Marketing

Watch Amazon’s inaugural TV ad for its upcoming Fire Phone

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 18, 2014

Last night, the online retail giant Amazon has begun airing the first television commercial for its Fire smartphone ahead of its debut next Friday in the United States.

Rather than take jabs at competitors as Amazon did with its launch ads for the Fire tablets, the Fire Phone commercial instead zeroes in on the fact that it comes with a full year of Prime membership, bundled free of charge.

It's a major selling point which cleverly takes advantage of Amazon's diverse interests in digital media and its continuos focus on undercutting the value proposition of its rivals...

Apple could fire longtime ad agency TBWA, look to Beats’ Jimmy Iovine to regain marketing mojo

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 14, 2018

Gossip along Madison Avenue is growing more fluent about Apple tiring of its longtime ad agency TBWA Media Labs over a series of disappointing ads. The client-agency relationship is said to have deteriorated to the point where the iPhone maker ostensibly appears on the brink of putting its ad account up for a formal review and firing the ad agency after 30 years of fruitful collaboration.

The rumor arrives just as Apple has found itself under fire from Samsung, which aired the snarky 'Wall Huggers' ad last week to paint the iPhone users as mindless zombies who huddle around power outlets trying to charge up their devices.

The New York Post asserted Monday, without mentioning sources, that Apple and TBWA are at the break-up point. TBWA is a unit of Omnicom Group, the world's largest advertising agency holding company. Apple, the story goes, also appears ready to look to music mogul Jimmy Iovine, now an Apple employee following the $3 billion Beats buy, to help it "regain its marketing mojo"...

Samsung’s latest ‘Wall Huggers’ Galaxy ad attacks iPhone’s battery performance

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 3, 2014

Samsung's marketing department is no stranger to Apple-bashing and its most recent advertisement for the Galaxy S5 flagship proves the point.

Titled 'Wall Huggers', it depicts iPhone users in a series of everyday situations with a recurring theme being them chained to a wall socket. "There they are," the voiceover opens the 60-second commercial.

"Clustered around power outlets, recycling bins and bathrooms, tethered to the wall." The ad is embedded for your viewing pleasure right after the break...

Apple livens up retail stores with backlit wall graphics from TV ads

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Ace Metrix's ad-watching data compiled by Bloomberg has revealed that Apple's in-house advertisements are scoring lower than those created by its long-time ad agency, TBWA\Media Arts Labs. This includes Apple's TBWA-produced iPhone 5s television campaigns such as 'Gigantic' and 'From the Heart'.

Small wonder, then, that Apple has decided to use various motifs from these successful commercials inside its retail stores, starting with the installation of the brand new backlit wall graphics at select locations...

Samsung rolling out 21-day trial program for smart devices

Joe Rossignol ∙ June 26, 2014

Apple and Samsung continue to fight for supremacy as the top consumer electronics maker in the United States, and the latter has a new move up its sleeves to help thwart its competitor. Beginning in July, the South Korean handset maker will be kicking off a 21-day trial program that allows customers to test drive select smartphones, tablets and smart watches from its product lineup.

After quietly launching the trial program in Manhattan last month, Samsung will be extending the offer to Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Santa Clara. The devices available to test drive are the Galaxy S5 and Note III smartphones, the Gear smart watch and the Gear Fit fitness tracker. Prospective buyers can test the devices on different carriers, with Samsung compensating the wireless costs. A refundable deposit of $350 must be made beforehand…

Beats airs “Jungle” remix of World Cup ad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

After posting a five-minute World Cup commercial - basically an ode to soccer, its headphones and the iPhone 5s - Beats on Monday released a shorter version of the "The Game Before The Game" ad.

Titled "Jay Z + Beats by Dre Jungle Remix", it features a remix of "Jungle", a song born out of the collaboration between Jay Z, X Ambassadaros and Jamie N Commons. Check it out after the break and tell us what you think in the comments...

Despite Apple deal, Beats updates Android app, plans on using Samsung shill LeBron James in ads

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 2, 2016

Looks like Tim Cook wasn't joking when he told The Financial Times Apple would keep alive Beats Music apps for Android and Windows Phone platforms. Keep in mind that Cook made that promise after Apple snapped up Beats' streaming-music service, headphones, brand and talent in a $3 billion transaction.

Indeed, Beats has now issued an update to its Android client, the first refresh post-acquisition. But that's not all: it seems Beats will continue to feature Samsung endorser and Miami Heat cager LeBron James in future advertising...

Apple said to expand its in-house advertising team to 1000 employees

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Following a report last week claiming that Apple is shifting more of its TV advertising in house, Ad Age has taken an extensive look at the company's new marketing strategies. To regain its edge amid tough competition, Apple has been working hard on assembling an in-house creative team that will eventually number 1000 employees. The company is going after some of the top advertising talent, even poaching executives from its longtime partner TBWA/Media Arts Lab.

Apple now employs the controversial tactic of pitting TBWA against its internal team, siding with whoever comes up with the best creative ideas and running with it. The in-house team has already won at least a few campaigns, including an ad for the iPad Air last year showing off the thinness of the tablet. The internal team was also behind another iPad Air called Your Verse, featuring American actor Robin Williams…

Here are apps from Apple’s ‘Strength’ iPhone 5s ad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

Yesterday evening, Apple began airing a new iPhone 5s television commercial under the now familiar 'You're More Powerful Than You Think' tagline. The nicely done upbeat commercial focuses on seven popular fitness apps and accessories to suggest that "hey, we’ve already got wearables!"

Like the previous 'Powerful' spot which came with a special webpage highlighting all of the featured apps, Apple has now listed the apps used in the 'Strength' commercial...

Apple debuts new stories for its ‘Your Verse’ iPad campaign

Cody Lee ∙ May 25, 2014

Apple has posted two new stories to its ongoing 'Your Verse' iPad campaign this weekend: one featuring Finnish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, and one involving famed traveler and writer Chérie King.

Like previous 'Your Verse' spots, the stories serve as answers to the question posed in Apple's 'What Will Your Verse Be' advert, promoting the idea that the iPad can be used for both content consumption and creation...

Google surpasses Apple as world’s most valuable brand in latest study

Cody Lee ∙ May 21, 2014

It seems like every couple of weeks, a new study comes out telling us who the most valuable brand in the world is based on various metrics. The winner changes from time to time, but I'd guess more times than not in recent years, it's been Apple.

That's not that case, however in the latest study. Marketing research firm Millward Brown is out with its annual BrandZ study this morning, and after sitting at the top for 3 years in a row, the iPad-maker has been usurped by Google for the #1 spot...

Microsoft’s Nokia Lumia 630 ad shows how to do a smartphone switch with a football

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 16, 2014

Microsoft-owned Nokia earlier this week announced its first Windows Phone 8.1 handset, the Lumia 630, with sales starting in Asia this week, followed by Europe and the United States.

In promoting the low-to-mid-range smartphone, Microsoft and Nokia put together a commercial sporting Finnish goalkeeper and Trick Shot master Lassi Hurskainen who shows how to do a smartphone switch with a football.

And some of the handsets flying out of people's hands seemingly resemble a certain iconic smartphone from a certain California company. Have a look at the video included after the break and meet us in comments...