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Nokia Beta Labs
Would you want to become the Beta Labs video star?
Tue, 2008-02-19 15:42
Here's a wild (and not-fully-thought-out) idea: would you want to become the video star of Nokia Beta Labs?
The thing is, it would be fun and useful to add explanatory videos to all Beta Labs application pages. Nothing too fancy, just something that would help people decide whether something is worth a try. Of course, we could hire professional scriptwriters and actors and to do the videos, but given the nature of this site, somehow it wouldn't feel right. An honest word from a fellow user might be better for everyone.
If you are interested:
1. Pick your favorite Beta Labs application
2. Shoot a 1min explanatory (engaging! fun! interesting!) video about it. For example, record a N95 screencast with TV-out.
3. Upload your video somewhere, and send the video link to the comments section of this post
4. Tell your "price": is fame, exclusive previews, and exclusive access to Nokia development teams enough, or what would you want in return? Of course, you can also tell this later privately. If possible, however, I'd prefer to keep cash out of the relationship, in order to maintain certain level of integrity.
If we get good candidates, let's vote for the best: 50% user votes + 50% Nokia votes.
Heh.
Below some examples about what other companies have done:
Example 1 by Google product managers
Example 2 by Google and Common Craft
Example 3 by Apple
Example 4 by Nokia product managers
Example 5 by S60 online marketing
Great work, Bogdan!! Especially, I liked those screencasts - both from phone and PC. And even more, I liked your speed in producing the video (6 hours!!).
In Beta Labs context, it would be important to get videos done within a couple of days (at most) from getting the piece of software. Otherwise, the video would miss the launch...
Hello,
If some finds my presentation useful its better quality version is located in here: http://rapidshare.com/files/95
best rgds,
Hey Tommi, that's an excellent idea.
I'm looking forward to see some amazing posts!
N.B. Why don't you announce a more concrete prize? A device, a video preloaded on some future Nokia devices, I dunno as yet. But get some ideas from your audience and then properly relaunch the whole contest with lots of trumpets.I'm sure the videos will be much better/creative than the ad agencies' Nokia can afford to pay shitloads of cash.
> Why don’t you announce a more concrete prize?
You're right. I need to do that.
I must admit that the lack of concrete prizes has been partly caused by the lazyness of yours truly. You know, giving devices or expensive prizes causes bureaucratic overhead with the lawyers and taxmen. But that shouldn't be an excuse :)
Action point for me.
Hi Tommi. I have been reading and using your site since last summer. I find it very interesting and your comments sincere. I regularly check to see what your team has been up to and try to try as many apps as I can. I never seem have anything new to add to the comments that get posted so I don't. I have been a Nokia fan for around 7 years now. I first started using Nokia phones because they had the best reception. Later I bought my first s60 device, 6620, and later e62 and now I have e50 and n800. Throughout all this time I have been looking for apps that I can use in my business. I am just a small contractor here in Canada and can't afford big dollar solutions that I have seen on the internet. I'm not even sure exactly what I want, but just some way to have all my google info (calender, docs, notebook, contacts) available on my phone e50, my tablet n800 and my laptop. I don't want to use the cell phone data, too expensive, but just some sort of local network sync that is automatic. Nokia seems to be going toward the personal media computer angle and while this is interesting, and I suppose profitable, it is not helping me. I also don't find Nokia to be well represented here in Canada. I have had to resort to purchasing on line to get anything good. Any insight would be appreciated. Angus.
OK. I made a video and I must say it was a lot more fun to make than I expected. Also, as a heads-up, I'd like to say that if lack of talent were an illness, the pharmaceutical companies would be making a fortune off me.
Well, here goes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
And here's a higher quality version of it:
http://www.fileshost.com/en/fi
Angus, thanks for your kind words - and for sharing your story. But what was the question?
You are right, the apps here at Beta Labs are more "consumer" focused than business focused. And about offline Google app access, I'm afraid there are no good apps available yet - if you don't want to use data connection. But clearly, the problem/need you are describing is ultra-hot today, so I would expect interesting solutions to emerge in coming years...
Radoslaw,
Since there are only 2 candidates, it would be a bit silly to organize such academy awards...
We are now evaluating different alternatives:
- created by readers/community (this might require rewarding)
- created by Nokia internally
- created with a little help from a professional agency
This is progressing a bit slowly, but we'll try to get it done within the next couple of months.
Hello,
As my favourite Beta Labs application is Sports Tracker I've prepared a movie about this project! Because it's quite complex and offers a lot of function movie is little bit longer than it was adviced (about 1:50 min). Anyway I hope you will enjoy it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
If you'd be interested in higher quality file, just mail me :)
best regards,
Good work, Radoslaw!
My price? A mobile videohat of course!
Hi Guys,
It's been a while since the post about movie contest. I see not many movies, anyway we're still waiting for the "Beta Lab' Academy Awards"? ;-)
best rgds,