Hasta La Gadget!

Internet tracking cookies may soon see their demise, at least according to Paul Cimino, the Vice President and General Manager at Brilig Digital Data Solutions, a company that looks through 1st and 3rd party data to leverage for marketing campaigns. He says that the internet cookie has “5 years at most” to live before its killed off. He continues to say that the internet cookie is flawed, invasive, and has privacy issues. There are many that agree with Cimino’s statement.

Cimino believes that there will be a new “value proposition” that will replace internet tracking cookies once they’re killed off. He says that the new proposition will allow users to opt into the personalization of their ads and searches. He describes this as “tailor don’t target” advertisements, and it will be more welcomed by consumers compared to the invasive ads brought on currently by tracking cookies.

One reason that Cimino believes internet cookies is dying is because many people are beginning to use machines that are “non-cookieable”. These devices include smartphones and tablets, which account for 35% to 40% of overall data traffic received by Brilig. Because the number of tracking cookies is being reduced drastically, companies have to find new ways of identifying users and their data.

However, Cimino says that cookies aren’t the only way to identify people. He says even if consumers use a non-cookieable device like the iPhone or an Android device, he can still see the device’s IP address as well as part of their user agent. He can use that information to identify the person behind the phone, which he can then use with his 10 different matching agents to use for marketing campaigns. He says,

“With these 10 matching agents we’ve built a cooperative of matching, because most of the matching that you see out there is a single-circuit. It’s “A’ matching agent and “A” campaign and “A” advertiser.

While you will still see ads after the supposed demise of the internet cookie, at least they will be more targeted and more relevant to your preferences. Hopefully these new “value propositions” that Cimino talks about will be more secure and private compared to internet cookies. How do you feel about internet cookies coming to an end?

[via Ad Exchanger]

Internet cookies get five year death sentence is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Back in early January, we talked about the Trakdot luggage tracking device. At the time, we knew a lot of the details on the product with the exception of one of the most essential – when you could buy it. That final piece of the puzzle has now been unveiled.

GlobaTrac has announced that the Trakdot tracking system is now available for pre-order and will ship in late June. The pricing remains the same at $49.99(US). The device uses a cellular network to triangulate your bag’s location rather than GPS.

There is an activation fee of $8.99, but those the pre-order before April 27 won’t have to pay that particular fee. The annual service fee is $12.99 for a year of cellular-based tracking. You have to be seriously concerned about the whereabouts of your bag to resort to this sort of equipment. I have a much easier method of keeping track of my bag, I simply don’t fly anywhere where everything I need can’t fit in a carry-on.

Back during CES, we talked a bit about a real-time luggage tracking device called the Trakdot. When the device was unveiled for the first time during the show, we knew it would be launching in March. March is now here and as promised, GlobaTrac has the Trakdot up for pre-order right now.

The actual launch date for the device will be late June. Pricing for the luggage tracker is $49.99 and it’s roughly the size of your palm. The idea is that you can slip this device into your luggage and keep an eye on your bag as you travel. The tracker doesn’t use GPS signals for tracking; it relies on cellular technology to triangulate an active device’s location.

All the user has to do activate the tracking is turned the device on and slip it inside the bag. The Trakdot is able to turn itself off just before the aircraft takes off and will then turn back on when the aircraft lands. It’s able to quickly determine the city where the bag is located and text that information to the owner.

Users of the technology can also go to a dedicated website to locate where their bag is. There will be an activation fee of $8.99 and an annual service fee of $12.99. People who pre-order the device before April 27 won’t have to pay that $9 activation fee.

[via Trakdot]

Trakdot Luggage tracking device up for pre-order is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

As Leap Motion dev units have begun shipping out, developers have been toying with the motion-tracking device to find unique uses for it. One developer in particular ended up using his unit to help him out with his music recording. Stephane Bersot used the Leap Motion to play air drums, change the pitch of his guitar, and even control the EQ on his piano keyboard.

Essentially, the Leap Motion is able to change the pitch of the guitar chords based on the position of the guitar’s headstock, meaning that there’s no need for players to use a tremolo bar or bend the strings while playing. The device can also track specially-made drum sticks that allow the Leap to track the end points of the sticks to play the beats.

However, that seemed to be Bersot’s most difficult challenge. He says “it wasn’t easy to play drums with it,” and it actually needs more work to make it more stable. Essentially, Bersot used the velocities and positions of the drum sticks on the X axis, and had it play the note at just the right time during the down motion.

We’re assuming Bersot’s project is just for fun, since it doesn’t seem like he plans to release something like it anytime soon, but it goes to show the potential of the Leap Motion device. While it can be used to track your hands to move objects on a screen, the implications of such a device go way beyond what one might think.

[via MAKE]

Leap Motion sees its potential as a possible musical device is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We know Facebook ads are tracking us, we just don’t always know which ones. But that process is about to get more transparent because Facebook is going to start labeling the ads you see based on past behavior. More »