Unbelievably, it’s eight years since the first iPod was launched by apple and it hadn’t really had a huge covering. Although, on the day it was introduced by steve jobs, the little gadget suddenly offered a huge possibility. In the words of steve jobs “the biggest thing about the ipod is that it holds 1,000 songs. This is a quantum leap, as for most people, this is their whole music library. this is huge”
This was going to hold your record collection, CD collection and even those poor old mini-discs. the next line from steve jobs suddenly threw out an amazing future of music and a lot more room in your flat.
“ the best thing about the ipod is that your whole music library fits in your pocket” steve jobs created a whole new industry based around a little music player that apple would dominate for perhaps generations to come.
The design of the iPod made it hugely popular, it was ultra thin (okay, nowadays slightly brick-like) and had a HUGE memory (again 5gb!!).
We may laugh at that now, bit it goes to show the market has boomed over this little gadget. The first iPod had 20 minutes of skip protection, so it could be used whatever you were doing and even boasted 10 hours of battery life.
The first iPod was only Mac ready but apple soon evolved this so every windows user could get involved in the joys of the iPod, even creating a digital music store that users could quickly and cheaply download songs from. In short, the iPod became it’s own little institution.
Due to the popularity of the iPod Apple have created a variety of different versions to tailor the needs of their consumers. This can cause confusion for some of our customers, so we have put together this guide to help you identify the exact version you have.
Alternatively you can use apples definitive resource on identifying your exact iPod model. Apple's guide to identifying your iPod.
First announced on October 23 2001, with a 5GB hard drive. This 1st generation iPod was also released in a 10GB version in March 2002.
The 1st generation is almost identical to the 2nd generation, apart from the scroll wheel. The 1st generation's scroll wheel is a moving part that rotates when moved; this was changed to a touch sensitive wheel (similar to a laptops track pad) when the 2nd generation iPod was released. The 1st generation iPod also only does not have a cover over the Firewire port at the top of the unit.
Due to only minor differences with the 2nd generation, accessories for the 2nd generation will fit both models and vice versa.
The 2nd generation iPod was first announced on July 17, 2002 at Macworld in 10GB and 20GB capacities.
The 2nd generations main difference was the replacement of the moving scroll wheel with a “touch sensitive” non-mechanical one, called a, “touch wheel”.
The 2nd generation iPod was also slightly heavier and thicker due to different hard drives. However the dimensions are only slightly different and they are capable of sharing the same accessories.
1st generation iPod are very rare and if you have an iPod that looks like one of these it is most likely a 2nd generation.
The 3rd generation of iPod was introduced on April 28, 2003. During their life time the 3rd generation iPod were released in 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40GB flavours.
The 3rd generation iPod was flatter and thinner than it's predecessors, and had a smoother rounder feel to it. This generation also saw changed to the headphone connector, and the firewire port replaced by a dock connector on the bottom of the unit, allowing it to be placed vertically in a dock.
One of the most noticeable changes to the 3rd generation was the addition of touch sensitive buttons under the screen, backlit with a red light. This new design was an instant hit and helped to propel the iPod into the mainstream.
Other changes saw Apple dropping separate Windows and Mac versions in favour of a unified version, the release of iTunes for Windows rather than using Music Match Jukebox, and the option to use a USB connection as well as Firewire.
Released on October 26, 2004 and originally called the iPod photo the colour iPod features a colour screen and the ability to sync with photo programmes and displays slide shows.
The iPod photo launched with 60GB or 40GB version before Apple lowered the 40GB model to 30GB. Since June 28, 2005 Apple merged the iPod photo with the normal 4th generation iPod by stopping production of the black and white screen ipods and dropping the “photo” part of the name.
The colour 4th generation iPod has a better battery life than the black and white 4th generation and but is about a millimetre thicker.
The colour iPods are all classed as 4th generation, and will share accessories. Currently they are only available in 20GB and 40GB flavors. The u2 iPod's also now only come in colour, and as with the black and white 4th generation are exactly the same bar the outer casing.
The fifth generation iPod was launched in October 2005. Often referred to as the Video iPod or iPod video, the device is capable of playing MPEG-4 and H.264 video. The iPod can also plug into a TV using an AV cable accessory.
The fifth generation iPod has a 65,536 colour (16-bit) screen and measures 03.5 x 61.8 x 11.0 mm for the 30GB version, and 103.5 x 61.8 x 14.0 mm for the 60GB version. The click wheel design is the same as the previous generation, but is marginally smaller (1.5" diameter) than before.
The new click wheel is completely flat, unlike older models where the centre button is slightly rounded and raised.
The headphone jack has been moved from the center of the top to the right of the top, while the hold switch has been moved to the left side of the top. The device ships in black or white flavours.
The iPod mini was introduced by Apple on January 6, 2004. The iPod mini offers 4GB of storage in a smaller unit to the standard iPod range. The iPod mini also introduced the click wheel that was later incorporated into the 4th generation of the standard iPods.
In February 2005, Apple released a 2nd generation with a 6GB model in addition to the 4GB model, that both offered 18 hours of playback. This was achieved by using a different screen meaning that older iPod mini's can't get a battery boost by updating the battery. Apart from this difference the mini's are otherwise identical and can share accessories and cases.
The easiest way to tell between the generations (other than the size), is the colour of the button icons. The second generation has button icons that match the colour of the main casing, whilst the 1st generation have reflective silver button icons.
The iPod nano is regarded as Apples 4th digital music player. Introduced in September 2005 the tiny iPod nano replaced the iPod mini.
The iPod nano uses flash memory and has a miniturised version of the colour screen and click wheel, found in the 4th and 5th generation iPods. The click wheel on the iPod nano is slightly rough to allow easy out of sight use.
The iPod nano is 40mm by 90mm by 6.9mm and weighs only 42 grams. It has a battery life of 14 hours and a 176 x 132 pixel, 38mm screen.
The nano currently comes in 2 sizes 2GB and 4GB and in black and white.
Introduced Sept 2006 in 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB and 6 Bright new colours Silver, Pink, Black, Green, Blue, and RED Special Edition.
The iPod nano comes with a 40% brighter colour screen, up to 24 hours of battery life
With its new anodized aluminum enclosure and rounded edges, iPod nano it's sleeker than ever — 3.5 inches tall, 1.6 inches wide, and just over quarter of an inch thin.
Introduced in September 2007, in 4GB and later in 8GB models, the small square iPod became the smallest Nano to date, in a new funky style. This was a completely new design with a 2-inch screen and video capability The Nano was announced in a 4 GB version coming in silver and an 8 GB version coming in silver, turquoise, mint green, black, and Product Red. Combining elements from previous generations of the iPod nano, the third-generation Nano has an aluminum front plate and a stainless steel back plate. New features include browsing via Cover Flow, a new user interface and video playback.
The six previous colors (silver, black, mint, turquoise, berry red, and rose pink) have been replaced by silver, black, purple, light blue, green, yellow, orange, red, and pink, for a total of nine, again Product Red being available through Apple retailers only. Apple markets the new colors as "nano-chromatic". Also added is an accelerometer which allows the Nano to shuffle songs by shaking it, the option between portrait and landscape display modes by tilting the iPod left or right, and access to Cover Flow when tilted sideways.
It also offers a new voice recording feature which starts automatically when an Apple compatible microphone is plugged in. It also includes the new "Genius" feature, introduced by Apple at around the same time.
Very similar to the fourth generation, this model was launched in September 2009, looking very similar to the fourth gen but with a much shinier casing. Having a slightly wider screen, the iPod also offers special features including microphone, FM Radio and iTunes tagging (Via RDS) and live pause. The fifth Gen Nano’s most attractive feature is the tiny video camera and microphone in the back casing.
Released in September 2007, the 6th Gen iPod or ‘Classic’ was reminiscent of the 5th Gen but with slightly thinner housing, a improved battery life and a new anodized aluminuim front casing. The Classic is available in Silver or Black and was released in 80Gb, 160Gb and 120Gb, making it the highest capacity iPod on the market.
Autumn 2007 welcomed the ‘Touch’ to the iPod’s ever growing family. The Touch offers a portable media player, WI_FI enabled personal digital assistant. It is the first iPod with wireless access to the iTunes Store, and also has access to Apple's App Store, enabling content to be purchased and downloaded directly on the device. The first gen Touch comes in 8Gb, 16Gb, and eventually in 32gb.
The second generation was launched in the same month a year later in 2008. The second generation iPod Touch, features external volume controls, a built-in speaker, a contoured back, built-in Nike+, Bluetooth support, and the ability to connect a microphone. This was available in 8Gb, 16gb, 32gb,
The most recent Touch released in September 2009, includes faster hardware, voice control, light sensor, and bundled earphones with a remote and microphone and upgraded internals from the iPhone 3GS. The Third generation also came in a whopping 64GB.
Apple’s first mobile phone, the iPhone. Was released in January 2007 and made a very big enterance with consumers queing up to grab one. The iPhone includes a camera phone, portable media player (similar to a video iPod), text messaging, visual voicemail, email, internet browsing and wi-fi.
The iPhone 3G moved from a chrome back to a curved non-metallic back in black or white. The iPhone 3G supports faster 3G data speeds and also assisted GPS. The 3g also enabled an application platform that turned the iPhone into the nearest thing to a walking computer!
The iPhone 3GS was announced on June 8, 2009, and has improved performance, a camera with more mega pixels and video capability, and voice control and improved battery life.
On January 11, 2005 Apple announced the iPod shuffle, the first iPod to use flash memory and no moving parts.
The iPod shuffle comes in a 512MB and 1GB version and allows for data storage. The iPod shuffle plugs straight into a USB slot where it can be synced with iTunes and charged.
Due to the simplicity of the iPod Shuffle it is often impossible to repair them or more costly that the unit itself. Therefore we do not currently offer ipod shuffle repairs.