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{{Infobox PMP

|title=iPod 
|image=
 The iPod line consists of (from left to right) the |Anodized aluminum casing and 6 colors available.

|USB (FireWire for charging only) |12 September 2006 |$149, $199, $249 |10.3/2000 |- !third |align="center"| |4, 8 GB |2" QVGA screen, colors refreshed, new interface, video capability. |USB (FireWire for charging only) |5 September 2007 |$149, $199 |10.4/XP |- !rowspan="1"|iPod touch !first |align="center"|iPod touch |8, 16 GB |With Safari browser, Multi-touch, Wi-Fi, wireless access to the iTunes Store and YouTube. |USB (FireWire for charging only) |5 September 2007 |$299, $399 |10.4/XP |-

|}

Each new generation usually has more features and refinements while typically being smaller and lighter than its predecessor. Notable changes include the touch-sensitive click wheel replacing the mechanical scroll wheel, use of color displays, and flash memory replacing hard disks. Discontinued models include the first five generations of the full-sized iPod, both generations of the iPod mini, and the first generation of the shuffle, and the first two generations of the nano.

The software bundled with the first generation iPod was Macintosh-only, so Windows users had to use third-party software like ephPod or XPlay to manage their music. When Apple introduced the second generation of iPods in July 2002, they sold two versions, one that included iTunes for Macintosh users and another that included Musicmatch Jukebox for Windows users. In October 2003, Apple released the Windows version of iTunes, and started selling iPods that included both Macintosh and Windows versions of iTunes so that they could be used with either platform.

In December 2002, Apple unveiled its first limited edition iPods, with either Madonna’s, Tony Hawk’s, or Beck’s signature or No Doubt's band logo engraved on the back for an extra US$50. On October 26 2004, Apple introduced a special edition of its fourth generation monochrome iPod, designed in the color scheme of the album (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb) by Irish rock band U2. It had a black case with a red click wheel and the back had the engraved signatures of U2's band members. This iPod was updated alongside the iPod photo and fifth generation iPod.

On October 13 2006, Apple released a special edition 4 GB red iPod nano as part of the (PRODUCT) campaign. An 8 GB version was released three weeks later and both of them sold for the same price as the standard models. US$10 from each sale is donated to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria. On September 5, 2007, Apple also added a (PRODUCT) iPod shuffle model. They did not disclose how much will be donated to charity from this model. Apple also released Special Edition Harry Potter iPods to accompany the iPod photo. These were engraved with the Hogwarts Crest on the back and were only available to purchasers of the Harry Potter audiobooks. They were updated when the fifth generation iPods were released, but were only available for a limited time.

Timeline of iPod models v t e
Sources: Apple press release library, Mactracker Apple Inc. model database

Criticisms

Battery issues

The advertised battery life on most models is different from the real-world achievable life. For example, the fifth generation 30 GB iPod is advertised as having up to 14 hours of music playback. An MP3.com report stated that this was virtually unachievable under real-life usage conditions, with a writer for MP3.com getting on average less than 8 hours from his or her iPod. In 2003, class action lawsuits were brought against Apple complaining that the battery charges lasted for shorter lengths of time than stated and that the battery degraded over time. The lawsuits were settled by offering individuals either US$50 store credit or a free battery replacement.

iPod batteries are not designed to be removed or replaced by the user, although some users have been able to open the case themselves, usually following instructions from third-party vendors of iPod replacement batteries. Compounding the problem, Apple initially would not replace worn-out batteries. The official policy was that the customer should buy a refurbished replacement iPod, at a cost almost equivalent to a brand new one. All lithium-ion batteries eventually lose capacity during their lifetime (guidelines are available for prolonging life-span) and this situation led to a small market for third-party battery replacement kits.

Apple announced a battery replacement program on November 14, 2003, a week before a high publicity stunt and website by the Neistat Brothers. The initial cost was US$99, and it was lowered to US$59 in 2005. One week later, Apple offered an extended iPod warranty for US$59. For the iPod nano, soldering tools are needed because the battery is soldered onto the main board. Fifth generation iPods have their battery attached to the backplate with adhesive.

Bass response

The third generation iPod had a weak bass response, as shown in audio tests. The combination of the undersized DC-blocking capacitors and the typical low-impedance of most consumer headphones form a high-pass filter, which attenuates the low-frequency bass output by up to 10 dB. Similar capacitors were used in the fourth generation iPods. The problem is reduced when using high-impedance headphones and is completely masked when driving high-impedance (line level) loads. The first generation iPod shuffle uses a dual-transistor output stage rather than a single capacitor-coupled output, and does not exhibit reduced bass response for any load.

Equalizer

If the sound is enhanced with the iPod's software equalizer (EQ), some EQ settings — like R&B, Rock, Acoustic, and Bass Booster — can cause bass distortion too easily. The equalizer amplifies the digital audio level beyond the software's limit, causing distortion (clipping) on songs that have a bass drum or use a bassy instrument, even when the amplifier level is low. One possible workaround is to reduce the volume level of the song by modifying the audio file. This can be done within the iTunes Get Info Window, under the options tab there is a Volume Adjustment Slider.

Reliability and durability

iPods have been criticized for their short life-span, fragile hard drives, and planned obsolescence. A 2005 survey conducted on the MacInTouch website found that the iPod had an average failure rate of 13.7%. It concluded that some models were more durable than others. In particular failure rates for iPods employing hard drives was usually above 20% while flash memory ones below 10%, indicating poor hard drive durability. In late 2005, many users complained that the surface of the first generation iPod nano can become scratched easily, rendering the screen unusable. A class action lawsuit was also filed. Apple initially considered the issue a minor defect, but later began shipping these iPods with protective sleeves.

Allegations of worker exploitation

On June 11 2006, the British newspaper Mail on Sunday reported that iPods are mainly manufactured by workers who earn no more than US$50 per month and work 15-hour shifts. Apple investigated the case with independent auditors and found that, while some of the plant's labour practices met Apple's Code of Conduct, others did not: Employees worked over 60 hours a week for 35% of the time, and worked more than six consecutive days for 25% of the time.

Apple's manufacturer — which initially denied the abuses — promised to disallow working more hours than the Code allowed. Apple hired a workplace standards auditing company, Verité, and joined the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct Implementation Group to oversee the measures. On December 31 2006, workers at the Taiwanese factory (owned by Foxconn) formed a union. The union is affiliated with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.

Patent disputes

In 2005, Apple Computer faced two lawsuits claiming patent infringement by the iPod and its associated technologies: Advanced Audio Devices claimed the iPod breached its patent on a "music jukebox", while a Hong Kong-based IP portfolio company called Pat-rights filed a suit claiming that Apple's FairPlay technology breached a patent issued to inventor Ho Keung Tse. The latter case also includes the online music stores of Sony, RealNetworks, Napster, and Musicmatch as defendants.

Apple's application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a patent on "rotational user inputs", as used on the iPod's interface, received a third "non-final rejection" (NFR) in August 2005. Also in August 2005, Creative Technology, one of Apple's main rivals in the MP3 player market, announced that it held a patent on part of the music selection interface used by the iPod, which Creative dubbed the "Zen Patent", granted on August 9, 2005. On May 15 2006, Creative filed another suit against Apple with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Creative also asked the United States International Trade Commission to investigate whether Apple was breaching U.S. trade laws by importing iPods into the United States.

On August 24 2006, Apple and Creative announced a broad settlement to end their legal disputes. Apple will pay Creative US$100 million for a paid-up license, to use Creative's awarded patent in all Apple products. As part of the agreement, Apple will recoup part of its payment, if Creative is successful in licensing the patent. Creative then announced its intention to produce iPod accessories by joining the Made for iPod program.

Sales

Since October 2004, the iPod has dominated digital music player sales in the United States, with over 90% of the market for hard drive-based players and over 70% of the market for all types of players. During the year from January 2004 to January 2005, the high rate of sales caused its U.S. market share to increase from 31% to 65% and in July 2005, this market share was measured at 74%.

The release of the iPod mini helped to ensure this success at a time when competing flash-based music players were once dominant. On January 8 2004, Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced that they would sell HP-branded iPods under a license agreement from Apple. Several new retail channels were used—including Wal-Mart—and these iPods eventually made up 5% of all iPod sales. In July 2005, HP stopped selling iPods due to unfavorable terms and conditions imposed by Apple.

In January 2007, Apple reported record quarterly earnings of US$7.1 billion, of which 48% was made from iPod sales.

On April 9 2007, it was announced that Apple had sold its one-hundred millionth iPod, making it the biggest selling digital music player of all time. In April 2007, Apple reported second quarter earnings of US$5.2 billion, of which 32% was made from iPod sales. Apple and several industry analysts suggest that iPod users are likely to purchase other Apple products such as Mac computers.

Industry impact

iPods have won several awards ranging from engineering excellence, to most innovative audio product, to fourth best computer product of 2006. iPods often receive favorable reviews; scoring on looks, clean design, and ease of use. PC World says that iPods have "altered the landscape for portable audio players". Several industries are modifying their products to work better with both the iPod and the AAC audio format. Examples include CD copy-protection schemes, and mobile phones, such as phones from Sony Ericsson and Nokia, which play AAC files rather than WMA. Microsoft's Zune device also supports AAC and it has adopted a similar closed DRM model used by iPods and the iTunes Store, despite Microsoft previously marketing the benefits of choice with their PlaysForSure initiative. Podcasts and download charts have also had mainstream adoption.

In addition to its reputation as a respected entertainment device, the iPod has also become accepted as a business device. Government departments, major institutions and international organisations have turned to the iPod as a delivery mechanism for business communication and training, such as the Royal and Western Infirmaries in Glasgow, Scotland where iPods are used to train new staff.

See also

• Comparison of portable media players
• Comparison of iPod managers
• iPhone
• iPodLinux, a Linux distro for iPods.

References

1. Apple Unveils New iPods, Apple Inc., 2002-07-17. Retrieved on 2007-02-19.
2. Apple Launches iTunes for Windows, Apple Inc., 2003-10-16. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
3. Dalrymple, Jim. Limited Edition Madonna, Tony Hawk, Beck iPods. Macworld, 2002-09-10. Retrieved on 2007-01-07.
4. Apple Inc., Apple press release library, Retrieved September 19, 2007.
5. Mactracker (mactracker.ca), Apple Inc. model database, version as of July 26, 2007.
6. MP3 Insider: The truth about your battery life, mp3.com, 2006-03-13. Retrieved on 2006-07-10.
7. Apple investigates iPod batteries, BBC News, 2004-02-10. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
8. Horwitz, Jeremy. Apple’s iPod Battery Settlement, Explained, iLounge, 2005-06-10. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.
9. The Curse of Lithium Ion Batteries, MP3 Newswire, 2006-01-06. Retrieved on 2006-11-30.
10. iPod Battery FAQ. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
11. Neistat, Casey. A Message From the Neistat Brothers, 2003-11-20. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
12. Apple offers iPod battery replacement service, MacMinute, 2003-11-14. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
13. AppleCare for iPod now available, MacMinute, 2003-11-21. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
14. Ecker, Clint. Vivisection of the Video iPod, Ars Technica, 2005-10-19. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
15. Disassemble Guide for Video iPod. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
16. Machrone, Bill. iPod audio measurements, PC Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
17. Heijligers, Marc. iPod audio measurements. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
18. Heijligers, Marc. iPod circuit design engineering, May 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
19. Kuzmanoski, Brian. Analysis of the iPod's equalizer, DAP review. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
20. MacInTouch reader report of iPod sound distortion, MacInTouch, July 2002. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
21. Baca, Ricardo. When iPods go bad, Denver Post, 2006-07-18. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
22. Slade, Giles. The iPod Is Bad Garbage, Tyee Books, 2006-08-01. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
23. iPod Reliability Survey, MacInTouch, 2005-11-28. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
24. Apple responds to iPod nano screen concerns, Macworld, 2005-09-27. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
25. Arthur, Charles. iPod Nano owners in screen scratch trauma, The Register, 2005-09-25. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
26. Fried, Ina. Suit filed over Nano scratches, CNet News, 2005-10-21. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
27. Inside Apple's iPod factories, Macworld UK, 2006-06-12. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
28. Millard, Elizabeth. Is It Ethical To Own an iPod?. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
29. Foxconn denies iPod 'sweatshop' claims, MacNN, 2006-06-19. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
30. Bodeen, Chistopher. Official Union Forms at Taiwanese Plant, Forbes, 2007-01-17. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
31. Apple faces patent lawsuits over its iPod, ChannelRegister, 2005-03-10. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
32. U.S. Patent 6,587,403 — Advanced Audio Devices' "music jukebox" patent.
33. U.S. Patent 6,665,797 — "Protection of software again against unauthorized use" (corrected to "Computer Apparatus/Software Access Control").
34. Apple, Sony among those named in new DRM lawsuit, AppleInsider, 2005-08-16. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
35. U.S. patent application 20030095096 Apple's application on "rotational user inputs".
36. U.S. Patent 6,928,433 Creative Technology's "Zen" patent.
37. Creative wins MP3 player patent, BBC News, 2005-08-30. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
38. Creative sues Apple over patent, Macworld UK, 2006-05-16. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
39. Apple & Creative Announce Broad Settlement..., , Apple Inc.. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
40. Marsal, Katie. iPod: how big can it get?, AppleInsider, 2006-05-24. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
41. jomy Apple Computer (presentation slides), 2005-10-18. Retrieved on 2006-05-25.
42. HP to stop selling Apple's iPods, AppleInsider, 2005-07-29. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
43. Apple Reports First Quarter Results, Apple Inc., 2007-01-17. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
44. Apple Reports Second Quarter Results, Apple Inc.. Retrieved on 2007-04-25.
45. Orlowski, Andrew. For Apple, Halo effect eclipses Osborne effect, The Register, 2005-10-11. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
46. iPod and Bluetooth lead to prizes, BBC News, 2005-06-03. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
47. The 25 Most Innovative Products of the Year, PC World. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
48. Apple wins 5 'World Class' awards, MacNN. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
49. "The 25 Most Innovative Products of the Year". PC World. 2007-08-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
50. Apple, iPod, and CD Copy Protection, MacRumors. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
51. Hospitals train staff with iPods, BBC News, 2006-03-29. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.

External links

• Apple iPod — Official website
• Identifying iPod models
• Apple's 21st century Walkman — Brent Schlender, Fortune, October 2001
• iPod Nation — Steven Levy, Newsweek, July 2004
• Behind the Music — Ken Aaron, Cornell Engineering, 2005
• The Perfect Thing — Steven Levy, Wired, November 2006

• 2000s fashion
• 2001 introductions
• Digital audio players
• Flash-based Players
• Hard drive based audio players
• Industrial design examples
• IPod