Filed under: Found Footage, iPhone
Found Footage: How not to create a product video
Let's say you've just announced a really controversial iPhone unlocking method based in software. Do you: (a) provide step-by-step screen shots, showing what your product can do; (b) offer a carefully crafted demonstration piece, highlighting your product in action; or (c) create a completely unwatchable video with an incomprehensible voice over and put it on your corporate blog?
Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars are at stake. What option do you pick?
It's not as if an average video camera cannot be placed on a pile of books on a chair with a fixed focus setting. It's not as if you can't spend 5 minutes writing out a rough script and speak slowly. But after being brought to international attention in the media, don't you think that if the first video turned out poorly, you'd at least re-shoot it? Even if you had to buy or borrow another $400 or $500 iPhone?
We at TUAW have watched this new video from the iPhone Unlocking blog. And let's just say: we're not very impressed.
[Via Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matteo said 7:21AM on 8-29-2007
If I might add something... Why not get the help of a friend, in charge of filming, and perform the unlock?
Also, remember, if you use a digital camera for filming... Most of them have a fixed focus when filming, so the camera will not be able to change focus. PLEASE fix it somewhere and don't move it. If you have to move it at least make sure you film all objects from the same distance. Moreover... If you use the camera to shoot video... PLEASE, DO ME A FAVOUR, DON'T SHOOT VERTICALLY!! It's not a picture you are taking... It's a movie. Am I supposed to turn my head so I can watch?
Thanks..
I didn't get what this film is about, I suppose it might be an unlock, but I'm not sure... :-)
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Lucas Couvreur said 7:21AM on 8-29-2007
I Agreed!
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an arthistorican said 7:21AM on 8-29-2007
And yet, it would be a buy-Phone if this realy works! Wouldn't it be stupid to show the whole process in detail already? I wouldn't, if I was him.
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Rod said 7:41AM on 8-29-2007
Did you guys seriously think that a large corporation is behind the hack? Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake? Only geeks that can't wait for the iPhone in their country or want to "stick it to the man" are going to spend their hard earned money on something that is most likely illegal.
Let's be a little realistic folks. The hack is most likely been done by some high school or college kids, and thought they might make some extra dollars on the side. Instead they now have AT&T breathing down their necks. Furthermore, the iPhone in its current spec is only good for the US. The rest of the world who are likely to buy the iPhone are running at 3G or better.
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Kai Cherry said 8:39AM on 8-29-2007
Um...
It is not at all illegal to unlock a phone. Not even a little bit.
Just thought I'd let ya know that, Rod.
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Daimos said 8:47AM on 8-29-2007
I think iphoneunlocking.com is a phony outfit. They are basically waiting for somebody else to release a software unlocking tool and then market it as their own. After weeks of silence, they suddenly announce that their software is ready. Of course, this was a few hours after iphonesimfree announced theirs and engadget confirms. The whole lawyer crap call was due to iphonesimfree not releasing the software right away thus also delaying iphoneunlocking's own plans.
Now this video that really doesn't show anything.
Color me sceptical!
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Rod said 9:57AM on 8-29-2007
@ Kai
Your assuming I am in the US??
BTW, the comments I made were more in regards to sensationalist journalism rather than the finer points of the legality of phone unlocking :-)
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Johnny Thrash said 10:12AM on 8-29-2007
People go and spend 650$ on a fabulous product only to go hacking into it. People just can't be satisfied. It's really sad.
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inrpce said 10:17AM on 8-29-2007
Look at how many different charges that battery is at throughout the video
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Mark S said 12:43PM on 8-29-2007
Ugh, I'm dizzy and nauseated now...
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Reg Muffet said 10:10PM on 8-29-2007
@Daimos, The thing I think is most disappointing is that a lot of the mainstream media, especially IDG (Macworld) and even the NYT, are buying into it and reporting as fact that AT&T lawyers have approached this loser.
I feel less worried getting my news from blogs now. They may not be as well trained journalists, but they do seem to demonstrate more critical thinking.
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Nicholas Franklin said 12:38AM on 8-30-2007
Crappy video, impressive that they unlocked it.
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chris said 1:05AM on 8-30-2007
I was listening to NPR the other day, when the kid from NJ announced he hacked the iPhone. He said that he was working with a team of people but split from them after they decided to try and sell it. My guess is that this "company" are his former partners in crime.
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Eddie said 4:29AM on 8-30-2007
Chris, I think the guys from iphonesimfree are russian, which the NJ kid mentioned.. could be them. another note.. once the hack is released, what's to stop a crack from following it? their best bet is to release it now, while all this hype exist, rather than have the dev team or someone else release it for free.
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Daimos said 9:51AM on 8-30-2007
You guys are confusing GeoHotz accomplishments with hardware unlocking with this (iphoneunlocking) alleged software unlock. IPhonesimfree has their own unlock software that's been validated by engadget.
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Zcott said 11:58AM on 8-30-2007
Who really cares about the quality? They claim to have unlocked it, and I'm quite happy to believe them until someone proves otherwise. The quality of the video doesn't bother me: it's not a huge company, it's a couple of guys working in a bedroom somewhere.
The fact that it's been unlocked can only be a good thing, regardless of quality of the unlocking video.
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