All posts by mindfieldonline

Android Surging

Last time we were talking about how iPad is running away with the personal tablet computer market. Today, we look at the flip side, that is, the fact that Android-enabled smartphones seem to be gaining more and more attention from app developers.

An article in Mobile Marketer says:

The number of U.S. consumers who owned a smartphone during the three-month period (Feb-Apr 2011) grew 13 percent for a total of 74.6 million…Android’s market share (has grown to) 36.4%, while Apple’s iOS platform has a total of 26%

Marketers and app developers looking to reach out to smartphone users (soon to be up to half of phones purchased) are paying more attention to Android. So, while iPhone and iPad users have gotten a lot of attention for their nice selection of apps, Android users are starting to catch up!

So, what do you say Android users? What do you like about your phone? What are your favorite apps?

MindField’s 10,000 Facebook Fan Giveaway!

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Have you noticed the number of our Facebook fans lately? Something like 8,700. That’s getting pretty darn close to 10,000. So close, we’re getting IMPATIENT! So, check it out…we decided to give it a little push with MindField’s 10,000 Facebook Fan Giveaway!

On that magical day that we reach 10,000 Facebook fans, everyone who has joined MindField Online Internet Panels, AND then becomes a fan of our Facebook page will be entered into a drawing. The prize? TEN CHANCES TO WIN $100.00!!

If you are already a panel member and a Friend, all you have to enter is to recommend that all of your friends do the same. So, come on gang, let’s push that number to 10K!

iPad Pulling Away?

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This is not an endorsement of any particular personal tablet computer. But chances are, if you or someone you know has one, it’s an iPad. Lately, you are seeing lots of ads for competitive tablets. But, a recent article in the New York Times, entitled “IPad Rivals Fail to Gain Traction”… says that, um, iPad rivals are failing to gain traction.

According to an analyst’s report issued by JPMorgan Chase:

…companies building products to compete with the iPad have slowed production by as much as 10 percent since this time last March. At that time, the report said, competing tablet companies created 81 million tablets; this year the number has fallen to 73 million.

You don’t have to ask an iPad user if he’s happy – and you might not want to, because he won’t shut up about it 😉 …But are there any non-iPad tablet users out there, like Motorola Xoom and the Samsung Galaxy? What do you think? Are you happy with your device?

e-Book Upset!

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Remember the shock of learning last year that men’s colored briefs outsold tightie-whities for the first time in history? I mean, who could forget? Well, this is just like that – only digital!

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Amazon.com is now selling more electronic books than actual printed books.

 Since April 1, Amazon has sold 105 Kindle books for every 100 print books sold. The company has sold more than three times as many Kindle books so far this year as it did at the same time a year ago.

Imagine that. It took colored underwear 75 years to overtake white. E-books have done it in four years! It’s a $1 billion business, and they think it will triple in the next 5 years.

How about you? Do you use an e-reader (like Kindle or Nook) or are you old school? Why or why not?

More Happy Facebook Fans!

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Time again to update our “Panelist Reviews” page on the blog site. Lots of new comments, including this recent gem from Tammy:

I have been a member of MindField since September 2004. I have done in home product tests as well as take some very interesting surveys. This is by far one of the better survey panels there are out there. I have tried other survey companies but no others have come close to being as good as MindField.

So, check it out! And thanks Tammy…and all our enthusiastic fans!

The Mobile Commerce Generation Gap

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It seems that the younger you are, the more comfortable you are with using your mobile phone for purchases and banking.

Last week we wrote about mobile phone banking and asked for your thoughts. Some folks were all for it. Some were for it but with some reservations. And some were dead set agin’ it, by gar!

We didn’t ask for demographics but, in light of a new survey, it would be interesting to know the ages of the MindField Online members who were for or against. Cnet.com recently reported on a survey done by MasterCard that found that the younger you are, the more comfortable you are with mobile commerce. Here are some stats:

  • 65% of 18-to-34’s said they’d feel more naked without their phones than their wallets, compared 34% of the over-35 crowd.
  • 51% of men vs. 40% of women feel comfortable making a payment using a mobile phone.
  • Most telling: 63% of 18-34’s would feel comfortable using their mobile phones to make purchases, vs. only 37% of those over 35.

So, we’ll ask the question another way: Do you see a difference in attitudes about mobile commerce between you and your parents? You and your kids? You and your spouse? Let us know!

Say Cheese?

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Just spitballin’ here folks. What if you could complete a survey using your web-cam? There might be a couple of reasons for doing this. Maybe the surveyor wants to see the reaction on your face when they ask a question, or when you see a picture on your screen. Or it might be one of those things where you “say the first word that comes to mind” instead of filling in a box for Yes or No. Heck, it might be a way for the surveyor to get a more “true” reaction than making you think about – or overthink – your response.

So, what do you think? We REALLY want to know!

By the way, if you hate getting your picture taken, your humble blogger has offered to go first. You’re bound to look better than THIS guy!

"Yes. Or...No. Wait, it's Yes!"

Banking on the Go?

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We have been talking lately about using mobile devices for various retail purposes: shopping, comparing, coupons, etc. But do you use your mobile device for banking?

Well, it’s catching on!

According to a recent article on MobileMarketer.com:

…adoption of mobile banking among U.S. adults has more than doubled in the past two years to reach 16 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010… mobile banking will grow by an average of 20 percent per year over the next five years to reach 50 million U.S. adults by 2015.

So, how are we using mobile banking? So far, it seems mostly for informational purposes:

  • 70% use mobile banking to check their account balances
  • 33% use it to view their statements

BUT… using mobile banking for the purpose of actual, you know, BANKING is starting to catch on as well, with 30% using it to transfer money between accounts, and 27% using it to pay bills.

So, how about you? Do you use your phone for banking? What do you like about it? Do you think it’s “safe?” Let us know!

Online Coupons for Real World Savings

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Hey, times are tough. We’re all looking to pinch pennies, and more of us are going online to do it.

According to a recent article on InternetRetailer.com:

74% of consumers search multiple online coupon sources each week, and 25% spend up to an hour shopping for the best online discount deals.

From a dollar off of laundry detergent to a half-price romantic getaway, services like Bing, Groupon, Living Social, RetailMeNot (and on and on and on) are ready to help you save. And we’re definitely hooked. Here are some statistics, according to Bing:

  • 47% use more local deals and coupons than they did a year ago
  • 63% search up to 10 different coupons sites each week
  • 11% look at more than 10 coupon sites
  • 81% of moms search multiple sources each week

According to the survey, about half of us spend more than 15 minutes a week scoping out the deals, and about 25% of us spend between 30 and 60 minutes.

So, how about you? Are you clipping coupons online? Are you doing it more than you used to? Are you saving? Let us know!

Get All Your Shopping 411 with QR Codes!

Look familiar? You may not have paid them much attention, or known what they were, but these funny-looking symbols are the latest thing designed to improve your shopping experience.

They’re called QR scan codes (for Quick Response), and they are the 21st century answer to the traditional bar code. But while the bar code is designed for the seller – to improve efficiency in pricing and inventory – the QR is all for YOU, baby!

All you need is a smartphone with a camera, and an app that costs little to nothing to download. When you’re out shopping and you see the QR code on the label or on the display, turn on the app, point your camera and…that’s it. You are taken to a website that tells you all about the product.

There was a fun little article in the New York Times this week about shoppers in the Home Depot and Lowe’s using QR codes to learn how to select and care for trees for their yards. Which is funny because that is exactly how I used mine!

Another time I was heading downtown for a day of activities. I had one of those local weekly entertainment magazines, but wasn’t thrilled about carrying it around all day. Then I saw the QR code at the top of the “What’s Happening” section. I zapped it, and now I had the entire listing stored in my phone.

So check out the article, and look around the next time you are out. I bet you start noticing these things everywhere! Have you already tried QR codes? Tell us about it!