Time Codes in Advertisements: Conspiracy or just marketing?

I've noticed on advertisements selling phones and watches, they display certain times on the devices. The time varies depending on the brand but they use the same numbers.

10:08 = HTC

12:21 = Blackberry

9:41-42 or 10:41-42= iPhone

And almost all watches display 10:08-10...

Just trying to see if anyone else has noticed, and looking for some answers... Next time a phone commercial comes on look at the time on the phone.

About to upload some videos bear with me...



HTC @ 0:23


@0:07



Blackberry



iPhone

I always assumed it was code for "Come buy my crap at exorbitant prices"?

But seriously, I have noticed this on a few occasions. I always ASSumed it was a "hat tip" to someone's birthday, or anniversary of the company, etc.

They do that with watches so that the name can be viewed without being obscured by the hands as I recall. I think it's all just marketing.

reply to post by Domo1


Right, and I agree with you there, but we are now in the digital age where the brand name or other features are not blocked out by the turing arms of the clock.

Is there maybe a subliminal link to the numbers?

perhaps alot of the photo's are reused stock photo's so would of been taken at the same time? as manufacturers do like to control the view of the phones as much as possible

reply to post by Maxatoria


What about the commercials that aren't photos?

reply to post by NotApplicable

What about the commercials that aren't photos?

Habits and tradition stick because Humans are creatures of habit.

I have been in Merchandising and marketing before, you'd be surprised how much stuff is done to appeal to human nature.

THe watch thing I always thought was to not obscure branding, and there was the whole it looks like it smiling. Because it was always done that way it will continue simply because its habit, even as it moves to new media and such.

Just thought of an example of this that bothered me, Try not to buy from the shelf from your waist to eye level, I guarantee products on that level will have paid more to be put there.

That or its more expensive, Why? because humans are naturally lazy, many will go for the item at reach level, even if more expensive rather than bend down to get the cheaper product.

Advertising and Marketing is an entire field dedicated to convince, coerce or trick you into buying.

Thats a real conspiracy, and it involved your watch example, no codes, simple manipulation of human nature.

I googled it for you and this is what I got about the watches. Apparently from Timex themselves...

Interesting question! Over the years, I've been told by several people
that clocks' hands in advertisements are set at 10:10 because this was
the time of day when Abraham Lincoln was shot, or the time when he
died. This is a fascinating explanation, but there isn't a shred of
evidence for it (and, in fact, Lincoln was shot at 10:15 PM, and died
the next morning at 7:22). Exactly the same myth is sometimes reported
with John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King as the person being
memorialized in the clock ads.

I have gathered some information on the subject for you. The consensus
of opinion (confirmed by Timex) is that clock and watch hands in
advertisements are typically set at 10:10 so that the company's logo
will be well-displayed. In addition, this position of the hands
resembles a smile.

"Q: WHEN YOU SEE AN AD WITH A CLOCK IN IT THE HANDS ARE ALWAYS
POSITIONED AT 10:10?

A: WE CALLED TIMEX FOR YOUR ANSWER AND IT SAYS THE HANDS ON A CLOCK
ARE PLACED AT TEN-TEN BECAUSE IT'S A CREATIVE STANDARD INDUSTRY.

TIMEX SAYS THE HANDS ON TIMEPIECES ARE PLACED AT TEN-TEN SO THE
COMPANY LOGO ON THE FACE WILL BE FRAMED AND NOT BLOCKED BY THE HANDS.
TIMEX SAYS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD USED TO BE EIGHT-TWENTY BUT THAT
LOOKED TOO MUCH LIKE A FROWN AND CREATED AN UNHAPPY LOOK.

TIMEX SAYS IN ITS ADS, THE CLOCK HANDS ARE PLACED AT TEN-NINE AND
THIRTY SIX SECONDS, EXACTLY."

answers.google.com...

I didn't google the phones though.

reply to post by Kangaruex4Ewe


Thank you, I editted in some commercials to outline what I meant by the times on digital devices. It very well could be just tradition.


I have a working knowledge of marketing but not so much as to why digital devices in most big name brand commercials use the same time when they shoot their commercials.

reply to post by NotApplicable


Subliminally perhaps, 10:10 or similar, subconsciously we think we're running out of time, and make spontaneous purchases.

I would not put it past psychological marketing. The best we to sell something is to make you decide you need it without actually telling you.

Interesting topic, I've not seen before. I can think of no reason why digital timepieces should have a standard unless, like you say it's tradition, have you noticed this on other things that display time like iPod docks, Stereos, microwave ovens etc'?

reply to post by OffensivAtheist


iPad uses the same time as the iPhone commercials

Originally posted by NotApplicable
reply to post by Maxatoria

 

What about the commercials that aren't photos?

All images on screens are simulated, usually it will say this in the commercial itself.
They most likely just recycle the simulated overlays of the phones screen, over and over.
Nice observation though.

This is interesting. It could be any thing, numbers are every where so I am sure their is allot of connection to the numbers on the phone and some random event or thing. Maybe those numbers are pleaseing to the brain? Who knows. The first thing I noticed was the 12:21 it could represent a number of things. As above so below mirror image or DOOMS DAY!!! It could be any thing.

reply to post by Infi8nity


Blackberry uses the 12:21 but what seems most interesting to me is that all of Apples "i(Name)" commercials uses either 9:41-42 or 10:41-42.

reply to post by NotApplicable


How Weird, I'll keep an eye open for this in future, it makes no sense, at least not to me. Peace.