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Apple airs new 'Greetings Too' iPhone 5c ad
During the Emmys last night, Apple aired a new cut of it's "Greetings" iPhone 5c ad. "Greetings Too" features many of the same scenes -- with some new ones added -- of "colorful" people saying hello on their iPhone 5c's. In addition to the new cut on television, Apple has posted Greetings Too and an extended cut of the first Greetings ad on YouTube.
Michael Grothaus09.23.2013
Google's AdID, an anonymous identifier for advertising, could replace the aging cookie
You know the drill: accept the cookie, delete the cookie, empty the cookie bin, and so on. Mostly, it's an exercise used when attempting to get your mum's PC to run a wee bit faster, but if you think about it, the cookie is one of the most archaic pieces of the world wide web that's still in use today. Naturally, Google is swooping in in a bid to change the status quo, according to a new report from USA Today. Essentially, the search giant is building an "anonymous identifier for advertising, or AdID, that would replace third-party cookies as the way advertisers track people's internet browsing activity for marketing purposes." Perhaps astoundingly, it sounds as if the project could benefit both consumers (by shielding true identities) and advertisers at the same time. Of course, pundits are concerned about the global leader in online advertising controlling the technology that tracks movements on the web, but to us, it sounds as if end users will get far more power over who sees what when compared to today's cookies.
Darren Murph09.18.2013
Hold This Cat: HTC and Robert Downey Jr. kick off $1 billion 'Change' campaign (update: full video)
"Big things ahead?" Well, it looks like HTC's earlier tweet wasn't a cheeky hint at the upcoming 5.9-inch One Max; but rather, it was a tribute to the sheer scale of the new "Here's To Change" global ad campaign. The company has just confirmed that it did indeed sign Robert Downey Jr. for a two-year deal, which includes starring him in the ads as well as getting his creative input in the process. Given CMO Ben Ho's promise to make the company's voice louder, it's no surprise that he's spending the same amount as last year's worldwide sales and marketing budget -- about $1 billion -- on this campaign alone, according to an HTC spokesperson. Not bad for Ho's first big act since he joined the company towards the end of last year. We were also told that the entire "Change" campaign should cover the span of 24 to 36 months, during which it'll be split into three phases. As part of the first phase, come Thursday a whacky two-minute TV ad will begin to air in key markets, featuring Downey and his fellow actors blurting out what "HTC" could stand for -- "Humongous Tinfoil Catamaran," "Hipster Troll Carwash," "Hold This Cat" and more -- in order "to invoke interest and talkability amongst consumers." Interestingly, you won't find many mentions of any HTC phone in the first full ad, but the subsequent phases of the campaign will eventually focus on the mobile features. There's no word on the timeframe for each phase just yet due to all sorts of variables. It remains to be seen whether Downey's contribution will help drive sales numbers, something that HTC desperately needs to just about survive these days. Perhaps an Iron Man special edition One could be considered? Yes please. Anyhow, press release after the break. Update: We've now embedded the full two-minute TV ad after the break.
Richard Lai08.12.2013
Apple airs new 'FaceTime Every Day' ad
Apple has aired its latest television ad titled, "FaceTime Every Day." As you would expect from the title, the ad shows people in everyday life connecting via FaceTime on the iPhone. The ad follows in the footsteps of previous spots that spotlighted Camera and Music app use. The "FaceTime Every Day" ad ends with the line, "Every day more people connect face-to-face on the iPhone than any other phone." Check it out below:
Michael Grothaus08.06.2013
Japanese broadcasters reject Panasonic Smart TV advert in fit of jealousy (video)
As technology adverts go, this new one from Panasonic isn't bad. We've certainly seen worse. From the POV of some major Japanese broadcasters, however, it's apparently too dangerous to air. According to AFP, they've refused to transmit the ad because viewers might be confused by its demonstration of Panasonic's Smart TV interface, which mixes terrestrial TV with web content courtesy of a rather ordinary split-screen feature. This semi-justification has inevitably led to speculation that the privately owned broadcasters are actually trying to slow the growth of IPTV in Japan, because they're not quite ready to compete. Panasonic seems to have taken the knock-back on the chin, saying that IPTV is a "new area of service" in its home nation and that it's currently in talks to "create new rules for broadcasting." Meanwhile, the mind-boggling material is embedded after the break if you're sure you can handle it.
Sharif Sakr07.08.2013
Apple wins Grand Prix for Press award for iPad mini print ads
Apple and its advertising firm TBWA Media Arts Lab have won the prestigious Grand Prix for Press award for a recent print campaign advertising the iPad mini. The ad's clever images depicted a life-sized iPad mini on the back cover of several magazines, which itself bore the cover of said magazine. The result gave readers an idea of what their magazine would look like on Apple's handheld device. The award was given at the Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France. The critically acclaimed print campaign ran last year on The New Yorker, Time and others. One of the jurors, Marcello Serpa, told Ad Age that Apple and TBWA won because the campaign "...has a kind of guerrilla feeling. It's a product that goes inside the media and says I'm going to kill you, [then] I'm going to save you. Let's embrace. It's redemption."
Michael Grothaus06.20.2013
Adobe XD's Project Mighty and Napoleon: the future of cloud-connected design tools for tablets (hands-on)
Adobe's best known for its creative software, but lately it's been toying with the hardware side of design. Over the past few weeks, the company's XD division's been teasing Projects Mighty and Napoleon for tablets: the former is a pressure-sensitive stylus, while the latter is a ruler for drafting. Both hardware experiments feature Bluetooth but, more importantly, they tap in Adobe's Creative Cloud. The units are essentially a serious side project for Adobe, but we have a feeling designers will be seriously excited once they get to see these prototypes in action. Geoff Dowd, XD's Design Lead, was kind enough to delve a bit deeper into the projects for us in a video walkthrough you can catch after the break.%Gallery-190361%
Joe Pollicino06.04.2013
Nokia reveals another new Lumia smartphone in UK ad, teases 'more than your eyes can see' (video)
We're still days away from Nokia's London media event, but the company has apparently got a real taste for teasers. A new 20-second promo clip aired today in the UK, and although it doesn't outline any outright specs or model numbers, we get a (very) up-close look at a dual-flash arrangement (unlike the xenon flash seen on Verizon's Lumia 928), a glossy white shell and some metal detailing. We're relieved that Nokia has something new to unveil in the UK next week, but we're now itching to hear exactly how this Windows Phone will differ from the now-public Lumia 928. We'll have all the details on Tuesday morning. Update: The Verge has managed to upload a digital copy of the ad. See it for yourself right after the break.
Mat Smith05.12.2013
Twitter opens up ad-buying to all US users, brings new tools to self-promoters
Twitter has been slowly expanding its advertising offerings for some time now -- first with more ads in more places, then with more folks able to buy ads. Now it's taken things one big step further and opened up its self-serve Twitter Ads platform to all users in the United States. That means anyone can now sign up and buy promoted tweets of their very own, with all the same options and analytics previously afforded to businesses and individuals invited to take part in the program. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll be seeing more ads on Twitter, but you may well start seeing some more unexpected ones. Those interested in shelling out some cash can find all they need to get started at the links below.
Donald Melanson04.30.2013
New iPhone ad focuses on wonder of photography
If you're old enough to remember the Polaroid SX-70, celebrating its 41st birthday this week, you may remember how it felt to instantly, miraculously see the images you captured appear right before your eyes with one of Polaroid's cameras. Now that we all have superpowered cameras in our pockets, we may not be as tuned in to how photography, especially instant or digital photography, changes the way we see the world around us. Apple's still tuned in, though. That sense of wonder in photography is fully on display in the newest ad for the iPhone, which highlights the remarkable claim that every day "more photos are taken with the iPhone than any other camera." That stat may be based on the long-standing No. 1 rank of the iPhone among cameras used to post photos to Flickr; in fact, that ranking is probably underweighted, since it may not capture the camera types from world-beating image apps like Facebook's Instagram. The iPhone currently holds the top three spots for individual cameras on Flickr's list (the 4S, 5 and 4), although the iPhone 4 is just about tied with Canon's $3000 EOS 5D Mark II. As PetaPixel and Bloomberg point out, the Japanese camera maker's profits have suffered as the compact photography market erodes versus phone cameras. You can see the ad embedded below. I particularly enjoy the brief run of panorama shooters at about the 0:38 mark.
Michael Rose04.26.2013
Nokia Malaysia video teases April 25th announcement, loses us in the process
Flickering hospital lights. A man going ballistic in a padded cell. A hooded ghoul. These are the images Nokia Malaysia wants to put into our heads in the run-up to a mysterious Lumia-related launch coming on April 25th. That date has also been linked to Verizon's launch of the Lumia 928, but we're not sure how that might be relevant. Alternatively, it could be a countdown to the Malaysian launch of the Lumia 720 or Lumia 520. The thing is, we're intimately familiar with both those handsets and neither can be described as even remotely spooky. Unless it's another Batman Edition? Update: The video on Nokia's official YouTube channel has been pulled. We've added a different embed in the hope of preserving this curious piece of marketing for future generations. [Thanks, Piaget]
Sharif Sakr04.19.2013
HTC One launch vid disappears, but not before claiming it's 'everything your phone isn't' (video)
We've commented before on how HTC always seems to come in second to Samsung -- not because it has inferior hardware, but because its marketing budget is comparable to what's fallen between the cushions of Sammy's sofa. We might have seen the start of a new strategy from HTC, however, as the company appears to have collaborated with Funny or Die on a comedic promo for the HTC One. It surfaced at the end of last week, but seems to have since been removed from the site. (It's possible HTC deliberately pulled it for some reason, and we've reached out for comment.) In the meantime, copies have found their way onto YouTube, and AdAge reports it'll start showing up on some websites today, and in a bunch of movie theaters from April 26th. A spoof of The Bachelorette, hosted by James Van Der Beek Dawson Leery, the clip depicts the leading lady deciding on her next handset, with the One winning out against feature-lacking peers -- or rather, people dressed in phone costumes. HTC even go as far as coining a bold tagline for the flagship: it's "everything your phone isn't." Whether it's actually funny is up to you, so check out the full skit below.
Jamie Rigg04.15.2013
Facebook Home 'Airplane' ad brings one traveler's News Feed aboard -- literally
Sure, Facebook had a weird ad with Blink-182 for the HTC Status, but this sneak peek at its newest TV spot for the First and Home is on another level. Posted today on the company's Facebook page, the campy piece literally brings one traveler's feed to life inside the cabin of his flight during boarding. We won't spoil the goods for you, but it's interesting to see Facebook's first thrust at marketing this skin and smartphone combo out to the masses. Catch the full clip after the break.
Joe Pollicino04.06.2013
Google yanks ad-blocking apps from Play Store, points to developer agreement
You know how it goes -- "rules" are only "rules" if someone bothers to enforce them. And enforce Google has. While programs such as AdBlock, AdAway, AdFree and the like have been running unabated for quite some time now, Google has evidently buckled down and yanked the lot of 'em overnight. Of course, the company's Play Store developer agreement already makes clear that apps designed specifically to hinder the natural course of advertising won't be allowed, but it's certainly interesting to see the company finally making good on its words. Specifically, the agreement states: "You agree that you will not engage in any activity with the Market, including the development or distribution of Products, that interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner the devices, servers, networks, or other properties or services of any third party including, but not limited to, Android users, Google or any mobile network operator." See that bit about third-party clients' services? We're guessing that it's in reference to implementations of advertising code. Looks like the wild, wild west has a sheriff in town.
Aaron Souppouris03.14.2013
New iPad ad debuts at Oscars
The iPad and iPad mini donned their latest and most fashionable apps and made an Oscar appearance in the form on an ad on Sunday night. It's not the first time Apple has made an appearance at the Oscars. Apple's showings at the awards show stretch all the way back 2007, when the first Apple iPhone commercial made its debut. Other notable Apple Oscar appearances include the iPad's first commercial in 2010, and Steve Jobs has walked the red carpet. You can check out the ad below. [via AllThingsD]
Megan Lavey-Heaton02.25.2013
Two new iPad ads hit the airwaves
The latest iPad ads appeared this evening, both on TV and on Apple's YouTube channel. Both new ads are embedded below. The ads feature a rapid text scroll, presumably listing the attributes of the magical and revolutionary tablets. Each "landing" word is then given life with quick demo moments of iPad apps like TED, iBooks, Vimeo, Garage Band and plenty more. How many apps can you identify? [hat tip AppAdvice]
Michael Rose02.18.2013
Mystery Nokia smartphone flaunted in European Lumia 920 ad
A recent Nokia Lumia 920 TV commercial from Netherlands carrier KPN Mobiel -- spotted by My Nokia Blog -- shows a curious yellow handset at the five second mark, and after squinting for a bit we're still not sure what we're seeing. It's obviously not a 920, and it doesn't match any other existing models that we can remember. Our mobile experts noticed that it vaguely resembles the Nokia Lumia 822 from US carrier Verizon, but the headphone nub, camera pod position and tapered design don't match that model -- which also appears to be smaller than the one pictured above. Could the Finnish carrier be holding out on us until Mobile World Congress 2013? Or is it some kind of Dutch variant of the 822? We've no idea, but if any of you do, we're sure you'll let us know below. You can scope the video after the fold.
Steve Dent02.15.2013
Sony replaces 'Kevin Butler' ad agency with 'Axe Astronaut' firm
Sony has announced that it has selected New York-based ad agency Bartle, Bogle, Hegarty as its new lead creative agency, after what sounds like a complicated (and crowded) selection process. For the past six years, Sony's lead agency has been Deutsch L.A., the team behind none other than Kevin Butler and the famous "Michael" ad. But after chatting with Deutsch and other cool-sounding firms like 180LA and Anomaly, Sony selected Bartle, Bogle, Hegarty New York to deliver its future message.BBH has an impressive portfolio of work, including the Axe Astronaut campaign you may have seen during the Super Bowl last week. Why did Sony switch horses after so long? Oh, we don't know – maybe they have a big new announcement in the works they want advertised just the right way.
Mike Schramm02.06.2013
BlackBerry Super Bowl ad shows the few things a Z10 can't do (video)
BlackBerry vowed to pull out all the stops to get BlackBerry 10 noticed -- and the company certainly isn't holding back with its promised Super Bowl spot. The ad claims that it's easier to show what the Z10 can't do in 30 seconds than what it can, and goes to extremes that include setting a man on fire and giving him elephant legs. We do still get a glance (or rather, Peek) at the phone itself, thankfully. Does the commercial make us want to drop everything for a Z10? Not necessarily, but we'll likely remember what we saw. Check the clip for yourself after the break.
Jon Fingas02.03.2013
The Perfect Ten: Memorable marketing campaigns
I took only a single marketing class in college, so by no means am I an instant expert in anything but being on the receiving end of marketers' nefarious experiments to manipulate me so that I buy their stuff. I did take away the lesson that all marketers are professional liars who have no shame or dignity. Pretty much the same as a blogger, so I guess I have a backup career. Believe it or not, MMOs get off easy when it comes to notorious marketing campaigns. Anything on the following list, good or bad, is a pale shadow of what we've seen in the larger video game industry. Still, there have been plenty of attempts to promote MMOs in ways that make us either applaud or laugh at the studio (and sometimes both at once, which takes coordination). After doing some staff polling and internal polling, here are 10 memorable marketing campaigns from the era of MMORPGs. Maybe they're all winners in that they got noticed by at least one person, even if they're the most foolish notions in history. Here we go!
Justin Olivetti01.24.2013