Thought this booklet in the New York Times yesterday was a pretty good advertisment. It loooks like a public service informational booklet about the environment, and includes blurbs about health, education, connectivity etc. but it’s really an ad for the Prius, if you look carefully. Blended with other information about the environment, there is information about the green credentials of the Prius, including that 85% of the raw materials to build the car are recyclable (except for those pesky toxic batteries, of course).

If Toyota is really so altruistic, maybe they should place into the public domain, the thousands of patents it has on efficient engine and hybrid technology!

Also, I saw this today – some flowers attached to the antenna of a Prius. That’s Harmony.

I can’t stop thinking about google Wave, and what a compelling innovation case study it is.

I think Wave is a game-changer. Wave fundamentally redefines online communication (email and instant messaging) and document collaboration.

And, it was created by five people working together in a conference room.

By contrast, Microsoft Labs, the innovation lab for Microsoft has had more than 500 employees (there were recent cut backs).  The only memorable product they created was Photosynth, which is cool, but is not a competitive game-changer.

And, Microsoft Bing will be launched with a $100 million advertising campaign.  It looks like a good search engine, but it plays today’s game, and doesn’t invent the future.

I heard someone say that advertising is the price companies pay for unremarkable products.  Have you ever seen Google advertise any product on primetime television?

I guess the Apple ads are an exception, because Apple products are remarkable.  However, they need to compete with Microsoft and its huge advertising budget, so maybe the combination of advertising and a great product can provide a one-two punch, but a huge advertising budget can not in itself generate a sustainable competitive advantage.

Previous related posts:

plea to Microsoft.

The History of Microsoft.

My idea for an apple ad.

somehow the 1980’s word “Rad”! seems especially appropriate for this bathroom stall advertising campaign in Japan (if I was ten years younger, I would say “Sick!”  The ad is for Georgia Max Coffee (part of Coca-cola). The toilet paper holder says, “Seriously kick-ass intensely sweet for the real coffee super zinging unstoppable Max! Taste-explosion!”

skiing coffee advertisment in Japan

American express donated money to build part of a public park in downtown buenos aires. Also, check out these street signs with Sony ericsson ads on them.

Is the US memorializing its contribution to building schools and infrastructure in Iraq and Afghanistan in such a way?

Also, why not solicit more advertising bucks for public works? (there are ads on bus stops and in metro stations) but why not Coke Street? Or, Hyundai Park?

Advertising that adds value – good stuff. Post from iPhone at JFK.

“Over the long term, the United States cannot kill or capture its way to victory.”

– Robert Gates

Why can’t we deploy the collective genius of Mad Avenue, to help win over the hearts and minds of those who hate us?

It seems to me that the ideals of peace, freedom, prosperity and democracy, as well as the substance of our foreign aid, non-governmental and academic assistance to those in need can easily win over the doctrine of terrorism, hate, and  tyranny.

In Hollywood, most bars and clubs typically have a run of 2-3 years and then they shut down, remodel, and reopen under a new name (often with the same owner), and with a big, hyped opening. The bar literally stays fresh, and continues to maintain relevance and buzz.

What if a retail brand were to adopt this model?

Every three years, the company would launch with a new, fresh brand, and remodel the look and feel of its space, and would have a huge, hyped grand opening?

Branded applications that people want to play with…

Scoble interview video about Context Optional.

Kidnap is driving 60,000 users per day to its sponsor, the Travel Channel.

“When success is usually measured in fractions of 1% click throughs, there must be a better way, and it starts with making the internet a better place.” [link to undercurrent]

This is unbelievable – one of the coolest things I’ve seen! Props to Sprint. [link here]

One of my pet peeves is how many coffee cups are wasted. Why don’t more people use a thermos type or reusable coffee mug?