_______________Sands Through an Hour Glass

Cool concept and good QR code execution

2010-10-28T11:51:00.001-07:00

New York Times has fewer print readers than Twitter followers

2010-10-25T06:32:00.001-07:00

New York Times has fewer print readers than Twitter followers

by Sue Keogh, posted on 22 October, 2010 at 3:11 pm, filed under Journalism, Twitter, Uncategorized and tagged Financial Times, Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, The New York Times, The Times. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.

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As we reported a couple of days ago the New York Times Company is celebrating an increase in traffic to one of its newspaper websites since the introduction of a paywall in August. Which bodes well for the success of the paywall planned for its flagship title.

Not so good for its print circulation figures is the news that more people are following the New York Times on Twitter than are actually buying the paper.

A study by Journalistics has ranked the top 25 US newspapers by Twitter followers. They looked at the primary Twitter account rather than combining several accounts run by the paper or any star reporter’s personal account.

The last set of figures released, on 31st March 2010, put the New York Times’ print circulation at 951,063 and reports this week say revenue from circulation is in decline.

However, with 2.6 million followers, the paper’s Twitter account is a roaring success. Particularly when you compare it to its rivals. It’s well ahead of the Chicago Tribune on 845,000 and the Wall Street Journal on 464,591.

So what does this tell us? That New Yorkers are into social media. That people around the world are interested in their stories. That they provide a steady stream of links to quality content.

Interestingly if you look at their website they don’t push Twitter at all; there’s nowt but the usual social bookmarking tools at the bottom of each article whereas Facebook is given a prominent top-right spot on the homepage.

So how do UK newspapers square up? Let’s use the same format of looking only at the primary Twitter account rather than the combined total of accounts to avoid distorting the figures; Caitlin Moran and India Knight of The Times have around 70k followers between them and The Guardian has more Twitter accounts than you could eat.

Here’s how the newspapers rank today in terms of Twitter followers.

Financial Times: 214,925

Telegraph News: 20,844

The Indy News: 15,229

The Guardian: 14,118 (this is their primary account, although Guardian news has 94,718)

The Times Live: 13,184

Daily Mail Online: 9,913

Telegraph: 6,816

The Sun News: 4,529

Daily Mirror: 3843

So the Financial Times comes out on top. But with not quite enough Twitter followers to beat its circulation figures of 390,227. Not just yet.

via wallblog.co.uk

San Do, this is $#*@! crazy! What's next 3 men and a tiger?

2010-10-08T18:49:00.001-07:00

Kia Soul Hamster Commercial

2010-08-05T10:56:00.001-07:00

The Editorium is no joke

2010-07-07T08:58:00.001-07:00

Old Spice does it again

2010-06-30T14:26:00.001-07:00

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/8135/

"The End of Men" from The Atlantic has some strong numbers to support it but does it over emphasize?

2010-06-21T13:03:00.001-07:00

Keep the funny but put something behind it of value

2010-06-16T14:58:00.001-07:00

“Marketers believe that they are in the propaganda and persuasion business. This worldview has them fixated on manipulating words and doing things right―right message, right name, right medium, right slogan, et al.―blinding them to the most important marketing question: Are we doing the right things?”

“You are not in the propaganda and mind manipulation business; you're in the innovation and happiness business. Follow the lead of Apple and Zappos. Resist the cognitive pull of communication and persuasion on your strategic thinking and do something meaningfully different that adds value to people's lives. You'll be happily surprised by the reaction, and by the results.” Tom Asacker

World Cup Bud House is a great idea but will it entertain? Go USA

2010-06-12T09:43:00.001-07:00

Really?......Dodge Challenger Freedom Commercial

2010-06-12T09:34:00.001-07:00

A.) Slightly exaggerated B.) Spot on C.) Not even close

2010-06-09T07:12:00.001-07:00

via 4.bp.blogspot.com

Timoty takes over

2010-05-24T12:43:00.001-07:00

Best Google Home Page Ever, I think, I've only been here twice

2010-05-21T10:34:00.001-07:00

Check out this website I found at google.com

Facebook and Others Caught Sending User Data to Advertisers

2010-05-21T06:13:00.001-07:00

Facebook and Others Caught Sending User Data to Advertisers
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The Wall Street Journal is reporting on what could be a major scandal brewing for Facebook, MySpace and other social networks: despite assurances to the contrary, the sites have apparently been sending personal and identifiable information about users to their advertisers without consent.
Large advertising companies including Google’s DoubleClick and Yahoo’s Right Media were identified as having received information including usernames or ID numbers that could be traced back to individual profiles as users clicked on ads. The data could potentially be used to look up personal information about the user, including real name, age, occupation, location, and anything else made public on the profile. Both of the aforementioned companies denied being aware of the “extra” data they were receiving and claim they have not made use of it.
The WSJ goes on to report that since raising questions about the practice with Facebook () and MySpace (), both companies have since rewritten at least some of the code that allowed transmission of identifiable data. Beyond those two companies, LiveJournal, Hi5 (), Xanga () and Digg () made the list of sites identified as sending identifiable information back to advertisers when a user clicked on individual ads.
The Journal found that Facebook went farther than most in sharing identifiable data, by sending the username of the person clicking the ad as well as the username of the profile they were viewing at the time. This news could hardly come at a worse time for Facebook, a company that currently faces a privacy backlash potent enough to make the cover of Time Magazine this month.
Outside of Facebook, the other companies named in the article maintain the data they send to advertisers contains the user ID of the profile a user is visiting when they click on an ad, and not the user ID of the visitor themselves. Both Google and Yahoo made strong statements refuting the idea that they would ever make use of any such personally identifiable data. Yahoo VP of global policy Anne Toth said of the allegations, “We prohibit clients from sending personally identifiable information to us. We have told them. ‘We don’t want it. You shouldn’t be sending it to us. If it happens to be there, we are not looking for it.’”
What do you think: is this another privacy-related stain on Facebook as well as other social networks, or much ado about nothing?

Really wish I hadn't overlooked Wolfram Alpha last year, great tool for just about any stat, figure, etc.

2010-05-19T13:21:00.001-07:00

via wolframalpha.com

Target is reinventing its consumer electronics department

2010-05-18T06:06:00.001-07:00

Target is reinventing its consumer electronics and videogame department across its US stores, with a new open layout that will provide a “convenient, enjoyable shopping experience, ensuring guests can easily access the information and products they want”. The majority of Target stores will have the new electronics layout completed by June 2010. As part of the transformation, the videogame section is being expanded by 30% revealing a large, open guest friendly format that will include new product-accessible fixtures organised by platform and game genres. Additionally, a majority of stores will be further enhanced with videogame Learning Centers and Trial Stations.

Target’s new video game Learning Centers will feature a 40” high definition touch screen where guests can read reviews, learn about game features, sort by ESRB ratings, view instore price and inventory, receive recommendations on best sellers, or page a team member for assistance. The stations also allow customers to try out titles before they buy. “Target is committed to creating an intuitive and easy shopping experience for our guests,” said Mark Schindele, Senior Vice President. “The electronics and video game reinvention was designed with the wants and needs of our guests as our top priority. They’ve asked for additional product diversity and better access to games and information, and our new layout offers them just that.”

In addition to an expanded video game footprint, Target is making improvements and additions in the TV, camera and camcorder sections of the electronics department that will add to and enhance its current product offerings while making the selection process even easier. An improved TV wall will offer a more realistic in-home presentation and a better way for guests to compare picture quality across brands. Clear signage highlighting product features is being integrated within the overall display, and key accessories can be found at the base of the TV wall so that guests can easily find everything they need to enjoy their new purchase.

Robot Priest Marries Couple in Japan

2010-05-17T06:10:00.001-07:00

Robot Priest Marries Couple in Japan [VIDEO]
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Procedurally, the ceremony of marriage is a very linear affair. The priest says some things, then the groom and bride say some things, kisses are exchanged, and the couple is married.
Is it odd, then, that Satoko Inoue and Tomohiro Shibata decided to employ a robot called i-Fairy to marry them? Now, perhaps; but in a couple of years, especially in Japan which is already home to 800,000 industrial robots, it might become a regular occurrence.
The bride, Inoue, works for Kokoro Ltd, the company that makes the i-Fairy, a robot usually employed as a museum guide. The husband, Shibata, was a client of the company, so in a way, the robot brought them together. “It’s true that robots are what caused us to first begin going out, and as suggested by my wife, we decided that we wanted to try this sort of wedding,” Shibata said.
All it took was new software, and the robot presided over the marriage without problems, as you can see in the video below. So much for robots not understanding the meaning of love.
Print Story

$16 for all those berries! I love NC

2010-05-13T14:56:00.001-07:00

The State of Wireless Satisfaction in the US

2010-05-13T12:06:00.001-07:00

The State of Wireless Satisfaction in the US

Erik Chang

May 13, 2010

File under Tags: cell phones, customer satisfaction, wireless carriers, wireless plans

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Virtually everyone has a cell phone and wireless plan. The difference in the number of dropped calls and cell phone reception can depend on many factors, including location and the wireless carrier. A recent survey of wireless customers pulled back the curtain on which wireless carriers are making their customers the happiest and which ones could stand to do a bit better if they expect customer loyalty and the profits that come with it.

Click to Enlarge

via billshrink.com

U.S. companies will spend about $63 billion this year on their own websites -- roughly equivalent to

2010-05-13T10:28:00.001-07:00

TSA’s liquid rules: down the drain

2010-05-13T10:10:00.001-07:00

TSA’s liquid rules: down the drain

The Transportation Security Administration’s unpopular restrictions on liquids have been vaporized, says travel commentator Chris Elliott.

“Passengers say the TSA has all but stopped screening their luggage for liquids,” he said.
Officers no longer ask passengers to remove lotions, shampoos and even water bottles from their luggage. They also are overlooking all manner of liquids packed in carry-on bags.

The TSA initially banned liquids and gels from carry-on bags in 2006 after British authorities thwarted a plot to blow up planes bound for the US with liquid explosives.

The agency in 2008 promised to ease its restrictions within a year by removing size limits on liquids.

A TSA spokesman insisted the rule is still in effect. “The policy continues to be enforced, although it is important to note that we empower our workforce with direction,” said TSA’s Lauren Gaches.

Elliott concluded the policy is largely unenforced.

He urges the much-maligned agency to come clean about liquids.

“If there’s any evidence that my tube of Crest is dangerous….then I think we’ll all quietly empty our toothpaste, hair gel and contact lens solution into one quart-sized, clear plastic, zip-top bag,” he says.

via travelmole.com

About time

Facebook Poised to Take Geo-Networking Mainstream

2010-05-13T08:57:00.001-07:00

Facebook is expected to launch location-based functionality as soon as May

via adage.com

Facebook is really making moves of late, with initiatives like universal Like Button and Facebook shopping, they are positioning themselves to compete with Google. Good for them.

Not long until 3D video becomes a commodity baked into smartphones and point-and-shoots.

2010-05-13T08:42:00.001-07:00

3D Video Recording Coming to a Cellphone Near You
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When we say everything is going 3D, we really mean it. Roger Ebert notwithstanding, the world has gone gaga for 3D, from Titanic to the $100 bill and even Playboy Bunnies.
But wait, you say — there’s still a huge gap in terms of actually being able to produce 3D video thanks to the expensive new equipment outlays required. True, but consumer electronics manufacturer Sharp has plans to leapfrog over much of that gap by the end of this year by bringing the world’s first 3D camera for mobile devices to a cellphone near you.
The camera module, designed specifically for small devices like cellphones and digital cameras, shoots 3D footage at 720p resolution. Samples of the new camera will be available by July before the real mass production begins, so by this summer we should be able to get our eyes on the level of quality we might expect from devices that will incorporate it later this year.
If Sharp is able to produce the modules at comparable cost, it might not be long until 3D video support becomes a commodity baked into most smartphones and point-and-shoots. There are yet other problems to solve, not the least of which is ensuring everyone has the means to comfortably view 3D content — whether it be via glasses or through the still relatively nascent glasses-less 3D technology. Nevertheless, Sharp’s mobile 3D camera stands to be yet another important milestone in the march to ubiquitous 3D.
Would you be interested in the ability to record 3D video right from your cellphone, or do you think 2D will keep most people content for some time?

Will 3-D finally break through, becoming a staple in society or will it simply go back to the drawing board after we tell it that it's still not good enough.
We shall see....

Like Button Website

2010-04-26T11:30:00.001-07:00

What is this?
Like Button is a collection of links shared by your Facebook friends from most popular sites. For you privacy concerned people: don't worry, like button has no access to your personal information. Think of each box as a very specific miniature Facebook page inside of this site. Got it? Hide this message
Let your friends know
Share this site using the Facebook share button on the top right, or post a tweet on Twitter

via likebutton.me

via Ben Alter

No longer will you have to play the record backwards to hear the message

2010-04-22T10:57:00.001-07:00

There is also audio QR coding being developed by NTT which enables phones to capture data embedded in music.

via retailmedia.org

The ugly bar code box for mobile phones is short lived

2010-04-22T10:55:00.001-07:00

In Japan, QR codes are now moving to FP codes (Fine Picture codes). These are undetectable visually and can therefore be embedded without compromising the look of something.

via retailmedia.org

Interactive print ads for the iPad: How long before they too get flipped past

2010-04-13T06:13:00.001-07:00

German brewery wins rights to brand a beer: "Fucking Hell"

2010-03-31T08:08:00.001-07:00

German brewery wins rights to brand a beer: "Fucking Hell"

Posted by Dabitch on Mar 31 2010 | | Filed under:
advertising news

Comments: 0 | Send to friend

The European Union trademarks authority has permitted a German firm to register the brand name "Fucking Hell" for their light ale. They won the rights by showing there is a town named Fucking in Austria. Fucking liked its name so much, they even named several fucking roads Fucking as well. You know, so you'll know where you fucking are.
The towns mayor, Franz Meindl, isn't too pleased, since the town has no brewery and he hasn't heard of any plans to build any either. Juergen Stoll the owner of Wank Inn which is a mere 48 minutes away from Fucking has suggested that the Mayor of Fucking should lighten up a bit and use the town name infamy to their advantage instead.

The Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union said in a statement that it had rejected a complaint that the trade mark "Fucking Hell" was upsetting, accusatory and derogatory.
"The word combination claimed contains no semantic indication that could refer to a certain person or group of persons. Nor does it incite a particular act. It cannot even be understood as an instruction that the reader should go to hell," the Office said in its statement.

via adland.tv

"The Real World" part deux? "The Sims" Creator Developing TV Show with User-Generated Episodes

2010-03-31T06:06:00.001-07:00

“The Sims” Creator Developing TV Show with User-Generated Episodes
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Will Wright — creator of innovative video games such as SimCity, The Sims and Spore — is working with former Nickelodeon and SpikeTV president Albie Hecht to develop a TV show called The Creation Project for Al Gore’s Current TV.
According to IGN, the unconventional show would give viewers the chance to develop their own TV episodes via a “StoryMaker Engine,” which provides them with all the tools and images they need to create original tales. The StoryMaker Engine was designed by Wright himself.
Wright, Hecht and their team would sort through the submissions and choose winners, turning each winning story into two half-hour episodes. This vision is in keeping with the theme of creation present in all of Wright’s games.
If it gets a greenlight, the series could premiere by the end of this year, but nothing’s certain yet. Wright has a record of success, though; The Sims is the bestselling computer game of all time, and SimCity and Spore didn’t fare too badly, either. Wright is tapping into the human desire to create, and you never know — that might translate from the family computer to the living room TV.

Great interactive video for Diesel's Summer 2010 catalogue

2010-03-30T12:32:00.001-07:00

via diesel.com

Oh the implications...media departments shutter

2010-03-22T14:45:00.001-07:00

via slatev.com

St. Patty's at the office today...........

2010-03-17T19:35:00.001-07:00

Download now or watch on posterous

video-2010-03-17-09-27-54.3gp (3548 KB)

The fact that the CEO's last name is Fitzgerald prob explains this one.

Brought in St. Patricks Day this morning with a bag piper walking around my office.

2010-03-17T19:01:00.001-07:00

Download now or watch on posterous

video-2010-03-17-09-27-54.3gp (3548 KB)

Find out where you can recycle your cell phone, computer, etc. closest to you

2010-03-10T14:01:00.001-08:00

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Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

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via call2recycle.org

Tron Legacy: This might actually work.

2010-03-10T06:06:00.001-08:00

At what point do you stop loving Google and start fearing them?

2010-03-09T08:32:00.001-08:00

Lindsay Lohan sues E*Trade over milkaholic: Thinks world is out to get her.

2010-03-09T08:24:00.001-08:00

Lindsay Lohan sues E*Trade over milkaholic

This is awesome. The New York Post reports that Lindsay Lohan is suing E*Trade for $100 million, claiming that the boyfriend-stealing "milkaholic" named Lindsay in the company's Super Bowl commercial above from Grey Advertising was clearly modeled after her. "Many celebrities are known by one name only, and E*Trade is using that knowledge to profit," Lohan's lawyer says. "They're using her name as a parody of her life. Why didn't they use the name Susan? This is a subliminal message. Everybody's talking about it and saying it's Lindsay Lohan." It's anyone's guess why Lohan would claim that a two-bit skank was clearly inspired by her. Still, if she has stepped down to milkaholism from all that booze and blow, she might actually live to see 25. A rep at Grey tells the Post that the name Lindsay is "just used a popular baby name that happened to be the name of someone on the account team."

"People don't buy four inch drill bits, they buy four inch holes."

2010-03-05T08:44:00.001-08:00

Wish I had this for high school French

2010-02-18T13:16:00.001-08:00

Download your Weather Channel app while you watch TV

2010-02-15T18:32:00.001-08:00

Urgent letter: Post Haste

2010-02-05T13:27:00.001-08:00

via adtothebone.com

Google Street View just took it up a knotch. Now take your view from the street to inside stores.

2010-02-04T11:45:00.001-08:00

Google Maps To Add “Google Store Views”

Feb 4, 2010 at 12:22pm ET by Barry Schwartz

I received a tip from a New York retailer named Oh Nuts, that Google came to their store to take pictures for a new Google Maps product named “Google Store Views.” I was told that they took pictures of the inside of the store, every 6 feet, in all directions. They also took pictures of products.

Google Store Views will allow people to essentially walk into the store, off of Google Street Views. So imagine you are looking at this store, and then you can click on the door to enter it, all on Google Maps. Then when you enter the store, you can wall through it.

Here are pictures of Google capturing the pictures from within the store:

Here is an embed of the Google Maps Street View of outside of the store:

View Larger Map

I have emailed Google for a statement on this tip and I will update this post, if and when I get one.

via searchengineland.com

They need to also partner with Microsoft's Photsynth to really take it to the next level. Photosynth takes all the pictures people post anywhere online and combines them into a seamless view of the world in which they were originally taken. For example there are thousands of photos taken of a particular block in NYC and uploaded to the web in a given day. Photosynth would piece those photos together to create one large mural if you will of that block in NYC. Google could use those photos to fill in the areas they don't have footage or photos of. So essentially every square inch of the world could be pieced together online.

John Stewart explaining to O'Reilly why FOX News is.........

2010-02-04T10:25:00.001-08:00

Stewart/ O'Reilly Segment 2

via ccinsider.comedycentral.com

It's 10 pm, do you know where all your personal information is?

2010-02-04T09:19:00.001-08:00

a relatively new development that has appalled consumer advocates. "This practice, also referred to as 'browser cookie re-spawning,' circumvents the user's intent to clear browser cookies and should not be used," the company said in its filing.

via mediapost.com

We're being exploited. Our personal information bought and sold on trading blocks without us ever knowing, yet nothing is being done. Can we bring this to the forefront of public discussion please?

http://gizmodo.com/5458382/8-things-that-suck-about-the-ipad

Insult to injury

2010-01-28T08:02:00.001-08:00

My Boys

2010-01-26T17:50:00.001-08:00

YouTube Debuts Movie Rentals

2010-01-21T06:05:00.001-08:00

YouTube Debuts Movie Rentals
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If “Pants on the Ground” remixes and burning banana suits aren’t your thing, don’t fret, there’s a whole new reason to use YouTube: movie rentals.
The Google-owned video site debuted online movie rentals today on a very limited basis, allowing users to rent five different flicks from the Sundance Film Festival using their Google Checkout accounts. The company says “a small collection of rental videos from other U.S. partners across different industries, including health and education, will be made available in the weeks ahead.”
Last year, it was reported that YouTube was in talks with movie studios to offer rentals of major motion pictures, creating what would be dubbed an instant Netflix killer. This is far from that, but represents what could become a massively important part of YouTube’s future. Don’t forget — the site is also continuing to push ahead with HD and making its content big screen-friendly.
Slowly, but surely, we expect YouTube () to continue in this direction, and other moves like introducing live sports and streaming full-length films offer just a hint of what’s to come from the video site over the next few years. For more on that, see: YouTube Is the Top Social Media Innovation of the Decade.

Will Forte, Ryan Phillippe and Val Kilmer in MacGruber Trailer »

2010-01-20T06:18:00.001-08:00

Will Forte, Ryan Phillippe and Val Kilmer in MacGruber Trailer

Posted by: Brad Sturdivant

I had no idea how they were going to make a feature-length movie of the SNL character MacGruber, but if the trailer is any indication, they just might have found a way. I have to say I laughed more in this two minute trailer than I did in any of the skits or the horrible commercials. I was afraid they’d try too hard to make it a complete MacGyver spoof, but aside from the outfit and hair, I didn’t get that indication from the trailer. If you were hesitant about the film, check out the trailer and I think you might be surprised.

Joining Will Forte in the film are Ryan Phillippe (ed note: where has he been?), Val Kilmer, Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader. It’s directed by Jorma Taccone and will hit theaters April 23rd. Be forewarned that the trailer does contain foul language.

Watch the trailer here.

via flix66.com

5 year old drummer gettin it

2010-01-15T06:57:00.001-08:00

Nexus One vs iPhone, Droid & Palm Pre - Total Cost of Ownership

2010-01-07T14:12:00.001-08:00

Nexus One vs iPhone, Droid & Palm Pre - Total Cost of Ownership

Erik Chang

January 5, 2010

File under Tags: droid, google phone, infographics, iphone 3gs, nexus one, palm pre, smartphones, total cost of ownership

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Today is Nexus One launch day and we decided in typical BillShrink fashion, we would take a look at the overall total cost of ownership of the Nexus One vs. iPhone vs. Droid vs. Palm Pre. This is the first time that any phone has been available for purchase unlocked and available for purchase at a discounted rate with a TMobile Contract.

As the smartphone wars continue to heat up the Nexus One is entering a marketplace that is currently dominated by the iPhone 3GS with and gaining popularity of the Droid by Verizon Wireless.

So, here is what you’ve been waiting for, our total cost of ownerships comparison of the Nexus One up against the rest!

(click image to enlarge)

Embed the above graphics on your blog:
<a href="http://www.billshrink.com/blog/wp-content/themes/shrinkage/images/graphics/nexus-one-total-cost.jpg" title="Nexus One vs iPhone, Droid & Palm Pre"></a> <p><small>Find the best <a href="http://www.billshrink.com">cell phone plans</a> and more graphics at BillShrink.com</small></p>

Check out previous graphics comparing:
Droid vs. iPhone vs. Palm Pre vs. MyTouch 3G
Android G1 vs. iPhone 3GS vs. Palm Pre

Editor’s Note: We’re aware that there are a few discrepancy in the graphic above and we appreciate readers pointing them out, we’ll be making updates to the graphic ASAP to clarify the information, specifically with regards to plan pricing and features (e.g., whether or not data plans are really unlimited or just claims to be unlimited). With regards to plan pricing and choice, you should note that on average, 80% of Americans overpays for their cell phone service — and this is why we’re here too ;) In our future graphics that compares total costs, we’ll try to include minimum pricing plans so you can have an even better understanding of the price difference between carriers and smartphones. Lastly, we do know that there’s a 32 GB version of the iPhone, the 16 GB version was chosen as its more comparable in retail price point to the other smartphones.

via billshrink.com

Taco Bell diet?????????

2010-01-04T13:08:00.001-08:00

Are they kidding me with the Taco Bell diet?

Subway had great success using Jared to paint its subs as a healthier alternative to fast food that makes you incredibly fat. Taco Bell is trying to get into the act with the "Drive-Thru Diet" campaign (from Draftfcb and R/GA) to coincide with the New Year's resolution season. The TV spot above shows a woman named Christine Dougherty, who apparently dropped 54 pounds by eating low-fat offerings from Taco Bell's "fresco" menu. When I first saw it, I thought it was a Saturday Night Live parody. The woman says she wanted to diet but "didn't want to cut out my fast food." Digest that for a moment. It's like saying you want to get a handle on your drinking problem so long as you don't have to cut out the whiskey. Dieticians are divided about the campaign, but most consumers seem to be laughing about it. Perhaps Taco Bell knows most people won't take it seriously, since the microsite features Christine's story told through infomercials—not exactly a style that builds trust. In Taco Bell's defense, its claims are technically true. You can swing by and pick up some low-fat tacos. If, like Christine, you keep yourself to 1,250 calories a day, you'll probably lose weight. The problem is, most Taco Bell items are far from healthy and often highly caloric. Its menu is filled with items seemingly designed to raise cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Taco Bell even promotes its food as a "fourthmeal," between dinner and breakfast. As Jezebel points out, that makes this ploy as a weight-loss solution particularly cynical.

Adiddas augmented reality sneakers

2010-01-04T08:10:00.001-08:00

In February Adidas will launch five sneakers that will activate a virtual world through augmented reality.

As explained on Wired, all users have to do is go to the Adidas site and hold up their sneaker, which has a code embedded in its tongue, in front of their computer webcam. A virtual world then pops out in front of them and they can navigate it using their sneaker as a controller.

It is surely a marketing gimmick, and the world in a sneaker reminds me of Onitsuka Tiger but, still, it's a pretty cool initiative that will generate some buzz online, at least among us, geek bloggers :-)

via adverblog.com

Eshoo, Whitehouse lead crusade against loud TV ads

2010-01-04T08:03:00.001-08:00

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) is no longer alone her quest to bring down the volume of loud TV commercials. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has joined in the crusade to keep ads from blasting us out of our living rooms every 10 minutes.
The bills--both called the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (or CALM) Act--are crowd pleasers. Eshoo has 62 co-sponsors. The bill easily passed the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet in October and then by the full Commerce Committee last month. The bill is expected to hit the House floor today.
Whitehouse introduced the bill along with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). No word yet on when the Senate will have time on its schedule to take up the bill.

Silencing annoying TV ads is an easy target for Members looking to win some support from constituents, many of whom are used to turning the volume down a notch or 10 during commerial breaks. I know I wouldn't mind commercials that don't blare.
But is it a valuable use of Congress' time? Not the mention the FCC's--which would have to come up with volume standards at the same time it is trying to craft a comprehensive broadband plan and net neutrality regulations. Both could end up shifting how we all receive TV shows in the first place.
In five years, maybe Eshoo and Whitehouse will come to our rescue again to save us from those pesky, noisy, seconds-long ads we have to endure before watching our online video clips.

There is a question of whether or not consumers want government to interfere with their TV sets anymore than it already has. About 20 million households are still fuming about having to buy converter boxes and new antennas to get ready for the digital TV transition in June. And many of them are probably so thrilled to get a digital signal at all, they don't mind the commercials. Loud or not.

via thehill.com

Mashable: First 3D Television Channel to Launch in the U.S. in 2010

2009-12-30T06:24:00.001-08:00

It certainly looks like 2010 is shaping up to be the year during which 3D finally moves from the realm of novelty into both mainstream film and TV. Satellite cable provider DirecTV has a new satellite in the air, and according to HD Guru, one of the 200 new HD stations to be broadcast from it includes the first U.S. HDTV channel in 3D.

There are still some technical hurdles to clear before you’re watching zany sitcom antics flying toward you, but the trend is clear. The satellite begins full operation in March, and existing DirecTV set-top boxes will simply need a firmware upgrade to support the 3D programming. Unfortunately, you’ll still need to pick up a 3D-capable HDTV to play it back, and that’s where the market lag will play a role in determining how fast 3D will penetrate.

Although 3D content has a long history stretching all the way back to 1922 — when the first public 3D movie was displayed — a number of optics and display challenges, as well as market realities, relegated 3D to a periodic novelty for decades. With the vast majority of the technical hurdles now solved and 3D displays making steady inroads at seminal trade shows like CES over the past couple of years, 2010 is poised to be 3D’s breakout year. The emergence of a string of blockbusters like Avatar, Alice in Wonderland and more rounds out 3D’s emergence — or re-emergence — on the big screen. Soon, consumers will come to expect the same experience in their home theater as well.

Sony, Samsung, Mitsubishi, LG and other manufacturers will be showing off 3D displays at CES 2010 next week. They’ll be hoping the stars will align properly to make 2010 3D’s breakout year, and DirectTV’s news is a timely piece of that puzzle. Are you excited about 3D’s inroads to the home, or is your pocketbook still weary from the last cycle of high definition upgrades?

The most disgusting ad I've ever seen

2009-12-29T09:49:00.001-08:00

Does Charlie Daniel play a mean fiddle?

2009-12-29T09:17:00.001-08:00

Let me guess America, you think this is terrible news.......

2009-12-24T09:17:00.001-08:00

Washington (CNN) -- The Senate passed a $87 billion health care reform bill Thursday morning handing President Obama a Christmas Eve victory handing President Obama a Christmas Eve victory on his top domestic priority. "If passed, this will be the most important piece of social legislation since the Social Security Act passed in the 1930s."

TuneUp: a great free tool for organizing, labeling and adding album art to your iTunes library

2009-12-22T12:52:00.001-08:00

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via tuneupmedia.com

Great ad by LG featuring James Lipton

2009-12-03T14:56:00.001-08:00

Hands down, the best ribs I've ever had. Stubbs, Austin, TX.ge

2009-12-03T10:47:00.001-08:00

Get some

My pathetic attempt at a mustache, it gets shaved today.

2009-12-01T07:27:00.001-08:00

What every haircut should entail

2009-11-25T12:30:00.001-08:00

I love this place. These leather seats are butter.

Urban Dictionary: Indeed

2009-11-24T19:56:00.001-08:00

Indeed:
A word used to make even the most innatentive moron sound borderline brilliant. Be warned, the use of indeed may cause some people to feel uncomfortable and less superior in the users presence, intimidated by their free usage of the word.
Did you watch the village last night?
We did indeed.

Five Fingers = Crazy Shoe of the Future

2009-11-22T07:26:00.001-08:00

Apparently, the arch support we have in shoes has weakend or muscle and bone structure. These shoes essentially take you back to pre-arch and allow you to walk barefoot, without the pain.

"Integrating Display Ads into Content": Nothing more than trickery

2009-11-18T06:27:00.001-08:00

via adverlab.blogspot.com

Media Planner: "Here's an idea, lets make the content look like banner ads so the consumer will be more likely to click on our ad as they go through the content!"

Consumer: "Get bent"

The new business card

2009-11-17T05:56:00.001-08:00

Magntize provides you a free, slick website that acts as your digital business card.

Genius Idea: Several months ago, we reviewed Card.ly, a tool that let you create simple but elegant online social media business cards. Add in your business information, add some social media accounts, add a theme, and presto! You have a social media business card.

Magntize is yet another tool that follows in the same vein as Card.ly and boasts similar features. However, the execution is unique and different enough to warrant consideration if you’re looking to create a dynamic and professional online presence without a ton of effort. Take a look at my Magntize card for an example of what you can create.

The free web-based tool is rather simple to implement: add in profile information, a picture, a short bio, and contact information. After that, you can add links to your blog, company website, and social media accounts. The beauty of Magntize is that it can automatically detect new content within your links and add them to a social stream that appears on your digital card. Once you’ve added links, you can pick from a set of 9 unique themes and countless color schemes.

http://hubpages.com/hub/If-Its-Fall-in-North-Carolina--Its-Time-for-Chicken-Stew

"Its Fall in North Carolina, time for a chicken stew": enjoyed my first chicken stew event yesterday in the hills of NC.

2009-11-15T14:31:00.001-08:00

Enjoying a hike along the Yadkin River

2009-11-15T12:31:00.001-08:00

Invitation to view a photo from Jim G's Picasa Web Album - Drop Box

2009-11-13T13:28:00.001-08:00

You are invited to view a photo from Jim G's photo album: Drop Box

2009-11-13 16.09.30.jpg

View Photo

Message from Jim G:

I'd modify the Sound of Music song, "These re a few of my favorite things", by taking out "whiskers on kittens" and inserting "beer cart Fridays".

If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=jameswgay&target=PHOTO&id=5403700469609786370&aid=5248884049393942753&authkey=Gv1sRgCObqkcyruN7xVQ&invite=CKns_ckI&feat=email

To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

This Taco Bell viral video is well done and well disguised and disconnected from corporate

2009-11-11T12:33:00.001-08:00

http://adage.com/digitalnext/article?article_id=140388

Creating value over noise: Brands creating experiences

2009-11-10T08:54:00.001-08:00

http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/new-commercials-for-ebay-from-goodby-silverstein-partners.html

Ebay's new campaign......not so much

2009-11-07T15:49:00.001-08:00

These guys just suck

2009-11-05T15:23:00.001-08:00

"This is beyond outrageous. Pregnant women and children with respiratory
problems struggle to get access to scarce doses of the H1N1 vaccine. But
according to NBC News, bankers at Goldman Sachs enjoy a stockpile of 200
doses of the vaccine -- the same as allotted to Lenox Hill Hospital in New
York.

With hospitals, schools and community health clinics in desperate need of
the H1N1 vaccine, it's unconscionable that Wall Street can just cut in
line and secure scarce doses for bankers.

Goldman Sachs received over $1 billion in taxpayer bailouts during the
financial meltdown. But that's not all. It was the single-largest
recipient of taxpayer money in the AIG bailout, receiving almost $13
billion once AIG's positions were unwound.

And now, analysts predict Goldman Sachs could give its bankers as much as
$23 billion in bonuses, while the rest of country struggles through the
jobless "recovery."

NBC chief medical correspondent Nancy Schnyderman has suggested that
Goldman donate its doses to Lenox Hill Hospital. I agree, that's the least
they can do."

A sad day for the advertising industry when....Banners on house flies (for real)

2009-10-30T12:19:00.001-07:00

Jung von Matt just invented flyvertising. At the recent Frankfurt book convention they attached banners to 200 flies and set them loose to do their jobs as miniature sky ads around the convention center. In German, it's called a Fliegenbanner. Fliegenbanner, what a silly word.

No flies were harmed during this stunt. But a lot of people laughed.

The weight of the banner itself, attached with a string and some sticky stuff that allowed it to eventually fall off without harming the fly, was so that the fly could fly with it, but not very high and they kept landing on visitors. Do flies get short of breath?

Credits:

Client: Eichborn
Ad agency: Jung von Matt

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via adland.tv

Do numbers matter in the app market?

2009-10-30T10:02:00.001-07:00

How many of these iPhone apps are actually quality and useful?

How many are downloaded once and never run again?

Are these people talking specifically about apps or games, or apps AND games?

Is there a point in bragging about having 8 bazillion apps when you can only run one of them at a time anyway? And lastly:

How many apps do you actually use on a regular basis?

via home.leakdroid.com

Walmart crumbles another industry: Caskets

2009-10-29T06:31:00.001-07:00

Throughout its history, Walmart has been disruptive to a number of industries, from local retailers to grocery stores. Now, you can add funeral homes to the list. The company’s website has started selling several models of caskets, starting at $999.

Walmart is not the first major retailer to offer caskets online, but its branding and reach certainly makes it a force to be reckoned with in the world of family run funeral homes (though many funeral homes are now part of big chains too).

According to the AP, federal law mandates that funeral homes accept caskets from third-parties, so unless they want to match Walmart, price conscious consumers shouldn’t have any issues if they want to use the retailer. On the other hand, ordering a casket from Walmart does seem a bit impersonal. But, if you simply want to save a few dollars at the end, well, now you can.

Death of the stand alone GPS? Me thinks so......

2009-10-28T09:21:00.001-07:00

Good thing Garmin is starting to get into the mobile phone market but will they be able to perform on the same level as the iPhone and Android phones?
Me thinks not.....

Purity Organic Juice Ad: Wow!

2009-10-27T12:49:00.001-07:00

"Jimmy John's fuels your cowboy threesome"

2009-10-27T10:43:00.001-07:00

Wow! Not sure this would drive foot traffic but hey, why not?

Google Voice with your existing number

2009-10-27T07:16:00.001-07:00

Browser Bookmarklet

View on TweetMeme

Want to come retweet and comment on any webpage? Drag this to your browser's bookmark toolbar, or read the detailed instructions.

via tweetmeme.com

Michael Jackson-P.Y.T

2009-10-27T06:29:00.001-07:00

PYT: In my top 3 Jackson joints

Posted via web from Digital Anthropology's

DirecTV's Chris Farley spot just feels wrong

2009-10-23T14:20:00.001-07:00

DirecTV's Chris Farley spot just feels wrong

I've generally been a fan of the DirecTV ads by Deutsch with the actors breaking character from classic TV and movie scenes to deliver the pitch. But the series has gotten dicey with the introduction of dead celebs into the mix. Last October, we had the spot with with Craig T. Nelson and Heather O'Rourke from Poltergeist, which was unfortunate, given that O'Rourke (who played Carol Anne) died tragically in 1988 at age 12. Now, a year later (hey, Halloween's coming up again), we get this Tommy Boy homage, with Chris Farley and David Spade. Farley, of course, died of a drug overdose in 1997. The whole dead-celebs thing is a gray area in advertising. Sometimes it seems less off-putting than other times. But you know there's an issue when an ad finishes and you hear audible groans from around the room.
—Posted by Tim Nudd