| The iPod is a brand of portable media | | | | already had a reference design (based on |
| players designed and marketed by Apple | | | | 2 ARM cores) with rudimentary software |
| Computer and launched in 2001. Devices | | | | running on a commercial microkernel |
| in the iPod range are primarily music | | | | embedded operating system. PortalPlayer |
| players, designed around a central | | | | had previously been working on an |
| scroll wheel (although the iPod shuffle | | | | IBM-branded MP3 player with Bluetooth |
| has buttons only). The full-sized model | | | | headphones. Apple contracted another |
| stores media on an internal hard drive, | | | | company, Pixo, to create and refine the |
| while the smaller iPod nano and iPod | | | | user interface, under the direct |
| shuffle use flash memory. Like many | | | | supervision of Steve Jobs. |
| digital audio players, iPods can also | | | | Once established, Apple continued to |
| serve as external data storage devices. | | | | refine the software's look-and-feel. |
| Apple chose to focus its development on | | | | Starting with the iPod mini, the Chicago |
| the iPod's simple user interface and its | | | | font (once used on early Macintosh |
| ease of use, rather than on technical | | | | computers) was replaced with Espy Sans, |
| capability. | | | | which was originally used in eWorld and |
| As of October 2005, the lineup consists | | | | Copland. The most recent iPods switched |
| of the video-capable 5th generation | | | | fonts again to Myriad — Apple's new |
| iPod; the smaller iPod nano; and the | | | | corporate font. The iPods with color |
| display-less iPod shuffle. These models | | | | displays have adopted some Mac OS X |
| were updated in September 2006. | | | | themes like Aqua progress bars and |
| The bundled software used for | | | | brushed metal in the FM tuner and lock |
| transferring music is called iTunes. As | | | | interfaces. |
| a jukebox application, iTunes stores a | | | | The iPods with displays use high quality |
| comprehensive library of music on the | | | | anti-aliased graphics and text, with |
| user's computer and can play, burn, and | | | | sliding animations. These iPods have |
| rip music from a CD. It can also sync | | | | five buttons and newer generations have |
| photos and videos. | | | | the buttons integrated into the scroll |
| The iPod is currently the world's | | | | wheel, an innovation which gives an |
| best-selling digital audio player and | | | | uncluttered, minimalistic interface. The |
| its worldwide mainstream adoption makes | | | | buttons are: |
| it one of the most popular consumer | | | | Menu — to traverse backwards through |
| brands. Some of Apple's design choices | | | | the menus, and toggle the backlight on |
| and proprietary actions have, however, | | | | older iPods |
| led to criticism and legal battles. | | | | Center — to select a menu item |
| the iPod came from Apple's digital hub | | | | Play / Pause — this doubles as an off |
| strategy, as the company began creating | | | | switch when held |
| software for the growing market of | | | | Fast Forward / Skip Forward |
| digital devices being purchased by | | | | Fast Reverse / Skip Backwards |
| consumers. While digital cameras, | | | | The other operations such as scrolling |
| camcorders and organizers had | | | | through menu items and controlling the |
| well-established mainstream markets, the | | | | volume are handled by the scroll wheel |
| company found digital music players | | | | in a rotational manner. A Hold switch on |
| lacking in user interface design and | | | | the top of the unit prevents accidental |
| decided to develop its own. "iPod" was a | | | | button presses. |
| name that Apple registered for Internet | | | | The iPod shuffle has five buttons that |
| kiosks, but never put it to use | | | | function differently to the larger |
| Apple's hardware engineering chief Jon | | | | models. It has a Play / Pause button in |
| Rubinstein assembled a team of engineers | | | | the center, surrounded by four buttons: |
| to design it, along with engineers | | | | Volume Up / Down and Skip Forward / |
| Anthony Fadell and Stan Ng. They built | | | | Backwards. |
| the product in less than a year, and it | | | | Newer iPods automatically pause playback |
| was unveiled on 23 October 2001. CEO | | | | when the headphones are unplugged from |
| Steve Jobs announced it as a | | | | the headphone jack, but playback does |
| Mac-compatible product with a 5 GB hard | | | | not resume when the headphones are |
| drive that put "1000 songs in your | | | | re-inserted. An iPod that has crashed or |
| pocket." | | | | frozen can be reset by switching 'Hold' |
| Uncharacteristically, Apple did not | | | | on then off, then holding Menu and |
| develop the iPod's software in-house. | | | | Center (Menu and Play on the 3G iPod) |
| Instead, Apple used a Design Chain and | | | | for 6 seconds. |
| contracted with PortalPlayer, who | | | | |