| The iPod mini was a smaller version of Apple | | | | drives made by Hitachi. First generation |
| Computer's iPod portable audio player. It was | | | | models were available in a 4GB size, while |
| announced on January 6, 2004, and released on | | | | second generation models were available in |
| February 20 of that same year. The device | | | | both 4GB and 6GB versions (capable of storing |
| interoperated with both Macintosh and Windows | | | | roughly 1,000 and 1,500 songs, respectively) |
| PCs, with limited third-party support for | | | | and eventually had the drive size laser |
| Linux and other Unix workalikes. A second | | | | etched on the case to help distinguish |
| generation version was announced on February | | | | between the two. Apple laser etched 2 lines |
| 23, 2005. The iPod mini line was discontinued | | | | of 32 characters each on the top of the |
| on September 7, 2005, after being replaced by | | | | reverse side of the iPod mini for free as a |
| the iPod nano.The device retained the popular | | | | promotion in the first generation and |
| touch-sensitive scroll wheel of the third | | | | continued through the second generation, |
| generation iPod; however, instead of the four | | | | which had originally cost additional |
| touch buttons located above the wheel, the | | | | money.The battery life of the first |
| buttons were once again made mechanical | | | | generation of iPod mini was about 8 hours |
| beneath the wheel itself (hence, the new | | | | (similar to the 3G iPod that was available |
| wheel was known as a "click wheel"). To | | | | when the mini was released), which led to |
| access one of the four buttons, a user | | | | some criticism of the battery's short |
| physically pushed the edge of the wheel | | | | duration. This problem was addressed in the |
| inward over one of the four labels. Like its | | | | second generation models which had a claimed |
| predecessors, the wheel was developed for | | | | battery life of about 18 hours. However, the |
| Apple by Synaptics. The click wheel is now | | | | 2nd generation iPod minis no longer came with |
| also used in the fourth and fifth generation | | | | a FireWire cable or an AC power adapter, |
| iPods as well as in the iPod nano; although | | | | which were left out to reduce the selling |
| in the case of the nano + 5G iPods, the | | | | prices of the new iPod minis. iPod mini |
| clickwheel is now developed in-house, as | | | | batteries tend to run down to 80% capacity |
| opposed to Synaptics.Above the wheel was a | | | | after 400 full charge cycles.A proprietary |
| monochrome display which showed menus or | | | | dock connector was provided on the bottom of |
| information about the currently selected | | | | the device for a connection to a computer |
| track. Newer generation iPods have since | | | | (Hi-Speed USB or FireWire). The unit's |
| moved to colour displays.Details | | | | battery was charged during connection. Along |
| | | | the top it had a hold switch, a headphone |
| The two generations of the iPod mini were | | | | jack, and a remote port for accessories.The |
| externally almost identical, with the | | | | second generation iPod mini had deeper colors |
| differences lying in their storage and | | | | and the capacity of the model engraved on the |
| battery capacities. Both versions were 3.6 by | | | | back.Like the iPod, the iPod mini supported |
| 2.0 by 0.5 inches (91 by 51 by 13 mm) and | | | | MP3, AAC/M4A, WAV, AIFF, and Apple Lossless |
| weighed 3.6 ounces (102 grams). Its case was | | | | audio formats. It also retained the iPod's |
| composed of anodized aluminum. First | | | | seamless integration with iTunes and the |
| generation iPod minis were available in five | | | | iTunes Music Store, allowing for true |
| colors: silver, gold, pink, blue, and green. | | | | auto-sync between the software application |
| The gold model was dropped from the second | | | | and the iPod mini.Original pricing for the |
| generation range due to unpopularity. Also in | | | | iPod mini was US$249 for the first generation |
| the second generation updates, the green, | | | | (4GB model). The release of the second |
| blue, and pink colors were all made much | | | | generation lowered the starting price to $199 |
| brighter. The silver model remained | | | | and kept the 4GB model. An increased-capacity |
| unchanged. While the button labels were gray | | | | 6GB model sold for $249.Visit me at my |
| on the first generation iPod, the second | | | | consumers product websites a website that |
| generation iPod sported button labels that | | | | provides links to consumer products and |
| matched the color of the case.The iPod mini | | | | article reviews. Here is a link in reference |
| used ultra-thin Compact Flash Microdrive hard | | | | to this article. |