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Second Verizon DROID commercial stealth attacks America

by Nilay Patel posted Nov 3rd 2009 @ 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 @ 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)

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

by Darren Murph posted Oct 17th 2009 @ 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?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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

Windows Phone commercial is confusing for a variety of reasons

by Nilay Patel posted Oct 11th 2009 @ 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

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

by Thomas Ricker posted Aug 27th 2009 @ 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

Bell's Palm Pre commercial couldn't be more Apple if it had an Orba Squara soundtrack

by Ross Miller posted Aug 21st 2009 @ 12:24AM

Far from being creepy this time around, the latest Palm Pre ad -- this one specifically for Bell's Canadian customer base -- is familiar. Very familiar. Plain white backdrop? Check. Peppy male narrator? Check. Hip, upbeat music? Check. Mysterious hands showing off mobile apps and other smartphone capabilities? Check. Side-by-side comparison videos after the break. Hey, at least this one isn't gonna creep you out.

[Via Pre Thinking]

Continue reading Bell's Palm Pre commercial couldn't be more Apple if it had an Orba Squara soundtrack

Video: New Palm Pre ad takes serene approach, just goes with the flow

by Ross Miller posted Jul 13th 2009 @ 5:16PM

When we last saw this fair-faced Pre spokesperson, she was sitting on a rock in an otherwise open field playing choreographer to a sea of robed individuals encircling her. This latest ad takes a decidedly simpler approach reminiscent of the vibe set in the Meet the Pre series, though we can't say for sure her if her followers aren't just waiting off-camera for the next directive. Also, interesting choice of onomatopoeia for sliding through the webOS cards, we imagine there's a certain, Redmond-based company out there delighted by the subtle (and probably unintentional) reference. See the ad for yourself after the break -- and in case you're wondering, that song that'll be stuck in your head all day is "Doot Doot" by Freur.

[Via Pre Central]

Continue reading Video: New Palm Pre ad takes serene approach, just goes with the flow

David Beckham bends it like a Terminator for Motorola's Aura

by Joshua Topolsky posted Apr 17th 2009 @ 10:46AM

Never before in the history of humankind has a company that's been doing so badly had such an enormous amount of money to waste. Enter Motorola, and, consequently, their new Aura advertisement featuring megahunk David Beckham doing what he does best: absolutely nothing. There's not much that we can say that the Terminator-inspired ad won't say for us, so putter on after the break and catch the ad itself, plus Beckster beefcaking it up like a pro and sharing his innermost insights on Moto's $2,000 phone.

[Thanks, ugotamesij]

Continue reading David Beckham bends it like a Terminator for Motorola's Aura

Verizon cans ads that batter Sprint's push-to-talk network

by Darren Murph posted Nov 6th 2008 @ 12:40PM

Man, what's up with Verizon and its ad department? Just a few months back, the carrier was thrashed by PETA for running a controversial spot involving two pit bulls chained up in a junkyard, and now it's being fingered for making questionable remarks toward Sprint's push-to-talk network. For those unaware, the spots (one hosted after the break) included lines such as "We all upgraded to Verizon Wireless. Got push to talk and the reliability of the network. That old service is useless now." Sprint argued that the subtle drops could wrongfully influence people to believe that Sprint's PTT network was non-functional or that it would soon be discontinued, and eventually, NAD (an ad watchdog agency) recommended that VZW nix the ads. As it stands, the commercials in question have indeed been dropped, but Verizon asserts that it did so as a normal part of business. Ah well, it's the end result that matters, right Sprint?

Continue reading Verizon cans ads that batter Sprint's push-to-talk network

Verizon pulls pit bull LG Dare commercial after PETA bombardment

by Darren Murph posted Aug 6th 2008 @ 1:09PM

Say what you will about PETA's beliefs, but if there's one thing that group proves, it's that there is power in numbers. Verizon Wireless had been fairly adamant that it would continue airing its pit bull ad for the LG Dare -- which shows a pair of the dogs chained up in a junkyard guarding heaps of metal and a misplaced handset -- but after PETA issued an "action alert" that triggered 7,000 emails to the outfit's CEO, its tune changed. For those longing to waste another 30 seconds of their life watching the spot that will never again air on the small screen, click on past the break.

Continue reading Verizon pulls pit bull LG Dare commercial after PETA bombardment

HTC reveals US marketing push

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 22nd 2008 @ 4:39AM

Marketing its wares straight to consumers is old hat for HTC in the Old World, but stateside? Not so much. That's not to say the HTC name is a total unknown in North America; there's been the odd Advantage here and Shift there, but by and large, we yanks know the Taiwanese firm better for its relatively anonymous efforts in the likes of the AT&T Tilt, Verizon XV6900, Sprint Touch, and countless other carrier-branded devices. That's about to change, though, with a full-court press of TV, print, outdoor, and online advertising targeted squarely at the US market launching this week. The company's first ad in the campaign is posted to YouTube -- no new products here, sadly, but it's an encouraging sign to see that one of the world's most prolific ODMs and smartphone manufacturers now thinks that the American market is mature enough to be dealt with directly. The announcement of the US-spec Touch Dual was a good start, and now, we look forward to seeing a whole heck of a lot more where that came from. Check the first commercial after the break.

Continue reading HTC reveals US marketing push

FCC approves rules for 700MHz frequency auction

by Joshua Topolsky posted Jul 31st 2007 @ 5:38PM

The FCC has just approved rules on the highly-sought after, Google-attracting 700MHz wireless frequency band auction which will take place sometime next year. The agency has decided that one-third of the soon-to-be-empty band will be available to consumers under FCC chairman Kevin Martin's "open access" plan, which forces the winning bidder to keep the band accessible to any wireless device or application regardless of the maker, opening up options heretofore unseen on established networks. The 700MHz range -- which is being vacated by television broadcasters going digital -- is desirable because of its ability to travel long distances and easily penetrate walls, and Martin feels it could provide a "third pipe" to US homes, circumventing the established stranglehold cable and telephone companies have on bandwidth. A total of 60 megahertz will be auctioned off, with twenty-two of them "open," and another 10 set aside for a "national public safety" network. The auctioning off of the frequency is expected to raise as much as $15 billion for the federal treasury.

Up next on the FCC spectrum auction block: 700MHz band

by Darren Murph posted Apr 27th 2007 @ 11:20AM

We know, jostling over the almighty 700MHz band may not be as exciting as tossing in your bid for the one and only PowerFest '94 cartridge, but for wireless providers and startups alike, this one is big. The FCC has finally announced technical specifications for the upcoming 700MHz band auction, which is being dubbed the "most valuable available slice of radio-frequency spectrum," but are holding out on the anxious bidders by "not deciding exactly how the spectrum will be divided and sold off." The Congressional Budget Office has reckoned that "as much as $15 billion" could be added to the federal treasury as a result of the auction, as the swath of airwaves in the 700MHz range is being "vacated by television broadcasters as they make the transition to digital TV," which makes for "prime territory for providing advanced wireless broadband services." The FCC Chairman was quoted as saying that this auction would hopefully enable a "third pipe to the home" to be constructed in order to provide "affordable broadband to all Americans." If all this sounds interesting, and you've got billions laying around collecting dust, it sounds like you're in for quite the battle come auction time.

Hands-on with Samsung Ultra Music: as lovely as Beyonce

by Sean Cooper posted Mar 15th 2007 @ 12:40PM

CeBIT is where it's at for huge crowds and greasy smudged phones, but we have you covered with piles of wipes and early-morning access to Beyoncé's treasure. Samsung, it seems, has struck a deal with her that extends to TV commercials, concert tours, and other advertisements. The idea behind the SGH-F300 is to have one side dedicated to music and the other for calling and messaging. We have a feeling the phone screen may be a tad bit too small to be terribly useful but it does look Samsung-beautiful first hand. Flipping the phone over reveals a large square control for music, touted as the "Sweeping Touch UI" control system and of course the larger screen. As an added kindness, Samsung has also included Beyoncé's hit "Irreplaceable" pre-loaded on the device. No word on what the diva gets, but we assume a car load of cash and at least a free phone.

Hands-on with Ultra Music

Sprint compares its EV-DO speeds to Cingy's EDGE -- guess what happens

by Paul Miller posted Dec 11th 2006 @ 8:35PM

While our general practice of unquestioning obedience to the boob tube has gotten us this far in life, we managed to wake from our mindless trance for a few seconds the other evening to notice some BS Sprint was trying to pull on national TV. Sprint's recent TV commercial features dork-in-a-suit A and B sitting next to each other on a park bench, one with a drab Cingular laptop card, and the other one rocking one of those spiffy Sprint PCMCIA numbers. The Sprint dude proceeds to rock the house with his download, from a shiny app that looks suspiciously like Outlook, while the Cingular guy gets left behind with his dorky wanna-be email app and a crawling download progress bar. A helpful narrator explains the situation: "Sprint mobile broadband downloads 5x faster than Cingular's EDGE." Good to know, right? Well, unless if you count the fact that Cingular's EDGE ain't quite the competition anymore, Sprint. It's called HSDPA. Google it. And sure, EV-DO Rev A gives Cingular's current HSDPA version a run for its money, but we suppose a fair fight just doesn't work for ye ol' PR firm, eh? Peep the commercial after the break.

Continue reading Sprint compares its EV-DO speeds to Cingy's EDGE -- guess what happens