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Apple Releases 'The Surprise' Holiday Ad

ElectricPotato said:
Nothing says Christmas spirit like tormenting others for your personal amusement. Ho ho ho.
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trust me, nice as she was she was an all too familiar American boss who treated our department as if it was, well... America. She had a bit of a shock when being introduced to the quaint Dutch tradition of Schwarte Piet, although so did I it must be said.

The “holidays” conversations took place in September as well IIRC.
 
mrgraff said:
The kids had access to all the equipment needed to digitize Grandpa's VHS tape and then transfer the file to their iPad? It's possible that the girls filmed the TV with the iPad camera, but that part of the Christmas card doesn't look handheld to me. If they were that comfortable using a tripod with the proper mounting hardware, a video capture card and RCA cables to a Mac/PC, and video editing software, then I'm not buying the parents' reaction either.

(Yes I realize that I'm refusing to willfully suspend disbelief) :D

I just think they should have used a video that happened to be embedded in an old email instead.
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They shot it directly off the TV. No tripod or extra software needed. That's why we have the "I miss her" scene with the VHS and TV to set up that idea. It's actually a much better way to capture video memories than those stupid USB converters. Perfect for kids because it does not involve unnecessary software and expense (assuming you already have the VHS and old tube TV which isn't unheard of for older folks). And the reframing options from a live shot off TV screen offer much more creativity.
 
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Second half of ad, thumbs up, first half, disappointing but reality. We now live in a world where kids can't "behave" without an electronic device in their hands and/or parents can't parent without giving their kids their phones or iPads. On my many road trips with my brother and parents when I was growing up we talked, played games, read books, made forts in the back seat, one time my mom brought along a ton of empty toilet paper tubes which we taped to the back seats and made a marble maze. Just being creative on our own. "Ok Boomer!" in 3, 2, 1...;)
 
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aaronhead14 said:
I understand the whole “happy holidays” thing when the goal is to cover all your bases and be considerate of all the holidays that different people/cultures are celebrating.

What I don’t understand is when people (and marketing campaigns) say “holiday” in place of “Christmas” when the only holiday being referenced is Christmas. It’s not considerate or inclusive, it’s just stupid. The “holiday” in this commercial is so obviously Christmas, and doesn’t resemble any other holiday. So why on earth don’t they just say “Christmas”? It’s irksome. Just say it! Geez.
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I don't know... it looks like the pagan holiday of Winter Solstice to me. This "christmas" thing you speak of must have been based on that.
 
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BarrettF77 said:
LOL, cause everyone is too thin skinned today... You Read my comment wrong, now I've been offended and feel that was a sexist interpretation.

Still love Christmas Vacation, The Grinch, Nightmare before Christmas, A Christmas Story.... I'm sure we can all find a way to make them feel oppressed too.... 🤣🤣🤣
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Christmas Vacation. God I hate that movie. Boring. Nap time
 
horrible ad.

iPad is doled out like some kind of electronic methadone, by otherwise distracted parents.

weren't there people in control of marketing messaging within apple who saw the obvious disconnect between what apple claims are important tools given to all (especially parents) to monitor screen time, and, what these parents have done?

couldn't they have integrated into the whole ad the tools of screen time, steps counting, dark mode at sunset, screen display having more warm tones after sunset, etc etc in order to show that the iPad otherwise creative tools don't need to interfere with health and interaction wth others?

how about having looked all together as 3 generations jointly at the VHS tapes and the girls recording it all? wow. that would have been powerful i think.

it ends up being a crass attempt to pull at heart strings.
and use of the grandma in all of this was cruel.
 
Mr. Awesome said:
I agree. Our culture’s obsession with not “offending” anyone is crazy. It’s Christmas. Just because it’s a Christian holiday doesn’t mean it’s “offensive.” Pretty much everyone celebrates Christmas, even if it’s not in the Christian sense. I understand saying “holidays” if you’re referring to the sort of general time of Thanksgiving leading up to Christmas and New Year’s, but this is getting ridiculous.
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No need to be all PC about it. Especially on a Mac forum :p
 
Watching this ad I am thinking will the new upcoming iPad Pro have a great camera? iPad Pro should have a stellar camera; front and back. Who cares how big the bump is. It would be cool to also have a super-close-up camera.
 
What dongle did they use? VHS to lightning?
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niji said:
horrible ad.

iPad is doled out like some kind of electronic methadone, by otherwise distracted parents.

weren't there people in control of marketing messaging within apple who saw the obvious disconnect between what apple claims are important tools given to all (especially parents) to monitor screen time, and, what these parents have done?

couldn't they have integrated into the whole ad the tools of screen time, steps counting, dark mode at sunset, screen display having more warm tones after sunset, etc etc in order to show that the iPad otherwise creative tools don't need to interfere with health and interaction wth others?

how about having looked all together as 3 generations jointly at the VHS tapes and the girls recording it all? wow. that would have been powerful i think.

it ends up being a crass attempt to pull at heart strings.
and use of the grandma in all of this was cruel.
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Tim fridged grandma.
 
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coolfactor said:
I'm disappointed in myself. My first thought was that the message was "just give a screen to your kids to shut them up", but the real message here is the heart within the girls to give something real to their grandpa. And how they gave that gift first before asking for their own. So while we live in a crazy screen-addicted world, this ad reminds us that people still have heart, and can navigate around the distractions to what matters most. The iPad was a creative platform upon which they crafted their gift. That works for me!

Now if only all kids were like that. 🤣
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Apple pretty did something similar back in 2013 as well:
 
All that child friendly, expensive, high technology!

And it just goes to show that today's kids haven't even been taught how to properly hold an Apple Pencil.
 
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