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.

Usability week ending April 11th

Friday, 9th April, 4:19 PM
Engaging the "desk potatoes" through #design -- designing for passive consumption: http://j.mp/bDBxON #ia #ux #ipad

Friday, 9th April, 3:04 PM
Risky #assumptions are risky mainly as they can result in a product’s failure in the marketplace: http://j.mp/9lQDYN #ia #ux #strategy

Thursday, 8th April, 3:37 PM
The real cost of #software #development is #usability: http://j.mp/alPF03 #ux

Thursday, 8th April, 12:59 PM
Learning from game design: 11 gambits for influencing user behaviour: http://j.mp/ccTIpu #ux #ia

Thursday, 8th April, 12:57 PM
#Gadget reviews focus on device itself, innards, #specs. #UX is more strategic, more effective basis to analyze a device: http://j.mp/cUOJsq

Wednesday, 7th April, 1:07 PM
Bouncing ideas among a team with almost immediate feedback in the form of #design #mockups in @skitch is invaluable: http://j.mp/asGIed

Wednesday, 7th April, 12:56 PM
New #cameras, and more importantly, new #aesthetics, are breathing new life into #video storytelling and #journalism: http://j.mp/d4BaML #vx

Monday, 5th April, 2:28 PM
"Information efficiency" lets you know when you can stop looking for a better #design: http://j.mp/9jy5W2 #usability #ux

via twitter.com/terretta

Online video week ending January 24th

Friday, 22nd January, 6:35 PM
Why @Firefox supports the #HTML5 video element, but only for #Ogg #Theora: http://j.mp/8ngedQ @vimeo @youtube #vod #h264 #patents

Friday, 22nd January, 9:29 AM
Conan puts online #video distribution rights fees to comedic use, licenses costly Rolling Stones track for comedy skit: http://j.mp/8SI3Cd

Thursday, 21st January, 5:47 PM
In past 2 years, over 12 telcos/carriers entered CDN biz, all by re-selling or partnering with a pure-play provider: http://j.mp/5ZCZNq

Wednesday, 20th January, 9:47 AM
RT @TechCrunch: Watch Obama’s State Of The Union speech LIVE on your #iPhone next week: http://j.mp/7nJofi #streaming #video

Tuesday, 19th January, 3:36 PM
#Cisco says avg employee in enterprise watches 4.6 hrs of #streaming video a month, to double over next 2 years: http://j.mp/4TABIl #vod

Tuesday, 19th January, 2:55 PM
Got Windows 7 but no TV tuner? You don’t need one to watch streaming video (even popular TV) on a Media Center PC: http://j.mp/5TK8cs #vod

Tuesday, 19th January, 12:04 PM
À-la-carte pricing could inject huge uncertainty into cable, channels might not get enough subscribers to survive: http://j.mp/8iqz4M

Monday, 18th January, 6:44 PM
#ESPN could provide live streams of sporting events to #Microsoft Xbox Live: http://j.mp/5KJFpQ #streaming #vod #xbox360 #sports $MSFT $DIS

via twitter.com/advection

Usability week ending November 1st

Friday, 30th October, 4:06 PM
Handling user errors using specific and helpful messaging, boosted conversions by 17%: http://j.mp/2qMOp0 #ux #ui #ia

Thursday, 29th October, 2:31 PM
Qualify leads using sign-up forms, with less sign-up friction and more qualified responses: http://j.mp/1bkthO #ia #ux #usability

Wednesday, 28th October, 5:18 PM
The underutilized power of the video demo to explain what the hell you actually do: http://j.mp/I1pZU #ux #ia #video #streaming #usability

Tuesday, 27th October, 2:38 PM
Kevin Rose, founder of Digg, WeFollow, Revision3, shares 9 ways to grow to one million users: http://j.mp/1ovjsI #ia #marketing #startup

Monday, 26th October, 7:49 PM
Making your app easy lowers barriers to entry and bounce rates, increases conversions, makes/breaks success: http://j.mp/VYpKD #ux #ui #ia

via twitter.com/terretta