According to the Mobile Internet Attitudes Report 2011, conducted by YouGov for Antenna Software, 25% of British consumers make use of the mobile web every day, almost twice as many as the year before.

The online poll measured the “attitudes, preferences and behaviours” of adult consumers (18 year and older). In the US, over 2 000 people participated in the survey and almost 2 300 people in the UK. The report had 3 main findings, discussed below.

Definite growth in mobile usage

34% of UK consumers and 33% of consumers in the US admitted to using the mobile web at least once a week. Mobile internet is becoming more and more popular thanks to the wide range of social networking platforms available to users.

Poor mobile web user experience

According to the Mobile Internet Attitudes Report 2011, 44% of US and 48% of UK consumers said that they will use the mobile web more often if the experience was more similar to their online PC experience. Feature phone users blamed difficulty to navigate websites, as well as it being too expensive to surf the mobile web. According to Jim Hemmer, President and CEO, Antenna Software, said: “Operators and enterprises must do more to ensure a compelling and rewarding Internet and application experience is had by consumers on all mobile devices – not just smartphones.”

UK consumers are more active on the mobile web than consumers in the US

British consumers are 1% ahead of the US (33%) when it comes to weekly mobile web usage, as opposed to being 1% behind the Americans the previous year.

Jim Hemmer continued: “The desire for convenience and advancements in technology mean more people than ever before can enjoy good mobile Internet experiences regardless of their handset. However, as results of the 2011 Mobile Internet Attitudes Report indicate, there’s still much improvement to be made by operators and enterprises.”

Jamie Oliver released a brand new iPhone app called Jamie’s Recipes. This follows the success of his previous (award-winning) app, 20 Minute Meals, which hit the top of the charts in the UK and the rest of the world since first released in 2009. With its consistent interface design and amazing food photography, the new quick and easy-to-prepare recipes app will be a definite success.

The app, available for free download, comes with a “Taster Pack” of 12 recipes. It also includes step-by-step instruction cards, video tutorials and tips, as well as ways to prepare and cook the various recipes. Additional recipe packs are available at $2 each. Each recipe contains 3 crucial steps to follow when creating that perfect dish:

Summary

Contains an overview of the dish, as well as links to relevant, helpful videos.

You’ll Need

This tab lists the equipment and ingredients necessary for each specific recipe.

Steps

Text and photo step-by-step guides on how to prepare the dish.

The virtual shopping list is a cool feature where you are able to add all your shopping needs and store it in one place. The app also automatically adjusts the number of ingredients needed if you’re cooking for more than 2 people. How smart!

However, according to some the app lacks hands-free functionality (refer to Nigella’s Quick Collection app for example). Other than these minor issues, this app will surely change the way we cook. What are you waiting for? Download the app, develop your culinary skills and become a Kitchen Queen (or King)…!

Newspaper giant USA Today released two issues recently that provided readers with an interactive experience of the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the venue for the Super Bowl, through augmented reality. Readers had to use their smartphones to enhance 3D and audio features ‘built’ into the newspaper.

Pepsi sponsored the February 4^th edition which included a 360˚ tour of the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, featuring various interior and exterior highlights. The experience also included an introduction and video tour by stadium and Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones.

The 7^th of February edition of USA Today, sponsored by Papa John’s, featured an animated 3D view of a Key Play in the game, with the option to receive player stats.

How it works

Readers had to download and install the free junaio app from the iPhone App Store. Once the app was installed they had to point their phones, using the phone’s camera, at certain images in the newspaper to see the game come to life. In short, augmented reality allows real-life environments to consort with computer animation.

Lisa Murphy, product marketing manager at junaio, San Francisco, said: “USA Today and Junaio wanted to create a Super Bowl game coverage experience never seen before. To bring to life the Super Bowl game on top of the newspaper is amazing for the readers.”

In turn, Steve Kurtz, vice president of digital development at USA Today, Washington, said: “As phones and tablets become more powerful and ubiquitous, the opportunities will increase for providing information and entertainment that complement traditional coverage.”

Features like image recognition and object tracking capabilities make it possible for the junaio app to recognise printed images and retrieve additional digital content for the viewer. Junaio augments reality when triggered by images or objects the viewer’s smartphone camera is pointing at. Read more about USA Today’s augmented reality campaign on CrunchGear.com.