Primped is made for mobile

More movement in the world of mobile TV. Primped follows top model, Vida Guerra, as she helps to transform three 'plain Janes' into gorgeous divas with the help of her team of stylists and advisors. You can watch and learn tips on hair, make-up and fashion as the three girls compete for a $20k prize which also includes a 5-page spread in Show magazine.

The series is available exclusively on a mobile phone near you (if you're in the USA that is) where you can get all 30 mobisodes on your phone for US$6.99. There are also text to win activities around the series as well as receiving Vida's top tips of the day via SMS in conjunction with Dollhouse magazine.

If you're ever in San Francisco..

and are not sure where to go or what to do, then go ask my friend Virginia Miller for advice. She's a regular on a local SFO radio station, KFAX, as their food critic giving recommendations of the best places to eat in the Bay Area. And since she's so good at this, she's now set up a website, The Perfect Spot, where you can get Ginny to create personalised itineraries and recommendations for your visit to San Francisco. It's like having a personal shopper but for food and entertainment.

Which reminds me, I'm well overdue a trip to the Bay to visit her. [Note to self, must organise trip to the West Coast.]

Need to boost your popularity ratings?

Then try the Popularity Dialer created by Jenny Chowdhury and Cory Forsyth, a couple of students from New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program [note to readers - is there a UK equivalent to this course?]. Users of the service can elect to be called at a particular time so they appear popular or busy by using a simple web form, with a text service coming soon (now you're talking - sending a quick text while you're in the loo to book a call to help you escape the date from hell sounds like a useful service to me).

If you're also bad at faking conversation, don't worry as the pre-recorded voice talks to you, complete with pauses and questions to help make the call seem natural. There are currently 4 choices of call including the affirmations one and a call from your 'boss'. You can listen in to sample calls on the website.

The service is funded by the students at the moment, although they are looking for sponsors. I wonder why they haven't implemented premium rate IVR or SMS to charge for the service? Popularity dialer is only available in the USA at the moment.

The serendipity of the underground

posing at Tanya's 18th birthday party
Originally uploaded by technokitten.

I bumped into Penny last night (pictured on the right in the white shirt) on the tube after not having seen her for more than 10 years. It was fun catching up and I'm pleased to say that she looks pretty much the same (albeit in more 21st Century clothing). She thought I looked much the same too.

web 2.0 list of companies

There's a useful list of web 2.0 companies here that you might find interesting. Unfortunately, there's no list of mobile 2.0 companies included... Any offers to compile it?

The Rise of the Women Gamer

There's a really interesting article over at FierceMobile about the rise and nature of the female game player written by Sande Chen of Women in Games International.

There are some top tips there about why designing games (casual or otherwise) for women is important due to their loyalty and longer shelf-life. Hence, more attention should be paid to creating and providing mobile games for women. The key points as to what to do are not exactly rocket science, but sometimes we need reminding of these things.