Recently, a rat chewed through a couple of wires behind my television set. I lost my sound to the receiver. I was able to catch that rat and get my revenge, but it reminded me of how much I hate the wires. We get closer every day to the end of wires, dishes, cables, television tethers that keep us pulling out the set and figuring out the inputs and outputs. It is not fun.
Today, I felt like the end was really in site with the new Hulu Plus. Hulu Plus is the subscription service of formerly free Hulu. With the new wireless television sets, Hulu Plus, Roku, Netflix and a host of others will allow us to watch TV without much more than a plug. We can rent movies, watch television shows, buy movies, listen to books and cruise the net all at the same time. Not only that, I can also watch Hulu on my computer, iPhone or iPad.
Right now, I’m paying for cable, which is more than $150 a month. Hulu Plus and Roku together would run $20 a month unless you want to rent Amazon movies, which are $4 to $5 each. Eventually, everyone will figure out that it’s better to turn on a TV and have everything you need as long as you have a wireless connection. It’s cheaper, cooler, easier and just plain smarter. And someday, the channels you now get with DIRECTV or Cable will come without a DIRECTV guy or cable guy. It will all be in the TV and available through your wireless connection. Add wireless stereo receivers and speakers all in one big bundle and you never have to worry about wires again.
Maybe some of us will still keep paying for cable and satellite. We’ll just add Hulu Plus, Roku, Sony’s system and anything else that will give us enough options to make our couch time roll by in pixilated bliss. And we’ll watch a giant split-screen with a Netflix movie on one side, football on the other and a Hulu’d Office episode in the middle. If we’re lucky, we’ll see about five minutes of each since we’ll be trying to watch YouTube videos from the computers on our laps and make FaceTime calls from our iPhones at the same time.
If a hundred channels weren’t enough, why would 2,000 channels do it? It’s like the Gillette 5 Blade Razor. Three blades were good. Four blades were great. But if I only had one more blade, then I could be sure I was getting the best shave. Well, until they have six blades, that is. And seven, if I had seven blades.
If that’s the way it’s going to be, it’s just more for the rats to chew on. I long for the day when they have nothing but the plug and that small piece of cheese I leave on the sticky trap to gnaw at.
If you use Facebook, Twitter or other social mediums with any frequency, you’ve probably changed your avatar a few times, or at least know people who change it routinely.
But have you ever changed INTO your avatar? Or better yet, have you ever changed into an avatar from Avatar? In April, a company in L.A. gave people a chance to see what that would be like to do just that — to have their face morphed in real time. Pretty cool execution.
With the emergence of location-based social networking, I’ve achieved the ultimate political goal: I am the mayor of 13 locations (via foursquare anyways). I know what you’re thinking. It’s a bit of a monopoly at Flippin’s Fantastic Desk, but rest assured that I earned that mayorship fair and square. After all, I’m highly decorated having earned 16 badges on my ventures including the coveted Douchebag, Crunked and I’m on a Boat badges.
Location-based social networking is a hot trend in social media, but with 50 new cities, millions of user-generated content, various free cell phone applications, and high-profile sponsorships this seems to be more than a trend. Foursquare, probably the most widely spread and recognizable location-based social network, describes itself best as “helping users meet up with their friends on the go and discover exciting things to do in their communities.” Foursquare also just surpassed the 40 million “check-ins” mark, 1 million users mark and reportedly adds 15,000 users per day.
Recently, foursquare “mayors,” those who check-in most frequently at one location, have been subject to rewards and special offers. For example, during the month of June, mayors of Starbucks are invited to enjoy $1 off Frappucinos. Another way foursquare is leveraging the mayorship functionality is to host or gain access to special events. Foursquare “TweetUps,” or Twitter gatherings, seem to be gaining some momentum. Here’s a foursquare mayor exclusive TweetUp.
With all the hype surrounding location-based social networking, the next step of brand engagement (and foursquare profit) has begun. Some brands actively using foursquare are Zagat, Lucky, TLC, Bon Appétit, History Channel, Bravo and VH1. Having a good idea of what foursquare sponsorship price tags look like, companies aren’t seeing any ROI from logo placement and minimal recognition on their dedicated foursquare page. It’s a mere branding effort at this point.
The challenge for brands buying foursquare placement is they are not changing users’ habits. Users are “checking in” to someplace when they are already at a location. Badges received are typically stumbled upon, not sought out. Consumers are not changing habits to engage with brands. There’s a slim chance anyone will purposely travel to the History Channel’s “to-do” list items in order to win History Channel prizes (read as swag bag) or unlock superficial badges that only other foursquare users can see. Zagat’s foursquare page offers no incentive to follow them apart from one-sided tips and ongoing offers in exchange for the coveted digital badge.
Consumers like to feel as though they are receiving exclusivity and privilege through social media, which sponsorships on foursquare could easily create. Brands could offer incentives for additional locations nearby or partner with multiple companies to create a brand network. For example, if a user checks into a movie theater, an offer for an ice cream cone or free cocktail with your ticket stub could appear. Another example is if someone unlocks the Zagat’s badge or completes 10 of their to-do’s, the user receives a free Zagat’s guide to their city. Or Bon Appétit could partner with restaurants to create “Bon Appétit Menus” only available to those who check-in. The consumer needs a tangible reward for using the foursquare service and a reason for users to keep seeking out offers and engaging with a brand.
While branding opportunities for foursquare are still in its infancy, users should look forward to growth and additional perks. In the meantime, I will enjoy my 16 badges and 12 mayorships and be silently bitter that no one stays mayor for long … not even at Flippin’s Fantastic Desk.
Can’t really explain why, but I’m angry about the new Karate Kid remake. You know, the one with Jackie Chan and Will Smith’s kid. Like I said, I can’t put my finger on exactly why. Maybe it’s because it makes an industry I love seem lazy. Or maybe it’s because the original had such a profound effect on my formative years. Hell, it could be that Jackie Chan as Mr. Miyagi just bugs me to no end. Like I said, I don’t know. But I know it just doesn’t feel right. And nine times out of 10 my gut is right.
What does a remake of a movie that is an American classic have to do with advertising? Movie remakes are usually horrible and ad remakes are equally as horrible. As advertising professionals, we strive to do something original. We challenge our clients to do breakthrough work. We want to be at the forefront of pop culture. And yet we repeatedly do the same things or allow our clients to settle and do what is safe and easy.
Recently, Zephrin Lasker at Ad Age challenged us to toss “best practices”. Lasker gives us four reasons why “best practices” aren’t best at all. At the core of the article is the idea that we need to be original. Doing the same old thing over and over does nothing to bring value to our clients. We don’t want mass chaos, so he does make the point that there always exists a set of standards and those standards should guide you, but to live by “best practices” is just more of the same.
I agree with Lasker and am kicking the “best practices” habit. It’s our job to challenge clients and give them the best work. So take those “best practices” and turn them on their ears. Create. Create. And create more. And when your client asks you for the “best practices” in any given situation, tell them they don’t exist because what they’re doing is brand spanking new, but that you do know it’s more Ralph Macchio than Jaden Smith.
Brand new TV for Las Vegas. Welcome to Camp Vegas for grownups. This campaign is designed to drive visits to Las Vegas during the traditionally slower summer travel season. With so much investment by Las Vegas hotels in pools and summer daylife events this campaign provides a platform to show all of the incredible summer fun Vegas has to offer.
In January 2006, Howard Stern left ‘terrestrial’ radio to go to satellite radio with a five-year, $500 million contract. Fast forward to 2010, and we are in the final year of that contract. And the man we rarely saw or heard from in the past four years is suddenly red-hot; entertaining new jobs at both American Idol and back to ‘terrestrial’ radio (of which he persistently bashed on his way out.)
First, he said he would not re-sign with Sirius XM. Given their $0.86 stock price and $1 billion in debt, Stern just may get his wish. If he doesn’t re-sign with Sirius, then what?
BusinessWeek reported Clear Channel thinks Stern is a ‘logical’ choice for them, even though his new contract would be a huge sum to take on as terrestrial radio revenue continues to decline year over year. And leaving the freedom of satellite back to the muddled arms of the FCC does not seem like a path he would be likely to follow.
On Monday, Stern confirmed he was in talks with American Idol, which will be looking for a new abrasive judge after Simon Cowell exits at the end of this season. His qualifications to judge a singing contest are about as deep as current judge, Ellen DeGeneres, so why not? American Idol is one of the few outlets that could actually afford Stern’s current paycheck.
You have to create demand to be in demand. Stern has always proclaimed himself the “King of all Media” and the way the press is jumping at the chance to cover his every move (or possibility of a move), maybe he still is.
One of the best things about living in the 21st century is that, even at my advanced age, there are still an infinite number of new experiences available. Things I want to do that I haven’t yet done. Over the last weekend in January, I was able to cross another one off the list when I spent three days at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
What I’m not going to do here is review the films I saw. I did reviews in my last entry. No need for more of that. Instead, I’m going to share some observations from my first trip to what has become America’s largest and most influential film festival.
A Trip to Sundance Doesn’t Need to Cost an Arm and a Leg
I suppose you can spend a ton at Sundance, but you don’t have to. Tickets to the screenings are $15 each. And if you stay in Salt Lake City, which is only a 35-minute drive on I-80 from Park City, there are a bunch of affordable hotels and restaurants. Leave the high-end resorts and pricey Park City restaurants to the folks from Paramount and Universal with the big expense accounts.
Given Its Size and Scope, Sundance is Really Well Organized
The festival lasts 11 days. It screens more than 500 different films in 15 different theaters in four different cities. Screenings begin at 8:30 each morning and go past midnight every day. And it all runs like clockwork. The shuttle buses are there to take you where you need to go when you need to get there. The screenings start on time. The quality of the sound and picture in every venue – many of which are not movie theaters – is impeccable. There are volunteers everywhere to get you in and out of screenings, answer questions, fix problems and deal with complaints. I’m guessing they probably started working on the logistics for the 2011 festival the day after the 2010 version ended. The preparation shows. Sundance has become a well-oiled machine.
The Audience Is Surprisingly Diverse
Full disclosure. I went to Sundance fully expecting to be immersed in a world of insufferable hipsters, pretentious film snobs and obnoxious Hollywood types. Granted, I ran into all three, but the bulk of the crowds were, for the most part, normal people. Young people, seniors, parents and kids, gay, straight, Muslims, Mormons, Asians, African-Americans and Caucasians. And because they receive a discount on tickets, the screenings attract lots of locals. The one thing everyone shared was a love of film and a desire to see things that probably aren’t going to show up at the local multiplex.
Finally, there was one more thing about the Sundance audiences that I found surprisingly refreshing, leading to my next observation:
Sundance Audiences Are Unfailingly Polite
They queue up and wait patiently until it’s time for their screening to be seated. They show up on time. They don’t cut in line. They carry on intelligent conversations about film with others while waiting in line. They turn off their cell phones during the films. Let me repeat that: They turn off their cell phones during the films. They don’t carry on personal conversations while others are trying to hear the movie. They applaud for every film. They stay engaged and ask intelligent questions at screenings that feature Q & A (and most do). In other words, while the audiences may look a lot like those you’re likely to see on a regular Saturday at your favorite 16-screener, they certainly don’t act like them. Did I mention they turn off their cell phones during the films?
The Festival Is a Corporate Marketing Extravaganza
Honda, Hewlett-Packard and Entertainment Weekly were the primary corporate sponsors. Their logos, cars, magazines and materials were everywhere. Everyone was walking around with water bottles compliments of Brita. Every volunteer wore a jacket or vest emblazoned with a huge Kenneth Cole logo that stretched from shoulder to shoulder. Even the areas containing the serpentine lines we all had to stand in while waiting to get in to screenings were sponsored – appropriately – by Southwest Airlines. I suppose one could be up in arms that an event that began as a small, iconoclastic festival celebrating the rebellious spirit of independent filmmakers has become a “marketing platform” for companies like Honda and hp. But I’m not. What isn’t sponsored these days? Concert tours, college bowl games and fireworks displays all have corporate sponsorship attached. Why not the country’s biggest film festival? If the marketing support helps them make the event bigger, better and available to more people, where’s the harm? In America, that’s how we roll.
A Word About the Films
I saw seven features and five shorts in two and a half days. I would have seen eight, but the airline sponsor of the festival – Southwest – was 90 minutes late out of Las Vegas, denying me the opportunity to stand in their “sponsored” line to get into my first screening. But I digress.
Here’s the thing. Just because a film has been chosen to screen at Sundance does not mean it’s a masterpiece. Of the features I saw, three were very good, three were pretty good and one was ponderous, pretentious, political and – for all I know – still running. I bailed out after two hours when it was showing no signs of ending.
I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing that ratio pretty much held true for the whole festival. Some great, most pretty good and a few just difficult to get through. That’s OK. That’s the joy of film, especially independent and off-the-beaten-track film. Things get tried, experiments are conducted, and first-time directors gain the experience of making their first films. Not everything works for everyone. But everything probably works for someone. The joy of a festival like Sundance is that of discovery. I walked into each screening without any clue or preconception of what to expect. The point is, you never know. Chances are good you’ll see a film that will never show up at any theater or on any cable channel. Then again, you just might get a year’s head start on something great. Case in point: One of this year’s Oscar nominees for Best Film – Precious – premiered at the 2009 Sundance Festival. More than 20 years ago, a young unknown director named Quentin Tarantino brought a film called Reservoir Dogs to Park City. Stories like that abound. Think how cool it would have been to be at one of those screenings.
Overall, Sundance exceeded almost every one of my expectations. I had a great time. I wouldn’t want to do it every weekend, but it is great to immerse myself in film with thousands of others who share the same passion. I would suggest to anyone who enjoys the medium to get to a festival of some sort. It doesn’t have to be Sundance or Cannes. There are hundreds of smaller festivals throughout the year. Find one and enjoy it. We used to have one here in Las Vegas call CineVegas. It was great fun. Unfortunately, it was also a victim of the economic downturn. It is now “on hiatus.” No one knows if it will ever return. Which is a shame, because Las Vegas, with its theaters, its resorts, its nightlife and its energy, is the perfect place for a world-class fest. Anyone can dare to dream. In the meantime, I’m already making plans for my next visit to Park City.
There’s a reason Visa chose Morgan Freeman to voice over its TV commercials: He’s one of the most trusted celebrities in America.
A new survey out from e-poll research lists the top-10 most trusted celebrities. And there’s more detail about it on Forbes.com
The list includes James Earl Jones, Tom Hanks, Bill Cosby and even Mike Rowe, the host of Dirty Jobs (which is why he’s probably seen hawking Ford products)
America’s largest companies pay those celebs handsomely, hoping the trust they’ve earned in America will rub off and validate their brand too. Most of the actors on the list have spent decades in the public eye, often advocating for causes as well as their movies, while also avoiding public transgressions. Meaning, they earned it from a skeptical America.
So much of what we do in advertising, public relations and more importantly – in life – is about earning a reputation built on trust and credibility.
For these spokespeople and the companies it’s a business deal, but in your personal business, where do you stand on trust and credibility?
It’s certainluy an issue Toyota is wrestling with today and so many are watching them closely.
It’s my firm belief that organizations and their leaders earn reputations every day through their actions, by how they respond to critics, take care of their customers, and how they respond to both opportunity and failure.
For those companies who can’t afford a celebrity on the A-list (which is most companies) start by making sure your corporate behavior and leaders are worthy of being on your customer’s a-list of trust and admiration.
3DTV – Well, they could have just called this year’s Consumer Electronic Show, 3DTV World. That is essentially what it was. There were 3D televisions of all shapes and sizes and pretty much all the manufacturers had one. It was hard to tell them apart. Even the 3DTV girls were similar.
I seem to remember it talking longer for HDTV to spread to every manufacturer. There is definitely not a 3DTV gap. And they look fantastic as long as you’re looking directly at the set and paying really close attention. Once you turn away, everything gets foggy and the effect is gone. Plus, you’ll have to wear glasses. Without glasses, 3DTV is 3-image TV. Not good.
CES was crowded so I was unable to recreate my home viewing experience. Also, I didn’t have my chair/command center with me. I sit around 10 feet or so from my 50” Sony. My command center is the chair’s footrest.
It’s where I look at my computer, work, look at the television, look at the computer, etc. I really couldn’t figure out whether it was going to be difficult or easy to add refocusing back to my 3D experience in the sequence.
Samsung Tick Tock – This was one of the really simple and colorful things at the show. It’s an MP3 player with a motion sensor that has only one button. What that one button does depends on how you are holding the device. It’s very innovative and cute. Why it’s called Tick Tock, I have no idea. But who cares?
This Crosley display was just cool.
Crosley – Sometimes when I like something, I just really like the booth or I enjoy the display. I love this retro TV display that sits in the middle of the Crosley booth.
Crosley used to make radios. Now they make these retro-looking devices with a modern purpose – like USB turntables that look like museum relics. I don’t think that LPs are ever going to make a comeback, but there is something wonderfully charming about the mix of old and new in their products.
Panasonic’s 152-inch Plasma HDTV – Wow, bigger really is better, except when it comes to stomachs. This thing is clear and beautiful. I wish they would’ve put something fun to watch on it. It was mostly a film showing all the different aspect ratios it could show of a drag race and then one spectacular shot of a mountain. You’ll have to rip out a wall for this thing but it’ll be well worth it. I’ve included a head for you to use as a size reference.
Copia – Copia is basically a reader that encourages sharing and community. I don’t think it’s going to work because the Apple tablet will be a reader and more. However, I did like the display and the idea behind it. Conceptually it was fun. All that talking about literature with your friends is intellectual. Plus, I really liked the big stack of books.
I’m hoping that isn’t all the titles they have available digitally. Also, if you watch the video on their page you can hear their song. It’s peppy.
Thin TV – They have become remarkably thin. So thin, in fact, that there’s no reason to take a picture of them. If you try to take a picture from the side, you won’t be able to see anything. That’s how thin. Not cut-your-finger thin, but easily decapitating thin. I hope that makes any sense. I also hope you are never decapitated by a TV.
The one pictured here also has almost no border. It’s mostly edge-to-edge screen. I’m like you. I hate it when they’re calling it 50 inches and using valuable screen space for speakers and buttons and stuff. Unacceptable.
Robuddi – All you have to do is attach him to your kid and you’ll always be able to find said kid with the GPS in Robuddi’s belly. That’s right. Robuddi is a cute, rubbery spy. Now you can track your little dude’s or dudette’s movements. You’ll have to hope your little one doesn’t manage to lose Robuddi for it to work. Nothing would be worse than looking for your kid and only finding Robuddi. Someday we’ll all have Intel chip implants and Robuddi will be obsolete. Oh well.
Intel Core Chip – Speaking of Intel, check out their unbelievable display. It’s really something.
Intel is making a crazy new chip that holds three times what will fit in your brain. They didn’t say that, but they should. Could anyone really prove them wrong?
Panasonic Power Maker – That isn’t what they call this thing, but that’s what I am calling it. Panasonic is not good at naming things. What does Lumix mean? Anyway, Panasonic wants folks like you and me to make our own power using methane gas, solar energy, residential battery cells and the MAKER you see here.
It looks really complicated doesn’t it? You have no idea. In the end, I just wanted to know if I would make enough electricity to power my home. She said, “The Japanese are more conservative with their electricity than Americans. It depends on the size of your home and your usage.” In other words, NO. So, I’m figuring three hours of 3DTV at most. I like the concept though. Maybe someday.
Samsung's wall display was awesome.
Samsung’s Giant TV Leaves and Laptop Wall – Yes that’s right. They had a really spectacular display at Samsung that included a leafy looking wall of screens and a wall of laptops. Samsung spent some serious money to prove they were ahead of the curve.
Casio’s Digital Art Frame – This is a simple digital photo frame that makes your photos look like seven different kinds of paintings. Seems pretty cheesy but it will give people something to talk about when they’re bored at your party. In other words, it’s worth its weight in gold.
Giant Steps for Mankind – Maybe there were some, but I didn’t see them. It’s hard to know where to start or where to finish at CES. I was there for about 3.5 hours. It seems like a lot, but I missed plenty. Were there some fun things? Yes. Was there anything that completely blew my mind? No. And, where are all the villains with the mind-control devices and tiny killer toys? I never saw them either. And I was looking for them.
I didn’t see this at CES but I heard about it. I looked up a few times to see if it was hovering over me. It never did. It was probably hovering over Lady Gaga. And who can blame it?
The Bad and The Ugly are next. Watch for them later this week.
Go to law school & specialize in online privacy... Facebook Sued In California Over Teen Endorsements http://flne.ws/25793379 on Fluent Newsabout 6 days agofrom web
Subscribe to this blog