Dynamic ads in Google Street view ? ? ?

I came across this article on ClickZ today about Google Street view. I know the buzz has been about the candid shots its captured, but this article talks about how it could potentially utilize (or not utitize) advertising.

It fancinates me that they have gone to the extent of retouching out branding in street view (such as bluring out an Office Depot and a McDonalds).

But the idea that the future could be dynamically driven ads that get placed into real-world placements is pretty cool, and highly probable.

Read the article here.

Wanna buy my TV?

Each day we get closer and closer to a world where digital broadcast will edge out traditional networks. The pubs and blogs are all over new partnerships between content and internet providers. Joost isn't the only player out there making some headway. Just today I was reading about Warner, EMI and Apple TV's newest moves.

Warner Music is planning to launch its ENTIRE archive of music videos. FREE. It will be funded by a combination of advertising revenue and user downloads. The service itself will function similar to an online broadcast channel allowing users to sort selections by artist, genre or label. Read more on CNET here.

EMI finalized their deal with YouTube which allows the site to feature their music video collection and artist performances. They join Warner Music, Universal Music, Sony BMG, CBS and the BBC who already have deals with YouTube that allow the online network to feature videos - and compensate artists. Read more on ZDNET here.

Another YouTube partnership is in the works with Apple. AppleTV is planning to launch wirelessly streamed YouTube videos starting in June. YouTube members will be able to log-in from their TVs. The service will only launch with a limited selection to start. I for one am not sold on the whole "Internet on your TV" thing. But who knows... it may have something to do with the fact that my monitor is actually bigger than my TV! Read more on AP here.

ASCII EMERIE

I stumbled upon this neeto site: Lets you upload an image and turn it into acsii art. They should add an archive to it so people can share their creations.

Click here to check it out at http://www.typorganism.com/asciiomatic.

ManiaTV Live Concert: RL and SL

Online broadcast channel Mania TV broke some ground yesterday by simultaneously broadcasting a live concert on the web and in Second Life. The concert featured local bands in Denver. CO.

The ManiaTV site allowed 40,000 viewers to watch the live show and switch to see the virtual version (also live).

The Second life concert attracted 1200 viewers. Some may think that number isn't very impressive, but I think this breaks some serious ground because Second Life's sim limits restrict large numbers of simultaneous experiences. Mania TV accomplished this number by setting up 25 simultaneous shows in SL.

Check it out on ManiaTV.com.

Read the article on CNN.

What's the big deal about a virtual concert? ok... here's a little eye candy for you naysayers... this is the virtual U2 (sort of like a cover band) who perform U2 concerts in SL.

AdAge: How to Succeed in Second Life

Good article in AdAge about Second Life marketing. Nice Do's and Don'ts at the end:

DON'T BUILD A PRESENCE JUST TO BE THERE.
"When you do it for the buzz, when you force that viral marketing, that's when you go off course. Great content and great ideas will naturally be viral."
-- Joseph Jaffe, president-chief interrupter, Crayon

DO TRY TO OFFER SOME VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY OTHER THAN JUST A PRODUCT.
"This is not the kind of place where you have a salesperson avatar trying to collect leads. ... That's not correct for the culture. You have to stand back and let them explore you."
-- Mark-Hans Richer, marketing director, Pontiac

DO KEEP IT FRESH.
"You have to keep it fresh, not unlike a blog. Make it interesting. Or do something that has a limited timeframe."
-- Giff Constable, VP, Electric Sheep

DON'T EXPECT A DIRECT LINK TO SALES IN THE REAL WORLD.
"So much of our metrics aren't about sale, but they're about brand love. Brand value and brand love are our key metrics."
-- Michael Donnelly, director-global interactive marketing, Coca-Cola Co.

Read the full article here.

We created a Second Life brand manifesto that you can get from our brand wizard at our Agency in Second Life. You can also find them on page 10 of our company newsletter here.