First generation iPod
The first generation iPod was the first iPod model by Apple, announced on October 23, 2001.
the original iPod was priced at $399 with a 5GB hard drive.
Critics criticized the price of the device, but it quickly proved to be a hit in the market
beating out older hard drive MP3 players like the NOMAD Jukebox. In March 2002, Apple
announced a 10 GB version priced at $499.
Apple designed a mechanical scroll wheel and outsourced the implementation and development
to Synaptics, a company that also developed the trackpad for Apple’s PowerBooks.
The first generation iPod featured four stacked buttons (Menu, Play/Pause, Back, and Forward).
around the circumference of the scroll wheel and a single selection button in the center.
2nd generation iPod
The second generation iPod was available in 10 GB and 20 GB capacities and was introduced on July 17, 2002.
at Macworld, and the original’s mechanical scroll wheel was replaced with a touch-sensitive one,
non-mechanical (made by Synaptics) called a “touch wheel”.
Thanks to Toshiba’s new hard drives, the 20GB iPod slightly outperformed its first-generation counterpart in
thickness and weight, while the 10GB model was thinner. It came with a carrying case and a wired remote, and was the first to be compatible with Windows.
In December 2002, Apple released 4 limited edition laser engraved iPods autographed by Beck,
Tony Hawk, Madonna and No Doubt. They sold for $50 above normal retail price in each capacity until it was discontinued.
iPod 3rd generation
The third generation iPod featured the four buttons above the touch wheel with a “selection” in the center
and slightly smaller than its predecessors and was introduced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs on April 28, 2003. They had more distinctive beveled edges and Apple produced 10 GB, 15 GB, 20 GB, 30 GB and 40 GB versions GB.
These iPods use a 30-pin connector called a Dock Connector (longer and flatter than a FireWire connector). The iPod dock came bundled with all but the cheapest iPod, and was also sold separately. It included touch-sensitive buttons located between the display and the touch wheel. The new buttons have a red backlight, which allows easier use in the dark.
The touch-sensitive buttons that build on the touch-sensitive scroll wheel introduced in the 2
generation iPod, makes it unique in that it has no external moving parts (other than the retention slider at the top of the device) and is the only iPod that does not have buttons around the wheel.
Apple stopped shipping separate Mac and Windows versions of the device, and instead all iPods shipped with their hard drives formatted for Macintosh use; they include a CD-ROM containing a Windows utility that can be reformatted for use with a Windows computer.
4th generation iPod
The 4th generation iPod integrated the four buttons into the scroll wheel and is considered a model c
whose sales increased significantly, thus starting the “iPod Craze”. In the most obvious difference from its predecessors, the 4th generation iPod carries over the click wheel design introduced in the iPod Mini and introduced in July 2004.
Some users criticized the click wheel for not having the backlighting that the buttons on the 3rd generation iPod had, but others noted that having the buttons on the compass points largely eliminated the need for backlighting.
Apple also claims that updated software in the new iPod allows it to use the battery more efficiently and increase battery life by up to 12 hours.
Other minor changes include the addition of a ‘Shuffle Tracks’ option in the top-level menu to make it more user-friendly.
After many requests from users wanting these enhancements to work on older iPods, Apple released a firmware update on February 23, 2005 that introduced the new menu items to the 1st-3rd generation iPods.
Originally, the 4th generation iPod had a monochrome screen and no photo capabilities like its predecessors. Available in 20GB and 40GB sizes.
In February 2005, Apple discontinued the 40 GB model and began selling only a monochrome 20 GB version. The 4th generation monochrome iPod, slightly thinner (about one millimeter smaller) than the 3rd generation iPod, introduced the ability to charge the battery via a USB connection.
5th generation iPod
The 5th generation iPod, often referred to as the iPod video or video iPod, was released on October 12, 2005, and was available in 30 GB and 60 GB models.
It has the ability to play MPEG-4 and H.264 video at resolutions up to 480 x 480 (maximum number of macroblocks (16×16 pixels) 900) and 320 x 240 (maximum number of macroblocks (16×16 pixels) 300) respectively (videos purchased from iTunes Music Store, are limited to 320 x 240).
You can play widescreen resolutions up to 640×360 using MPEG-4 and 400 x 192 using H.264 (the total number of macroblocks falls within the specified maximums).
The 5th generation models have a 65,536 color (16-bit) screen with a 320 x 240 QVGA transflective TFT display and can display video on an external TV via the accessory AV cable, which plugs into the headphone minijack and splits into composite video and audio output connectors with RCA jacks.
It can also display video on an external TV using iPod AV or S-video cables with the iPod Universal Dock. Dimensions are 103.5 x 61.8 x 11.0mm for the 30GB version and 103.5 x 61.8 x 14.0mm for the 60GB version.
The screen size is now 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) diagonally, 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) larger than the previous iPod. It’s 30% thinner than the previous full-size iPod. Battery life for the 30 GB is 14 hours and for the 60 GB it is around 20 hours. Watching movies reduces this amount to 2 and 3 hours respectively.
The click wheel design is the same as the previous generation, but is slightly smaller (1.5″ diameter) than before. The new click wheel is completely flat, unlike older models where the center button is slightly rounded and raised .
Apple stopped making iPods with the click wheels used in the 4th generation iPod and iPod Mini from their previous supplier, Synaptics, and now use an in-house solution.
Like the iPod Nano, the 5th generation iPod comes in two colors, white and black, and includes the World Clock, Stopwatch, and Screen Lock apps.
In addition, the headphone jack is smaller and comes with a slim case, most likely in response to many complaints about the iPod Nano’s surface being scratched easily.
Apple has also discontinued the inclusion of an AC adapter and FireWire cable, and you must purchase these items separately to charge the iPod from a home outlet or use an external powered USB hub.
The 5th generation iPod no longer supports transferring files via FireWire, but still supports charging using FireWire. This is most likely due to the increased popularity of Hi-Speed ​​​​USB 2.0 in the consumer market, as well as the reduction in the cost of manufacturing components by reducing the complexity of the boards and removing unnecessary accessories.
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