NFL TV Announcers Still Referring to Microsoft Surface Tablets as iPads

[[Coi] Mr.CLuBBeR]

Microsoft has some coaching to do

Microsoft's arch rival Apple is receiving some free publicity for its iPad line during NFL games. That's because TV announcers can't seem to tell fathom that not all tablets are iPads. Take the Surface, for example. After paying the NFL $400 million for Surface to be the official tablet of the league, Microsoft is understandably ticked that its slate keeps being referred to as an iPad on national television.
It happened on more than one occasion through the end of last week, and then again this past Sunday when the San Diego Chargers played against the defending champions Seattle Seahawks. In that instance, it was a local TV announcer who was confused when told the teams were using Surface tablets.
"What? I thought it was an iPad," the announcer said, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
In addition to paying the NFL a reported $400 million to feature its Surface as the official tablet of the league, it also provided the NFL with hundreds of Surface 2 systems. Each team received 13 Surface tablets to use on the sideline and 12 to use in the coaches' booth. They're not connected to the Internet and teams are only allowed to view photos, not videos. The NFL then collects them after each game to prevent tampering.
"Despite the majority of our friends in the booth correctly identifying the Surface on NFL sidelines, we're working with the league to coach up a select few," a Microsoft spokesman said.
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