Effekt-Etage Creates Innovative iPad App

Seemingly real paint samples that react to movements of the iPad, leather that you can actually touch as well as see, and individualised image content in many app areas. A new benchmark for innovation, interactivity and customer communication.

BMW Individual, the most exclusive way to drive a BMW, is now available as an interactive experience on the iPad. Thanks to an innovative user interface, this unprecedented virtual product catalogue enables a breathtaking experience of BMW Individual, the BMW premium range.

The app commissioned by BMW M GmbH and developed by Effekt-Etage had a simple aim: to fully exploit the interactive potential offered by the iPad medium in an innovative way, thus creating a new benchmark. The app developed by Effekt-Etage is set to establish a new trend in the category of interactive product magazines.

Its various chapters relate interesting facts about the BMW Individual philosophy, paint finishes, fine leather upholstery and other equipment options. In addition, users can create a virtual vehicle according to their preferences and view the finished result in a Visualiser.

The app is the first to achieve a near-realistic representation of paint finish samples in a virtual environment. In part this is due to Effekt-Etage’s high-quality 3D renderings, which perfectly communicate the BMW Individual paint finishes’ special appeal. In addition, the virtual paint finishes react to movements of the iPad, so the user has the actual impression of moving a real-life paint sample in relation to a light source. This virtual reality effect has also been implemented for the leather samples, allowing the user to leaf through them and touch them.

The interactive capability of this app means that almost every product image can be interacted with, creating a virtual environment that allows users to experience the look and feel of the various equipment details for themselves.

Another outstanding feature is the way the app combines the product information and vehicle configuration processes.

The conventional approach involves the user finding information about products and features such as paint finishes, equipment etc. in a physical catalogue, or on the web. They then begin a separate step of vehicle configuration in a Configurator, beginning with a default vehicle. The BMW Individual app goes one step further by combining these previously separate steps. While reading the various chapters, users are already able to bookmark paintwork finishes, leather colours or other features they like. They can effectively configure their vehicle while gathering information, performing both activities within a single process. As a result, the vehicle initially shown in the Configurator already reflects the user’s individual preferences.

Users can of course save “their” dream car, share it with friends and acquaintances on Facebook, file it in their personal photo album, or send it off in an e-mail.

The BMW Individual iPad app comes in English and German, is optimised for the iPad and iPad2, and is available free of charge in the App Store.

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Christmas Shoppers Should Go Online To Find Black Friday Deals, Says Parcel2Go

Britain’s leading online parcel delivery specialist Parcel2Go has reminded shoppers looking for great deals on their Christmas presents this year to remember to capitalise on Black Friday on November 25.

The annual event, which marks the start of the Christmas shopping rush in America, is designed to inspire US consumers and get the tills ringing at the start of the festive season. But thanks to the internet, next week’s shopping bonanza won’t be restricted to people living in the United States.

Amazon UK is one retailer that is joining in to bring British shoppers deals on a range of goods from books and music to fashion and beauty products, and Parcel2Go has reminded people not to miss out. Amazon will be offering timed deals between Monday, November 21 and Black Friday on the 25th.

Richard Mercer, marketing director at Parcel2Go, said: “Black Friday might have begun as a US tradition but deal-conscious shoppers from the UK now have the chance to beat the Christmas rush and grab themselves a few bargains.

“Online shopping has completely revolutionised the way people buy presents at Christmas and as long as people make sure that their gifts are being shipped with leading couriers then buying online is a great way to avoid the queues at the tills. There are sure to be plenty of Black Friday deals to be had next week and by choosing to send presents to friends and relatives using Parcel2Go, shoppers will be able to save even more money.”

Anyone thinking of ordering goods from American businesses on Black Friday might find that some retailers will only ship to US addresses. Parcel2Go offers customers the opportunity to rent an American address and have goods forwarded to Europe with professional couriers such as DHL and FedEx, so buying direct from the US is no problem at all.

Richard added: “The US address rental service has become incredibly popular and we’d expect to see an increase in demand from European consumers as Black Friday draws closer.”

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U.S. Spanish Children’s Book Sales Climb

Amazon Spain launch and U.S. book sales indicate next big market. November is National Picture Book Month.

Midvale, UT, November 22, 2011 – Publishing is evolving and crossing borders like never before, as is children’s literature. Amazon.com’s recent entry into Spain and the explosion of Spanish-language ebook platforms are indicators of the next big publishing market.

Sales of Spanish language books in the United States demonstrate significant demand–including for children’s literature in Spanish. Bilingual author Karl Beckstrand has seen an increase in demand for his Spanish-language and bilingual picture books and e-books.

This year Beckstrand has had three titles on Amazon’s “Hot New Releases” in Spanish list. His Spanish titles outsell the English versions, though most of his titles come with an English/Spanish pronunciation guide. Positive national reviews by the Horn Book blog and ForeWord Reviews don’t hurt either.

During November, National Picture Book Month, Beckstrand expects record sales–not because of the added emphasis–but because, lately, every month is a record sales month. Customers are not all likely to be to Spanish-speakers. It may be that individuals, schools and families agree with Amazon: an additional language is a good idea.

Considering that native Spanish speakers are more common than native English speakers worldwide (the only other native language more common than Spanish is Mandarin, according to Time and Wikipedia), Amazon’s lead should be followed. Beckstrand’s picture books may be a good start.

Premio Publishing has been delighting readers since 2004. Nationally lauded (ForeWord Reviews, Horn Book blog, Midwest Review), our activity picture books–including a cookbook for kids, Spanish/bilingual books with pronunciation guide and English, Spanish or bilingual text, and ebook mysteries–feature minority characters, capture attention and create repeat readers. Distribution via: Ingram, Brodart, Baker & Taylor, Follett/BWI, Amazon, Nook/Kindle/ibooks/Kobo, Premiobooks.com

Contact:
Hysen Lowry
Premio Publishing & Gozo Books, LLC
648 W. Wasatch Street
Midvale, UT 84047, USA
801.953.3793
info@premiobooks.com
http://premiobooks.com