Singapore Slings - Cultural Media Learnings of Asia Pacific for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Great Britain

Perkonomics

Steve Blakeman — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:25:00 GMT

The next big thing, according to Trendwatching.com, is what they have called Perkonomics. Free stuff you actually want, proper privledges that mean something to the individual and genuine exclusivity are the way forward apparently. To be honest, Perkonomics have been around for decades through the likes of credit card companies, airlines, hotels etc. Generally their perks were fairly one dimensional (like money off a meal at a certain restaurant if you used the right bit of plastic). However, a paradigm shift has occurred recently with more innovative perks which really spark the consumers imagination and make the individual feel really quite special...

The two major benefits that brands are locking into are 'status' and 'convenience'. These often mean more to consumers than getting a few quid off their purchase. Some good examples ? There are plenty...

Amex cardholders have exclusive access to purchase (for $650 USD) the winning dress design from Diane Von Furstenberg (famous designer apparently) from the 3rd September screened episode of Project Runway... you don't have the card, you can't purchase the dress
the 'Gigs and Tours' program from Orange in the UK allows you to reserve tickets using your mobile 48 hours before tickets officially go on sale
one of the biggest football teams in Brazil, Palmeiras, have a stand for 5000 people reserved exclusively for Visa credit card holders called the Visa Sector... it also features additional benefits such as plasma TV's, a restaurant, a lounge area etc.
Avis promise their preferred members the keys to their rental car within 3 minutes of their arrival at the desk
Nokia have installed phone charging points throughout Metro Manila to juice up their Nokia mobiles
the Naumi Hotel in Singapore has a dedicated 'Ladies Floor' for female business travellers, with all female staff etc.
Ikea in Canada have dedicated parking spaces for people who own hybrid cars

We've been trialling a few perkonomic ideas out here in Asia for some of our clients (like valet parking at shopping malls etc.). The response from consumers is initially one of surprise but most importantly gratitude. The WoM effects are also incredibly powerful. So forget old fashioned perks like discounts and loyalty schemes, the red carpet and velvet rope exclusivity of perkonomics is the future...

iPhone Killer 2 - Storm Warning

Steve Blakeman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:08:00 GMT

I predicted a few weeks ago in my blog that the G1 from Google wouldn't be the iPK (iPhone Killer). Well, time will tell whether I'm right or not. Well a new week, a new phone and this one (in my opinion) has more chance of winning the clash of the touch titans. The Blackberry Storm (pic below) will be launched this side of Xmas in the UK exclusively through Vodafone with pretty much all the features of the iPhone (and a few more besides). For instance it will be 3G enabled (natch), it has a 3.2 mp camera with video function, GPS capacity, mp3 etc. And one advantage it has over the Google G1 ? This one actually looks the part.

However, the main feature of the Storm is actually the touch screen itself. It apparently has a 'clickable screen'. So what does that mean exactly ? Well, the screen is kind of flexible and responds to how hard you touch it. In theory you will be able to type things much more easily because you know that the click has been registered by the Storm because the screen will depress slightly. Sounds cool right ? (and from experience of the iPhone I know that sometimes your touch commands are not all that easily registered by the unit, so the reassuring analog nature of a kind of soft click sounds funky).

As for price, well expect it to be pitched around the same as the iPhone. And with a legion of Crackberry addicts (me included) waiting impatiently for a touchscreen version of our constant companion I reckon that this little baby may just be the real rival for the iPhone we have been anticipating.

iPhone Killer ?

Steve Blakeman — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:59:00 GMT

Google launched their brand spanking new G1 mobile phone in New York earlier today and immediately it has been heralded as the iPhone killer... but in my opinion, it's hasn't got a hope in hell.

Why ? Well frankly the name is a bit crap (G1 isn't exactly as funky as iPhone), it really doesn't move the game on enough and it simply doesn't look as good (and in these image obsessed times that we live in, looks are everything... well at least when it comes to choosing a mobile phone).

I'm not saying it's a bad phone. Apparently it's pretty good according to most reviews. Physically it isn't that different to the iPhone. It has many similar features (touch sensitive screen, GPS capability, mobile internet access, built in camera which is 1 megapixel more than the iPhone... woo hoo... ).

Indeed the G1 has some additional features that the iPhone doesn't have. For example it has a Blackberry style thumb ball. And a slideout qwerty keyboard. Nice, but hardly revolutionary.

Actually the one area it genuinely excels over the iPhone, is in terms of browsing. Using Googles new Android 'Open Source" platform it allows browsers to quickly access the web but (more importantly) it allows anyone to write software / applications for the platform for free.

Actually, that's pretty cool. But seriously, how many people out there are going to choose that functionality over the way the G1 looks by comparison to an iPhone ?

The G1, using a HTC unit, will be available for free in the UK just before Xmas exclusively through T-Mobile on tariff plans staring at about 40 quid. And it may cause an initial wave of interest but nothing to that of the tsunami of hype created by the iPhone.

Maybe when LG and Samsung launch their more design focused units supporting the G1 platform next year will it have a chance to compete... but by then we will inevitably have yet another new version of the iPhone which will have moved things on even further...

Adult Mode

Steve Blakeman — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:02:00 GMT

Private web browsing is about to become more prevalent with the launches of the latest version of Internet Explorer 8 (the InPrivate setting) and also the much touted Google Chrome (as featured in my last blog entry). Affectionately known as 'porn mode' private browsing effectively deletes a users browsing history and cache as they surf. It also covers up downloads, forms that have been filled in and searches meaning that you leave 'no fingerprints' on the computer you were using for (possibly) doing something you shouldn't. Basically a first-line, plausible deniablity tool for the masses.

IE and Chrome are actually not the first to market with this functionality. Apple's Safari has had the ability to do private browsing since 2005, but as IE takes up around 75% of the browsing market (and Chrome looks to take a significant chunk of that share in the future) then it's highly likely that it's usage will become more widespread.

The downside for us media and marketing folk, is that if a new age of 'obscured browsers' or 'concealed surfers' are going to emerge as a consequence, then the much heralded behavioral hypertargeting may not be possible as it relies on that all important cookie gathering and the data mining dark art of 'deep packet inspection' (which sounds like it is some kind of bizarre porn practice in itself).

Of course, the developers are keen to distance themselves from the association with anything remotely smutty. When Mozilla were considering a 'porn mode' function for their latest version of Firefox a spokesman stated that "while viewing pornography may be popular... assuming it is the only reason that users need private browsing trivialises the overall feature. For instance, users may wish to begin a private browsing session to research a medical condition, or plan a surprise vacation or birthday party for a loved one." Hmmm, I wonder if 'medical condition' or 'surprise birthday party' feature as high as 'porn' in the mostly highly searched words on the internet. Somehow, I doubt it.

Browser Wars

Steve Blakeman — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:51:00 GMT

Google are launching their new rival to Microsoft's Internet Explorer today (called Chrome - logo below) following an accidental (yeah right) leak of a 38 page 'comic book' style press release to several European based journalists (someone apparently "hit send a bit early" according to key sources at Google.

Of course we are all convinced by that, not least for the fact that it was a public holiday in the US yesterday and what better time to launch when news is thin on the ground and you can guarantee mass exposure in the tech space - not that I'm cynical or anything, you understand). Anyway, the new open source browser will be available in beta to around 100 countries Tuesday morning (US time).

Not only is it free to download but Google claim it's faster, more stable and more secure than rivals Explorer (used by around 75% of web surfers), Mozilla (the next biggest alternative and which also follows the open source ideology adopted by Google), Opera or Safari. Chrome has also been specifically designed for the needs and requirements of the next generation Web 2.0 users who demand more usage of video, games, chat and internet banking.

But don't expect Microsoft to be surrender monkeys... it's likely to simply escalate the intense rivalry between the two organisations. The latest incarnation of IE (version 8) was launched as a test version just last week (hmmm, funny that) with a whole host of new features (basically more privacy and user control features) which Microsoft claim are the equal of (if not better than) what's on offer via Chrome. Well, they would, wouldn't they ?

Let battle commence...

Reservoir Blogs

Steve Blakeman — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:04:00 GMT

What would Tarantino make of it all ? Mr Blonde flogging laptops ? Well it beats cutting off a policemans ear. What the hell am I referring to you might wonder ? Well, actor Michael Madsen (the aforementioned Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs) is now starring in a new piece of branded content from Sony entitled 'Coma'. The first episode of this online short-form TV series (which will be added to each Thursday) is already available online through Sony owned web channel Crackle and video sharing sites like YouTube and Hulu.

Madsen plays a cop called Lennox who is shot in the line of duty, whilst trying to help rid the 'City' (it's not clear which one, but it doesn't look like Barnsley) of crime alongside Mayor Hennon (played by aging perma-tanned lothario, George Hamilton). By using two famous Hollywood actors, some stylish production and a contemporary take on the 'film noir' genre (predominantly black & white, main character always a cop or private detective who smokes heavily and has a drink problem, lots of unnecessary close ups etc.) it promises to generate that much needed talkability required to get people watching it.

Coma is going to be used by Sony to promote their new high definition Vaio FW laptops which use the Bravia screen technology. It's also being part financed by Microsoft whose Vista Ultimate software is recommended for the new Vaio FW.

Check out the first episode of Coma (called Blazer... for no apparent reason) and judge for yourself...

The Pong Stage

Steve Blakeman — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:50:00 GMT

My brother Chris and I used to love Atari Pong. We got it the same time as the Olympics started in 1972 as I recall, along with our brand new 26 inch state of the art colour TV from Rediffusion. Not that we needed colour because Pong was only in black and white. But we didn't care. We'd sit there for hours, playing the game which is generally regarded as the World's first (and I would say one of the best) video arcade game hits. I loved Pong mainly because I nearly always won (not much chance my brother is going to be reading this, so I'm taking the chance to stretch the truth to make me sound more heroic).

Well we've come a long way since those pioneering gaming days, through Galaxian to Mario and Sonic to Halo. But there is a new genesis in gaming which is already growing in momentum (reference Forbes.com) and the phenomenon is Social Gaming (SG).

The humble beginnings of SG started with the likes of Zombies & Vampires on Facebook. The problem was that although they registered some initially impressive viral installations (c. 15 million according to Developer Analytics) daily usage was only around 1%.

Enter now, the next stage in the SG development... Social Games 2.0 (natch). More sophisticated, more interactivity, more stickiness and more involvement are promised with the new wave of games. Chief Executive of developers Social Gaming Network (SGN), Shervin Pishevar, commented "we're in the Pong stage of social games." SG developers, like Playfish, Slide, SGN and Rock You! are developing a whole new breed of games for the more discerning social networker. Playfish who have 4 games in their portfolio (such as Who Has the Biggest Brain? and Pet Society) already have almost 13 million installations and just under 1 million active players in the UK.

Even the big boys of gaming are beginning to realise the potential of this new gaming route (and revenue generator). Electronic Arts released 'Scrabble' on Facebook last month which already has 300,000 installations and a high proportion of active daily gamers (circa 32%).

A longer term prospect is that as the level of quality and range of these games inevitably increases coupled with the fact that more people are getting access to mobile internet through the new generation of 3G enabled phones, there is the genuine possibility that the home and portable console formats could ultimately become obsolete as people get their gaming fix through their preferred social network...

Belated Birthday to T'interweb

Steve Blakeman — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:22:46 GMT

April 30 2008 was the official 15th birthday of the world wide web. Forgot to send an e-card too. Anyway, the date marked the 15th anniversary of CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) announcing that the web was free to use by anyone.

UK scientist Tim Berners-Lee is credited with 'inventing' the web during the course of his work at CERN’s HQ (the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, don't you know), based in Geneva.

So what has the 'moody teenager' done for us in the past 15 years ? Well here is a round up, courtesy of MSN, on the top 15 things (in no particular order) that the internet has done for us...

1. On-demand news
An ever increasing number of people are now turning to the web as their primary source of news, rather than traditional print and TV.

2. Global reference library
The largest repository of reference material, academic and otherwise, made available to users worldwide.

3. Plagiarism
With online encyclopaedias such as Wikipedia at the fingertips of school kids and students around the world, web-enabled cheating is tempting (just like this blog actually). Some universities have actually brought in software to scan essays and reports for signs of copied web material.

4. Search engines
Very few sessions on the web are complete without a search or two. 5. Liberating information and opinion
Various governments still try to suppress and censor what appears on the web but generally information and opinion are now all but internationally irrepressible.

6. Blogs
The blog – a cornerstone of web 2.0 – gave a voice to web users the world over. 7. Webmail
It has revolutionised the way we communicate with each other, allowing users to access their inboxes via straightforward websites from any internet-accessing computer they can get their hands on.

8. Social networking
Another web 2.0 innovation, social networking sites like Facebook and Bebo have helped countless web users make new friends and catch up with old ones.

9. Distraction
The web has proved to be quite effective as an endless distraction from the things on which we are supposed to be concentrating. Like work.

10. Shopping
Online shopping, auctions, banking, price comparison, customer reviews etc. Who would have imagined the impact on retail ?

11. Identity theft
Didn’t say all of it was good. Partly as a result of online shopping, we have all shared lots of data over the web. It should be private but too much has become public. 12. Digital entertainment

Video, radio, television, music and games have all changed due to the web mainly because of the way that people now consume their content. They want it when they want. Not when they are told when and where they can have it.

13. Porn
Still one of the most searched words on the web. Supposedly adults-only material can now be accessed by all (or so I hear).

14. Time shrinking
Research. Application forms. Quotes. What used to take you days, now takes minutes.

15. Travel booking
Budget airlines probably wouldn’t have taken off (geddit ?) without the web. No more trips to the travel agents on the high street to collect a mountain of brochures…

Technophobe 2.0

Steve Blakeman — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:45:32 GMT

I've just read an article on MSN about the latest modern day afflictions affecting our society. According to this piece, we are a sick bunch of bunnies. From tanorexia (I've got symptoms) to drunkorexia (an occasional malady), it seems that I could be quite poorly. And then I read about cyberchondriacs and technoholics. Can't stop looking at your Crackberry ? Me either. You could be a technoholic. Somebody get me an online doctor...

It transpires that up to a third of us could be technoholics. Mild symptoms are being able to text at the speed of light (most teenagers appear to have got this disease) to the more serious Crackberry addicts (ok I admit it... my name is Steve Blakeman and I am a technoholic).

A study at Northampton University found that 33% of us feel deprived if separated from our internet access or several digital devices. What's more, excessive use of the same communication devices can lead to social withdrawal, relationship issues and even physical illness.

And if you do become sick, then you might want to search your symptoms online to seek a remedy. But you shouldn't. Why ? Because then you might become a cyberchondriac. This is a new term, invented by GP's, for individuals who look up their symptoms online, then self diagnose themselves and turn up at the doctors convinced (and armed with printed evidence) that they really are seriously ill.

And that means I'm royally screwed. I looked this up article online, discovered that I am a technoholic, then tried to find a cure online and then by default I am now doubly afflicated because I've now obviously become a cyberchondriac. Hey doc, I told you I didn't feel well...

Thriller in Manila

Steve Blakeman — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:31:29 GMT

I'm in the Philippines for a pitch this week. Actually it's my third visit in as many weeks and what a fascinating place it is. It's the least Asian country I have been to in Asia. Actually it resembles a country in South America more. So if you want to know more about ads for cheesy feet, Jeepneys, the invasion of Starbucks and time warp radio then read on...

Cheesy feet. That's what it said. If you have them, you can get rid of them. So said the ad in the Philippine Star. Not the sort of thing I'd expect to see on page 3 of the Daily Mail.

Jeepneys are odd things. Half jeep, half bus. It's the favoured mode of transport in Manila. Cheap and effective. It seems the Americans left loads of them over here and the ever resourceful Filipinos have been using them ever since.

The Americans have reinvaded via Starbucks. In Makati, the business district, they are everywhere. Good to know I can get my tall, skinny decaf latte fix out here.

Ever seen Lost in Translation ? Bill Murray and Scarlett Big Lips ? In Japan ? Well, I got a glimpse of what that movie was all about being driven through the morning rush hour to a meeting in a cab. The driver thought he was Senna reincarnated and whilst he was weaving in and out of the traffic I was 'treated' to a steady stream of 80's classics (?) from Bananarama, Joe Jackson and Luther Vandross. What a 3 in a row. Haven't heard a segueway like that since listening to Century on the Princess Parkway in Manchester (which seems like a million miles and years away at the moment).

The other thing I noticed whilst I was being wafted through the streets of Manila to the muffled drone of the Thompson Twins was that virtually every car (including some private ones ?) has a painted sign on the boot lid which asks 'How is My Driving ?'. Frankly, the only possible answer to that is shite. I resisted the urge to make a call on the basis that I would have to phone a lot.

As a place though, I love it. The people are warm, friendly and fun. Can't wait to come back again soon, preferably when I'm not doing a pitch so I can actually get to see a bit more of the place.

Man Enough ?

Steve Blakeman — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:49:20 GMT

We received a door-to-door mailer in our postbox at our home in Singapore a few days ago. It was certainly very different to the sort of items I recall being put out by the likes TNT, National Latterbox Marketing or Royal Mail Household Delivery when we lived in the UK. When my wife handed it over to me she suggested (with a rather disconcerting smile) that I should maybe consider buying the product. But the copy was pretty ‘cryptic’ to say the least and I have been trying to work out what it was all about ever since. Frankly, it’s been keeping me up at night. The product is called Andro which is apparently a ‘cream for men’ and the question it poses on the front cover of the leaflet is Are You Man Enough ? Well if I could actually decipher what the product was for, where to apply the cream, who is meant to apply it, how much and for how long then maybe I might purchase some. There are some clues in the brochure to help try and work out what it’s for though, so maybe you can help me pull it off ?

Apparently, the effect of using the cream is to maintain youthful vitality and active lifestyle. Well, I eat Alpen for breakfast so does that not do the same thing ?

It also claims to enhance blood circulation. But I do a few miles on the running machine a couple of times a week so I’ve got that covered I think.

It goes on to explain that the key ingredient is a Thai herb called butea superba. It’s a natural extract used over centuries by men and the cream delivers a high concentration of the herb directly to the ‘desired area’. Problem is the information provided doesn’t mention precisely where the ‘desired area’ actually is.

It goes on to say that I need to apply the cream for 2-4 weeks when a ‘lasting improvement is noticed’. But what type of improvement ? It just doesn’t elaborate.

Whatever it does, there are a team of esteemed physicians who are ready and willing to endorse the product. Professor Lee Chee Wee and also Dr Lim Kok stand out from the list of names provided. Still, it’s a hard one. As a last resort the leaflet provides an email address to contact someone called ‘Rocky’ for more information. So I’ve slipped him a quick note and hope he will come back to me quickly. Maybe you can knock one out to Rocky as well ? (that’s if you are man enough of course).

Fingered

Steve Blakeman — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:00:43 GMT

Games on the iPhone and iTouch were always going to be a killer application. So far though, they are very few and far between. A clear opportunity to be filled by an advertiser and cool footgear manufacturer Vans appear to have exploited the gap first with their soon to be launched "Finger Fracture" advergame...

This advergame uses the touch screen interface of the iPhone / iTouch to play a skateboarding style game where your choice of Vans sneaker will enable you to pull off a variety of 'rad moves' (whatever that means).

It looks a bit like the Tony Hawk series of skateboard games on the various PS formats and the quality of the game looks pretty good from the few screenshots I have seen (see below).

Cool huh ?

Rumour has it that Burger King, pretty much a pioneer in the advergame arena, are also planning a game for the iPhone / iTouch and I fully expect that they won't be the last.

The Name is Not Bond...

Steve Blakeman — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:58:36 GMT

I'm having a bit of a cinema fest at the moment. Maybe it's just because all the really interesting stuff I keep seeing is all based upon the silver screen. Recently it's been the crap sequels and prequels that are about to be released and this time it's the title of the 22nd Bond movie.

The title ?

Quantum of Solace.

You think I'm kidding right ? Well, I'm not...

I've had a think about the classic titles of some of the previous Bond films. Live & Let Die. Thunderball. For Your Eyes Only. Octopussy (ok, well most of them were good).

By comparison 'Quantum of Solace' sounds like an arthouse science fiction movie (if such a thing exists).

Apparently it was actually derived from an obscure 1960 Ian Fleming short story, so in fairness it has some pedigree but surely they could have come up with something a bit, er, snappier ? Apparently even Daniel Craig has commented to that effect but it seems his opinion didn't count.

The title refers to the fact that JB's heart was broken at the end of Casino Royale when he was betrayed by his girlfriend and then she dies (and he called her 'a bitch' if I recall correctly - naughty). The solace he is seeking is in revenge. Which probably means lots of killing bad people. Which sounds a lot more Bond-like than the title. Which makes me muse whether 'Revenge for the Bitch' might have made a more interesting, provocative and memorable title ? Well, maybe not in hindsight. Sounds more like a 50 Cent album track than a Bond movie (but hey, if he did the theme tune ?).

The producers are obviously trying to preserve the connection with Fleming a little too closely. Maybe it's time to branch out ? If not then the next 3 instalments in the franchise will be called after the 3 remaining Fleming books featuring Bond they haven't used... Risico, The Hildebrand Rarity and The Property of a Lady.

And I thought Quantum of Solace was bad...

Revenge of the sequel - part 2 - another new beginning - revisited

Steve Blakeman — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:25:59 GMT

Only a few weeks ago I posted a submission about the bout of sequelitis (and prequelitis) that has broken out in 2008. Potential crap we have to contend with this year includes a new version of Rambo, a movie version of Sex in the City and an all new version of the original Star Trek.

I thought that line up was pretty bleak until a came across a feature on the utter sh*t that is being lined up to accompany our popcorn and Kia Ora in the next few years. Here is my Top Ten pointless remakes, sequels, prequels and 'scraping the bottom of the barrel movie versions of TV shows.' Be afraid. Be very afraid...

So here goes... and in at 10, the first completely pointless sequel is: The Lost Boys 2 (The Tribe). It's taken almost 20 years to come up with a sequel which begs just one question. Why bother ?

At number 9, Diary of the Dead. George A Romero continues to squeeze the life blood (and guts) out the franchise. As the zombies become more human and start to think (the basis of Land of the Dead as I recall) then what do we think might come after the Diary of the Dead, I wonder ? The Christmas of the Dead ? The Hangover of the Dead ? The School Run of the Dead ?

Number 8, Shocker. Wes Craven last made this in 1989. Why does he want to make it again when most of us can't even remember the original ? I guess the title sort of says it all.

In at 7, is the first of two old Schwarzenegger vehicles to be rehashed, both of them without the new Governator making an appearance. This one ? Conan The Barbarian. Sheesh.

At number 6, The Punisher 2 - War Zone. The worst superhero ever gets an (unbelievable) second outing. Cool T-shirt though.

It's Saw V at 5. What beats me is how quickly they turn these particular sequels out.

At number 4, another TV show being resurrected from the dead. The A Team. Without any of the original cast. Instead of Mr T as BA, there is the prospect of it being Ice Cube. And Woody Harrelson as 'Howling Mad' Murdock. Enough said.

At number 3, it's the poor man's version of the Indiana Jones movies, The Mummy, which is coming back for it's third outing. Can't imagine many Oscar nominations on the back of this one.

And just pipped at the post for the coveted top spot is A Nightmare of Elm Street - The Prequel. Another shameless cash-in from director Wes Craven. Still at least we get to find out how Freddy looked prior to the fire and also where he bought that natty striped jumper. Mind you, actor Robert Englund must be cracking on a bit now so that might require even more make-up than the original movie incarnation.

And finally, in at number one with a bullet (plus a mortar round, a rocket grenade and a laser gunship) is the other Arnie-less sequel, Terminator 4 - The Future Begins. With all that time travel going on, it's sort of a sequel / prequel all rolled into one. Can't wait. Well, actually I can.

Well, that's it. I didn't think it could get much worse than the previous crop but I was wrong. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the cinema hey ?

Pimp my Dictionary

Steve Blakeman — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:31:02 GMT

It seems that the social networking phenomenum Facebook has made it into the latest updated version of the Collins English Dictionary both as a noun and a verb. And existing words such as 'poke' and 'pimp' have had new explanations added. And whether you approve or not, the way we communicate online is gradually beginning to change the English language. Scary.

So what are the dictionary definitions ?

Well, Facebook the noun is pretty simple - "a popular social networking site"

The verb version ? - "to search for a persons profile on Facebook"

And what about pimp ? Naturally that means to make you profile page prettier. And to poke is to get someones attention of course.

The truly incredible thing is that these expressions have filtered into our everyday lives over the course of just a year. Talk about a tipping point.

So I wonder what might make the 2009 version of the dictionary ? Linden Dollars maybe ? A new definition and spelling of WoW possibly ? And what about Android ?

If you dont know what these things are now, I'd hazard a guess you will by the 2009 edition of Collins.