Over the past few days -- and weeks leading up to its official announcement -- the Apple iPad has been cross-analyzed on every high tech, gadget and media site from here (wherever you are reading this) to there (insert your favorite destination), which shows the potential impact this product has on popular culture. But the imminent release of iPad isn't so much about the product, but more about changing the way we think about consuming media.

Tech geeks have taken shots at the choice of processor, memory, display technology, etc. Many critics are not happy that the iPhone OS will power iPad, giving Apple ultimate authority over the software that can be installed on the device (note to self: in the near future, insert link to article about first jail broken iPad). That may be a large issue for some, but Apple has taken a smart approach by not trying to be "everything to everybody". Yes, there is a OS lock for installing applications. Yes, there is not a camera or a web cam. Yes, Flash is not currently supported. Yes, a full version of PhotoShop is unlikely to be able to be "installed" on the device. That's because this really isn't a computer, and Apple realizes this up front.

This brings us to the ever-increasing use of the Cloud for storing and retrieving information, applications and services. As we have seen with the Apple / Google fight related to the Google Voice offering, the importance of Web-based software will likely grow as innovators need to circumvent Apple's gateway to their devices. Though disappointed, even Google has followed its own prescription and has found a way to innovate in this area using the Internet, getting around Apple's gate and lock on the iPhone. Google is also quietly working on its version of a net connected device that uses the cloud as the primary storage area for the Google Chrome OS and supporting software. Although different in its approach, I am sure that Apple's announcement will only strengthen the viability for this particular "flavor" of device.

The release of iPad offers us all a new way to think about how we entertain, educate and communicate with one another. It's not the beat-all, end-all, killer device, but it does dramatically extend how we interact and consume media. Hopefully the publishing, news and other media dinosaurs will finally see the writing on the wall. Though I highly doubt it, since they have been dragging their heels over the past 15 years. These devices bring new opportunity for businesses who want to be relevant over the next 15 years.

Taking a quick trip to a local Wallmart yesterday I happened across a new product. I initially passed it by, then had to circle back to confirm what I had just been a witness to. And there it was... Chocolate Cheerios. As a child I am sure that everyone who has eaten Cheerios has dreamed about this. I think this is the childhood equivalent of finding the Loch Ness monster, the fountain of youth, etc. Could this be real? It was real and the display sat boldly in the center of the isle, almost mocking my childhood.

Call me crazy, but I can't see how launching a chocolate version of this cereal can really work, no matter how tasty it really is. It sounds great on paper, and probably had some great discussion in the General Mills product development teams over the years. However, every marketer has a potential product like this that while interesting, just can't work due to the realities of the world. I thought that the company had crossed the line a few years ago when it launched Frosted Cheerios, but this product has survived and its numbers must have supported this product introduction. To me, General Mills has "jumped the shark" on the core brand attributes that Cheerios has been built upon: healthy and heart friendly.

I don't care how you slice it, as a marketer, chocolate cannot be equated with healthy without taking some bruises. Knowing we're fighting an uphill battle, I thought that I would throw out some other messaging points that General Mills could use to cement this line extension in with the other "healthy" editions of Cheerios:

• "Now made with dark chocolate, the healthy version of chocolate."
• "Just as healthy as chocolate cake, chocolate milk and chocolate bars."
•  "Whole grains, covered in gooey chocolate. Yum!"

I admit it. This post isn't so much about a marketing campaign so much as it is about how fast food companies can put marketing dollars behind what I refer to as the "taco-bell-ization" of America's quick service food industry.

What is taco-bell-ization? It's a concept that Taco Bell has proven successful for years: (1) take a core set of ingredients (e.g., ground beef, flour tortillas, cheese, and some type of sauce), (2) put these ingredients in some configuration (e.g., a taco, a burrito, a quesadilla), and (3) market the configuration as a brand (e.g., Crunchwrap Supreme, Meximelt, Grilled Stuft Burrito).

So what's the big deal? It obviously works well with Mexican fare. The deal is, other franchises have gotten to such a desperation point of coming up with new offerings, that they're taking their ingredient list and forcing the same concept with it. In this case, KFC. I've seen the offerings for a few months now and hoped that this would quickly pass by the wayside. Last night I sat through a commercial and almost had to yack from the visuals. KFC is now offering KFC Famous Bowls which feature... you guessed it... the staples from a KFC menu, all mixed up in a bowl.

Take mashed potatoes, add fried chicken, some corn, and top it off with some cheese and white gravy. You've just created American food at its lowest level. I am not sure if I am more upset about stealing a concept (especially one that is not easily transferable), the resulting concoction (Famous Bowls), or that marketing is skillfully being used to position the product as hip, cool, and a "must have" for American stomaches.

It's only a matter of time before the other giants of quick serve dining take this concept and run with it. Be on the lookout for the Whopper Bowl... coming soon to a drive through near you!