If you’re anything like me, you’ve got at least a couple email addresses that you’ve acquired over the years, not to mention half a dozen devices that can pull down your email. At any one point when receiving an email, I have several beeps, chirps, and vibrations going off in the background letting me know that someone, somewhere is trying to get a hold of me.
With that said, a nifty little gadget such as the USB Mailbox wouldn’t be much help to me seeing as how it would always be incessantly flashing. Lest we not forget, USB ports on a laptop are generally pretty sparse to begin with, so why fill them up with this?
Because it’s convenient — Not only will the USB Mailbox alert you of new emails, but many other social accounts such as Facebook and Twitter to name two. So yeah, even though we’ve all probably got a couple of devices alerting us to constant conversations, one more silent solution connected to our computers might not hurt. Would it? Oh, one more thing. It’s Windows only. Sorry Mac users.
[Product Page: Brando -- $18]

After the earlier post foretelling of potential advertisement madness on our desktops, this form of advertising being rolled out inside the Mall of America is actually pretty well done. The service is a text message based ad service created by MallCall International and titled: ‘MallCall, The Text Best Thing.
I know what you’re thinking: “Oh great, my phone getting blown up for all kinds of useless coupons”. But that’s just the thing, it won’t be “blown up” non-stop day in and day out. You have to opt in for the service by texting a special number located above the entrance to the mall to begin receiving the ads. Further ensuring this isn’t a nuisance, ads are only sent out during mall hours. Keeping your inbox under control, the service resets each day meaning you don’t have to worry about reoccurring texts showing up even after your day trip to the mall. Though, we mere mortals do have some power. At any point during the day, whether you’re at the mall or not, simply texting “stop” to the number previously mentioned will cease ad delivery.
It is definitely a unique, clever, and well thought out plan. Anyone that ventures to the Mall of America have anything to add?
Textually > Mobile Marketing
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If you’re familiar with the Tour de France, I’m sure you also know how grueling and punishing it is on the body. Such tests of endurance, strength, and determination should be rewarded every none and then with a little humor or “outside content” to keep bikers’ minds from getting so stuck in a groove. Lance Armstrong, with the help of Nike have brought something special to this years Tour: The Chalk Bot. What is it? It is a little “bot” towed behind a truck that prints messages on the concrete from chalk. The cool part is that the messages come from you. Yes you. Simply text “Livestrong” and then your desired message to 36453. Now, the chances of actually watching the tour and seeing your message on tv are probably ungodly high. But still, it is a cool little addition that I’m sure they will enjoy none the less. Those involved say they want to print at least 100,000 text messages sooo….Get textin’! What are you going to say?
Source: Slippery Brick, Botropolis