bengreen.com

My Nokia e71 has been through alot, it is without a doubt one of the best phones I’ve ever had, surviving an underwater adventure in Mexico which knocked it out for three weeks but coming back and working like a champ.    It’s been almost two years since I got it however, and since submerging it in the swimming pool at Puerto Vallarta I have been looking at options for upgrading.    For a time, I was ready to jump ship from TMobile to Verizon and get a Droid or a Droid X, and even considered an iPhone on ATT’s shady network  (shudder).   When I found out about the TMobile G2, momentum swung back to TMobile, and remained that way as news broke of the Nexus S.   Yesterday, while reading about the buzz created by dual-core devices at the recent 2011 CES, I discovered the LG Optimus 2X, and was sold almost instantly.   The decision has been made – although I will have to wait 4-8 weeks, I am officially holding out for this one.

First, I’ll break down what I perceive as the weaknesses/dealbreakers for the (now former) contenders:

iPhone 4 on ATT – well that’s easy.   After briefly owning an iPhone 3g in 2008 (which turned out to be a lemon), and having what was undoubtedly the worst customer service experience of a lifetime, there is no way I will ever patronize ATT again.

iPhone 4 on Verizon – two reasons:  a)  CMDA vs GSM is a no-brainer, and b)  long term  contract + outrageous monthly fees

Droid / Droid X / Droid Pro on Verizon – long term  contract + outrageous monthly fees

HTC Evo on Sprint – long term  contract + this phone just seems too big

TMobile G2 on TMobile – I was really tempted to get this one and would have paid full price to have an unlocked, contract free set, but ultimately decided against it due to the lackluster processor (Qualcomm MSM 7230 at 800MHz)

Google Nexus One – when I found out about the lame processor in the G2, I seriously considered getting a new Nexus One by becoming a certified Android Developer ($25), however I just couldn’t bring myself to get this as it is now one year old technology.

Google Nexus S – Really nice phone, however it is lacking some key features – HDMI, removable SD card, and by the time it hit the market I had my eye on dual core processor phones, which brings me to the winner:

LG Optimus 2x – this thing is just a beast: dual-core Tegra 2 1Ghz processor, full 1080p TV-out via HDMI and video capture through an 8 megapixel primary camera plus a 1.3 megapixel cam for face-to-face calling, 4-inch WVGA display, 8GB of on-board storage (expandable with up to 32GB of microSD) and a 1,500mAh battery.  Battery capacity is a potential issue given all the aforementioned shizzle this phone is running, but that’s a risk I am willing to take.

I’m sold.  Only question is should I hold out for the rumored launch on TMobile in February, or pre-order now from CellHut.com, unlocked for $519?

Google TV is a great option for ubergeeks (like me).   The problem is that for the average couch potato, its user interface is overly complex and presents a steep learning curve.  Both the NY Times and Wall Street Journal documented this in their reviews. Enter Kevin Bacon:

Now that its been on the market for several weeks and feedback like this is percolating back to the Googleplex, Logitech has launched a TV spot featuring Kevin Bacon, to highlight the appeal of their ‘Revue’ Google TV hardware to the masses.   And who better to pitch it than Kevin Bacon, who’s within six degrees of everyone?

More insight, and the inspiration for this post, at PaidContent.org.

Interesting data released today by the Radio Advertising Bureau shows how growth for cross-channel budgets across leading market segments reflect trends in the broader advertising landscape.

The ongoing economic recovery and continuing strong performance and growth in ad dollars for the mobile sector  including Android-enabled devices, iPhone 4, and Windows Mobile 7  led the way in terms of growth in Q3 2010 radio advertising budgets, and across all channels.   Automotive and Professional Services, two other leaders in the RAB’s Q3 2010 analysis, have shown consistent cross-channel growth this year as well.

Optimizing page load times and site performance is an ongoing and well-documented challenge for online marketers.   The proliferation of widgets and tags used to track online behavior and add features is a two-edged sword – adding functionality, generating insightful metrics vs. increased page load times.   As an interactive marketer focused on achieving higher conversion rates, I am acutely aware of the detrimental effect that slow load time has on conversions.   An item from Media Post about Subaru’s efforts to cut page load times with a tag aggregation service called Tag/Man illustrates how a major brand is tackling this problem.

Read more at Media Post

Sony and Major League Baseball have announced a partnership that will bring out-of-market games to Sony PlayStation consoles, extending MLB’s reach to video gamers and augmenting PlayStation’s position as a digital entertainment hub.   Last month I blogged about the road back for Sony, this is another step for the Japanese consumer electronics giant.

Read more from the New York Times

Google now includes site speed as a ranking factor in its algorithm, as reported on Friday by Searchengineland.    Successful Interactive Marketers is determined to a major extent on striking the right balance among creative, strategic and technical considerations.   Achieving optimal site performance and page load time depends on these factors as well.   While this has always been a factor, it just got a little more important.

It is not uncommon for key stakeholders to be unaware of the impact that site performance has on their online presence, particularly for online marketing efforts for which global performance is key to success.   Last month I wrote about the Alertsite performance monitoring system, and how one company has used it to improve user experience and in turn generate a greater number of leads from Asia and Europe.   With Friday’s announcement of the inclusion of site speed in the Google ranking algorithm, the stakes have been raised.   If you haven’t considered utilization of Akamai or one of its competitors in the site acceleration / content distribution space, perhaps now is a good time to revisit.   To validate what you are seeing from the Google Labs site performance toolset, try a free 30-day trial of the Alertsite service to gain knowledge and insight as to how your site measures up.

This morning my commute from Boston to the South Shore which is typically a total grind was quite enjoyable, thanks to 98.5 The Sports Hub.   Check out this mp3 of Tedy Bruschi channeling Geddy Lee.    What’s the bottom line for Interactive Marketers?  It’s Friday and we all deserve a laugh!

Click here to listen to Teddy Bruschi channeling Geddy Lee on 98.5 The Sports Hub

Interesting news about an innovative cross-channel marketing initiative this morning from @AmericanExpress and @DunkinDonuts.   As reported on Boston.com and the Hartford Courant, Amex has partnered with Dunkin’ Donuts via its Blue Savings customer loyalty program. When Blue Cardmembers shop four times in a calendar month at Dunkin’ with their American Express Card, they will get a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts Card.

The initiative is being promoted across multiple channels, including print via member’s monthly card statements, Amex broadcast emails,  Twitter and Facebook.   Interesting that the program is not being promoted by TV and radio.