Apple iPod and U2 Event

[MacRumors]

MacCentral reports that Apple has sent out invitations for a special Apple music event on October 26th 2004. The invitation reads:

Steve Jobs, Bono and The Edge invite you to attend a special event

ThinkSecret claims that Apple will be releasing a U2-edition of the iPod to be launched alongside U2's new album on November 21st.

[Chaszmyr]

What could this be? The new 60gb iPod announcement maybe?

[jxyama]

dang, that album isn't coming out until thanksgiving..?

guess i'm gonna buy that single in the mean time...

[johnnyjibbs]

They're going a bit overboard with this U2 album aren't they? So it got nicked but... first the iTunes ad - now this?

[PlaceofDis]

interesting, im not a huge U2 fan, but whatever works right?

[jimsowden]

U2 edition iPod, 60gb color iPod, and maybe something else is my guess!

[the_mole1314]

I bet..

a.) U2 iPod
b.) 60 gig iPod
c.) Pan-Euro Store

[Chaszmyr]

Originally Posted by johnnyjibbs

They're going a bit overboard with this U2 album aren't they? So it got nicked but... first the iTunes ad - now this?

I'm betting Steve Jobs is just a huge U2 fan.
A little overboard, I agree.. But it's not like it's hurting anything.

[Chaszmyr]

Think it's possible that Apple would release a U2 iPod preloaded with U2's new album a month before the album comes out?

[DavidLeblond]

Meh, release a cheaper flash-based iPod so I can afford it, then I'll be excited.

[jxyama]

Originally Posted by DavidLeblond

Meh, release a cheaper flash-based iPod so I can afford it, then I'll be excited.

goodness, not this again...

[SiliconAddict]

My guess?

1. iTMS Canada.
2. 60GB Color iPod (At which time I'm on Apple's website purchasing one like a bat out of hell.) http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/foru...miles/clap.gif

Mmmm my first iPod. I can't wait!

[Zaty]

Originally Posted by the_mole1314

I bet..

a.) U2 iPod
b.) 60 gig iPod
c.) Pan-Euro Store

c is a safe bet, b seems likely, too. As for a, I don't know if TS is right about this one.

[DavidLeblond]

Originally Posted by jxyama

goodness, not this again...

I don't see what the problem is. I don't have $250 nor do I have the need to carry my entire music collection with me. I have a cheap flash-based MP3 player that does me no good because half of my songs are iTunes protected.

Surely I'm not the only person in this boat.

[Steven1621]

Originally Posted by the_mole1314

I bet..

a.) U2 iPod
b.) 60 gig iPod
c.) Pan-Euro Store

Canada also possibly

[Macmaniac]

Guess what thats a tuesday Oh Boy I can't wait.

[jxyama]

Originally Posted by DavidLeblond

I don't see what the problem is. I don't have $250 nor do I have the need to carry my entire music collection with me. I have a cheap flash-based MP3 player that does me no good because half of my songs are iTunes protected.

Surely I'm not the only person in this boat.

the problem is, it's one of those things some people talk about all the time without giving much thought to apple's protective nature of their brand and their target market. just like headless iMac, flash-based iPod is one of those things that has been discussed and brought up over and over again, without any thought to how they fit into apple's corporate philosophy.

it gets a bit old, that's all i'm saying. maybe they will make it, who knows. but i personally doubt it - if i'm proven wrong, then i'll offer my apologies for my ignorance/stupidity.

[Chaszmyr]

Originally Posted by DavidLeblond

I don't see what the problem is. I don't have $250 nor do I have the need to carry my entire music collection with me. I have a cheap flash-based MP3 player that does me no good because half of my songs are iTunes protected.

Surely I'm not the only person in this boat.

The problem is a flash based iPod wouldn't really be cheap. I could see Apple selling it for $149 with only 512mb of memory. Sure $100 less than the iPod mini, but only 512mb isn't much storage. Most flash-based MP3 players only have 256mb to start with, and extra CF cards aren't very cheap.

[Porchland]

Originally Posted by Chaszmyr

Think it's possible that Apple would release a U2 iPod preloaded with U2's new album a month before the album comes out?

I would think that preloading an iPod would cause issues with the library, but Apple has smart people to work through that sort of thing.

U2 provides great differentiation for iTunes/iTMS/iPod. A company that can get John Mayer to come out and demo Garageband at MWSF and get Bono to do TV ads can generate a lot of mindshare. (One of the few things Sony has done right with its portable strategy is get Macy Gray to pitch.)

[Steamboatwillie]

A U2 branded iPod? Hmmf! I recently watched the new "Vertigo" iPod commercial. All I can say is that Bono sure is in love with himself. The de-facto standard of 99% blacked out silhouettes was obviously thrown to the wind so we can clearly see the bands faces. <shakes head> Don't get me wrong, I like U2, I even think the new tune is kinda catchy but really. Also it's kind of strange that the commercial seems more geared to promoting U2's single than selling iPods.

Now if they could come out with a Radiohead branded iPod... Maybe, just maybe...

[Chaszmyr]

Originally Posted by Steamboatwillie

A U2 branded iPod? Hmmf! I recently watched the new "Vertigo" iPod commercial. All I can say is that Bono sure is in love with himself. The de-facto standard of 99% blacked out silhouettes was obviously thrown to the wind so we can clearly see the bands faces. <shakes head>

That was my original reaction, but then I realized that the video really served as much or more as a U2 music video than as an Apple commercial. I think Apple was just lucky enough to get to advertise with it (by funding it, no doubt, but still).

[nagromme]

Any or all of...

* 5 GB Mini (new colors?)

* 60 GB iPod (photos/color screen?)

* New Apple-brand iPod accessories

* EU store

* New version of iTunes (and maybe for Linux?)

* U2 iPod (DRM-free AACs pre-loaded maybe, with a backup on the data portion of the drive?)

* Top-secret U2 album made with GarageBand, all vocals recorded on an iBook's internal mic

[Chaszmyr]

Originally Posted by nagromme

* 5 GB Mini (new colors?)

For some reason this had never even really occurred to me. I'd love to see them add more colors to the iPod mini lineup.

[mpw]

Does anyone know who's buying all these iPods?
I was just wondering have Apple's marketing team figured out that there's a specific group of music fans that haven't yet fallen for the iPod?
Has anyone been surveyed with questions like;
Do you own an iPod/mp3 player?
What music do you own?
I can see an oppourtunity to snare some 'older' music fans with special edition iPods like a U2 iPod which comes preloaded with U2's latest album and say a greatest hits collection or some exclusive tracks.

What pre-loaded selection would make you buy an iPod if you didn't already own an mp3 player.?

[Porchland]

October is definitely the time to get the marketing started for Christmas. iBook and iPod refreshes would market well for Christmas, so hopefully that's what's in the works.

Personally, I would love to see the iBook get some sort of iPod mini-ish color highlights.