HP Music Website and HP iTunes [Archive]

MacRumors

Mar 12, 2004, 12:33 AM

HP has posted (http://www.hp.com/united-states/music/) their HP Music website at http://www.hp.com/united-states/music/

The special section on HP's website promotes Apple's iTunes jukebox software:

HP and Apple have partnered to bring the award-winning iTunes music jukebox software onto your PC and into your digital world!

The download link (http://www.apple.com/itunes/hp/download/) takes you to a special HP/Compaq "Download iTunes" page on Apple's site. This version of iTunes is 4.2.0.74( HP ), but is otherwise visually identical to the standard version of iTunes for Windows.

HP and Apple announced in January (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2004/01/20040108132810.shtml) that they would be releasing an HP branded music player and bundling iTunes with their computers.

thejoshu

Mar 12, 2004, 12:44 AM

I want to see an HPod in person. Just that color makes it look sort of bulky and outdated to me, but in person things usually have a greater appeal. And I'm all for the affiliation.

JohnGillilan

Mar 12, 2004, 12:52 AM

Do you think many potential Apple customers will buy hPod's b/c they like the color? Do they support Mac's or only PC's? (sounds like a stupid question, but who knows??)

Belly-laughs

Mar 12, 2004, 12:55 AM

Great to see Apple get some credit on the HP site! Lots of PC users have a negative perception of Apple. Hopefully this embrazing of Apple tech by a PC vendor may help change many peoples views.

Little by little...

Rick Friele

Mar 12, 2004, 12:58 AM

Is there a need for a HP version of iTunes?

winmacguy

Mar 12, 2004, 01:03 AM

Is there a need for a HP version of iTunes?

Yes as long as it is still iTunes. I think that we will get a NZ version at somestage that will be based on iTMS. Nothing wrong with variety in music stores as long as they lead to Apple

macstudent

Mar 12, 2004, 01:04 AM

Is there a need for a HP version of iTunes?

as long as more people are downloading itunes, the better. This is just another distribution center.

Doctor Q

Mar 12, 2004, 01:12 AM

The HP page is very elegant. Click "music off" and the sound fades out slowly. Click "music on" and it fades in again. Nice touch.

deejemon

Mar 12, 2004, 01:25 AM

rainman::|:|

Mar 12, 2004, 01:31 AM

i'm afraid that the "hp" version signfies that they're going to develop a version of iTunes that's custom to HP... i don't think this is a wise move, unless it's something silly like an HP logo dropped in somewhere... If they start customizing it too much, like adding HP-only features, and rearranging things, it could put a lot of stress on iTunes development in general... Unless of course HP is making their own mods, but i doubt Apple would let that happen.

Apple, you've done a good thing, just don't screw it up by developing a proprietary version-- for an otherwise competitor!

paul

JohnGillilan

Mar 12, 2004, 01:35 AM

Yes they're the same, but if HP are going to give it its own identity (different color, HP startup logo, different name), having it appear as an iPod would tend to destroy that illusion, even if it is well known that it really is an iPod in Smurf clothing.

I remembered someone saying it still has an Apple starup logo.

arn

Mar 12, 2004, 01:45 AM

i'm afraid that the "hp" version signfies that they're going to develop a version of iTunes that's custom to HP...

it's probably just to keep track of song sales

arn

JoeG4

Mar 12, 2004, 01:57 AM

Apple themselves said the hp ipod would boot with an apple logo....

elo

Mar 12, 2004, 02:21 AM

it's probably just to keep track of song sales

arn

That's correct, Arn.

elo

dontmatter

Mar 12, 2004, 04:26 AM

winmacguy

Mar 12, 2004, 04:52 AM

What's in it for Apple? Aren't itunes and itms just devices used to pedal ipods? Then what's the good of letting them pedal somebody else's ipod clone? that's where the profit is.

I mean, maybe it's for marketing for apple, you know, everybody sees how well apple apps work, but still, it doesn't seem worth it, b/c they are getting enough of this just by people downloading itunes for ipods, sharing, and the visualizer. But given that it's free, aren't they just subsidizing a competeing player?

Help me.

I don't get it. I don't see the dollar signs.
The .aac is an open source codec but HP would have to licence Apples DRM from them which is part of the iTMS and of course Apple will get a small cut from every hPod sold by HP. Considering that HP has about 40% of the world wide PC market and is bundleing iTunes and the hPod with its PCs with 107,000 distribution channels world wide compared to Apples 8000 distribution channels, I would say that this will benefit both companies very well.

Most PC buyers are not too concerned about how stylish their PC is just as long as the PC works when they take it out of its box and plug it in and push the on button. If they can play music and/or carry it around with them on the device that they purchased with their PC then all is well and good in the PC owners home.

Savage Henry

Mar 12, 2004, 05:22 AM

I doubt it'll be customised too much to make any difference. Spending money, time and resources on that would be an enormous waste. The money is in the harware, and if HP want to make some moola then they've got to do all they can to shift the HPods. iTMS is the best thing out there so I doubt they want to risk breaking it or making it too niche. Just a small distinctive association to the HPod should do it.

Not that I'd buy one.

Anyway, Winmacguy is right, both companies should do very well out of it.

arn

Mar 12, 2004, 06:50 AM

What's in it for Apple? Aren't itunes and itms just devices used to pedal ipods? Then what's the good of letting them pedal somebody else's ipod clone? that's where the profit is.

mindshare/marketshare

Scenario 1: Apple keeps the iPod to itself, keeps iTunes to itself. HP and DELL etc... all make partners to bundle WMA based music players. As we all know, people don't generally change what comes on their computer. Over time, most people have WMAs, don't work on the iPod. Apple can't sell ipods.

Scenario 2: Apple/HP partner to install these on HP's machines. More people buy AAC songs and want an iPod... either HP branded or Apple branded. iTunes grows and becomes the standard. (besides, Apple prob does make money for every HP ipod sold)

Remember... power = money.

arn

rosalindavenue

Mar 12, 2004, 08:41 AM

I'm ready to buy an ipod (and I'm not averse to getting an HPod if its a bargain); what do you all think about the buying climate? (I did check the buying guide, Arn) I really like the form factor of the mini but I need at least 20 gigs and could fill 40; I read somewhere that apple has ordered 60gig drives for upgrades to ipods; I guess my dream is a 20 gig mini. Has anyone heard anything about a release date of HPods, or rumors of upgrades to the existing ones?

virividox

Mar 12, 2004, 09:57 AM

hopefully this will lure in more ppl to buy apple stuff!!! hppod then maybe they like the ipod so much they swtich

micvog

Mar 12, 2004, 10:18 AM

Did anyone notice that when you click on "Download iTunes" from the HP website, that when directed to the Apple site, you are by default signed up for news about Apple and Apple products? :D I guess that really isn't a surprise, but this looks like a stealth "Phase 2" of the Switch campaign.

Belly-laughs

Mar 12, 2004, 11:13 AM

HiRez

Mar 12, 2004, 12:14 PM

The HP page is very elegant. Click "music off" and the sound fades out slowly. Click "music on" and it fades in again. Nice touch.What about the endless parade of stock photos of generic happy young hipsters? I hate this carp. I hope this deal at least brings Apple some cash, because if they cozy up to HP or other bland tech giants for too long, the dullness might start to wear off on them. Yuck.

wdlove

Mar 12, 2004, 12:39 PM

The see the partnership with HP as a good thing. It is better for the alliance than for HP to be a competitor. It just gets Apple into more markets.

sethypoo

Mar 12, 2004, 01:08 PM

Hmm, I really liked the background music at the HP music page. Anyone know if it's HP only, or from a particular artist?

Oh, BTW, kudos to Apple and HP with this partnership. Hopefully this "trogan horse" Apple is planting in PC's will have some good effects on the future.

elo

Mar 12, 2004, 02:06 PM

I would caution people against thinking of this as a "Trojan Horse." Apple has long needed to get past the business model where it only makes money if people switch to the Mac. It's much better if they devise ways (as they seem to be doing with the iPod) to make money even when people choose something else.

The truth is, outside the geek community, most Windows users are open to whatever software or hardware works the best (as far as software goes, this often means whatever is right in front of them). If it's from Apple, great. If not, no biggie. To the extent that Apple puts its products right in front of Windows users, it stands to be enormously successful.

Needless to say, one helpful side effect of this (from Apple's view) is that regular use of Apple products will help break down the wall keeping many people from looking at Macs. But at this point, Apple must be about more than the Mac.

elo

(A completely satisfied Windows user, who is also enjoying his iPod and iTunes!)

ssnmx

Mar 12, 2004, 04:17 PM

The HP iPod looks horrible. Really, that color looks outdated. On the other hand, I hope this is the first of many alliances with the PC companies, because it would give them a presence in that market.

I agree that only Windows-geeks want everything windows... normal people don't care, they just want programs that work. iTunes is a nice hook.

damson34

Mar 12, 2004, 05:14 PM

I would imagine that they way Apple makes money off of this is the same way they made money off of the Pepsi / iTunes campaign. HP has probably bought all the iPods that they are usingfor the regualr price so Apple still makes a profit and then they also get their products in a different market which gives them more potential money in the future along with licensing AAC to HP.

JDOG_

Mar 12, 2004, 06:49 PM

What about the endless parade of stock photos of generic happy young hipsters? I hate this carp. I hope this deal at least brings Apple some cash, because if they cozy up to HP or other bland tech giants for too long, the dullness might start to wear off on them. Yuck.

Man, have you seen a 3G iPod brochure as of late? These "stock photos" you speak of are emblazened on every page, featuring rich (mostly white) people sporting their iPods in hipster poses and commenting on the versatility of their iPods...complete with favorite song!

Style is one thing, the chance to sell a cr@pload of product is another, don't think Apple wouldn't pass this up. If the deal does go sour Apple can always put it on Hp, but I think this is going to be very lucrative for both parties: Apple sells more units and gets a few more customers, HP gets PC/HP loyalists to buy an iPod that is guaranteed to work with their new HP machine.

abdul

Mar 13, 2004, 08:27 AM

has anyone downloaded the HP version of itunes or not. i remember hearing that Hp were working with apple to make an audio conversion software that converts wma to aac. is that option on the hp version?

rhpenguin

Mar 13, 2004, 08:48 PM

I do support for Compaq PC's and just did my training for the spring 04' machines.. They are all preloaded with iTunes.

Its pretty sweet being able to recomend Apple products now.

Dahl

Mar 14, 2004, 12:18 AM

Now HP and Starbucks will be selling music together in SB's cafes.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=19457
I wonder if it's iTunes, since they are promoting R. Wainwright and he just played at an Apple store ?

iMan

Mar 15, 2004, 02:48 AM

There is an interesting note in Norways largest IT paper today about the HP iTunes (http://www.itavisen.no/art/1303107.html - sorry, norwegian language only).
Amidst the story about HP now featuring iTunes preinstalled and also some PCs with Linux, is a note about the HP iPod that goes something like this:

" HP has announced that they will release their own version of Apples mp3 player iPod, manufactured on license from Apple. Planned release this summer. According to a source in Apple that IT avisen has speaked with, it is NOT in a design that resembles Apples iPod. However the inside is supposed to be similar."

Seems like the hPod is really going to be put in a different skin of sorts... other than the color.