Usability week ending June 12th

Saturday, 11th June, 10:56 AM
How to find iPad or iPhone device ID (UDID) when stuck on iOS 5 beta update: http://j.mp/lOAF21 #ipad #iphone #guid #udid #beta #ios #tip

Friday, 10th June, 11:17 PM
Why the new task UI in Taskrabbit has great behavioral design: http://j.mp/kH8LO7 #ux #ui #ia

Thursday, 9th June, 6:46 PM
Try "persuasive design" to change attitudes or behaviors of users through #persuasion and social influence: http://j.mp/kV1641 #design #ux

Thursday, 9th June, 5:58 PM
Google adds indexing support for rel="author" HTML tag property, to track and rank content creators: http://j.mp/kMHpuF #google #seo #ia

Wednesday, 8th June, 8:17 PM
You can’t convince a smoker to quit smoking. They need to just decide they’ll do it. It's the same for UX: http://j.mp/lmKhbU #ux

Wednesday, 8th June, 6:55 AM
UI testing suggests ways for #iPad app-makers to make their #apps more intuitive and ergonomic for users: http://j.mp/jPZVoX #ui #ux

Tuesday, 7th June, 5:59 PM
Forget #social... Build a tool which people find useful immediately: http://j.mp/lgZDIc #ux #startup #mvp

Tuesday, 7th June, 8:37 AM
On 1 Aug 2011, #Google will discontinue support for Firefox 3.5, Internet Explorer 7, and Safari 3: http://j.mp/l5cY8D #ux #browser

Tuesday, 7th June, 12:05 AM
#Apple has taken a better approach to #cloud #sync by focusing on its fundamental benefit to users--simplicity: http://j.mp/mfeRcW #ux

via twitter.com/terretta

Microsoft gets the Cloud but not the Commons

Microsoft's new "The Future of Technology" ad is getting rave reviews:

The software giant just posted an impressive new Windows 7 and Windows Live advert that makes the viewer change their perspective. The commercial follows the trend of several Windows 7 adverts released recently that focus on Microsoft’s Cloud services with Windows Live. I won’t spoil it for you as it has to be seen and experienced. The video can be watched below and the full transcript is available too.
The reviews generally don't mention this ad is using a technique popularized by a YouTube video created for the "AARP U@50" contest, in which it placed second.  

Microsoft's ad is pushing the Cloud, but it is acting like it doesn't get the Commons.  It wouldn't have hurt Microsoft to credit the content creators, at least in their YouTube credits.

Here is "Lost Generation", with 14 million views to date:

Both pieces use an aspirational narrator (the thumbnail for Microsoft's ad features a woman one can imagine recording Lost Generation), scrolling text, a punchline for the reversal, and share the same mood and tone.

The "Lost Generation" creator credits inspiration to a political video created by an Argentinean agency, Savaglio/TBWA, entitled "Truth":

Also predating the Windows 7 ad is "The Future of Publishing" created by Dorling Kindersley Books and produced by Khaki Films :

They too credit Truth.