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FLASHBACK: Apple Unveils the U2 iPod

U2 has maintained a long relationship with Apple long before that time they made a majority of people mad by putting their new album on everyone’s iPhone.  Fourteen years ago today…

SAN JOSE, CA – OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (C) of Apple Computer with Bono (L) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

U2 has maintained a long relationship with Apple long before that time they made a majority of people mad by putting their new album on everyone's iPhone. 

Fourteen years ago today (October 26), Bono and The Edge joined Steve Jobs for the unveiling of the U2 Special Edition iPod, which held up to 5,000 songs, was black with a red click wheel (to go with the color scheme of their latest album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb) and featured the band's signatures engraved on the back of the device.

Just seeing how quaint that iPod is now is just a reminder of how far we've come with our technology!

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UNDATED: This image released by Apple on October 26, 2004 shows the new iPod U2 Special Edition. The new U2 iPod holds up to 5,000 songs and features a black enclosure with a red Click Wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures. (Photo by Apple via Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Bono of U2 celebrates the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Bono (L) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: A U2 poster is displayed at the celebration of the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: A U2 special edition Apple iPod is seen at its release at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: A U2 special edition Apple Ipod (L) and an iPod Photo sit on display at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (C) of Apple Computer with Bono (L) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (C) of Apple Computer with Bono (L) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (2nd-R) of Apple Computer poses with Interscope Geffen A&M Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine (L) Bono (2nd-L) and The Edge (R) of U2 at a celebration of the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


U2

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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (2nd-R) of Apple Computer poses with Interscope Geffen A&M Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine (L) Bono (2nd-L) and The Edge (R) of U2 at a celebration of the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


U2

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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (2nd-R) of Apple Computer poses with Interscope Geffen A&M Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine (L) Bono (2nd-L) and The Edge (R) of U2 at a celebration of the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (C) of Apple Computer with Bono (L) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


U2

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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Bono (R) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


U2

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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Bono (L) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Bono (L) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Bono of U2 celebrates the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


U2 special edition Apple Ipod

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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: The U2 special edition Apple iPod was released at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


U2 special edition Apple Ipod

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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: Steve Jobs (C) of Apple Computer poses with Bono (L) and The Edge of U2 at a celebration of the release of a new Apple iPod family of products at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)


U2 special edition Apple Ipod

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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 26: A U2 special edition Apple Ipod (L) and an iPod Photo sit on display at the California Theatre on October 26, 2004 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights