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Filed under: Gaming, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Game on! Apple highlights sports games in new ad

by Sang Tang (RSS feed) on Oct 1st, 2009

Continuing its creative interactive blitz on high profile websites, Apple has begun placement of a new iPod touch ad on ESPN.com. Like the ad on IGN, which fellow TUAW-er Josh Carr recently featured, the ad on ESPN.com showcases a variety of games that interact with and shake up the site's menu. Unlike previous iPod touch ads on ESPN.com, which featured a mix of both sports and non-sports games, this campaign is sports oriented: for example, Madden 10 (US$9.99) [iTunes link] and Homerun Battle 3D (US$4.99) iTunes link] are shown as the ad passes through the NFL and MLB sections of the site. Game on!

Tags: ad, advertising, espn, gaming, iphone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, sports

Filed under: Gaming, Video

Still doubt Apple's desire for portable gaming clout? Here's proof...

by Josh Carr (RSS feed) on Sep 28th, 2009

This afternoon, we received a tip from one of our readers about an awesome ad on the IGN.com website. We chased the bait and decided to check it out. We're really glad we did. What we found was the ad above. We preserved it via screencast so all of our readers could enjoy it. The video above shows exactly what you will find on IGN just in case the current ad stops running soon. It reminds us of a similar ad on Yahoo a while back.

I have been pretty skeptical about Apple's desire to take over the portable gaming market, but I can't doubt it any more. This ad is running on one of the most popular gaming sites... obviously targeting those who wouldn't really think about the iPod touch as a gaming platform. The use of the website's design is definitely something that will catch the eye of the reader... so clever, in fact, that it's nearly impossible to press the stop button. You can press it, but why would you?

Thanks to Swaghi for the tip.

Tags: ad, gaming, ign, iphone, ipod touch, IpodTouch

Filed under: Odds and ends, iPhone

Pre ad is to iPhone ad as dude is to lady in Aerosmith song of the same name

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (RSS feed) on Aug 21st, 2009

What can I say? White background, disembodied finger and digi-creepy stillness of the device... the Bell [Canada] version of an ad for the Palm Pre looks hilariously like an iPhone ad. View the videos and judge for yourself. Then get a Pre if you are compelled to do so. It has maps and Twitter and you can touch and rotate and slide it.

Bell version

and an iPhone ad

Spooky, isn't it? Of course, there are only so many ways to illustrate the feature set of a multi-touch smartphone, aren't there? It's like when Newhart was sued by the guy who also wrote a handyman book. There are, in fact, only so many ways to explain how to nail a nail, Dick explains. Lucky us, all smartphone ads will now follow this format, making it much easier to determine which phone is best for us. Thanks, Bell!

[thanks to Philip Lam for the tip!]

Update: And here's an iPhone ad's audio on top of the Bell/Pre ad. Note the flow and that "how cool is that?" pops up at a cosmically opportune moment.

Continue reading “Pre ad is to iPhone ad as dude is to lady in Aerosmith song of the same name”

Tags: ad, advertising, bell, copy, flattery, knockoff, occams razor, OccamsRazor, palm pre, PalmPre, smartphone

Filed under: Apple, iPhone, App Store

Apple wins fight in U.K. over iPhone v Android claims

by Mel Martin (RSS feed) on Jul 29th, 2009

The U.K. advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority, says Apple is correct when it claims its App Store is better than the Google store for the Android.

In a TV ad Apple claimed that the iPhone had apps for "just about anything". Fans of the Google Android, or at least ten of them, complained that their phone offered a similar and equal function.

Apple responded that it made the claim "only on the iPhone" because its App Store "provided users with a unique experience unmatched by any other application marketplace, including the Android Market".

"Because Apple had shown there were far more applications available for the iPhone than the G1 phone, and user experience of the iPhone and the App Store was distinct from its competitor, we concluded that the claim 'only on the iPhone' was justified and not misleading," said the ASA in its ruling.

The Apple App Store has about 50,000 applications, while Google offers about 2,100.

In the past, Apple hasn't done too well with the ASA. In November an iPhone ad was banned for misleading customers about the speed of the phone on the internet. Apple also had to pull ads for its first generation iPhone in August of 2008.

Tags: ad, Advertising Standards Authority, android, app store, AppStore, ASA, competition, complaint, Google Android, market, ruling

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, Hardware, Macbook Pro

Apple hardware changes alter Microsoft "Hunter" ads

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Jul 24th, 2009

While some of Microsoft's recent ad campaigns have fallen flat, like the Jerry Seinfeld and "I'm A PC" ads, the "PC Hunter" series has struck a chord with consumers and, it would seem, Apple.

AdAge is reporting on the aftermath of Microsoft COO Kevin Turner gloating about getting a call from Apple's lawyers asking them to stop running the 'Laptop Hunters' Mom/Lauren ad because it inaccurately represented Apple's pricing. Guess what: Microsoft has since run an altered version of the ad.

In the original, Lauren (not that Lauren) is after a laptop with "...speed, portability and battery life for under $1,700." Here you go, Lauren. While shopping, she says, "This Mac is $2,000, and that's before adding anything." In the current version (see video after the break), she simply says "It seems like you're paying a lot for the brand," but mentions no actual price.

Lauren ends up with a 13-inch, $972 Dell XPS. When the ad began to run, Apple had not yet announced the 13-inch MacBook Pro, so the Dell was compared to the more expensive 15-inch model. Since then, Apple released the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,199. Hence Microsoft's having to alter the copy of the ad.

Of course, if you equip the XPS to match the 13-inch MBP, it eliminates nearly all cost difference as well as Apple-exclusive features like the 7-hour battery life. And, you know, Mac OS X.

There are two take-aways here. First, women named Lauren love PCs. Second, if you advertise that your stuff is all cheap crap, don't be surprised when your revenues drop 17%. Pricing sends a message that consumers hear loud and clear. The CDs in the discount bin at Sam Goody are no different than the full-priced ones, but consumers perceive them as less desirable. Small wonder, then, that nine out of every $10 spent on $1K+ "premium" laptops at retail goes into Apple's pocket.

[Via Electronista]

Continue reading “Apple hardware changes alter Microsoft "Hunter" ads”

Tags: ad, advertising, laptop hunters, LaptopHunters, microsoft

Filed under: Gaming, Odds and ends, iPod touch

iPod touch ad puts a new slant on things

by Robert Palmer (RSS feed) on Dec 12th, 2008

TBWA/Media Arts Lab created a spiffy new online ad for the iPod touch: it plays around with objects on the Yahoo! Games page as the ad plays. It's not unlike the Nintendo "Wario Land" YouTube video that has the same effect.

AdAge notes that Apple has been clever about creating media-rich online advertising, including the New York Times ads that interact with each other, even though they're in different units.

[Via Macenstein.]

Tags: ad, ads, games, ipod touch, IpodTouch, online, tbwa, wario, wii, yahoo

Filed under: Apple, iPhone

New iPhone Ad: Dilemmas

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Nov 5th, 2008

While most of us were watching the general election results last night, some were watching the new iPhone ads. Apple released a new ad yesterday called Dilemmas (and it didn't have anything to do with the election). Apple conquers the "age old dilemma" of where to grab a bite to eat -- with an iPhone app of course.

In this ad, the UrbanSpoon [iTunes link] application is demoed. In the closing of the ad, the narrator says, "That's the iPhone; solving dilemmas, one app at a time." You can watch the new ad by visiting the iPhone ads page. You can also watch it via a direct video link.

Thanks for the tip, Toren!

Tags: ad, advertising, breakingnews, commercial, iPhone, tv

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

New "Get a Mac" web ad

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Sep 9th, 2008

You'd think the "Get a Mac" series of ads would be played out by now. But you'd be wrong.

They're still funny, snide and -- if sales figures are any indication -- effective. This week, Apple launched another clever web ad featuring Mac and PC. This time, PC has written an Op-Ed piece describing why people ought to stop switching to the Mac. It's cute, and the visual of PC pulling the text of the article out from "behind" the webpage is pretty cool.

While we're on the topic, what's your opinion? Are the "Get a Mac" ads yesterday's news or still good stuff?

[Via MacDailyNews]

Tags: ad, commercial, get a mac, GetAMac, retail

Filed under: Humor, iPhone

Found footage: The Soup's iPhone parody

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Jul 16th, 2008

We love a good parody, and E!'s The Soup has produced a winner. For the unfamiliar, The Soup is a television show on the E! network that pokes fun at TV and pop culture in America.

Here's a parody iPhone ad that ran on the show earlier this week. It's really funny, with an emphasis on the pricing changes the iPhone has experienced in its first year of existence.

While we're on the topic, here are a few other Apple parodies you'll enjoy

Tags: ad, commercial, e, iphone, parody, the soup, TheSoup

Filed under: iTS, iTunes, Apple

New iTunes ad featuring Coldplay

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on May 21st, 2008

Last night, Apple released a new ad for iTunes featuring Coldplay. This ad takes the silhouette ads to the max with a beautiful Leopard/space-esqe background and Coldplay singing their new song, Viva la Vida. Once again, this ad was featured during an episode of American Idol, which seems to have been a weekly occurrence through the Idol season.

You can see this video by going to Apple's iPod + iTunes site and scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking "Watch the new TV ad," or you can use the direct link (.mov link).

Thanks for the tip, Kevin!

Tags: ad, Apple, commercial, iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, IpodTouch, iTunes

Filed under: Cult of Mac, Apple

New Get a Mac ad: Sad Song

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on May 13th, 2008

Apple just released a new "Get a Mac" ad entitled "Sad Song." In this commercial, PC is singing a country inspired song about how Vista saddens him. This commercial was released and played during the American Idol show tonight on the FOX network. You may remember that Apple also released 2 new Get a Mac ads last night. You can watch this and other Get a Mac ads on the Apple website.

Tags: ad, ads, Apple, commercial, Get a Mac, GetAMac, Mac, PC

Filed under: Macworld, Enterprise

Show floor video: Likewise Enterprise brings Macs into AD

by Michael Rose (RSS feed) on Jan 18th, 2008

When your corporate IT department says "Sure, we like the Mac, but we can't manage it through Group Policy, so it's inherently evil," you can offer several alternatives: Centrify, ADmit Mac, and Likewise (formerly Centeris) -- all will provide smooth integration of your Macs into AD and give the central command and control guys the feeling of power they crave. We caught up with Steve from Likewise on the show floor and got a quick walkthrough. Video after the jump.

Continue reading “Show floor video: Likewise Enterprise brings Macs into AD”

Tags: active directory, ActiveDirectory, ad, likewise, macworld08

Filed under: iPod Family, Multimedia, Video, Found Footage

Found Footage: 1, 2, 3, 4 and many more new Nanos

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Sep 6th, 2007

Here's the ad for the new iPod Nano, (also available in QuickTime on Apple.com) which I still think doesn't look that great (the Nano, not the ad). I mean yeah, it's super cute and tiny, and it is extremely awesome to have a screen like that (with its 204ppi) playing video on a Nano. But it's just so... stubby and squished.

Still, Apple makes up for it by using the best song off of Feist's latest album, and the video that goes with it. Not quite as iconic (or out-there) as Orba Squara, but it is a great tune.

Tags: ad, feist, ipodnano, music, nano, orbasquara, video

Filed under: Humor, Multimedia, Odds and ends, iPhone

The zunePhone

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Aug 23rd, 2007

Mark sent us this silly mockup of a zunePhone that his coworker made, complete with the signature commercial music for the iPhone (which is actually called "Perfect Timing (This Morning)" by Orba Squara, available on an iTS near you). What's up with that hand? Did he actually animate it using stills from the real commercials? If so, A for effort, even if it does end up looking a little strange.

The flashing 12:00 makes me laugh (as does what happens to the Polaroid after it's done developing), but otherwise, this phone is pretty much what you'd expect from Microsoft-- a blatant copy, only done messier, tackier, and much, much later. Good times.

Tags: ad, commercial, iphone, microsoft, music, orbasquara, parody, zunephone

Filed under: Humor, Odds and ends, Found Footage, iPhone

Found Footage: Calamari retro

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Aug 11th, 2007

So, say you're watching Pirates of the Caribbean. Mmmm... Did somebody say, "Calamari?"

Before there was the iPhone, there was iHome. And strangely enough, it worked pretty much the same-- just a little slower, and you could only do it from home, and you had to decide who was going to get the phone book out and look it up. My only question is what exactly he's doing at the beginning. Is he pretending to drive the ship?

Thanks, Stephen!

Tags: ad, calamari, funny, humor, iphone, parody, thatmusic

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