For the return of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Mountain Dew this week broke the new commercial, above. Directed by McG of Charlie's Angels big screen fame, it was created by BBDO NY with Activision and the former military advisors who consult on Call of Duty, with sound design by Music and Strategy. (Watch behind-the-scenes footage here).

Below, watch another audiocentric spot — HTC's new spot for Rezound, its smartphone with Beats Audio by Dr. Dre — and more.Continue reading...

Andre Agassi expands commitment to charter schools.

Apple signs deal with Universal Music Group and other publishers for iCloud.

AT&T Wireless CEO "not happy" with US network.

Benetton refreshes visual branding.

Citigroup shuts down $400M hedge fund in wake of new regulations.

Denny's all-you-can-eat pancakes inspires teen marathon.

Disney, looking up at the cloud, relaunches Disney.com to offer TV and film titles.Continue reading...

If 2009 was about survival for the U.S. auto industry, and 2010 was about electric cars, expect “distracted driving” to compete for the top of the agenda for 2011. The federal government says that about 5,500 fatalities each year now can be attributed to the problem. That’s about one in every eight U.S. traffic deaths overall – and a way higher ratio among teenagers.

The likelihood of a brighter spotlight on distracted driving is becoming more evident every week, as automakers, telco brands, the federal government and other interested parties all add to a wellspring of concern and action around the problem of driver manipulation of hand-held devices while the vehicle is moving.

For the most part, auto brands have been trying to mitigate the problem with still more technology.Continue reading...

Consider it a new phrase — and a new danger — of the digital era. "Distracted driving," which is primarily associated with texting or talking on a cell phone while driving, is getting a lot of attention these days.

Texting while driving caused over 16,000 deaths between 2002 and 2007, according to research conducted by the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The percentage of all traffic deaths caused by distracted driving rose from 11% in 1999 to 16% in 2008.

That's why brands such as Allstate are stepping up efforts to address the issue.Continue reading...

"Smart technology — really?" Jane Lynch, LG spokeswoman, quipped in a video that the brand brought to last week's Consumer Electronics Show tech confab in Las Vegas. "Just exactly what do you mean by smart technology? Smart like Einstein? Smart like LG products can read my mind? Are you telling me my refrigerator will know things, like what I'm craving right now?"

Yes, Sue — brands and tech just got a whole lot smarter and connected, as was amply in evidence on the show floor at CES 2011.Continue reading...

BMW's Mini line says it will have the first slow-motion 3D ads, in a campaign breaking this week. "Mini vs. Monster" (teased above and after the jump) will debut in 3D cinema ads before making its way, in standard 2D, to TV and the web.Continue reading...

As Glee prepares for its Super Bowl extravaganza on FOX, Emmy-award winning actress Jane Lynch, better known these days as Sue Sylvester on the hit series, is in demand as a celebrity spokesperson.

LG Electronics' text education campaign (announced at last year's CES) leverages Sylvester's tough love persona and plays on her guilt as a real-life texter while driving, as she tells AP above. She's also been appearing as Sylvester in ads for American Express, helping promote AmEx's Members Project tie-in with Glee.Continue reading...