Red iPod nano for AIDS

On Friday, Rockstar Bono and celebrity Oprah Winfrey are expected to launch the long-rumored red-colored iPod as part of the Product Red AIDS charity initiative. Project Red, founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA, is designed to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT) RED branded products. AppleInsider reports that Friday's edition of the "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will publicly unveil the iPod nano Red, a special edition of Apple's popular flash player. It will be available in a single 4GB model for $199--the same price as the other 4GB models--and will be sold by Apple alongside its other iPod models. Like all participating merchants, Apple will reportedly donate a portion of its sales--about $10, according to the report--from each sale directly to The Global Fund, which helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. [photo credit: Chicago Tribune]

Other companies such as American Express have already joined the initiative by announcing a new, no-fee credit card in the U.K. dubbed American Express RED3. For every pound spent on the card, American Express has promised to donate a minimum of one percent to the Product Red charity. Companies such as Motorola, GAP, Armani, and Converse have also joined the project.

The rumors of the branded iPod first emerged when a note in the January 20th edition of the popular celebrity gossip newsletter, Popbitch, reported that the singer was overheard at Dublin's Michelin-starred Patrick Guilbaud restaurant "discussing a new charity red Am Ex card and red iPod."

by MacNN Staff