Sony Bravia Ad - The Sequel

Following up from the Sony Bravia ad featuring 250,000 balls bouncing down the street in San Francisco, Sony's ad agency has created a sequel that aims to top the original spectacle. Both appear to be excercises in computer special effects, but they come into their own when you realise that they are all 'real events' that were created and filmed live. In this instance an alternative fireworks show created by exploding massive paint bombs around a tower block in Glasgow. Intended to communicate the unrivaled colour of the Bravia range of Sony LCD televisions, the ads are becoming quite a cult, and are interesting as they are a fusion between artistic 'happenings' and advertising.

I feel that I can claim a certain amount of ownership over the inspiration for the idea, having knocked a can of paint off the window-sill of my Nan's 24th floor flat in a high rise London tower block last year.

View the ad here, and see some backstage footage below.

The original, simpler and in my opinion better of the two ads can be seen online here.

iPod shuffle Reset Utility 1.0 for Mac

Recently while upgrading to iTunes 7 for Mac and subsequently upgrading the software of my iPod Shuffle, the iPod would no longer function. It would not play music, the green and red lights flashed and the computer would not recognise the device. Apple have just launched a download that will recognise the iPod and will restore it-s factory settings. I downloaded it and now my iPod shuffle works. Not a normal experience that I have had or would expect from Apple...but thankfully I have my iPod back!

Download it here.

Vitamin Product Design

With a product range which spans from ceramics, furniture, and now sports accessories, Vitamin puts it's own fresh spin on any product. Whether it's free-standing lamps that double as carpet sweepers, vases with integrated ashtrays or table lights which keep your cup of tea warm, Vitamin produces extra-ordinary products that hopefully make their owners' lives a little less ordinary.

Vist their site for more...

Making 3D models from 2D images

The above image shows an origianl 2D photograph (top left in image), and subsequent renderings of the same scene from different angles.

This 3D understanding of a 2D image is the result of researchers of Carnegie Mellon university. They took 300 images from Google image search and 'mechanically' taught the computer to recognise horizontal and vertical planes. The results are stunning. Watching their video makes you feel nostalgic as you fly directly into an image as it transforms from a photo into an emersive scene. I can imagine this becoming a wonderful addition to iPhoto, and being able to fly into all tose wonderful old holiday photos from years past.

Check out the research - and you can also download the software.

Watch the video below.

Thanks to Florian (Hi-Res) for this link.

Sony Mylo - Wi-Fi Gadget

A new gadget called Mylo from Sony. Standing for My Life Online, the Mylo does a lot of things, like allow you to instant message and Skype, share images and music, and browse the web (as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection. Looks smart, but I am going to have to search around for some reviews. Certainly seems to one of the first products of this genre. Seems to me to miss a cell phone, but I guess that they wanted to create a device that once you bought it would not cost you anything to communicate!

Check out the site here.

Current TV - Television made by the viewer

Current is a new cable and satellite TV channel that is about 'what is going on'. Real world stories that for the most part are created by the viewers themselves. Current call it VC2 - view created content.

Content creators upload their videos to the Current website, where viewers vote for and choose who should be shown on air. The programmes are made up of PODs, just a few minutes long.

Current is host to some interesting partner programmes with Flavorpill, Sony and Toyota where users can also create adverts for the channel.

Google appear to be making their own TV show for the channel, that airs every 30 mins. Each episode decribes interesting facts about what people are searching for around a vast variety of subjects.

Where Current stands out is in providing a TV experience, but engaging with the viewers in as true a sense is possible. Creating an interactive experience that should provide better quality viewing than browsing YouTube, but being just as compelling.

Check out Current TV.

Flavorpill - Budweiser Select Artistic Collaboration

Flavorpill, the email magazine has for the US based edition of it's 'cultural simulae' mailer launched a project with Budweiser Select. The banners for a couple of months are turned over to the creative talents of a series of international artists and illustrators, with a new individual designing the banners each week. The result is 'advertising' that is easy on the eye and inspiring for the reader. The artworks are available as downloadable desktops. Featured artists include Adhemas, Rachel Domm, Oksana Badrak and Italian based English illustrator Andy Ward, (featured above).

The final part of the project sees the public vote for their favorite artwork.

Check out the project at Select Flavor.

Ping Pong Ball Canvas

A crazy monitor/canvas made from ping pong balls. Connected to a computer the ping pong canvas updates the image line by line, a process that can take several hours. Not a replacement for your plasma tv, but a fun method of displaying images.

Podcasting Tips - Getting Featured in iTunes Podcasts

Tips on how to increase your chances of getting your podcast featured in iTunes store podcast 'Featured' directory. From Podcasting Tips blog.

Scrawl Collective

Frequently updated with new members joining to exhibit and sell their work, this is an excellent resource for street style illustration and art. Featuring the works of Mr Jago (featured above), Phlash, Will Barras, Danny Sangra and many other fresh young talents. A good place to make an investment in affordable art.

David Ellis - Artist

Brooklyn based artist David Ellis and creates what he calls motion paintings.

"motion paintings travel through time like music, where beats are orchestrated and performed on "drum paintings" stretched and tuned to bass, snare, etc. and played via analog drum machines propelled by air, where player pianos meet SP1200s meet improvisational wild style sign painting"

MUST SEE - watch this motion painting on his site.


See more of his work at Jessica
Murray Projects and with the barnstormers at b-stormers.com and spreadtheknow.com.


Thanks to Revolver Lover for this link.

Creative Showcase - Diesel Wins With Angels Online Campaign

Diesel and Airlock have picked up the Creative Showcase award for September for the online advertising for the Angels campaign.

Jonathan Harris

Profile to come...

Maison Martin Margiela - New Site Launch

Maison Martin Margiela, the Paris based fashion house has recently launched a completely redesigned web site.

More to come...

www.maisonmartinmargiela.com

Halloween Site For Loft

Japanese brand Loft have launched a Halloween themed site to promote what looks like a fashion collection - I can't quite fathom it out, but it is a stunning site. Beautiful intro with comic style graphics and video of the models wearing the clothes. This very successfully presents the products in an extremely emotive way. The site has been created by Japanese agency CMD9.

Wildlife - Kinetic Car Projection

Created by Karolina Sobecka, WildLife is a project that involves projections from moving cars being shone on the buildings downtown. Each car projects a video of a wild animal. The animal’s movements are programmed to correspond to the speed of the car: as the car moves, the animal runs along it speeding up and slowing down with the car, as the car stops, the animal stops also.

Interesting Animator/Illustrator

Tomás Peñ - has worked with WYSIWIG