Smartphones are the new babysitter...

Learn all about "Pass Back" here in the CNN article by Stephanie Goldberg. This proves once again that kids like to do what their parent do, up to a certain age of course!

Global Blue Re-Branding includes Augmented Reality iPhone App

Hosted by Time Out Amsterdam, Global Blue stepped out on Thursday with a lovely new brand and an iPhone app too. Piloting in Singapore and Amsterdam, the iShop iPhone application uses AR in directing you to the best spots to shop & experience in our lovely Venice of the North. Pictured highlighting the new app is Regional Benelux Manager, Marja van Reijn.

Ewan's Presentation for TechCrunch's GeeknRolla

Symbian is the one to watch for 2010. Nokia shipped 1.4m phones today, and iPhone app development is like playing the lottery.

Ewan's Presentation for TechCrunch's GeeknRolla

View more presentations from Mobile Industry Review.

The Vatican: Organized Religion goes Transmedia

Um, I would think The Vatican might have better things to do right now? Or better yet they might be a little cautious about the Q&A forum on their new iPhone app? Read all about the video sermonettes here.

It's a Girl for Girl/Boy for Boy Toy World

No confusion out there for the toy consuming tots. Boys want trucks and girls want teddy bears. Read about it all here.

Promoted Tweets = Twitter Revenue Stream

Some Twitterati are very unhappy. Find out why here.

Augmented Reality Development Camp @ Mediamatic

The day started at 10am with Dan Brickley from Amsterdam's VU. He was a most wonderful host throughout the day and offered some good links:
www.newbreeders.com
www.layar.com
www.wikitude.com

Then we heard from Steven Pemberton from W3C & CWI regarding RDFa's, which I thought was the most practical and useful info of the day.

Johannes la Poutre from www.squio.nl talked mobile navigation tools (he's pictured above) and open source goodies like PorPOISe and www.Hoppala.eu, all connected to Layar.

Later, Hans Overbeek from ICTU (creators of the Dutch Digi ID) talked about governments and data-sharing. I thought that was a bit of an oxymoron, but he seems to want to engage the developer & private sectors to build a movement from the bottom up, as opposed to top down.

Lastly we heard from Fancesco Masia from Calameda who is developing video conferencing with augmented reality. It will bow in about two months, he says, but there was no prototype to show. I did see a great application for kids there, as you can apparently conference and draw/sketch at the same time.

The day ended with break-out sessions and I chose to attend the Layar group with Johannes and Hans Blaauw from www.openhanced.com.

Conclusion: A very successful day with loads of resources and info.

P.S. Attend the Augmented Reality flashmob on Dam Square in Amsterdam on April 24th at 14:00. www.sndrv.nl/ARflashmob

Augmented Reality T-Shirt

Why Kids Don't Use Twitter...

Paul Bradshaw writes about new Microsoft hire Danah Boyd and her observations on kids and Twitter use. This also spills over into lessons learned by teens in the general world of social media. Interesting...

GeeknRolla

Just over a week away from GeeknRolla, the annual conference from TechCrunch Europe which brings together Europe’s technology startups and investors. Read more here.

It's in London, and I really love their name and logo. Just wanted to post it for aesthetics alone, really!

MipTV gets rolling in Cannes...

Oh, and of course MipTV kicked off yesterday. Read about who is doing deals here.

TEDxTransmedia

If you are lucky enough to be in Lucerne on the 22nd of April, check this out!

Deadline for registration is tomorrow!

Transmedia: Givin' it Away...right!

Okay, I swear this is not a blog dedicated to Starlight Runner or Jeff Gomez. However, if Mr. Gomez keeps up the pace saying really potent and cool stuff, then it just might be.

Read the Tech Dirt article here called Ideas Into Execution: Giving Away An Idea To Make It Happen.

Then, scoot over to the Kidscreen sponsored blog by Starlight's Jeff Gomez where he discusses the need to destroy knowledge scarcity in The Secret Sharers.

I've been up early adding my two cents worth :)

Starlight & Curious per Variety

Starlight makes good on their dream to produce its own content. Long live this relationship, and boy do I look forward to what comes out of it!

READ THE PIECE FROM VARIETY HERE.

Kidscreen's Transmedia Bootcamp

If you are in Santa Monica on June 2nd, then you are super lucky! Attend Transmedia Bootcamp...


More here.

The State of Kids TV

From WorldScreen.com!

PGA says Transmedia Producer OK!

The Producer's Guild of America has ratified the Transmedia Producer credit, thanks in part to our fav man about the transmedia universe, Jeff Gomez.

And now for the iPhone...

60% of educational iPhone apps are for preschoolers, study says! Check it out here.

iPad and the Kids

Marvel and PBS are developing iPad apps. Post thanks to new online editor at Kidscreen, Wendy Goldman Getzler.
More on that story here.

Hazel, one of my heros...

I have been meaning to add this to my blog. I love it that Hazel tells it like it is.

The message: "Surprising, isn’t it that these very basic realizations are being expounded as ‘the future’ by a panel of professionals."

Check the full extent of what she has to say about ARG at SXSWi2010 here.

New US study indicates preschoolers recognize brands

by: Gary Rusak

A recent US study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin and University of Michigan reveals that young children experience the same marketing pressures as young adults and, in fact, do understand advertising and branding concepts.

In the two-part study, published in Psychology & Marketing the researchers first assessed brand recognition levels in 38 children age three to five. Corporate logos, like Lego and Coca Cola, were presented to children and a series of questions including 'Have you seen this before?' and 'What types of things do they make?' were asked.

The children's recognition rates were as high as 92% for some of the brands. The most commonly recognized brand was McDonald's, followed by other fast food, soda and toy companies. And the study showed children use brand cues to determine what food products will be exciting or which toys will be the most enjoyable.

Allison's Note: McDonald's? Oh no.

Only this could pull me full stop back into blogging after a long break...

Check out this super hot website from Hanazuki Studio in Amsterdam for Defqon1 Dance Event.

For tech driven creatives especially. This is inspiring stuff.

Friends, post it to your social networks. Spread the Hanazuki vibe far and wide.

More on transmedia to come.