Google’s ‘Meet Me on the Bridge’ campaign to mark International Women’s Day on 7th March, was a brilliant execution of how to do online marketing well. A simple idea: the tried and tested, personalised IWD Google-ized logo, that when rolled over took users to the campaign which got people all around the world to check into their local bridge in person or virtually – and leave messages of support. The interactive map shows the location and supporters; tabs to support related charities supporting women around the world, and the still shocking facts about women’s pay, work, lives, health, despite this being the C21st. Well done Google – a great example of what global corporations should be doing.

Found a great iPhone app that helps you find walks – both countryside + interesting historical routes. check it out here: WalkExplorer.

I found this great site by looking over the shoulder of one of the speakers at Being Open ’11. His name was Jeremy Ruston and he is the Head of Open Source Innovation at BT. Anyway, he was using CardMapping which is basically a giant digital white board on which to place digital sticky notes. Great for planning, brainstorming and agile development… something we’re a big fan of here at Ideas.org HQ.

Ideas, it seems, can come from anywhere. But use this method with caution – remember, it’s not polite to stare at another man’s equipment…

Found a great iPad app via the guys at ‘Marketing over Coffee‘. I listen to their podcast every week while I’m running around Clapham Common.

And on Friday night I tested out a mindmapping app they recommended for the iPad, called iThoughtHD. Within 20 minutes I managed to practically lay out the complete structure for a workshop on eCommerce I am running in Portugal later this year.

There is no better way to brainstorm sitting on your terrace with a cup on coffee… untethered – thanks to the iPad.

Great for speeches, planning events, low-brow project management.

I love this app.

The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.apps iPhone app using Metaio’s AR technology touches on what all AR are waiting for.

It features :

1. a video of BEP playing Time of Your Life that places you at the centre – so by panning your iphone around yourself, you feel like you’re there on the dance floor along with dancers and the band.

2. you can  take snaps of band members (which presumably the band’s management hope that you post to your SM accounts)

3. you can take a snap of yourself placed in the BEP poster/album cover – enabling you to become a token member of BEP.

This is an absolutely fantastic app, and where I hope AR is headed. After all, do we really care about enhancing Boris’s  Bikes?

What we do want are apps that allow us to create our own personalised entertainment using AR enhanced content. This is a great way for brands to really engage with their customers.

LoKast solves a frustrating problem with the iPhone – there’s no easy way to share stuff when you’re in close proximity to something… Great for collaboration in both work & play settings.

Nokia has joined forces with Microsoft in an attempt to regain ground lost to the iPhone and Android-based devices.

The deal would see Nokia use the Windows phone operating system for its smartphones, the company said.

For full story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12427680

iPhone apps continue to deliver value at pace! I have been trying to learn Spanish for decades. Turns out all I need is this translator app!

Continuing last week’s entry about the proliferation of brands entering the e-learning arena: O2 has announced the launch of an e-learning pilot, that it is trialling with a couple of schools.

If it takes off, this proof of concept project will be rolled out; whilst providing a useful e-learning tool to kids. Firmly behind the scheme is O2′s objective of attracting the all important family target audience.

Whilst this could be seen as a typical marketing ploy, it could could work for O2, given it is practicing the golden rules of WOM marketing:

• go to where the audiences are
• give them useful content
• and for free
• provide them with the tools to engage
• listen to what they have to say
• before rolling out mark 2.

Simples

This app will give you an idea of just how quickly the computing power of tablets is advancing and the power it brings with it… Read more here.