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Instagram's carousel ads let brands post multiple photos at once
If you're looking to post multiple photos to Instagram at once, you have to employ another app to create a grid of snapshots. Well, that's about to change... for brands. The filter-driven app announced today that "carousel ads" will soon appear in your feed, allowing companies to post multiple images with "more flexibility" in the storytelling. When you encounter one of the new adverts, swiping left will reveal additional images, linking out to the appropriate website for further investigation. Underneath the post, dots will show your which photo you're viewing, and that handy link comes in the form of a "learn more" button. Of course, advertisers can also leverage the app's video abilities to drive the intended message home. Use of the new ad format will be limited at first, as Instagram plans to make some tweaks once they go live in the "coming weeks."
Watch WH Smith's incredible 1988 video game sizzle reel
"Konami's latest coin-op hit bursts onto your computer screen. Beyond infinity lies the evil galaxy dominated by the forces of the despotic Salamander. A hero must persuade his compatriot to join him on a journey into hell and beyond. To defeat this devil they most overcome forces mankind cannot perceive in his wildest nightmares. Organic monsters of destruction, nuclear spiders, infernos burning like raging seas in torment, caverns of despair, demons beyond dimensions of our minds. You are that hero. Now is the time. Pilot your spacecraft on this lethal mission with skill and strategy to amass the weapons systems vital to your success. Screen after screen of exciting arcade action in this faithful conversion of Konami's follow-up to Nemesis. Sci-fi shoot 'em up at it's best. Salamander takes you a stage further."
Smartphone ad banned from UK TV for objectifying women
Kazam is hardly a well-known smartphone brand in the UK, and that's unlikely to change any time soon if its ads are being pulled from TV. After a series of complaints, Britain's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned an ad for the company's Tornado 348 handset, ruling that it objectifies women and is "sexually suggestive." The clip shows a woman moseying around in her underwear, grabbing a pair of jeans and ironing a shirt, only to discover that she'd forgotten to take her smartphone out of the top pocket.
British retailers are using Shazam to hijack rivals' Christmas ads (update)
With just over a month until Christmas, brands are firing up their festive marketing campaigns to extract as much money as they can out of consumers. It looked as if John Lewis had the 2014 ad title all sewn up when Monty the penguin first waddled onto our TV screens, but responses, from Sainsbury's in particular, have made it far from a forgone conclusion. In times gone by, John Lewis would just take out newspaper ads or takeover a billboard to keep its campaign at the forefront of the public's mind, but this year it's utilising a clever, mobile first, strategy.
Weird Al wants to sell you a drone
Weird Al Yankovic has spent over 40 years skewering pop culture through song, and endearing himself to nerds of all stripes in the process. What, then, is next on his list of things to do? Pushing swag for Radio Shack, apparently. The Honorable Mr. Yankovic popped up in a new ad for the downtrodden gadget retailer with just a touch of Wonka insanity earlier this week, leading some reporter from Parks and Recreation through a veritable toyland of drones and, erm, batteries with a (pretty awful) song wafting through the air.
More Mercedes madness in new live-action Mario Kart ads
Remember that wonderfully oddball Mercedez-Benz Japan commercial that accompanied the OMG GLA DLC Mario Kart 8 revelation? You know, the one with the hard-as-nails, real-life Mario climbing out of the GLA all super-cool before walking into a Goomba? No no, you didn't dream that, it really happened. Well, ahead of Mario Kart 8's first major DLC pack later this week, Mercedes-Benz decided to double dash with another pair of live-action GLA commercials. This time, the insanity not only stars a muscly Mario, but similarly surreal versions of Luigi and Peach, too. Head below the break to watch a princess hop and a plumber brother bop.
Google taunts Android fans with mascot audition teaser
There's been a bit of speculation as to what moniker version 5.0 of Google's mobile OS would take on when it arrives this fall. In a new promo video, the Android faithful are taunted with possibilities like Lemon Meringue Pie, Lemon Drop, Lady Finger and Lava Cake. Oreo is mentioned as a dark horse candidate, and it could be an option if Google decided to stick with the branded snack theme (and skips a few letters). A couple of rumored names are noticeably absent, too: Lollipop and Licorice. Of course, we'll know soon enough when a new statue is installed in Mountain View.
Madden's weird ad campaign stars Kevin Hart, Dave Franco
The start of the NFL season and launch of Madden NFL 15 is just around the corner, which means we're in the midst of the really weird part of the football offseason. Fans are desperate for anything new on Johnny Manziel and Madden players are clamoring for the last scraps of details for the game they'll be pouring hundreds of hours into. That restlessness must have seeped into EA Sports' headquarters, as the publisher just kicked off an ad campaign that stars comedian Kevin Hart and "Neighbors" actor Dave Franco. The three-minute commercial features cameos from NFL players like 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and Broncos linebacker Von Miller, in which the players sputter "blah blah blah" for a good 15 seconds.
Google to plug Play Music in UK's first live music TV ad
Google's run plenty of ads on UK TV over the years, but its next campaign is set to break new ground for the company and for British TV. AdAge reports that the search giant has teamed up with the UK's Channel 4 for the first live music performance across a full ad break on UK television. On Friday night around 22:45 local time, singer Sam Smith will belt out his current single Stay With Me live from London's iconic Roundhouse venue. Beyond Smith getting some priceless promotion for his album, Google's using the spot to plug its Play Music download and streaming services. It's on this very store that Google will host the live performance and exclusive tracks shortly after the ad airs. And, if you're not a Smith fan, well at least it's three-and-a-half minutes you didn't have to watch tacky ads for things you don't need.
This is how Samsung thinks normal people use smartwatches
Samsung's track record on smartwatch marketing has been, shall we say, mixed. Its nostalgic sci-fi TV spot for the Galaxy Gear was a hit, but its awkward (and slightly creepy) romantic skier ad? Not so much. Give credit to the company for learning quickly, though, as its newly released TV commercial for the Gear Fit (shown below) mostly hits the right notes. The 30-second clip sticks to showing real-world use cases, such as tracking fitness data while running and turning down phone calls. It's still a bit silly -- really, who wears a smartwatch over a fancy bracelet? -- but it does make a good case for intelligent wristwear.
Rumor: Free Pokemon X/Y with purchase of 3DS XL or 2DS and a game
A supposed scan of a Toys R Us ad indicates a new Pokemon X and Y sale is on the horizon. The ad, courtesy of a GoNintendo tipster, states that new 3DS XL or 2DS buyers who additionally pick up one of six games and register their gear on Club Nintendo in March will receive a download code for Pokemon X or Y. The six eligible games buyers may be picking from are Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Yoshi's New Island, Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins, Super Mario 3D Land, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and Mario Kart 7. As it stands now, there's no confirmation of the deal on either Club Nintendo or Toys R Us' sites. We've reached out to Nintendo for more information and will update as we learn more. [Image: GoNintendo]
Dell portrays itself as a feisty startup in its first ad after going private (video)
Now that Dell is once again a private company, it's trying to shake off its reputation as a member of the status quo. Appropriately, the PC builder just unveiled a new TV ad that suggests it has all the energy and vision of a technology startup. The minute-long spot connects Dell's mindset to that of companies like Dropbox, Gilt and Skype, which started out in modest places but went on to accomplish great things. We're hopeful that the ad reflects fresh thinking in Round Rock's offices, but actions will speak louder than words -- it's hard to believe that a tech giant can be as nimble and innovative as a tiny outfit with something to prove.
Sony's first PlayStation 4 ad for Japan teases the Japanese with everyone's joy
Japan, you'll get the PlayStation 4 soon. Promise. For now, look at everyone else enjoying it. Don't they look happy? That could be you on February 22nd!
Apple airs new holiday ad 'Misunderstood' featuring iPhone 5s and more
Apple has kept with its annual tradition of airing a seasonal ad featuring Apple devices in holiday settings. Last night, the company's 2013 holiday ad aired; it's 90 seconds long, noticeably longer than most TV spots. It's set to the tune of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and shows a family gathering for the holiday. We won't spoil the emotional twist of the ad, but the title -- combined with early scenes of a teenage boy who seems to be distancing himself from the celebrations around him by burying his nose in his iPhone -- may give you a hint where this is going. You can check out Apple's annual tearjerker below. Note that the "film within the ad," shot entirely on the iPhone 5s, is also posted to YouTube and embedded for your viewing pleasure.
Walmart celebrates Black Friday a week early, extends Christmas price match
All Walmart wants for Christmas is cold, hard cash, so the company is dropping tradition and offering the deals in its recent Black Friday ad to customers as early as 8AM on November 22. Notable deals found in the ad include a 4GB Xbox 360 console for $100, a PlayStation 3 with The Last of Us and Batman: Arkham Origins for $250 and a $100 2DS handheld. Many games are also discounted, including recent hits like Assassin's Creed 4, Battlefield 4 and Beyond: Two Souls. Why release an ad specifically created for a singled day of the year before that day has ever rolled around? Simply put, Wal Mart is employing an especially aggressive sales strategy to combat the relatively short amount of time it has to entice holiday shoppers. "Black Friday is our Super Bowl and we plan to win," stated the company's chief merchandising officer, Duncan Mac Naughton. "With six fewer days from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the retail environment is more competitive than ever. Every opportunity to get a great deal - whether this weekend, on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday weekend - matters for our customers." Additionally, Wal Mart has revealed plans to extend its annual Christmas price matching promotion. Now, every item you purchase between November 1 and December 24 is eligible for a refund, assuming you find it included in any other stores' ads at a price cheaper than what Wal Mart's offering. Keep in mind however, that this deal does not apply to items purchased on Black Friday or Thanksgiving Day. This promotion also ignores items you've seen on Amazon or any other non-local retailer, removing the possibility of playing retailers off one another for massive savings. Update: An earlier version of this article mentioned a 250GB Xbox 360 on sale at $100. Walmart's sale is actually on a 4GB Xbox 360. We apologize for the confusion.
Xbox One 'His and Hers' ad is disruptive, cute
Microsoft's Xbox One hardware teaser wasn't the only video for the new console that it unveiled this morning. It also published a brief "His and Hers" ad in which a lady named Jennifer uses Kinect voice commands to begin playing Dead Rising 3 while her boyfriend is watching a soccer match.
Samsung's Galaxy Round ad compares its curved smartphone to avocados, Russian dolls (video)
Thanks to Samsung Korea's new (soon to be viral) Galaxy Round commercial, we've learned that its new smartphone is curved. Like many other objects. In the world. We get that now. It's also got differently-curved competition coming very soon. The whole 30-second showcase is after the break.
Microsoft puts the focus back on gaming with Xbox One 'Invitation' ad
Sony exploited the nostalgia of the PlayStation brand a few days ago and now it's Microsoft's turn to slosh some ad money around. The latest clip to be released on the official Xbox YouTube channel is simply called "Invitation," and it might be best be summed up as the exact opposite of the original Xbox One launch event. Instead of emphasizing Kinect, HDMI in/out and TV overlay features, what's being sold here is straight-up gaming immersion, with titles like Titanfall and Fifa 14 dominating the first part of the clip, leaving just a few seconds of screen time for movies, Skype and voice commands. This focus tallies with Microsoft's wider effort to re-jig its image among gamers, but it probably also has a lot to do with geography: this looks like a global advertisement and some parts of the world may not benefit so heavily from Microsoft's US-centric TV and content deals.
Instagram reveals what its ads will look like
Ads are coming to Instagram, and now we know what they'll look like. The Facebook subsidiary's offered up the example above on its blog today, and also confirmed that it will be appearing in feeds across the service in the coming week as a test run of sorts. Plans for a broader rollout remain vague beyond that, but Instagram says the Sponsored icon you see above will be tappable to give folks more information on how ads work, and it further adds that users will also be able to hide individual ads and offer feedback on why they chose to do so. It's also confirmed a number of companies that'll be taking part in the first phase of the rollout, including Ben & Jerry's, Lexus, Levi's and PayPal -- TechCrunch has some examples of what their ads will look like.
Star Citizen trailer pushes spaceships like a car dealer
The latest trailer for Chris Robert's Star Citizen takes the form of a modern automobile ad transported to the far future. Instead of the latest Ford or Chevy model, a perky, inoffensive narrator introduces viewers to the Aurora, made by Roberts Space Industries – the 2944 model comes with all kinds of neat options. The on-screen Aurora model begins to cycle through its various configurations in a sequence that dutifully apes modern advertising efforts, but also subtly demonstrates the level of customizability found in the ships of Star Citizen. The upbeat, modern-yet-indistinct soundtrack that accompanies our narrator as he test drives the ship is a nice satirical touch, but the drive itself is clearly an excuse to show off the game's extraplanetary vistas - nebulas and galaxies trump the Autobahn any day. If this ad posing as an ad has sold you on the Aurora, the good news is that you can buy one right now. The bad news, however, is that your $45 pledge won't result in a spaceship until Star Citizen has launched. There's no official word on when that might happen, though the developer expects its debut during 2014.
