I’ll let you take a minute to watch the video…

This is the first time in a long time a car commercial has looked this fun and totally sexy.

The best part? You can recreate the 3D experience if you have a webcam and BMW’s paintbrush software. Go to the BMW UK website for directions on printing the 3D symbol and downloading the software so you can get behind the wheel of your own virtual BMW Z4. Beautiful, right?

Images: BMW UK

Post from: EveryJoe

BMW’s Z4 Coupe Commercial With Robin Rhode

Image: sxc.hu

And one group is even suggesting that Gmail be shut down. You heard me right…shut down. Now before you start panicking and wondering were this is going…this was only one extreme suggestion if the FTC determined that Google was only “protecting” your data with one flimsy password like “search engine”. We’re not quite at that point yet.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has petitioned the FTC to investigate privacy concerns over the piles of online services Google offers. Recently Google Docs came under fire when a security blip made previously private documents visible to the public. While I wouldn’t use Google Docs for information that I see as sensitive and confidential, the point remains the same – if you want it to be private…it should stay private.

So what’s next? The FTC is aware (and has been aware) of this issue and will surely keep an eye on things – if another Google Docs incident comes up, then it’s likely the issue of privacy in cloud computing will need to be addressed more directly. In the meantime, Google’s main issue is to manage the public perception of their products properly…and try to reduce any fears or reservations about privacy that might get blown out of proportion (rightly or not) as a result of this issue.

Post from: EveryJoe

Privacy Groups Lobby Against Gmail, Picasa

In the case of IBM potentially buying Sun Microsystems, it appears the consensus is that this would be a strange decision. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that IBM may pay as much as US$6.5 billion in cash for Sun, which nearly double Sun’s closing share price on Tuesday of $4.97 per share.

However, even though the merger could be a challenging fit, given the product overlap and headache of assimilating two very different cultures with each other, this could result in improved products and services all around. Sun has struggled over the last several years, even though they are considered among many folks to be a superior player in the technology space.

Image: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

IBM Might Purchase Sun Microsystems?

Image: Apple

Systemwide search- now you can find what you’re looking for from within one search interface, instead of having to detemine what you’re searching for first.

Copy and paste for text, photos, and SMS- why you weren’t able to take a selection of text and move it around across applications before…is just crazy. Finally you can grab a text message and paste it into an email, or grab someone’s name and use it to name a properly name a photo. As just two scenarios where this is more than just a ‘nice to have’.

MMS – I have never been a big user of multimedia messages, but now you can send and recieve them on your iPhone.

Improved GPS -probably the biggest complaint I heard from all my iPhone loving friends, is that the GPS has been subpar from the start. This sounds like a big improvement all around.

Micropayments – while I understand why this would be useful, I do appreciate that right now I purchase an app…and then it’s done. Well, now app developers have the option of requiring you to subscribe instead of paying one fee up front.

More from Gizmodo.

Post from: EveryJoe

New Features For iPhone OS 3.0

From Re/Max’s attorney -

First of all, both names start with “r” and have logos with accent lines near the letter “e,” he said.

“It goes beyond that,” Scoville added. “If you chop the top off of the ‘h,’ you (almost) have the ‘m’ in Re/Max. The next letter is an ‘a,’ and if you take the ‘v’ then you have half of an ‘x.’ “

Naturally this became a big topic of discussion among blogs, forums, newspapers, and I’m sure a few conversations over copy. Whatever brand equity Re/Max thought they were losing with Rehava joining the real estate scene…it could not possibly have been as costly as their bongus lawsuit.

At some point…Re/Max got the message. Apparently the local franchisees and affiliates went nuts over the lawsuit – but not over any alleged logo similarity…but because the company who ultimately holds the most power over the reputation of their individual businesses was acting so inappropriately and being lambasted for it.

So what can you learn from this? Pick your battles and do everything you can to talk the legal minds who get paid the big bucks to protect the company’s intellectual property and copyright…aren’t acting in ways that would ultimately degrade the reputation and qulaity of the assets they are working to preserve.

Source: Neatorama and Charleston Business Journal

Post from: EveryJoe

Re/Max Backs Off On Rehava Trademark Suit

Jingles, peppy slogans, and the right imagery associated with a product made guys like Don Draper legendary. These days, this is still occasionally the case – but for the most part, ad agencies have had to adjust. They have had to decide what business they are in and fundamentally do more.

Peter Van Allen’s article about how ad agencies are coping with the recession touched on one some crucial advice senior executives are offering to their clients – which at the same applies back to how ad agencies themselves are now running their business.

“In this climate, where a sale is more difficult and the bottom line is more sacred, brand loyalty is paramount,” said LevLane President David Lane. “Adding ‘velocity’ to the sales process and getting existing customers to return again and again is critical.”

Yes, it makes a difference how loyal I am to a store or a product. Having faith in a particular brand name, or associating it with something positive and in line with my values/wants/needs, is more important than ever before. The same goes for how loyal clients are to their ad agencies.

Going above, exceeding expectations and fundamentally providing more value to each and every client on their roster is crucial…and more than just placating them in order to keep money coming in the door. It’s about being available for the client after hours when crisis strikes. Working with them to figure out the one thing they missed during the days where advertising dollars could just be spent without careful consideration for how effective that spending really was.

Image: Newscom

It’s about being twenty steps ahead as a company, and offering greater value in ways that extend past the final, tangible, radio jingle or print ad.

There has always been, and always will be more that can be done. If you are in advertising, pay close attention to how much more your competitors are doing (you better catch up). But even if you aren’t, when you are in a services industry – the same principles apply.

Post from: EveryJoe

How To Brand An Ad Agency: Do More.

I’ll admit, I favor a good glass of wine over a cocktail any day. But at the same time, I can certainly appreciate when a tasty mixed drink is passed my way.

The highlights included…

Perfect sample sizes. Granted, it took my friend and I a few times to realize that just because they are about the same size of shot glasses, doesn’t mean they should be kicked back in one gulp that way.

High quality recipes: Everything I tasted was good. Now, I happened to be traveling with a few other cocktail connoisseurs who had some additional legwork testing out far more varieties than I could manage. But every single drink I tried was incredibly good and delightfully inventive. Lots of fresh mint too, which I find particularly yummy.

Good hosts: The people behind each drink counter were consistently talkative, friendly and helpful. If they had more than one type of drink, I’d ask for their recommendation – they always had a favorite, with clear reasons why, and not one of their choices were disappointing.

Some things I’d have liked to have seen…

Better food prices. This was one complaint I heard from a few people, though I fortunately came full of dinner and ready to focus solely on the drinks. But the cost was quite high for such small portions of finger foods…I wonder what making hors d’oeuvres complimentary would have done to entice people to stick around and keep buying tickets for more cocktail samples.

Brighter Lights. Okay, this is just because I happened to be carrying around a camera. I suppose if you’re setting the lights on dim to offer a little bit of a club-y vibe, that makes sense….but this is just what I want, right?

Here are a few of my absolute favorite recipes from the show:

The Maple Mile
1.5 oz. Centennial 10 Year Old Whiskey
1 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. lime juice
1 oz. simple syrup
1 oz. maple syrup

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add whisky, lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup and maple syrup. Shake and strain into a rocks glass and garnish with frozen cranberries.

The Lakeview
1.5 oz Bacardi Superior Rum
1 fresh lemon
5 oz. white grape juice.
1 sprig of rosemary

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add rum, the juice of 1/8 fresh lemon and top with white grape juice. Garnish with rosemary sprig.

The White Berry
1 oz. Bols white creme de cacao
3 oz. Ocean Spray white cran-strawberry juice
1 fresh strawberry

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add creme de cacao and white cran-strawberry juice. Shake until icy cold and strain into martini glass. Garnish with a strawberry slice.

[Images: Rachel Segal]

Post from: EveryJoe

The Drinks Show: Cocktails, Cocktails and more Cocktails

This is shaping up to be a busy weekend of beverage-centric activities!

If cocktails aren’t your thing (or maybe they are, but you want to try different things on different days), check out Summerfest. Sleeman Breweries is sponsoring what effectively will convert the entire Distillery Distract into one gigantic patio. Three outdoor stages will also be showcasing Canadian talent with musical acts that include Jennifer Ashbee, D. Rowland and Organic Funk. Come on now…this is what summer is really all about.

The details:

Friday, July 18 (that’s tonight!) and Saturday July 19: 7pm to 11pm

Sunday, July 20: Noon to 7pm

On Saturday I’ll be at The Drinks Show, but I’ll be checking things out at Summerfest on Sunday – if you’re planning to be there, let me know!

Oh, and if you go to the Sleeman website page for Summerfest you can enter to win a patio party for you and 40 of your closest friends.

Post from: EveryJoe

What’s On In Toronto: Summerfest

The language around wine is fascinating. I’d hardly consider myself an expert on the subject and you may have noticed my reviews are short, simple and to the point. Occasionally I might throw around words like ‘oak-y’ or ‘tannins’…but this is balanced by more accessible phrases such as ‘yummy delicious’ and ‘tasty’.

My approach may make a true expert cringe. But then, the backlash against their specialized knowledge has been equally as strong…so I suppose I can’t really blame them.

In the end, I aspire to write and review with a similar methodology as Vinography’s Alder Yarrow. In  a post yesterday on wine evaluation, he writes:

“I’m of the opinion that merely telling you the ingredients of a dish (or the organoleptic qualities of wine) is not criticism at all, or if it is a kind of criticism, it is certainly not useful. I’ve had lots of Merlot that tastes like plum, cherry, and chocolate, but some of it is total crap, while others transport me to fantastic, sensual places. “

Wine is subjective, just as some sports are subjective. If they weren’t, every “professional” expert would come to the same conclusions, have the same vote, offer the exact same score whether for a . But there are just too many aspects that need to be taken into account…not to mention the array of external factors and circumstances that can have an impact on the overall impression.

Anthony Gismondi describes a similiar sentiment in his article for the Vancouver Sun:

“The challenge of writing this column for an audience that drinks wine for undoubtedly as many reasons as winemakers have tools to make wine, often makes my head spin too. The trick is to get some useful information out to consumers without “dumbing down” the subject of wine.”

Well said. If you’re targeting a diverse range of people who are each looking for the ‘answer’ for different reasons, you have to proceed with thoughtful care and a balanced editorial approach. While impossible to please everyone, you will be the favorite for friends and associates who maybe would like to ask a question but feel intimidated by other, more pretentious wine connaisseurs. And really…isn’t being a true expert a balance of being able to ‘talk the talk’ as well as being able to interact someone who knows little about the subject and leave them with a little bit of education and maybe…some inspiration thrown in there too.

Post from: EveryJoe

Wine reviews and the definition of ‘expert’

Running from 5-11pm on both days, you can expect some amazing recipes, delicious food and a fantastic time if the website and event theme (retro airline inspired) is any indication. Some of the sponsors:

Event Partners Include:

• LCBO
• Spirits Canada
• Tetley Iced Tea
• Ocean Spray
• 99.9 Mix FM

Some Brands Attending:

• Absolute
• Bacardi
• Baileys
• Crown Royale
• Hennessy
• Smirnoff

Plan on going? Let me know!

Post from: EveryJoe

The Drinks Show in Toronto