Ah, "special edition" iPods; if you think that black 'n' red U2 dealie with the band's signatures lasered into the back is the only specially-etched 'Pod in existence, you just haven't been paying attention. If you think way, way back to December of 2002, you may dredge up a dim memory of Apple having offered four other celebrity signature editions, each bearing the autograph or logo of Madonna, Beck, No Doubt, or skater Tony Hawk. Just like the U2 model, each of those original signature editions cost $49 more than the same iPod sans etching. So yes, Apple's been pushing the "pretend a celebrity personally signed this thing with a futuristic laser pen" strategy for a while, now. And why not? Apparently it works.

Now, what could possibly be more interesting than a celebrity signature gracing the back of one's iPod? You got it: corporate logos! Back when Apple was enjoying its first fling with the phenomenon of autograph replication as iPod sales incentive, we mentioned the possibility that the company might sell special co-branded 'Pods bearing the logos of the world's favorite companies as yet another way to get people to shell out an extra 49 clams. Well, we weren't actually serious, but evidently someone took us seriously anyway-- and we're not just talking about those "Apple iPods from HP," which we just realized that, in some sense, we miraculously predicted over a year before the now-deposed Carly Fiorina waved a prototype bluePod over her head at the press. Oh, and don't forget that those 1,700 free iPod minis being given away during the current Pepsi iTunes promo allegedly have Pepsi logos on the back.

Okay, granted, both of those companies obviously have a special arrangement with Apple, but it seems to us that Apple has some sort of hush-hush program by which corporations can arrange to buy a slew of iPods branded with a custom logo engraving, because HP and Pepsi aren't the only companies with their logos emblazoned on the back of these things. In particular, we're thinking of TiVo, who doles out free TiVo-etched iPods to people who rack up enough referral points by pimping the service to everyone they know. (By the way, our referral address is feedback@appleturns.com. You know, just in case you were wondering.) Katie actually received one of those puppies last week, and it was quite clearly factory-sealed-- no aftermarket etching. So unless you want to take this as evidence that the Apple-TiVo buyout rumors are true after all, apparently any company can get its logo on an iPod if it just knows whom to ask. AtAT logo iPods, anyone?

Now, maybe some of the following examples are aftermarket mods-- we don't know. But faithful viewer Todd noticed in December that Neon Genesis Evangelion iPods are available in Japan-- and while we're on the subject, just last week faithful viewer Thomas Ferraro noted that pink iPod minis with the Hello Kitty logo etched into the back are available for preorder, along with a lovely pink case (complete with bow) and some kinda weird eyeless pink bear that would make a killer dock, but which is apparently just a really creepy stand. Meanwhile, back in the States, MacRumors cites Rebelscum.com when reporting that Skittles (yes, Skittles) is set to kick off a "Hunt for Grievous" online game in a month as part of some Star Wars Episode III tie-in-- and one of the prizes will be "Star Wars-themed iPods." We can hardly wait to see what those look like.

See? Custom etching everywhere! And given the iPod's explosive popularity, it's only a matter of time before the majority of corporations have co-branded 'Pods on hand as promotional giveaways. All we can say is, we sure hope we don't depart this world without first laying hands on a Purina Cat Chow edition.