The Tron sequel created buzz “Around the World” last weekend with the announcement that Daft Punk will be writing the score for the movie. The movie is not being released until 2011, but here’s a cool preview of what a Tron 2 trailer might look like:
Two Amateurs Create the Most Amusing Super Bowl Ad
The Mad Men are going … well, mad, after two unknowns rose to advertising superstardom from a Dorito’s ad they created for the Super Bowl. USA Today’s Ad Meter ranked the “crystal ball” ad (view below) higher than anything produced for Budweiser, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and other well-known brands. My crystal ball says that advertising agencies have a new competitor in town … Main (St.) Men.
The Latest Model Behavior on Social Media
British model Jordan and Canadian model Liskula Cohen are taking on Facebook and Google respectively in two cases that highlight modern challenges with social media – although only one of the models seems to have a poking chance. Jordan’s Facebook group was controversially removed for violating the terms of service, since it wasn’t created for a company or product. The removal appears to be somewhat vague and arbitrary since Facebook doesn’t provide further details. Only time will tell if Jordan’s group will be reinstated. Cohen’s complaint against Google and its Blogger publishing service stems from a blog titled “Skanks in NYC” which called Cohen “our #1 skanky superstar.” She wants Google to reveal the identity of the blogger. However, as noted by DEXTER150 on a New York Daily News discussion board, “In the People vs. Larry Flint, it was determined that public figures are open to satire and that this type of speech is protected under law. She has no case.”
Jordan vs. Facebook and Cohen vs. Google. Who will prevail on the chatwalk?
iPhone Apps I’d Like to Download in 2009
More than 300,00,000 million iPhone apps have been downloaded to date, or just about one per person in this country. AdAge discusses the opportunities for marketers, while this post attempts to highlight the opportunities for developers based on the three E’s that dominated mainstream discussion and media scrutiny this year: Economy, Energy, Election. Without further ado, or expectation for adulation, here are three apps I’d like to find in the App Store:
1) iBailout (Finance): Keep track of the companies requesting loans and follow where the $700 billion is going. Note: This app has no oversight.
2) Energy IndepeDANCE (Games): You are an American consumer dancing to the beat of the oil companies. The dancefloor is slick.
3) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Entertainment): Republicans have transformed into giant robots and battle to reclaim Earth.
Do you have an app you’d like to see next year?
The World Wide Web of Cuteness: Pups, Cubs and Kick-Ass Pandas
When did the Internet get so adorable? Yes, people have always shared cute photos and videos of animals; but in my news-focused conscience there appears to be an increasingly high number of features on the world of “ahhhhhhhh.” Let’s start with the latest sensation – THE puppy cam. Not a puppy cam, since we all now what puppy cam has caught the attention of millions worldwide.
For the Animal Planet aficionado in all of us, here is another video and story that will tickle your furry bone and make you want to adopt more living creatures than Angelina, okay you know where I’m going with it … first up, baby cheetah cubs at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Ever wanted to name a baby panda? The Atlanta Zoo is calling for names.
And my favorite cuteness headline in recent memory comes from the Associated Press today: “Panda in China zoo bites student who wanted a hug.” Cuteness has a price that may come in the form of Po the Kung Fu Panda. Lesson learned: Don’t mess the Dragon Warrior.
Campaign via Hologram
I’m currently in Atlanta where CNN is headquartered. Based on the holographic interview of Will.i.am. during last night’s election coverage, CNN is now positioning itself as the most trusted name in intergalactic news. The hologram’s quality still has a long way to go before I’d recommend it as a regular feature for any broadcast program, but the implications beyond interviews is what makes it most compelling for the future of politics. Who said campaigning in all 50 states would be impossible?
Your Two-Week Notice to Change the World
Google announced last month that it would give $10 million for ideas that could improve the world. There are now two weeks left to submit those ideas (view Project 10^100 video below). The deadline is October 20. So stop thinking about your Halloween costume and start focusing on making this planet a better place. Although fully functional Iron Man costumes might end global conflict.
Digital Hot List: Google, Facebook and iPhone Lead Our Digital World
The annual AdweekMedia Web Site Hot List has emerged, so where do your favorite (and sometimes productivity reducing) online destinations and devices rank? It’s no surprise that Google lands at the top spot, followed by Facebook (you might be one of the 100 million active users) and the bronze medalist (with the Midas touch) from Apple, the gloriously cool iPhone.
There’s probably nothing cooler (for the digital jetset) than flying through Facebook or Google on your iPhone, viewing the latest buzzworthy videos on YouTube (#6), soaking up the political landscape on The Huffington Post (#8) or broadcasting the mundane to the magnificent on Twitter (hot list for apps). Okay, maybe if I was doing the above on an actual jet, preferably my own … that would be a lot cooler.
The Econoclast10: Influential Online Celeb List Missing a Candidate
contentNext recently identified the top 10 most influential and innovative online celebrities, calling these much-followed folks the EconCeleb Econoclast10.
Martha Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Oprah Winfrey and Will Ferrell make the list, but one person is noticeably absent even though he’s probably been on the most magazine covers this year. He has more than a million fans on Facebook and his speeches on YouTube have been viewed several million times (and embedded/shared thousands of times). If you haven’t guessed it yet, he’s arguably Chicago’s most famous resident (sorry O). Last hint: He’s running for President of the United States of America. And as McCain’s latest ad claims, Obama is “the biggest celebrity in the world.”
I’m removing Tila Tequila from this list and giving Obama a shot at Econoclast10 love.
8.08.08: The Day The World First Saw China; NBC’s Great Wall of Olympic Coverage
8.8.08 or Opening Day is almost here. NBC is promising 24-hour coverage on 12 platforms, covering all Olympic sports (full schedule). There are many storylines and can’t miss events:
- China welcomes more than 200 countries in front of billions worldwide (August 8)
- Michael Phelps. He’s looking to break the record of nine career gold medals (he has six).
- USA vs. China in Men’s Basketball (August 10)
- USA Women’s Softball (will it be the last every Olympics for women’s softball?)
- The quest to be “The World’s Fastest Man” (100m final race on August 16)
NBC doesn’t want you to miss out on any moment of Olympic action (although Beijing is 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles) and will be airing 2,990 hours of live coverage with 2,200 hours of live streaming video online. Rafat Ali at paidContent.org reports a full suite digital offerings from NBC, including a few that I’ll take a closer look at:
- NBC Olympics Mobile: “The most ambitious major sporting event coverage ever delivered on mobile” with “breaking news to text and video alerts to live mobile TV broadcasts.” The mobile site is available at http://mobile.nbcolympics.com or by texting “OLYMPICS” to 51515.
- Blogs: “More than a dozen Olympians are contributing personally shot, home-video style content to NBCOlympics.com as part of an ‘Olympic Insider‘ feature.”
- Widgets: “Widgets include: top news, video & photos, athletes to watch, TV and online listings, medal trackers, results, schedules and local coverage.”
- Athlete Profiles: “NBCOlympics.com will present bios for all 10,500 athletes competing in Beijing.”
Tell your friends: The person who is considered the Michael Jordan of China (in terms of popularity and not tongue wagging) is actually “Jenny” Lang Ping, the head coach of the USA Women’s Volleyball Team.
