New RIM ad shows deep appreciation for U2, Apple's ad team

Yeah, we're sure there are only so many ways you can feature a bit of Brian Eno-produced stadium rock in space in support of your hip, relevant tech company, but we'd say RIM copped a bit much of Apple's style in its new U2 ad. Check out "BlackBerry loves U2" and its iTunes-touting Coldplay inspiration after the break for all the shimmering, uncanny similarities. Though, to be fair, Apple has done its own share of ad swipes in the past, so perhaps RIM was just looking to imitate the master?

[dsteve303 @ Jul 9th 2009 6:02PM]

OMG. SO MYSTICAL AND FREE SPIRITED. I MUST BUY.

[dsteve303 @ Jul 9th 2009 6:31PM]

*Bump*

[Michael @ Jul 9th 2009 6:38PM]

They also borrowed the lens flare stuff from Star Trek.

[Quix @ Jul 9th 2009 6:49PM]

Apple ad: popular musical group enveloped in flashing lights and bubbles.

RIM ad: popular musical group enveloped in flashing lights and bubbles.

Microsoft ad: husband lying on the floor wallowing in his wife's vomit after she discovers his porn browsing history.

HMM, WHICH COMPANY SHOULD I PATRONIZE?

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 9th 2009 7:05PM]

@Quix

Well gee, since you have no intention of ever using MS products regardless of what their ads are, nor will you use RIM stuff, why the hell are you wasting everyone's time asking?

[Quix @ Jul 9th 2009 7:22PM]

@ Looks_Around_You: it's called a "rhetorical" question. Look it up.

[WindowsFTW @ Jul 9th 2009 7:25PM]

Quix,

It's called trolling, and could you try a little harder next time.

[Sea Urchin @ Jul 9th 2009 7:41PM]

I love Viva la Vida too, but our Arab friends hate the song, because it has the word Jerusalem

[DanielT @ Jul 9th 2009 8:03PM]

@Quix
I think you hit a little too close to home on the vomit scenario.

[Nineteen88 @ Jul 9th 2009 9:07PM]

@Sea Urchin,

Don't be silly I'm an Arab (Kuwaiti) & I love Viva La Vida, smart lyrics & brilliant vocals, the song is inspirational & it's produced by visionary people.. Absolutely brilliant.

Now talking about that other company.. U2 is worth nothing to me outside of Apple.

I know I know.. downvote me all you want.. but I'm an Apple & Sony fanboy, & I'm proud of it.

[Quix @ Jul 9th 2009 10:25PM]

@ WindowsFTW: Who needs to try? Microsoft writes this stuff for me!

@DanielT: Indeed.

[RandyFD @ Jul 9th 2009 6:03PM]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

[Rick @ Jul 10th 2009 9:43AM]

Imitation or duplication?

[Ron @ Jul 9th 2009 6:04PM]

How exactly does this AD help sell more RIM products? Who cares if they love U2?

[Alex @ Jul 9th 2009 6:17PM]

It's a play on words (I assume):

Blackberry Loves You Too.

[Templarian @ Jul 9th 2009 7:09PM]

I really think it went over his head.

[fiive_sg @ Jul 9th 2009 6:06PM]

Apple pulled it off way better though...

[Peglegs @ Jul 9th 2009 6:21PM]

agreed. The songs better too :-)

[Cy Starkman @ Jul 9th 2009 6:24PM]

I thought they were both below average ads. If apple's was better it would only be because it was actually about coldplay. The blackberry one had nothing to do with either bb or u2, u2 wasn't using bb and bb doesn't have a global music store with u2 exclusives.

U2 must feel like the town bike eh?

[Quix @ Jul 9th 2009 6:55PM]

Heh, I wonder how U2 feels about being Apple's sloppy seconds for RIM.

[recharged95 @ Jul 9th 2009 8:00PM]

The apple ad was to promote coldplay's new album, which IIRC was on presale only through iTunes (i.e. an exclusive promotion). So, you can get Coldplay on iTunes, but U2 LOVES the BB... Big diff. It has nothing to do with the iPhone, but then again this is Engadget.

The BB ad should have been compared to the other U2 ad that Apple did. Of course, the artist development of the Coldplay and BB U2 ads are the same (likely U2 was behind the concept of an Apple ad, then when Coldplay came along, Apple stolen it and used it against U2. U2 does a BB ad and says, hey remember that concept we had at Apple...) Hmmm.. I like starting rumors...

Also, when Palm uses U2 then you can say U2 IS the town bike.

[Jsocontrer @ Jul 9th 2009 6:06PM]

Cold Play add is way better!

[HammerT @ Jul 9th 2009 6:24PM]

so is the music :D

[anodynewake @ Jul 10th 2009 1:21PM]

Well, now we know who the twelve-year-olds are on Engadget...

[Tehman @ Jul 9th 2009 6:07PM]

HELLOOoooooo!

HELLOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo!

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jul 9th 2009 6:09PM]

HOLA!

[Kamil @ Jul 9th 2009 6:16PM]

czesz!

[manifest3r @ Jul 10th 2009 12:08AM]

feliz navidad

[oghowie @ Jul 9th 2009 6:08PM]

Coldplay ad was much better.

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 9th 2009 6:33PM]

I would say thir music is better, but that song was totally ripped off from another group almost to the note.

Find the comparison on youtube. it's astonishing.

[VyX @ Jul 9th 2009 6:08PM]

I don't get how these ads have anything to do with blackberry's product. They aren't exactly the greatest media players out there...

[Irwin @ Jul 9th 2009 6:43PM]

I think the adds are to show that they're the main sponsor for U2's up coming world tour.

[pfuego @ Jul 10th 2009 11:21AM]

Yeah, cause I'm sure Coldplay sits around listening to Joe Satriani all day. Not.

Melody duplications can happen independently. It's not like it's some complicated and weird arrangement of notes.

[Shane @ Jul 9th 2009 6:14PM]

No. No similarity. Whatsoever.

[chuuchdizzle @ Jul 9th 2009 6:15PM]

hey at the end of the day both bands suck so, I guess HTC wins, since pre's advertising is also freaking creepy.

[Kamil @ Jul 9th 2009 6:17PM]

are you talking about the ad where that chick REALLY needed a tan?

if so, i agree 100%

[Stu L Tissimus @ Jul 9th 2009 6:31PM]

yeah but the music rocks

M83 >>>> Coldplay >>>>>>>>> U2

[Rudy @ Jul 9th 2009 8:23PM]

seriously that girl is creepy as hell! who the hell at pre/sprint thought that ad was ok? that doesnt make me want to buy a phone it makes me want to change the channel.

[tdwoods @ Jul 9th 2009 6:16PM]

Quite odd link with U2/ b'berry since Bono owns most of the hedge fund that has just invested in and revitalised Palm to enable the Pre!

[John @ Jul 9th 2009 6:16PM]

With Bono's Elevation Partner's money tied up in Palm, you'd think that U2 would be sending some love the Pre's way.

[Austin @ Jul 9th 2009 6:17PM]

Ironic that Coldplay has been hounded for their 'Deep Appreciation" of a couple of other writer's songs.

[tamoghno @ Jul 9th 2009 6:18PM]

So what's gonna be the red u2 version blackberry ? Bold or storm ?

My bet goes to storm !

[TBone @ Jul 9th 2009 6:19PM]

Blackberry is sponsoring U2's current tour, and U2 is putting out a mobile album sold on the Blackberry Apps Place, AND Blackberry's newest product is called the Blackberry Tour. Although most people wouldn't know that or deduct that from the ad, I guess it's somewhat relevant?

[anonymous @ Jul 9th 2009 8:16PM]

AND all RIM employees are getting a free ticket to the U2 360 tour closest to their city (in Canada at least)

[Rick White @ Jul 9th 2009 6:20PM]

Yup, saw this the other day and though the same thing.

[dsdshark @ Jul 9th 2009 6:20PM]

What does that have to do with a Blackberry? Oh, nothing? Ok.

[gouken85 @ Jul 9th 2009 6:31PM]

Yeah. They should stick to their strengths.

[zacheryjensen @ Jul 9th 2009 6:21PM]

I thought it was an ad for apple tv when I first saw it. The whole time I was wondering... "Why would Apple use U2, they haven't been trendy for 10 years?" and then it said BlackBerry and everything made more sense.

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 9th 2009 6:31PM]

You do know that U2 was in an iPod ad just a couple of years ago?

Let me guess, that slipped your mind before to decided to slam RIM for using them?

[gib @ Jul 10th 2009 12:43AM]

@ look around you

.. that was in 2004, dude. Before iPods could even play video. Before blackberry put more than 32mb of memory in their phones. Five years in the tech world is more than a couple, it a lifetime.