Speaking of the iTunes Music Store, did you happen to notice the new addition to the Music Videos section up there, as first pointed out to us by faithful viewer Mav? It seems that Bono, the Edge, and the other less colorfully-named members of the band U2 have all turned into 'Pod People; they're all silhouetted up (well, mostly-- you can still make out their faces) and jamming against brightly-colored solid backgrounds while their instruments and microphones trail very familiar-looking white cables and iPod-bearing dancers shake their groove thangs. In other words, yes, it's a music video for the new U2 song "Vertigo," but it's also clearly a two-minute ad for the iPod and iTunes. We had no idea.

It's a real commercial, by the way, in real rotation on real TV-- not the two-minute version, as far as we know, but there's a 30-second cut that, according to CNET, apparently broadcast "during Major League Baseball playoff games and other programs." The hook is simple, if not necessarily clear; the song that U2 performs in the video is apparently available exclusively through the iTMS, so any U2 fans seeing the commercial are going to wonder what that song is they're hearing, they'll do a little digging, and find out that the only way to get it (legally) is to spring 99 cents for it at the iTMS. Clever. And probably quite effective, since (our own feelings aside) U2 has a lot of fans out there.

If we're right, this marks the very first time since the "Concert" iTunes commercial that Apple has had celebrities hyping its music products and services to a general audience, instead of just to a Macworld Expo assembly or a big crowd of press. It won't, however, be the last; according to Apple, "U2 is one of the greatest bands in the world, and we are thrilled to be working with them. You will hear more about Apple and U2 working together in the coming weeks." So this is apparently an ongoing thing between Apple and the band; who knows just how far U2 will go to do Apple a favor? Suppose they'll agree to be the house band at Apple headquarters? Because that might really help with recruitment.

So with what other "greatest bands in the world" will Apple strike up these little exclusive partnerships? Because the company clearly has a major following among musicians, so it shouldn't have much trouble lining up some big draws. Heck, with the Reality Distortion Field and all, we bet Steve could even get the "faked-his-own-death" King of Rock 'n' Roll to come out of hiding and swivel his hips on-camera again. Imagine-- Elvis's comeback, exclusively on iTunes. Of course, Apple might have to spring for the surgery to replace those hips before they'll swivel again, but hey, it's a small price to pay...