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Apple Files Patent for OS Embedded Advertising

Jason Barry — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:32:15 -0500

Steve Jobs has submitted one of the most devious patents of all time: operating system advertising. That’s right, according to the patent, Jobs wants you looking at ads embedded right into your operating system.

To take it one-step further, the patent attorneys who filed the application did their due diligence making sure every aspect and use of the "innovation" was outlined in detail. This passage sheds a little light on just how invasive and annoying this could be:

“The operating system is configured to present one or more of the advertisements to users of the computer device. In some implementations, the operating system can disable one or more functions during the presentation of the advertisements and then enable the function(s) in response to the advertisements ending. That is, the operating system can disable some aspect of its operation to prompt the operator to pay attention to the advertisement.”

Not only are they going to put ads in front of your face, they are going to do everything in their power to make you pay attention to them. This basically says they would go as far as crippling the device while the ad is displaying. Further, in the application they talk about measures to verify user presence, such as user confirmations throughout the ad.

The application makes careful notation not to distinguish its platform so that this technology could be used on any device, i.e. “portable and desktop computers, servers, electronics, media players, game devices, mobile phones, wireless devices, email devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), embedded devices, televisions, set top boxes, etc” per the filing.

Would Apple be foolish enough to implement this?

Not an actual demonstration.

Microsoft Pokes Some Fun at Apple's App Store

Ryan Whitwam — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:38:16 -0500

What’s more ridiculous than a “moustaches of the world” app? A certain Redmond software giant hopes your answer to that is “the Apple App Store”. The new ad for Windows Marketplace pokes a bit of fun at Apple and their App Store. Microsoft is obviously of the opinion that there’s a lot of junk in Apple’s App store, and their approval process is terrible. While they may be right, will people get the joke?

The two fellows in the ad give the viewer a tour of rejected Windows Marketplace apps. They’re all pretty awful, but at least they weren’t approved. They mention at the end of the video that the apps that made it through the approval process would be pretty great. Since they’re both wearing lab coats, you should probably believe them.

Even with the App Store’s flaws, the Windows Marketplace has a lot of catching up to do. This ad probably isn’t going to help them win mindshare. Do you think the ad is effective, or does it just come off as a random collection of gags?

No BS Podcast #105: We Are and Always Will Be, Your Podcast

The Maximum PC Staff — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:42:01 -0500

Disaster strikes! Not only is Will out of the office (meaning no video feed for this episoe), but Gordon reveals that he has yet to watch the new Star Trek movie! Nevertheless, this doesn't prevent the rest of the gang from sharing their [spoiler-free] thoughts about this geek touchstone in this week's exciting podcast. We also spend time weighting the merits of the EU-Intel case, and analyze the implications of Windows 7 and Larrabee replease dates. Gordon gives advice to advertising agencies for Microsoft and Apple, and delivers a fuming rant of the week. Did we see the return of the Dark Knight 2.0? Download the podcast to find out!

Do you have a tech question? A comment? A tale of technological triumph? Just need to get something off your chest? A secret to share? Email us at maximumpcpodcast@gmail.com or call our 24-hour No BS Podcast hotline at 877.404.1337 x1337--operators are standing by.

Subscribe: http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337

FTC Delivers Stern Warning to Internet Advertisers

Pulkit Chandna — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:26:54 -0600

Online behavioral advertisers have received a dressing down from the Federal Trade Commission. In fact, Federal Trade Commissioner Jon Leibowitz - not convinced they are doing enough - has asked advertisers to remain prepared for the “day of reckoning” that may be fast approaching. He has also threatened that FTC might wield its subpoena authority to extract necessary information from these companies.

Last week, the FTC staff issued a report titled Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising. The FTC staff has revised its online behavioral principles. It wants users to have the choice of preventing advertisers from collecting their information. The report has also asked advertisers to store private information till it is necessary.

Though the FTC staff, in the report, hasn’t blatantly threatened advertisers, it has still delivered a strict warning behind a diaphanous veil of measured words.