#ThrowbackThursday: The iPod is without doubt one of the most iconic units of the twenty first century and the product that put Apple on the street to its present behemoth market place. We wrote this text in October 2011 as the unique iPod was simply turning 10. This week, Apple introduced they’re totally discontinuing iPod merchandise. We’ve bumped this text as a nostalgia piece and to realize some perspective of how we seen these units again then.
In 2001, Apple launched an MP3 participant that may be partly attributed with shaping the panorama of at the moment’s cell computing market. Along with being the best-selling moveable media participant and saving Apple from close to irrelevance, the iPod influenced a lot of Cupertino’s formidable and revolutionary initiatives, forcing a lot of the business right into a perpetual state of catch-up.
The iPhone birthed the smartphone as we all know it and stands because the top-selling gadget of its variety — likewise with the iPad and the pill phase, regardless of Microsoft’s early dabblings. Software-wise, the iTunes Store paved the street for digital music gross sales and represents the world’s largest music retailer, whereas the App Store’s gross sales dwarf all of the competitors mixed — Android included.
In reality, the iPod and associated merchandise prompted Apple to vary its title from “Apple Computer” to simply “Apple.” Without fawning over Apple’s each endeavor, we would wish to pay homage to the corporate’s game-changing gadget on its tenth birthday. Join us as we take a quick stroll down reminiscence lane…
The Original iPod
Oct. 23, 2001 — 5GB, 10GB
The first iPod was developed in lower than a yr and though it did not flip the music business the wrong way up in a single day — in reality, it obtained a number of criticism — it laid the conceptual framework for grander issues to return.
Powered by a dual-core 90MHz ARM-based PortalPlayer processor and 5GB 4200RPM Toshiba HDD (a 10GB model got here later), the rudimentary gadget solely supported Mac computer systems in addition to AAC, MP3 and WAV audio information. The first model of iTunes for Mac was launched the identical yr in January.
Must see: Watch the primary iPod being launched by Steve Jobs…
iPod 2nd Gen
July 2002 — 10GB, 20GB
Apple’s second-generation music participant arrived lower than a yr after the unique gadget and introduced a number of refinements together with a canopy for the FireWire port, an improved Hold change and double the storage capability.
It additionally deserted the first-gen’s mechanical scroll wheel in favor of the touch-sensitive wheel used on many future iPods. This mannequin launched help for Windows through Musicmatch. Prior to this, tech-savvy customers had been pressured to make use of workarounds for Windows compatibility.
iPod Third Gen
April 2003 — 10GB as much as 40GB
By April 2003, Apple ready a full redesign of the iPod, including an all-touch interface, a dock connector, a slimmer physique and the utmost storage capability was doubled to 40GB. The firm additionally introduced its personal media platform (iTunes 4.1) to Windows, severing ties with Musicmatch.
The iPod’s rising recognition prompted retailers Best Buy, Target and Dell to hold the gadget between 2002 and 2003. Microsoft and Creative ready their rivals, the Media2Go and Nomad Zen.
First iPod Mini
Jan. 2004 — 4GB
After specializing in including options to the unique design, Apple went again to the drafting board and launched a scaled-down minimalist iPod. The $249 iPod Mini was the primary to have Apple’s Click Wheel and solely supplied 4GB of storage.
Despite its slimmer, trendier design, many criticized the gadget’s worth. Around the identical time, Apple changed its $299 10GB iPod with a 15GB mannequin, forcing retailers to cut back the 10GB mannequin to $249. This prompted customers to be much more skeptical of the Mini.
iPod 4th Gen & iPod Photo
July 2004 — 20GB as much as 60GB
The first fourth-gen model got here in July with a redesigned Hold change and the iPod Mini’s Click Wheel. In October, Apple launched a premium model known as the iPod Photo ($499-$599), which had improved battery life (15 hours versus 12), a colour display and help for frequent picture codecs, which was particularly cool for album artwork.
In February 2005, Apple changed the 40GB iPod Photo with a thinner, cheaper 30GB mannequin. By June, it determined to merge the iPod Photo and iPod “Classic” strains. Photo above exhibits the primary U2 particular version iPod.
iPod Shuffle: First and 2nd-Gen
Jan. 2005 and Sep. 2006 — 512MB as much as 2GB
Shrinking its media participant additional, Apple launched the primary iPod Shuffle in early 2005. It served as an entry-level mannequin with solely 512MB or 1GB of storage and no show. Pricing was initially set at $99-$149. The second-gen Shuffle arrived effectively over a yr later. It was roughly half the dimensions of its predecessor with a belt clip and a extra engaging aluminum case. Apple known as it the “most wearable iPod ever.” Despite its smaller dimension, it doubled storage capacities to 1GB and 2GB.
First iPod Nano
Sep. 2005 — 1GB as much as 4GB
The second-gen iPod Mini landed shortly after the primary Shuffle and supplied an unimaginable battery lifetime of 18 hours (the primary Mini lasted 8). It additionally launched a 6GB mannequin together with minor beauty tweaks.
The Mini line was discontinued later in 2005 when Apple shipped the primary iPod Nano, which was primarily a smaller model of the Mini (half the thickness and roughly 11 mm narrower). However, it had much less most storage (4GB versus 6GB) and a shorter 14-hour battery life.
iPod Fifth Gen (Video)
Oct. 2005 — 30GB as much as 80GB
2005 was a monumental interval for the iPod. Along with refining the fourth-gen iPod and releasing the Mini 2, Nano 1, Shuffle 1, Apple unveiled a very redesigned fifth-gen iPod with a thinner case, a bigger 2.5-inch 320 x 240 display, and help for frequent video codecs corresponding to MP4 and H.264.
That function earned it the nickname “iPod Video.” Additionally, gross sales skyrocketed 400% to 22.5 million items that yr, dwarfing all earlier years mixed.
iPod Nano 2nd-Gen
Sep. 2006 — 2GB as much as 8GB
Compared to the yr prior, 2006 was pretty delicate for the iPod, although gross sales remained sturdy and represented almost half of Apple’s whole income. It introduced a brand new model of the more and more widespread Nano, which supplied a scratch-resistant anodized aluminum casing, extra colour selections, a brighter show, double the storage dimension and an enormous enhance in battery life from 14 to 24 hours. The second-gen Shuffle was additionally launched, as was a 80GB model of the fifth-gen iPod.
First iPod Touch
Sep. 2007 — 8GB as much as 32GB
In an ironic twist, contemplating the iPod was arguably chargeable for the iPhone’s creation, Apple launched the music participant’s best overhaul. Utilizing present iPhone {hardware} and software program, it was the primary iPod to function a multitouch show and Wi-Fi. This allowed net looking through Safari on the iPod, in addition to entry the iTunes Store and YouTube. It solely lacked the iPhone’s mobile connectivity and providers together with its audio system and digital camera.
iPod Classic and iPod Nano Third-Gen
Sep. 2007 — Classic as much as 160GB / Nano 4GB and 8GB
The “Classic” branding for the normal iPod did not come till the sixth technology. Apple’s newest addition shed the acquainted white polycarbonate entrance plate for silver anodized aluminum and it deserted the particular version fashions. It additionally had a thinner shell, a revamped person interface, and supplied as much as 36 hours of music and 6 hours of video playback.
Although the iPod Touch garnered a lot of the highlight throughout Apple’s launch in September 2007, the corporate additionally unveiled a promising Nano revision that scraped the oblong form in favor of a smaller, almost sq. design. It was 19 mm shorter and 11 mm wider than its predecessor with the identical storage capacities and battery life. It greater than doubled the decision from 176×132 to 320×240 and obtained a Cover Flow interface. Some of us criticized the third-gen Nano’s lack of a touchscreen.
iPod Nano 4th and Fifth-Gen
Sep. 2008 and Sep. 2009 — as much as 16GB
The fourth-gen Nano reintroduced the elongated shell, although Apple managed to shave 0.5mm off the thickness and 12.5mm off the burden regardless of including a bigger show, extra storage, in addition to an accelerometer for horizontal viewing (for movies) and the power to shuffle songs by shaking the gadget.
This design was refined the next yr because the fifth-gen iPod Nano gained a bigger display, a digital camera, an FM radio, a speaker, a pedometer, improved jack placement and a elegant paint job.
iPod Touch 2nd and Third-Gen
Sep. 2008 and Sep. 2009 — Up to 32GB (2nd-Gen), as much as 64GB (Third-Gen)
As with the iPhone, the iPod Touch remained largely unchanged by its first few revisions. The second-gen gadget obtained a tapered chrome again, quantity buttons and a built-in speaker. More importantly, it was the primary iPod to ship with Apple’s newly minted App Store.
The third-gen iPod Touch mirrored the iPhone 3GS modifications, which included a sooner processor and graphics core, extra RAM, Voice Control help, and a mannequin with 64GB of flash storage.
iPod Shuffle Third-Gen
Mar. 2009 — as much as 4GB
Although Apple refreshed the second-gen Shuffle a number of instances with new colours, the collection went almost three years with no severe overhaul. Its successor shipped in March 2009 with twice the storage (4GB), a smaller physique that was harking back to Apple’s first Shuffle design, and a very new interface.
Instead of {hardware} buttons on the gadget itself, Apple moved the quantity and playback controls to the best earbud cable and launched VoiceOver performance for hands-free management.
iPod Nano Sixth-Gen and iPod Shuffle 4th-Gen
Sep. 2010 — as much as 16GB (Nano), 2GB Shuffle
The sixth technology iPod Nano borrowed parts from 2007’s iteration nevertheless it delivered what the third-gen could not: a touchscreen. The gadget featured a 240×240 multitouch show and given its 1.47 x 1.61-inch dimensions, Apple reduce its predecessor’s digital camera and video playback, however retained performance related to energetic customers just like the pedometer.
Meanwhile, the fourth-gen iPod Shuffle primarily served as an entry-level Nano with no touchscreen or accelerometer.
iPod Touch 4th-Gen
Sep. 9 2010 — as much as 64GB
After about three years and 4 generations because the first touchscreen mannequin, iPod gross sales started a noticeable decline — a destiny largely induced by the iPhone and competing Android handsets.
The line between moveable music gamers and smartphones (particularly the iPod Touch and iPhone) had grown extremely blurred. Nonetheless, the fourth-gen iPod Touch represented Apple’s best providing on the time with a high-res “Retina” show, Apple’s A4 SoC, in addition to entrance and rear cameras for FaceTime and video recording.
So, which iPod fashions did you personal over time? Share your ideas within the feedback.
