Apple tonight debuted the company’s first iPad commercial during Academy Awards broadcast. It’s an introductory ad designed to show off iPad’s versatility and screen size:
Direct link via YouTube here.
In related news, Apple CEO Steve Jobs was spotted entering The Kodak Theater in Hollywood for tonight’s Oscars ceremony. More info and photo here.
UPDATE: 8:58pm ET: Pixar’s “Up” has just won the Oscar for Animated Feature Film.
UPDATE: 9:43pm ET: Apple now has a version of their new iPad ad online here.
Awesome! I want one even more!
F the Academy Awards! They have been irrelevant since Pulp Fiction lost Picture of The Year to Forrest Gump.
Yay for up!
Wow, MDN, that was fast, very fast!
Kudos!
And so begins the ipodding of the ipad. That rocks!
What? No best screenplay for Up? I’m fine with that, actually, just glad they got best animated film!
I saw it live cause the only Oscar I cared about was Cristoph Waltz yay !
For the life of me, I can’t get Cristoph Waltz eating strudel in that Paris cafe out of my head. There were certainly more dramatic scenes in the film, but his eating and interrogating Shosanna at the same time were brilliant. GO, CW!
I understand that Apple was trying to show a lot of iPad’s features in 30 secs, but that made the video clip a hurried and messy blur of moving things on the screen. Very unlike Apple, quality-wise, IMO.
As seen on Apples site: Check out a frame at 4 seconds where the bookstore flips… tell me that not a front facing camera top center? it seems to disappear in the next cut that show the NY Times
bw, I see it too. Awfully small, perhaps, but it does look like there’s something there.
The amazing thing is that Disney restored the ABC signal to Cablevision just in time for the iPad commercial. Did Steve give the order?
I would have liked something different for the music. It was too reminiscent of prior iPod music.
I see what looks like a camera @ 4 s too. Looks just like my MBP camera, actually. Interesting. Either somebody goofed up and used a prototype for the video shoot or there will be an announcement before April 3!
–mAc
Wow. Never thought I’d be the negative guy, but I thought the commercial was too “busy”. They were trying so hard to cram everything the iPad can do into 30 seconds that it was almost a blur…
Here’s hoping for a series of commercials that will focus on a few functions at a time.
——RM
Friends, I’m sorry… But there’s not gonna be a front-facing camera on the first version of the ipad. They would have announced it. It’s not a surprise they are holding back. I betcha it’ll be in the v2 version though.
Who the heck picked the music for this? It sucks ass.
I agree about Christoph Waltz. He made Inglourious Basterds. He deserved top billing. Sure hope to see more of his work in the future.
Go Jeff Bridges!
I was hoping for a something different, like maybe the alleged commercial shot in a diner in Oregon (?) last year. This one felt too similar to iPhone/iPod commercials and, yeah, very rushed. Geez, take your ADD meds, Mr. Director!
It was cool. Fast but still cool way to go apple!
obviously you guys don’t understand advertising…
you need something to grab people’s attention and go, damn, i have to have that…
this does just that.
KA-CHING!!!!!
I think the commercial works because it speeds past like the newest snazziest, slickest sports car.
Having made me aware of it, I will look out for it the next time it zooms by.
And I am betting that there will be further, slower paced, commercials closer to the launch date to start in-filling the detail.
Very clever!
No, it was not too fast. And I am “old”
Sorry they did not contact you for your personal approval on the music.
Make your own ad.
(of course, my definition of old might be different. I am a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do with 13 years experience)
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” /> Of course, in our club, it’s the under 35’s that are slow. Experience and wisdom gives you REAL speed. Sorry, could not resist the comment
Maybe I comprehend things more quickly.
I’m with you, Ken! As in a bit ‘old’; though I can’t pretend to be wise or experienced or fast in the matters martial.
I think the ad is both attention grabbing and effective – a great start to the campaign.
yes, there is definitely a camera @ 3-4 seconds. nice catch
frenetic
The best actor abides.
I’m glad the iPad adds are going more ‘fast and sexy’ rather than ‘baby music’ like the iPhone. I like the ad a lot.
^^
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> well deserved he’s an amazing actor.
very happy to see Jeff Bridges get the win too
Also I’m not so sure about the camera people are seeing as it seems to dissapear in landscape mode which leadse to believe it is a status indicator in that area. Wishful thinking though, on my part as well. Few more weeks and it will be clear!
You can’t type on the thing – did you notice that when the faux key board came up there was no demonstration of it actually working like a keyboard?
I’m ordering mine with the real key board accessory and then, I’ll almost have a laptop computer!
It says April 3. So you ANAL-yst can finally stop your FUD about delays!
The whole point of this commercial is too emphasis the speed of this thing. People will see the ad and think “It’s not that fast in person — look at how slow this crap netbook I have is.” Then they go to a store and discover the ipad really is that fast and smooth — and they’ll be amazed and buy one. Or three.
The Web site 9to5Mac.com has posted some AP close up shots of Steve Jobs. He looks great.
@Flaw Acknowledged
Congratulations on a new low for dumb comments! I guess that the ad had the actor curl his/her fingers around the keyboard because that way it would show better that the keyboard is nonfunctional.
Please don’t order an iPad. Someone as inane as you doesn’t deserve one.
it’s a light sensor , not a camera
Would it be get the red carpet.
Underfloor heating
The original 1978 “Inglorious Bastards” was much better than the 2009 version, (spelt differently) and bear in mind the original was complete shite!
Apparently Steve wasn’t at home to see the new commercial-
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10465212-36.html?tag=TOCmoreStories.0
@SKYLARK … Both in my Netflix queue!
Great ad. The speed was fine. Kind of like fast forwarding through a movie, where you see snippets of this and that. In a way it’s a condensation of the Mac OS X ad many of us have wished to see. Something that shows what the thing can do. This certainly doesn’t, but as a teaser, it works pretty well.
I didn’t like the music either, but then, I find most generic pop music like that stupid, dull and completely disposable.
What are the Academy Awards and why does anyone care?
does steve jobs walk up to collect thr prize
It is fast dynamic, energetic and in your face. Exactly what Apple message must be to introduce it to the masses. Good ad.
“Experience and wisdom gives you REAL speed.”
Too bad it doesn’t help with modesty.
Very nice ad. Apple can afford to whizz through the features of the iPad because most people are now familiar with its interface magic from the iPhone and iPod Touch.
BTW: I think the released version will definitely have a camera. In the leaked pictures of the iPad in the lab – where it was bolted into a metal security frame – there is definitely a cut-out in the frame where the camera has been spotted. I doubt this is a light sensor because in landscape mode the users hand would be covering it up most of the time, blocking out any light.
MDN was working on Sunday – ah, the good life right!
Music sucks, but the visuals are perfect for a first run at something so completely new that it boggles the mind. It just gives you enough exposure of each item, that each scene tantalizes you. -However, the music still sucks. I have always found the music in Apple adds to be something I’ve wanted to own. This is utterly forgetful.
Perhaps they had a reason for using such rubbish. They usually do.
BTW, UP also won an Oscar for Michael Giacchino’s Best Original Musical Score.
“Experience and wisdom gives you REAL speed.”
Your wife isn’t pleased with this.
I couldn’t see anything in any frame that looks like a camera. Wishful thinking, folks.