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HP, Apple partner on iPod-based MP3 player, iTMS

updated 01:30 pm EST, Thu January 8, 2004

HP, Apple partner on iPod

today announced a strategic alliance to deliver an HP-branded digital music player based on Apple's iPod. As part of the alliance, HP consumer PCs and notebooks will come preinstalled with Apple's iTunes jukebox software and an easy-reference desktop icon to point consumers directly to the iTunes Music Store. HP's digital music player is expected to become available this summer and be "competitively priced to other digital music players currently available."

"HP's goal is to bring the most compelling entertainment content and experiences to our customers," said Carly Fiorina, chairman and chief executive officer at HP. "We explored a range of alternatives to deliver a great digital music experience and concluded Apple's iPod music player and iTunes music service were the best by far. By partnering with Apple, we have the opportunity to add value by integrating the world's best digital music offering into HP’s larger digital entertainment system strategy."



According to internal HP research, more than 54 percent of current HP consumers download music to their PCs. Beginning this summer, the iTunes software and a desktop icon guiding users to the music site will be preloaded on HP Pavilion, Media Center and Compaq Presario desktop and notebook consumer PCs.



"Apple's goal is to get iPods and iTunes into the hands of every music lover around the world, and partnering with HP, an innovative consumer company, is going to help us do just that," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "As the industry balkanizes by offering digital music wrapped in a multitude of incompatible proprietary technologies, consumers will be reassured in getting the same unparalleled digital music solutions from both HP and Apple, two leaders in the digital music era."

 
Previous Comments

This is such...

01/08, 01:35pm reply

...an un-Apple move. I love it!

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First Post

01/08, 01:35pm reply

That was unexpected.

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Re: First Post

01/08, 01:36pm reply

O.K. almost got it. Damn you mr. real first post. Beat me by 2.5 seconds.

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And so...

01/08, 01:38pm reply

The battle lines are drawn.

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hmm

01/08, 01:38pm reply

i wonder what the hp-pod will look like

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ewww

01/08, 01:41pm reply

first thing I will do is delete the fricking iTMS c***.

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Nnnnnngh...

01/08, 01:42pm reply

Make computers, you idiots, make COMPUTERS! NOT candy colored MP3 toys and NOT for the G*dd*mn competition!!!

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Not sure

01/08, 01:47pm reply

I dont know how I feel about this . Im glad that Itunes is being put on all those HP's .. but why help HP make a player ? I thought the whole thing about Itunes was to sell Ipods ??

Unless Apple makes some cash for every Hpod made ?

Hmm .. Hpod sounds better then Ipod ..

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re: Nnnnngh

01/08, 01:47pm reply

you obviously have never heard of a "trojan horse". iTMS and iPod are Apple's trojan horse. sit back and watch them storm into the castle.

btw, i think apple's doing a great job making computers.... if you disagree... go buy a win/linux machine and stfu.

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Re:Re: Nnnnngh

01/08, 01:51pm reply

Right on!

Also, I thought I heard some feedback (backstage) at MacWorld and
I could have sworn it was SJ saying, "I'm the king of the world!"

Maybe not.

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