the Jeffernet
random thoughts on life & technology by Jeff Alldridge
July 22
Is this really Microsoft’s answer to the “I’m a Mac” ad campaign? If this is true it is the most bland, boring and fuel for the fire of flame baiters on both camps. It’s hard to be the second act, the follow-up, playing “me too” to a successful ad campaign that (among other influence such as iPods, iPhone and the iTunes universe as the gateway drug) was actually successful in creating switchers.
To truly compete in a marketing campaign you must do more than making ads. “They have ads. We must make ads too.” They need to look at why those ads were successful –granted there are many (including Apple fans) who hate the ads, but you can’t deny each new ad garners conversation.
The Zune ads garnered conversation, but more of that “what the heck is that” variety. The Zune ads were more crazy little (mostly animated) short films posing as commercials with no value to the product –and in many cases were detracted from the product.
This new leaked Vista ad is like a rice cracker substitute for a meal. One could argue that it’s something isn’t it? But who is satisfied? In fact, now you are even more hungry then you were before. The Zune ads are on the opposite side of the spectrum. With the Zune ads it’s like having a live fish flapping on the plate served by an anarchist teenager wearing an “original” black hooded sweatshirt with safety-pinned band patches while yelling “boom, there’s your meal –aren’t I crazy?”
*Note to self, create an “original” punk kit to be sold in stores with a tagline “Be original by being like everyone else. Punk kit includes everything you need to show society you don’t care through over used stereotype representations. Guaranteed to make your parents disappointed for whatever that’s worth.”
Back to the ads. OK, so while the Vista ads are not a satisfying meal, the Zune ads have potential if only a little more time and care and thought went into it. Gut the fish, find the meat, cook the meat with some spices and then you’d have a great ad, I mean meal. Same thing.
Meanwhile, Apple will continue making ads like a nice Sunday dinner of meat and potatoes.
Rice cracker, live fish on a plate or meat and potatoes? Hmm… John Hodgman, you’re awesome!
July 22
The Audacity of Vanity - Washington Post
Wow, great article by Charles Krauthammer. Very strong words.
Here are a few excerpts.
“Americans are beginning to notice Obama’s elevated opinion of himself. There’s nothing new about narcissism in politics. Every senator looks in the mirror and sees a president. Nonetheless, has there ever been a presidential nominee with a wider gap between his estimation of himself and the sum total of his lifetime achievements?”
“For the first few months of the campaign, the question about Obama was: Who is he? The question now is: Who does he think he is?”
July 21
The Dark Knight: 25 Sites to Expand Your Batman Knowledge - Mashable
I know, I need to write my thoughts on The Dark Knight -a full review, but in the meantime, here’s a tasty treat.
Mashable compiled many links for all your Batman info -many are larger sites (like Aint it Cool News) that talk about many topics including things of the Batman variety, but are not Batman exclussive. Others are more focused on Batman movies, which is cool and all, but I prefer all things Batman -or at least more of the source material.
So here’s my stripped down list from Mashable’s full list. To view theirs, click the link above.
DC Database Project
Batman Yesterday, Today & Beyond
ComicVine
DC Comics
Additionally there are tons of Wikipedia pages about the Batman mythology.
From Wikipedia:
Batman
Batman Storylines
Batman Timeline
Alternate Versions of Batman
Batman Supporting Characters
List of Batman Enemies
July 18
AMC adds dimension through joint venture with IMAX
In a fight to get butts in seats, movie theater companies are pulling out 1950s style gimmicks. And this one is not that bad. Actually putting in Imax projectors to normal theaters. However, unless more movies are shot in IMAX (like key sequences from the new Dark Knight movie) this is again novelty? No fidelity is added to the image by blowing a 35mm vertical print to 65mm horizontal IMAX. There benefits with light and throw and such, but these minor benefits are not equal to the price tag in my opinion.
IMAX movies are expensive to shoot. Even more, creating film prints cost just that much more. Unless films are shot in IMAX, it’s useless and a waste in my opinion.
Digital projectors have much more promise for multiplexes, but the cost is getting so low that someone could build a small home-theater with a 1080p projector, surround-sound playing 1080p Bluray for three grand.
Nice step, but perhaps in the wrong direction.
July 18
Ten Batman Villains Who Should Never Be On Film - Film School Rejects
This is a fairly good list of unimpressive villians -however, more then just “villains who should never be on film”, this is a list of crappy Batman villains. Though I really like the Ventriloquist and Scarface. And as much as I love Clayface, I think that one may be a bit outlandish for the Nolanverse as they put it.
With that, personally I think there are great villains that would be difficult to pull off on film like Solomon Grundy or Mr. Zsasz.
Because many of these characters are rare, I have provided Wikipedia links for more information. And here’s a link to the list of Batman family enemies.
Read the full article for more details.
10. Man-Bat
9. Ventriloquist and Scarface
8. Kite Man
7. Film Freak
6. Crazy Quilt
5. General
4. Ten Eyed Man
3. Clayface
2. Mad Hatter
1. Calculator
Villains that Almost Made The List
Killer Croc and Bane
July 18
The 10 Most Ridiculous Weapons in Batman's Arsenal - TLRobot
Wow, the guys at TLRobot know Batman more then I do. They pulled out some crazy references -Batman Forever the videogame?
Batman has been portrayed so many times it is impossible to make a judgment on what is and is not canon. The Batman universe is so dense with contnet that everything is just versions of the same thing. That’s Alan Moore’s version of that story, that’s Frank Miller’s version of that story, that’s Dennis O’Neils version of that story.
With all the versions, it’s wild to see how people have used (and in this case abused) the power of Batman gadgets. Awesome, extinsive list. Read the full article for details.
10. Bat-Shark Repellent from the ‘60 Batman movie
9. Lockpick from Batman: The Last Arkham
8. Assorted Dumb Boots from various
7. Broth from Batman: The Ultimate Evil
6. Computerized Batarang from Batman Returns
5. Anti-Penguin Gas Pills from ’60s Batman TV show
4. Slippery Goo from Batman Forever videogame
3. Batmobile Key from Batman #200
2. Wool Socks from Batman #163
1. Nipples from Batman & Robin
July 18
"Y’know those idiot teenagers who show up late on Halloween with no costume demanding free candy? Yeah. That’s pretty much the internet now."
Merlin Mann
July 17
The 6 Dumbest Doomsday Devices from Superhero Movies - TLRobot
This is a great article. The opening is great and the choices are very spot on. The problem with MOST comic book movies is poor execution of the master plan of the evil villain. They get too wrapped up on the characters (which is good) that the overall story doesn’t matter. Like the Fantastic Four movie -what a snooze-fest. Most of the movie was the characters complaining about having super powers. There were only two action sequences -one the Thing accidentally started and the finale.
These movies need to be more thought out. And on that note, I am looking forward to The Dark Knight on Saturday at the IMAX!
6. The Penguin’s Army of Rocket-Launching Penguins from Batman Returns
5. Doctor Octopus’s Artificial Sun from Spider-Man 2
4. The Riddler’s Boxes from Batman Forever
3. Lex Luthor’s Kryptonite Island from Superman Returns
Almost the same plot as Superman the Movie
2. Ra’s Al Ghul’s Microwave Emitter from Batman Begins
1. Magneto’s Mutator Magnet Machine from X-Men
July 16
Revenue from App Store Activity - Medialets
So no hard numbers have been released, but this articles makes some jumps to find a good esitmate on how much money the apps have made on the new App Store for iPhones and iPod Touches.
Very interesting. Taking the number of collective downloads, estimating how many of those downloads were free apps versus paid, making a rate prediction of the number of apps downloaded to the number of reviews, and finally multiplying that by the price.
So what are the results? Super Monkey Ball, in less then a week, may have taken in 4.9 million dollars!
Anyone else thinking about becoming an iPhone / iPod Touch developer [again]?
July 15
10 of The Dumbest Secret Identities - Bam Kapow
I am just gland my man Bruce Wayne didn’t make the list. Read the article for full details. And I totally agree that Clark Kent is the dumbest secret identity.
10. Edward E. Nigma (Riddler)
9. Bruce Banner (Hulk)
8. Tony Stark (Iron Man)
7. Sunspot from the future (Reignfire)
6. Prince Adam (He-man)
5. Logan/James (Wolverine)
4. Magneto/Xorn Fiasco
3. Oliver Queen (Green Arrow)
2. Billy Batson (Captain Marvel)
1. Clark Kent (Superman)