Throughout the amazing history of Apple, there have been some great innovations. No one doubts that they make some outstanding products, yet some of their actions deserve to be questioned. The following list describes the 5 worst partnerships that Apple made with other companies or entities in an attempt to broaden their market. Sit back, relax, and reflect with us on some of the worst partnerships we have ever seen from Cupertino.

5. Apple + U2

This past week, Apple released the new version of their lame marketing ploy, the iPod U2. This partnership of sorts makes an irrelevant product out of an irrelevant band and then charges extra for it. This iPod features an all black case with a red scroll wheel, while the back of the player features the U2 logo and the engraved signatures of the band. All this for only $30 over the price of their functionally identical non-U2 labeled brothers. However, this is the second issue of the iPod U2, so someone must be buying them.

4. Apple + Nike

This recently announced partnership is still leaving many heads spinning. By joining forces with Nike, Apple has created an iPod accessory that connects with specially manufactured Nike running shoes. The result? Apparently, this product will be able to track your jogging speed as well as pick suitable tracks for you to listen to in order to enhance your “running experience”. I have a strong feeling though, that this product will end up on the “Worst of 2006″ list later this year.

3. Apple + The Postal Service

This wasn’t really a partnership as much as it was a blatant rip-off. Earlier this year, when Apple began releasing their new line of computers with Intel processors inside they had a commercial made to state this announcement. The resulting commercial, however, proved to be an unauthorized copy of the music video for The Postal Service’s single Such Great Heights. What actually happened, was that Apple hired the director from the music video to make their new commercial. Apparently, the director (either lacking inspiration or thinking no one would notice) used shot for shot remade clips from the music video he had previously directed. For the curious, here is an excellent side by side comparison of the two videos. While Apple’s ad agency refused to comment on the situation, Sub Pop Records (The Postal Service’s record company) had this to say:

“… the Apple commercial is indeed very similar, it wasn’t licensed in any form, and was made by the same directors as the Postal Service video. We weren’t alerted to the fact that it existed until the day it came out.”

The Postal Service were reportedly “disappointed” with the commercial, eventhough no legal action could or would be taken.

2. Apple + RIAA

While this dynamic duo is ultimately responsible for the great iTunes Music Store, it also must take the blame for the horrendous digital rights management that lurks on every purchased iTunes track. This thick amount of DRM was the first widespread attempt by the RIAA to manage how one could and could not use music that they had purchased. Unfortunately, this practice has now spread all over the internet in many different forms, as they continue to apply antiquated ideals to digital media. This ugly partnership has spawned many heated debates and questions of legality in both France and Norway.  While the world would probably be a less exciting place without the iTunes online store, it would definitely be better without RIAA’s restrictive DRM in all our digital music.

1. Apple + Motorola

In 2004 everyone thought that an “iPod Phone” would be fantastic. MP3 player + cellphone? Why not!  Well, in 2005 the Motorola ROKR came….and went. It arrived with loads of hype and received loads of disappointed feedback. Limited to only 100 songs, terribly slow transfer speeds, a less than desirable user interface and the inability to download songs over the provider’s network were some of the reasons it failed. However, overall, people just didn’t like it. It’s a difficult thing when two major companies try to work together. Egos get in the way of each other and inevitably the product that was once a fantastic dream is crippled by greedy corporations. Eventually the ROKR silently faded away. Newer versions of music phones have since been released with mixed results, but we will never forget the monumental failure (and lesson) that came from this ill-faded partnership.