U2Ipod
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Bono compares Steve Jobs to Elvis
U2 lead singer Bono paid tribute to Steve Jobs with kind comments for the man who turned the music industry upside down with the iPod and iTunes. Bono called Jobs "the hardware/software Elvis" and described him as a man who was "only interested in doing truly great things." Speaking of his influence on music and technology, Bono said, "Jobs changed music, he changed film, he changed the personal computer and turned telephony on its head while he was at it." Bono worked closely with Jobs and Apple in the mid-2000s on a U2 iPod with a signature black and red design. The U2 iPod has similar specs to its comparable non-U2 iPod models, but included a download voucher for premium U2 content and the autographs of band members engraved on the back. Apple also released a variety of iPods and an iPad 2 cover under product RED, an African AIDs charity founded in 2006 by U2 front man Bono and Bobby Shriver.
On the DL: Apple's U2 iPod goes 5.5G, falls to $279
After Apple launched the not-exactly-6G iPod at the "It's Showtime" event, we had plenty of fun dissecting the new nano and handling the appropriately dubbed 5.5G iPod, but we couldn't help but notice how the dear ole U2 iPod was apparently uninvited to the refresh party. Apple has finally got around to bringing the long-standing "special edition" 'Pod to 5.5G specs, as it now sports the "brighter display," extended battery life, and a new model number (MA664LL/A) to boot. Aside from getting the 5.5G goodies (and a coupon for an "exclusive" half hour U2 video download), the real news is the price drop; while the engraved signatures of Bono and friends (and that blaze red click wheel) still demand a premium, the coinage required to pick up a 30GB U2 iPod sank from $329 to $279 -- a whole $50 -- to fall more in line with its standard $249 sibling. For a second there, we just figured the U2-branded 'Pod was stuck in a moment it couldn't get out of.[Via iLounge]
U2 iPod updated
Those iPod elves just don't sleep! Apple has updated the U2 special edition iPod, keeping it in line with the 5.5 gen iPods. $279 gets you the signature black 30 gig iPod with a red scroll wheel. Sure, that's a $30 premium, but if you like U2 (or red) then it is a small price to pay.I wonder why Apple has limited this concept of special edition iPods to U2, I'm sure there are other bands out there that would like to get into this action (not to mention I am sure fans wouldn't mind sporting an iPod that shows the world what they like).
First hand pictures of the new U2 iPod
Ash over at techpaedia dropped us a line to let us know about some photos he took of the new U2 iPod at an Apple retail store. The four photos over at his site show the rear black metal enclosure a little more clearly than the official ones on Apple's site. Ash reports that "like the traditional stainless steel mirrored finish enclosure, it is a fingerprint magnet." We'd also have to assume that it scratches as easily as the reflective mirror finish on most other iPods too.Now that Apple has created a completely black bodied iPod, how long do you think it'll be until they start bundling black accessories with its black products? Or will we just have to live with it, just like we've been living with the fingerprint and scratch magnet "feature" present on practically every iPod?
The U2 iPod makes a 5th generation encore
Apple has re-released the U2 iPod in the form of a red and black 5G iPod with video. The new U2 iPod features one design element to differentiate it from the normal 5G iPod and the previous U2 iPod: "an all-black stainless steel enclosure" or (as a subtitle underneath a picture of the U2 iPod mentions) a rear featuring "striking black metal." The screenshots of the new U2 iPod on Apple's site don't show the black metal very clearly thanks to the black background, so we'll have to wait for some hands-on pictures for a "yay or nay" design critique. Fingers crossed it doesn't scratch as easily as, well, every other iPod ever made.Another bonus over the normal iPod is the inclusion of an iTunes coupon that lets U2 iPod owners download an exclusive video featuring music and interviews with the Irish rock band. Pricing is $329 ($30 more than a vanilla iPod) and shipping is currently "within 24 hours."Update: check out the Quicktime VR movie at the bottom of this page ("take the U2 iPod for a spin") for a better look at the black metal enclosure. Without the U2 signatures and the red scroll wheel (i.e. on a normal, black 5G iPod) it'd look great![Thanks, Robert]
