iPod

A family of extremely popular digital media players from Apple, introduced in 2001 for the Mac and 2002 for Windows. iPods are noted for their well-designed, simple user interfaces that employ either a click wheel or touch screen (see click wheel and iPod touch).

Originally only for music with a monochrome screen, photos, video and color screens were later added. Address book and calendar are also included, and vendors have developed iPod games and applications.

The combination of sound quality, sleek design and unique user interface made the iPod one of the most successful consumer electronics (CE) products in history. Five and a half years after its launch, more than 100 million iPods were sold, along with more than 1.5 billion songs from Apple's iTunes online store.

Digital Rights Management (DRM)
The iPod plays all unprotected MP3 and AAC files, which can come from ripping CDs, file sharing networks and music stores that sell unprotected files. The iPod supports FairPlay-protected AAC files from the iTunes music store, but not any other protected formats from other vendors (see FairPlay).

iTunes and the AAC Format
Apple's iTunes software is used to organize the iPod's multimedia content in the computer, download it to the iPod, keep the iPod's software up-to-date and purchase new titles. iTunes ensures that protected AAC audio files and MPEG-4 videos from the iTunes music store are played only on specific iPods and iPhones as well as a maximum number of computers.

AAC is considered better quality than MP3 at the same recording rate, and iTunes lets users rip songs from their CDs into MP3 and AAC, both of which result in a file about 10% the size of the original song on the CD. However, for audiophiles, the Apple Lossless format maintains CD quality, but takes five times more disk space than MP3 or AAC.

iPods do not play back Microsoft's Windows Media audio format (WMA). However, there are numerous utilities that convert WMA to MP3, and the Windows version of iTunes converts WMA files to the various formats iTunes does support. See iTunes.

Batteries
Unlike other electronic devices, the rechargeable battery in the iPod is sealed and must be sent to Apple for replacement, which is free under warranty, but not thereafter. However, non-Apple sources offer replacement batteries and instructions for opening the case. See iPod compatible, iPod car adapter, car podding, pod slurping, MP3, AAC, FairPlay and iPhone.

File Formats
The iPod displays JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF and PNG images and plays MPEG-4 and H.264 video. It supports the following audio formats.

  AUDIO FORMATS

  Formats      classic  nano  shuffle

  MP3             X      X      X
  MP3 VBR         X      X      X
  AAC             X      X      X
  WAV             X      X      X
  Audible         X      X      X

  Apple Lossless  X
  AIFF            X

Touch - Classic - Nano - Shuffle

The "touch" (left) uses the newer iPhone-style interface, while the "classic" (next) is the largest iPod with the traditional click wheel. The flash memory iPods have less capacity, but are smaller, thinner and lighter. Following are model details ("G" means generation). (Image courtesy of Apple Inc.)

  CURRENT iPOD MODELS
                             -----Capacity----
  Model         Screen       Storage     Songs

  touch (1g)    3.5" color    8GB flash   1,750
  touch (1g)    3.5" color   16GB flash   3,500
  See iPod touch.

  classic (5g)  2.5" color    80GB disk  20,000
  classic (5g)  2.5" color   160GB disk  40,000
  See iPod classic.

  nano (3g)     2" color      4GB flash   1,000
  nano (3g)     2" color      8GB flash   2,000
  See iPod nano.

  shuffle (2g)  no screen     1GB flash     240
  See iPod shuffle.



  EARLIER iPOD MODELS

  Model           Screen      Storage

  classic (5g)    2.5" color  30GB disk
  classic (5g)    2.5" color  60GB disk

  classic (4g)    2" color    20 and 60GB disk
  iPod Photo (4g) 2" color    30 and 60GB disk
  iPod U2* (4g)   2" color    20GB disk
  * = signatures of U2 band members on case

  nano (1g)       1.5" color  1GB flash
  nano (2g)       1.5" color  2GB flash
  nano (2g)       1.5" color  4GB flash
  nano (2g)       1.5" color  8GB flash

  shuffle (1g)    none      512MB flash
  shuffle (1g)    none        1GB flash

  classic (1g-3g) 2" mono     5, 10, 15, 20,
                              30 and 40GB disk

  Mini            1.7" mono   4 and 6GB disk

iPoddery

Within a couple years, the iPod became one of the hottest consumer electronics devices on the market. In 2004, this rural Vermont family was delighted to show us their "iPoddery." On the right is the first iPod tabletop docking station and speaker system, from Bose. The smaller Altec Lansing unit is portable and lets our young hero carry his own iPod boom box.

A Girl's Best Friend

What did a 13-year-old crave for her birthday in 2004? An iPod Mini... in powder blue. Of course.

The Click Wheel

The iPod's first user interface. Originally rotating, and later changed to stationary and touch sensitive, the wheel is clicked and also scrolled by moving a finger around it. The click wheel was superseded by an entirely different and touch sensitive user interface, introduced with the iPhone and later the iPod touch. This iPod is in a protective, rubber housing.