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!

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