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The first commercial astronaut training center will be built in the UK
The government's mission to put the UK at the forefront of commercial spaceflight has been given a big boost after plans were announced to build the world's first private space research centre in Bedfordshire. The £120 million Blue Abyss facility will be constructed at RAF Henlow, providing domestic and international companies with access to the world's biggest 50 metre deep pool, a 120 room hotel, an astronaut training centre and a "human performance centre" that will help divers, astronauts and athletes train at the very top level.
Ad-averse Tesla will run a fan-made commercial
Tesla doesn't need to advertise -- based on a slick presentation, its overall rep and Elon Musk's 7.5 million strong Twitter account, it notched 400,000 pre-orders Model 3 electric cars without anyone even taking a test drive. However, a fifth-grader named Bria noticed that despite the lack of ads, "many people make homemade commercials for Tesla and some of them are very good." She suggested the idea of a contest, with Tesla airing the winning commercial, and Musk replied "that sounds like a great idea. We'll do it!"
DJI's newest drones are built for filmmakers
Turns out that DJI's Mavic Pro wasn't the company's only new airframe for the year. On Tuesday, a pair of updated drone models joined the family: the Phantom 4 Pro and the Inspire 2.
The FAA's commercial UAV rules are now in effect
Look alive, stateside drone pilots: the Federal Aviation Administration's initial set of operational rules for commercial UAV flights officially goes into effect today. Those rules were finalized back in June and govern any unmanned UAV under 55 pounds that is flown for "non-hobbyist purposes."
Feds finalize rules for commercial UAVs
The Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that they had completed the first set of operational rules for commercial UAV flights in the US. Any UAV under 55 pounds and flying for "non-hobbyist purposes" will be subject to the regulations when they come into effect in August. The agencies expect these rules to create 100,000 new jobs and generate $82 billion for the economy over the next decade.
Amazon's first Super Bowl commercial is for Echo
Tech companies are ready to make the most from one of the biggest sporting events in the world, the Super Bowl. That includes Amazon, which will air its first-ever Big Game commercial during the 50th edition of the NFL's main event. The ad's teaser focuses on the Echo speaker and Alexa, the retailer's virtual assistant, and stars Alec Baldwin alongside football legend Dan Marino. You can see Baldwin ask Alexa things like "what's a snack stadium," in preparation for his Super Bowl party.
Intel's latest ads move beyond the PC
There's no doubt that the PC market is in trouble. And for Intel, that's a real problem -- how do you market yourself when your bread-and-butter processor business is on the decline? By showing what else you can do, apparently. Intel is starting an "Experience Amazing" ad campaign where PCs are just one part of the tech giant's larger picture. The promos show off everything from RealSense cameras (adding flair to the dance you see above) to a dress with Edison-powered butterflies. "See," the commercials shout, "it's not just a computer chip company!"
How PayPal stole Christmas (according to 233 Brits)
Halloween has passed and November is here. For advertisers, that means it's about time to debut this year's festive adverts. PayPal jumped straight in, airing its own during an X Factor ad break on Sunday night, but for hundreds of Brits, it's already destroyed the magic of Christmas. The Guardian reports that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has received 233 complaints from viewers arguing that PayPal's advert implies that Father Christmas isn't real.
CBS plans to livestream Super Bowl commercials for the first time
If you've been livestreaming the Super Bowl and missing out on all of those commercials, that's about to change. Variety reports CBS will stream all of the ads during the game in February, so those watching via the internet will be privy to the same quality entertainment each time there's a break in the action. In the past, advertisers have had to choose a streaming option on top of the regular broadcast slots. If you streamed this past February's game, you likely noticed the same handful of commercials on repeat. That's why. This time around, though, CBS is said to be treating all of the ad spots equally and advertisers will have to consider delivering content in both places. The report also indicates that CBS plans to charge a record price for each 30-second spot -- likely more than the $4.5 million NBC commanded this year. What's more, the network won't let companies "opt out" of the livestream either. In recent months, NFL content has made a big splash online with clips on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube alongside Yahoo's plans to stream a regular season game from London. [Image credit: Focus on Sport/Getty Images]
Amazon proposes a delivery drone flight plan
Following the FAA's recent relaxation of commercial drone flight regulations, Amazon is forging ahead with plans to employ the machines for deliveries. But first, the company has proposed some ground rules to keep the fledgling industry flying safely and out of the way of manned aircraft. Currently the FAA only allows drones to climb to 400 feet and they must remain within the pilot's line of sight. They also cannot be operated within five miles of an airport. Amazon's proposal builds off these initial restrictions with faster, long-range drones flying between 200 and 400 feet up. Slower and short-range drones would operate below 200 feet.
Hot Pockets imagines its greasy place in the VR gaming future
Hot Pockets are the official food of those who have declared: "I've given up caring about my health and I just want radiated bread, cheese and 'meat.'" But you can't deny how easy it is to pop one in the microwave when you're just the right amount of hungry, desperate and need something you can consume with one hand. Now the company is marketing Hot Pocket Snack Bites for those moments when you need to keep both hands free for important tasks like gaming while wearing a VR headset. The commercial doesn't remind future gamers that it'll probably be a good idea to take the face computer off before eating. Hot Pockets might not be the best food (or even "food"), but at least its better than accidentally putting whatever is lying on your coffee table in your mouth.
Real-world Pac-Man maze is what dreams, Super Bowl ads are made of
It appears someone on the Bud Light marketing team has shared our daydreams about emulating video game moments in real life. As you can see above, the difference between us is a substantial, dream-fueling marketing budget – according to Game Informer's take on a Chicago Tribune report, this life-sized Pac-Man maze was built in LA's Fashion District to be used in a 60-second Super Bowl commercial called "coin." In the ad, a man will reportedly find a message in a beer bottle that instructs him to go outside, where he will be given a giant coin for use toward a round of real life Pac-Man. We've taken the liberty of mailing a revised script to Budweiser, in which the man graciously gives up his chance to sprint through a glowing, Ghost-plagued maze so that all of us can have a shot instead. The script also notes that we will all run the maze perfectly, thereby forcing Budweiser to build six-foot-tall Ms. Pac-Man-themed mazes in our backyards. For free. We'll be sure to alert you all once our revision is cleared. [Image: LA Fashion District]
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.
Super Smash Bros. ad fits eight players into one huge living room
Video game commercials tend to imagine us living and playing in an massive, lush living rooms that don't mesh with reality. Even with a sofa so long you can easily fit five people on it, Super Smash Bros. WIi U's eight-player mode means one unlucky beardy-dude still has to perch on the back in Nintendo's new commercial. Yet the indignity doesn't affect the airy, equally long grin plastered across his beardy-face.
World of Warcraft commercials are raiding your TV
Blizzard is ramping up its Warlords of Draenor hype with a new series of World of Warcraft commercials aimed squarely at television viewers. The brief clips -- Grommash Death Stare, Bond of Iron, Iron Horde, and Conquerors -- evoke more Lord of the Rings than the WoW we all know. No gameplay is shown, though there's a sliver of an in-game level-up animation for a human. Spoiler: lots of orcs! Anyone see any of these on TV yet? Enjoy all four commercials below.
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.
Japanese Mario Kart 8 ad showcases the Luigi Death Stare
Is that a subtle Nintendo endorsement of the Luigi Death Stare? After the House of Mario's understated acknowledgment in its E3 presentation, a new Mario Kart 8 commercial in Japan seems to presents the plumber's ice-cold eyes with another knowing wink. Or is this just inadvertence layered over inadvertence? Meanwhile below the break, Fire Emblem: Awakening's Lucina remains unamused.
Star Citizen's $48 million mark means a commercial for the Retaliator
Move over, feathered millionaires, for Star Citizen now has more money than Scrooge McDuck. The space sim crossed the $48 million mark in crowdfunding today. The stretch goal for this particular occasion is the creation of a commercial for the Retaliator spaceship. "The symbol of the United Empire of Earth's power is the next ship to receive a slick commercial," the site posted on its stretch goals page. "Aegis Dynamics is in dire need of good publicity since the end of the of the Messer era. We currently have the Cutlass and the Constellation commercials in production and now the Retaliator will be added to that list." So what epic stretch goal reward is in store for $49 million? If players hit that milestone, then the team will add a plant to the game. But it's a Xi'An space plant, so you know you're getting your million dollars' worth.
This 1987 Australian Macintosh commercial is like a mini Mad Men
There's a bizarre charm to the mini dramas of Apple's commercials from the 1980s, and this Australian Macintosh clip is no exception. "The Manager" is fifty-seven seconds of corporate melodrama, like a soap opera you might experience on the AMC hit Mad Men. Our hero, known only as Frank, is cornered by his smarmy manager, who chides him for not going to a cocktail hour the previous night. Little does Frank's manager know that Frank was up all night working on a presentation using his Macintosh. Frank's manager doesn't know what hit him. If only such teetotaling solutions worked at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. You can watch the entire clip below.
