Multimedia in Marketing

While there are many competitors in the marketing arena vying for the attention of the consumer, I have been long indunated by the fact that most people are attracted to things that look pretty in general. That means that marketing for many items, specifically tech gadgets, are focused on form before function. I don't really like that because it means that people might regret their purchases!

Thus, I present to you some advertisements that focus on function before form! Remember, this is not to say that it is completely focused on functionality. These ads combine the functional aspects and advantages of the device while showing the beauty of it's form....

Sony Ericsson Xperia


This video is a great one about how the phone is easy to use and can do many things. From the opening scene, you can already see that the phone's functions are plentiful and that it can reach out anywhere the user want to go to...

Samsung Omnia I900



The Omnia ad focuses clearly on it's huge touch screen, huge memory, range of applications including GPS, a music player, 5 MP camera and video calling! This ad wants to explain to you "the works", as in: THIS PHONE HAS ALL THE FEATURES! It portrays this thru excellent special effects, video and sound editing and does not compromise on its focus on function. An excellent and enticing advertisement.


Nokia N95


This Nokia advert focuses on making the N95 a PC more than a phone. It touts features that make it look to the viewer like a computer and pushes the idea of digital integration. Even the last few seconds of the advert says "It's what computers have become". They combined snazzy video with interesting audio and visual cues that prompt interest.

Now that you have seen some ads that make function a focus, heres an ad that will make your jaw drop, as well as make you laugh! Enjoy!

The All-Consuming Virus!

Viruses are the bane of all computer users around the world. Windows users (And Mac Users to a lesser extent) have been constantly plagued by computer viruses everyday. What is scary about computer viruses is that new ones pop up very few days. In this age of rapid information exchange, no one can be sure of their immunity to viruses.Today, we will find out more about the computer virus as well as methods of prevention.

First off, let's find out what viruses are!


So viruses are self-replicating programs that may or may not cause damage to your computer. Some viruses are harmless, usually the product of a high-school kid who was just tinkering around with code.
Other viruses are not so innocent. They invade hard disks, cause malfunction and even overwrite BIOS settings, causing widespread, sometimes irreversible damage to computer systems.
Here are some viruses that have caused plenty of havok in their lifetimes...

1) Jerusalem (1987) ... one of the earliest and most successful viruses activated each year on Friday the 13th — either displaying a message or deleting any programs that ran on the day. The virus, dubbed Jerusalem, installed itself in the target computer's memory when an infected file was opened

2) Stoned (1987) ... old viruses never die — that was the warning from anti-virus experts after the Stoned virus resurfaced in 2007, a full 13 years after it was written. The Stoned — or Marijuana — virus became widespread in the early 1990s. It was the most successful virus in terms of number of infections, infiltrating hard drives and the boot sector of floppy disks.

3) Netsky/32-P (2006) A Mass Email worm that copied itself to your hard drive and then sent it self to all your Email contacts!

4) W32/Nyxem-D (2006), a worm, which turns off anti-virus programs on an infected computer, sends itself to e-mail addresses on an infected computer, deletes files off the computer, and forges the sender's e-mail address. It also uses its own e-mailing engine, downloads code from the Internet; reduces system security, and installs itself in the registry

5) W32/Mytob-FO (2006). Another Worm! It is spread through e-mail attachments. The worm turns off anti-virus software on an infected computer. It allows others access to an infected computer, modifies data on a computer, forges a sender's e-mail address, and installs itself on the registry.

I have only named 5 viruses. However, there are literally millions of viruses out there in cyberspace. For more information and detaied lists of their various effects, go to http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/threatexplorer/threats.jsp for more information.

Why are viruses dangerous?
Viruses can potentially cause entire business systems to fail and render critical systems in government to fail. This is very dangerous and can cause people to lose jobs, bank accounts and even their lives. Therefore, it is important to remember to protect ourselves from viruses.



Now that we know how to protect ouselves... we should remember not to too much about viruses. We must remember that computer viruses, like real viruses, will always be around. As long as we practise careful surfing habits, we should be fine. Remember: Never be paralysed by fear.

Until then.. toodlepips!

Google Tools!

Google Tools has been an integral part of my life for a very very long time. I started using Google almost 6 years back, during the days when wireless networks and 3G were new-fangled galore... Since then, Google has evolved its services into a powerful and varied set of TOOLS that include:

• Google Images


• Google Search (Of Course!)


• Google Groups: A power groupware that allows users to share files and communicate


• Google News: a Powerful service that crawls the web to bring you content that only you want. It has completely broken the conventional idea of a news reading.


• Google Docs: An "Office" product that is online.


• And Many Many MORE!

However, the one that stands out the most for me is Google Earth.

While everybody was working on creating the next browser, or the next Office package, Google set it's sights on a beautiful project that is meant to combine elements on Web 2.0 into one single package that will allow users to find their way anywhere across the world, down to the street and apartment numbers!

Using GPS and satellite imagery, Google Earth allows us to traverse anywhere in the world, from Singapore to Europe, from Europe to the Depths of the Pacific Ocean, and then to the Stellar Heavens! No place is Foreign to Google Earth!

As Promised... To Outer Space we goooo!



Amazing isn't it?

SO... Why is it so appealing?
Well... What I think is that Google has brought back the Magic of Technology to us. In the early days, we were all hankering over how computers have made our lives better, more exciting and interesting. Now, we finally remember the "Uncovering" of that mystique, the unknown and the intriguing!
Google has utilized technology to bring us, new mysteries, answer old ones and show us the challenges that the world and the Universe has to offer. That is why Google Earth is so amazing!

Video!

My first video...




Enjoy...