Talent Zoo is a recruitment company, job board and community portal dedicated the advertising, marketing and public relations. I have been a fan of their content and their service for a long time, and I am happy that this week I had the opportunity to write a column for their New Media Edge section titled:

TV is not going anywhere, so we might as well fix it.

Television has the potential to be the most relevant medium of all. The only question is: How long will we have to wait?

Click here to read it.

If you enjoyed the column, please subscribe to my blog as I have several posts planned that should be of interest.

If you would like to feature my writing on your website, blog, or in your publication, do not hesitate to contact me at dylan.thomas@gmail.com. Also, if you are looking to hire an advertising art director in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out my portfolio and give me a call. I’d love to chat.

[With My NetFlix account] I also get 17 hours of viewing time… This morning I was watching a film about comedy and I wanted to share it… wanted to embed it on the blog like I might a YouTube clip…

Idea: allow embeddable video on a PPV basis. It gets content closer to it’s audience via an open, organic distribution mechanism. It maintains copyright. And it increases revenue.

From the Rassak GetCloser Blog

This would basically employs a hybrid of the Amazon/NetFlix Affiliate programs (referral-commission) and the Revver.com model (ppv-advertising) to video content.

Fundamentally, there is nothing wrong with this model, and it logically extends current affiliate programs. Currently, Amazon Affilates can receive 10% commission on referrals to Unbox video downloads, and NetFlix Affiliates receive $9 for every person they sign up. Revver pays a share of the advertising revenue they collect based on how many times your video is viewed.

When NetFlix’s online video service is out of its testing phase, I see online PPV referrals to be the logical next step in their revenue strategy, but it adds something fundamentally different to the NetFlix arsenal–online rentals. They add a one-off, no commitment customer option with ostensibly higher margins.

It’s BlockBuster without the trip to the store, NetFlix without the mail. It’s instant online delivery with no inventory restrictions. If they go forward with it, expect to see NetFlix GiftCards in the grocery store, because you won’t need a subscription anymore.

From a technological standpoint, there are a few ways to implement something like this. With a 5 -minute teaser to see if you want to watch, they could use an embeddable flash player with account authentication to let you watch it, add to your “watch online later” list, or add to your NetFlix queue. It could then keep playing, or, more likely, they’ll pass the actual viewing experience off your website and onto a desktop player. This seems to be the modus-operadi for digitally-delivered video. (Netflix, Amazon Unbox, ABC’s new HD player, iTunes, etc).

What we’re really talking about here is the promise of EBOOKS for VIDEO.

This is the next must-have peripheral for creative folks.

What is a storage robot? Basically it means to you never running out of disk-space, never losing data, and never have to configure anything. You don’t even need to turn it off to replace smaller drives (or failed ones) with bigger ones.

Why didn’t anyone think of this before?

I know alot about storage, and I’ve never seen anything like this, and it’s cheaper than “dumber,” less friendly, less robust solutions.

Watch the demo, it’s amazing.

http://www.drobo.com/products_demo.aspx

Technorati Tags:
computers, tools, drobo, backup, storage, hdd, RAID

The MegaMillions Lottery drawing tonight is up to $370M so I got to their website to see where I can buy a ticket, and it strikes me that I can do everything there except buy a ticket.

Why can’t I buy a lottery ticket online?

There are issues to be addressed but, for lotteries who have already done most of the logistical and regulatory legwork just to get started, they should be minimal.

Here is a process that I think would work:

• Let me pick my numbers, or quickpick them for me.
• After I enter my credit card information, check that the billing address is valid, that I am of legal age to play, and the address resides in a permitted area for the lottery.
• Display a ticket that I can print, with a copy emailed to me.
• Allow, but don’t require, that I create an account which will both speed this process in the future and allow extra benefits, like you calling me if I’ve won something but haven’t cashed in yet.

To address fraud, every ticket would have both a barcode and a serial number. The serial number would match the credit card transaction number. In order to claim the prize, I would have to produce the credit card along with the ticket. I believe this would provide a sufficient paper trail to curtail, or at least expose, any fraud.

There are several advantages for a lottery that implements this system:

• Increased accessibility for ticket buying.
• Reliable age verification available during the credit card authorization process.
• Potential for “convenience fees.”
• Better demographic data on lottery participants.
• Capability for lottery “subscriptions,” alerts, and deals for select users.
• Decrease in bonus pay-outs to retailers that sell the winning tickets.
• More marketing opportunities than you can shake a stick at.

So, who will be the ones who really push for this? Visa, Mastercard, and American Express…if they’re smart. All those credit card transactions have to come from somewhere. Add in the age verification markup and the size of the lottery market, and the 2-5% they’d get off each transaction looks pretty attractive.

Technorati Tags:
lottery, opportunity

While many people have commented on the social danger inherent with individuals’ narrowing media consumption, the danger of a cognitive echo chamber is a concern for another day. Today, let’s discuss the physical danger of a self-imposed media cocoon and an increased reliance on technology.

I know a couple who recently moved to the rural northeast. They read the New York Times, subscribe to both XM and Sirius satellite radio, rarely watch TV, and usually get directions by GPS.

Most of the time, this situation is ideal. They avoid advertising, irrelevant information, and travel planning is a breeze.

Sometimes, however, there is something that these channels miss. Starting what should have been a 4 hour trip to the airport in good weather, they had no idea that large sections of I-80 had developed 6 inches of ice overnight, bringing travel to a standstill. They spent hours extra on the road, missed their flight, missed an entire day of their vacation, and incurred extra lodging expenses. In sum, this was only an inconvenience, but the lesson they learned can be applied to preventing greater peril.

Similarly, a reliance on modern technology can be dangerous when not supplemented by more resilient methods. During the major northeast blackout a few years ago, I heard stories of groups of people in New York City following someone with a radio down the street just to get any news about what was going on. We all know the dangers of making a trip with only GoogleMaps as our guide. It works great if everything goes predictably, but route directions cannot deal with a change in context just like cnn.com doesn’t work in a blackout.

Here is my plea to the world:

1. Consume Local Media
   At least superficially, especially when you will be traveling. Radio is free, easy, and tends to broadcast traffic and news frequently.
2. Have a Battery-Powered Radio
   Radio is still the lowest common denominator for the mass relay of information because it can be operated from a distance and does not require a working power grid for the receiver.
3. Have a Map, and know how to use it
   There is no telling how many personal disasters could be avoided simply by having and knowing how to use a paper map. When traveling to a new area, stop at the bookstore or gas station and get a map.

These three things are all common sense, but so many of us forget or discount their importance.

Technorati Tags:
cocoon, media, radio, maps, emergency-preparedness

In So, About that Black MacBook… Tom Bridge from Oreilly asks why the matte black MacBooks come with white accessories. “Shouldn’t all the accessories for the Black MacBook come in matte black as well?” he asks?

No.

Here’s why:

In Apple’s latest major design revision (post-technicolor crt iMac),accessories have been consistently white across product lines andbetween product colors. Additionally this matches the lower-pricedproduct lines, which have at least started out white white (iPod,iBook, iMac)

Desktop Keyboards & Mice
Always white, even when paired with the brushed metal PowerMac/MacPro.

Power Supplies & Cables
Always white, evenwhen paired with brushed metal (minis, powerbooks, powermacs, macbookpros), black (U2 ipod, black ipod), colors (ipod minis, ipod shuffles).

Headphones
The most visible. Always white, even when paired with any color iPod.

Apple treats these accessories as consistent visual signals that don’t require you to see the product. Apple has effectively branded the color white and especially white electronics cables.

Much like the white ipod headphones signaled that an iPod, and not a WalkMan, was in that pocket, the powercord acts as a point of visualdifferentiation. You don’t have to see the laptop, but if you look atthe mess of cords plugged into the wall–the white one jumps out. Samewith all the black, grey and slate cords snaking across anyboardroom table. The white cord jumps out at you. Not only does thiscontrast create cognitive dissonance (”powercords are supposed to beblack, or at least match!”) it creates a design element pleasing to theeye when seen plugged into the black MacBook.

If the MacBook had a black powercord, it’d be just another Sony.

[Note: If you really want a black power supply, wait for Kensington to start making MagSafe Adapters or take this enterprising route.]

technorati tags:design, mac, apple, branding, computers

Since the major networks are all starting to put content online after it’s been shown on TV, I figured I would check it out. That, and my DVR has been acting up. Here’s the rundown of my experiences.

FOX:

Wanted to watch: Prison Break, Standoff

Experience: Only supports Windows 98SE+. Sorry Mac users.

Conclusion: Wake up Fox and fix your site so I can use it.

CBS:

Wanted to watch: CSI: Miami

Experience:

Requires RealPlayer, which I hate. Didn’t feel like registering with Real, downloading the software, installing it, configuring my browser to use it, and hoping that it worked, so I haven’t watched any video on the site yet.

The site, however, is fast, smooth, pleasing to navigate, and pleasing to look at. You can’t really ask for more.

Conclusion: Huge potential, but I hate the Real hurdles that I need to jump through. I think it would be better for them to have implemented Flash, or Quicktime which have greater penetration, and in my experience, greater reliability.

NBC:

Wanted to watch: Friday Night Lights, Studio 60, 30 Rock

Experience:

Off to a slow start, but somewhat redeemed itself. The videos tended to “Not Be Found” while using Mozilla-based browsers but worked fine in Safari.

The overall experience is a bit cobbled together. Episodes are broken into parts (as many as 6 for hour long shows). After you’ve selected an episode to watch it loads a 5-second video that says “The following presentation is brought to you by [sponsors name]” and their logo/tagline. Then it plays a commercial. Then it plays the first part of the show.

When the part you are watching finishes, the process starts again, with the same sponsor and commercial, in my experience. I swear, if I have to see the new “Say Yes to Yes” Cadillac spot, I’m going to kill someone.

Conclusion: While it lacks some polish, it gets the job done, and NBC gets credit for trying to put all of their shows up ASAP.

ABC:

Wanted to watch: Desperate Housewives

Experience:

The ABC Full Episode Player is an example of excellent and seamless information design and media presentation. When you click on an show, the other shows dim and you see the episodes available. When you roll over an episode, it give you a quick description. When you click on an episode, everything dims and the video starts playing. Video quality is excellent and lets you dynamically pick a larger or smaller video size without interrupting the video stream.

Since Toyota sponsored the online version, it was presented with only 3-30second interruptions which flew by, during which there was a countdown. When the mandatory break was over, the timer turned into a “Continue” button. Two of the breaks provided a list of YARIS “Spy vs. Spy” clips to watch and I spent way more than 30 seconds watching them because I find them entertaining and went to the YARIS site to download a screensaver. The other was an Avalon TV spot and photo gallery.

Watching the show online was easier, shorter, and far less work than watching it on TV, even with a DVR. The result is a much more pleasant experience, and more impactful advertising.

Conclusion: Curled up in bed with my laptop, or watching on my big computer screen, ABC Online just might be better than watching TV.

Winner: ABC, for now. Expect the others to catch up quick.

Technorati Tags: advertising, dvr, technology, television, tv, video

I saw a rake handle turn to sawdust at the hands of a blender at Will It Blend. Now I want one. Since I’ve seen the videos, I talk about, think about, and covet their $400-1200 blenders for their sheer awesomeness.

Talk about marketing. They generated buzz and advocacy through simple and fun product demonstrations, and reached both their core markets as well as those (me) who couldn’t care less about blenders before, much less even consider spending commercial-grade money on personal appliances.

Does JambaJuice need a blender that can chop up frozen strawberries all day long and never sputter? Yes. Do I? No. Does it matter? Not a bit.

My prediction is that sales will skyrocket in the consumer sector as well as the commercial sector. If only so people can brag that their blender can make a hockey stick smoothie.
[Side note 1: I found out all of the videos on Will It Blend were made with their cheapest, lowest power, consumer blender.]

[Sidenote 2: The first video of the rake handle reminded me of the Home Improvement episode where Tim “The Toolman” Taylor is frustrated by his wimpy garbage disposal and supes it up, eventually mulching a hockey stick, a baseball bat, and anything else in his path that will fit down the drain.]

Technorati Tags: advertising, awesome, blender, demonstration, marketing, video

Tangerine is a new Mac program from the Potion Factory that will analyze the music in your iTunes library for BPM (beats per minute) and beat intensity. It also has a gorgeous, intuitive interface.

This is great because most music files don’t come with this information, but once you have it, there is all sorts of cool stuff you can do with it

A few things I’ve been playing with is finding the best BPM combo for computer work and for run workouts. You could also use it to find just the right dance music, or the perfect soundtrack with the right flow for your viral video or student film. Once you get going, this is a huge asset in music selection. It also syncs iTunes so you have access to the data there to sort with or to create Smart Playlists which Tangerine does not seem to support.

Another thing it encourages is serendipity. I have 30GB of music in my library, statistically, I rarely listen to most of it, but when I make playlists from beat levels, I hear music I haven’t heard in a while, often juxtaposed perfectly with another song from a completely different genre, something that I would never have thought to put together before.

Here is a sample from my “Working Mix” demonstrating the variety of music that can share the similar characteristics. By matching BPM and intensity, you get a seamless vibe and flow with a variety of music.

Tangerine’s controls allow for you to do alot very easily, and has a cool interface for displaying artwork, and relative BPM.

While I recommend it for current use, there are a few things I’d like to see before it comes out of beta:

• Better Error Messages/Handling: I originally had some problems getting it to load my iTunes library. It loaded it, processed 5000 songs in about 3 minutes and errored on every single one of them. I told it to reanalyze, and after 8 hours on my 2-year-old Powerbook, it had analyzed my whole library with only a few errors. Making this more intuitive or having more informative error messages or logging besides “Error.” would be helpful.
• An “Analyze songs without BPM/Intensity Data” option: Currently if you add more music or have errors, the only option is to reanalyze the whole library. If there is a way to do this already, please let me know.

{Tools, Technology}

Technorati Tags: art, inspiration, music, software, tangerine, technology, Tools

Bob Cringley, of PBS.org column “I, Cringley” lets loose what he’s been up to with two titans of hard disk design:

Next year we’ll see hard drives that use metal foil platters that are smaller, more heat resistent, more shock resistent, and consume 30% less power for roughly 50% the current cost.

Tree huggers will love what this will do to power consumption, decreasing fossil fuel usage and global warming by decreasing the amount of carbon in the air.

Everyone else will enjoy longer battery life, and more memory in their newly impact resistent laptops, mp3 players, and digital cameras.

The loser here? Flash memory. Flash was good because it is faster, more bulletproof and less power hungry than current hard-drives. Take that away and for anything For anything over 2GB, these drives are just too cheap.

Aside from flash manufacturers (most of whom also manufacture disk drives) this seems like one of those odd advances in technology that has no real downside.

Read the whole column here: Shameless Self-Promotion: Bob’s Disk Drive

Technorati Tags: disruptive, energy, harddrives, technology