Marketing

Kindle ad praises the iPad’s Retina display, but…

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 5, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtJBQHLdcM4

Amazon's advertising strategy took on an interesting twist indeed. Even though this commercial surprisingly praises both tablets, it paints the iPad as an overpriced choice versus the Kindle Fire HD, which starts at $199 for the seven-inch version.

Both tablets offer "stunning HD", the commercial proclaims. What Amazon "forgot" to tell viewers is that its 1080p screen is no match for the iPad's Retina display: the latter has a million more pixels (2,048-by-1,536) than the Kindle Fire HD (1,920-by-1,080). Nothing like the good ol' fine print, eh?

Apple specialist Sam Sung gets a mention in Samsung’s Super Bowl commercial

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ae7E8J7h7Y

If you live outside the United States, you could be wondering why all the fuss about Super Bowl. But to many of our U.S. readers, Super Bowl is America's favorite national pastime. Regardless of the camp you belong to, pretty much all of us love big-budget Super Bowl commercials, that much is a given. And speaking of advertising, Samsung ahead of Sunday's Big Game has "leaked" its anticipated commercial.

Conceptualized by the Los Angeles-based creative shop 72andSunny and directed by Jon Favreau, it features Knocked Up stars Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd who are called in to pitch their concepts for Samsung's Next Big Thing.

But despite their best effort to bat around crazy ideas with Bob Odenkirk (example: "crowdsourcing... we won’t have to think of ideas!”), Miami Heat star LeBron James makes a tablet cameo and lands the gig instead. Though it takes jabs at both the NFL and ad industry and mocks Psy and his Gangnam Style, interestingly enough the commercial isn't about Apple at all, sans a subtle reference that almost escaped my attention...

How Samsung came up with iPhone-mocking ads

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 23, 2013

When it comes to Samsung's Galaxy devices and competition with Apple, you could say its advertising approach is overly abrasive.

It doesn't shy away from likening Apple fans to iSheep, poking fun of those who'd wait in line for an iPhone and targeting the latest iPhone 5 in print, on Facebook and Super Bowl.

The South Korean firm buys expensive ad slots to spoof Apple on prime time TV, with a simple goal: isolate Apple fans from the 'others' by painting them as brainwashed drones who happily swallow whatever Apple happens to shovel down their throat.

As far as general public is concerned, Samsung's negative campaign has put it on par with Apple as people started talking more about its products. If you ever wondered how they came up with the risky iPhone-mocking idea in the first place, here's your answer...

The iPad is becoming ad industry’s darling

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Here's one of those news stories that only confirm what we already suspected: Advertisers are in love with the iPad. Not only is the iPad preferred over its Android equivalents, but also the iPhone.

Users of the iPad are more liable to click on an ad than ads displayed on a smartphone or rival tablet, according to new industry research.

According to mobile ad company MoPub, advertisers prefer tablets over smartphones. The preference is because ads for tablets require little changes to move from the desktop or laptop. However, Madison Ave. has an especially soft spot for the iPad, which attracts consumers even more than the iPhone. In addition, ads on the iPad bring advertisers more revenue than those shown to Android tablet owners...

Ironically enough, Apple airs iPhone 5 commercial highlighting Do Not Disturb mode

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLJN_d2sVjk

Talk about ill-timed advertising! Apple's first new television commercial in 2013 which highlights a Do Not Disturb mode on the iPhone 5 has been spotted in the wild. We reported earlier that some folks were irked to wake up this morning to muted alerts for incoming calls and messages despite their iOS Do Not Disturb mode being outside its scheduled time.

I guess Apple's ad agency wasn't keeping tabs on tech news today. The 30-second clip above features tennis celebrity Serena Williams and her sister Venus. The ad can also be found on Apple's official YouTube channel in its high-def glory...

Apple’s Christmas ad, as it should have been…

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 29, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8twx1WZcns

Remember Apple's Christmas commercial with a girl singing "I'll Be Home" to her grandfather via FaceTime on an iPad mini? Yeah, it was that memorable - and for all the wrong reasons, cynics might add. Well, bright folks at Amidio certainly did seize the opportunity to take Apple's idea and one-up it a notch.

Have a look at their version and dare telling me it doesn't beat Apple at its own game. Here we have a grown up (and cutesy) girl singing the same song, but using Amidio's Futulele app to also play the tune on her iPad mini. Not sure about you, but I can instantly tell which one I like better...

Here’s Samsung’s Christmas ad that will ruin your childhood

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIKv1AXUmOk

Not sure whether or not you saw Samsung's TV ad starring Santa and Mrs. Claus where the characters share their sex tape using "the magic of S Beam on the Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note II".

I know it's a rehash of Samsung's earlier (and pretty funny) take on a sex tape exchange between a guy and his wife. Let's be clear - I have absolutely no problem with sex in advertising, but that's a preposterous thing to air as we head into Christmas.

Just what exactly are kids supposed to think after being exposed to such a dramatized sexual innuendo involving their childhood hero? Seriously, what's next? A sexting Santa commercial? Thanks for ruining my childhood, Samsung!

Samsung dissing Apple’s Maps in Sidney

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

You can't blame Samsung's marketing team for pouncing on Apple's every misstep. Remember the Apple Maps snafu in Australia that led to the police issuing a public warning advising against using the mapping product because it incorrectly placed the town of Mildura in the middle of Australia’s Murray Sunset National Park? Seen at the top is a new display banner found on Sydney’s George Street.

A mud-soaked SUV and a sign that reads “Oops, should have got a Samsung Galaxy S III. Get navigation you can trust” really needs no description. The wrong data Samsung's ad is referring to was supplied by the Australian government, iDB reported yesterday, and was incorrectly rendered in other mapping products...

Reuters scolds Americanos for spending way too much money on Apple gear

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 11, 2012

Whenever one parts with one's hard-earned cash in order to get one's hands on a shiny Apple device, there's always people questioning the buyer's sanity.

The inevitable 'Apple tax' every now and then raises its ugly head through click-bait blog posts.

Even more worryingly, this non-topic somehow manages to find its way into write-ups of traffic-hungry newspapers. You can now totally put Reuters on your list of sensationalist media outlets. The otherwise respectable news gathering organization yesterday published an article titled 'Your Money: The "Apple Tax" - America's costly obsession'.

Here's what's wrong with their story and why I'm bitching about it on a lazy Tuesday afternoon...

Best Buy offering a $25 gift card with iPhone 5 purchase

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Best Buy, a specialty retailer of consumer electronics, has just sweetened the iPhone 5 deal by throwing in a $25 Gift Card with every purchase. You can select any iPhone 5 model with a two-year activation on Verizon Wireless, Sprint or AT&T to receive your $25 credit. And should you choose in-store pickup, your gift card will be provided in store when the phone is activated. For online orders, Best Buy will send an electronic gift card within 3–5 days of the phone ship date...

Apple updates 12 Days of Christmas app for the 2012 holiday season

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

European fans have grown accustomed to Apple's holiday promotion called 12 Days of Christmas because they can count on a free download every day in a period following Christmas and until early-January. It's not just apps, Apple usually gives away songs, books and music videos as well.

A dedicated app is crucial to the promotion and today the company has updated the 12 Days of Christmas app for the iPhone, iPod and iPad with gifts for the 2012 holiday season. Download it now to get your free gift starting with December 26, the day after Christmas. The only downside: the promotion is valid outside of the United States only...

Is Samsung now king of cool? Galaxy S III ad tops iPhone 5 promo

Ed Sutherland ∙ December 5, 2012

Another arena has opened for Apple and Samsung to compete for the crown of 'most cool': advertising. For some time, the iPhone maker has had the ad market sewn up, producing luscious videos of products while creating family-friendly spots so sweet they make your teeth hurt. However, it appears the South Korea-based Samsung is giving Apple a run for the money, its Galaxy S III spot being named the most popular tech ad in 2012.

Apple's promo video of the iPhone 5 starring Jony Ive & Co. didn't even break into the Top 5, the seven-minute ad reaching #6 with 18.4 million views on YouTube and elsewhere. The #1 Galaxy S III ad takes Apple to task as a brand past its prime, drew 71.8 million views...