Apple Introduces the U2 iPod

Apple today 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:

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.

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 £249 (inc VAT) through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorised 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 £29 (inc VAT) and in-ear headphones for £29 (inc VAT).

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/uk/batteries for more information. Music capacity is based on four minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding.

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 on November 23rd, 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.

Press Contacts:
Apple UK and Ireland Public Relations
Email: media.uk@apple.com
Phone: (020) 8218 1440