| The first iPod was released only 5,5 years | | | | the first of the 4th Generation iPods was |
| ago but the difference between that one and | | | | launched. The iPod mini took the iPod in a |
| the one released earlier in 2006 is really | | | | whole new direction - small is beautiful. It |
| quite astounding as you will now see. | | | | was only half the size of the original iPod |
| | | | and because of its compact size the face |
| 1st Generation iPod | | | | changed quite dramatically in that the |
| | | | function buttons were rendered obsolete and |
| The 1st Generation iPod was launched at the | | | | everything was controlled by the scroll |
| end of October 2001 with dimensions to rival | | | | wheel. It also had to have a smaller screen. |
| the established competition. It stood 4inches | | | | |
| high and less than 3inches wide with a weight | | | | The next step was to make the screen colour |
| of around 6ounces. This initial iPod had a | | | | and this emerged with the iPod photo. This |
| 5GB memory which could hold up to 1000 songs. | | | | model had a larger hard drive and a longer |
| It also had a high resolution screen and a | | | | battery life in addition to the ability to |
| revolutionary type of control system - the | | | | display colour photos and album covers. |
| scroll or click wheel. However at $400 it was | | | | |
| considered a major purchase and at this point | | | | By now Apple had pretty much conquered the |
| the software needed to use the iPod was only | | | | digital audio device market but their next |
| available on the Mac. | | | | release proved to be a step towards taking |
| | | | over the flash drive market as well. This |
| 2nd Generation iPod | | | | happened in January 2005 and was named the |
| | | | iPod shuffle. The shuffle was the smallest |
| The 2nd Generation iPod had the advantage of | | | | model yet and didn't include an LCD screen on |
| being compatible with PCs through a FireWire | | | | the face. However it's 512MB memory was at |
| cable. There was also now software for use | | | | least twice the size of its nearest |
| with Windows which opened the iPod up to a | | | | competitor and the fact that it actually |
| lot more users. The actual iPod itself | | | | shuffled the songs so that the user never |
| changed very little. The scroll wheel became | | | | knew what was coming next and its very low |
| a solid fixture as apposed to a spinning | | | | price of $99 meant that the little iPod sold |
| wheel and there was an extra port for the | | | | just as well as every other model before it. |
| attachment of a FireWire cable. | | | | |
| | | | The last of the 4th Generation iPods entered |
| 3rd Generation iPod | | | | the market in July 2005 and was the tiniest |
| | | | to date. The iPod nano made use of a high |
| The spring of 2003 saw iPod sales really take | | | | capacity flash memory chip which enabled it |
| off as the 3rd Generation was launched. One | | | | to have the considerable memory of 4GB but |
| of the biggest changes to this new model was | | | | still be…well, nano! The nano had new |
| the ability to link it to a PC with a USB | | | | features as well such as calendars, address |
| cable; the USB port was a lot more common on | | | | books, world times and games. |
| PCs than the FireWire port and so many more | | | | |
| people could successfully use an iPod with | | | | 5th Generation iPod |
| their home computer. In addition the 3rd | | | | |
| generation iPod had a bigger memory (20GB) | | | | The newest iPod is the 5th Generation iPod |
| and solid function buttons below the screen. | | | | video. This has the capability of playing |
| | | | music videos, TV programmes and films |
| At the same time Apple launched the iTunes | | | | downloaded from the iTunes Music Store. It |
| Music Store around the world which provided a | | | | has all of the features of the nano but as |
| legal source for 1000s of songs. iPod sales | | | | its full colour screen is bigger the overall |
| went through the roof and the brand became a | | | | dimensions are also slightly bigger (not too |
| household name. | | | | much though). |
| | | | |
| 4th Generation iPod | | | | As you can see Apple has kept the changes |
| | | | coming and people have carried on buying and |
| However Apple continued to release newer and | | | | there doesn't seem to be any evidence to say |
| more advanced models and at the end of 2003 | | | | their latest release is their last. |