Well it’s Friday yet again, and we’ve got a special 8 second video with a HUGE tip for all you PR pros out there! Check out a member of our very own EDPR team, Danica Forshner, as she shares some helpful advice above!

The scanner we’re using while carrying out this task is the hipstreet Swipe (available on Shop.ca for $127.49). This small piece of machinery packs a big punch, allowing you to portably scan and store anything and everything you’d ever want to! The portability is especially useful when scanning magazines, as you don’t need to rip any pages out – or fold them unnecessarily. Plus, if you don’t own a copy of a magazine or newspaper piece, you can always scan another person’s copy – without ever needing to borrow it!

An added bonus: this scanner comes with a tablet/iPhone app that makes portable scanning even simpler! Check out the app demo video below:

Quite honestly, this scanner has helped make this rather mundane and tedious job a little more fun!

One tech-savvy musician that’s using Vine to promote his new single is Jason Derulo. Known for tagging all his singles with his name, the R&B singer was one of the early adopters of Vine and now he wants to use the app to promote his new single, “The Other Side” which dropped last week. Essentially, he had the song broken up into 6 second increments that can be chosen to ‘score’ your Vine video as you post it. The singer is asking fans to tag the Vines with ‘#TheOtherSide’, then Derulo and his team are going to choose a bunch of them to edit together to create a full-length ‘fan video’ to be posted on YouTube.

Ayal Kleinman, Warner Bros Records VP of Marketing says Vine is “the emerging social media platform” for artists. Also commenting, “The high-energy feel of the song really lent itself well to the platform, and so all the elements came together to create this really engaging promotion.”

Vine seems like the perfect opportunity to not only allow singers/bands to put their music out to a wider audience, but also to have a more personal relationship with their fans by ‘Vine’-ing backstage or sharing behind-the-scenes clips!

• Take your phone out of the toilet immediately (hand washing can wait).
• Dry it off with some toilet paper (or equivalent – super absorbent is best)
• If it’s an iPhone, but it in a ziplock with rice ASAP.
• If it’s a different model, take out the battery/etc and place all pieces individually into a ziplock with rice.
• Be sure to check the white indicator strip (in the headphone jack of iPhones/in the battery section of other models) and see if it’s turned red. If it has, cut and paste a new piece of white paper overtop and take it to your service provider for repair (fingers crossed for a new phone!).

Watch the video to learn more:

Have you ever dropped your phone in water? Were you able to save it?

There One Minute, Gone the Next

So what is exactly is SnapChat, and why does it have hipsters abandoning their collection of fun filters? Simply put, SnapChat is a way to share photos with your favourite people (on iPhone and Android) that will get to them 10x faster than a regular MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). Besides being faster, the ‘gimmick’ to Snap Chat is that the photos, or ‘snaps,’ are on a timer so you can control how long receiver of the photo actually has access to it before it disappears from their device. Perfect if you’re trying to organize a surprise for someone who has access to your phone! Of course the app does offer a save option on their preview screen or you can take a screenshot if you’re quick but the sender of the Snap will be notified!

Every App Has Its Dark Side

So you’ve downloaded this app to your phone where you can take ‘impermanent’ photos that will not (supposedly) be finding their way onto the greater World Wide Web, what’s the good in that? It seems the overwhelming answer is the ‘indecent exposure’ kind; which can be corroborated with a quick Google search. With a user demographic between the ages of 13-25 this news is more than a little shocking. SnapChat was recently featured on Good Morning America  with the warning that yes the app may say that the photo is gone after the viewing time is up, but there are other ways to save the photo. The reporter on GMA cautioned parents to monitor what their children were doing on their phones considering sexting is becoming a larger scale issue with teens and young adults. Additionally, the SnapChat developers have stated they cannot 100% guarantee the instantaneous deletion of photos off their servers.

So yes, SnapChat can be fun when people want to send those obnoxious self portraits to their friends: but remember, nothing is fool-proof!

On that note, have you ever had a mishap where a photo found its way onto the Internet when you didn’t want it to?

Founded in October 2010, Instagram was exclusively available for Apple products (iPhones, iPads & iPods) until April 2012 when it was made available for Android platforms as well. April 2012 also marked the month that Facebook made a $1 Billion bid for the 13-person company. Approved in September 2012, Instagram is now an independently run department under the Facebook umbrella.  Before the expansion onto the Android platform, Instagram already had 30 million registered accounts but in the 6 months that followed that number more than tripled to 100 million active users by September 2012.

Instagram has come under fire recently because of their proposed changes to their terms of service but the terms were revoked almost as quickly as they were announced in favour of a re-write. Nevertheless,

Yesterday (December 26^th) the Instagram Community Team released their “Year in Review.” The team as compiled some of this past year’s most publicized and photographed about events throughout the world for everyone to look at. Click through some of the links below to marvel in what can be captured on your phone’s camera.

-       Pamploma, Spain’s Running of the Bulls

-       Olympic Opening Ceremonies, London

-       Space Shuttle Endeavor, From Texas to California

And if you just can’t get enough, go check out the Instagram Blog.

Giving is as Easy as a Scan & Tap

To raise awareness, eBay set up a pop-up shop at the intersection of 9^th and 14^th St in NYC this past week- where the public was invited to visit and browse a small selection of toys available to be donated. At the pop-up, members of the eBay team were on hand supplying free hot chocolate while showing consumers how to easily scan the QR codes associated with each gift. The donor has free reign over the type of toy donation they make to Toys of Tots, being able to pick the gender, age range & price point of the toy to be donated. The toy donations are then shipped out to children in need.

Everyone Can Get in on the Action

Let’s face it: not everyone has an smartphone (or lives in NYC), so in order to reach their goal, eBay has also set up a webpage for users to donate in the same fashion as the app. The webpage also facilitates easy sharing via social networks, assisting eBay in reaching the largest audience possible.

Everyone is familiar with the concept of a toy drive, but the logistics on such a project can be difficult and overwhelming. eBay has taken holiday giving to the next level making it just a little easier for everyone. Any time, any place, people can donate and make a difference. Even better, eBay delivers the toy to where it needs to be in remarkable time, often in an hour or less. Their goal this year is 25,000 toys (with toy matching donations being made by eBay).

What do you think: will mobile help boost consumer awareness and drive charity focused purchase conversions in the future? Sound off in the comments!

From Toy Story to the Macintosh, Steve has made such an impact on my life but more importantly – he’s changed the face of technology. After reading his biography, I’m well versed in his temperamental ways, and some of the horrid behavior that he became known for – but I still admire his vision and leadership.

Today Apple posted a tribute video on their website to commemorate Steve, and I wanted to share it with all of you.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving,

@coryjstewart

Yesterday I had the opportunity to try a new app called Uber. Uber allows for you to order your cab from the comfort of your mobile phone, and easily track your driver – without ever making a phone call. It’s super simple to use, just open up the app, register, and pinpoint where you’d like your driver to pick you up.

You’re able to call your driver at any time to check in, and all in all, it’s a fairly speedy process. Right now, Uber is offering up free cab rides for Torontonians if they register and use their app.

A few details about the free cab week:

Beginning Monday, September 24th at 6am and continuing through Friday, September 28, 2012 at 11:59pm, all Toronto Uber TAXI rides requested through the Uber app will be FREE! Simply tap the TAXI button at the top of the screen, watch your TAXI arrive in the app, then hop out for FREE at your destination!

A few important things to keep in mind:

• FREE TAXI Week is for local Uber TAXI rides only, so the first $20 of your trip will be FREE (automatically – no code necessary).
• This promotion does not apply to Uber Black cars or SUV. It’s just for Uber TAXIs. An Uber TAXI can be a Royal, Beck, Co-op or Ambassador cab!
• BlackBerry users must request via m.uber.com (no www.) as you *can not request a TAXI via SMS*
• If your first request for a TAXI goes unfulfilled, make sure you tap the TAXI button on the picker before ordering again!
• While Uber has hundreds of TAXIs on the system, the drivers do have other business too, so be patient if your first request isn’t fulfilled. TAXIs will be opening up every few minutes, so keep checking the app.
• Monday through Wednesday night, all Uber TAXI rides are FREE up to $20. All other days, the metered fare + 20% gratuity will be charged to your credit card on file.
• FREE  Uber TAXI rides require an Uber account and use of Uber’s iPhone/Android app, or can be ordered through the mobile browser on your BlackBerry or other smart phones at m.uber.com (no www.)
• Note: Your driver will still input the cost of the trip into the app (and run the meter), but YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED unless your trip is over $20. Refer to your emailed receipt to see the discount!

So take advantage while you can, and make sure that you’re selecting the TAXI option in the app! If you select BLACK or SUV – you won’t be receiving the free TAXI promotion.

Happy Cabbing!

One of the most important tools that I use in my daily work life is the Google Drive service (formerly Google Docs). For those of you not familiar with Google Drive, it’s a collaborative space to keep shared documents, pictures, etc – while seeing updates from the users you share these files with in real time!

Google recently released an app companion that brought together some of Drives’ best features for on the go usability.

Google Drive’s Opening Screen

As you can see below, I have a ton of collaborative documents that I access on a regular basis – this app makes it SUPER EASY to access them on my phone.

Here’s the preview shot of a document I was using earlier today. It’s super simple to navigate and edit, and beats trying to access it on the mobile web. The best part? You can choose to make certain documents available offline, so you can edit even without a WIFI or 3G connection.

And I love that I’m able to upload photo, video and create new documents to share right from my phone. Commuting, travelling, and even working at home in front of the TV just got a little bit easier.

Definitely check out the Google Drive App in the App Store - available for Android and iPhone!

Apple owns the press event, and today’s new iPhone unveiling was no exception.

In front of a crowd of reporters and Apple enthusiasts, Apple CEO Tim Cook and marketing chief Phil Schiller revealed the faster, lighter, thinner iPhone 5.

“It is an absolute jewel—the most beautiful product we’ve made, bar none,” Schiller said as the new device rose from the stage mounted on a pedestal.

The announcement sparked an explosion of activity on Twitter. During the event, which ran from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET, Twitter mentions about the iPhone 5 surged to more than 180,000, according toSocialBakers. In the hour leading up to the event, mentions topped 150,000.

Besides selling a wildly popular product, here are five things marketing and PR pros can learn from today’s event:

1. Make sure your executives are well trained—even if the product is killer. When Apple released the iPhone 4S, reactions were tempered, in part due to the newly anointed Tim Cook. This time around he was prepared and delivered a performance that impressed reporters. “Cook seems more confident and effusive in his speaking style,” Mashable’s Chris Taylor remarked during his live blog of the event. “Figure he’s been taking lessons.” The New York Times added: “Mr. Cook, normally Mr. Nice Guy, is being funny and sarcastic.”

2. Numbers remain powerful. Facts, not platitudes speak volumes—just ask Cook. Early in the presentation, Cook highlighted the impressive sales figures for the iPad and Mac computers. Among the numbers: 17 million iPads sold last quarter, making a total of 84 million iPads sold through June 2012; the iPad’s market share is 68 percent, a boost from 62 percent one year ago; and more than 90 percent of Web traffic from tablets comes from iPads. The last statistic sparked this quip from Cook: “I don’t know what these other tablets are doing. They must be in warehouses, or store shelves, or maybe in someone’s bottom drawer.” The audience reportedly roared with laughter.

3. Pay attention to sound bites. Schiller’s “most beautiful product” remark will be echoed throughout the media this week, as will Cook’s statement early in the event that “We are in a post-PC world.”

4. Show, don’t tell. The iPhone 5’s front facing camera is getting an upgrade. Instead of simply telling the audience about it, Schiller showed off a variety of pictures snapped using the new device. Several media outlets covering the event swooned over the camera technology—which you wouldn’t get that by simply saying: “And it’s got a 28 megapixels.” (Unless, maybe Ashton Kutcher is saying it.)

5. Maintain realistic expectations. Apple’s stock soared in the lead-up to the event, but traded lower in the wake of the announcement—despite the hype and social media frenzy. That’s nothing new in terms of Apple’s product unveiling, according to a tweet from Rebecca Jarvis, co-host of CBS’s “This Morning.”

Preorders for the iPhone 5 begin Friday. The pricing is the same as the iPhone 4S.

This article was written by Michael Sebastian and originally appeared on PRdaily. 

Image via Macstories

Whether it’s a friend showcasing a new outfit on their facebook feed, or a collection of similar images aggregated into one photo – collage pictures are everywhere. I’ve spent a lot of time going through all the available apps in the iTunes store and came across ‘Photo Collage Free’. Ok, so they didn’t really get creative with the name – but who cares! This app does the job in a simple and user-friendly way.

The app lets you choose from several different layouts. After selecting, you have the option to fully customize the experience with height and width adjustments and corner shaping. There’s the ability to add effects to your photos if you upgrade – but if you don’t want to pay, just use instagram for the photos before you make your collage. There’s not a lot of bells and whistles to this app – but that’s what makes it so good. It’s not confusing, and simple to operate. I can definitely see this as a great alternative to photoshop on the go – or even for creating graphically stimulating slides for a presentation.

Download Photo Collage Free here – and tell me what you think! Are there any photo collage apps you recommend?

For those of you who don’t know about Foursquare, it’s a location based mobile application and website that allows people to check in at various venues. A pet food company decided to utilize foursquare in an ingenious way, and made a little video to explain their campaign.

At the moment, there’s plenty of great rewards to be had all over Canada on foursquare – and they’re not just for your pets. Definitely download this application if you haven’t already, and start rewarding yourself on your everyday travels!

Do you use foursquare? Have you ever received something for using it? Let me know in the comments below.

No need to panic yet….

What to do next:

 1. Locate the photo that you’re tagged in on Facebook and enlarge it.

You’ll see this option on the upper right hand side to ‘Remove’. The fact is: this will only remove the tag from your timeline, not the tag as a whole.

2. Hover over the image until the toolbar appears underneath it, and click ‘Options’.

Upon clicking, you’ll see there’s an option to ‘Remove Tag’. After clicking it, you’ll get a little menu that asks you what you want to do with this picture. Here’s where you can take revenge on your friend and claim harassment, or simply remove the tag. Hope this helps you take control of the tags you can’t bear to live with on Facebook, and tell me what you think about this system in the comments. Should it be less hidden/easier?

Until we meet again, evil photo.

Oh! And remember: if a photo is really bad, call up your friend – and get them to delete it. It could come back to haunt you.

As I mentioned yesterday, I have the pleasure of speaking about Foursquare and Pinterest tomorrow for Torstar Digital’s University program! I’m taking this opportunity to provide you all with a sneak peek at the slides I’ll be presenting with. Have a look, and enjoy the case study videos! Tomorrow, I’ll have a video of the presentation for you to enjoy and learn with! Thanks for checking in, and let me know  if you have any questions about the deck below!

Also, keep your eyes peeled over the next 24 hours for a guest blog post from my dear friend, @shopwithrobin! She’ll be providing some great insights on interview attire!

Download the FourPin+ presentation here.

Mint.com describes themselves as:

“THE BEST FREE WAY TO MANAGE YOUR MONEY
Mint.com allows you to track, budget and manage your money all in one place, so you can see where you’re spending and where you can save. Open an account, add your bank, credit, loan and retirement accounts and Mint will automatically pull in and categorize your transactions. It’s safe, secure and easy to keep your personal finances organized”

I’ll admit: upon first setting up, I was hesitant to provide my login information for my banking – but I’m here to report, there’s been no ‘fishy activity’, or withdrawals from a foreign entity. It takes some time to categorize all of your transactions, so I do recommend using their web version to sort through quickly.

Some other features include:

• View all of your accounts including: checking, savings, credit cards, investments, and retirement.
• Mint automatically pulls in and categorizes your transactions. No need to enter your own transactions.
• Easy-to-understand graphs show you where your money is going so you get a clear picture of your spending and your net worth. (iPad only)
• Know how much you have left to spend. Mint creates a customized budget based on your actual spending.
• Add manual transactions at the time of purchase so you can track cash spending.
• Avoid late fees and monitor cash flow — get bill reminders, alerts and advice sent right to your device.
• View your data even without a wireless connection. (iPad only)

You can download Mint.com for both Android and iPhone, or simply use their web version. Yes, it’s FREE!

Visit their site by clicking here.

This app is one that I think EVERY iPhone user would adore on their device. The concept is simple: Smart Sync lets you connect through your Facebook account, and grabs all your friends photos/status updates – and syncs them with their contact info. It’s a seamless way to always have their latest photo and recent social comments show up whenever they’re calling you – and saves you the work of having to put in any of their photos manually.

It’s completely free, and easy to use. I’ve found that with your friend’s status uploaded on-screen preconversation, it makes for an easy conversation starter. Particularly if you haven’t connected with this individual for awhile. Have a look, and let me know what you think!

Download SmartSync here.

Appcircus describes The Social Radio as: “Listen to your tweets while doing anything else? Now it’s possible! The Social Radio converts your Twitter stream into a human-friendly audio experience. Listen to your Twitter timeline, lists, trending topics, funny hashtags and searches; everything beautifully mixed with the music you love. The result? Your own perfect experience of online radio. The content you care, with the music you love.”

The reason I love this app? It uses all my music stored on my iPhone, and plays it in the background while a (suprisingly) human voice broadcasts my twitter stream. This has come in handy while working (I like to have a finger on the ‘twulse’ at all times), but it’s also great for the walk to and from work. I have a pretty severe fear of missing content, and this app helps me stay up to snuff on absolutely everyone I follow.

You can download The Social Radio on iPhone or Android – and for those without smart phones, relax! You can use the web version by requesting an invite here.

Tried this app or have an app you’re obsessed with? Tell me about it in the comments!

I recently have become obsessed with an app called Flipboard.

Essentially, Flipboard allows you to be the master curator of your own digital magazine. You can easily select your interests, connect to your favourite social networks, and this app will create a magazine-like experience with engaging and interesting content sorted just for you! The best part is, your tweets/facebook are incorporated to provide you with a seamless, image-based customized experience – which I love.

Having a history as a community manager, I always found myself looking for content to share with my audience. I can tell you that Flipboard will make this a cinch for anyone looking to engage both their work and personal communities with relevant news.

This app is completely free, so download before they “wise-up” and start charging!

Also: if you’re constantly buying apps or music through the iTunes store, check out this deal on a gift card (valid this week only).

Have an app you’re obsessed with? Share it in the comments – I’m always on the look out for new and exciting tools!