Apple's New Shot on iPhone Ad 'Earth' Includes Narration by Carl Sagan From His Book 'Pale Blue Dot'

[Larry-K]

Yeah, I remember the BHA comment, Carl seemed pretty incensed, as I recall.

It is rather ironic that they've resurrected him to do their bidding, guess you can't Rest In Peace these days, when there's a buck to be made.

Wonder if Neil deGrasse Tyson has a view on this?

 

[FactVsOpinion]

I love Carl Sagan,and I love The Pale Blue Dot, but I actually think this excerpt is not such a great fit for this footage.

First, I find the video to be a bit too bubbly for the very serious message in the excerpt.

Second, a supporting video would ideally not only be zoomed into earthly landscapes as experience at the scale of human life, but would instead take a more cosmic view where the earth is merely a pale blue dot.

Third, individual clips seem to be placed with certain statements because they relate to one or two words in the phrase rather than because they are properly appropriate to the full meaning of the phrase. For example, when Sagan mentions the vast cosmic arena, they show a valley which is vast but not cosmically so, and suggesting that it is actually undermines Sagan's point. As another example, when we are instructed to cherish the planet, showing children might trigger associations with the word "cherish", but it is not children he is reminding us to cherish, but rather the planet.

Just my thoughts... I still like that they used the excerpt at all.
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A verified story (Davidson 1999, Poundstone 1999) about Sagan being sufficiently unhappy with Apple using his likeness to initiate legal action.

Okay, fair enough on the verification aspect. But to claim he would not approve of this ad simply because he didn't approve of naming a computer after him 23 years ago is a stretch. That was the claim I was responding to.

 

[davester]

BHA...

 

[Rettun1]

Tim will love this ad 100% for political reason.

How is it political? Because Sagan was a scientist, and that there is bickering in the political realm between scientists and partisan politicians?
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Whatever, still shots on iPhone.

Tripods and color editing were likely all that was used.

 

[rctlr]

You do know he's been gone for over twenty years, right?
Which seems like billions, and billions, and billions of years ago

.... In all seriousness, he definitely was the face of Astronomy back then, and a fascinating speaker on the topic.

That Sagan quote still sends shivers down my spine, just like the first time I heard it.

 

[MH01]

I just realised the only thing I'm missing in my workflow is the professional production team and a cool voice over. Hardware / lens is the least of my issues

 

[ZipZap]

It would be great if this could be run as a background on the desktop. An active background.

 

[Piggie]

Whatever, still shots on iPhone.

Perhaps I will sell a set of metal cutting tools, and show you the aircraft you can made using those tools.

Additional software and hardware is of course required to make the aircraft.
But my tools did the cutting of the metal.

Be honest, it's a Dishonest Con.
By all means make videos like this, but don't throw perhaps thousands of dollars of extra hardware/software at it.

 

[djcerla]

Sagan would not have approved.

In fact, he actually sued Apple for suggesting that he had endorsed their product:

http://www.networkworld.com/article/2160066/wireless/yes--carl-sagan-once-sued-apple-for-libel.html

Sagan would definitely have approved.

Spreading his important message about preserving our planet in the most dire of the moments. Yes, Sagan would be very, very, very happy about this ad.
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It's kind of in poor taste in the same way the Think Different ads were in the 90s. Great ads, but sorry Apple, you're not on the same level as Einstein.

Think Different wasn't Apple talking about itself.

The "crazy ones" are the creators empowered by its technology, that Apple celebrated implicitly likening them to the greatest innovators and rebels of our time.

 

[tentales]

As a life long Sagan fan, I'm in two minds about this.
The message and statue of Carl Edward Sagan used in a commercial advertisement cheapens the impact and distracts from absorbing what Sagan was all about.

OTOH, it introduces millennials and numbnuts to one of the greatest astrophysicists of the 20th century.
However, it's likely many won't go past the soundbite, so FWIW, here's a link to the book this quote is from:
https://www.amazon.com/Pale-Blue-Do...5827&sr=8-1&keywords=pale+blue+dot+carl+sagan

 

[Kabeyun]

Carl Sagan is/was one of my idols, and I dig that Apple has done this (undoubtedly with permission). His articulate rationality was only exceeded by his humility before nature and, born from that, his hope that we set aside our petty differences, realize how insignificant we are in the universe, and cherish each other and the tiny marble on which we live. Who but the arrogant or narcissistic could have a problem with all that? Good stuff.

 

[Trusteft]

Disgusting. Let the man rest in peace.
One of the greatest man ever lived.

 

[robertcoogan]

That was really good. It's been awhile since Apple had a commercial this good. The last really good one was Robin Williams narrating the iPad Air ad.

 

[Kabeyun]

Love Carl Sagan, and this excerpt always puts me in some kind of weird, existential mood.

I'm not sure how I feel about Apple using it, though. Presumably they got permission from the publisher (of the audio book?). Wonder if they needed permission from Sagan's estate? It's kind of in poor taste in the same way the Think Different ads were in the 90s. Great ads, but sorry Apple, you're not on the same level as Einstein.

I agree about Sagan but disagree with you about these advertisements. There's no arrogance here. You don't have to believe you're equivalent to a great thinker to admire his thought and promote that you try to emulate his philosophy. The people who wrote the 1984 ad didn't think they were equivalent to George Orwell, just evoking him to illustrate a point about individuality.

 

[Kaibelf]

How long before they start doing commercials with Steve Jobs narration?

I could see that happening if the new one this year is a real leap.
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Perhaps I will sell a set of metal cutting tools, and show you the aircraft you can made using those tools.

Additional software and hardware is of course required to make the aircraft.
But my tools did the cutting of the metal.

Be honest, it's a Dishonest Con.
By all means make videos like this, but don't throw perhaps thousands of dollars of extra hardware/software at it.

Speculate much? It would have been a table for the phone to sit on and a free photo cropping app.

 

[Darryl.Jenks]

That was really good. It's been awhile since Apple had a commercial this good. The last really good one was Robin Williams narrating the iPad Air ad.

Indeed it seems anyone associated with good ads and Apple is dead. Based on this, the hacks presenting at WWDC will live to 130.

 

[alexdobi]

Does anyone know what that beautiful melody is, that's playing in the back? Great song...

 

[citysnaps]

Tim will love this ad 100% for political reason.

I sure hope so. Millions of others will love it as well! And it's a great example showcasing the capabilities of the iPhone camera.

 

[jcshas]

Beautiful ad. Seems directly targeted at POTUS and the recent decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.

 

[jjo]

I'm the "James O." with the ice jam video in this commercial.

The ad agency contacted me last March inquiring about that shot of mine. They wanted to make sure I indeed shot it on an iPhone.

 

[EdT]

Yeah, I remember the BHA comment, Carl seemed pretty incensed, as I recall.

It is rather ironic that they've resurrected him to do their bidding, guess you can't Rest In Peace these days, when there's a buck to be made.

Wonder if Neil deGrasse Tyson has a view on this?

Ann Druyan co-wrote the original Cosmos in 1980 along with Carl Sagan. She was in charge of the project for NASA that put the gold records on the 2 Voyager spacecraft now heading out of our galaxy and into interstellar space. She is listed as the creator, executive producer, and writer of the Neil deGrasse Tyson version of Cosmos from a couple of years ago.

She was also Carl Sagan's wife and is the executor of his estate and legal guardian of Sagan's media properties.

So for Apple to use Carl Sagan's words and voice WITHOUT her knowledge AND permission would probably mean a messy public lawsuit that they would lose, since she was involved in the writing and production of the documentary in question as well as being in charge of Carl Sagan's media rights. To legally use Sagan's voice from the documentary you would need her permission. Until I hear that her company is suing Apple I'm going to assume that they have it.

Edit-The quote is not from the Cosmos documentary, but from the book "The Pale Blue Dot" written in 1994. It would still need Ann's permission to use, as "fair use" rights do not include usage for commercial purposes.

 

[D.T.]

I'm the "James O." with the ice jam video in this commercial.

The ad agency contacted me last March inquiring about that shot of mine. They wanted to make sure I indeed shot it on an iPhone.

Wow that's neat! Any other details that you can disclose?

 

[jjo]

Wow that's neat! Any other details that you can disclose?

There's not much more I know about this, other than this campaign must have been in the works for some time, since they first contacted me last March inquiring about my clip. They asked where it was shot, why I shot it, how I want to be credited, and then asked for my raw video clip.

They drew up a contract, and I didn't hear back from them until last night, saying the commercial was done and it was to air first on the NBA finals.

I only just saw myself it this morning on YouTube.

 

[ImaxGuy]

Slow-Mo and Time lapse are really showing true potential in this video. Nicely narrated and beautiful scenery.

Can you believe that as of a few minutes ago, 134 "people" down voted that add on Youtube?

 

[jase1125]

Fantastic video that shows the iPhone's abilities WRT video recording, time lapse, etc. The message is spot on and agree we need to do more to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. However, the Paris Climate Accord was worthless. Essentially it was just a transfer of money from the US with no real action. Russia, China, India and more contributed nothing while the US was on the hook for $30 from every American citizen. In fact, some agreements stated if the US didn't pay up, they would increase emissions (North Korea for one). The accord was flawed and our withdrawal was overdue. Come to an agreement where EVERYONE has equal sacrifice and not some stupid wealth transfer agreement.