On October 23, 2001, Steve Jobs announced that Apple had entered the music business, presenting the very first iPod in a small room. Although the reaction from the audience was positive, it was much less fanfare than today’s release event has.
“Why music?” asked Jobs 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 there. This is not a speculative market. “
Now, 21 years later, Apple has announced that its digital music and media player for the pocket has reached the end of its life. Apple will continue to sell the iPod touch “as long as stock lasts” and when the last device is gone, it will be the last you will ever hear about Apple’s iconic device. So in memory, let’s take a look at the timeline of iPod’s colorful life.
2001
October: “An iBook is really portable,” Jobs boasted at the iPod unveiling, “but this is it ultraportableWith 6.5 ounces, 2.4 inches wide, four inches high and made of just over an inch thick stainless steel, the first iPod ($ 399) was designed to be the size of a deck of cards and hold 1,000 songs. Users navigated songs with a mechanical scroll wheel on a monochrome LCD screen and had a 5 GB hard drive that was filled with a FireWire port.
IDG
2002
March: Apple released a 10GB version of the iPod for $ 499, twice as much storage space for $ 100 more than the original 5GB version.
July: The second-generation iPod got a solid-state touch wheel and contained twice as much 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, with the addition of four buttons that glowed red and a new connector, the 30-pin dock connector. Knowing the needs of obsessed music lovers, the company introduced a new 30GB model ($ 499), along with 10GB ($ 299) and 15GB ($ 399) choices.
The third generation iPod.
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September: The latest third-generation iPod models jumped to 20 GB and 40 GB, replacing the 15 GB and 30 GB models respectively. Windows users got their first taste of the iPod via the MusicMatch Jukebox, which opened up the iPod to a whole new audience.
2004
January: A new version of the iPod called the iPod Mini ($ 249) debuted at Macworld San Francisco in gold, pink, blue and green models in early 2004. Made of anodized aluminum and containing a click wheel that replaced the four help buttons, this petite 4GB model is in size closer to a business card than a deck of cards and is only ½ inches thick.
In January, a third-generation 15 GB iPod was also offered for $ 299, the same price as the previous 10 GB model.
July: The fourth generation iPod (20GB for $ 299 and 40GB for $ 399) was released with the same click wheel as the iPad mini.
iPod mini.
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September: Apple is releasing 20GB ($ 299) and 40GB ($ 499) versions of the fourth generation iPod with the HP logo.
October: Bono and The Edge from Irish rock act U2 announced a 20GB branded U2 Special Edition iPod ($ 349), a black model with a red wheel, monochrome screen and the band’s signatures laser etched on the back. Special Edition included a $ 50 discount on The Complete U2 digital box.
40GB ($ 499) and 60GB ($ 599) color screen iPod Photo models were also released in the fall of 2004. Photos were displayed in 220 x 176 pixel resolution.
2005
January: The first generation iPod Shuffle hit the dance floor in early 2005. The randomized music player, a small silver marvel that weighs less than an ounce and looks like a chewing gum pack, was made available in 512 MB ($ 99) and 1 GB ($ 149) models.
February: iPod Photo was released in a $ 349 30GB model, while the iPod Mini got a second-generation facelift with 4GB ($ 199) and 6GB ($ 249) versions in new colors.
iPod Shuffle.
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June: The iPod U2 Special Edition received a $ 20 color screen upgrade and a $ 209 summer break, lowering the cost to $ 329. Apple also launched the revolutionary iTunes Music Store to easily purchase and transfer songs to iPod.
September: Goodbye, iPod Mini; hey iPod Nano! The first-generation Nano (2GB for $ 199 and $ GB for $ 249) measures 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches, weighs 1.5 ounces and has 14 hours of battery life.
October: The iPod was upgraded to its fifth generation edition (30GB for $ 299 and 60GB for $ 399), now with video playback and a larger screen.
2006
February: iPod Nano becomes available in a 1GB model ($ 149). In addition, the price of iPod Shuffles is falling (512 MB for $ 69 and 1GB for $ 99). The $ 69 model will be the lowest price on the iPod that can be offered.
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: The iPod fifth generation and U2 Special Edition models both see “Enhanced” versions with a new search function. iPod Nano enters its second generation with 2GB ($ 149), 4GB ($ 199) and 8GB ($ 249). iPod Shuffle also moves on to the second-generation model ($ 79), with 1 GB of storage.
October: The second generation iPod Nano will be available in (Project) Red.
2007
January: The second-generation iPod Shuffle comes in pink, blue, green and orange (1GB for $ 49 and a 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 bike as well.
Third generation iPod nano.
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September: The original iPod, now in its sixth generation, is called the iPod Classic (80GB for $ 249 and 160GB for $ 349). The third generation iPod Nano jumps in with a larger screen and the same resolution as the larger video iPod. And the first-generation iPod Touch coming (8GB for $ 299 and 16GB for $ 399) takes a page from the iPhone with a 3.5-inch multi-touch screen, web browsing and messaging.
2008
September: 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: iPod Shuffle ventures into third-generation territory, with a new design without buttons that relied on VoiceOver technology to play music. It is available in 2GB ($ 59) and two 4GB ($ 79-99) options. The more expensive 4GB model is made of completely stainless steel.
September: The fourth-generation iPod Shuffle adds five colors and costs $ 59 for 2GB and 4GB for $ 79, while the third-generation iteration of the iPod Touch comes with minimal changes (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) provide enhanced hardware.
2010
September: iPod Nano is cycling into its sixth generation (8GB for $ 149 and 16GB for $ 179) with a design reminiscent of the Apple Watch, while iPod Shuffle’s fourth generation introduces yet another new design. In addition, the fourth generation iPod touch gets FaceTime function.
Sixth generation iPod nano.
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2011
October: The fourth generation iPod touch was introduced in white and the same 8GB, 32GB and 64GB models as from the previous year.
2012
October: The new fifth-generation iPod touch was the most colorful upgrade to date, with six shades wrapping around the sides and covering the back, while the iPod Nano reached its seventh generation with a more iOS-like interface. Both got bigger screens.
At the same time, the fourth generation iPod Shuffle came back 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 appeared in the spring of 2013.
2014
May: The fifth-generation iPod touch grew to include 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 released the sixth-generation iPod touch (16 GB for $ 199, 32 GB for $ 249, 64 GB for $ 299 and 128 GB for $ 399) with an A8 processor and M8 coprocessor during the summer of 2015.
Fifth generation iPod touch.
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The company also released new versions of the fourth-generation iPod Shuffle in six colors instead of the previous eight colors. At the same time, the latest seventh-generation iPod Nano dropped from 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 latest iPod release to date. The surprise update was the first in four years and came with an A10 processor, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a new storage option of 256GB ($ 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 announces that the last remaining stock of iPod touch will be sold and the iPod name will be officially removed.