Nike True City iPhone App

Last week Nike launched a new iPhone App, True City. The App provides users with user-generated content on six European cities. Nike bill the app as "making the hidden visible through the knowledge and insight of Nike Insiders—local tastemakers". Basically local 'experts' provide the information on each city. Nike considers these individuals as being at the forefront of their cities.

I downloaded the app and had a play around with it, and it's definitely worth a look. My only negative would be that it's only six cities and there's no immediate indication that it will be expanded. On the plus side, however, the app does integrate very well from a social media point of view.

You can download it here.

For those that don't want to download the app to have a look, check out the following video...

Guardian iPhone App

On the 14th December last year, The Guardian Newspaper launched an iPhone App offering users full access to all Guardian content through the convenience of their iPhone; including news, comments, features, photo galleries and audio. There was never a question that this was a smart move by The Guardian, what was a question for many people was the fact that The Guardian were not going to offer the App for free. It would be paid for. Admittedly this is not a unique situation for a news provider; BBC World News Live, BBC News Mobile, iCNN News Reader and even the Irish Independent and Irish Breaking News, all offer iPhone Apps that are paid for. However, it's also worth noting that Sky News, ITN News, Thomson Reuters News and The New York Times, all offer their Apps for free.

Was it the right move?

In short, yes it was very definitely the right move for The Guardian.

Since its launch, The Guardian iPhone App has been downloaded nearly 70,000 times. That's over 2,300 times a day, every day! That's extremely impressive for a paid App.

Emily Bell, Director of Digital Content, Guardian News & Media, said: "We are thrilled with our download figures for the first month of the app. The feedback we have received from users has been excellent, yet also extremely informative in terms of features and functionality that can be improved in the future. Over the Christmas break the app became available in many areas of mainland Europe, as well as in Canada and Australia for the first time, so we hope our global audiences will enjoy using the app as well."

The App was designed by The Guardian's in-house team and then built by 2ergo. It is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It is available for £2.39 and can be accessed by users in the following countries:
Finland, Latvia, Romania, Austria, France, Lithuania, Slovakia, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Greece, Malta (Republic of), Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Estonia, Italy, Portugal, Australia & Canada, UK, Ireland, US.

The App is available for download here, and the following video demonstrates all the App's features...

Guinness Storehouse: 10 Years & 1 Million Visitors

Today, Guinness Storehouse made the monumental announcement that it's 1 millionth visitor has crossed it's doorway. Not only does this go to re-enforce the Storehouse's position as Ireland’s No. 1 visitor attraction, but it also solidifies it as the 3rd biggest brand experience in the world (Source: Economic Research Agency 2008).

Speaking at today's announcement, Managing Director, Paul Carty said; “We are delighted that we had the opportunity to welcome over one million people through our doors in 2009. It was no mean feat with the year that was in it. The Irish tourism industry is under severe pressure, closing the year with a 12% fall in overseas arrivals. Within this context, it is reassuring for us at Guinness Storehouse to record a positive performance that still achieves and surpasses 1 million visitors.”

Mr. Carty continued, “ If we zoom in on our performance, up until October last year, Guinness Storehouse had actually increased visitor numbers exceeding the past year by 1,000. November and December delivered a weaker influx, hence generating an overall total of only –1% visitors in 2009 on 2008”.

Considering the current economic climate, and even more so the climate of the last year, this achievement is made even more noteworthy. Certainly one of Guinness Storehouse's strongest contributors to this success is its aggressive and highly coordinated PPC activity. By driving PPC advertising across a global platform, Guinness storehouse targets visitors who are in a "shopping" frame of mind, searching for things to do when they come to Ireland. In 2009 the Storehouse saw US visitors increase by 12% and European countries increase by 19% - within Europe, France, Italy and Spain showed the highest increases in visitor numbers with +26%, +21% and +23% respectively.

2010 will also see another huge milestone for Guinness Storehouse as it celebrates 10 years since first opening its doors in November 2000. To mark the anniversary, Guinness Storehouse has issued 1000's of ''Ambassador Cards, which allow fans to gain free access for the year. Furthermore, the Storehouse has also promised that 2010 will be jam-packed with even more photographic exhibitions, food demonstrations, live music and interactive tours then ever before!


A few interesting Guinness Storehouse facts:

• Guinness Storehouse building was erected between 1902 and 1904 for use in the fermentation process
• The building is 125 feet high, 170 feet long and 151 feet wide.
• It would take 14.3 million pints of Guinness to fill the giant glass atrium in centre of the Guinness Storehouse building
• Gravity Bar is the highest bar in Dublin located 46 metres off the ground

Irish Blog Awards Nominations Now Open

Nominations are now open for the 2010 Irish Blog Awards. This year there will be a total of 21 different categories for you to submit nominations:

• Best Popculture blog
• Best Food/Drink Blog
• Best Fashion Blog
• Best Music Blog
• Best Photo Blog
• Best Technology Blog/Blogger
• Best Sport & Recreation Blog
• Best Blog of a Business
• Best Arts and Culture Blog
• Best Blog from a Journalist
• Best News/Current Affairs Blog
• Best Group Blog
• Best Political Blog
• Best Blog of a Politician
• Best Use of the Irish Language in a Blog
• Best Specialist Blog
• Best Newcomer
• Best Youth Blog
• Best Personal Blog
• Best Humour Blog
• Best Blog Post

The event itself will be held on March 27th in Galway. Stay tuned for more details!

RBS 6 Nations In 3D!

I wrote back in December about Sony's announcement that they will be using next year's World Cup to showcase their new 3D television technology. The move by Sony will see 10 of the tournament's matches filmed and broadcast in 3D. This is just one example of 3D TV that is being talked about for 2010. Personally, I know what I'm especially looking forward to...

News has broken that on 6th February O2 (UK) will celebrate 100 years of rugby at Twickenham by letting English and Welsh rugby fans enjoy one of the years first jaunts into this new 3D technology. Across England and Wales fans will be invited to enjoy the second game of the RBS 6 Nations tournament at over 40 Odeon and Cineworld cinemas for full 3D screening of the England vs Wales game. This will be Europe's first broadcast of its kind using the technology.

Sally Cowdry, Marketing Director at O2, said: “As England team sponsor we’re committed to enhancing the experience for rugby fans. With these screenings we’ll be using the latest technology to let thousands of fans across the country get closer to the action and join in the excitement of celebrating 100 years of England Rugby at Twickenham”.

O2 customers in the UK can book priority tickets to the event from 25th January by texting 3D to 2020. The general public will have access to tickets from 29th January from £12.50.

For those of us here in Ireland, it may interest you to know that the second 3D match that will be screened will be England vs Ireland on the 27th February. There are no details at all on this match but I assume it will follow a similar mechanic, with O2 Customers getting access two weeks before, and the general public four days later. I for one, if I can't get a ticket to the game, would definitely consider going over to experience this.

Paul Vaughan, RFU Business Operations Director said: “In Twickenham’s centenary year, this demonstrates that England Rugby has a rich history and an even richer future with exciting new developments such as O2’s 3D screenings. Rugby fans will be proud of England Rugby celebrating 100 memorable years, and I hope they will pack cinemas across the country to support the team and mark this milestone”.

For more details on cinema locations and how to purchase tickets visit www.3Drugbylive.com.