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