Thanks for joining @Watchup … now let's talk!

Every app is trying to master the consumer engagement game.

Take Watchup, a 2013 Knight Foundation News Challenge winner that builds you a customized video news channel for the iPad. It's short video news clips tailored to you and your schedule.

So I downloaded the app, registered using my Facebook account, selected some news subjects (world, ideas, tech) and the delivery time (mine is 7 p.m.).

And immediately got this email. Short, sweet, sincere.

The best lines (emphasis mine): 

My name is Adriano, I'm the co-founder of Watchup and no, I'm not a robot. I actually wanted to personally tell you how excited I am that you've signed up with our app.

…

Just reply to this email and I'd be delighted to have a personal conversation with you. Enjoy Watchup!

I love the offer — "a personal conversation with you." Whether Watchup can or will be able to act on your specific suggestion, the offer of a "personal conversation" will be enough to drive engagement.

Because now I'm engaged in the app and in a potential conversation. That's a +1 for Watchup.

Health: It's the next media frontier

Photo credit: Flickr user Guy Mayer (via Knight Blog)

The Knight Foundation has selected the next frontier for its Knight News Challenge: Health!

As Knight said in its announcement: 

"Health is a topic relevant to all of us. It’s an area where journalism, open data and public information become imminently relevant and useful to communities; where we have a direct, tangible opportunity to help people learn more and make smart choices through the use of technology and data."

As someone who grew up as a journalist — and since has spent more than 20 years trying to help reporters, editors and consumers understand health care — I see this as a project that can improve care and ultimately build healthier communities.

Information, technology and patient experience are rapidly converging in health care — and the Holy Grail will be a better informed and engaged patient and a healthier, more vibrant society.

This will be a project well worth following.

Knight will announce more specifics in August — on Twitter and on its News Challenge page. 

Keeping RSS alive with @Feedly

Google Reader dies Monday. RSS doesn't.

My new go-to RSS reading and sync service is Feedly.  

I tried a number of services, but Feedly is winning (so far) on these points:

• Very nice apps for iPad and iPhone (I hear for Android, too).
• Clean and customizable web interface (Safari and Chrome). 
• Easy touch and swipe navigation on native apps. 
• Instant and accurate import of my Google Reader feeds. Tip: Use Google Takeout to export your feed so you have a backup (how-to here). 
• Simple and intuitive way to add and manage feeds. 
• My feeds are always in sync between my Mac, iPhone and iPad. 
• And, coming soon, integration with my favorite apps (Reeder for Mac and iOS). 

For now, Feedly is free.

Adrenaline shot ...

I once thought of some cool uses for a GoPro camera. 

Not any more. 

Wow! 

HUMANS ARE AWESOME http://www.humansareawesome.net/ People Are Awesome, they are brilliant in comparison to all other living beings. Our abilities are amazing and somewhat out of this world. The offical non fail extreme video compilation channel! This time a tribute to GoPro cameras. Please follow us on twitter! https://twitter.com/#!/Humansare2011 Music: Time by Luckner ft.

I am @Evernote user number 194,175

Engagement starts with trust and loyalty. You have to earn both.

Evernote has earned both from me.

Evernote, which aptly calls itself the "remember everything" service, just turned five. It has 65 million users. Apparently I was one of Evernote's earliest users (they send me an email about it!).

But in the fickle world of apps and cloud services, Evernote has been sticky for me for two reasons — they constantly iterate to improve my experience and they regularly engage their users in the process.

Engagement works. 

This video is about 5 year1