The new ad is simply called, “Windows 8 is Coming Soon.” It features a random collection of events that seemingly have nothing to do with each other. For instance, why is there a shuttle launch at one moment and then a child breaking open a piñata the next? Why does a laptop explode? Just watch the ad and try to figure it out:

Still confused? I think Microsoft is trying to tell us that Windows 8 makes life more exciting, but why do they have to show a laptop exploding? Will my laptop explode once I install Windows 8 on it? These are the hard hitting questions that Microsoft will have to address as we near launch.

All joking aside, it’s a nice ad that manages to be strange and familiar all at once. It’s eye catching, but not enough to obscure the message that Windows 8 is coming. Microsoft is reportedly spending $1.5 billion to make these ads and other marketing materials going into the holiday season. With that kind of budget, we better start seeing feature films with heavy Windows 8 product placement. Maybe the next Transformers movie can have a transforming Surface tablet.

Unfortunately for consumers, despite the new design, the cost of previous editions of the PlayStation 3 haven’t gone down. So, Sony has decided to market the console’s strengths.

Today, the PlayStation Japan YouTube account released a commercial for the re-design that is quite odd. Here’s the ad, which is only 15 seconds:

Sorry I didn’t warn you about that, but you would’ve hated me for spoiling it beforehand.

Now, the questions. Is this the sort of thing that sells consoles in Japan? Could this be a Sony/Capcom joint marketing campaign for Resident Evil 6? Will every new PlayStation 3 come with a free zombie in the disc tray?

I doubt there will be answers anytime soon, as this ad is unlikely to make it across the Pacific. It was posted without comment to the YouTube channel. I suppose this one will just have to be thrown into the “WTF Japan” category.

Would Nike have thrown it out, like the baby and the bathwater, or would they have sat on it until LeBron actually won a ring? Inquiring minds want to know.

As for the commercial itself, it’s very well done. It follows an older man who works a jeweler as he is creating a ring for the champion James finally became. Naturally, the construction of LeBron’s ring gets delayed a couple of times, courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks. Inevitably, at least from Nike’s point of view, James completed his goal of winning it all, allowing the jeweler to finish the ring he’s been working on. As pointed out by Ball Don’t Lie (Yahoo’s NBA blog), Nike’s creating something of a history with LeBron and the jeweler in the commercial:

LeBron and the ring maker go way back to the days of Akron afros and high school dunks. When one sliced through the paint, the other carved through wax. Together, their journey has proven that even those destined for greatness have to earn it.

Good thing LeBron joined forces with Dwyane Wade, or else who knows how long the Ring Maker would’ve been working on that championship ring.

Again, when you look at the complaints that followed, Samsung may have nailed it down with their latest teaser commercial for the upcoming Galaxy S3. An aside first, however: Since when do tech toys get “teaser trailers?” To which Samsung apparently answered, “when we feel like calling out iPhone users in a very noticeable way.” And that’s just what they did:

The question is, is that a fair assessment of the average iPhone user? No, not really. There are tons of iPhone owners who didn’t complain about Instagram or, well, anything having to do with Android. They, like other rational folks, enjoy their product while acknowledging other people are free to do the same, regardless of what platform they prefer. This portion or users, however, isn’t as outspoken as the vocal minority, a group of people who allow themselves to be defined by the tech toys they own.

These are the types of folks who perpetuate the “Android users are too poor for iPhones” and the “iPhone users are a bunch of sycophantic followers who like shiny products” myths that populate almost every “iPhone versus Android” discussion. The thing is, the anti-Android/anti-iPhone snarkiness is not limited to consumers anymore.

Take Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller, for instance. Schiller left Instagram because once Android users got ahold of it, the app, in his mind, “jumped the shark,” and now, we have Samsung firing a sheep-filled volley at Apple. Can’t we all–”we” as in the tech giants–just get along? Or would that be too boring?

Apple has been focusing on keeping their advertising simple, focused and product-oriented for a long time. This commercial is consistent with that very successful strategy. The spot is focused on what Apple believes will set the New iPad apart from all other tablets in the market and the competition: the retina display.

The commercial shows the new iPad being used to edit a photo, read a book, watch a movie and draw a picture. Under a simple piano soundtrack, a clear voice doesn’t mention price or any specifications but the copy delivers the message simply, “When a screen becomes this good, colors are more vibrant. Words are pin sharp. Everything is more brilliant. Because when a screen becomes this good, it’s simply you and the things you care about. The stunning Retina Display on the new iPad.”

The White Sox fan in me simply sits back and polishes my faux 2005 World Series ring, smiling devilishly.

I’ll let you be the judge about what this commercial means to a Cubs fan. What the commercial definitely represents is the latest trend of featuring real life video in a game advertisement. When will it end?

Is that Bob Costas I hear at the end?

MLB 12 The Show comes out today, and as a long running fan of the series I can’t wait to see what improvements SCE San Diego Studio has made to the already stellar series. Considering the awesomeness (even I have to admit it has great production values) of this live action trailer, it almost seems as though they should do these kinds of videos for all the teams and have them play when your team wins it all in the game.

That’s just the video game wanna-be developer in me talking.

Sheen capitalizes on his wild past and cheesy 80s movie personas by driving a tiny Fiat 500 Abarth in the middle of a house while a Super Bowl party is going in the following advertisement. If Batman decided to give up his cape and become a clown, this is the car he would drive. Stepping out of the vehicle to embrace a woman young enough to be his daughter, viewers observe that he is wearing an ankle monitor and forced giggles ensue.

“Not all bad boys are created equal” as stated on this Fiat ad, but I cannot help but notice that Sheen is becoming a dirty old man icon and destroying any chances he might have of resuscitating his career.

Charlie Sheen is so over! After watching this DirecTV ad I am going to go home and smash my Platoon DVD into a thousand pieces.

Oh, and before I forget, the voiceover on the DirecTV ad totally rips off the Dos Equis “most interesting man” commercials.

Only 170,000 people have viewed these commercials since yesterday which might indicate that Sheen is losing steam faster that Fiat and DirecTV realize.

Today’s videos feature an amazing Who Wants To Be A Millionaire story teller, Michael Winslow doing video games, Unicorns humping dolphins, and the making of a wooden lamp shade.

Is it real? Most signs point to yes, and hopefully it is. Should it have been aired during the Super Bowl? I’ll leave that up to you. Either way, this commercial definitely went the dark comedy route.

Fact: Liam Neeson, throughout this entire segment just sips on his (what is hopefully) scotch, chews on a coffee stirrer; it’s already more badass than full shows on television. Neeson is truly a boss. The rest of the segment is funny too.

Nothing else to say, it’s a video of a scooter going 70mph in the snow.

The stories which led to the answers in Slumdog Millionaire have nothing on Joann Chan from Brooklyn, NY.

This video is proof that we sports fans (I’m self admitted) are some of the dumbest people on the planet. And to the guy who still has his Christmas tree up in February…COME ON MAN.

I definitely empathize with being a synaesthete.

Synaesthesia from Nikko Hull on Vimeo.

What happened to Michael Winslow appearing in films? Yes, he has a one note schtick…but it’s a funny one note schtick. You’re telling me you wouldn’t want him to make a cameo in Hangover III?

Now, this commercial should have aired during the Super Bowl. Humping a dolphin, humping a dolphin…get a tattoo!

Who knew watching a wooden lampshade being made would be so interesting and hypnotic…

As commercials go, it’s hardly the worst I’ve seen, but it comes across as one of those ads that really wants to be clever but doesn’t quite manage it. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.