HP's Blue iPod Revealed

[MacRumors]

The current "Top Video" on the sidebar of this CNet story is a video of HP showing off the new HP branded iPod.

The new iPod is blue as previously noted and has an "HP" logo on the back.

http://www.macrumors.com/downloads/hpipod.jpg

http://www.macrumors.com/downloads/hpipodback.jpg

The video goes on to discuss HP's reasons to go with the iPod and iTunes.

[Powerbook G5]

It looks kind of ugly...is that a translucent blue case or is it just the low quality of the picture giving off the illusion of one?

[dennis88]

It looks weird.

[Maclarny]

That looks pretty disgusting. Good marketing idea though.

[Raid]

So it's exactly like any other iPod, fine. But that blue colour doesn't do anything for me... but it might be a bad pic... I hope

[D0ct0rteeth]

The "HP Digital Music Player" - identical but in a blue/grey

"HP is partnering with Apple Computer to provide an exceptional digital music experience to consumers as part of its larger digital entertainment system offering. Starting this spring, HP will 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 store to HP's customers. As part of the alliance, HP consumer PCs and notebooks will come preinstalled with Apple's iTunes jukebox software and an easy-reference desktop icon to point customers directly to the iTunes Music Store, ensuring a simple, seamless music experience (see separate news release issued today)."

Much better public speaker than that damn Microsoft girl at MACworld SF who "attemted" to demo Microsoft Office 2004

They begin shipping in June. The deal is for the traditional iPod only - not the iPod mini

- Doc

[lindmar]

look gross, too weird for me.
but that bill gates video is even funnier!
the center piece of the home..
funny

[CrackedButter]

At least we know where to go if we want a blue iPod, that isn't a mini one.

[Maclarny]

Hmmm...now that I tihnk about this new HP iPod I have some concerns. Doesn't this seem a lot like when apple started liscensing it's own OS to ther companies. Could Apple be pitching off a really good product only to have their own profits get sucked away?

[Sayhey]

Some people will like the blue color, others won't. No big deal. More choices in iPods is a big deal and this partnership with HP is a massively big deal! This along with the Pepsi distribution and other initiatives show that Apple is not going to repeat the mistakes of the past and let others take the market lead away from their innovative products. If Apple had done this in the 80's with the macOS this would be a very different world.

[Gymnut]

I wonder what the size availability and pricing will be. Hopefully this won't come around and bite Apple in ass much like the PowerPC clones.

[fBaran]

I don't know what you see, but to me it looks exactly the same, save the color.

[tristan]

Hey! That guy's got my garage door opener! Give it back!

[yoman]

Originally posted By Gimnut:


"
I wonder what the size availability and pricing will be. Hopefully this won't come around and bite Apple in ass much like the PowerPC clones."


apple in this scenario is making the clones not licensing the technology off. With HPs omnipresence on retail outlets it would be possible to sell millions of undercover ipods all over the world. More volume would allow cheaper prices for everyone allowing apple to maintain profit margins.

My opinion of course.

[edgar_is_good]

Originally posted by Maclarny
Hmmm...now that I tihnk about this new HP iPod I have some concerns. Doesn't this seem a lot like when apple started liscensing it's own OS to ther companies. Could Apple be pitching off a really good product only to have their own profits get sucked away?

I think this is very different, because (as I understand it) Apple is actually making these for HP (or someone is making them for Apple making them for HP), so apple no doubt actually gets directly money per ipod. I also have no doubt that Apple has made HP agree that they will not undersell Apple (which I thought was why Dell pulled the ipod from their site).

I think this will get them more into families who go the HP home route, and the ipod will be for joe six-pack (of expensive beer) and young people who care about brand awareness. Just saying HP player isn't as cool as ipod.

[SPG]

Since you can already get an iPod for windows, I don't exactly get the need to make a blue one. Licensing iTunes to HP is a whole other can o' worms.

BTW. The color? Eeeeew.

[feature]

I don't know what you see, but to me it looks exactly the same, save the color.

It also has the HP logo on the back inplace of the apple logo.

[Le Big Mac]

Originally posted by Maclarny
Hmmm...now that I tihnk about this new HP iPod I have some concerns. Doesn't this seem a lot like when apple started liscensing it's own OS to ther companies. Could Apple be pitching off a really good product only to have their own profits get sucked away?

Why? Apple is simply making a customized iPod for HP, and selling them to them at wholesale. They probably have an agreement on the markup, or at least some mechanism that will prevent HP from undercutting sales. They're not giving away anything; they're just improving distribution channels.

[fBaran]

Originally posted by feature
It also has the HP logo on the back inplace of the apple logo.

Oh wow. That's so NOT gonna make me buy on now. [insert online sarcasm 8)]

[yoman]

Originally posted by SPG
Since you can already get an iPod for windows, I don't exactly get the need to make a blue one. Licensing iTunes to HP is a whole other can o' worms.

BTW. The color? Eeeeew.

maybe the color Carly showed was just the prototype color. Better Color in real model. (Hopefully)

[Bob Knob]

The video is one of the funniest things I've ever seen...

"Why did Apple come to HP... HP's skill/technology/engineering..."

Hmm, HP is the innovator? That's like saying the guy who put the first whitewalls on tires invented the wheel. I think she has been drinking the same water that Gates does.

[D0ct0rteeth]

Originally posted by fBaran
I don't know what you see, but to me it looks exactly the same, save the color.

Yep. identical.. except that it is grey.

If it was deep polished black with a brushed aluminum back and brushed aluminum scroll wheel... blue backlighting..

That would be a sexy alternative, but its just a different color plastic..

Nothing special or artistic.

- Doc

[uberman42]

I like the grey/blue looks. But it is odd when Carly turned the player over and the HP logo is etched instead of the Apple logo. Surreal. Savvy move by HP and Apple.

[PDubNYC]

as I tried to submit, Thurrott is reporting on winnetmag.com the following:

"Exclusive: HP Working to Get WMA on iPod
__ HP's blockbuster deal with Apple will have one exciting side effect, I discovered today. The company will be working with Apple to add support for Microsoft's superior Windows Media Audio (WMA) format to the iPod by mid-year. You heard it here first."
http://winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/41423/41423.html

That could open up the audience for the iPod significantly, in my opinion

[bryanzak]

Here's an e-mail I sent to CNET's Video Feedback (videomail@cnet.com)


I do not have Real or Windows Media Player installed.

Could you please support QuickTime format. Thanks

It's telling that your "User Opinions" links on this page: http://news.com.com/1601-2-5138506.html leads to

32% thumbs up for Real: http://download.com.com/3302-2167-10153493.html
66% thumbs up for WMP: http://download.com.com/3302-2139-5948260.html

and 70% thumbs up for QuickTime: http://download.com.com/3000-2139-10...ml?tag=lst-0-4

So, please, listen to the opinions

Thanks

Bryan