Print isn't dead; it's just evolving. Need proof? Look no further than what Cosmo is launching today. It's the chance for readers to insert themselves and their friends into a Cosmo photo shoot.

Readers will be asked to use Facebook Connect to share photos of themselves and friends, which will eventually become part of a personalized video of a photo shoot. Characters in the form of a makeup artist and art director are also incorporated, upping the reality factor as they appear to talk directly to users.

I predict success for the campaign. It taps into some key things that can mean wonders for a brand. Number one, it shows an understanding of audience, the spaces where they live and play, and how they use those spaces. Number two, there's an inherent element of ego in social media. People, especially younger folks love to not only post photos online but to also find themselves in friends' phots. Number three, shareability is built into this as people include their Facebook friends in the shoot and share the final video with them.

The other thing I love about this is an offline promotional component. Today, a Times Square billboard will promote the campaign and roving photographers will snap photos that will appear on the billboard. It's a nice touch, the kind of offline/online element that's often overlooked these days.

[Via The New York Times]

Do you ever spend time checking something out, only to wonder why you didn't think of it? CampusLIVE is one of those sites that I wish I came up with just because it is so darn convenient. On the surface, it is a very simple idea that gathers up all of the information that you might want, as a student, about a college campus, in one easy place.

Beyond the basic aggregation of information (think links to email, library, local restaurants, class schedule, public transportation, etc.) it also allows you to connect with anyone who has created a profile at your school. You can link it up with your Facebook profile, but you'll have access to anyone on campus, not those you've added as a friend. The site features a stream of what is going on all over campus, so you'll be able to learn about happenings everywhere, not just with your friends.  You can also add your class schedule & connect with people in your specific classes more easily. A major benefit if you are looking to find a study partner in the sea of hundreds in your Freshman lecture (or trying to find someone to get notes from if you miss a class).

CampusLIVE also has a badge element for completing different actions around the site, you get points as you do things. By creating a profile I unlocked the "Live I" badge in a few simple steps. There are also challenges to complete, some sponsored by local stores, where you can win prizes.

For local businesses, by advertising here or sponsoring a page you'll gain access to a captive local audience, one that you probably want to convert to sales. If...

DayZipping is a site that strives to help you find fun and interesting things to do in your city, or one that you are visiting, based around the idea of a day trip. It is one part travel site & one part social connect to help you explore your surroundings. I think it is an interesting idea that goes beyond the TripAdvisor experience that is heavily focused around reviews of a specific place.

With DayZipping you are able to find things to do that other people have already enjoyed. The beauty is that people are most likely only going to add things that they had fun doing (vs. complaints often found in a traditional review).

For instance, I plugged in San Francisco and found this great little walk that one user had done during their trip. I like that the site allows you to tell others how long something took as well as the cost. A few years ago, during a flight home from Europe, I had a choice between a 4 hour layover in London (during the day) or a 10 hour layover. I decided on the 10 hour option because I wanted to venture into the city for a few hours, I figured I would be able to explore for 6-7 hours. I mostly meandered around downtown & enjoyed beautiful views from the London Eye. If I had something like DayZipping I would would have been able to plan a route with more specifics in mind.

DayZipping...

Online clothes shopping is great. It allows you to browse thousands of different retailers to find the best price and style to fit your needs from the comfort of your own home. No need to cart your children through the mall only to have them hide in all the clothes racks at each store giving you a heart attack. Am I right? The major drawback to shopping online is not being able to try on the clothes in person. A new offering from Fits.me aims to solve this issue by introducing its virtual fitting rooms.

The company (which is still in beta development) markets towards online clothing retailers as a product that retailers can incorporate into their site to better their customer's online shopping experience. After entering the Fits.me virtual fitting room, users are then asked to key in their body measurements including height, neck size, waist size, torso length, and arm length. These measurements are then used to create a mannequin which mimics your exact body size and structure. Clicking on a specific article of clothing will then place it on the mannequin, allowing you to see how it would fit on you.

Fits.me is currently only being used in London clothier Hawes & Curtis' online store, but plans are in the works for expanding much further. The start-up recently secured an additional 1.75 million in financing to enable them to progress. Fits.me pitches that they will help online clothing retailers close the gap between brick & mortar store sales versus online store sales, a figure which favors brick ...

On a weekly basis, I tend to find products or experiences that quickly become "the coolest thing ever". It is a rarity that one such item or event holds on to that title for a substantial period of time (except baseball and chicken parmesan of course). So when I was introduced to apps allowing for live video captured from your phone to stream online awhile ago, I in no way thought that they would still be "the coolest thing ever", but indeed they retain that crown.

There are several companies out there that offer these abilities. Qik, USTREAM, and Justin.TV are a few that come to mind. They all behave in essentially the same manner. Users are able to download an app after signing up for an account (which creates your specific URL). The app allows for live video to be recorded, which is then broadcasted to your applicable URL on the company's site. Friends, family, and random people who enjoy watching random live videos can go to your URL to watch all the wonderful events of your life that you are recording, at the same time you are recording. Each of these companies has standard features, while others go above and beyond. Justin.TV is currently only available for Android and iPhone, while Qik and USTREAM allow for use from several different phone platforms.

The future of the Internet and mobile lies in video to some degree. I have thought this for some time now,...