Are you itching for the weekend? So excited to celebrate the 4th of July? Check out this slideshow highlighting some cool iPhone applications to test your knowledge, to show your love for the USA and, if you’re like me, to keep yourself occupied during that long car ride to the Cape. I’m not driving, don’t worry.

Have you tried any of these? Know of any other cool USA themed apps? Let us know!

-Cristina

I left my house late yesterday and forgot my iPhone. I realized my mistake about half way to work, which was too late to turn back. “Ah well, I guess I can live without it for one day,” I thought.

What proceeded was a nightmare…

At about 9:15 AM, I left for my appointment located in an unfamiliar part of the city that is sprawling with factories, desolate parking lots, roads without sidewalks and broken payphones. Upon getting lost trying to find my destination (Mapquest, you suck), I started stressing because I couldn’t call my appointment to let them know I was running late. I also couldn’t call my office to make the call for me or get any assistance. Fun!

At exactly 9:50am (10 minutes before my appt.), I finally see someone that I can ask for directions. YAHOO! I asked, “Excuse me sir, could you tell me where Milton Street is?” To which the polite, but unfortunately rather unhelpful gentleman replied “No hablo Ingles.”

Knowing that a 45 minute pantomime session was out of the question, I sped off trying to find my destination. After five minutes of sweating (combination of nerves and high blood pressure) and more driving, I saw Milton Street. Thank you, God.

As I pulled the car over to make a U-turn to head back toward Milton Street, I hit a curb – not once, but twice. Instantly I knew my day had taken a turn for the worse. With the sudden pulling of the steering wheel to the right, my fears were confirmed: I had a flat. I had two flats.

At this point I only really had one option, so I grabbed my laptop and projector and hoofed it to my now nearby destination.

I recount this story on our blog because I want to stress how different my day would have been had I remembered my iPhone. I could have used my phone’s maps/gps to find my destination. I could have called my appointment to let them know I was running late or to get directions. I could have reached my office for help. Heck, I could have even called my sister who speaks Spanish and let her talk to the guy who could have given me directions!

I have heard a lot of people recently (not sure why) talk about how things were possibly better before cell phones, email, texting, and the gazillion other ways we communicate today with each other. People can feel or say what they want but I must admit, I would have loved to been able to text someone on my iPhone yesterday.

Was life better before cell phones? Do we rely too heavily on technology? What do you think?

-@ajgerritson

What are the reasons behind this drop in ratings? Well, one of the main reasons is the lack of social media use in past years. Until last year’s telecast, a lack of social media tie-ins thwarted the Academy from achieving higher ratings. The Academy wasn’t harnessing the power of Oscar pools on online channels, using social networking sites (i.e. Facebook and Twitter) to keep viewers engaged in real-time, streaming videos backstage at the awards ceremony, or utilizing mobile technology.

This year, the Academy used social media to boost ratings and connect with the Gen Y Audience. Here are some of the ways the Academy used social media to gain viewers and engage with the audience:

• Streamed nominations live online at Oscars.org, and on the Academy’s Facebook page.
• Revamped website by hosting video and exclusive content from nominees, as well as widgets for Oscar pools and predictions.
• Oscars iPhone application launched in late February. Fans use the app to see how their Oscar predictions faired against others.
• The Academy will release behind-the-scenes footage from the preparations and rehearsals leading up to the 2010 telecast. The videos will also be syndicated to online video sites and digital out-of-home networks.

Do you think these social media tactics helped boost ratings for the 2010 Academy Awards show? Next year, you can expect to see Facebook and Twitter integration for real-time engagement with viewers.  What are some other tactics you think would help in 2011?