X

Microsoft's worst TV shameless marketing plugs

A selection of in TV-programme plugs of Microsoft software
By Zack Whittaker, Contributor
414128.png
1 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Microsoft have infiltrated two television series' to includ subtle advertisements for Windows 7, Internet Explorer and Bing as a part of the storyline.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414129.png
2 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Click the next image to see Microsoft's shameless plugs in hit TV show, "Bones"...

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Global HD, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 5 episode 17.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414130.png
3 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz as the two main characters in the hit TV show, but what's that? A Windows machine? And why that specific wallpaper, I wonder?

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Global HD, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 5 episode 17.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414131.png
4 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
As this scene continues, you not only see the clearly branded Windows machine, but some might observe the PC opposite, which has a similar-to-Mac branding of the Windows logo on the back of the machine. Seeing as Microsoft doesn't make their own hardware, is this just another attempt at getting the Windows logo out there? Yes, is the simple answer.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Global HD, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 5 episode 17.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414132.png
5 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
A second or two later, the two main characters stand in front of the same Windows machine.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Global HD, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 5 episode 17.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414133.png
6 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
This particular shot makes me laugh, as though it's a Western shoot-out and the damsel in distress is in the middle - donning a bright and intrusive Windows logo. How obvious is this?!

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Global HD, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 5 episode 17.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414134.png
7 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
It seems Microsoft must have paid a great deal for these gratuitous shots of this Windows branded computer to remain in shot, appearing for a cumulative total of about 7 seconds in all...

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Global HD, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 5 episode 17.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414135.png
8 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
...of course this would make sense as part of Microsoft's marketing of Windows 7 is a '7 Second Demo', unlike Internet Explorer 8 which is given an '8 Second Demo".

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Global HD, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 5 episode 17.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414136.png
9 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Though the broadcasters logo is slightly blocking the Windows logo on this machine, it's yet another clear and obvious plug of the operating system. See the sneaky logo on the back of the monitor, too?

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Global HD, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 5 episode 17.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414137.png
10 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Oh, and we get to see icons here too.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Global HD, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 5 episode 17.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414138.png
11 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Click the next image to see Microsoft's shameless plugs in hit TV show, "Damages"...

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414139.png
12 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Here you can see one of the main characters Tom Shayes at a computer in his office. What you may not be aware is the situation he is in; he's lost his entire life savings and needs to sell a few items to claw back to settle his finances.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414140.png
13 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Oh look at that, a Windows logo; not only on the desktop but there's clearly some branding on the laptop screen edge. Is that a Sony machine? Of course it is, but that's only because the programme is also a production of Sony Pictures TV.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414141.png
14 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Is that Internet Explorer 8 he is using? Of course it is! However from start to finish of this scene where he uses Internet Explorer 8, is funnily enough 8 seconds long as part of their commercial advertising branding.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414142.png
15 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Notice how the character's arm moves slightly out of the way to ensure that the Bing logo and background is clearly displayed. Shameless plug? I think so!

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414143.png
16 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
A nice zoomed in shot here getting the full Bing logo in a much larger format, with a search term in line with the scene. He's selling his car in replacement for his much more expensive, newer model.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414144.png
17 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
What these images don't show is that two windows 'magically' appeared out of nowhere when the search button was clicked; something Bing most definitely doesn't do.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414145.png
18 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
Here's a Windows 7 feature for you; Aero Snap, as he takes one window and snaps it to the left hand side, soon to do the same with the other. It's funny how the '7 Second Demo' adverts do exactly the same as this too.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414146.png
19 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
And the snapping of the other window to the other side of the screen...

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.
414147.png
20 of 20 Zack Whittaker/ZDNET
And there we have it. Two windows snapped to each side of the screen for much easier viewing. Oh Microsoft, you are so easy to read.

(c) Fox, 2010. Broadcast on Fox, 10pm. Screenshot taken from 720p broadcast, season 3 episode 12.

To read more about this, visit the iGeneration blog.

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos