Tiger Woods’ much anticipated return to competitive golf–at the storied Masters tournament–is accompanied by his return to advertising. The black-and-white TV spot for Nike Golf simply shows a silent Woods looking directly at us with a facial expression that is subject to interpretation–perhaps part serious, part sad, part introspective.
The only voice heard comes off camera and is that of Tiger’s late father, Earl Woods, seemingly offering food for thought to his son. Earl Woods says, “Tiger, I am more prone to being inquisitive, to promote discussion. I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are and did you learn anything?”
The spot–directed by Max Malkin of Prettybird, Santa Monica, for Wieden+Kennedy, Portland–has already elicited mixed reactions in the blogosphere, from those who are offended that Earl Woods has been resurrected to help his son break back into the ad game after his much publicized infidelity, to those who view the spot as smart in that it positions Woods as a man hearkening back to a positive influence in order to recover from his transgressions.
What’s your take on the spot? Have a look here and get a rundown of the creative and production credits.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More