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HP's Blue iPod Revealed

Originally posted by northstar
From what i gathered from the article, the bigger deal here is HP installing iTunes on their pcs and laptops in the future. In doing so, they allow the casual pc user to discover Apple software and perhaps the iPod itself, when they were previously oblivious to its existence.
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Bingo! never mind the colour preference of the HiPod, by getting iTunes onto an HP/Compac PC , laptop you get in 33% of the PC user market world wide that HP has. A very effective way to spread iTunes, iTMS and AAC. When it comes to music players you make the customers choice for them. Remember most customers are not very tech savy . They want to be able to go into a computer store and pick up their all in one PC/OS scanner, printer multimedia package. Pay their money take it home plug it in and turn it on and send some emails, write some word documents, attempt and xcel spreadsheet maybe, play some games and listen to music on the music player that came with the PC.

Maybe their kids might want to burn few MP3 CDs and or possibly load Windows Media Player but other than that the majority of people out there would be happy to just be shown how to play a CD on their PC which in this case will be on iTunes.
 
Re: WMA on iPod

Originally posted by 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
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Superior my foot ... Paul Thurrot is a stooge. A bloody moron in my book.
 
don't jump to conclusions about the word superior

If by "superior", he meant superior in distribution he is right: nearly 90% of computer users are nudged (read: forced) into Windows Media Player. So WMA is superior in that sense. I think what he meant by superior was ubiquitous.
 
OOH how nice, an iPod minus the one feature that makes it so cool: made by Apple. Slap HP logos on an iPod and make it ugly blue, they should call it gayPod. w00t!
 
Re: don't jump to conclusions about the word superior

Originally posted by MacReason
If by "superior", he meant superior in distribution he is right: nearly 90% of computer users are nudged (read: forced) into Windows Media Player. So WMA is superior in that sense. I think what he meant by superior was ubiquitous.
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But if 70% of the legal downloaded music is AAC - then AAC is superior. No, he really meant it as being technically superior - which its not.
 
Originally posted by sethypoo
To me, it looks like the front was dyed with cheap fabric dye. The HP logo on the back looks like it was either taped on or somehow engraved.
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Hmm, yes, with some sort of "laser engraver", perhaps. Maybe Apple should engrave their hPods with the APPLE logo! And offer customers the chance to use this device to customize their player! Wow, what a machine!

--DT
 
Re: don't jump to conclusions about the word superior

Originally posted by MacReason
If by "superior", he meant superior in distribution he is right: nearly 90% of computer users are nudged (read: forced) into Windows Media Player. So WMA is superior in that sense. I think what he meant by superior was ubiquitous.
Click to expand...

It is most definitely superior to MP3. The compression algorithm certainly creates significantly smaller files than MP3, but I am not sure how it compares with AAC. The problem is that most Windows users are unfamiliar with AAC and so assume that WMA, Real, and MP3 are the only players.
 
Re: Re: don't jump to conclusions about the word superior

Originally posted by pcharles
It is most definitely superior to MP3. The compression algorithm certainly creates significantly smaller files than MP3, but I am not sure how it compares with AAC. The problem is that most Windows users are unfamiliar with AAC and so assume that WMA, Real, and MP3 are the only players.
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I would be curious to see your reference on this. Please site your source.

Reference MP3. The MP3 format has many different encoding settings which affect the output.

At high level encoding, MP3 is, for all practical purposes, the same as AIFF files.

Sushi
 
Re: Re: don't jump to conclusions about the word superior

Originally posted by pcharles
It is most definitely superior to MP3. The compression algorithm certainly creates significantly smaller files than MP3, but I am not sure how it compares with AAC. The problem is that most Windows users are unfamiliar with AAC and so assume that WMA, Real, and MP3 are the only players.
Click to expand...

I really think they should have called AAC mp4. Yes, yes, I know mp3 doesn't mean "3rd version of mpeg". But lots of people don't know that. My girlfriend just asked whether the ipod would play mp4 and I had to explain that was basically aac. If it were called mp4 EVERYONE would demand their mp3 player played it, because it would be the "obvious" next thing.
 
Re: Re: Re: don't jump to conclusions about the word superior

Originally posted by edgar_is_good
I really think they should have called AAC mp4. Yes, yes, I know mp3 doesn't mean "3rd version of mpeg". But lots of people don't know that. My girlfriend just asked whether the ipod would play mp4 and I had to explain that was basically aac. If it were called mp4 EVERYONE would demand their mp3 player played it, because it would be the "obvious" next thing.
Click to expand...

Here, Here.
 
Re: WMA on iPod

Originally posted by PDubNYC
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.
Click to expand...

The PortalPlayer chip plays WMF already, Apple just needs to enable it. iTunes is a different story - Apple would need to license it from M$ and include it in QuickTime.

HP might also have contractual obligations to support WMA on all their products, for cheap Windows licenses (monopoly?, what monopoly?), and this is just posturing to keep them out of legal hot water.
 
Originally posted by sethypoo
The HP logo on the back looks like it was either taped on or somehow engraved.
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Apple offers custom laser engraving on the back of iPods. They just did an HP logo instead of "For Suzy, love Mom".
 
Originally posted by pyro
Instead of making support for ****ty little wma files how about flac, shn, or ape?
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It's not up to Apple. The iPod uses a PortalPlayer chip, which can do AAC, MP3, WMA, WAV, AIFF, and ACELP.NET.

Now when the new iPod comes out based on Apple & IBM's ultra-low-power PowerPC chip, then they can do their codecs in software and support all the formats they want.
 
This is a good thing, but I do phone support for HP/Compaq hardware and this means i have more learning ahead of me. Maybe even a free HP branded iPod!

Horray for me!
 
Jesus Did anyone watch the actual footage??

Did anyone watch the footage and LISTEN to it??

SOrry if this was already mentioned (first 4 pages and nothing).

She said something about HP has the means to market, supply chain and the connections to bring this to so many COUNTRIES around the WORLD!!!

Does this mean that the HP PC and iPod will allow people in the UK or elsewhere overseas???

This cannot be a major deal unless HP could pre-install the ITMS on every machine and have iPods in other countries were their customers COULDN'T benefit from it!!!!


I say the biggest announcement for the majority of iTMS lovers will be overseas purchasing and downloading!!! Sweet!!!
 
Overall this is very good for apple.
By simply installing itunes on every hp pc they are opening a door for:
1.itunes music store
2.possible switchers

I don't like the blue colour though,looks kinda dodgy in my opinion but it will appeal to some i suppose. I know i should be pleased that apple are selling more ipods but i must confess that it felt so much better when i had the ipod->imaginary social standing among my technophile friends.

I wonder if they will come with HP blue earphones too:)
It will be like wearing gang colours except we're all playing for the same team.
 
Re: Jesus Did anyone watch the actual footage??

Originally posted by Prom1
Did Does this mean that the HP PC and iPod will allow people in the UK or elsewhere overseas???

This cannot be a major deal unless HP could pre-install the ITMS on every machine and have iPods in other countries were their customers COULDN'T benefit from it!!!!


I say the biggest announcement for the majority of iTMS lovers will be overseas purchasing and downloading!!! Sweet!!!
Click to expand...


eventually, I'm sure. But I think you might be reading too much into it. When she says HP will install ITMS on all HP computers it doesn't mean that all countries will be able to use ITMS right away. I would guess that the countries that ITMS doesn't support now will only be able to use the application as a jukebox, not an online music storefront.

I'm sure Apple's working on global support though.
 
Originally posted by Rower_CPU
Nice find. I haven't been visiting AtAT enough lately.

Here are links to both stories:

Who? When? Whuzza? (1/09/04)
Skip Copying, Go For Cloning (1/08/04)
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I can't work out what's funnier, the skit or the MS "reducing customer choice" thing in the serious article.

Actually, the skit is just funny, whilst the MS thing is so far into surreal I expect David Lynch to adapt it into a movie.
 
Re: Jesus Did anyone watch the actual footage??

Originally posted by Prom1
Did anyone watch the footage and LISTEN to it??

SOrry if this was already mentioned (first 4 pages and nothing).

She said something about HP has the means to market, supply chain and the connections to bring this to so many COUNTRIES around the WORLD!!!

Does this mean that the HP PC and iPod will allow people in the UK or elsewhere overseas???

This cannot be a major deal unless HP could pre-install the ITMS on every machine and have iPods in other countries were their customers COULDN'T benefit from it!!!!


I say the biggest announcement for the majority of iTMS lovers will be overseas purchasing and downloading!!! Sweet!!!
Click to expand...

That could be part of the reason for delaying the start of the deal until the summer. My personal view is that Apple is lining up a major announcement to do with iTMS timed to coincide with MIDEM, which just so happens to coincide with the 20th anniversary weekend.

HP's "capabilities" apparently extend to 178 countries worldwide, so this will definitely give 'iPod' a global reach which would have been beyond the reach of Apple, given that it still works through distributors in a number of end-markets.
 
I'm forgetting something

Maybe I am suffering from amnesia, but what has HP been an innovator? Yes, compared to Apple, HP is an innovator.

As long as Apple is letting other companies make clones, can they put out a poster stating, "Let's kick Microsoft's ass"? (Sorry, couldn't help that one)
 
Apple isn't letting anyone make anything. Apple is making the iPods for HP and selling them to HP for wholesale...or so it seems. I guess HP innovates in ways that isn't really apparent to the average consumer. Maybe they have some really good business solutions. Actually, I think that's right, I believe they innovate in the business sector...could be wrong though.
 
Just a thought....

I just read through all of the posts and noticed that no one mentioned the fact that if iTunes and ITMS is automatically on every HP computer sold
(let's assume that it is starting at the same time as the HiPod, sorry if they mentioned this in the video, I couldn't get it to work)
then that will mean that Apple has achived a first for the company, my recolection in the very early days is very sketchy so if not true please forgive me.

Apple will have one of its' own products-(software) in the corporate sector. This could make small inroads for the Xserve into corporate situations if IT departments see that it is the default for there new HP's then they might take a closer look at what Apple has to offer without the prejuduces that most WinTel people have.

As I said just a thought:rolleyes:
 
Re: I'm forgetting something

Originally posted by Java
Yes, compared to Apple, HP is an innovator.
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Microsoft has redefined innovation. It used to be similar to "invention", but now it means "repackaging other peoples' stuff and calling it your own invention". So, yeah, HP, fits the bill in their PC department. Their printers and industrial gear is really a different company.
 
Re: Jesus Did anyone watch the actual footage??

Originally posted by Prom1
Did anyone watch the footage and LISTEN to it??

SOrry if this was already mentioned (first 4 pages and nothing).

She said something about HP has the means to market, supply chain and the connections to bring this to so many COUNTRIES around the WORLD!!!

Does this mean that the HP PC and iPod will allow people in the UK or elsewhere overseas???

This cannot be a major deal unless HP could pre-install the ITMS on every machine and have iPods in other countries were their customers COULDN'T benefit from it!!!!


I say the biggest announcement for the majority of iTMS lovers will be overseas purchasing and downloading!!! Sweet!!!
Click to expand...

That would be correct. HP has a WORLDWIDE market share of 35% and from what I read earlier something like 110,000 distribution channels ( ie electronics and appliance retailers) world wide. So that means that when HP loads iTMS on to the PC at time of manufacture it could then be shipped off to a distribution out let in Germany, France, Ireland, Austraila, New Zealand, England....... basically any country in the world outside of the US where HP sells PCs.
 
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