Apple Releases 'The Surprise' Holiday Ad

[cmaier]

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...

why is being creative with toilet paper trash more desirable than being creative with an iPad?

 

[greenmeanie]

But of course someone is always dead divorced or Dying at Christmas according to movies and now Apple.

 

[Arran]

Wouldn't be the holidays without being reminded of death.

I think we're being reminded of life.

 

[Rogifan]

I watched this ad again. Man the acting in it is so bad. And the story is too. The Misunderstood ad was SO MUCH better.

 

[mrgraff]

It's clearly recorded off the monitor - you can see the scan lines. And iPhone's video stabilization is more than good enough to produce that clip.

Good eye catching the scan lines.

 

[E.Lizardo]

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.

This. "Holiday" tree, "Holiday" presents...no no let me guess... TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!!!! What do I win?

 

[chumpy34]

why is being creative with toilet paper trash more desirable than being creative with an iPad?

Toilet paper trash? Nice. Guess you didn’t understand my comment as I clearly said they hit the mark in second half of the ad.

 

[Mactendo]

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. The “holiday” in this commercial is so obviously Christmas, and doesn’t resemble any other holiday.

I was wondering the same thing. Especially when it is the family saying to other family members. Who the heck says "Happy holidays Grandpa!" when there is a "holiday" tree and such all around the living room!

Some people and cultures celebrate New Year instead of Christmas. Same thing: family gathering, dinner, “holiday” tree, presents in the morning.

 

[architect1337]

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.

I always thought the 'holidays' referred to both Thanksgiving and Christmas; a generic term to describe that period.

 

[testcard]

I always thought the 'holidays' referred to both Thanksgiving and Christmas; a generic term to describe that period.

They’re a month apart!

 

[GDF]

Don't like it. Not much of a Holiday or Christmas add or very uplifting. Too long also.

 

[deckard666]

The surprise for your loved ones is finding out you buy from Apple at nearly full price on Black Friday.

Black Friday sales discounts are a myth pretty much in the UK -

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50551415

 

[FairlyKors]

Yeah, the dog is probably Jewish.

 

[Rafterman]

The other, less positive takeaway: Electronic devices are babysitters.

 

[victorm1]

Merry Christmas! Don’t forget to buy our crap, in the spirit of the holiday of course. It would be laughable if it wasn’t so depressing.

 

[_Refurbished_]

Real world usage:
2 girls are on YouTube 8 hours a day watching prank videos and tweenie beauty videos.

 

[Hastings101]

It was a nice Christmas ad minus the iPad in the car/airplane. I don't like that letting technology parent children is so pervasive that it's now even in advertisements, especially when, saying this as someone who has worked a variety of jobs in education, it's getting easy to pick out the kids that are raised through behavior management via screen time. Development delays in younger children, middleschoolers throwing literal temper tantrums when they can't use their phones etc. I'm not an old grouchy man either, I'm a gaming addict in my late 20s and just as addicted to my screen time as anyone else .

 

[BoneHead001]

What "Holiday"?
Is it the C-word?
Christmas?

 

[gugy]

The sad part of tech is the fact this generation of kids is so consumed by tech devices and the parents use the same to control their kids. I have two boys and I am guilty of this as well.
While I love the amazing things tech did to our lives, it’s very interesting to see down the road the results of such 24/7 exposure on the young generations.
I miss the days people did not have a phone at all times and in order to kill time you would have to talk to someone (real interaction) or read a book. Call me old if you want (I’m gen X). This ad shows it so well.

 

[Vjosullivan]

The ad says “take iPad and don’t bother me”

No. It says "Buy iPad, preferably two."

 

[redheeler]

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.

Ironically it's the same people who complain about those taking offense to the word "Christmas" that themselves get offended as soon as the word is not used. This is just faux corporate inclusivity, and I really couldn't care less about this (or whether someone says "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays"). There are plenty of other issues that are actually deserving of attention.

 

[BoneHead001]

Ironically it's the same people who complain about those taking offense to the word "Christmas" that themselves get offended as soon as the word is not used. This is just faux corporate inclusivity, and I really couldn't care less about this (or whether someone says "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays"). There are plenty of other issues that are actually deserving of attention.

I care. Everyone's December holiday honored and openly spoken about except Christmas — the new C-word that is never spoken or referenced.

 

[mayerryan]

Proof that iPads are a substitute for sh*tty parenting.

 

[Faizan Ahmed]

Apple ads are stunning.

 

[brinary001]

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.

This..actually makes sense. And I wouldn't have even thought of it had I not seen your comment. I agree saying "holidays" at this time of year when addressing strangers and people I don't know that well is just my way of covering all my bases in case they're Jewish, Muslim, etc or just not religious at all which is where I land. But like I still celebrate Christmas and call it that and wish a "Merry Christmas" to people who I know celebrate it too, whether religiously, commercially, or both.

So yeah, definitely weird they didn't just either call it Christmas in the ad or remove more of the Christmas-y elements of it and leave the dialogue the same. One of the two. I still really liked it tho