My Five: Five things worth sharing from the last week (or so), brought to you by a different member of the Browser Media team every Friday.
This week’s My Five is by Tom.
1. Football will save the earth
Heroes of the world, unite. Only thirteen men stand in the way of the Apocalypse. The fate of the human race is in their hands. At least, according to Samsung in this bizarre – but kind of awesome – sci-fi advert. I’m not 100% sure what it is they’re advertising, but it’s a cool video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC-zB2aSXXM
2. Facebook loves adverts, hate usability
The nice people at Facebook know the true meaning of Christmas. They want you to get off your phone and go spend time with your family. To help you do this, the social network has helpfully begun rolling out video adverts that automatically play in your News Feed. With the apparent ambition to drive as many people as possible away from their service, Facebook are doing a fantastic job of uniting families over the festive period knowing full well there isn’t a single person on Earth who wants to be forced to watch adverts.
3. Apple’s Christmas ad
As it is the year of Christmas adverts, technology juggernauts Apple would be amiss not to add their own stamp to the bunch. What results is a lovely little film that speaks to the relationship between family and technology today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImlmVqH_5HM
4. A heartwarming Christmas story
When marketing director Lauren Vranch tweeted about a stuffed lion she’d found on the train, I doubt she expected it to turn into a global campaign to reunite the cuddly toy with his owner. From King’s Cross in London to Newcastle and back, Lauren tweeted photos of the teddy’s adventure with the hashtag #lostbear. Soon other social networks were joining in, spreading word of the toy to try and find the owner. Not long after, someone spotted a post and recognised it as his daughter’s cuddly lion, Roar. A quick trip to London later, Phoebe and Roar were reunited – just in time for Christmas.
https://twitter.com/laurenannbishop/status/411812280343347200
WELL DONE, INTERNET!!! WELL DONE @laurenannbishop!!! The Kings Cross Teddy’s family has been found!! pic.twitter.com/iSqv7x0n2O
— Lost Teddy Bear (@lostteddybear) December 15, 2013
5. Farewell, 2013
With 2013 coming to an end, Google has once again delivered the round-up of the year’s hottest searches with the Google Zeitgeist. Complete with a goosebump-raising video that will make you feel good about the world, the trends are a great way to look back on the year.
That wraps it up from me here at Browser Media, as I head off into the wilds of Australia after Christmas. It’s been an absolute pleasure and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my posts as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them.
Toodle-oo mate and Merry Christmas!
