Apple today announced the iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition
. (RED) was created by U2 lead singer, Bono and Bobby Shriver to engage business in the fight against AIDS in Africa by getting the world’s most iconic companies to make uniquely branded products. A portion of the profits from these products goes directly to the Global Fund to fund programs for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. The iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition
comes in a beautiful red aluminum enclosure and features 24 hours of battery life, Apple’s innovative Click Wheel and an incredibly thin and light design. Apple will contribute $10 from the sale of each iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition
to the Global Fund to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. Apple will also offer a $25 iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card available for purchase at Apple’s retail and online stores next month.
“We’re ecstatic that Apple is giving their customers the choice to buy a red iPod nano and help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa,” said Bono, co-founder of (RED) in the press release. “It’s wonderful to see this incredible level of commitment from companies that are willing to lend their creativity in the fight against AIDS in Africa, the greatest health crisis in 600 years.”
“Now customers can buy the best music player in the world and do something to help the world at the same time,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO in the press release. “We’re honored to work with Bono, (RED) and this team to contribute to an incredibly important initiative and help change the way people think about AIDS in Africa.”
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was established in 2002, with the support of the world’s leaders and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world’s most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need by supporting locally-driven strategies. To date, the Global Fund has committed $5.2 billion (US) to more than 363 programs in 131 countries. For more information about (RED) please visit http://www.joinred.com
The iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition is available worldwide in a 4GB model for US$199. All iPod nano models include redesigned earbud headphones providing superior comfort, fit and sound quality, and a USB 2.0 cable. The second generation iPod nano features up to 24 hours of battery life and completely skip-free playback. The iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card will be available through Apple’s retail stores and the Apple Store next month for $25 (US).
iPod nano requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port and Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later and iTunes 7.0 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) and iTunes 7.0 or later. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended.
See Apple’s new iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition here.
Related articles:
Apple Store Fifth Avenue logo goes ‘red’ – October 13, 2006
Steve Jobs, Bono confirm ‘Product Red’ Apple iPod nano, iTunes ‘Red’ gift card – October 12, 2006
Oprah and Bono to unveil Product Red iPod nano tomorrow [UPDATED] – October 12, 2006
Red Apple iPod, new MacBook to debut next Tuesday? – May 12, 2006
Red Apple iPod coming soon? – January 27, 2006
$10 x 10 Million Red iPods per year = still 100 million dollars out of Apple’s pocket. Maybe $20 would have been better, but depending on sales, the total donation will still be fair. Really, it’s up to the people who will buy this iPod.
I would have thought 10% or $20 would have been more appropriate.
Remember Apple can account this as a donation and put this against their taxes.
This is all well and good from the perspective of the generally-uninformed and guilt-afflicted American and western citizen/consumer, but the fact remains that all of this “aid” pouring in to “Africa” to fight the “scourge of AIDS” is doing far, far more harm than good.
Rock “stars” such as Bono may feel really self-laudatory when they tuck themselves in at night, thanks to their “tireless” efforts to “effect change” on the African sub-continent, but were he and others of his ilk really, truly concerned with “doing the right thing” they’d instead trumpet what a few brave souls in African countries have said themselves: STOP giving free money to these “charities” and “aid groups” and the corrupt governments that prop them up. Then and only then will REAL change — for the better — begin to be effected.
AIDS is an ill-defined term in Africa that is utilized to raise hundreds of millions of dollars from guilt-ridden, especially-white, western consumers and the money given often never reaches the people who need it. Far better for the west to step back and encourage the African populace to demand their governments act properly.
I don’t argue that Apple could’ve realistically turned down Bono’s proposal, and on the surface it will seem as though everyone involved will benefit. But I had hoped for better.
realist:
“Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. The amount of advertising that it would take to generate the type of exporsure that Oprah herself will provide for this product would probably cost more than the total amount that Apple is going to donate. So this donation can nicely fall into the marketing expense category instead of coming directly from the gross margin. So this isn’t exactly coming directly from Apple’s profits. “
Keep in mind iPod has reached the level of “cultural icon” and anyone in the demographic that Apple targets their product to is already aware of the existence of the iPod. Sure, when it was first released this exposure would have been huge, but now iPods are as big as Oprah, if not bigger.
Also, iPods are big globally I don’t think Oprah is big outside the United States. I expect this will be a global campaign.
Lostek
Yes, yes, the money from charities is often lost due to bad supervision, high overhead costs of organisations, bad management, corruption in the countries you’re trying to help and within the organisations, and unwillingless of the governments to really do something to change things. If this money is going to be lost somewhere down the road, at least some awareness will be raised through these products and campaigns so that people can really act and change things therough their direct actions.
I’m looking at the comments posted here indicating that many of you people feel Apple should be donating more than $10 per iPod to this cause. Having checked my records and finding that none of you have contributed anything yet have the audacity to criticize those who are, I have decided that you are all going to hell.
There is a level of corruption in most societies. In the west we vote into power those that govern us, who then distibute work (an wealth) to organisations run by people (CxO’s) that are often appointed not on merit, but by the networks in which they move.
Decisions taken are often not for the benefit of the general population, but to maintain the economic stability of these organisations.
When one off these companies does something noble like offering to surrender some profit for good, I think this act should be applauded, and used as an example to those that do not.
To make the world a truley equal place cannot be acheived overnight, but each small gesture is a step in the right direction.
We have the collective power, to show these organisations their conscience and allow their future success to be tied it.
If I buy a Nano, it will be a red one. I hope that this is succesful and leads to other red brand products from Apple.
The problems in Africa are atrocious. If there is so little food, why are so many children being born? If a family only has food for 3 people and the family has 6 there will be disease associated with malnutrition.
Now governments are in bed with biotech companies and force feeding Africans genetically modified crops labelling it as “aid relief” all the while conducting their experiments on the African environment and its people.
Overpopulation is the major problem in Africa, but there are too many who profit from a densely populated Africa I’m afraid.
But hey, if it makes you feel good, go ahead and buy a red iPod.
I agree with God.
Those who are criticising Apple for ONLY donating $10 per iPod, are hypocrites, seeing as NOT A PENNY is coming from those consumers who are buying the $199 nano. If Apple had raised the price to $209, then those asshats could complain, but since Apple didn’t, then they don’t.
Sheesh, Africa, were you watching that movie with Fiennes and Wiesz, the Constant Gardener, or what?
Children are born in developing, agrarian countries, because many children die due to disease, and farms need laborers. This was true in rural America, and rural Europe, not just Africa.
Research has shown that education leads to lower birthrates.
Noone is forcefeeding anyone. And, since the beginning of farming humans have been genetically modifying crops, or didn’t you know that?
And those who profit from a densely populated Africa are the corrupt leaders, who skim 50% of every aid dollar.
Yes, I worked as a junior economist at the World Bank.
And, hey if it makes you feel good, keep criticising and doing nothing about the problems, yourself.
If you think $10 per iPod is too little, allow me to put this in perspective. A visit to the (RED) website will point out that participating companies have pledged 50% of the profits on special products for the (RED) campaign. If this is true, it means that the “measly” $10 some of you castigate Apple for is 1/2 of the profits per iPod.
Correct me if you know better, but it means that for every Nano sold, Apple would normally make $20 of profit after all design, manufacturing, marketing and distribution costs are stripped away. Or in the case of the special edition iPod, that’s $10.
Some of you may think that Apple is being cheap. I believe the opposite. Apple is being very generous, and joins a very small list of companies taking part in the campaign. You don’t see Dell or Microsoft taking part. Or Toyota, Sony or Proctor and Gamble. Or Miller Brewing. Or RJ Reynolds Tobacco.
So cut Apple some slack. $10 can go a long way. Especially if red colored Nanos become the must-have gift for the holidays. If anything, it shows that Apple’s heart is in the right place.
KenC,
There’s a difference between crosspolinating to produce a sweeter fruit and genetically engineering a crop so you can spray pestcides on them without killing them. The kind of genetic engineering done today is a modern experiment.
Twilightmoon: “anyone in the demographic that Apple targets their product to is already aware of the existence of the iPod. Sure, when it was first released this exposure would have been huge, but now iPods are as big as Oprah, if not bigger.”
– Generally most people are well aware of the iPod and what it is, but there are still many people that are completely uninterested in buying one. For some of those people, no amount of dancing silhouettes is going to persuade them to buy an iPod. And this is where the Oprah crowd separates itself from the typical iPod target market. Oprah endorsing a product will give added incentive for some of the people that don’t feel that they need one. Despite how widely known the iPod is, Oprah can still expand the market. Same with U2 on the global front. Awareness or brand recognition alone isn’t always enough to sell a product.
Redrum: “it shows that Apple’s heart is in the right place.”
– I basically agree with the general idea of your post, but a calculated business decision such as this does not indicate where a company’s “heart” is.
Oh god.
Apple sucks.
It shoulda been $20
Steve is a greedy bastard.
Blah blah blah.
How many other companies are doing this?
Xbox?
PSP?
Alienware PCs?
Sony Walkman?
You think any big company gives away money without some benefit to themselves?
Gates?
NO. It’s what makes the world go-round.
You left-wing whiny bitches need to get out of your lala-land world of college campuses and get with the program.
What have YOU done to fight AIDS?
Do you even bother to wear a condom, let alone donate time/money to the cause?
MDN Word: “know” as in you don’t KNOW WTF you’re talking about.
I also agree with God….all you people whining about Apple doing this for whatever stupid reason your feeble minds can vomit up….would you please kindly go to hell.
Sheeeeesh….
I was in Africa three years ago, (Botswana and Namibia) and what is painfully obvious is that there is a missing generation. Plenty of orphans and grandparents but few in between. Botswana has areas where 50% of the population has HIV/AIDS. The scary part is the consequences for the genetic diversity of all humanity, 97% of the human genome is in Africa. We cannot do enough!
MW = forces
as in, there are powerful forces at work here.
Apple is choosing to donate $10 from the sale of their most popular product and you all are complaining that it’s not enough?
Get over yourselves already.. Apple could have easily released a red iPod and not donated anything. As mentioned above, this could easily amount to 100 million a year. A 100 million dollar “DONATION” is going to go a long way, and considering most companies donate ZERO, Apple should be applauded not criticized.
Dear “Africa”,
there are several methods used to get “better” crops. Traditionally people have been crossbreeding plants. Then they found faster ways. For example radioactive rays are used to cause mutations. Those looking fine and with the desired specifications are then taken to replace older crops.
The difference is: Today you know which parts of the DNA are affected. Before you were gambling.
One day we might know what all of the consequences are. Until then: Good luck.
Any other MP3 maker out there donating to this cause? (Or hardware or software company?)
God, the same types of posts on every board from these college-for-life left wing wacko babies.
Seriously.
You little pecker heads need to do something other than bash the “evil” businesses and rich folks that give more time and money than your sorry-assed ACLU sucking losers ever will.
Get lost, or get mommy to buy you a RED NANO to at least contribute something.
MDN WORD: “how” as in how do losers like you even feed yourselves.
“Me in LA” is a former page for Foley. Don’t hate him, pity him.
Yeah, thanks Nick.
I think your dad was one of the guys on Dateline NBC hittin’ on 13-year old girls.
Don’t hate or pity me – I’m good.
Now go back to your Marx comics.
Loving the color. And for a good cause as well.
Totally unrelated (except that it’s in Africa) but go watch this watering hole in Africa in real time! It gets more fun around 11PM EST when it’s light out, but still interesting nonetheless.
AfriCam (Love the Name)
<ahref=”http://wavelit.com/?ch=Wildlife&sh=africam”>AfriCam</a>
That last link might not have worked. Go here instead, and click the link under the video that says “Mac user?” It’ll open the live stream in a seperate QT window.
Maybe MS can start project (brown) with that Zune.
It’s cause will be the elimination of e-coli from our spinach.