Vista So Distasteful, Even Pirates Won't Steal It

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Despite Microsoft's charmingest attempts to promote Vista (witty subsites, banner gymnastics), the evidence betrays a sad truth: nobody wants it.

Not even pirates.

But facing news that Vista counterfeit rates are estimated at half those of Windows XP's, Microsoft plays the ignorant housewife: Pirates' refusal to touch the goods is due to Vista's "proven and effective" authentication system!

Oh, of course.

by Angela Natividad    Dec- 4-07    
Topic: Bad, Packaging



Going from Quirky to Metal Always Betrays a Little Insecurity

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Here's a new ad for the 40 gigabyte Playstation 3. It was put together by TBWA\Chiat\Day, LA. The song is called Ladies and Gentlemen by Saliva.

Nice way to showcase the visually arresting aspects of the console, but let's face it, the PS3 will never be the Wii. And to be honest, all this uber-sleek metal shit lacks the confidence PS3's ads demonstrated before Sony knew it would be a flop. You know, like that scary baby spot. There was also a pretty good one involving a Rubik's cube.

And here are some EyeWonder ads for the same campaign: 1, 2. We're not really fans of EyeWonder spots but if they were all as visually interesting (and as quiet) as these ones, we might feel differently.

by Angela Natividad    Nov- 2-07    
Topic: Commercials, Online, Packaging, Television



Home Depot Shopping Carts Spout Text-Based Marketing Messages

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This unnecessarily long article by Forbes, chock-full of handy-dandy survey data, tells us one -- well, two -- important things:

- A new concept is born: "shopper marketing." (Known to you traditionalists -- har har -- as in-store advertising.)
- Concept shopping carts are getting outfitted with a text messaging device, courtesy of Modstream. It's appearing at Home Depots in 8 states.

The idea is that shoppers, which haven't warmed much to video-outfitted shopping carts, will take advantage of coupons, or marketing messages, or whatever-else, at their fingertips.

more »



Rabbit Spam Leaves Much to Be Desired

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Some spam out of the Adrants mailbag:

Experience the most mind blowing muliple orgasms ever with the one and only.... Jack Rabbit Vibrator!

Check out the vibrator made famous by Charlotte on Sex and the City.

Discover why Charlotte wouldn't leave her room for days until Sarah Jessica Parker burst in and wrestled it away from her.

We're going to be honest. Shortly after seeing the Sex and the City episode mentioned, we bought a Rabbit. This is one instance in which the hype is sadly misguided.

by Angela Natividad    Oct-30-07    
Topic: Bad, Online, Opinion, Packaging



For Evian, It's the Outside that Counts

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The bottle at left is a limited edition Evian container created by Christian Lacroix. Evian makes a line of designer bottles every year to celebrate its commitment to "chic sophistication." If you want to spend between $5.99-$9.99 for a bottle of water, you'll find this one at high-end grocery stores and good restaurants.

If your taste is too fine for a Lacroix Evian bottle, you might consider the Haute Couture variation, which is so special the PR people wouldn't even give us a cost on it. Imagine an Ice Queen variation of Mrs. Butterworth's maple syrup. She seriously looks like she'll bite off your face.

All right, Evian. Think you can spend any of that Haute Couture cash on your Second Life efforts?

by Angela Natividad    Oct-19-07    
Topic: Brands, Packaging, Promotions, Strange



Pizza Boxes Carry Newspaper's Classified Section Promotion

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As part of a promotion to tout its classified advertising sections, the Charleston Post and Courier launched a television and print campaign accompanied by a third, very interesting element: pizza box advertising. Yes, there's been ads on pizza boxes before but the paper's agency, RawleMurdy, worked directly with local Charleston pizza shops providing them with a total of 50,000 pizza boxes branded entirely with the paper's message and an offer for free classified listings for items under $100.

The campaign ran between August 27 and September 26. The paper reports phone inquiries and online listing are up. Not half bad in an age where many paper's are seeing a decline in classified ad revenue. You can view the print work here and one of the spots here.

by Steve Hall    Oct-10-07    
Topic: Good, Guerilla, Newspaper, Packaging, Point of Purchase



Disney Uses Bananas to Promote 'The Jungle Book' DVD

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Adrants reader Adam Silverthorne writes to tell us about some advertising he saw on a banana he bought this morning. While isn't altogether new, the tie in is brilliant. The ad is for Disney's The Jungle Book DVD. Complete with image of a monkey (chimpanzee?), the ad gets points for relevancy.

by Steve Hall    Sep-27-07    
Topic: Good, Packaging, Poster, Specialty



Dear Coke: Vitamin Soda is Gross, and the '90s isn't Yet a Vintage Decade

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Say hello to Diet Coke Plus, an - in our opinion, misguided - attempt to keep snacky drinks relevant in the American health craze. In less than a year, we'll bet you $5 this vitamin- and mineral-enhanced beverage is off the shelves and lost in the shuffle of other badly-planned notions, like Vanilla Coke.

Here's a crazy idea: salad at some point in the day, and lots of water - not that flavored stuff hopped-up on still more vitamins.

Did we mention we hate the cyan-crazed '90s vibe of the Coke Plus packaging? Way to be dated, guys.

by Angela Natividad    Aug- 8-07    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Packaging



Nejma Sunflower Oil Makes for Cleaner Cooking

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We really like the simplicity of this ad for Nejma Sunflower cooking and frying oil, which by contrast makes any other option seem like the equivalent of cooking over petrol.

Sometimes taking the purer tack can just destroy the competition by association, a little like how a certain president must feel when doe-eyed cause-toting Al Gore walks into the room.

by Angela Natividad    Jul-27-07    
Topic: Good, Magazine, Packaging



Ophelia Fancy Turns Tennis into Contact Sport

This is a little old but it begged for coverage. For tennis players who never felt the cotton polo was sufficiently breathable, lingerie brand Ophelia Fancy will help you get scandalously skimpy for the next match.

Hey, it's hard to find a decent costume that doesn't come out of a plastic Halloween tote bag. And with Ophelia covering our dress-up fetishes (with pasties!) and Hot Milk keeping expectant mothers delectably scant, there's really no excuse to go on a-porting your favorite cotton boy shorts, is there?

by Angela Natividad    Jul-24-07    
Topic: Brands, Good, Packaging