Apple Falls Far
At the risk of turning into a Ben Gibbard fansite (better than a Britney fansite, though, right?) Engadget's got the scoop on the new Apple commercial that rips off the Postal Service:
GIBBARD: "It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original. We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent." (Via Postalservicemusic.net.)Plus, M&Ms already used "Such Great Heights" (I&W's version) in a commercial (WIN | QT). So that's just lazy soundtracking.
The Postal Service - "Such Great Heights" (MP3)
And speaking of Apple, Stereogum turns to the readers for tech help. I recently got the 60Gig Video iPod. It only seems to want to work with USB 2.0, which I don't have on my shitty PC. I have USB and Firewire. Is there a way to make it work with my current computer?
UPDATE: Apple's response:
UPDATE 2: The video goes to #1 on iTunes.
Posted at 10:19 AM in MP3
Get a USB 2.0 card. They're cheap. Significantly faster than the previous version, slightly less fast than firewire.
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even if it's USB, it should still work with the USB 2.0 iPod...
USB 2.0 is backwards compatible..it'll be slow as hell, but it will work. On the new iPods, firewire can only be used to charge the battery, not transfer files.
also:
does anyone know if The Postal Service's album was created on a PC or Mac? I could've sworn I saw them using a PowerBook on stage in a picture...
and:
i'm sure he won't be complaining after all of this totally free press they are receiving from everyone's favorite computer manufacturer results in sales of Postal Service records...
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> Get a USB 2.0 card. They're cheap.
> Significantly faster than the previous
> version, slightly less fast than firewire.
I guess that's my only option. But really, they should've made it work with PC firewire.
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yeah, def get usb 2.0 card- they're real easy to install and 40 times faster than usb1.1.
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http://images.freshfjord.com/spunker/movies/thespunker.com.appleintelvspostalservice.mp4
Shot for shot comparison between the two.
It's kind of the same. I guess.
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There's a program on any PC that can help you. It's called the "Shut Down" program, and once you've executed it, you can proceed to throw out the machine and purchase a Mac.
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The new iPods are USB only. Firewire doesn't do anything but charge them now. You can use them over USB 1.0, but it'll be slow. Get a USB 2.0 card (~$10).
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To make the new iPods thinner, they had to drop Firewire support. It's a goddamn travesty, I'm lacking USB 2.0 myself. Luckily I'll be buying a new machine shortly.
I'll just go ahead and second the motion of everyone else. Grab a USB 2.0 card for real cheap, or throw that brick away and get a Mac. They all ship with 2.0 these days.
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in the meantime, you can just leave it plugged in overnight when you're loading it... i don't have usb 2.0, and that works fine for me when i'm loading stuff.
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My brother too bought oan ipod video and we only have USB 1... it does work, yes, but just very very slowly... so slowly that I forbid him using it...
So, if you don't want to go crazy, and loose moments of your life better spent gossiping, invest in whatever the hell the other commenters recommend.
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I know how the world hates Mac Zealots (oh, how I know), but let me chime in and agree with abc...dump the Wintel nonsense. I assume you've got a monitor and keyboard, so splurge and pick up a $400 or $500 Mac Mini. It's got USB 2.0 built-in and will most certainly blow away whatever you're using now.*
*I assume so because I doubt you're using a high-powered PC with USB 1.1.
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You can buy a firewire cable, mine (which is a year old) has one, and it works just fine with my GF's brand new iPod as well. The connection that connects to the pod is the same size on both USB2 and Firewire unlike someone previously mention earlier. Here the link for the Firewire cable, its $20 http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/7200304/wo/sH3S7Fr8tDlA2eECt1B3GPHqPrG/3.SLID?mco=7247AC6D&nplm=M9127G%2FA
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Yes... dump the WinTel - and get a MacTel!
Though I am offended by the postal service ripoff... not so much that Apple ripped off someone else's work, but that Apple elected to rip off the work of such a dull band. Isn't there an old Motley Crue video they could have jacked? If Apple put out a video that copped the video for "Dr. Feelgood," I would have bought a new computer already.
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Whatever the postal service sells their songs in the post office.
And it's not like they created the images in the video, or appear in the video, or directed or shot the video, so they don't really have a say I think.
It's like hiring hype williams in 1998 if you want a sweet fish eye shiny music video he's the guy. If you want shots of microchips and girls in space suits go to this guy.
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Ignore Dan. Apple removed the Firewire support from the latest iPods. Firewire will only charge the iPod now and the iPod'll even display a message saying it won't sync over Firewire. See the last footnote on this page: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93405
As for the Postal Service deal, it is too bad about how similar it is to the video. But then I never saw the video before even though I do know about The Postal Service. And I'd be willing to bet that 90% of the people seeing the commercial haven't heard of them so this should serve as some decent publicity.
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I think the only thing the Postal Service are disappointed about is that they didn't get paid, not that there's anything wrong with that, but let's stop the "artistic integrity" frontin'.
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You would think that Apple would be reluctant to do such a thing since just about 4 months ago the exact same thing happened with the 'Detroit' commercial. I don't know if it is more disappointing to think TBWA Chiat/Day would be involved in such a thing or Apple.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1358
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who'd have ever thought a bunch of people who argue over nearly identical bands would start a mac-windows flame war?
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I think someone is just fronting for another gig at the "Bait Shop".
The commercial itself is about as boring as the Postal Service (or DCFC, or The O.C.), but the uproar and attention generated by a juicy controversy makes me suspicious on both parties behalf.
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"Apple's response" = pretty funny.
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thats why i like deathcab. theyre so anticommercial. i bet they'll never sign to a major lable.
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"Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original."
I do feel for the guys, but, well..um.....next time, make sure you have a say in it. Were the video producers and Apple working outside of the law? Given this story, I have to assume the property is not owned by the band. If so, that makes this whining. And they ought to be glad it wasn't sold to McDonald's. oops.
If you release it on the Internet with your own copyright, you'll own it. Otherwise, someone else does.
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other than getting a new mac (those macbook pros are looking pretty nice) i think getting a dock would solve the problem, those can sync over USB and Firewire.
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Yeah, I had the same problem with my 60GB ipod. Came with a USB 2.0 cable, only have USB 1.0. The Firewire cable is like $20-$30 at any Apple Store, which is a pain, yes, but a lot better given the alternative of updating overnight.
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