Apple Once Again Recognizes World AIDS Day In-Store and Online

[MacRumors]

Apple, not known for its partnerships with third-parties, is once again recognizing December 1st as World AIDS Day at Apple Retail Stores and on its website. Apple has also done something similar for the past two years.

Some stores, including several locations in the United Kingdom and the United States, are expected to color their Apple logos red for the occasion. A MacRumors reader sent in two images from the Regent Street store in London noting that the coloring process has already taken place in preparation for the store's opening today, as it is already December 1st in the UK.

Every day, 900 babies are born with HIV. (RED) works with companies like Apple to fight for an AIDS-free generation by creating (PRODUCT)RED merchandise. A percentage of gross profits from the sale of those products goes to the Global Fund to help fund AIDS programmes in Africa. Since its introduction, (PRODUCT)RED has generated more than $215 million for the Global Fund -- more than $65 million from Apple alone. You can help make an impact by purchasing a (PRODUCT)RED iPod or (PRODUCT)RED accessories for iPhone and iPad.

Apple sells a number of PRODUCT (RED) items where a percentage of the profits are donated to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. There are (RED) versions of the iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch, the iPad Air and iPad mini Smart Covers, the iPad Air Smart Case, the iPhone 4S Bumper, and the iPhone 5s case.

The move follows a special charity auction by Sotheby's to benefit Product (RED) last week, which involving the auctioning off of one-of-a-kind products designed by Jony Ive and Designer Marc Newson. Items included a red Mac Pro, a pair of solid gold Apple EarPods, a special edition Leica camera and a one-of-a-kind aluminum desk. In total, all of products auctioned off at the special event raised nearly $13 million.

Apple has also raised more than $65 million for Product (RED) since 2006.

Thanks, Lee!

Note: Due to the potentially controversial nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple Once Again Recognizes World AIDS Day In-Store and Online

 

[borneo76]

Good to see Apple doing this

 

[Timeraner]

Commendable!

 

[iZac]

Unfortunately most passing shoppers will think this has an association with Christmas, missing the point entirely.

 

[Abba 701]

It's not worth it I don't think.It was so hard to go in and out of the store oh 5th avenue tonight.Thats just me though,

 

[dannyyankou]

I'm replacing my 4th gen iPod touch next week. I may get the red one...

 

[Rogifan]

Btw, that RED auction actually raised $46M, as the Bill Gates Foundation as well as the US and UK governments matched the amount raised.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriek...-fund-to-fight-aids-tuberculosis-and-malaria/

 

[Yamcha]

Always good to contribute for causes like this. But in all honestly my impression is companies do this more for publicity than anything.

 

[macduke]

Picked up a Product Red iPad Mini Retina Smart Case just the other day. Mostly because it looks freaking amazing, but I'm also glad that some of the money goes to support a good cause. The quality is excellent and it fits the iPad snug as a bug. It's a must-have for people who bring their Mini everywhere. I carry the Mini around a lot more than I thought I would and now I'm not as worried about dropping it. It's like a big beautiful red anxiety pill!

 

[FrizzleFryBen]

Project RED is a great thing. It not only raises money for research and meds but raises awareness. Every little bit helps.

Also, I just watched Dallas Buyers Club earlier tonight. Wow, it's a great movie

 

[justin17]

Gypsy tears are all I need, thanks.

 

[Brenster]

Picked up a Product Red iPad Mini Retina Smart Case just the other day. Mostly because it looks freaking amazing, but I'm also glad that some of the money goes to support a good cause. The quality is excellent and it fits the iPad snug as a bug. It's a must-have for people who bring their Mini everywhere. I carry the Mini around a lot more than I thought I would and now I'm not as worried about dropping it. It's like a big beautiful red anxiety pill!

Was going to write the exact same post about my red mini case for my retina mini. No need. this.

 

[ZOZO]

I run aids research workloads on my computer for weeks on end. Throwing money around makes people look like morons when there are free ways to do more immediate good. Google BOINC, and look through the projects. AIDS isn't the only thing out there needing computing power!!!

 

[durkkin]

Next year Apple should introduce a red 5C (6C?) and a red anodized iPhone 6. Tons more people would buy those than any of their other red coloured products. I'd buy a red and white phone in an instant. 10% is the standard RED donation, but even at 5% of the total value or maybe just of the profit is still at least $22 per phone. Multiply that by millions of phones sold and that's a lot of money...

 

[MyMac1976]

Thanks for the gesture Apple!

 

[Gudi]

The 1st of December is World-ACO-Day. Good luck raising awareness for something else on advent calendar opening day. AIDS? Ain't nobody got time for that! Also PRODUCT RED only because its the one saturated color in Apples lineup. Otherwise I would avoid anything associated with Bono.

 

[cambookpro]

Next year Apple should introduce a red 5C (6C?) and a red anodized iPhone 6. Tons more people would buy those than any of their other red coloured products. I'd buy a red and white phone in an instant. 10% is the standard RED donation, but even at 5% of the total value or maybe just of the profit is still at least $22 per phone. Multiply that by millions of phones sold and that's a lot of money...

Yes yes please, always wanted a red iPhone! Hoping the iP6 comes in black, white, gold and red!

 

[Gudi]

Next year Apple should introduce a red 5C (6C?) and a red anodized iPhone 6. Tons more people would buy those than any of their other red coloured products.

And Apple would lose billions in profits and their stock price would tank. Why do you think, (RED)™ is something relatively cheap, like an iPhone case and not lets say an $1.800 iMac?

Project RED is a great thing. It not only raises money for research and meds but raises awareness. Every little bit helps.

Poor people in Africa can have all my awareness, as much as they want. Just not my money, with which I buy my consumer electronics. (RED)™ is a great thing, because it costs me nothing and still gives me a warm feeling for having bought a luxury case for my luxury device. Consumerism thought differently.

Yes yes please, always wanted a red iPhone! Hoping the iP6 comes in black, white, gold and red!

The awareness is strong in this one.

 

[gnasher729]

And Apple would lose billions in profits and their stock price would tank. Why do you think, (RED)™ is something relatively cheap, like an iPhone case and not lets say an $1.800 iMac?

There's some percentage of the sale price going to charity, not the whole price. And I can tell you that the red iPod Touch looks absolutely beautiful, and offering a bright red iPhone 5S would increase total number of iPhone sales.

 

[numlock]

And Apple would lose billions in profits and their stock price would tank. Why do you think, (RED)™ is something relatively cheap, like an iPhone case and not lets say an $1.800 iMac?

billions in profit? arent you getting a little ahead of yourself

a lost sale dosent bring in any money.

nothing spells the end of the world like corporations getting a little less

 

[iSayuSay]

I love Apple's RED product. The red color is just beautiful to look at. Not just any garish red like typical Apple's red (iPhone 5C, regular "red" smart case/cover).

I hope Apple would just offer a product RED iPhone for next year. It's going to be a sexy one even more than the "gold" one. Oh and it's nice to contribute something for the cause too.

 

[Solomani]

Next year Apple should introduce a red 5C (6C?) and a red anodized iPhone 6. Tons more people would buy those than any of their other red coloured products.

The Chinese (as well as Vietnamese, Singapore, Malaysians, etc) would stampede to buy a red iPhone 5S. East Asians love the color red. It's their national color. Kinda like the typical Western male is culturally programmed (since a baby boy) to prefer the color blue.

 

[Gudi]

There's some percentage of the sale price going to charity, not the whole price.

And percentages tend to grow with their respective basis. When Apple was still reporting accessories separately, they made up only 3% of Apples entire business. Only a tiny fracture of those 3% are also available in (RED)™ as an sixth or even eighth color option. That's neglectable. Same with the ever shrinking iPod business. iPhones and iPads make up the lion's share of Apples revenue and profit and they themselves do not exist as PRODUCT RED. Guess why?

 

[Gudi]

The Chinese (as well as Vietnamese, Singapore, Malaysians, etc) would stampede to buy a red iPhone 5S. East Asians love the color red. It's their national color. Kinda like the typical Western male is culturally programmed (since a baby boy) to prefer the color blue.

And how we love our blue. Me thinks Apple knew something when they went with black, white and silver gray.

 

[bandrews]

It's not worth it I don't think.It was so hard to go in and out of the store oh 5th avenue tonight.Thats just me though,

Poor you. Never mind though - could be worse. You could have AIDS.