On October 23, 2001, Steve Jobs announced that Apple was foraying into music and unveiled the first iPod in a small room. Although the crowd response was positive, there was little fanfare compared to today’s release events.
“Why the music?” Jobs asked in his introduction. “Well, we love music, and it’s always good to do something you love. More importantly, music is a part of everyone’s life. Everyone! Music has been around forever.” ; It will always be around. This is not a speculative market.”
Now, 21 years later, Apple has announced that its Pocket digital music and media player has reached the end of its life. Apple will continue to sell the iPod touch “until supplies last,” and when the last unit runs out, it will be the last you’ve heard of Apple’s iconic device. So in Memoriam, let’s take a look at the timeline of the iPod’s colorful life.
2001
october: “An iBook is really portable,” Jobs claimed at the iPod’s unveiling, “but it’s ultra portable!” At 6.5 ounces, 2.4 inches wide, four inches long, and made with barely-inch thick stainless steel, the first iPod ($399) was the size of a deck of cards and designed to hold 1,000 songs. navigated songs with a mechanical scroll wheel on a monochrome LCD display and had a 5GB hard drive that filled up using a FireWire port.
Original iPod with Click Wheel.
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2002
march: Apple released a 10GB version of the iPod for $499, twice as much storage for $100 more than the original 5GB version.
july: The second-generation iPod received a solid-state touch wheel and had double space. The product was released in both 10GB ($399) and 20GB ($499) models.
2003
april: The iPod received a major third-generation makeover in 2003, including four buttons that glow red and a new connector, the 30-pin dock connector. Understanding the needs of passionate music lovers, the company introduced a new 30GB model ($499) with 10GB ($299) and 15GB ($399) options.
Third generation iPod.
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september: The latest third-generation iPod models jumped to 20GB and 40GB, respectively, instead of the 15GB and 30GB models. Windows users got their first taste of the iPod through the MusicMatch jukebox, opening the iPod up to an entirely new audience.
2004
January: A new version of the iPod, the iPod mini ($249), debuted at Macworld San Francisco in early 2004 in gold, pink, blue, and green models. Made of anodized aluminum and containing a click wheel that replaces four auxiliary buttons, this tiny 4GB model is closer in size to a business card than a card deck and is only inch thick.
Also in January, the 15GB third-generation iPod was offered for $299, the same price as the previous 10GB model.
july: Fourth-generation iPods (20GB for $299 and 40GB for $399) were released with the same click wheel as the iPad mini.
iPod Mini.
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september: Apple dropped the 20GB ($299) and 40GB ($499) versions of the fourth-generation iPod, branded with the HP logo.
october: Bono and the Age from Irish rock act U2 announced the 20GB branded U2 Special Edition iPod ($349), a black model with a red color wheel, monochrome screen, and the band’s signature laser-etching on the back. The special edition included a $50 discount on the complete U2 digital box set.
40GB ($499) and 60GB ($599) color-screen iPod Photo models were also released in the fall of 2004. Photos appeared in 220-by-176-pixel resolution.
2005
January: The first-generation iPod Shuffle hit the dancefloor in early 2005. The Randomized Music Player, a tiny silver wonder that weighs less than an ounce and looks like a pack of gum, was made available in 512MB ($99) and 1GB ($149). model.
february: The iPod Photo was released in a 30GB model for $349, while the iPod Mini got a second-generation facelift in a new colorway with 4GB ($199) and 6GB ($249) versions.
iPod simple.
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june: In the summer of 2005 the iPod U2 Special Edition received a color-screen upgrade and a $20 price break, bringing the price to $329. Apple also launched the revolutionary iTunes Music Store for easy purchase and transfer of songs to iPod.
september: Farewell, iPod Mini; Hello iPod nano! The first-generation Nano (2GB for $199 and the GB for $249) measures 3.5 inches by inches, weighs 1.5 ounces, and has 14 hours of battery life.
october: The iPod headed to its fifth-generation release (30GB for $299 and 60GB for $399), now with video playback and a larger screen.
2006
february: iPod nano becomes available in 1GB model ($149). Also, iPod Shuffles drop prices (512 MB for $69 and 1 GB for $99). The $69 model becomes the lowest priced iPod on offer.
june: U2 fans get a new iPod U2 Special Edition fifth-generation iPod, the third in the U2 series, for the same price of $329.
U2 Special Edition iPod.
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september: Both the fifth-generation iPod and the U2 Special Edition models appear to have “upgraded” versions with a new search function. The iPod nano leads in its second generation with 2GB ($149), 4GB ($199) and 8GB ($249). The iPod Shuffle also moves up to the second generation model ($79) with 1GB of storage.
october: The second generation iPod nano (Project) becomes available in Red.
2007
January: The second generation of the iPod Shuffle comes in pink, blue, green and orange (1GB for $49 and the new 2GB model for $69), with a smaller case and a built-in belt clip. The original silver color is still available in this release cycle as well.
Third generation iPod nano.
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september: The original iPod, now in its sixth generation, is called the iPod Classic (80 GB for $249 and 160 GB for $349). The third-generation iPod nano jumps in with larger displays and larger video resolutions comparable to iPods. And the first-generation iPod touch (8GB for $299 and 16GB for $399) comes with a 3.5-inch multi-touch display from the iPhone, one page with Web browsing and messaging.
2008
september: The iPod Classic adds a thinner 120GB version ($249) to replace the previous 80GB and 160GB models. Also in this fall wave: the fourth generation iPod nano and the second generation iPod touch.
iPod Classic.
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2009
march: The iPod Shuffle enters third-generation territory, with a new mostly buttonless design that relies on VoiceOver technology to play music. It’s available in 2GB ($59) and two 4GB ($79-99) options. The pricey 4GB model is all made of stainless steel.
september: The fourth generation of the iPod Shuffle adds five colors and costs $59 for 2GB and 4GB for $79, while the third-generation iteration of the iPod touch changes with minimal (8GB for $199, 32GB for $299). and 64GB for $399) and the second-generation iPod touch (8GB for $229, 16GB for $299 and 32GB for $399) brings better hardware.
2010
september: The iPod nano comes in its sixth generation (8GB for $199 and 16GB for $179) with a design that’s reminiscent of the Apple Watch, while the fourth generation of the iPod Shuffle features a more revamped design. Plus, the fourth-gen iPod touch gets FaceTime capability.
Sixth generation iPod nano.
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2011
october: The fourth generation iPod touch was offered in white and in the same 8GB, 32GB and 64GB models as last year.
2012
october: The new fifth-generation iPod touch was the most colorful upgrade ever, with six colors that wrap around the sides and cover the back, while the iPod nano reached its seventh generation with an iOS-like interface. Both got bigger screens.
Meanwhile, the fourth-generation iPod Shuffle returned with new color options, and the fifth-generation iPod touch was released in 32GB and 64GB models.
ipod touch.
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2013
May: Priced at $229, a silver budget version of the iPod touch with 16GB of storage and no rear-facing iSight camera emerged in the spring of 2013.
2014
May: The fifth-generation iPod touch was joined by 32GB ($299) and 64GB ($399) models in 2014. The price of the 16GB model dropped to $199.
2015
july: After two and a half years of fifth-generation iPod Touch products, Apple over the summer launched the sixth-generation iPod touch with the A8 processor and M8 coprocessor (16GB for $199, 32GB for $249, 64 for $299). GB and 128 GB). of 2015.
Fifth generation iPod touch.
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The company also brought new versions of the fourth-generation iPod Shuffle in six colors instead of the previous eight. Meanwhile, the latest seventh-generation iPod nano drops in seven to six colors. However, both are still available in (Product) Red in this release cycle.
2019
May: The seventh generation iPod touch is Apple’s most recent iPod release to date. The surprise refresh was the first in four years and came with an A10 processor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a new 256GB storage option ($399) in addition to the 32GB ($199) and 128GB ($299) models. It is available in Blue, Pink, Silver, Gold, Space Gray and (Product) Red.
2022
Apple announced that the last remaining stock of the iPod Touch would be sold and the iPod name would be officially retired.
