The political divisiveness that has plagued American society is also a way of civics life in Canada which is enduring a mud slinging election year, including a heated race for Prime Minister and various high-profile provincial battles.
So adding to the attack ad climate, Arby’s has launched a trash-talking, accusatory campaign pitting its Curly Fries, backed by the Curly Coalition of Canada, against the straight-cut Homestyle Fries, supported by the Homestyle Alliance.
With eight attack ads in total, each side makes outlandish claims about the other, all in keeping with typical political discourse. These videos are featured on each parties respective website (http://curlycoalition.com and http://homestylealliance.com) along with their party platform, downloadable posters, and links to various social media activity.
In “Fire,” the Curly Coalition points out the skinny, straight line cut of Homestyle Fries, comparing them to matchsticks, which are arranged to spell out “Homestyle Fries.” A voiceover notes that if you rearrange “Homestyle Fries,” you get “Set Sly Home Fire,” which we see spelled out in matchsticks. The narrator implores asserts, “Don’t let Canada go up in flames.” Clearly, we must choose Curly over Home Style Fries.
While it may be unusual for a brand such as Arby’s to essentially ridicule its own product line, anything goes in the world of politics.
Campaign is the brainchild of agency Blammo Worldwide, Toronto. Production/edit house on the package of spots is Posterboy Edit, Toronto.
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