We have a big group offering up their opinions this week! In PRobecast episode #109, Topazers Renatta Siewert and Justin Martell join me in talking about how technology could be causing psychological damage, a non-alcoholic sports drink, holograms as conference calls and more.

Is tech changing who we really think are our friends? – Sherry Turkle, author of “Alone Together,” is concerned about how technology is changing people and causing possible psychological side effects with excessive use of not just physical tech, but social networks and the internet in general. In her book, she says who many of the adolescents interviewed said that they don’t particularly like using the phone – the conversations are too long, prying and hard to end – while texts are an easy way to control the situation. Is technology making it easier for people to engage without the personal connection?

Is a non-alcoholic beer a Gatorade competitor? – A non-alcoholic beer is the latest drink being marketed as a sports and fitness beverage. The beer is apparently full of vitamins and has “natural regenerative powers” that help athletes recover from a strenuous workout. It’s currently the number 1 non-alcoholic beer in Germany. Would you grab one of these recovery drinks over a Gatorade?

Google launches a new ‘Person Finder’ page – Google has launched a Person Finder page to help victims of the New Zealand earthquake. It’s all user-generated data and people can go in and search, add information about someone or leave a message for a lost loved one on the site. They’ve previously created similar pages after the disasters in Haiti, China and Chile.

Coming to your conference room soon: Holograms – Developers of holographic displays are working on new technology that could change the way we think of conference calls – hologram video projection. This technology could present a filmed presentation live and 3-D right in front of your eyes. Some are skeptical of the technology, saying that if it’s just a hologram, anyone sitting up close. Either way, if the technology does in fact work as planned, it definitely changes the meaning of teleconferencing people in.

Now it’s time for the PRobecast PR Power Ranking – which is when we go around the room and pick the story that we think ranks the highest PR-wise – meaning any aspects of PR could be the reasoning behind the pick. Is it the story itself, good data that was used, what’s getting the most pickup, was it a good PR move the company made, etc.

Google isn’t always on the receiving end of complimentary news – but by offering a way for victims of these tragic disasters to help locate friends and family members makes them our PR Power Ranker of the week. It’s nice to see bigger brands help those that need it, especially under these circumstances.

Do you agree with us?

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Technorati Tags: Along Together, Erdinger, Person Finder, Sherry Turkle

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Another big group this week! In PRobecast episode #107, Topazers Joanna DiTrapano, Evan Siff, Renatta Siewert and Justin Martell join me in talking about our favorite Super Bowl ads, Facebook trademarking “face,” and mobile applications.

You’re favorite Super Bowl ad - Whether or not you’re a football fan, you are probably watching the Super Bowl – if not for the actual football part of it, for the commercials. It’s time for Topaz to talk about our favorite – or least favorite ads from Sunday’s big game.

Facebook wants to trademark “face”- Facebook is trying to trademark the work “Face” in the United States in regards to online social networking and related activities. They are also trying to trademark the word “book” in the EU and – according to TechCrunch – have already started some duels with companies trying to use the work “book,” such as Lamebook and Teachbook. Is this going too far?

Privacy Concerns [POLL] - A recent USA Today/Gallop Poll found that just over 50 percent of Google and Facebook users are concerned about privacy. However, as the article goes on to discuss, technologists and privacy experts are saying that these results show the lack of knowledge people have in regards to the rising risks on the Internet. Are people just turning a blind eye, or do they need to get “in the know” when it comes to internet security and the risks out there?

iPhone app for confession – The U.S. Catholic Church recently OKed an iPhone application to help people with confession. The application costs $1.99 and can give users a custom examination of their conscience. Users can even add sins to the app that are not listed. However, this does not cancel out actually going to confession – you must still confess in person.

Future of Mobile Apps - This week’s Mobile Monday in New York brought up some interesting trends/predictions about mobile applications with one chief executive even saying that these mobile apps will soon die out in favor of simple mobile websites. Others predicted that 2011 will see a rise in mobile transactions and that privacy will become a bigger issue. Either way, bringing several entrepreneurs to the table will induce a very engaging and interesting conversation.

Now it’s time for the PRobecast PR Power Ranking – which is when we go around the room and pick the story that we think ranks the highest PR-wise – meaning any aspects of PR could be the reasoning behind the pick. Is it the story itself, good data that was used, what’s getting the most pickup, was it a good PR move the company made, etc.

The Catholic Church’s new iPhone app won this week’s PR Power Ranking. They’re keeping up with the times by enticing a younger audience to engage with them. It’s a smart business move as well – $1.99 adds up and it’s getting a lot of downloads!

Who do you think should have won?

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Technorati Tags: Catholics, Confession iPhone app, Facebook, Super Bowl Commercials, Trademarks, VW

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We have a big group offering up their opinions this week! In PRobecast episode #106, Topazers Joanna DiTrapano, Evan Siff, Renatta Siewert and – a new addition to the Topaz team – Justin Martell join me in talking about NextG Networks putting a cell phone tower in someone’s yard, retailers buying back gadgets, free in-flight Facebook and Flickr’s PR woes.

Nice tree…err tower – A Long Island family is saying that they were lied to when a cell phone tower was put in their front yard. Apparently, Calfornia-based NextG Networks put up the tower telling the family that it was an extra light that the town required. Brookhaven Superintendent of Highways, John Rouse, is accusing the company of putting up the tower without permits. According to NextG, the FCC granted them the right to put the tower up – but on someone’s property?

Retailers buying back gadgets – Several major retailers are starting to buy back products from their customers, offering them money off a future gadget. Gazelle founder Israel Ganot said it’s very similar to when consumers go to buy a new car – you trade in your older model. To me, this sounds like a smart move for retailers – this will generate foot traffic and will offer them a cheaper alternative to buying a new phone.

Free in-flight Facebook – Seven major airlines are offering free in-flight Facebook for the month to promote their in-flight WiFi services. If flyers want to go to additional sites, a fee of $4.95 for short flights or $12.95 for long flights will apply. The in-flight WiFi has been available for years, but has not been heavily promoted. Do you think this will help get the word out and have people more apt to buy the in-flight WiFi in the future?

Flickr makes 4,000 photos vanish – Flickr user, Mirco Wilhelm, reported another Flickr user of having “stolen material” on an account to the company. However, when the staff member went to delete the account, Mirco’s account, not the culprit’s account was deleted – deleting about 4,000 photos and they are unable to get them back. Flickr apologized by offering four free years to compensate. Understandable, Mirco didn’t think that was a good compensation. Firstly, how does Flickr not have the ability to just turn off an account rather than just delete the entire account from their database? And, secondly, what is a good PR move for Flickr?

Now it’s time for the PRobecast PR Power Ranking – which is when we go around the room and pick the story that we think ranks the highest PR-wise – meaning any aspects of PR could be the reasoning behind the pick. Is it the story itself, good data that was used, what’s getting the most pickup, was it a good PR move the company made, etc.

This week, retailers choosing to buy back products and gadgets win the PR Power Ranking. Not only is it good for the retailers themselves – by increasing traffic to the stores and offering store credit – it’s also good for customers and is environmentally friendly! No longer do customers have to pay outrageous prices for new phones and they don’t have to figure out ways to recycle their old ones.

Who do you think should have won?

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Technorati Tags: Facebook, Flickr, NextG Networks, Tech Buy Backs

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