By Shéa Bennett
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

I’m not an iPhone owner, but I’ve used one before and I’m fully aware that, no matter how well it renders most web pages, Apple do slightly exaggerate its browser capabilities in their advertisements, specifically when it comes to speed and functionality.

Well, it’s finally caught up with them. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK’s advertising watchdog, has banned the following iPhone commercial for giving “a misleading impression of the internet capabilities of the iPhone.”

The ASA had specific problems with the advert’s claim that, “You never know which part of the internet you’ll need … which is why all the parts of the internet are on the iPhone.”

What’s interesting about this piece is it took only two complaints from concerned geeks to get the advert investigated. Two! I thought this stuff usually needed hundreds of angry punters before anyone even paid attention. Both complaints pointed out that the iPhone does not support Flash or Java, both of which are an integral feature in many web sites.

The ASA has ordered that the advert, as is, must not be broadcasted in the UK again. However, it continues to be aired in other countries, including the USA.

What do you think? Is Apple pulling a fast one, or is this taking nitpicking to the nth degree?