Congratulations to Rhomobile! InfoWorld has chosen Rhomobile Rhodes for a 2012 Technology of the Year Award. The Rhodes framework allows developers to more easily build mobile apps for Android, IOS, Windows Phone 7 and Blackberry devices.

This award is just the latest triumph for Rhomobile. After joining forces with LMGPR in early 2011, the momentum began to build with dozens of media placements including Forbes and Bloomberg News West. The momentum culminated with Motorola Solutions acquiring Rhomobile in October 2011. Now a new year is here and Rhomobile continues to move forward with this InfoWorld award.

We take great satisfaction in seeing Rhomobile continue to garner the accolades it deserves and are proud to have worked closely with Rhomobile to get to this point.

LMGPR would like to introduce you to our newest client: Roamz. The Aussie-based company released its location-based intelligent mobile app at Web 2.0 in San Francisco on October 17^th.

So what is Roamz and what does it do?

Roamz helps users discover the world around them by aggregating and showing relevant information about local places and events in real time.

What does that mean?

Well, let’s say for example it’s Friday night and you’re looking for something to do. You go to Roamz and you tell it where you are and what you’re interested in. Roamz then filters through all kinds of online content including social websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Foursquare and gives you information about what’s going on at that moment in that area. Roamz doesn’t tell you where to go, but instead let’s you know what’s happening… the rest is up to you.

Another benefit to Roamz is that it includes artificial intelligence that customizes its results to each individual user. The more you use Roamz, the more it learns about you and the smarter it gets! The end result is a unique and customized experience for each person.

And Roamz can be used anywhere! If you’re on a business trip or vacation, simply tell Roamz where you are at that moment and you’ll soon be in the loop about what’s going on. Roamz is designed to make you feel like a local, no matter where you are in the world!

Roamz has received lots of press since its launch. Here’s some of the feedback:

“… what I like about it is how it summarizes the disparate establishments that make up a neighborhood, from restaurants and bars to beauty parlors and art schools and including both ones I know about already and ones I’d never pay attention to otherwise.” – CNET

“The result, ideally, is that you don’t have to be constantly checking your social networks to find out what’s going on, what’s popular or where your friends are checking into right now.” – TechCrunch

 “At first I was hesitant to connect Roamz with my other social media, but after trying it out it really helps give you better recommendations for what you’re looking for.” – The Daily Campus

If you haven’t tried Roamz yet… you should! It’s free and can be downloaded here.

Whether you’re at home or on the road, Roamz is the perfect app for people with busy mobile lifestyles looking to add serendipity to their lives!

By Ashley Albert

If your life is anything like mine, there’s not enough time to spend skimming through the bazillions of apps that are currently on the market. I have both an iPad and an Android cell phone, and with commuting, working and socializing, I’m looking for ways to simplify my busy mobile lifestyle. So I’ve decided to delve deeper into those top-rated apps and weed out the ones that don’t do much. Here are my recommendations:

For Apple:

Auto Park – “Say Goodbye to parking tickets!” This app aims to keep money in your wallet, as it reminds you when time on a parking meter is about to run out. This app could put Meter Maids out of business!

Gigwalk – Have you ever needed a few more bucks to pay those unexpected bills? This app will alert you when there is a small job available in your area. The example given in the iTunes store is “go check if there is a road block at a certain location!” Easy four bucks, right?

Giftplan – If you can never remember what people’s favorite colors are or when their birthday is, this app is right for you. What it does is allow you to create tiny profiles of your friends, so when it’s time to buy a gift, you just look them up and voila! Gift shopping finally made easy.

Flipboard – Instead of having to log in to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and then browsing the web after you’ve finished there, Flipbook allows you to do all of these things simultaneously. This app is specifically for iPad users only.

By Michael Erwin

It’s finally here! The eagerly anticipated release of myBantu’s app for IOS and Android has come to pass!

For those of you not yet in the know, allow me to make the introductions! myBantu is your new smart personal assistant! What does it do? Well, it gives you personalized and relevant entertainment recommendations based on a user’s profile, Facebook friends, experts, and the World Wide Web.

Need an example? Here’s one. Say you’re in the mood for Japanese food in your area. Now the last time you randomly chose a sushi joint, let’s just say it didn’t turn out so well… so you’re wary of making a similar mistake. What do you do? You Bantu!

Simply type “sushi” into the myBantu search engine and using its ActiveRelevance technology, myBantu will provide a list of up to nine restaurants in your area that have been tried and tested. Using myBantu, you’re on your way to a successful sushi soiree!

myBantu won’t just help fill your stomach. It can also be used for shopping, movie, and other entertainment-based outings. Turn a Date Night into a Great Night with myBantu!

myBantu also has a to-do function that not only keeps you organized, but allows you to share your to-do’s with your contacts.

… the best part? myBantu is free! So what are you waiting for? It’s time to Bantu!

myBantu can be found in both the Apple App Store and the Android Market.

“SocialGuard did what it promised, and I believe it could be a real benefit to parents and children alike…”-Walter S. Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal. 

LMGPR has delivered the goods again! Using our systematic approach to public relations called SysCom, we’ve landed our client Check Point in the July 28 edition of The Wall Street Journal—front page of the Personal Technology section.

The Wizard of Personal Technology Walt Mossberg takes an in-depth look at ZoneAlarm SocialGuard, a product that helps protect children from social threats on Facebook.

In the column, Mossberg gives Social Guard a glowing recommendation: “… if you’re a parent with limited time who worries about your child’s safety on Facebook, yet wants to give her some privacy, SocialGuard is worth trying.”

In addition to its front-page status, the column was also picked up by several media outlets online.

This is the kind of national exposure that SysCom aims to deliver. Using our Strategic Story Engine, we are able to generate story ideas that result in our clients being placed in these types of distinguished publications.

Recently, another of our clients, FireEye, was the focus of a four-page feature spread in Businessweek. We’ve also just completed a media tour with Metrogames CEO Damien Harburguer, who met with top Bay Area and national gaming & tech publications.

We take pride here at LMGPR in seeing our clients receive the recognition they deserve. It’s not only a boon for our clients, but also a feather in our own cap. Landing a client in The Wall Street Journal isn’t easy, but it’s worth every orchestrated minute to see our clients in neon lights.

To learn more about ZoneAlarm Social Guard

To follow Walt Mossberg

To follow our editorial travels on Twitter

Congratulations to Rhomobile!

The San Jose-based company that offers products for enterprise smartphone applications has made the ninth annual AlwaysOn Global 250 Top Private Companies list. AlwaysOn selects 250 companies annually that are “demonstrating significant market traction and pursuing game-changing technologies” in Silicon Valley.

The award shines the spotlight on Rhomobile as a company that is innovative and making a difference in the mobile industry. Rhomobile’s Rhodes platform is making it possible to create smartphone applications that support Near Field Communications (NFC). It’s this type of breakthrough that has resulted in Rhomobile being chosen as a standout amongst thousands of businesses worldwide.

Rhomobile finds itself in good company this year. The 2011 list reads like a who’s who of tech, gaming and social media innovators with Jive, Zynga, Twitter, Foursquare, Groupon and Facebook all being recognized.

The companies will be honored at the Silicon Valley Innovation Summit 2011 in Santa Clara July 27^th and 28^th.

“I’ve waited two years to write this: WE. ARE. LIVE.”- Luke Stangel

That was the first Facebook update from Tackable co-founder and LMGPR alum Luke Stangel as TapIn Bay Area, a news-generating mobile app, went live Tuesday July 12th.

TapIn Bay Area is the product of a partnership between Tackable and the California Newspapers partnership that includes the San Jose Mercury News. The app for news junkies allows users to contribute photos and information about news in their areas. In addition, people can request news information with the hope that someone in that particular area can provide a real time update.

There’s more to TapIn Bay Area than just breaking news however. The interactive map also links to other news stories of the day, happening events, restaurant and movie listings, and one of the hottest social media trends right now: coupons and daily deals.

The end result is that TapIn Bay Area amounts to a real time digital newspaper. The app is currently free from the App Store with the intention of adding a future $4.95 monthly subscription fee. Those who post photos or contribute other content will earn points. Those points can then potentially be used toward free subscriptions. TapIn is also looking to generate revenue through local advertising, coupons and classifieds.

TapIn Bay Area is the first app of its kind and is looking beyond the Bay Area. The hope is that other newspaper groups will look to adopt the innovative technology, realizing that interactive newspapers may well be the future.

LMGPR would like to extend its warmest congratulations to Luke Stangel and the entire Tackable team. It’s been a long road, but well worth the wait! All the best!

Remember chatrooms? Well, they’re back… sorta! This time however they are musically themed and not only do you get to chat, but you get to share music as well. Of course I’m talking about Turntable.fm: the newest hangout for the cool kids!

So how does it work?

The rooms are mostly themed by musical genre: 80’s, Indie, Hip Hop, etc. Once you find a room you like, you find yourself in a crowd. On the stage are five DJ’s. The DJ’s take turns playing songs and the crowd has the option of liking or disliking the song and can make comments as well. There is a gaming element in that DJ’s are awarded status points for playing songs that people like. You can also become fans of DJ’s and you are notified via email when and where they are DJing.

If a DJ leaves a room, anyone can jump into the open slot and start playing music by either taking songs from the Turntable.FM database or by uploading songs of their own. Also, if you’d rather, you can start your own room and play what you like. I spent hours in a room the other night with a friend from LA and a couple more from San Francisco just playing music and reminiscing. Don’t be surprised if an LMGPR listening room pops up in the near future with our talented PR staff providing the soundtrack to your workweek!

The best part is that if you don’t want to DJ or chat, you can just listen to an uninterrupted stream of music all day long. No commercials and no hearing the same songs over and over again. Most of the DJ’s are music nerds and you are just as likely to hear an album track or an obscure B-side as you are a hit single. It’s also a great way to learn about new bands and find out what the hipsters are listening to!

Warning though: Turntable.fm is addicting… don’t say we didn’t warn you!

By Anton Molodetskiy

After an unconventional start (record-breaking rain in June… really?) things are heating up in Silicon Valley and Summer 2011 is kicking into high gear.  With that in mind, it’s time to get into summer mode with several mobile apps that can help make the most of any vacation, staycation or day trip:

Weber’s on the Grill App ($4.99): I’ve had to sell grills as a job before and hold a particular appreciation for the Weber brand. This manufacturer consistently delivers quality merchandise and support for products that fit a range of budgets. Their range of accessories and books is also top notch, the books in particular providing both a wealth of practical knowledge and tasty looking recipes. Although this app will set you back a five-spot, it is another quality Weber product, offering videos, high-quality picks and time guides for different food. It also features a grill timer which tells you when your steak is done; this way, you don’t necessarily need a meat thermometer if you have to have it medium-rare like I do. Available on iPhone and iPad only though, so Android owners will have to settle for their less-powerful Weber BBQ Guide app.

Tripcase (Free): Although Business Week raved about this app back in 2009, which is on-par with the Stone Age in the mobile world, Tripcase still feels like a solid travel app.  The streamlined main menu allows access to all app features, including arrival times, flight schedules and various maps and phone numbers. As with most apps, Tripcase aggregates hotel pictures and car rental information, but it’s solidly put together and its’ PRO version adds nice features like airplane seat maps and conversion for currency. It is available on both iOS and Android.

Word Lens (Free application + $9.99 charge for language):  If you’ve ever found yourself in a foreign country, staring at a sign and wondering what it says, Word Lens might just be for you. This app is still in its’ early-adopter stage, able to only translate things into Spanish, but the process is already comprehensive and convenient. Simply aim your smart phone camera at the offending letters – those you cannot read, and they are immediately translated on your phone screen. It is available on the iPhone and iPad only for now, so Android users will have to rely on other methods of getting around in Cancun this summer. ¡Una Cerveza, Por Favor!

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Wikitude (Free):  If you haven’t been paying attention, one of the next big things in mobile tech is Augmented Reality.  Wikitude is an app that combines data with the images of the world around you, allowing you to discover and interact with your surroundings in various ways. Through different filters (or layers), you can pan your device around you to discover nearby locations. From there, you can interact with them – get directions, info, call, etc. If they could only integrate this technology into a headset, we could all have terminator-like vision. This app is available on both Android and iOS and is free!

By Lindsay Newman

School is out, summer is here and it’s time to protect yourself… and we’re not just talking about the sun. While it is time to lacquer on the SPF for sun protection, there’s another potential summer hazard to be wary of: Facebook.

It’s become the norm these days for students to chronicle their summer vacations. Mobile phones now allow for status updates and new photos in real time, but this can potentially lead to some problems.

While it may seem innocent enough at the time, liking your friend’s edgy comments, posting a suggestive status update, or posting an *ahem* alcohol-induced photo could potentially come back to haunt you.

Why? Because your Facebook profile is an extension of your reputation.

In this Internet age, job recruiters are looking at social networking sites before hiring prospective employees and that moment of spontaneity could potentially result in you not landing that dream job.

Meanwhile, a different type of a hazard has the potential to increase during the summer months that targets those most vulnerable: children.

Consumer Reports recently reported that of the 20 million minors who actively use Facebook, 7.5 million are younger than 13.

With extra time on their hands and parents at work, the younger set has the potential to spend hours on the social networking site. This could not only result in an increase in cyber bullying by peers, but could also lead to “friending” people who aren’t who they say they are.

People of all ages need to be aware of the potential dangers and possible repercussions that exist in cyberspace.

Some of LMGPR’s very own clients have joined the fight for safety & personal accountability online.

Reppler is a Facebook application that will alert you every time you or someone in your network uses profanity or offensive language that could affect your reputation. It provides 24-hour monitoring, something that even the most dedicated Facebook user can’t do. The result is immediate awareness and the ability to act upon inappropriate content.

 SocialGuard, a product of Check Point Security, allows parents to monitor all activity on their child’s Facebook account, wherever they use Facebook, without having to “friend” their child. SocialGuard provides parents peace of mind knowing they can keep an eye on their child as their tween/teen experiences social networking sites without encroaching on their privacy.   In addition, SocialGuard fosters open communication between parent and child/teen by alerting the parent to any safety issues that the child might be uncomfortable discussing.

The message here is simple: don’t let your summer become a bummer! LMGPR wants your summer to be a safe one! Keep your online reputation in check, talk to your kids, and always wear sunscreen!