UGN news

Synopsis:

U2 iPod in Black with band members' autographs...
 

Go To:

Go for it...

Apple Introduces the U2 iPod

U2 and Apple Partnership Fuses Art, Technology & Commerce

Apple has introduced the iPod U2 Special Edition as part of a partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group (UMG) to create innovative new products together for the new digital music era. The new U2 iPod holds up to 5,000 songs and features a gorgeous black enclosure with a red Click Wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures.

"U2 and Apple have a special relationship where they can start to redefine the music business," said Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of UMG's Interscope Geffen A&M Records. "The iPod along with iTunes is the most complete thought that we've seen in music in a very long time."

"We want our audience to have a more intimate online relationship with the band, and Apple can help us do that," said U2 lead singer Bono. "With iPod and iTunes, Apple has created a crossroads of art, commerce and technology which feels good for both musicians and fans."

"iPod and iTunes look like the future to me and it's good for everybody involved in music," said U2 guitarist, The Edge.

"U2 is one of the greatest bands in the world and we are floored to be working with them," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We just want to make some innovative products together, and we hope U2 fans will love having their very own special edition iPod."

The new U2 iPod is being introduced as the band prepares to release their new album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" in late November. In addition to the new U2 iPod, the results of the U2, Apple and UMG partnership include:

• U2's single "Vertigo" from their upcoming album "How to Dismantle an
• Atomic Bomb" is available exclusively in the US through the iTunes Music
• Store;
• Apple and U2 have created a breakthrough television ad featuring U2
• band members performing their new single "Vertigo." The ad is a cross between
• Apple's award-winning "Silhouette" ads and a music video; and
• Apple has created the online music industry's first-of-its-kind
• "Digital Box Set." The first digital box set, "The Complete U2," will contain
• over 400 tracks including all of the band's albums and over 25 rare and
• unreleased tracks. U2 fans will be able to purchase and download The Complete
• U2 with just one click on the iTunes Music Store in the US and Europe
• beginning in late November for just $149 (US).

The U2 iPod features Apple's patent pending Click Wheel, up to 12 hours battery life and Shuffle Songs, a command in the main menu that gives users instant access to one of the most exciting new ways to listen to their music library. All iPods work with Apple's iTunes, providing music fans with the best digital jukebox on either a Mac or Windows computer and access to the iTunes Music Store, the number one digital music service in the world. U2 iPod customers will receive a coupon for $50 off the purchase of "The Complete U2" available exclusively on the iTunes Music Store.*

iPod features Apple's patent pending Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads an entire digital music library onto iPod and keeps it up-to-date whenever it is plugged into a Mac or Windows computer using FireWire or USB. Users can transfer two songs per second from their Mac or Windows computer and can conveniently charge iPod with either the included FireWire or USB cable.

Pricing & Availability

The new 20GB iPod U2 Special Edition is expected to be available mid-November for a suggested retail price of $349 (US) through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The U2 iPod includes earbud headphones, 1.2m 30-pin to FireWire cable, a 1.2m 30-pin to USB cable, and a CD with iTunes 4.7 for Mac and Windows computers. Optional accessories include the iPod Dock for $39 (US) and in-ear headphones for $39 (US).

iPod requires a Mac with a FireWire or USB 2.0 port and Mac OS X version 10.1.5 or later (Mac OS X v10.2 or later recommended); or a Windows PC with a FireWire or USB 2.0 port, or FireWire or USB 2.0 card and Windows 2000 (with Service Pack 4 or later), XP Home or Professional.

All iPods include rechargeable batteries, which have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information. Music capacity is based on four minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding.

UGN Site Navigation:

Return to: the top of this page, or the INDEX for this department
Exit to: The User Group Network front page
Contact: The Editor, Webmaster or Membership Director

CREDITS:

U2 formed in their native Dublin in 1978 and remains intact with its four original band members: Bono, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton and The Edge. The band has sold more than 120 million records worldwide in an extraordinary career that has firmly established them as one of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll bands. Along the way, U2 has earned a phenomenal 14 Grammy Awards, seven of which were for their last studio album, 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind, including two consecutive awards for "Record of the Year." As popular for their legendary live shows as for their groundbreaking albums, U2 continue to innovate and inspire while packing football stadiums and sweaty clubs around the world. Their new album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, will be released November 23, 2004.
Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly-owned record operations or licensees in 71 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations. Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company. ... Event dates are subject to change. Some products, programs, or promotions are not available outside the U.S. Prices are estimated retail prices and are listed in U.S. dollars. Product specifications are subject to change. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, Power Mac, Velocity Engine, FireWire, AirPort, Safari, Sherlock, QuickTime, iLife, iTunes, iChat, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iCal and Apple Store are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither a recommendation nor an endorsement.

The User Group Network is a member of: The Association of Apple Computer Users & Groups, the MUG News, and is sponsored in part by: The Design & Publishing Center, The News Serve Network, and the Designers' Bookshelf. The User Group Network is the first, and the original user group network for computer users everywhere including, Apple, Mac-Pro, User Group Organization to support Macintosh, IBM PC, Microsoft, Compaq, Amiga, BE/OS, Linux, UNIX, and other leading computer platforms. Hosting services are provided by The Graphic Design Network to serve the computing community. For information about the UGNetwork, to get involved or have your own groups' home page located at user-groups.net, please contact us. Copyright 1994 through present. This site is maintained in the community interest by The Graphic Design Network c/o Showker Graphic Arts & Design, a Corporation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 22801, established in 1972.