You open a Facebook photo gallery called Amarok FlipDrive, click the first image, and keep the right arrow button pressed. The photos flip fast enough to feel like a running movie. A flipbook, built out of a Facebook album.
The reference point. A “commercial” powered by a Twitter feed
In April, Mercedes Smart in Argentina created the first of its kind Tweet Commercial using its Twitter stream. Now Volkswagen Amarok in Turkey has created the Facebook alternative.
The idea. An all-terrain truck that can even “drive” on Facebook
The Volkswagen Amarok is positioned as an ultimate all terrain vehicle. It can go everywhere. From the city to sand to water. With some creativity from McCann Erickson Istanbul, it can even go on Facebook.
How it works. 201 images in sequence
201 images that follow each other in sequence are uploaded to the Amarok FlipDrive Facebook photo gallery. Opening the first photo and keeping the right arrow button pressed makes the photos flip by fast and gives the effect of a running movie.
The reality check. Caching changes the experience
The flipbook experience is very jerky the first time, but once all the photos are cached, it plays as seen in the video below.
A few fast answers before you act
What is the Volkswagen Facebook Flipbook?
A Facebook photo gallery that behaves like a flipbook animation when you hold the right arrow key to move quickly through sequential images.
How many images are used?
201 images, uploaded in sequence.
What do you actually do as a user?
Open the first photo in the album and keep the right arrow button pressed to “play” the sequence.
Why does it feel jerky at first?
Because the images are not yet cached. Once cached, playback becomes smoother.
What is the broader pattern?
Using native platform mechanics. Streams, galleries, navigation keys. As the “media” layer for a social commercial.