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Here's their research. Apparently 30% found the test ad annoying, while 38% are annoyed by standard TV commercials. 59% supposedly found it entertaining, but that could just be the effect of the free sandwiches they got.

it would appear to be macromedia flash/shockwave live
go to www.unicast.com, click on "gallery" - it's a page with the shockwave object embedded - when you click on the "View ad" button it starts downloading the clip in the background. Presumably some sites will keep the shockwave embedded in a zero height frame which will go fullsize via client side scripting once the whole advert is downloaded ready to play, while others will use in page, or half page, via iframes or whatever.
You can get hold of the shockwave file direct at http://www.unicast.com/gallery/previewpane/gallery 4.swf?n=03%2F16%2F2004+7%3A57%3A14+AM&info=Havaian as!!!!!Many+Forms!!!!!Almap+BBDO+Brazil!!!!!Levi%2 7s!!!!!Levi+Strauss!!!!!AvenueA!!!!!General+Motors !!!!!Chevy+Tahoe!!!!!Campbell%2DEwald!!!!!History+ Channel!!!!!Killing+Pablo!!!!!Horizon+Interactive! !!!!Jaguar!!!!!XJ4!!!!!Global+Beach

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here; IANA Programmer and am not sure if there are tricky Java-based things they could do to get around regular ad blocking measures.

I've tried to look at the demo on their website many times, however it never works because of the requirements:

Windows
Internet Explorer
Windows Media Player
Microsoft (not Sun) JVM ...but you can't get the MS JVM any more :-( And I don't use IE (although I appreciate most of the world does).

You can try it yourself here. If you do, be sure to comment what it's like, because I've never seen it!

30-seconds of pure video and expanded interactivity shown perfectly to every consumer every time.

I use a Mac running OS X. My browser is Apple Safari, and I have cookies enabled. Your demo page seems to disagree on my cookie capabilities, and won't download your demo ad. So does this mean I'm not a consumer?

Looks like you need to modify your marketing message to read "shown perfectly to most consumers, most of the time, as long as they don't yet know how to block content by MIME type and/or source IP address, and as long as they're not Mac, Linux, Unix or WebTV users, or using an old version of Windows, or viewing it from a smartphone."

Did you ever consider that users in many, many other countries pay their ISP per megabyte consumed? In New Zealand, scarce broadband services goes for 20 cents/MB. They never ask to download your ads, but they're going to have to wait for it and *pay* for it too?

You guys should hook up with Bell Labs, who just came up with a way to deliver advertising to cellphones based on short-range physical proximity. That way I can walk down the street and get bombarded with streaming video ads that I PAY to download! That'll REALLY make the world a better place! Or at least a more profitable one...

Why don't you quit and go find a way to make social responsibility as profitable as irresponsibility? We just might save capitalism before those damned anarchists take over from underneath. Ready, set, go!

Best of luck,
--
(sig withheld)

What is up with the link to a Coldwell Banker Real Estate Agent hidden at the bottom of the Unicast demo video page?

Check the source, at the bottom of the page, just below the Unicast address, you'll see the link, but there is nothing betweeen the anchor tags...what the heck???

Check this JavaScript sample (raw-source view) to see how they check for not only Shockwave Flash but Windows Media player, QuickTime and some video-related plugin ("ntsc").

Looks like the only surefire way to block them is to add unicast.com entries to your local hosts file and/or proxy servers.

Not according to the Learn More button on that page.

"The Video Commercial is:

Up to 2 MB
Up to 30 seconds
Full Screen
Broadcast quality (564 kbps) - plays up to 8 times faster than broadband video (100 kbps)
Completely pre-cached* -- 30 frames per second video that plays perfectly for every consumer, every time"

"The Video Commercial IS NOT:

Streaming video which inevitably results in buffering and freezing even on a broadband connection

Partially pre-loaded or "politely" loaded which does not guarantee consistent playback

Flash video"

It specifically says it's not flash.

Here is a list to avoid then:

Unicast Sites.

Hey... where is the OPT OUT area?

According to Unicast's "Format Overview":
"The Video Commercial is:

• Up to 2 MB
• Up to 30 seconds
• Full Screen"

Nextel is on the list of sample advertisers for unicast.com anyhow, so I've already written them off.

Check out the examples on their site. It's flash.

If you check out the specs sheet of the "Superstitial" full screen ad format here: http://www.unicast.com/formats/htmlspecs_fs.asp?do cument=FullScreenSpecs%5F05277521%2Epdf. At least the specs are reasonable.

- All ads are essentially Flash movies with set limitations
- max file size 600K
- limit to 15 seconds max
- *MUST include sound off button
- *MUST include a skip commerical link
- if no buttons are visible at any point during the commerical, clicking on the commerical itself will allow the user to "bail" from watching it.
- embedded videos can be no larger than 320x240

And all interactivity and motion/animation is done in flash, most using actionscript. It almost seems like a crime to pass this off as new technology, when it fact it just appears to be flash movies forced to run full screen.

And no I don't agree with what they're doing, and I don't believe that I should have to pay with my own bandwidth to watch someone elses ads, but at least they're giving up the option in these ads to skip them... Which isn't much a silver lining but..???

The most important thing is that when we see these commercials, we should not click on anything but the "skip" button. If we make sure the skip them all, I think our message will be heard loud and clear by advertisers.

They have a directory of all the sites that will be using their technology.

Note that match.com is amongst them, who are affiliated with /. via OSDN personals.

Can we trust no one?

I'm thinking it might just be talking about the popup blockers for IE... anyone tested it?

The ads are nothing more than popups that make the popup window "full screen" (ie, they set the size and position of the window to 0,0 and x,y to fill up your screen, and not actually setting the browser to its full screen togglable state, which pisses me off because all future browser windows will now be of that size), and load a flash applet. My own pop-up blocker for IE, NoPopIE has no problems catching those popups, and with proper security settings IE will prompt you to run Flash. All this is going to do for me is prompt me to finally get around to blocking popups from resizing the browser window.

You can find samples here to test against.

Full Screen Superstitial is guaranteed to play perfectly for every consumer, every time.

Full Screen Superstitial is guaranteed to play perfectly for every consumer, every time.

Full Screen Superstitial is guaranteed to play perfectly for every consumer, every time.

actually... the window, in which the (flash?) ad plays, is generated by javascript. i use the webdev toolbar for firebird, and it has a javascript on/off toggle. time to turn off javascript by default.

From Unicast's site:
"This format breaks-through the shackles imposed by pixel-constrained and technology-led units, giving creatives a full and blank canvas to work from and with"

Finally. Smooth CRT graphics. These people should get a Nobel or something.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

Their web site provides an office address in case you would like to send them your opinion:

©2002 Unicast Communications Corp.
160 Varick Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Their management team can be found here. And contact information can be found here including a phone number (646.336.2600), press contact phone number ((646) 336-2612), and FAX number ((646) 336-2696). Their e-mail addresses are: All comments, Kevin McGurn , VP, National Agency Managment, Laurie Miller, VP, Partner Services, Elliot Bell, VP, Global Accounts, Peter Lau, International Account Manager, Stu Ginsburg, FAVA Public Relations, Jason Griswold, Business Development, and Marketing.

They have an example at this companies page. All it is is a big popup playing an annoying video like those x-cam ads, except bigger. People will just close it as soon as it opens, unless they really really want to see the page that comes after (or else they'll put that window in the background till the ad is finished). This is with Firebird - maybe it's a lot worse with IE (what isn't?).

http://www.unicast.com/gallery/sites_fs.asp

In fact, Opera has two options for blocking popups: "block unrequested windows only", and "block all windows regardless of who they think they are". The second option is marginally more annoying, but compared to full-screen spam it's pure heaven. I am sure Mozilla has something like this as well.

Of course, eventually popup blocking will be illegal under the DMCA... but for now, it doesn't look like the playing field has changed much.

if (!_isEmpty(newData) && newData != "NO_COOKIE") {
expires = new Date(2025,0,1,0,0,0);
setTimeout("setCookie('unicast', newData, expires, '/Cookie/', getHost(), null);", 100);
}

An example of these ads can be found here You guys are talking about not going back to the sites using those ads...a much better solution is to email the webmasters and tell them about it. A well worded insulting letter saying you will never go back to the site again...ever... may be more effective to be just pissed off and decide not to come back. Only problem is that you have to spend time writting a complaint

the unicast samples here

Here is a list of companies trialing/interested in these ads. It's a good place to start with the email protests.

I tried this with Phoenix, and even with all of the Javascript disabled, it STILL opens a big ol' fat window on my screen, full page size.

It covers the Start bar (Windows XP), but I still have the control box to close the stupid thing at least.

Also, I have my user.js file set to keep windows from opening in a new window, but that didn't stop the ad from opening in it's own window.

Try it yourself here http://www.unicast.com/gallery/index.asp#

They call the Superstitial ads. They're very proud and excited about them. You can see them here.

Basically it looks like a full screen java script pop-up with flash content. Fortunately, Konqueror immediately complained about java script wanting to open a new window (I have it set to prompt), so it looks like these won't be much of a problem for the clueful user.

Still, the fact that a company is expending effort in the development of more intrusive advertising is reprehensible. Therefore....

Slashdot them here

They call the Superstitial ads. They're very proud and excited about them. You can see them here.

Basically it looks like a full screen java script pop-up with flash content. Fortunately, Konqueror immediately complained about java script wanting to open a new window (I have it set to prompt), so it looks like these won't be much of a problem for the clueful user.

Still, the fact that a company is expending effort in the development of more intrusive advertising is reprehensible. Therefore....

Slashdot them here

And /. the bastards! It seems they are in flash btw...

Some demonstrations from the company are here

Unicast has their gallery of examples here. See the examples for "full-screen superstitials" -- Unicast's name for their format.

Unicast claims these ads will be *less* annoying than pop-ups, because, rather than open new windows you have to close, this ad format temporarily takes over the existing window, and people are used to this style (think TV commercials).

And, for those posters who wonder what types of sites would consider using this...Unicast has a list here.

Unicast has their gallery of examples here. See the examples for "full-screen superstitials" -- Unicast's name for their format.

Unicast claims these ads will be *less* annoying than pop-ups, because, rather than open new windows you have to close, this ad format temporarily takes over the existing window, and people are used to this style (think TV commercials).

And, for those posters who wonder what types of sites would consider using this...Unicast has a list here.

Unicast