main

Talk about twisting words - rant

Tom Warren   on 11 April 2003 - 17:37 · 15 comments & 443 views

Advertisement (Why?)
Thanks again to our friend Joe from Cnet|news.com for this entertaining read

As someone dealing with Microsoft on an almost a daily basis, I can attest that spokespeople and company marketing material too often stretch the truth. It's not unusual during an interview for me to have to ask the same question four or five times before getting a straight answer from a Microsoft spokesperson. I've had numerous shouting matches (OK, I was the only one yelling) with Microsoft PR reps or spokespeople over what I call "games of semantics."

So, I get really peeved when I see Microsoft taking liberties, as I would say the company did today, with marketing material. A fresh press release explains why "Windows-based PCs can participate in movies in ways never before imagined." The press release basically explains why "Users are likely to find the DVD experience on a Windows-based PC more rewarding than that of someone using a conventional DVD player." The press release goes on for about 800 words extolling the benefit--such as access to special commentaries or hidden content--of watching DVDs on Windows PCs. It's interesting, the press release never explicitly says people can only do all these cool things on Windows PCs, but that fact is certainly implied in the wording and emphasis of the sentences. Then there is the more basic assumption: Why would Microsoft issue a press release about DVD watching unless there is some news here?

View: View Joe's rant
News source: Joewilcox.com


The phrase, coined by former US navy pilot Harlan Ullman, was adopted by Washington to describe the fierce bombardment of Baghdad on the second night of the war - the military tactic designed to bully the Iraqi resistance into submission.

However, the crassness of the phrase was seized upon by critics of evidence of US arrogance in a war that the UN, and notably France and Russia, refused to support.

A spokesman for Sony PlayStation in the UK admitted the company might not stock the game in Britain and Europe owing to political sensitivities.

"Sometimes registering trademarks does not necessarily mean the product will be launched. But if it was deemed unsuitable then we might not ship it here," he said.

"If indeed it is related to the Iraqi war rather than just using that phrase then, yes, it might well be something we would be very sensitive to," the spokesman added.

However, the Sony game is only the tip of the iceberg as the US market is set to be flooded with goods ranging from T-shirts, toys, board games, train sets sunglasses, mugs and fireworks branded with slogans such as "Operation Iraqi Freedom" and "Battle of Baghdad".

But a British company is also planning a computer game, books, cards and magazines based on the war, called "Conflict Desert Storm II: Back to Baghdad".

SCi Games, part of computer games publisher SCi Entertainment, registered the title as a trademark in the US on February 25, having scored a hit with its original PlayStation and Xbox game, Conflict: Desert Storm.

Other goods planned for sale in the US include an "Axis of Evil" board game, "Iraqi Freedom" crockery and clothes as well as "Shock and Awe" trainers and dolls.

After September 11 2001 terrorist attacks, the US PTO was flooded with applications for trademarks for products bearing legends such as "the war on terrorism" and "remember the twin towers".

At the time applications were also been filed for products inscribed with the phrases "Osama, can you see the bombs bursting in the air?"; "Osama, Yo' Mama"; "9-11-01, lest we forget"; and "Operation Enduring Freedom".

The rush to make a quick buck from the attacks attracted widespread criticism from people concerned that companies were profiting from the tragedy.

Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 15 additional comments
#1 dr3w2k3 on 11 Apr 2003 - 18:06
[QUOTE]Why would Microsoft issue a press release about DVD watching unless there is some news here?[/QUOTE] Why would Neowin post this unless there is some news here??
(1 reply) #2 mattboy_slim on 11 Apr 2003 - 18:18
Apple does the same thing in all of their "Switch" ads. The ACTORS they have play these parts talk about how horrible their PC experience was, then they go on to explain that "I can make movies on a Mac". Well you can on a PC too. "Well on a Mac it's built-in". Well it is now a on a PC too. I pray that people don't believe everything they see on those Mac "Switch" ads, There is more implications and half-truths in those ads than I have ever seen from any company ever.
#2.1 gameguy34 on 12 Apr 2003 - 13:53
i wonder how many of those people have used anything newer than windows 95? they keep saying how the pc crashes and it can't do all these things..... windows xp does most, if not all (and then some) of the things mac os x can do. (as far as i know, don't keep up much with the mac stuff)
(3 replies) #3 dougkinzinger on 11 Apr 2003 - 18:23
nothing against Joe, but I disagree with his data; in his recent article about Microsoft's activation, he mistakenly said that activation began with Office XP, when it really began with retail copies of Office 2000. Even Cnet's Mary Jo Foley knew that, and when I emailed him about it he wouldn't relent. Arrogant.
#3.1 creamhackered on 11 Apr 2003 - 18:33
Nothing against you but sorry you're very much mistaken. Office 2000 did NOT come with Product Activation. It came in a SP for certain countries but it didn't come as standard from a retail box at the time of its release. It was merely a pilot for a SP. Email Microsoft themselves and check around on their website and you will see they consider Office XP as their first Product Activation product.
#3.2 Avenger on 11 Apr 2003 - 22:42
Correct, there is no required Activation in Office 2000. Activation came with Office XP (what I call Office 2002).
#3.3 gameguy34 on 12 Apr 2003 - 13:54
it DID start with office 2000, SR1 (service release 1) as far as i know, microsoft stopped selling office 2000 and only sold office 2000 SR1 from there on after.
(2 replies) #4 Drestin on 11 Apr 2003 - 18:39
Joe is an anti-MS raving idiot. What is MS talking about here? The release of Terminator 2 Ultimate Edition will include something never before on a DVD. It will include the full anamorphic extended version of the film in HIDEF video, using the Windows Media 9 Professional codec. Yes, this can only be played back using Media Player on Windows XP (or media center) PCs. So, yes, it's true. No other DVD player on the planet can play a HiDef DVD (cause they don't exist) and certainly nothing but Media Player 9 can use the Professional codec (on XP) to play back this 3 gig file. You can hate MS, that's your right - but it's not fair (or intelligent) to ignore facts and critisize unjustly.
#4.1 Danrarbc641 on 11 Apr 2003 - 18:54
[neoquote=#4.0 by Drestin]Joe is an anti-MS raving idiot. What is MS talking about here? The release of Terminator 2 Ultimate Edition will include something never before on a DVD. It will include the full anamorphic extended version of the film in HIDEF video, using the Windows Media 9 Professional codec. Yes, this can only be played back using Media Player on Windows XP (or media center) PCs. So, yes, it's true. No other DVD player on the planet can play a HiDef DVD (cause they don't exist) and certainly nothing but Media Player 9 can use the Professional codec (on XP) to play back this 3 gig file. You can hate MS, that's your right - but it's not fair (or intelligent) to ignore facts and critisize unjustly.[/neoquote] Are you sure the file won't be accessable by WM-capable standalone DVD players too? Because that's what MS has been trying to do for a while now, bring more of their products to your TV. Then again there aren't any WM9-enabled DVD players yet so it doesn't matter much ::shrugs shoulders::
#4.2 Drestin on 12 Apr 2003 - 15:30
[QUOTE]Are you sure the file won't be accessable by WM-capable standalone DVD players too?[/QUOTE] You are right, I should have mentioned WM enabled DVD players. I've read that other movies are coming too - this may be the beginning of a trend; at least until DVD itself can do HiDef. Lots of high end guys would be very happy to finally be able to show off the quality of their TV monitors with something other than off-air HiDef.
#5 Dashel on 11 Apr 2003 - 19:10
Every company does this..its called marketing. Apple and AOL are worse offenders IMO.
(1 reply) #6 Tom Servo on 11 Apr 2003 - 19:59
MS made a press release out of it because most home users that usually don't have a clue do actually not know about this!
#6.1 Octol on 12 Apr 2003 - 02:52
[neoquote=#6.0 by Tom Servo]MS made a press release out of it because most home users that usually don't have a clue do actually not know about this![/neoquote] That's some convoluted syntax you've got there, Tom! And though I don't really know that it was not your intention to deny that "most home users" have suddenly acheived a not entirely unexpected state of computer awareness, it is certainly possible that not all "home users" are completely unaware of the efficacy of Microsoft's DVD software.
#7 JaggedFlame on 12 Apr 2003 - 02:12
Why is this even a groundbreaking idea to this Joe guy? This has been happening for years, even before the advent of computers. It's called advertising.
#8 macster on 12 Apr 2003 - 06:38
Dont u guys think maybe all these companies should start being a little more honest? Instead of just turning a blind eye to it?

Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!

Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.

Advertisement (Why?)