Latest Shopping Trends Emphasize Need for Retail Marketing Foresight
Several recently-published reports and surveys tracking changes in consumer buying habits reveal a growing competition between old versus new shopping habits. The E-Commerce Times discussed the implications of these new consumer buying trends with marketing experts. The results show that while e-commerce is overwhelmingly becoming the first choice for many consumers, many are beginning to show renewed interest in returning to their previous shopping norms.
10 Types of Social Proof and What Makes Them Effective
Social proof is an individual influencer or group clout that gives "proof" to a product. It is based on the principle that people tend to follow and conform to an influential person or a majority. They do this to be validated -- a result of a need for safety. Here are 10 kinds of social proof strategies -- and how and why they work.
Google's E-Commerce Push to Fill the 'Messy Middle'
Google's domination of the online ad market appears to have stalled since Amazon last year became the third-largest digital ad platform in the U.S. behind the Google-Facebook duopoly. This may have driven Google to accelerate its push into e-commerce, focusing on what it calls the "messy middle."
US Makes $57B Available to Small and Disadvantaged IT Providers
U.S. government agencies will remain active in the information technology market, despite the impact of COVID-19 on agency operations. In fact, there is evidence that the occurrence of the virus has spurred agencies to improve IT resources.
Digital Sales Boom Puts Spotlight on Fraud Control Systems
The move by retailers to online and mobile selling to survive the pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in digital fraud activity. The "2020 True Cost of Fraud Study: E-commerce/Retail Edition" by LexisNexis Risk Solutions found this to be partly because some fraud control systems are outdated, and partly because of increased transaction volume.
Panic buying and competition for consumer attention between in-store and online transactions have created a brave new world of retail that is bound to continue into a post-pandemic reality.
During the pandemic, increasing numbers of people have pulled out their sewing machines and knitting needles and gotten to work. A massive resurgence in sewing and crafts has taken place.
If your contact center agents are working from home, download our Remote Agent Checklist to ensure they can provide exceptional customer experience, no matter where they're based.
Women in Tech: 20 Trailblazers Share Their Journeys
Successful women in the tech trenches share their insights and tackle subjects ranging from how to search out a strong mentor to how to be one -- from how to advance in a large company to how to start your own firm.
This book is an excellent guide for students considering STEM courses, graduates pondering job choices, and career changers at any stage in life. It's also a useful tool for school and career counselors, recruiters, and HR pros eager to diversify their workplaces.
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Today's newsletter comes with a more accurate prediction of the big Samsung event — even if there's probably already another Galaxy device leaked before it starts — and 100 percent more working links.
Samsung
After all the teases and photos, there shouldn't be many surprises, but if you want to know exactly what the next Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Note are like, then you'll find out in a few hours. Watch along with us, right here at 10 AM ET.
— Richard
Disney has over 100 million streaming subscribers
And it's releasing 'Mulan' on Disney+.
Disney
With 57.5 million customers from Disney+, 8.5 million from ESPN (up from 2.5 million a year ago) and 35.5 million from Hulu (up from 27.9 million), Disney now counts over 100 million direct customers. However, it's bringing in less money per user than other streamers, due to discounts, all while the pandemic has closed movie theaters and kept people away from theme parks.
Disney did manage a hit when it released Hamilton direct to Disney+, and it's following up with something bigger. It will release its $200 million live-action version of Mulan on Disney+ September 4th. While it will also premiere in theaters in some countries, for many people, a ticket via streaming is the only way to get access. Details on the release are scant, but we're told that subscribers who pay up $30 to see it will get to keep it in their library as long as their subscription remains active. Continue reading.
Google Play Music will start shutting down in September
Stop us if you've heard this one before: Google is shutting down an old service.
Google
Google has offered a transfer tool to go from Google Play Music to YouTube Music, since May, and it'll keep working after Play Music has stopped streaming. That tool brings over everything you've uploaded to Play Music, anything you purchased from Google Play Music, playlists you've created, streaming songs you've saved to your library and data about your listening habits.
You'll want to do that (or use Google's Takeout export tool to move your data somewhere else) soon because Google Play Music is going away. The big shutdown starts in September for Australia and New Zealand, then spreads worldwide in October. That shift will include the removal of Google's Play Music store, too, so if you like to own your music, you'll need to find another outlet. Continue reading.
Last year, SpaceX flew a Raptor-powered Starhopper test vehicle, and now its first full-size Starship prototype has taken a 150-meter hop. Video from SpaceX shows the flight from a drone view and via cameras mounted to the SN5 prototype, which is missing a few elements, like a nose cone and body flaps. According to Elon Musk, after a few more tests, we should see those added when it's time for high-altitude testing. Continue reading.
Finally, Apple makes SSDs standard with its new 27-inch iMac
Same on the smaller iMac.
Apple
Apple's newest iMac isn't an ARM-powered number but a subtle upgrade with new processors and graphics. That's not all. There's also a higher-resolution webcam with improved low-light performance and a new audio system that borrows the "studio-quality" mic setup first seen in some recent MacBook Pros. Most importantly, perhaps, Apple is finally making SSDs standard across the line, for both the 27-inch and 21.5-inch iMacs. Depending on which configuration you choose, you're starting with 256GB or 512GB, but from there, you can go all the way up to 8TB. Price tiers remain the same, starting from $1,799, and the new Macs are available to order now. Continue reading.
Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller has a new job
And Greg Joswiak will now be the face of the iPhone.
Phil Schiller, the longtime face of the iPhone, has a new job. Not that he's leaving the company: He's now an Apple Fellow, acting as a top-level adviser after 33 years at the company. That all being said, Schiller remains in charge of the App Store and Apple Events. New SVP of Marketing Greg Joswiak, previously the head of product marketing, has been with Apple for more than 20 years. Continue reading.
Pepper the robot knows when you're not wearing a mask
And it will tell you to put one on.
Softbank
Pepper, part-time butler, railway station assistant, smartphone hawker and more, is now ready to slow the spread of COVID-19, with a new software update that adds AI image processing to detect whether nearby humans are wearing masks or not. And then tell them to wear one.
According to SoftBank Robotics, no personal data is used or stored, and the system works with masks that have complex patterns and color schemes. Pepper will also provide daily analytics, like the percentage of people complying with mask requirements. Continue reading.
Google's Pixel 4a will cost $350 and launches at the end of the month. After suffering from very detailed leaks as well as the company's own preamble and teases, there wasn't much left to the imagination — or press release, for that matter.
Google proves, again, it is the ruler of midrange phones with the Pixel 4a. It offers flagship-quality cameras, fast performance and good battery life for just $350. It also offers helpful Pixel-only tools like Live Caption for Calls, Call Screening, Recorder and Personal Safety features, helping it to break from the pack. Though it only comes in one color option and just a single rear camera, the Pixel 4a still manages to be the best phone for the price. Check out Cherlynn's full verdict, right here. Continue reading.
PS4 game sales almost doubled during the pandemic
And the vast majority of sales were digital.
Sucker Punch
In its financial earnings earlier, Sony reported it sold 91 million PS4 games during the three-month period leading up to June 30th, 2020. That's an 83 percent increase on the 49.8 million sales it reported for the same quarter last year. First-party exclusives sold impressively as well — 18.5 million copies total — buoyed by Naughty Dog's long-awaited sequel to The Last of Us.
Sony also offered some PS5 updates for old peripherals and controllers. You can use your old DualShock 4 controllers with the new console, but only for older games. Your PlayStation camera will also work with the PlayStation 5 but will require a special adapter that the company says will be free of charge. Continue reading.
A quick read that you'll finish before your first cup of coffee.
Virgin Galactic reveals its Mach 3 aircraft design
Wait, have they even sent anyone to space yet?
Virgin Galactic
On Monday, Virgin Galactic unveiled the initial design concepts for its March 3 high-speed plane, a delta-wing aircraft that will carry nine to 19 people and fly at an altitude of 60,000 feet. The company also signed a non-binding memo with Rolls-Royce to collaborate on designing and developing engine propulsion technology for high-speed commercial aircraft. Continue reading.
Microsoft redesigned the Xbox store ahead of Series X debut
It'll roll out to all users this fall, but some beta testers can try it this week.
Microsoft
And on the other side of the console avenue, Microsoft has pretty much redesigned the entire online Xbox store, ready for the Series X to land. The company claims the store is more than twice as quick than in the past and that it loads in under two seconds. You can "easily see" what games your friends are playing, and it should be a cinch to find out what sales and discounts are available. Microsoft will let some Xbox Insiders (aka beta testers) try the new-look store for themselves starting on Wednesday, with a gradual roll-out planned in the run-up to the Xbox Series X launch this fall. Continue reading.
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560 review
A versatile smart charcoal grill.
Engadget
This Gravity Series grill offers the familiarity and convenience of charcoal with a WiFi-connected setup that works well as both a smoker and a high-temperature searing machine. Lighting it properly will take some practice, and it's missing a few features we've seen in other setups, but at $500 it's half the price of a midrange Traeger model. Continue reading.
