The latest iPad ads appeared this evening, both on TV and on Apple's YouTube channel. Both new ads are embedded below.
The ads feature a rapid text scroll, presumably listing the attributes of the magical and revolutionary tablets. Each "landing" word is then given life with quick demo moments of iPad apps like TED, iBooks, Vimeo, Garage Band and plenty more. How many apps can you identify?
[Source: TUAW]
Smartphone owners have learned to cope with the extra power drain in-app advertising can cause, but accidentally launching a web browser? That's a frustration that lasts forever. Google's hoping to mitigate the pitfalls of clumsy thumbs, however, by introducing two-step click-through for mobile ads. Text banners served through AdMob will now display a humble blue arrow on their starboard side -- clicking here takes the reader directly to the advertiser's preferred destination; touching anywhere else expands widens the blue square to coax users into giving the ad a confirmation click, just in case they fumbled the advertisement by mistake. The team's preliminary tests show that confirmed ad clicks sport a notably higher conversion rate, indicating that folks who clicked through the ad actually meant to. Google says solving what it calls the "fat finger problem" will be beneficial to the ecosystem as a whole. We prefer to think of our fingers as grand.
[Source: Engadget]
After an on stage appearance by Jessica Alba at Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 launchrecently, the company and its partners are starting to use even more celebrities to promote Redmond's latest mobile OS. In a similar move to Apple's celebrity Siri ads, AT&T and Nokia are using Will Arnett to promote the Lumia 920 in the US.
Over in the UK, Microsoft has hired popular TV presenter Holly Willoughby to star in an advert promoting Windows Phone 8 and Kid's Corner. Digital Spy reports that the ad will run across primetime TV shows in the UK. Aside from Arnett's debut in the US, Nokia has also used Ke$ha's latest music video to promote the Lumia 920. A yellow handset was originally spotted in the video, but has since been replaced by a deck of cards.
Microsoft is set to kick start its worldwide Windows Phone 8 advertising campaign during NFL games on Sunday. WPCentral reports that the company will air a one minute slot dedicated to the personalization aspects of Windows Phone 8.
[Source: The Verge]
Targeted ads present you with advertising keyed to your interests and history. If you're an Amazon customer, you've likely received emails related to your recent browsing choices. Gmail ads are based on your Google account contents. Apple is no different. iAds tracks you and offers ads that best match your profile.
Apple offers an opt-out choice if you'd rather be served random ads from their iAds service. To use it, first visit http://oo.apple.com from your device. Then set the switch from ON to OFF. You'll be asked to confirm. Tap the red "Opt Out"button.
When disabled, you'll still see iAds. However, these will not be tied to you or your specific interests in any way.
If at some time you feel the need to return to the previous state of things, you can always revisit the Opt Out page and update your settings.
[Source: TUAW]