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While talking of the iPod today, we fell to contemplating how the ‘iPod era’ started. The iPod recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, ten days back in fact. But it all began in October 2001, when a simple media player changed the destiny of Apple Inc. and ensured that it became one of the leading, tech-innovative companies of our time.

 

Apple had promised to unveil a revolutionary media product. And on October 23, 2001, Steve Jobs introduced the iPod to the public at a special event, showing off a design destined to become iconic. Apple fans and media at the event doubted the product’s alleged iconic capabilities before it was actually released. But the 5 GB device designed, in combination with iTunes 2, to put, in Steve Jobs’ words, “1000 songs in your pocket.” And it was a smashing hit giving Apple mass-market credibility, boosting sales, and establishing iTunes as a market force. It also helped lay down the foundation for iPhone and iPad.

The original iPod had a basic 160×128 pixel monochrome display and a Firewire (400) interface only for data transfer and charging. However, the iPod evolved over the years to the shape that we know today. It took 19 months to sell 1 million iPods. The surge in sales began to quickly accelerate when the company launched its iTunes music store in April 2003.

 

Given below is a concise look at how iPod has ruled the digital music world for the last decade:

iPod’s Decade Long Rule

• First iPod 5 & 10 GB â€" 23 October 2001: The First iPod had a dual-core 90MHz ARM-based PortalPlayer processor and 5 GB 4200RPM Toshiba HDD. It supported Mac computers and AAC, MP3 and WAV audio files.
• iPod 2nd Gen. 10 & 20 GB â€" July 2002: It came up with an improved Hold switch with double storage capacity and a cover for the FireWire port. This model introduced support for Windows via Musicmatch and replaced first-gen’s mechanical scroll wheel a touch-sensitive wheel.
• iPod 3rd Gen. 10, 15, 20, 30 & 40 GB â€" April 2003: Apple redesigned the iPod by adding an all-touch interface, a dock connector and a slimmer body.  The maximum storage capacity was doubled to 40 GB. The company also brought its own media platform (iTunes 4.1) to Windows, severing ties with Musicmatch.
• First iPod Mini 4 GB â€" Jan 2004: Apple introduced a scaled-down minimalist iPod after focusing on adding features to its original design. The iPod Mini was the first to have Apple’s Click Wheel and. With its slimmer and trendier design, the iPod Mini only offered 4 GB of storage.
• iPod 4th Gen. & iPod Photo 20, 30, 40 & 60 GB â€" July 2004: In July, the first fourth-gen version came with a redesigned Hold switch and the iPod Mini’s Click Wheel. In October, Apple introduced a premium version called the iPod Photo. It had improved battery life (15 hours versus 12), a color screen and support for common image formats. In February 2005, Apple replaced the 40 GB iPod Photo with a thinner, cheaper 30 GB model.
• iPod Shuffle 1st & 2nd Gen. Jan 2005 & Sep 2006: The first iPod Shuffle was introduced early in 2005 with storage capacity of 512 MB or 1 GB and no display. The second-gen Shuffle, half the size of its predecessor, arrived a year later with a belt clip and a more attractive aluminum case. Despite its smaller size, it doubled storage capacities to 1 GB and 2 GB.
• First iPod Nano 1, 2 & 4 GB â€" Sep 2005: The second-gen iPod Mini was launched with an incredible battery life of 18 hours and 6 GB storage. The Mini line was discontinued later in 2005 when Apple shipped the first iPod Nano. The shorter version of Mini had less maximum storage, i.e. 4GB, and a shorter 14-hour battery life.
• iPod 5th Gen. (Video) 30, 60 & 80 GB â€" Oct 2005: 2005 was a monumental period for the iPod where it also introduced a completely redesigned fifth-gen iPod. It had a thinner case, a larger 2.5-inch 320 x 240 screen, and support for common video formats such as MP4 and H.264.
• iPod Nano 2nd Gen. 2, 4 & 8 GB â€" Sep 2006: A new version of the increasingly popular Nano came late in 2006 with a scratch-resistant anodized aluminum casing. It also offered more color choices, brighter display, double storage capacity and a battery life from 14 to 24 hours.
• First iPod Touch 8, 16 & 32 GB â€" Sep 2007: In 2007, Apple introduced the music player’s greatest overhaul. Utilizing existing iPhone hardware and software, it was the first iPod to feature a multi-touch display and Wi-Fi; allowing users to browse the Web via Safari and access the iTunes Store and YouTube.
• iPod Classic and iPod Nano 3rd Gen 80, 120 & 160 GB / 4 & 8 GB â€" Sep 2007: The “Classic” branding for the traditional iPod didn’t come until its sixth generation. It had a thinner shell, a revamped user interface, and offered up to 36 hours of music and 6 hours of video playback. In September 2007, Apple also unveiled the revised nearly square design Nano. It had same storage capacities and battery life but improved resolution.
• iPod Nano 4th Gen. 4, 8 & 16 GB and iPod Touch 2nd Gen. 8, 16 & 32 GB â€" Sep 2008: The reintroduced fourth-gen Nano had a larger display, more storage and an accelerometer for horizontal viewing. The Nano also came with the ability to shuffle songs by shaking the device. The second-gen iPod Touch, nearly unchanged, included tapered chrome back, volume buttons and a built-in speaker. It was the first iPod to ship with Apple’s recently launched App Store.
• iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen. 2 & 4 GB â€" Sep 2009: The new iPod Shuffle was launched with twice the storage (4GB), a smaller body and a completely new interface. Additionally, Apple moved the volume and playback controls to the right ear-bud cable and introduced VoiceOver functionality for hands-free control.
• iPod Nano 5th Gen. 8 & 16 GB and iPod Touch 3rd Gen. 32 & 64 GB Sep 2009: The fifth-gen iPod Nano was refined with a larger screen, a camera, an FM radio, a speaker, a pedometer and an improved jack placement. The third-gen iPod Touch mirrored the iPhone 3GS’ changes. It included a quicker processor and graphics core, more RAM, Voice Control support, and 64GB of flash storage.
• iPod Nano 6th Gen. 8 & 16 GB and iPod Shuffle 4th Gen. 2 GB â€" Sep 2010: The main highlight of the sixth and current generation of iPod Nano is the touchscreen, multi-touch display, feature. Apple cut its predecessor’s camera and video playback, but retained the pedometer. Meanwhile, the fourth-gen iPod Shuffle serves as an entry-level Nano without its touchscreen interface and accelerometer.
• iPod Touch 4th Gen. 8, 32 & 64 GB â€" Sep 9, 2010: The fourth-gen iPod Touch represents Apple’s finest offering to date with a high-res “Retina” display and Apple’s A4 SoC. It also features front and rear cameras for FaceTime and video recording.

 

Back then Apple said that it sold (back then DRM-infested) 1 million songs during the first week of availability of the store. By the end of 2003, iTunes had sold 25 million songs and 2 million iPods. 12 months later, Apple announced 200 million songs and 10 million iPods sold. By April 2007, Apple said it had shifted 100 million iPods and 3 billion iTunes songs. In January 2009, Apple removed DRM from its iTunes songs. Today, iTunes downloads are at more than 12 billion and more than 320 million iPods have been sold.

 

For the past 10 years, the iPod has been a friend to music lovers, a bane to industry tradition, and a cultural catalyst. While we mainly see Apple’s iPad and iPhone today, it has been the iPod that created Apple’s mobile devices business and is, in large parts, responsible for the Apple as we know it today. So here’s hats off to the iconic Apple iPod on completing a decade long rule in the music and tech industry.

 

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