Apple Intel ad not so original?

It appears the version of the 'Such Great Heights' video that Apple released on iTunes has been censored. All signs of the name "Skyworks" have been blurred out. They are visible in previous versions of the video. Several screenshots are available. Can we add anything else to this Apple vs. Postal Service saga?

http://www.eliteproductionswi.com/apple-ps-censored.htm

Apparently Ben from The Postal Service isn't too happy about the ad:

"01/19/06

A Note from Ben

It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original. We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent. -Ben Gibbard, The Postal Service "

Read it http://www.postalservicemusic.net/

So what is the music for the Apple ad?

I love "THE POSTAL SERVICE" they are like the best band out there. The APPLE people do have a lot of similarties to "THE POSTAL SERVICES" video but come on now is it really that big of a deal???? The way i see it is as a true fan "THE POSTAL SERVICE" is sooo good that even the APPLE people want to jock them!!! How cool and well known are they....

So how about reaching back further, and comparing the 'clean room' look from previous intel or IBM ads? Perhaps make note of the Chris Cunningham Bjork video with the robots? Camera lifting out of a computer-circut to the 'real world?' Let's point back to 'Tron' or even the oft-maligned 'Hackers' for inspiration. Walking through a white workspace or hallway? Remember to Netflix 1971's 'THX 1138' and let's talk.

Placing shots side by side doesn't sell this case to me. Yes, I see the similarities; but I think with enough time we could find lots of commercials that have a person looking back in slow motion (Madonna's video for 'Rain,' anyone?). As for the side-by-side quicktime, and the 'same' shots: They're edited together out of context (the Postal Sevice video deals with a love story in a factory, and we're being shown cherry-picked shots out of order. The Apple one focuses on employees gingerly lifting a wafer from a machine to place in another machine. The way the woman looks at the man is quite different in the two.

The Postal Service video is great (and a great band as well), but it also shows a 'clean' factory in just about the only way you can.

Does anyone know the name of the song in the new Apple ad?

I created a single video with side-by-side comparison of the videos, with Apple's ad running in its entirity, and the Postal Service's video's corresponding clips syncronized along side. The resemblance is undeniable, to say the least. Here's the link: http://www.ELITEproductionsWI.com/apple-ps.htm

FYI, here's an archived set of the new Apple/Mac "Intel Inside" online ads:

http://adverlicio.us/tags/292

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Yeah, can't say that the first time that I saw the new Intel ad that I wasn't thinking "Postal Service did this already. What's new here?" I was half-anticipating Ben Gibbard to come in over the ad, which I actually don't think would have been so bad an idea. They would have gotten the Postal Service's consent, people in the know would make the connection, and you would have some good, and rather appropriate, music over the ad.

Yup, that's definitely Kiefer Sutherland voicing the commercial!