Apple Introduces Three New Mac Ads During Olympics Opening Ceremonies - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Introduces Three New Mac Ads During Olympics Opening Ceremonies

Apple debuted three new ads tonight during the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremonies featuring an "Apple Genius" helping a Mac owner on a plane, and another while his wife is giving birth. A third ad features a Genius telling a customer who thought he bought a Mac that he really purchased a knock-off because it doesn't come with iPhoto, iMovie, or GarageBand.


The ads are a departure from previous ad campaigns -- they don't feature products and they don't mention any specific service that Apple offers. Instead, they hint at the training services provided at Apple Retail Stores by the Creatives (Geniuses are used for tech support, rather than training) and the fact that just because a computer looks like a Mac, it isn't necessarily one.

They are also a bit of a throwback to the 'Get a Mac' ads featuring Justin Long and John Hodgman. By emphasizing the personal aspects of Apple's services, it appears that the company is looking to humanize itself and make it less about the products and more about the entire Apple ecosystem, including the personal services offered at the Apple Retail Stores including the Genius Bar and One-to-One training service.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Twelve Changes Coming to Apple's Next Flagship

Thursday July 30, 2026 3:43 am PDT by
We're less than two months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a dramatic change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year,...

Top Rated Comments

wickerman1893 Avatar
183 months ago
Is it just me or are these the first commercials that didn't seem "Steve Jobs like?"
Score: 92 Votes (Like | Disagree)
183 months ago
Tim Cook's taste is bad.
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sputnikv Avatar
183 months ago
these felt sort of like the kind of commercials at&t/verizon/sprint puts out.. it's unsettling
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
robgreene Avatar
183 months ago
Is it just me or are these the first commercials that didn't seem "Steve Jobs like?"

Came here to write the exact same thing. Definitely felt like the first deviation away from Jobs vision for the company. Disappointing.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
183 months ago
No offense to the actors but these ads are not that charming. The Mac vs PC ads had a charm to them. These just seem like ads any PC vendor would put out.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jlgolson Avatar
183 months ago
I submitted this too, it should be policy that anyone who submits before MacRumors goes to post, should get at least a shout out...

As for the content of the ads, I like them, bout time they give retail some credit. The Genius in the ads I hope is really a Genius and not an actor!
We would have to credit more than a dozen people then! When it's something like this -- an ad that a lot of people see (I saw them myself during the opening ceremonies) -- it's pretty typical for us not to credit.

No offense was intended!
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors