A different kind of “jobs” report was making headlines last week. Easily the biggest technology, marketing and business story of the past week was the news that Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, is stepping down. Mr. Jobs was admired not only for his digital innovations but also for his ingenious advertising and creativity (check out Forbes’ list of the company’s most unforgettable ads and Advertising Age’s list of songs he made famous). I am confident that his legacy will live on as the new CEO Tim Cook takes the reins of a company on which Steve Jobs left such an indelible imprint.
Pew Internet & American Life Project has found that half of all American adults use social media, with young women 18-29 dominating the category of “power users.” At first, I thought that the findings that only half of American adults use social media seemed small. Until I considered that a similar study six short years ago found that only five percent of Americans were on these sites.
One of the busiest shopping seasons of the year – back-to-school – has spurred some interesting ads. Check out Advertising Age’s top 10 back-to-school ads of 2011. Which one is your favorite?
Are you in need of a good restaurant recommendation? Check out Ness, a new app that recommends eateries based on personal taste. To get started, the mobile app collects data from a user’s ratings of 10 restaurants and then starts suggesting!
Is surfing the Internet on company time a form of loafing? Perhaps not in moderation says a new study that finds that Web browsing “refreshes tired workers and increases their productivity.” It is perhaps not as restful as a nap, but likely a lot more acceptable to your boss.
Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare ended his 13-day hunger strike over the weekend, but not before becoming a social media phenomenon. With YouTube videos, widgets to install for Anna updates, games and Facebook and Twitter buzz, this 74-year-old protestor is certainly making a name for himself and his cause.
And finally, if you are looking for daily deals, you will not find them on Facebook. The social media giant has announced it is ending its attempt to challenge Groupon and Living Social. You can’t win ‘em all!
