Daily Links: (17.05.2010)

• iPad takes to the skies with Bluebox Ai this July
• Foursquare killer Booyah! raises $20m
• Publicis London launches iHobo app to raise homeless awareness
• How Do Buses, Trains Get Wrapped in Ads? | NBC Chicago
• Digital Domain - World’s Largest Social Network - The Open Web - NYTimes.com
• Word of mouth beats ads in US and China - Warc
• BBC News - YouTube hits 2 bn daily downloads

iPad takes to the skies with Bluebox Ai this July Seems like seatback TVs were cool just a few years ago....

Foursquare killer Booyah! raises $20m I like the idea that one of my favorite services is popular enough to have a 'killer rival' now, but I think the entire competition between the two may be a bit overblown. Mytown has pretty much never worked for me, but that aside, its purely a game. The utility vs. game adoption/lifecycle curve is quite different, meaning that whatever competition its providing against Foursquare (and vice versa) should change rapidly.

Publicis London launches iHobo app to raise homeless awareness I've been thinking about this one for the last week and I'm still undecided on bits of it. Hands down, its an amazing idea which makes the normally ignored noticeable. However, I'm still curious if the target demographic for this will donate given any impetus.

How Do Buses, Trains Get Wrapped in Ads? | NBC Chicago Interesting piece on the actual implementation of the Super-sides, etc. that we all see everyday (if you happen to live within public transport range).

Digital Domain - World’s Largest Social Network - The Open Web - NYTimes.com The 'conflict' between Facebook & the Open (i.e. almost all else of the) Web is an interesting one. The article sums up the different points pretty well, but I think the debate about Facebook's place is the most interesting part. Is Facebook just another layer set within the Web framework or, through its content distribution network and ease of use/user base, slowly displacing open/functional aspects of the web?

Word of mouth beats ads in US and China - Warc While we can all intuitively guess that WOM recommendation carries more validity to the consumer than advertising claims (deriving from the general strengths of PR), its really interesting that the efficacy of WOM in the modern age is so similar across cultures. The fact that individuals both utilize Social Media & WOM over ad claims in a traditionally individualist (US) and a collectivist culture is definitely noteworthy fact.

BBC News - YouTube hits 2 bn daily downloads 2 Billion Daily downloads is quite impressive no matter how you slice it, but I do wonder about comparing it with broadcast TV as they are different experiences. A Youtube video is a minute or two minute clip, while a broadcast TV show involves a more extended viewing experience. That said however, it is still an incredibly impressive feat that shows the direction media is moving in.