Not so long ago we listened to music on the go with a cassette-based Walkman and, later, a portable CD player. Inevitably you'd have to untangle the magnetically coated tape from the grasps of your heavy Walkman or restart your CD after going over a major bump in the road while riding in the backseat of your parents’ car. As we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Apple iPod, it's hard to believe what we were putting up with before it arrived.
Though the iPod wasn’t exactly the first of its kind; there were six MP3 players on the market before it came along. But in the first ever iPod promotional video, DJ and musician Moby said he’d owned three and hadn't figured out how to use any of them. With the iPod, "I held it, and 45 seconds later, I knew how to use it," Moby said.
The iPod may have seemed revolutionary but it got its start in 1979. British inventor Kane Kramer created the first digital audio player, called the IXI, which was able to play about one song. The prototype was shelved when Kramer couldn’t market it successfully and his patent expired in 1988. Kane did get credit, though, when Apple ran up against patent issues in 2007 and brought him in to testify. “To be honest, I was just so pleased that finally something that I had done which has been a huge success and changed the music industry was being acknowledged,” Kramer told The Daily Mail. “I was really quite emotional about it all.” Though even with his place in digital music history, he said he “can’t even bring myself to buy an iPod.”
But buy iPods, others have; 300 million of them, with iTunes standing by to fill them with 20 million songs. Here are 10 years worth of iPods, along with what was topping Billboard's end-of-the-year charts the years they came out. Let’s start the countdown.
As an added bonus, we put together a playlist of all the years' top hits we mentioned. Check out the iPod 10-Year Anniversary Playlist and get ready for 10 years worth of earworms invading your headphones.
2001: 5GB iPod
Before the iPod, MP3 players were either big and unwieldy or small and useless. Steve Jobs tasked Apple Senior Vice President of Industrial Design Jonathan Ive and a group of hardware engineers to produce an alternative that could become iconic. Developed in less than one year, the 5GB iPod, holding 1,000 songs, was unveiled on October 23, 2001 for $399. The name came from a freelance copyrighter who, after seeing the prototype, thought of the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and the phrase "Open the pod bay door, Hal!" When PCMag tested the iPod, we were able to transfer 523 songs in 5 minutes flat (2.3GB of music). Using a 1.8-inch hard drive compared to the competitors’ 2.5-inch drives, the iPod weighed in at 6.5 ounces and was about the size of a deck of cards. It featured a mechanical scroll wheel, a center select button, and four auxiliary buttons around the outside of the wheel. The first-gen iPod was only for Mac users.
2002: iPod 2G
About nine months after releasing the first iPod, Apple made a few minor updates and released the second-gen iPod on July 17. The biggest addition was the ability for Windows PC users to use the iPod with Musicmatch Jukebox software. If 5GB wasn't enough space to hold all your Radiohead bootleg MP3s, the new iPod bumped up the storage space to 10GB for $399. Later that year, a 20GB model was also released. For $499, it could hold 4,000 songs. Another addition was the touch-sensitive wheel. Though the second-gen iPod looked almost identical to its predecessor, the wheel didn't actually turn. The iPod also got a cover for the FireWire port and Apple included software for users to store contact lists with up to 1,000 names and addresses. Apple also got a little more personal in by adding the option of a custom laser engraving on the stainless steel back.
2003: iPod 3G
Apple realized in 2003 that 5GB may just not be enough room for growing music collections. Announced April 28, the third-generation iPod was offered in 10GB, 15GB, and 30GB capacities, and, five months later, 20GB and 40GB. In just two years, the iPod went from a 1,000-song capacity to a 10,000-song capacity. Apple stopped building Musicmatch software in 2003 after iTunes 4.1 was introduced for Windows. It also introduced the iTunes Store on April 29. Over 10 million songs were sold in the store's first four months. The third-gen iPod was the first to offer an all-touch scroll wheel interface, as well as a dock connector and a slimmer case. The buttons also vanished from around the wheel and ended up in a row above it.
2004: iPod mini, iPod photo, iPod 4G
By January of 2004, Apple had sold over 2 million iPods, staking its position as the No. 1 digital music player in the world. Apple introduced three different iPods this year: the iPod photo, in 30GB, 40GB, and 60GB capacities; the fourth-gen iPod in 20GB, and 60GB models; and the 4GB iPod mini. In homage to the iMac, the iPod mini was available in five different colors (blue, pink, silver, green, and gold), and first introduced the click wheel to the iPod family, allowing for one-handed navigation. The function buttons were moved onto the actual scroll wheel. The iPod was deemed the smallest portable music player ever to hold up to 1,000 CD-quality songs, and sold for $249.
The iPod photo, also known as iPod with color display, was released in October. It looked just like an ordinary iPod, but had a larger hard drive capacity, a color display, and a larger battery. It wasn't until the next year that an iPod would be able to play movies, but users could look at photos on their iPod's color screen. Album covers were also integrated and appeared while songs were played.
As for the fourth-gen iPod, the player lost its auxiliary buttons and took on the mini's click wheel. This version also introduced the shuffle feature, which would play a larger role in Apple's line of iPods in later years.
The iPod photo, also known as iPod with color display, was released in October. It looked just like an ordinary iPod, but had a larger hard drive capacity, a color display, and a larger battery. It wasn't until the next year that an iPod would be able to play movies, but users could look at photos on their iPod's color screen. Album covers were also integrated and appeared while songs were played.
As for the fourth-gen iPod, the player lost its auxiliary buttons and took on the mini's click wheel. This version also introduced the shuffle feature, which would play a larger role in Apple's line of iPods in later years.
2005: iPod nano, iPod shuffle, iPod mini, iPod 5G/Video iPod
Releasing five new iPods in 2005, Apple introduced two completely new models to the iPod family: the iPod nano and the iPod shuffle. The nano came out towards the end of 2005, replacing the mini. Using flash memory for storage, the iPod nano was free from the worry of skipping and dead hard drives. Available in black or white, and 2GB and 4GB flavors, the nano featured a color screen and excellent sound quality. It was especially thin at 0.27-inches thick, and was 62 percent smaller than the iPod mini. “iPod nano is a full-featured iPod in an impossibly small size," Jobs said on its release. "And it’s going to change the rules for the entire portable music market.”
Also flash-based, the iPod shuffle was extremely simple with a white shell and a four-way rocker ring and play/pause button on the front. The power switch and battery-check button resided on the back. This was the first iPod to not have a display. Instead, the shuffle came with a new version of iTunes that would randomly load songs. You could choose to play them in order or have them shuffled. The near-weightless flash player, which Apple's Steve Jobs called "smaller and lighter than a pack of gum," had a list price of $149 for the 1GB model (240 songs) and $99 for the 512 MB (120 songs) model.
As for the iPod mini, this was the last time we'd ever see this line of iPods. The nano came about seven months later and replaced it. In addition to the miniature-sized iPods, Apple also released the fifth-gen iPod, otherwise known as the iPod with video. It featured a larger screen and a smaller click wheel. This model was the first to allow users to actually play video. It was also available in black and would be the last iPod to feature a plastic face.
Also flash-based, the iPod shuffle was extremely simple with a white shell and a four-way rocker ring and play/pause button on the front. The power switch and battery-check button resided on the back. This was the first iPod to not have a display. Instead, the shuffle came with a new version of iTunes that would randomly load songs. You could choose to play them in order or have them shuffled. The near-weightless flash player, which Apple's Steve Jobs called "smaller and lighter than a pack of gum," had a list price of $149 for the 1GB model (240 songs) and $99 for the 512 MB (120 songs) model.
As for the iPod mini, this was the last time we'd ever see this line of iPods. The nano came about seven months later and replaced it. In addition to the miniature-sized iPods, Apple also released the fifth-gen iPod, otherwise known as the iPod with video. It featured a larger screen and a smaller click wheel. This model was the first to allow users to actually play video. It was also available in black and would be the last iPod to feature a plastic face.
2006: 80GB iPod, iPod nano 2G, iPod shuffle 2G
After such a busy year in 2005, 2006 was a bit mellower. Apple released its largest-capacity iPod to date: the 80GB iPod. The 80GB iPod offered a few enhancements, such as longer video battery life, a brighter screen, a search feature, and support for better games. Apple also updated the nano, releasing the second-gen version, which traded in its plastic body for an eye-catching, scratch-resistant anodized aluminum casing, much like that of the iPod mini. It was offered in six different colors, and boasted a 40 percent brighter screen, a new search option, and gapless playback of audio files.
The iPod shuffle also got a revamp, changing its look drastically from the previous year's design. Less than half the size of its predecessor, Apple branded the shuffle as the "world's smallest MP3 player." Its small size also included a built-in belt clip. The power and shuffle/no shuffle switches were also separated into separate controls.
The iPod shuffle also got a revamp, changing its look drastically from the previous year's design. Less than half the size of its predecessor, Apple branded the shuffle as the "world's smallest MP3 player." Its small size also included a built-in belt clip. The power and shuffle/no shuffle switches were also separated into separate controls.
2007: iPod touch, iPod nano 3G, 160GB iPod
By the time 2007 rolled around, Apple had already sold 88 million iPods. The year also marked the launch of a new product that would affect iPod sales: the iPhone. Announced in January, the iPhone offered many of same features as the iPod, but with the added functionality of a smartphone. Thus, many people who would normally carry around an iPod and their mobile phone suddenly ditched their iPods for a mobile device that could combine both of these things.
In September of the same year, Apple also released another big product. For those who didn't want the call functionality of the iPhone but did want apps, the iPod touch featured the same 3.5-inch multi-touch screen and Wi-Fi. iPod touch users were able to surf the Web, watch YouTube, and buy music wirelessly. At 8 millimeters, it was thinner than any other full-sized iPod, and started at $299 for the 8GB model. PCMag called it the "best portable media player ever made."
A new shorter, wider, heavier iPod nano was also introduced in 2007. Featuring a 2-inch screen, the nano included video playback, and support for new iPod games. Also that year, if you thought the 80GB iPod introduced in 2006 offered a lot of space, Apple did one better by introducing the iPod classic in a 160GB model. Not a lot had changed from the previous year, but customers were able to have double the memory for $349.By the end of 2007, Apple had sold 141 million iPods, no doubt thanks to the introduction of the iPod touch.
In September of the same year, Apple also released another big product. For those who didn't want the call functionality of the iPhone but did want apps, the iPod touch featured the same 3.5-inch multi-touch screen and Wi-Fi. iPod touch users were able to surf the Web, watch YouTube, and buy music wirelessly. At 8 millimeters, it was thinner than any other full-sized iPod, and started at $299 for the 8GB model. PCMag called it the "best portable media player ever made."
A new shorter, wider, heavier iPod nano was also introduced in 2007. Featuring a 2-inch screen, the nano included video playback, and support for new iPod games. Also that year, if you thought the 80GB iPod introduced in 2006 offered a lot of space, Apple did one better by introducing the iPod classic in a 160GB model. Not a lot had changed from the previous year, but customers were able to have double the memory for $349.By the end of 2007, Apple had sold 141 million iPods, no doubt thanks to the introduction of the iPod touch.
2008: iPod touch 2G, iPod nano 4G
In 2008, America's No. 1 music retailer was no longer Wal-Mart. The iTunes store surpassed the major chain, topping five billion songs sold. July of 2008 also saw the launch of Apple's App Store, which allowed iPhone and iPod touch users to download 10 million apps in the App Store's first weekend. By September, over 100 million apps had been downloaded. Also by September, almost 90 percent of new cars sold in the U.S. offered iPod connectivity.
2008 wasn't as big of a year for iPod releases as years past. Apple updated both the iPod touch and iPod nano. The second-gen iPod touch featured a thinner design, a volume button, and built-in speakers. New firmware also included the App Store, and Genius functions. The fourth-gen iPod nano also integrated Apple's Genius playlist creation. It was also the first nano to include an accelerometer which allowed you to turn the screen from vertical to horizontal. Another neat feature was that shaking the nano would in turn play a random song.
2008 wasn't as big of a year for iPod releases as years past. Apple updated both the iPod touch and iPod nano. The second-gen iPod touch featured a thinner design, a volume button, and built-in speakers. New firmware also included the App Store, and Genius functions. The fourth-gen iPod nano also integrated Apple's Genius playlist creation. It was also the first nano to include an accelerometer which allowed you to turn the screen from vertical to horizontal. Another neat feature was that shaking the nano would in turn play a random song.
2009: iPod shuffle 3G, iPod nano 5G, iPod touch 3G
In March of 2009, Apple released the third-gen iPod shuffle which introduced VoiceOver, a feature that announces song titles, and informs you when your battery needs to be recharged. The new shuffle was even smaller than its precursor. It was still was missing a screen, a radio, and even controls. The controls were embedded into Apple's signature earbuds.
In September of 2009, Apple released the first iPod to include a camera for photos and video. The fifth-gen iPod nano boasted a larger screen than its predecessors, and a feature many iPod users had been waiting for for years: an FM radio. The nano also featured a built-in mic, a speaker, a pedometer, and the VoiceOver features of the shuffle. Apple also introduced the third-gen iPod touch that featured a faster processor, support for Open GL, and was marketed as a gaming platform to compete with the PSP and Nintendo DS. Two years later, the iPod touch would become the No. 1 portable game player.
In September of 2009, Apple released the first iPod to include a camera for photos and video. The fifth-gen iPod nano boasted a larger screen than its predecessors, and a feature many iPod users had been waiting for for years: an FM radio. The nano also featured a built-in mic, a speaker, a pedometer, and the VoiceOver features of the shuffle. Apple also introduced the third-gen iPod touch that featured a faster processor, support for Open GL, and was marketed as a gaming platform to compete with the PSP and Nintendo DS. Two years later, the iPod touch would become the No. 1 portable game player.
2010: iPod touch 4G, iPod shuffle 4G, iPod nano 6G
With over 10 billion songs in the iTunes Store, and over 5 billion downloads in the App Store, 2010 was a great year for Apple. In September of 2010, Apple introduced its new fourth-gen iPod touch with retina display, which made the text and images look incredibly sharp. It also was able to shoot HD video and take high-quality photos. The touch also featured a front-facing camera, allowing the user to use FaceTime video calling. The shuffle and the nano also got makeovers that year. At $49, the fourth-gen iPod shuffle was the lowest-priced iPod ever. The "play/track/volume" buttons from the second-gen shuffle returned once again to the body of the shuffle. Users no longer had to use the earphone controls to navigate. As for the sixth-gen iPod nano, it wasn't as well-received as nanos past. Apple traded in the nano's Click Wheel for a touch-screen on the super compact display. The nano also lost its video capture and playback capability. The multi-touch screen was rotatable, and the nano also featured FM radio and Nike+ fitness features. By September, Apple had sold 275 million iPods.
2011: iPod nano 7G, iPod touch 5G
So far, most of Apple's attention in 2011 has been on the iPhone and the iPad. In October, Apple announced it's keeping the touch-screen-style of the last generation iPod nano. The physical appearance is the same, but Apple made few tweaks to the iPod nano's user interface. The refresh includes larger icons, 16 watch-face widgets, and a price drop ($129 for the 8GB model, and $149 for the 16GB model). The new nano is also easier to navigate thanks to its swipe feature that allows you to swipe between icons.
The iPod touch also got a small update. Available in black or white, it now runs iOS 5, which includes 200 new features, including iMessage (Apple's form of BlackBerry Messenger), Notifications, and Wi-Fi Syncing to iTunes. It also works with iCloud, Apple's set of free cloud services.
The iPod touch also got a small update. Available in black or white, it now runs iOS 5, which includes 200 new features, including iMessage (Apple's form of BlackBerry Messenger), Notifications, and Wi-Fi Syncing to iTunes. It also works with iCloud, Apple's set of free cloud services.
Special Releases: U2, Harry Potter, (PRODUCT) RED
Apple's been very busy pumping out iPods over the last decade. The company releases so many new products that it's sometimes easy to miss some of them, especially the limited edition ones that aren't as widely advertised. Apple released a Harry Potter Special Edition iPod in 2005 which featured the Hogwarts Crest laser-engraved on the back. This wasn't the first special edition iPod for Apple, though. A 20GB Special Edition U2 iPod was released in 2004. It featured an all-black stainless steel enclosure, a red click wheel, and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures. In 2006, Apple released a Special Edition U2 iPod based on the fifth-gen 30GB iPod. This version came with 30 minutes of exclusive U2 video that's downloadable from the iTunes Music Store. Then, in November of 2006, Apple announced a new (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPod nano. For each (PRODUCT) Red iPod nano sale, Apple donated $10 to the Global Fund to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. Apple still offers (PRODUCT) Red nanos in the current model to this day.
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