May 20
May 12
Nokia reveals another new Lumia smartphone in UK ad, teases ‘more than your eyes can see’ (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili
We’re still days away from Nokia’s London media event, but the comapny’s apparently got a real taste for teasers. A new 20-second promo clip aired today in the UK, and although it doesn’t outline any outright specs or model numbers, we we get a (very) up-close look at a dual-flash arrangement (unlike the xenon flash seen on Verizon’s Lumia 928), a glossy white shell and some metal detailing. We’re relieved that Nokia has something new to unveil in the UK next week, but we’re now itching hearing exactly how this Windows Phone will differ from the now-public Lumia 928. We’ll have all the details on Tuesday morning.
Update: The Verge has managed to upload a digital copy of the ad. See it for yourself right after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia
Source: Pocket-Lint, The Verge
Apr 30
As more publishers make the move to digital publishing, it seems like print publications are dying a slow death. Some magazines have resorted to including a small freebie with every issue, from free posters and coupons to pens and now even Wi-Fi routers. The last one only applies to select issues of Forbes which were sent to various technology and business professionals.
Each of these issues had a special four-page insert that provided the reader with 15 days of free wireless Internet care of T-Mobile. The insert was part of a promotion for Microsoft’s Office 365.
The compact router inside has to be charged up first before usage. After that, users can expect to get up to three hours of access from each charge. Wi-Fi is meant to be shared, so they made sure that the mobile hotspot can provide Internet access for up to five different devices.
This is one of the cooler tech gifts I’ve seen being given away in a magazine, so you might want to grab a copy of the May 6, 2013 issues of Forbes before the Wi-Fi-packed ones run out.
[via C|NET]
Apr 30
Twitter opens up ad-buying to all US users, brings new tools to self-promoters
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Twitter has been slowly expanding its advertising offerings for some time now — first with more ads in more places, then with more folks able to buy ads. Now it’s taken things one big step further and opened up its self-serve Twitter Ads platform to all users in the United States. That means anyone can now sign up and buy promoted tweets of their very own, with all the same options and analytics previously afforded to businesses and individuals invited to take part in the program. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be seeing more ads on Twitter, but you may well start seeing some more unexpected ones. Those interested in shelling out some cash can find all they need to get started at the links below.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Twitter Advertising Blog, Twitter Ads
Apr 18
Nokia Malaysia video teases April 25th announcement, loses us in the process
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Flickering hospital lights. A man going ballistic in a padded cell. A hooded ghoul. These are the images Nokia Malaysia wants to put into our heads in the run-up to a mysterious Lumia-related launch coming on April 25th. That date has also been linked to Verizon’s launch of the Lumia 928, but we’re not sure how that might be relevant. Alternatively, it could be a countdown to the Malaysian launch of the Lumia 720 or Lumia 520. The thing is, we’re intimately familiar with both those handsets and neither can be described as even remotely spooky. Unless it’s another Batman Edition?
Update: The video on Nokia’s official YouTube channel has been pulled. We’ve added a different embed in the hope of preserving this curious piece of marketing for future generations.
[Thanks, Piaget]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia
Apr 16
Ad Campaign Serves Dual Purpose, Providing Walls for Shelters When its Done
Posted in: Today's ChiliSometimes, things aren’t what they seem. For example, what looks like a wall to you might look like an ad to someone else. This might sound like a strange occurrence, but it happens more than you think.
In fact, it happens every time to people who chance upon HomePro’s ad campaign where they’ve put up a bunch of temporary billboards that have ads on one side and a wall on the other.
HomePro is a hardware store based in Thailand and they’re trying to do something different with their Other Side campaign. Instead of just putting up a bunch of billboards to advertise their stuff, they’re also showing off their wares by constructing a wall on the other side of the ad. But these aren’t designed just to be ads. As many people in the country live in underprivileged areas, they’ve been know to recycle old billboards and use them to create improvised walls for their shelters.
These billboards help them out a little by providing them with a ready-to-install wall on the other side, so when the campaign is over, the wall will continue to serve a useful purpose.
[via Pop Up City]
Apr 15
HTC One launch vid disappears, but not before claiming it’s ‘everything your phone isn’t’ (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
We’ve commented before on how HTC always seems to come in second to Samsung — not because it has inferior hardware, but because its marketing budget is comparable to what’s fallen between the cushions of Sammy’s sofa. We might have seen the start of a new strategy from HTC, however, as the company appears to have collaborated with Funny or Die on a comedic promo for the HTC One. It surfaced at the end of last week, but seems to have since been removed from the site. (It’s possible HTC deliberately pulled it for some reason, and we’ve reached out for comment.) In the meantime, copies have found their way onto YouTube, and AdAge reports it’ll start showing up on some websites today, and in a bunch of movie theaters from April 26th. A spoof of The Bachelorette, hosted by James Van Der Beek Dawson Leery, the clip depicts the leading lady deciding on her next handset, with the One winning out against feature-lacking peers — or rather, people dressed in phone costumes. HTC even go as far as coining a bold tagline for the flagship: it’s “everything your phone isn’t.” Whether it’s actually funny is up to you, so check out the full skit below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Via: CNET
Source: YouTube
Apr 06
Facebook Home ‘Airplane’ ad brings one traveler’s News Feed aboard — literally
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Sure, Facebook had a weird ad with Blink-182 for the HTC Status, but its sneak peek at its newest TV spot for the First and Home is on another level. Posted today on its Facebook profile, the campy piece literally brings one traveler’s feed to life inside the cabin of his flight during boarding. We won’t spoil the goods for you, but it’s interesting to see Facebook’s first thrust at marketing this skin and smartphone combo out to the masses. Catch the full clip after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Software, Mobile, HTC, Facebook
Source: Facebook
Mar 14
Google yanks ad-blocking apps from Play Store, points to developer agreement
Posted in: Today's Chili 
You know how it goes — “rules” are only “rules” if someone bothers to enforce them. And enforce Google has. While programs such as AdBlock, AdAway, AdFree and the like have been running unabated for quite some time now, Google has evidently buckled down and yanked the lot of ’em overnight. Of course, the company’s Play Store developer agreement already makes clear that apps designed specifically to hinder the natural course of advertising won’t be allowed, but it’s certainly interesting to see the company finally making good on its words. Specifically, the agreement states:
“You agree that you will not engage in any activity with the Market, including the development or distribution of Products, that interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner the devices, servers, networks, or other properties or services of any third party including, but not limited to, Android users, Google or any mobile network operator.”
See that bit about third-party clients’ services? We’re guessing that it’s in reference to implementations of advertising code. Looks like the wild, wild west has a sheriff in town.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Mar 01
Gather round, kids, and let me tell you about the days when AT&T and T-Mobile were extremely close to merging. It was back in 2011. Barack Obama was President and 4G LTE service was in its infancy in the U.S.
Ultimately, AT&T decided it didn’t want to buy T-Mobile anymore, to which T-Mobile responded with an ad that attacked AT&T. We guess AT&T held a grudge for several months as today, we’re hearing of a new ad campaign where AT&T takes a few shots at T-Mobile.
A full-page ad was published in a number of big-name newspapers where AT&T comments quite negatively to T-Mobile’s network. “The truth about T-Mobile’s network compared to AT&T,” the ad says, “2x more dropped calls, 2x more failed calls, 50% slower download speeds.”
T-Mobile’s CMO Mike Sievert responded to the ad in a statement to Bloomberg by saying, “Wow. Looks like we struck a chord. AT&T doth protest too much. Glad they’re spending their money to print our name.”
A “doth protest too much” comeback? Oh, man! AT&T, you just got served by none other than the Sievert-man!
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Sleep Art App Turns Your Sleep Patterns Into Works Of Art, Huawei Prism II For T-Mobile Spotted,
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