We here at Kidd Group cannot get enough of Vine! It’s literally addicting, or at least we think it is. If you like visually-based social media then Vine is most likely the app for you. Vine, a subsidiary of social media giant Twitter, allows users to capture six second video clips and share them with followers (think Instagram, but for videos). Vine enables its users to create videos with infinite possibilities. Whether you want to give followers a sneak peak of your latest project or showcase your stop motion abilities, Vine is truly a great way to grow your social media presence while having a great time.

2. Clear

Life is busy. Life is confusing. Don’t you wish that there was a way to simplify things sometimes? Well, you’re in luck! Clear, for iPhone, is our go-to list-making application. Need to have a grocery list, to-do list, and “oh I cannot forget to bring that to this meeting” list? You’re covered! Clear allows for seamless, concise lists to be made on your Mac or iPhone, and then to be stored on the Cloud to make them accessible on either device. You’re never going to forget the eggs at the grocery store again!

3. Klout

Have you ever wondered just how effective your social media presence is? Well, Klout is here to tell you. The app rates you on a scale of 1-100 based on how active and influential, you are on social media. You can add anything from your Facebook and Instagram profiles to your YouTube account for the app to gauge your level of Klout, however the app initially uses your Twitter handle to measure your flair for social media.

4. Netflix

Chances are that you already have a Netflix subscription with the over 23 million users who stream online. However, you might not be taking advantage of all the service has to offer. We love to use the streaming video on our smartphones when we are in need of some TV or movie time, but don’t have a great Wifi connection — Thanks 4G!

5. Couch to 5K

We admit working in technology has us sitting down A LOT. Whether it is in front of our computer screen at the office, or lounging on our couches at home, we really enjoy putting our feet up. However, with summer here, we want to enjoy the beautiful weather and get fit doing so! Thanks to Couch to 5K, we can have the support that we need to learn how to run a 5K with just 30 minutes of exercise, three days a week, for nine weeks. It is great for beginning runners, and as an added bonus is incredibly motivational and allows you to use your own playlists while running.

Bonus Round:

Picfx, Over & Afterlight

These three picture editors will help you nail your Instagram game. Our favorite feature on Picfx is definitely the light filter options it allows you to use. Want some stars, hearts or additional bokeh on your pictures? Picfx has you covered. Over is great for its ability to overlay text on pictures. Bust out of the boring caption routine by integrating your text right into your picture. Lastly, Afterlight is a standout for its framing options. Whether you want your shot to look like a heart, the letter Z, or a traditional oval, Afterlight allows you to crop your picture into a large variety of shapes, numbers, and letters.

I sat in the movie theatre this weekend anxiously anticipating the viewing of a film based on one of the few assigned books I bothered to read in high school (I was much more concerned with pleasure reading in those days). The Great Gatsby has always been one of my favorites; a tale of deception, hope and the development of knowledge. But who knew that this novel could help me grow professionally as well?

As I watched the movie, I was struck by the stunning visuals, enchanting soundtrack, and skillful performances, but as I left the theatre I felt deeply contemplative about the lessons from the film that could be useful to me as I begin my journey as a Public Relations intern. In a business that can sometimes deal with questionable ethical ground, what could Jay Gatsby teach me? Here’s what I picked up:

1.Personal branding is more important than ever.

In an industry where we can be the representative of countless brands and clients, at the end of the day you can not forget to mind your personal brand. Jay Gatsby knew just who he wanted to be, and so he became that person. Obviously, becoming a liquor bootlegger is not your best bet, nor is being deceptive in any way, but that does not mean that there is not a nugget of wisdom from Gatsby here: Know the image that you want to project, know who you want to be at the end of the day, and make it happen. As an intern, now is the time to realize who we want to be both professionally and personally, so the development of your personal brand is key.

2. A little showmanship never hurt anyone.

If anything about the story of Jay Gatsby is clear, it is that the man knew how to throw a shindig. The same can go for you! Granted, you probably aren’t going to be throwing a party of thousands decked out in flapper dresses, but that does not mean that you can’t have a showstopping, albeit smaller scale, event. Whether you’re entertaining a client, hosting a Twitter party, or just getting ready for work in the morning, going the extra mile can never hurt. People enjoy seeing that you put forth the extra effort, and they will respond positively to your doing so.

3. Honesty and integrity will always be your best bets.

Clients, your supervisors and the general public will look to you to be a reliable source of information. It is crucial that you not only tell the truth, but be transparent about any mistakes that you make. Openness is really the only way to go if you want to maintain a high level of personal integrity, which is essential to becoming a successful PR intern, and eventually a PR pro. Remember, you aren’t just representing yourself anymore, but many other brands who have customers that count on them. You are that brand’s voice, so make it an honest one.

Journalists tend to have a short fuse with PR gurus because quite frankly, we outnumber them four to one. Due to greater volumes of story pitches newsrooms receive, it makes it difficult to sift out the relevant pitches from the inane.  Journalists also have many other sources for story ideas than direct news pitches, but can struggle with being forced to produce more.

Journalists rely on PR professionals to provide them with newsworthy information, and PR people count on reporters to publish their client’s story in a timely fashion. To keep this cycle flowing, reporters have a few tips for us PR people:

• Do not send a story pitch without first researching what the reporter covers.
• Think twice about sending the same story pitch to multiple reporters.
• Refrain from sending a manifesto. If you cannot summarize the story in a couple of sentences you might as well not bother sending it.
• Make the subject line of your email newsy, not cutesy.
• Take the time to learn and understand what exactly you are pitching. Be able to answer basic questions about your client’s business.
• Be able to deliver on the promise. Don’t offer an executive for an interview and then not be able to produce him/her.

With Public Relations being such a competitive and fast paced industry, PR pros have to stand out in the crowd in order to gain a stable reputation as reliable and trustworthy individuals who are confident in pitching a newsworthy story to the proper outlet. Because let’s face it, even in this day and age social media will not get you everywhere.

One of the major accomplishments has been the passing of the Rewards for Justice Bill in congress which will grant a reward of up to $5 million for any information that could lead to the imprisonment of Kony and other wanted human rights violators.  Since the video’s release, the percentage of killings conducted has decreased significantly by about 67%. According to a study by Invisible Children and Resolve (another non-profit), it seems as if the wrong doings of the LRA have been operating on a slightly smaller scale and targeting less children.  They have also made a move from Uganda into the Central African Republic.

As far as public support for the KONY2012 campaign goes, the video’s popularity caused it to be seen by YouTube and Vimeo users over 100 million times. Along with the video views, around the time of the release, nearly 6 million tweets and shares were posted pertaining to the trending topics of #StopKony and #Kony2012. A slacktivism phenomenon arose which helped the campaign’s efforts to promote their cause, but didn’t provide the manpower and tangible efforts to make the campaign succeed to its fullest potential. The follow-up video seeks to motivate viewers to make monthly donations towards the cause. It is questionable whether or not this will create the frenzy that the first video created, especially due to the ongoing speculations about Invisible Children’s financial integrity. There is no doubt that we all need to do a little more research about this topic before fully supporting it or fully knocking it.

Watch the follow-up video here: http://invisiblechildren.com/

Do you think this video can create the same buzz as the original?

Most Original Concept:  The Oreo commercial shed light to a battle that has gone on in our minds since the first time we tried an Oreo. Is the best part the cookie or the cream? The debate between the two leads to complete mayhem inside a very quiet library. While tables are being thrown, windows are being broken and firemen make their way to the scene to put out the fire, nothing louder than a whisper is said by any of the actors. This was truly comical to watch.

Best Use of Celebrity Cameos: Samsung really threw the house off the window with their “The Next Big Thing” Galaxy S commercial. Celebrity appearances are made by comedian actors Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, and Bob Odenkirk, with the final appearance being made via Galaxy tablet by basketball star LeBron James. The commercial’s script was true to the comedic characters and dialogue used by Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd in their best known films. While each of the characters thought they were being hired to be portrayed as Samsung’s “Next Big Thing,” LeBron steals their chances of the spotlight during their commercial “pitch meeting” with Bob Odenkirk.

Best Football Related Ad: The Tide commercial showcased the Super Bowl rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. While watching a San Francisco game, a man spills some chip salsa on his jersey miraculously leaving the stain of football legend Joe Montana. After creating a frenzy among 49er fans everywhere, the stain is washed off by the man’s wife who smirks at the camera and says “Go Ravens.” This was a phenomenal way for Tide to wrap their product around the Super Bowl theme since fans of both teams could relate to the reaction of a miracle stain being washed off of a jersey.

Best Emotional Ad:  Budweiser’s Clydesdales ad showcased the inseparable relationship between a horse caretaker and a majestic Clydesdale. The horse has to be taken away by Budweiser once it is fully grown. When the caretaker makes his way to Chicago to see the horse, an endearing reunion between them occurs. The ad could have been a tear jerker for anyone who has ever had a pet they adored.

Best American Culture Ad: Aside from being emotional, the Jeep commercial hit home for most Americans. The troops coming home is always something our country looks forward to. Oprah’s narration as clips of families waiting for their loved ones are played inspired feelings and sentiments within many of those watching. The commercial shows the impact of the absence of soldiers throughout the country, claiming our nation will not be “whole” until their return.

These, and all other Super Bowl commercials can be watched here.

However, there are also limitations put forth on the media limiting their messages. The cartels have warned media channels to not publicize or negatively address them otherwise there could be grave consequences. This leaves the media without any option to speak freely and be a voice that Mexico so desperately needs. Journalists, citizens, and public figures have taken this matter into their own hands by developing Twitter accounts which act as a news channel through which followers may stay up to date with everything that is occurring during the drug war.

The action that civilians and public figures have taken is clearly not received well by the cartel organizations terrorizing the country. Their lives could very possibly be in danger if their identities were ever discovered.  Technologically, Mexico is trying to stay actualized in order to protect its people from acts of violence. There are applications that may give information about police station locations nearby and places to avoid as well as data maps indicating previous locations of crime.

Social media and technology can often be thought of as ways to market brands, publicize events, and also as a way for people to connect with others all around the world. Instances such as the Twitter media initiative show that social media has become much more than a medium for a brand. It has also become an outlet for the oppressed to speak their minds without fear, and for them to be the new voice of those who have lost theirs.

Below are some of the user names and trending topics that the public is currently using to remain informed:

@MundoNarco
@NarcoPlanet
@Cicmty
#mtyfollow
#reynosafollow

Seeing opportunity in reviving the abandoned idea of a shared household phone, UrbanHello launched a Kickstarter campaign on Jan. 6, introducing its sleek, innovative product, The Home Phone.

The product’s name alludes to its overall essence, functioning as a straightforward and practical device that aims to shift communication within the home towards a more central, unifying experience. Its creators reminisce and find value in the days when the phone was a “gathering place for everyone in the family” and a place where “communication was shared by the whole family.”

Although the inspiration for The Home Phone stems from the past, the product’s design is chic and contemporary. The Home Phone is offered in a variety of colors with a clean, fresh look, featuring only a few necessary buttons—meaning unlike today’s trending complex phones, each button serves only one obvious purpose. The Home Phone boasts a hands free feature, where upon setting the phone down, it automatically switches to loudspeaker mode with 360-degree high definition sound. Yet another benefit to this device is that is reduces exposure to electromagnetic waves by more than 99%. According to Mashable, The Home Phone will cost an estimated $169 at launch.

What do you think? Will families welcome The Home Phone into their households, or is the landline going extinct? All opinions are welcome!

Throughout the years, sharing meals has been regarded as a symbol of unity and time spent together. That symbolism seems to have changed due to the appearances of portable devices at the table. Phones, tablets, video games, and iPods are just a few of the gadgets that are now commonly used by people of all ages. It is understandable why in most situations, the recreational use of these devices at the dinner table leads to negative results. Parents who are trying to build a stronger bond with their kids are often left ignored due to the ongoing text messages from their kids’ friends.  Couples who intend to have a strong relationship are constantly interrupted by phone calls, messages and notifications. Although we do not often think about this, many other scenarios like these take place each day within homes and restaurants all over the world.

Smartphones and other portable devices have been incredible tools that have made our lives easier. However, at what point do we break the barrier they have created between us and those we care about? Allow these devices to help you in the ways they are supposed to. No one is saying that it is bad to check your Facebook or text often, it is just a matter of finding a balance of knowing when it is appropriate to do these things, and when it is better to just put everything in the middle and have a normal face-to-face conversation.

Do you have any of your own “phone in the middle-like” tactics for keeping technology out reach?

A new social media tool, www.Bottlenose.com, will do just this for you. It scans the platforms and shows you a live streaming view of what the crowd is thinking, sharing and talking about at the moment. It provides insights and analytics into what’s behind the trends and who is influencing the conversation. Many of its fans use the tool to find trends, track interests, measure conversations, analyze keywords and target influencers.

Bottlenose connects with many different networks and data streams such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, RSS feeds and you can continually add networks as you go. Bottlenose generates an interest graph about every topic, link and person on the stream using a platform used for social listening, analytics, and trend detection called StreamOS, which will then rank all popular topics and trends.

Now, all social media gurus and trending topic addicts can use Bottlenose to stay updated on the biggest and newest things on all networks at once. Do you think you’ll end up using Bottlenose? Let us know what you think.