring. Perhaps the most basic of the social media platforms, Formspring allows you to ask your friends questions and respond when they have one for you. Registration takes a matter of seconds if you sign up through your Facebook account and from what I have experienced using the network, it’s a pretty solid way to learn more about the people, businesses, and groups that interest you. Formspring has visitors from every country in the world.  It has over 24 million accounts & 3.5 million unique visitors every day.
Overall impression: Having a mobile app has clearly helped the network become the success that it is today.

Social media networking is all about developing relationships.  No matter what platform you decide to use, one thing is certain - the faster you get yourself established, the more quickly you’ll reach people and change the way that you do business in the future.

Medical practices need to work with IT professionals to leverage new technologies

by Varolii on December 29, 2010 in Healthcare, Industry News with No comments

Industries today are adopting a variety of new technologies and strategies to improve outbound communications with consumers, and the health industry is no different.

The internet has revolutionized medical care, providing concerned patients with information on various prescriptions and reviews of practices. Now, however, physicians are moving online and gaining a presence using one of today's biggest communication tools: social media. Continue reading →

Customer communications go social

by Varolii on December 7, 2010 in Airlines, Banks/Finance, Consumer Svcs, Healthcare, Industry News, Mobile/Telcom, Retail, Utilities with No comments

As consumers around the globe increasingly engage with social media, companies are looking to improve their customer communications via these online channels.

According to a recent study by Siemens Continue reading →