Introducing an Internet of Small Voices
Android already has a little bit of it. And if the rumors are correct, Apple’s next mobile operating system iOS 5 is going to be shock-full of it. I am talking about voice commands, which – given the cloud – are nothing but the future vocal interface for the internet. With the press now focusing mostly on hardware battles (“Can the Xoom beat the iPad2?”) we have almost overlooked some signifcant advances in mobile interfaces.... Read More
Advertising is lazy
Interview with Johnny Vulkan, Anomaly. If an agency names itself Anomaly, it forces a burden of proof on itself that wouldn’t be there, had it just picked a bunch of initials. However, Johnny Vulkan, one of the founders of the New York marketing outfit, doesn’t look like he’s about to crumble under the pressure: “We don’t think of ourselves as an advertising agency.” he insists. Strange words from an company that... Read More
Creativity is now a Mix of Science and Art.
We used to be able to make pretty ads all by ourselves. But as the borderline between digital and traditional advertising is disappearing, so is the possibility of doing commercials as an individual sport. Thus, when I recently met Creative Director Juan Morales from SapientNitro in their Miami Beach office, I was curious about their creative culture. They seem to have found a way to use technology to surprise – and even bring forth a chuckle.... Read More
American Express and the Rebirth of the Patron
Soul superstar John Legend said something memorable about his recent partnership with American Express on the “unstaged” series on YouTube/Vevo: “It was a relief to not have to worry about how well the songs would do on the radio.” (AdWeek 2010) In an ironic twist, Branded Entertainment seems to have created a space of artistic liberty that stands in fundamental opposition to the day-to-day economic burdens of a platinum selling... Read More
Let the spending soar. The Battle of Keynes vs. Hayek.
Take away the political showboating and petty tax schemes and Capitalism boils down to two ideas -- embraced in battle. Hayek vs. Keynes; Govt. bashing vs. Govt. spending. Looking at their philosophies duking it out in this rap video -- I’ll be rolling with Keynes. Limo! Read More
