Filed under: iPod Family
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]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Muzz said 10:07AM on 6-06-2006
In the words of the great Lord Vader,
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
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philip said 10:08AM on 6-06-2006
Apple does realize that there are other bands out there, right?
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NNTPgrip said 10:09AM on 6-06-2006
Damn shame they wasted all that material on this. I had to forgive them for the first time when I bought my nano(it took a while, I bought my nano a month ago).
At the very least it should come pre-loaded with everything they ever did. But everything they do sounds the same anyway(like Phil Collins, or Randy Newmann). These idiots had the audacity to release 5 videos for that song "one". Their latest album was absolute garbage, Bono can go count in spanish somewhere else out of my earshot. Actually, just load the thing with The Joshua Tree and be done with it.
It will be funny to see how badly this thing sells now that there is a proper black iPod in Full and Nano. Maybe they can try a Black U2 shuffle. That'll hold The Joshua Tree just fine. Bonus: You don't have to see video of them.
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John Russell said 10:11AM on 6-06-2006
Apple releasing a new iPod on 666.
Crazy, especially look considering the fact that the click wheel is red. Seems... Devilish.
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coldengray said 10:17AM on 6-06-2006
check out the hand icon when you spin the ipod - it "rocks out"
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Tracye said 10:22AM on 6-06-2006
@NNTPgrip
Wow. Was it really necessary to waste 3 paragraphs spewing your distaste for U2 on a forum not really dedicated to music, but for technology that plays music? (And for the record, there are 3 videos for "One", not five.)
I have the first rev. of the 4th gen U2 iPod (the one with the B&W screen) and have been quite happy with it ever since I bought it. I've been thinking about upgrading to a 5th gen iPod lately, but the only thing holding me back has been the uniqueness of my U2 iPod... so I'm happy. I'll be getting one of these ASAP. Thankfully all my black accessories won't be going to waste!
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Jason said 10:37AM on 6-06-2006
"Bono can go count in spanish somewhere else out of my earshot." Amazing.
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dk said 10:44AM on 6-06-2006
Dear Apple,
Enough with U2 already, we dont care.
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Cary said 10:48AM on 6-06-2006
The earlier commentor's opinion aside, U2 is still MASSIVELY popular to this day – I see no reason Apple wouldn't want to team up with them to sell more iPods to U2's adoring fans.
My wife is one of those adoring fans, so I've been to a few of U2's shows in recent years, and I can tell you that they sell out every show, at basically every venue they play, in virtually every country they play.
What intelligent company WOULDN'T want to team-up with them?
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NNTPgrip said 10:49AM on 6-06-2006
-Jason
Was not meant in a racist manner. Meant that Bono thinks because he's such a philantropist, he can insert spanish into music that has no latin heritage, along with the whole band being white. Plus, if you're going to do it on something that will be ditributed worldwide, try to count properly. Last time I checked 4 came after 3, not 14.
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Don Wilson said 10:54AM on 6-06-2006
http://www.apple.com/ipod/u2/qtvr.html
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Craig said 10:56AM on 6-06-2006
2) Yeah there are other bands, but none as good as U2. Come on 'One', 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' and ' Beautiful Day'?
Does anyone know if U2 get anything out of this deal (apart from people then wanting to fill their U2 iPods with U2 songs)? I thought I read somewhere they didn't get any money from Apple, or that might have been their adverts?
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Nacho Jimenez said 11:04AM on 6-06-2006
Well #8..
I'm spanish, and I'm white.. as 99% of spaniards (you know, the southwest limb of europe). Most of U2 members wouldnt look too out of place here, maybe the egde would.
About Bono flashing words in Spanish: "bueno" for him. It's his music.. madonna did it so long ago (¿remember La Isla Bonita? though that song indeed had a caribbean taste to it) is nothing new.
Music (and every other branch of culture) is about mixing influences. And the artist can mix whatever he wants.. if he likes how catorce (14) sounds, fine for me and every other spanish speaker in the world, I guess..
And relating spanish to philantropists.. well, i guess you're thinking of South America, and that's fine, but many french and english talking countries (most of africa) are way worse than S.A...
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NNTPgrip said 11:25AM on 6-06-2006
In all seriousness, a U2 iPod is the most evil thing you can think to release on 6/6/6? You could have kept the color scheme, gone with a pentagram on the click wheel, and pre-loaded the thing with Slayer instead.
Opportunity Missed--that's all I'm sayin'
I'm Done (I promise)
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gr33n said 11:28AM on 6-06-2006
well, we've learned that black color costs 200$ ... now we know that red button costs $30 :)
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Billy K said 11:31AM on 6-06-2006
The world waits breathlessly for the Video iPod, iPhone and Intel Mac tower, and we get...a red and black iPod.
I haven't been this excited since the introduction of the $100 leather iPod case.
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Halt001 said 11:40AM on 6-06-2006
More importantly than whether or not we like U2 is that it is not likely that a new iPod will be released any time soon because it would not make much sense to release a special version of something that is about to be replaced.
So either a new iPod is coming in another segment than the current iPod video or the new one will take a while before it is released.
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Ronak Kanabar said 1:03PM on 6-06-2006
Does anyone think there could be a small royalty that goes to Bono's 'Product Red' charity? I remember rumors regarding a 'red' iPod. Maybe it didn't work out so they released this design instead.
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matt G said 1:05PM on 6-06-2006
Apple needs to make a Pearl Jam edition. I doubt P/J would go along with it, but nevertheless it would be cool
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Alex said 1:11PM on 6-06-2006
I feel like Steve J is punishing us for the bad spin after the Hi-Fi press conference.
We haven't had a keynote in a while, but we've had loads of (great) new products: MBP 17, MacBook, this...
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