Google Chrome Features (engineered)

Possibly the weirdest promo video yet by Google, but it just might also be the coolest and most innovative! They’ve engineered real world scenes to demonstrate the key features of the Google Chrome browser. With over 250,000 views on YouTube in two days, it’s on track to top the viral video charts this week. The video reminds me of the famous Honda engineering tv ad where they created the whole ad with car parts being automated. Visit their YouTube page for more.

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/google-chrome-features-video-engineered/

W+K Xmas Interactive Window Card

W+K Xmas Interactive Window from ezblaine on Vimeo.

This is the Wieden + Kennedy London interactive Christmas card from last year where they setup an interactive installation on their front doors that allowed anyone to walk up and automatically have their photo taken and superimposed onto various characters in the window. You could then go online, find yourself, create a personalised christmas card and send it on to friends! Very Cool.


Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/wk-xmas-interactive-window-card/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DigitalBuzzBlog+%28Digital+Buzz+Blog%29

Coke Zero: Social Facial Profiler

Crispin Porter + Bogusky have just launched the new Coke Zero Social Facial Profiler in an engaging campaign to promote Coke Zero’s likeness to the classic version’s taste! It’s a pretty ingenious app and allows you to sync with Facebook Connect to trawl facebook for similar faces to you using a version of a law enforcement type facial recognition software. Then to help the app’s AI, users can vote on the accuracy to build the intelligence of the app ongoing. A great way to serve up a branded digital experience. Click here to check out the website.

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/coke-zero-social-facial-profiler/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DigitalBuzzBlog+%28Digital+Buzz+Blog%29

iPhone App & Viral For Insurance Campaign

Dutch agency Novocortex recently launched a pretty cool viral and iPhone app game bundle called “Enless Racing” for an insurance company called Vrijverzekerd to promote their point of difference in the market of repaying the purchase price of the car in an accident. The app lets you build an endless race track with multiple iPhones, connected by blue-tooth from which you can drive the cars from phone to phone! I think this is a great little campaign bundle, you’re giving away a cool, free, branded iPhone app to anyone that wants it and combining it with a pretty catchy viral video to kick it off was a great ploy. It’s has almost 200,000 views on youtube in it’s first month.

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/iphone-app-game-viral-for-insurance-campaign-for-vrijverzekerd/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DigitalBuzzBlog+%28Digital+Buzz+Blog%29

Toyota Better Together

Toyota Australia is promoting their hybrid synergy drive engine with “Better Together”, a television commercial featuring two men who handle an office job with four hands, demonstrating the benefits of combining petrol and electric combustion technologies.

Better Together, shot in one take, is the end result of ten days of choreography training with two dancers. They were able to rehearse long enough to get the sequence correct and timed perfectly to fit into 55 seconds, just right for a 60 second commercial.

Source:
http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2009/toyota-better-together/

New 'Resident Evil' Trailer Offers More Than Sneak Peek

Promo on Gamer Site Lets Fans Zap Zombies While Getting First Look at Latest Capcom Hit Franchise

Killing zombies from the comfort of your home has never been so easy. An online video-game trailer debuting today for Capcom's "Resident Evil" franchise brings zombie-blasting right onto the web page.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/experience-the-darkside/57808

Designer's Aid - 70 Of The Best Photoshop Actions For Enhancing Photos

With Designers always working at the last minute or even smart ones who like to let the Comp do the work here's a collection of 70 Best Photoshop Actions . Hope it helps.

The compilation consist of 70 of the best Photoshop actions collected from all around the web from photo effects to actions for even creating photo borders, An essential design resource for all designers weather your an expert or an beginner.
Photoshop actions consist of a series of menu commands such as i.e. filters, image adjustments etc which can be recorded and played back this process is called a Photoshop action. Photoshop actions are perfect for novices to Photoshop simply because it allows you to apply multiple different photo effects to an image within a few seconds without having knowledge about the ins and outs of Photoshop.

Source:
http://creativenerds.co.uk/freebies/70-of-the-best-photoshop-actions-for-enhancing-photos/

Designer Bar codes

Barcodes grace almost every product for sale. Given how much package real estate they command, why shouldn't they look cool?
Since 2005, D-Barcode has been creating custom barcodes for a mostly Japanese clientele. They've even begun selling their wares to anyone who wants to license them, starting at $1,500 for the design, and $200 a year for licensing. A custom or exclusive use code will run upwards of $4,000--but given that companies spend millions on designing a single package, why don't we see more detailed thinking like this? Middle managers spend weeks arguing about kerning--it'd be better if they spent more time rethinking every inch of such highly prized real estate.

Source:
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/cliff-kuang/design-innovation/japan-even-barcodes-are-well-designed

Prius iPhone App Controls Times Square!

This video shows off the new Prius iPhone Campaign where users can download an app, create drawings on the fly and add content live to the massive screens in Times Square. There have been similar campaigns created with bluetooth, but nothing of this scale, location or prominence.
The iPhone App has 4 different modes, with the most interesting being this one! It’s been live in Times Square over the last few days! (via Ogilvy Blog) Created by Saatchi & Saatch LA.

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/prius-iphone-app-controls-times-square/

AR going public! Burger King: BK Dollar Menu Banner

No printing is necessary to activate Burger King's new augmented reality banner created out of Crispin Porter + Bogusky and showcasing the fast food giant's Value menu. Viewers can hold up any old dollar bill to their web ams and get a taste of what the greenback can buy. They can also use their faces to make like The King.

Source:
http://creativity-online.com/news/burger-king-bk-dollar-menu-banner/140052

I killed a friend

13eme rue is a French Tv channel specialized in thriller, action and supense. They just launched a provocative site which, for information and warning, is rated 16+.
You start by hiring a professional killer (I suggest Monika or Oliver...) to kill one of your friend ...

You give details and a picture of your target, and one of yourself. You will then be able to watch the violent execution, as the site allows a movie personalization, via a 3D integration of the picture.
Your victim receive a mail with a link to the site, and after he has watched the video, he is invited to investigate who is behind this crime, and can possibly release a new sequence.

The send-to a-friend as well as the picture upload mechanisms are far from new, but it proves that when it is well executed it can still work. The atmosphere and the topic are sinister and immoral, and I understand it can hurt some people's feelings. Nevertheless it is consistent with the positionning of 13eme rue, and it makes no doubt it will spread among its potential target.
BETC EURO RSCG is responsible for this mass murder.

Source: http://www.adverblog.com/archives/004104.htm

Droid Does: iPhone Killer Pre-Launch Viral

This is an interesting way to launch what Google, Motorola & Verizon are hoping to be the iPhone Killer. A home made animation (with an ‘ok’ sound track) that clearly ticks off all the things that an iPhone Doesn’t do, before ending with a weird digital static transition & web address.

It’s a massive stab at the current iPhone. But it’s all true. All things you wish the iPhone did.
It then takes you to a registration page with no more information. This video has cranked up more than 600,000 views on YouTube since it’s launch 3 days ago. The Verizon seeders are doing an amazing job! And it’s even got me interested to see what’s coming. It’s been rumored for a while, but this is the first material to come out for the phone.

This is what my alert confirmation email says: “You don’t need a smartphone, you need a supergenius in your pocket. A phone that listens better than the person on the other end of the call. Apps of every shape and size. Emails that let you know what they are before you read them. The greatest web experience on a phone. All working together to get things done. You know there’s no phone like that. And it ticks you off. But there will be. Droid is coming.”

I guess we’ll hear something more in the coming weeks on the new Droid Phone. But the campaign is pretty bold to start, so it will be interesting to see what they do with the real launch and ongoing advertising… Attack the iPhone or establish superiority? I’m now betting on both!

Hope it lives upto its expectations

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/droid-does-iphone-killer-pre-launch-viral/

To all the Twitter Fans

What would you get if mixed twitter with google maps and added a lot of Trend to It!!!
http://trendsmap.com/

Check it out just to see the simplicity with which you can know what the world is tweeting about in REAL TIME! Also check the search feature which is just awesome and i guess helps you get to your destination faster!

Leave behind comments if you like it

Yahoo invites people to create and personalise Yahoo yodels

This might be one of the coolest campaigns by a portal ever. Especially when its promoting itself. Yahoo has invited people to create and personalise Yahoo yodel. According to Yahoo, people can create and submit their own yodel till November 8, 2009 at YodelStudio.Yahoo.com. In addition, Yahoo is also hosting a live recording event on October 14, 2009 in Mumbai, with celebrities and musical artists to coach yodellers. The company has already organised similar events in New York City and London.

The classic Yahoo yodel was created by Wylie Gustafson and aired at the end of Yahoo’s first television commercial in May 1996. The initiative is part of Yahoo’s global ‘It's You’ brand campaign launched in September 2009.

“Based on the number of times an entry is viewed, top yodels will 'go gold,' and one submission in US, UK and India will each ‘go platinum’,” Yahoo has said, adding, “Winners will be announced during the week of November 16, 2009 and will have a chance to be featured on the Yahoo homepage and incorporated into Yahoo’s new global advertising campaign.”

Yahoo has further said that it will make donations up to $100,000 in US, £15000 in UK and $6,300 in India. For instance, for every participant recording a yodel at the Mumbai event, Yahoo will donate Rs 100 to India's Child Relief and You (CRY) organization.

Source:
http://www.alootechie.com/content/yahoo-invites-people-create-and-personalise-yahoo-yodels

Priority Mail Virtual Box Simulator

With great technology comes great Responsibility to put it to proper use. When Augmented Reality hit the Media, everyone wanted to do something new on it. Many have successfully accomplished it too but many have failed to leave a mark behind. The most important thing is to make it a utility that helps us in ways no one has ever thought about.

This is where Priority Mail Virtual Box Simulator leads in a simple and effective way. Using the technology they created an app that help us to decide the size of the mail package by virtually comparing it to a 3D Model. Have a look at the video to understand it better.

DEUS: Digital Campaign Case-Study Israel

McCann Erickson Israel created an interesting campaign earlier this year that I’d not heard of to date, but this case-study is pretty neat. To launch a new kids TV show about a super computer that knew all, McCann created a digital campaign that used cookies to generate personalised banners in real time (a real life DEUS) as part of a massive media buy that caused wide spread panic from parents and kids across the country!
It’s an interesting way to generate buzz about a new show. Probably borderline illegal is most countries, but enjoyable none the less! I’ve seen cookies used to sync with banner campaigns before, but I can’t remember to what extent?

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/deus-digital-campaign-case-study-israel/

PNG Optimizer

Being in the Webdesign field especially in a country like India where broadband penetration is almost next to nill, its extremely useful to Optimize all graphics used in a website or animation. Hence comes the requirement of a Optimizer. Well after a lot of research i found that PNG optimization can be done to a very remarkable level using an online tool aptly named "punypng"!

Check the tool here

Playing for a change

Hardly once in a while do we come across campaigns that are actually meant to bring a change in society. After the hugely successful "Free HUGS" campaign. This one shows a promising future, check the video out and visit the site for more details and to participate.

http://playingforchange.com/

Monopoly City Streets: the biggest board ever

Hasbro and Google have teamed up to create the biggest game of Monopoly ever, with the board being the entire world in Google Maps. They are calling it “Monopoly City Streets“.
The basic premise is that you start out with $US3 million. Then you can roam Google Maps and buy any street in the world to build property on and collect rent. The end goal being to “beat your friends and the world to become the richest property magnate in existence”.
The game hasn’t gone live just yet – but it will soon. The first roll of the dice is on 09/09/09 so keep an eye on the Monopoly City Streets website and the updates on their Monopoly City Streets blog.

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/monopoly-city-streets/

Google's 'Doodle 4 Google' Contest

You know the Google Doodle right? We are talking about the artistic, funny graffiti you see on the Google Logo on its homepage on special occasions, dates or even birthdays of famous personalities. Ever wondered what goes behind the scenes and who designs those in the first place? Well, that's not what we're here for to discuss right now. Nevertheless, if we just pressed your curiosity button, you can read more on that here.
What we were here was to report a recent Google announcement regarding its Google Doodle contest for Indian school children. So, if you are currently a student in any school in India (between standards 1st and 10th), you are eligible to have your work of art displayed on the Google Homepage on Children's Day. (You know when that occurs, we believe!). All you need to do is to win this contest!

The theme of this competition is 'My India' and for your work to feature on the Google Homepage, all you need to do is to create a Google Doodle, with an India-specific theme in mind and impress the judges. As the theme says, you should create a doodle that represents India. You have many ideas to work on, ranging from India's culture to its advances in terms of science and technology.

Your friends over at Google are interested in seeing these representations of what India means to you and how you represent it using images. Since this happens to be a contest, there will be one winner whose work, apart from being featured on the Google Homepage, will also receive a brand new laptop and a help your school avail a technology grant of Rs. 1 lakh!

To apply, students can register online at www.google.co.in/doodle4google

Source:
http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Google_Announces_Doodle_4_Google_Contest/551-105721-643.html

Cannonballz: Augmented Reality Game

Zugara have just launched a new Augmented Reality Game called CannonBallz which is one of the first of it’s kind where players can directly interact in a gaming environment with Augmented Reality that is also integrated with Facebook Connect to harness a load of pretty cool things.
It’s been developed as a prototype, but there is potential for this type of technology being used for “advergames” in the future. Click here to launch the game!

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/cannonballz-augmented-reality-game/

Evian’s “Live Young” Campaign Is A Viral Smash

Evian has really grappled with advertising and it’s image over the past several years longing for mass appeal. It appears that Evian’s time to shine has come with the viral smash oft the “Evian Babies” rollerskating and dancing along with one of the original classic hip-hop tunes that shaped music. There was plenty of footage collected during the making of the spot as well as multiple creative iterations which can be viewed at the Evian Babies YouTube page here. A microsite was created in both English and French which can be explored here. The microsite highlights the commercial as well as Evian’s commitment to health, making a difference globally, line of products, and a chance to meet and greet with the roller babies on a personal basis.

It is really refreshing to see a new creative angle on bottled water, after all bottled water is under fire for health and environmental reasons. Although one may never see or find the Evian Live Young microsite, they are much more likely to stumble across the videos online. A true testament that great creativity can still cause viral sensations and heighten brand awareness. Not to mention rejuvionate and rehydrate a brand deprived of good marketing after all these years. Cheers Evian!

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/evians-live-young-campaign-is-a-viral-smash/

A chainsaw will save the world

The tiny little green line at the end of many emails "Do you really need to print this email?" is no longer enough to prevent us from printing tons of stuffs. It was time for a new viral message to be spread, and BBH Asia Pac came up with a smart idea to drive attention back: the USB chainsaw.




It was actually an amusing hoax. The idea is that everytime we hit the "CTRL + P" button on our keyboard we are actually activating the digital chainsaw to destroy trees. We print too much, and save too little. Make sure to download the chainsaw app on your computer which will play the horrible chainsaw sound effects whenever you press "CTRL + P" on our keyboard. Just a little gentle reminder the next time we print out those one-liner emails.

Source:
http://www.adverblog.com/archives/003949.htm

New York Subway: Augmented Reality iPhone App

Acrossair are launching what might be the first Augmented Reality iPhone App. Called Nearest Tube, the iPhone app for 3GS uses the inbuilt GPS + Compass to bring an augmented reality experience to your iPhone to help you find the closest subway station entrance! It works when held flat by showing you lines and directions to the nearest station or hold up at chest height and watch it put live markers in-front of you to follow! Very cool.

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/new-york-subway-augmented-reality-iphone-app/

Doritos: iD3 Campaign

Doritos launched a new promotional campaign where the consumer must guess what the new flavor of the brand. The campaign was created by iD3 called initials, and shall be officially launched on 21 July. Consumers will have to try the new product, entering the campaign’s site and try to guess what the flavor and the chance to compete to win 20,000 pounds. The site also contains an interactive game that will give a series of awards for consumer electronics.
You can watch the campaign trailer or click here to check out the website.

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/doritos-id3-campaign/

Top 10 Social Media Presentations

Some of the social media presentations loose their punch with out the speaker actually talking you through it, but I’m sure you’ll all find every side valuable. Note: Some are a little basic while others are much more advanced so there is something for everyone here! (via eConsultancy)

Introduction to Social Media

What The F**K is Social Media?

Social Media

Branding 2.0 & Social Media

Social Media Strategy

Social Media Measurement

Social Media ROI

Social Media Optimization: An Easy Guide to Marketing and Promoting Your Blog

Social Media Relations

How Obama Won Using Digital and Social Media

So there it is, the Top 10 Social Media Presentations on SlideShare. Do you agree? If not, I’d love to hear what you think and or links to other great Social Media presentations online. Otherwise, hope you found this helpful!

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/the-top-10-social-media-presentations-online/

Fanta plays with great mobile applications

Fanta (Coca-Cola Company) is about to launch a very innovative campaign on mobile across Europe at the end of January. Alongside the classic goodies (wallpapers, ringtones ...), and a game, the wap site will offer original applications too.

The most amazing one must be its virtual tennis. It is the world's first 3D augmented reality tennis game, in which two phones connect via bluetooth before playing a game of tennis, using a "court" printed from http://www.fanta.eu/. Players can then use their mobile devices as tennis racquets to hit a virtual ball whose movement is determined by the angle and position of the phone.



Source:
http://www.adverblog.com/archives/003689.htm

Screensavers Race

Intel Brazil created probably one of the the most original screensavers ever, take this video as an example of what is it about:



Source:
http://www.adverblog.com/archives/003702.htm

Philips vs Twitter

Philips is convinced of the quality and power of it's own products, so it decide to take on any challenge for any of it's product in a new campaign called Philips Versus. Interesting twist is that the campaign is running almost fully on Twitter (@philips_vs).



Basic idea is that you tweet your (most crazy) idea about what a Philips product should take on, and the chosen idea wins the 21:9 Cinema TV and will be produced. To give some inspiration, a couple of ideas are already produced by responsible agency Tribal DDB, as you can see on the supporting campaign website.

Source:
http://www.adverblog.com/archives/003927.htm

Coke Lights sings a song

Here in Italy Coca-Cola Light has launched a karaoke website which invites women to sing a Duffy song in front of a webcam in order to share it with the world.



Even if my very first reaction was pretty negative, I think the project is based on a good idea which simply doesn't fit Coke. What I mean is that while I was watching the videos my mind went to more epical tracks like for example We Are The World or Bohemian Rapsody. So the website makes you want to sing (or at least try to) in front of a webcam and has a good viral potential, but Duffy's song doesn't fit. Imagine the same karaoke idea applied to the promotion of a new album by Madonna, Robbie Williams or, even better, to drive some energy back to a record label.

The agency is Scholz & Volkmer.

Source:
http://www.adverblog.com/archives/003934.htm

Volvo S60 Concept Car - the race simulator

This is the oddest thing Volvo has ever made - a free flash game of its new upcoming S60 concept car. No, this isn't just a race car game but a very good simulation of how the car will drive; very GTRish!

Don't be surprised if you suck at the game, as any simulation type game requires a lot of practice, but the fact that it's in a flash form doesn't give the feel of a serious simulation even though it is at first.

Not only is the car real, so are the tracks with the "Eco Drive Arena" in Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Chayka race track in Kiew, Ukraine. Typical game modes include competing against computer AI and best lap-times against yourself or better, against players from around the world through internet multiplayer.

There seems to be a shift in trend with a surge of simulators from fancy car makers such as Mercedes and BMW. These car manufacturers are aiming at attracting fat around the middle and definitely fat in the wallet kind of men, by offering these games free and install free in the form of flash games. A nice way to market their product and give a free trial!



other similar games by companies

http://www.volvocars.com/intl/All-Cars-MY09/conceptcars/Pages/S60concept.aspx
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/mseries/m3coupe/2007/experience/game/content.html
http://flashgamesite.com/play1205game.html


Source:
http://www.techtree.com/India/Guides/Freeware_Five/551-103949-584-5.html

The Dark Knight Viral: Why So Serious? Case Study

This is The Dark Knight Viral “Why So Serious?” Case Study. The “Why So Serious?” campaign won the Cannes 2009 Cyber Grand Prix in the viral category. It was a huge global success, with over 10 million unique players participating! It was created by 42 Entertainment.

Source:
http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/the-dark-knight-viral-why-so-serious-case-study/