Still Analog

Yesterday Steve Jobs unveiled the new iPods. The most expected announcement was was revolving the video cameras: the new Nano has it, the Touch doesn't. Get over it. To my delight another announcement was made regarding the NANO: the model now incorporates FM Radio. This will be the first radio ever on an iPod.

One mystery remains. Why would Apple put an FM tuner into an iPod, something it has refused for almost 10 years? The answer comes with iTunes-Tagging. In addition to live pausing of the radio stream (and rewinding up to 15 minutes through the buffer) you can tag tracks by hitting the center button. If a radio station supports it, the song info is saved and later you can see a list in iTunes alongside, you guessed it, the option to buy the song. Of course, the fact that the new Zune HD has an HD radio inside may also have influenced Apple’s decision. - WIRED

Economic and competitive reasons aside here is another example of consumers clinging on to tradition, and marketers combining digital with analog.

it's a billboard, it's an ad.... what is it?

Advertising is redefining itself. Advertising is not advertising anymore.

This Target Billboard in New York's Times Square is a piece of art produced by NY collage artists: Michael Anderson, Josh Goldstein, Laurie Rosenwald and Charles Wilkin. Free for collective enjoyment. But this piece of art will later be recycled to become Anna Sui bags, sold in Target stores.

This is a magnificent example of the mentality of our times—sustainability, responsibility, efficiency, collectiveness—and of what advertising can become. Bravo Target.

(I am very curious of the role, if any, of the ad agency in this process... anyone?)

the countertrend

I thought one good thing was coming out of this horrible recession: people seemed to be interested in doing good, in being efficient and, most importantly, responsible (perhaps to make up for years of our reckless industrial society).

However last night, I bumped into yet-another-reality-tv-show that was a setback to my original thought.

Set in Detroit, the auto capital of the world, "CRASH COURSE" consists of a series of driving challenges in which the participants use old clunkers to drive recklessly (there is no real driving ability required in their obstacles). Although I can certainly understand the momentary thrill it provides these stunt-men-and-women-wanna-be one can argue on the kind of example it is setting for younger drivers (ABC seems like an odd choice, I was thinking more SPIKE?) and in the middle of an energy crisis.



My question is... Could we possibly find more constructive and responsible ways to recycle our old cars? Perhaps in the area of energy? housing? education? and providing jobs for the unemployed? Something to ponder... Maybe we are not as good, efficient and responsible as we could/should be.