10 Best Cell Phone Commercials Ever Made Who’s Agitatin’ My Dots? (Nextel, 2006) From the grey-washed, slightly dystopian warehouse world of the meddlesome dot-agitators, to the casual intimidation of the cake-eater, this commercial features a wide variety of WTF, mixed with some concisely presented information on how former US wireless carrier Nextel could help your business with its GPS tracking solutions. This mix of humor with product education, a staple of advertising for decades, was something of a Nextel specialty during the short period of optimism following its merger with Sprint. And the cake-eating guy was on Night Court, so that’s awesome. Crime Deterrent (Sprint, 2006) Speaking of Sprint. This commercial debuted as a halftime spot during the 2006 Super Bowl, and its sudden violence would have seemed brutal if it weren’t so hilarious. The commercial does little to educate consumers about the benefits of Sprint products — not because they aren’t mentioned, but because everything that happens in the latter half of the spot instantly obliterates any memory of the first portion. Even so, this is a spot that stayed in people’s minds for years after its original air date. You (HTC, 2010) This commercial was part of a series of ads, HTC’s first real effort to establish itself in the minds of American consumers following years of manufacturing products for other brands. The “You” campaign employed a catchy remix of Nina Simone’ “Sinnerman” along with a congenial voiceover describing the various ways we’re all different, and how each of us needs a smartphone that suits our own unique needs. In the able hands of advertising firm Deutsch LA Inc., a concept that might have come off mawkish or saccharine instead became poignant, almost touching. It holds up even today, after two years of smartphone inundation, reminding us just how personal these devices can be despite their near-ubiquity. In all seriousness, this is probably my favorite technology ad of all time. Antennalope (Nextel, 2003) To shake off that sentimentality, let’s trek back to Nextel for the requisite early-21st-century absurdity. The company was rolling out its nationwide push-to-talk service at the time, and this was perhaps the most absurd of three similar ads “explaining” how Nextel, America’s only national iDEN provider, had achieved such a herculean task. Watching You, All The Time (T-Mobile USA, 2007) T-Mobile USA has for years been the struggling last-place contender in the American wireless market, but that unenviable position has resulted in some of the most aggressive marketing in the landscape. Often, that means T-Mobile ends up trying too hard. Some of its commercials come off either painfully un-funny or dull and expository. Here, though, the mix of blank-faced creepiness from the father, abject terror in the teenager and the memorable message that “being in someone’s [top] 5 [calling circle]” is quite a significant thing combine to make an ad that’s memorable for the right reasons. Butt Dialing (T-Mobile USA/RIM, 2009) This is one of those ads that’s recently enjoyed a slight internet renaissance due to […]
Sleeping on the sidewalk outside an Apple Store is totally worth it if Tim Cook shows up. The Apple CEO stopped by the Palo Alto store Friday morning to pose for selfies with intrepid line-dwellers. Cook was also there to, you know, welcome the iPhone 6 or something like that — but selfies, right?! Selfie with Tim Cook. @CBSSF pic.twitter.com/j0Kdms5IiN — Kiet Do (@kietdo) September 19, 2014 After posing for photographs, Cook went inside to open the store doors for everyone pumped to get their hands on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (remember to use two hands, people). Photobombing a #timcook #selfie at #paloalto #iphone6 line pic.twitter.com/PViuhSbXu2 — Bob Redell (@BobNBC) September 19, 2014 Selfie with man behind this craze. Apple CEO Tim cook. interviewed him at Palo Alto store. @kron4news @KRON4APero pic.twitter.com/SQOwSabGUI — Will Tran (@KRON4WTran) September 19, 2014 @tim_cook apple store palo alto #iPhone6 #AppleStore pic.twitter.com/Czi1npfmGU — Phil Buckendorf (@pbuckendorf) September 19, 2014 This is why you wait in line at the Apple store in Palo Alto. Tim Cook selfie. #iphone6 pic.twitter.com/5w4jhzIEPE — Mariel Myers (@producermariel) September 19, 2014 In iPhone 6 line with my man @tim_cook pic.twitter.com/MNojGlRgyD — Kalpesh Kapadia (@kalpeshkapadia) September 19, 2014 .@tim_cook You made my day by showing up at the Palo Alto Apple Store on University and taking a picture! Thanks! pic.twitter.com/CmFcPrUOuh — Jeff Kell (@jeffreykell) September 19, 2014 Just don’t ask Cook to say cheese after you pull out a Samsung. Amateurs. Some guy asked Tim Cook to take a selfie and pulled out a Samsung phone. Cook looked at him and said “we need to get you a new phone.” — Sal Castaneda (@sal_castaneda) September 19, 2014 And for anyone who doesn’t want a side of Tim Cook and long lines with their iPhone, just visit a Best Buy. Redditor inebriusmaximus posted that his local Best Buy opened two hours early on iPhone 6 day, and this is what the excitement looked like inside: window._msla=window.loadScriptAsync||function(src,id){if(document.getElementById(id))return;var js=document.createElement(‘script’);js.id=id;js.src=src;document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0].parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}; _msla(“//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”,”twitter_jssdk”); Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/09/19/tim-cook-palo-alto-apple-store-selfies/
Even without dropping any hardware this week, Apple made a ton of news at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, unveiling Mac OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 — along with many accompanying features in each. But how will these updates affect your Apple experience? Mashable hosted a MashTalk Hangout on Air Wednesday to answer these questions, and also discuss how these moves will impact other companies. What questions do you have about Apple’s latest unveilings? Share them in the comments below or tweet them with the hashtag #MashTalk. Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/06/04/apple-wwdc-2014-hangout/
Petal, a hero from Super Evil Megacorp’s upcoming game ‘Vainglory.’Image: Super Evil Megacorp When Apple showed off the power of the iPhone 6‘s A8 processor, it was quick add how many game makers traditionally found on console or PC were already committed to its new phone. Square Enix, Ubisoft, Disney, CD Project Red, Epic Games and EA were some of the larger publishers investing more heavily in mobile game creation, Apple revealed during its Tuesday iPhone 6 announcement. Also featured on the slide were games from smaller studios, like Proletariat and Vector Unit. Image: Mashable screenshot A studio called Super Evil Megacorp came on stage to show off its mutliplayer online battle arena for phones, called Vainglory. It’s an ambitious title bringing a genre typically played with a mouse and keyboard to touch controls. Super Evil Megacorp CTO Tommy Krul said on stage he wants to bring the hardcore gaming experience of PC and console to mobile. The game pits two teams against each other; their objective is to destroy a large crystal in the other team’s base. They can also capture a large monster, the Kraken, to battle the other team. The below video shows some gameplay. Vainglory is currently in a closed beta, but will role out globally in October. Apple iPhone 6 Event The iPhone 6 and new Apple Watch on display in Apple’s Hands-On Pavilion. Image: Apple The iPhone 6 on display in Apple’s Hands-On Pavilion. Image: Apple The iPhone 6 and new Apple Watch on display in Apple’s Hands-On Pavilion. Image: Apple The interior of the Hands-On Pavilion gallery where audience members can view the newly unveiled iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch. Image: Apple Tim Cook bids the audience farewell. Image: Apple Tim Cook and U2 lead singer Bono announce the band’s free new album (available to iTunes Store customers) and conclude the Apple event. U2 performs a single from their new album Songs of Innocence at the Apple event in Cupertino, California. Image: Apple Image: Apple Kevin Lynch discusses the apps available on the Apple Watch and how to use them. Image: Apple The different variations of the new Apple Watch. It is customizable with different bands, metals, and design elements. Image: Apple Kevin Lynch shows the audience the new Apple Watch Image: Apple Image: Apple After unveiling the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Pay system, Tim Cook prepares to announce one more thing. Image: Apple Examples of what the new Apple Pay system will look like on the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Image: Apple Eddy Cue explains how Apple Pay works and the locations to use it. Image: Apple Tim Cook introduces the new Apple Pay system. Image: Apple Image: Apple iPhone Size Comparison Chart Image: Bob Al-Greene/Mashable Image: Apple The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will use iOS 8. Image: Apple A representation of the new landscape view of the iPhone 6. Image: Apple Image: Apple Phil Schiller talks about iPhone 6. Image: […]
Apple kicked off its 25th annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday with a video that serves as a kind of love letter to developers. In the nearly five-minute video, called “Apps We Can’t Live Without,” a series of random users are interviewed about their favorite apps and what they think about the developers behind them. “They make our lives better,” one woman says to the camera. “And they think of things that obviously regular people can’t think of.” Some of the apps highlighted in the video are big names that most users know about, including Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest and Airbnb. An architect praises FiftyThree’s Paper app, while one woman says Airbnb “saved my life.” The video then moves on to several niche apps that get less attention. An ocean advocate discusses the usefulness of Marine Debris Tracker, and a student praises Biosim, an app that works with his bionic hand. Overall, the video is a powerful reminder of the wide range of apps that have popped up in the last six years — and the equally wide range of people whose lives are impacted by them. Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/06/02/apple-developers-video-wwdc-2014/
The new iPad mini was released Friday, and Jimmy Kimmel doesn’t seem very enthusiastic about it. In a parody iPad mini commercial that aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live Thursday, first came the iPod. Then a thinner iPod. Then an iPod you can touch. Then lots of other iPods — ones that allow you to shuffle your songs, ones you can talk on, a gigantic one you can’t talk on. And today, Apple released a slightly bigger iPod that you can’t talk on. Which, according to the video, pretty much means we’re all suckers. iPad Mini at the Apple 5th Ave Store The flagship Buyers started lining up to buy Apple’s long-anticipated iPad Mini at the flagship store the day before it went on sale. All-weather Apple fans Undaunted by the long lines and the cold, hundreds waited all night for the Apple store to open at 10am. One of the first A proud owner shows off his new purchase. The out-of-towners Hundreds of foreigners stood in line for the latest iPad. Only the wifi version is on sale for now. Camping out Unlike the iPhone 5, which gathered week-long lines, no one waited for days to buy the iPad Mini. But lines still snaked around the blocks surrounding the Apple store. Survival of the fittest Possibly the first person in line for the iPad Mini — Luis Lorenzo, who was first in line yesterday, was nowhere to be found. ipad7 Reporters from various countries visited the flagship store to ask buyers about their thoughts about the iPad Mini. The queue At the 5th Avenue Apple store, lines stretched for at least three blocks to buy the new iPad Mini or fourth-generation iPad. Out with the old Apple employees enthusiastically high-fived buyers as they filtered into the store to buy their new iPads. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/11/02/parody-ipad-mini-ad/
iPhone apps are cool and all … but when are we going to see some really powerful tricks? Turns out there’s one way, at least, to give your phone heat vision. So that’s a start. Elliott gives his take on it in the newest episode of Mashable Minute. Earlier this week, we told you how you can use baking soda as a shampoo substitute. Check it out: Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/08/15/super-phone-mashable-minute/
You’d think Samsung would have waited until it was out of the San Jose courtroom with Apple, where it is currently locked in battle over charges of infringing patents, before it launched this. In downtown Sydney, the Korean electronics giant has just launched the first of its new line of “experience” retail stores — an experience not unlike one you’d have in say, oh, I don’t know, an Apple store. To be clear, there are other prominent downtown Samsung retail stores in the world — one in New York at the Time Warner center, for example. But the Sydney store that opened Thursday is a new style entirely. Let’s take a peek inside: What Is Copying Anyway? Now to be fair to Samsung, it’s hard to patent the kind of similarities here. A store is a store. Just because it happens to be spacious, spartanly attired in wooden tables, generously staffed with smart young people in blue outfits — well, we doubt Apple has a patent on all of that. (We know they have patents on the external design of the Apple store.) But they could win the legal battle on this one without a shot being fired, and still lose the wider PR war. The store launch may have come too late to influence the jury in San Jose, but there’s still the jury of public opinion. Which is, arguably, what you need to win in a retail environment. So let’s get the conversation started. Watch the video of the store from Australian TV above, then take a look at this classic video from 2001, where a relatively young-looking Steve Jobs introduces the original Apple store, complete with original iMacs: What’s your vote? Would you shop at a version of that Samsung Store near you? Can it compete? Let us know in the comments. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/08/23/samsung-copy-apple-store/
