The iPod History - Overview

The iPod has come a long way since the introduction of the original 5GB model almost four years ago. In 2002, Apple doubled the iPod's capacity and added the signature solid-state scrollwheel. A year later, the capacity had increased to as much as 40GB. And 2004 saw the introduction of several new iPods, including the mighty Mini, the pricey Photo, and the black U2 iPod. In early 2005, we witnessed the splashy arrival of the flash-based Shuffle, the 30GB iPod Photo, and the updated Mini, which added a 6GB version to the series as well as improved battery life. Then came the 20GB photo-friendly iPod (Apple dropped "Photo" from the name of this and the 60GB versions) and the colorized iPod U2 Special Edition.

In late 2005, the dynasty continued with the arrival of the latest iPod wunderkind, the 2GB and 4GB Nano in black or white. And the super thin 5G iPod (30GB and 60GB sizes, white or black) lost some weight but gained a bigger screen and an appetite for video. In 2005, the ever-changing family bid farewell to mainstays the iPod Mini and the iPod Photo, including the U2 edition. In 2006, Apple released a 1GB version of the iPod Nano and slashed Shuffle prices. Most recently, Apple introduced the U2 Special Edition iPod (5G) and is expected to launch a video-centric iPod by the end of the year.

There's no denying that the Apple iPod is the most popular MP3 player in the world. It's so popular, in fact, that it has bordered on becoming the generic term for MP3 player--much to other manufacturers' chagrin, no doubt. While we can't be sure exactly what is responsible for the iPod's success, its user-friendly interface, its superb integration with Apple iTunes, and its killer marketing campaign probably had something to do with it. What is certain is that when an MP3 player enjoys a 78 percent market share in the United States, a plethora of products and content spring up just to serve its users.

iPod First Generation - October 2001

Then: Our favorite part of the design by far is the scrollwheel used to navigate the menus. When holding the device in one hand, it's possible to move through every song, album, or playlist in mere seconds. Unlike other jog dials or button navigation systems, the scrollwheel accelerates as you turn it, allowing for the kind of maneuvering that's necessary to rapidly peruse 5GB worth of MP3s.

Now: I had seen hard drive-based MP3 players from Creative (6GB) and Hango Remote Solutions (10GB), but the 5GB iPod was so much smaller than either of those, and the scrollwheel was a revelation for menu navigation. It was obvious to me from the start that this was going to force the competition back on its heels, which is pretty much where they still are.

• Battery life. About 10 hours
• Storage. 5GB and 10GB
• Technology. Firewire (IEEE-1394) only. USB support was still a bit away
• Compatibility. Either Mac or Windows, not both. You can reformat the unit for either
• Models. 5GB Mac - M8513LL/A, M8514LL/A; 5GB PC - M8697LL/A; 10GB Mac - M8709LL/A

iPod Second Generation - July 2002

Then: The new, static scrollwheel works just as well as the original iPod's rotating scrollwheel, which we suspect wasn't as durable as it could have been. But the static scrollwheel still allows for the same effortless menu navigation, enabling you to quickly find a track by song name, album, artist, genre, playlist, or composer. Finally, Apple adds a well-advised cover to the FireWire port to help keep out debris (the original iPod lacked a port cover)....One other notable feature is the new PIM software, which integrates calendar and contacts with Microsoft Outlook, Entourage, Palm Desktop, and the Mac OS X Address Book.

Now: I kind of liked the mechanical scrollwheel of the first generation. Still the Synaptics-aided "touch wheel" was a technological marvel, and 20GB of storage for only $499--what a deal! Also, Windows users started to buy these things en masse and pair them with Musicmatch, helping Apple gain a solid hold on the MP3 player market.

• Battery life. About 10 hours
• Storage. 10GB and 20GB
• Technology. Firewire only.
• Compatibility. Either Mac or Windows, not both. You can reformat the unit for either
• Models. 10GB Mac - M8737LL/A; 10GB PC - M8740LL/A; 20GB Mac - M8738LL/A; 20GB PC - M8741LL/A.

iPod Third Generation - April 2003

Then: Between the display and the scrollwheel are four buttons: rewind, menu (which also moves you up one level during navigation), play/pause/power, and fast-forward, all of which are reachable with your thumb when you're holding the device. You can turn off their orange backlighting (along with the display backlighting) to save power or set it to turn on when you touch a button. All six front-panel controls are incredibly touch-sensitive; they almost seem to respond to heat rather than pressure. Luckily, the hold switch prevents accidental activation.

Now: The rounded corners made for a much sexier look and feel than the bricklike shape of the 2G. With the touch-sensitive buttons, I had to make sure I didn't accidentally press them twice. The smaller scrollwheel also made navigating my song/artist lists a little more tedious! I noticed about an hour of sacrificed battery life in the third-generation iPod, but it was never a huge issue.

• Battery life. About 8 hours
• Storage. 10GB, 15GB, 20GB, 30GB and 40GB
• Technology. Firewire and USB 2.0. Apple also introduces the dock connector on iPods, still in use today.
• Compatibility. Mac/Windows at the same time.
• Models. 10GB - M8976LL/A; 15GB - M8946LL/A, M9460LL/A; 20GB - M9244LL/A; 30GB - M8948LL/A; 40GB - M9245LL/A.

iPod Mini First Generation - January 2004

Then: Although it scarcely seems possible, we think the Apple iPod Mini's design surpasses even that of its photogenic older sibling. Its stylish, anodized-aluminum shell is so tough that we felt as if we could stand on the device without consequence. Apple constructs the body by hollowing out Mini-shaped aluminum tubes so that there are no seams in the construction, then applies the color during the anodization process so that it can't scratch off.

Now: Living in San Francisco, I often take the bus or train, or I walk around the city, and I'm an avid runner, so I need tunes to keep me entertained on the go. The first-generation iPod Mini was the perfect solution. Its compact size made it easy to slip into my bag or coat pocket, and it never weighed me down. The simplicity of the player, the good sound quality, the responsive Click Wheel--it all added up to my ideal MP3 player. Oh, and the blue color was a bonus.

• Battery Life. 12 hours
• Storage. 4GB
• Technology. USB 2.0 and Firewire
• Compatibility. Mac and Windows
• Colors. Silver, Blue, Pink, Green, Gold
• Models. Silver - M9160LL/A; Blue - M9436LL/A; Pink - M9435LL/A; Green - M9434LL/A; Gold - M9437LL/A.

iPod Fourth Generation - July 2004

Then: The newest iPod is slightly thinner than its predecessor, measuring 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.57 inches and weighing 5.6 ounces. But the most noticeable new attribute is the Click Wheel, which adorns the megapopular iPod Mini. Gone are the four buttons located just beneath the display, which--as most users of the last iPod would agree--were hard to identify, inconsistent to the touch, and often difficult to access with one hand. Instead, they are now ingeniously integrated into the touch-sensitive wheel and reminiscent of the original user-friendly iPod.

Now: I was a latecomer to the iPod phenom, but when I fell, I fell hard. I loved the fact that I could carry along thousands of songs at all times. Like many others before me, I flipped for the Shuffle option, which led to the rediscovery of a lot of beloved but semiforgotten music. There's no way I can go back to my pre-MP3 days now.

• Battery Life. Getting better. 12 hours
• Storage. 20GB and 40GB
• Technology. Firewire and USB 2.0 via the dock connector. The unit can now charge via USB as well
• Compatibility. Still Mac and Windows
• Models: 20GB - M9282LL/A; 20GB U2 - M9787LL/A; 40GB - M9268LL/A.

iPod Photo Fourth Generation - October 2004

Then: The monochrome LCD of the audio-only iPod looks downright drab when compared to the Photo's bright and vivid screen. As far as photo viewing goes, the experience certainly adds to the value of what is already an outstanding audio player. However, the small screen size will have some users squinting and others complaining that the device doesn't do the photos justice. But most will be impressed by the iPod's ability to instantly load pictures, which can be browsed using the Click Wheel in a fashion that takes less thought than that of browsing music since your choices are based on imagery instead of text.

Now: This one is still my favorite of all time. A color screen, decent battery life, the perfect size and weight, and a big Click Wheel--to me, this one makes a better audio player than the fifth-generation version, though the original pricing ($499 for the 40GB version) was far out of reach for many shoppers.

• Storage. 20GB, 30GB, 40GB and 60GB
• Models. 20GB - MA079LL/A; 20GB U2 - MA127LL/A; 30GB - M9829LL/A; 40GB - M9585LL/A; 60GB - M9586LL/A, M9830LL/A.

iPod Shuffle - January 2005

Then: Despite denouncing flash-based players in the past, Apple couldn't resist the 29 percent of the market that it doesn't already dominate. Minimal as can be, the Shuffle weighs less than an ounce, has no LCD, includes a built-in USB 2.0 interface, and comes in 512MB and 1GB capacities for the supercompetitive prices of $99 and $149, respectively. While other companies are packing their flash players with a boatload of features, Apple has created a device that stands on two concepts: affordability and simplicity. Turn it on, press play, and do the iPod Shuffle. However, it's not the right MP3 player for everyone. And it's certainly neither the first sub-$100 512MB nor LCD-less player we've seen.

Now: The iPod Shuffle is perfect for those who already own an iPod. Despite critics who blasted it for having no screen, the Shuffle has its time and place--it's cheap, sounds good, and is comfortable to hold and use. For me, it's nice for quick jaunts around town. It's kind of throwback in that you approach it blindly a bit like you do a CD or cassette player, except you get the benefit of holding more songs and being able to skip through them digitally.

• Battery Life. 12 hours
• Storage. 512MB and 1GB (120 and 240 songs)
• Technology. USB 2.0 only
• Compatibility. Mac and Windows
• Models. 512MB - M9724LL/A, MA133LL/A; 1GB - M9725LL/A

iPod Mini Second Generation - February 2005

Then: The device's strongest design point, the Click Wheel, has been spiffed up with color-coded labels to match each color option, and Apple has done away with the unpopular gold model. But the most exciting enhancements are the improved battery life--now rated at 18 hours--and the addition of a 6GB option ($249). Even better, the 4GB iPod Mini is now priced more aggressively at $199.

Now: Better battery life, brighter colors, and an improved Click Wheel--how could you not jump on this bandwagon?

• Battery Life. 18 hours
• Storage. 4GB and 6GB
• Technology. USB 2.0 and Firewire
• Compatibility. Mac and Windows
• Colors. Silver, Blue, Pink, Green
• Models. 4GB Silver - M9800LL/A; 4GB Blue - M9802LL/A; 4GB Pink - M9804LL/A; 4GB Green - M9806LL/A; 6GB Silver - M9801LL/A; 6GB Blue - M9803LL/A; 6GB Pink - M9805LL/A; 6GB Green - M9807LL/A.

iPod Nano - September 2005

Then: The Apple iPod Nano sets new standards for gadget design and stretches the boundaries of technology. It's the world's first 4GB flash player, yet it's also one of the thinnest. Plus, it boasts a bright color screen that takes advantage of the bigger iPod's photo capabilities, though be aware that the Nano's screen scratches easily.

Now: The Nano was more of what I was expecting from Apple when the company announced its first flash player, the uninspiring Shuffle. Though I'm not normally an iPod fan, the beautiful design and ultraslim profile of the Nano is hard not to like. Plus, Apple finally added another staple color to the iPod family: black.

• Battery Life. 14 hours
• Storage. 1GB, 2GB and 4GB
• Technology. USB 2.0. No firewire syncing
• Compatibility. Mac and Windows
• Colors. Black and white (the casing, not the screen)
• Models. 1GB White - MA350LL/A; 1GB Black - MA352LL/A; 2GB White - MA004LL/A; 2GB Black - MA099LL/A; 4GB White - MA005LL/A; 4GB Black - MA107LL/A

iPod Video Fifth Generation - October 2005

Then: Apple somehow shrunk the width of the iPod body so drastically that the 30GB version is 31 percent thinner than the 20GB iPod. The 60GB version measures only 0.55 inch, meaning it too is thinner than the 20GB iPod. Personally, we think the older model, with its softer edges and added thickness, is a tad more hand-friendly.

Now: My wife got me a 60GB video iPod for Christmas. It's a fantastic machine. My entire music collection (35GB) fits on it, and I've loaded it with podcasts, videocasts, and even the first few episodes of Lost, which I missed when it premiered.

• Battery Life. 16-20 hours for music, 2-3 hours for video
• Storage. 30GB and 60GB
• Technology. USB 2.0 only. Say goodbye to Firewire...
• Compatibility. Mac and Windows
• Colors. Black and White (casing, not the screen). Also comes in a U2 version released 6/06
• Models. 30GB white - MA002LL/A; 30GB black - MA145LL/A; 30GB Black U2 - MA452LL/A; 60GB white - MA003LL/A; 60GB black - MA147LL/A