FRANKthoughts

Google’s next step in taking over our lives!

Google’s phone, the Andriod, is current in the hands of testers. It will be based on an open platform model with open source and open network. Anyone can develop their own application and used across any network which will be a distinct advantage other phones. With Apple’s iPhone restriction to a single telco network, will the iPhone’s sexier looks outsell Google’s functionality features? Personally I think it looks like an ugly calculator.

Also, Google’s are showing early signs of starting their own telco network in the US.

An oil rich country and a big dessert = a billion dollar Jurassic Park. Anything is possible in Dubai when you have a bottomless wallet.

“Restless Planet is a new billion dollar theme park coming to Dubai. Over 100 robotic dinosaurs from 40 different species will be roaming around the park. The animatronic dinos will follow guests with their eyes and occasionally lunge at them.

Called the Restless Planet, the park is the star attraction of a large Las Vegas-style entertainment and business development called City of Arabia. While the details are being kept pretty quiet, the creators of the development, the Ilyas and Mastafa Galadari Group, have released promotional videos showing a T.rex charging at visitors and pterodactyls flying overhead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jRS1o7JQWI

Language changed slowly over the past decades. Now it’s changing at a much faster pace.Some words are new and some words changed or added a meaning.

A few years ago your profile was your photo taken from the side, a community still meant the people that live close to you and a file was something that sits on the office shelf. Sharing was something you did when being emotional or with your lunch box.

It will be cool to have more examples so post/comment if you have any!

A hot topic for quite sometime has and is the water usage, and the water restrictions that are still currently in place.  Melbourne’s water storages are 39.3% (697,058 million litres) full today, after dry conditions saw storages drop a further 6,717 million litres this week from 39.7% full last week.
At the same time last year storages were holding around 17 billion litres more water, at 40.3% full (714,193 million litres).  This essentially means that although we have seen some rain here and there – storage levels are still down from this time last year.
Victoria has just experienced the worst year of drought and lowest stream flows in our State’s history & due to this Melburnians are reminded that Stage 3a water restrictions are in place until June 30 next year. Further details are available by visiting the Our Water, Our Future

A plan is in place by Melbourne water on a long-term solution. $4.9 billion will be spent in major water infrastructure projects to provide the biggest boost to Victoria’s water supplies in 25 years.

In light of the seriousness of this topic, I’ve recently become more aware of my water using actions and think twice about how and when I use water. Simple ways to cut down that I have started to do is:
 -turn the tap off mid cleaning your teeth – used to be guilty of leaving this running during the whole process
 -when washing dishes – try to do a big wash when dishes build up, rather than small wash ups which make you fill the sink each time. Similar to washing clothes
 - cut down the shower time!! An easy simple yet begrudged action that I have recently made an effort to do.

On a positive note – there are also cool and clever ways to save water on a larger scale. I was impressed with an ad I saw today in the latest edition of green magazine

Waterwall rainwater storage systems have come up with a groovy way to store water for laundry and toilet use etc… they are large water tanks which essentially look like part of the back yard - resembling walls!

It’s little things like this that will eventually become required by all house holds, and if there is a ‘funky’ way to go about it – the more people may react sooner rather than later.

Just a reminder – keep your water usage at top of mind…not back of…
 

WILL 2008 BE THE YEAR OF CLOSER COLLABORATION BETWEEN MEDIA AGENCIES AND THEIR CREATIVE COUNTERPARTS?…….asks AdNews.

Talk of the need for closer collaboration between media and creative agencies intensified in 2007, but it was pretty much just that – talk. In her farewell speech, former AFA executive director Lesley Brydon called for the divide between creative and media agencies to “come down like the Berlin Wall”. If rebundling is not on the cards, what is the solution? And will closer collaboration be finally achieved this year?

I don’t see a wall. I saw a crack that became a fissure which in turn has become a canyon.

No blame need be accrued here; it has become the way of the market.

Creativity has morphed, finally, into all aspects of the ‘process’ and the grip that ‘creative agencies’ had on the client is not as apparent.

I do see a happy meeting place on the floor of the canyon, a digital-roadhouse wherein a new model is emerging.

As Communication Strategy becomes the essential “core” (the new creativity) there is a market need to link this with digital content beyond the 30 second solution or banner which collectively represent the bulk of communication solutions.

I cannot see rebundling under the current business models.

A new breed is emerging whose focus is empathetic community connections in favour of one-to-many ‘push solutions.’

Are you done with your xmas shopping yet? can you possibly buy one more gift? If so go to oxfam unwrapped. This is a great site by Oxfam who are not only using smart marketing encouraging to “Shop” instead of “Donate” but also taking advantage of web2.0 apps like Facebook and Youtube. (The video encouraging to buy someone a useful present like a chicken, donkey or goat instead of a box of chocolates).

I just got some poor family that cute sheep and Oxfam told me these sheep are also quick breeders, so it’s a gift that keeps on giving:)

Green is the new Black with consumers growing awareness and demand on environmentally friendly products from themselves (via recycling and water saving products) and companies (via supporting their products). We see it with automotive manufacturers promoting their conscious in this space, carbon offsets for your holidays, etc… but this also gives rise to opportunities in development of a new green economy. Eg. Eco friendly timber furniture with Villa n Hut, innovative water saving products such as Recycled plastic grass, etc. More curiously interesting green products I’ve seen are living vertical walls which are popping up in Europe (indoorlandscaping)… a great alternative to the pot plant!

Day 3 at Frank had me working to develop an Agency 2.0 structure and it has been a re-wiring process for me from a global process focused agency to a boutique thought leadership agency. Working for years in a global Goliath agency on international and national blue chip clients has ingrained “their” way or flavour of doing media. Everyday, agencies boast of new tools in the market and expertise in certain fields but in reality they are all the same different things. Large agencies with big staff numbers and large client dollars have the strength in influencing media partners… ie. deliver the best deals in the market… which in itself a valuable service to the clients. In an ever changing landscape, along came Web2.0… Goliath responds by plugging a digital division into their agency… being the digital experts, they start preaching the evolution of digital and the core of Web2.0 trends: increase in time spent online = respond by putting more media budget into online campaigns….. Web2.0 is all about 2 way communications = respond by putting a million 1 way communication banners…. users want control and engagement = respond by Enter to Win a Prize… Will digital agencies change any time soon?… I don’t believe so for two reasons: by default the way digital divisions are structured in agencies, and most digital divisions lack the brand strategic skill set (most focus on strategic media buys… best/innovative way to place a banner). Their solutions are often not what they preach about.

Moving into Frank, it has been inspirational to see the thought leadership in this space and be among pioneers. Totally embracing the Web2.0 culture, it is refreshing to see an agency understanding where an Agency 2.0 needs to be and boldly take a larger step than a Goliath agency ever would. Working with a smaller team allows us spend quality time with each client brief to develop an out of the box solutions that most agencies today are still trying to get their head around. Admittingly it will be a challenge but a welcomed one to become leader. Without revealing too much… Watch This Space! Dave

Finally a half decent photo of the adspace we’ve created for kidspot, first mentioned here on 24th October. Kids and mums queue up for ice creams/drinks and there’s the ad right in your face. Well we like it

Tomorrow never comes, nor will the agency of the future. However after a great couple of months a bunch of businesses have decided they’d like to work with us and we’re delighted to introduce David Lee as our new FRANkophile. David joins us from Mindshare Interactive and his enthusiasm knows no bounds.

Welcome David