...At least, one presumes, for vodka lovers and Absolut aficionados the world over.

While the iPhone app was a great guide for bar hoppers, the iPad edition is meant to be the "ideal at-home entertainment tool," according to a statement accompanying the launch.

With more than 3,000 drink recipes, six drink collections, drink suggestions based on ingredients, a shopping list creator you can email to your phone, social media sharing and useful 'how to' videos, this may be the Kraft Big Fork, Little Fork of holiday cocktail parties this year.

This is a great example of turning the product into a service or utility via digital.

And hey, what better way to show off that new iPad of yours, anyway?

Just don't give in to the temptation to use it as a serving tray.

Find out more at the Absolut website, here.

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"... EXCELLENT ..."

“Through persuasive arguments and Q&A's with the major players in advertising, Mathieson makes an excellent case for greater creativity and outside-the-box thinking backed up with solid ideas."

Publisher's Weekly

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Looks pretty cool. Hit virtual world social game It Girl is launching an in-game Old Navy branded virtual store just in time for Black Friday.

In the game, It Girl players can compete for virtual currency to put toward an It Girl shopping spree, guide their avatars through an entire virtual Old Navy store, picking up virtual Old Navy fashions and gifting virtual clothes to Facebook friends. And interstitials will dislay real world offers.

Old Navy's been on a tear lately in interactive, what with its Booty Reader promotion.

This new promo - for which the brand teamed with CrowdStar and Sibblingz -  looks (virtually) amazing.

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"... EXCELLENT ..."

“Through persuasive arguments and Q&A's with the major players in advertising, Mathieson makes an excellent case for greater creativity and outside-the-box thinking backed up with solid ideas."

Publisher's Weekly

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  (Updated) The gum's called Eclipse. Get it?

Probably a good match of message, audience and medium. 

But if you're going to go to all the trouble of saving your pack of gum, logging onto a special site, and holding the pack up to your webcam, the pay off could go far beyond the secret video clips.

Like the chance for the teenage minions of Team Jacob and Team Edward to win the chance to test out the strength of Eclipse spearmint gum in a lip lock with one of the stars.

For teenage girls everywhere, that'd eclipse just about anything.

As for me, I'm going to try and forget I just said that...

(Turns out there is a notable twist along these lines after all. The packs are out - just snapped this one. And yes there are the secret video clips - which, let's face it, to TwiHards, it's enough to fuel a lot of fandemonium. But in a more recent element of the promo, visitors to the site could also share their most embarrassing moments when they wish they had Eclipse gum - for the chance win a trip to Baton Rouge to watch the DVD release of the film (out Dec. 4) together with Kellen Lutz, one of the stars. Exactly the kind of extra something to make this promo really viral and social. Winners are announced November 29. Teens girls everywhere must surely be crossing their fingers 'til then.)

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"... EXCELLENT ..."

“Through persuasive arguments and Q&A's with the major players in advertising, Mathieson makes an excellent case for greater creativity and outside-the-box thinking backed up with solid ideas."

Publisher's Weekly

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 He's already taken Manhattan. Now he wants to host SNL.

Cookie Monster - he of the cookie-crunching, googley-eyed blue furriness - is pulling a Betty White and has launched a Facebook bid to host the popular variety show. He's even channeling Lady GaGa to do it.

And really, who can blame him? Didn't Fozzie Bear host a while back? Oh wait, that was Justin Timberlake.

No matter. Sometimes some of the hosts can seem like muppets anyway.

All kidding aside (I'm actually a huge Timberlake fan - especially on SNL) - a fun effort.

Woka-woka.

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"... Witty, Insightful, Dynamic & Highly Inspiring ..."

“THE ON-DEMAND BRAND is witty, insightful, dynamic, and highly inspiring. This book should be required reading for marketers—or anyone trying to understand how to keep their brand relevant and energized through the rapidly changing consumer landscape. Mathieson has a gifted ability to dig under the breakthrough ideas that are keeping top brands engaged with their current and new consumers, offering key insider takeaways that we all can learn from.”

- Alison Moore, Vice President, Brand Strategy & Digital Platforms, HBO

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So much more than a Zero sum game.

This exactly what a Tron-related mobile game should be like. Or should it be called a "sponsored, co-branded social mobile game"? Is it a game for Coke Zero, or for Tron Legacy? When it looks this cool, who cares.

Add in augmented reality and this ARG (alternate reality game) could have been spectacular. Add in the video of Tron star Jeff Bridges doing a dramatic reading of one of his Hyundai commercials, and it could have been priceless.

Or better yet, add in augmented reality showing Jeff Bridges in Tron garb, reading the text while driving a videogame version of a Hyundai. While drinking a Coke Zero.

Sponsored by Kotex.

Now that would have been something to see.

But still - very cool.

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"... Witty, Insightful, Dynamic & Highly Inspiring ..."

“THE ON-DEMAND BRAND is witty, insightful, dynamic, and highly inspiring. This book should be required reading for marketers—or anyone trying to understand how to keep their brand relevant and energized through the rapidly changing consumer landscape. Mathieson has a gifted ability to dig under the breakthrough ideas that are keeping top brands engaged with their current and new consumers, offering key insider takeaways that we all can learn from.”

- Alison Moore, Vice President, Brand Strategy & Digital Platforms, HBO

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 Very elegant, RFID-enabled social media initiative from Asics to deliver personal messages to NYC Marathon runners when and where they need it most.

For the record, Asics is welcome to come do this during my morning workout, too.

I'm just saying.

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"... Witty, Insightful, Dynamic & Highly Inspiring ..."

“THE ON-DEMAND BRAND is witty, insightful, dynamic, and highly inspiring. This book should be required reading for marketers—or anyone trying to understand how to keep their brand relevant and energized through the rapidly changing consumer landscape. Mathieson has a gifted ability to dig under the breakthrough ideas that are keeping top brands engaged with their current and new consumers, offering key insider takeaways that we all can learn from.”

- Alison Moore, Vice President, Brand Strategy & Digital Platforms, HBO

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This contest started with a simple but intriguing idea: that fun is the easiest way to change people's behavior for the better. Contestant Kevin Richardson came up with a compelling idea that ties nicely to Volkswagen's category, and reflects the brand's spirit.

Now if he could just come up with an idea to curb the obesity epidemic. Or Regis Philbin.

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"... Witty, Insightful, Dynamic & Highly Inspiring ..."

“THE ON-DEMAND BRAND is witty, insightful, dynamic, and highly inspiring. This book should be required reading for marketers—or anyone trying to understand how to keep their brand relevant and energized through the rapidly changing consumer landscape. Mathieson has a gifted ability to dig under the breakthrough ideas that are keeping top brands engaged with their current and new consumers, offering key insider takeaways that we all can learn from.”

- Alison Moore, Vice President, Brand Strategy & Digital Platforms, HBO

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 Still don't get what makes this "4D" - but it comes across as a 3D experience designed to appeal to all 5 senses. At least that's how its promoters put it. Watch as the store seems to disappear and then transform itself into various objects and offerings - some more interesting than others. Yes, there's a certain amount of materialistic escapism going on here, and some may question its tone in tough economic times. But overall, I think the experience works well for the RL brand.

Indeed, in my new book, THE ON-DEMAND BRAND, I look at how Ralph Lauren has been working to set itself apart through digital technology, from iPhone apps for customizing and purchasing Rugby shirts to touchscreen window shopping interfaces.

I general, I love these projections campaigns that are coming in vogue (especially the recent initiative for Toyota Auris).

It's like augmented reality without screen.

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"... EXCELLENT ..."

“Through persuasive arguments and Q&A's with the major players in advertising, Mathieson makes an excellent case for greater creativity and outside-the-box thinking backed up with solid ideas."

Publisher's Weekly

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 Tony Stark was always a little nuts. But if the little nut turns out to be Gwyneth Paltrow, all bets are off.

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"... EXCELLENT ..."

“Through persuasive arguments and Q&A's with the major players in advertising, Mathieson makes an excellent case for greater creativity and outside-the-box thinking backed up with solid ideas."

Publisher's Weekly

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As senior vice president of global media for Unilever, Laura Klauberg could safely count herself as one of the world's most influential forces in digital media - except for that whole embarrassing incident on Facebook.

In this final excerpt from a source interview for the new book, THE ON-DEMAND BRAND, Klauberg talks about how her three daughters have provided a living laboratory for how young people use social media and other digital technologies.

Not that the lab has always been peaceful.

THE KLAUBERG MANIFESTO CONCLUSION: GETTING PERSONAL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

(Approx 3:28)

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"... EXCELLENT ..."

“Through persuasive arguments and Q&A's with the major players in advertising, Mathieson makes an excellent case for greater creativity and outside-the-box thinking backed up with solid ideas."

Publisher's Weekly

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