iPod classic 5th generation. The history of the iPod from the first generation to the great iPod touch

16 years ago, on October 23, 2001, Apple introduced the iPod mp3 player, which later became the world's most popular portable audio player. The gadget not only “killed” massive players with audio cassettes and CDs, but also revolutionized the music player market.

First generation iPod
Apple promoted the first generation iPod with the slogan "1,000 songs in your pocket." The gadget is made in a compact white case, has 5 or 10 GB of user space and is equipped with a ClickWheel - a scroll wheel that allows you to quickly scroll through hundreds of songs. The iPod lasted up to 12 hours on a single battery charge and cost $399. The device attracted buyers so much that they were not bothered by the exotic FireWire port instead of USB, which limited the iPod's compatibility strictly with Apple computers.

Second generation iPod

The second generation of the famous player remained without external changes, but the size of the user space increased to 10 or 20 GB, depending on the modification, and the scroll wheel became touch-sensitive. Also, this version of the iPod was released in two versions - iPod for Windows and iPod for macOS.

Third generation iPod

The third generation of iPod underwent a major redesign - the scroll wheel remained in its usual place, and four large music playback control buttons appeared above it. This is the first iPod to use a 30-pin connector. The kit included a case with a belt clip, two plugs for the 30-pin port, and a docking station (except for the 10 GB model). Modifications of 10, 20 and 40 GB were on sale.

iPod mini

The next version of the iPod was the pass-through iPod mini, which was released on January 6, 2004. It is made in a compact case, received only 4 GB and was produced in several color options. In this version, ClickWheel was changed again - control buttons were returned to the wheel.

On February 22, 2004, the second generation iPod mini was released. Apple installed a more capacious battery in the gadget, allowing it to play music for 18 hours, and also increased the amount of built-in storage to 6 GB.

Fourth generation iPod (iPod Photo)

The fourth generation iPod, also known as iPod Photo, was released in July 2004. At first the player was produced with a monochrome display, but in 2005 the company released iPod Photo with a color matrix capable of displaying 65 thousand colors. The user space capacity was 20 or 40 GB, and later 30 and 60 GB versions appeared.

First generation iPod shuffle

iPod shuffle has become Apple's simplest and cheapest player. The first shuffle was introduced on January 11, 2005 and was available with 512 MB or 1 GB of internal memory. Battery life - 12 hours. Weight - 22 grams.

First generation iPod nano

iPod nano was produced in three versions - with 1, 2 and 4 GB of user space. In addition to displaying track and album titles, the first generation iPod nano could display JPEG, BMP, GIF, and other image formats. A full battery charge lasted for 14 hours of music playback.

Fifth generation iPod (iPod Video)

On October 12, 2005, the iPod 5G, better known as iPod Video, was released. It became the first Apple player capable of playing video. Built-in memory sizes are 30, 60 and 80 GB. Battery life is almost 20 hours. Also, after updating the firmware, it became possible to run some games on the iPod.

iPod nano second generation

Compared to the first generation, it had double the memory (2, 4 or 8 GB), an improved anodized aluminum body and a brighter screen. The iPod came in several colors and could last up to 24 hours on a single charge.

The second generation Shuffle turned out to be completely different from its predecessor - it became three times smaller, and a clip appeared on the body, allowing it to be attached to clothing. The amount of user space is 1 or 2 GB. Produced in 9 colors.

Sixth generation iPod (iPod classic)

Beginning with the sixth generation, the iPod became known as the iPod classic. The volume of built-in memory (the player has a hard drive) is a record for those times: 80, 120 and 160 GB. Battery life - 30 hours of music playback and 5 hours of playback. For the 160 GB model, these figures are even higher - 40 and 7 hours, respectively. iPod classic was released.

The third generation of iPod nano received 4 and 8 GB of memory and increased operating time. The gadget also began to support video playback. In addition, the player received cosmetic improvements, as well as a brighter two-inch color display.

First generation iPod touch

The first iPod with Wi-Fi and MultiTouch interface came out a little later than the first iPhone. The player, like the iPhone, ran the iOS operating system. The iPod touch was equipped with a 3.5-inch touch display with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels. Touch control has completely replaced ClickWheel and only the Home button remains on the front panel. The volume of built-in memory is 8 and 16 GB.

The fourth generation of iPod nano has undergone a major redesign: the player has been stretched and the color scheme has been completely changed. iPod nano now has an accelerometer and landscape mode. You could buy 4, 8 and 16 GB versions.

The gadget has changed a little in appearance, received a Bluetooth module and a more capacious battery. Operating time from a full battery charge is up to 36 hours in audio mode and 6 in video mode.

The player was the first to use VoiceOver technology, which could read artist names and song titles in 20 languages. For the first time, support for multiple playlists appeared. The player weighs only 10.7 grams. Memory capacity - 2 and 4 GB.

Apple slightly increased the display resolution to 376 by 220 and added a built-in camera. There were models with 8 and 16 GB of memory to choose from in eight body colors.

The design has not changed. The set includes new headphones equipped with a microphone. The processor performance and RAM capacity were also increased from 128 to 256 MB. The voice control function VoiceControl has appeared.

The player has become more compact, has a touch-sensitive color display with a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels, 8 or 16 GB of user space and a clip on the back panel, like in the iPod shuffle. The company decided to remove the camera and speakers present in the previous model. Weight - 21.1 grams. The player has become popular due to the ability to use it as a “smart” watch.

The player weighs 12.5 grams, a full battery charge lasts for 15 hours of listening to music, the body is made of anodized aluminum, and the built-in memory is 2 GB. In 2015, the company released an updated version of the player, which did not receive any innovations, except for several new body colors.

The gadget received two cameras: the main one for taking photos/videos and the front one for talking in FaceTime. The screen, with the same dimensions, has become more contrasty, and the resolution has increased to 960 x 640 pixels. The exact same Retina display was used in the iPhone 4. Support for the device ended with the release of iOS 6.1.6.

The iPod nano has been pulled out once again - it will no longer be a smart watch. The model was produced only with 16 GB of memory. The player weighs 31 grams. In April 2015, Apple released additional body colors.

The fifth generation iPod touch received a 4-inch display with a resolution of 1136 x 640 pixels, 512 MB of RAM, improved main and front cameras, a new processor and several bright colors. The volume of internal memory is 16, 32 and 64 GB. The iPod touch comes with a USB to Lightning cable. Player support ended with the release of iOS 9.

While outwardly the new player has absorbed all the best features of the fifth generation, in terms of performance it has left its predecessor far behind. The iPod received an A8 processor, an improved video chip and an 8-megapixel main camera. The maximum internal storage capacity has increased to 128 GB. The model is still relevant - you can install the latest iOS 11 on it.

That's all. Apple hasn't released a new iPod model since 2015. It is unknown whether the company will forget about these devices or whether in the near future we will see, for example, the seventh generation iPod touch. The company recently stopped production and sales of the iPod nano and iPod shuffle players, and also closed the pages dedicated to them on the official website. What do you think, do users need such devices now? Does it make sense to revive the iPod classic or continue the iPod touch line?

The iPod is a phenomenon. iPod is any player in the USA and many other countries. iPod is culture. The iPod is sales and what allowed Apple to survive in difficult times, and then rise to the top of modern business, because for a long time Apple received most of its profits from sales of the player.

In this article I want to tell you the history of this wonderful device. It appeared back in 2001. It wasn't supposed to revolutionize the market, but it did.

year 2001. First generation

Started selling on October 23, 2001. The first generation, as I already said, was not supposed to make a revolution. It was not equipped with record-breaking storage space and was quite bulky... But it made people talk about it. Just as they later discussed the iPhone, and later the iPad, users before the release of the first iPod argued furiously about whether the device would be a success, or whether it would fail miserably and “Apple should not be poking its nose into a market that is foreign to itself.” Do I need to tell you who was right?

The first generation of devices had a number of disadvantages, and the main disadvantage was that they only worked with Mac computers.

The volume of the hard drive installed in them was 5 gigabytes (later a version with 10 Gigabyte storage was released), and the interface for connecting to the computer was not a port familiar to everyone, but a FireWire interface. And the branded touch wheel was not yet available.

Second generation and year 2002

These players were released on July 17, 2002. In them, Apple took into account the sales experience of the previous generation. In particular, support for computers running Windows has appeared. True, it consisted of releasing two different versions of the player - one for Mac, and one for Windows. The amount of built-in memory has also increased. Now these were 10 and 20 Gigabytes, on which up to 4 thousand songs could be recorded, according to Apple.

Third generation, 2003

The release of the third generation of the player on April 28, 2003 was a big milestone in the history of the iPod. It was in this generation that the player acquired those features without which it would be impossible to imagine the iPod for a very long time. A 30-pin proprietary port and a proprietary Touch Wheel appeared. The range of available memory sizes has expanded: 10, 15 and 30 GB, then 15, 20 and 40 GB.

This generation also introduced branded accessories for the player: a case with a clip for wearing on a belt, headphones, and a control panel, which were supplied with the player.

2004: Fourth generation, iPod mini

In the fourth generation of players, in addition to numerical improvements: increasing the amount of memory, for example, player control was also improved - touch buttons migrated to the touch wheel, thereby completing its formation and leading to the form in which it still exists.

iPod mini covered two directions at once: they were bright and beautiful, and, at the same time, they were smaller and cheaper than their “big brothers”, although they provided a relatively modest volume for storing music - only 4 GB (even less than the first model 2001), while still being equipped with a hard drive.

2005: iPod photo, iPod Video, iPod mini 2g, iPod nano, iPod shuffle

This year was probably the most generous year for new iPods.

The iPod Photo came out, which was essentially a 4th generation player, but equipped with a color screen. There is, as the name suggests, the ability to view photos.

At the very beginning of the year, the iPod came out, “betraying all the behests of our ancestors” - equipped with flash memory instead of a hard drive, miniature, without a screen and with a ridiculous price. The iPod shuffle arrived triumphantly. Not much can be said about him. Its main feature was playback in shuffle mode. Such a “stripped-down” device at first glance quickly fell in love with young people and athletes.

iPod Video was released on October 12, 2005 and replaced its photo counterpart. His screen got bigger and he could watch videos. In top models, the operating time has increased significantly - from 15 to 20 hours of continuous playback. Need I say that the capacity of the hard drive has increased?

iPod mini 2g was not much different from its predecessor. A 6 GB version of the player has appeared, and battery life has increased significantly. In the same year, the model was discontinued, giving way to the following new product for this year:

Before the announcement on September 7, 2005, there were rumors that a “full-fledged” iPod would be released, equipped with a flash drive. And so he came out. However, a shock to the public was the discontinuation of the then extremely popular iPod mini. But, as always, Apple was not mistaken and soon the snow-white or mirror-black players won a huge army of fans. How could it be otherwise - they were small, light, fit comfortably in the hand, had a color screen and a chic Touch Wheel and reliable flash memory instead of a hard drive. The only drawback was the small amount of built-in memory, but for those who considered this drawback critical, there was the iPod Video.

2006, iPod nano 2g, iPod shuffle 2g

This year there were no updates to the “large” models, which, by the way, happened for the first time in the entire history of the player.

The second generation of iPod shuffle turned out to be probably the most successful - the form factor changed, turning the player from a “flash drive” into a “badge” that hung on clothes and did not interfere with the owner in the least. The new form turned out to be very successful and “lasted” right up until 2009.

The second generation of iPod nano, released on September 12, 2006, followed Apple's design trends and moved away from a glass-plastic body to an aluminum body. But it acquired new color options, catching the audience that was lost after the mini production ceased.

This date became another milestone in the history of Apple. On this day, the company presented the iPhone (all readers should have had a tear of emotion roll down their cheeks), and along with it the new iPod players

In connection with the release of a completely new iPod, the model, built on the same principle as before, has become morally obsolete. However, it was called a classic in time and thereby satisfied the needs of those who did not need a touch screen and a bunch of programs in the iPod touch.

The iPod nano has undergone a strange metamorphosis - it has been flattened and has become like a small Classic. It didn’t look as good as previous generations, but it did have a larger screen.

And here is the younger brother of the revolutionary device of 2007: the iPod Touch. It became a kind of “stripped-down iPhone” without a radio module and GPS. Apple could well have positioned it as a PDA, which it essentially is, but they caught the trend of the PDA market dying out and very competently presented the new product as a player, not lacking in brains, but a player.

2008 iPod nano 4g, second generation touch

This year was a bit of a bad year for iPods, as it was completely and exclusively devoted to the iPhone. However, there was a novelty in it and a very successful one:

nano is back to its usual look! At the same time, it “smoothed out” and acquired an oval cross-section, which only benefited it. However, in addition to the external changes, there were also internal ones. An accelerometer was added to it and a lot changed: mixing tracks by shaking the device, the Nike+iPod function and many other pleasant moments appeared. A voice recorder appeared.

Touch has become more like an iPhone, and performance has improved slightly.

2009: third generation iPod touch and shuffle, fifth nano

iPod nano has a camera and an external speaker. Otherwise these were only cosmetic changes.

Apparently, this generation of shuffle was an experiment for Apple to gauge how users would perceive the dramatic change in controls. I’ll say right away: they didn’t take it. Of course: the player itself returned to the form of a flash drive (although it did not lose the “clothespin”), it lost all controls, which, for some unknown reason, moved to the headphones, i.e. for consumables.

In the third generation, as well as in the third generation iPhone, there were quite significant changes in the internal filling of the player: the processor frequency and the amount of RAM increased and a separate graphics chip appeared.

year 2010 - iPod touch 4g, iPod nano 6g, iPod shuffle 4g

a year in which the iPod line received many changes. Both radically new and well-forgotten old ones.

The iPod shuffle has returned to what I consider to be the most successful "badge" form factor, allowing it to be worn on clothing. At the same time, it became even smaller than the second generation icon. Thank God, they returned control from the headphones to the player.

The iPod nano has seen the most changes this year. He became... completely different. Of the usual nano elements, only the screen has been preserved... But it has become touch-sensitive, like its older brother. Well, adopting is the best thing. The player has greatly decreased in size, becoming almost as miniature as the shuffle, and has acquired a clothespin for attaching to clothing on the back panel. Removed: camera, microphone, games, search functions, built-in speaker, ability to play video, reminders, calendar, world clock, contacts, notes, ability to select a larger font. The voice recorder function is now available only when a compatible headset is connected. In general, shouldn't it have been worth calling this model, for example, shuffle HD?

But in the iPod touch, all the improvements are for the better: a new A4 processor, a Retina screen, cameras. It would seem like a small list, but all these things brought the player to a new level of quality, making previous models irrelevant.

Well, that seems to be all. When I sat down to write this article, I did not at all expect that it would captivate me so much and grow so much. But it is impossible to write about wonderful players from Apple in a nutshell - they are all worthy of admiration and a separate large article. I hope you had as much fun reading this article as I did writing it.

The first iPod was released by Apple in 2001 with the slogan “A thousand songs in your pocket.” At that time, it was the smallest portable player, because it used a 1.8’’ hard drive, while all competing models worked with 2.5’’ drives. Nowadays 2.5-inch drives are used in laptops.

The iPod classic line includes 6 generations of portable media players. Initially, they could only be connected to Mac computers, but from the second generation they began to work with Windows.

At first glance, the decision to invest money in compatibility with competitors’ operating systems seemed strange, but the positioning of Apple’s new products as mobile devices convenient for any user determined the company’s further popularity in the market of portable gadgets. One generation of iPod was almost instantly replaced by another precisely because this media player was convenient and sold well.

In 2002, back in the days of the first generation version with a capacity of 10 GB, Apple added PDA functions: viewing text files, synchronizing contacts and schedules with a computer. Of all the iPod models, the Touch line stands out in appearance - players with a touch screen are more like a smartphone. The rest of Apple's players have a minimalist, intuitive interface that has changed little since 2001. The body got thinner, the screen and memory got bigger, but the Click Wheel, the visually recognizable circle of buttons under the screen, continues to be associated with Apple.

iPod classic

The entire line received the name classic when its latest, sixth generation was released. In 2014, Apple stopped production of the classic model, which by that time had already been replaced by players in the touch line. Although the classic also had touch scrolling, the touch line added a multi-touch interface, and these players are not much different from the iPhone. The control wheel - without a screen - is preserved in the players of the shuffle line.

The color screen first appeared in the fourth generation of the Apple iPod classic. Special editions were dedicated to this event - a version in black and red design from U2 with the signatures of all band members and the ability to download songs for free, as well as a version with the Hogwarts coat of arms engraved on the steel cover. The fifth generation of iPod was already capable of playing video. This model was also released in a special edition from the group U2.

Interestingly, the classic still has the largest capacity among the iPods - the latest generation of players, often called the seventh, has 160 GB of storage space. This is due to the use of 1.8'' hard drives, which had a lower cost compared to flash memory. They are not currently produced due to decreased demand.

iPod mini

This line lasted less than two years, from January 2004 to September 2005, and was released in only two generations. Mini players differed from classic players in their smaller size, bright body colors, designations of buttons on the control wheel, as well as the body material - for compactness, it was made of anodized aluminum, one-piece, without division into front and back covers.

The display on mini models is monochrome, a little more than 4 cm diagonal, with adjustable contrast levels and fairly bright backlighting. The design was similar to the classic version, but buyers were pleased with the variety of colors - these players were produced in blue, green, pink and silver cases. All these colors had a pronounced metallic tint.

iPod shuffle

The 1st generation iPod shuffle went on sale in January 2005. This model is even smaller than the mini, as Apple is the first to use flash memory in this line. And most importantly, shuffle players do not have a display, only control buttons. The name comes from the English word denoting the mode of playing songs in random order.

Models of the next generations of this line became even smaller, but at the same time they received more memory. Shuffle players also had a richer range of colors compared to the classic version. Already their second generation was released on the market in five colors, and the fourth generation in seven. Red players marked Product Red are produced in limited editions. Apple donates part of the money from their sales to international charities.

iPod nano

The first generation of iPod nano was also released in 2005. This line combines the best from the classic and shuffle models. Nano players replaced mini, which were discontinued at the same time. In 2011, the first-generation model could be replaced free of charge with the sixth-generation model. Apple made this decision after learning about the constant overheating of batteries in first-generation players.

The fourth generation of iPod nano, which appeared in 2008, added many functions that were no longer related to music: games, notes, calendar, contacts. The player began to synchronize with the iPhone headset, and now double and triple clicks on the headset's answer button have replaced pressing the player's buttons, and you don't need to take it out of your pocket to stop playback or switch to the next song.

The fifth generation had a video camera. The latest generation, the seventh, went on sale in 2012. This model can sync with wireless headphones and headsets using Bluetooth.

iPod touch

The first Apple player model with Wi-Fi support and a multi-touch display. Already the first generation players allowed you to browse web pages in the Safari browser and watch video files on YouTube, as well as listen and download songs in the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. The second generation players now have Bluetooth support and a built-in speaker.

The fourth generation was equipped with an HD camera. In addition, Apple used its own A4 processor for the first time. By the fifth generation of the line, the Apple processor became dual-core, and by the sixth - quad-core. The fifth and sixth generation models are available in different colors. An accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope appeared.

In 2017, Apple's press service announced the end of support for all iPods except the touch line. The latest models in the touch line perform almost all the functions of the iPhone, with the exception of those that require a SIM card. Cameras, screen quality - in all characteristics, the iPod is not inferior to the iPhone.

But now the Internet has become such a part of the life of any gadget user that Wi-Fi alone is no longer enough. If a person has a smartphone that suits him, there is a chance that the Apple player will no longer be useful, especially considering that the price of the latest model starts at 14,000 rubles. But for now, many music lovers buy a separate device to listen to it, so as not to depend on the battery charge of their phone or tablet.

15 years ago, on October 23, 2001, Steve Jobs introduced the original iPod to the world. This device was destined to revolutionize the music player market, influence the way people around the world listen to music and lay the foundation for the iPhone and iPad - the most popular smartphones and tablets in the world. How the iPod has changed over these 15 years is shown in this material.

First generation iPod (2001)

The same player that started it all. Released 15 years ago, the original iPod was priced at $399, had a monochrome screen, a 5GB hard drive, a FireWire port, and a physical scroll wheel. The second iPod turned out to be completely identical to the original, with one exception. Its scroll wheel was replaced with a touch wheel.

Third generation iPod (2003)

The first major redesign of the iPod occurred in 2003. In their proprietary third-generation player, Apple decided to seriously experiment by placing the multimedia control buttons separately, above the scroll wheel. In addition, this iPod was the first to introduce a 30-pin connector, which Apple subsequently used in all its mobile devices until the introduction of Lightning in 2012.

iPod Mini (2004)

An intermediate iPod model that is actually one of the most important in the line. The thinner and lighter (and at the same time less roomy) iPod Mini came in several fun colors, but most importantly, it became the first iPod model with the proprietary Click Wheel control element, which has become the hallmark of Apple players in general.

Fourth generation iPod (2004)

The fourth generation iPod is the classic iPod. This is what most people think of when talking about original Apple players. The first models of the player (already with the branded Click Wheel) were produced with black-and-white displays, but after that a special version of the iPod Photo with a color screen was released.

First generation iPod Shuffle (2005)

The original iPod Shuffle was the first iPod to have flash memory. In appearance, the player resembled a flash drive, which was especially facilitated by the removable cover of the USB connector. Distinctive features of the Shuffle are also the lack of a screen and a low price tag.

iPod Nano first generation (2005)

At one time, the iPod Nano shocked technology fans. The player had a thickness of only 7 mm, while in offline mode it could work for up to 14 hours. The only drawback of the iPod Nano, beloved by millions, was not the largest amount of memory (1, 2 or 4 GB).

Fifth generation iPod (2005)

The 2005 iPod received a wider body, and with it a screen on which you could freely watch videos, TV shows, clips, and later full-length films. It was with the advent of the fifth generation iPod that video content appeared in iTunes.

First generation iPod Touch (2007)

The iPod Touch, a device almost identical to the original iPhone, has become a favorite among music fans. Especially for those who wanted to have a player as a player, and not a smartphone, and also for those who, for some reason, were not delighted with the first Apple smartphone.

iPod Classic (2007)

The latest model of the original iPod, the iPod Classic, received minor design changes and updated software. A special feature of the player was the maximum storage capacity of 160 GB - no iPod has ever managed to surpass this figure. Apple stopped selling the iPod Classic completely in September 2014.

Fifth generation iPod Nano (2009)

Apple used the Nano brand to experiment with different form factors, including a "squashed" version of the third Nano and a stretched version of the fourth. In the fifth and final version, the engineers decided to add a camera and speaker to the player to complete the mincemeat.

Fourth generation iPod Touch (2010)

New players from the iPod Touch line continue to take the best from the latest iPhone models. The design improved, the “filling” became more and more cool, and in the fourth generation cameras and a Retina display appeared.

Fourth generation iPod Shuffle (2010)

After experimenting with the third generation Shuffle, which had no physical buttons at all, Apple decided to stop inventing anything. The fourth model of the iPod Shuffle became similar to the second generation - a miniature case with physical elements to control music playback.

Seventh generation iPod Nano (2012)

The latest iPod Nano is more similar to the iPod Touch than to players from its line, although not in functionality, but in appearance. The player has a touch screen, a proprietary Home button and excellent battery life (up to 30 hours when listening to audio).

iPod Touch sixth generation (2015)

And finally, the sixth generation iPod Touch. The “filling” of the iPhone 6, a selection of cheerful body colors, support for iOS 10 is an excellent modern player for those who still don’t want to listen to music on their smartphone.

This is how the iPod line has changed over the past 15 years. Her future does not inspire much hope. Most likely, we won't see new iPods again, unless, of course, Apple figures out how to revolutionize the industry again.

Read and use.

The first iPod appeared in 2001. In six years, he has already changed six generations. I propose to take a short historical excursion and see how the iPod changed and developed.

iPod, first generation
The very first iPod appeared on October 23, 2001 (soon to be 6 years old!). The disk capacity was only 5 GB (compare with modern models:) The player could play music for 12 hours, and the proprietary control wheel was not yet touch-sensitive.

iPod, second generation
The second generation iPod was released on July 17, 2002. Unlike the first generation, the iPod 2G was released in two versions - for working with Windows and for Mac OS. There were modifications with 5, 10 and 20 GB.

iPod, third generation
The third generation of the player appeared on April 28, 2003 and came with 5, 10 or 20 GB, and then 15, 20 and 40 GB of disk space. The player's operating time was even less than that of the first version - only 8 hours.

iPod mini, first generation
The next version of the iPod was the iPod mini, which was released on January 6, 2004. The iPod mini was smaller, had a 4GB drive, and came in several colors. It was in this version that the famous ClickWheel control wheel appeared.

iPod mini, second generation
The second generation of iPod mini was released on February 22, 2004. The most significant improvement was the increase in battery life to 18 hours. In addition, the player has a 6 GB modification.

iPod, fourth generation (iPod Photo)
The fourth generation iPod, also known as iPod Photo, was released in July 2004. At first the player was released with a monochrome display, but since 2005, iPod Photo has had a color display capable of displaying 65 thousand colors. The disk capacity was 20 or 40 GB, later - 20 or 60 GB. The player could work up to 12 hours without recharging.

iPod shuffle, first generation
iPod shuffle is the simplest and cheapest player in the series. The first shuffle appeared on January 11, 2005 and was released with 512 MB or 1 GB of memory on board. Battery life - 12 hours.

iPod nano, first generation
iPod nano was Apple's first flash memory-based player. The player appeared on September 7, 2005. The first generation nano was produced in three versions - with 1, 2 and 4 GB of memory. In addition to music, the iPod nano 1G could display images in JPEG, BMP, GIF and other formats. The battery charge was enough for 14 jobs.

iPod, fifth generation (iPod Video)
On October 12, 2005, the iPod 5G, known as iPod Video, was released. Firstly, this player could play video. Secondly, it could boast impressive amounts of disk space (30, 60 and 80 GB) and long operating time (up to 20 hours).

The second generation iPod nano was released on September 12, 2006. Compared to the first generation, it had double the amount of memory (2, 4 or 8 GB), an improved body and a brighter screen, came in several colors and could work up to 24 hours without recharging

iPod shuffle, second generation
The player was released in October 2006. The second generation Shuffle turned out to be completely different from its predecessor. The memory capacity was increased to 1 GB, the battery life remained at the same level - 12 hours.

iPod, sixth generation (iPod classic)
The player was introduced on September 5, 2007. Since the sixth generation, the iPod has been called the iPod classic. Disk capacity is 80 or 160 GB (!). Battery life has also been improved - iPod classic can last 30 hours as an audio player or 5 as a video player. The 160 GB model has even higher figures - 40 and 7 hours, respectively.

iPod nano, third generation
The third generation of iPod nano, also introduced on September 5, 2007, is very different from its predecessor. The memory capacity has traditionally doubled - modifications with 4 and 8 GB are available. The operating time is 24 hours in audio mode and 5 in video mode. Yes, this is the most important thing - iPod nano now supports video too!

iPod shuffle, third generation
The only difference between the new shuffle, released on September 5, 2007, is the presence of a special RED version, the proceeds from the sale of which will go to charity.

Let's finish our review with the most amazing new product, still presented on September 5, 2007 (a surprisingly rich day for iPod releases;) The iPod touch is what many wanted, an iPod with an iPhone interface. In addition to the revolutionary interface for the iPod, the player boasts 8 or 16 GB of memory, 22 hours of audio playback and 5 hours of video playback, and most importantly, Wi-Fi and a built-in Safari browser!

This concludes our chronological review. But it is quite possible that in six months it will have to be supplemented :)