Google Home Gets 'Beauty & The Beast' Promo But Google Says It's Not an Ad (marketingland.com) 124
Danny Sullivan, reporting for MarketingLand: Ask Google Home what your day is like today, and it will remind you that Disney's Beauty and the Beast is opening today. Google says this isn't an ad. But it's definitely an out-of-the-ordinary cooperation with a Google Home "partner." The promotion was spotted by Bryson Meunier, whose child was definitely excited to hear the news delivered by Google Home. "This isn't an ad; the beauty in the Assistant is that it invites our partners to be our guest and share their tales," a spokesperson said. The company doesn't list Disney as one of its partners on Google Home website, the report adds.
An ad by any other name... (Score:1)
Welp, that makes my decision. (Score:5, Insightful)
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Only a fool would put one of these eavesdropping devices in their homes on purpose. Don't let the feminine names fool you. They're no friend of yours.
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You want to listen in on my cell phone? You'll get a ring side auditory view of my back pocket. Only for the very desperate.
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GPS and location services are disabled on my phone, and I am one of the few that isn't on the add-on Apps bandwagon. So, it is just my carrier and the NSA that are tracking me and must do so only via the cell towers. I have accepted this as a necessary trade off.
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I have no need for one of these things. My smartphone can do voice stuff, why do I need another appliance that always listens and always uploads what is around it? If I want another device to watch what I do, I'll just buy another microwave.
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f I want another device to watch what I do, I'll just buy another microwave.
No, no, you need a Nest thermostat in every room to watch you have sex, and some "smart" device in the bathroom to watch you poop. Can't we have some more enthusiasm around here for the internet of things that watch you poop?
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You don't leave it on all the time - you bring it out for parties. The drunker your friends are, the more fun.
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Exactly what I'm talking about...
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I was considering buying one of these for my kitchen. I'm not any more. I have no interest in adding more unsolicited advertising to my life.
Is it in any way surprising that a home appliance sold by an advertising company starts ... advertising? I mean, really, who didn't see this coming.
Umm, yes, it is an ad. (Score:4, Insightful)
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Like how NPR doesn't have ads, they have 30 second messages from "contributors".
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Like how NPR doesn't have ads, they have 30 second messages from "contributors".
I used to tolerate NPR's ads because they were short, all read by the same woman (with a nice soft radio voice), and infrequent. However I'd swear that in the last year they've increased the frequency and duration of them by at least 50% and changed voices to an unpleasant man's voice. I now mute the audio or switch stations when they come on.
I abhor advertising and refuse to partake in it, so I usually pay for services. However if something like NPR is going to run ads anyway, why should I continue to do
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Everyone should re-read 1984 periodically. It's a good reminder. (This has been an official message from the Ministry of Truth.)
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Three Drives for the King Bezos under Seattle's damp and dismal sky,
Seven for the Mountain View Lords in their halls of glass.,
Nine Drives for the poor AC trying to create a RAID array that is doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Bellvue where the Shadows* lie.
One Drive to rule them all, One Drive to find them (well, Bing, anyway)
One Drive to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Bellvue where the Shadows lie.
* Basically like Seattle weather
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
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It doesn't matter if Google got paid for it. It's an ad either way.
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I would contend that Google being paid for it is sufficient to make it an ad. Whether that's necessary, I don't know. If Google wasn't paid, it just noticed you buy midnight showing tickets to every Disney Princess movie, does that make this an ad or an assistant?
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If Google wasn't paid, it just noticed you buy midnight showing tickets to every Disney Princess movie, does that make this an ad or an assistant?
It would still be an ad, it would just be a solicited one rather than unsolicited.
That may very well be what happened here, but I have my doubts because the person reporting it seemed to consider it surprising (which he wouldn't do if it was clearly the result of past behavior), and because Google didn't raise that as a defense.
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If Google or Disney were saying "tell people who would like Disney Princess movies about this movie", I would totally agree with you. But what if* Google's algorithms think this is just news you would like, that X is happening (even if it costs money). I mean, how is that different from being told "those build the wall/impeach trump stickers you put a watch on are back in stock" or "they just released studies that eating a p
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"they just released studies that eating a pound of bacon a day leads to immortality."
You cruel bastard, just for a split second you gave me hope.
geeze Frye! (Score:2)
Well sure, but not in our virtual assistants. Only on TV and radio, and in magazines, and movies, and at ball games... and on buses and milk cartons and t-shirts, and bananas and written on the sky. But not in our virtual assistants, no siree.
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Is it any different from Netflix showing you recommendations based on your past viewings and ratings?
It sure would be nice if you could turn these recommendations off, though. It's more b
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Yes. Or, if the definition of "ad" is getting too loose, then it's certainly "marketing".
Re:Renumeration (Score:5, Insightful)
It's an ad, but not for Disney. It's an ad for Google Home. They did it so potential advertisers can see how "naturally" it can slip ads into people's lives in a new way.
Insightful (Score:2)
Sorry I don't have any mod points as that is the most insightful post I've seen in a while.
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Mod this up ^^^
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Yes, I have heard people talk like this in meetings. Marketing/Management speak = Doublespeak.
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Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Disney Magic (Score:2)
Google said, "it invites our partners to be our guest" be our guest, put our magic "it isn't an ad" to the test!
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Tie this noose 'round your neck, cherie and we'll provide the rest...
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I was quite literally just about to buy a voice activated advertising device from the world's biggest advertising company, but this slashvertisement about how an advertisement once heard on said device is not really an advertisement has really changed my mind!
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I don't do ads
You are aware that Google is basically an advertising company?
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Just like Google Now... (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm guessing those people have searched Beauty and the Beast while signed in to Chrome at some point. And just like Google Now cards, it's an update to a product that showed interest in, so it is brought up with the question of what's happening today. One part Ad yes, but I don't think they would do it specifically for Beauty and the Beast, it may very well be a new regular response with others like: "That console you've been researching is released today" "That TV you price checked is on sale today", "That show you like has a new episode today", etc.
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Although you're very smart to connect the two, as it is common for browsers to 'offer suggestions & ads' based on browsing history: It does not matter. Such a question was not asked of the device.
When one buys a home assistant, and it begins 'volunteering' unsolicited happenings around the community to you, those are ads.
If you ASK it to tell you the latest happenings around the community that's different.
The is literally The Truman Show in real life:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt01... [imdb.com]
Where the character
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I'm guessing those people have searched Beauty and the Beast while signed in to Chrome at some point. And just like Google Now cards, it's an update to a product that showed interest in, so it is brought up with the question of what's happening today. One part Ad yes, but I don't think they would do it specifically for Beauty and the Beast, it may very well be a new regular response with others like: "That console you've been researching is released today" "That TV you price checked is on sale today", "That show you like has a new episode today", etc.
That is some backflipping you're doing there to excuse this. I'm usually reticent to jump on the bash-Google bandwagon, but this is pretty clearly a blatant advert. Listen to the wording and the music, it's not a 'helpful' message like the examples you give. In a reddit post author says "I don't believe I've done any searching for the film either, so I think it's not due to perceived interest."
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Probably, but then that makes it the very worst sort of ad: the targeted ad.
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I'm guessing those people have searched Beauty and the Beast while signed in to Chrome at some point. And just like Google Now cards, it's an update to a product that showed interest in, so it is brought up with the question of what's happening today. One part Ad yes, but I don't think they would do it specifically for Beauty and the Beast, it may very well be a new regular response with others like: "That console you've been researching is released today" "That TV you price checked is on sale today", "That show you like has a new episode today", etc.
You'd think that, but I very recently got a Google Now card right at the top of the list (ahead of weather etc. whereas that's normally the very top) which told me Nicki Minaj had a new album out. I've never listened to, searched for, bought or in any way shown an interest in that, and I've never been alerted to any band that I do actually listen to/search for having a new album out.
It was immediately obvious that was 'sponsored content' and probably pushed out to millions of people, right on their home scr
Damn, Google (Score:4, Insightful)
At least have enough respect for people to be honest. Don't lie straight to our faces with that "it's not an ad" bullshit.
It's not an ad, it's a mindfuck (Score:2)
of course it's an advertisement.
Google define: advertisement
a notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service, or event
a ... thing regarded as a means of recommending something.
These devices should be free (Score:1)
Just...wow (Score:4, Funny)
If this is 'Assistant' speaking, why is it giving OPINIONS on gender? If you read this as marketing copy, its easier to stomach, marketdroids are used to feeding you an opinion. However, if you take it as YOUR Assistant, the message is MUCH creepier. Its like hiring a secretary and them constantly saying 'brought to you by Carls Jr.'
Either Assistant is a servant, or a salesperson, it cannot be both.
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"It's wrong to say a tomato is a vegetable. It's wronger to say it's a suspension bridge."
Let me get this straight... (Score:2)
I'm just surprised it wasn't like "Hey, I've checked your schedule and you've got a couple free hours tonight, based on your movie preferences you'll like Beauty and the Beast! It's showing at a theater that's 1.5 miles away from you! Would you like to purchase advanced tickets?"
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I'm just surprised it wasn't like "Hey, I've checked your schedule and you've got a couple free hours tonight, based on your movie preferences you'll like Beauty and the Beast! It's showing at a theater that's 1.5 miles away from you! Your tickets have been ordered and are ready for pickup."
There, FTFY.
Marketing Exec (Score:1)
It's not an AD it's SYNERGY (Jazz Hands)
Meta-Advertising (Score:2)
"This isn't an ad; the beauty in the Assistant is that it invites our partners to be our guest and share their tales," a spokesperson said.
You really have to hand it to Google, when they sell out, they go all the way.
Advertisements are like pornography... (Score:1)
Makes my decision easy... never going to buy one! (Score:2)
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Unfortunately things have never worked that way -- even going back to the early days of newspapers, you'd pay for a paper and still get ads in it.
Re: Makes my decision easy... never going to buy o (Score:2)
I worked @ Disney (Score:2)
Believe me, this is not an ad in the same way that Clinton did not have sex with that woman.
weasel words (Score:3)
You are the product: All the time (Score:1)
Sweet! Can I share some tales? (Score:2)
it's a fucking ad (Score:2)
google can claim it's not an ad but that's exactly what it is.
spammers also always say "my spam is not spam, it's important information that you need to know". they're fucking lying too.
advertising in all its forms is a crime against humanity. manipulation, lies, deception, propaganda, psychic assault, normalisation - even reification - of consumption, and all the other varieties of bullshit.
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google can claim it's not an ad but that's exactly what it is.
spammers also always say "my spam is not spam, it's important information that you need to know". they're fucking lying too.
advertising in all its forms is a crime against humanity. manipulation, lies, deception, propaganda, psychic assault, normalisation - even reification - of consumption, and all the other varieties of bullshit.
OK, but could you please let us know what you REALLY think about advertising?
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what do i really think?
the problem might start getting solved if we hang a few thousand marketing people and advertising execs for their crimes. provide some disincentive.
or, for poetic justice, drown them slowly in pits full of shit.
What wonderful tales our guests will share! (Score:2)
I, too, have partnered with Google, am your guest, and will share my tale.
Once upon a time, in the far-off land of Nigeria, there lived a prince.
This prince had inherited a fortune of FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS...
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And if there is some "ads" or hidden product placement suggestions, then that might just be the cost of using this to improve productivity and quality of life.
I thought the cost was allowing Google to spy on you. That's already too high of a price for me, but putting ads on top of that makes it outrageously expensive.
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Google, like all ad companies, probably really believes that advertising is itself relevant content that people want.