Scroogled: the Microsoft attack ads that treat Google like a political opponent – The Verge

Why is Microsoft scared of Chromebooks?

2013-12-06T11:51:40-05:00

Acer C720 Chromebook 1024px

"It's pretty much a brick," says Pawn Stars' Rick Harrison as he rejects a Samsung Chromebook brought in by an actor playing a customer. Microsoft really doesn't want you buying this thing.

But why? Just how big of a threat are Chromebooks, Google's oft-ridiculed web-only laptops, to Microsoft's core business?

In many ways, 2013 has been the year of the Chromebook for Google. From Acer's $199 C720-2848 to HP's $279 Chromebook 11, Mountain View has attracted traditional Windows PC makers to build a variety of low-cost laptops in time for the holidays. While Microsoft had largely ignored the threat since the first Chromebook launched some tw …

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Microsoft’s latest ‘Scroogled’ ad uses ‘Pawn Stars’ show to rip into Google’s Chromebooks

2013-11-26T15:27:57-05:00

Acer C720 Chromebook 1024px

it's been nearly two years since Microsoft started pushing a staunchly anti-Google message through its "Scroogled" campaign - since then, Google's biggest products like Gmail, Google Search, Android, Chrome, and Google Docs have all come under fire as being inferior and less secure than Microsoft's offerings. (Not to mention these clever mugs and t-shirts.) Now, Microsoft has yet another target: the humble Chromebook. In a new video on the Scroogled website, Microsoft calls in Rick Harrison from reality TV show Pawn Stars to appraise a seller's Chromebook. Her suggestion that the computer is worth anything elicites a hearty chuckle from Harr …

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Google responds to Microsoft smear campaign with witty retort about wearable computing

2013-11-21T19:51:02-05:00

Scroogled Mug

Yesterday, Microsoft started selling hats, mugs, T-shirts, and hoodies with a distinct anti-Google message, bearing phrases like "keep calm while we steal your data" alongside the Chrome browser logo. They're the latest wave of Microsoft's long-running Scroogled campaign, designed to frighten people away from using Google services.

How does Google feel about Microsoft's clothing line? The company appears to be taking it in stride. "Microsoft's latest venture comes as no surprise; competition in the wearables space really is heating up," a spokesperson told The Verge.

"Competition in the wearables space really is heating up."

It's a clever j …

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Microsoft wants to sell you anti-Google mugs and t-shirts

2013-11-20T16:04:49-05:00

Scroogled Mug

Microsoft's anti-Google "Scroogled" campaign has been quietly attempting to convince consumers to avoid Google services for the past few months, but it's back today with a vengeance. Microsoft has dedicated an entire section of its online store to selling anti-Google mugs, hats, t-shirts, and hoodies. The prices vary, but for $7.99 you can pick up a mug that advises you to "keep calm while we steal your data." It's a surprisingly brazen approach from Microsoft just in time for the holidays, and another direct and odd attack at Google.

Microsoft has previously parodied Google's Chrome ad, attacked Gmail, and launched an anti-Google Shopping sit …

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Ballmer calls Google a ‘monopoly’ that authorities should control

2013-09-20T07:34:59-04:00

Steve Ballmer stock

Microsoft unveiled its new Bing logo and design this week, and yesterday CEO Steve Ballmer opted to highlight his concerns over Google's business practices. During a presentation at Microsoft's financial analysts meeting, Ballmer discussed how Microsoft might generate money in consumer services. "Google does it," he noted. "They have this incredible, amazing, dare I say monopoly that we are the only person left on the planet trying to compete with." Asked by an analyst how Microsoft can attack Google's dominance in search and advertising, Ballmer explained "we're the only guys in the world trying," with the Bing search engine.

Bing now account …

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Inside the bitter YouTube battle between Microsoft and Google

2013-08-16T10:00:08-04:00

youtube microsoft google feud

The gloves are off: Microsoft and Google find themselves battling in more product areas than ever while fighting a very public war of words. The latest spat has led Google to block a Microsoft-developed YouTube app for Windows Phone, despite a promise to collaborate between the two companies. In the past, Microsoft has launched public campaigns directly against Google: there's Gmail man, newspaper ads, Scroogled, and even an anti-Google Apps "Googlighting" campaign. Google's moves are less public, with curiously timed product changes, methods intended to block Windows Phone users, and the occasional sniping comment from Larry Page or Eric Sc …

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Leaked Scroogled video sees Microsoft parody Google’s Chrome ad

2013-05-16T10:40:48-04:00

scroogled chrome

Microsoft and Google have been locked in a war of words over a YouTube Windows Phone app, but in the midst of the arguments a new Scroogled ad has emerged. Designed to be an internal-only video, a copy has somehow managed to find its way onto the web right in the middle of Google's I/O developer conference.

Unlike Microsoft's previous attempts, this directly parodies Google's own Chrome ads with a bouncing ball tracking how Google allegedly targets you with ads. It's identical to Google's own Chrome "Now Everywhere" ad, set to the same music and style. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that the ad is genuine, stating it's "an …

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Microsoft’s latest ‘Scroogled’ ad attacks Android with privacy fears

2013-04-09T17:54:25-04:00

scroogled newspapers

Microsoft's anti-Google campaign is getting a fresh revival this week with a new focus on Google's Android app store. After directly attacking Gmail and Google Shopping, Microsoft is now attempting to spread fear over Google's policy of supplying the name, email address, and neighborhood of users who purchase apps on Google Play. In two fresh videos posted to the Scroogled site, Microsoft attempts to convince users to switch to Bing and Windows Phone over Android.

"If you can't trust their app store, maybe you can't trust them for anything," says a narrator in one particular video, suggesting users try Bing. Another focuses on trying to pus …

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Microsoft ending Scroogled TV advertising campaign (update)

2013-03-04T11:02:53-05:00

scroogled

Microsoft is ending its Scroogled TV advertising campaign attacking Google's security practices. Public radio and TV station KQED reports that Microsoft senior director of online services Stefan Weitz said "that part is about finished," referring to the TV ads that lambasted the search company and reminded some of political attack ads. The Scroogled website is still up, however, and Weitz's remarks do not necessarily mean that Microsoft is abandoning the tagline and the message of the campaign altogether.

Stefan Weitz did offer KQED a few more details on the origin of the attack ads, however. He says that the idea first came up from an opin …

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Fighting dirty: Microsoft’s mean ‘Scroogled’ ads are a sign of what’s to come

2013-02-13T13:00:05-05:00

scroogled couple

Microsoft just came out with the second phase of its "Scroogled" campaign, a series of fearmongering attack ads aimed at Google that are very similar to the political attack ads that flood the airwaves during election season.

Dramatic voiceover. Vague implications of danger. Damning clips of the opponent saying something stupid (thanks, Eric Schmidt). "Email between a husband and wife or two best friends should be completely personal," a smooth-voiced announcer says in one spot. "But Google crosses the line and goes through every single Gmail."

Critics say Microsoft is spreading fear, uncertainty, and doubt

As is typical when political c …

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