Twitter Analytics

Twitter has rolled out its Beta version of Twitter stats - the offical tool for Twitter for statistics. Similar to Facebook insights, Twitter stats shows you topline information about your tweets so that you can now amalgamate more Social Media data into your Website/Campaign analysis.

It makes we wonder when we will have an all-round, one-stop shop that will allow you to pull all this data together including 3rd party platforms such as Facebook or Twitter, Web Analytics tools and Social Media Monitoring tools. There doesn't seem to be anyone that has quite nailed it yet.... is there a gap there? Who knows.

In the meantime, Twitter Stats shows us quite a few useful pieces of information and supplies some top-line graphs those who like to look at visual data.

Stats include:

• Tweet impressions
• Clicks
• Retweets
• Replies
• Favourites
• Mentions
• Follows/unfollows
• Best/good/all tweet filter

If Twitter get this right, it could help leverage their platform's positioning into a much stronger Marketing and Communications Tool; rather than the pigeon-hole of  social media "buzzwords" that it is currently resides in with most Marketing Managers. So, keep your eyes peeled for further developments.

Relevant information:

• Twitter Analytics on Mashable

Discussing Social Media

This is an old post transferred across from my old blog but it's one that seems to still go down well so have reinstated it on here.

The Yolk were asked by BusinessLink to deliver a presentation on Social Media for businesses. It was based at the Forum in Norwich, Norfolk. First I've been there but a great setup for presentations. A highly recommended venue!

There will be a video of the presentation shortly. In the meantime, please see the presentation below:

Social Media Presentation

View more presentations from Phailanx.
 

Is the Wii dead? - Microsoft Kinect vs Sony Playstation Move

There has been a lot of hype over the new gaming technologies that are emerging in the digital world. With the Wii starting the trend, Sony and Microsoft were quick to follow suit after seeing its instant success. In Sony and Microsoft fashion, they have quickly tried to develop the foundations set by the Wii into an immersive and engaging gaming experience.

The Playstation Move has been out for some time now and I have heard some great reports and seen some great gaming opportunities with the device. Although I'm yet to have a go, but eager to try!

This leads us onto the highly anticpated Kinect by Microsoft. I have heard some mixed reports on this - some great, some terrible. Here's the dilemma... the theory of the Kinect is world class and it is highly likely that it will be the way that we as society move forward with a lot of our entertainment fulfillment. However, it comes with some disadvantages. Being fully immersive into the platform means that it will get very tiring... I mean very tiring. I've heard through the grapevine that shift rotations are required to play one game. The other issue is expectation; will it live up to the expectation of consumers with regards to the response rate and gaming experience? This is obviously to be confirmed. Only the public can tell us that.

We'll see how these devices perform against each other, but most importantly, against the Wii. Hopefully the two big boys won't kill of Nintendo as I think that there is more innovation to come - especially with a cross-platform gaming experience... unless Microsoft beat them to it. I'm looking forward to the interactive experiences that lie ahead, especially with games, the internet and possibly the integration of TV and 3D. In the words of EA, "It's in the game" - and it really will be at this rate.

Anyway, here is a small E3 video demo of the Kinect - hope you enjoy:

Social Media Guide

This is the new Social Media Guide by Social Media Company Webjam. A great topline highlight of the benefits of using (and how to use) Social Media:

Mirage Digital - New Blog location being updated!

Due to the lauch of the new website, I am currently importing all the posts from my previous blog (www.phailanx.co.uk). Please bear with me as there is no blog export and this is a manual process. I also won't be able to transfer any comments :0(

However, this blog be will back-dated and updated continuously moving forward!

Related links:

• Phailanx's Blog by Azlan Raj (Previous version)
  

Cooliris launch iphone app

Cooliris, the ridiculously sexy way to browse images online, has launched an app for the iphone that allows users to browse their iphone images and post them to social media networks such as Twitter.

Cooliris makes browsing images online enjoyable and I am looking forward to seeing how it transfers onto a handheld device. I must admit, the iphone's existing way to browse images is fairly robust, so Iam intrigued to see how this can compare. Will this take user interface to the next level or will it be a case of going one step too far and be counter productive for a positive user experience.

It took me a while to get into Twitter, but with interfaces that are so fun to use and making interaction so simple, it is difficult not to start embracing these new platforms. With the applications like this, and Apple releasing the new software for the iphone (V3.0) this summer, it is only going to put UI even more at the forefront of new technology. September is going to be an exciting time for innovative design.

Microsoft's E3 presentation shows up the competition

Microsoft's E3 presentation set the benchmark for Sony and Nintendo. Microsoft's flagship console the Xbox will be incorporating new features such as full body movement, facial, voice and pattern recognition. With the combination of amazing graphics, interaction and potentially party gamplayon top of the exisitng sound online play and marketplace interface (Designed by AKQA), Microsoft must surely be onto a clear market leader. We will have to wait and see though!

Microsft have also released some bad news for the high street games retailer by being the first console that will allow customers to by pass the retail option. Software highlights include Halo: Reach, Final Fantasy XIII, the exclusive Left 4 Dead 2 and of course, a brand new Metal Gear Solid!

The digital age is moving forward, and gaming is just the start...