If you thought the modern world could not get any stranger, we’ve got bad news. Microsoft Office and Oreos (the chocolate cookie) have combined for a marketing stunt with online events (sorry “snack breaks”), special packs, tchotchke and emoji. Poor old Clippy has been dragged in as well.
On the practical side, we’ll show how to grab the two Oreo emoji (‘exclusive’ to Microsoft Teams) and use them in Word, PowerPoint, Outlook or anywhere else.
(Sometimes it’s hard to write Microsoft Office news with a straight face – this is definitely one of those times.)
- Oreo emoji
- Oreo emoji in Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Oreo – Microsoft 365 Expansion Pack
- Clippy eats Oreos
- October is a special month for …
We’re told that the Oreo cookie is the “ultimate cookie for adults and Microsoft 365”. Why? Perhaps Office customers tend to binge cookies in frustration while trying to figure out the latest changes, bugs, buggy patches and other avoiding hassles in Microsoft 365 and MS Office?
The excuse is that October is National Cookie Month. Just one of over 70 special labels for this month including (I kid you not) Bat Appreciation Month and Toilet Tank Repair Month. See below for the full list – it’s too bizarre to overlook. Perhaps next year will have a Microsoft promotion with Pickled Peppers Month?
As a diabetic I shy away from chocolate and anyway Microsoft Office tends to drive me to drink. I look forward to Microsoft’s promotion with a good German wheat beer or single-malt Scotch.
Before we examine this particularly strange marketing attempt, let’s get down to the important business. The new emoji that are supposedly just for Microsoft Teams but can easily be used elsewhere.
Oreo emoji
Part of the promotion are two animated emoji
Get them in Microsoft Teams (not Teams Free) by opening the emoji dialog while typing a chat. Search for “oreo” and there they are.
Hover the mouse over each emoji for a cute little animation which also appears in the message.
Oreo emoji in Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
According to Microsoft, these promotional emoji are only in Microsoft Teams … but there’s a simple way around that.
- Paste the emoji into a Teams chat, then select and copy into the clipboard.
- Now paste them into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook or any other place that supports images.
- The cookie has a face on it.
The emoji are pasted as small images (not emoji symbols) without animation. The text label is also pasted in but is easily deleted.
Oreo – Microsoft 365 Expansion Pack
The only deliberate and almost funny joke in this campaign is on the ‘special’ package of Oreos called a “Microsoft 365 Snack Break Expansion Pack”.
Maybe the “expansion” refers to Oreo customers waistlines? Ho, ho, highly risible.
These ‘limited edition” packs (you just knew the term “limited edition” would show up) can be ordered from here for US$3.95. You’ll have to be quick and live in the contiguous US, only 2,800 packs available.
Or wait until they appear on Ebay for a ridiculous “collectors” markup. UPDATE: it didn’t take long for the four-buck packs to be resold, see Microsoft 365/Oreo massive price hike
Clippy eats Oreos
Microsoft has shamelessly dragged Clippy into this stunt. Shamelessly because Clippy is one of Microsoft’s famous self-inflicted disasters.
Clippy appears on the packaging complete with messages.
Hi! I’m Clippy. Are you ready for your THINS Break?
Friendly reminder – It’s against the snack break code to check emails and chats. Don’t commit this party foul!
There’s also a “Clippy Dippy”, a silly plastic tchotchke that’s a compulsory part of the boilerplate marketing plan.
Microsoft revises Clippy history
How to avoid the Clippy Paperclip emoji in Windows
Beware! Clippy is hiding in Windows and Office
October is a special month for …
In the USA, October isn’t just “National Cookie Month”. It’s a “special month” for all of these things and good causes. Source: Liveabout.com And we’ve not bothered with any “special” days in October <sigh>
- ADHD Awareness Month
- Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
- American Pharmacists Month
- Bat Appreciation Month
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month
- Computer Learning Month
- Country Music Month
- Down Syndrome Awareness Month
- Dyslexia Awareness Month
- Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
- Emotional Wellness Month
- Fair Trade Month
- Family History Month
- German-American Heritage Month
- Global Diversity Awareness Month
- Gourmet Adventures Month
- Halloween Safety Month
- Health Literacy Month
- I’m Just Me Because Month
- Italian American Heritage Month
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History Month
- Long-Term Care Planning Month
- National Animal Safety and Protection Month
- National Apple Month
- National Applejack Month
- National Arts and Humanities Month
- National Audiology Awareness Month
- National Biscuit Month
- National Book Month
- National Bullying Prevention Month
- National Caramel Month
- National Chiropractic Health Month
- National Cookbook Month
- National Cookie Month
- National Cosmetology Month
- National Country Ham Month
- National Crime Prevention Month
- National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
- National Dental Hygiene Month
- National Depression Education and Awareness Month
- National Dessert Month
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- National Dropout Prevention Month
- National Ergonomics Month
- National Family Sexuality Education Month
- National Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15-October 15
- National Kitchen and Bath Month
- National Pasta Month
- National Physical Therapy Month
- National Pickled Peppers Month
- National Pizza Month
- National Popcorn Poppin’ Month
- National Pork Month
- National Pretzel Month
- National Protect Your Hearing Month
- National Roller Skating Month
- National Seafood Month
- National Stamp Collecting Month
- National Toilet Tank Repair Month
- National Window Covering Safety Month
- National Work and Family Month
- Organize Your Medical Information Month
- Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month
- Polish American Heritage Month
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
- Spina Bifida Awareness Month
- Spinach Lovers Month
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
- Vegetarian Awareness Month
