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AT&T responds to Verizon's 3G ad campaign -- by bragging about EDGE

by Nilay Patel posted Nov 12th 2009 at 7:17PM

My iPhone 3GS, in downtown Chicago, as I wrote this post.

Verizon certainly seems to be getting under AT&T's skin with its ads focused on comparing 3G coverage -- not only is Ma Bell suing over 'em, it's now issuing PR to clarify what it sees as the inaccuracies of the entire campaign. If you'll recall, AT&T thinks Verizon's 1:1 comparison of 3G coverage maps makes it look like AT&T doesn't have any coverage at all across most of the country -- which means that our nation's largest wireless carrier is now in the sad position of pimping its gigantic EDGE network in response. Let's all gloss over the absolutely huge difference in 3G versus EDGE together, shall we?

With both 3G and EDGE coverage, customers can access the Internet, send e-mail, surf the Web, stream music, download videos, send photos, text, talk and more. The only difference – with some data applications, 3G is faster than EDGE.

Right, right -- the only difference. That must be why Apple named it the iPhone EDGE Slightly Faster.

Now, AT&T has a valid point when it says that its 3G map covers 75 percent of the nation's population, and that Verizon's conflation of total 3G coverage with actual network quality is slightly misleading. But you know what? We watch our iPhones drop from 3G to EDGE and even to GPRS all day long in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, and that has nothing to do with the damn map, and everything to do with AT&T's actual network quality. Let's put it this way: Verizon's ad campaign would be totally ineffective if it didn't ring so true, and the best way for AT&T to counter these ads is to build a rock-solid network, not filing lawsuits and issuing press releases bragging about freaking EDGE. We all clear on this? Good.

AT&T adds Verizon's Island of Misfit Toys holiday ads to lawsuit, demands they be yanked off the air

by Nilay Patel posted Nov 12th 2009 at 2:03PM

Well, you knew this was coming -- AT&T's amended its advertising lawsuit against Verizon to include Big Red's new holiday ads, including that oh-so-cute Island of Misfit Toys spot, and demanded that they be taken off the air. At question is the same map of AT&T's 3G coverage used in the other commercial, which Ma Bell says misleads customers into thinking it has no service at all in large swaths of the country. Best part? AT&T's lawyers had to describe the ad in their new filing, leading to passages like this:

The spotted elephant, in a surprised manner, asks the iPhone "What are you doing here? You can download apps and browse the web!" and a Dolly for Sue asserts that "Yeah. People will love you [the iPhone]."

Happy holidays, folks.

Read - Digital Daily
Read - AT&T's amended complaint [PDF]

Nokia N900 ad suggests a history of mental illness

by Nilay Patel posted Nov 10th 2009 at 10:17AM

The DROID might have started us down the road of dark sci-fi phone ads, but this new Nokia N900 spot takes things to the disturbing next level. We have no idea of what any of this means -- and we're not too sure Nokia really wants to suggest that its new flagship device is the cellphone manifestation of Twitchy McSanity here. You'll see what we mean -- video after the break.

P.S.- Are we the only ones who see this as a nightmarish dystopian remake of Pump Up The Volume? Is that just us? Okay.

Continue reading Nokia N900 ad suggests a history of mental illness

HP Create Amazing ad tilt-shifts our hearts

by Nilay Patel posted Nov 9th 2009 at 3:39PM

Okay, so we're total suckers for tilt-shift perspective manipulation, and since we've run a fair number of snippy attack ads lately, we thought we'd try and clear the air with this impressive new spot from HP. Part of the relatively-new "Create Amazing" campaign, it's a miniaturized international tour through Shanghai, New York, Santorini, London, Istanbul, and some custom office sets built in L.A., and, well, we're in love. Watch the video below, maybe have a second glance at Michael Gartenberg's Entelligence column on gadget-fan unity from yesterday, and let's all agree to agree for once in this crazy world.

Update: Sadly, the filmmaker got in touch with us and requested that we pull the video until he can clear it with HP -- we'll let you know.

Second Verizon DROID commercial stealth attacks America

by Nilay Patel posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 8:53PM

Looks like those iDon't ads aren't all Verizon has in store to promote the DROID: this new spot, called "Stealth," just leaked to BGR. Again, we can't help but notice that Big Red's taking a nerdier sci-fi approach to things with these ads, but that seems to suit the DROID, if you ask us. Video after the break.

Continue reading Second Verizon DROID commercial stealth attacks America

First Storm 2 ad huffs and puffs for attention (video)

by Ross Miller posted Oct 29th 2009 at 12:17AM

Given the timing of Storm 2's launch and the Motorola DROID's unveiling, you'd think Verizon had all but abandoned its touchscreen BlackBerry. But lo and behold, we do have a new television spot. "Who says lightning never strikes twice" -- who said it ever struck the first time? Video after the break.

[Via Gear Diary]

Continue reading First Storm 2 ad huffs and puffs for attention (video)

Apple welcomes Windows 7 the only way it knows how, with a new commercial (video, updated)

by Ross Miller posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 8:51PM

Can't argue with a wig like that, right? Video after the break.

Update: Two more added. Are these still fun?

Continue reading Apple welcomes Windows 7 the only way it knows how, with a new commercial (video, updated)

New Win 7 ads highlight the bright ideas of 'regular people' (video)

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 11:59AM

You know that Windows 7 is a big deal, we know that it's a big deal, and now the commercial actors of America are letting their voices be heard. This new series of ads from Microsoft drives home the point that the improvement this OS represents over Vista is the product of the comments, concerns, and complaints of users all over the world -- which is fine, as far as that goes, but either they never received our countless emails or someone thinks it's bad form to ship computers with Dukes of Hazzard wallpaper as the default. Advertising after the break.

Continue reading New Win 7 ads highlight the bright ideas of 'regular people' (video)

Verizon's anti-iPhone gets its first commercial: 'Droid Does' (update)

by Darren Murph posted Oct 17th 2009 at 10:04PM

We knew Verizon Wireless would soon be throwing caution to the wind in an effort to sway uncommitted smartphone buyers towards Big Red, and it looks like the November-bound Motorola Droid will be VZW's anti-iPhone. The spot, which launched tonight and can be view in its entirety after the break, is a 30 second clip that begins by mocking Apple's cutesy music and iconic font typically seen in iPhone plugs. It reels off a number of things that the iPhone can't do, and then abruptly goes into full-on tease mode by flashing glimpses of a robot-controlled future and a tagline that simply states: "Droid Does." No shots of the actual Motorola Droid (or Sholes, as it was known in the past) are shown, but a dedicated teaser portal has already been erected; through that, we're told that the phone will boast Android 2.0 and a 5 megapixel camera. At this point, we'd say the gloves are definitely off -- AT&T, have anything to say for yourself, or is the iPhone doing just fine on its own?

Update: See that alien counter that's just sitting on the lower end of the teaser page? As reader Craig N. and a number of others have pointed out, a quick perusal through the page's XML file reveals the end of that timer to be October 30th -- not that we expect to be waiting that long for more Droid news, but it's something to keep in mind.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Gallery: Verizon's anti-iPhone gets its first commercial: 'Droid Does'

Continue reading Verizon's anti-iPhone gets its first commercial: 'Droid Does' (update)

Windows Phone commercial is confusing for a variety of reasons

by Nilay Patel posted Oct 11th 2009 at 10:02PM

Okay, so we understand Microsoft is trying hard to rebrand Windows Mobile as Windows Phone with the launch of WinMo 6.5, but this commercial -- labeled with AT&T logos in the US but also running unlabeled worldwide -- doesn't seem to do a good job of pointing out that Windows Phone is a platform and not a device. In fact, if we didn't know better, we'd think that the HTC Pure is, in fact, the "Windows Phone" -- even though the dude in the spot is holding a totally different generic device. See how that could be weird for people? It's almost confusing enough to distract from the jubilant anthropomorphic app icons in tights. Video after the break.

Continue reading Windows Phone commercial is confusing for a variety of reasons

Zune HD commercial hits major selling points, forgets to include unsettling female spokesperson

by Ross Miller posted Sep 16th 2009 at 8:50PM

Looks like the Zune HD commercials are now hitting the scene, and unless multicolored flashing lights aren't your thing, this isn't likely to cause uneasiness or provoke blatant fanboyism. Instead, we've got a neon spectacle highlighting four of its big selling points: HD radio, video playback, wireless, and yes, games are there, too. See it for yourself after the break.

[Via Dark Zune]

Continue reading Zune HD commercial hits major selling points, forgets to include unsettling female spokesperson

Brilliant PS3 Slim ad loses Nigerian scam reference, internet rumors now known to have started WWI

by Ross Miller posted Sep 11th 2009 at 9:31PM

Turns out not everyone was amused by Sony's tongue-in-cheek PlayStation 3 Slim ad about internet rumors -- just ask the Nigerian government. The line in question, "you can't believe everything you read on the internet, otherwise I'd be a Nigerian millionaire by now," apparently caused a bit of a stir, and the local authorities demanded the company pull the commercial. It's now been replaced in the company's Viddler account with a slightly altered version that claims online FUD is "how World War One got started." Someone should tell Sony Director of Rumor Confirmation Kevin Butler that there's a certain assassinated Austrian Archduke who would beg to differ. Revised video after the break, and just for kicks, we found the old video on YouTube for comparison.

[Via Joystiq]

Continue reading Brilliant PS3 Slim ad loses Nigerian scam reference, internet rumors now known to have started WWI

Video: Palm Pre jumps the border, now shipping on Bell

by Thomas Ricker posted Aug 27th 2009 at 4:21AM

Right on schedule, the Palm Pre has started shipping to Bell Mobility customers. The Bell exclusive marks the first international launch of Palm's little savior and to celebrate, we've got commercials -- a pair of knee-slappers featuring real live Canadians. And you thought that the mirror on the back of the Pre was only for the ladies.

Continue reading Video: Palm Pre jumps the border, now shipping on Bell

Apple enlists David Puddy to take on the Laptop Hunters

by Ross Miller posted Aug 24th 2009 at 10:09PM

Apple's created a whole new chapter in its "Get a Mac" ad campaign based on targeting Microsoft's successful Laptop Hunters series, and while at this point it's just a lot of muddled back-and-forth, the gang in Cupertino managed to spice things up a little by bringing in an all-too-recognizable face and voice: Patrick "David Puddy" Warburton. Mr. Brock Samson / Joe Swanson / The Tick comes on as the top-of-the-line PC who some say has a "much too fast" processor but prone to viruses and causing headaches -- you knew were the narrative was going. Video after the break, and you can go ahead and start work on your parody video, "You got a question about PCs, you ask the eight ball."

[Thanks, Travis]

Continue reading Apple enlists David Puddy to take on the Laptop Hunters

Video: PS3 Slim's Japanese commercials likely to cause fear, distress, and confusion

by Ross Miller posted Aug 24th 2009 at 7:34PM

The folks at Palm may think they've learned how to make some creepy commercials, but let's face it, they've got nothing on Sony. The Japanese company has a long history of discomforting, unexplainable advertising that rivals a David Lynch movie -- in fact, Lynch even directed his own television spot back in the PlayStation 2 days, itself reminiscent of UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights" music video from years before. This latest set of videos for the PS3 Slim in Japan is no exception. Turn off all the lights, raise the volume of your speakers, and bow down before the masters of unnerving gadget promotion just after the break -- we included the Lynch ad, too, in case you were interested.

Continue reading Video: PS3 Slim's Japanese commercials likely to cause fear, distress, and confusion