Hasta La Creative!

Less than two years ago, people began to see cars equipped with strange video equipment driving all over the U.S. Google apparently commissioned a fleet of cars for their street view project, which is now live. I decided to give it “test drive” to see what the hype was all about. It turns out that street view gives you just that. A view of the streets from a drivers perspective. I tested it on my street and found it cool, yet creepy. I’m not suggesting in any way that Google has voyeuristic tendencies, but they can get pretty detailed. I was able to see my roommate’s Marilyn Monroe poster on his window. Then I started thinking; there must be hundreds of little surprises waiting to be discovered in the Google street view video universe. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or the desire to look for them, but if you do find something, let me know.

Voyeurs are not the only who may find this tool useful. This is another great way to explore your city or town without having to put on your shoes. Street view has the potential to revolutionize the real estate industry. I remember a when virtual tours of homes were new and exciting. Now you can check out the neighborhood before you make a formal visit. The technology is still in the early stages but as it develops, I could see existing virtual stores being linked into the equation. I wrote a paper a few years ago about a concept called “Google Maps Retail.” This concept allows people find businesses on Google maps, get directions and then get efficient directions inside the store (using a 3-D planogram) based on a shopping list. This is more than possible now. Who wants to go halves with me on the venture. I’ll put in the first 20 bucks.

(TrendHunter.com) I never stopped to consider how the visually impaired surfed the Internet. But what about porn? Do the braille outputs resemble the image seen here or does a robotic voice whistle or say “what a woman!”? It turns out that a lot of porn sites are poorly designed, for both the blind and those with 20…

Heading into a recession, with print advertising nearly universally in the toilet, it’s an interesting time to start a magazine. But former Phillies and Mets star Lenny Dykstra does not let that daunt him. The first issue of The Players Club, his magazine for pro athletes looking for sensible ways to spend their millions, arrived in the office. Lenny, who was profiled recently in The New Yorker as he prepared for the launch, spared no expense on the paper stock. The Players Club is so exclusive, it doesn’t have a Web site. The advertiser list is predictable but impressive: several full-page ads from private jet companies, lots of disturbingly fancy watches, some cigars and luxury cars. As for content, The Players Club rightly goes for short and snappy, rather than New York Review of Books-type essays. There’s the obligatory cover puff piece on Derek Jeter, a ranking of rich athletes and the world’s best golf courses. My personal favorite: a photo spread of the Phillies’ Met killer Pat Burrell in a $4,500 Savile Row suit. UPDATE: Turns out they do have a Web site of sorts.

—Posted by Brian Morrissey

Rather than bore you with a wordy monologue of what went on during the first night at ad:tech San Francisco, the story is best told through pictures and there’s a lot of them here that capture the first day of the online marketing conference with hit record attendance levels of 14,000 plus. In the picture album, you’ll see all the usual shenanigans including booth babes, costumed c

Photo taken from The Moscow Times

Look around you and you will see that there are signs that entice you to place your ads there. Mostly, these are billboards and free spaces to which are being leased at a hefty amount. But while these are standards advertising and promotion practices, there are limitations on where you can put ads publicly.

Similar to this case in Moscow, the proper placement of public ads must be observed. One thing they hate is placing ads where their heritage and culture will sorely be affected. Much of the outdoor advertising materials that were situated near historical places like the Kremlin and the Novodevichy Monastery were forcefully removed in an effort to preserve the city’s historical appearance.

For sure, these practices will likewise be done in your territory. Placing ads is one thing but knowing when and were to place them should never be overlooked at all times.

(Source) The Moscow Times

(TrendHunter.com) The RSPCA in Australia launched a new ad with The Campaign Palace Sydney Agency, taking a new approach to connect with their audience emotionally. They portrayed abused humans in order to emphasize the severity of the abuses pets undergo as a result of neglect and violent behaviour.

This is the se…

(TrendHunter.com) Take that, Armani and Beckham! Just Cavalli’s new men’s underwear ad features not one, but 5 members of the Italian rugby team, Montepaschi Viadana.

The campaign which will run starting in June 2008 in a selected number of Italian and international magazines features: Aldo Birch, Ross Curlew, Matth…

Guardian columnist Martin Jacques on how the world’s seismic changes are creating both great hope and danger.

Unfortunately, very affordable.

Advertising Agency: DDB South Africa
Executive Creative Director: Gareth Lessing
Art Director: Darren Borrino
Copywriter: Stuart Turner
Other Additional Credits: Cheryl Kietzmann

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Delta and Northwest have begun rolling out an aggressive advertising and marketing program to current and prospective customers touting the global benefits of the potential merger between the airlines. Print ads will run in publications across the country, with billboards and other pitches also on the way.