Privacy - the new battleground?

Today sees the official launch of Microsoft's IE 8. What's new? Its InPrivate browsing allows users to select an option where they can limit how much information and data is stored about their online browsing habits. This exceeds what is possible with Firefox or Safari. Rumour is they are planning a counter move. Watch out.

So what's the big deal? Well Google makes its money from knowing what we do, read and interact with online. Will they like this move? Not likely. Keep a track of what emerges here, here or here.

A few interesting bits and bobs

First of all did anyone pick up on the fact that Facebook launched Connect? It enables you to connect your Facebook identity, friends and privacy to any other website. Besides using your FB log-in details on 3rd party sites you will be able to see which of your friends are also using those sites. Worrying, empowering?... you decide. Check it out here.

Seems like bands' are making some of the boldest steps in digital marketing today. Hot of the heels of their last single release that enabled user generated edits and mash-ups, Radiohead's House of Cards release goes further still. Ben noticed this.

Their new music video House of Cards, was shot without using cameras rather it was captured with 3D laser scanners.

The really clever part, the source code is released over Google Docs where users can download the data generate their own visualizations via processing and upload them onto the House of Cards Youtube group. Check this also.

Suggest you have a look at the Chemical Brothers initiative for their Brotherhood album here.

They invited fans to upload a film clip or photo related to a favourite CB track and upload to Google Maps and tag their location. The best videos will feature on a Google Earth channel from on September 1st, as well as on the Chemical Brothers Youtube channel. It closes on the 25th of this month.

Thanks to Ben and Ronit for tracking these.

Some event news. There is an interesting Mash-Up event in September on the future of mobile, about iphone and Google's Android. Check it out here.

Finally, not sure if you've seen this from Nike. Their multi-layered campaign for the 20th year of "Just Do It",  Beijing 2008 and this months Human Race, is termed Courage.

E-Paper - the future of magazine covers?

Esquire is turning 75 this year. As part of the celebration of this milestone, the October issue will be the first magazine ever to embed a revolutionary digital technology - electronic paper - into a mass-produced print product.

In partnership with Ford and eInk Corporation, Esquire's groundbreaking cover will make a profound statement about how the print medium can expand its capabilities while continuing to exploit its own unique strengths. Ford will prominently feature in a double-page advertisement on the inside cover, which is offsetting the cost of the magazine cover price.

"This cover is both a breakthrough for magazines and an expression of the theme of our anniversary issue," said David Granger, editor-in-chief, Esquire. "We’ve spent 16 months making this happen as one of the ways we're demonstrating that the 21st century begins this fall. The entire issue is devoted to exploring the ideas, people and issues that will be the foundation of the 21st century."

When the cover appears on newsstands in September, words and images will scroll across the flexible electronic paper display.

Imagine the impact of this on the ad business. Dynamic print ads with scrolling images and copy.  Who said print was dead?