Microsoft Product Placement: 4 Awkward Moments - InformationWeek

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Comments
Microsoft Product Placement: 4 Awkward Moments
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zaious
50%
50%
zaious,
 User Rank: Ninja
9/6/2014 | 11:47:08 PM
Re: What about Microsoft and Ford Sync?
Talking to the car you drive looked like a futuristic technology 15 years ago. Now, it is here. MSFT should find a nice (and sneaky) way to show better demonstration in movie/TV shows. I still long for the Audi that Will Smith dronv in I,Robot. When are we goign to have one like htat in market?
MemphisITDude
50%
50%
MemphisITDude,
 User Rank: Strategist
9/4/2014 | 12:47:03 PM
What about Microsoft and Ford Sync?
In my opinion, Microsoft (via Ford) came off better in the "Sync" ads of recent years. I have done much eye-rolling over Hawaii Five-o as well... but before taking pity on the poor actors saddled with gems like "let's bing it" consider they do get to live in Hawaii! Could the ad agency be the culprit? Elementary and H5O are both CBS shows. Maybe Microsoft needs to try Sterling Cooper and Partners ad agency, I hear they're very good.
Michael Endler
100%
0%
Michael Endler,
 User Rank: Author
9/4/2014 | 12:22:27 PM
Credit Where It's Due
While Microsoft's product placement strategy is still easy to make fun of, I have to give them credit for their straight-ahead ads and commercials, which have gotten a lot better in the last year. Early Surface ads were a mess; they didn't communicate anything about how the device is used or why someone might want one. But the Surface Pro 3 spot is actually pretty slick. And Microsoft's Super Bowl commercial was pretty inspired-- up there with some of the better Apple and Google ones.
Michael Endler
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50%
Michael Endler,
 User Rank: Author
9/4/2014 | 12:17:45 PM
Re: NCIS Abby Doomed to Use Ojo Forever
Nice example,  Number 6. We could probably do another list of products that were scrapped shortly after appearing in TV shows and movies.



Alison_Diana
50%
50%
Alison_Diana,
 User Rank: Author
9/4/2014 | 10:33:35 AM
Re: NCIS Abby Doomed to Use Ojo Forever
That's pretty cool, Number 6! Guess even placing your product on the top-rated TV show doesn't always mean success!
Alison_Diana
50%
50%
Alison_Diana,
 User Rank: Author
9/4/2014 | 10:28:54 AM
Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson
I don't watch that show, but have seen quite a few Windows phones -- on TV programs at least!

This has nothing to do with tech, but I caught a few (awful) minutes of Rizzoli and Isles, and one of them came hope, took off her heels, and put in a Dr. Scholl's gel. Ridiculousness squared. I think she was about to start talking about the gel, but I turned the channel. 
Number 6
50%
50%
Number 6,
 User Rank: Moderator
9/4/2014 | 10:27:17 AM
NCIS Abby Doomed to Use Ojo Forever
It's fun seeing placed products that have since failed. The perpetually rerun NCIS on the USA Network has a couple episodes where Abby uses her Ojo videophone to talk with a colleague. Despite lots of hype and a few near-collapses, Ojo developer WorldGate finally filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012.
Stephane Parent
50%
50%
Stephane Parent,
 User Rank: Moderator
9/4/2014 | 10:22:50 AM
Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson
Has anyone noticed the Surface placement in Grey's Anatomy?
PaulMcDougall
50%
50%
PaulMcDougall,
 User Rank: Apprentice
9/4/2014 | 9:52:43 AM
Windows product placement
There's also Under The Dome. Almost everyone in Chester's Mill uses a Windows phone. Far fetched even by Stephen King standards.
Alison_Diana
50%
50%
Alison_Diana,
 User Rank: Author
9/2/2014 | 12:18:07 PM
Elementary, My Dear Watson
I noticed the Surface placement in Elementary, the only show/movie you mention that I've seen (other than that long, dull Google commercial, 'The Internship' -- hey, we were on vacation, it was raining, and we had about eight TV channels, five of which were sports!). In Elementary, the product placement was really awkward, jarring, and awful; I realize brands have a tougher time these days, given more people watch shows via DVR, thereby skipping commercials, but surely there's a cleverer way to integrate a tablet's capabilities into a detective show? You'd think they could watch a surveillance video and zoom in on a clue, video-chat with a witness, or take their own photo or video of a crime scene or something. Heck, I don't know. I write about tech, not crime, but I think most tech writers could do a better job of coming up with realistic dialog than we've seen surrounding these products in recent entertainment offerings! I'm game to give it a try! :)


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