iPhone ad rapped as 'misleading'

[benfilan]

In a world where every day I see ads making claims for cosmetic products, probiotics etc. that have absolutely no scientific basis, where ads imply that drinking various drinks will make you look cool etc. etc., I really have to wonder who would bother to complain about this.

I know! i thought about that too. like all those 're-tautening' creams... what the hell?

Quite right too. Whenever I saw that advert I would always say what about flash.

They do have a point, the advert would be quite misleading to a complete iPhone newbie. I imagine Steve will have them all killed for this though

 

[xUKHCx]

In a world where every day I see ads making claims for cosmetic products, probiotics etc. that have absolutely no scientific basis, where ads imply that drinking various drinks will make you look cool etc. etc., I really have to wonder who would bother to complain about this.

I know! i thought about that too. like all those 're-tautening' creams... what the hell?

Well those adverts rely on end users giving their impression if the product worked or not. For example 81% of women said that the shampoo made their hair soft. Then that is fine. Where as this is not the case with this specific advert and it does give you the impression that you can use the full internet which is proven to not be true.

They do have a point, the advert would be quite misleading to a complete iPhone newbie.

Which is who the advert is targeted at so it is only fair that they judge it on that basis.

 

[Trajectory]

No Flash is fine by me. Those Flash ads are memory hogs and annoying.

 

[guet]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7582197.stm

Yep, amazing browser, but without Flash and Java, it's useless for many sites.

OR many sites are useless because they depend on extensions to HTML which users may or may not have installed. Flash deserves to die, and hopefully the iphone will help it on its way. Java, well the only sites I see that on are speed tests, and perhaps the occasionally upload helpers (not actually necessary for that either).

You should try surfing with Flash and Java turned off - you may be surprised at how few websites they're actually useful for (as opposed to used for displaying annoying ads). I hardly ever turn Flash on nowadays, the only thing I use it for is flash videos (which won't be necessary with HTML 5 and are a horrible kludge).

 

[djellison]

How many phones can you currently purchase that support Flash?

How many phones claim to give you 'not the mobile internet. not the kinda-sort internet. just the internet, on your phone'

Just the iPhone.

And it doesn't. It's a lie.

Hopefully people will go after them for the speeds suggested in their adverts which even WiFi wouldn't replicate.

I remember writing to the ASA after PC World had an advert that claimed a PC they were selling would make the internet faster because it had a P4 chip. That was a lie, and an intentionally missleading one, and the ASA upheld my complaint ( along with, iirc, about two dozen others ) and the ad was banned.

It's the same story here - the adverts suggest the iPhone is far faster and more capable w.r.t. web browsing than it really is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaN1Nz1Dyls highlights the worst of Apples adverts. Even with WiFi you couldn't browse that fast.

 

[johnnyjibbs]

It's true that it could be misleading. But all the same, Apple does this every time (PowerMac G5 anyone?). It's all publicity.

 

[macshill]

This could set precedence. Here in Canada, our TV watchdogs will investigate a claim (mostly watershed infractions based on sex/violence/swearing, or sexism against women in ads) and investigate thoroughly and announce their findings, w/ penalties if found to be a violation of the broadcasting code . All it takes is one complaint to start something in motion. Interesting to see where this all goes.

 

[BongoBanger]

This isn't about the iPhone's version of Safari supporting Flash and Java or not, this is about Apple claiming the browser is something it isn't. No-one is disputing that mobile Safari is an excellent browser, just that it isn't the complete internet.

As for the Nokia N95 - are you sure that supports Flash? Even Opera 9.5 - which is as good as Safari - doesn't.

 

[captain kaos]

The whole point of this is to stop misleading claims......has everybody suddenly forgotten the whole "push claims". The ruling isnt meant to make flash available on the iphone, i know i dont want it as it it buggy and annoying!

Its meant to stop companies claiming there products do magical things when they clearly dont!

 

[Bevz]

I agree with apple when they say they can't be expected to support every 3rd part addon on the internet (no browser can really claim 100% compliance with everything out there); so they shouldn't have run an ad saying their product would run everything on the internet. I have little sympathy.
However, i do also agree with the other comments on this forum regarding the outlandish claims of other adverts! There are 3 kinds of lies; lies, damn lies and statistics. ANYONE can get a survey to say exactly what they want it to say, trust me, i do this kind of sh*t for a living; Just because a company claim their product will make you beautiful (and 75% of gullible fools think they're right) does not IMHO give them the right to claim this in an advert. They're claims are even more ridiculous than apples as at least apple are partly correct, whereas beauty products claims are purely subjective....

Besides, i'm with Bill Hicks on this one; Advertisers are scum. Apologies to anyone who is in advertising, but please do the world a favour and get another job (that's a more toned down version of bills thoughts

-- End of Rant --

 

[AeroUK]

Observation...

I think it's quite ironic that the video of the advert on the Guardians website is not viewable on an iPhone

 

[Digital Skunk]

How many phones claim to give you 'not the mobile internet. not the kinda-sort internet. just the internet, on your phone'

Just the iPhone.

And it doesn't. It's a lie.

Hopefully people will go after them for the speeds suggested in their adverts which even WiFi wouldn't replicate.

I remember writing to the ASA after PC World had an advert that claimed a PC they were selling would make the internet faster because it had a P4 chip. That was a lie, and an intentionally missleading one, and the ASA upheld my complaint ( along with, iirc, about two dozen others ) and the ad was banned.

It's the same story here - the adverts suggest the iPhone is far faster and more capable w.r.t. web browsing than it really is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaN1Nz1Dyls highlights the worst of Apples adverts. Even with WiFi you couldn't browse that fast.

Thanks for this link my friend. After the hyped died down over at the cult store I went in to see what this "3G" thing really offered iPhone users that Sprint and Verizon users have been using for years.

Between GPS taking forever, and the internet still not loading that fast (even with WiFi) I was kind of upset. Like I tell many people, getting the iPhone isn't a decision between AT&T being better than the others as much as it's the iPhone destroying the competition. And looking at the rate plans and prices, and the still lagging performance of the phone for what it is intended for it's just not worth it for some.

I love Apple products too, and the iPhone's interface is lovely. but it's still quite slow even with 3G and WiFi. Makes it hard to belief anyone dealt with it on EDGE.

 

[knarzie]

about time

 

[gianly1985]

LOL they should ban 99% of the ads in the world

LOL they should ban all the phones who promised INTERNET but delivered EMBARASSING internet experience over the last few years.

Thank god for Opera Mini, or internet would be a dream on 99% phones. Still, most of them ADVERTISE internet capabilities as well. But hey, the anti-christ is iphone.

Among the LIERS, iphone is the one which was closest to the truth....

 

[Bakey]

well the other phone i was deciding on was the Nokia N95 which DOES support flash

Go ahead and get the N95... You'll soon realise what a useless piece of crap it is!! (I had one and couldn't wait to get rid... The worst Nokia I've ever owned)

btw ive never had problems running flash on my desktop or laptop ( windows xp) so i know its an apple issue and not specifically an iphone problem

What???!!! I've never had a problem running Flash on any one of the three Mac's I've owned...

Back to the original posting... What a joke!!! This country has gone mad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tiggery2k3]

From what I remember, Safari on OS X doesn't come with Flash. It's something you have to download and install separately. It's the same in Windows. Flash is a plug-in. As in, not necessary to get online.

When I used my iPhone today at work, I can most certainly say it's the internet in my pocket. No other phone comes close. Heck, it's almost more enjoyable than using Safari, Firefox or IE on a computer.

Also, claims like these are the reason we have, "This bag is not a toy" and "don't use while asleep" or "this cup is hot" (for coffee) printed on stuff that common sense should tell us. This garbage is one of the reasons I wouldn't mind burning my house down and moving to the jungles of Africa to live without money and the "modern" world.

and dont forget about the "may contain nuts" on a bag of nuts
some things from the goverment suck. and this is just one of them.

 

[kerpow]

I'm really pleased that this has been brought up to people's attention. It annoys me when mobile phone companies, which Apple now are, advertise how great internet access is on their devices. In short, they suck. There is simply no comparison between the internet experience on a phone and on a computer. For example, here are 5 examples of things that I use regularly on a computer that I couldn't do an iPhone or any other mobile device.

BBC iPlayer - I regularly watch shows online
Fantasy Football Stat Tracker - I'm a FF geek, can't help it, got to have my updates
Citrix Web Access - though this may be in the works
Starfall/Possion Rouge - kids sites

If you want to just read the news, buy a paper. The internet has moved on so much in the last few years and these mobile devices haven't caught up. YouTube is a start but Apple, and many others, have a long way to go.

 

[Marx55]

That is why Apple needs to release a TRUE "FULL Mac in your pocket". Something like this:

OQO model e2
http://www.oqo.com

But probably with this form factor:

iPhone Pro
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/gallery/image_med/15417
http://www.ilounge.com/gallery/iphone_concept/iphonePro2.jpg

Using the brand new Inel Atom chip.

THERE IS A TROJAN HORSE HERE, AND IS AN AMAZING ONE
http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-11408-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=50148&messageID=961559&start=-9913

Expect Apple and Mac market share to double in next year alone!

 

[xUKHCx]

For example, here are 5 examples of things that I use regularly on a computer that I couldn't do an iPhone or any other mobile device.

BBC iPlayer - I regularly watch shows online
Fantasy Football Stat Tracker - I'm a FF geek, can't help it, got to have my updates
Citrix Web Access - though this may be in the works
Starfall/Possion Rouge - kids sites

.

You do realise that the iPlayer is compatible with the iPhone and has been for quite a long time now.

Don't know which FF you do but with Fantasy.premierleague.com the website works fine.

 

[0098386]

As much as I like Apple and want an iPhone - I can see the point in pulling the advert. Sure there are other standards (Silverlight?) and other pluggins that aren't supported... But Flash, as pants as it is, is widely used.

Hopefully the outcome of this is that Apple push to get Java and Flash on the iPhone. Rather than simply editing the advert.

Though personally I think they're fast becoming redundant for anything other than game and video playback.

 

[MACMUSO]

Agreed. I always hate sites that use Flash. They are heavy, they are bloated, their text cannot be copied easily, they suddenly quit, etc., etc. I hope Apple continue to NOT support Flash so more Web sites will hopefully stay away from Flash!

What I'm finding odd in this thread is that there's no comment that many of the more advanced websites in the creative industries utilize flash animation which are more than often designed on MACS.

In my experience these sites often function more smoothly and look better on OSX so I think it's wrong to say that Flash and Apple are not a natural partner in all reality.

 

[Gee4orce]

There's a very good reason that Flash won't appear on the iPhone: Flash assumes the user is using a mouse. Lots of flash ads and 'content' (in the loosest possible sense of the word), make use of roll over effects - but there's no equivalent of 'onMouseOver' events with a touchscreen.

There are many other good reasons for lack of Flash on iPhone too - including Adobes unwillingness or inability to actually optimise it for Mac OS X.

Anyhow - Apple's add referred to the 'internet'. That's not the same thing as the 'web', so yes the ad was misleading in that sense. But I think this ruling means that no other technology could ever claim to have access to the 'whole internet' because there's always going to be some pugin that it doesn't support.

I think Apple's claim was fair in that it supports the W3C standards, which are what the Web IS. Anything else is proprietary 3rd party plug-ins.

 

[Matti]

As for the Nokia N95 - are you sure that supports Flash? Even Opera 9.5 - which is as good as Safari - doesn't.

It's not just N95, but all phones that have S60 as OS. The S60 browser is based on webkit like Safari, but Nokia adds better Flash and Java support to it.

Phones that have S60 include all of Nokia's smartphones and some of the smartphones made by Samsung and LG. Nokia alone is about 47% of global smartphone market. So in total we are talking about propably at least 50% of smartphones on market.

 

[stevearm]

nitpickers. with nothing else better to do

"all the parts of the internet on the iPhone"

... err, except a major platform like Flash that's used on a rather large proportion of sites.

Finally, someone did something about Apple's ads.

 

[tjcampbell]

Come on you have to see that they have a valid point. Half the web is full of flash and java that can't be viewed. It annoys me all the time, BUT I knew this getting into the iPhone. HOWEVER I have a lot of friends that recently got an iPhone and are gobsmacked that they can't view their own websites or basic pages.