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Huawei wants people to dive into London's River Thames for a Watch GT 2
How badly do you want to get your hands on a Huawei Watch GT 2? Enough to dive in to the murky waters of London's River Thames? Because if that's your weird flex, you're in luck. Huawei has opened the world's first "Dive-Thru" on the Royal Victoria Dock, which will hold free watches for swimmers bold enough to dive underwater to collect them.
Banksy's 'Girl with Balloon' was meant to be shredded completely
Banksy's latest performance piece -- which saw him remotely shred his $1.1 million Girl with Balloon canvas seconds after it sold at auction -- captivated the world. What was he trying to say? What did it all mean? Was this a comment on capitalism? On the fickle nature of the art world? The essential meaninglessness of life as we know it? Hard to say, although we do know that the half-shredded canvas is now worth considerably more as a result of the stunt. However, it seems that the trick went wrong –- the canvas was supposed to be destroyed entirely.
Pizza Hut Parka keeps you as warm as a pizza
Pizza Hut has a history of weird new "products" that are tragically just concepts announced as a stunt (sorry, no pie-ordering hi-top sneakers for you). As we stare down the barrel of another impending winter, it's only fitting that the 'za king introduces a parka made of the insulating material it knows best: The lining on its delivery pouches.
Two people spent 48 hours in nonstop virtual reality
If you own a virtual-reality headset, you've seen a few health and safety rules. Don't use your VR headset in a moving vehicle, for instance, or make sure to take frequent breaks. For most of us, these guidelines make sense: VR nausea is a very real problem, and limiting our time in artificial worlds is the easiest way to avoid getting simulator sickness. But what if you broke all the rules and decided to stay in virtual reality for 48 hours straight -- eating, sleeping, working and living in a VR headset? Well, then you'd be Dean Johnson, head of innovation for Brandwidth and crazy man who spent two days blindfolded with technology.
Watch the world’s first skydive from a drone
Unlike typical consumer-aimed quadcopter drones, Latvian company Aerones specializes in big UAVs that can carry hefty loads. Last year, they showed off one of their big lifter's prowess by towing YouTuber Kaspars Balamovskis on a snowboarding run. Today, they released another stunt video spotlighting one of their heavy lifters hauling a man a thousand feet in the air -- before he let go to skydive back down to earth.
Shoot actual fire from your eyes with this 'Cyclops' helmet
There are good and bad ideas in the DIY annals, then there's this X-Men inspired helmet that lets lets you shoot flames from your eyes. Developed by YouTube user "Sufficiently Advanced," the "Cyclops Visor" is simply a welding helmet with a fuel tank, pump, nozzles and pilot lights. When activated by a switch on the side, it shoots a jet of flames mixed with fuel a distance of around ten feet. As demonstrated in the video (below), that makes the wearer just like Cyclops from X-Men, if that superhero couldn't see at all and was only a danger to himself.
Pornhub wants to help you get fit
If there's one thing that Pornhub is good at that doesn't involve a satisfying break from work, it's getting people to pay attention to its plans. The company's latest attempt to remind everyone where to get their action from comes in the form of Bang Fit, which purports to be a smartphone-based sexercise platform. The idea, as far as the site is concerned, is that getting down and dirty is a better way to workout than whatever your personal trainer can tell you to do. Plus, it has the added benefit of keeping you relaxed and connected with yourself and your significant other(s).
The robotic star of 'Ex Machina' is toying with hapless SXSW attendees on Tinder
This post contains spoilers for the movie Ex Machina If you're guaranteed one thing at SXSW, it's that a marketing stunt will play tricks with your stupid human heart. This year, singletons looking for love on Tinder encountered Ava, a 25-year-old New Yorker with a startling resemblance to actress Alicia Vikander. Unfortunately, it's only after you've engaged in a lengthy back and forth that you'll be told that she's not interested in a temporary tumble in Texas. Instead, the whole thing is just a cruel ruse to promote Alex Garland's new film, Ex Machina.
Artist convinces people to sell their private data for a cookie
There's been a huge debate about how companies use personal data, with Apple and Ello squaring off against data-driven companies like Google and Facebook. We place a lot of trust in these corporations, not bothering to read the terms and conditions before clicking agree. Of course, this was how one cyber security firm tricked unwitting Londoners into signing away their first born child in exchange for free WiFi. But it does raise the question of if we're walking blindly into a privacy nightmare of our own making, which is what Risa Puno sought to investigate. The New York-based artist baked 700 cookies in the logos of various social networks, but rather than selling them for cash, she asked passers-by to sell her their personal information.
Caption Contest: Giant-sized Xbox One takes over Vancouver parking lot
Bigger is always better, right Microsoft? In the lead-up to the Xbox One's launch, Microsoft's hype-making marketing machine's gone a bit mental and planted a larger-than-life Xbox One replica in a Vancouver, Canada parking lot. Why? Well, it's mostly to generate social buzz and secure your launch day dollars (be they Canadian or American, next month), but also because this is "the biggest launch in Xbox history." Get it now? This humongous Xbox One isn't just for show, either: gamers that pledge their gamertags online at Microsoft's One Source site, in-person at the stunt console or on Xbox Live will work towards unlocking rewards like a free Xbox One console and other special "experiences." We're not sure what that latter bit's about -- perhaps a giant statue of Steve Ballmer to float down the Thames? But if you're counting down the days to November 22nd, chances are you'll want in on this fabricated fun. Joseph Volpe: "It's Xbone-ntially bigger than the 360." Jon Fingas: "We grow 'em big up North." Richard Lawler: "We figured if we can't make it smaller, then maybe the Xbox One Kaiju Edition would help sales in Japan." Timothy J. Seppala: "I'm gonna need a bigger A/V rack." Mariella Moon: "Who knew Goliath was an early adopter? John Colucci: "I double as a stage, dance on me!" Nicole Lee: "Man, I knew Microsoft wanted to take over the living room, but the parking lot too?" Ben Gilbert: "Just wait until you see the power brick!" Edgar Alvarez: "Xbox One: King Kong Edition"
Pink Floyd's entire back catalog headed to Spotify, sooner or later (update: available now)
There aren't as many big bands and artists holding out on streaming or downloaded music as there used to be, but there's unquestionably still some noticeable omissions on today's most popular services. One of those gaps now looks set to be filled, though, as a tweet from the official Pink Floyd Twitter account has all but confirmed that the band's entire back catalog will soon be available to stream on Spotify. The catch is that it'll only be available once "Wish You Were Here" is streamed a million times. Not quite as original as a flying pig as far as publicity stunts go, to be sure, but we're not ones to discourage you from listening to a little Floyd on repeat. Update: Well, it looks like it only took a weekend for Spotify to reach its goal. The company's confirmed that "Wish You Were Here" has been listened to over one million times as of this morning, and that the rest of Pink Floyd's songs are now available for streaming as a result.
Audi e-bike Wörthersee lets you pop wheelies eco-style, plays nice with your smartphone
We're no stranger to e-bikes here, but most of the examples we've seen so far have very much been meant for A-to-B rides. Audi's aiming to fix that with its e-bike Wörthersee prototype. The carbon fiber transport not only has a strong 2.3kW motor -- the most powerful ever in a bike, so says Audi -- but can use that power for tricks. You can flick the Wörthersee into a wheelie mode and either shift your weight around or leave it fully automatic, depending on the fierceness of your stunt skills. Not that it'll be a timid ride if you prefer to keep both wheels on the ground, as a motor-assisted pedaling mode will take you up to 50MPH, and you can still ride at 31MPH if you're not keen on using your legs. That's faster than the already speedy Grace One City we tried, folks. The vorsprung durch technik also comes through a smartphone tie-in, although in a much more stunt-savvy way than the app- and tuning-focused Ford E-Bike Concept: it tracks video and trick runs, both for its own game system and for bragging rights on Facebook. With a very light 3.5-pound carbon fiber frame and a quick 2.5-hour charge-up time, the e-bike Wörthersee sounds like a wild ride that will charge quickly enough for a spin on your lunch break, but we wouldn't rush to put down a deposit. Audi is calling the prototype a "show bike," which is a sign than the design as-is won't show up at the local sports store. We'll let you know if the Wörthersee or a more pragmatic descendant makes the leap to a dealer.
Jetman soars over Rio, flies circles around historical landmarks (video)
Why would you want to leap out of a perfectly good aircraft? To fly a winged jetpack over the city of Rio de Janeiro, of course. It sounds nuts, but it's just a day in the life for Yves Rossy, the self proclaimed "Jetman" who flew over the Grand Canyon last year. Since soaring over the Rio Grande, Rossy has pitted his carbon-fiber wings against a rally car on Top Gear, taken to the skies over Abu Dhabi and, most recently, buzzed Brazil's famous Christ the Redeemer statue. Jetman rocketed past the monument on an 11 minute flight earlier this week, beginning his journey by dropping out of a helicopter over Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Rossy pulled his Rocketeer trick and eventually parachuted to safety on Copacabana beach. Sound fun? Head past the break to see the man in action. Us? We'll keep our feet planted on terra firma, thanks.
RIM claims responsibility for "Wake Up" stunt at Apple Store
RIM, maker of the BlackBerry, has claimed responsibility for the ultra lame "Wake Up" flash mob stunt that appeared outside the Sydney Apple store last week. The stunt saw flash mobs pull out black signs that read "Wake Up." When confronted with the signs, shoppers at the Apple Store seemed to have thought the same thing as everyone else, "Wake up to what?" then continued shopping and went about their day. Until RIM owned up to the stunt, many had thought it was spearheaded by Samsung, which has performed similar stunts in the past. Tiphereth Gloria, a social media strategist at VML Australia, told The Age, "The punch line -- which is the fact that BlackBerry is behind it -- is what makes it fail because BlackBerry is not associated with any kind of success." The past couple of years have not been kind to the BlackBerry, as both the iPhone and the Android-based smartphone offerings have chewed away market share from the one-time market juggernaut. Aside from the shifts in the competitive landscape, at times RIM itself seemed to encourage its own demise. First, the Canadian phone maker suggested that the iPhone was a physical impossibility when Apple announced it in 2007, and subsequently the continued self-denial that the iPhone wasn't a threat to RIM's business didn't help matters. Unfortunately, RIM doesn't seem to know (or at least admit) that it's the next Palm. When your brand is weakening, you need killer products and not marketing stunts to get your game back. But hey, at least it's starting to admit "BlackBerry isn't for everyone."
Encased iPad survives 1300 foot drop, because why not?
The folks at G-Form make athletic pads and rugged iPad cases, but they must really hate Apple's tablet over there. Not only did they drop a bowling ball on it and drop it out of a plane at 500 feet, but now they've doubled that distance, throwing a couple of encased iPads from a parachute at a height of 1300 feet (almost 400 meters), complete with movies playing. Since you probably wouldn't be watching the video below if the iPad broke, the case indeed does protect the devices (though that case does look a little worse for the wear). In a review of G-Form's cases, we liked the protection a lot, but I agree -- it's not a very good looking case, and especially if (like me), you like to keep the iPad's form factor lean and sleek, it's not a good choice for that either. But then again, if you're in a situation where you absolutely need to protect your iPad and aren't worried about how it ends up looking, it certainly seems like G-Form's protection is a good way to go. [via TechCrunch]
HTC invades Belgian train stations with miniature Android army
The master of bizarre marketing ploys, HTC, has employed a more militant approach to its latest PR stunt. In a move apparently aimed at promoting the launch of a bunch of new Android phones (specifically the Flyer, Sensation, Incredible S, Desire S, and Wildfire S), the outfit meticulously filled railway stations in Antwerp, Brussels, and Namur with varied configurations of the little green monsters. While the stunt's grabbed our attention, we're happy the bantam buggers weren't there to greet us at the outset of our morning commute. More pictures await you at the source link below.
Dell employees arrested for poor decision making skills
Round Rock police responded to multiple 911 calls of a suspicious man carrying two metallic objects inside a building at Dell's HQ campus. The "biker," dressed in all black and wearing a skull mask, was yelling at people to "go to the lobby," according to police reports. The ensuing panic resulted in the arrest of two Dell employees charged with interfering with public duties and deadly misconduct. Now get this: the incident was the result of a marketing stunt gone horribly wrong with the purpose of internally promoting a new product for the Dell Streak tablet "which can interface with Harley-Davidson motorcycles." Because really, leather-clad motorcyclists are constantly complaining about the lack of peripherals for their choppers.
Google fires Nexus S into space, invites tenuous Galaxy S analogies (video)
How are you killing the time until the Nexus S finally goes on sale? Google's answer to that question has been a typically outlandish affair, involving seven Nexi, a collection of weather balloons, and another quest to see how much can be learned from a humble smartphone's sensors when they're shot to the edge of space. Yes, the Mountain View madmen fired a week's worth of their latest and greatest smartphones through the Earth's atmosphere, hoping to test both the durability and the information-gathering skills of the onboard compass, gyro, and accelerometer, while dedicated GPS modules were installed in each "shuttle" (made out of styrofoam beer coolers, if you can believe it) to help recover the cargo on its return to terra firma. So far, only six of the phones have been recovered -- might this be another of Google's crazy puzzles? A treasure hunt for an Android fallen from heaven? Video after the break. Update: Want to see an Android in space? It turns out that Google was documenting the entire event, and has high-res images and footage of its mascot exiting Earth's atmosphere in a brand-new blog post. Find it at our more coverage links, or hit the break for some video!
Nokia pairs N8 with world's largest cinema screen
Say what you will about the Nokia N8, but it sure has prompted Nokia to get creative in its efforts to market the phone. Following up an attempt earlier this month to create the world's smallest stop motion animation, the company recently (temporarily) erected what's apparently world's biggest cinema screen -- at 1,428 square meters, it just barely edged out the previous record holder that measured 1,338 square meters, although that screen was wider. Of course, the N8 wasn't able to project the Prince of Persia movie all by itself, so Nokia took advantage of the phone's HDMI output to connect four 140-kilogram XLM HD30 projectors -- no doubt another first for a cellphone. Head on past the break for the video.
The iPad makes a pretty good skateboard, too
We've seen an iPad blended and microwaved, so why not turn it into a skateboard, right? That's exactly what Fuel.tv did, and you can watch the results above. Does it stand up to the skater scrutiny? Yes and no ... okay, mostly no. The screen surprisingly breaks right away, and the form factor seems a little too small to support the skater's balance. However, after a little reinforcement (including a drilled hole through the middle that results in ... smoke? Is that the "magical" part?), they can actually get it to roll a little ways. That's not too shabby! Before you start complaining that they've, yet again, wasted an iPad, don't forget that 500 bucks has nabbed them over 100k views of their video online. So, for them, it's not a complete throwaway. [via Mashable]