the elevator pitch

If you were to sit down and lay out all of the Internet browsers that have come in and out of our lives in the past decade you could probably fill a set of encyclopedias. Research shows that there are basically 2 main browsers that occupy about 85% of all web users, that being FireFox and Internet Explorer, but after the numbers were crunched, it looks like 2 other browsers are slowly but surely making their way into our lives. As most Mac users are aware, Safari has made quite a push in the past few years. The Mac-centric browser that also allows people to explore on their iPhones and iPods has slowly increased it’s user base since releasing a few years ago.

What might come as a surprise is the forth most used browser to date, that being Google Chrome. Chrome came into play for PC users a while ago and Google has since released beta versions for the Mac. The cross platform browser is actually becoming more popular than Safari even among Mac users. So what is so different about Chrome?

Chrome markets itself as fast, stable and secure. With those three pillars in mind, Google has created a user-friendly interface that focuses on providing people with information and allowing them to share it easily. The folks over at Google also know that browser competition is plenty so they’ve gone ahead and created something that users can adjust to fit their individual needs. Without going into too many specifics (you can check out the specs of Chrome here), Google Chrome, in my opinion, takes what FireFox does well, and makes it faster.

I’m sure a lot other people have their own opinion on Chrome and all of the new capabilities as well.

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We posted some information about Apple’s rumored project the iTablet a little while ago, but recent news may have given the new tech a branded name. According to Mac Rumors, Apple recently purchased the domain www.iSlate.com. The web address is rumored to be the new online home for Apple’s reading tablet that could be released as early as next year. With all of the information leaked about the iSlate, people might not be as responsive as Apple hopes. It is already public knowledge that iTunes carries books, so releasing the iSlate in conjunction with a long list of new book titles only seems appropriate.

The iSlate will be in direct competition with Amazon’s Kindle and the Nook by Barnes and Noble, but if all of the speculation is correct, the iSlate will be much more than a static black and white electronic reader. It is rumored that the iSlate will come fully equipped with stereo sound and an impressive full color screen that can play videos. This opens up the iSlate media consumption to go way beyond books. Although the price is far from being released, journalists do predict the iSlate to retail for around $1000. In comparison to the Nook and the Kindle, the iSlate might seem ridiculously over priced, but when Apple does announce the final specs, you can bet that it will be much more than just a reader.

Will the iSlate join the ranks among the iPhone and iPod? Who knows, but the early renders of the new tech has a lot of people buzzing.

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This brand new ad from the candy bar Twix takes a new angle on the concept of pausing life. Combining a short romantic narrative with the gentle sounds of old blue eyes, this new Twix campaign looks like it could catch on. The digital animation is quite interesting as you’ll wonder why the man’s face is literally crooked. The reveal is actually kind of sweet and romantic in the end. Watch below as the ad runs through what life would be like if you could simply hit pause at any moment and experience something. I’m not sure if this makes you want to run out and buy a Twix bar, but it does add an element to the brand.

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In just a few days the James Cameron’s Avatar will grace the big screens across the globe. Not only will the CG enhanced adventure film make a regular movie debut, it will also hit IMAX screens where available. As one of the most anticipated film releases in recent memory, Cameron and early reviewers are promising a different kind of movie experience with Avatar. To go along with some groundbreaking animated visual effects and sound technology, Avatar also brings Cameron’s story telling skills to the screen.

Known to most as the man behind Titanic and Terminator 2, James Cameron has been dropping people’s jaws with his visual effects and narrative proficiency for years. Unlike other major studio directors, Cameron take his time with his films making sure the public sees only perfection with every shot. Hence the reason for making the general public wait so long in between films.

Avatar is the tale of a two worlds. The story follows a young soldier in a wheel chair as he undergoes an experiment that turns him into a different kind of being. The humans’ intent is to infiltrate a warring world with one of their own in hopes of taking over a planet. But, according to the trailer below, things go array as the young soldier begins to see the beauty and grace the planet has to offer and looks to switch sides.

Avatar opens to the public on December 18th and James Cameron promises that this is more than just a movie, it’s an event.

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A lot of North American celebrities can often be seen gracing the small screen over seas. People like Tiger Woods have been doing it for years, but because we reside on this side of the pond, it becomes difficult to see and then translate some of the ads. Remember Lost in Translation? Bill Murray played a washed up actor looking to get paid in Japan and a few of the best scenes of the film are of him attempting to work with Japanese directors in a commercial shoot for some alcohol.

Well, fiction often imitates the truth and Quentin Tarantino (famous director of the Kill Bill Saga, Pulp Fiction and most recently Inglorious Basterds) has just starred in a Japanese commercial. Have a look at the video below to check it out:

Strange huh?

Well, like the movie, a lot of this is “lost in translation.” The ad is for a company called Softbank, a Japanese cell phone provider. Softbank is basically a re-brand of Vodaphone in Japan and they’ve kicked off the Winter by releasing this strange commercial starring one of the world’s most famous directors. Here’s the breakdown according to a rough translation:

The white dogs are actually the parents in this situation. The girl sitting down is actually a Japanese popstar in real life and the dogs are essentially telling Tarantino and the girl what they are going to do for the day. QT does a random samurai impression and the phone rings. On the other end is a woman playing QT’s wife who screams at him to come home. End.

Yeah… don’t worry if you don’t see the point of this. It was made for a Japanese audience living in a completely different culture. But in any case, it’s always nice to see Tarantino imitate a samurai.

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