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HP Branded iPod and Music Store
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Let's hope Apple worked out a profitable agreement. Last thing I want is for Apple to become another company's Beeootch.
Future of iTunes
I think this is huge for the future of iTMS. But, maybe the "based on Apple's iPod" simply means it will have the capability of playing AAC's with the iTunes DRM. Nothing in the Press Release leads me to believe Apple is designing or manufacturing the player.
I think in the big picture this means Apple is going to let other people make iTunes compatible players. That means Apple must believe iTMS will be a big moneymaker on its own.
In the future, I see a lot of On-line music stores failing. Maybe as they fail Apple will come up with some way to support their players (some sort of firmware upate?). It is going to be interesting.
I think this is huge for the future of iTMS. But, maybe the "based on Apple's iPod" simply means it will have the capability of playing AAC's with the iTunes DRM. Nothing in the Press Release leads me to believe Apple is designing or manufacturing the player.
I think in the big picture this means Apple is going to let other people make iTunes compatible players. That means Apple must believe iTMS will be a big moneymaker on its own.
In the future, I see a lot of On-line music stores failing. Maybe as they fail Apple will come up with some way to support their players (some sort of firmware upate?). It is going to be interesting.
Wow. This is great news. Even Apple is willing to compromise on coolness to ensure global domination. Nice to see Apple growing up.
OMG this is a joke?? Maybe Apple will use HP in return to rebadge an iPaq to run a OSX lite version? dream on... 
iNewton? NewtonPaq ?
iNewton? NewtonPaq ?No way, read my post above! This is not a time to be an Apple purist, but play dirty in the PC world.
... Meanwhile at sony's, Microsfoft's, Dell's, Napster's, Wallmart's, MTV's, headquarters:
Together: "Oooohhhhh S**t!"
Apple keeps coming up with these great things to keep ahead of the competition. This is a major multi-combo-burn ^_^
I wonder if this is an Apple or HP initiative. Probably HP. Lately's, Apples best publicity is from outiside sources: Virginia Tech, Pepsi, HP.
Together: "Oooohhhhh S**t!"
Apple keeps coming up with these great things to keep ahead of the competition. This is a major multi-combo-burn ^_^
I wonder if this is an Apple or HP initiative. Probably HP. Lately's, Apples best publicity is from outiside sources: Virginia Tech, Pepsi, HP.
At this point hell has frozen over, Phill Parcells is coaching the Cowboys, and I'm waiting for a swarm of locusts...
Who's Phill?
Who's Phill?
Originally posted by paulypants
At this point hell has frozen over, Phill Parcells is coaching the Cowboys, and I'm waiting for a swarm of locusts...
Who's Phill?
Why was Cowboys being mentioned?
Originally posted by Finiksa
Beige iPod! Now that would be progress
I was a beta tester for the HP iPod. It evidently came from the factory with a variation of the Nimda virus. It e-mailed my songlist to everyone in my address book, then did a denial of service to my OmniBook.
My gut feeling? Bad idea.
A "re-branded" iPod means the same innards. Since Apple has patents on the solid state wheel (or is it just for the new one the the iPod mini that also has t he click points) it will function the same way. I doubt HP will get the iPod mini anytime soon. It also probably means lower prices for the Apple version although I'll bet Apple will continute to have more HD capacity. Anyway it goes, this is a real bonus to Apple. It wasn't announced at MWSF because HP wanted to announce it at the CES show. A major blow to MS and the other download stores. WOW.. DOUBLE WOW!
This announcement is great news for the forces of awesome. I hope it's only the beginning.
Today I was checking out Real's Helix and a thought occurred to me; since Helix is open source (but I can't really tell if the DRM is or not) will Apple add Helix DRM support to the iPod? To me it's a much more interesting, and viable scenario than adding WMA support. It would work directly against the WMA cabal, promote AAC, and sell more iPods.
The down side with this, and with the iPod supporting any other DRM, is that Apple looses some control. Other portables could support Helix, and the Apple no longer has that nice iPod lock-in.
This agreement with HP could be Apple's solution. Don't support other formats - license the iPod and make it look like there's more players that work with iTMS, even though they're basically the same. Not a bad idea since the iPod is the best out there. It's gaining some interesting inroads, like the Alpine head-unit that has an iPod connector.
The next few months are going to be so damn interesting with the HPod, the Pepsi giveaway, the inevitable $50 price drop on the miniPod...
Today I was checking out Real's Helix and a thought occurred to me; since Helix is open source (but I can't really tell if the DRM is or not) will Apple add Helix DRM support to the iPod? To me it's a much more interesting, and viable scenario than adding WMA support. It would work directly against the WMA cabal, promote AAC, and sell more iPods.
The down side with this, and with the iPod supporting any other DRM, is that Apple looses some control. Other portables could support Helix, and the Apple no longer has that nice iPod lock-in.
This agreement with HP could be Apple's solution. Don't support other formats - license the iPod and make it look like there's more players that work with iTMS, even though they're basically the same. Not a bad idea since the iPod is the best out there. It's gaining some interesting inroads, like the Alpine head-unit that has an iPod connector.
The next few months are going to be so damn interesting with the HPod, the Pepsi giveaway, the inevitable $50 price drop on the miniPod...
Believe it or not, there is a show going on right now that is *bigger* than Macworld--it's call the CES, and it's billed as the largest tradeshow in the world. This is probably part of why Macworld seemed so "disappointing"--Apple was saving a lot of its thunder for CES. Hold on to your britches, folks--there may be more to come yet!
The iPod has become a "reference design"
Just like the IBM PC before it, the iPod has become the reference design for a music platform.
old and busted: IBM compatible
new hotness: iPod compatible
I expect this to be a branding effort, because you know it will have to have the screen, wheel, and UI.
It will be an iPod, just with an HP logo. They may even put the logos side-by-side.
Just like the IBM PC before it, the iPod has become the reference design for a music platform.
old and busted: IBM compatible
new hotness: iPod compatible
I expect this to be a branding effort, because you know it will have to have the screen, wheel, and UI.
It will be an iPod, just with an HP logo. They may even put the logos side-by-side.
huge for Apple
This is huge news. This means that Apple now has new revenue from iPods from HP plus iTMS may become profitable although there may be a small amount of rev going to HP per song maybe 1 or 2 c per song.
Likely they will come out with a Black version with HP/Compag logo.
They will produce different accesories which could work with the Apple iPod and the larger volumes will no doubt drive the prices down a bit.
I am sure Apple will not care who sells the iPod as long as they sell in large quantities. (there is always good revenue from branding)
Expect HP to get in on the Pepsi deal and now maybe the MacDonald deal will come through and then some.....
Like I said this is huge!! Apple stock is soaring today and so are my options for Jan
This is huge news. This means that Apple now has new revenue from iPods from HP plus iTMS may become profitable although there may be a small amount of rev going to HP per song maybe 1 or 2 c per song.
Likely they will come out with a Black version with HP/Compag logo.
They will produce different accesories which could work with the Apple iPod and the larger volumes will no doubt drive the prices down a bit.
I am sure Apple will not care who sells the iPod as long as they sell in large quantities. (there is always good revenue from branding)
Expect HP to get in on the Pepsi deal and now maybe the MacDonald deal will come through and then some.....
Like I said this is huge!! Apple stock is soaring today and so are my options for Jan
HOLY $@(*$
This is big*.
*Note: Post has just been submitted for the understatement of the year award.
This is big*.
*Note: Post has just been submitted for the understatement of the year award.
Hands Down...Brilliant Move!
My friends and I were discussing this very concept two weeks ago. His point was that Apple would never release a "cheap" iPod...it simply isn't in Apple's DNA to do so. My reply was..."Well, they should let some huge tech firm do it for them. Just license AAC and let the other company sell the commodity players"
This makes perfect sense for Apple...HP covers the 128 mb to 1gb players with the "HPod," and Apple deals in the high-end stuff with the iPod and the mini. Apple continues its dominance of the digital music indsutry and HP gets a much-needed injection of cool.
Excellent work by Steve and Carly!
My friends and I were discussing this very concept two weeks ago. His point was that Apple would never release a "cheap" iPod...it simply isn't in Apple's DNA to do so. My reply was..."Well, they should let some huge tech firm do it for them. Just license AAC and let the other company sell the commodity players"
This makes perfect sense for Apple...HP covers the 128 mb to 1gb players with the "HPod," and Apple deals in the high-end stuff with the iPod and the mini. Apple continues its dominance of the digital music indsutry and HP gets a much-needed injection of cool.
Excellent work by Steve and Carly!
You're not thinking ahead far enough.
Because when every other part of the PC falls short, and they hear from a cousin of a friend of a daughter etc etc that on the Apple it works better....their mind goes back to their hPod with an Apple logo on it and something clicks to maybe check out the Mac.
Or simply when it comes time to buy a new computer, they consider an Apple because they've been using an iTunes already and liked it, etc etc.
There's an infinite number of scenarios. Don't think in 3 month terms, think in 3 year terms.
Is HP and Apple Music Alliance strong enough
I hope that the new HP-Apple alliance will be strong enough to shake loose rights to Beatles music from Sony and Michael Jackson (or whoever owns Michael's portion. Perhaps after a settlement of the Beatles' suit against Apple for breaking the purported Apple no-music business constraint of an earlier settlement over use of the Apple name. Without access to the Beatles catalog, the Apple iTMS has a very large hole. Go Apple!!!!! Go HP!!!
I hope that the new HP-Apple alliance will be strong enough to shake loose rights to Beatles music from Sony and Michael Jackson (or whoever owns Michael's portion. Perhaps after a settlement of the Beatles' suit against Apple for breaking the purported Apple no-music business constraint of an earlier settlement over use of the Apple name. Without access to the Beatles catalog, the Apple iTMS has a very large hole. Go Apple!!!!! Go HP!!!