Greatest Day Ever - 'Game of Thrones' Season Two Teaser

Apple looking to launch Siri-powered TV by 2013

We knew this was coming.  Via GigaOm:

The Apple television is the latest, hottest subject of the rumor mill that surrounds the company. On Thursday, the New York Times‘ Nick Bilton published a lengthy report related to the still-unconfirmed product, revealing many details sourced from Apple employees and others close to the company who spoke to him on the condition of anonymity. Bilton says Siri is the key to Jobs’ feeling that he finally “cracked it,” as Walter Isaacson’s biography quotes him saying. What he cracked was a streamlining of the interface so that control is intuitive and simple. Thanks to Siri, Bilton says, you could now just talk to your TV set, and it would respond to your commands. Other new details include plans dating back as early as 2007, after Apple had released the original Apple TV, to make a complete set. The product has since been definitely in the works at Apple, its development spurred on by the fact that “Steve thinks to the industry is totally broken,” according to one of Bilton’s source. In the Isaacson biography, it’s revealed that many other successful Apple products, including the iPod and the iPhone, were created based on the same sense on the part of Jobs that what was already out there was sub-par. As to when this might arrive, Bilton says it is “close enough” now that it might be announced as early as late 2012, with a 2013 release date in terms of actually getting the product in the hands of consumers. The hold-up is mainly about waiting until the cost of large display components falls far enough to make it possible for Apple to offer the TV at a competitive price point. Making the product thin and light is also another development hurdle facing its release, according to the report. Many pundits have proclaimed an Apple television a bad idea, but it’s a chorus we’ve heard many times before; the iPod, iPhone and iPad all had very vocal detractors, with plenty ofnegative reaction even after the product was actually unveiled. Also, as John Gruber points out, commenting on the release of the Bloomberg TV 24-hour live video app, “Apps are the new channels.” If Apple can get more content providers to produce similar content-delivery solutions for its iOS devices, it’ll have much bait with which to lure potential Apple television customers whenever that product does make it to market.

Nike Ad: 'Basketball Never Stops'

Nike has told the NBA lockout to suck it, via an awesome ad they've put together combining hoop heroes at both the professional and collegiate level [Ed's note: no money was paid to any college athletes.  Just covering my ass here].  Just because the millionaires aren't getting their Maserati insurance covered right now, the game doesn't stop:

YouTube Announces Channel Strategy

Yes this is days old, but it was Halloween weekend, so simmer down.  As expected, YouTube finally announced a series of category focused channels, making it look even more like a MSO.  What's interesting is that they sold off the individual channels to different content providers, and a close source to me from Digital Broadcasting Group (owner of the 'Spaces' channel), told me that it was insanely competitive to get a slot.

Here's what AdWeek said about it all:

After months of speculation with almost no official confirmation, YouTube has finally announced its long-awaited channel strategy in a post to the company’s blog late Friday evening. The announcement falls in line with what had previously been reported in the press: namely that YouTube will be expanding its lineup of channels to include new offerings from a variety of partners, including well-known personalities and brands in the Hollywood, music, news, and sports worlds. “These channels will have something for everyone, whether you’re a mom, a comedy fan, a sports nut, a music lover or a pop-culture maven,” YouTube’s global head of content partnershipsRobert Kyncl said in the post. Under the new system, content creators—like Vice Media or the video game lifestyle network Machinima, for example—will have a dedicated channel on the site that they will control, continually updating it with video content. YouTube, for its part, will sell ads against that video inventory. YouTube is seeking to organize its site much in the way a cable provider organizes linear TV channels—a fact that Kyncl acknowledged in his post today. “Cable television expanded our viewing possibilities from just a handful of channels to hundreds, and brought us some of the most defining media experiences of the last few decades—think MTV, ESPN, and HBO,” Kyncl wrote. “Today, the Web is bringing us entertainment from an even wider range of talented producers, and many of the defining channels of the next are being born, and watched, on YouTube. “ The channel announcement comes on the heels of a number of other content initiatives from YouTube in recent months, such as its Partner Grant program—announced in July—which sets aside a total of $5 million in creative grants for qualifying video makers to improve their video content. The efforts are aimed at coaxing viewers into engaging with YouTube as they engage with television, spending much more time watching a wider, more compelling array of video content. As YouTube chief Salar Kamangar wrote last May in a blog post entitled "Welcome to the future of video. Please stay a while," "You’re spending just 15 minutes a day on YouTube, and spending five hours a day watching TV. As the lines between online and offline continue to blur, we think that’s going to change."

I Finally Played Angry Birds

After all the chaos and cult like activity around Angry Birds, I finally get it.  It's outrageously stupid and simple, but addicting as hell.  I'm playing it on the Chrome App, amazing.

The Rumors Are True; MC Hammer Is a Start-Up Guy

I had heard this before when a close friend from a targeting company said, "Hammer was at our launch party for our app."  I of course thought he meant they were playing "Ice Ice Baby" on repeat.  Little did I realize that the parachute pants man himself was at their PingMe launch party.

So then I read last week that Hammer is launching a search engine, that oddly enough cannot be found in Google search (check that metadata Hammer). [EDS note I finally just found it after days of searching]  Hammer, born Stanley Kirk Burrell, is challenging the Mountain View Googlers with his new project Wiredoo. Currently in beta and accepting private users, Wiredoo will act as a “deep search” or “relationship” engine. Rather than just return “the 10 blue links” of keyword-based results, he explained in an interview with Web 2.0 summit co-producer O’Reilly Media, WireDoo will also display more tangential data culled from Web indices, public data, and social media. A Zip Code search might net local school statistics and home prices, for example.

As per the question with any search related offering, do we care?  Don't the leaders in the space have it down pretty good?  If anyone can tell me the last time a general search query turned up really blank and useless, you get a small token from the Rants laire.

hopefully they are ready by the time Hammer's series C runs out

Virality Done Right by EVB

Evolution Bureau in San Francisco has set the bar high again with a hilarious series of one minute videos for "Pet's Add Life," a campaign for the American Pet Products Association.

Calling The Digital Ad Industry; Let's Start Taking Banners Off Web Pages

Now, before everyone who works for an ad exchange, banner ad network, RTB or yield optimization firm flips their shit and calls me susie, just hear me out.  I want to make a case for removing advertising from our sites, and I'm a seller, so in theory I want that space.

First, for this entire rant, let's immediate remove the following ad products from the conversation because they are separate; pull downs, peel backs, expandable home page units, page skins, takeovers, etc.  What I'm talking about is your everyday standard IAB banners.

Let's just say we wanted to start driving up the value of ad inventory again (gasp, why would we want that).  I don't think anyone would argue that there is more banner space available than the market is demanding.  Fair to say, you can go to any major website, navigate 15 pages in and there are still leaderboards and skyscrapers everywhere.  Now, those useless placements are selling for pennies on ad exchanges and optimizers are crunching every penny in real time bidding environments to very slightly outbid someone else's minute spend threshold.  I'm making the case that if we move back to a model where we minimalized overall ad frequency and touch points in banners, we on the publishing side would maintain higher quality of advertiser and higher pricepoint.  Adversely, advertisers now avoid ad clutter and actually get their message across.  Lastly, consumers don't suffer from advertising overload and they actually respond to messaging like they did in the good old days.  Keep the level of targeting up but reduce ad clutter, I think you see better performance.

My focus is in video, and I have strong concerns about the commodization of long tail video.  There is no doubt that premium video inventory (I'm talking pre-roll only) will always command a high pricepoint.  It's a unique one on one interaction.  But the price is being driven down by exchanges drudging up video inventory and shipping it off for pennies, yet the value of the placement remains high.  Yes there was another subtle point in there; price and value are two different things.

On an aside, can someone tell me if ad exchanges are actually making money?  How many ways can you slice up a penny?

Nike Soccer Commercial's Are Like Michael Bay Movies

Slow motion camera work, bumping bass, Wayne Rooney voice over.  Wow.  Production value is high.

The Antelope Who Crushed The Biker

We've all seen it, but let's see it again.
 

Looks Like The iPhone 5 Is Officially Coming

Apple is hosting its next iPhone event at its Cupertino, California headquarters on Oct. 4. Press invites landed in media inboxes first thing this morning, with a very enticing tag line: “Let’s Talk iPhone.”

Tim Cook is expected to be master of ceremonies at the event now that he is Apple’s CEO. The media event is taking place at Apple’s 1 Infinite Loop HQ, out of the norm from past iPhone events held in the city of San Francisco.

At the event, we’ll find out once and for all if we’re getting an iPhone 5 or an additional budget iPhone 4S. The iPhone 5 is reported to have a larger, possibly edge-to-edge display, a thinner silhouette and an elongated home button. It’s also expected to house an A5 processor, like that of the iPad 2.

'GazeHawk: Eye Tracking For Everyone'

Came across this little gem at AdAge west.  Going on their second year in existence, GazeHawk is an eye tracking technology company that provides consultative research and reports to publishers and advertisers to improve ad effectiveness.  Their technology accesses a users webcam, asks for permission to track their visual patterns, and then runs that user through a quick calibration test.  After that, it's open season.  GazeHawk can determine which ad units on a page are most effective aka get the most exposure to the eye, and then passes back that info to the pub/advertiser.

For a publisher, you can see this being a HUGE asset when it comes to valuing their ad space, charging premiums for the units with more attention, and vice versa.  For an advertiser, you can better determine what you should be paying for those same units.

On the macro level, this is in fact a big step away from using click throughs as a measurement of success.  As a player in the video space this is music to my ears.  My only drawback is that they ask for permission from the user.  This absolutely needs to be an opt-in system, however as soon as the user knows what you are studying, their behavior changes.  There is no way around that.

Detractors from The Hawk (are they not using that nickname yet?) will press on the creepyness factor here, which is in no way helped by their aggressive company name.  But if you talk to the fat cats in Washington, opt-in makes it a free zone, so Gaze on my friends.

AdAge Digital West: a Semi-Diary

Well, another conference on the books for today. Checking out AdAge's first digital focused conference on the West Coast. The morning started strong with the Global CMO and Digital Director for Levi's giving us their perspective on the world and intro'ing the Go Forth campaign. Here's a crappy cell phone pic of them for you to decipher:

What a Gem!! Qwikster Twitter Feed Owned By Some Hoodlum

So, on the day that Netflix announces that their DVD service is now named Qwikster, and that they are launching a new business with separate P&Ls, the online community was quick to seek out places where the handle "Qwikster" was already in play.

Well let's heap the praise to the crew at Gizmodo for their find of the @Qwikster Twitter handle.  As they put it, "Netflix Doesn’t Own Qwikster Twitter Feed. This Foulmouthed Pothead Does."  Enjoy:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/09/netflix-qwikster-elmo-pothead/?pid=2457

An Exciting Weekend in LA No Doubt

the homestead quatro

4.1 miles / 6.5983104 km
Created 09.15.11 by abergman21

An Actual Apple TV In 2012?

We've all known this was coming, but Bloomberg seems to have dug up the real evidence proving that Apple is investing in an actual television.

There's a $14 billion rationale for this prediction but first, let's explore the rumors. This summer Piper Jaffray (NYSE: PJC - News) analyst Gene Munster dug through component suppliers and found evidence that Apple is gearing up to produce a real TV set by late 2012. Venture capitalist Stewart Alsop, a former board member at TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO - News), has published rumors that Apple has a television coming. And Steve Jobs himself hinted last year that Apple might build a real television unit.


"The television industry ... pretty much undermines innovation in the sector," Jobs said at the All Things Digital Conference in July 2010. "The only way this is going to change is if you start from scratch, tear up the box, redesign, and get it to the consumer in a way that they want to buy it."

Jobs's quote is good advice for his successor as chief executive officer, Tim Cook, who needs a hit. The TV industry is changing more than at any time in the past 50 years, and billions of dollars are going into play for the winners. As Apple crests in the phone and tablet markets, its investors will want a new frontier.

TV is the future because it remains king of all media. While handsets get hyped, the typical U.S. consumer watches 5 hours and 9 minutes of TV a day, according to Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN - News), and even younger adults 18 to 24 years old—the supposed digital generation—view 3 hours and 30 minutes on televisions daily, vs. only 49 minutes on the Web and 20 minutes on mobile. We all love to lean back. With so much of the consumer's time, TV has become bloated with waste. The average U.S. home receives 130 cable channels but "tunes to"—or punches in the exact channel number on the remote—just 18 channels a year. Channel surfing has died. A whopping 86% of available channels are never used by an individual viewer.

Lots of Disenchanted TV Subscribers

Consumers pay a lot for all this video waste and they don't like it. The average cable bill is $75 per month, which means that each year 83 million households pay $74 billion to the top eight TV-subscription services. This is why so-called "cord cutting," by which consumers drop cable to watch videos on Roku, Hulu, or the Xbox 360 from Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - News) is accelerating; Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA - News), the leading U.S. cable system, lost 238,000 subscribers in the second quarter. If Apple were to offer a better service, people might pay up for it.

A second lure for Apple is TV advertising. Unlike U.S. mobile-ad spending, which EMarketer says will barely break $1 billion in 2010 despite years of hype, the TV ad spend in the U.S. totaled $70 billion in 2010 and is forecast by Forrester Research (Nasdaq: FORR - News) to reach $84 billion by 2015. If Apple could gain just 10% of the $74 billion in current video subscription fees and $70 billion in television ad media, it would take in more than $14 billion in additional annual, recurring revenue.

Apple faces plenty of hurdles. For one thing, TV sets are an infrequent purchase. Apple likes to sell products with built-in obsolescence that you "need" to replace every 18 months—iPhone 5, anyone?—and a flashy TV set doesn't call for an aluminum upgrade next year. Apple also has struggled to get content providers to embrace its current Apple TV box. In August, Apple stopped renting TV shows for 99¢ on the gadget, claiming that consumers overwhelmingly prefer to buy TV shows. But it could be that Apple's media partners considered 99¢ far too cheap. With billions of dollars at stake, media producers and cable giants will fiercely defend their video-distribution modes.

Apple noted this risk in its 2010 annual report, in which it said it "relies on third party digital content, which may not be available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms or at all." Bear in mind that the record labels were losing to digital pirates when Apple's iTunes came along to save them; the video giants have no similar motive to play along now.

TV as Bold as the IPhone

That's not an insurmountable obstacle. Apple has some $76 billion in cash and a history of entering unexpected partnerships. AT&T (NYSE: T - News) and Verizon helping to sell iPhones? Who'd have thought? The biggest fight may be with new video competitors that are emerging everywhere. Netflix has embedded itself in scores of hardware devices, including TV sets and the Wii from Nintendo (Nasdaq: GOOG - News) also has a TV service and its acquisition of Motorola shows that it also wants to own related hardware devices. To win the living room, Apple will need an innovation comparable to that of its iPhone—something that changes TV sets in a fundamental way.

What about 3D? In 2010, Apple won a patent for a revolutionary new 3D screen system that would not require glasses and could be viewed by multiple people at the same time. The patent went so far as to slam current 3D systems, noting that most people dislike goggles and dismissing current non-glasses systems as "essentially unworkable for projecting a 3D image ... to an entire audience."

What solution did Apple propose? An "unobstructed 3D viewing device" that would give each viewer a different line of sight for both left and right eye, perfecting a stereoscopic image for a group of viewers watching one giant screen. The Apple patent even had a cool name for the result: a hologram. Could Apple put holograms in every home, break the stranglehold of cable companies, and unlock a $14 billion TV revenue stream? It's an audacious and perhaps crazy idea.

Tim Cook, I like the way you think.

___

Are We Surprised People Are Pissed at Netflix?

via AllThingsD

Turns out Netflix customers took the service's recent price hike harder than expected. As a result, the multiplatform video rental company has had to cut third -quarter U.S. subscriber projections by 4% from 25 million to 24 million. "The majority of the shrinkage, Netflix says, will come from its DVD-only customers," reports All Things D.

Still, "Netflix now sees 9.8 million streaming-only customers, down from 10 million previously, and 2.2 million DVD-only customers, down from 3 million expected previously," Barron's Tech Trader Daily reports. "Total streaming  said it expected a bump in third-quarter revenues as a result of the price hike (for DVD and streaming video joint subscribers).

Despite the new subscriber growth projections, "Netflix said that its financial outlook hasn't changed," ZDNet writes. "In other words, the financials add up for Netflix."

Netflix also originally said it expected its growth trajectory to resume by the end of the year, but the chances of that are now looking less likely. Regarding to change, GigaOm writes: "That appears to have had an effect on the number of people subscribing to the service."

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said he saw all this coming. "We knew what we were getting into," he said, according to All Things D. "We tried to be as straightforward as we could, and that has worked out very well for us."

Said Netflix in a statement: "We know our decision to split our services has upset many of our subscribers, which we don't take lightly, but we believe this split will help us make our services better for subscribers and shareholders for years to come."

Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL Merge; The Blind Leading The Blind

I've said it once, I've said it a million times...there is more banner inventory than the market demands. Period. Now the Three Stooges are grumbling in a dark room somewhere trying to steal back ad dollars from networks because Google is kicking their ass and they can't figure out up from down. So they are pooling together all their remnant crap that they can't sell, but they figure whatever fill rate they can pool together collectively, at least they'll split the revenue as opposed to paying off the big display networks. Why does this seem like a skit in a bad movie where three high school jocks with zero sense of things team up to dump spaghetti down the pants of our heroic nerd who is going to bang the hot chick at the end? Here's the one interesting twist. Yahoo is a disaster organizationally. No CEO, no back up plan. Maybe a fire sale of assets coming. But does the public and more importantly, the media buying community care? Yahoo.com is still the homepage of champions, and dominates the world over. That's off topic, but I was thinking about it no less.

RORY MCILROY SHOWS OFF HIS CHIPPING SKILLS DURING A 1999 TV APPEARANCE

Too damn good...

Testing For Ads

'Chrysler: Imported From Detroit' Featuring Eminem

Definitely my favorite spot of the Superbowl. Gritty and tough...

The Actual Anderson Cooper Attack Footage

Anderson Cooper got attacked in Egypt

He's a rich white American. Who knew these pro-Mubarek folks had a problem with that?

A Cord Cutting Experiment By Hill Holiday

A great experiment when you remove the traditional cable option from a families home and have them rely on an over the top box. Apparently TV is way more lean back than we expected.  The testers had the option of Apple TV, a Roku, Boxee Box, Xbox 360 or Google TV.


An Experiment In Cord Cutting from Hill Holliday on Vimeo.

Netflix's Facebook Integration Marks Shift Away From Viewing 'Households'

Interesting stuff on Netflix incorporating Facebook. Makes total sense, think about how many users of Netflix are streaming on the go as opposed to ordering DVDs.

by Gavin O'Malley,


Representing a strategic about-face, Netflix says it is currently baking Facebook into its entire service -- in large part to encourage a segmenting of household accounts into multiple personal accounts.

"We're working on an extensive Facebook integration, which will further the notion of a personal Netflix account," Netflix said in a shareholder letter issued this week.

Netflix accounts have traditionally been affiliated with individual home addresses, but more screens per household -- along with more diverse offerings -- gives Netflix the opportunity to mine households for multiple accounts.

"When we were primarily a DVD-by-mail service, we measured our market in terms of households," Netflix said. "Households subscribed to Netflix and members of the household watched the DVDs as they wanted ... Online streaming video, however, is more naturally individual, since it is watched on personal screens like phones, tablets, and laptops, as well as on shared large screen televisions."

Netflix previously launched social tools, but scrapped them last year after they failed to take off. Mike Hart, previously Netflix's director of engineering for APIs, is now director of engineering for social.

"Our long-term goal is to evolve the Netflix service so that it feels more natural to have a personal account," Netflix said this week. "This evolution from household to personal relationship will take several years, and there will always be some households that only have one account."

In what may prove a challenge to Netflix's social strategy, a recent study found that the TV watching isn't as "social" an experience as one might assume. Rather, just 25% of consumers expressed an interest in sharing what they watch with friends, according to SideReel, which helps users find content and TV shows online.

Going forward, however, that may be the least of Netflix's problems. Its relationship with media companies could soon change when a deal with pay-TV channel Starz to stream movies from Sony and Disney expires. Indeed, Richard Greenfield, an analyst at BTIG research, estimated that the cost of the deal could go up from $25 million a year to more than $250 million a year.

Overall, according to research firm Screen Digest, Netflix revenues for 2010 were expected to reach $2.2 billion.

Netflix's snail-mail business was expected to account for 35% of disc-rental spending in the U.S. in 2010 -- up from 26% in 2009, according to Screen Digest.

Kobe Bryant is, "The Black Mamba" - Directed by Robert Rodriguez

What an amazing find by Luaggz of Advertise Me...

Kobe and Robert Rodriguez team up the make "The Black Mamba."  Hilarious!  http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikebasketball/en_US/

Andy Gray Officially Axed By Sky Sports in Sexism Scandal

Pundit Andy Gray has left Sky Sports in the aftermath of his controversial comments on female officials.

Sky has confirmed it has terminated his contract in light of "new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour".

Along with presenter Richard Keys, Gray was caught off camera making controversial comments about assistant referee Sian Massey ahead of Liverpool's 3-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday.

Keys suggested that "somebody better get down there and explain offside to her", and Gray added: "They probably don't know the offside rule".

Sky News released footage on Monday evening of Gray in conversation with Sky Sports reporter Andy Burton. Burton, who has been stood down for Wednesday night's Carling Cup semi-final, referred to Massey as a "bit of a looker" while Gray again said she would be unaware of the offside rule.

Keys has since telephoned Massey to apologise and, although Gray had not been in contact, a Sky spokesman said: "It wasn't a case of Andy not apologising. It doesn't really make sense for both of them to call."

However, after footage emerged of Gray joking that Sky Sports News presenter Charlotte Jackson should help him to tuck his shirt in, he has now left the company.

A statement read: "Sky Sports today terminated its contract with Andy Gray. The decision, which is effective immediately, was made in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour.

"The new evidence, relating to an off-air incident that took place in December 2010, came to light after Andy Gray had already been subjected to disciplinary action for his comments of January 22, 2011."

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said on Tuesday: "Andy Gray's contract has been terminated for unacceptable behaviour.

"After issuing a warning yesterday, we have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today."

Massey has been withdrawn from the League Two game between Crewe and Bradford on Tuesday night.

Professional Game Match Officials general manager Mike Riley said: "PGMO and Sian believe that, with any football match, the focus should not be on the officials but on the players and the game itself.

"Sian is an excellent professional who has unwittingly found herself in the middle of a story that has nothing to do with her competence as a match official.

"Sian only wants to be notable for her performance as an assistant referee and is keen for things to get back to normal so she can return to officiating as soon as possible.

"Sian has the full backing of PGMO and we hope she continues her development, which has shown excellent progress so far. It is important for PGMO to have talented people from all backgrounds getting involved in refereeing.

"The more people are attracted to the game, the better standards will be, and the more everyone can talk about the football."

Clickable TV Ads; Yay or Nay?

For a variety of reasons, I left my house 2-3 times at the most this weekend. What that means is that I've been watching more TV than is healthy for any single individual (my GF was with me so let's chalk 50% off of my consumption).

What I noticed was that on three different cable stations [ed note; we are talking cable networks, not a primary network e.g. ABC, NBC...], was that clickable TV ads had a larger presence than I've ever seen before.  Up until yesterday, I had seen a sum total of 1 clickable TV ad on my Comcast box.  It was a GM ad that offered me the chance to click onto a screen, enter my address, and then get sent a brochure on the Chevy Silverado truck.  The input process was laborious and time consuming, and I didn't finish.  However, the idea of it all was astounding.  A true DR TV ad?  Watch an ad and perform a response?  Wild stuff.

Back to this weekend; three cosmetic ads offering to click for a coupon that would be emailed to me.  Very easy process, one entry field.  Let's make it clear the aesthetics of these ads were terrible, they looked like Comcast's guide.  But, as time-shifted television continues to become a more prevalent topic, as well as DVRs, connected TVs, etc., do we think interactive television ads are too little too late?  Or are they cable networks saving grace for not losing all their money to the online space?

Verizon's First iPhone Commercial?

Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Kevin Durant Go Back To The Future

These spots are turning up all over the place, so I figured it was time for them to nest here at Rants.  Goodby Silverstein and Partners has crushed it again for the NBA, this time bringing in a little 'Ghost of Christmas Future,' if you will.  They super-imposed characters into old footage of Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Kevin Durant, and they are dropping hints about there future.  Ever since Goodby and the NBA teamed up, it's been of juggernaut of phenomenal creative and these spots are all on par.  Enjoy...

Don't Let Greenwashing Fears Hold You Back

Great article by Ian Yolles, chief sustainability officer of RecycleBank, a green rewards program that works with companies and brands such as Procter & Gamble, Kashi and Naked Juice to mobilize and reward consumers for taking environmentally preferred action while creating sustainability initiatives.


The article calls for consumers to take action against brands who are taking advantage of eco-conscious shoppers by pressing a "green" product with little "green" to it.

Accusations of greenwashing are rampant right now, and many are well-founded. Research shows that consumers are more likely to purchase products from a brand perceived to be more "sustainable"; that is, if faced with a choice (and price being relatively equal), they would select the "greener" product. To capitalize on this trend, some companies have cobbled together feeble marketing programs that have gotten them called out for greenwashing.

Yet today's consumer is increasingly savvy and quick to speak out against those companies they feel are falsely marketing themselves to profit from the eco-conscious shopper. Social media give anyone the ability to immediately amplify and propagate their dissatisfaction, which can serve as a forceful greenwashing deterrent. This, coupled with some outspoken independent groups, has created a bit of a wild west environment for greemarketing monitoring within the private sector.

On one hand, policing by industry and consumer forces is positive, weeding out those that are talking the talk but not walking the walk. On the other, I wonder if the fear of being labeled a greenwasher is preventing brands that are earnestly looking to do something positive from doing so for fear of a massive backlash. Is our desire to protect the consumer and police the industry hindering us from making real progress in moving toward a more sustainable future?

When it comes to the notion of a purpose-driven brand and being green, it is important to acknowledge that, in the absolute sense, there's no such thing as a truly green or truly sustainable product or company. It's about a journey, a continuum. Whether you're talking about individual products or brands and businesses, everyone is somewhere along the continuum of becoming more sustainable. The key is to be transparent about where you are.

On the spectrum, there are those that have green DNA intrinsically embedded in their businesses. It is their foundation, the core of their company, service or product. Others are trying to find a way to integrate sustainability attributes into their products and brands in a way that is meaningful and makes a difference. Moving along this continuum isn't something that happens overnight. It can be costly and time-consuming and sometimes is even fundamentally impossible. The shift often happens in small steps, especially regarding large brands, and each step needs to be taken one at a time.

So amid this climate of skepticism, how can companies move along this spectrum? Two ingredients can authentically translate corporate responsibility into a positive impact and help avoid accusations of greenwashing and a subsequent social backlash:

Take action: The process of change should reflect an "inside-out process." By that I mean start with your own house and take steps that move your business practices toward more sustainable solutions. As that process of internal transformation begins, it gives you permission to engage in a dialogue with your consumers. That creates an opportunity. It's even more powerful when the internal transformation inspires a shift in consumer behavior, moving individuals along the green spectrum as well. It's the "give a man a fish" strategy, and it can be accomplished through education or motivating action.

Make that action measurable and trackable: If you attach goals to your efforts, both internal and external, and are able to measure and track those goals, your efforts become more credible; the impact, more tangible. This also has a profound impact on consumer behavior. There are many different ways to motivate people. Given the magnitude of the issues we face, one of the most effective motivators is showing consumers the impact that their individual actions have in the context of the collective action of others.
I am the first to admit that this is not a magic solution. Despite having the best intentions, some companies still miss the mark when it comes to designing and executing sustainability-related programs and integrating them in a way that is relevant and meaningful from a consumer point of view.

Industry guidelines from the FTC and industry watchdogs can provide a useful framework and should inspire companies to create marketing campaigns that are authentically driven and are not misleading. But the creation of an official third-party validator in this domain is an unlikely panacea. If you are seeking credibility for your marketing initiatives by merely following regulatory bodies, you're missing the point altogether.

To appease the greenwashing cowboys and weary consumers—and to authentically align your brand with a larger social or environmental purpose—you should focus first on measurable internal actions and use those as a basis to engage your consumer audience in a dialogue that inspires them to act in accord with your brand.

Juan Pablo Angel Signs For The LA Galaxy

The LA Galaxy made a great pickup today in veteran Juan Pablo Angel. The former New York Red Bull and English Premier League striker moved coasts with championships in mind.

"I'm anxious to start this new challenge in my life and will do my best to bring back another championship to this city," Angel said in a statement.

With Edson Buddle currently on trial at Birmingham in the EPL, Angel could be a great relief to Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. The 35-year-old joins David Beckham and Landon Donovan as one of Galaxy's three Designated Players.

Roku Signs WealthTV As It's First Cable Channel

For those not familiar, Roku has been leading the way for years in the connected TV game.  All the sets that today come with ethernet plugs so you can run mobile style apps, are all copycats of Roku's original set top box connector.  Here's how they describe themselves:

Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch movies and TV shows from Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon VOD, listen to music on Pandora, catch the latest ballgame, and more — it's all available whenever you want it.

Back to today's news, Roku signed cable channel WealthTV.  To me this is a complete game changer for the connected TV space.  One of the major hurdles in bringing content exclusively to the digital space, as GoogleTV is learning the hard way, is the ownership and control of content distribution.  When a channel signs on to the major cable operators like Comcast and Time Warner, they sign away loads of power in regards to when and where that content gets distributed.  This Roku-WealthTV deal is a massive step in cutting the cord from traditional cable companies and moving towards an on-demand digital environment.

PaidContent says...
This will mark the first time a cable channel has joined the streaming device, which begs an obvious question: How is this even possible?

The dozens of brands already on Roku have one thing in common: they don’t have any deals in place with cable operators, who contractually insist on maintaining some degree of exclusivity. Otherwise the over-the-top TV revolution in which Roku has been a leading force would be much better able to compete with traditional multichannel services.

“We’re probably the only one in the industry who can do what we’re doing right now,” said Robert Herring, co-founder of WealthTV along with his son Charles Herring. “It’s going to be a chance to lead.”

“It’s the first domino to fall,” said Ed Lee, director of business development and content partnerships at Roku, who said other conversations were being held with other channels who he declined to specify.

For $2.99 per month, Roku users will be able to access both a replication of the 24/7 linear feed WealthTV offers to cable subscribers, as well as a VOD selection of its programs.

The loophole that WealthTV is slipping through is that it doesn’t have affiliate deals with either of the two biggest operators, Comcast (NSDQ: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC). They typically insist for an independent channel seeking linear carriage to sign a contractual clause known as an alternative distribution methods (ADM) clause and/or sometimes even sell some equity in the venture to the operator.

While WealthTV has deals with other prominent distributors including Charter Communications (NSDQ: CHTR) and Verizon Fios, its avoidance of the ADM clause has limited its footprint to just 11 million homes in the U.S. “Our agreements don’t include these clauses,” said Charles Herring. “Perhaps it has hurt us but it allows us to deploy where we choose.”

Since launching in 2004 with a programming lineup focused on luxury lifestyles, WealthTV has always taken its share of risks: It made the expensive decision to own all of its own programming and shoot it in HD, moves channels don’t typically make until years after launch. More recently, WealthTV became one of the first TV brands to distribute 3D content, which is being carried via Walmart-owned Vudu.

Not only is WealthTV the first cable channel Roku has added to its roster, but it will be among the first brands that will provide a linear feed to Roku, as well as include commercials. The latter capability is crucial to attracting programmers to a dual-revenue-stream opportunity, though dynamic ad insertion is not possible for video via Roku yet.

At the end of 2010, Roku disclosed that it had sold 1 million units and that its average subscriber was watching 11 hours per week, compared with the national average of 36 hours

Someone Wrote A Story on iPad Topping The Tablet Charts; Wasted Time

Did we need to have this story in my news feed today? I could also tell you the sun is hot, the sky is blue, and the chances of me falling asleep at my desk this afternoon are 100%.

ZDNET writes...

If there was any doubt that Apple currently dominates the tablet market, new IDC data shows that iPads accounted for 90% of all such devices sold in the third quarter. What’s more, “IDC reports that Apple’s iPad drove tablet demand almost exclusively in the third quarter,” notes ZDNet. “Global tablet shipments in the third quarter checked in at 4.8 million units in the third quarter, up from 3.3 million in the second quarter.” Meanwhile, Amazon has a commanding 41.5% share of the e-reader market, while e-reader shipments were 2.7 million units in the third quarter — up 40% year-over-year. “Price cuts helped spur e-reader sales,” ZDNet points out, adding: “The U.S. market accounts for almost 75 percent of the global e-reader market.” For 2010, IDC estimates that 17 million tablets will ship. In 2011, the tablet tally will be about 44.6 million. Meanwhile, “While Apple has a massive lead, the ramp of Android based tablets are expected to surge.” In particular, the Samsung Galaxy Tab was the first high-end Android tablet to launch and is expected to translate to fourth quarter sales.

Viral Video: Girl Falls Into a Mall Fountain While Texting

Just fantastic. This is the epitome of what's wrong with people these days. Pick your head up and lock it up! I'm sure that text was vital to her mall mission.

Steve Jobs Taking Another Medical Leave As Apple CEO

Steve Jobs has survived pancreatic cancer and has had a liver transplant, and yesterday, he told the world that he would be taking his second medical leave in two years. Of course, everyone's first reaction is in regards to the safety of Apple's stranglehold on the world, but I think it's safe to say that they'll be just fine. The announcement came on MLK Day, so the markets were closed. But Apple's stock price did take a minuscule 4.4% dive this morning.

In a note to employees, Jobs said he will continue as CEO and will be involved in major decisions. Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook will be responsible for all day-to-day operations.

The interesting piece about Apple is that Jobs holds an almost iconic, and cult like position. Considering his hand in the Apple revival of the last decade or so, it's not hard to understand why. However, so much of the public investor's confidence seems to rest on his announcements and public persona. Honestly, I have zero concern about the well-being of Apple. But the average American investor is fickle, so we'll see how it plays out.

Regis Philbin is Leaving 'Live With Regis and Kelly'

This has zero effect on my life, but the fact is Regis Philbin has been doing Live for 28 years.  In the media business that is beyond an eternity, and he absolutely goes down as one of the greatest daytime television personalities in the history of the game.

"It's been a long time, it's been 28 years since I've been here. And it was the biggest thrill of my life," Philbin, who will turn 80 in August, said on the program Tuesday morning.

He added jokingly: "Everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people."

English premier League Highlights; Week of 1/14

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video?vid=e6c50e38-b4ba-467b-a550-8f874d29424d" target="_new" title="">PL: Weekend Round Up</a>

MLS Superdraft Brings A Superstar Name To The League

Rooney scores at this year's MLS combine in Florida

Let me clarify ... the 2011 MLS Superdraft brought the brother of a superstar. John Rooney, younger brother to Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney, was selected by the New York Red Bull in the second round of yesterday's draft (he was the 25th pick overall).  What's ironic is that John came to the US to separate himself from his brother's reputation and make a name for himself.  I wonder if he had any idea that he would be drafted into the media hotbed that is NYC, alongside other superstars like Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez?  Not exactly the escape he was potentially planning (too bad Kansas City couldn't offer a spot, he could have fallen off the face of the Earth).

“I never expected to be going to the New York Red Bulls. It’s a dream come true for me,” said Rooney, a 5-10, 176-pound midfielder. “They’re probably one of the more well-known MLS teams in England. The league’s a great league, everyone knows the league, and the Red Bulls are such a big club. I never had a clue they would pick me.”

Rooney had been playing in the lower levels of English soccer but was looking for a clean start, away from the shadow of his oft-troubled brother. He trained with Seattle and Portland last summer but decided to come to the MLS Combine last week and show what he could do.

“We know what it’s like to play in the lower divisions in England,” Red Bulls general manager and sporting director Erik Soler said. “The guy is 20 years old. He did well in the combine in a different environment. We think we can develop him.

“It tells something about him when he goes into the combine. It can’t be easy for anybody to have a big brother like that with all the expectations. The fact that he chose to go and show himself off, to sit here and wait for 25 picks, we think it tells a little about the player. We don’t know him that well, but if things run a little bit in the family it might be surprisingly good for everybody.

“We liked what we saw. It’s a $43,000 risk. It’s not a huge risk.”

Like Wayne Rooney, John Rooney came up through the Everton youth system. But while Wayne shot into the Everton lineup as a teenager, John ended up at Macclesfield Town in England’s League Two. He has been looking for a change ever since.

“That’s the whole idea of me coming out here. I just want to build on my own career,” Rooney said. “There were some teams that took a look at me in England but I came over and trained with Seattle and Portland in August. It was just a great experience. I’m looking forward to getting started.”

FYI, Your Horoscope Didn't Really Change

By Claudine Zap

Fans of the Zodiac have been bombarded with the unsettling news that their astrological sign may not be what they thought.

The horror of switching from Gemini to Taurus had people rushing to the Web for answers, sending searches for "zodiac signs" into the stratosphere.

So has your sign changed? Probably not. But it all depends on what kind of astrology you follow. Let us explain.

It may come as a surprise that there are different branches of astrology. A main Eastern form, for example, called Sidereal astrology, looks to the background stars, those famous constellations, as its guide.

Western astrology -- which uses the zodiac -- has its signs fixed to the seasons. Most Westerners, and all those horoscope pages we eagerly check, go by the zodiac. These signs follow what early astrologers called star signs, whose reference points are the tropics that form a ring around the earth. The zodiac is based on our relationship to the sun, not the stars.

The back story: About 2,000 years ago, the astrological signs and the astronomical ones were the same. But not anymore. The locations of the signs are based on the sun's location on the first day of spring. That location in the sky has slowly drifted westward because of something called "precession" -- the earth continually wobbles (a scientific term for a slight motion) every 26,000 years. Since the constellations were first identified, they have shifted some 30 degrees. Translation: The signs have slipped about a month westward, relative to the stars.

What this means to you: If you follow astrology that is linked to the constellations, your sign would go from say, a Gemini to a Taurus. You could even have a 13th sign, Ophiuchus, which you may have read about.

"It's a huge point of confusion for the public," says Bing Quock, assistant director of Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences. For those who follow Western astrology, "astrologers are not talking about the constellations at all. When an astrologer says the sun is in a certain sign, they're talking about the sign, the location relative to the equinox. They're not talking about the location of the constellations. "

In short, if you follow the Sidereal astrology, the Eastern branch, your sign may have shifted. (And most likely, no surprise to you at all: This news is hundreds of years old).

But for the rest of us, our horoscope, and our signs, are still the same.

Intel and adidas Team Up For The Virtual Shoe Wall

It's an athlete's, techy's, sneakerhead's, brand whore's, gadget geek's, digi freak's MOST AMAZING DREAM COME TRUE!! This baby was unveiled at the 2011 National Retail Federation conference in NYC on Jan 11. The wall renders products in 3-D, and allows a shopper to spin and zoom in on the shoes, and call up specs from a touch-screen display. Particularly hot models, like adidas' F50 soccer shoe, have accompanying video and relevant information (like the fact that F50-clad feet scored 44 goals in last year's World Cup).



The wall was designed by Start Creative in the UK. "We've leveled the playing field for small retailers," says Chris Aubrey, VP, Global Retail Marketing for Germany-based Adidas. "They can now act like a big flagship store in a town like New York." Not to mention the fact that the installation turns flat walls into prime selling space.

Aubrey says a prototype store will likely roll out in about a year in the U.K. -- a country that's nearly as enthusiastic about e-commerce as the U.S., but close enough for executives from the company's European headquarters to keep a close eye on how the wall is working out. "Germany itself still lags a bit," in its appetite for online shopping, Aubrey says.

Footwear sales in general are bouncing back, he says, after taking a hit during the global melt-down of 2008. "We had a very good 2010," he says. "I think consumer confidence is back."

'Apple: The First Trillion-Dollar Company?'

[ed] Dave Morgan is always one of the more astute and analytical writers in the online game.  Great reflection today on a panel of big hitters that led to a talk on Apple's growth potential...

I participate on panels at a lot of trade and banking conferences, but probably none as fun and engaging as this past Tuesday's Gridley & Company's IDEA conference in New York. On our panel, which closed out the conference, was Kevin Ryan, CEO of Gilt Groupe; George Bell, CEO of Jumptap; Russ Fradin, former CEO of Adify and now CEO of Dynamic Signal; and our moderator, Henry Blodget of Business Insider.

The panel was a repeat performance from last year and, just as they did the year before, our hosts opened up the bar before the session started, and made sure to serve the panelists in addition to the audience. As you can imagine, it only enhanced what was certain to be the kind of frank discussion you might expect to hear from some grizzled digital entrepreneurs. That chemistry led to a number of thought-provoking exchanges among Henry and the panelists, but one really stood out for me.

At the end of the session, Henry asked what we thought about Apple's prospects over the next few years. We all agreed that Apple was on a tear and that the company's growth wasn't likely to slow down for some time. Then, Henry asked how high we thought that Apple's stock price could go. Kevin jumped right in and declared that Apple could be the world's first trillion-dollar company. Apple is doing great, but that's a pretty bold statement, given the company's current market capitalization of just above $300 million dollars.

I think Kevin is right. Here's why:
Apple is out-innovating and out-executing the entire market. No other company is delivering better consumer electronics products with better content and communications experiences to the market, and iterating them constantly, than Apple. Not only that, but no one else is delivering consumer electronic products and related software and content at the scale, and with the degree of customer service, that Apple is today. Not Sony. Not Samsung. Not LG. Not Google. No one.

iPhone and iPad market apogees well in the distance. As many iPhones and iPads as Apple has sold so far, the company has barely begun. Only this week did the largest mobile carrier in the U.S. announce plans to sell and support iPhones. IPad penetration in the U.S. is less than 3% of consumers. Hardware costs for both products are falling at an extraordinary rate. It is not inconceivable that in three years iPhones will be free with a standard mobile contract and iPads will cost less than $50. And, what happens when the 700 million Chinese and Indian mobile telephone users have access to affordable iPhones and iPads?

No close competitors yet. I spent the better part of last week at the Consumer Electronics Show. For as much cool stuff as I saw, I didn't see anything that was ready to truly rival Apple's products. Certainly, competitive or even superior products will show up in the market soon. However, given the rate with which Apple's business is accelerating, it has established a lead on competitors that will be nearly impossible to close. Apple is likely to be still gaining -- not losing -- market share for the better part of this decade.

What about Facebook? Kevin also said he thought Facebook could very well be the second trillion-dollar company. Might that happen? I don't know, but Facebook is certainly building an extraordinary business with extraordinary prospects for the future. Of course, I don't think that company strategists are doing anything that necessarily makes their success mutually exclusive to Apple's.
What do you think? Will Apple become the first trillion-dollar company?

Heineken Leads Viral Video Charts With Killer Party Entrance

Yes, it's from Wieden & Kennedy, as per usual with phenomenal spots.  "The Entrance" received 2,084,195 views this week as per AdAge's True Reach measurement tool, a partnership with Visible Measures.




*The Visible Measures Top 10 Viral Video Ad Campaigns Chart focuses on brand-driven viral video ads that appear on online-video-sharing destinations. Each campaign is measured on a True Reach basis, which includes viewership of both brand-syndicated video clips and viewer-driven social video placements. The data are compiled using the Visible Measures Viral Reach Database, a constantly growing repository of analytic data on more than 100 million internet videos across more than 150 video-sharing destinations.


Note: This analysis does not include Visible Measures' paid-placement (i.e., overlays, pre-/mid-/post-roll) performance data or video views on private sites. This chart does not include movie trailers, video-game campaigns, TV show or media network promotions, or public service announcements. View-count results are incremental by week.

12 Steps To Entrepreneurial Re-Invention

Great find by my boy Klong....

SecondAct contributor Michelle V. Rafter covers business and workplace issues for a variety of national publications. She is based in Portland, Oregon. The views expressed are her own –

Reinventing yourself at midlife is no simple undertaking, especially if it involves switching careers. It takes equal parts planning, stamina and guts.

But everybody’s got to start somewhere. Here are a dozen first steps, based on advice from SecondAct interviews with authors and other experts on careers and midlife transitions.

1. Take it one step at a time. If a career overhaul seems too overwhelming to take in all at once, break it down into multiple steps to make it easier to accomplish. “Have your second act build on your first,” said Davia Temin, a women’s leadership expert and head of a New York City marketing consulting firm.

2. Test the waters. A midlife switch is a big deal, and you’ll want to try it on for size first. Do a reality check by taking a class, volunteering or signing up for an internship in a field you’re exploring, said Bruce Frankel, author of “What Should I Do With The Rest Of My Life? True Stories of Finding Success, Passion, and New Meaning in the Second Half of Life“. Remember, internships aren’t just for college students anymore.

3. Find a mentor. What better guide to a new career than a mentor, someone who’s already been there, done that? But there are right ways and wrong ways to approach a would-be mentor. The purpose of the relationship may be for the experienced party to share accumulated wisdom, but it’s not a one-way street. Be prepared to give as much as you get. If you’ve identified a possible candidate, don’t ask “Will you be my mentor?” Anything so direct is off-putting, Temin said. Invite a would-be mentor for coffee and see how it goes. Be genuine. If a bond forms, you can gradually turn more of the conversation to your career goals.

4. Start by moonlighting. Before you quit your day job, get a little something going on the side. If you plan to moonlight, schedule at least two hours a day to work on your new business, try to adjust your full-time job schedule to accommodate a sideline venture, and make sure that your family is onboard, advised Melinda F. Emerson, entrepreneur, author and SecondAct’s Careers Columnist.

5. Get your financial affairs in order. If you’re contemplating a switch that’ll take time, money or both, make sure you have sufficient financial resources to cover the mortgage, insurance, the kids’ tuition and other basics while you’re in transition. Emerson suggested looking for ways to cut monthly expenses and saving 20 to 30 percent of each paycheck.

6. Look forward, not back. If you’re trying to sell yourself to a prospective employer in a new field, don’t dwell on past positions — people don’t care. “It doesn’t make you more qualified; it makes you ask for a higher salary,” said Penelope Trunk, a careers expert, author and blogger at Brazen Careerist. Instead, highlight skills and accomplishments you gained from previous jobs, and be prepared to explain how they’d make you an asset in a new situation.

7. Think small. Your quest for success could mean downsizing, as in working for yourself. That’s been the career path of choice for many people in their 40s and 50s who lost corporate jobs in the recession. “In most cases it would be easier to start a small enterprise working from home to create some revenue stream than to find a full-time paying job,” said Art Koff, founder of RetiredBrains, an online community and job board.

8. Be true to yourself. Don’t force yourself to be something you’re not. Entrepreneurship is great, but it’s not for everyone. It may take some soul searching or consulting with a career counselor to figure out what you’re best suited for. “Don’t think you already know who you are,” said Natalie Caine, a Southern California counselor who helps parents with empty-nest syndrome and other midlife transitions. “Walk, write, chat with good friends who support you, and ask ‘Who am I now? Who am I willing to become? What spooks me, and what is easy for me?’ Get support. Ask for help. Weep and stand tall again. Passion wins over and over even when it goes dormant,” Caine said.

9. Don’t wait for a new job to start making a difference. You don’t need to switch careers, companies or even positions to be a game-changer, Trunk said. Don’t wait for permission; simply take the initiative by recognizing a problem situation and fixing it on the job or in your personal life.

10. Don’t overthink things. Sometimes the hardest part of making a change is overcoming your own fears. When in doubt, make that call or send the resume. In other words, “Just do it,” said Wally Pacholka, who traded in a career as an accountant to be a night sky photographer.

11. Fake it ’til you make it. As you delve deeper into a change, continue to be curious and playful. Another tip from Frankel: Stay confident about your abilities, even if you have to act the part until you really feel that way.

12. Check your progress. Keep regular dates with a journal — at least once a month — to take stock of what you’ve done to advance your dreams, Frankel said. “A self-reporting card helps us see that we are making progress even when it may feel we are at a standstill, and it helps us to refocus on our goals,” he said.

'The Mechanics of Waimea' and Understanding The Perfect Wave

I'll tell you up front I know absolutely nothing about surfing.  Zero.  From the time I was 11 until I was 23 I was scared of sharks, despite never coming anywhere close to said beast.  However, I have immense respect for the ocean, which is what I think it takes to be a phenomenal surfer.  It's more than just being "radical" as Swayze would say in Point Break.  It's about understanding and respecting the power of the surf.  Gaining total clarity on how the swells and currents work, to both your advantage, and your peril.

So take in 'The Mechanics of Waimea," an unbelievable examination of the famed Waimea Bay surfspot, which hosts Quiksilver's Eddia Aikau Memorial surf competition yearly (that is assuming the peaks and swells are just right).  The photo gallery breaks down every piece of the colossal wave, and gives you an outstanding inside look at the creation of the perfect wave.  Beautiful photos and stunning analysis, tough to beat.

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/the-mechanics-of-waimea-bay_51419/

Turkish Futbol Legend Uses Facebook Instead of His Agent

Well not really of course. Tuncay Sanli, famed Turkish attacker and current Stoke City bench warmer, has taken to Facebook to prove to that at 28 he still has plenty to offer the world of futbol. Stoke are currently in 11th position in the English premier League, and manager Tony Pulis has given Tuncay little room to prove his worth this year. In a last gasp effort to sell himself in the January transfer window, Tuncay has posted a self-promoting top 10 goals video on his Facebook fan page.  Will the suitors come calling for the well seasoned Turkish star?  Only time will tell.  Check out the full video here:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=132529883476777&oid=114568821937280&comments

Social, Mobile, Viral, Engaging

Every one of these descriptors has come up today over the course of an average walk- about in the online world. What that says is that every media channel serves a certain purpose, and that marketing success is platform agnostic. One vehicle can't do it all, and one vehicle shouldn't do it all. Advertising is an anthropological study. Its a dissection of consumption patterns, buying behavior, and distraction methodology.

The worst cliche is saying "I work in advertising because I'm a people person, and I like to talk to them." The response should read more like, "I enjoy studying people. Watching them react to visual stimulants and making life changing purchases based on that response. I am an advertiser."

BAM!

Like I Need To Tell You Verizon Got The iPhone

The question turns to how it will alter the balance of power in the wireless world, especially between Verizon and AT&T. The latter, of course, will lose its nearly 4 years of iPhone exclusivity with Verizon planning to launch a 3G version of the Apple device next month.

I can tell you that as an AT&T customer, I've been awaiting this day for awhile. Not because I want to jump ship to Verizon, but because AT&T always says the iPhone connectivity issues are due to crowded bandwidth. Well, hopefully this is like an overcrowded freeway, and now everyone hopefully exits.

Since each side now will have the same potent weapon in their phone arsenal, the fight will come down to the competing service offerings and network quality that Verizon and AT&T provide, according to analysts. That could lead to a new series of moves and countermoves as the nation's two biggest carriers try to convince consumers to choose their version of the iPhone.

When Twitter Goes Wrong, By Ryan Babel

Ryan Babel is facing the possibility of disciplinary action from the Football Association after responding to Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford by posting a mocked-up photo on his Twitter site of the referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt.

Webb had incensed Liverpool by awarding a first-minute penalty when Dimitar Berbatov went to ground after a slight touch from Daniel Agger and then sending off Steven Gerrard for a dangerous challenge on Michael Carrick.

Kenny Dalglish, returning as Liverpool manager, called the penalty "a joke" and Babel posted the picture of Webb with the message: "And they call him one of the best referees? That's a joke. SMH."

"SMH" is the abbreviation for "shaking my head" and Babel's attack will almost certainly lead to the FA intervening on the basis that he is alleging bias on the part of the man who refereed the World Cup final and was made an MBE in the Queen's New Year honours list. An FA spokesman has confirmed they are aware of the incident and are looking into it.

Babel later tweeted: "Sorry Howard Webb. My apology if they take my posted pic seriously. This is just an emotional reaction after losing an important game."

Dalglish's son, Paul, also vented his feelings on Twitter, posting a mocked-up picture of Sir Alex Ferguson with his arm around Webb, again in a United shirt.

Dalglish junior wrote: "Howard Webb MBE. Manc of the Busby Era. I am not normally bitter, as you know, but it is different rules against them." In a separate tweet he added: "Fergie has his puppet Howard Webb on a piece of string."

'Race and Sports In America': A Great ESPN Piece

A great 5 minute clip from ESPN honoring DR. Martin Luther King.  Perspectives from Magic Johnson, Phil Jackson, Ray Allen, Maya Moore, and Amare Stoudemire all highlight the impact King had on their lives.  Wonderful tribute.

Auburn Beats The Duck In The BCS Championship

For those who missed last nights game, here it is: (1) Auburn vs. (2) Oregon...

CES Best Of Show; Motorola Xoom (According to CNET)

The Xoom betters the iPad in some ways--it comes standard with front- and rear-facing cameras, including one that can record in HD, compared with none in the current version of the iPad. It also boasts a larger screen with a higher resolution, supports Adobe Flash, and uses Verizon's network instead of AT&T's.

It will become the first device to run the latest version of Google's Android operating system, known as Honeycomb. The operating system supports multitasking and has been designed explicitly for tablets.

Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha told reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this afternoon that the device will be available in stores in the first quarter of 2011 in 3G form. All of the 3G Xooms "are capable" of being upgraded to 4G later this year, he said.  Jha didn't announce how much the device will cost and Motorola ended the event without taking questions from reporters.  This will be "the most competitive product in the marketplace," Jha predicted. (Motorola recently split into two publicly traded companies, Motorola Mobility Holdings and Motorola Solutions.)

The Xoom (pronounced "zoom") will operate on Verizon Wireless' network and be upgradeable to 4G LTE in the second quarter of the year, with units sold thereafter including 4G by default. It was not immediately clear if a Wi-Fi-only version would be available, but the companies' statement appeared to indicate it would not be, and the photos of the tablet show a Verizon logo on the top right corner. See CNET photo gallery here: http://ces.cnet.com/2300-32494_1-10006105.html?tag=mncol;txt.

In terms of specifications, the Xoom has a dual-core processor with each core running at 1 GHz, a 1,280x800 resolution (compared with the iPad's 1,024x768), a 10.1-inch 16:10 display (larger than the iPad's 9.7 inches), and supports Google Maps 5.0 with 3D buildings. It can capture 720p video with the rear camera.

Check out a full demo here:
http://cnettv.cnet.com/motorola-xoom-tablet-hands/9742-1_53-50098295.html?tag=api

It's Official; Lionel Messi Wins the Balon d'Or

Not surprisingly, Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been named the FIFA Men's World Player of the Year for 2010. He is unstoppable, and clearly the greatest player in the world right now.

Messi was on a three-man shortlist with Barca team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta but, despite Spain's World Cup triumph, the Argentina forward came out on top in the voting.

He becomes the first winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which merges France Football magazine's European Footballer of the Year prize with the FIFA World Player of the Year. The awards were based on the votes of the coaches and captains of national sides as well as global journalists.

Messi scored more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues in 2010, with 42 goals in 36 La Liga games, as well as finishing top scorer in the Champions League in 2010 with 12 goals in 12 games.

Here's 12 minutes of greatness:


Messi was on a three-man shortlist with Barca team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta but, despite Spain's World Cup triumph, the Argentina forward came out on top in the voting.

He becomes the first winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which merges France Football magazine's European Footballer of the Year prize with the FIFA World Player of the Year. The awards were based on the votes of the coaches and captains of national sides as well as global journalists.

Messi scored more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues in 2010, with 42 goals in 36 La Liga games, as well as finishing top scorer in the Champions League in 2010 with 12 goals in 12 games.

He totalled 60 goals for the year for club and country.

"To be honest, I didn't expect to win today, but it was already great to be here next to my two mates," Messi said as he accepted the award. "To win it makes it even more special.

"I want to share with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians."

He totalled 60 goals for the year for club and country.

"To be honest, I didn't expect to win today, but it was already great to be here next to my two mates," Messi said as he accepted the award. "To win it makes it even more special.

"I want to share with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians."

I Told You CES Had Lot's of Tablets

Best Buy gives us an inside look at the Samsung Galaxy, the Blackberry Playbook, and the Panasonic Viera.

The Homeless Guy With A Golden Voice Got A Job

We have MSNBC and the Cleveland Cavaliers both saying Ted Williams has accepted a job. Several local Ohio radio stations are after him too. It just goes to show that if you drink and do drugs for years, everything will be just fine.

50 Cent Was At CES?

Mac App Store; Timely CES Announcement

With the Mac App Store, getting the apps you want on your Mac has never been easier. No more boxes, no more disks, no more time-consuming installation. Click once to download and install any app on your Mac. The Mac App Store is now available as a software update for any Mac running Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

The Mac App Store is just like the App Store for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. So it’s as easy to find and download Mac apps as it is to add your favorite magazine to iPad or a new game to iPod touch. You can browse Mac apps by category, such as games, productivity, music, and more. Or do a quick search for something specific. Read developer descriptions and user reviews. Flip through screenshots. When you find an app you like, click to buy it.

The Mac App Store revolutionizes the way applications are installed on a computer — it happens in one step. Enter the same iTunes password you use to buy music and apps on your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Within seconds, your new app flies to your Dock, ready to go. So you can spend more time enjoying new apps and less time installing them.

» 11 New York City Start-Ups To Watch in 2011

Awesome piece about a rush of startups NOT from Silicon Valley.  As a Bay area pro, definitely nice to see the other coast giving us a run for our money.

» 11 New York City Start-Ups To Watch in 2011 

I'm Out Of Pocket Today and Tomorrow

Don't hold your breath until I come back.  That's dangerous.  In the interim, look at this duck chasing a puppy.

Sony Sponsors 3-D Video of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Model Julie Henderson appears in the Sports Illustrated 2011 Swimsuit Issue as well as Sony's 3-D video

Well this is just fantastic. And I mean fantastic. In order to further the adoption of 3-D televisions and content, Sony will be sponsoring a 30 minute "Swimsuit in 3-D" video that will be available for purchase or rental. You can get the video via Sony's Playstation 3 as well as Bravia web-enabled, 3D compatible TV and Blu-ray players. Let's face it, we all know like one person with a 3D TV. There might be more in the future, but I say this; what happens when you invite a bunch of people over to watch a football game in 3D, but there aren't enough glasses? How awkward is it for the one guy who has to watch on the 20" screen in your kitchen because he can't get the full effect of the 3D? It's almost like punishment for showing up to a function like that empty handed. No beer? Well then no 3D good sir.

"There's sort of a chicken-and-egg problem going on right now, where the device penetration has been fairly low, so the studios have been fairly slow to release 3-D content," said Michael Aragon, VP and general manager for global digital video distribution and operations at Sony Network Entertainment. "Our expectation and our road map on this whole thing has been that this is going to be a little bit slower adoption than HD. While we might not be making tons of money on the 3-D content, it seeds a universe of product that we have in 3-D."

Sony Sponsors 3-D Video of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - Advertising Age - MediaWorks