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Subaru has done the full range of ads recently, having an RC car racing against exploding sticks in a family-friendly viral video to this. Not that there’s anything terribly inappropriate in this ad, but it is highly suggestive with its title The Ride of Her Life and with its copious car action shots, is clearly targeted at the performance conscious car buyer.Source: AdWeek.com
Teenage superhero Max Steel is back to save Earth from the Ultralink Invasion, and now there’s a mobile app direct from N-Tek that lets his fans join the fight.
Partnering with Ayzenberg Group, Mattel has launched an interactive experience on MaxSteel.com/Invasion {links no longer active} to promote Season 2 of the popular animated series. With the Season 2 trailer on broadcast channels drawing traffic into the experience, a second customizable trailer powered by Google Maps allows users to choose a city near them to watch Max battle the Ultralinks on familiar turf. The action of Season 2 comes to life in the augmented reality Max Steel Ultralink Invasion app that anchors the interactive experience.
Downloadable for iOS and Android {links no longer active} from iTunes and Google Play for phone and tablet, the free new app uses the device’s camera and touchscreen to track, battle and capture Ultralinks in real-world environments wherever you are. With a Max Steel feature film moving into production for 2015, this franchise continues to “Go Turbo.”
Microsoft continued its push for original entertainment on its Xbox consoles this week by signing a new deal with UK broadcaster Channel 4 to produce a new series called Humans.
The drama has an eight-episode order, and will be produced by UK-based production company Kudos (who previously worked on Broadchurch). It is an adaptation of the Swedish series Real Humans (pictured above) and is currently being slated for a debut in North America and the UK in 2015.
The series, written by British writing team Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley, will focus on Synths, highly developed robotic servants who resemble human beings. One family shows interest in the technology, but soon finds that all is not what it seems, which leads to shocking results.
“Humans not only questions personal relationships, we loved how this sci-fi show toys with reality and our connection to technology,” said Xbox Entertainment Studio president Nancy Tellem. “This deal with Channel 4 and Kudos underscores Xbox Entertainment Studios’ commitment to programming premium TV series with global partners and creating engaging interactive experiences.”
Microsoft is also working with comedians Seth Green (creator of the Emmy-winning Robot Chicken) and Sarah Silverman on new shows, along with others. The football reality show Every Street United will deubt in June along with Humans. Microsoft has put together a team developing interactive features for all of the shows, hoping to increase engagement with consumers.
Source: Deadline
Adios, Google TV. Hello, Android TV.
The Verge has reported that Google is preparing to launch a new set-top box device called Android TV. The device will feature support from a number of video app providers, and will feature a much different format than users have come to expect on mobile devices.
“Android TV is an entertainment interface, not a computing platform,” wrote Google in an item obtained by The Verge “It’s all about finding and enjoying content with the least amount of friction.” The company expects the device to be “cinematic, fun, fluid and fast.”
The device will support voice input and notifications, similar to Amazon’s recently launched Fire TV, and will feature a home screen that easily collects together any apps and games for easy selection. Games will apparently be an important part of the offering, though.
Google has not officially commented on the device itself, with no given price point or release date, but more information is likely to be available soon.
Source: The Verge
Sharing Titanfall clips can be a pain for some folks with the Xbox One’s interface. However, Microsoft is about to make things a lot easier.
A new YouTube app will launch on the Xbox One interface tomorrow, and will allow gamers to upload recorded gameplay clips directly through their YouTube accounts.
Previously, users could only share videos through Microsoft’s OneDrive account or streaming sessions via Twitch. With this added feature, however, players will now have a new way to share their social moments with the console — a feature that will finally put it head-to-head with the PlayStation 4’s “share” capabilities.
The app will also allow split-screen set-up via the Snap Mode feature, as well as adding YouTube channels to the OneGuide service through the console. And it’ll also be free of charge, only requiring a YouTube sign-up if players don’t have an account already.
Source: VentureBeat
Global advertising continues to be on the rise, according to a new forecast from Zenith Optimedia, a division of ad company Publicis.
The company reports that global ad spending has seen an increase of 5.5 percent for this year thus far, up to $537 billion. In particular, Internet advertising plays a huge part in that, measuring up to nearly one-quarter with $121 billion.
Zenith also believes that by 2015, Internet display will overtake paid search through such sites as Google and Bing, with $74.4 billion against $71.1 billion.
Search continues to be highly popular at this point, as $55.7 billion is projected to be spend through search ads, compared to $51.8 billion being set aside for display. Classified ads are also showing small but sufficient growth, with an estimate of $13.5 billion, and a six percent growth expected through 2016.
Source: TechCrunch
Image: Heavy
At one point, Microsoft balked at the idea of backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One, instead looking to focus on the future. However, with the introduction of Sony’s PlayStation Now program for the PlayStation 4, it could be changing its tune.
Principal lead developer Frank Savage spoke at Microsoft’s Built conference last week, and when asked about support for older gamers on the device, he stated that, in regards to places, they are in place, “but we’re not done thinking them through yet, unfortunately.” Compatibility could be achieved through software emulation, or by streaming games through Azure cloud servers.
There are some loopholes to get around when it comes to emulation, mainly dealing with the Xbox One’s x86 processing architecture, which is a far cry from the Xbox 360’s PowerPC-based hardware. It could be done, however, and such a feature would allow Microsoft to take on the PlayStation Now service over on the PS4.
There’s no word on when the program could take place, but Microsoft could announce official plans as soon as the Electronic Entertainment Expo, which takes place in June.
Source: Digital Trends
Microsoft is looking to draw in a new audience with its Surface Pro 2 tablet – geeks.
The company recently announced a new “Geek” bundle that includes the high-tech tablet, along with an Xbox 360 for Windows controller and two downloadable games, War Thunder Mustang Advanced Pack and Farming Simulator 2013. The bundle will sell for $899, exclusively through Microsoft’s retail locations.
Microsoft has stated that the offer is currently running now, and will continue through May 1, or until supplies run out, whichever happens first. The offer is available through both U.S. and Canada Microsoft locations.
Source: BGR
