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The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for June 11, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
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."
Apple's ad man changes roles, but another Apple fan will take his place
Update: As our loyal commenters have pointed out, Gizmodo (which was among the first sites to report that Clow was changing roles, echoing a piece in the industry journal Advertising Age) has followed up with an internal email from Clow where he says Miller's promotion does not imply that Clow is stepping away from his own leadership role with the company, including "keeping an eye on Apple." --- When many people think of Apple, they think of the ad campaigns that the company has used over the years: The original "1984" Super Bowl ad that introduced the Mac to the world The "Think Different" campaign that coincided with the return of Steve Jobs to the company The iPod dancing silhouettes "There's an app for that" -- the iPhone ads "Hello, I'm a Mac. And I'm a PC." -- the Get A Mac ads Apple's advertising agency is TBWA / Media Arts Lab, and the person who has been the creative force behind all of these ads is a man by the name of Lee Clow. The 66 year-old Clow has decided to step down as chief creative officer at the agency, although he'll remain chairman and global director of Media Arts Lab and fulfill other roles within TBWA. Clow's replacement is no stranger to Apple. Duncan Milner is currently the executive creative director on the Apple account and is considered by many in the advertising industry to be the perfect replacement for Clow, a close friend of Steve Jobs.
Apple's main ad man thinks different, steps down as Macs battle PCs like it's 1984
Apple's certainly seen plenty of shakeups in its ranks over the years and, while this one may not exactly come as a shock, it's still tough to overstate the influence of Lee Clow, who has announced that he's stepping down as chief creative officer of Apple's main ad agency, TBWA/Media Arts Lab. While he also made his mark with a range of other clients (including the Energizer Bunny and the Taco Bell Chihuahua), Clow was most closely identified with Apple, and founded the Media Arts Lab as part of TBWA in 2006 specifically to serve the company. Clow has been the man behind virtually every major Apple advertising campaign even before that, however, including the famous 1984 Superbowl ad, the "Think Different" series, the dancing iPod silhouettes and, of course, the Mac vs. PC ads. Not surprisingly, another Apple ad man, Duncan Milner, has been tapped to take his place, and Clow will be staying on as Chairman if he ever needs a little advice. Let's head on past the break for a brief trip down memory lane, shall we? [Via Macworld]
iPod touch ad puts a new slant on things
TBWA/Media Arts Lab created a spiffy new online ad for the iPod touch: it plays around with objects on the Yahoo! Games page as the ad plays. It's not unlike the Nintendo "Wario Land" YouTube video that has the same effect. AdAge notes that Apple has been clever about creating media-rich online advertising, including the New York Times ads that interact with each other, even though they're in different units. [Via Macenstein.]
Ad: PSP makes being arrested so much more fun
We love the construction of this ad for the PSP created by TBWA Espana, Madrid, Spain. Two police offers are apprehending this young man, and instead of handcuffs, they use the ever-engrossing PSP. It's a subtle ad that may not sell the system's capabilities, but does a great job of emphasizing how cool the device is.[Thanks, Karsten!]
NSFW: Sony's Euro PS3 thumb for a penis ad
The image above is not the complete ad from Sony's European ad agency, TBWA\Wien, but we have placed the full monty (literally) after the break. When viewer's eyes wander south they will not be greeted by a penis, but by a well manicured thumb where a penis should be, which, believe it or not, is actually a thousand times more frightening.Ads of the World posted this Austrian PS3 ad which continues to make us scratch our heads as to why Sony only fired TBWA from doing its American ads. As this blogger has received about 10 IMs in the last twenty minutes asking if I've seen the Sony Europe ad yet, one could say the piece is doing its job. Whether its doing the right job is a whole other debate.[Via GayGamer, PS3 Fanboy]
Sony drops ad agency responsible for Universe commercials
It seems Sony is finally fed up with being the brunt of industry jokes with its long list of laughable commercials. In Sony's recent internal review for its $150 million advertising account, it eliminated its 13-year ad agency, TBWA/Chiat/Day, from consideration.With TBWA out of the picture, it leaves four other companies in contention. Two companies, Publicis in the West and Deutsch have been requested to present further information, while the other two have not been contacted, according to Advertising Age.The recently released company was responsible for delivering Sony's Universe line of commercials, which are currently airing on TV. However, while TBWA/Chiat/Day was tasked with delivering the new line of commercials, Superfad is the production company that actually created the ads, so there still is a possibility that Sony continues the impressive ads.[Via Max Console]
Sony America drops ad agency of 13 years -- now?
Advertising Age reports Sony Computer Entertainment of America kicked their ad agency of 13 years to the curb yesterday. TBWA/Chiat/Day was eliminated from the review of the $150 million PlayStation account. After all the numerous incidents over the years and the disastrous PS3 launch ads, the company finally turned things around for this holiday season. Looks like it was a day late and $150 million dollars short.There's still some questions that'll probably be clarified when an official announcement of the new ad agency is made. For example, all information on the issue speaks directly to Sony America, however TBWA is also responsible for the twisted, disruptive, ridiculous, and sometimes racist, European ads as well. Sony has yet to comment.[Via GameDaily]
A strange French PS2 ad hits the web for July
You have to hand it to Sony. They're not afraid to try anything with their advertising. The above (NSFW) clip was produced by the French ad agency, TBWA-Paris, for the PlayStation France online gallery (Artcade). Though the ad may never see the television light of day, maybe the bald dude at the end is used to pay tribute to Zinedine "Headbutt" Zidane."It freaks me out, baby! Yeah..."[Thanks, Franck; via Artcade]
Disturbing "disruptive" PS2 ad
TBWA, one of the world's largest ad firms, is responsible for the ubiquitous neon iPod ads and the unfortunate PSP graffiti ads that have municipalities all riled up. They call their unique brand of advertising "disruptive." They break it down this way, "TBWA = Disruption." Alright, got it.I suppose the above PS2 ad is disruptive then, if you accept that disturbing can be disruptive. Sure, the male/female electrical outlet faces are pretty creepy, but the shirtless dude "watching" them is what really pushes this one over the creepy cliff. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an inexplicable desire to really play some PS2...
