Tres cool social participation tool

Just came across a new version of Forrester's Social Technographics ladder which looks at how people use social media. The main change is the addition of 'conversationalists' which acknowledges not just Twitter users, but also those who regularly update their Facebook status.

It's worth pointing out that people tend to participate in multiple behaviours + not everyone at a higher level on the ladder does everything on the lower rungs (which is why it doesn't add up to 100%).

But the most exciting bit (I think) it this clever tool which uses Forrester data to help understand the % of each type of user by country, age and gender. Pretty awesome!

1950's Soho

Awesome. The 1950's is the first place I'll go once time machines are affordable. Or the 20's. Hmm..

Found here via @londonist.

Co-created comic

This is a comic story co-created by a bunch of creative people, be they illustrators / artists / storytellers. And it's still in progress.

It appears that anyone can have a go by submitting a section of the story using their own words + illustrative style - once 10 sections have been completed the final result will be screen printed + displayed in an exhibition somewhere (?). It looks like 9 sections have created already, so only one remains.

I love how the collaborative nature of this project makes it stronger + more interesting - the mixture of different imaginations, illustration + writing styles makes for a rich, imaginative + visually exciting story. And I just love stories. Nice.

Top pad in central London only £65pw

...surely not?!!

During my 8 years living in London I've had 2 periods of homelessness and 4 years in my early 20's where all I wanted was:

1) To be in the middle of everything

2) To be entirely spontaneous in every way - ready to react to whatever this great city threw my way, from nights out to meeting new people to trying out different things

3) To spend as little money on the non-important things (food, rent, bills) in order to allocate as much as possible to alcohol, gigs and having fun

...so why the hell did no one tell me about this. Or maybe it didn't exist back then, but either way, what an absolutely awesome thing this is?

Turns out there are office blocks, old warehouses and other kinds of buildings across London and beyond that are empty and in need of protection from squatters + robbers etc. Ordinarily this would mean the owner spending a fortune on security 24/7.

But Camelot Property Protection offers the perfect solution. They find 'guardians' to live in these spaces for something along the lines of £65 per week in rent. Guardians get their own lockable room and share a temporary bathroom + kitchen with any number of other Guardians. It's much cheaper for the property owner + gives the guardians a pad in the centre of town, where they'll be forced to mix with strangers (hmm, good or bad?), for minimal cost (more money for fun) and only a short term commitment.

Awesomeness extreme...

Another reason to go Android?

I nearly bought an iPhone last week, but couldn't quite go through with it. I just couldn't get past the many restrictions + inferior features.

Then I saw this - Google Goggles launched this week is available on all Android phones. Clever stuff. Combined with the ability to see my gmail easily, access my Google maps, calendar and all other stuff totally intuitively means I'm definitely leaning in the Android direction.

But then I read this. And now I'm all confused. The likelihood is that I will be stuck with my painfully slow N95 until it finally keels over + dies or either Apple or Google have mastered total mind control + the decision won't be mine anyway - which ever comes first.

The Sun - an iPhone killer!

The Sun have done what many have dared not to and taken on the iPhone. It's spoof of the familiar iPhone ad uses a similar soundtrack and voiceover and mocks the device by demonstrating how The Sun is superior in celebration of its 40th anniversary.

I know that no telecoms brand would attempt something like this. But The Sun I think can get away with it as it has sufficient distance from the world of telecoms. Also it's undeniable that in some ways + for some people, a newspaper is better than an iPhone.

I think it's going to crack a few smiles, especially with an iPhone backlash imminent (did I say that?) Clever, I like it.

Starbucks concept store

Starbucks has opened a concept store on London's Conduit Street to test a new logo + store design.

Its manual coffee machine + mis-matched furniture gives it a cosy-cool feel + a whole load of character which seems more Leon than Starbucks.

It definitely looks like somewhere I could happily curl up for a while. The only problem being that they're probably serving the same tasteless, overly milky coffee that they always have. So while I may go once to check it out I suspect I'll be rushing back for the rich-smooth-deliciousness that effortlessly cool Brill (Exmouth Market) serves up pretty sharp'ish. Sorry!

Source: PSFK