Libor Kubín Microsoft has created a series of seven ads that try to parody Apple and its new phones. MacRumors.com to this he notes:
The ads are intended to show a product briefing regarding the iPhone 5s and 5c with characters that bear a strong resemblance to Steve Jobs and Jony Ivo, although Jobs' character is referred to as "Tim" several times.
If the director in the video is supposed to resemble Steve Jobs, then it seems that they really have no taste. It's not clear how the videos -- which don't explain at all how Windows Phone is better than iOS -- will help achieve the goal of getting users to switch to their platform.
But the ads didn't do well on Microsoft's YouTube channel. They have been removed. The company explained this step for The Next Web thus:
The video was meant to be a hilarious poke at our friends from Cupertino. But it was over the edge, so we decided to pull it.
There are two ways to parody: funny and embarrassing. But Microsoft apparently chose the second way. If the Redmond company thinks this is what a friendly and cheerful nudge looks like, it's got a bigger problem than we thought.
It reminds me of the situation of some Czech political parties in the context of pre-election propaganda. Instead of showing what good they themselves are capable of, they spit on the other side.
Totally agree with the article.. I saw one of them and didn't understand the point at all.. Tragedy that someone invented something like that and an even bigger tragedy that someone approved it and released it.. Instead of creativity and joy from advertising, pure despair, hopelessness and embarrassment .. If they were just messing with the products, they wouldn't have to create these "touches" at all.. It's embarrassing and miserable..