iPod

iPod definition - computer

A family of extremely popular digital media players from Apple, introduced in 2001 for the Mac and a year later for Windows. The combination of sound quality and unique click wheel user interface made the iPod one of the most successful consumer electronics (CE) products in history. More than 100 million were sold within five and a half years along with 1.5 billion songs from Apple's iTunes online store. See click wheel.

Originally for music only with a monochrome screen, color screens, photos and video were soon added, and third-party games and applications were also developed. However, in 2008, the second generation of the operating system for the iPod touch and the iPhone relaunched the devices as handheld computers (see iPhone and iPod touch).

iTunes and the AAC Audio Format
Apple's iTunes software is installed in the user's computer. It is used to organize and download content to the iPod, keep the iPod's software up-to-date and to buy new content from the online Apple store. It ensures that protected AAC audio and MPEG-4 video files purchased from the store are played on specific iPods, iPhones and computers (see FairPlay). iPods also support unprotected MP3 and AAC files that come from ripping CDs, file sharing networks and music stores that sell unprotected files.

AAC is considered better quality than MP3 at the same recording rate, and iTunes lets users rip songs from their CDs into MP3 and AAC, both of which result in a file about 10% the size of the original song on the CD. However, for audiophiles with large capacity iPods, the Apple Lossless format maintains CD quality, but files are five times larger than highly compressed MP3 and AAC.

iPods do not play Microsoft's Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. However, numerous utilities convert WMA to MP3, and the Windows version of iTunes converts WMA to all formats that iTunes and the iPod support. See iTunes.

Batteries
Unlike other electronic devices, the rechargeable battery in the iPod is sealed and must be sent to Apple for replacement, which is free under warranty, but not thereafter. However, non-Apple sources offer replacement batteries and instructions for opening the case. See iPod compatible, iPod finger, iPod car adapter, car podding, pod slurping, MP3, AAC, FairPlay and iPhone.

File Formats
The iPod displays JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF and PNG images and plays MPEG-4 and H.264 video. It supports the following audio formats.

  AUDIO FORMATS

  Formats      classic  nano  shuffle

  MP3             X      X      X
  MP3 VBR         X      X      X
  AAC             X      X      X
  WAV             X      X      X
  Audible         X      X      X

  Apple Lossless  X
  AIFF            X



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Touch - Classic - Nano - Shuffle

The "touch" (left) uses the newer iPhone-style interface, while the "classic" (next) is the largest iPod with the traditional click wheel. The flash memory iPods have less capacity, but are smaller, thinner and lighter. Following are model details ("G" means generation). (Image courtesy of Apple Inc.) 


  CURRENT iPOD MODELS
                             -----Capacity----
  Model         Screen       Storage     Songs

  touch (2g)    3.5" color    8GB flash   1,750
  touch (2g)    3.5" color   16GB flash   3,500
  touch (2g)    3.5" color   32GB flash   7,000
  See iPod touch.

  classic (5g)  2.5" color    80GB disk  20,000
  classic (5g)  2.5" color   160GB disk  40,000
  See iPod classic.

  nano (4g)     2" color      8GB flash   1,750
  nano (4g)     2" color     16GB flash   3,500
  See iPod nano.

  shuffle (2g)  no screen     1GB flash     240
  See iPod shuffle.



  EARLIER iPOD MODELS

  Model           Screen      Storage

  touch (1g)    3.5" color    8GB flash
  touch (1g)    3.5" color   16GB flash
  touch (1g)    3.5" color   32GB flash
  See iPod touch.

  classic (1g-3g) 2" mono     5, 10, 15, 20,
                               30 & 40GB disk
  classic (4g)    2" color    20 & 60GB disk
  iPod Photo (4g) 2" color    30 & 60GB disk
  iPod U2* (4g)   2" color    20GB disk
  * = signatures of U2 band members on case
  classic (5g)    2.5" color  30GB disk
  classic (5g)    2.5" color  60GB disk

  nano (1g)       1.5" color  1GB flash
  nano (2g)       1.5" color  2GB flash
  nano (2g)       1.5" color  4GB flash
  nano (2g)       1.5" color  8GB flash
  nano (3g)       2" color    4GB flash
  nano (3g)       2" color    8GB flash

  shuffle (1g)    none      512MB flash
  shuffle (1g)    none        1GB flash


  Mini            1.7" mono   4 and 6GB disk



_IPODFAM.JPG


iPoddery

Within a couple years, the iPod became one of the hottest consumer electronics devices on the market. In 2004, this rural Vermont family was delighted to show us their "iPoddery." On the right is the first iPod table top docking station and speaker system, from Bose. The smaller Altec Lansing unit is portable and lets our young hero carry his own iPod boom box.




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A Girl's Best Friend

What did a 13-year-old crave for her birthday in 2004? An iPod Mini... in powder blue. Of course.




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The Click Wheel

The iPod's first user interface. Originally rotating, and later changed to stationary and touch sensitive, the wheel is clicked and also scrolled by moving a finger around it. The click wheel was superseded by an entirely different and touch sensitive user interface, introduced with the iPhone and later the iPod touch. This iPod is in a protective, rubber housing.






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