HP Branded iPod and Music Store

MacRumors · 01:40 PM

Apple and HP have announced an interesting partnership

Quote:

Working to provide consumers with the most compelling digital content whenever and wherever they desire, HP (NYSE:HPQ) and Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL) today announced a strategic alliance to deliver an HP-branded digital music player based on Apple's iPod, the No. 1 digital music player in the world, and Apple's award-winning iTunes digital music jukebox and pioneering online music store to HP's customers.

HP and Compaq PCs and notebooks will come preinstalled with Apple's iTunes software starting this summer. According to Steve Jobs, "Apple's goal is to get iPods and iTunes into the hands of every music lover around the world, and partnering with HP, an innovative consumer company, is going to help us do just that".

Peter Lowe, Apple's applications marketing chief, was recently quotedurging that PC manufacturers to bundle iTunes for Windows because of its distinct advantages over other services.

Rumors of an HP Branded Player and Music Store were reported in early December, but there had been no indications that it was going to be an iTunes-rebrand

greenstork · Jan 8, 2004, 01:30 PM

Now that's a partnership worthy of market domination

ehawk · Jan 8, 2004, 01:31 PM

This is definitely huge! Who needs downloads from PC's when you can give it to them at the time of purchase.

AirUncleP · Jan 8, 2004, 01:32 PM

All Apple has to do is get it in the hands of the masses and this sounds like a step in the right direction.

Stoffel · Jan 8, 2004, 01:33 PM

Sounds like a good idea. I wonder how it will look like. Probably not so well designed.....

Plissken · Jan 8, 2004, 01:34 PM

This is huge! HP/Compaq is the largest computer corpoation in the country and they just turned to Apple for some product outsourcing. Talk about recognizing a popular market dominating product! this will be a very good entrenchment tool for the future of Apple and the iTMS/iPod product line.

vniow · Jan 8, 2004, 01:34 PM

Wow.

me_94501 · Jan 8, 2004, 01:35 PM

As long as it's a blow to MS's music plans, it's good, even if the iPod itself loses share (though Apple would likely get money from licensing).

tny · Jan 8, 2004, 01:35 PM

Either HP or Apple is out of its mind. Either 1. Apple has given up on the idea of using the iPod to entice consumers to its computing platform, and figures it's worthwhile just to go after their MP3 player dollars, or 2. Apple thinks it's still a sound strategy, and HP is handing them a major victory.

srobert · Jan 8, 2004, 01:36 PM

Well... at least they won't be able to say that you can only get AAC form iTunes and can only play those on the iPod.

This is BIG news. That's the second big argument that they were touting against the iTMS that is not valied anymore. (First one was that ITMS had only 350 000 songs as opposed to 500 000)

agreenster · Jan 8, 2004, 01:36 PM

Must say that this is an extremely suprising alliance. Why this wasn't announced at MWSF is beyond me.

I usually dont do this but,

I think the situation warrants it.

Good for Apple and HP. 'Bout time something like this happened.

Plissken · Jan 8, 2004, 01:37 PM

the answer is 1.5
both.

ITR 81 · Jan 8, 2004, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stoffel
Sounds like a good idea. I wonder how it will look like. Probably not so well designed.....

Probably same iPod just different faceplate cover with HP or Compaq logo on the back.

How much of the PC market does HP and Compaq hold? Around 30% or so?

Looks like iTunes and the iPod will be gaining even more PC users.

Coleco · Jan 8, 2004, 01:39 PM

This is no different than HP selling printers in the Mac market.
I'll bet these will be identical to iPods except for something like a color variation and an "HP with Apple technology" badge.

Could make for some good price competition, but you've gotta wonder how the retail market will choose which player it will carry.

hvfsl · Jan 8, 2004, 01:40 PM

I wonder if HP's iPod will be cheaper than Apple's, like the Mac clones were when Apple allowed clones. I wouldnt mind getting a cheaper iPod, even if it did have a HP logo on it. I could always put an Apple sticker on it.

jholzner · Jan 8, 2004, 01:41 PM

I hope Apple is getting a small fee for iTunes being preinstalled on their PC's too. I know it's free to download but to let a pc vendor include it should cost a little

the_mole1314 · Jan 8, 2004, 01:41 PM

I have one big problem with this: the re-branded iPod. I mean, what would it be? Would it just be the iPod, Apple logo and all, or a whole new shell? I'm worried about the iPod.

QCassidy352 · Jan 8, 2004, 01:41 PM

hmm. I wonder how much the "HP ipod" will be like the real ipod. The same thing with an HP on the back instead of an apple? Or slight cosmetic modifications?

arn · Jan 8, 2004, 01:42 PM

this is huge.

arn

Marlon_JBT · 01:46 PM

This is huge.

iTunes provided by HP Compaq

hPod Music Player

What will Apple think of next? Hopefully all of this money from licensing will go towards research and development for future Apple products.

I'm with Coleco... this is probably going to be a badge engineered product, maybe with button and UI relocations/modifications.

the_mole1314 · Jan 8, 2004, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arn
this is huge.

arn

What's next? The new iHP, now running PPC G5 technology and OSX?

Plissken · Jan 8, 2004, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arn
this is huge.

arn

umm, my sentiments exactly!

achmafooma · Jan 8, 2004, 01:44 PM

This'll be huge... really huge. I know a number of people who hadn't even heard of the iTunes Music Store... the same types of people who don't know that they can download Netscape instead of using Internet Explorer.

Lots of people only use what comes with their computers. iTunes being bundled with HPs is going to be HUGE for Apple.

And when people get familiar with Apple and how cool Apple's stuff is, maybe their next computer won't be another HP, but a Mac. Just the mindshare boost will help Mac marketshare in the long run.

Mindshare is important, and the more Apple gets the better. Things are already looking up (no more derisive looks from IT nerds when you mention "Mac" in their presence... heck, half the IT nerds I know [including myself] are switchers now).

But where most IT nerds at least have a healthy respect for Apple now (hey, it's UNIX!), having iTunes on every HP user's desktop will help immensely with mindshare among "average" computer users who--in many cases--hardly know a thing about the iPod, iTMS, or the Mac.

srobert · 02:12 PM

It's been a long time since I have'nt seen a near 100% positive rated thread.

The press release is almost identical on Apple and HP's site:

HP's Press Release

Apple's Press Release

Finiksa · Jan 8, 2004, 01:45 PM

Beige iPod!

Now that would be progress

Jan 8, 2004, 01:30 PM	#2
greenstork macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle,WA	Now that's a partnership worthy of market domination __________________ "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

Jan 8, 2004, 01:32 PM	#4
AirUncleP macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: USA	All Apple has to do is get it in the hands of the masses and this sounds like a step in the right direction. __________________ plaid pants......and an argyal sweater......No he's not retarded! McToast gets it.......do you?

Jan 8, 2004, 01:34 PM	#6
Plissken macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tennessee	This is huge! HP/Compaq is the largest computer corpoation in the country and they just turned to Apple for some product outsourcing. Talk about recognizing a popular market dominating product! this will be a very good entrenchment tool for the future of Apple and the iTMS/iPod product line. __________________ I think therefore I WANT A DUAL G5!!!!!

Jan 8, 2004, 01:36 PM	#10
srobert macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal, Canada	Well... at least they won't be able to say that you can only get AAC form iTunes and can only play those on the iPod. This is BIG news. That's the second big argument that they were touting against the iTMS that is not valied anymore. (First one was that ITMS had only 350 000 songs as opposed to 500 000) __________________ Zapp: The alien mothership is in orbit here. If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:37 PM	#12
Plissken macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tennessee	the answer is 1.5 both. __________________ I think therefore I WANT A DUAL G5!!!!!

Jan 8, 2004, 01:31 PM	#3
ehawk macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan	This is definitely huge! Who needs downloads from PC's when you can give it to them at the time of purchase.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:33 PM	#5
Stoffel macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Germany	Sounds like a good idea. I wonder how it will look like. Probably not so well designed.....

Jan 8, 2004, 01:34 PM	#7
vniow macrumors 603 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: I accidentally my whole location.	Wow.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:35 PM	#8
me_94501 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alameda, CA	As long as it's a blow to MS's music plans, it's good, even if the iPod itself loses share (though Apple would likely get money from licensing).

Jan 8, 2004, 01:35 PM	#9
tny macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2003	Either HP or Apple is out of its mind. Either 1. Apple has given up on the idea of using the iPod to entice consumers to its computing platform, and figures it's worthwhile just to go after their MP3 player dollars, or 2. Apple thinks it's still a sound strategy, and HP is handing them a major victory.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:36 PM	#11
agreenster macrumors 68000 Join Date: Dec 2001	Must say that this is an extremely suprising alliance. Why this wasn't announced at MWSF is beyond me. I usually dont do this but, I think the situation warrants it. Good for Apple and HP. 'Bout time something like this happened.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:39 PM	#14
Coleco macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2003	Good idea This is no different than HP selling printers in the Mac market. I'll bet these will be identical to iPods except for something like a color variation and an "HP with Apple technology" badge. Could make for some good price competition, but you've gotta wonder how the retail market will choose which player it will carry.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:40 PM	#15
hvfsl macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: London, UK	I wonder if HP's iPod will be cheaper than Apple's, like the Mac clones were when Apple allowed clones. I wouldnt mind getting a cheaper iPod, even if it did have a HP logo on it. I could always put an Apple sticker on it.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:41 PM	#16
jholzner macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Champaign, IL	I hope Apple is getting a small fee for iTunes being preinstalled on their PC's too. I know it's free to download but to let a pc vendor include it should cost a little __________________ "Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." -Terry Pratchett. http://homepage.mac.com/jholzner

Jan 8, 2004, 01:41 PM	#17
the_mole1314 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dayton, OH	I have one big problem with this: the re-branded iPod. I mean, what would it be? Would it just be the iPod, Apple logo and all, or a whole new shell? I'm worried about the iPod. __________________ 13" MacBook Pro 2.53GHz (base model) iPod touch, nano, shuffle, iPod 3gen

Jan 8, 2004, 01:41 PM	#18
QCassidy352 Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Boston, MA	hmm. I wonder how much the "HP ipod" will be like the real ipod. The same thing with an HP on the back instead of an apple? Or slight cosmetic modifications? __________________ "If Jesus Himself came back to earth and turned water to wine, half of MacRumors would say 'meh, this is red. I wanted white.'"

Jan 8, 2004, 01:42 PM	#19
arn macrumors god Join Date: Apr 2001	this is huge. arn

Jan 8, 2004, 01:43 PM	#20
Marlon_JBT macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Detroit, Michigan	This is huge. iTunes provided by HP Compaq hPod Music Player What will Apple think of next? Hopefully all of this money from licensing will go towards research and development for future Apple products. I'm with Coleco... this is probably going to be a badge engineered product, maybe with button and UI relocations/modifications. __________________ 12" 867MHz PowerBook G4 (640MB of RAM, 60GB HD) - SOLD *15" 1.83GHz MacBook Pro. (1024MB of RAM, 320GB HD) - Getting tired. Time for a new one!* Last edited by Marlon_JBT : Jan 8, 2004 at 01:46 PM.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:44 PM	#23
achmafooma macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Northern Virginia	This'll be huge... really huge. I know a number of people who hadn't even heard of the iTunes Music Store... the same types of people who don't know that they can download Netscape instead of using Internet Explorer. Lots of people only use what comes with their computers. iTunes being bundled with HPs is going to be HUGE for Apple. And when people get familiar with Apple and how cool Apple's stuff is, maybe their next computer won't be another HP, but a Mac. Just the mindshare boost will help Mac marketshare in the long run. Mindshare is important, and the more Apple gets the better. Things are already looking up (no more derisive looks from IT nerds when you mention "Mac" in their presence... heck, half the IT nerds I know [including myself] are switchers now). But where most IT nerds at least have a healthy respect for Apple now (hey, it's UNIX!), having iTunes on every HP user's desktop will help immensely with mindshare among "average" computer users who--in many cases--hardly know a thing about the iPod, iTMS, or the Mac.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:45 PM	#24
srobert macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal, Canada	It's been a long time since I have'nt seen a near 100% positive rated thread. The press release is almost identical on Apple and HP's site: HP's Press Release Apple's Press Release __________________ Zapp: The alien mothership is in orbit here. If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate. Last edited by srobert : Jan 8, 2004 at 02:12 PM.

Jan 8, 2004, 01:45 PM	#25
Finiksa macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Australia	Beige iPod! Now that would be progress

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