More HP iPod Details...

[the_dalex]

If Microsoft cared about choice, wouldn't they be adding support for competing DRM into their Media Player? Apple is saying there is a choice, and the best choice is Apple. At least they are being honest with their customers.

Microsoft: "You can choose to use any music player or download service that you like, as long as it uses the format we created and promote, because Bill will be pissed if there's a computer-related market we can't control."

Luckily, the only people who hear or read the words of Microsoft management see through the BS, because Microsoft only talks to consumers through butterflies and pop-ups. Industry people know better.

 

[Spock]

Wow, whats next Umax Powermac G5?
I think this is a good move for Apple becouse of those morons that won't buy things couse it has an Apple logo on it.
I work for aafes and tried to covince them to sell the iPod in the stores, the guy I was trying to convince said it would not sell becouse it was a Apple product. I hate people like that.

 

[avus]

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[GregA]

Re: This is interesting

Originally posted by Faeylyn
First, HP's music player is really just an iPod that connects to iTMS and uses AAC and Apple's DRM.

Second, HP indroduces an "entertainment hub" that, among other things, serves as a central point to store and manage digital music.

How could these two devices not be connected? How could HP get away with using something other than AAC and Apple's DRM on the "HP entertainment hub"? Answer (IMO) is that they couldn't. Prediction (IMO) is that the "HP entertainment hub" will really be a rebranded "Apple entertainment hub".

HPs digital media receivers currently do MP3 and WMA. They require a Windows ME or XP machine to stream from. It'd be nice to see an update there eh?


And on a completely different note - HP brand Macintoshes:

Originally posted by BenRoethig
A mac version of the Pavillion 300 series with a PowerPC 7457 or 750VX is all the average buyer needs. Have Apple supply the MicroATX motherboard and have HP assemble it like they would one of their windows PCs. Having HP as a marketing partner for OS X and OSX server would be great for Apple.

If they were going to do that - why wouldn't HP buy all the parts from IBM, then the OS from Apple? The question is - would they fear Apple leaving them in the lurch like the old cloners.

I think Apple is better off helping HP by licensing the MacOS X interface for their existing offerings (HP Linux, VMS, HP/UX). Forget classic & carbon - but imagine if HP could write an App in Cocoa and have it run on all their systems?

 

[edStar]

I think its a great idea. The situation is different in America, but in Australia Apple Resellers are FEW and FAR in between.

HP's are everywhere! And the feature pretty prominently in big chain Electronics stores. Consumers that visit these stores are perfect for the mac platform (but there is not enough mac advertising or not alot of resellers in PRIME locations like shopping malls), that's why they buy HP's, they think they are a complete and easy to use solution. That'd be true if it wasn't for the os they are running - Windows XP.

This is Win-Win and Apple gets to maintain that high quality in their products by controlling the manufacture process.

 

[Dahl]

I know this off topic, but since Apple is "reaching out", I would love to see them gang up with a car stereo company.
It would be nice too see iPods in the dashboards instead off CD players.

 

[winmacguy]

Originally posted by MrMacman
Okay... I have a question...

Does this product count as a HP or Apple product...

Cause that means Apple's iPod could lose market share... to its HP clone...

Apple will gain a huge market share on the back of HP. iTunes will be installed by default on every HP PC and Laptop sold through all of HPs outlets worldwide. HP has about 33% market share for PCs world wide. Apple has about 4% now and will have 4% + HPs 33% when the satock starts to move through the stores around the world

2004 will be a big year for Apple.

Regardless of how customers see the H Pod they will be using iTunes, iTMS and AAC instead of WMA which is what Apple wants

Apple gets to benefit because it will continue to sell iPods and sell HPods to HP who will in turn sell them to customers of its PCs so every one wins

 

[winmacguy]

Originally posted by Dahl
I know this off topic, but since Apple is "reaching out", I would love to see them gang up with a car stereo company.
It would be nice too see iPods in the dashboards instead off CD players.

Audi are installing iPod docks in their new cars

 

[Dahl]

That's awesome, hopefully more will follow.

 

[BenRoethig]

Originally posted by edStar
I think its a great idea. The situation is different in America, but in Australia Apple Resellers are FEW and FAR in between.

HP's are everywhere! And the feature pretty prominently in big chain Electronics stores. Consumers that visit these stores are perfect for the mac platform (but there is not enough mac advertising or not alot of resellers in PRIME locations like shopping malls), that's why they buy HP's, they think they are a complete and easy to use solution. That'd be true if it wasn't for the os they are running - Windows XP.

This is Win-Win and Apple gets to maintain that high quality in their products by controlling the manufacture process.

Not much better here. To be honest, Apple products are really only available to those who live in cities of 100,000 or more. iPods are slightly better because they are sold at Target and Best Buy. The Nearest Apple retailer is over an hour away and the nearest Apple store is almost four hours away. People buy what they can find and Wal Marts and Radio shacks are fairly common.

 

[wombat2]

I think some people here are thinking of this in terms of some kind of crusade, when it's really just a smart move - or at least a bold move - for two companies.

From what I've read, Apple approached HP, by the way, not the other way around. FWIW.

As for the sale, HP just wants to fill out its product line. They want people to have an entirely HP computer and computer accessory lineup, which is reasonable. They want to be able to go toe to toe, or better, with Dell.

This isn't a major change in strategy, or a hint of a desire to sell Mac clones, or anything like that. It's just a new addition to HP's lineup. They sell computers, monitors, scanners, printers, digital cameras, and - a HD-based mp3 player.

From Apple's perspective, it will increase revenue, both from the player and from iTunes. It is also a hedge against the MSN music store. No matter what people here want to believe, the MSN music store is going to make a huge impact, and could surpass the Apple music store in sales very rapidly. This move will help the Apple store maintain market share later this year.

From Microsoft's perspective, this is annoying, because it will reduce their ability to rapidly dominate the music sales market. Their talk about choice is a smokescreen. They just wanted HP on their side instead of Apple's. They are probably exhasperated.

Overall, a smart move by Apple, and probably by HP. For consumers, this should create some additional capacity-based pricepoints as Apple offers a higher capacity but more expensive line. It should also result in lower prices for iPods, in the long run, due to volume manufacturing and pricing.

 

[Mac Boy-Canada]

Judging by the posted pictures, it will be a 3G iPod. I don't know how well that will sell. I just wish HP released the price! Then I could make my decision as whether to get a mini or this!

 

[Links]

[Judging by the posted pictures, it will be a 3G iPod....]

Actually, no. As reported July 19:

"HP and Apple announced today that the HP-branded iPod will be available in September.
"HP has chosen iPod and iTunes as the best products to integrate in to our digital
entertainment strategy," said HP CEO Carly Fiorina.
"We decided to wait for this amazing new fourth generation iPod, as it will offer our customers
an even better experience. HP's version of the new iPod will be available in September."
In early January, HP said that it would begin selling a branded version of Apple's iPod and
bundling iTunes with its desktops and notebooks as part of a new partnership with Apple."

 

[Peyote]

Audi are installing iPod docks in their new cars

Just curious as to where you got that info...can't find anyhting about it myself

 

[uzombie]

Would it then be called "hPod" ?

And about what car makers are providing docks/control facilities, what is the best way to integrate an iPod into a 2004 Maxima? The Bose unit lacks an aux input. So there are either the cassette adaptor or FM transmitter as choices?

 

[Mac Boy-Canada]

Any info on price? I REALLY would like to know whether to get an iPod Mini, or wait for this! I want to pay the lowest price for an iPod!

 

[Mac Boy-Canada]

Any info on price yet?

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Any info on price yet?

A little eager aren't you?

 

[mkrishnan]

Just think, there is a mirror thread in a bizarro universe HP fan site somewhere. Carly-philes are talking about how, they didn't trust this little white gizmo, but anything Carly touches is gold, so....

To the person asking about the 04 Maxima...you might contact these people:

http://densionusa.com/merchant/merc...ct_Code=I11_Nissan_R1&Category_Code=IA_Nissan

Their system works through the CD changer controls in your head unit I think.

 

[bonk]

couple things:

I was doing some freelance work for hp in the spring and got to ask a few questions. apple is not letting hp use "i" or "pod" in the name, and if I remember correctly, it was looking like their version was going to be white.


as for pricing, I GUARANTEE it will cost the same as apple prices. have you ever known any reseller to sell apple products for less than apple does? there's no way apple is going to let a third party undercut their own prices.