Digital Marketing and Web Strategy by Bob Hazlett | One Half Amazing!

The LA Times is reporting that augmented reality apps will finally be a reality in September with the release of iPhone OS 3.1.

Augmented reality software works to overlay useful info onto a real-world view using a mobile device.  Imagine the amazing apps that commercial ventures could create with the augmented reality technology like the videos show below.  You could walk into your favorite store, search for the products you’re looking for and potentially have information, coupons and offers pushed to you at the exact point when you’re ready to make a purchase decision. Both sides would benefit – stores would have to employee less people and customers would have a richer experience.

Imagine going to an outdoor concert, finding all the folks you know attending that same event and even exploring information about the bands and songs going on at that exact moment.  The list is endless.  Developers and marketers should be salivating like a wild dog over the potential.

Since the announcement of iPhone OS 3.0 in March and on the heels of the June WWDC, there have many rumors swirling about the possibility of a new model of iPhone as well as improved functionality built on the new operating system.

Buried deep in the iPhone OS 3.0 keynote was something which I believe to be very important. Basically, the new OS will offer an improved App Store, which opens many new possibilities for developers and consumers. Developers could sell more things on top of their apps, and consumers would be able to expand their experience with those apps. Apple has promised that improved OS will work within the applications, therefore you can purchase and upgrade new things through the app itself, even while the transaction still goes through the App Store internally. For example, an iPhone game developer could charge for additional game levels or digital content creators, such as magazines could charge for a subscription of 6 issues which ran out after a specific period of time.

What’s the opportunity here for Apple?

This got me to thinking that Apple has the ability and backend already in place to fill the void where Facebook, Google and Amazon have failed us. They could lead a revolution of publishers around the world monetizing content beyond your typical smart phone app. Picture a site that offers digital content subscriptions, collects membership dues on a periodic basis, or provides premium services on their page.  My theory is that Apple could transform your iTunes ID into a single sign-on (similar to Facebook Connect) enabling publishers to charge customers on a recurring basis using a single authorization anywhere digital content is sold.  I envision blogs, podcasts and mobile & social applications. Essentially what I’m talking about is a microtransaction using your iTunes log in.Anyone with a publishers account could now charge and earn significant income from a multitude of sources.

For me, this could do the same thing for online publishers as it did for the struggling music industry and in the same ways it created a marketplace for independent programmers.  Apple is definitely big enough and has the foundation in place to pull it off.

How I envision it working?

Here’s a quick and dirty mockup of how I envision an Apple payment program working on a site such as the NY Times.

Now this is all speculation, but I’d be interested to hear your feedback. Tell me how crazy I am in the comments below.

Launch Memphis and the Southern Growth Studio are teaming up with Adrian Ho, Founding Partner, Zeus Jones and C.C. Chapman, Co-founder and Managing Partner, The Advanced Guard for a workshop on April 23rd.

The event, which will be held from 1:30 – 4:30 at the Emerge Memphis building will bring two of the most well-respected leaders from the world of innovation, interactive marketing, and user experience.  The private workshop will entail about 60 minutes of presentations and Q&A by both Adrian and C.C. as well as a private panel discussion with both to end the day.  The workshop and panel are both open to the public.  Tickets can be purchased online and will set you back $150.

If you can’t pull away from work that afternoon, but still want in on the action, there will be a free cocktail reception from 5:30 – 7:30 that same evening.  We’d love to have you stop by!

There are tons of great webapps out there today that can help you do one thing really well.  Here are a few of my favorites.

1. Prezi – move beyond the standard linear presentation and give your next deck a stunning zooming effect.  Create maps of texts, images, videos, PDFs and drawings. Prezi is still in private beta, but they have a test tool you can kick the tires with.
2. Fliggo – is a platform solution for creating your own video website. Whether it’s a video blog, a YouTube-like community or a private site for your company or family, Fliggo can be as much or as little as you’d like.
3. FeedWeaver - combine multiple RSS feeds into one. Feedweaver allows you to create, filter and mashup personalized RSS feeds similar to Yahoo Pipes, but without the learning curve.
4. Qipit - copy and share notes using your mobile phone.  Capture whiteboards or handwritten notes with your camera and they are converted into a PDF form.
5. Pixlr – online image editor built in flash similar to Photoshop Elements.
6. Drop.io – easily share images, video, audio, documents and other digital content using a simple and private interface.

What is your favorite new webapp?  Login to the comments with your Facebook account below and let me know.

Razorfish recently released their 2009 Digital Outlook Report. It’s a beautiful piece with amazing content and insight for just about every digital industry. Download your copy free copy now.  If 175 pages is too much to read, then check out Guy Kawasaki’s overview.

Does anyone know if they offer this in physical book format? I know it sounds silly, but I’d love to have a ‘real’ copy. Maybe Lulu.com can help me.

It’s easy to create a Facebook page or get people to join your network, but how do you make the web as a whole more social?

Changing the way your small team works and communicates doesn’t take much effort. Changing the way the entire organization shares ideas, collaborates and communicates is a big movement.

If you know a few easy tricks, its easy to write for search engines, but how do you write and create unique content that people seek out and instantly recognize?

Anyone can create a product or services that people will buy, but how do you move to products that people seek out, talk about and want to become a part of?

I could go on and on.  The point is – the stuff on the top is easy and most people and businesses are willing to stop there.  Take off the blinders, get your hands dirty and dig deeper.  The payoff is much greater than the work required.