Your Reviews. Your Hangouts.

Our latest brand, design and web project. New beta version with Web 2.0 flavour!

Blurbme.com is your platform to read, write and talk about the good, bad and fugly of restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, spas, gyms, salons and many other places you visit or frequent in Singapore.

Blurbme.com is also a suave Asian city guide driven by community participation with honest peer insights. You may find suggestions on where to eat or drink, let others know where your favourite hangouts are and meet other like-minded people who enjoy life as much as you do.

Blackle - Energy Saving Search?

Blackle.com believes a Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year by using a predominanyly black screen and therefore consuming less energy. Blackle also reminds us that we need to keep taking small steps to save energy.

What do you think?

Blurbme.com Burp Symphony

Go2web20.net

A directory of web 2.0 applications and services

* Born around mid 2006
* 1401 logos as of Tuesday, July 24, 2007
* As a visitor, you are probably active in the web 2.0 community and you are one of those labeled as 'early adapters'. Are you?
* Thousands of visitors every day
* There's a higher chance that you've been here before than that this is your 1st visit here
* Converges both Flash and AJAX technologies

Junior Interactive/Web Designer Wanted!

Junior Interactive/Web Designer Wanted!

Agency: Spoon Creative

Job Terms: Permanent

Job Description:

We are looking for Junior Interactive Designers to join our team, assisting seniors in web and new media projects. Candidates must have a degree/diploma/certificate in a relevant course and posses strong skills in HTML, CSS, Javascript and Flash. No experience is necessary - Position is open to fresh graduates!

Job Requirements:

- Degree/Diploma/Certificate in Web Design, Interactive, New Media or equivalent from an accredited art/design school or university
- Strong HTML, CSS, Javascript and Flash Skills.
- Good understanding of the technical aspects that come with each interactive project
- Strong knowledge of design software including but not limited to Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver and Fireworks.
- Good understanding of Design and Usability, as demonstrated in their portfolio.
- Responsible, eager to learn and work hard, with an outgoing personality to boot.

Applications:

If you think you fit the bill, send your application with attached CV and portfolio to work@spoon.com.sg

Be like Water : Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee, the Martial Artist, Philosopher and the ultimate Asian Icon, had many wise words to illustrate the philosophies of Jeet Kune Do, the martial arts style he founded. Many of these can like be applied to our areas of interest here on this blog... Brands, Design, Business, Creativity and Innovation.

Here are some of his most famously quoted...

For Business Managers, Strategists, Designers & Practitioners of Creativity
"Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend."

For Business Managers against Competition
"The fighter who enters battle and feels no fear is an arrogant fool."

Brands Building Loyalty
“The possession of anything begins in the mind”

For Ideas, Design and Strategy
“Simplicity is the key to brilliance”

For Innovation All round
“Obey the principles without being bound by them.”

Strength in Brand Focus & Category Leadership
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

N.E.Mation Congratulations!

N.E. Mation!, a secondary school animation contest organised by Nexus and Animagine has just announced their winner. Animations themed "National Defence" were submitted by various schools. The winning piece is an innovative Claymation titled "Just Because", produced by Team NEmators from CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent School. Congratulations!

Singapore has a bright animated future just because...

Watch "Just Because" and other clips online: NEmation.sg

Need Help Buying Design For Your Business?

If you are a Singapore SME wishing to leverage on design to boost your business, take a look at the various Enterprise Assistance Programmes on offer by the DesignSingapore Council. One, for example, is the Design Pioneer Programme, a phased design promotion programme that assists local Small and Medium-sized companies in adopting design as a business strategy. The programme offers seminars, workshops and financial support of up to $50,000 to buy external design expertise for your business needs.

More about this and other schemes on: Designsingapore.org

Random Quotes Random Scenarios

Random coffee quotes for your musing. Enjoy!

"Internet Trends and Psyche are inversely related to US foreign policy."

"Internet Royalty is all about Reach and Loyalty."

"Branding is about knowing when to keep quiet."

"Design is about adopting someone else's problem and dealing with it."

"If you're a bit uncomfortable and so is the opposition, its a good deal."

"Everyone online is searching but what are they really looking for?"

"The customer is always right. Good customer service is humouring him when he isn't."

"You are what you eat also applies to websites."

"First meetings are about listening not talking."

"On the internet, Brand is a dirty word, so please whisper."

"Digital Designers are now better referred to as Relationship Managers."

"Mom and Pop shops - the next big brands from Asia."

"Internet communities and online socialising were invented for Asians who are, by nature, shy."

"Everyone will have the tools soon but not everyone should be using them."

"Established Brands have as much Baggage as they have Claim."

Asia's 1st No Frills Hotel

Tony Fernandes, the Malaysian man behind the no frills carrier Air Asia and the tagline "Everyone can fly", has just announced what is claimed to be Asia's 1st No Frills Hotel - Tune Hotels. Rooms are at a flat rate of 9.99 Malaysian Ringit. That's five bucks a pop for Singaporeans. Bargain! That's about 15 times more bang for the buck than Hotel 81 in the friendly merlion city! Taking a sneak peek at the Tune Hotels branding, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Richard and his virgins had a tune in this some way or another.

Five bucks a pop: Tunehotels.com

BookJetty.com

Singapore book worms' new best web friend, BookJetty helps you search for your fav books via the Amazon catalogue and checks its availability at the National Library. Useful little tool coded passionately by Herryanto Siatono.

What are you reading at the moment? BookJetty.com

Nexus 2007- Leading in Times of Disruptive Change!

Organised by The Digital Movement, "Nexus 2007- Leading in Times of Disruptive Change!" brings together industry leaders and the local community to discuss fundamental changes happening in business and technology, and how you can take a lead in them!

DATE: 24 MARCH 2007
TIME: 9am – 6pm
VENUE: NTUC CENTRE, 1 MARINA BOULEVARD

Notable names speaking at Nexus include:

Derek Callow, Regional Marketing Manager, Google Inc.
Andreas Weigend, Former Chief Scientist, Amazon.com
David Dan, Former President of Intel China
David Miller, President, Asia Pacific/Japan, Lenovo
Saw Ken Wye, Vice President, Microsoft Asia Pacific
Reza Behnam, MD of Yahoo! South East Asia
Kathy Teo, Managing Director, CNET Networks Asia Pacific
Nathan Torkington, O'Reily Radar, Perl Foundation Board Member

Find out more : www.nexus2007.com

Nexus is brought to you by The Digital Movement, with an aim to form an informal social fabric between senior leaders, entrepreneurs, overseas experts, investors and geeks.

Flickr Co-founder Talks...

A brief conversation with the co-founder of Flickr, the giant photo-sharing community site and the Pionr in dropping the "e" in web property branding and other eThings and Bays online. In our books, Flickr is still one of the most beautifully-interfaced and consistently-developed community/sharing (some might call it Web 2.0) websites available to users today.

Read more on Macworld.com: Flickr co-founder talks...

1st YouTube Video Awards!

YouTube has just announced the winners of their first ever Video Awards, as selected by their vhttp://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifoyeuristic community. And the Yoscar goes to...

Most Creative : Here It Goes Again / OKGo

Best Comedy : Smosh Short 2: Stranded / Smosh

Best Commentary : Hotness Prevails / thewinekone

Best Series : Ask A Ninja / digitalfilmmaker

Best Music Video : Say It's Possible / TerraNaomi

Most Inspirational : Free Hugs Campaign / PeaceOnEarth123

Most Adorable : Kiwi! / Madyeti47

Read more: YouTube Video Awards

SG Design Festival '07 Partner Briefing

Organised by: DesignSingapore Council

Date: 08 March 2007 - 08 March 2007
Time: 3 – 6pm; briefing starts at 3.15pm
Venue: National Library Board, Level 5, Possibility Seminar Room

Come 28 November to 8 December 2007, design will take centerstage in the city. DesignSingapore Council, the organizers of the Singapore Design Festival, cordially invites you to our Partner-briefing event and networking session.

For more information: www.designsingapore.org

Senior Interactive Designers Wanted!

Senior Interactive Designers Wanted!

Agency: Spoon Creative

Job Terms: Permanent/Freelance

Job Description:

We are looking for Senior Interactive Designers to join our team handling new media projects and campaigns. Ideal candidates will have had at least 3 years experience with a brilliant portfolio to boot. They must have a well-rounded understanding of the online marketing and advertising industry, usability and technology. Strong Flash and Actionscripting skills will be highly looked upon. Understanding of branding and marketing principles is also a prerequisite.

Candidates should display the following qualities:

- Great Ideas and Innovative Concepts - Even Greater Hands-on Execution

- Confident and effective client presentation and interaction

- Confident leadership, articulation and clear communication of ideas and creative creative strategies to other team members including designers, copywriters, executives and programmers.

- Expert knowledge of Flash Actionscripting & Animation, HTML, programming, present and emerging web technologies and applications

- Effective Creative Project Management through all stages of development ensuring integrity and continuity of design intentions between creative and technical teams.

- Enthusiastic participation in pitches and conversions of new business and clients

- Knowledge of and enthusiasm for additional software tools and technologies as they emerge

- Work Hard and Play Hard Attitude.


Other Requirements:

- Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, Fine Arts or equivalent from an accredited art/design school or university

- Minimum of 3 years professional experience in digital/interactive creative and design

- Refined understanding of the technical aspects that come with each project

- Strong knowledge of design software including but not limited to Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver and Fireworks

- Proof of previous experience by means of an outstanding porfolio

Applications:

If you think you fit the bill, send your application with attached CV and portfolio to work@spoon.com.sg

TV idents on idents.tv

A collection of TV Idents, bumpers and promos from Australian and UK from the likes of BBC, Channel 7, 9 and ABC. And some random media and on air paraphernalia.

Check it out: idents.tv

BMW design speak...

BMW recently set up their DesignWorks studio in Singapore. Their design director Chris Bangle was featured on CNA today. Here's some select quotes:

"We're experimenting and we have managed to bring into production the results of concave, convex relationships – things which in the past were not really known but they find their way into other products."

"Then there's the relationship that customers have with their cars, not just a functional relationship, but an emotional relationship, and I think we're seeing a whole world out there that wants that in all parts of their lives."

"I think we're (Designers) a set of professionals who mediate between people who need things and people who make things."

Read more from source: Channelnewsasia.com

Beautiful mui muis for Miu Miu

Chic Fashion label MiuMiu have Chinese actress Zhou Xun, Dong Jie and Japanese model Rina Ohta as Campaign Muse for their latest Fall/Winter Collection.

Check out the lush images: miumiu.com

Plug: WorldChanging.Com

WorldChanging.com - a conversation, aggregating tools, models and ideas for the bright, green futurist in us all. Another world is here. And change is a team sport. Do you subscribe?

Have a conversation here: WorldChanging.com

FCP Editor and After Effects Guru?

We're looking for a creative video editor who can jump and cut on an Apple Final Cut Pro Editing System and also an After Effects Guru. If you fit either bill, got a good folio/reel and available for onsite contractual work. Drop us a mail at Work@spoon.com.sg. Please attach work samples and a CV. Thanks!

Yahoo! Time Capsule

The Yahoo! Time Capsule project just beamed their first 2006 collection of pictures, videos, poems and stories on the canyon walls that cradle one of the world's oldest known communities at the ancient pueblo of Jemez in New Mexico. The time capsule project, with hopes to chronicle humanity across the globe, also shot the images to E.T. at home in space via a digital laser light beam from the canyon. Contributions to the time capsule include Deepak Chopra's 'anti-war' thoughts and comics from director John Woo.

Check out the Live Webcast: Yahoo! Time Capsule

Gut Branding

Branding and marketing is all about buzz words and new coinages every quarter. And the time is ours now to make a prediction, or dare we say an invention, of the next big thing - a new brand of branding. Lets call it Gut Branding. Gut, as in Gut Feel.

What is Gut Branding?
Funny you should ask. Gut Branding is what it is. Going with your Gut. You have to feel before others can truly feel it too.

The feelings and emotional subscription of consumers are highly sought after these days. Everyone's talking about Emotional Design, Emotional Branding and Experiential Marketing. Brands all want their consumers to "feel" them these days and not rationalise them. The global subconsciousness trend after this post-whatever era is about "Emotion, emotion, feeling, feeling, I feel, You feel, We feel, Me feel". Its almost a renaissance!! So what better way to win this tug of emotions then by feeling it yourself. Feel your own brand gut. Process. Implement. We are all consumers, at the end of the day, be we owners of brands and products ourselves, yes?

You feeling this Gut Branding?
See. Told you so.

And you heard it here first!

2D to 3D anyone?

Nifty cool graduate research efforts in Geometrically Coherent Image Interpretation - reading 2 dimensional images and photos, recognizing known objects (e.g. people, houses, cars, trees), positions and materials (e.g. grass, sand, rock, foliage) and converting the image automatically into 3 Dimensions.

Check out the interesting results for yourself: Automatic Photo Pop-up

Video is the Internet Star!

They say Content is King. What they forgot to mention was the chariot that ferries the King is gold! Internet King Google have just confirmed buying their golden online video chariot, YouTube for US$1.65Billion.

"The new-media paradigm of on-demand, downloaded, streamed and shared digital video is the powerful catalyst behind the Google-YouTube deal, which will become a growth driver for all content players smart enough to heed the call.

Google's $1.65 billion acquisition of YouTube underscores the importance of interactive video even to an Internet juggernaut whose statistical mastery of word search and human behavior has sputtered through the image business from maps to video clips to stock photos and mash-ups. YouTube is the expensive jump-start Google needs to continue pioneering a broadband nation, pursuing its mission to "organize the world's information," and take video aggregation, creation and sharing to the next level."

Read more: Hollywoodreporter.com

UnderworldLive|Cocoon

Underworld & DJ Sven Vath live set at Club Cocoon.

"Cocoon Club was conceived as an avant-garde field experiment for transforming space and perception. As such it provides the ideal backdrop for this collaboration which extends to all aspects of the show’s production — Underworld, Sven, the space, crowd, light, film, sound and Internet.""

Check it out:UnderworldLive|Cocoon

Video billed the internet star

GOOGLE is expected early this week to announce a $1.6 billion deal to acquire YouTube, the video-sharing website that has been one of the fastest success stories on the internet. Although YouTube is currently void of any revenues, it holds pole position in online video audiences ahead of Google, MySpace, MSN and Yahoo.

Read More: Times Online

Brand: Scarface

Source: Hollywoodreporter.com

More than 20 years after its theatrical release, "Scarface" still is considered by some to be the consummate gangster film; over the past decade, the Universal Studios Consumer Products Group -- through its licensing program -- has managed to leverage the popularity of the "Scarface" brand far beyond the film's original cult following.

Today, "Scarface" resonates with a new generation of viewers that relates to the outsider status of Pacino's antihero and finds truth in the message of societal forces that reward -- however fleetingly -- aggression, naked ambition and greed. That youthful embrace has propelled "Scarface" into a marketing juggernaut, with more than 40 licensees in the U.S. alone that make everything from T-shirts, jackets and skullcaps to comic books, money clips and even a die-cast model of a Cadillac, complete with a miniature Tony Montana in his famous white suit and smoking a cigar.

Read more:
Anatomy of a brand: 'Scarface' By Thomas K. Arnold
From gangland to broadband, Universal builds a business around "Scarface."

Brand identity By Thomas K. Arnold
Laying out the lines on a multiplatform hit.

"Good design is good business."

Tough Love
Business wants to love design, but it's often an awkward romance.

Today, companies are creating products and services that delight customers with the grace of their fit and finish, and their exacting performance. Design, in short, is becoming an ever more important engine of corporate profit: It's no longer enough simply to outperform the competition; to thrive in a world of ceaseless and rapid change, businesspeople have to outimagine the competition as well. They must begin to think--to become--more like designers.

Read more on: FastCompany.Com

Internet Advertising ups share in global market

Source: Reuters News

The Internet will receive a greater share of global advertising spending this year than do outdoor outlets such as billboards, and it is set to overtake radio soon, according to new data released on Monday.

ZenithOptimedia, a media planning and buying firm, said the growth is being driven by smaller brands, which are turning to the Internet because it is relatively cheap and can target their markets effectively.

"It's got a long way to go to catch up with newspapers, but certainly it looks like magazines, in the medium to long term could be on a similar level (with the Internet)," said Jonathan Barnard, head of publications at the media-buying group.

Growth will be driven after 2006 by China, India, Indonesia and Japan, with ad expenditure in China accelerating in the build-up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

V. Galactic got a New Spaceship!

Photo: Ryan Brenizer

Speaking of Space and obits, Virgin Galactic have a new spaceship "SpaceShipTwo", unveiled by the man and his thumbs at Wired's NextFest. They also have a New Website complete with booking form to book your very own $200,000 spot on its maiden space flight scheduled for 2009 (the year before we make contact). We're saving up our frequent flyer points plus plus plus already.

Read more and check out more pictures on Wired.Com.

Zune : Like the look and logo?

The Dawn of Zune is nigh. Microsoft's much anticipated iPod Look-alike Killer ala Evil Twin Brother is coming to a shelf near you very soon. What do you think of it's look and logo? Can or not?

InnovatioNation

OCT 11TH - 15TH

Can you remember when computers were the size of refrigerators? How about a disk player the size of a washing machine? Or a mobile phone that you carry around in a briefcase... It was only 25 years ago that the world looked this way. And only 25 years since Singapore embarked on an ambitious plan to build a nation powered by infocomm. Innovationation is a celebration of this story. It offers you a hands-on experience of a world transformed by infocomm.

Peter Jackson doing Donkey Kong next!

Not quite. But King Kong & Lord Of Rings director Peter Jackson is moving into the gaming business with Microsoft. They have jointly set up Wingnut Interactive to create two new series of interactive games exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live.

"I think we are right on the threshold of being able to design a new way to tell stories," says Jackson. Their first project will be a new chapter in the Halo franchise. Microsoft says the second series will be an entirely original creation aimed at bringing new audiences to the world of interactive entertainment. Jackson will supposedly bring a blend of film and interactive gaming to life, in his own unique way.

In related hearsay, Jackie Chan and Jet Li are trying to court Jackson into directing a new epic remake of Monkey God. Looks like he passed for Donkey Kong instead.

Read More on TVNZ

Delicious Digital!

The new upcoming LEICA M8 digital rangefinder camera is simply delicious. Old Skool Look. Nu Skool performance! The LEICA M8 can be used with virtually all lenses in the Leica M range produced since 1954, and will be available end of November 2006.

Pithy Quotes on Branding

"What"s a brand? A singular idea or concept that you own inside the mind of the prospect." - Al Ries

"A brand is a living entity - and it is enriched or undermined cumulatively over time, the product of a thousand small gestures" - Michael Eisner, CEO Disney

"Brand equity is the sum of all the hearts and minds of every single person that comes into contact with your company." - Christopher Betzter

Read more, and more on AllAboutBranding.com

Branded Content?

What is Branded Content? The next big thing? The solution to ad-drained consumers? The solution to digital tv recorders and skip buttons? The next holy grail for brand royalty and loyality? Read more about it and make up your own mind at Branded Content Marketing Association.

"Can branded entertainment get us invited to the consumer’s private parties?" - More by Bruce Hancock on Ad Asia.

The Design Encyclopedia

The Design Encyclopedia is a user-built source of reference material with the sole intention of defining, describing, chronicling and documenting the world through design in all its implications and manifestations from the visual to the tactile, from the communicative to the evocative, from the cultural to the commercial. Most everything from cars to burgers to movies can be dissected by its design application, use and history. With each entry the design encyclopedia will place common topics, artifacts, events, cities and more within the scope and context of design in order to showcase the influence that design, designers and the designed have in shaping the environments that we inhabit, the tools that we employ and, even, the experiences that we live. The design encyclopedia is about design. About the world.

A hearty effort initiated by UnderConsideration

Plug: The Pitch Blog

Singapore's Marketing Magazine have a new nifty blog "The Pitch" described as "The rougher and readier cousin of Singapore's Marketing magazine. You'll find ideas, gossip, commentary and a touch of cynicism as we flex our journalistic muscles beyond the constraints of our monthly mag."

It's Show Hand!

Apple Vs. Amazon - Steve Jobs finally showed their fruity hand yesterday unveiling Apple's competing movie download service.

"UnBox" Vs. "Unwire"
Amazon named their service "UnBox". Apple says "what box? It's about bytes and UnWire" with their new wireless digital entertainment router/set top box called iTV. (Unbox sounds almost redundant now)

Quantity Vs. Quality
Amazon announced thousands of titles from almost every major studio except for the obvious Disney in a supermarket "put 'em all on the shelves and they will buy" fashion whilst Apple announced only Disney titles but, true to form and brand, focused on quality and ease of user experience in a "this is the content, this is how easy it is to access it and this is everywhere (computer, pod and tv) that you can own and view it (and in Hi-def)" fashion.

One File Vs. Two
Amazon's service gives you 2 files - 1 big one for high definition viewing and 1 smaller one for your portable devices. Apple gives you only 1 file for computer, pods and portables and your TV set. Adding, Amazon's service is Mac unfriendly whilst Apple's is platform independent and we're not just talking operating systems.

Content & Distribution Vs. Content, Delivery & Device
While Amazon covers content and distribution, Apple goes full 360 offering a full user experience from content to device. (Once the other studios board the iTunes system if they do, Apple's concept of a digital entertainment hub will be complete)

Watch the Master of Sales Pitches do his "It's Showtime" Keynote

It's Showtime!

When Apple and good old Steve gives a keynote the whole world wide web stands still, listens, watches and bite their nails in real time. Even the Itunes Music Store is tuneless in awe, like Hal in silent obedient wait for its master's last slide. Talk about military precision and the "2nd Coming". What do these apples, nanos and pods do again??

Portable Film Festival

The proliferation of digital and portable movies continue! Amazon just launched their unbox video download service. Apple is expected to announce their own movie download service in a day or so and with a new video-sized iPod to boot. YouTube is ravaging the world of online video voyeurs. Now, here is The Portable Film Festival!

The Portable Film Festival is an international festival of short films just for portable devices. Sony PSPs, iPod videos, 3G phones, laptop screens, you name it. Sixty films have been pre-selected from 13 countries including Australia, the Netherlands, the US, the UK, Romania, Canada, Austria, Hungary, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. Submissions include video-clips, documentaries, experimental films, animations and regular short narratives. Films will compete through an open vote by punters who will review, argue and score the films online.

Out of portable Auckland of all places...

Why and What is Design?

By Peter Lawrence on FastCompany.com

Design remains the most underutilized and misunderstood tool at the disposal of business.

Design is a user-focused, prototype-based development process that simplifies complexity and achieves success through collaboration.

One way to think of a designer is as somebody who has learned to speak a language that everyone understands but that the designer has been trained to speak.

Design is not art, it is not aesthetics, and it is not engineering. It's not the work of one person and it is not the solution to all of your problems. Although design is not art, it is still written about in the Arts & Leisure section of most major newspapers in the U.S. and abroad, and, to many executives, design is more about art than it is about business. But the truth is that design is "applied art" in the sense that it is applied to solve a particular problem or address a new opportunity.

Small Agency Diary

A blog on Advertising Age for small agencies, contributed by a handful of executives. Live to Work or Work to Live at Your Agency?, The Hiring Headaches of Small Ad Agencies, Has Your Agency YouTubed Yet?, About Agencies Buying Stakes in Emerging Media Companies and other worth while reads...

Check it out : Small Agency Diary

Shopcasting?

As explained by new shopcasting network ThisNext

"Shopcasting is a way for a person to tell a bunch of people about things they love. “Shopcast” is a mashed up word that combines shopping and broadcasting. What “podcasting” did for MP3s is what we’re doing for shopping: bringing to your computer information about things in which you, the shopper, are interested. The information here is the product of a tremendous collaborative effort by tons of people you don’t personally know who have interesting opinions they want to share. Where a “podcast” might be a playlist featuring songs, a shopcast is a product playlist."

Amazon.com launches video download service

Source : Reuters

Amazon.com on Thursday unveiled a widely anticipated Internet service offering movies and TV shows that can be downloaded to personal computers, moving it into a nascent and higher-margin business.

The service, called Amazon Unbox, will offer thousands of titles from six Hollywood studios, including 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., and TV networks such as CBS and Fox and cable channels Comedy Central and E! Entertainment, Amazon said.

Amazon's digital download service launch comes ahead of an expected announcement by Apple Computer Inc. on Tuesday that it would sell feature-length films on its iTunes service, which already sells TV shows from major networks.

A quick check at the Amazon Unbox Video page reveals titles such as V for Vendetta, Brokeback Mountain, 24, Matrix and South Park.

Heeereeee's Goopple!

A week after paying Creative Tech a $100Million settlement, Apple interestingly announces that Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt is joining their Board of Directors.

“Eric is obviously doing a terrific job as CEO of Google, and we look forward to his contributions as a member of Apple’s board of directors,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Like Apple, Google is very focused on innovation and we think Eric’s insights and experience will be very valuable in helping to guide Apple in the years ahead.”

The stars align in defensive formation against the impending dawn of Zune and Vista in the not too distant future.

Singapore Biennale 2006

The Singapore Biennale 2006 (SB2006), Singapore's inaugural international biennale of contemporary art, will open to the public on 4 September 2006. This major international contemporary art exhibition will feature more 95 artists and artists collectives from over 38 countries and regions including Singapore.

SB2006 highlights Singapore's prominence as an international visual arts hub, not only providing new opportunities for Singapore artists, curators and arts businesses, but also as a key enabler of exchange and collaborations for the global arts community. The presence of SB2006 is also a significant opportunity for the Singaporean public to develop a stronger relationship with contemporary art.

Find out more

NISSAN DESIGN FORUM: "Imagination Factory"

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., will hold a year-long series of “Imagination Factory” design forums throughout Asia starting in Singapore at the end of August. The forums will be held in collaboration with local design councils.The forums are aimed at realizing new design possibilities through panel discussions with Nissan designers and local designers. Each forum will be accompanied by an exhibition of Nissan’s design’s philosophy, strategy and design processes that will be open to the public to give them a deeper understanding of automotive design trends.

>> Read more

Account Manager?

Spoon Looking For Account Manager

Job Terms: Temp-to-Permanent

Job Description:

We are looking for an Account Manager with experience in managing accounts with online/new media projects. The ideal candidate will have all the usual skills that make a 'suit' including great relationship building ability, attention to detail and time management.

Working at Spoon, you will form an integral part of a small team where the atmosphere is relaxed and fun, yet professional and focused on providing absolute quality solutions and fulfilment of client expectations.

Your excellent skills will also see you bring strategic growth to existing clients and successful conversion of new business opportunities and new client relationships.

Your strong personality will ensure you're an advocate for interactive when working with clients and with other team members within the agency.

Candidates should display the following qualities:

Proactive, mature, creative and articulate. You will have at least 3 years experience as an account executive/manager, and a good knowledge of the industry.

Confident, independent and effective client management and interaction.

Confident analysis, articulation and clear communication of briefs, problems and creative solutions to clients and other team members in the agency.

Effective project management and organisation through all stages of development ensuring delivery of projects and fulfilment of client/project expectations. You will be the lead person that manages schedules, timelines and budget documentation, and liaises with internal and external industry contacts.

Vibrant persona with excellent written and verbal communication skills in the English language. Bilingual candidates will be highly looked upon.

Knowledge of web technologies, applications and their feasibility in project applications.

Applications
If you think you fit the bill, send your applications with attached CVs and recommendations to work@spoon.com.sg

Art Director?

Spoon Looking For Art Director

Job Terms: Permanent/Freelance

Job Description:

We are looking for an Art Director to manage and art direct new projects and campaigns. The Art Director will be responsible for creating, visualizing and refining creative concepts as well as managing the creative team. The ideal candidate has a well-rounded understanding of the online advertising industry, usability and technology. Understanding of branding and marketing principles is also a prerequisite.

We are looking specifically for someone who has an extensive background in interactive. You must possess a keen knowledge of branding and interactive advertising, and the creative advantages of the two. In addition, you are able to develop well-defined and innovative online and offline concepts in advertising and interaction design.

Candidates should display the following qualities:

Confident and effective client presentation and interaction

Confident leadership, articulation and clear communication of ideas and creative creative solutions to other team members including designers, copywriters, executives and programmers.

Expert knowledge of Photoshop and familiarity with Illustrator, Flash, and Web enhancement technologies such as DHTML.

Effective Creative Project Management through all stages of development ensuring continuity of design intentions between Creative and Technical teams.

Enthusiastic Participation in pitches and conversions of new business and clients

Knowledge of and enthusiasm for additional software tools and technologies as they emerge

Other Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, Fine Arts or equivalent from an accredited art/design school or university

Minimum of 5 years professional experience in visual communications, with 3 years in interactive

Refined understanding of the technical aspects that come with each project

Working knowledge of HTML, programming, Web technologies and applications.

Proof of previous experience by means of an outstanding porfolio

Applications
If you think you fit the bill, send your applications with attached CVs and portfolios to work@spoon.com.sg

Second Life

Second Life - An online 3D digital world with growing popularity (currently half a million residents), growing commerce in its virtual properties and now a virtual venue for live rock concerts by names like Duran Duran and Suzanne Vega.

And the best thing about it aside from you finally having a real alter ego in your own immersive parallel universe?
It's cross platform - Macs and PCs are good to go!

A Decade Of Flash!

Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash celebrated it's 10th birthday last week. Check out the many incarnations of the Flash Application Splash page starting with the original 1996 FutureSplash Animator. Erhm. what was with the crab?

Wired: 6 Trends That Are Changing the World

As always, a good read from Wired Magazine available online...

1. The Power of Peer Production
by Chris Anderson

2. Video Unlimited
by Eryn Brown

3. Made to Order
by Kevin Kelleher

4. Carbon Killers
by Eryn Brow

5. M&A as R&D
by Josh McHugh

6. The Open Everything Economy
by Kevin Kelleher

Playstation Spot

Sony UK has just launched Playstation Spot, an innovative idea and inspired push support to their Playstation Portable product line. Owners of their wifi psp gaming station can download exclusive content wirelessly from various "hot spots" throughout the kingdom. Sony has also launched vending kiosks in some countries where consumers can buy PSPs. Kudos to them for experimenting and extending the intent and concept of a "portable" product.

Which now brings us to my PSP story...

When I went to buy my very own PSP a few months ago, I got offered a really really good price at one of them funny shops at Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road. But wait. The really really good price did not include a battery, the dude at the funny shop said. I had to pay extra for that.

"No battery? But this is a Sony Playstation Portable, no? Portable means can carry around and play anywhere without socket, no?" I asked.

"No, Portable means small size one." The dude in funny shop said.

"Ah, yes. But of course. Again."

Them dudes and shops are smart. And funny.

WidSets: Pimp Your Mobile!

Interesting new start-up taking inspiration from Apple Dashboard and Yahoo Widgets(Ex-Konfabulator). Mini Java Apps for your Mobile phones. Widgets for the pimpstar on the move!

Sir Richard & his Virgins

What living man in the known universe can claim ownership of a harem of companies branded "one who has not had sexual intercourse" and that includes an airline company, a telecommunications company, a music label, radio station, a drinks company, books company, a cosmetics company, a credit card company, a hot air balloon company, a bridal dress company, a cargo company, a games company, a jewellery company, a healthcare company, a travel company and a galactic company offering the first-ever space travel opportunity in history? Oh. And most recently, A comic and animation company that boasts the talents of John Woo and Deepak Chopra?

Who said sex, or the illusion of the lack of it, doesn't sell? well?

iDon't.com - Think for yourself

We're huge Apple fans here but SanDisk's brilliantly witty iDon't.com viral marketing campaign against all things iPod and iTatorship had us ROFL (Rolling On Floor Laughing).

SanDisk are makers of all kinds of removable memory cards, sticks and drives (very sexy stuff indeed). Their clever reverse engineering of Apple's iconic slogan "Think Different" is testament to how far the iPod and other Apple products have crept or are creeping into mass consumption and popular culture. For better or worse - some might argue.

Are you an iSheep, iDroid, iChimp, iFollow or iHerd? Own an iShackle?
Haha. Flocking hell, that's pretty funny, Sanny!

VoIP - The In Thing!

Voice over IP and Internet Telephony seems all the rage at the moment. It's the "in thing". Everyone's trying to get in the game. Skype seems to lead the pack at the moment but nifty new comers are popping up ever so often.

A new and innovative kid on the block is "JAJAH - web activated telephony". JAJAH allows users to call from landlines and/or mobiles to others internationally and locally via the internet. Simply type in your number and the number to call in your regular web browser and hey presto! - you're connected. Registered users can call each other for free in supported country zones or pay low rates for other supported zones.

Singapore is one of the countries with full support so check or should we say dial it out!

Gab away with Gabbly

Gabbly.com is an innovative new chat project that allows a user to gab (chat) with other visitors of any site in a real time interface. Add http://gabbly.com/ in front of the URL you and others would like to visit and the page loads along with a small resizable chat window (that loads almost immediately). The chat window can be docked to your preference.

Good future application for a more mature Gabbly could be realtime online teaching, customer service and breaking news forums.

Check it out. Noice!

Million Dollar Facade!

Following the astoundingly successful The Million Dollar Webpage, the entrepreneurial folks at Sandberg Institute have jumped on the band wagon and come up with their own million dollar baby - The Million Dollar Facade - offering tiles on their building facade for "Artvertising" as they call it.

CG Overdrive 2006

CG Overdrive is an inaugural festival held at the Singapore Expo Centre from 14th to 16th July 2006 . CG Overdrive is a platform for the constellation of CG Artists, professionals, enthusiasts and academics.

"The adroit blend of CG Conference, Workshops, Exhibition, Screenings and Displays is perhaps the best explication to the excitement and dynamism of CG Overdrive. CG Overdrive connects the best, the past, the present and the future."
- Quote CG Overdrive

Features a notable list of speakers at the conference that include people from Pixar Animation Studios, Polygon Pictures, Double Negative, Halon Entertainment and Robot Communication

CG Overdrive '06 Website

World IP Day 2006 - April 26th

Message from WIPO Director General Kamil Idris:

"World Intellectual Property Day is an opportunity to encourage people to think about the role played by intellectual property in everyday life, and about its importance in stimulating and safeguarding innovation and creativity. This year we celebrate the starting point of all intellectual property, the seeds from which all innovations and creative works grow – ideas.

Mankind’s inexhaustible capacity for producing ideas makes us unique. Yet this extraordinary ability is often taken for granted. We hardly notice the countless ideas we generate every day, or how much of what we value is the fruit of others’ ideas: labor-saving inventions, pleasing designs, life-saving technologies.

Ideas shape our world. They are the raw materials on which our future prosperity and heritage depend. This is why it is important to provide environments in which innovative ideas are encouraged and rewarded. This is why intellectual property exists.

From the words, music and images which move us, to the brands which attract us; from the bicycle to bio-fuel; from the microchip to mobile phone – it all starts with an idea."

More on source: World Intellectual Property Organisation

Gu Ge : Google's Valley Song for China

Google's hotly debated launch in China comes via a sweet sounding brand name Gu Ge - literal translation = "Valley Song". Very well crafted we must admit.

Check out their new Gu Ge online brand advertisement.

The Five Friendlies - Official Beijing '08 Olympics Mascots

"Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, the Five Friendlies also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals--the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow--and the Olympic Flame."

More on Beijing 2008 Olympic website

The Da Vinci Code on Copyright

The high profile 'Da Vinci Code' court case where Author Dan Brown was charged with copyright theft when he wrote his controversial and mega-selling book has ended. The High Court has rejected claims that Dan Brown ripped off The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail.

Here are some information from the case on BBC.Com that is relevant to all writers, designers, thinkers, creators and idea generators.

"Since there is no copyright in an idea, any claim for breach of copyright must rest on the way that the idea is expressed. In this case, it was described as the "architecture" or "structure" of the work, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail."

Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works enjoy protection for original work if they can establish " a degree of labour, skill or judgement" in producing it.

That formula is crucial. The courts have denied protection to certain works, including some advertising slogans.

Dan Brown did use the previous book to write certain parts of his thriller, the judge decided, but did not substantially copy their work. A novelist must be free to "draw appropriately" from historical works without facing a court and having his integrity called into question, he said.

Once a work has been created, it will automatically be protected by copyright. No formal steps, such as registering it, need to be taken. Copyright in a literary work generally lasts for 70 years after the last remaining author of the work dies."

Read more on source : BBC.Com

Thousands Of Design Resources

DesignEducation.ca - Great initiative!

"An exhaustive compendium of the best Design resources available on the Web. The project is based on the founder's teaching philosophy: to share everything that he knows with the community. 2006 represents 10 years of research activities performed by the founder and the project celebrates this milestone."

Tang On Shanghai Tang

Original Source : CNN.Com

"Shanghai Tang is a Chinese label that set out to rejuvenate Chinese fashion which had effectively come to a stop in China," says founder David Tang. "Never describe it as 'East-meets-West' because it's not, it's Chinese," he says. "Many people make that mistake." (including the Shanghai Tang web site).

"We make traditional Chinese clothes and we modernize them," he says.

Tang says the success of Shanghai Tang is owed to finding a business market niche.

"I started this business 12 years ago and am surprised that there isn't more competition. We have had a head start of 10 years," says Tang. " It seems illogical. Everything Chinese has become so popular."

The Little Red Book of Branding

While most Chinese companies have yet to gain global visibility, within the People's Republic, homegrown brands are becoming a source of pride and a badge of the country's emerging self-confidence.

"Five years ago, the top-10 brands in China were American," says Kevin Swanepoel, marketing and interactive director of the One Club, the international organization of advertising pros. "This year, the only American brand in the top 5 was Coke."

From Fast Company Magazine Issue 102

Apple's Holy Grail - Windows XP

In pursuit of Immortality and world domination, Apple has just released a software called "Boot Camp" that allows their new Intel-based computers to run Windows XP. Boot Camp is in beta, expiring around September this year, but will resurge as part of Mac OSX V10.5 code-named "Leopard". Leopard is due to be announced and released around the same time as Window's new Vista system. Who needs Tom Cruise for war of the worlds? Or Indiana Jones for the holy grail when we got Steve Jobs...

Will the sun finally shine through the window for Apple? Will Vista out-welcome it's visa? Will Leopard boot Vista out of camp? Will Leopard and Vista visa-versa? Will I stop with the questions already? Yes, please.

Lock. Load. And booooooot...

ConverseGallery.com

"Create your own Converse video commercial that celebrates the spirit of Converse and the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe. Show the shoe or not - its up to you."

Another example of very trendy "User-generated/Write-Your-Own Advertising".

Movie Downloads Now Legit!

Well, in US, for now at least. Six Major Hollywood Studios have finally bitten the bullet to distribute and sell films over the internet (the same day dvds are released). Buyers can purchase titles, download and watch forever, but only on their computers. However, as with all new technology, format and distribution (like the vhs), the porn industry goes one step further, leading the way. Major erotic label "Vivid" have also announced internet availability of their titles. Buyers, in this case, can download and copy once to a dvd to watch the films in its full glory on their tv sets. One can rest assure that the studios will soon follow suit due to proven sex-driven demand.

This is a significant moment in film and media distribution history - long resisted for fear of making obsolete the lucrative dvd market.

Banking On The Creative Industries In Asia

Standard Chartered Bank recently announced its Hong Kong-based Creative Industries team specialising in tailoring commercial banking solution for the media, entertainment and advertising industries. This will make them one of the first banks in Asia to provide film and TV financing, adapting from the current models used in the USA and UK.

This announcement can only be a good step towards finally validating media and entertainment as worthy additions to investment portfolios in conservative Asia.

Visit the Standard Chartered Creative Industries website for more information.

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself

Founded in February 2005, YouTube allows people to watch and share original videos worldwide through a Web experience. With tonnes of free videos online, YouTube is fast becoming the rich media destination on the web.

Check it out! Tonnes of stuff to watch and enjoy including the faaaantastic iRide, oops, beg your pardon, iGallop TV Commercial that aroused sleepy Singapore.

Go on. Do it. Broadcast Yourself!

The 6 Patron Saints Of Graphic Design

Lynnster's novel and witty self promotion...

Saint Anxiete: Matyr. Patron of Impossible Deadlines and foamy coffee. Her Latin name means "She who ought to take up yoga."

30 pivotal moments in Apple's history

For the true Apple fans...

Highlights—and lowlights—from the company’s history, picked by Apple Confidential 2.0 author Owen W. Linzmayer from Apple’s 30 years of existence. (available for your readership on Macworld.com)

Semi-Permanent Sydney06

Semi-Permanent06
Sydney, 7&8 July

"Semi-Permanent is a bunch of different projects all joined together, but our main focus is the conference. It consists of two days (one in Auckland) of presentations from highly talented creatives from all around the world. They come from all areas of 'design', including graphic design, film making, visual effects, motion graphics, animation, street art, illustration, photography, fine art and much much more. The presentations are educational and highly inspirational."

Organised by Design Is Kinky. (It sure is)

Japan launches digital TV on cellphones

Japan on Saturday began to watch digital television broadcasts on mobile telephones, in a highly anticipated service that could lead to a new genre of TV programs. Handsets have been on the market in Japan for several weeks that are equipped with the service, which can also broadcast programs onto laptop computers, high-end video-game machines and other terminals.

Mobility, Babe, that's where the mojo is heading these days.

TV/Film Vs Internet, Henry Rollins, Designing for Global/Local Social Play and others

Collection of videos from the recent South by Southwest 2006 Film, Interactive and Music Conferences & Festivals in Austin, USA featuring panels, interviews, film premieres and band showcases. Some pretty neat and relevant footage and keynotes for consumption. Check it out.

Play: Temasek Design Show 2006

Organised by: Temasek Polytechnic

Date: 31 March 2006 - 02 April 2006
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: National Library, The Plaza, 100 Victoria Street
Locality: Singapore
Weblink: www-des.tp.edu.sg/

Play is irrepressible and irresistible! This exhibition showcases fresh, innovative ideas in communication, media, products, apparel, and interiors, by Final Year Design students from Temasek Design School. See how they play to explode the contemporary creative scene. In addition, get engaged in fun design and creativity workshops with students, staff and alumni members of Singapore’s premier design school. For programme updates, please visit our website - www-des.tp.edu.sg/. For workshop registration, email your name and contact to deshotline@tp.edu.sg or call 6780-5133. Seats are limited.

Coca-Cola Co. : Making every drop count

You've always known them as Coca-Cola, the soft drink.
Now It's time you knew them as Coca-Cola the company.
And the best way to do that is one drop at a time.
Because drops are what we're ultimately made of.
And in everything we do, we give up drops of ourselves.
So they want to give us drops back.

What do you think of Coca-Cola's (the company, not soft drink) new branding and positioning statements?

Should they keep it or drop it?

Plug: + T R U S T +

TRUSTMUSEUM.COM

"'Trust' has never been a more relevant concept then it is today with the volatile state of political affairs that has come to affect everyone from the ground up. We live in a society that treats an unattended bag as a very dangerous item as opposed to an innocuous object someone might have left behind. We now live in a very alert state, and with that, we lose a semblance of trust, or do we?"

Interpreting the notion of 'Trust'... curated by Laid-back Lawler (Steve)

Thai TVC Brilliance

Check out some brilliantly humorous television commercials from some of Thailand's leading tv commercials directors (including Wisit Sasanatieng & Pen-ek Ratanaruang) and production company on The Film Factory Website.

DesignSingapore Scholarships

Great news for budding design and creative enthusiasts. DesignSingapore has just announced scholarship programs.

"The DesignSingapore Scholarship aims to groom design talents who have the creativity, drive and passion to develop Singapore into Asia’s leading hub for design-excellence. The Scholarship is targeted at students and industry professionals who wish to pursue full-time undergraduate or postgraduate design-related courses at reputable institutions."

Read More Here.

Have A Hot Dog!

To one and all that follow the lunar calendar, Gong Xi Fa Cai or Kung Hei Fat Choi.

Have a great Fire Dog Year with much woof woof!!

Design Unplugged: Towards a Global/Asian Perspective

Design Thinking & Innovation Conference

Asia and Asian Design is gaining a foothold in the international design arena. With the rise of India, China and Asia as a region, the implications to design from a 'new'emergence viewpoint of the enormity of mega-sized consumer markets and low cost production capabilities are something that all designers cannot and must not ignore.

What's an Intel chip doing in a Mac?

A whole lot more than it's ever done in a PC. Or so the doctor said.

Introducing, sooner than later, the new MacBook Pro notebook computer featuring an Intel Core Duo processor which delivers up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4.

Why didn't they just change ibook to inbook? Or intelibook?

One can only assume that they coined the daggiest name ever for an Apple product - "Macbook Pro" - just so the masses know they were buying a Mac. A Macbook. Pro. Lor.

10 New Year Resolutions For Aspiring Designers

In the spirit of the new year, we ponder 10 new year resolutions for the aspiring Singapore designer in 2006.

1. Learn A Musical Instrument
Design, like Music, has rhythm, beats, highs and lows.

2. Watch More Films
Films are one of the most accessible examples of concept, interpretation, execution and teamwork.

3. Converse With More Non-Designers
Not everyone is into street art, quirky toys and figurines, Lomo cameras and printing t-shirts.

4. Use A New Font Each Month
Variety is the spice and dice of life.

5. Read And Write More
Read and write more. It helps articulation of your ideas. A good idea is only as good as its pitch.

6. Be More Asian
Trends are shifting. It'll do you good to be more Asian. Look to your neighbours and subvert traditions if you must.

7. Have Better Email Etiquette
Don't send job application emails with a CV attachment and no subject and body. You might get one back with nothing but a company brochure attached. And... Don't send job application emails to a million prospective employers without BCC-ing.

8. Try Everything At Least Once
You don't know unless you try. Experience makes for good calls and comments.

9. Use Design Annuals Sparringly And Wisely
Use design books and references to see what works and not what is "good to use".

10. Have A Balanced Diet
Consume less Apples and Pods. Ok. This is a tough one.

Happy New Year!

Open Dialogue Tonight.

Click Open Dialogue for more information.

OPEN DIALOGUE
Open House at Temple Street hosted by Spoon takes place tonight.
Space still available for last minuters. See you tonight.

The Asylum Shop

The Asylum Shop - A cool local design-driven retail outfit that's doing interesting stuff and selling novel products. Pay them a visit and a penny. Click: The Asylum Shop

ResFest '05: Keep It Curious

RESFEST takes place for a second-year in Singapore. The festival has expanded to include the first Live Music Series with Tokyo beat-cutters HIFANA whose live sets promise a terrific mix of live visuals, native instruments, scratch and human beatbox.

There is also a new exhibition component, ASIA.NO.W.HERE featuring works from W+K TOKYO LAB artists. Rooted in cultural identity, celebrating the spirit of hybrid media, this is a foregrounding of new work happening across Asia now.

More info on their website: www.resfest.com.sg

Analog Girl is Cool

The Analog Girl is cool. A musical femme fatale made in Singapore with brave performance ambitions. Caught her last night at RNDM.

Quoted... "It is the analog feeling, sprinkled with electronic noises and fairy dust, that creates The Analog Girl sound. Her unique application of the laptop, vocal, effects boxes and odd synths can be heard on her albums she likes to call collectively as the Pink Bento Boutique."

Check out her debut album The TV Is On on Audio Lunchbox.

Open Dialogue: 18th Nov '05

OPEN DIALOGUE
Open House at Temple Street hosted by Spoon.

6PM - 9PM Friday 18TH November 2005

Freestyle dialogue and conversation encouraged - Talk Design. Talk Creative. Talk Collaboration. Talk Shop. Talk Love. Just Talk.

Hosted in support and celebration of the Inaugural Singapore Design Festival, Open Dialogue will be an informal evening of dialogue and engagement among makers, consumers and evangelists of design and creativity.

WHO IS INVITED?
Designers, Producers and Creators of all breeds.
Consumers, Buyers, Collaborators and Evangelists.

VENUE
Space At Spoon, 15B Temple Street #03-01.

DATE & TIME
6PM - 9PM Friday 18TH November 2005

INVITE/RSVP REQUIRED
Limited spots available. Email openhouse@spoon.com.sg to book yours.
(Confirmation subject to availability)

Click Open Dialogue for more information.

Singapore's Promising Brands Awarded

The Singapore Promising Brand Award (SPBA), organised by the Association Of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) and Lianhe Zaobao, recently awarded 36 up-coming SMEs who have shown outstanding performance in the communication of their brands. Some of these include Barang Barang, Breadtalk, ThaiExpress and Lee Hwa Jewellery. Good old Tiger Balm with its unbelievable 97 year old history was also awarded.

Visit the Official Award Website for more information.

Singapore Design Festival

The inaugural Singapore Design Festival takes place from the 9th to 23rd November 2005. In the words of the organisers, the festival is a multifaceted experience focusing on the design process and the conceptualisation of ideas. In essence the Festival aims to build upon the design culture in Singapore and around the world, making it an interactive and “live” experience of the design process and its end products.

The Festival activities will take place around Suntec City, Raffles City, and the Civic District, fanning out to other areas all over Singapore. Some of the activities include the festival’s feature events: DesignEDGE; International Design Forum; ADASIA 2005; the Red Dot award; Design Concept 2005 Celebrations; Young Asian Designers’ Award Ceremony and Beyond 2005 – The Global Summit for Creative Industries.

We'll be participating in the festival by hosting an Open House/Dialogue event scheduled for mid-November. Stay tuned. More details to follow shortly.

Hey Quark, Whose Logo Is It Anyway?

Quark, who once made the most favourite (and expensive) desktop publishing application - QuarkXPress - for editorial designers before they went MIA duck hunting, recently got the "Whose Logo Is It Anyway?" from the Scottish Arts Council when they unveiled their new "Q" Mark. Quark's new mark is almost identical to the 2002-trademarked logo of the Scottish Arts Council.

You'd really expect a company that prides itself as a premium brand for designers to be a bit more stringent than most others about the uniqueness of their new corporate signature. But hey, what do we know?

Playstation Portable (PSP): The ultimate gadget - for guys mostly.

I can't imagine a single guy not getting turned on by the Playstation Portable (PSP) - the latest portable entertainment device from Sony. I've had the opportunity to spend a good 2 months with one and I couldn't really ask for more. For now, the PSP is truly the ultimate Testosterone Toy.

Originally released in black, the PSP is muscleware to the bone and not quite Chick Chic. Gadget girls (if they do exist) might have to turn to the Nintendo DS (very hot in Japan) or the current crop of smart phones for now.

The new white version is softer but I wouldn't recommend it. Sony didn't quite get the "iPod" white right. It looks a bit too expendable.

Two things that make the PSP such a great gadget now and the near future are its video capabilities and its built-in WiFi connectivity. The PSP is more than a gaming device. The wide-screen video display is beautiful, clear and a joy to watch. With its WiFi connectivity, the PSP doubles potentially as a portable internet TV set serving live/on-demand audio/content on the go. There are already productivity tools in the PSP pipeline for work and communication.

If you're planning on getting one, check these recommendations out:

1. PSP Games
Game code and graphics on the PSP is excellent. Before you buy any though, visit GameSpot for excellent game reviews and recommendations. My pick of the current crop are Burnout Legends, Namco Museum Battle Collection, Ridge Racer and Wipeout Pure.

2. PSP Protective Case
The PSP looks great but can be susceptible to damage and dirt. Get the Logitech® PlayGear Pocket™ to protect your prized PSP. It's hard & durable, cool and customize-able with a wide range of skins.

3. 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo
As with all media gadgets, you can never have enough memory. Get the new 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo from Sony. (Already available in Sim Lim Square, Singapore)

DIGG - Social Bookmarking

A new addition to my daily webclicks these days is DIGG. Digg is a technology news website that combines social bookmarking, blogging, RSS, and non-hierarchical editorial control. With digg, users submit stories for review, but rather than allow an editor to decide which stories go on the homepage, the users do.

Digg it. good stuff.

Plug: DesignEDGE 2005

DesignEDGE Conference & Expo 2005 produced and presented by the fine folks at IdN and Design Singapore Council. Do support and attend. They have some great speakers this year. All going down on November 10th to 12th 2005 at SUNTEC Halls 401 & 402.

More info at DesignEDGE website

Curious About Google Version1?

Curious about what the first Google webpage and Google logo looked like?
Kill your cat and check 'em out here: Google V1

Academics... Sheesh