Apple evangelism? Viral marketing?

An interesting story in wired
Not only are Apple evangelists making their own ads and putting them out on the net.
You can now iPodize your own images, says the article:

Customers upload a digital snap, choose a background color and pay. In about five days, the "iPodified" image is e-mailed back to them. A white iPod and earbud wires will even be added to the picture, if so desired.
"It's mostly pets, a lot of children and tons of married couples," said iPod My Photo co-founder Kevin Muoio. "There's lots of new babies, too. Straight out of the womb — bang, they've got an iPod on them."

iPop my photo offers the following
We'll get your photo iPodified, what you do with it is up to you:
- Christmas Cards - iPodify your family this Christmas.
- Gift T-Shirts - there is no cooler iPod shirt available then the one with you on it.
- Gift Cards - Giving someone an iPod? Customize your wrapping job with an iPodified image.
- Baby Portraits - Those cute little buggers can't wait to be iPodified!
- iPod Rain Check Notifier - Wanted to get that special someone an iPod this holiday season but they are all sold out? Send them this email and just maybe they will forgive you for not planning ahead.
- For the heck of it - iPodify someone you love.
And of course this concept fits into the concept of co-creation, where user and brand have come closer together to create something.

"It's a very creative idea from this little company," said Jackie Huba, co-author of Creating Customer Evangelists and the Church of the Customer website.
Huba said the testimonials on the site show some customers want the image to accompany an iPod gift. Others are using the image to demonstrate their love of the product, or make a connection with other iPod fans.

Its what one might describe as Participatory Social Media.

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