Social Networking is More Popular Than Porn

If you’re a consumer that’s new to social media or a marketer that wants to justify a social media investment, Marta Kagan’s “What the f**k is social media?” slideshow is a great starting point (and needless to say, clever title). A sampling of data points in the presentation:

- 57% of people have joined a social network
- 36% of people think more positively about companies that have blogs
- By 2010, Millenials/Gen Y’ers will outnumber Baby Boomers
- More than 100 million videos on YouTube
- Nearly 4 million articles on Wikipedia
- More than 200 million blogs

So get on the train already … or find yourself, or your brand, lying in the tracks.

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25 Years: Robots and Pop Culture Since The Jedi Returned

The July 4/1,000th issue of Entertainment Weekly celebrates the best in pop culture over the past 25 years. They even call out the top 25 gadgets and innovations that have had the biggest impact on pop culture since “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” (1983).

The top 5 on the EW list of new classics in tech. include:

1. The DVD Player (1997)
2. Napster (1999)
3. TiVo (1999)
4. iPod (2001)
5. YouTube (2005)

Other online notables include MySpace (#11), Netscape Navigator (#13), Netflix (#16) and Amazon.com (#19). Two glaring omissions are the digital camera (although digital video cameras came in at #7) and the mobile phone (not sure how polyphonic ringtones landed at #21).

One innovation I’d like to see in the top 10 is “The Robot.” Let’s think about this … not only did it give us an iconic dance, but it has spawned dozens of entertainment properties and millions of fans (in addition to a self-controlled vacuum from iRobot):

The long list of entertainment robots includes (but not limited to): Transformers ($700 million worldwide), Kitt (Knight Rider), Cylons (Battlestar Galactica), Robotech, Voltron, dancing robots (Sony), humanoid robots (Honda), WALL-E ($62.5 million on opening weekend) and more. And how can we forget C-3PO and R2-D2? Although they were introduced in 1977, they continue to be the godfathers of robot culture.

And of course, the creation of our favorite Robot music: Daft Punk. So gather your neighborhood robots and remind Entertainment Weekly that Johnny 5 is alive!

A casino and Microsoft walk into a bar …

I’m in Vegas right now and although I haven’t hit the blackjack tables yet, I was intrigued to hear about a table that promises not to take your money (well, at least through a dealer).

According to the Associated Press, The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino (owned by Harrah’s) partnered with Microsoft to create an interactive bar table that lets downtrodden gamblers order drinks, watch YouTube videos and even communicate or flirt with other patrons.

I’m all for an easy way to order drinks and viewing videos adds another layer of entertainment; but the “Flirt” feature seems a little too, ummm let’s just say, PC. With Flirt, people are given ability to showcase their inability to talk to people live. You can chat, take photos and send your phone number to other bar patrons with the touch of a button. Why walk to the other side of the bar and look someone in the eyes, when a 32″ monitor can be your wingman/woman? Of course, I could be wrong. I hear the house always wins.

Save the Planet, Power Down That PlayStation

You’ve just rocked out for five hours on Guitar Hero and left the living room thinking you’re Jimi Hendrix. The power bill comes in the mail and now you’re feeling like John Mayer. A new study from Choice in Australia reveals that gamers have a new Call of Duty: Turn off the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 when not in use to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions. And if your PS3 is hooked up to a plasma HDTV and you always leave it on standby, you’re definitely in “Burnout Paradise” on your energy bills.

The ETC@USC Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab: Connect with the Future of The Digital Consumer

USC’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) is a good place to start when exploring the future of digital entertainment in Hollywood (Disclosure: I’ve worked with the ETC in the past on behalf of TI DLP Cinema). Some guy named George Lucas started the ETC 15 years ago. The LA Times reports on the ETC’s latest initiative – the Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab (AACL).

It’s mission is to be “the global leader in providing a view into the life, desires and media-related expectations of a fully wired, digital consumer.” This also happens to be the mission of The Digital Deep, but I’ll admit, they do have a considerable lead against this blog in sponsors: NBC-Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Viacom/Paramount Studios, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., Lucasfilm Ltd.l, Cisco, Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, Inc, Sharp Laboratories of America, TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) Limited, Thomson, and Volkswagen of America-ERL.

If you go to USC, stop by the AACL, play with the latest home entertainment gear and tell them The Digital Deep is also slowly building its own lab. Currently, it only includes an HDTV, Xbox (borrowed), DVD player and a laptop (discontinued model). Yes, I have work to do.

Barcelona Is So Hot Right Now

On Friday, I arrive in Barcelona for the first time (for vacation and vino). That same day, 400 miles away, Woody Allen will unveil his latest movie “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” at the Cannes Film Festival (trailer below). Starring Oscar-winner Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz, Barcelona es tan caliente en este momento.

Iron Man: Is It Better to Be Feared, Respected or the Most Fashionable Superhero of Our Time?

Sorry Superman, Spiderman and Batman. When it comes to shock and awe in superhero couture, Iron Man knocks your spandex off. While Batman may have the edge when it comes to formal evening wear, I would wear an Iron Man suit everyday if I could fly with jets and destroy bad guys with built-in weapons. Unfortunately, technology hasn’t caught up to our imaginations, but I guess there is always Halloween.

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, get in your Audi and don’t take your foot off the gas until you get to the nearest theater (stop at red lights, but definitely go through the yellows). And if you’re in LA, watch the movie at ArcLight Cinemas where the actual suit worn by Robert Downey Jr. is staring down moviegoers in the lobby. The costume blasts out of ArcLight on Monday, May 12.

There’s also a model of The Incredible Hulk nearby to remind patrons that if you like superheroes, you should spend your green on ummm, the green guy with anger issues.

The Dark Knight was nowhere to be seen. Typical.

The Most Celebrated Crime in Entertainment History: Grand Theft Auto

Crime pays … in the video game world. Today, millions of people will cause chaos in the streets, rebel against cops and find solace in helping out the most hated elements of society. Of course, they will all commit these criminal activities in Liberty City, the virtual world of Grand Theft Auto IV, the most anticipated video game of the year.

IGN gave a perfect 10 rating to GTA IV, calling the story “Oscar quality” and delivering “the most fun I’ve had in years.”

For Take-Two Interactive, probably more important than a positive review are the record-setting revenues expected to beat down any movie or game this year. The game is expected to generate more than $400 million in sales … in its first week! How many armored vehicles would we have to rob to reach that goal? Actually, don’t answer that.

North America to Nintendo: Wii Love You

Mario is still the man when it comes to video games in the US. Wired reports that the Nintendo Wii sits on store shelves in North America for about an hour on average before it’s purchased. Lesson of the day for Wii-less gamers and parents: Don’t live more than 15 miles from a Best Buy or GameStop.

"Star Wars" Franchise – "Harry Potter" Franchise = "Sims" Franchise

The best-selling video game franchise of all-time shouldn’t be classified as just a game. The alternate universe and pop culture phenomenon known as the Sims created a massive shift in gameplay, interactivity and most notably, identity.

Who doesn’t love exploring a fantasy world? Come to think of it, that’s exactly what the Sims gave us … a vacation from traditional video games. 100 million copies and $4 billion in sales later, the vacation is as sweet as ever. Sims fans have expressed their devotion to the franchise in very creative ways, and have posted more than 100,000 videos on YouTube, including this tribute to the musical “Rent.”

Other leading franchises that have dominated our imaginations and wallets over the years:
- Star Wars franchise ($20 billion)
- Harry Potter franchise ($15 billion)

Lesson of the day: A great fantasy can reward your reality.