iPhone advert misleads users – apparently…
Posted by: Marketing Guy Date posted: August 28th, 2008 Published in: AdvertisingThe BBC are reporting today that the recent iPhone advert which says “all the parts of the Internet are on the iPhone” has been called “misleading” by the Advertising Standards Authority. The reason? Because it doesn’t support Java or Flash!
The ASA said the advert:
“gave a misleading impression of the internet capabilities of the iPhone”.
A little bit lame IMO – probably just sour grapes from the Apple’s competitors lodging a time wasting complaint with the ASA. Boo hoo – Apple went and brought out a pretty cool, innovative product that grabbed a decent market share while the other mobile phone manufacturers were churning out crappy facias to give their average products a competitive edge!
“Because the iPhone doesn’t support Flash or Java, you couldn’t really see the internet in its full glory,” said Olivia Campbell, a spokesperson for the ASA.
“They made a very general claim that you can see the internet in its entirety, and actually that’s not quite true – so we’ve upheld.”
Well, technically, you can’t see the Internet in its entirety via any medium can you? Not all at once anyway! And really, is any consumer really annoyed at the fact that Java and Flash aren’t supported on a mobile format? I can’t say I’ve even noticed the lack of support in the time I’ve had my iPhone (since UK launch).
Personally, I think the iPhone ad is fine – it does give you access to some of the key components of the Internet in the context of what a mobile user would generally want to use it for. Maps, email, web access and so on. All I need – how about you?
And when it boils down to it, Safari might not support Java and Flash plugins, but how much functionality of how many web pages is lost because of this? And how many sites implementing Java of Flash have done so with mobile users in mind? Very few I think. At the end of the day, anyone requiring Java or Flash support on their mobile device is going to be savvy enough to do their homework before they buy aren’t they? It’s not like anyone is being mislead or duped into buying something that is entirely innapproriate for their needs!
It’s a damn shame to see bullshit rulings based on pointless complaints by ignorant individuals soil a cool product with a pretty slick ad campaign.
Comments
Almost every website made in the last 10 years has java, and the most interesting use Flash. To over look these technologies seem like a deal killer to me. When did form become more important than function. I have no problem viewing pages with these technologies on my HTC Windows Mobile phone.
Hehe well that’s a designers point of view that I’m afraid might not be shared with the silent majority. Flash is a killer for websites – most SEOs spend their time fixing poorly designed Flash sites because they are absolutely no use when it comes to organic search. Flash tends to be limited to anitmated graphics, games and other viral or promotional type content, which is what it should be limited to = peripherial fluff. Even then, a lot of cases the designers tend to go nuts with Flash to the detriment of other page concepts and issues. IMO Flash is more of a form > function killer than any mobile device.
I don’t know about Java, but I would hazard a guess and say that quite a significant percentage of Flash content is uncessary (or could be better communicated using text / CSS formatting ) and no more than a cosmetic effect on the individual page.
Marketing Guy, You evidently don’t look at weather radar loops like those used by millions of users trying to see where all these hurricans are heading, or visit very many website on your iPhone because most either use java or they used Flash. You probably just think all those screwy looking sites are “under construction”. Apple made the iPhone 2 sound like a finished product in their ads when in fact it is still just a beta prototype with many many incomplete abilities.
This is a UK blog, discussing a UK based advertising campaign, written by a UK resident. How much hurricane watching do you think I do? Most we can expect here is a light breeze, but I’m fairly certain that if the UK were to be hammered by hurricanes, the lack of Flash support on my iPhone wouldn’t be top of my list of concerns. I doubt many New Orleans residents are currently cursing Steve Jobs because they couldn’t get nice, cute, animated little weather reports on their mobiles as they evacuated their homes. Let’s not get carried away here. There are many text alternatives if you search for critical information and any decent site I’ve visited that used Flash or Java as a core navigation or information element usually has a mobile friendly version also available.
Oh andI think I’ve been in this business long enough to determine the difference between an empty page and one simply not loading page elements tyvm!
I don’t have an iphone YET but I do have a brain and its a real shame these technical point rulings with no value to the consumer are being made in comparison to the overwhelming amount of real scamming taking place. Perhaps the ruling bodies should look at what is really important in the best interest of consumers who are blatantly being ripped off every minute of the day. Apple Mac are a great company I have purchased their products, their service and integrity regarding the customer is possible the best available, its really disgusting that this ruling was upheld.
My thoughts exactly Laura!
I have an iphone – its good, not great, not life changing but its good.
If a site is only accesible in flash or via javascript does that not make it inaccessible and against the law? And as such should the focus not be moved from the fact that websites dont display on a phone/gadget/mp3 thing to the fact that the websites are not ‘fit for purpose’.
i am possibly going to get one when my upgrade is due, but will be taking all of this into consideration