The Apple iCup. I Would Buy This In A Heartbeat.

Designer, illustrator and 3D Artist, Tomislav Zvonaric (aka DevianTom) of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada has conceived an homage to the Apple brand by designing the Apple iCup.

Poetic TV Ads For Visa and Apple Borrow From Dead Legends.

Two new spots, both of whom quote deceased legends in their copy - Visa quoting Amelia Earhart and Apple double quoting (from the movie "Dead Poet's Society" in which there is a quote from Walt Whitman) - have recently broken on American television. Beautiful and inspiring cinematography accompany the goose-bump inducing copy in both spots.

Visa Olympics "Flying"
This lovely and inspiring spot is the first major work from BBDO since the agency, which lost Visa as a client in 2005, won back the lead creative duties from TBWA Chiat/Day in September, 2012.

The commercial celebrates Sarah Hendrickson and the Olympic debut of Women's Ski Jumping with the words of a great woman who loved to fly.



The social media segment will use the hashtag #everywhere; a sample post for the Visa Facebook page, referring to the Hendrickson spot, reads: "That's her #everywhere. Imagine yours." They further encourage you to "Get inspired with more athlete content at visa.tumblr.com."

Apple, iPad Air "Your Verse"
With a voiceover by Robin Williams taken directly from the movie "Dead Poet's Society", this one and a half minute spot from TBWA\Media Arts Lab combines the features and use of the iPad with stunning imagery and ends with "The powerful play goes on, but you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?" asks the campaign.



They then encourage you to share your own "verse" at http://www.apple.com/your-verse/

Anki DRIVE. Hot Wheels With A Brain Take Gaming To A Whole New Level.

Anki DRIVE is a racing game like no other. It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics to take the best of video games and combine it with the best of physical games. It's a video game in the real world. It's real. It's tangible. You hold the cars in your hand, and the track rolls out on your living room floor.



The company was founded in 2010 by Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute graduates who sought to create new consumer experiences using technology that was once confined to robotics labs and research institutes. Its first product, Anki DRIVE, is now on sale in the United States and Canada.

Anki DRIVE was first introduced to the public in June at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), seen in the video below:


Named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2013 and featured on Fast Company, HuffPo, Mashable and Barron's, it's been heralded as a literal game-changer.



Anki DRIVE uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver the first video game in the real world. Each car has been engineered to think: It knows where it is, makes decisions, and drives itself. Using your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or iPad mini you can take control of a car to play against friends or AI cars. But watch your back. Anki DRIVE AI cars have been designed to take you out.


above: the $199.99 starter kit comes with the two cars shown above

To experience Anki DRIVE each player must have an iPhone 4S or later, iPod touch (5th generation) or later, iPad 3 or later, or iPad mini or later.


above: Anki DRIVE can be controlled with the iPhone, iPad, iPhone Touch and iPad Mini

With slight aesthetic and technological changes since last June, you can now play Anki DRIVE against your friends, or against an AI-enabled opponent. The more you race, the more points you earn, which you redeem to upgrade your cars' weapons and capabilities. Each one starts with unique skills. Your upgrade choices further customize the car to make it your own.



Highlights:
• You can play Anki DRIVE against your friends, or against an AI–enabled opponent.
• The AI cars own the road; they know your every move—and the more you drive, the more they evolve.
• Similar to a video game, your character evolves over time. The more you race, the more points you earn, which you redeem to upgrade your cars' weapons and capabilities.
• Up to four vehicles can play at once; you and friends use iOS devices to control one to four of the cars. AI controls any cars you don't control.
• Anki DRIVE includes a physical track that rolls out to 3.5 by 8.5 feet and is intended for use indoors.
• You can place the track on any flat surface, though flooring or a low-pile carpet works best.
• Anki DRIVE is suitable for all ages capable of navigating an iOS device.

WHAT'S INSIDE THE STARTER KIT:



• 2 Intelligent Cars + Charging Cases
• 3.5’ x 8.5’ Race Mat
• Fast Charger

To take control of a car, download the free Anki DRIVE app with one of the following:
• iPhone® 4s or newer
• iPod touch® 5th generation or newer
• iPad® 3 or newer
• iPad mini

$199.99, buy it here

Learn more about Anki technology at www.anki.com and stay tuned for more Anki DRIVE™ updates by liking them on Facebook  and following them on Twitter (@anki).

To get the free iPhone app and take a closer look at Anki DRIVE™, go to: www.appstore.com/ankidrive

Hercules XIII - Classic Meets Cool In Scott Eaton's New Universal Tablet Stand

I thought it would be impossible for Scott Eaton to outdo the cleverness and aesthetic appeal of his Venus of Cupertino iPad docking station, but I was wrong. Behold, his new Hercules tablet holder/stand, a great counterpart to his functional female sculpture.



While Venus is an actual charging station for the iPad ($239.57), Hercules XIII  ($159.71) is designed as to be the perfect height and angle to browse all your media on your iPad, iPad Mini, Samsung, Google or Amazon tablets.  Available in matte white or glossy grey, the resin cast sculpture of the mythological son of Zeus cradles your tablets in a heroic pose that works in vertical (portrait) or horizontal (landscape) formats.






Each Hercules is hand-cast in museum-quality resin and costs $159.71 USD, but they have a pre-order special going on for 20% off.

EDITION: open
SHIPPING: worldwide
ARTIST/DESIGNER: Scott Eaton
PRE-ORDER estimated shipping in 8-10 weeks.

A shout out to my friend Bill Bowersock for bringing this to my attention!

iPad Foosball. New Potato Tech Scores With This Fun Dock and App.

Classic foosball has been brought into the future with New Potato Tech's Classic Match Foosball for iPad accessory. Powered by the iPad, iPad 2 or iPad 3rd generation, you can work your pull, snake, bank and bread and butter shots, fake out your opponent and deliver the ball into the goal with a resounding "thunk", all on a table top foosball dock for your iPad. Just like real tournament tables, Classic Match Foosball brings the complete foosball experience to your iPad.



Complete with eight functional 2-axis control bars and real scoring markers at each end, this app enabled accessory immerses you in game play as good as a tournament grade table, allowing the most expert player to show off their well-oiled skills.

screen shots:






Gameplay features all the elements you can think of in a complete simulation, but unlike simple software-only foosball emulation apps, this accessory brings the real deal to your iPad with advanced peripheral-to-game dynamics for an incredible experience.



Just plug in your iPad, fire up the free Classic Match Foosball app, and start playing. All 8 of the 2-axis control bars will move your virtual players around the table, so up to four people can join in! And this ingenious dock even comes with little scoring markers at both ends.





The Lowdown
• Play classic foosball (table football) on your iPad
• 8 working 2-axis control bars with tactile elastomer handles
• Real scoring markers at each end of the table
• Removable legs for easy portability or storage
• 3D instant replay of every goal to recap the action
• Includes multiple Playfields and alternative foosman and layouts
• One, two, three, or four person play
• USB connector to charge and sync iPad while docked
• Classic Match Foosball application downloaded (FREE) from the iTunes App Store
• Powered by Apple 30 Pin Dock Connector

Gameplay Features
• Dazzlingly real foosball experience
• Classic foosball play fields and layouts
• Realistic game and crowd sounds
• Tournament Foosball rules
• Multiple layouts and play fields
• Customise your table and team colors and sponsors
• Unparalleled play and feel for iPad

Accessory Features
• Realistic foosball game table for your iPad
• Foos buttons on both sides to launch the ball into real play

System Requirements
• iPad, iPad 2nd Gen, iPad 3rd Gen running iOS 5.0 (or higher)



$99 USD, Buy Classic Match Foosball for the iPad here

The Steve Jobs Collectible Action Figure Is Back! Get Yours Before Apple Shuts Them Down (Again).

above image composited by If It's Hip, It's Here

Remember that amazingly detailed and articulated doll in the likeness of Steve Jobs by Legend Toys of Japan? The one that got a lot of buzz and then the production was quickly shut down? Well, they are back - at least in my inbox. I received an email today that the dolls are now available to order.



above image composited by If It's Hip, It's Here



The 12" doll was sculpted by Takao Kato, whose work includes 1:16 scale and 1:4 scale figures for the otaku market.


above image composited by If It's Hip, It's Here

The background (taken from their own site, hence the clunky translation):

On the anniversary of Steve Jobs death. People around the world are remembering him because they were fascinated and moved by his passion and creativity. This also became the idea of ​​making this figure. Our wholehearted design team with astounding technique make this life like high quality 12 inch collectible figure possible. Even his clothing has been reproduced so detailed!! The set also comes with a leather sofa and his beloved "Apple"!!

※iPhoneとiPadとほかのアップルの製品等は含まないでございます。

※実際の製品は仕様が異なる場合がございます。

※iPhone, iPad and other Apple products are NOT included.

※Prototype shown, final product appearance and colours may vary.

On concerns that Apple will force the company to pull the item, Yuichi Kimura of Legend Toys would only say: “We do not have any permission from anyone and we don’t think it is necessary to obtain permission from anyone.”

The wax statue of Steve Jobs at Madame Tussaud's and the doll:


Steve Jobs Collectible Action Figure is a tribute to the Visionary, Great Inventor and Genius.
 
Specs: 1/6 Scale Painted with Clothing
Accessories:
1. Glasses
2. Three pairs of hands
3. Sofa
4. apple
Price: US$149.99 (without shipping) $199 (with shipping)
Release Date: End of Mar. 2013

Order yours now here before they shut them down again.

The Top 100 Global Brands of 2012. Who's Moving Up, Who's Dominating and Who's Declining.

Best Global Brands 2012
INTERBRAND RELEASES 13TH ANNUAL BEST GLOBAL BRANDS REPORT

Coca-Cola retains the #1 spot — Apple jumps to #2; Facebook enters Top 100 as Google overtakes Microsoft

NEW YORK, New York, October 2, 2012

Coca-Cola, Apple and IBM lead Interbrand’s 13th annual Best Global Brands report. While Coca-Cola retained its #1 position, Apple jumped to #2 with stellar sales in both developed and emerging markets over the last year. Social media giant, Facebook (#69), enters the report after making headlines as the third largest IPO in US history, and Google (#4) experienced a 26% increase in brand value over the last year, exceeding rival Microsoft’s (#5) brand value for the first time in the history of Interbrand’s report.

Interbrand, the world’s leading brand consultancy, publishes its Best Global Brands report of the world’s 100 most valuable brands on an annual basis. Interbrand’s methodology - the first of its kind to be ISO certified – analyzes the many ways a brand touches and benefits an organization, from driving bottom-line business results to delivering on customer expectations.

To develop its report, Interbrand examines the three key aspects that contribute to a brand’s value:

• The financial performance of the branded products or service
• The role the brand plays in influencing consumer choice
• The strength the brand has to command a premium price, or secure earnings for the company

2012 OVERVIEW: Delivering Meaningful Brand Experiences Across All Touchpoint

Against the backdrop of continued global economic uncertainty, this year’s top 100 brands excelled in securing their market position and delivering more personal and enriching experiences to consumers -- across geographies and platforms.

“As global competition increases and many competitive advantages, like technology, become more short-lived, a brand’s contribution to shareholder value will only increase,” noted Jez Frampton, Interbrand’s Global Chief Executive Officer. “The world’s 100 most valuable brands are leading the way by listening to consumers, employees, and investors alike and delivering a seamless and holistic brand experience across an ever-evolving range of touchpoints.

In a fast-moving world where consumers’ offline and online brand experiences constantly intertwine, the leading brands are staying actively engaged, tapping into the inexorable rise of data and information in order to drive innovation across all industries. They are spending the time and money required to understand the role their brand plays in consumers’ lives – and they are strategically weaving their brand proposition into every interaction.

2012 NEW ENTRANTS: Pampers, Facebook, Prada, Kia, Ralph Lauren, MasterCard

Pampers (#34): Pampers, the top-selling diaper brand in the US and P&G’s number one selling brand in the world, earned the highest ranking position among this year’s new entrants. Pampers has effectively used social media platforms and loyalty programs to connect to its consumer base. Such efforts (and increased financial transparency on P&G’s part) have earned Pampers a high-ranking spot in this year’s Best Global Brands report.

Facebook (#69): Facebook’s IPO in May enabled Interbrand to examine the social media behemoth’s financials for the first time. Despite its rocky start as a publicly listed stock and lingering uncertainty about its business model, Facebook’s growth as a brand, especially in developing markets, earns it a position in this year’s report.

Prada (#84): Prada returns to the Best Global Brands report this year. The brand’s continued growth in revenue is fueled largely by 250+ DOS (Directly Operated Stores) worldwide – a network that has expanded by keeping a careful eye on increasingly sophisticated customers in developing markets.

Kia (#87): For the past few years, Kia has been one of the fastest-growing global automotive brands. In the US, Kia’s market share has grown for 17 consecutive years and its sales numbers continue to rise, even in the troubled European marketplace.

Ralph Lauren (#91): Making its first appearance in the top 100 since 2009, Ralph Lauren’s notable brand growth in the past year can be attributed to highly innovative communication patterns and consistency across all touchpoints and formats

MasterCard (#94): MasterCard makes its debut in the 2012 Best Global Brands report after an impressive year. The company’s launch of its “Priceless Cities” campaign and a growing suite of solutions for business owners are steadily increasing consumer satisfaction – and contributing to its rise in brand value

2012 TOP RISING BRANDS: Apple, Amazon, Samsung, Nissan, Oracle

Apple (+129%): Despite Steve Jobs’ passing, consumers’ emotional connection to the Apple brand remains stronger than ever - this was made clear just recently with the launch of iPhone 5. Even in the face of increasing competition from rivals Google and Samsung, the company continues to demonstrate its commitment to protecting the Apple brand and its intellectual property. Such commitment enabled Apple to post quarterly revenue of USD $35 billion and quarterly net profit of $8.8 billion in July.

Amazon (+46%): Amazon has introduced the Kindle Touch and Kindle Fire in 175 countries, stretching the Kindle beyond its e-reader origins and turning it into a serious rival to the iPad. The Kindle Fire now enjoys the world’s second-largest tablet market share.

Samsung (+40%): Samsung became the global leader for smartphone shipments in 2011 ahead of Apple and Nokia. Samsung also generated a great deal of online buzz by integrating its Galaxy SIII and Note into the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Despite its legal battle with Apple, Samsung’s global market share is 32.6% and its brand value increased by a meteoric 40% in the past year.

Nissan (+30%): Nissan recovered quickly from last year’s natural disasters in Japan and grew its market share by pushing the envelope on innovation and by creating bold vehicle designs like that of the Nissan Juke. Nissan’s ability to overcome challenges and continually innovate caught the attention of consumers and helped increase its brand value by 30%.

Oracle (+28%): Oracle has been branching out beyond database solutions in order to stay ahead of competitors. The company continues to make strategic acquisitions and grow its capabilities and offerings, especially in cloud computing. Oracle’s 28% increase in brand value this year proves that such strategies have impressed customers and investors alike.

TECHNOLOGY BRANDS CONTINUE TO DOMINATE
Technology brands continued their strong push of recent years, with four of the five top risers hailing from the sector (Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and Oracle). In addition, five of this year’s Top 10 brands come from within the technology sector (Apple, Google, Microsoft, Intel, and Samsung). Apple, in particular, experienced record growth in brand value. While there is no question that products like the iPad and iPhone 5 are attractive to consumers around the world, Apple‘s values and unmistakable human touch are what set it apart from competitors in the end.

AUTOMOTIVE BRANDS MOVE BEYOND RECOVERY
Automotive brands are becoming more attuned to the emotional connection consumers have with their cars. This has caused many automakers to develop more effective, technologically savvy ways to reach target markets and help prospective buyers better relate to car brands.

Audi’s (#55) digital showroom, Audi City, is revolutionizing the future of retailing by combining digital product presentations and personal contact with dealers. Similarly, Ford (#45) is working hard to improve MyTouch, its in-car communications and entertainment system. Brands like BMW (#12) and Hyundai (#53) are investing in global brand campaigns and are becoming more digitally connected and tailored to narrower target groups.

For the most part, the entire industry appears to be focused on engaging customers and prospects in a more relevant and personalized manner throughout the entire purchase cycle.

LUXURY BRANDS PROVE RESILIENT
Despite the current economic landscape, all of the luxury brands in this year’s report increased their brand value. As the meaning of luxury shifts, this year’s top luxury brands reflect a changing global consciousness – with success dependent not only upon a portfolio of superior products and superb quality of service, but also a strong cohesive brand, a formidable digital presence, and reputation that is timeless, elevated, and refined.

The 2012 Best Global Brand report includes seven luxury brands: Louis Vuitton (#17), Gucci (#38), Hermès (#63), Cartier (#68), Tiffany & Co. (#70), Burberry (#82), and Prada (#84).

FMCG/CPG (FAST MOVING CONSUMER GOODS/CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS) BRANDS INCREASE IN BRAND VALUE AND EXPAND PRODUCT OFFERINGS
The rise in value of several FMCG/CPG brands -- Kellogg’s (#29), L’Oréal (#42), Heinz (#46), Colgate (#47), Danone (#52), Nestlé (#57), and Johnson & Johnson (#79) -- reflect successful growth, especially in the developing markets. Another growing trend observed this year was the increasing number of FMCG brands expanding into the healthcare space. Avon (#71) and Kleenex (#80) were the only two brands to lose brand value (-4% and -7% respectively).

FINANCIAL SERVICES
Financial services brands are continuing to feel the impact of 2008’s global economic downturn. Recent events, such as the notorious Libor scandal, have tarnished the reputation of leading brands like Credit Suisse - it declined 5% in brand value and ranked #95. There is reason to be optimistic about the future of this sector, however: Five of the 12 financial services brands in this year’s report increased in brand value, including American Express (#24), Morgan Stanley (#54), AXA (#58), Allianz (#62), and Visa (#74). 

MasterCard (#94) was a new entrant to this year’s report, an indication that its “Priceless” campaign continues to succeed in building a stronger connection between the brand and its growing customer base.

Interbrand’s 2012 Best Global Brands report, including detailed sector analyses, is available in full on interbrand.com and bestglobalbrands.com. The Best Global Brands website also includes in-depth CMO interviews and interactive charts & graphs.
Interbrand’s 2012 Best Global Brands



About Interbrand
Founded in 1974, Interbrand is one of the world’s largest branding consultancies. With nearly 40 offices in 27 countries, Interbrand’s combination of rigorous strategy, analytics, and world-class design enables it to assist clients in creating and managing brand value effectively, across all touchpoints, in all market dynamics. Interbrand is widely recognized for its annual Best Global Brands report, the definitive guide to the world’s most valuable brands, as well as its Best Global Green Brands report, which identifies the gap between customer perception and a brand’s performance relative to sustainability. It is also known for having created brandchannel.com, a Webby-award winning resource for brand marketing and branding. For more information on Interbrand, visit interbrand.com.

Fabulous Fendi iPad Cases Combine Luxury and Accessibility in Tapestry, Fur and Leather.

above: one of Fendi's new luxury tapestry iPad cases

Tufted and textured leathers, tapestry, furs and skins in hard frames with handles were carried down the Milan runway in Fendi's 2012/13 Autumn Winter collection.


above image composite by laura sweet for if it's hip, it's here

At first glance they appeared as handbags, but the fabulous accessories are actually new iPad cases from the Italian brand that blend convenience with style and luxury.

Fur:



Leather:



Skin:

Tapestry:





Fendi