Around London of late, LG has been rolling out some rather large adverts for its latest low-to-mid range device – the catchily-named LG GD510.
The first time I saw the ad, I chuckled, brushed it off and moved on. The second time I saw it, I was with company and asked out loud; “Look! What’s wrong with that picture? And that there – what does that even mean?!”
What am I talking about?
This:
The headline promises a ‘small phone, big experience’
Well yes, quite.
While I am still yet to experience any of the promised big experience that the GD510 keeps in its little pockets (the phone might be amazing, it probably isn’t), I really must take issue with a couple of things here.
Hands up, I’m a mobile geek. There are some things that such an affliction a gift can help with and some not. While it’s great being able to spot and name 90% of mobile phones from a standing start, said geek-brain can’t help itself when it looks at a poster like the one above.
My first thought is; where are the third party apps? There isn’t a single application shown on that handset that speaks to me as a consumer. Where’s Spotify? BBC iPlayer? ANYTHING that an everyday chap looking for a phone might want.
Sky TV maybe?
No. Nothing.
Look, LG. If you’re going to show off all the ‘apps’ (if we can call them that) on your new device, at least put some in there that we might recognise. I know what’s on show isn’t technically an app-based phone, but the way it’s pitched says otherwise.
“But James! Look at the poster again, can’t you see it says ‘Facebook’ on it?”
Yes, I know it does. And that brings me to my second point.
WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!
Seriously. Think about it.
Why is there what can only be described as a Facebook sticker just thrown on the end of that ad? Does it mean that the phone is presented in association with Facebook’? Or maybe… no, maybe what? There’s nothing it could mean!
Stupid, stupid, lazy advertising.
Dear LG,
Your Facebook reference is meaningless.
Do better.
Lots of love,
James.
Rant over.
They’re clearly stretching with those icons anyway.
My favourite? The seperate icons for display settings and phone settings. Yep, totally worth two standalone options. Oh and camera/video camera – pfft, filler icons.
James Whatley Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 12:44
I just don’t get it…
I agree with your point about the random Facebook sticker. However, I don’t think they’re trying to make any kind of app claims. The screen just looks like the main menu to me which is probably just intended to give punters a rough idea of what features the phone might have. We can deduce that the phone has a camera, Bluetooth and can do Emails. I think this may just be intended to be a more subtle alternative to a bullet list of features on the poster perhaps?
As far as I know this is just a bog-standard feature phone anyway…
James Whatley Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 12:45
Ah yes, but I saw another ad for it in the paper this morning from o2. Featuring ‘Yahoo Search’ as an ‘app’ in the menu screen…
Very strange.
Like you I stared at this for several minutes. I just didn’t get the message. What is it breaking out of?
What’s the point in creating a campaign to advertise hygiene factors?
James Whatley Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 12:46
I think I’m just going to start sticking little Facebook labels to bottom of all my future correspondence.
Yeah, that’ll do it.
They're clearly stretching with those icons anyway.My favourite? The seperate icons for display settings and phone settings. Yep, totally worth two standalone options. Oh and camera/video camera – pfft, filler icons.
They're clearly stretching with those icons anyway.
My favourite? The seperate icons for display settings and phone settings. Yep, totally worth two standalone options. Oh and camera/video camera – pfft, filler icons.
I agree with your point about the random Facebook sticker. However, I don't think they're trying to make any kind of app claims. The screen just looks like the main menu to me which is probably just intended to give punters a rough idea of what features the phone might have. We can deduce that the phone has a camera, Bluetooth and can do Emails. I think this may just be intended to be a more subtle alternative to a bullet list of features on the poster perhaps?As far as I know this is just a bog-standard feature phone anyway…
I agree with your point about the random Facebook sticker. However, I don't think they're trying to make any kind of app claims. The screen just looks like the main menu to me which is probably just intended to give punters a rough idea of what features the phone might have. We can deduce that the phone has a camera, Bluetooth and can do Emails. I think this may just be intended to be a more subtle alternative to a bullet list of features on the poster perhaps?
As far as I know this is just a bog-standard feature phone anyway…
Like you I stared at this for several minutes. I just didn't get the message. What is it breaking out of? What's the point in creating a campaign to advertise hygiene factors?
Like you I stared at this for several minutes. I just didn't get the message. What is it breaking out of?
What's the point in creating a campaign to advertise hygiene factors?
completely agree but I was just thinking…your web address is also a bit misleading…TRMP actually should mean “The Ranting Mobile Project”…admit it…(not that it’s a bad thing)…lol!
I just don't get it…
I just don't get it…
Ah yes, but I saw another ad for it in the paper this morning from o2. Featuring 'Yahoo Search' as an 'app' in the menu screen…Very strange.
Ah yes, but I saw another ad for it in the paper this morning from o2. Featuring 'Yahoo Search' as an 'app' in the menu screen…
Very strange.
I think I'm just going to start sticking little Facebook labels to bottom of all my future correspondence. Yeah, that'll do it.
I think I'm just going to start sticking little Facebook labels to bottom of all my future correspondence.
Yeah, that'll do it.
completely agree but I was just thinking…your web address is also a bit misleading…TRMP actually should mean “The Ranting Mobile Project”…admit it…(not that it's a bad thing)…just basing this on the last few posts lol!
completely agree but I was just thinking…your web address is also a bit misleading…TRMP actually should mean “The Ranting Mobile Project”…admit it…(not that it's a bad thing)…just basing this on the last few posts lol!