Having conquered the internet, video and now launched into music, Google is moving into shopping through YouTube's new "channel gadget."

"To shorten the path to purchase and translate video views to sales, today we’re introducing a new channel gadget on YouTube that will enable consumer goods brands to connect consumers directly with retailers throughout the entire YouTube experience," Google wrote in a blog post. "This new channel gadget will enable shoppers to seamlessly move from browsing how-to videos and featured products to finding which retailers carry them, check availability, compare prices and make a purchase, all with fewer clicks than today." 

Google's first client is Unilever’s Tresemmé, which already has a robust YouTube channel in place featuring celebrities and style setters. Now users can click on the products in demo videos for purchase information, a perk that will only appear on brand channel pages.Continue reading...

Pizza and gaming are eventually likely to evolve into a single pursuit, like football and touchdown dances or movies and popcorn. Now, Pizza Hut is working with Microsoft Xbox to move the process along a little bit.

Today, Pizza Hut is debuting an app for Xbox Live that lets users order a pizza through their Xbox 360 with just the game controller, voice input or Kinect gestures—once they've chosen the nearest pizza parlor. Custom orders are also available.

"If you look at our audience, they love pizza," said Xbox's Larry Hryb, according to Mashable. "I mean, who doesn't? It has international appeal, and Pizza Hut is a recognized brand that matches up well with the Xbox brand."Continue reading...

Journalists have long cursed the rise of digital as being the death of long-form journalism. Who has time to sit down and consume 20,000 words on one topic when there is a vast array of bite-sized stories to feast on? In this era of "tl;dr," how can one devote so much time to a single issue when there are slide shows to click through, polls to take, and endless YouTube videos of cute cats and other animal antics to enjoy?

While many news organizations use all manner of digital wizardry to create more engaged news consumers, the term applies much more perfectly with those who actually sit down and consume those long-form stories that require a paper to devote one reporter’s time and energy over an extended period, a luxury not many publications can make in these tightly budgeted times. 

The New York Times, though, is thankfully making the effort and taking a chance on some of its readers settling into their favorite chair with their e-readers and tablets and digesting a story that may take them a good hour to read and watch. The paper has partnered with Byliner.com, a site dedicated to bringing such content to readers, to create short e-books that will sell for $2.99 a pop.

The first project of this original series, “Snow Fall” was just released on NYTimes.com to great acclaim on social media and is based on an article that John Branch wrote for the Times. It beautifully, interactively and dynamically — yet horrifically — tells the story of 16 of America’s top skiers and snowboarders who got buried in an avalanche in Washington state last year and is reminiscent of The Perfect Storm and Into Thin Air.Continue reading...

McDonald's U.K. seems relentless in its efforts to appeal to kids and their parents.

Lately, the chain's initiatives in that direction have included a healthier revamping of its Happy Meal for the London 2012 Summer Olympics and the rolling out of a carbonated juice drink for kids. Now, McDonald's in the British Isles is experimenting with interactive gesture-recognition technology to select stores (with high traffic from families) for a Happy Meal Digital Play zone.

The interactive installation combines a Wii-like experience with digital signage. Kids trigger games featuring McDonald's characters and other beloved characters (such as Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird) to play games and get moving.Continue reading...

Who needs in-flight entertainment when passengers can entertain each other? American Airlines' iPad app has been upgraded to add "Know It All," a free trivia game that pits fliers on Wi Fi-equipped flights against each other, in addition to passengers on other flights and players on the ground. The app is also updated for iPhone and iPod touch.

According to AA's press release, "From Nov. 19 to Dec. 31, 2012, fans who have "liked" American's Facebook page can register for a chance to win a weekly drawing for 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles. In addition, registrants who have downloaded the iPad app and played Know It All will be featured on a Facebook leaderboard. Each week, the Know It All player with the top score will receive an extra entry for the 100,000 bonus miles."

Download the app here.

Target isn't the only retailer testing shoppable videos. British high street emporium ASOS is incorporating interactive, click-to-buy videos as part of its holiday campaign. The Asos global Christmas campaign stars model Charlotte Free (above), British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding and American rapper and fashionista Azealia Banks, all highlighting the brand’s Christmas products.

The campaign is being promoted with the Twitter hashtag, #BestNightEver, and also ties into the ASOS glossy customer magazine. The ASOS Facebook page chimed in, "Renegade supermodel Charlotte Free has come to party at ASOS! Watch her videos, shop her style, and listen to her jamz to get ready for your Best Night Ever. Plus pin your favourite outfit whilst watching for your chance to win. Pin to Win: http://bit.ly/S7rVb2"

As Company magazine notes,

Viewers are encouraged to replicate Charlotte’s signature poses and post them to the ASOS Instagram page – tagged with #BestPoseEver – for entry into a Facebook gallery. Customers will also have the opportunity to guess Charlotte’s stocking-fillers for a chance to win the product. All activity coincides with the December issue of ASOS magazine, with Charlotte holding the cover star position.Continue reading...

Like specialty food trucks, vending machines seem to be having a little bit of a resurgence in the past few years. You’ve got your cupcake vending machine; a machine that will spin cotton candy for you right there; and Pepsi's next generation vending machine will charge your mobile device, send virtual gifts, and allow you to play games.

Now, through the wonders of modern technology, Coke has built webcams and Microsoft Kinect sensors into some of its vending machines so that it can give free colas to anybody who shakes a tailfeather for it, according to SingularityHub.com.

The whole effort has been helped by the efforts of South Korean boy band 2PM, whose virtual selves help lead consumers through some dance moves that will result in some caffeine at no charge. Sweet.

Lexus is pitching a hybrid tablet/print experience with CinePrint™, its proprietary ad technology to merge print and digital. The Toyota-owned luxury automaker demonstrates the 2013 ES in a video demo (below) of its ad in the Oct. 15th issue of Time Inc.'s Sports Illustrated magazine — just slip a tablet under the page to see it come to life.Continue reading...