Fan-made Pre ad gets the point, why can't Palm? (video)

We've already talked (at length) about Palm's failure to properly present its wares to the public. Using promotional campaigns that have fluctuated between gimmicky and creepy, the company has never allowed its superlative WebOS its time to shine. As if to illustrate our point to perfection, a loyal Pre user has put together his own, extremely professional, advert for the device, which manages to achieve -- in a mere 30 seconds -- what Palm has been struggling with for nearly a year. It shows off the handsome device, the effortless multitasking, the variety of apps, integrated services and video capabilities, and, most importantly, emphasizes the sheer beauty and ease of use of WebOS. See the video after the break.

[Thanks, Chris F]

[vpr Posted Mar 26th 2010 4:25AM]

Haven't watched this yet since I'm at work, but hopefully Palm will incorporate it somehow into their marketing.

[emopoops Posted Mar 26th 2010 4:50AM]

@vpr i really dont understand this app either..... perhaps they should have added a grunge effect to the notepad in the beginning to make it seem more emo.

[CJ100570 Posted Mar 26th 2010 4:54AM]

@vpr If you haven't watched it how can you say that hopefully Palm will incorporate it? For all you know it's a lame!

[Invader Par Posted Mar 26th 2010 6:04AM]

@vpr
That's why he copyrighted it! Imagine how much money he can make off of Palm when they want to buy this commercial from him?!

Oh, wait, they don't have any cash... XD

[abedinthehouse Posted Mar 26th 2010 6:05AM]

After Effects FTW!

[werty1432k Posted Mar 26th 2010 7:47AM]

@vpr I guess its awesome for like an 'indie self made add'

I think Palm needs the slogan: "Hold life in the PALM of your hand"

[IcerC Posted Mar 26th 2010 8:12AM]

@vpr more fan-made palm ads? wow! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDFG8om-jK0

[obobo Posted Mar 26th 2010 9:18AM]

The problem is the device itself not the advertising

[Deputy Doofus Posted Mar 26th 2010 9:45AM]

@Prevacator Mark his words

[Deputy Doofus Posted Mar 26th 2010 10:02AM]

@CJ100570

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say he thinks the video must be good because he trusts Engadget.

[vpr Posted Mar 26th 2010 10:06AM]

@CJ100570 Watched it now that I got home - thought it was pretty good. Although I agree that it doesn't convey to the average viewer what's happening very well.

[Rebel6381 Posted Mar 26th 2010 10:08AM]

@werty1432k "Grab life with the PALM"

[vpr Posted Mar 26th 2010 10:28AM]

@Deputy Doofus exactly!

[fernandez21 Posted Mar 26th 2010 10:29AM]

@IcerC

I like this one better
http://www.youtube.com/user/IcerC#p/a/u/1/fYXdpap0E9c

[hmmwv Posted Mar 26th 2010 11:50AM]

@vpr face PALM!

[lelander Posted Mar 26th 2010 12:15PM]

@vpr

Ad leaves out the two best things about the Pre, notifications and global search.

[Konga068 Posted Mar 26th 2010 2:42PM]

@vpr Is there a reason why you comment was down ranked into oblivion? I completely agree with you. This thing could destroy the iPhone if it was advertised properly.

[vpr Posted Mar 26th 2010 2:58PM]

@Konga068 I was too honest and said 'I hadn't watched it yet, so people probably thought 'This guy thinks they should do something that he hasn't even watched yet!' but I thought it was better then someone just saying 'FIRST!' like so many people tend to do. Either way, the same result...down ranked into oblivion!

[BrownSound Posted Mar 26th 2010 3:08PM]

@werty1432k

ahahaha I like it

[SeanR Posted Mar 27th 2010 2:56AM]

@Rebel6381 Your Palm, not The Palm

[Burritoclock Posted Mar 27th 2010 12:12PM]

@InternetExplorer

You being a "marketing professional" and hating this ad kinda explains everything doesn't it....

[Konga068 Posted Mar 27th 2010 3:43PM]

@InternetExplorer It's a fan made video, not some professional ad made by Palm. Of course it's not going to be the best ad ever since it's made by a fan.

[ARKENST0NE Posted Mar 27th 2010 8:37PM]

@Rebel6381 better yet grab life by the *palm*

[The Madman Posted Mar 28th 2010 8:40AM]

@InternetExplorer And I'm Steve Jobs. I think the iPad sucks.

You can be whoever the hell you want on the Internet, but it doesn't matter. What you say is more important than who you are, and let me tell you, you've not half come out with some crap in the past.

[seanbob91 Posted Mar 28th 2010 9:19PM]

@IcerC Those are pretty good! :)

[blustrkr Posted Mar 26th 2010 4:27AM]

This is awesome. You watching this, Palm?

[Mr w00t Posted Mar 26th 2010 4:33AM]

@blustrkr Palm if you know ANYTHING about business, hire this guy...
Or... just... stop selling phones. :D

[engadgetaddict Posted Mar 26th 2010 4:52AM]

@blustrkr /agree How could Palm go so far and yet fall flat on their face all because of under-advertising. (I do think they should of switched to Android though). PS. Isn't this the same problem Apple had? The whole Software vs. Hardware thing?

[CJ100570 Posted Mar 26th 2010 4:55AM]

@engadgetaddict Palm hasn't switched to Android.

[MacArtStyle Posted Mar 26th 2010 5:21AM]

@blustrkr

This is garbage! Honestly, do you think any marketing campaign could have or (can) save Palm. Palm's issues are deeper than any ad campain can solve. So lets not kid ourselves that some yoyo with video editing and graphic skills has the answer. This is a joke, we are geeks on engadget, not marketing guru's, thats another site.

[ProfKOS Posted Mar 26th 2010 7:39AM]

@MacArtStyle
I am a marketing professional and a geek on engadget. I think the ad is brilliant. I'd like to see it synced with what's happening on the magazine page, but the concept is fantastic. Were I employed by Palm this is exactly the kind of advertising I'd like to see.

[HardToBelieve Posted Mar 26th 2010 7:43AM]

@MacArtStyle

Erm, excuse me, but you seem to be under the impression that you can't be a tech geek and a marketing expert. Get off of Engadget, and get some common sense.

And as for your "No marketing campaign can save Palm" thing, you're even more mistaken. How many people know that Palm is still making phones? Quality phones. How many people know that they make quality phones at affordable price? How many people own Palm phones? Yeah, not that many. Which is only because of poor marketing. They're not making people want to buy their phones. If anything they've been pushing them away.

A good marketing campaign could help that.

[steel Posted Mar 26th 2010 8:25AM]

@Mr w00t

Palm was dq'd after the first part of your sentence.

I've said it many times, but in today's tech culture, the user has become the expert. The companies are clueless.

[Mr w00t Posted Mar 26th 2010 8:34AM]

@steel No... sorry, you are totally right...

HEY PALM, forget what I said and keep up the good job. Seems that you dont need my stupid advice since your financials are top notch.

[viditbhargava Posted Mar 26th 2010 8:41AM]

@blustrkr Awesome!!!

[crappypunk Posted Mar 26th 2010 9:03AM]

Why do people say "should of" instead of "should have" .. am I an idiot or something? .. and this commercial makes me want to buy whatever they're selling :)

[Elranzer Posted Mar 26th 2010 9:23AM]

Palm launches the majority of their phones on Sprint exclusively. They have no business sense at all. No wonder they're going bankrupt.

[ThatDudeSolo Posted Mar 26th 2010 9:50AM]

@steel I totally agree with you there steel. Sometimes I wonder how much better a product will be if we the users would have a little more say in he products we buy. I mean you would think most of the people working there are consumers themselves yet they half ass stuff and miss minor MAJOR things. Not directly talking about palm, but rather some of our other favorite products.

[ThatDudeSolo Posted Mar 26th 2010 9:54AM]

@Elranzer I'm on sprint and I can agree that was a dumb move.

[Frankenstein Black Posted Mar 26th 2010 11:19AM]

@blustrkr - It just goes to show that in this day and age "professional" AD AGENCIES ARE USELESS!

[Wildman Posted Mar 26th 2010 11:47AM]

@blustrkr

palm, fire whoever came up with the idea of a creepy pale girl, and put this guy in his place!

[Purple Haze Posted Mar 26th 2010 11:57AM]

@crappypunk
Because they hear 'should've' in their heads and think it's spelled 'should of'.

[hobbes28 Posted Mar 26th 2010 12:17PM]

@Purple Haze Bravo! I absolutely love it when someone comments on a previous poster's grammar and gets all of their own grammar correct. It's a rare find but great when it happens. Thanks for that.

(There is no sarcasm to this reply, I am that much of a grammar cop.)

[spamfree Posted Mar 26th 2010 1:02PM]

@blustrkr This is by far one of the best phone ads ever (real or otherwise). I'm an avid iPhone user and I think this ad transcends all other phone ads I've seen. If I were Palm I'd call this guy up pronto.

[crappypunk Posted Mar 26th 2010 2:52PM]

@Purple Haze I love you

[cloud858rk Posted Mar 26th 2010 3:51PM]

@crappypunk Because when people talk 'should've' sounds just like 'should of,' and then they get used to typing it.

[onlymyrailgun Posted Mar 27th 2010 3:06AM]

@cloud858rk
I know what you mean. Sometimes the sounds in your head just diffuse from your fingertips; But when they check their comments, do they not find "should of" grammatically awkward? Oh, wait. People don't proofread their comments.

[NuShrike Posted Mar 27th 2010 4:53AM]

@steel This is what happens when the company is run by MBAs from non-tech backgrounds instead of engineers that are close to the tech.

Do you want that smooth-talking HS jerk now trying to hawk your geek tools back to you? Don't think so.

[DAngelo Posted Mar 28th 2010 11:04AM]

@ProfKOS
I'm sorry but it is an interesting ad, but not brilliant at all. Palm needs to clearly convey to potential customers that the Pre/Pixie can do the things that they want to do - an easily. Nowhere does any ad convey this message, but the brilliant Apple ads always do. I'm waiting for the Pre to come to AT&T, but I'm seriously looking at the iPhone. Lelander here posted that the best things about WebOS are "notifications and global search", I didn't know that, and who would from any of Palm's lame ads.

[Mr w00t Posted Apr 1st 2010 3:58AM]

@steel yeah, seems that they do seem to know what they are doing with all of the marketing campaigns and so on...

i have my own opinion and i think they went on a wrong direction, is that so hard for you to swallow?

be careful, to follow blindly what a company say... they are just after your pocket my friend.