Ask yourself these questions … Despite your enthusiasm for the the little green robot, do only your closest friends know you own an Android device? Do you worry that most tech-indifferent people STILL don’t know what Android is? Do you feel left out when the water-cooler talk turns to the latest iPhone OS release? If you answered yes to any of these questions, chances are you are a victim of InvisiDroid Syndrome. Now, before you begin running for the triple-antibiotic cream, realize that your suffering MIGHT only be temporary. Granted, you didn’t really do anything to contract this pain and suffering … but some others are not so innocent. Smartphone carriers and manufacturers haven’t really promoted the Android OS as the “special sauce” that powers their amazing new phones. You would be hard pressed to recall ANY television spot that even mentions the word Android in connection with the Hero, G1, MyTouch3G, etc. And, who could compete with those clever “there’s an app for that” iPhone commercials that Apple keeps running (aside from the latest “there’s a map for that”)? Well, the Android community can … and here’s how. For the corporate members of the Android community, a few ideas that should increase Android awareness, as well as their profits: 1) The Freebie – What does Apple (widely recognized as the style king of pop-culture promotion) include with every Mac/iPod/etc.? An innocently placed free sticker. No instructions on what to do with it, or restrictions upon its use. Just an attractive, sturdy sticker that tells the world, “Hey, I’m an Apple fan!” Cellular carriers could similarly hand out their own themed freebie that sports the dapper green dude, as well. 2) The Common Ground – How many thousands of times have you been confronted with the phrase, “Intel Inside”? From television ads, to magazines, computer boxes, and, even computer cases, the pc manufacturers of the world rallied behind that common badge of quality. Android manufacturers (as well as OHA members) need to do the same. 3) The Mention – Android manufacturers and cellular carriers need to employ a basic memorization technique that emphasizes repetition. A simple mention of the “A” word in promotional materials from these disparate members of the Android community would benefit ALL members. Now is not the time to be neo-proprietary. And, for the common folk (with an uncommon interest in the Android world) … 1) Wear Your Support on Your Sleeve – Whether AndroidGuys.com, or another one of the fine Android sites, support them by purchasing one of their branded shirts to wear proudly whilst negotiating your daily routine. And if you are a shirt designer, consider using a stock Android robot somewhere in your design, or, at least, include your domain name for the casually curious. Additonally, for crying out loud, Google … start selling Android shirts along with the shirts of all of your other corporate identities. It all starts conversations and raises awareness. 2) The Not-so Freebie – Consider purchasing an Android logo sticker for the back of your phone. Or, the back of your laptop. Or, the back of your pet’s sweater. Just show the love. 3) Use Your ‘bot to it’s Fullest – Nothing breeds desire like watching a friend or co-worker doing something cool on their Android phone. Maybe Google or HTC will never pony up the cheddar for prime-time television spots like Apple does for the iPhone. Maybe carriers will continue assuming that people wouldn’t care about the OS in the only digital device they always carry with them … But, we don’t have to wait for some corporate monolith to promote the most exciting mobile platform ever. We, the energized Android consumers, can stop the InvisiDroid plague by planting the seeds of awareness, one sticker or shirt at a time. Go green! Random Posts Quick Look: BuzzDeck Motorola to Offer Multiple Android Devices by Holidays First Sony Ericsson app in the Android Market Video of T-Mobile Pulse in Action [VIDEO] App Review: Handcent SMS
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No More InvisiDroid
Anyway one thing the iPhone could improve is adding a central notifications area to show all push notifications. The way I’d see this working is to swipe right from the home screen to where spotlight/search is now, and show a chronological list of all notifications for all apps. Then if you start typing it starts to search your iPhone as usual.
