Mobile Shoppers: Not Who You Would Expect

When we think of the typical shoppers, we tend to think of women who spend tons of time browsing through accessories and clothes. Of course there are also men who shop but tend to give less of an effort in the process. When it comes to mobile shopping, one would assume that it is in the woman's nature to take on the heavy user identity. Right? Wrong. A recent survey showed that men tend to shop via mobile devices a lot more often than women do. Why is this so you may ask? It simple, men shop quickly, therefore mobile shopping provides them with the perfect platform to do so.

Think about it, us guys are sitting on our couch watching the game while the women are out window shopping or browsing in stores and trying on dresses. Guys like things to be simple and efficient. So when we're sitting at home, we are more likely to work right from our comfort zone. A recent poll was taken asking men and women if shopping was a form of therapy for them. The results are the following: 46% of women agreed while 27% of men agreed. There is a clear discrepancy with the way each gender views the general idea of shopping. Women clearly enjoy the experience more than men do and look at it as a way of comfort.

Another survey was taken, this time asking men and women if they primarily shop on their phone through a mobile app. 15% of men agreed while 9% of women agreed. As expected, the men find it a lot easier to get their shopping done in the comfort of their own home. This doesn't mean that men are more tech savvy, but they would rather resort to the easiest form of buying rather than seeing the product in person the old fashion way. As sad as it sounds, technology has caused the average man to become lazier with mondain activities.

Speaking from personal experience, I have also purchased quite a bit from my mobile apps. For example, I recently ordered a basketball jersey from my Amazon app strictly on impulse as I was watching basketball highlights from a pub in the same fashion as ordering it on the computer. The only difference was I wasn't in my house yet it was a lot more convenient than going to a store and trying each size on. Mobile apps offer everything computer orders do in the convenience in our phone. I can choose my size, style and compare prices. Mobile app purchases have made shopping a whole lot simpler and easier for the average man. No longer do we need to make those trips to the retail stores, we not have access on the road.

Article: http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/men-are-more-likely-women-use-mobile-shopping-technology-148791

Glasses Gone Wild?

Google is known as the number one search engine across the world. They are constantly revolutionizing whatever industry they choose to enter, and their latest spectacle will hold that statement true. Google is introducing "Google Glass" - a new glasses design that accesses your Google account and provides the same ability to search for information right in front of your eyes. In addition to its general settings, Google Glass now provides an app that reads story headlines to you.

I am continuously amazed at the advancement in technology. Consumers can now access information on foot just by a few commands to their glasses. Imagine that! Improving sight while providing information at our fingertips. Google Glass brings a whole new meaning to virtual reality by being able to read breaking news reports or having them read to you by the program itself. The glasses are expected to be released to the public in 2014 at $1,500 a pair. That certainly is a heavy price to pay for a pair of glasses.

I'm all for innovation and advanced technology, after all I do consider myself a man of the millenium, however this invention has me scratching my head. My first problem is its purpose. Why do people need to have information accessed from their glasses when they can just as easily turn to their phones or computers? I understand that looking on the computer takes longer, but we carry our phones with us all the time anyway, so how would this introduce additional benefits. The way I look at it is it being hazardous to people on the road. Reading maps and stories while walking or driving is a distraction and takes away the attention of the consumer from his/her environment. As someone who wears glasses, I couldn't picture myself walking down the street and having a giant map in front of my face while trying not to walk into pedestrians. It's just too complicated.

The other problem I have with Google Glass is the hefty price that consumers are expected to pay. $1,500, really? If I want to buy a pair of glasses the most I would pay is $300 for a fancy frame. I don't believe it is necessary to purchase glasses with an additional feature that we already acces on our phones on a daily basis. The combined price of an Android or iPhone and a pair of glasses should be $500 AT MOST! I like where Google's head is at in terms of introducing revolutionizing products, but I can't see too many people buying this one. Glasses are supposed to be simple and overcomplicating it will provide a cluster of junk to our sight. Sorry Google, but some things just aren't meant to be.

Article: http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/new-york-times-google-glass-app-reads-stories-you-148946

Amazon Eyeing Hardware Market?

It looks like Apple, Microsoft and Google aren't the only technology company making noise in the  hardware market. Bloomberg Businessweek tweeted the latest rumor in the hardware world. Following up on their recent Kindle, Kindle Fire and smartphone app, Amazon has decided to launch a line of TV set-top products that will stream Internet directly to consumers' TV sets. Similar to DVR, Amazon hopes to build upon their success of Amazon Instant Video so consumers can enjoy the benefit of receiving news breaking news on the internet directly to their TVs.

With Apple selling nearly 5 million TVs last year and Microsoft selling 77.2 million Xbox 360 units since their launch in 2005, Amazon feels threatened to the point where the Kindle or Kindle Fire doesn't seem like it is enough to keep them competitive. Amazon hopes to introduce a new side to their company and being involved in the hardware industry allows for further expansion as well as reintroduces Amazon Instant Video subscriptions. Their pricing strategies will most likely follow their previous history's footsteps - being low priced for high content.



So what does this mean for Amazon? How will Amazon be viewed once the TV set-top product line is launched? Well, we should expect Amazon to remain competitive with Apple, Google and Microsoft in the hardware industry. Now that they have officially become the most dominant force in Internet retail, what is stopping them from replicating the same results in hardware? Understandably, it will not be an easy goal considering Microsoft and Apple are known as the two giants in the hardware market, but Amazon will continue to offer consumers with reasonable prices and have the resources to produce an efficient DVR-like program.

Amazon seems to be addressing a need that has already been met. People would rather receive news on their big screens rather than their laptops. Imagine having great quality shows and movies on your laptop or desktop and being able to stream them with perfect quality on the big screen. Sounds pretty familiar doesn't it? Yes it does! Netflix will be directly competing with Amazon as they both offer virtually the same benefit. This is where things become tricky. Why would consumers switch from Netflix to Amazon? They seem to both share the same goals. Amazon has the capability of obtaining Netflix consumers as they are well established in the technology field, but it will not be an easy task. There will need to be some serious advertising and an underlying benefit consumers receive from their product that Netflix doesn't provide.

At the end of the day, we still do not know too much about Amazon's plans to enter the hardware market due to the fact that these are only rumors at this point, but if they were to establish themselves as a competitor, we should be in store for some serious technological battles as each company tries to out-design the other.


Posted by Liel Dardashtian



Article: http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/amazon-preps-kindle-tv-set-top-box-148893