Radar7 Edition 5 –   (Here’s edition 1, 2, 3 and 4)

17 Oct 2013

Radar7 is our recurring feature where we’ll highlight the top seven pieces of thought-provoking industry commentary that should be on your radar.

1. Digital Ads Will Be 22% Of All U.S. Ad Spend in 2013, Mobile 3.7%; Total Global Ad spend In 2013 $503bn

Outlining the findings of a recent ZenithOptimedia report, TechCrunch highlights the steady growth of global advertising spend, the continuing shift towards mobile advertising and the overall global spend on advertising across all mediums.

2. ‘I’m the original voice of Siri’

Apple has kept the identity of Siri shrouded in secrecy, but in this CNN article and video it seems the voice actor of the virtual assistant has been revealed. Despite UK and Australian Siri voice actors coming forward to reveal their identity far earlier, the American voice of Siri hasn’t spoken up – until now.

3. Looking for the next big thing in smartphones?

Forbes write that the transition from basic feature phones to smartphones in the developing world is argued to be the next “true revolution” in smartphones. The leap in accessible information that comes along with smartphone ownership will reshape how the next five billion of the world’s population engages with technology, and as such we should be paying close attention.

4. The next big frontier for the smart home? Presence.

This GigaOM article provides an interesting view on how an “interior GPS” could further refine smart home technology and help facilitate the implementation of “one true pressure sensor” for each room in the near future, going beyond currently limited geofencing and motion sensor capabilities.

5. Disruptions: Visually impaired turn to smartphones to see their world

Over at The New York Times, this piece explores how smartphones are making a significant difference in the lives of many visually impaired people. Among the examples, sits the identification of bill denominations via a camera-enabled app which prevents a common frustration when handling money.

6. Apple finally dethrones Coca-Cola as the world’s most valuable brand

Based on the latest “Best Global Brands” report from Interbrand, this VentureBeat article reports that Apple is now officially the world’s most valuable brand. At a value of $98.4 billion, Apple has booted former Coca-Cola from the top spot – the only time it hasn’t placed first since the report started in 2001.

7. This is what the massive growth of mobile consumption means for the mobile industry

Business Insider’s latest report into mobile media consumption includes insights into the way tech companies, social networks and app developers are altering their business models to accommodate the shift towards increasingly mobile-centric user bases.