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J CREW launched an advertising campaign in September, featuring splashy print ads and a photograph of a well-dressed young man on its Web site, sitting atop a ladder. Surrounding him was an assortment of items: umbrellas, medicine balls, a retro-looking trailer, a slab of raw meat. All of those items were available for purchase. But J. Crew stood to profit only from the sale of its clothes. The other goods were merely recommended by J. Crew to its customers, with Web links to the purveyors of those goods. J. Crew saw a business opportunity in assuming the role of a sophisticated and self-assured friend, guiding customers through the infinite offerings of the Internet without pushing them to buy only its own wares. “What the world needs now is curators and filters,” said Anthony Sperduti of Partners and Spade, the New York advertising agency behind the campaign. “J. Crew is savvy enough to know that the Internet has changed our buying patterns.” J. Crew is hardly the only company trying to sell something by befriending you. The idea that social commerce — which mixes networking with online shopping — can win business has spurred companies to try to connect with customers through sites like Facebook and Twitter.

The report found tablets are the most popular mobile devices, with 18 percent of consumers using them for viewing paid video content, while mobile phone usage isn't far behind at 16 percent, a J.D. Power and Associates said. Gaming consoles remain the overall leader when looking at all digital devices for viewing video -- 6.3 hours per week, compared with 5.3 hours on a laptop/desktop, 4.9 hours on a wireless phone, 4.5 hours on a music player and 4.4 hours on a tablet, the survey results indicate. Still, gaming console viewing has yet to match traditional TV viewing, Frank Perazzini, director of telecommunications at J.D. Power and Associates, said. "These findings illustrate that while customers appreciate the convenience and value that gaming consoles provide, the TV screen is still a preferred viewing media," he said.

J.Crew has even included an exclusive offer that only fans on its Facebook Fan Page can access. When they purchase any item online, as they are checking out, they can enter the promotional code through the Fan Page and receive complimentary shipping, courtesy of J.Crew

Watching paid video content on mobile devices is climbing -- but gaming consoles remain the overall leader when looking at all new digital devices.Now, 29% of consumers watch paid content on a handheld device, while viewing on laptop/desktop computers has declined to 39% from 48% in 2011, according to J.D. Power and Associates Reports.Tablets are the most popular. The study finds that 18% of consumers use tablets for viewing paid video content, up from 11% a year ago. Mobile phone usage is not far behind -- 16% of consumers have been watching video on phones, an improvement from 14% in 2011.