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Apple Posts New iPod Ad, Steriogram's "Walkie Talkie Man"

by , 8:00 AM EDT, August 30th, 2004

Apple has posted a new iPod ad. The ad features the music of Steriogram with a song called "Walkie Talkie Man," which comes from the group's Schmack CD.

The ad posted on Apple's Web site clocks in at two minutes, and features yet another style of dancing. The commercial was shot following the same silhouette format as previous iPod ads (see below), but with one minor change. Observer Mav noted in the TMO forums that the tag line at the end of the ad reads "PC or Mac," instead of the previously used "Mac or PC."

A couple of screen shots from the ad:


The opening count off in Apple's new "Walkie Talkie Man" ad.


"PC or Mac"

You can find the ad at Apple's iPod advertising Web page.

The Mac Observer Spin:

With Apple selling more iPods to Windows users than Mac users, and with the audience of Windows users being larger than the Mac world, it makes sense for Apple to make this subtle change.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Subject:

This obveously means Apple is planning to dump the Mac version of Windows to use the more popelar Microsoft version of Windows. Soon the iPod ads will only say "PC" because everyone knows Mac software is more expensive to develop.

Close Name:technoguy100 Posts: 47 Joined: 12 Aug 2004
Subject: Huh?

Quote
Guest wrote:
This obveously means Apple is planning to dump the Mac version of Windows to use the more popelar Microsoft version of Windows. Soon the iPod ads will only say "PC" because everyone knows Mac software is more expensive to develop.


Get a clue, guest (and buy a spell checker). Apple doesn't make a version of "Windows" and they are not going to drop support for the Mac. This change probably has no meaing at all and was likely done by the ad agency without thinking.

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

He was obviously doing a parody of a troll. Lighten up.

Close Name:mahuti -   TMO Staff Posts: 377 Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Subject: Everything

Everything done by ad agencies has been pored over, thought about, and beaten to death. Especially something like the line "PC or Mac" Occasionally something WILL slip through, but honestly, there's no way the tag line change was arbitrary.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: .....Sigh......

the darkside is closing in................................

Close Name:Guest
Subject: The order is important

i don't remember where but I heard once that when you are dealing with memory it there are two major areas that get absorbed fastest - these are the beginning and the end of any array. Since there are only two items here, PC and Mac, it was now the advertisers job to determine if the beginning or the end held more weight. Since "Mac" is a one syllable word, where "PC" is two, it was probably thought that ending with a succint, one syllable word (Mac) would be most effective. Say it to yourself "Mac or PC" versus "PC or Mac" - when you end with "Mac" it is much more of a punch... the viewer goes away remembering "Mac".

Close Name:metavurt Posts: 163 Joined: 16 Jun 2003
Subject: Guest 1 and Guest 3

hey what's up RC clone? or is that really you RC?

::::::::::: sigh, yourself ::::::::::::::::

whoever you are, once again, duped by misinformation, insecurity, and lame ass arguments.

Close Name:spxyu02 Posts: 1214 Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Subject: Re: The order is important

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
i don't remember where but I heard once that when you are dealing with memory it there are two major areas that get absorbed fastest - these are the beginning and the end of any array. Since there are only two items here, PC and Mac, it was now the advertisers job to determine if the beginning or the end held more weight. Since "Mac" is a one syllable word, where "PC" is two, it was probably thought that ending with a succint, one syllable word (Mac) would be most effective. Say it to yourself "Mac or PC" versus "PC or Mac" - when you end with "Mac" it is much more of a punch... the viewer goes away remembering "Mac".


I agree totally and think this is a good explanation. "Mac and PC" kinda smacks you with Mac right away, and then PC kinda fades away, while "PC and Mac" builds into Mac, but without ignoring PC. From another angle, I don't think that putting PC first is that big of a deal because most Mac users are extremely aware of the iPod, and while, let's be honest, TONS of people are aware of the iPod in total, many PC users still somehow don't know if it's compatible, so addressing them first is important in increasing sales to PC users.

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: Appealing to a narrow audience?

So far, all of Apple's iPod commercials that I've seen have used fairly "hard" rock music and young (25 or under) people. Is this the only market that Apple is appealing to? I have a 20GB 3G iPod, but there's not one song on it that is remotely like any of the music they've used so far. There are several audiobooks; some Renaissance and Baroque music; Celtic and folk music; 50s & 60s rock (e.g., Chuck Berry, Beatles); sci-fi, TV, and movie themes; and so on. At a Circuit City here a few weeks ago, I saw a middle-aged couple looking at an iPod. The husband seemed interested, but his wife said (paraphrasing), "Those are only for kids and rock music. You can't get any other music for it."

Close Name:Eric24601 Posts: 25 Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Subject: PC or Mac?

if u glance at it quickly, the word PC will stand out in ur mind. In this case, the words just flash on the screen for about a second. this is a well calculated move. they are trying to get more PC people to be aware that the iPod works for PCs too. Mac people already know about the iPod. There are still millions of people out there who think the iPod works with only the Mac. this is all just manipulation of words to get a desired effect. i always thought that this is how they should have done it in the first place.

My name is eric, and i'm an art director for a major advertising agency.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: ...and you got your P.H.D. in marketing and advertising whe

...and you got your P.H.D. in marketing and advertising where? I mean, come on man, I love Apple and I love my mac and everything to do with the whole ithings. I wish the whole world could just see what a mac can really do. But let's face it. This doesn't look very good on Apple. Just ask yourself this question, if you where Steve Jobs himself, would you let this piece of detail out the door? And dont tell me that BS that he didn't have a hand in this! We all know that the reason Apple is what it is right know, is because Steve is involved in all the intricater details of anything and everything that sports the Apple name, wether it's a 2500.00 dollar G5 system, to a million dollar advertisement. It just souds to me as if you are really trying your best to justify the order of the words on this ad. Come on man! How many ways will you guys cut and dice these three little words! It only shows that you are indeed insecure about the future of our favorite product. dont make it so complicated. Personally, I think all this meams is the obvious. PeeCees are the majority, mac are the minority, so they are going where the money is. That's it! Next time, think k.i.s.s! KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!!! Really, no disrespect. Reply back if you guys think im wrong.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: jeez

Give me a break...If someone really thinks there are only certain genres of music that download onto an mp3 player...such as an ipod...then they are obviously not even technologically advanced enough to even be part of the target market anyway...jeez...like only certain kinds of music can be downloaded onto certain players...thats one of the most lame things I've ever heard.

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