Ad-funded spaces

From the press release: The Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment intends to offer space at the Msida Skate Park to any company or individual who wishes to undertake advertising ventures and/or organisation of events in the mentioned park. Any queries can be made on 22952222 or info.mrae@gov.mt....Cool!

BLABnet is here!

Yet again we're embraccing all web2.0 has to offer and hence we're launching the official BLAB! social network, BLABnet. BLABnet aims to be a network of people working in the media, both freelance and on a full-time basis. Whether you work in an established media agency or have just started your own creative initiative, simply join the crowd and blab about it.

BLABnet will officially launch next month but you may join immediately. In the meantime spread the word.

User-Generated PRODUCTS

The web is a mega-useful tool 'cause user is king (or in this case queen). If 2007 was the year of user-generated content then the next should be the year of user-generated products such as these funky bags designed by local artist and friend Denise Scicluna. The products are designed in Malta, produced in Australia and shipped to anywhere in the world through Denise's etsy store.

So if in 2008 I get to hear artists grumbling about not being given the space they deserve...I will have to make them read the above case study! Just do it!

Too much to digest on the local web

This week a number of local websites have been redesigned completely.

#1: www.xfmmalta.com

BLAB! had predicted this would be the first local website to get a 'face lift'. The new full screen XFM website is all nice and flashy. Layout was designed by the girls at Lab1977 who also designed the Virtual Model micro site. New features include movie trailers and podcasts.

#2: www.maltarightnow.com

maltarightnow.com was also given a new look today. New features include an appropriate Maltese font and an English version of all the pages. Media.link has also redesigned both Radio101 and NetTv websites. A highlight is the launch of another website dedicated to 'In-Nazzjon' and 'Il-Mument' newspapers. The interesting thing about the latter is that it is not another news portal but a soft copy of the actual newspaper layout viewed using macromedia flash player.

I can BLAB extensively about all these new spaces in the online web yet I'd really like to get to know what my loyal readers and friends think about all this. Only then I will add BLAB's initial thoughts.

Sharapova and Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson, announced this week that it has signed an exclusive four year sponsorship agreement with famous Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova will feature in a series of new consumer brand campaigns targeted at Sony Ericsson's core audiences. She will also be working with Sony Ericsson's design team on a range of products and accessories, the company said.

read more.

traditional media going online all the time

XFMmalta.com will soon be getting a new look and feel. We promise to review it as soon as it happens. In the mean time, timesofmalta.com has just launched a music section were local music is reviewed. The section also includes 30 second demos of each song!

Blabbing about the world's thinnest note book: Mac Book Air

It is definitely not the best laptop around, it even lacks an optical drive, but it is a cool thin gadget many of us want to carry around...like anything else Apple did lately.

Mac Book Air embraces Wi-fi and aims to cross-sell all of the other Mac Book services / products (Wireless DVD rental, Itunes, Time Capsule, etc.) The touch pad also embraces the iPhone's touch screen features.

Is it simply a fad?
No...It's Apple!

More about all the highlights of MacWorld Expo

The new Fiat 500

Above is my first snap shot of the new Fiat 500 at the B'Kara showroom. The obvious question would be ...how much does it cost? The local Fiat website still does not feature the new model which is a pity, especially considering the hype of its launch during the past week.

BLAB! for good

This month we have added the hunger site banners to this space. Simply click and sponsors donate free food to those in need. Feel free to suggest ways and means of how we can all BLAB! for good.

30 is 3,000

Lately, it's all about numbers. There was the Fiat 500 (of which I'll be posting my first snap shot very soon), the 'win 50,000' Coca-Cola campaign, Farson's 'win 2008' campaign and now Bay's '30 is 3000'.

'30 is 3000' is the first Bay Radio competition for 2008. The competition is sponsored by IdeaCasa which is also involved in the Coca-Cola campaign. In both competitions IdeaCasa is promoting its 3,000 sqr. metres showroom.

'It starts with screams but must never end in silence'

You may have seen this face on one of the bus-stops locally and kept on driving. Now you can simply move to the campaign's dedicated website, learn more and blab about it as we're doing.

From the website: Statistics show that 12 % to 15 % of women in Europe face violence in the home every day.
The Council of Europe (COE) – Europe’s leading human rights organisation - has decided it is time it stopped. It has launched a campaign in its member countries to criminalise domestic violence, ensure support for victims and foster new attitudes so that violence against women in the home will no longer be tolerated. Everyone has a role to play. This site shows what is being done and where to combat violence against women - You are also concerned.

Related links:
Photo Exhibition
Media - TV SPOT; - Video on Demand

Radio goes online again!

The XFM Virtual Model Competition is back this year together with Nestle Fitness. I've just spotted this on the radio's website which some say will also be the first to get a facelift this year. XFM has also invested in another online space, solely dedicated to the Virtual Model competition: www.xfmvirtualmodel.com. Sponsors include Pink Magazine and Hot Couture which also sponsored the competition last year. New sponsors include RyanAir and San Gorg Corinthia Hotel. Ironically, Apple Ipod is not sponsoring the event. A minor suggestion which BLAB would put forward is the use of the very well designed Kiwilicious.com which was launched to promote the competition last year.

The Times Picture Annual

If a picture is worth a 1000 words...than how much is a publication full of the best press pictures of the year worth?! I was lucky enough to get The Times Picture Annual 2006 as a late Christmas gift at the beginning of this year. The good news is that the 2007 edition has also been published and the two editions can be bought as one package. The following links may come useful...



..to get your hands on the real thing (buy online)
..to get a quick preview

Think Green & Earth friendly brands this 2008

Carmel Cacopardo's review of BOV's CSR report covering 2007 confirms that the greening of brands will be on the agenda during this year. Apart from BOV's eco-friendly measures in the design and operation of its Santa Venera centre, its efforts to implement the paper-less office policy and the energy efficient initiatives taken in its Marsascala branch, a number of local companies are already showing hints of green in their operations.

Some of these initiatives include:

#1: Vodafone (Malta)
In last year's trade fair and at the end of 2007, Vodafone promoted the recycling of handset devices. The latest promotion offers discounts on new phone devices when the customers return their old device for recycling. read more>>


#2: Exit and Earth Garden

In 2007 Exit Events returned with a new concept, Earth Garden. The event promotes an Eco-friendly attitude, being in touch with nature and bringing about positive change. The event follows international initiatives such as Al Gore's massive Live Earth festival and MTV Switch.

#3: Print
A number of established publications have been actively thinking Green. Yellow Pages (Malta) has been recycling old issues of its annual publication and enjoys the full support of the Ministry for the Environment in its initiative. The Bargain Magazine has pledged its support to 34U, whilst both The Sunday Circle and The Malta Economic Update have tackled Green topics in the recent past. Tune-In has also given its full support to the 2007 Earth Garden events.

The above is definitely not an exhaustive list. One could also mention GO's recycling initiative and HSBC's continuous support to the 34U campaign. Feel free to add more to the above list of green initiatives and earth friendly brands!

More about thinking green at this link.

Next Wednesday: Fiat 500 Malta Launch

I've never been a football fan myself but really wouldn't mind being at the Juventus-Valletta match next Wednesday...just for the sake of the new fiat500.

Also, for those of you who enjoy browsing check out the Fiat500 official website which has been online for quite a while and embraces web 2.0 very well. You may also watch some good Fiat promos.

Project GameOver and TETRIS humaine!

This video is #2 on The Viral Video Chart. Worth much more than just a blab. Enjoy!

Just for the very geeky ones: Periodic Table of the Internet

Need we say more? Simply follow the table column-wise and use the key at the bottom to understand more! You may also purchase the poster at this link.

Original Source: http://www.wellingtongrey.net

Even clubbers do research!

I got this in my email today: Fresh Music Agency is compiling a survey to research what clubbers' expectations for 2008. From the website:

"Our aim for 2008 is to improve our events to reach higher standards and a broader audience, for us to do so we need your feedback. The Masterclass Sessions have constantly changed and updated their format throughout the years and for 2008 we are planning even bigger and better changes."

I am particularly surprised and happy that even the local clubbing community is fond of research.

Farsons Promotion 2008

It seems there's more to drink in 2008. Just 3 days from the beginning of this brand new year and the two major players in the soft drinks market have already launched their campaigns.

Farsons' campaign is straightforward: Customers simply have to send any 4 labels of Kinnie, 7Up, Pepsi or Miranda 1.5ltr / 2.0ltr bottles. Farsons will be giving away 2008 Euros every week until the end of February (8 draws in all)

First Coca-Cola Campaigns for 2008

Kicking off a brand new year, which will also bring on the market the new packaging for products like Coca-Cola, General Soft drinks has just launched 2 new campaigns. The campaigns follow the usual 'drink, peel & win' idea:

Campaign #1:
Customers may win up to 50,000 Euros worth of furniture from IdeaCasa by drinking Coca-Cola 1500ml bottles.

Campaign #2:
Customers may win 3 different cars: Citroen C3 Pluriel, Volkswagen Passat and Suzuki Vitara. The 3 cars may be won when drinking the 500ml Diet Coke, Coca-Cola and Sprite respectively. It is interesting to note that the three 500ml products are being associated with three different cars. Seems General Softdrinks are targeting the different customer segments with these 3 promotions.

Both campaigns will be running between January and March'08. Click here for more info.

2008 & Search

I am currently testing a new 'Search' facility on BLAB!(right). Check it out and send your feedback. In the meantime, we wish you a great new year, full of BLABs and more.

Also, I am drawing up a (wish)list of topics about which to BLAB in 2008. Please do send any suggestions or ideas!