iTunes Match goes live… finally.

Filed under: Art & Creative, Fun, Industry Trendsposted on November 15th, 2011

A little later than expected, iTunes Match goes live for all users.

With iTunes Match, even songs you’ve imported from CDs can be stored in iCloud. And you can play them on any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC — whenever you want and wherever you are, without syncing. iTunes Match is just $24.99 a year.2 Here’s how it works: iTunes determines which songs in your collection are available in the iTunes Store.

Any music with a match is automatically added to iCloud for you to listen to anytime, on any device. Since there are more than 20 million songs in the iTunes Store, chances are, your music is already in iCloud. And for the few songs that aren’t, iTunes has to upload only what it can’t match. Which is much faster than starting from scratch.

Once your music is in iCloud, you can stream and store it to any of your devices. Even better, all the music iTunes matches plays back from iCloud at 256-Kbps AAC DRM-free quality — even if your original copy was of lower quality.

Inside Secure announces NFC chips to help distinguish knockoffs from the real thing

Filed under: Industry Trendsposted on November 15th, 2011

If you can’t tell if a Rolex or a knockoff Prada bag is fake, your NFC-enabled smartphone will be able to. Toking on a long-standing problem with counterfeiting, French company Inside Secure has released the Vault150 security module, a NFC-based chip that can be embedded into any product a retailer might wish to have authenticated by prospective buyers. This could become as easy as literally embedding the chip, as NFC chips require no power source, can collect RF energy from an NFC reader such as a smartphone and complete an authentication request for a potential buyer. (via Engadget)

Coca-Cola Launches Its First U.S. QR Code Program

Filed under: Industry Trendsposted on November 14th, 2011

Millions of Coca-Cola cups circulating this month will sport QR codes for a program that supports the brand’s holiday mascot, the polar bear. The brand is partnering with the World Wildlife Fund for the initiative, which aims to help conserve the polar bear’s Arctic habitat.

Consumers who scan the codes, which appear on cups distributed by 7-Eleven, will download a Snowball Effect by Coca-Cola app for the iPhone and iPad platforms that turns into a Facebook-connected, snowball-throwing game. Those who generate the most points in the game will win prizes including iPads (80 total will be given out) and a trip to the Arctic for two. The program runs through March. The app also leads to a site where consumers can donate to the WWF’s cause.

Coca-Cola will match each $1 donation up to $1 million (it also donated an additional $2 million). The brand’s association with polar bears goes back to 1922, when Coke first used one in a French holiday ad. Though Coke has run other QR code programs in Japan and Germany, this is the first time the brand has executed one in the U.S., says Peter Callaro, group director of integrated marketing content at Coca-Cola. The company worked with Scanbuy, which ran a QR code program for Taco Bell in August. Mike Wehrs, president and CEO of Scanbuy, says creating readable codes on cups is a challenge.(via Mashable)

Sculpture by the Sea

Filed under: Funposted on November 13th, 2011

If you’ve not been already, be sure to get down to Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi/Tamarama. They’ve got some great artwork and even one piece that requires you to use your smartphone to get the full effect.

MassMedia Studios help Audi to drive innovation online with the launch of the next generation Audi A6.

Filed under: Announcements, Our Workposted on November 11th, 2011

July saw the official launch of the next generation Audi A6 in Australia, as Audi Australia’s principle digital partner, MassMedia Studios oversaw the online launch campaign for this premium executive sedan.

With ‘Driving Innovation’ – the central headline for the next generation Audi A6 campaign in mind, the online launch phase of the campaign kicked into gear with web banners and media page take overs. All media executions highlighted the new A6 features including lightweight construction, advanced technology and agile driving dynamics.

MassMedia then produced an engaging microsite that cleverly demonstrated the features of the innovative new Audi A6.  Visitors are able to interact with the six campaign pillars illustrating Style, Dynamism, Sophistication, Exhilaration, and Prestige and of course Innovation.  An additional technique of using unique scrolling on the microsite allowed the user to view images in a more dynamic and interactive way, that was a perfect visual metaphor for demonstrating the next generation Audi A6.

THE OUTPOST Project-Taking street art to the masses!

Filed under: Art & Creative, Fun, General Chatterposted on November 7th, 2011

The Sun was shining and culture was high on the agenda for a great day out on Sunday as I made my way out to the spectacular location of Cockatoo Island on Sydney harbour for the OUTPOST-Art from the streets exhibition. The Exhibition features some of Australia’s best street artists as well as some exhibits featuring the work of some big named overseas artists such as Banksy, Swoon and Faile.

I was lucky to have a personal guide in the name of one Mr Edwards a good friend and street art creator who is one of the contributing artists in the Pastemodernism exhibit located at the hub of the exhibition. The OUTPOST Project is well placed among the gritty industrial spaces of Cockatoo Island superimposing this explosion of dynamic urban art. The exhibition features the talent and raw energy of more than 150 artists, all willing to come on a journey with curators Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and aMBUSH Gallery, in a first for the Southern Hemisphere.

Renowned international and local artists such as ROA (Belgium), Ethos (Brazil), Kid Zoom (USA/Australia), Anthony Lister (USA/Australia) and the Everfresh Collective (Australia) illuminate the island with large-scale installations, (make sure you check out Anthony Lister’s large scale balloon heads and Kid Zoom’s Home). The Next by T World T shirt gallery is really entertaining showing a huge array of artists and designs from T shirt Culture. There are live art creations including aerosol art, stencilling, paste-ups, sticker art, cup rocking, sculpture, murals and billboards. A rocking bar is also set up throughout the day and into the early evening to help you unwind and take in a really awesome exhibition which runs from November 4^Th –December 11^th.

Whilst we were there a series of street art forums helped to explain various concepts and insights into behind global street art culture. The George Shaw’s Oi You! Collection includes important works by Os Gemeos, Swoon, Faile and the world’s best known and most influential Street Artist Banksy.  Vibrant live acts and a changing weekend events program offer a mix of grand experiences and unexpected happenings. Street sports also take centre stage in the vast waterfront skate park, setting the scene for a Skateboarding Australia’s Pro/Am Tour Grand Final.

An array of pop-up bars, retail and gallery spaces, artist battles, demos, DJ’s, tours and art-making projects cover the island and you should give yourself a good 4 or 5 hours to really experience the whole exhibition. Better still go out to the island on several trips as the River cat and some direct ferries leave Circular Quay pretty regularly. Don’t Miss it!