I'm working with some dissidents who are looking for ways to use the Internet from within repressive regimes. Many have in-home Internet access, but think it too risky to participate in pro-freedom activities on home PCs.
First, realize that the Net inside the US is being watched.
The difference is there was a message with the humor. Personally, I thought there was very little humor in the Firefox ads regardless, but where they truly missed was the "grab." You want the humor to be tied with your product, so that the thought of one triggers the other (i.e. thinking of the joke reminds you of the product, seeing the product makes you smile because you think of the joke). The last thing you want to do is spend money to make an extremely funny commercial about which people will struggle to remember the next day, "now what was that commercial for, again? Oh well, no matter--at least it was funny."
Disclaimer: I am a coder geek and not a marketer in any way, but that seems to just make logical sense to me.
Ah, but while I may be a coder geek, my first degree was in Business Management for Sales and Marketing. And I did win an award back in the late 1980s for a humorous play written in French and English in Canada. So I do think it's funny and I don't expect you to get it.
It's a free series of ads. From that bar it's very good. If we had 2+ million dollars (or even better Euros) to waste on an ad as you mentioned, I would have different expectations. But we don't. Because they aren't spending that kind of cash.
I'd like to see Firefox ads parody the dotcom Superbowl ads from a few years back. Perhaps something with that damn sock puppet or the E-Trade dancing monkey.
Um, these are ads for the EU - the European Union.
Why would they want to parody some American game show? Now, if you meant some killer football (the one that David Beckham plays, not the rugby variant in the US) parody, that might be appropriate.
News flash: the world does not revolve around the US any longer, and hasn't since shortly after 2000.
It's funny for them. You're not required to understand why.
The first video, the default one [NOT a good choice, sadly, for a default], has a man screaming his head off in astonishment and subsequent damage to his office building. Quite funny, and shocking, but you should turn the volume WAY DOWN before you go to the site because it's too loud. And since it's the default... well, you get my drift.
The second video, The Mobile, involves a young woman's intense fascination with Firefox. Warning: mobiles were harmed in the filming of this short, although one hopes of the edible chocolate kind.
The third video, The Network, involves a young man who is so amazed his head... well... let's just say he's quite astonished, in a kind of jaw dropping way, if a bit more than that.
Overall, quite amusing, although most Americans coming from a place which doesn't like that brand of humor will probably be complaining about them.
The only way a company this big could be gone in 10 years (based on history) would be a major scandal, or a buyout.
That phrase has been said of so many big companies so often - and most of those Oh So Very Big They Can't Fail companies are no longer with us.
The market cares nothing for Inevitability. It cares nothing for moral values. It just is. It will change - as it always does - and some who were once lions will become sheep.
I was going to watch the movie, but now for the next five hours, you're my bitch!
I doubt it. I'm sure my martial arts training and long years of combat service in the military will make you sit back down like the little man you are inside.
I ride the plane to go from point A to B, and read quietly or watch the movie, but if you bring one of those big laptops in and make a lot of noise, well...
Would be interesting to see a MG with 2 foot clearance, haha
I seem to recall it didn't have a lot of clearance, but this was years ago. Kind of like those SUVs I see trying to drive fast in windstorms and flipping over - the whole point of an MG is to be close to the ground.
The flash temp is supposed to be something like 265F...autoignite is somewhere around 500-600F
Well, that will take a while before it gets too hot then... never mind.
Wouldn't want to be standing next to it when it's slashdotted though, the incadescent wavelength would be pretty toasty... maybe it wouldn't burn, but the table or nearby papers and books might.
There is safety. There is perceived risk. And there's burning your face off because your wings might not melt but your cotton fiber scarf will.
Slashdot Mirror
instead of Red Hat today.
...
Oh, wait, I would have made even more
Darn.
that's a lot of new code when you add it all up.
Payback's a fox on fire ...
...
Oh, well, at least now he'll have the "freedom to innovate". About time
You'd better be careful. I hear they shoot real Democrats down there.
I hear they shoot back.
Just tell these dissidents that they can escape their present regime by moving out of Texas or Florida
They might also be in DC.
.
I'm working with some dissidents who are looking for ways to use the Internet from within repressive regimes. Many have in-home Internet access, but think it too risky to participate in pro-freedom activities on home PCs.
First, realize that the Net inside the US is being watched.
Second, move to Canada.
Third, live free.
.
[what, like it's not?]
.
because I'm upgrading my son's iMac and the new Mac mini won't have IE at all, just Firefox.
IE - it's what's for dinner.
Hint to Bill G - the market cares nothing for past laurels, and reroutes around FUD eventually.
That's what it all adds up to.
how else would the armies of killer robots achieve world domination without this?
[seriously, you UR guys rock! cool lab techs]
It's growing like wildfire.
...
There's the western Net, and then there's the majority of the world's population
or the new GameCube
No real games to speak of, other than the existing Fable.
Sorry, just not that interesting from my viewpoint. If I wanted to play football, I'd go outside and play it here at the UW.
Remember, NOBODY in the US is going to get their hands on a copy of this OS.
What if we order it from one of those spamhauses that I keep getting each and every day?
I think you meant, noone in the US is supposed to get a copy of this OS.
But, given human nature, they will.
Economics is basically decisions. MSFT maximizing their profit assumes people actually pay them - which as history has shown is not necessarily true.
Because they won't be part of your trusted network.
Especially hot babes or hunks you meet at parties.
Next!
The difference is there was a message with the humor. Personally, I thought there was very little humor in the Firefox ads regardless, but where they truly missed was the "grab." You want the humor to be tied with your product, so that the thought of one triggers the other (i.e. thinking of the joke reminds you of the product, seeing the product makes you smile because you think of the joke). The last thing you want to do is spend money to make an extremely funny commercial about which people will struggle to remember the next day, "now what was that commercial for, again? Oh well, no matter--at least it was funny."
Disclaimer: I am a coder geek and not a marketer in any way, but that seems to just make logical sense to me.
Ah, but while I may be a coder geek, my first degree was in Business Management for Sales and Marketing. And I did win an award back in the late 1980s for a humorous play written in French and English in Canada. So I do think it's funny and I don't expect you to get it.
It's a free series of ads. From that bar it's very good. If we had 2+ million dollars (or even better Euros) to waste on an ad as you mentioned, I would have different expectations. But we don't. Because they aren't spending that kind of cash.
I'd like to see Firefox ads parody the dotcom Superbowl ads from a few years back. Perhaps something with that damn sock puppet or the E-Trade dancing monkey.
Um, these are ads for the EU - the European Union.
Why would they want to parody some American game show? Now, if you meant some killer football (the one that David Beckham plays, not the rugby variant in the US) parody, that might be appropriate.
News flash: the world does not revolve around the US any longer, and hasn't since shortly after 2000.
It's funny for them. You're not required to understand why.
Is it just me or does the girl in the "The Mobile" video have the biggest moustache ever?
I think you need to clean your monitor.
enjoyable.
... well, you get my drift.
... well ... let's just say he's quite astonished, in a kind of jaw dropping way, if a bit more than that.
[SPOILER WARNING]
.
.
.
.
.
.
[SPOILER BELOW]
The first video, the default one [NOT a good choice, sadly, for a default], has a man screaming his head off in astonishment and subsequent damage to his office building. Quite funny, and shocking, but you should turn the volume WAY DOWN before you go to the site because it's too loud. And since it's the default
The second video, The Mobile, involves a young woman's intense fascination with Firefox. Warning: mobiles were harmed in the filming of this short, although one hopes of the edible chocolate kind.
The third video, The Network, involves a young man who is so amazed his head
Overall, quite amusing, although most Americans coming from a place which doesn't like that brand of humor will probably be complaining about them.
Is it just me or does firefox seem to get promoted/mentioned by Slashdot everyday?
So does MSFT, now that you mention it.
Why oh why do they insist on discussing web browsers when we're just trying to upgrade our web browsers?
Um, irony, this is earth, we have another post.
unfortunately, that should have had a warning - my officemates were a bit taken aback by the yelling.
But The Mobile was quite funny.
Can't get The Network to work. I think they've been slashdotted.
[humorous rant] Darn you slashdot! Yet another cool idea suffers under the weight of worldwide geek traffic! When will it ever stop? [/rant]
The only way a company this big could be gone in 10 years (based on history) would be a major scandal, or a buyout.
That phrase has been said of so many big companies so often - and most of those Oh So Very Big They Can't Fail companies are no longer with us.
The market cares nothing for Inevitability. It cares nothing for moral values. It just is. It will change - as it always does - and some who were once lions will become sheep.
and boy are they lame.
... even if Fable and Halo for the new dorky xBox might be n33t.
my 14 yo son commented on how lame they were.
well, better forget about that one
you don't coat yourself and your house in flame-retardant chemicals? tsk tsk
I used to, but it gets too sticky and the girlfriend says it smells.
I was going to watch the movie, but now for the next five hours, you're my bitch!
...
I doubt it. I'm sure my martial arts training and long years of combat service in the military will make you sit back down like the little man you are inside.
I ride the plane to go from point A to B, and read quietly or watch the movie, but if you bring one of those big laptops in and make a lot of noise, well
Would be interesting to see a MG with 2 foot clearance, haha
I seem to recall it didn't have a lot of clearance, but this was years ago. Kind of like those SUVs I see trying to drive fast in windstorms and flipping over - the whole point of an MG is to be close to the ground.
The flash temp is supposed to be something like 265F...autoignite is somewhere around 500-600F
... never mind.
... maybe it wouldn't burn, but the table or nearby papers and books might.
Well, that will take a while before it gets too hot then
Wouldn't want to be standing next to it when it's slashdotted though, the incadescent wavelength would be pretty toasty
There is safety. There is perceived risk. And there's burning your face off because your wings might not melt but your cotton fiber scarf will.