By AppleInsider Staff

Published: 08:00 AM EST

Apple on Tuesday introduced a new version of its U2 Special Edition iPod as part of a continued partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group (UMG).

The new U2 iPod is based on the company's fifth-generation 30GB iPod and holds up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 photos or over 75 hours of video. It features a distinctive, all-black stainless steel enclosure, red Click Wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures.

U2 iPod adopters will also receive 30 minutes of exclusive U2 video downloadable from the iTunes Music Store, Apple said. The new iPod is available immediately for $329.

"We're thrilled to continue working with one of the greatest bands in the world to bring U2 fans a special edition of the world's best digital music player," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of worldwide iPod Product Marketing. "With its distinctive new design, including an all-black stainless steel enclosure, the new U2 iPod is sure to be a hit."

The new U2 iPod features Apple's patent-pending Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads digital music, podcasts, photos, audiobooks, home movies, music videos and popular television shows onto the iPod and keeps them up-to-date whenever the iPod is plugged into a Mac or Windows computer using USB 2.0. The new U2 iPod features up to 14 hours of battery life for music playback.

Pricing & Availability

The new 30GB U2 iPod is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $329 (US) through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Each player includes earbud headphones, USB 2.0 cable, a case and dock insert. U2 iPod customers will also receive a coupon for 30 minutes of exclusive U2 video content downloadable from the iTunes Music Store.



iPod requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port and Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later and iTunes 6; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional (SP2) and iTunes 6.