IPod classic

The iPod is a digital music player designed and marketed by Apple Computer Inc. Most iPod models store media on a built-in hard drive, while the smaller iPod shuffle and iPod nano use flash memory. Like most digital audio players, an iPod can serve as an external data storage device when connected to a computer. Discontinued versions of the iPod include two generations of the popular iPod mini and five generations of the full-sized iPod, all of which had monochrome screens before the introduction of color screens with the iPod photo of the fourth generation. The iPod is currently the world's most popular music player in terms of sales.

The bundled software used for uploading music, photos, and movies to the iPod is called iTunes. iTunes is a media interface application that stores a comprehensive library of the media on a user's computer, as well as being able to play and rip it from a CD (music only). The most recent incarnations of iPod and iTunes have video playing and organization features. Other forms of data can be added to iPod as if it were a normal data storage device.

1st & 2nd Generation
The first generation iPod was release in October of 2001 and came in 5 and 10GB hard drive capacities. It had a physically moving control wheel which was replaced in the 2nd generation version with a touch sensitive wheel. The second generation iPod came in 10 and 20GB models.

As with many products the first iPods were thicker and heavier compared to newer models of the iPod, and possessed a grayscale screen that would be expanded by future revisions.

3rd Generation
The 3rd Generation iPod is considered the iPod which helped the product take off in the main market. It came in 10, 15, 20, 30, 40GB models. It was redesigned as it had a new control wheel which was very different to the previous iPod as it was flat on the surface of the iPod instead of rising up from the case. It was a unique design as the 4 buttons (menu, play/pause, forward, backward) were separate illuminated buttons above the wheel.

This was the first iPod to feature a dock connector which was proprietary to the iPod.

4th Generation
Fourth generation iPods continued their evolution by integrating the buttons into the wheel. The backlighting on the controls was dropped, but the new model did give users four more hours of battery life. The screen once again was blue-hued monotone as was the third generation, but the interface displayed several new features. The 4th generation was shipped in capacities of 20 GB and 40 GB.

iPod photo
See iPod photo article

5th Generation
The much-anticipated 5th Generation iPod was debuted in October of 2005. Utilizing the H.264 codec, the unit could now store and play HD-quality video. The screen was significantly larger than the 4th Generation/Photo version, and the body size slimmer. Models were offered in 30GB and 60GB capacities, and in keeping with iPod nano's popularity and the feedback gained from the U2 Special Edition, were available in either white or black.

New features were included in the interface, and this "iPod video" was promoted as being ideal for music videos, television shows, and short films and movies. Popular television shows, such as ABC's Lost, began being offered through iTunes. Other means of acquiring television shows and movies (such as peer-to-peer sharing) were utilized by many iPod owners, and soon conversion software was being circulated to convert video files into the M4A format the iPod required.

6th Generation
See iPod classic article

Product Images

 * iPod Gallery