geeksugar -- Geek is chic.

Talking Thumbs Commercial: Cute or Nightmarish?

geeksugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:00:34 -0800

Maybe I just have very little patience for creepy gadget commercials, but I still have to say: What were these marketing people thinking putting faces on thumbs?! I get a cold shiver for every pair of faces that appear on rapidly typing thumbs, but maybe I'm just a baby. What do you think?

Does the Wii Music Commercial Pique Your Interest in the Game?

geeksugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:16 -0800

After being given the chance to be a music-making kitty cat in Wii Music for the Wii, my first impressions of the game were pretty positive. But as much as strumming, stroking, and striking my Wiimote and Nunchuck to simulate instrumental music can be, I wasn't overly thrilled about the lack of competitive edge. I'm all about fun games without competition, but similar to the rest of you, it's rewarding when you get points (even if it is for getting a few keys correct). I just happened to catch this Wii Music commercial on TV last night and I couldn't help but have one of those moments where I thought — maybe it isn't so bad after all. What do you think? Did the commercial make you more interested in the game?

Guess Who?

geeksugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:30:16 -0800

Can you guess whose voice this is promoting the new BlackBerry Storm? Hint: This isn't his first time voicing a geeky commercial.

Can You Guess Which Celeb Is in the Latest HP Commercial?

geeksugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:00:22 -0800

I happened to catch this commercial while watching the AMAs, and I had no idea that this famous female was taking part in HP's "headless" commercial series. She starts off by saying "My computer is like a virtual autobiography . . . My mom emails me all of this great old stuff. . ." Any clue as to who it is? Scroll down to see the answer and to watch the entire commercial!

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Lisa Kudrow Uses Personal Trainer: Cooking on Her DS

geeksugar — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:12 -0800

I've already had the chance to see Personal Trainer: Cooking in action, so I know just how convenient and handy it can be for novice chefs like myself. In an upcoming commercial for Nintendo, Lisa Kudrow uses Personal Trainer: Cooking to show her niece how to make Kung Pao chicken. Thanks to the software's voice activated instructions, you can easily move through the instructions without having to touch anything, as you'll see Lisa utilizing in the video below.

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New BlackBerry Storm Commercials Surface: Yes, I'm Excited

geeksugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:00:13 -0800

RIM's first BlackBerry Storm commercial debuted about a month ago, and now the networks that will be carrying this powerful smartphone — Verizon in the US and Vodafone in the UK — have released their hot new Storm commercials. Although the US version hasn't made its full-fledged debut (hence, the low-vid quality), you can still get a feel for what BlackBerry's first touchscreen phone will be all about. And if you didn't hear, it's supposed to hit store shelves by the end of this month!

Heidi Klum Takes Off Her Clothes For Guitar Hero World Tour

geeksugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:50:18 -0800

I'm loving this new lineup of Risky Business-inspired Guitar Hero World Tour commercials! A few weeks ago we saw Kobe Bryant, Tony Hawk, Michael Phelps, and Alex Rodriguez get down and dirty for the commercial. And this week? Who else, but Heidi Klum . . . Yeah, this is exactly how I rock out with Guitar Hero, too.

Eat Your Heart Out David Cook, There's a New GH Crew in Town

geeksugar — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:05:42 -0700

Remember back in May, when David Archuleta and David Cook of American Idol rocked out in their tighty-whities to Old Time Rock N' Roll for Guitar Hero? Well Activision Publishing is back in full force with their latest installment of their "Risky Business"-inspired Guitar Hero ads; a new commercial for Guitar Hero World Tour, which hits stores today. Directed by Brett Ratner, the commercial features big sports stars jamming — like Kobe Bryant (on the mic), Tony Hawk (on the drums) and Michael Phelps and Alex Rodriguez (on the guitar). A must see indeed!

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America Ferrera Gets Brainy With Her Pimped-Out DS

geeksugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:00:41 -0700

Who knew America Ferrera was all about the bling? While getting brainy with Brain Age, America battles a pal to see who can complete the math portion quicker (and find out who has a younger brain) in this upcoming spot for Nintendo. I love how she has pimped out her metallic rose DS with all that bling — how geek chic! See how old her brain really is in this exclusive sneak peek at the commercial that will start airing this week.

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Liv Tyler Likes Mystery Case Files as Much as I Do!

geeksugar — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:45:19 -0700

In a series of commercials that will start airing this week, we'll get to see Carrie Underwood racing against some pals with Mario Kart, and get another peek at Liv Tyler playing with her silver DS. Since the DS' wireless connectivity allows you to play with friends, Liv and a pal get competitive playing one of my favorite commute titles, Mystery Case Files: Millionheir, in this exclusive look at the upcoming commercial!

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Exclusive Look: Carrie Underwood Kicking Butt in Mario Kart!

geeksugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:05:03 -0700

Last time we saw Carrie Underwood with her DS, she was playing with her virtual pups in Nintendogs. This time she's kicking butt and taking names while racing a few of her bandmates in Mario Kart. She still has that awesome Metallic Rose DS (so jealous), and seems to have a pretty good strategy on how to take out her competition. Check out her commercial below!

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Which Smartphone Ad Do You Like Better?

geeksugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:30:43 -0700

With the sexy new BlackBerry Storm making its debut in November on the Verizon network, any early releases of pictures, and certainly videos, are always a treat. Watching RIM's first BlackBerry Storm commercial brought me back to Summer of 2007, when all we could think about was June 29 — the day Apple's iPhone hit store shelves. I decided to put the first iPhone commercial and now RIM's first BlackBerry Storm commercial side-by-side to see which one appeals to you more. Maybe I'm just biased because the Storm ad is new, but I find the music edgier, the colors brighter and it's just a lot livelier. Do you think the Storm ad makes it look more appealing than the iPhone?

Which Smartphone Ad Do You Like Better?

I prefer the original iPhone commercial!

The new BlackBerry Storm commercial is hot!

None of the above. See my comment below!

Ashton Kutcher Pimps Out the Nikon D90 D-SLR

geeksugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:02:18 -0700

Who better to showcase Nikon's fancy new camera, the D90 D-SLR ($1,000) than their sexy spokesman Ashton Kutcher — who we've previously spotted with the Nikon Coolpix compact cam. The D90 is raising a lot of eyebrows since it's the first D-SLR in the entire world to shoot HD video in three different motion JPEG formats: 320-x-216 pixels, 640-x-424 pixels, and 1,280-x-720 pixels. And with 12.3-megapixel image quality, in-camera editing that allows you to straighten, reduce red eye, or add Fisheye effects and more, the D90 lives up to all of its expectations. Check out Kutcher with the cam below!

New G1 T-Mobile Ad: Pretty Cool or Pretty Patronizing?

geeksugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:01:16 -0700

Since the Google/T-Mobile presentation yesterday of the hotly-anticipated Android-running G1 smartphone, the G1 has been playing with my emotions with reports that it looks great, works great, but has some big flaws. The again, up and down reviews are no huge surprise, especially if you weathered the storm that was the iPhone 3G launch.

So here's the new commercial for the G1. The concept is apparently based around the fact that if you make words grammatically incorrect, young people will respond (since that's how they talk?). Maybe I'm guilty of using the non-word "funner," but "funnerer?" Never.

That said it's a nice-looking commercial that doesn't cop anyone else's advertising style (ahem). What do you think?

The New and Improved (?) Microsofts Ads

geeksugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:11:52 -0700

Now that Seinfeld is out and the new "I'm a PC" commercials are in, most of you feel the same way that I do about them — they are totally copying Apple's "Get a Mac" ads! The first installment with Seinfeld was at least somewhat original, but waay too long to be used as commercials. These ones? Catchy, but lack originality. Microsoft, you had my attention with Seinfeld, and lost me at "I'm a PC."

To see the other two Microsoft commercials, just

Microsoft "I'm a PC" Ads: Clever or Copycat?

geeksugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:03:38 -0700

With the news of the Jerry Seinfeld/Microsoft commercials being put aside for now (only 14 percent of you liked their ads more than Apple's "Get a Mac" ads), Microsoft has revealed that their next campaign will be a more direct hit at Apple (and thankfully, more direct in general).Known as the "I'm a PC" ads, Microsoft will portray various non-dorky Microsoft users attesting to what they do and what they're like — ostensibly not nerds like John Hodgman's portrayal. In addition, they have a more direct anti-Apple attack with a John Hodgman clone who satirically declares he is a PC and has "been made into a stereotype."On the one hand, it's kind of a "Touche" on Microsoft's part, but since these are so hot on the heels of the universally confounding Seinfeld ads, I can't help but feel like these were thrown together to try to salvage their image and just went for a cheap shot — and worse, lazily imitated a successful ad campaign. What do you think? Is Microsoft right on, or just hanging on?

Microsoft "I'm a PC" Ads: Clever or Copycat?

Clever

Copycat

Something else. See my comment below!

Who Wins: Microsoft's Seinfeld Ads or Apple's Mac vs. PC Ads?

geeksugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:02:31 -0700

Though the second Microsoft ad featuring Jerry Seinfeld is a lot funnier than the first, I can't help but feel that it's still lacking . . . direction? Humor? As a die-hard Seinfeld fan, I'm disappointed that these spots aren't as "Jerry" as his humor on the show was, and even more disappointed because I don't really know what Microsoft is trying to say. Contrast that with their rival Apple, who've spun the Get a Mac ad campaign off the notion that Mac users are cool and PC users are, well, John Hodgman, and I have to call Apple as the winner again. I get the point, they don't meander, and they entertain me. Now putting aside your preference for Apple or Microsoft, tell me, which ads do you like more?

Who Wins: Microsoft's Seinfeld Ads or Apple's Mac vs. PC Ads?

The Seinfeld Microsoft ads.

The Apple Mac Guy vs. PC Guy ads.

Neither.

Nokia: Great Moments in Advertising

geeksugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:00:52 -0700

I'll always be a Nokia fan; it wasn't long ago that they had the hottest handsets in the world, and they continue to make high tech, dark horse designs in cell phones; sadly, affordability is often a hurdle.

But I have nothing bad to say about their "Fourth Screen" commercial below — all good things, actually. I could go into how epic and moving it is (I know, I just said a commercial was moving), but all you need to know is that it's almost two and a half minutes long — astoundingly long for an ad by today's standards — and not only did I hungrily devour every moment, I did not want it to end.

Daily Tech: Second Seinfeld/Gates Ad, Much Funnier Than the First

geeksugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:00:27 -0700

Within the next couple of days, the second installment of the Bill/Gates Jerry Seinfeld Microsoft Ad will debut, and I must admit, it's pretty darn funny. — ZDnet
The verdict is in on the thin iPod Touch 2G, and it sounds like it's totally worth splurging for. — CrunchGear
Barack Obama's campaign released an ad today that showcases John McCain's technological ineptness. — Valleywag
It may not be the hottest gadget out there, but the Backup Pal will easily backup your cell phone through a connection to your PC. — Unplggd
Forty percent of teens would rather have a cell phone over a land line; now why doesn't that surprise me? — USA Today
It's giveaway time! Be sure to log in to your TeamSugar account for your chances to win geek-chic beach gadgets and accessories! — geeksugar

Apple's TV Ad For the New and Improved Nano

geeksugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:10:10 -0700

What's a new Apple product without a catchy new commercial right? Thankfully, I had a decent seat at the Let's Rock Apple event this morn so I was able to catch the colorful iPod Nano ad in its entirety. Love the splattered Apple at the end and the background tunes, but I'd have to say the showstopper had to be Jack Johnson performing three songs after all the big announcements. Wow-a-wee-wah — Samantha Ronson last night and Jack Johnson today, I am one lucky geek!

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Sony Does It Again With a Captivating New Commercial

geeksugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:02:04 -0700

Similar to Apple ads, Sony knows how to nail it when it comes to producing commercials that are memorable, visually stunning and have catchy background tunes. And with their new commercial for the Sony Vaio LT, a PC and HDTV combo, they've managed to create another masterpiece. Have a peek at it below!

Daily Tech: First Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates Vista Ad Debuts

geeksugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:50:38 -0700

Microsoft has kicked off its first commercial featuring Jerry Seinfeld alongside Bill Gates, and the verdict is in: It's a whole lotta randomness! Not exactly the simplistic Microsoft vs. Apple ad I was hoping for. — Gizmodo
Going back to school? Here are some helpful tips for prepping your gadgets for the new school year. — CrunchGear
Palm is getting ready to unveil new Centro models in green and rose hues, which are said to become available next month. — Gadgetell
Some people are having way too much fun with Google Chrome. — Unplggd
The Xbox 360 has just become the lowest-priced gaming console in the US! — Engadget
Michael Moore's Slacker Nation, a new documentary about trying to get younger generations to vote, will be distributed online for free via Blip.tv. — Valleywag

The Lenovo Commercial That Creeps the Hell Out of Me

geeksugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:00:28 -0700

I get that Lenovo is trying to showcase its one-button recovery if the ThinkPad crashes, but did they really have to use the creepiest little creature ever to mock what happens when the older gentleman's less-sophisticated laptop crashes?

It's like one part David Lynch, one part this.

And by the way, the correct answer is no, they did not. I am disturbed.

Do You Ever Watch Commercials?

geeksugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:00:08 -0700

I know that commercials are unavoidable — if they don't get ya in the product placement of your shows, then you're a captive audience in the movie theater. One place I no longer watch commercials on is the TV — thanks to TiVo! I buzz through everything, including boring parts on the shows themselves (Adult ADD: I'm looking into it).I assume that's what everyone else does too, which is why it's interesting that TiVo is being used by the ad agency Starcom to see what commercials people are watching. Even though I insist that I don't watch any, I guess I might stop every once in a while for an ad spot that looks really goofy (or has my favorite new song in it, courtesy of Apple). What about you, since so many of you TiVo or use DVRs — do you brake for certain commercials (and what kind if you do?), or do you fast forward through everything?Source

Do You Ever Watch Commercials?

Yes, I occasionally watch commercials, even with a DVR.

No way! That's precisely why I have a DVR, so I can avoid commercials.

I don't have a TiVo or DVR.

Something else. See my comment below.

Exclusive Look at Carrie Underwood With the Rose DS Lite

geeksugar — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:46:27 -0700

Starting tomorrow, Nintendo will begin airing commercials featuring various famous females to showcase the crimson and black DS and the re-release of the metallic rose DS Lite — which was sold as a bundle with Nintendogs during the holiday season last year. In case you missed it, here's the adorable Liv Tyler commercial as she geeks out with Brain Age 2. And now for a sneak peek at Carrie Underwood having some fun with Nintendogs on her pretty-in-pink DS Lite!

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Liv Tyler Geeks Out With Brain Age For Nintendo DS

geeksugar — Sun, 18 May 2008 07:10:03 -0700

In an upcoming commercial for Nintendo DS, Liv Tyler gets her game on with Brain Age 2, as she attempts one of the training activities — the piano player. Watching her play in game (in her pj's) as she hums the notes, makes this one geekalicious commercial! You can't help but want to get your DS out!

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RIM Creates Their First Ever BlackBerry Commercial!

geeksugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:31:32 -0700

I don't know why this excites me as much as it does, but Research in Motion (RIM), the creators of the BlackBerry, showed off their very first commercial on NBC last night. In case you happened to miss it, here it is in all of its vibrant glory. You can also check it out on the BlackBerry website!

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What's That Song? Apple's Latest Booty-Shaker

geeksugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:00:55 -0700

Apple's master advertising people have once again picked an awesome song that makes me want to get up and dance crazily — preferably with a new iPod and a neon background. The artist is British band The Ting Tings and the song is "Shut Up and Let Me Go" — it's ridiculously fun and dancey, a lot more high energy than my last Apple ad fave, "New Soul."

How do they do this?! I would like to see if I could possibly hire this person just to constantly make me compilations of new, rad music. But then I'd be way too cool for everybody, and I don't want that.

Would You Use WiFi with Commercials?

geeksugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:00:21 -0800

I've always been a free WiFi hunter, but having an iPhone has definitely heightened my hunting instincts. I am constantly seeking signals in cafes, restaurants, and stores and get a sick thrill out of finding one and getting online in unexpected places. Apparently, I'm not alone. A California company called AnchorFree has launched a service that lets stores of any size (as in small restaurants or major chains) offer free, advertising-supported Wi-Fi to customers on store property. According to the New York Times, people who are shopping or eating in an AnchorFree location will have to sit through onscreen banner ads or short video spots or both before they can get online and roam the web. So far, companies such as American Express, Circuit City, Clorox, Ford, Kaiser Permanente, McDonald’s, Toyota, and Major League Baseball have all signed up. While I hate commercials, I figure a short video is a small price to pay for being able to get online and check movie listings or Google maps. What do you think? Source

Would You Use WiFi with Commercials?

Yes — If they are short and allow you to get online for free.

Maybe — I'd have to try it.

No way — I would just seek another free WiFi signal.

Something else. See my comment below.

Vintage Geek: First Cell Commercial Ever

geeksugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:00:45 -0700

Remember 1988, that simple time when there were no cell phone or iPod commercials and the only iPhone on the market was a clunky cord phone? Well, the era of pay phones and pen pals came to a close in 1989, when the first ever cell phone commercial aired, launching what was sure to be decades of 30-second signal strength battles.

Notice how Centel plays the "can you hear me now?" game with elevator music, off roading and a giant phone the size of my hair straightener. It's truly magical.

Have you seen a great technology commercial or run across funny gadgets while traveling? Share your photos, news, reviews and tips with me and I'll feature my favorites on the homepage. To learn how to post your finds to the Geeky Things I Love,

Vintage Geek: First Cell Phone Commercial

geeksugar — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 10:00:55 -0700

I can't decide which is worse- the first ever e-mail ad or the first cell phone commercial from 1989 shown below. Both definitely deserve vintage geek awards, but I'd have to say that this hilarious video which was posted on adfreak is downright over the top! I'll try not to spoil it, but in forty-three seconds there's time for a swim, jeep ride, mini safari and boat ride. Come on, that is nothing compared to what the iPhone can do!

The Best iPhone Ad So Far

geeksugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:47:20 -0700

Conan O'Brien may have cornered the funny fake iPhone commercial market with his faux commercial earlier this year, but the group of talented and creative individuals who put together this iPhone ad deserve their own props. Featured on TechEBlog, this short video is shot in my second favorite city (New York City) and shows people discussing all the features of the iPhone. The best quote: "There are no buttons, you just touch the screen." That my friends, may be the main reason why I'm counting down the days until its arrival.

Letterman's Mac vs. PC Commercial Starring Chris Elliott

geeksugar — Mon, 21 May 2007 09:08:34 -0700

David Letterman featured this PC vs. Mac video starring comedian Chris Elliot on his show recently and besides being utterly hilarious, I am guessing it will make a couple PC users pretty happy. Touting an awkward brown Justin Long wig, Elliot gets a little, shall we say retribution for playing the "I'm a mac and I'm so wonderful" card. At least no one can call it "smug."

It doesn't quite beat out the Old School Windows 95 video starring Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry, but it's still a treat.

Did You See The iPhone Commercial During The Oscars?

geeksugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:15:46 -0800

That's right folks; we finally got another peek at the iPhone! The ad was broadcast during last night's Academy Awards and features a ringing old-fashioned phone followed by a bunch of historical film and television characters answering it. The ad ends with the text "coming in June," which quite frankly is just too far away.

Did You See The iPhone Commercial During The Oscars?

Yes. I loved it!

Yes. I was like "meh."

Nope. I missed it.

Oscars?

To Mac or to PC?

geeksugar — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 14:06:36 -0800

The great debate regarding the new MacBooks, which run on the Intel Core 2 Duo and allow users to run select Windows programs, continues, although most users are generally pleased with the innovation. What are your thoughts about running Windows on a Mac? Furthermore, what are your thoughts on Justin Long?