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HP's Blue iPod Revealed
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From a marketing perspective, there are good reasons to play WMA, because that would pull Microsoft's last rug out from under them. If I were SJ, and if I wanted to stick it to Microsoft in the music world I would...
Good job your not SJ then, he obviosly believes as I do that M$ should not have another monopoly, this time they don't and won't if things stay as they are.
Good job your not SJ then, he obviosly believes as I do that M$ should not have another monopoly, this time they don't and won't if things stay as they are.
HP will sell older models?
I highly doubt HP will accept "older tech", and I don't think Apple will offer it.
Given that HP won't be releasing their player until June, I think it's a safe assumption that Carly was holding a mockup, not a production model. In June, HP will be selling the latest -- the 4G, we'll call it. If Apple sold 3Gs to HP, they'd have to be cheaper than the 4Gs, and Apple would never do that -- it would completely f*** up their already-tricky marketing strategy.
That's my opinion, anyway.
I highly doubt HP will accept "older tech", and I don't think Apple will offer it.
Given that HP won't be releasing their player until June, I think it's a safe assumption that Carly was holding a mockup, not a production model. In June, HP will be selling the latest -- the 4G, we'll call it. If Apple sold 3Gs to HP, they'd have to be cheaper than the 4Gs, and Apple would never do that -- it would completely f*** up their already-tricky marketing strategy.
That's my opinion, anyway.
Apple obviously feels the channels are distinct. I tend to agree.
But wouldn't it be funny if the HPpod and the APpod were sold side by side in Wal-Mart and best Buyand Apple sold more?
Rocketman
I think this is a smart move! One thing i notice is almost all the wintel makers have all over their site suggestions to include a DJ or Gateway music player with your next order and if you go to the customize computer portion when ordering from Apple the iPod is there as a companion upgrade. I think ideally what HP would like to do is sell nearly everyone of their computers with an H Pod included. Maybe take a loss even, or find someway to make it affordable. People would choose HP everytime thinking they get a "free iPod" over Dell. I've seen Gateway start doing this with out of date cameras. Personal electronics shipping together with a computer is going to become more and more commonplace. Its come to the point where the machine is good enough but its lacking if you don't have the right peripherals like a camera, iPod, DV cam right away. I'd even go so far in expecting to see Apple create some sort of new iMac that ships with an iPod and the dock is built into the computer making it seem more like a portable harddrive as well. The fact that people will start carrying personal data storage around or be able to take their iPod to and from work with the at home on ipod feature.
Supporting WM is a bad idea period, why should apple reward people trying to use such a pathetic pseudo-standard as WMA?
iTunes is the #1 music store and iPod the #1 player why bend to the will of MS and hurt the AAC standard?
Fact is MS at any time could make their next codec incompatible with anything but Longhorn, drop all support for WMP on Mac(like they did with IE) and leverage more users to their platforms and formats. Their goal is to do with WM and audio/video codecs what they did with IE and the web.
If everyone providing content is using WM then we as users will be under MS's thumb for everything we will see and hear(this just won't apply to computers either with MS trying to worm their way into the living room).
i think the hp ipod looks to be just a little bit under the weather.
it looks kinda... sad. like depressed. it makes me a little down seeing an ipod like that.
r.
it looks kinda... sad. like depressed. it makes me a little down seeing an ipod like that.
r.
Re: Re: itunes worldwide
Gee, you ask some questionsd at 1.30 in the morning.
I saw the article about 5 hours ago, so I'm not sure where it came from, but I will have a look.
But basically they seemed suprised by the news and said it was a bad move because it denied the people a choice. Sounded to me as though they were conceding market position on this one.
Gee, you ask some questionsd at 1.30 in the morning.
I saw the article about 5 hours ago, so I'm not sure where it came from, but I will have a look.
But basically they seemed suprised by the news and said it was a bad move because it denied the people a choice. Sounded to me as though they were conceding market position on this one.
It's off to war....
This may be the only way to take on the juggernaut formerly known as Microsoft.
This may be the only way to take on the juggernaut formerly known as Microsoft.
Re: HP will sell older models?
I don't think so: Apple needs to "stay ahead".
Besides, Schiller said that it would have the design and features as Apple's third-generation iPod players.
I don't think so: Apple needs to "stay ahead".
Besides, Schiller said that it would have the design and features as Apple's third-generation iPod players.
As is usual with web photos, it's difficult to really discern the actual color. You'd think posters here would understand that by now. The color will look nicer in person (just as the iPod looks better in person then in photographs). HP will be selling the "Digital Music Player" in 110,000 stores around the world as well as their website. As far as booting with an Apple logo what's the problem? Computers almost all say "Intel Inside" even though they're HP or Gateway or Dell. Why are people so concerned about trivial things around here. Must be a slow day for some.
Also this is not a licensing deal that killed Apple in the past. When they licensed the operating system and architecture, other computer makers UNDERSOLD Apple compatible products. This won't happen with this deal. Apple is selling finished Digital Music Players to HP and placing the already available iTunes/iTMS for Windows on the HP computers. Sweet deal. Apple has COMPLETE control of quality and distribution of the software and hardware it will be providing HP.
Also this is not a licensing deal that killed Apple in the past. When they licensed the operating system and architecture, other computer makers UNDERSOLD Apple compatible products. This won't happen with this deal. Apple is selling finished Digital Music Players to HP and placing the already available iTunes/iTMS for Windows on the HP computers. Sweet deal. Apple has COMPLETE control of quality and distribution of the software and hardware it will be providing HP.
Windows Media isn't going away. Microsoft is working with DVD manufacturers to get the de-facto "HD-DVD" format to *BE* the Windows Media video format. And they're succeeding. The Terminator 3 DVD, for example, contains the movie in both formats-- DVD for "low" quality 480p and Windows Media for HD quality.
MPEG4 video and audio, despite having a large market share in the legal music downloads market right now, are very much the underdogs. I understand Apple is fighting a good fight, but I hope if it comes down to it they know when to conceed and keep making money this time.
MPEG4 video and audio, despite having a large market share in the legal music downloads market right now, are very much the underdogs. I understand Apple is fighting a good fight, but I hope if it comes down to it they know when to conceed and keep making money this time.
Re: Re: WMA on iPod
Apple has already proven it does not need WMA to reach market dominance, HP appears to agree with Apple. Adding WMA now does not deliver a death blow to M$, it knocks the wind out of iPod and iTunes Store sails (pun intended). HP making iTunes their de facto jukebox/music app. and possibly picking up a commission for each download sends the message to M$, Sony and every other manufacturer that they better reconsider the AAC standard if they want access to 70% of the legal download market.
We must not forget the problem prior to iTunes Store was bringing the content providers together, not a standardization around an encoding format. Apple's success is more attributable to this triumph than seamlessly bringing the Store and iPod together. Adding WMA compatibility opens up huge libraries of illegal content and puts Apple and HP at odds with the content providers. AAC is a walled garden that assures the big six their content is relatively safe.
Rather than looking for Apple to enable WMA on the iPod/hPod and opening themselves up to competition from cheap WMA players, we should be watching for Korean and Japanese manufactures to take a page from HP's playbook and add AAC compatibility to their products. (Given Sony's stubborn love of proprietary formats, I am betting Samsung, Matsu****a or Sharp make the move first.)
Steve & Co. keep mentioning "we are getting closer to that magic number." Its magic not only because it represents market parity with the traditional CDs business, in all likelihood it is magic because it represents substantial profits, rather than just content to drive the sell of hardware.
Once this happens, the dynamics swing dramatically and instead of cheap music driving the sells of hardware, cheap hardware fosters the sells of content.
Apple has already proven it does not need WMA to reach market dominance, HP appears to agree with Apple. Adding WMA now does not deliver a death blow to M$, it knocks the wind out of iPod and iTunes Store sails (pun intended). HP making iTunes their de facto jukebox/music app. and possibly picking up a commission for each download sends the message to M$, Sony and every other manufacturer that they better reconsider the AAC standard if they want access to 70% of the legal download market.
We must not forget the problem prior to iTunes Store was bringing the content providers together, not a standardization around an encoding format. Apple's success is more attributable to this triumph than seamlessly bringing the Store and iPod together. Adding WMA compatibility opens up huge libraries of illegal content and puts Apple and HP at odds with the content providers. AAC is a walled garden that assures the big six their content is relatively safe.
Rather than looking for Apple to enable WMA on the iPod/hPod and opening themselves up to competition from cheap WMA players, we should be watching for Korean and Japanese manufactures to take a page from HP's playbook and add AAC compatibility to their products. (Given Sony's stubborn love of proprietary formats, I am betting Samsung, Matsu****a or Sharp make the move first.)
Steve & Co. keep mentioning "we are getting closer to that magic number." Its magic not only because it represents market parity with the traditional CDs business, in all likelihood it is magic because it represents substantial profits, rather than just content to drive the sell of hardware.
Once this happens, the dynamics swing dramatically and instead of cheap music driving the sells of hardware, cheap hardware fosters the sells of content.
Well i see this as great news Apple gets cash of hp for the iPod apple then gets cash of us for using iTunes ....
OF COURSE THEY NEED TO BLOODY HAVE THIS WORLD WIDE!!!! Weres the deals and the new world wide iTunes stores .. Australia is awaiting here lol
OF COURSE THEY NEED TO BLOODY HAVE THIS WORLD WIDE!!!! Weres the deals and the new world wide iTunes stores .. Australia is awaiting here lol
Originally posted by Sabenth
Well i see this as great news Apple gets cash of hp for the iPod apple then gets cash of us for using iTunes ....
OF COURSE THEY NEED TO BLOODY HAVE THIS WORLD WIDE!!!! Weres the deals and the new world wide iTunes stores .. Australia is awaiting here lol
Don't worry champ, SMH stated (do a search on MacRumors) iTMS will be here in the first quarter of 2004 (not too long at all mate! can't wait!)
Originally posted by Sabenth
Well i see this as great news Apple gets cash of hp for the iPod apple then gets cash of us for using iTunes ....
OF COURSE THEY NEED TO BLOODY HAVE THIS WORLD WIDE!!!! Weres the deals and the new world wide iTunes stores .. Australia is awaiting here lol
Word! I have got around this by registering via a family member's address in the US in order to download files here in Japan.
Forgive me but one terminator DVD doesn't sound like suceeding to me, I'm not really sure I understand what you're saying. MPEG4 for is not in my understanding a codec to replace MPEG2 on DVD's, it's more for web use and low capacity storage.
Are you trying to say that we are going to see all DVD's be made in WMA and all our DVD players become obsolete. Personally, I believe if there is a move from the current MPEG2 format it will be for less compression not more, especially with the advent of larger storage media and cheaper and faster processors.
It is probably stating the obvious, but Apple are pretty good at product differentiation. HP will be bundling last year's news to the masses, and Apple will move the mini and 3G iPods ever upwards, so even if there were iPods and HPods side by side in stores, (which probably wont happen unless HPods are accompanied by an HP computer), there would be no conflict of interest between very different models. Win win.
I was also thinking, its all very well saying AAC needs to be the standard in place of a WMA monopoly, but if Apple keep hold of Fairplay, they will eventually be accused of restrictive practices - even if the iTunes offering is genuinely good for most customers. However, once the iPod has become the de facto MP3 set up and rumblings in Govt take a hold SJ has the option up his sleeve to make Fairplay available for license . Ahead of the game, he suddenly sells cheapo DRM licenses to anyone who fancies their chances against the iPod.
It seems to me that finally, Apple is first in the queue with a product and a strong and aggressive strategy to keep them there. Its not like they give customers what they dont want. and pro Apple alliances with seriously big businesses means Apple's market share in music should be really solid and formidable . SJ has come of age.
I was also thinking, its all very well saying AAC needs to be the standard in place of a WMA monopoly, but if Apple keep hold of Fairplay, they will eventually be accused of restrictive practices - even if the iTunes offering is genuinely good for most customers. However, once the iPod has become the de facto MP3 set up and rumblings in Govt take a hold SJ has the option up his sleeve to make Fairplay available for license . Ahead of the game, he suddenly sells cheapo DRM licenses to anyone who fancies their chances against the iPod.
It seems to me that finally, Apple is first in the queue with a product and a strong and aggressive strategy to keep them there. Its not like they give customers what they dont want. and pro Apple alliances with seriously big businesses means Apple's market share in music should be really solid and formidable . SJ has come of age.
This is nothing more than Excellent.
HP will be selling iPods and the iTMS (rebanded)
What could be better - the more iPods the better.
Given the premise that Apple uses iTMS to sell iPods - what would you prefer - more iTMS sold, which doesn't make a profit or more iPods sold - which does.
Apple obviously see it attraactive to allow rebranded iPods...
HP will be selling iPods and the iTMS (rebanded)
What could be better - the more iPods the better.
Given the premise that Apple uses iTMS to sell iPods - what would you prefer - more iTMS sold, which doesn't make a profit or more iPods sold - which does.
Apple obviously see it attraactive to allow rebranded iPods...
Absolutely, Carly has looked at all her options when it comes to the online music down load market and seen that Apple is HPs best option to partner with since going it alone against Apple would be pointless. This way HP gets revenue from a globaly recognised product supplied by another company who are not necessarily a competitor interms of personal computers. Apple gets its iTunes player installed by default on every PC that HP sells all around the world. Most no tech savy consumers probably dont always care what media player they have on their computer as long as they can play their CDs on it. All of this is going to bring market share/mind share to Apple in a big way for 2004.