Rants....

Greatest Day Ever - 'Game of Thrones' Season Two Teaser

2011-11-07T16:21:00.001-08:00

Apple looking to launch Siri-powered TV by 2013

2011-10-31T13:50:00.000-07:00

We knew this was coming. Via GigaOm:

The Apple television is the latest, hottest subject of the rumor mill that surrounds the company. On Thursday, the New York Times‘ Nick Bilton published a lengthy report related to the still-unconfirmed product, revealing many details sourced from Apple employees and others close to the company who spoke to him on the condition of anonymity.Bilton says Siri is the key to Jobs’ feeling that he finally “cracked it,” as Walter Isaacson’s biography quotes him saying. What he cracked was a streamlining of the interface so that control is intuitive and simple. Thanks to Siri, Bilton says, you could now just talk to your TV set, and it would respond to your commands.Other new details include plans dating back as early as 2007, after Apple had released the original Apple TV, to make a complete set. The product has since been definitely in the works at Apple, its development spurred on by the fact that “Steve thinks to the industry is totally broken,” according to one of Bilton’s source. In the Isaacson biography, it’s revealed that many other successful Apple products, including the iPod and the iPhone, were created based on the same sense on the part of Jobs that what was already out there was sub-par.As to when this might arrive, Bilton says it is “close enough” now that it might be announced as early as late 2012, with a 2013 release date in terms of actually getting the product in the hands of consumers. The hold-up is mainly about waiting until the cost of large display components falls far enough to make it possible for Apple to offer the TV at a competitive price point. Making the product thin and light is also another development hurdle facing its release, according to the report.Many pundits have proclaimed an Apple television a bad idea, but it’s a chorus we’ve heard many times before; the iPod, iPhone and iPad all had very vocal detractors, with plenty ofnegative reaction even after the product was actually unveiled.Also, as John Gruber points out, commenting on the release of the Bloomberg TV 24-hour live video app, “Apps are the new channels.” If Apple can get more content providers to produce similar content-delivery solutions for its iOS devices, it’ll have much bait with which to lure potential Apple television customers whenever that product does make it to market.

Nike Ad: 'Basketball Never Stops'

2011-10-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

Nike has told the NBA lockout to suck it, via an awesome ad they've put together combining hoop heroes at both the professional and collegiate level [Ed's note: no money was paid to any college athletes. Just covering my ass here]. Just because the millionaires aren't getting their Maserati insurance covered right now, the game doesn't stop:

YouTube Announces Channel Strategy

2011-10-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

Yes this is days old, but it was Halloween weekend, so simmer down. As expected, YouTube finally announced a series of category focused channels, making it look even more like a MSO. What's interesting is that they sold off the individual channels to different content providers, and a close source to me from Digital Broadcasting Group (owner of the 'Spaces' channel), told me that it was insanely competitive to get a slot.

Here's what AdWeek said about it all:

After months of speculation with almost no official confirmation, YouTube has finally announced its long-awaited channel strategy in a post to the company’s blog late Friday evening. The announcement falls in line with what had previously been reported in the press: namely that YouTube will be expanding its lineup of channels to include new offerings from a variety of partners, including well-known personalities and brands in the Hollywood, music, news, and sports worlds.“These channels will have something for everyone, whether you’re a mom, a comedy fan, a sports nut, a music lover or a pop-culture maven,” YouTube’s global head of content partnershipsRobert Kyncl said in the post.Under the new system, content creators—like Vice Media or the video game lifestyle network Machinima, for example—will have a dedicated channel on the site that they will control, continually updating it with video content. YouTube, for its part, will sell ads against that video inventory.YouTube is seeking to organize its site much in the way a cable provider organizes linear TV channels—a fact that Kyncl acknowledged in his post today. “Cable television expanded our viewing possibilities from just a handful of channels to hundreds, and brought us some of the most defining media experiences of the last few decades—think MTV, ESPN, and HBO,” Kyncl wrote. “Today, the Web is bringing us entertainment from an even wider range of talented producers, and many of the defining channels of the next are being born, and watched, on YouTube. “The channel announcement comes on the heels of a number of other content initiatives from YouTube in recent months, such as its Partner Grant program—announced in July—which sets aside a total of $5 million in creative grants for qualifying video makers to improve their video content. The efforts are aimed at coaxing viewers into engaging with YouTube as they engage with television, spending much more time watching a wider, more compelling array of video content.As YouTube chief Salar Kamangar wrote last May in a blog post entitled "Welcome to the future of video. Please stay a while," "You’re spending just 15 minutes a day on YouTube, and spending five hours a day watching TV. As the lines between online and offline continue to blur, we think that’s going to change."

I Finally Played Angry Birds

2011-10-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

After all the chaos and cult like activity around Angry Birds, I finally get it. It's outrageously stupid and simple, but addicting as hell. I'm playing it on the Chrome App, amazing.

The Rumors Are True; MC Hammer Is a Start-Up Guy

2011-10-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

I had heard this before when a close friend from a targeting company said, "Hammer was at our launch party for our app." I of course thought he meant they were playing "Ice Ice Baby" on repeat. Little did I realize that the parachute pants man himself was at their PingMe launch party.

So then I read last week that Hammer is launching a search engine, that oddly enough cannot be found in Google search (check that metadata Hammer). [EDS note I finally just found it after days of searching] Hammer, born Stanley Kirk Burrell, is challenging the Mountain View Googlers with his new project Wiredoo. Currently in beta and accepting private users, Wiredoo will act as a “deep search” or “relationship” engine. Rather than just return “the 10 blue links” of keyword-based results, he explained in an interview with Web 2.0 summit co-producer O’Reilly Media, WireDoo will also display more tangential data culled from Web indices, public data, and social media. A Zip Code search might net local school statistics and home prices, for example.

As per the question with any search related offering, do we care? Don't the leaders in the space have it down pretty good? If anyone can tell me the last time a general search query turned up really blank and useless, you get a small token from the Rants laire.

hopefully they are ready by the time Hammer's series C runs out

Virality Done Right by EVB

2011-10-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

Evolution Bureau in San Francisco has set the bar high again with a hilarious series of one minute videos for "Pet's Add Life," a campaign for the American Pet Products Association.

Calling The Digital Ad Industry; Let's Start Taking Banners Off Web Pages

2011-10-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

Now, before everyone who works for an ad exchange, banner ad network, RTB or yield optimization firm flips their shit and calls me susie, just hear me out. I want to make a case for removing advertising from our sites, and I'm a seller, so in theory I want that space.

First, for this entire rant, let's immediate remove the following ad products from the conversation because they are separate; pull downs, peel backs, expandable home page units, page skins, takeovers, etc. What I'm talking about is your everyday standard IAB banners.

Let's just say we wanted to start driving up the value of ad inventory again (gasp, why would we want that). I don't think anyone would argue that there is more banner space available than the market is demanding. Fair to say, you can go to any major website, navigate 15 pages in and there are still leaderboards and skyscrapers everywhere. Now, those useless placements are selling for pennies on ad exchanges and optimizers are crunching every penny in real time bidding environments to very slightly outbid someone else's minute spend threshold. I'm making the case that if we move back to a model where we minimalized overall ad frequency and touch points in banners, we on the publishing side would maintain higher quality of advertiser and higher pricepoint. Adversely, advertisers now avoid ad clutter and actually get their message across. Lastly, consumers don't suffer from advertising overload and they actually respond to messaging like they did in the good old days. Keep the level of targeting up but reduce ad clutter, I think you see better performance.

My focus is in video, and I have strong concerns about the commodization of long tail video. There is no doubt that premium video inventory (I'm talking pre-roll only) will always command a high pricepoint. It's a unique one on one interaction. But the price is being driven down by exchanges drudging up video inventory and shipping it off for pennies, yet the value of the placement remains high. Yes there was another subtle point in there; price and value are two different things.

On an aside, can someone tell me if ad exchanges are actually making money? How many ways can you slice up a penny?

Nike Soccer Commercial's Are Like Michael Bay Movies

2011-10-13T11:38:00.001-07:00

Slow motion camera work, bumping bass, Wayne Rooney voice over. Wow. Production value is high.

The Antelope Who Crushed The Biker

2011-10-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

We've all seen it, but let's see it again.

Looks Like The iPhone 5 Is Officially Coming

2011-09-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

Apple is hosting its next iPhone event at its Cupertino, California headquarters on Oct. 4. Press invites landed in media inboxes first thing this morning, with a very enticing tag line: “Let’s Talk iPhone.”

Tim Cook is expected to be master of ceremonies at the event now that he is Apple’s CEO. The media event is taking place at Apple’s 1 Infinite Loop HQ, out of the norm from past iPhone events held in the city of San Francisco.

At the event, we’ll find out once and for all if we’re getting an iPhone 5 or an additional budget iPhone 4S. The iPhone 5 is reported to have a larger, possibly edge-to-edge display, a thinner silhouette and an elongated home button. It’s also expected to house an A5 processor, like that of the iPad 2.

'GazeHawk: Eye Tracking For Everyone'

2011-09-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

Came across this little gem at AdAge west. Going on their second year in existence, GazeHawk is an eye tracking technology company that provides consultative research and reports to publishers and advertisers to improve ad effectiveness. Their technology accesses a users webcam, asks for permission to track their visual patterns, and then runs that user through a quick calibration test. After that, it's open season. GazeHawk can determine which ad units on a page are most effective aka get the most exposure to the eye, and then passes back that info to the pub/advertiser.

For a publisher, you can see this being a HUGE asset when it comes to valuing their ad space, charging premiums for the units with more attention, and vice versa. For an advertiser, you can better determine what you should be paying for those same units.

On the macro level, this is in fact a big step away from using click throughs as a measurement of success. As a player in the video space this is music to my ears. My only drawback is that they ask for permission from the user. This absolutely needs to be an opt-in system, however as soon as the user knows what you are studying, their behavior changes. There is no way around that.

Detractors from The Hawk (are they not using that nickname yet?) will press on the creepyness factor here, which is in no way helped by their aggressive company name. But if you talk to the fat cats in Washington, opt-in makes it a free zone, so Gaze on my friends.

AdAge Digital West: a Semi-Diary

2011-09-20T10:14:00.001-07:00

Well, another conference on the books for today. Checking out AdAge's first digital focused conference on the West Coast. The morning started strong with the Global CMO and Digital Director for Levi's giving us their perspective on the world and intro'ing the Go Forth campaign. Here's a crappy cell phone pic of them for you to decipher:

What a Gem!! Qwikster Twitter Feed Owned By Some Hoodlum

2011-09-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

So, on the day that Netflix announces that their DVD service is now named Qwikster, and that they are launching a new business with separate P&Ls, the online community was quick to seek out places where the handle "Qwikster" was already in play.

Well let's heap the praise to the crew at Gizmodo for their find of the @Qwikster Twitter handle. As they put it, "Netflix Doesn’t Own Qwikster Twitter Feed. This Foulmouthed Pothead Does." Enjoy:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/09/netflix-qwikster-elmo-pothead/?pid=2457

An Exciting Weekend in LA No Doubt

2011-09-15T17:57:00.001-07:00

the homestead quatro

4.1 miles / 6.5983104 km
Created 09.15.11 by abergman21

An Actual Apple TV In 2012?

2011-09-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

We've all known this was coming, but Bloomberg seems to have dug up the real evidence proving that Apple is investing in an actual television.

There's a $14 billion rationale for this prediction but first, let's explore the rumors. This summer Piper Jaffray (NYSE: PJC - News) analyst Gene Munster dug through component suppliers and found evidence that Apple is gearing up to produce a real TV set by late 2012. Venture capitalist Stewart Alsop, a former board member at TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO - News), has published rumors that Apple has a television coming. And Steve Jobs himself hinted last year that Apple might build a real television unit.

"The television industry ... pretty much undermines innovation in the sector," Jobs said at the All Things Digital Conference in July 2010. "The only way this is going to change is if you start from scratch, tear up the box, redesign, and get it to the consumer in a way that they want to buy it."

Jobs's quote is good advice for his successor as chief executive officer, Tim Cook, who needs a hit. The TV industry is changing more than at any time in the past 50 years, and billions of dollars are going into play for the winners. As Apple crests in the phone and tablet markets, its investors will want a new frontier.

TV is the future because it remains king of all media. While handsets get hyped, the typical U.S. consumer watches 5 hours and 9 minutes of TV a day, according to Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN - News), and even younger adults 18 to 24 years old—the supposed digital generation—view 3 hours and 30 minutes on televisions daily, vs. only 49 minutes on the Web and 20 minutes on mobile. We all love to lean back. With so much of the consumer's time, TV has become bloated with waste. The average U.S. home receives 130 cable channels but "tunes to"—or punches in the exact channel number on the remote—just 18 channels a year. Channel surfing has died. A whopping 86% of available channels are never used by an individual viewer.

Lots of Disenchanted TV Subscribers

Consumers pay a lot for all this video waste and they don't like it. The average cable bill is $75 per month, which means that each year 83 million households pay $74 billion to the top eight TV-subscription services. This is why so-called "cord cutting," by which consumers drop cable to watch videos on Roku, Hulu, or the Xbox 360 from Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - News) is accelerating; Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA - News), the leading U.S. cable system, lost 238,000 subscribers in the second quarter. If Apple were to offer a better service, people might pay up for it.

A second lure for Apple is TV advertising. Unlike U.S. mobile-ad spending, which EMarketer says will barely break $1 billion in 2010 despite years of hype, the TV ad spend in the U.S. totaled $70 billion in 2010 and is forecast by Forrester Research (Nasdaq: FORR - News) to reach $84 billion by 2015. If Apple could gain just 10% of the $74 billion in current video subscription fees and $70 billion in television ad media, it would take in more than $14 billion in additional annual, recurring revenue.

Apple faces plenty of hurdles. For one thing, TV sets are an infrequent purchase. Apple likes to sell products with built-in obsolescence that you "need" to replace every 18 months—iPhone 5, anyone?—and a flashy TV set doesn't call for an aluminum upgrade next year. Apple also has struggled to get content providers to embrace its current Apple TV box. In August, Apple stopped renting TV shows for 99¢ on the gadget, claiming that consumers overwhelmingly prefer to buy TV shows. But it could be that Apple's media partners considered 99¢ far too cheap. With billions of dollars at stake, media producers and cable giants will fiercely defend their video-distribution modes.

Apple noted this risk in its 2010 annual report, in which it said it "relies on third party digital content, which may not be available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms or at all." Bear in mind that the record labels were losing to digital pirates when Apple's iTunes came along to save them; the video giants have no similar motive to play along now.

TV as Bold as the IPhone

That's not an insurmountable obstacle. Apple has some $76 billion in cash and a history of entering unexpected partnerships. AT&T (NYSE: T - News) and Verizon helping to sell iPhones? Who'd have thought? The biggest fight may be with new video competitors that are emerging everywhere. Netflix has embedded itself in scores of hardware devices, including TV sets and the Wii from Nintendo (Nasdaq: GOOG - News) also has a TV service and its acquisition of Motorola shows that it also wants to own related hardware devices. To win the living room, Apple will need an innovation comparable to that of its iPhone—something that changes TV sets in a fundamental way.

What about 3D? In 2010, Apple won a patent for a revolutionary new 3D screen system that would not require glasses and could be viewed by multiple people at the same time. The patent went so far as to slam current 3D systems, noting that most people dislike goggles and dismissing current non-glasses systems as "essentially unworkable for projecting a 3D image ... to an entire audience."

What solution did Apple propose? An "unobstructed 3D viewing device" that would give each viewer a different line of sight for both left and right eye, perfecting a stereoscopic image for a group of viewers watching one giant screen. The Apple patent even had a cool name for the result: a hologram. Could Apple put holograms in every home, break the stranglehold of cable companies, and unlock a $14 billion TV revenue stream? It's an audacious and perhaps crazy idea.

Tim Cook, I like the way you think.

___

Are We Surprised People Are Pissed at Netflix?

2011-09-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

via AllThingsD

Turns out Netflix customers took the service's recent price hike harder than expected. As a result, the multiplatform video rental company has had to cut third -quarter U.S. subscriber projections by 4% from 25 million to 24 million. "The majority of the shrinkage, Netflix says, will come from its DVD-only customers," reports All Things D.

Still, "Netflix now sees 9.8 million streaming-only customers, down from 10 million previously, and 2.2 million DVD-only customers, down from 3 million expected previously," Barron's Tech Trader Daily reports. "Total streaming said it expected a bump in third-quarter revenues as a result of the price hike (for DVD and streaming video joint subscribers).

Despite the new subscriber growth projections, "Netflix said that its financial outlook hasn't changed," ZDNet writes. "In other words, the financials add up for Netflix."

Netflix also originally said it expected its growth trajectory to resume by the end of the year, but the chances of that are now looking less likely. Regarding to change, GigaOm writes: "That appears to have had an effect on the number of people subscribing to the service."

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said he saw all this coming. "We knew what we were getting into," he said, according to All Things D. "We tried to be as straightforward as we could, and that has worked out very well for us."

Said Netflix in a statement: "We know our decision to split our services has upset many of our subscribers, which we don't take lightly, but we believe this split will help us make our services better for subscribers and shareholders for years to come."

Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL Merge; The Blind Leading The Blind

2011-09-14T20:21:00.000-07:00

I've said it once, I've said it a million times...there is more banner inventory than the market demands. Period. Now the Three Stooges are grumbling in a dark room somewhere trying to steal back ad dollars from networks because Google is kicking their ass and they can't figure out up from down. So they are pooling together all their remnant crap that they can't sell, but they figure whatever fill rate they can pool together collectively, at least they'll split the revenue as opposed to paying off the big display networks. Why does this seem like a skit in a bad movie where three high school jocks with zero sense of things team up to dump spaghetti down the pants of our heroic nerd who is going to bang the hot chick at the end?Here's the one interesting twist. Yahoo is a disaster organizationally. No CEO, no back up plan. Maybe a fire sale of assets coming. But does the public and more importantly, the media buying community care? Yahoo.com is still the homepage of champions, and dominates the world over. That's off topic, but I was thinking about it no less.

RORY MCILROY SHOWS OFF HIS CHIPPING SKILLS DURING A 1999 TV APPEARANCE

2011-06-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

Too damn good...

Testing For Ads

2011-06-07T09:55:00.001-07:00

'Chrysler: Imported From Detroit' Featuring Eminem

2011-02-07T11:24:00.001-08:00

Definitely my favorite spot of the Superbowl. Gritty and tough...

The Actual Anderson Cooper Attack Footage

2011-02-03T09:46:00.001-08:00

Anderson Cooper got attacked in Egypt

2011-02-02T13:57:00.001-08:00

He's a rich white American. Who knew these pro-Mubarek folks had a problem with that?

A Cord Cutting Experiment By Hill Holiday

2011-02-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

A great experiment when you remove the traditional cable option from a families home and have them rely on an over the top box. Apparently TV is way more lean back than we expected. The testers had the option of Apple TV, a Roku, Boxee Box, Xbox 360 or Google TV.

An Experiment In Cord Cutting from Hill Holliday on Vimeo.

Netflix's Facebook Integration Marks Shift Away From Viewing 'Households'

2011-01-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

Interesting stuff on Netflix incorporating Facebook. Makes total sense, think about how many users of Netflix are streaming on the go as opposed to ordering DVDs.

by Gavin O'Malley,

Representing a strategic about-face, Netflix says it is currently baking Facebook into its entire service -- in large part to encourage a segmenting of household accounts into multiple personal accounts.

"We're working on an extensive Facebook integration, which will further the notion of a personal Netflix account," Netflix said in a shareholder letter issued this week.

Netflix accounts have traditionally been affiliated with individual home addresses, but more screens per household -- along with more diverse offerings -- gives Netflix the opportunity to mine households for multiple accounts.

"When we were primarily a DVD-by-mail service, we measured our market in terms of households," Netflix said. "Households subscribed to Netflix and members of the household watched the DVDs as they wanted ... Online streaming video, however, is more naturally individual, since it is watched on personal screens like phones, tablets, and laptops, as well as on shared large screen televisions."

Netflix previously launched social tools, but scrapped them last year after they failed to take off. Mike Hart, previously Netflix's director of engineering for APIs, is now director of engineering for social.

"Our long-term goal is to evolve the Netflix service so that it feels more natural to have a personal account," Netflix said this week. "This evolution from household to personal relationship will take several years, and there will always be some households that only have one account."

In what may prove a challenge to Netflix's social strategy, a recent study found that the TV watching isn't as "social" an experience as one might assume. Rather, just 25% of consumers expressed an interest in sharing what they watch with friends, according to SideReel, which helps users find content and TV shows online.

Going forward, however, that may be the least of Netflix's problems. Its relationship with media companies could soon change when a deal with pay-TV channel Starz to stream movies from Sony and Disney expires. Indeed, Richard Greenfield, an analyst at BTIG research, estimated that the cost of the deal could go up from $25 million a year to more than $250 million a year.

Overall, according to research firm Screen Digest, Netflix revenues for 2010 were expected to reach $2.2 billion.

Netflix's snail-mail business was expected to account for 35% of disc-rental spending in the U.S. in 2010 -- up from 26% in 2009, according to Screen Digest.

Kobe Bryant is, "The Black Mamba" - Directed by Robert Rodriguez

2011-01-26T09:28:00.000-08:00

What an amazing find by Luaggz of Advertise Me...

Kobe and Robert Rodriguez team up the make "The Black Mamba." Hilarious! http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikebasketball/en_US/

Andy Gray Officially Axed By Sky Sports in Sexism Scandal

2011-01-25T10:29:00.000-08:00

Pundit Andy Gray has left Sky Sports in the aftermath of his controversial comments on female officials.

Sky has confirmed it has terminated his contract in light of "new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour".

Along with presenter Richard Keys, Gray was caught off camera making controversial comments about assistant referee Sian Massey ahead of Liverpool's 3-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday.

Keys suggested that "somebody better get down there and explain offside to her", and Gray added: "They probably don't know the offside rule".

Sky News released footage on Monday evening of Gray in conversation with Sky Sports reporter Andy Burton. Burton, who has been stood down for Wednesday night's Carling Cup semi-final, referred to Massey as a "bit of a looker" while Gray again said she would be unaware of the offside rule.

Keys has since telephoned Massey to apologise and, although Gray had not been in contact, a Sky spokesman said: "It wasn't a case of Andy not apologising. It doesn't really make sense for both of them to call."

However, after footage emerged of Gray joking that Sky Sports News presenter Charlotte Jackson should help him to tuck his shirt in, he has now left the company.

A statement read: "Sky Sports today terminated its contract with Andy Gray. The decision, which is effective immediately, was made in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour.

"The new evidence, relating to an off-air incident that took place in December 2010, came to light after Andy Gray had already been subjected to disciplinary action for his comments of January 22, 2011."

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said on Tuesday: "Andy Gray's contract has been terminated for unacceptable behaviour.

"After issuing a warning yesterday, we have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today."

Massey has been withdrawn from the League Two game between Crewe and Bradford on Tuesday night.

Professional Game Match Officials general manager Mike Riley said: "PGMO and Sian believe that, with any football match, the focus should not be on the officials but on the players and the game itself.

"Sian is an excellent professional who has unwittingly found herself in the middle of a story that has nothing to do with her competence as a match official.

"Sian only wants to be notable for her performance as an assistant referee and is keen for things to get back to normal so she can return to officiating as soon as possible.

"Sian has the full backing of PGMO and we hope she continues her development, which has shown excellent progress so far. It is important for PGMO to have talented people from all backgrounds getting involved in refereeing.

"The more people are attracted to the game, the better standards will be, and the more everyone can talk about the football."

Clickable TV Ads; Yay or Nay?

2011-01-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

For a variety of reasons, I left my house 2-3 times at the most this weekend. What that means is that I've been watching more TV than is healthy for any single individual (my GF was with me so let's chalk 50% off of my consumption).

What I noticed was that on three different cable stations [ed note; we are talking cable networks, not a primary network e.g. ABC, NBC...], was that clickable TV ads had a larger presence than I've ever seen before. Up until yesterday, I had seen a sum total of 1 clickable TV ad on my Comcast box. It was a GM ad that offered me the chance to click onto a screen, enter my address, and then get sent a brochure on the Chevy Silverado truck. The input process was laborious and time consuming, and I didn't finish. However, the idea of it all was astounding. A true DR TV ad? Watch an ad and perform a response? Wild stuff.

Back to this weekend; three cosmetic ads offering to click for a coupon that would be emailed to me. Very easy process, one entry field. Let's make it clear the aesthetics of these ads were terrible, they looked like Comcast's guide. But, as time-shifted television continues to become a more prevalent topic, as well as DVRs, connected TVs, etc., do we think interactive television ads are too little too late? Or are they cable networks saving grace for not losing all their money to the online space?

Verizon's First iPhone Commercial?

2011-01-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Kevin Durant Go Back To The Future

2011-01-20T23:20:00.000-08:00

These spots are turning up all over the place, so I figured it was time for them to nest here at Rants. Goodby Silverstein and Partners has crushed it again for the NBA, this time bringing in a little 'Ghost of Christmas Future,' if you will. They super-imposed characters into old footage of Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Kevin Durant, and they are dropping hints about there future. Ever since Goodby and the NBA teamed up, it's been of juggernaut of phenomenal creative and these spots are all on par. Enjoy...

Don't Let Greenwashing Fears Hold You Back

2011-01-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

Great article by Ian Yolles, chief sustainability officer of RecycleBank, a green rewards program that works with companies and brands such as Procter & Gamble, Kashi and Naked Juice to mobilize and reward consumers for taking environmentally preferred action while creating sustainability initiatives.

The article calls for consumers to take action against brands who are taking advantage of eco-conscious shoppers by pressing a "green" product with little "green" to it.

Accusations of greenwashing are rampant right now, and many are well-founded. Research shows that consumers are more likely to purchase products from a brand perceived to be more "sustainable"; that is, if faced with a choice (and price being relatively equal), they would select the "greener" product. To capitalize on this trend, some companies have cobbled together feeble marketing programs that have gotten them called out for greenwashing.

Yet today's consumer is increasingly savvy and quick to speak out against those companies they feel are falsely marketing themselves to profit from the eco-conscious shopper. Social media give anyone the ability to immediately amplify and propagate their dissatisfaction, which can serve as a forceful greenwashing deterrent. This, coupled with some outspoken independent groups, has created a bit of a wild west environment for greemarketing monitoring within the private sector.

On one hand, policing by industry and consumer forces is positive, weeding out those that are talking the talk but not walking the walk. On the other, I wonder if the fear of being labeled a greenwasher is preventing brands that are earnestly looking to do something positive from doing so for fear of a massive backlash. Is our desire to protect the consumer and police the industry hindering us from making real progress in moving toward a more sustainable future?

When it comes to the notion of a purpose-driven brand and being green, it is important to acknowledge that, in the absolute sense, there's no such thing as a truly green or truly sustainable product or company. It's about a journey, a continuum. Whether you're talking about individual products or brands and businesses, everyone is somewhere along the continuum of becoming more sustainable. The key is to be transparent about where you are.

On the spectrum, there are those that have green DNA intrinsically embedded in their businesses. It is their foundation, the core of their company, service or product. Others are trying to find a way to integrate sustainability attributes into their products and brands in a way that is meaningful and makes a difference. Moving along this continuum isn't something that happens overnight. It can be costly and time-consuming and sometimes is even fundamentally impossible. The shift often happens in small steps, especially regarding large brands, and each step needs to be taken one at a time.

So amid this climate of skepticism, how can companies move along this spectrum? Two ingredients can authentically translate corporate responsibility into a positive impact and help avoid accusations of greenwashing and a subsequent social backlash:

Take action: The process of change should reflect an "inside-out process." By that I mean start with your own house and take steps that move your business practices toward more sustainable solutions. As that process of internal transformation begins, it gives you permission to engage in a dialogue with your consumers. That creates an opportunity. It's even more powerful when the internal transformation inspires a shift in consumer behavior, moving individuals along the green spectrum as well. It's the "give a man a fish" strategy, and it can be accomplished through education or motivating action.

Make that action measurable and trackable: If you attach goals to your efforts, both internal and external, and are able to measure and track those goals, your efforts become more credible; the impact, more tangible. This also has a profound impact on consumer behavior. There are many different ways to motivate people. Given the magnitude of the issues we face, one of the most effective motivators is showing consumers the impact that their individual actions have in the context of the collective action of others.
I am the first to admit that this is not a magic solution. Despite having the best intentions, some companies still miss the mark when it comes to designing and executing sustainability-related programs and integrating them in a way that is relevant and meaningful from a consumer point of view.

Industry guidelines from the FTC and industry watchdogs can provide a useful framework and should inspire companies to create marketing campaigns that are authentically driven and are not misleading. But the creation of an official third-party validator in this domain is an unlikely panacea. If you are seeking credibility for your marketing initiatives by merely following regulatory bodies, you're missing the point altogether.

To appease the greenwashing cowboys and weary consumers—and to authentically align your brand with a larger social or environmental purpose—you should focus first on measurable internal actions and use those as a basis to engage your consumer audience in a dialogue that inspires them to act in accord with your brand.

Juan Pablo Angel Signs For The LA Galaxy

2011-01-20T09:56:00.000-08:00

The LA Galaxy made a great pickup today in veteran Juan Pablo Angel. The former New York Red Bull and English Premier League striker moved coasts with championships in mind.

"I'm anxious to start this new challenge in my life and will do my best to bring back another championship to this city," Angel said in a statement.

With Edson Buddle currently on trial at Birmingham in the EPL, Angel could be a great relief to Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. The 35-year-old joins David Beckham and Landon Donovan as one of Galaxy's three Designated Players.

Roku Signs WealthTV As It's First Cable Channel

2011-01-18T13:31:00.000-08:00

For those not familiar, Roku has been leading the way for years in the connected TV game. All the sets that today come with ethernet plugs so you can run mobile style apps, are all copycats of Roku's original set top box connector. Here's how they describe themselves:

Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch movies and TV shows from Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon VOD, listen to music on Pandora, catch the latest ballgame, and more — it's all available whenever you want it.

Back to today's news, Roku signed cable channel WealthTV. To me this is a complete game changer for the connected TV space. One of the major hurdles in bringing content exclusively to the digital space, as GoogleTV is learning the hard way, is the ownership and control of content distribution. When a channel signs on to the major cable operators like Comcast and Time Warner, they sign away loads of power in regards to when and where that content gets distributed. This Roku-WealthTV deal is a massive step in cutting the cord from traditional cable companies and moving towards an on-demand digital environment.

PaidContent says...
This will mark the first time a cable channel has joined the streaming device, which begs an obvious question: How is this even possible?

The dozens of brands already on Roku have one thing in common: they don’t have any deals in place with cable operators, who contractually insist on maintaining some degree of exclusivity. Otherwise the over-the-top TV revolution in which Roku has been a leading force would be much better able to compete with traditional multichannel services.

“We’re probably the only one in the industry who can do what we’re doing right now,” said Robert Herring, co-founder of WealthTV along with his son Charles Herring. “It’s going to be a chance to lead.”

“It’s the first domino to fall,” said Ed Lee, director of business development and content partnerships at Roku, who said other conversations were being held with other channels who he declined to specify.

For $2.99 per month, Roku users will be able to access both a replication of the 24/7 linear feed WealthTV offers to cable subscribers, as well as a VOD selection of its programs.

The loophole that WealthTV is slipping through is that it doesn’t have affiliate deals with either of the two biggest operators, Comcast (NSDQ: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC). They typically insist for an independent channel seeking linear carriage to sign a contractual clause known as an alternative distribution methods (ADM) clause and/or sometimes even sell some equity in the venture to the operator.

While WealthTV has deals with other prominent distributors including Charter Communications (NSDQ: CHTR) and Verizon Fios, its avoidance of the ADM clause has limited its footprint to just 11 million homes in the U.S. “Our agreements don’t include these clauses,” said Charles Herring. “Perhaps it has hurt us but it allows us to deploy where we choose.”

Since launching in 2004 with a programming lineup focused on luxury lifestyles, WealthTV has always taken its share of risks: It made the expensive decision to own all of its own programming and shoot it in HD, moves channels don’t typically make until years after launch. More recently, WealthTV became one of the first TV brands to distribute 3D content, which is being carried via Walmart-owned Vudu.

Not only is WealthTV the first cable channel Roku has added to its roster, but it will be among the first brands that will provide a linear feed to Roku, as well as include commercials. The latter capability is crucial to attracting programmers to a dual-revenue-stream opportunity, though dynamic ad insertion is not possible for video via Roku yet.

At the end of 2010, Roku disclosed that it had sold 1 million units and that its average subscriber was watching 11 hours per week, compared with the national average of 36 hours

Someone Wrote A Story on iPad Topping The Tablet Charts; Wasted Time

2011-01-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

Did we need to have this story in my news feed today? I could also tell you the sun is hot, the sky is blue, and the chances of me falling asleep at my desk this afternoon are 100%.

ZDNET writes...

If there was any doubt that Apple currently dominates the tablet market, new IDC data shows that iPads accounted for 90% of all such devices sold in the third quarter. What’s more, “IDC reports that Apple’s iPad drove tablet demand almost exclusively in the third quarter,” notes ZDNet. “Global tablet shipments in the third quarter checked in at 4.8 million units in the third quarter, up from 3.3 million in the second quarter.” Meanwhile, Amazon has a commanding 41.5% share of the e-reader market, while e-reader shipments were 2.7 million units in the third quarter — up 40% year-over-year. “Price cuts helped spur e-reader sales,” ZDNet points out, adding: “The U.S. market accounts for almost 75 percent of the global e-reader market.” For 2010, IDC estimates that 17 million tablets will ship. In 2011, the tablet tally will be about 44.6 million. Meanwhile, “While Apple has a massive lead, the ramp of Android based tablets are expected to surge.” In particular, the Samsung Galaxy Tab was the first high-end Android tablet to launch and is expected to translate to fourth quarter sales.

Viral Video: Girl Falls Into a Mall Fountain While Texting

2011-01-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

Just fantastic. This is the epitome of what's wrong with people these days. Pick your head up and lock it up! I'm sure that text was vital to her mall mission.

Steve Jobs Taking Another Medical Leave As Apple CEO

2011-01-18T08:17:00.000-08:00

Steve Jobs has survived pancreatic cancer and has had a liver transplant, and yesterday, he told the world that he would be taking his second medical leave in two years. Of course, everyone's first reaction is in regards to the safety of Apple's stranglehold on the world, but I think it's safe to say that they'll be just fine. The announcement came on MLK Day, so the markets were closed. But Apple's stock price did take a minuscule 4.4% dive this morning.

In a note to employees, Jobs said he will continue as CEO and will be involved in major decisions. Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook will be responsible for all day-to-day operations.

The interesting piece about Apple is that Jobs holds an almost iconic, and cult like position. Considering his hand in the Apple revival of the last decade or so, it's not hard to understand why. However, so much of the public investor's confidence seems to rest on his announcements and public persona. Honestly, I have zero concern about the well-being of Apple. But the average American investor is fickle, so we'll see how it plays out.

Regis Philbin is Leaving 'Live With Regis and Kelly'

2011-01-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

This has zero effect on my life, but the fact is Regis Philbin has been doing Live for 28 years. In the media business that is beyond an eternity, and he absolutely goes down as one of the greatest daytime television personalities in the history of the game.

"It's been a long time, it's been 28 years since I've been here. And it was the biggest thrill of my life," Philbin, who will turn 80 in August, said on the program Tuesday morning.

He added jokingly: "Everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people."

English premier League Highlights; Week of 1/14

2011-01-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video?vid=e6c50e38-b4ba-467b-a550-8f874d29424d" target="_new" title="">PL: Weekend Round Up</a>

MLS Superdraft Brings A Superstar Name To The League

2011-01-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

Rooney scores at this year's MLS combine in Florida

Let me clarify ... the 2011 MLS Superdraft brought the brother of a superstar. John Rooney, younger brother to Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney, was selected by the New York Red Bull in the second round of yesterday's draft (he was the 25th pick overall). What's ironic is that John came to the US to separate himself from his brother's reputation and make a name for himself. I wonder if he had any idea that he would be drafted into the media hotbed that is NYC, alongside other superstars like Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez? Not exactly the escape he was potentially planning (too bad Kansas City couldn't offer a spot, he could have fallen off the face of the Earth).

“I never expected to be going to the New York Red Bulls. It’s a dream come true for me,” said Rooney, a 5-10, 176-pound midfielder. “They’re probably one of the more well-known MLS teams in England. The league’s a great league, everyone knows the league, and the Red Bulls are such a big club. I never had a clue they would pick me.”

Rooney had been playing in the lower levels of English soccer but was looking for a clean start, away from the shadow of his oft-troubled brother. He trained with Seattle and Portland last summer but decided to come to the MLS Combine last week and show what he could do.

“We know what it’s like to play in the lower divisions in England,” Red Bulls general manager and sporting director Erik Soler said. “The guy is 20 years old. He did well in the combine in a different environment. We think we can develop him.

“It tells something about him when he goes into the combine. It can’t be easy for anybody to have a big brother like that with all the expectations. The fact that he chose to go and show himself off, to sit here and wait for 25 picks, we think it tells a little about the player. We don’t know him that well, but if things run a little bit in the family it might be surprisingly good for everybody.

“We liked what we saw. It’s a $43,000 risk. It’s not a huge risk.”

Like Wayne Rooney, John Rooney came up through the Everton youth system. But while Wayne shot into the Everton lineup as a teenager, John ended up at Macclesfield Town in England’s League Two. He has been looking for a change ever since.

“That’s the whole idea of me coming out here. I just want to build on my own career,” Rooney said. “There were some teams that took a look at me in England but I came over and trained with Seattle and Portland in August. It was just a great experience. I’m looking forward to getting started.”

FYI, Your Horoscope Didn't Really Change

2011-01-13T19:27:00.000-08:00

By Claudine Zap

Fans of the Zodiac have been bombarded with the unsettling news that their astrological sign may not be what they thought.

The horror of switching from Gemini to Taurus had people rushing to the Web for answers, sending searches for "zodiac signs" into the stratosphere.

So has your sign changed? Probably not. But it all depends on what kind of astrology you follow. Let us explain.

It may come as a surprise that there are different branches of astrology. A main Eastern form, for example, called Sidereal astrology, looks to the background stars, those famous constellations, as its guide.

Western astrology -- which uses the zodiac -- has its signs fixed to the seasons. Most Westerners, and all those horoscope pages we eagerly check, go by the zodiac. These signs follow what early astrologers called star signs, whose reference points are the tropics that form a ring around the earth. The zodiac is based on our relationship to the sun, not the stars.

The back story: About 2,000 years ago, the astrological signs and the astronomical ones were the same. But not anymore. The locations of the signs are based on the sun's location on the first day of spring. That location in the sky has slowly drifted westward because of something called "precession" -- the earth continually wobbles (a scientific term for a slight motion) every 26,000 years. Since the constellations were first identified, they have shifted some 30 degrees. Translation: The signs have slipped about a month westward, relative to the stars.

What this means to you: If you follow astrology that is linked to the constellations, your sign would go from say, a Gemini to a Taurus. You could even have a 13th sign, Ophiuchus, which you may have read about.

"It's a huge point of confusion for the public," says Bing Quock, assistant director of Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences. For those who follow Western astrology, "astrologers are not talking about the constellations at all. When an astrologer says the sun is in a certain sign, they're talking about the sign, the location relative to the equinox. They're not talking about the location of the constellations. "

In short, if you follow the Sidereal astrology, the Eastern branch, your sign may have shifted. (And most likely, no surprise to you at all: This news is hundreds of years old).

But for the rest of us, our horoscope, and our signs, are still the same.

Intel and adidas Team Up For The Virtual Shoe Wall

2011-01-13T13:51:00.000-08:00

It's an athlete's, techy's, sneakerhead's, brand whore's, gadget geek's, digi freak's MOST AMAZING DREAM COME TRUE!! This baby was unveiled at the 2011 National Retail Federation conference in NYC on Jan 11. The wall renders products in 3-D, and allows a shopper to spin and zoom in on the shoes, and call up specs from a touch-screen display. Particularly hot models, like adidas' F50 soccer shoe, have accompanying video and relevant information (like the fact that F50-clad feet scored 44 goals in last year's World Cup).

The wall was designed by Start Creative in the UK. "We've leveled the playing field for small retailers," says Chris Aubrey, VP, Global Retail Marketing for Germany-based Adidas. "They can now act like a big flagship store in a town like New York." Not to mention the fact that the installation turns flat walls into prime selling space.

Aubrey says a prototype store will likely roll out in about a year in the U.K. -- a country that's nearly as enthusiastic about e-commerce as the U.S., but close enough for executives from the company's European headquarters to keep a close eye on how the wall is working out. "Germany itself still lags a bit," in its appetite for online shopping, Aubrey says.

Footwear sales in general are bouncing back, he says, after taking a hit during the global melt-down of 2008. "We had a very good 2010," he says. "I think consumer confidence is back."

'Apple: The First Trillion-Dollar Company?'

2011-01-13T13:03:00.000-08:00

[ed] Dave Morgan is always one of the more astute and analytical writers in the online game. Great reflection today on a panel of big hitters that led to a talk on Apple's growth potential...

I participate on panels at a lot of trade and banking conferences, but probably none as fun and engaging as this past Tuesday's Gridley & Company's IDEA conference in New York. On our panel, which closed out the conference, was Kevin Ryan, CEO of Gilt Groupe; George Bell, CEO of Jumptap; Russ Fradin, former CEO of Adify and now CEO of Dynamic Signal; and our moderator, Henry Blodget of Business Insider.

The panel was a repeat performance from last year and, just as they did the year before, our hosts opened up the bar before the session started, and made sure to serve the panelists in addition to the audience. As you can imagine, it only enhanced what was certain to be the kind of frank discussion you might expect to hear from some grizzled digital entrepreneurs. That chemistry led to a number of thought-provoking exchanges among Henry and the panelists, but one really stood out for me.

At the end of the session, Henry asked what we thought about Apple's prospects over the next few years. We all agreed that Apple was on a tear and that the company's growth wasn't likely to slow down for some time. Then, Henry asked how high we thought that Apple's stock price could go. Kevin jumped right in and declared that Apple could be the world's first trillion-dollar company. Apple is doing great, but that's a pretty bold statement, given the company's current market capitalization of just above $300 million dollars.

I think Kevin is right. Here's why:
Apple is out-innovating and out-executing the entire market. No other company is delivering better consumer electronics products with better content and communications experiences to the market, and iterating them constantly, than Apple. Not only that, but no one else is delivering consumer electronic products and related software and content at the scale, and with the degree of customer service, that Apple is today. Not Sony. Not Samsung. Not LG. Not Google. No one.

iPhone and iPad market apogees well in the distance. As many iPhones and iPads as Apple has sold so far, the company has barely begun. Only this week did the largest mobile carrier in the U.S. announce plans to sell and support iPhones. IPad penetration in the U.S. is less than 3% of consumers. Hardware costs for both products are falling at an extraordinary rate. It is not inconceivable that in three years iPhones will be free with a standard mobile contract and iPads will cost less than $50. And, what happens when the 700 million Chinese and Indian mobile telephone users have access to affordable iPhones and iPads?

No close competitors yet. I spent the better part of last week at the Consumer Electronics Show. For as much cool stuff as I saw, I didn't see anything that was ready to truly rival Apple's products. Certainly, competitive or even superior products will show up in the market soon. However, given the rate with which Apple's business is accelerating, it has established a lead on competitors that will be nearly impossible to close. Apple is likely to be still gaining -- not losing -- market share for the better part of this decade.

What about Facebook? Kevin also said he thought Facebook could very well be the second trillion-dollar company. Might that happen? I don't know, but Facebook is certainly building an extraordinary business with extraordinary prospects for the future. Of course, I don't think that company strategists are doing anything that necessarily makes their success mutually exclusive to Apple's.
What do you think? Will Apple become the first trillion-dollar company?

Heineken Leads Viral Video Charts With Killer Party Entrance

2011-01-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's from Wieden & Kennedy, as per usual with phenomenal spots. "The Entrance" received 2,084,195 views this week as per AdAge's True Reach measurement tool, a partnership with Visible Measures.

*The Visible Measures Top 10 Viral Video Ad Campaigns Chart focuses on brand-driven viral video ads that appear on online-video-sharing destinations. Each campaign is measured on a True Reach basis, which includes viewership of both brand-syndicated video clips and viewer-driven social video placements. The data are compiled using the Visible Measures Viral Reach Database, a constantly growing repository of analytic data on more than 100 million internet videos across more than 150 video-sharing destinations.

Note: This analysis does not include Visible Measures' paid-placement (i.e., overlays, pre-/mid-/post-roll) performance data or video views on private sites. This chart does not include movie trailers, video-game campaigns, TV show or media network promotions, or public service announcements. View-count results are incremental by week.

12 Steps To Entrepreneurial Re-Invention

2011-01-13T10:07:00.001-08:00

Great find by my boy Klong....

SecondAct contributor Michelle V. Rafter covers business and workplace issues for a variety of national publications. She is based in Portland, Oregon. The views expressed are her own –

Reinventing yourself at midlife is no simple undertaking, especially if it involves switching careers. It takes equal parts planning, stamina and guts.

But everybody’s got to start somewhere. Here are a dozen first steps, based on advice from SecondAct interviews with authors and other experts on careers and midlife transitions.

1. Take it one step at a time. If a career overhaul seems too overwhelming to take in all at once, break it down into multiple steps to make it easier to accomplish. “Have your second act build on your first,” said Davia Temin, a women’s leadership expert and head of a New York City marketing consulting firm.

2. Test the waters. A midlife switch is a big deal, and you’ll want to try it on for size first. Do a reality check by taking a class, volunteering or signing up for an internship in a field you’re exploring, said Bruce Frankel, author of “What Should I Do With The Rest Of My Life? True Stories of Finding Success, Passion, and New Meaning in the Second Half of Life“. Remember, internships aren’t just for college students anymore.

3. Find a mentor. What better guide to a new career than a mentor, someone who’s already been there, done that? But there are right ways and wrong ways to approach a would-be mentor. The purpose of the relationship may be for the experienced party to share accumulated wisdom, but it’s not a one-way street. Be prepared to give as much as you get. If you’ve identified a possible candidate, don’t ask “Will you be my mentor?” Anything so direct is off-putting, Temin said. Invite a would-be mentor for coffee and see how it goes. Be genuine. If a bond forms, you can gradually turn more of the conversation to your career goals.

4. Start by moonlighting. Before you quit your day job, get a little something going on the side. If you plan to moonlight, schedule at least two hours a day to work on your new business, try to adjust your full-time job schedule to accommodate a sideline venture, and make sure that your family is onboard, advised Melinda F. Emerson, entrepreneur, author and SecondAct’s Careers Columnist.

5. Get your financial affairs in order. If you’re contemplating a switch that’ll take time, money or both, make sure you have sufficient financial resources to cover the mortgage, insurance, the kids’ tuition and other basics while you’re in transition. Emerson suggested looking for ways to cut monthly expenses and saving 20 to 30 percent of each paycheck.

6. Look forward, not back. If you’re trying to sell yourself to a prospective employer in a new field, don’t dwell on past positions — people don’t care. “It doesn’t make you more qualified; it makes you ask for a higher salary,” said Penelope Trunk, a careers expert, author and blogger at Brazen Careerist. Instead, highlight skills and accomplishments you gained from previous jobs, and be prepared to explain how they’d make you an asset in a new situation.

7. Think small. Your quest for success could mean downsizing, as in working for yourself. That’s been the career path of choice for many people in their 40s and 50s who lost corporate jobs in the recession. “In most cases it would be easier to start a small enterprise working from home to create some revenue stream than to find a full-time paying job,” said Art Koff, founder of RetiredBrains, an online community and job board.

8. Be true to yourself. Don’t force yourself to be something you’re not. Entrepreneurship is great, but it’s not for everyone. It may take some soul searching or consulting with a career counselor to figure out what you’re best suited for. “Don’t think you already know who you are,” said Natalie Caine, a Southern California counselor who helps parents with empty-nest syndrome and other midlife transitions. “Walk, write, chat with good friends who support you, and ask ‘Who am I now? Who am I willing to become? What spooks me, and what is easy for me?’ Get support. Ask for help. Weep and stand tall again. Passion wins over and over even when it goes dormant,” Caine said.

9. Don’t wait for a new job to start making a difference. You don’t need to switch careers, companies or even positions to be a game-changer, Trunk said. Don’t wait for permission; simply take the initiative by recognizing a problem situation and fixing it on the job or in your personal life.

10. Don’t overthink things. Sometimes the hardest part of making a change is overcoming your own fears. When in doubt, make that call or send the resume. In other words, “Just do it,” said Wally Pacholka, who traded in a career as an accountant to be a night sky photographer.

11. Fake it ’til you make it. As you delve deeper into a change, continue to be curious and playful. Another tip from Frankel: Stay confident about your abilities, even if you have to act the part until you really feel that way.

12. Check your progress. Keep regular dates with a journal — at least once a month — to take stock of what you’ve done to advance your dreams, Frankel said. “A self-reporting card helps us see that we are making progress even when it may feel we are at a standstill, and it helps us to refocus on our goals,” he said.

'The Mechanics of Waimea' and Understanding The Perfect Wave

2011-01-13T09:35:00.000-08:00

I'll tell you up front I know absolutely nothing about surfing. Zero. From the time I was 11 until I was 23 I was scared of sharks, despite never coming anywhere close to said beast. However, I have immense respect for the ocean, which is what I think it takes to be a phenomenal surfer. It's more than just being "radical" as Swayze would say in Point Break. It's about understanding and respecting the power of the surf. Gaining total clarity on how the swells and currents work, to both your advantage, and your peril.

So take in 'The Mechanics of Waimea," an unbelievable examination of the famed Waimea Bay surfspot, which hosts Quiksilver's Eddia Aikau Memorial surf competition yearly (that is assuming the peaks and swells are just right). The photo gallery breaks down every piece of the colossal wave, and gives you an outstanding inside look at the creation of the perfect wave. Beautiful photos and stunning analysis, tough to beat.

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/the-mechanics-of-waimea-bay_51419/

Turkish Futbol Legend Uses Facebook Instead of His Agent

2011-01-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

Well not really of course. Tuncay Sanli, famed Turkish attacker and current Stoke City bench warmer, has taken to Facebook to prove to that at 28 he still has plenty to offer the world of futbol. Stoke are currently in 11th position in the English premier League, and manager Tony Pulis has given Tuncay little room to prove his worth this year. In a last gasp effort to sell himself in the January transfer window, Tuncay has posted a self-promoting top 10 goals video on his Facebook fan page. Will the suitors come calling for the well seasoned Turkish star? Only time will tell. Check out the full video here:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=132529883476777&oid=114568821937280&comments

Social, Mobile, Viral, Engaging

2011-01-12T14:10:00.000-08:00

Every one of these descriptors has come up today over the course of an average walk- about in the online world. What that says is that every media channel serves a certain purpose, and that marketing success is platform agnostic. One vehicle can't do it all, and one vehicle shouldn't do it all. Advertising is an anthropological study. Its a dissection of consumption patterns, buying behavior, and distraction methodology.

The worst cliche is saying "I work in advertising because I'm a people person, and I like to talk to them." The response should read more like, "I enjoy studying people. Watching them react to visual stimulants and making life changing purchases based on that response. I am an advertiser."

BAM!

Like I Need To Tell You Verizon Got The iPhone

2011-01-12T07:39:00.000-08:00

The question turns to how it will alter the balance of power in the wireless world, especially between Verizon and AT&T. The latter, of course, will lose its nearly 4 years of iPhone exclusivity with Verizon planning to launch a 3G version of the Apple device next month.

I can tell you that as an AT&T customer, I've been awaiting this day for awhile. Not because I want to jump ship to Verizon, but because AT&T always says the iPhone connectivity issues are due to crowded bandwidth. Well, hopefully this is like an overcrowded freeway, and now everyone hopefully exits.

Since each side now will have the same potent weapon in their phone arsenal, the fight will come down to the competing service offerings and network quality that Verizon and AT&T provide, according to analysts. That could lead to a new series of moves and countermoves as the nation's two biggest carriers try to convince consumers to choose their version of the iPhone.

When Twitter Goes Wrong, By Ryan Babel

2011-01-11T22:24:00.000-08:00

Ryan Babel is facing the possibility of disciplinary action from the Football Association after responding to Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford by posting a mocked-up photo on his Twitter site of the referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt.

Webb had incensed Liverpool by awarding a first-minute penalty when Dimitar Berbatov went to ground after a slight touch from Daniel Agger and then sending off Steven Gerrard for a dangerous challenge on Michael Carrick.

Kenny Dalglish, returning as Liverpool manager, called the penalty "a joke" and Babel posted the picture of Webb with the message: "And they call him one of the best referees? That's a joke. SMH."

"SMH" is the abbreviation for "shaking my head" and Babel's attack will almost certainly lead to the FA intervening on the basis that he is alleging bias on the part of the man who refereed the World Cup final and was made an MBE in the Queen's New Year honours list. An FA spokesman has confirmed they are aware of the incident and are looking into it.

Babel later tweeted: "Sorry Howard Webb. My apology if they take my posted pic seriously. This is just an emotional reaction after losing an important game."

Dalglish's son, Paul, also vented his feelings on Twitter, posting a mocked-up picture of Sir Alex Ferguson with his arm around Webb, again in a United shirt.

Dalglish junior wrote: "Howard Webb MBE. Manc of the Busby Era. I am not normally bitter, as you know, but it is different rules against them." In a separate tweet he added: "Fergie has his puppet Howard Webb on a piece of string."

'Race and Sports In America': A Great ESPN Piece

2011-01-11T16:29:00.000-08:00

A great 5 minute clip from ESPN honoring DR. Martin Luther King. Perspectives from Magic Johnson, Phil Jackson, Ray Allen, Maya Moore, and Amare Stoudemire all highlight the impact King had on their lives. Wonderful tribute.

Auburn Beats The Duck In The BCS Championship

2011-01-11T15:45:00.001-08:00

For those who missed last nights game, here it is: (1) Auburn vs. (2) Oregon...

CES Best Of Show; Motorola Xoom (According to CNET)

2011-01-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Xoom betters the iPad in some ways--it comes standard with front- and rear-facing cameras, including one that can record in HD, compared with none in the current version of the iPad. It also boasts a larger screen with a higher resolution, supports Adobe Flash, and uses Verizon's network instead of AT&T's.

It will become the first device to run the latest version of Google's Android operating system, known as Honeycomb. The operating system supports multitasking and has been designed explicitly for tablets.

Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha told reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this afternoon that the device will be available in stores in the first quarter of 2011 in 3G form. All of the 3G Xooms "are capable" of being upgraded to 4G later this year, he said. Jha didn't announce how much the device will cost and Motorola ended the event without taking questions from reporters. This will be "the most competitive product in the marketplace," Jha predicted. (Motorola recently split into two publicly traded companies, Motorola Mobility Holdings and Motorola Solutions.)

The Xoom (pronounced "zoom") will operate on Verizon Wireless' network and be upgradeable to 4G LTE in the second quarter of the year, with units sold thereafter including 4G by default. It was not immediately clear if a Wi-Fi-only version would be available, but the companies' statement appeared to indicate it would not be, and the photos of the tablet show a Verizon logo on the top right corner. See CNET photo gallery here: http://ces.cnet.com/2300-32494_1-10006105.html?tag=mncol;txt.

In terms of specifications, the Xoom has a dual-core processor with each core running at 1 GHz, a 1,280x800 resolution (compared with the iPad's 1,024x768), a 10.1-inch 16:10 display (larger than the iPad's 9.7 inches), and supports Google Maps 5.0 with 3D buildings. It can capture 720p video with the rear camera.

Check out a full demo here:
http://cnettv.cnet.com/motorola-xoom-tablet-hands/9742-1_53-50098295.html?tag=api

It's Official; Lionel Messi Wins the Balon d'Or

2011-01-10T11:57:00.000-08:00

Not surprisingly, Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been named the FIFA Men's World Player of the Year for 2010. He is unstoppable, and clearly the greatest player in the world right now.

Messi was on a three-man shortlist with Barca team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta but, despite Spain's World Cup triumph, the Argentina forward came out on top in the voting.

He becomes the first winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which merges France Football magazine's European Footballer of the Year prize with the FIFA World Player of the Year. The awards were based on the votes of the coaches and captains of national sides as well as global journalists.

Messi scored more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues in 2010, with 42 goals in 36 La Liga games, as well as finishing top scorer in the Champions League in 2010 with 12 goals in 12 games.

Here's 12 minutes of greatness:

Messi was on a three-man shortlist with Barca team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta but, despite Spain's World Cup triumph, the Argentina forward came out on top in the voting.

He becomes the first winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which merges France Football magazine's European Footballer of the Year prize with the FIFA World Player of the Year. The awards were based on the votes of the coaches and captains of national sides as well as global journalists.

Messi scored more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues in 2010, with 42 goals in 36 La Liga games, as well as finishing top scorer in the Champions League in 2010 with 12 goals in 12 games.

He totalled 60 goals for the year for club and country.

"To be honest, I didn't expect to win today, but it was already great to be here next to my two mates," Messi said as he accepted the award. "To win it makes it even more special.

"I want to share with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians."

He totalled 60 goals for the year for club and country.

"To be honest, I didn't expect to win today, but it was already great to be here next to my two mates," Messi said as he accepted the award. "To win it makes it even more special.

"I want to share with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians."

I Told You CES Had Lot's of Tablets

2011-01-09T22:12:00.000-08:00

Best Buy gives us an inside look at the Samsung Galaxy, the Blackberry Playbook, and the Panasonic Viera.

video platform video management video solutions video player

The Homeless Guy With A Golden Voice Got A Job

2011-01-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

We have MSNBC and the Cleveland Cavaliers both saying Ted Williams has accepted a job. Several local Ohio radio stations are after him too. It just goes to show that if you drink and do drugs for years, everything will be just fine.

50 Cent Was At CES?

2011-01-07T19:53:00.000-08:00

Mac App Store; Timely CES Announcement

2011-01-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

With the Mac App Store, getting the apps you want on your Mac has never been easier. No more boxes, no more disks, no more time-consuming installation. Click once to download and install any app on your Mac. The Mac App Store is now available as a software update for any Mac running Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

The Mac App Store is just like the App Store for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. So it’s as easy to find and download Mac apps as it is to add your favorite magazine to iPad or a new game to iPod touch. You can browse Mac apps by category, such as games, productivity, music, and more. Or do a quick search for something specific. Read developer descriptions and user reviews. Flip through screenshots. When you find an app you like, click to buy it.

The Mac App Store revolutionizes the way applications are installed on a computer — it happens in one step. Enter the same iTunes password you use to buy music and apps on your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Within seconds, your new app flies to your Dock, ready to go. So you can spend more time enjoying new apps and less time installing them.

» 11 New York City Start-Ups To Watch in 2011

2011-01-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Awesome piece about a rush of startups NOT from Silicon Valley. As a Bay area pro, definitely nice to see the other coast giving us a run for our money.

» 11 New York City Start-Ups To Watch in 2011

I'm Out Of Pocket Today and Tomorrow

2011-01-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

Don't hold your breath until I come back. That's dangerous. In the interim, look at this duck chasing a puppy.

Sony Sponsors 3-D Video of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

2011-01-05T08:25:00.000-08:00

Model Julie Henderson appears in the Sports Illustrated 2011 Swimsuit Issue as well as Sony's 3-D video

Well this is just fantastic. And I mean fantastic. In order to further the adoption of 3-D televisions and content, Sony will be sponsoring a 30 minute "Swimsuit in 3-D" video that will be available for purchase or rental. You can get the video via Sony's Playstation 3 as well as Bravia web-enabled, 3D compatible TV and Blu-ray players. Let's face it, we all know like one person with a 3D TV. There might be more in the future, but I say this; what happens when you invite a bunch of people over to watch a football game in 3D, but there aren't enough glasses? How awkward is it for the one guy who has to watch on the 20" screen in your kitchen because he can't get the full effect of the 3D? It's almost like punishment for showing up to a function like that empty handed. No beer? Well then no 3D good sir.

"There's sort of a chicken-and-egg problem going on right now, where the device penetration has been fairly low, so the studios have been fairly slow to release 3-D content," said Michael Aragon, VP and general manager for global digital video distribution and operations at Sony Network Entertainment. "Our expectation and our road map on this whole thing has been that this is going to be a little bit slower adoption than HD. While we might not be making tons of money on the 3-D content, it seeds a universe of product that we have in 3-D."

Sony Sponsors 3-D Video of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - Advertising Age - MediaWorks

Google Chrome Capturing 10% of The Market

2011-01-05T06:58:00.000-08:00

My love for Google Chrome is not hidden or shaded by any means. I love it. I love it like I love my Macbook Pro, my iPhone, and my '97 Nike AirMax's in all brown. And you know what? Everyone else is starting to love it too....

At the expense of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Google’s Chrome has secured a 10% market share for the first time ever, according to Web metrics company Net Applications. What’s more, Google’s Web browser more than doubled its share over the past year, beating its own expectations for market penetration. In 2009, Google hoped that Chrome would have 5% of the market by September 2010, and 10% for September 2011. “Unless Chrome stalls, Google’s browser should own a 16% share by September,” writes PCWorld. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer lost 1.4% points of usage share in December, the largest one-month decline in more than two years. According to Net Applications. IE’s total share fell to 57.1%, another record low for Microsoft’s browser. Overall, IE has lost 5.6% points in the last 12 months, and 10.7 points since IE8 was introduced in March 2009. Also of note, Apple’s Safari share of the market rose to 5.9% of the market at the end of the year, while Firefox and Opera Software’s Opera both gained small amounts of share last month to finish the year at 22.8% and 2.2%, respectively.

Let's face it, no one is competing right now with Chrome's open source app development environment and they are driving the way designers and developers approach the web. I'll drink a beer to open source right now!

Online Video Through The Eyes of Jeremy Allaire (Brightcove)

2011-01-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

Jeremy Allaire, Chariman and CEO of Brightcove gives a great perspective of the online video space. He touts the rise of consumer adoption of the medium, as well as large scale marketers embracing the need for having a video presence. Brightcove is a leading online video platform, allowing publishers to manage and distribute video content (for those not following, it's a video player).

Beckham To Tottenham; I Don't Like It

2011-01-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

David Beckham's pending loan deal to London side Tottenham Hotspur is one of the bigger stories in English Premier League transfer news this January, and I'm not entirely sure why. I love Becks, he's had fantastic career and is one of the everlasting professionals. And yes, it'd be heartwarming to see him back in the Prem after his departure from Manchester United 7-8 years ago. But Harry Redknapp has said he wants to bring Becks in to hold on to the ball and deliver dangerous set pieces in the closing minutes of games. The latter is undisputable; give him 15 minutes and Becks will surely delivery you a handful of delightful crosses and freekicks causing defenses absolute havoc.

But hold on to the ball? Has anyone watched Spurs this year? They are challenging the top four of the EPL and in Europe because of their relentless press forward. Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon bombing down the two wings, Van der Vaart and Luka Modric running the center of the park with pin point accuracy. This is a team that runs, and runs all game long. Spurs are not a team of slow tempo and breaking defenses down. No offense to Becks, but he isn't going to run by people anymore, he's going to beat them with passing and guile.

I do also understand the LA Galaxy's hold-up in letting go of their Senior International for another loan spell. He spent the whole of last season missing because of the Achilles injury he suffered at AC Milan last winter (in which he was a vital loss for the England squad in South Africa last year). As the marquis endorsement for the US game, and one of the Galaxy's largest ticket draws, I'd be concerned too.

The Friggin' Airport; Another Reason For Trains

2011-01-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

Here’s a rant that takes me back, the friggin’ airport. I’m biased, I admit it upfront, because I travel at least a half dozen times per year by plane. I get the airport, I understand where my shoes go, and I generally don’t get frustrated by the inefficiencies of how it works. Having said that, this morning at SFO was astonishing. One guy is walking into the security line with a shopping cart full of luggage. Another guy is trying to scan his boarding document at the bag check station by pressing his printed ticked against the screen (little did he know directly to his left was a large sign that read “Scan Here.” What’s really so astonishing to me is how razzled everyone is. It’s like herding a bunch of panicking cats. No one knows what to do, and they are all absolutely losing it. It seems most people at the airport don’t know whether to shit or go blind. They have a ticket, a bag, and can’t be held accountable to do anything with those items. I wonder if I can commit a civil arrest of some kind, maybe administer a timeout for the person acting the most atrociously. Lastly, THE ATTITUDE of some of these people. [Ed’s notes: Digicrest once got thrown out of airport security for telling a security guard to go eff himself (you wouldn’t believe the day I was having, and even the F bomb wasn’t warranted]. So I’m an offender, and can recognize it when I see it. You see people questioning the airport staff on the most ridiculous of points. “What do you mean I have to get back in line? I have my ticket right here?” Well honey, your truck sized piece of luggage isn’t making it into the overhead so get your ass back and check it. This is why we need bullet trains immediately, that’s a medium I can get behind.

As long as we are one the subject, here's a great piece on the American high speed rail situation...http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2039897,00.html

Survey Says: The iPad Is Not A Kindle Killer

2011-01-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

Not totally surprising considering the wild surge of Amazon advertising before and during the holidays, but JP Morgan research is showing that iPad and Kindle are considered two different, non-competing devices (read: people who own both). According to the study, the Kindle was Amazon's highest selling product over this past holiday season which is definitely a surprise to yours truly. I was absolutely a part of the club that figured Kindle would die a slow painful death at the hands of the iPad, but as is true across industries, "follow the money." While avid book readers might seem niche, there sure do spend within their hobby.

Survey Says: The iPad Is Not A Kindle Killer

Verizon iPhone News: Apple Will Release 21 Million iPhones, 5 Million CDMA iPhones | The APPera

2011-01-03T11:52:00.000-08:00

We've all been hearing the Taiwanese stories leaking the shipment of about 14 million CDMA powered iPhones to the states. And for those keeping score at home, Verizon runs a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network here in the states, AT&T runs a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). Ipso facto, the Verizon rumors are feeling more and more legit.

Being that it's the new year, here are my hopeful predictions for this whole situation:

1) Tons of AT&T iPhone users scramble to cancel their plans and move to Verizon. In turn, the crowded freeway that is the AT&T network opens up and I stop dropping calls in downtown San Francisco. Run for the hills I say!

2) The price of the iPhone takes a small dip now that the scarcity of providers is relieved. With AT&T being the only option thus far, they and Apple can charge whatever they like. Hopefully, adding another carrier ups everyones game and makes it a bit more price accessible. Let's be fair though, it isn't outlandish at $200 for new users.

3) AT&T has needed a check on their apparent claims that they are working on expanding/fixing their struggling network and service. Until now, we've had to put up with their shite service because we had no options. If you want an iPhone, you have to take the AT&T service with it. But no more. Customers can now demand phenomenal service and product updates because we have the most threatening negotiating tactic in the world; the walk out. Ask George Costanza about the walk out. It's unbeatable.

Verizon iPhone News: Apple Will Release 21 Million iPhones, 5 Million CDMA iPhones | The APPera

'Solve Media and the Captcha Ad Phenomenon' by OLDM

2011-01-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

We all have our resources for the latest and greatest, the smartest and brightest. My greatest source for making myself a smarter ad man is Jim Nichols aka The Oldest Living Digital Marketer (self-proclaimed and undisputed). Not only is he one the greatest marketing strategists I've known, he is also the key to finding the blow your mind tech-startups. Believe you me, filtering the pretty from the ugly is no easy feat, but Jim's Company of The Day posts are not to be missed.

Today's post covers Solve Media, who have sought out to do away with the annoying 'prove I'm not a robot' fill in's as you see below, and they've replaced them with a simple ad supported model:

Here's a quick tease to the full story:

I've written about Solve Media before, but I thought I'd begin this new series of "company of the day" by starting with them. They offer a solution that replaces those unbloodybelievably annoying Captchas with ads that ask the consumer to type in a brand message where they used to have to type gibberish.

I thought of Solve as I watched my father one morning struggling to read the Captcha on Yahoo mail, then switching to the audio alternative, then switching back to the text, in order to create a new email account. He managed after about 40 seconds, but the opportunity of eliminating that wasted time and palpable aggravation is one of the reasons why this platform is doing so well.

To catch the rest of the story, head on over to Oldest Living.

Sourcing Vevo and Florence + The Machine For Jan 3 Inspiration

2011-01-03T08:52:00.000-08:00

Despite every radio station calling Florence + The Machine's album 'Lungs' supposed new music, I promise you I've been jamming for at least 8 months. Having said that, this is an inspirational yet relaxing way to garner energy for the first day back at a desk...

2011, This Is My Official Professional Good Morning

2011-01-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

You might think I'm putting my hand out for you to shake it, but I'm not 2011. I'm actually giving you the finger. Because I'm tired and am not prepared to rejoin the world. I've appreciated the solice of the past few days and the rumble of this mornings train reminds me that we must press on.

Therefore, I will listen to Daft Punk all morning until I'm ready to take you on. Let's dance 2011.

rants

Ford recalls F-series pickups, Edge, Lincoln MKX - Yahoo! News

2010-12-30T07:32:00.000-08:00

Speaking of things that are scary...

Ford recalls F-series pickups, Edge, Lincoln MKX - Yahoo! News

Editors note- the only reason I posted this in such fashion is because I was testing out Blogger's Chrome extension 'Blog This.' I've said it before and I'll say it again; the open source platform and app environment on Google Chrome is hands down the most efficient and groundbreaking browser in the market. I challenge anyone to bring me one better.

A Quick Splash of Thought; Find My iPhone Is Awesome, Scary

2010-12-30T07:29:00.000-08:00

I haven't downloaded 'Find My iPhone' yet. I will no doubt get it, because I do whatever it is Apple tells me (it's not my fault, I'm a twenty-something and their advertising helps me decide).

I'm not sure why, but thinking about it this morning, I'm extra aware that they know exactly where I am considering my phone is always on me. Obviously the GPS functionality of every other app can let Apple and all my advertising buddies know that I'm still in bed when I should be working. And yet, this morning it makes me nervous. This is like the first time I explained to my mother what behavioral targeting was and she swore off the internet forever.

2011 Forecast For Rants

2010-12-29T09:32:00.000-08:00

The pace will pick up, and the opinions will heighten. This year, I commit to being smarter and more intuitive. Bam.

San Francisco's Dogpatch Biofuels Showcase

2010-12-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

As a huge supporter of the Green movement, from home products to commercial production in sustainable fashion, it's always important to pay respect to the people pushing this movement forward. Everyday I park my car right outside of Dogpatch Biofuels before I jump on the train, and I finally was able to pull together some research on who they are and what they do.

The long and short of it, they are San Francisco's ONLY public biodiesel filling station. They carry B100 biodiesel from local and recycled sources, and also host a residential cooking oil collection site on behalf of San Francisco Greasecycle. [the latter is a sub-division of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission]

Having been started by two ordinary citizen who wanted to take part in the weening off of foreign oil and products, DB was recently taken over by Incredible Adventures, a Bay Area touring company that powers their entire fleet on biodiesel.

Here's a quick tour of the location, and be sure to head over to http://www.dogpatchbiofuels.com/ for more info:

'Your Circle of Control'

2010-12-22T14:14:00.000-08:00

A phenomenal piece today in "The Drift" about how to be the most effective sales partner you can be. This knowledge goes outside the digital marketing space...

As I talk to digital sellers about their hopes and wishes for the coming year, one theme continually emerges: Control. Digital sellers worry a lot about a myriad of players, factors, decisions and technological forces over which they have absolutely no control. They fill out blind RFPs that they may or may not hear back on; they read in the trades about how trading desks and demand platforms will automate them out of their jobs; they wonder whether Google or Facebook be making a decision today that marginalizes their sales strategy tomorrow.

Enough.

To succeed in 2011 you need a strategy that’s rooted in certainty, not one based on hope, fear or speculation. In my workshops over the past few weeks I’ve been offering what I call the “Circle of Control” to keep sellers rooted in certainty. Stay focused on these five areas and you will create opportunity, get better information, know where you stand and create bigger, more durable relationships with your most important customers.

This week, The Drift is underwritten by Crowd Control from Lotame, the premier audience data management platform for publishers. Take control of your audience data to get larger budgets and win more business. Learn more at www.lotame.com/thedrift.

Orientation: The first area of control is all about what direction you’re facing and where you start your process. Do you begin with a customer need in mind, or with your own need to “move product?” Are you out to really make a difference or are you just one more rep out to get a piece of the plan? This step is nothing but a gut check about whether your out to do something real and meaningful or just take dollars. Get it right; if not, it’s all very tough to fake.

Ambition: Many reps say they want to do big programs for their customers. But when they get up to the plate they choke up on the bat and try desperately to bunt or hit singles. Be ambitious: align with customer business outcomes instead of the narrow agenda of the media planner. Instead of just talking about getting your share of the budget, start discussing how you can help the agency create more budget.

Preparation: Most sales are won or lost after 10:30 at night. Not in a bar, but over a laptop, where one sales rep is outworking and out-thinking another. But it’s not enough to simply work hard and prepare more: you’ve got to prepare the right stuff. Focus your prep on genuine consumer behavior and value creation. Forget the numbers, offer up some anthropology. Prepare to be interesting, but above all prepare to be interested. Your own curiosity should be the driver here if your orientation is real.

Approach: I like to say that most reps overvalue the meeting and undervalue all that leads up to it. They assume that since their e-mails don’t elicit replies they must be having no effect. Nothing could be further from the truth. Think about your approach — from initial e-mail to the opening minutes of the meeting itself — as one long campaign focused on creating a genuine picture of the value you’ll truly bring to the table.

Return of Value: I wrote about this concept in a recent Drift post, but it bears repeating. Simply put, “return of value” asks “how are you rewarding the customer for doing business with you?” Are you focused on great service, transparency? Are you taking personal responsibility for communication and troubleshooting in the relationship? Are you doing the work to make your customer smarter? Are you bringing them together with other great people and ideas? Those narrowly focused on “the numbers” miss the point here: Marketers are not lacking for one more place to drop their ads, but they don’t have nearly enough smart, committed, genuine people they can rely on. Be one yourself and you will be rewarded a hundred times over.

Happy holidays to all my friends, collaborators and readers. May 2011 be the most personally satisfying and rewarding year you’ve ever had.

Hulu Holds Off On IPO

2010-12-22T09:01:00.000-08:00

So Hulu says it's foregoing an IPO to push harder on their subscription model, which is their current Hulu Plus offering ($7.99 for access to extra content libraries, as well the opportunity to watch on your mobile device or connected TV). As an avid Hulu user but non-subscriber, I find one very interesting point in Hulu's statement in the Wall Street Journal below, "subscriptions may allow the site to distribute material is currently doesn't offer. What that content is, the paper's sources couldn't say."

So they are counting on a new subscription model, but they don't know what the content is? Um, ok. So what am I paying for? I personally take a Netlix subscription over Hulu Plus any day, but that's just me.

courtesy WSJ...
While Hulu, the premium video destination has been mulling over the idea of an IPO since August, it has quietly tabled the idea. According to a report in today's Wall Street Journal, Hulu is instead looking at other ways to raise revenue.

Citing unnamed sources, the paper says that Hulu's board shelved the idea for an initial public offering (IPO) because of concerns that Hulu doesn't have long-term rights to the content is shows online.

Instead, Hulu may look to subscription offerings beyond the recently-introduced Hulu Plus. These subscriptions may allow the site to distribute material is currently doesn't offer. What that content is, the paper's sources couldn't say.

Additionally, Hulu may raise funds by getting its existing owners to put in more money.

The Hulu Plus service goes for $7.99 per month, down from $9.99 per month during the preview period. Hulu is already aggressive about raising revenue. As a recent report from comScore showed, the site streamed 1.1 billion video ads in November, making it the top site for video ads. Its viewers averaged 42.4 ads per person. Hulu shows ads even on Hulu Plus content.

According to the Journal, Hulu is outperforming the company's expectations for paid subscribers. In a recent interview, Jason Kilar, Hulu's CEO, said the site was generating "material" revenue, and will earn $260 million in revenue for 2010.

Today's FCC Ruling On Protecting Internet Traffic

2010-12-21T15:35:00.000-08:00

FCC chairperson Julius Genachowski

The FCC officially ruled today in favor of a protective piece of legislation, basically stating that internet service provider's (ISPs) cannot interfere with the content and/or traffic flow of their customers. The idea being that an AT&T customer might be getting blocked from accessing Comcast content, or a similar situation. The truth is, this is a bit of something out of nothing. Has anyone ever faced a situation where they couldn't access certain content, or faced extremely low web speeds due to interference from their ISP? I don't think so.

To quote the AP - "Known as "net neutrality," the rules prohibit phone and cable companies from favoring or discriminating against Internet content and services, such as those from rivals."

"The rules require broadband providers to let subscribers access all legal online content, applications and services over their wired networks — including online calling services, Internet video and other Web applications that compete with their core businesses. But the rules give broadband providers flexibility to manage data on their systems to deal with problems such as network congestion and unwanted traffic including spam as long as they publicly disclose their network management practices."

As I said, I do believe in a completely free and protected Internet environment (I wouldn't work online if I didn't). I do think this battle was a bit more smoke and mirrors than they are letting on. The Internet needs to be untethered and in the consumer's hand to shape and mold. But I do agree with the Conservative opinion in this case, which is this type legislation might slow ISPs from trying to build out comprehensive strategies to incite their customers with content and package upgrades.

Full story here...http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101221/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_fcc_internet_rules.

2010 US Census Says There Are Lots of Us

2010-12-21T09:43:00.000-08:00

Here's the summary of below; population rate is slowing down by all accounts due to lower immigration numbers. Women are popping at babies at about 2 apiece. One interesting line in the story...."India's technicians and engineers who came here sent word back home that it's hard now," Haub added. "The IT industry is not the golden goose it's been in the past." SO perhaps we are holding onto our technical positions more strongly than we were in the past? Interesting position considering the struggles of our education system. This is worth a second look.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The population of the United States grew 9.7% to 308.7 million people over the past decade -- the slowest rate of growth since the Great Depression -- the Census Bureau reported on Tuesday.

In the 1930s, the population grew by just 7.3%. Comparatively, the nation added 13.2% more residents during the 1990s.

This is the first time the Census Bureau has released data from the population surveys filled out earlier this year. And the counts include everyone -- not just citizens or legal immigrants.

"The mandate is to count everyone living in the United States," said a Census Bureau spokeswoman.

The U.S. Constitution charges the Census Bureau with the task of counting residents every 10 years to track population shifts in the country. And the law requires the Census to report the official population counts -- both national and by state -- to the President before Jan. 1. The numbers are used to apportion Congressional seats.

The winners are concentrated in two of the nation's four regions: Both the West and the South experienced double-digit growth rates, 14.3% in the South, already the most heavily populated region, and 13.8% in the West. The Midwest and the Northeast grew 3.2%

Nevada was the fastest growing state over the decade, followed by Arizona and Utah. Michigan was the big loser, with Rhode Island, Ohio and Louisiana also lagging badly.

Growth comes from both live births and immigration -- and births are down and fewer people have been moving to the United States.

The fertility rate of the United States is nearly 2.1 children per woman, just about the natural replacement rate, according to data from the United Nations World Population Prospects. That is down from the baby-boom years, when it hit a peak of 3.7, but above most developed countries.

And the recent recession resulted in a slowing immigration rate, according to Carl Haub, a demographer with the Population Reference Bureau, a Washington-based non-profit. "The population growth rate drop is largely because of a couple percentage point dip in immigration," he said.

"India's technicians and engineers who came here sent word back home that it's hard now," Haub added. "The IT industry is not the golden goose it's been in the past."

Despite the slowdown, the nation's growth rate is much higher than most developed countries. The populations of Japan and Germany, for example, are in decline, while France and the United Kingdom are growing at a rate of 5% per decade.

Google TV Struggling; Yanked From CES

2010-12-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

Here's just another story regaling the struggles of Google TV. Highlights include complex user interface, lack of top quality content (see networks not wanting to release TV episodes), and overall confusion on it's capabilities to laymen users.

Says NYT...

From Sharp to LG, top TV makers were planning to unveil Google TV-enabled devices at The Consumer Electronics Show next month. In light of poor reviews, however, Google has reportedly asked that they keep quiet for now.

"The late request caught some of the manufacturers off guard," reports The New York Times. "And it illustrates the struggles Google faces as it tries to expand into the tricky, unfamiliar realm of consumer electronics, and drum up broad interest in a Web-based TV product that consumers want."

"Conventional wisdom on Google TV: Not ready for prime time," notes MediaMemo, adding: "Google apparently agrees."

"The search giant is re-tooling the software to address the concerns of reviewers and early adopters citing the complexity of the software, its inconsistent interface, and the lack of top content as problems with adoption," writes Fortune, joking: "Surprisingly, people don't want to use a full-size keyboard as a remote in the living room."

"Google TV was supposed to be one of the stars of the show at the Consumer Electronics Show next month in Las Vegas," writes VentureBeat. "But the star just got the hook."

Another minor issue with Google TV, as eWeek notes, is that "Google has also found its service blocked from accessing Websites from CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox as the networks were leery of allowing Google to server their content for free."

Meanwhile, analysts tell The Times that Google's sudden change of plans reflects a weakness in the company's business culture around managing relationships with partners. "Google as a company is not a particularly partner-friendly or partner-focused company," says Forrester's James McQuivey.

Barnes and Noble Made An iPad For Kids; Meet The Nookcolor

2010-12-20T12:03:00.000-08:00

In keeping pace in the tablet game, B&N has no interest in letting Apple, Amazon, or Sony have all the fun (read iPad, Kindle, and Dash respectively).

Barnes and Noble is taking on a whole new market for the tablet game, and it's the most fascinated audience for pictures and colors and touchy things. Yes, B&N made a tablet specifically for kids, at least thats what the advertising would lead you to believe. The Nookcolor is using kids in it's advertising as a way to show off the simplicity of the gadget, and the interactivity of animated cats and dogs. The site page itself actually promotes the reader as a way to connect with magazine and old books, but god forbid the advertising should actually connect with whats on the product homepage (READ disconnect between kids in your ads and Vogue magazine as your lead publishing partner).

Major Weekend Headlines; DADT, North Korea Backing Down, And I Get New Shoes

2010-12-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

The 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal was easily the biggest piece of news over the weekend. And it's about damn time. The folks who are saying this will now cause a distraction with their armed forces is high. I'm not doubting that there will be some redneck officer who is going to start some trouble with an openly gay soldier, but I'm going to guess those incidents will be few and far between.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/12/19/darrah.dadt.repeal/index.html

North Korea is lowering their arms momentarily after making a public statement, saying they would NOT be attacking South Korea over alleged drilling conflicts. Days ago N.K. took the opposite opinion and said they would keep up the current hostility, but my guess is they got distracted when Kim Jong found something else to look at:
http://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/

Personal highlight...was gifted a pair of Clae Strayhorn, half sneaker half work functional. The best of both worlds.

Arsenal Draw Barcelona in The Champions League Knockout Stages

2010-12-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

2006 Champions League Final, a day Arsenal fans will remember forever as the day Barca beat our beloved Gunners in the dying moments of le' grande finale.

Last season, quarter-finals, Barca again emerge victorious yet again.

Well it is now retribution time. The two have been paired again. Speaking on the draw, Arsene Wenger is being careful with his words it seems...

"My reaction is very simple - difficult but possible," Arsene Wenger told Arsenal's official website. "I didn't want anybody really, in that all teams would have been difficult. You could have said that Schalke - a team with less history in the Champions League - would have been easier maybe, but the advantage is that we will be on our toes and we'll be ready.

"Revenge is not on my mind. We want to qualify and we want to knock them out. So is it difficult? Yes. Is it possible? Yes.

"Barcelona are certainly the favourites [for the competition] and a famous team but, on their side, they did not want us either because they know they will get a game. I think we are better than last year and we have a good opportunity to show that."

Microsoft and Diddy Teaming Up?

2010-12-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

Microsoft and Sean P. Diddy Combs launched a social media holiday campaign this week to get fans involved with giving away thousands of dollars to charities by deciding the beneficiaries without costing them a dime.

For seven days, Sean Combs, also known as P. Diddy, will use Tag to share exclusive content with fans through a link via Twitter and Facebook. More than 3 million Twitter followers and oodles of Facebook Fans also will participate in the giveaway of $10,000 per day for five days. Proceeds will go to five charities.

Diddy uses Twitter to promote the exclusive giveaway, tweeting to followers how to find the content, scan the Tag, and unlock the gift via smartphone, either iPhone, Android, BlackBerry or Windows.

The campaign -- created for Microsoft by Izea, a social media marketing company -- gives $50,000 to charity for twelve days. During the remaining five days, those scanning tags have an opportunity to vote on how thousands of dollars are divvied up to charities.

Izea CEO Ted Murphy, who is responsible for getting Diddy on board, says Tag can more accurately read results and gather backend data compared with a QR code. He calls it the "biggest campaign of its kind" where tweets are sent through a sponsorship in a social media platform.

Marketers can build rules into the platform that only allow each individual to phone scan a tag once hourly to vote for a charity. For each day during the five, site visitors will see a list of three charities to choose from. At the end of the day, Diddy announces the winner. "We're happy to support charitable giving," says Jeff Somers, director of marketing at Microsoft.

Microsoft Tag -- a slightly different technology than QR codes, another 2D barcode -- works in color or custom code images. The technology, which lives within Microsoft's startup and incubator business group, lets marketers continually change the code on the fly to point the URL in another direction, so designers need not hardcode the URL into the campaign. That flexibility aims to encourage testing and increase the lure for marketers.

As for metrics, Tag's backend platform tracks device IDs, so it recognizes the phone type and when the user engages with the tag. This lets marketers create campaigns targeting specific phones. The backend infrastructure, designed as an end-to-end solution, allows marketers to collect data every time a phone engages with a tag. On the backend, a heat map identifies the location of the scans, as more location-based data is built and pulled into platforms.

Mark Zuckerberg is Time's 2010 Person Of The Year

2010-12-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

While this sounds like big fancy news, we should remember that in a reader poll on Time.com, Zuck actually finished 10th behind the likes of Obama and the Chilean miners. Not saying he isn't worthy, but it is interesting when a nation of reader's thinks your are the 10th most important, and than the publishers of said magazine comeback and say no no, he is number 1. Facebook rules the world, we get it.

[excerpt]

On the afternoon of Nov. 16, 2010, Mark Zuckerberg was leading a meeting in the Aquarium, one of Facebook's conference rooms, so named because it's in the middle of a huge work space and has glass walls on three sides so everybody can see in. Conference rooms are a big deal at Facebook because they're the only places anybody has any privacy at all, even the bare minimum of privacy the Aquarium gets you. Otherwise the space is open plan: no cubicles, no offices, no walls, just a rolling tundra of office furniture. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's COO, who used to be Lawrence Summers' chief of staff at the Treasury Department, doesn't have an office. Zuckerberg, Facebook's CEO and co-founder and presiding visionary, doesn't have an office.

The team was going over the launch of Facebook's revamped Messages service, which had happened the day before and gone off without a hitch or rather without more than the usual number of hitches. Zuckerberg kept the meeting on track, pushing briskly through his points — no notes or whiteboard, just talking with his hands — but the tone was relaxed. Much has been made of Zuckerberg's legendarily awkward social manner, but in a room like this, he's the Silicon Valley equivalent of George Plimpton. He bantered with Andrew "Boz" Bosworth, a director of engineering who ran the project. (Boz was Zuckerberg's instructor in a course on artificial intelligence when they were at Harvard. He says his future boss didn't do very well. Though, in fairness, Zuckerberg did invent Facebook that semester.) Apart from a journalist sitting in the corner, no one in the room looked over 30, and apart from the journalist's public relations escort, it was boys only.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2036683_2037183,00.html

Hugh Jackman, Oprah, And A High Speed Zipline Crash

2010-12-14T13:50:00.001-08:00

You can't plan this stuff folks. The well liked Hugh Jackman decides to get all Aussie bad-ass on us by zip lining into Oprah's show in Sydney the other day. Little did he know, he would soon make internet video headlines...

All reports say Jackman is fine besides some glass in his eye. Apparently he recovered from his fall with a funny one liner about the heat and a few graceful pats on the butt from Oprah.

Ancient Pot of Soup Found in China; Apparently This Is News

2010-12-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

A soup made 2,400 years ago was discovered in a tomb near where the terracotta army was discovered and near where the first emperor of China was buried, according to NTDTV.

The soup was made of bones, discovered in a bronze three-legged cauldron and found in a tomb in Xian, Shaanxi Province.

"It's the earliest-known discovery of its kind in Shaanxi Province," Liu Daiyun of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology said. "There isn't any report on similar archaeological findings that are earlier than this in the nation."

The soup was still liquid, but not edible. The liquid had turned green due to oxidation from the bronze cauldron and scientists say they will do more tests to see if the liquid was, in fact, soup.

"We discovered the left ribs of a cow next to the broken containers," Liu told AsiaOne. The cauldron is around eight inches high and 10 inches in diameter.
According to NTDTV, the tomb where the vessel was located is believed to have been that of a military officer. Archaeologists also found other vessels in nearby tombs but they were broken and did not contain much liquid inside.

In 1974, archaeologists found the now-famed terracotta army in tombs near Xian near the first emperor Qin Shi Huang's grave. Xian, formerly known as Chang'an, was the capital of China for more than 1,100 years.

"It's the first discovery of bone soup in Chinese archaeological history. The discovery will play an important role in studying the eating habits and culture of the Warring States Period (475BC– 221BC)," Liu told state-run The Global Times.

The Warring States period was a time when warlords took over and the country was deeply divided until the first emperor was said to have unified the country.

Several years ago, archaeologists discovered a pot of soup with noodles believed to be 4,000 years old near the Yellow River.

'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' Looks Cool

2010-12-14T11:25:00.000-08:00

I'm not a huge fan of the Transformer's live action flicks (enjoyed the first, didn't see the second). However, I do love a good conspiracy story that twists famous events into the mix. Enter the third Transformer's and Neil Armstrong's moon landing in 1969....

'The Kids Are Alright,' A Barcelona Tribute Piece

2010-12-14T08:34:00.000-08:00

Before I say anything, you must read Phil Ball's fantastic look into the youth academy at Barcelona through the stories of three of the world's premier footballers (also the three players in line to win this years Ballon d'Or); Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Lionel Messi. I'll wait for you to get back...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=852733&sec=europe&root=europe&cc=5901

For those that didn't read, it's about the strength of the Barcelona youth academy, the top stars it's churned out, and the mental rigors this type environment places on teenagers. In America, we don't have this system in place because A) we aren't looking for the next Maradona within our ranks (the next Kobe maybe) and B) the American sports system isn't setup for an 18 year old star to emerge. Save for the Lebron's of the world, American superstar athletes are expected to emerge after a steady high school and college career.

To the untrained eye (and some trained), Landon Donovan is the best American soccer player the red white and blue have today. We should recall that he followed the European model, Donovan moved to Germany to join powerhouse Bayern Leverkusen at 17. He fanned out due to home sickness (not unlike the Barcelona stars in Ball's ESPN piece), but the long term success of his career still proves out the early sacrifices he made.

In the great ranks of European football, the sacrifice to become the best starts at a young age, and there is no room for slip ups. While success might come as a sacrifice to youth, those that make it out and become the Messi's of the world are proof in the system.

Starbucks Leads Foursquare Rankings For The Most Check-Ins

2010-12-13T13:30:00.000-08:00

Random stat of the day, but what's most interesting to me is that Target and Wal-Mart are numbers 3 & 4 respectively. Maybe middle-America has a higher smart phone adoption rate than we expected?

From Trendrr...
You might suspect that the caffeine-driven check-ins that keep Starbucks at the top of our weekly look at Foursquare check-ins come from the centers of coffee-drinking America like New York and Seattle. Indeed New York tops the list for raw check-ins (followed by Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago), but if you scale the check-ins based on population some surprising markets emerge. Leading the ranks of per-capita check-ins is Charlottesville, Va., followed by Washington, D.C., Austin and North Platte, Neb. We'll guess you didn't see that one coming.

(We're producing this exclusive chart with our editorial partner Trendrr, the real-time business intelligence tracking service created by New York digital agency Wiredset. This chart is updated each Monday morning and reflects the seven-day period ending Saturday night at midnight, Eastern Standard Time.)

'Do Not Track' Could Revolutionize Online Ad Industry

2010-12-13T11:07:00.000-08:00

Really interesting perspective on the hottest topic on the online ad game today, FTC vs IAB (aka government vs online ad community). Great find by my boy Mintzer.

Here's my usual points on this topic:

1) Do you have a credit card? Great, they know more than we do. Do you really care if someone knows you are trying to buy a TV?

2) The onus is on major sites to protect their information and use it wisely. This ethical business practice is no different than the way any other professional sector works. Act fairly, and the economic and social rewards will come. E.g. ESPN gives users site feature access in trade for user info. Very very positive move.

3) Give users a chance to view who's tracking their behavior and give them control mechanisms. I don't think customers want out of tracking, I think they just want to understand how it's done and why.

Do Not Track could revolutionize online ad industry - USATODAY.com

Arsenal vs. Manchester United; A Day of Reckoning

2010-12-13T08:42:00.001-08:00

C'mon you Gunners!!!

Arsenal vs. Manchester United; A Day of Reckoning

2010-12-13T08:42:00.000-08:00

C'mon you Gunners!!!

Fourteen Actors Acting; A Video Gallery of Classic Screen Types

2010-12-10T12:35:00.000-08:00

The New York Times Magazine has put together a fantastic video series, in which 14 of todays best actors doing just that, acting. From Jesse Eisenberg re-enacting the slow motion gunshot, to James Franco doing the introspective mirror conversation, this setup is brilliant. Oh, and there are no words. When you see the actors speaking, their sound is muted thanks to the overlayed composed tracks by Owen Pallett.

I absolutely love Matt Damon's street fight improv...http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/12/12/magazine/14actors.html?hp#index.

(the player is not embeddable so you'll have to click through to the site.

Google Chrome App Market Is Awesome

2010-12-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

Google Chrome has been getting all kinds of press recently as they continue to develop their OS. I've been a Mac user my whole life, but would seriously consider a PC for personal use if this OS comes to fruition. I use Chrome as my browser and the app functionality really blows me away. Take the above Gilt Group app for example...it mimics the functionality of the iPhone/iPad app that Gilt built and it takes full advantage of the visual space allotted by the browser. It's this type functionality that is totally changing the way we view a browser, and more importantly, the way designers and developers look at the browser and OS landscape.

In theory, if the app market continues to grow, I'm willing to bet certain brands move their emphasis from an engaging destination site to a fully functional app. Gilt Groupe is the perfect example; looking at the app, and understanding this is a retail company, why would they ever need a site when an app is so much easier to develop and manage?

AdAge's Viral Video Chart of The Week Revives Lebron and Nike

2010-12-09T08:45:00.000-08:00

"Rise" by Nike was hands down one of th best creative spots I've seen in the past year or so. Wieden Kennedy continues to outwit and out-create their competition. I especially have a soft spot this week because two nights ago, I finally watched "More Than A Game." For those out of the loop, MTAG is a documentary filmed during Lebron James' senior year of high school, and tells the story of how he and his three best friends culminated a decade of playing together at the high school basketball national championships. While that description might paint a sports story, what you get is much much more. It's a story of boys to men, of race and city divisions, of father and son, and of the long pursuit of glory.

Anyhoo...Lebron is back on top of AdAge's Viral Video Chart. So check it out:

Could It Be? iPad 2 In The Next 100 Days?

2010-12-08T20:40:00.000-08:00

says CrunchGear...

According to Digitimes, Foxconn factories are currently assembling iPads 2 for shipment within the next “100 days” which, by my calculations, puts the ship date at around February/March or, if WolframAlpha is to be believed, March 17, 2011.

Foxconn is said to be preparing 400,000-600,000 units for sale. If this is true, we can expect a press conference in mid-January and a release date of February or March, which is line with Apple’s traditional start-of-year releases. It looks like CES (January 4-9th) is about to be spoiled.

As far as we can tell, the iPad 2 will have a front-facing camera made by Largan Precision and potentially a more iPhone-esque styling as suggested by this fake mock-up, below.

Well This Will Make You Sick....Highest Paid Reality Stars of 2010

2010-12-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

I employ anyone to find me real value in what it is these people do.

Courtesy of US Magazine

1. Kim Kardashian: $6 million

2. Lauren Conrad: $5 million

3. Bethenny Frankel: $4 million

4. Audrina Patridge: $3.5 million

5. Kate Gosselin: $3.5 million

6. Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino: $3 million

7. Khloe Kardashian: $2.5 million

8. Kourtney Kardashian: $2.5 million

9. DJ Pauly D: $2 million

10. Kendra Wilkinson: $2 million

Arkitektive Builds New Agency Model, But You Won't Find It On Madison Avenue

2010-12-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

Great stuff from a group of really strategic thinkers...

Courtesy of Mediapost

At a time when advertising seems as if it is becoming consolidated among Madison Avenue's big agency holding companies, a group of free-spirited, entrepreneurial and fiercely independent agencies are banding together to form what may be the industry's first "un-holding company." In fact, that's part of the language the new collective, dubbed Arkitektive, is using to describe what it does, and how it is unlike any organization spawned on, or by Madison Avenue before.
Operating out of the San Francisco offices of Catalyst SF, the fast-growing digital strategy agency launched in 2007 by Carat renegades Cory Treffiletti and John Durham, Arkitektive is more like a loose confederation of complementary and non-competing marketing services agencies than it is a holding company. The logic behind it, Treffiletti told Online Media Daily, is to replicate the same kind of scale and array of marketing services to enable a collective of "best in breed" shops to compete with the biggest companies on Madison Avenue. Symbolically, he said, none of those companies are actually based in New York, though many, including Catalyst, have offices there.

In addition to Catalyst, Arkitektive's charter agencies include:

* MEA Digital, an analytics-based digital branding shop based in San Diego with offices in New York.
* Hub Strategy, another smallish San Francisco-based digital strategy shop.
* New and Improved Media, an El Segundo, CA-based media services agency.
* WIT Strategy, a Philadelphia-based PR firm specializing in technology and digital media with offices in New York.

Treffiletti said many of the principals of the core group have worked together in the past, but that the confederation would ultimately expand to include other complementary marketing, advertising and media shops that have good chops, but lack the scale to compete with the "big boys."

"We have the chemistry, and the scale to go out and pitch larger pieces of business that we could not have gone after before," he said, adding that the model would benefit both the participating agencies, as well as potential clients, who would have the same ability to mix and match the best collection of marketing services shops, but without the overhead costs baked into big agency holding companies.

"We don't have that top layer of overhead that has to be paid for by a client," said Michael Chaney, another renegade of big Madison Avenue agencies who is now CEO of MEA Digital.

Operationally, Chaney said Arkitektive allows a marketer to pick the services that matter most for their business and brands, and to pay only for them. While Arkitektive will share certain back-office, research and administrative functions for cost efficiency purposes, none of those costs would be paid for by clients, who will be billed only for the direct marketing services the Arkitektive members provide.

Another big advantage of the model, Chaney said, is that all of the principals of the Arkitektive member companies are still 100% vested in their own operations, an incentive most of Madison Avenue's big agency holding companies cannot replicate, thought Canada's MDC Partners, at least utilizes a model that ensures the principals of its agencies retain minority stakes in their businesses.

Treffiletti estimated that the collective begins with an aggregate base of more than $100 million in capitalized billings, which is still relatively tiny compared to the billions billed by Madison Avenue's big holding companies, but he boasted that would change fast, and predicted that Arkitektive would have its first collective new business win by the end of the year.

Facebook Revamps Profile Page PART II

2010-12-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

Here's an equally boring video on the Facebook update...

Facebook Revamps Profile Page

2010-12-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

This isn’t breaking news by any means, but Facebook’s recent revamp of the profile page has left me completely reaction-less. It’s not really that exciting. There isn’t anything in the design update that affects the business model, or leads them to any new advertising opportunity. They just changed the page.

Charlene Li, founder of digital consulting firm Altimeter wrote "I do expect there to be significant push back from Facebook members, both because of the interface changes as well as the new social dynamics that will need to be gotten used to. And of course, privacy will always remain a valid and pressing concern."

The only thing I can see causing an issue is having certain photos popping up on your profile page that you didn’t want. In theory, you should just be de-tagging those nasty head shots anyway. Halloween is way over, get those pics off your page.

'NBA Jam' Is Back With A Social Media Twist

2010-12-03T08:57:00.001-08:00

BOOMSHAKALAKA! I remember yelling it in my sleep as a kid, regaling the hours of 'NBA Jam' that consumed me day after day. The legendary arcade basketball game has officially made it's return (and includes original announcer Tim Kitzrow spouting off our favorite one liners like "he's on fire!!").

To jumpstart the games re-entry into the market, David Le, Director of Marketing for EA Sports, worked with Funny or Die to shoot a spoof on the timeless rivalry of uncle vs. nephew in a video game battle royale. Honestly, I think the short is boring, but the games return was enough to make me sit through all three minutes...

Uncle Boomshakalaka! - watch more funny videos