Cool New Banner Ads

In the recent "I'm a PC" campaign, Microsoft takes aim at the Mac ads that have reigned for more than two years. After a brief run with Jerry Seinfeld, the ads are now featuring ordinary folks who profess their devotion to PCs.

I caught the latest in the series of ads on the MSN home page... a very cool banner execution where a mosaic of images filled the background behind the homepage. And as you click on each image, it feeds a video of that person into what I think is a 300x250 video player. I think this would look even better filled with dog images and adoption videos... don't you?

Wholefoods.com Site redesign

Whole Foods has followed the trend of retailers relaunching their web-site to add more value to the consumers and enhance the shopper experience.

Secet Ingredient Videos & Podcasts, store locaters, store specials and a huge assortment of recipes with new search tool,high impact photography and flash as wells as social apps (rate and post recipes and freshly picked blogs).

Check it out at

wholefoods.com

Internet Killed the Newspaper Star

Google has just taken up the arduous goal of bringing all the glory of paper-press-periodical humanity to the Interweb.

Soon, you'll be able to view billions of pages of archived newsprint from the comfort of your cubicle.

Pretty neat, and you don't even have to get your hands all inky.

AdAge Article on mobile advertising

Not sure if this will load up correctly. If it doesn't, then use your
mobile devise!

http://adage.qwapi.com/site?t=FnTlaZuPXsZiMMsVa.wgJw&tsid=QWS5E80C78A14BCF5E93D0F38C05D18F5161367e40&tcid=84d03862b23e4fa0a9e4ac7c7c59e03e

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Sent from my iPhone

Get inspired:
http://creativebureau.blogspot.com

Cell Phone Coupons Get Local

I was just watching ABC News and they featured a piece on a new player, 8Coupons, in the Cell Phone Couponing industry. They have a wide array of local NYC offers from services, to Spa and Beauty to restaurants. They work with/train local vendors to make it easy for the consumer to simply show the offer on their phone to the cashier to get their offer. Could this be the end of the local coop mailer that stuff our mailboxes each month? Check it out at:

http://www.8coupons.com/

Life

Nice. Simple. Smart.
(for a coaster)

$34.5 million spent on Facebook virtual goods? | Negative Approach - CNET News

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13846_3-10030354-62.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

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Sent from my iPhone

Get inspired:
http://creativebureau.blogspot.com

Google Chrome Explained.

Google Chrome explained

Explorer, Firefox or the new Chrome?

I've been a big fan of firefox since it came out. For me, it's anything that gets me away from the clunky IE browser. Plus I'm biased, pre IE winning the browser wars I was exclusively a Netscape user. Anyhow, it's been announced that Google is launching a new browser called Chrome.


Find the article here


WASHINGTON (AFP) - Google on Tuesday launches its own internet browser, Google Chrome, in a new challenge to Microsoft Internet Explorer and Firefox.
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The Chrome browser, designed to cope with the next generation of graphics and multimedia dominated web applications, was announced in a Google blog late Monday.

It will launch initially for Windows machines in 100 countries, with Mac and Linux versions to come.

"We realised ... we needed to completely rethink the browser," Google's Sundar Pichai said in a blog post.

The application can be downloaded for free and its code will be open source so no rights will have to be paid by anyone using or adapting the software.

Chrome is Google's latest weapon in its bid to become the leader in all Internet areas. The latest major browser war was won by Microsoft when it won the battle for dominance in the 1990s against Netscape Navigator.

According to various estimates, Internet Explorer, which is the default browser on computers with Windows operating systems, is used by between 60 and 80 percent of Internet users around the world, with Mozilla Firefox a long way back in second place.

What's your favorite campaign?

See what these professionals had to say about what they felt was the best campaign. It's a really simple, but great question. I'd have to agree that the Apple work is really well done both online and offline. Take a look at this and if another campaign comes to mind, please post it.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1681694293/bctid1681848514

Cloud Computing

If you haven't heard of cloud computing, then you should read this article. Early adopters are already there, for the most part. Wiki's, webmail and web based FTP all fit the bill as far as cloud computing goes.

http://adage.com/article?article_id=130488

on with it.

Take a Shot.

So, it's not Call of Duty 4, but it's worth taking a few shots with.  I kind of wish that there was a) more ammo and B) more of a website to shoot up.  Maybe version 2.0.

check it out.

wifi at 32,000 feet

Well, it's finally here, wifi on airplanes. I am posting this high above the Iowa plains, thanks to the new wifi service being offered by American Airlines on some domestic flights. today might be the first day, there are representatives from the service provider, GoGo internet, on the flight to offer any assistance. 

Details: $12.95 per flight segment. Easy sign up based on very simple browser based registration, takes all major CCs, and confirms your order very quickly. Initial experience provided very quick broadband access. It seems to allow full access to the internet, including IM, altough it has disabled any VOIP or audio/video chat capability. I assume that is to promote quiet surfing, a welcome choice. the thought of 70 people all talking to their computers via skype or ichat is too maddending to consider.

The service did go down briefly, but a restart of my computer has had it up and running flawlessly for the last 2 hours. good thing i have a second laptop battery!

for all those IP access whores like me, it's a very cool thing. for all those who have been dreading this day, sorry dude. 

and please, no one tell my boss i can be reached in flight! :)

Wireless useage.

My take on this article is that they just don't know what they are
missing. Similar things were said about the web early on. Who would
ever want to bank online? Ya got me?

http://mobile.adage.com/site?sid=adage_ip&pid=article&targetURL=http://adage.com//digital/article.php?article_id=130223

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Sent from my iPhone

Get inspired:
http://creativebureau.blogspot.com

cesar: a Blast from the Past

For those who haven't yet come across this, a cesar T.V. commercial from 1990. I think it's safe to say, "We've come a long way, baby." Also, check out the one from 1991 the next time you're on YouTube. Looks like it made a huge leap from 1990.

Twitter on the iPhone: Which App Will Rule Them All?

If you twitter and have an iPhone then you should check this out. I've tried almost off of these apps and, agree that it's tough finding the right app.

Which will rule them all on the iPhone?

The Mojave Experiment...

As most of you are probably aware, Windows Vista has taken a different approach to their campaign...It goes by the code name "Mojave." It targets "regular" (clueless?) people who have never laid eyes on Vista, then lets them "decide for themselves." At first, I was skeptical about the brand's need to disguise itself, but I've since warmed up to it. Branding needs a little alter ego action now and then.

Take a look at the site, if only to check out the video execution.

Tivo to Try Something New with Amazon

Interactivity doesn't stop at web and/or mobile technology. It looks like T.V. advertising is in for quite the face lift. Let's face it, with the web constantly blooming, it's becoming harder and harder for T.V. commercials to make their mark, and effectively, at that.

So, what's the plan? With the TiVo remote, users will be able to buy the products being advertised, with the help of Amazon as a partner. This is believed to enrich the overall viewer experience and will not distract the consumer from their favorite program (that's the beauty of TiVo)....

It's still risky, however...

"As DVRs get more popular, 'the majority of commercials in home will be fast-forwarded through,' he said. 'It is critical that there be a form of advertising and a transactional solution that underpins the DVR, or the economics of television are going to be substantially undermined.”

Putting a Fresh Face (or Lack Thereof) to Viral

More proof you don't need a huge budget to produce an extremely successful viral ad campaign.

This faceless ad campaign for Lotus has sparked huge buzz across automotive blogs, forums, and more.

And all it cost them was a few latex masks, a couple stand-ins, and tickets to a handful of high profile British events.