SAMSUNG GALAXY POP-UP STORE OPENING IN BETHESDA!

SMARTPHONE, TABLET

GIANT'S KIOSK WILL BE

STEPS AWAY FROM

COMPETITORS'

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

A Samsung Galaxy pop-up shop was unveiled at Bethesda's Westfield Montgomery Mall yesterday.  The kiosk exudes well-earned confidence, and is at least twice the size of the nearby Microsoft pop-up.

It is also not far from the mall's Apple Store, whose corporate owner has been hearing Samsung's footsteps quite loudly recently.  "Will we be able to do that thing on the next one?"  I don't know, but you'll be able to find out what the Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets can do for you now.

Last night, the kiosk was roped off.  There appeared to be a group of young, new employees who were watching demonstrations of the hardware and software, and doing their own, hands-on tests.

Pretty exciting stuff, particularly the new Galaxy S III, and new Galaxy Note and tablets.

Personally, I've never been surprised by Samsung's success, because South Korea has been way ahead of us on cell phone features for years.

NEW FLOOR-TO-CEILING ADS DEBUT ON 225 METRO RAIL CARS

A new Samsung Galaxy Note 5-foot ad inside a
Red Line Metro car at Gallery Place

WMATA and CBS Outdoor have launched new interior ads in Metro rail cars throughout the Metrorail system.  CBS spokesman Jeremy Murphy said Washington is the first subway market in the US to get the new floor-to-ceiling ads.

Murphy said the ads are the largest interior ads installed in Metro rail cars. The panels - a minimum of 5 feet in height - are positioned by the car doors.

The ads are now installed on 225 WMATA rail cars.  Samsung (Galaxy Note smartphone) and Drexel University (eLearning program) are the first advertisers to buy the new in-car ads.

Increasing ad revenue is one of the few actions by Metro's current leadership I can agree with.

The system needs more money, but higher subway fare is not the way to get it.

Have you seen the ads yet on trains running through the Bethesda Metro station?  With 225 throughout the system, there's a good chance you'll end up in one of those cars.  In fact, the ad pictured above was aboard a Red Line train.

Now, about those Bethesda Metro escalators...