Are animated images the future of sports/news reporting?

The launch of Vine.co (a Twitter company) which allows people to upload 6 seconds videos has resulted in unexpected innovation elsewhere in sports reporting. While Vine videos are in flash with audio, some sites are innovating by uploading short clips in an animated Gif format.

One site that does this regularly is Business Insider. I have uploaded one pic from their site below, you can see more on this link

A phone for Kids

OWNFONE, a UK based company has launched a phone for kids. The phone has very basic features with upto 12 names that can be stored in the phones memory. This is to enable kids to dial their parents in case of an emergency.

Social Media monitoring tools

With so much noise being created online and the potential impact that it could have on brands if an online whimper turns into a crescendo, it is important for Brands to listen and track online. I've listed down a few Social Media tools that I have come across on the web.

More than 50% of Twitter followers of Barack Obama and Narendra Modi are FAKE

According to the Fake Follower app tool of a Social Media tracking company Social Bakers more than 53% of the Twitter followers of Barack Obama, the President of the United States of America, are fake or empty. Obama who won his first election on the weight of his social campaign and racked up a following of more than 31 million has more than 15 million fake followers according to this tool.

 

On the other hand, the rising star of Indian politics, BJP chief minister who is in the running for the PM candidate post in the BJP has also been cranking up the social engine. He has 1.6 million followers on Twitter and according to this tool 59% of his followers are fake and only 20% good.

Humble Ricky Ponting

3 time World cup winning captain of Australia Ricky Ponting carries Dinesh Karthik's bat and gloves after the IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Karthik was called by the TV crew and Ponting quickly ran up to him, without any prompting, to carry his gear to the dressing room. Would you ever see a senior Indian player do this. It's really amazing how humble the Australian players are and it's a lesson in humility for us Indians obsessed with status.

video below

Sanju Samson, the next Inzamam

I was quite impressed by the batting skills of Rajasthan Royals' rookie 18 year old batsman Sanju

Samson. He's already scored good runs for RR in the 2013 edition of IPL. What has impressed me is his sheer timing and the amount of time he has to play each ball. He reminds me of Inzamam's lazy elegance when he made even the fastest bowlers in the world look like medium paced pie chuckers.

Sanju should be groomed well by the board and identified as a future prospect. I'll place my bets on him.

It's time to stop building fans on Facebook

In the last few years we have seen a mad rush by brands to build fans on Facebook as if acquiring the highest number of fans is akin to winning an Olympic Gold. FB has been capitalising on this rush by offering Brands many advertising options to acquire this base which has been promptly lapped up by all.