If you were one of three people on the planet who enjoyed the Jerry Seinfeld ads from Microsoft, I’ve got some bad news: Microsoft is moving to “phase two” of its ad campaign. That means no more Jerry, no more churros and no more of Gates doing the robot.

The next phase of Microsoft’s plan is to crack counter shots back at Apple by specifically targeting its ads which have propelled the Apple Windows feud in the first place. Bill Gates will be making a reappearance alongside many new celebrities excluding Jerry Seinfeld. There will be no soup for him.

Link

When $300 million dollars is spent on advertisements involving Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates shopping for shoes, it makes me think, “What’s this got to do with Microsoft?” Well, Microsoft wants you to know that it’s more hip than Apple.

The two things that make Jerry Seinfeld cool in this video:

1. He’s eating a churro.

2. He showers in his clothes in the morning, “You’re dressed, then you’re clean. Open the door, go about your business.”

The sad thing about the ad is it takes an entire minute before they even mention the word “Microsoft.” And when it is mentioned, it’s in the middle of a Jerry Seinfeld ramble that makes little sense.

“You know, I imagine over the years you’ve mind-melded your magnum Jupiter brain to those other Saturn ring brains of Microsoft.”

Then it goes on to joke about an edible computer.  Is it funny? When I’m stoned, sure. But it’s not funny in the way where I have the sudden desire to go out and purchase Microsoft merchandise.  I am not sold.

Link

This pixelated dog actually serves as an advertisement for Leica cameras. Since I can’t read a ton of Spanish, I’ll leave it up to your imagination to figure out how this dog came about. I love how in the one photo, the real dog is trying to see what’s up with the pixelated paper pooch.

Link

Having seen them selling cellphones with a girl in a tub, here comes another marketing stunt from Japan. How ’bout a spectacular cartoon epic on a weird-looking mouse that does acupuncture? Jump to find out more.

(more…)

Japanese company Frepar has announced the commercialization of their almost-teleporting communicate-Pod. What this thing does is that it allows the real-time teleporting of full 3D image of objects between both parties, so essentially it “looks” like teleporting. When you want to show your friend your new hamster, simply place it on the Sci-fi looking device, let it walk around in the capsule scanner and your friend at the other side would be delighted to see the 3D image of your hamster walking around in their receiver. You don’t have to worry about ionizing your beloveds and reconstructing them at the other side, that’s the beauty of safe simulation.

The Pod can be put horizontally or side ways, it can also do the image spin-around trick, just for the effect. The company predicts that the communicate-Pod would be mainly used for marketing purposes, in fact Microsoft Japan is already using them for their 2007 Office System campaign in, they’ll be showing 3D images of concept prototypes as well as a model introducing the new features of the Office System. For the rest of us, the Pod will be on sale in the fourth quarter this year for $250. — Sam Chan

Pod [Freparnetworks]