Hasta La Creative!

If you thought that the failed talks between the potential merger between Yahoo and Microsoft are over then guess again. Apparently while the last meeting did not turn out well, it seems that Microsoft is planning to make an alternative offer to possibly make the merger push through.

Google has long been dominating the online advertising binge and apparently Microsoft knows it can give Google some form of competition with this merger from Yahoo. There are discussions going on at the moment but though they may not show anything potent at this point, you can just imagine how determined Microsoft Corp. is as far as balancing competition for a larger share of the market saturation for online advertising today.

Microsoft Corp. is once again trying to team up with Yahoo Inc. to challenge Internet search and advertising leader Google Inc., although at this point the renewed talks haven’t escalated to another attempt to take over Yahoo.

The Redmond, Wash.-based software maker disclosed the revived discussions Sunday without providing any specifics about the nature of the deal being explored except to say it involved bolstering the companies’ position in the online search and advertising markets.

“There of course can be no assurance that any transaction will result from these discussions,” the statement said.

(Source) Associated Press

Technorati Tags: advertising, yahoo, microsoft, merger, google, online advertising

Absolut is bringing one of their print ads to life in the newest spot from TBWA, titled, “Dissection.” The original print ad featured an exploding glass that reveal the vodka within. In the spot, TBWA takes it to the next level with the Absolut bottle itself exploding in slow-mo and the liquid inside staying in the quintessential shape. According to AdWeek, the vodka was actually shot in slow frames and minimal (20% or less) was CGI animation. I enjoy the ending where the pieces assemble themselves back together for the end tagline, “In an Absolut World.” Check out the ad for yourself below… what do you think?

Technorati Tags: Absolut, vodka, liquor, advertising, marketing, CGI, animation, commercials, TBWA

Facebook chat went live last week and the jury is still out on how—or if—people are going to use it. Right now it seems to mostly be in the “Hey, is this thing on?” stage, where people are testing it out and seeing how it works.

 Many people I’ve spoken with feel the same way about it that I do: it’s a useful tool, but we’re wary because our Facebook friend list is much broader than our IM list and we’re living in fear of those casual acquaintances you had to spend fifteen minutes to remember when they first friended you will be the ones popping up to chat with you on Facebook.

 While that fear is likely unfounded, there is the very real issue of a shift in how we use Facebook. Until now, it was a solitary activity where your interactions with people—via messages, wall postings and the like– did not occur in real time. Adding a real time chat element changes how you use the site: no more clicking back and forth, on and off the site, if you are in the middle of a conversation. And suddenly you are very aware of which of your friends is spending all their time on Facebook. (there was always the option to check to see who else was online, but people rarely did, since there was no upside to it other than satisfaction of curiousity.)

 The interface itself is fairly basic, though it does allow for emoticons and clickable links. Personally, I have not found much use for it—I have many other ways (IM, Twitter, Email, phone) of reaching the people I know on Facebook. But I’m curious as to how many of you view Facebook chat and if you’ve found yourselves using it. Because given the popularity and ubiquity of Facebook, it wouldn’t surprise me if it really caught on.

 

 

La Communidad is a great agency. If you’re into really random funny ads, you might like their work. Some of their clients include MTV, Virgin Mobile, and Volkswagen to name a few. La Communidad is has two locations, one in Miami and the other in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Much of their work is seen in Latin America, but they have won awards for work that appeals to all audiences. This clip in particular originally aired in Argentina and if you pay close attention you’ll noticed that it has been dubbed into English. You don’t have to pay close attention to notice actually. The point is that these folks produce good work that is not bound by language. Have a look at on their site to see more work.

According to Bud Light’s (from DDB Chicago) newest commercials, one word says it all – Dude. While the spots themselves are hysterical and can pretty much guarantee a laugh out of anyone, it’s the new website that really brings it all together – dudemadness.com. Here you can not only test your “dudeness” by clicking on the poster your prefer, dude, but you can also send coded dude messages to your friends (which will be decoded via text message). And in case anyone out there was wondering, I happen to be 68% Righteous Dude, 17% Game-On Dude and 15% Redneck Dude (where did THAT come from?!?).

Technorati Tags: Bud, Bud Light, dude, tv, commercials, beer, Las Vegas, drinks, DDB, websites, viral

With the newest round of Jordan commercials hitting the airwaves in recent days, there is only one thing that comes to mind… “Thank you Wieden + Kennedy, for you have done it again.” Each of the ads pushes the viewer to “become legendary.” And I must say, 60 seconds of Michael Jordan telling me I’ve probably just been making excuses, well, it cuts me to the bone. Each ad is awe-inspiring and each ad serves as a nice reminder that the brilliant advertising, it’s still out there. 

Technorati Tags: Michael Jordan, Nike, TV, sports, basketball, sneakers, shoes, commercial, advertising, branding, celebrity, spokesperson

 

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.

Social networking sites are a good way to pick up new customers of various target markets these days. With so many people hooked up to these sites such as Facebook, it should not be surprising why companies such as Careerbuilder.com have struck a deal to run job recruiting campaigns for various clients.

  

The concept is similar towards any fad or advertising media we hear of today. “Hot” companies and trendsetters are bound to be taken in and Facebook, which has obviously outdone rivals MySpace and Friendster in the social networking binge is the ace of all aces today.

  

 

Great time waster, courtesy of the Swedish telecom giant Tele2 is something called BeatBox that lets you record your own beat box tune with a basset hound DJ.

This is the sort of fun, not-available-elsewhere-in-a-superior-format toy that brands should strive for online. It’s a quick little hit, has enough of a connection with a telecom company to be relevant, and is very well-done: you don’t have to speak Swedish to get it. Perhaps one of our European readers could fill us in on whether the basset hound figures in their advertising at all.