Keeping up with ad news

Last week I talked about my expectations that you'll be independently keeping up on news related to our industry. To support that, at the beginning of each session I'll open the floor and ask people to share what's happened over the past week in the advertising world and beyond.

Below you'll find examples of the type of things I'd like to discuss. Trust me, it's not nearly as time consuming as it seems to stay up date. And further to that, understand that this is actually part of your job. This isn't an assignment - it's a habit that successful professionals maintain.

All three stories below came in through my Twitter feed via Twitterfox (a Firefox plug-in). I didn't spend hours scouring different blogs for tidbits of information. Each one of these stories came to me.

Real time ads coming to Google?  Imagine this: You’re strolling virtually through Google Street View, when suddenly you notice an animated ad on one of the billboards beside the street. “Buy product X,” it beckons you, replacing the obsolete ad that was originally on the billboard when the Google Street View car took the picture. (Via @mashable)

Day Breakers Installation: The property at 224 Queen Street West, at the corner of Queen and McCaul, appears at first glance to be an ordinary neighbourhood coffee shop. That is, until you look closer. Inside, the glass fridges are filled with bags of fake blood, newspapers blaring “China to stop all blood exports” headlines line the windowsill, and the drink list looks like a vampire’s favourite meal. Stepping back, there’s a sign reading “Capture Humans” with Uncle Sam pointing at the passing pedestrians. And above that, a gigantic billboard advertising the new vampire thriller, Daybreakers. This isn’t a coffee shop at all: it’s one giant promotion.  (Via @torontoist)

Superbowl ad rates drop largest ever: This year, Super Bowl commercials are a bargain compared to previous years. Advertisers will be able to run an in-game spot for a mere $2.5 million, while the average cost last year was $3 million. This is a 16.7 percent price drop, the largest percentage decrease in Super Bowl history. As previously noted, Pepsi, Fed Ex, and General Motors have announced they'll be sitting on the sidelines during the Feb. 7 contest.  (Via @beyondmadave)