May 9 2013
…and never knew who to ask – is available on the Nuclear Forum website!
The debate about the use of nuclear technologies is vital in many democracies including the Belgian one. However, only few citizens are adequately familiar with the omnipresence of nuclear technologies in our daily lives. This created the need for an online platform, which can offer a clear overview of the many applications of the nuclear technologies.
Apr 25 2013
The all-time Belgian classic, published since 1938, is now more than just a comic-strip journal! Emakina joined forces with Dupuis Editions, creating a digital extension of the comic strip in the form of the Spirou.Z mobile app. In doing so, Dupuis is targeting the children of 2013, using their preferred language: the touch screen.
The Spirou.Z app presents new editions of Spirou but not only! First, users can choose viewing ‘caption by caption’ (using TurboMedia technology), horizontal and vertical scrolling, or a digital flip book. Second, the app features original games and fun activities. Finally, users gain access to extracts from Dupuis’s multimedia archives, unveiling unedited content of the past 75 years!
Apr 19 2013
Microsoft’s new operating system for mobile devices, Windows 8, was launched just a few months ago. But that’s exactly the kind of new challenges which stimulate our developerse! That’s why a team of Emakina’s mobile experts participated in Microsoft’s Superhackathon competition.
The Superhackathon brought hundreds of young and bright developers who worked simultaneously in four different locations across the country. Their goal was one: create the best Windows 8 app! Unfortunately, only one team can go home with the first prize. Fortunately, it was us…! First, our team won the first place in Mons. Then came the real big news: First place at the national finals went to Emakina’s Fit beast.
Apr 11 2013
The Reference, a proud member of the Emakina Group, has recently announced its partnership with TapCrowd, a ‘self-service’ app building platform.
The collaboration between the two Ghent-based companies completes the offering of The Reference/Mobile to a 360° mobile agency and supports TapCrowd in the further expansion of its success story. As partners, The Reference/ Mobile will integrate mobile apps, developed on the TapCrowd platform with the possibility of adapting these apps to the specific needs and demands of each customer.
Frederic Schroyens, Head of Mobile & Tablets at The Reference/Mobile: “For some of our customer segments (mainly for concerts, festivals, conferences, seminars, retail, amusement parks, cities and police) a thoughtful choice of TapCrowd modules is the ideal, affordable solution. Starting from the TapCrowd platform, We are very happy to be able to complete our offer with the modular mobile solutions TapCrowd. This is a great opportunity for both The Reference, as well as, for Emakina Group within an international approach.”
Joost van ’t Hullenaar, VP Sales with TapCrowd: “We are very happy to welcome a renowned party like The Reference as our new partner’. We very much look forward to working with The Reference to create cost effective high quality mobile apps for customers in Belgium and to introduce our product on a European level via Emakina Group later on.”
Apr 8 2013
Far too early, on a lazy Sunday morning, my excited 6-year old came into the master bedroom, carrying the family iPad. (This was the Sunday morning of the infamous internet failure.)
He shouted: ‘Daddy, the iPad is broken’. Still half asleep I responded that the battery was probably dead… but no, it was still very much alive. The wireless connection icon was there. But many of the applications gave a “could not connect to the Internet” message.
So there I was, 5 minutes later, in my pajamas, staring in disbelief at the blinking light of the modem (that I had reset 3 times already). The status page on my smartphone (phew, 3G still worked!) finally confirmed my worst suspicion: ‘we are no longer online’. We are NOT connected to the Internet anymore. And now?
Mar 20 2013
No, she probably didn’t. But if Trustbox had existed earlier – she definitely would have!
Trustbox is a new app, designed by The Reference to allow (conscious) consumers to find out what’s in their food by simply scanning items’ barcodes. The app then lists the ingredients, displays nutritional values, and even warns allergic people of potential hazards! The data presented to the user is entered and/or validated by the manufacturer to ensure high accuracy of the information.
Feb 25 2013
It’s been a while that Volkswagen publishes its own magazine, covering topics like lifestyle, innovation, and hot news from the automotive industry. Now it was time to give the magazine an online dimension. Emakina was called for this mission of developing, designing and maintaining a highly-visual portal of the VW Magazine. Our approach was to build on the existing print version but to add all the advantages of an online publication.
Dec 6 2012
Winter is here. We know it because our streets are beautifully decorated for Christmas, because we are slowly hibernating into pre-holidays mode, and because the temperatures are dropping and it’s getting prrrrrety damn cold!
The challenge is to stay warm while keeping energy consumption as efficiently low as possible. A new revolutionary feature of the Electrabel Smart Energy app is here to help. Emakina’s digital experts joined forces with Electrabel to deliver a state-of-the-art tool for controlling and programming domestic heating from wherever you are! It thus turns any mobile device into your home-heating remote control!
Nov 7 2012
It’s been just over one month since Apple launched its new operating system for mobile devices – the much-anticipated “iOS 6”. We at Emakina took the new operating system for a (long) test drive to determine whether this is a truly (digital) regime change or just a facelift of our good old Apple devices. The answer is mixed; the new operating system brings a nice breeze of new ideas and features, but it is probably not going to revolutionise our mobile experience in the foreseeable future. Since the new system is here to stay (at least for a while), we took the time to summarise some of the main changes that you (and your clients) should be aware of!
Oct 5 2012
ACN
Emakina.BE has become a certified member of the ACN. This is not a political party, but an important movement all the same, The Apple Consultants Network.
As Apple states: “The Apple Consultants Network is your best source for Apple-certified, independent technical professionals focused on delivering professional services and support on all Apple platforms.”
Fast track
Emakina is now listed by Apple as one of the firms with the right consultants to put companies on the fast track by recommending solutions, creating customized workflows, and providing ongoing training and support to help you meet your goals, cost-effectively.
This move helps our Apple certified experts to deliver top professional advice and support. It further improves Emakina’s customer service level, helping clients to save time and money and getting ahead of their competition.
Aug 21 2012
PKA Wanabe, a member of the Emakina Group, was selected to set up the web platform of The Spiral, a cross-border and cross-media interactive game. You might have not heard of it yet but this is about to become the new buzz across Europe! The Spiral is a television programme, aired simultaneously in eight European countries: Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Produced by the international Brussels/ Los Angeles based Caviar Films company; the series tells the story of an art community, centred in Copenhagen, and its charismatic leader – who conspires to steal six of the most important paintings held in museums across Europe.
Yet, being a cross-media action series, The Spiral is not like any other TV programme you’ve seen before! Viewers in all participating countries are invited to compete over finding the stolen masterpieces, through a game involving both online tasks and off-line challenges. As for the group of rebellious artists, they also have an online presence, in the form of a Facebook group which follows the developments and sends out challenges and instructions. Apart Facebook, the fictitious story universe of this project includes numerous other websites.
Due to the fact that PKA Wanabe is based in Waterloo, the production was entitled to financial support from Wallimage, a public fund which supports Walloon audio-visual productions.
Jul 26 2012
In order to better serve our current and future clients, Emakina is committed to a never-ending learning process through Research and Development (R&D). Such a research project was recently executed in cooperation and with the generous support of Innoviris, the Brussels Institute for Research and Innovation.
Based within the region of the Belgian capital, Emakina was entitled to public funding, which covered 50% of a year-long study conducted by our employees on all levels. The study analysed the effects of new mobile technologies in general, and the development of optimisation for tablets and smartphone devices, in particular. Thanks to this study (and hopefully future ones to come) Emakina is improving the quality of its services. In fact, the application of the study’s results on incoming projects has already proven to yield great added value.
Jun 28 2012
As a leader and expert of social TV in France, TVcheckhas an intimate understanding of this medium; its DNA and its internal codes. TVcheck is ranked among the top five tweet generators for TV shows’ hashtags (as measured by Tweatreach), making it a significant player among digital audiences
In the context of the Euro 2012, TVcheck, in partnership with Emakina, found an exciting way to combine classic football and sports betting with the use of Twitter and livetweet, for creating an enriched sports experience. Specifically, Emakina produced for TVcheck a specialised website, allowing visitors to follow the teams, forecast match results, and win prizes!
Game forecasts are now open
Since June 21, internet users are invited to visit the Euro2012.tvcheck.com website in order to forecast match results. The positioning of each online participant is updated daily, according to the points she or he gains for accurate bets.
In order to win more points, participants can check their forecasts by using the TVcheck iPhone app, once the match is on. The top 10 participants, who have accumulated the highest scores by the end of the tournament will win prizes including: an iPad, gift vouchers, Euro 2012 goodies, etc.
Get to know the most popular teams on Twitter
Apart from facilitating forecasts, during each match the website monitors which of the two rival teams generates more tweets on Twitter. All remaining teams, not playing at the given moment, are also classified and analysed according to their respective Twitter hashtags.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xro0s8
*Translated from a post in French, written by Jérémie Gentien for the Emakina.FR blog
Jun 27 2012
Have you ever had to buy medicines, consult a doctor or go to a hospital when abroad?
And did you know how to use your Health Insurance Card properly?
Emakina created a handy app for the European Commission to help travelers when abroad.
This smartphone app ensures stress-free travel this summer. Just in time for the holidays, the EURO 2012 Football Championship and the London 2012 Olympics, the European Commission launched this tool for smartphones, explaining how to use the European Health Insurance Card. The app is now available on iOS, Android and Windows 7 mobile.
In 31 European countries, the Health Insurance Card gives people access to state-provided healthcare in case of illness or an accident during travel and temporary stays. Differences among healthcare systems may make it sometimes difficult to figure out how to use the Card in various countries and what the local rules are. With this handy application, you now can learn how to use the Card in in the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Very useful information
The application includes general information about the card, emergency phone numbers, treatments that are covered and costs, how to claim reimbursement and who to contact in case you have lost your card.
It is available in 24 languages, with the option to switch from one language to another. This way, you can find an information screen in your language and then show it in the language of the person you are talking to while on holidays. A practical and useful tool.
Emakina and the European Commission also worked together on the media relations for the application.
Over 2000 journalists across Europe discovered the app, with articles appearing both in print and online media. And now the app belongs to the public: already over 24.000 downloads were registered after the first weeks it is available.
On behalf of Emakina and the European Commission let us say: Happy summer holidays and bon voyage!
Jun 22 2012
Emakina’s Bavaria Babes smartphone app lets football fans become “international players” by collecting pictures of themselves with attractive women. Football never looked prettier.
Emakina created a new Bavaria app that encourages football fans to collect images of themselves posing next to scantily clad women, through a new free smartphone app on Android and Apple iOS. The Bavaria Babes App, a promotion for the European 2012 Football Championship, offers admirers of the beautiful game a contemporary version of collecting football cards – the chance to mock up pictures with a team of 11 beautiful women
The Dutch beer company’s promotion uses the latest technology and social media networks, and was created by European digital agency Emakina. People download a special app for their smartphones and are then challenged to “unlock the team of European Bavaria babes and take pictures with them to prove your international player status.
One woman – Laurine, who represents Spain, where they “eat, sleep and drink football” – is included with the download. There are three images of her which can be moved from left to right, enlarged or reduced, and combined with a picture which is then taken on the smartphone. This image is automatically stored on the “player’s” phone, and can be uploaded to social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.
The other 10 women represent most of the nations playing in Euro 2012 and can be “unlocked” by scanning QR codes hidden on Bavaria beer and the Bavaria social media pages. There is an element of football devilry, since tackling one woman might require others to be “scored” first, like a row of defenders.
Tim Wolfs, Head of Interactive at Emakina, says : “Bavaria was looking for a way to get visibility in a fun way during the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine 2012. “As soccer fans, we were inspired by the stunt with the Bavaria babes during the World Championship in South Africa.
Secondly, we wanted to make use of technology that allows you to make funny pictures with Bavaria elements integrated. Last but not least, as little boys, we had a lot of fun by collecting the Panini stickers of the soccer players. Combining the babes with new technology, the little boy fun of collecting, and the beer brand Bavaria, we’ve scored a winner with the Bavaria Babes App: the gadget for the EC 2012. We have already had a lot of fun making this app, and we are looking forward to the reaction of the soccer fans.”
Daniel Janus, Global Internet Manager at Bavaria who came up with the initial idea of the app, says the lighthearted app is being launched in the Balkan countries, the UK and Australia: “We wanted to try new techniques to see if we could adapt them for a bigger event. This is a fun app – there’s no need to buy products. It is just to engage customers with Bavaria.
“We are known for our ‘babes’, but always in a way that isn’t offensive towards others. It’s a thin line, but we try not to cross it by being vulgar. We use Bavaria babes to promote parties in the Balkans, and they are friendly, well-spoken and classy.”
Laurine Meyers, 25, a full time model from Antwerp, and a Holland supporter, said that the experience of being “unlocked” by hundreds of Bavaria drinkers, could certainly add some spice to her internet profile if the pictures are posted. “I’m not sure what my father would think of the variety of young gentlemen I appear to be photographed with, but it’s a lot of fun and in the spirit of friendly football.”
