Tumblr upsets the fashion world

Now I'm sure we all think tumblr is great and it has been widely embraced by many bloggers and has just got another big round of VC funding but I think this article demonstrates that they might not quite be in touch with their community the way they should be, well certainly the fashion blogging part of it. Tumblr seems to really be upsetting fashionistas and their brands and is fast making lots of enemies - never a good thing in the fashion world. It's where someone like Jennine Jacob who runs Independent Fashion Bloggers - a network of over 30,000 fashion bloggers, not only understands fashion bloggers, she is also understands the fashion world.

Thank you Steve Jobs

I've been meaning to write this post since Steve Jobs announced he would be stepping down from his role at Apple. It started me thinking how much I owed him. When we set up our first ad agency in 1989, we set up with a mac - only one at that stage - and largely thanks to our creative director and progressive business partner back then, Eric Dowell, it gave us a real edge and advantage. Whilst other agencies were being Luddite about progress, we embraced it and it gave us a real edge - although of course it's not a substitute for creative thinking, it was and still is a wonderful tool for the creative mind. It's hard to think now that this was pre-internet, when most artwork was still cut and paste and when many agencies genuinely thought it would never catch-on. We've stuck with Apple through some very thin times when the world seemed to be moving away from them but the return of Steve Jobs and his vision has put them right back up there. And it's nice to feel we've been there for the ride - thanks Steve Jobs

Google+ off and running

It’s only been a few weeks since the launch of Google+ (their answer to Facebook), but already there are “millions” of users,according to chairman Eric Schmidt. Beyond that ballpark figure, Google has not disclosed any user or usage numbers.

But Ancestry.com founder Paul Allen has been publishing his own estimates of the growth of Google+ (on Google+ itself). His latest estimate is that Google+ will surpass 10 million users today, only two weeks after its launch. That estimate is up from 4.5 million on July 9 and 1.7 million on July 4.

If these numbers are anywhere near accurate, Google+ could very well become the fastest growing product in the history of the Web. Then again, Google is simply turning on the product for the hundreds of millions of users it already has once they get an invite and sign up.

How did Allen calculate his user number? Leaning on his knowledge of demographics, he used a clever technique comparing a sample of a few hundred surnames from Google+ and comparing them to how representative those names are in the general population (based on U.S. Census Bureau data). He made some assumptions about the proportion of U.S. to international users and came up with his estimate. It’s unlikely that his estimate is completely accurate, but he should at lest be capturing the growth trajectory.

Facebook iPhone app crashes out

Facebook was set to release an update to its iPhone app in response to a deluge of complaints by users who have suffered crashes, failed delivery of messages and other faults.

Tens of thousands of iPhone owners around the world have posted one-star reviews on Apple’s App Store – the lowest possible rating – in the three weeks since the prior version of the Facebook app was released.

Facebook for iPhone has been among the most downloaded apps on Apple’s smartphone since its launch in 2008, with 84m active users, or roughly half of all iPhone and iPod touches in use today. Mark Zuckerberg, the social network’s founder, said last year that mobile was its top priority for 2011.

Move over Mumsnet - BritMums are here!

Mummy bloggers just had their Cybermummy Conference here in London attended by many hundreds of bloggers and many brands too. Read this article in The Independent on Sunday

Enterprising America

I am over in NYC finalising a deal with a young start-up business. It's very exciting and Its really great to see such passion and enthusiasm from a young vibrant team of people. It started me thinking whether there is a more entrepreneurial spirit in the USA and a harder work ethic than the UK and I think there probably is. Now whether that's the case compared with China or Brazil for example, I'm not sure, and although I've spent a lot of time in Brazil and one can certainly see an exploding economy, I don't think you can quite see the same level of enterprise as witnessed in the States. In the end if the States is going to get knocked off it's number one spot it's only going to happen if the citizens of these other emerging nations become as innovative and entrepreneurial as the USA.

Philip Beeching starts new venture

I have set up a new business in the social online and video space.....watch this space for more and to find out about some of the leading industry players who are set to become part of this new start-up. You can now find me at philip.beeching@criticalpartners.com