Apple iPhone advert censored by watchdog

chris

A television advert for Apple's iPhone has been banned after the official watchdog ruled that it misled viewers.

The advert for the handset showed the phone in someone's hand and a finger touching the different icons on the main page.

The voice-over then boasts about how iPhone owners can access "all parts" of the internet at a touch of a button.

"You never know which part of the internet you'll need," it says.

"The do you need sun cream part? The what's the quickest way to the airport part? The what about an ocean view room part? ...Which is why all the parts of the internet are on the iPhone."

Customers complained that the claim was untrue because the iPhone did not support Flash or Java, two pieces of software needed to watch some online videos and access some websites.

Apple said that the advert was not about "technical details" but about highlighting the varied websites that owners of the iPhone can access.

It added that none of the websites featured in the advert required Flash of Java. However, the Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the advert gave "a misleading impression" of the internet capabilities of the iPhone, which doubles as a phone, iPod and internet browser.

"We considered that, because the ad had not explained the limitations, viewers were likely to expect to be able to see all the content on a website normally accessible through a PC rather than just having the ability to reach the website," it said in its ruling.

A spokesman for Apple declined to comment.


Source:telegraph