For those of you who don’t know about the controversy, Google 09-F9-11-02-9D-74-E3-5B-D8-41-56-C5-63-56-88-C0 – Protect your free speech by using it – as much as you can. Nobody owns your mouth and what you can or cannot talk about.

Note: This is third podcast in my first round of doing audio blogging. Gonna switch up my format a little and shorten proceeding episode lengths to something a bit more retainable in size sprinkled with way more attitude. Enjoy!

Program Length: 17′00

Listen here: [See post to listen to audio]

Download here: WKYD Transmission #3

Program Length: 11′24

Listen here: [See post to listen to audio]

Download here: WKYD Transmission #2

Many sci-fi themes and novelists have written about and alluded to a possible declined global environment due to over industrialization and massive toxic accumulation –an environmental condition so bad that every human must wear air purification or respirator devices just to survive the day-to-day routine. The protagonist or evil character in that scenario was the corporation who supplied you with fresh air. They were the ones who determined who lived and died by who paid their bills on time.

While in this reality we can still shoot for such a scenario –come on evil oil burning corporations, let’s go! But If sustainability and alternative energies hit their tipping points it may not be a likelihood, thank goodness. But what I’m after here is what do we define as air? If that is open to redefining, then we may see an enslaved sci-fi possibility sooner than later. I’m talking GoogleNet, possibly.

For humans, air is life –it’s what keeps you going. In the ancient days of shipping by sail, air was the power behind you. If a fire wishes to rage, then it must have air to breath and flame. In our well-connected modern communications life of ecommerce, social networking and VoIP, WiFi and broadband connection is the “air” we breathe. If it’s not on and flowing, we suffocate.

It this definition of air that gives force to our business communications and rapidly sends our transactions over the net. Quite often these days our mood is determined not just by our health and mental outlook but by how many bars we are seeing in our wireless connection icons on our various mobile platforms.

Now from what I could last I could glean, was that Google plans to trial test its free Wi-Fi coverage in San Francisco, with eventual plans to roll out such a service nation wide. Users, I mean potential customers, can opt for a $19.95 plan to access increased bandwidth and service support. This scenario of service provision is being developed in most major cites everywhere.

So a question I would like to ask is how will we know that GoogleNet, or as I see it Google “Air,” is not coming to us filtered or even flavored by a corporate sponsored agenda of some sort? Google has already re-defined how and which web pages live and die due to their rules of search engine ranking. What other rules will we have to follow, guised as technological advancements, as they continue to dominate digital content delivery.

What if the good air, the place where you want and need to get your digital content from, just happens to be the realm in which you have to pay for it? The “good air” being items such as: video content, VoIP, or any new and evolving social/business standard of exchange. Then what good is free? If you can’t play where you must, you might as well just die. A digital death anyways –but isn’t that everything nowadays?

I suppose I’m just a Utopian who understands that there are other innovative and culturally enhancing ways for service providers to make money other than charging for the pipe. If only we could just re-appropriate that nine billion dollars in Iraq redevelopment fund that has recently gone missing we could have a lot free things in our lives. Here’s to breathing easy and free wirelessly.

Story Links:
http://gigaom.com/2005/09/30/google-confirms-san-francisco-wifi-plans/
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2005/09/01/8356497/index.htm
https://home.featherwifi.net/sanfrancisco

This episode covers some of the unique perspectives of business and strategy that a Generation X designer may have when it comes to other generations (Baby boomer – Gen Y) in taking on possible new projects. I myself am Gen X born in 1972 –so I feel that I’m a premier authority on the subject.

Run Time: 12:37

Listen here: [See post to listen to audio]

Download here: WKYD Transmission #1

If you break the word “employment” down into its three parts you get a definition that leads to another conclusion: First there is the prefix “em” (same as “en”) which means to “be within.” Then at the end of the word there is the suffix “ment,” which is to be “within the action” of the attached noun subject. And then you have at the core of the word combination, “ploy.”

Ploy by its own definition is:

n. An action calculated to frustrate an opponent or gain an advantage indirectly or deviously; a maneuver: “A typical ploy is to feign illness, procure medicine, then sell it on the black market” (Jill Smolowe). – Definition courtesy of The American Heritage® Dictionary.

So as far as this breakdown of the word employment is concerned, I am definitely not seeking to be frustrated by a calculated opponent in 2007 or as so many others who are seeking financial change utter – employment by an employer!

Now I know that there are a few nerd faces out there, who may argue that this is not what the origin of the word really means (go ahead be troll – who frakking cares!). But for all you metaphysicians and copy writers out there who understand that vibration intones realties and subsequent actions; employment, self or otherwise, will never give you a smooth ride. Perhaps that’s why it’s law that they give you financial compensation and a health plan for your aggravated time.

Here’s to being something… something… in 2007 that gives you tons of money and plenty of free time!

I rarely do this… report on things rather than give you original thought – well maybe. But here you go, here’s the link to the new Volvo C30 site dubbed Free Will. It’s a very interesting new campaign that executes itself, in my opinion, incredibly well. I actually spent close to two hours clicking every button and exploring every experience and story arc. – I never do that

The marketing has been handled by Euro RSCG Fuel, London, to showcase the new Volvo C30. The unique theme and approach is called a “product of free will.” You decide if you love it or hate it.

What’s tasteful about the initiative is that there’s never any sort of overt pitch, just ingenious plays upon the take it or leave it theme as well as a host of funny interactive games and animations all with the voice over tag: “That’s one opinion. What’s yours?” The site also includes very interactive video explorations of the car itself.

As far as Flash based websites go – it’s one of the best. No head –bashing loading lag and no over-clocking of my computers CPU to make it all flow seamlessly. Yes, finally! I often find that a rare experience where Flash is concerned – and no! I don’t need more RAM.

According to AdAge.com this site was created for the European market first and will have a similar American counterpart coming later in the year. I’m hoping that the North American experience will include a place for web visitors to add their opinion of the car and that the best of these verbal contributions will be woven into future adverts, either televised or web based.

The product is undeniably solid and hopefully will accommodate sustainability heads that will want to run it on Bio-diesel. With that fearlessness in place, there is no need for Volvo to over-protect the brand or product image – and they don’t. You the consumer have always decided the worth of brand image anyways; no amount of well-crafted copy can ever change that.

As well, the effort doesn’t play the design approach of “we know that you know, savvy citizen that advertising is an attempt to manipulate you – say like a Sprite “Obey your thirst” campaign. It rides a clear middle path of presentation that’s entertaining where ultimately you just have use your – free will.

P.S. I want one – but I don’t think I fit it on my Amazon wish list!

In our consumer world, where we have the scoop on everything happening that wants to be known, and sometimes not, coupled with national ad campaigns and international level product launches, what happened to the value of being an insider? I’m not talking about well-known gadget blogs here either.

In other terms; the quiet launch where a product is trickled to influencers and hubs, here and there, so that those involved will feel different from their peers–A given cultural grouping given the pass to be “In the know” of a life changing/enhancing experience through a brand or product.

The term “In” comes from the noun “Insider.” “Psssst, hey buddy. I got something that is really hot! You “In?” People always want to stand out, psychologically, emotionally and anywhere from major to subtle ways from one another in their settings for all sorts of reasons: some conscious, some not. Perhaps just for the reward of getting noticed and loved.

With a new product or service just try to build it slow. Build it regionally. Make it special at every Hub. As any gardener knows, good soil and proper watering make for strong root systems and eventually healthy living trees with far reaching branches. The fruit is only as good as the root.

I want full disclosure from my favorite brand product lines as to all that they make–to grant me entry into their digital storehouse so that I know, without a doubt, that I have access to their full inventory.

Am I unique? I used to think so. That somehow I had a weird quirk that made me compulsive, like a miner down by the river stream, sifting through all the minute debris until that nugget of consumer gold appeared. Then I would know, I mean really know for sure that I was getting the most design, the most style, the most function and at the best price.

But now, I’m beginning to recognize that I’m just like any consumer out there. I’m over company catalogs, web storefronts and mailers that don’t give me full disclosure on every possible color way, combo and style. I throw my hands up in defeat and disgust every time I can’t get past what “they” only want me to know.

Take me to you digital warehouse–the really big catalog. I may not spend millions there–perhaps over time, but trust me I’m your biggest fan. Treat me like it without the “pay to prove” mentality and I swear you’ll have one more soldier for any word of mouth campaign you have, you know - the authentic PR that you’ve been craving for.

I’m stoked! The Nintendo Wii product launch is a brand developer/marketers wet dream of a case study. They made a money engine that is no gimmick and is here to serve the public at large.

Where do we start!

• Being first in a saturated market category.
• Tapping into current social concerns: obesity, health and family.
• Addressing consumer apprehension of cost and availability.

Being first. For the console wars, Nintendo saw that being best was not a being a “first” category that they could win. Let Sony and Microsoft figure that one out – and perhaps at their expense (Sony loses money on each console). Nintendo’s pledge was to re-invite the larger public back to video gaming at any age. Sort of like –were all in this life thing together, so let’s play.

This pledge took the form of their new controller. The Wii Remote became a “first” in a category that Nintendo had the ingenuity to invent. That’s smart strategy. Strategy that can roll a thousand PR and news stories on –and you can see it reinforced in their advertising and marketing media.

As form follows function – it may be safe to assume that in the Nintendo boardroom they made a pledge to make gaming fun again for all people – especially for families and groups. This is where the Wii Remote design and game engine really took shape.

Current American social concerns. We can’t really know what went on at Nintendo HQ. Perhaps its just serendipity that has the new Wii Remote & Nunchuk controllers getting consumers off the couch in a fat obsessed America (NYC Bans Trans Fats : Super Size Me : Fast Food Nation : Kirstie Alley).

Every ad and early news release has centered on the product giving us an experience of coming together with loved ones and family to smile, shake and move. Any concerned parent who sees their beloved youth alone and sitting there staring at a screen or feeling a disconnect with the family is going to be motivated to buy a Wii in the hopes that their child’s metabolism will kick in and that they’ll open up and go play well with others.

When we see the ads, the clips posted on YouTube, the Wii Experience website itself, we’re spying on ourselves; like Jane Goodall, monkey see–monkey do. We can’t help but say; “I want to laugh with my friends like that!” The social benefits of the product are highlighted. Not art directed. Not focused on the physical design of the box. Not hyping the spec sheet. Not something artistically new in creative presentation. Every impression serves to remove the barrier to entry and give us vicarious living through fun media presentation.

With the TV ads themselves, someone did get just a hair too creative. Thank goodness they still include the family playing together, and that’s their main focus. The other portion of each ad seems to be like a plug for Japanese social relations and some sort of car ad. Yes we understand that Japanese are polite and will bow when they offer you a video game system at your door. Are those two actors/spokespersons showing up in real life and doing that? –That would be better. Get them doing that on video and YouTube it! Nintendo may come from Japan – but gamers live in a global landscape.

Ok wait –I have to go into the most powerful position Nintendo created for itself –the power of the AND! Consumers are reporting to news media that not only will they buy a Sony Playstation 3 OR an Xbox 360, but that they will buy one of those high end consoles AND a Nintendo Wii because of its low price point and unique playing experience. They have captured everyone.

Who’s Bad? Nintendo’s Bad! Check the rollout numbers. Wii has sold over 600,000 units (and counting) with a promise to ship 4 million units by the end of the year, while Sony has sold anywhere from 175K to 400K with a promise to ship one million units by the end of the year.

Was it strategy at work here? Was it just good timing? There are many, many, factors in an international product launch –no duh! But we can look back and say “Wow, good job, there’s something to take note of here.” –Tools and strategies that any campaign has the opportunity to utilize, especially if your product or service is a “first” or “leader” in its category. A good product with a good mission made for great PR and communications with the advertising serving to reinforce what newsgroups and peer networks were already reporting –Fun!

I want one!

(Story image from Nintendo Wii site.)