Xbox (Microsoft) Kinect launches $500 million campaign

The ads for Microsoft's new controller-less Xbox stystem, Kinect, have surfaced. AdAge reports that they are rolling it out with a $500 million budget. Yeah, wow. Luckily, I think they're great, so as much as they're bound to get annoying with that many impressions over the media, it will take a while. Plus, it looks like they've done numerous executions to keep interest high. The only suggestion I have for Agency215 (Xbox's AOR) is to end with a big Super of a Microsoft logo. 

Yeah...I just suggested to end with a huge client logo. Here's why - these commercials are cool. Not overly hard to do when your product is wicked, but it's also easier than you might think to screw it up. Microsoft, as a brand, has suffered in the last few years. Their commercials and, well, marketing, has kinda stunk. So now, as customers, we don't associate with them as much as we once did. But this product is so good that it can remind us that, 'Hey, these guys were cool and relevant at some point. They were the ones who commercialized this whole personal computer thing. I should like them again.' 

Sony has another opinion on Microsoft's new system. They've softly launched a defense campaign to counter with the benefits of their new Move controller, trying to convince anyone who will listen that it makes for a better gaming experience. I have a PS3 and I love it. But if I had both of these systems at my disposal, there is a good chance that the Kinect might soon become the Swifer to my PS3 mop.  

What do you think? Is this something you would buy or want as a gift? ~ p

Apple, meet Microsoft, your new mall-mate. Oh, you already know each other? Awkward...

When I was in school, my business Professor asked me, 'If you lived on the beach, and in the middle of that beach, there was a hotdog stand that had a line-up of consumers 50-yards long every day...where would you put your hotdog stand to cash in on his market?'

Interesting question. I thought about it for a minute, mostly wondering if my beach-bum-self would be more like Tom Hanks in Castaway or Matthew McConaughey in, well, real life. Then I said, 'I wouldn't open a hotdog stand,' which, of course, made my teacher's lip furl, eyebrows cringe, and nostrils flare, 'I would open a water stand. I mean, have you even seen a hotdog eating contest? They're on a ratio of like 1 dog to 1 glass of water, easy!'

The correct answer was mine. But it was also to open a stand right beside the other guy - not down the road, not on another beach, right beside the poor guy who busted his butt and took the risk to create a market of hotdog eaters on a beach somewhere. This would create competition and, more importantly, give consumers an option.

I think someone at Microsoft had the same Professor.

The new Microsoft store will open in the Mall of America in Minneapolis and sit directly opposite the Apple store. One of the few store-fronts that Microsoft has in market, this one looks to be twice as big as their Apple rivals across the hall. With other Microsoft stores, they make no secret about trying to steal and copy Apple's strategies, and have even included their own version of the Genius Bar, called the Answer Desk.

Some might call this move cheap. I think it will keep Apple on their toes, and should result in a battle of best customer service between the two. Plus, if you're an Apple employee and you ever go bananas, you could have a job waiting for you right across the hall. ~ p




(Source: http://www.electronista.com)

Office for Mac '11 Overhaul Kills Entourage

It was announced today that Microsoft is launching the Office for Mac 2011 next month on October 26th. The standout line for me in the launch video can be paraphrased as 'Office is something that people feel like they need. We hope this version is something they'll want, too.' After watching the video, I gotta say, it worked. I want it.
 
This overhaul version promises to be a lot faster, and includes cool new aesthetic features, including a new full screen option for Word. It has also dropped the often-frustrating Entourage and opted to include Outlook. For the reasonable price ($120 for a single install and $150 for 3-install Family Pack) it'll get some immediate attention...including from me. ~ p




(Source: Mashable, The Office for Mac Blog)