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Apple Asks Developers to Refrain From Using Gold iPhone 5s Images in Marketing Materials

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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For a number of years, Apple has asked that developers use only images of black iOS devices in their App Store marketing materials, although that restriction has never been firmly enforced. With the new look of iOS 7, Apple has been turning its promotional focus to white devices, and as noted by 9to5Mac earlier this month, the company removed language restricting developers to black devices, opening the door to additional color options.

On its App Store Marketing Guidelines page, Apple provides product images with blank display areas for all of the current iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models to allow developers to paste their app screenshots into them for promotional purposes. The product colors included in Apple's downloads are limited, however, with the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and iPad mini available in silver and space gray options while the iPhone 5c is available in blue and white and the iPod touch is available in blue and space gray.

ios_blank_product_images.jpg
Notably absent are files allowing developers to include their screenshots on gold iPhone 5s devices for marketing purposes, and Apple has now extended that restriction to custom photography and video, which already requires explicit approval from Apple. Apple has clarified which colors of devices may be used in custom photos and video with a new addition to the marketing guidelines:
Feature only the most current Apple products in the following finishes or colors: iPhone 5s in silver or space gray, iPhone 5c in white or blue, iPad Air in silver or space gray, and iPad mini in silver or space gray.
Click to expand...
Just yesterday, a survey revealed that the blue and white iPhone 5c models have proven most popular with U.S. customers, and Apple's guidance on using those colors for developer marketing parallels consumer preference.

The iPhone 5s is a somewhat different story, with that survey showing the gold models with the lowest share among the three color options, but gold models have also been in the shortest supply. Those shortages have almost certainly skewed the buying patterns as customers wanting a gold iPhone have in many cases been forced to either turn to another color or hold off on their purchases until they can find a gold unit for purchase.

Apple has been heavily promoting the gold iPhone 5s in its television and print advertising for the iPhone 5s, and thus it appears that Apple prefers to keep focus on the distinctive color to itself. Within hours of the iPhone 5s launch as it became clear that customer demand for gold models was higher than expected, Apple was reportedly already moving to boost production of those models. Supplies do, however, remain very tight in Apple's retail stores and other locations.

Article Link: Apple Asks Developers to Refrain From Using Gold iPhone 5s Images in Marketing Materials
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/31/apple-asks-developers-to-refrain-from-using-gold-iphone-5s-images-in-marketing-materials/
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wheeeelan

macrumors newbie
Jul 23, 2013
15
0
Makes sense purely from a clashing colours standpoint. Colours on screen look nicer set against the blank canvas of white and black.
 
GoCubsGo

GoCubsGo

macrumors Nehalem
Feb 19, 2005
35,741
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I must not understand why it matters at all what color iPhone devs use to represent their apps. Clearly Apple does I suppose.
 
9

9822737

Cancelled
Jul 23, 2008
773
15
Any chance non-developers could get hold of these template files for the iPhone? I'd love to practice some graphic editing on these?

Andy
 
Gasu E.

Gasu E.

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Mar 20, 2004
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Not far from Boston, MA.
GoCubsGo said:
I must not understand why it matters at all what color iPhone devs use to represent their apps. Clearly Apple does I suppose.
Click to expand...

It makes perfect sense. They want to promote the gold as if it were a luxury item. The ads need to be styled to support this. Use of the gold images in a contrary manner could dilute their message.
 
furi0usbee

furi0usbee

macrumors 68000
Jul 11, 2008
1,790
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Razeus said:
I would tell Apple to go jump in a whole and send my checks on time.
Click to expand...

You must have fallen into that *hole* as Apple both makes the rules and writes those checks. So unless you play the game by their rules, you will be stuck in that hole. It seems Apple wants to distinguish their ads from all the rest, with only they using the gold iPhone. Whatev.
 
roadbloc

roadbloc

macrumors G3
Aug 24, 2009
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Gasu E. said:
It makes perfect sense. They want to promote the gold as if it were a luxury item. The ads need to be styled to support this. Use of the gold images in a contrary manner could dilute their message.
Click to expand...

What sort of moron is going to see a gold coloured 5S as any more of a luxury item than say... a 'space grey' one?
 
GoCubsGo

GoCubsGo

macrumors Nehalem
Feb 19, 2005
35,741
153
Gasu E. said:
It makes perfect sense. They want to promote the gold as if it were a luxury item. The ads need to be styled to support this. Use of the gold images in a contrary manner could dilute their message.
Click to expand...

Makes sense, I suppose. :)
 
scuac

scuac

macrumors regular
Mar 2, 2008
191
244
roadbloc said:
What sort of moron is going to see a gold coloured 5S as any more of a luxury item than say... a 'space grey' one?
Click to expand...

Well, reports indicate that Gold models are in shorter supply than other colors. If Apple doesn't ramp up production, then they would be kind of a "luxury" in the sense that they are harder to get. A glance at the tmobile forums e.g. show a lot of angry post by users asking where are their phones, and usually it was gold phones.
 
C

curmudgeon32

macrumors regular
Aug 28, 2012
240
1
roadbloc said:
What sort of moron is going to see a gold coloured 5S as any more of a luxury item than say... a 'space grey' one?
Click to expand...

Seriously. If they're smart, this "shortage" of those cheesy-looking gold ones is just a gimmick to drive demand and fake exclusivity.
 
B

BruiserB

macrumors 68000
Aug 9, 2008
1,731
705
eecyclone said:
Maybe this is a sign they are going to discontinue the gold iPhone.
Click to expand...

I doubt it, since Apple's own currently running TV commercial features the gold iPhone. Seems like they want to promote silver and space gray as the common iPhone and keep gold as more exclusive....even if it is just artificial scarcity.
 
I

ItsWelshy

macrumors regular
Jul 31, 2012
215
0
For god's sake, it's got nothing to do with exclusivity, they clearly just see that the most popular colours will be more popular with potential customers.
 
sdf

sdf

macrumors 6502a
Jan 29, 2004
849
1,163
As a developer myself, I would not use the gold iPhone. Space grey has a classic look to them. The gold is probably a fad that'll last a year or two, then make things look my framing very dated.

The framing will probably look dated anyway, of course, but I see no reason to guarantee it. :)

Edit: Also, of course, is colour balance. Shudder.
 
pgiguere1

pgiguere1

macrumors 68020
May 28, 2009
2,167
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Montreal, Canada
roadbloc said:
What sort of moron is going to see a gold coloured 5S as any more of a luxury item than say... a 'space grey' one?
Click to expand...

Anybody who knows the iPhone 5S comes in gold yet doesn't know enough about iPhones to otherwise determine whether it's a 5S or an
older model.

I'm sure it's the case for plenty of people. The gold color confirms to those people that you have the latest and greatest iPhone, not a previous year's discounted model. The fact that you own a device that's so recent can also suggest that you update your phone regularly.
 
U

unplugme71

macrumors 68030
May 20, 2011
2,827
754
Earth
curmudgeon32 said:
Seriously. If they're smart, this "shortage" of those cheesy-looking gold ones is just a gimmick to drive demand and fake exclusivity.
Click to expand...

I guess you can say the same about Ferrari. Only making 3xx production cars instead of 3,xxx production cars. They want to keep as little on the street even though demand is there to make much more.
 
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