Apple Appropriates Such Great Heights?

I, along with the rest of the known world, was happy to hear of Apple's switch to Intel dual-core processors announced last week. The commercial accompanying the new product launch features clean-suited scientists carefully manufacturing the the high-tech hunk of silicon, complete with images of intricate robotic machinery and a final shot, which zooms out from the installed chip to reveal the full iMac, resplendent in its overpriced consumer electronics splendor.

Sound familiar? It should to those of you with an ounce of indie cred. Apple's new commercials are nearly a shot-for-shot remake of The Postal Service's video for Such Great Heights. And I mean shot for shot. In a side-by-side comparison, the resemblance is more than strikingly similar. Most of the footage is nearly identical. Subliminal Sub Pop shill? Steve Jobs' newfound inspiration? Nobody's quite sure, but the evidence speaks for itself.


Then again, The Postal Service has done some ripping-off of their own. Last year, in one of the most bizarre interactions in recent music history, they recieved a cease-and-desist letter from none other than the US Postal Service themself for trademark infringement on their name. However, Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello came to a compromise with the USPS by agreeing to perform at their end-of-year executive picnic. Now the real Postal Service sells Postal Service albums on the internet, right next to 39 cent stamps. Now that's what I call synergy.