HTC seems to be in bad shape, but they’re trying to dig themselves out of a rut by recruiting Iron Man lead star Robert Downey Jr. to market the company’s latest products, according to reports. After slashing executive salaries by half just recently, it’s said that HTC is signing a $12 million deal with Downey
Adding on to its previous new ad taking a knock at Siri and the iPad, Microsoft is back with another ad that outlines the iPad’s lack of multitasking, and the setbacks with printing and other hardware downsides. In this case, Microsoft uses an ASUS VivoTab RT and puts it up against the latest fourth-generation iPad.
The video compares both tablets as far as hardware specs are concerned, such as the weight and size of the tablets, as well as the selection of apps and the ability to multitask. Microsoft shows off the ASUS tablet running full Office, while the iPad only has the OneNote app. And while the iPad can quickly switch between apps, Microsoft gloats that the VivoTab can do split-screen multitasking.
The ad also demonstrates that Windows 8 tablets have a microSD card slot built in, while the iPad requires an adapter in order to get the same functionality. Microsoft even brings up printing, noting that the iPad only works with AirPrint-compatible printers, while Windows 8 tablets work with nearly any printer.
While Microsoft’s previous tablet commercials have been all about focusing only on the tablet itself, these new ads put some focus on the competition — in this case, it’s the iPad that’s giving Microsoft’s tablets a run for their money, so it seems the company wants to set the record straight and let people know the benefits of their tablets.
It’s certainly a blatant call out to the iPad, which could result in some eye rolls by viewers, but we have to say these ads are a bit better than office workers break-dancing on top of tables and flinging around their Surface tablets. It’s certainly a better ad for those who don’t like flashy and fast-paced advertisements (*raises hand*).
Microsoft pounces iPad again with new comparison ad is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Apple’s Siri is known for its occasional blasts of snark, but Microsoft has co-opted the virtual assistant for its latest Windows tablet commercial. Billed “Less talking, more doing” the advert – which you can see after the cut – pits Apple’s iPad against an ASUS VivoTab Smart running Windows 8, and which unsurprisingly enough is found lacking in Microsoft’s opinion.
The commercial kicks off with Windows’ Live Tiles, with Siri conceding that iOS doesn’t update its icons like that, and then launches into multi-tasking. The ASUS tablet is shown opening up a sidebar with a second app, again something which isn’t supported on the iPad.
Then it’s time for PowerPoint, since Microsoft apparently can’t imagine a world where a tablet user might not want to throw together some slides. On the ASUS, the presentation can be edited and re-formatted, while the iPad is shown merely scrolling and zooming around in frustration. It’s worth noting that Apple does offer Keynote for iOS, its own PowerPoint alternative, which does allow presentations to be created.
“Should we just play Chopsticks?” Siri concludes, playing out the advert as Microsoft reveals its kicker: how much 64GB versions of both tablets cost. The iPad – Apple’s full-sized version, complete with Retina display – is priced at $699, while ASUS’ Windows 8 tablet is $449.
It’s certainly one of the better adverts Microsoft has put together – at least there’s no random dancing like the Surface tablet commercials the company aired last year – and the use of Siri’s voice (the actual audio files for which Apple licenses) is a sly touch that’s likely to get the fans arguing. Still, Microsoft’s decision to illustrate functionality with PowerPoint seems like a missed opportunity; the business-centric app has little relevance to home users.
Thanks Craig!
Microsoft borrows Siri for iPad smack commercial is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Apple stopped highlighting specific features of their mobile devices for their new set of commercials, but they have returned to doing so with their new iPhone commercial where the company focuses on the device’s camera.
The majority of the commercial time is spent showing people in different regions of the world taking photos of the surroundings that include a concert, the view during a jog and some iconic world locations. At the end of the commercial, Apple claims “more photos are taken with the iPhone than any other camera.” We would assume this claim is based on Flickr’s statistics, which reports the iPhone is one of the most popular “cameras” on the platform, but it certainly doesn’t beat out cameras by Canon and Nikon. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple Patent Wants To Use Your iPhone To Help Find, Start Your Vehicle, V-Moda’s Metallo iPhone Case Comes With A Guitar Pick, 
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We’ve commented before on how HTC always seems to come in second to Samsung — not because it has inferior hardware, but because its marketing budget is comparable to what’s fallen between the cushions of Sammy’s sofa. We might have seen the start of a new strategy from HTC, however, as the company appears to have collaborated with Funny or Die on a comedic promo for the HTC One. It surfaced at the end of last week, but seems to have since been removed from the site. (It’s possible HTC deliberately pulled it for some reason, and we’ve reached out for comment.) In the meantime, copies have found their way onto YouTube, and AdAge reports it’ll start showing up on some websites today, and in a bunch of movie theaters from April 26th. A spoof of The Bachelorette, hosted by James Van Der Beek Dawson Leery, the clip depicts the leading lady deciding on her next handset, with the One winning out against feature-lacking peers — or rather, people dressed in phone costumes. HTC even go as far as coining a bold tagline for the flagship: it’s “everything your phone isn’t.” Whether it’s actually funny is up to you, so check out the full skit below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Via: CNET
Source: YouTube
We may still not have exact launch dates for the Galaxy S4 on all carriers, but the launch is approaching — and with it, Samsung’s latest big ad campaign. From the looks of the first few TV spots, the company is staying away from any shots at its rivals or celebrity appearances (at least for now), focusing instead on some of the new features of the smartphone; Sound Shot, Group Play and S Translator all get their own 30 second ads, while another minute-long commercial (appearing in at least in the UK) offers a more general and suitably dramatic overview of the phone. There’s no word yet on exactly how big a push Samsung will be making with the new ad campaign, but it’s pretty safe to bet you’ll be seeing lots of these in the months ahead.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Via: Android Beat
Apple’s recent commercials have been, in our opinion, a bit lackluster as they no longer talk about their products. Instead, they focus on the experiences its users can expect from their iOS products. Apple really should use the excitement and long-lines that are synonymous with the launch of a new Apple product, especially their mobile devices.
Somersby Cider decided to launch a new commercial that parodies the experience Apple fans go through when a new product launches. Except, of course, the product that’s featured in the following commercial is a cider. The commercial uses a lot of tech terminology that you would find Apple employees describing their products, such as a “16-pit” apple, or buying a cider that’s “completely wireless.”
The Somersby Cider commercial really does a great job at parodying the frenzy that goes on when a new Apple product is launched. It captures the excitement both Apple’s customers as well as their employees experience that day, but again, this is over cider, which makes its excitement completely ironic.
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The closer we get to March 26, the harder it is for us to not have BioShock Infinite on the brain. We’ve seen some great content coming from Irrational Games over the past few months which highlight Columbia’s Impending Doom, Elizabeth possibly being a person who should be feared as well as Booker’s motives not starting out to be as honest as we were lead to believe. Last night, the first official 60-second TV commercial spot for BioShock Infinite debuted, and it’s as awesome as you probably expect it to be.
BioShock Infinite’s 60-second TV commercial is a great mix of action and music with a little bit of the supernatural mixed in there for good measure. Unfortunately, as the commercial suggests at its opening, it’s all CGI, but that doesn’t make it any less awesome, especially considering the in-game footage has always looked fantastic to us.
If you have yet to pre-order your copy of BioShock Infinite, even after hearing about its nifty pre-order bonuses and its premium and Ultimate Songbird editions were announced, we think now would be a good time for you to get your order in as the game looks to be one that shouldn’t be missed.
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We’re sure by now, you’ve seen Samsung’s business-focused commercials where they originally took aim at BlackBerry and Apple, but have since moved on to talk about how the Galaxy S3 can be used in a business environment. The commercials centered around a fictional game called “Unicorn Apocalypse,” which today turned into an actual product.
Unicorn Apocalypse is now available on the Google Play store for you Android users, especially you Galaxy S3 owners, to download. The game can easily be seen as a ripoff of Adult Swim’s Robot Unicorn Attack as you play as a unicorn in an endless runner-type game where you make your way through a number of obstacles to see how far you can travel.
Considering the game is completely free, you shouldn’t expect a worthwhile game here as it appears its littered with bugs and the animation doesn’t seem to be as smooth as Robot Unicorn Attack. If you’d like to get swept up by the Unicorn Apocalypse frenzy you’ve seen in Samsung’s recent commercials, then by all means, download it on the Google Play store.
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On one side of the spectrum, you have people who are using their iPads to better themselves by downloading applications that will help them learn a thing or two. On the other side of the spectrum, you have people who use their iPads for one specific thing, which Conan decides to highlight in a new spoof commercial.
Apple’s recent iPad commercials highlighting experiences only available on the iOS platform hasn’t been one of their best, but Conan thinks they’re not being honest with the public as he knows what we all use our iPads for.
If you have yet to watch the video and still don’t want the surprise to be ruined, let’s just say Conan believes the reason why people use their iPads is to take care of some urges they have that would normally be done in front of a computer. No, it isn’t playing video games or watching an unhealthy amount of cat videos, although those would probably be as embarrassing depending on the kind of people living with you.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple Launches Two New iPad Commercials Highlighting Apps, First Clip Of jOBS Biopic Released Starring Ashton Kutcher As Steve Jobs,
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