made you look

on my way back from a meeting this morning, I noticed one of those bench signs that said (in big bold yellow letters), "SEE YOU LOOKED! BENCH ADVERTISING DOES WORK!"

I sincerely hope no one is fooled by this. we all know that there's a huge difference between merely getting someone's attention and clearly articulating a message, don't we?

I remember riding in the car once when I was very young -- I saw a balloon floating in the sky that was attached to a long string decorated with multi-colored, triangular shaped flags. it had to be at least one hundred feet in the air. when the car finally got close to the base of the balloon, it was a car dealership.

'a car dealership?' I thought. 'what do balloons have to do with selling cars?'

so, I asked [whomever was driving] why a car dealership would do this? it has nothing to do with all the books I'd read on advertising approaches. just kidding, I was probably only eight years old or so.

the answer I was given was, "to get your attention." and it worked. so its a successful means of advertising, right?

wrong.
this balloon only confused me. it said nothing about their company, how they're different from the next car dealership, or even what their profession is. this, in many ways, is probably worse than going unnoticed. in the consumer's mind is now ambiguity (which does not lead to inquiry) rather than surety or simply not knowing the company exists. how can one believe it is good in any way to first mislead someone before asking for a business relationship? I thought the balloon meant there was a circus in town and then I'm disappointed by this stale, lame car dealership?

its as if so many of us are begging for the attention drug in any possible form that we'd do anything to get it.


is that intelligent?

you have got to be kidding me.

T-Mobile's G1 with Google Android

T-Mobile's G1 was released earlier this week. This is the first product I've ever purchased the first day it was released; I'm not much of an early adopter (1st runner-up is my last phone, the T-Mobile MDA, which I purchased only a week after it was released).

When I first learned of Google Android, an open-sourced operating system for handheld devices, I was very excited but at the same time a bit disappointed because some of the things I saw regarding the interactive maps ran circles around my thesis. I quickly got over that once I realized I'm no match to Google's Research + Development Team anyway -- "if you can't beat em, join em" one of my goals.

So its been about four days since I've had the phone. I must say, I am a bit disappointed and considering sending it back. A few minutes ago I got an email from T-Mobile asking me to fill out a survey "regarding your experience with your new T-Mobile G1 with Google phone."

Apparently, they have no idea how passionate I am about this subject.

One of the questions asked me to rate how satisfied I am with my device; I answered "somewhat dissatisfied" (a step up from the lowest, "extremely dissatisfied"). The next question asked, "Why are you "somewhat dissatisfied?""

My response:

I've found there are some design flaws that need attention.

The hardware (specifically the covers over the microSD card and USB/headphone connectors) seem a bit flimsy, like they will break off in a few months or so. They also tend to get in the way when I'm trying to use these slots.

The interface isn't very intuitive; it could benefit from more user testing. Why is it so difficult to turn GPS on or off? Menu: Settings>Security & location (the description of this menu option does not mention GPS).

Why is it so difficult to add a contact from someone who sent me a text message? I practically have to outsmart the smart-phone.

Why, if I see something on the screen (ie time, battery icon, Bluetooth logo, etc) am I not allowed to click, or touch, it and be given options pertaining to what I clicked? I mean, this is a touch screen, right?

And let's set aside all the complaints bloggers have been making about the difficulty in transferring contacts from MS Outlook (you don't really think I'm going to manually type in +300 contacts, do you?). My biggest frustration (being a former Windows Mobile owner) and possibly the deal-breaker is the fact that this phone does not allow the user to copy+paste. So many times have I been on the internet and saw part of an article and sent it as a text message to a colleague. Or saved part of an email in the notes of an appointment.

I use my phone primarily for business -- am I outside of your target audience?

Busta Rhymes said it best when he spoke of how much he loves
what he does in his song Genesis (00:54 – 1:24)

"...I'ma die tryin for y'all
With the blessing of an angel's tear cryin' for y'all
Back to the foundation, takin you under back where it all started
With a whole new beginnin and a brand new hunger
Starvin to where my skin was suffocatin my ribs
Now we got bitches interior decoratin my crib
Touch the love I got like you holdin my heart in your hand
And watch my manifesto, shit was all a part of the plan
The fashion that I choose to deal with this shit
Sometimes it's so hard to describe the passion that I feel for this shit
How many struggles I survived just to eat this meal
Never thought y'all meet a nigga that could be this real."


You probably don't understand the passion I feel for this. If not, you certainly won't understand why I was so excited to get this phone. I've been an avid fan of Google, Google Maps, interactive maps, and handheld devices for the last three years (borderline obsession) -- I thought this phone would boost me into the next dimension. It didn't.

Maybe I'll try to patch things up between MDA & I; she's all I really needed. I'm wondering if I should've never left her. Although she could've moved on to someone who really appreciates her,
if she understands me, she'll take me back.

"Chillin wit ya girl while ya thinkin bout ya ex."
- from the song Dr. Knockboot by Nas (01:47 – 1:49)

Okay this was supposed to be a desigNERD blog but now I'm just clownin so I'm out.

Obama's iPhone app organizes contacts by battleground states.

I don't have time to write about this, but it really reinforces what I wrote about Obama's campaign before.

read the USAToday.com article