IPod

The iPod was a line of s and multi-purpose s designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The first version was released on November 10, 2001, 10 months after the Macintosh version of iTunes was released.
Like other digital music players, some versions of the iPod can serve as external . Prior to macOS 10.15, Apple's iTunes software (and other alternative software) could be used to transfer music, photos, videos, games, contact information, e-mail settings, Web bookmarks, and calendars to the devices supporting these features from computers using certain versions of Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Before the release of iOS 5, the iPod branding was used for the media player included with the iPhone and iPad, a combination of the Music and Videos apps on the iPod touch. As of iOS 5, separate apps named "Music" and "Videos" are standardized across all iOS-powered products. While the iPhone and iPad have essentially the same media player capabilities as the iPod line, they are generally treated as separate products. During the middle of 2010, iPhone sales overtook those of the iPod. By 2020, only the iPod touch (7th generation) remained in production. Apple announced on May 10, 2022 that the iPod product line would be retired once the last remaining inventory of the 7th-generation iPod touches are sold out.Apple Kills the iPod by Phillip Tracy, Gizmodo. 2022-05-10.
==History==
Apple made the Newton from 1993 to 1998 and made the eMate from 1997 to 1998. Following the lackluster sales of these devices, Apple wanted a mobile device and so started to develop a personal media player, which would become the iPod.
The iPod was released in late 2001. The iPod line came from Apple's "digital hub" category, when the company began creating software for the growing market of personal digital devices. Digital cameras, camcorders, and organizers had well-established mainstream markets, but the company found existing digital music players "big and clunky or small and useless" with user interfaces that were "unbelievably awful,"Kahney, Leander.Straight Dope on the iPod's Birth, , October 17, 2006. Retrieved on October 30, 2006. so Apple decided to develop its own. As ordered by CEO Steve Jobs, Apple's hardware engineering chief Jon Rubinstein assembled a team of engineers to design the iPod line, including hardware engineers Tony Fadell and Michael Dhuey, and design engineer Jonathan Ive. Rubinstein had already discovered the Toshiba hard disk drive while meeting with an Apple supplier in Japan, and purchased the rights to it for Apple, and had also already worked out how the screen, battery, and other key elements would work.Steve Jobs by Walter Issac page 865 The aesthetic was inspired by the 1958 Braun T3 transistor radio designed by , while the wheel-based user interface was prompted by Bang & Olufsen's telephone. The product ("the of the twenty-first century"Simon, William L.; Young, Jeffrey S. (2005). iCon: Steve Jobs, The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 0-471-72083-6.) was developed in less than one year and unveiled on October 23, 2001. Jobs announced it as a Mac-compatible product with a 5 GB hard drive that put "1,000 songs in your pocket."
Apple did not develop the iPod software — sometimes called iPod OS — entirely in-house; instead it purchased a reference platform from PortalPlayer, based on two ARM cores and used by the iPod to manage disk drivers, power management, and the real-time microkernel. The iPod OS was developed on PCs using ARM development kits, and was written in . The platform had rudimentary software running on a commercial microkernel embedded operating system, licensed from Quadros. PortalPlayer had previously been working on an IBM-branded MP3 player with Bluetooth headphones. Apple contracted another company, Pixo, to help design and implement the user interface (as well as Unicode, memory management, and event processing) under the direct supervision of Steve Jobs. As development progressed, Apple continued to refine the software's look and feel, rewriting much of the code. Starting with the iPod Mini, the Chicago font was replaced with Espy Sans. Later iPods switched fonts again to Podium Sans—a font similar to Apple's corporate font, Myriad. Color display iPods then adopted some Mac OS X themes like Aqua progress bars, and meant to evoke a . In 2007, Apple modified the iPod interface again with the introduction of the sixth-generation iPod classic and third-generation iPod nano by changing the font to Helvetica and, in most cases, splitting the screen in half by displaying the menus on the left and album artwork, photos, or videos on the right (whichever was appropriate for the selected item).
In 2006 Apple presented a special edition for iPod 5G of Irish rock band U2. Like its predecessor, this iPod has the signatures of the four members of the band engraved on its back, but this one was the first time the company changed the color of the metal (not silver but black). This iPod was only available with 30 GB of storage capacity. The special edition entitled purchasers to an exclusive video with 33 minutes of interviews and performance by U2, downloadable from the iTunes Store.
Before Apple had chosen a name for the music player, it was known by the code name P68. The name iPod was proposed by Vinnie Chieco, a freelance copywriter, who (with others) was called by Apple to figure out how to introduce the new player to the public. After Chieco saw a prototype, he thought of the movie and the phrase "Open the pod bay doors, ",“Open the pod bay doors, HAL.” - Thisdayinquotes.com, April 2, 2017. which refers to the white s of the spaceship. Chieco saw an analogy to the relationship between the spaceship and the smaller independent pods in the relationship between a personal computer and the music player. Apple researched the trademark and found that it was already in use. Joseph N. Grasso of New Jersey had originally listed an "iPod" trademark with the (USPTO) in July 2000 for s. The first iPod kiosks had been demonstrated to the public in New Jersey in March 1998, and commercial use began in January 2000 but had apparently been discontinued by 2001. The trademark was registered by the USPTO in November 2003, and Grasso assigned it to Apple Computer, Inc. in 2005.Serial No. 78018061, Registration No. 2781793, records of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. InPub, LLC, filed an "IPOD" trademark on June 1, 1999, for "computer software and hardware." The trademark was abandoned May 18, 2000, without commercial use.
The earliest recorded use in commerce of an "iPod" trademark was in 1991 by Chrysalis Corp. of Sturgis, Michigan, styled "iPOD", for office furniture.
In mid-2015, several new color schemes for all of the current iPod models were spotted in the latest version of iTunes, 12.2. Belgian website Belgium iPhone originally found the images when plugging in an iPod for the first time, and subsequent leaked photos were found by Pierre Dandumont.
On July 27, 2017, Apple removed the iPod nano and shuffle from its stores, marking the end of Apple producing standalone music players. Currently, the iPod touch is the only iPod produced by Apple.
==Hardware==
Components 	Products 	Description
Microcontroller	iPod classic (1st to 3rd generation) 	Two ARM 7TDMI-derived CPUs running at 90 MHz
Microcontroller	iPod classic (4th and 5th), iPod mini, iPod nano (1st generation) 	Variable-speed ARM 7TDMI CPUs, running at a peak of 80 MHz to save battery life
Microcontroller	iPod classic (6th), iPod nano (2nd) onwards, iPod shuffle (2nd generation) onwards 	Samsung , based around an ARM processor.Cassell, Jonathan. Apple Delivers More For Less With New iPod Nano, iSuppli Corporation, September 20, 2006. Retrieved on October 21, 2006.
Microcontroller	iPod shuffle (1st generation) 	D-Major STMP3550 chip running at 75 MHz that handles both the music decoding and the audio circuitry.Williams, Martyn. How Much Should an IPod Shuffle Cost?, , February 24, 2005. Retrieved on August 14, 2006.
Microcontroller	iPod touch (1st and 2nd generation) 	ARM 1176JZ(F)-S at 412 MHz for 1st gen, 533 MHz for 2nd gen.
Microcontroller	iPod touch (3rd and 4th generation) 	ARM Cortex A8 at 600 MHz for 3rd gen, 800 MHz for 4th gen. (Apple A4)
Microcontroller	iPod touch (5th generation) 	ARM Cortex A9 at 800 MHz (Apple A5)
Microcontroller	iPod touch (6th generation) 	ARMv8-A "Typhoon" at 1.1 GHz (Apple A8) with Apple M8 motion coprocessor
Microcontroller	iPod touch (7th generation) 	ARMv8-A "Hurricane" at 2.34 GHz (Apple A10 Fusion)
Audio Chip 	iPod classic (1st to 5th), iPod touch (1st), iPod mini, iPod nano (1st to 3rd generation)Macworld UK Wolfson loses Apple iPod business	Audio codecs developed by
Audio Chip 	iPod classic (6th), (4th) onwards, iPod shuffle, iPod touch (2nd generation) onwards 	Audio Codec Chip
Storage Medium 	iPod classic 	45.7 mm (1.8 in) hard drives (ATA-6, 4200 rpm with ) made by
Storage Medium 	iPod mini 	25.4 mm (1 in) by and
Storage Medium 	iPod nano 	Flash memory from Samsung, , and others
Storage Medium 	iPod shuffle and touch 	Flash memory
Batteries 	iPod classic (1st and 2nd generation) 	Internal Recyclable
Batteries 	iPod classic (3rd generation) onwards, iPod mini, iPod nano, iPod shuffle, iPod touch 	Internal Recyclable
Display 	iPod nano (7th generation) 	2.5-inch (diagonal) Multi-touch, 432-by-240 resolution at 202
Display 	iPod classic (5th and 6th generation) 	2.5-inch (diagonal) color LCD with , at 163
Display 	iPod touch (5th, 6th, and 7th generation) 	4-inch (diagonal) Multi-touch, 1136-by-640 resolution at 326
===Audio===
The third-generation iPod had a weak bass response, as shown in audio tests.Machrone, Bill. iPod audio measurements, , 2005. Archived 2012-12-20.Heijligers, Marc. iPod audio measurements. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. The combination of the undersized DC-blocking s and the typical low of most consumer headphones form a , which attenuates the low-frequency bass output. Similar capacitors were used in the fourth-generation iPods.Heijligers, Marc. iPod circuit design engineering, Archived 2006-05-05. The problem is reduced when using high-impedance headphones and is completely masked when driving high-impedance (line level) loads, such as an external . The first-generation iPod Shuffle uses a , rather than a single capacitor-coupled output, and does not exhibit reduced bass response for any load.
For all iPods released in 2006 and earlier, some sound settings would distort the bass sound far too easily, even on undemanding songs.Vaughan, Austin. , DAP review, November 8, 2004. Retrieved on September 14, 2012.Handby, Simon. , Expert Reviews, December 19, 2005. Retrieved on September 14, 2012. This would happen for EQ settings like R&B, Rock, Acoustic, and Bass Booster, because the equalizer amplified the digital audio level beyond the software's limit, causing distortion () on bass instruments.
From the fifth-generation iPod on, Apple introduced a user-configurable volume limit in response to concerns about hearing loss.Cohen, Peter. iPod update limits iPod volume setting, Macworld, 2006. Retrieved on November 7, 2008. Users report that in the sixth-generation iPod, the maximum volume output level is limited to 100 dB in EU markets. Apple previously had to remove iPods from shelves in France for exceeding this legal limit.Fried, Ian. Apple pulls iPod in France. Retrieved on November 7, 2008. However, users who have bought a new sixth-generation iPod in late 2013 have reported a new option that allowed them to disable the EU volume limit. It has been said that these new iPods came with an updated software that allowed this change. Older sixth-generation iPods, however, are unable to update to this software version.
===Connectivity===
Originally, a FireWire connection to the host computer was used to update songs or recharge the battery. The battery could also be charged with a power adapter that was included with the first four generations.
The third generation began including a 30-pin dock connector, allowing for FireWire or USB connectivity. This provided better compatibility with non-Apple machines, as most of them did not have FireWire ports at the time. Eventually, Apple began shipping iPods with USB cables instead of FireWire, although the latter was available separately. As of the first-generation iPod Nano and the fifth-generation iPod Classic, Apple discontinued using FireWire for data transfer (while still allowing for use of FireWire to charge the device) in an attempt to reduce cost and form factor. As of the second-generation iPod touch and the fourth-generation iPod Nano, FireWire charging ability has been removed. The second-, third-, and fourth-generation iPod Shuffle uses a single which acts as both a headphone jack or a USB data and charging port for the dock/cable.
The dock connector also allowed the iPod to connect to accessories, which often supplement the iPod's music, video, and photo playback. Apple sells a few accessories, such as the now-discontinued iPod Hi-Fi, but most are manufactured by third parties such as Belkin and Griffin. Some peripherals use their own interface, while others use the iPod's own screen. Because the dock connector is a proprietary interface, the implementation of the interface requires paying royalties to Apple.
Apple introduced a new 8-pin dock connector, named Lightning, on September 12, 2012 with their announcement of the iPhone 5, the 5th-generation iPod touch, and the 7th-generation iPod nano, which all feature it. The new connector replaces the older 30-pin dock connector used by older iPods, iPhones, and iPads. Apple Lightning cables have pins on both sides of the plug so it can be inserted with either side facing up.
Bluetooth connectivity was added to the last model of the iPod nano, and Wi-Fi to all models of the iPod touch.
===Accessories===
Many accessories have been made for the iPod line. A large number are made by third party companies, although many, such as the iPod Hi-Fi, are made by Apple. Some accessories add extra features that other music players have, such as sound recorders, FM radio tuners, wired remote controls, and audio/visual cables for TV connections. Other accessories offer unique features like the Nike+iPod pedometer and the iPod Camera Connector. Other notable accessories include external speakers, wireless remote controls, protective case, screen films, and wireless earphones.In-The-Ear Bluetooth Earphones, Archived 2009-02-20. Among the first accessory manufacturers were Griffin Technology, Belkin, , Bose, , and .
BMW released the first iPod automobile interface,iPod Your BMW, Archived 2007-04-23. allowing drivers of newer BMW vehicles to control an iPod using either the built-in steering wheel controls or the radio head-unit buttons. Apple announced in 2005 that similar systems would be available for other vehicle brands, including ,Apple & Mercedes-Benz Unveil iPod Integration Kit, Apple Inc. 2005-01-11. Archived 2011-05-21. ,Apple & Volvo Announce iPod Connectivity For Entire 2005 US Model Line, Apple Inc. 2005-01-11. Archived 2011-03-29. , , , ,Apple & Leading Car Companies Team Up to Deliver iPod Integration in 2005, Apple Inc. 2005-01-11. Archived 2011-05-07. , , },Honda Music Link for iPods, . Retrieved on February 17, 2007. , , , and .Apple Teams Up With Acura, Audi, Honda & Volkswagen to Deliver Seamless iPod Experience, Apple Inc. 2005-09-07. Archived 2011-05-21. offers standard iPod connectivity on all their cars.
, founded in 2006, sells 100 accessories ranging from protective covers to cases, screen protectors to armbands.
Some independent stereo manufacturers including JVC, Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine, Sony, and Harman Kardon also have iPod-specific integration solutions. Alternative connection methods include adapter kits (that use the cassette deck or the CD changer port), audio input jacks, and FM transmitters such as the iTrip—although personal FM transmitters are illegal in some countries. Many car manufacturers have added audio input jacks as standard.Car Integration: iPod your car, Apple Inc.. Archived 2014-08-20.
Beginning in mid-2007, four major airlines, , , , and , reached agreements to install iPod seat connections. The free service will allow passengers to power and charge an iPod, and view video and music libraries on individual seat-back displays.Apple Teams Up With Continental, Delta, Emirates, & United to deliver iPod Integration, Apple Inc. 2006-11-14. Archived 2011-06-24. Originally and were reported to be part of the deal with Apple, but they later released statements explaining that they were only contemplating the possibility of incorporating such systems.Marsal, Katie. Two of six airlines say there's no ink on iPod deal, AppleInsider, November 15, 2006. Retrieved on December 7, 2006.
==Software==
The iPod line can play several audio file formats including MP3, AAC/M4A, Protected AAC, AIFF, WAV, , and Apple Lossless. The iPod Photo introduced the ability to display JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG image file formats. Fifth- and sixth-generation iPod Classic models, as well as third-generation iPod Nano models, can also play MPEG-4 (H.264/AVC) and QuickTime s, with restrictions on video dimensions, encoding techniques and data rates.The restrictions vary from generation to generation; for the earliest video iPods, video is required to be (BP), up to , meaning most significantly no s (BP), a maximum bitrate of 768 kb/s (BP Level 1.3), and a maximum framerate of 30 frame/s at 320×240 resolution. Newer iPods support BP up to level 3.0 (10,000 kb/s), for a maximum framerate of 30 frame/s at 640×480 resolution. Current specifications can be seen at iPod classic Technical Specs, and practical implementations can be seen in the libx264-ipod320.ffpreset and libx264-ipod640.ffpreset preset files for , as discussed in [Ffmpeg-user Successful ipod h264 encoding] by Daniel Rogers. 2006-06-11. Archived 2010-08-26. Originally, iPod software only worked with Classic Mac OS and macOS; iPod software for Microsoft Windows was launched with the second-generation model. Unlike most other media players, Apple does not support Microsoft's WMA audio format—but a converter for WMA files without digital rights management (DRM) is provided with the Windows version of iTunes. MIDI files also cannot be played, but can be converted to audio files using the "Advanced" menu in iTunes. Alternative open-source audio formats, such as Ogg Vorbis and FLAC, are not supported without installing custom firmware onto an iPod (e.g., Rockbox).
During installation, an iPod is associated with one host computer. Each time an iPod connects to its host computer, iTunes can synchronize entire music libraries or music playlists either automatically or manually. Song ratings can be set on an iPod and synchronized later to the iTunes library, and vice versa. A user can access, play, and add music on a second computer if an iPod is set to manual and not automatic sync, but anything added or edited will be reversed upon connecting and syncing with the main computer and its library. If a user wishes to automatically sync music with another computer, an iPod's library will be entirely wiped and replaced with the other computer's library.
===Interface===
iPods with color displays use anti-aliased graphics and text, with sliding animations. All iPods (except the 3rd-generation iPod Shuffle, the 6th & 7th generation iPod Nano, and iPod touch) have five buttons and the later generations have the buttons integrated into the Click Wheel – an innovation that gives an uncluttered, minimalist interface. The buttons perform basic functions such as menu, play, pause, next track, and previous track. Other operations, such as scrolling through menu items and controlling the volume, are performed by using the click wheel in a rotational manner. The 3rd-generation iPod Shuffle does not have any controls on the actual player; instead, it has a small control on the earphone cable, with volume-up and -down buttons and a single button for play and pause, next track, etc. The iPod touch has no click-wheel; instead, it uses a touch screen along with a home button, sleep/wake button, and (on the second and third generations of the iPod touch) volume-up and -down buttons. The user interface for the iPod touch is identical to that of the iPhone. Differences include the lack of a phone application. Both devices use iOS.
===iTunes Store===
:Main articles: iTunes and iTunes Store
The iTunes Store (introduced April 29, 2003) is an online media store run by Apple and accessed through iTunes. The store became the market leader soon after its launchiTunes Music Store Catalog Tops One Million Songs, Apple Inc. 2004-08-10. Archived 2006-02-09. and Apple announced the sale of videos through the store on October 12, 2005. Full-length movies became available on September 12, 2006.Scott-Joynt, Jeremy. Apple targets TV and film market, , September 12, 2006. Retrieved on September 12, 2006.
At the time the store was introduced, purchased audio files used the AAC format with added encryption, based on the FairPlay DRM system. Up to five authorized computers and an unlimited number of iPods could play the files. Burning the files with iTunes as an audio CD, then re-importing would create music files without the DRM. The DRM could also be removed using third-party software. However, in a deal with Apple, EMI began selling DRM-free, higher-quality songs on the iTunes Stores, in a category called "iTunes Plus." While individual songs were made available at a cost of US$1.29, 30¢ more than the cost of a regular DRM song, entire albums were available for the same price, US$9.99, as DRM encoded albums. On October 17, 2007, Apple lowered the cost of individual iTunes Plus songs to US$0.99 per song, the same as DRM encoded tracks. On January 6, 2009, Apple announced that DRM has been removed from 80% of the music catalog and that it would be removed from all music by April 2009.
iPods cannot play music files from competing music stores that use rival-DRM technologies like Microsoft's or ' DRM. Example stores included and . RealNetworks claimed that Apple is creating problems for itself by using FairPlay to lock users into using the iTunes Store. Steve Jobs stated that Apple makes little profit from song sales, although Apple uses the store to promote iPod sales. However, iPods can also play music files from online stores that do not use DRM, such as or .
 decided not to renew their contract with the iTunes Store on July 3, 2007. Universal will now supply iTunes in an 'at will' capacity.Evans, Jonny. Universal confirms iTunes contract change, Macworld UK, July 4, 2007. Retrieved on July 5, 2007.
Apple debuted the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store on September 5, 2007, in its Media Event entitled "The Beat Goes On...". This service allows users to access the Music Store from either an iPhone or an iPod touch and download songs directly to the device that can be synced to the user's iTunes Library over a Wi-Fi connection, or, in the case of an iPhone, a cellular network.
===Games===
:Main articles: iPod Games and App Store
Video games are playable on various versions of iPods. The original iPod had the game Brick (originally invented by Apple's co-founder Steve Wozniak) included as an easter egg hidden feature; later firmware versions added it as a menu option. Later revisions of the iPod added three more games: Parachute, Solitaire, and Music Quiz.
In September 2006, the iTunes Store began to offer additional games for purchase with the launch of iTunes 7, compatible with the 5th-generation iPod with iPod software 1.2 or later. Those games were: Bejeweled, Cubis 2, Mahjong, Mini Golf, Pac-Man, Tetris, Texas Hold 'Em, Vortex, Asphalt 4: Elite Racing and Zuma. Additional games have since been added. These games work on the 5th and 6th generation iPod classic and the 4th and 5th generation iPod nano.
With third parties like , , Electronic Arts, , and all making games for the iPod, Apple's MP3 player has taken steps towards entering the video game handheld console market. Even video game magazines like and have reviewed and rated most of their games as of late.
The games are in the form of .ipg files, which are actually .zip archives in disguise. When unzipped, they reveal executable files along with common audio and image files, leading to the possibility of third party games. Apple has not publicly released a software development kit (SDK) for iPod-specific development."What's Inside an iPod Game?" by Ben Sinclair. 2006-09-14. Archived 2008-09-07. Apps produced with the iPhone SDK are compatible only with the iOS on the iPod touch and iPhone, which cannot run click wheel-based games.
===File storage and transfer===
All iPods except for the iPod touch can function in "disk mode" as to store data files but this may not be the default behavior. If an iPod is formatted on a Mac OS computer, it uses the HFS+ file system format, which allows it to serve as a boot disk for a Mac computer. If it is formatted on Windows, the FAT32 format is used. With the release of the Windows-compatible iPod, the default file system used on the iPod line switched from HFS+ to FAT32, although it can be reformatted to either file system (excluding the iPod Shuffle which is strictly FAT32). Generally, if a new iPod (excluding the iPod Shuffle) is initially plugged into a computer running Windows, it will be formatted with FAT32, and if initially plugged into a Mac running Mac OS it will be formatted with HFS+.
Unlike many other MP3 players, simply copying audio or video files to the drive with a typical will not allow an iPod to properly access them. The user must use software that has been specifically designed to transfer media files to iPods so that the files are playable and viewable. Usually iTunes is used to transfer media to an iPod, though are available on a number of different platforms.
iTunes 7 and above can transfer purchased media of the iTunes Store from an iPod to a computer, provided that computer containing the DRM protected media is authorized to play it.
Media files are stored on an iPod in a hidden folder, along with a proprietary database file. The hidden content can be accessed on the host operating system by enabling to be shown. The media files can then be recovered manually by copying the files or folders off the iPod. Many third-party applications also allow easy copying of media files off of an iPod.
==Models and features==
==Patent disputes==
In 2005, Apple faced two lawsuits claiming by the iPod line and its associated technologies:Apple faces patent lawsuits over its iPod, ChannelRegister, March 10, 2005. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. Advanced Audio Devices claimed the iPod line breached its patent on a "music jukebox",U.S. Patent 6,587,403 — Advanced Audio Devices' "music jukebox" patent. while a Hong Kong-based portfolio company called Pat-rights filed a suit claiming that Apple's FairPlay technology breached a patentU.S. Patent 6,665,797 — "Protection of software again against unauthorized use" (corrected to "Computer Apparatus/Software Access Control"). issued to inventor Ho Keung Tse. The latter case also includes the online music stores of Sony, RealNetworks, , and Musicmatch as defendants.Apple, Sony among those named in new DRM lawsuit, AppleInsider, August 16, 2005. Retrieved on February 17, 2007.
Apple's application to the for a patent on "rotational user inputs",U.S. patent application 20030095096 Apple Inc.'s application on "rotational user inputs". as used on the iPod interface, received a third "non-final rejection" (NFR) in August 2005. Also in August 2005, , one of Apple's main rivals in the MP3 player market, announced that it held a patentU.S. Patent 6,928,433 's "Zen" patent. on part of the music selection interface used by the iPod line, which Creative Technology dubbed the "Zen Patent", granted on August 9, 2005.Creative wins MP3 player patent, , August 30, 2005. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. On May 15, 2006, Creative filed another suit against Apple with the . Creative also asked the 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.Apple & Creative Announce Broad Settlement..., Apple Inc. 2006-08-23. Archived 2011-06-09.
==Sales==
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 —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.HP to stop selling Apple's iPods, AppleInsider, July 29, 2005. Retrieved on August 6, 2007.
In January 2007, Apple reported record quarterly revenue 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 revenue 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.
On October 22, 2007, Apple reported quarterly revenue of US$6.22 billion, of which 30.69% came from Apple notebook sales, 19.22% from desktop sales and 26% from iPod sales. Apple's 2007 year revenue increased to US$24.01 billion with US$3.5 billion in profits. Apple ended the fiscal year 2007 with US$15.4 billion in cash and no debt.Apple Reports Fourth Quarter 2007 Results, Apple Inc. 2007-10-22. Archived 2008-05-17.
On January 22, 2008, Apple reported the best quarter revenue and earnings in Apple's history so far. Apple posted record revenue of US$9.6 billion and record net quarterly profit of US$1.58 billion. 42% of Apple's revenue for the First fiscal quarter of 2008 came from iPod sales, followed by 21% from notebook sales and 16% from desktop sales.Apple Reports First Quarter Results, Apple Inc. 2008-01-22. Archived 2011-05-28.
On October 21, 2008, Apple reported that only 14.21% of total revenue for fiscal quarter 4 of the year 2008 came from iPods.AppleInsider (October 27, 2008). Retrieved on October 27, 2008 At the September 9, 2009 keynote presentation at the Apple Event, Phil Schiller announced total cumulative sales of iPods exceeded 220 million.World of Apple. (September 9, 2009). Live Coverage From Apple’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” Event (press release). Archived 2007-12-27. The continual decline of iPod sales since 2009 has not been a surprising trend for the Apple corporation, as Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer explained in June 2009: "We expect our traditional MP3 players to decline over time as we cannibalize ourselves with the iPod touch and the iPhone." Since 2009, the company's iPod sales have continually decreased every financial quarter and in 2013 a new model was not introduced onto the market.
As of September 2012, Apple reported that total number of iPods sold worldwide was 350 million.
===Market share===
Since October 2004, the iPod line 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.Marsal, Katie. iPod: how big can it get?, AppleInsider, May 24, 2006. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. 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%. In January 2007 the iPod market share reached 72.7% according to Bloomberg Online. In the Japanese market iPod market share was 36% in 2005, albeit still leader there.https://www.theregister.com/2005/08/11/apple_ipod_sk/ In Europe, Apple also led the market (especially the UKhttps://mobile-review.com/print.php?filename=/mp3/articles/mp3-global-en.shtml) but local brands such as managed to outsell Apple in certain categories.https://www.fastcompany.com/52843/faster-talk-apple-their-eyes
One of the reasons for the iPod's early success, having been released three years after the very first (namely the ), was its seamless integration with the company's iTunes software, and the ecosystem built around it such as the iTunes Music Store, as well as a competitive price.https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/nov/01/netmusic.internet As a result, Apple achieved a dominance in the MP3 player market as Sony's did with personal cassette players two decades earlier.https://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/innovation-success-how-the-apple-ipod-broke-all-sonys-walkman-rules-2791 The software between computer and player made it easy to transfer music over and synchronize it, tasks that were considered difficult on pre-iPod MP3 players like those from and .https://www.macworld.com/article/1053505/ipodfive.html
Some of the iPod's chief competitors during its pinnacle include Creative's , Sony's , , 's , 's and others. The iPod's dominance was challenged numerous times: in November 2004, Creative's CEO "declared war" on the iPod;https://www.theregister.com/2004/11/18/creative_vs_apple/ that same year, Sony's first hard disk Walkman was designed to take on the iPod, accompanied by its own music store ;https://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-ipod-year-in-review-2004https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2004/07/02/business/sony-walkman-to-go-head-to-head-with-apples-ipod/ while Microsoft initially attempted to compete using a software platform called , and in later years designed the line.https://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/fortune/zune/index.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/13/technology/13zune.html These competitors failed to make major dents and Apple remained dominant in the fast growing digital audio player market during the decade.https://www.forbes.com/2006/10/19/tech-personal_cx_rr_ipod_killer_slide.html#45bbdfd097de Mobile phone manufacturers and also made "music phones" to rival iPod.https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7312-new-nokia-cellphone-to-challenge-mp3-players/ Apple's popular iTunes Store catalog played a part in keeping Apple firmly market leader, also helped by the mismanagement of others, such as Sony's unpopular software.https://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-ipod-year-in-review-2004
One notable exception where iPod was not faring well was in South Korea, where as of 2005 Apple held a small market share of less than 2%, compared to market leaders iRiver, Samsung and Cowon.https://www.theregister.com/2005/08/11/apple_ipod_sk/
As of 2011, iPod held a 70% market share in global MP3 players.https://money.cnn.com/2011/07/29/technology/apple_ipod_sales/index.htm Its closest competitor was noted to be the Sansa line from SanDisk.https://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/innovation-success-how-the-apple-ipod-broke-all-sonys-walkman-rules-2791
==Industry impact==
The iPod and its engineers have won awards ranging from engineering excellence,iPod and Bluetooth lead to prizes, , June 3, 2005. Retrieved on March 20, 2007. to most innovative audio product, to fourth best computer product of 2006.Apple wins 5 'World Class' awards, MacNN. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. iPods often receive favorable reviews; scoring on looks, clean design, and ease of use. says that iPod line has "altered the landscape for portable audio players". Several industries are modifying their products to work better with both the iPod line and the AAC audio format. Examples include CD copy-protection schemes,Apple, iPod, and CD Copy Protection, MacRumors. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. and mobile phones, such as phones from and , which play AAC files rather than WMA.
Besides earning a reputation as a respected entertainment device, the iPod was also been accepted as a business device. Government departments, major institutions, and international organizations turned to the iPod line as a delivery mechanism for business communication and training, such as the and in Glasgow, Scotland, where iPods were used to train new staff.Hospitals train staff with iPods, , March 29, 2006. Retrieved on June 16, 2007.
iPods also gained popularity for use in education. Apple offered more information on educational uses for iPods on their website, including a collection of lesson plans. There were also academic research done in this area in nursing education and more general K-16 education. Duke University provided iPods to all incoming freshmen in the fall of 2004, and the iPod program continued with modifications. put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Yes, children, there really was a time when we roamed the earth without thousands of our favorite jams tucked comfortably into our hip pockets. Weird."
The iPod was also credited with accelerating shifts within the . The iPod's popularization of digital music storage allowed users to abandon listening to entire albums and instead be able to choose specific singles, which hastened the end of the in popular music.Tejas Morey. "How iTunes Changed The Music Industry Forever." MensXP (). Retrieved January 5, 2014.
==Criticism==
===Battery problems===
The advertised battery life on most models is different from the real-world achievable life. For example, the fifth-generation 30 GB iPod classic was advertised as having up to 14 hours of music playback. However, an report stated that this was virtually unachievable under real-life usage conditions, with a writer for the site getting, on average, less than 8 hours from an iPod.MP3 Insider: The truth about your battery life, mp3.com. 2006-03-13. Archived 2006-06-04. 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.Apple investigates iPod batteries, , February 10, 2004. Retrieved on March 20, 2007. The lawsuits were settled by offering individuals with first or second-generation iPods either US$50 store credit or a free battery replacement and offering individuals with third-generation iPods an extended warranty that would allow them to get a replacement iPod if they experienced battery problems.Horwitz, Jeremy. Apple’s iPod Battery Settlement, Explained, iLounge, June 10, 2005. Retrieved on August 27, 2006.
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 lose capacity during their lifetime even when not in useThe Curse of Lithium Ion Batteries, , January 6, 2006. Retrieved on November 30, 2006. (guidelines are available for ) and this situation led to a market for third-party battery replacement kits.
Apple announced a battery replacement program on November 14, 2003, a week beforeiPod Battery FAQ. Archived 2009-03-03. a high publicity stunt and website by the Neistat Brothers.Neistat, Casey. A Message From the Neistat Brothers, November 20, 2003. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. The initial cost was US$99,Apple offers iPod battery replacement service, , 2003-11-14. Archived 2004-10-22. and it was lowered to US$59 in 2005. One week later, Apple offered an extended iPod warranty for US$59.AppleCare for iPod now available, , 2003-11-21. Archived 2004-10-22. For the iPod Nano, tools are needed because the battery is soldered onto the main board. Fifth generation iPods have their battery attached to the backplate with adhesive.Ecker, Clint. Vivisection of the Video iPod, , October 19, 2005. Retrieved on November 26, 2006.Disassemble Guide for Video iPod. Retrieved on November 26, 2006.
The first generation iPod Nano may overheat and pose a health and safety risk. Affected iPod Nanos were sold between September 2005 and December 2006. This is due to a flawed battery used by Apple from a single battery manufacturer. Apple recommended that owners of affected iPod Nanos stop using them. Under an Apple product replacement program, affected Nanos were replaced with current generation Nanos free of charge.
===Reliability and durability===
iPods have been criticized for alleged short lifespan and fragile hard drives. A 2005 survey conducted on the MacInTouch website found that the iPod line had an average failure rate of 13.7% (although they note that comments from respondents indicate that "the true iPod failure rate may be lower than it appears"). It concluded that some models were more durable than others.iPod Reliability Survey, MacInTouch, 2005-11-28. Archived 2009-02-19. In particular, failure rates for iPods employing hard drives were usually above 20% while those with flash memory had a failure rate below 10%. In late 2005, many users complained that the surface of the first-generation iPod Nano can become scratched easily, rendering the screen unusable.Apple responds to iPod nano screen concerns, Macworld, September 27, 2005. Retrieved on February 17, 2007.Arthur, Charles. iPod Nano owners in screen scratch trauma, , September 25, 2005. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. A class-action lawsuit was also filed.Fried, Ina. Suit filed over Nano scratches, , October 21, 2005. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. Apple initially considered the issue a minor defect, but later began shipping these iPods with protective sleeves.
===Labor disputes===
On June 11, 2006, the British tabloid reported that iPods are mainly manufactured by workers who earn no more than US$50 per month and work 15-hour shifts.Inside Apple's iPod factories, Macworld UK, June 12, 2006. Retrieved on March 20, 2007. Apple investigated the case with independent auditors and found that, while some of the plant's labor 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.Millard, Elizabeth. Is It Ethical To Own an iPod?. Retrieved on March 20, 2007.
Foxconn, Apple's manufacturer, initially denied the abuses,Foxconn denies iPod 'sweatshop' claims, MacNN, June 19, 2006. Retrieved on February 17, 2007. but when an auditing team from Apple found that workers had been working longer hours than were allowed under Chinese law, they promised to prevent workers 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 Foxconn factory in Longhua, Shenzhen formed a union affiliated with the , the Chinese government-approved union umbrella organization.McDonald's and KFC seeking to resolve Chinese minimum wage issue ..., April 5, 2007, nytimes.com. Retrieved 2010 5 27.Wal-Mart backs down and allows Chinese workers to join union, August 11, 2006, Jonathan Watts, The Guardian
In 2010, a number of workers committed at a Foxconn operations in China. Apple, HP, and others stated that they were investigating the situation. Foxconn guards have been videotaped beating employees. Another employee killed himself in 2009 when an Apple prototype went missing, and claimed in messages to friends, that he had been beaten and interrogated.Suicides Spark Inquiries Apple, H-P to Examine Asian Supplier After String of Deaths at Factory, Jason Dean, Ting-i Tsai, May 27, 2010, accessed May 27, 2010
The Foxconn Suicides, May 28, 2010, wsj.com, WSJ opinion, accessed May 27, 2010
As of 2006, the iPod was produced by about 14,000 workers in the U.S. and 27,000 overseas. Further, the salaries attributed to this product were overwhelmingly distributed to highly skilled U.S. professionals, as opposed to lower-skilled U.S. retail employees or overseas manufacturing labor. One interpretation of this result is that U.S. innovation can create more jobs overseas than domestically.
==References==
==External links==
* iPod at Apple
**Identify your iPod model
**Tech Specs: iPod
*iPod specs at Everyi
*iPod at Wikipod (archived 2005-02-26)
*iPod at Wikimedia Commons
* at Wikipedia
*iPod at Wikiquote
===Articles===
* Apple's 21st century Walkman by Brent Schlender at Fortune (2001-11-12)
* iPod Nation by Steven Levy at Newsweek (2004-07-26)
* The Perfect Thing by Steven Levy at Wired (2006-11)
Category:iTunes
Category:2001 introductions
zh:IPod
Category:Discontinued Apple products