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 The iPod family consists of a series of portable digital audio players (DAP) designed and marketed by Apple Computer (as well as by Hewlett-Packard, under the name Apple iPod by HP). Most models store media on a built-in hard drive, while a lower-end model called the iPod shuffle relies on flash memory. They can also serve as an external drive while connected to a computer. Designed by Apple's Industrial Design Group under Jonathan Ive, iPods feature small size, a simple user interface designed around a central scroll wheel, and FireWire and USB 2.0 connectivity. As of October 2004, the iPod dominated digital music player sales in the United States, with over 92% of the market for hard-drive players and over 65% of the market for all types of players. Figures show that iPods have sold at a tremendous rate, faster than the Sony Walkman of the 80s and 90s, which sold an estimated 300,000,000 units during that time. The iPod so far has sold over 10,000,000 units in a total of three years.
CapabilitiesThe iPod can play MP3, WAV, AAC/M4A, Protected AAC, AIFF, Audible audiobook, and Apple Lossless file formats. It cannot play Windows Media Audio (WMA) or RealAudio files, and Apple seems unlikely to add support for these formats, as they compete with Apple's QuickTime. The Windows version of iTunes does have a feature, however, that can convert WMA files to acceptable formats, unless they have copy protection. Apple designed the iPod to work with media library software (called iTunes) that usually comes bundled with it. This software enables users to manage the music libraries on their computers and on their iPods. iTunes also has an auto-sync feature which automatically ensures that these two libraries contain the same tracks. The iPod uses ultra-thin 1.8" ATA (with a non-standard connector) hard drives made by Toshiba, or in the case of the Mini, 1" Compact Flash type hard drives made by Hitachi. The iPod recharges its internal battery while it has a FireWire or USB connection to a computer. Users can also recharge an iPod using the included AC wall plug, which connects to the iPod via FireWire. The wall plug recharger uses the FireWire cable to transfer only electrical energy. Note that USB charging works only with post third-generation models. The first incarnation of the iPod functioned solely as a music player. Later, firmware upgrades added some PDA functions: the unit can store a copy of information from the Address Book and iCal applications on the user's Mac, and can also display notes, though users cannot edit any of this information on the iPod. The iPod has a 32 MB flash ROM chip which contains a bootloader, a program that tells the device to load the operating system from another medium (in this case the hard drive). All iPods have 32 MB of RAM into which the iPod OS (a.k.a. firmware) loads at boot time, and which also caches music. For example, the iPod could spin the hard disc up once, and copy about 30 MB worth of upcoming songs on a playlist into ram, thus saving power by not having the drive spin up for each song. Generations 1 to 3 of the iPod used two ARM7TDMI-derived CPUs running at 90 MHz, while later models had variable speed chips with a peak of 80 MHz to save battery life. Newer iPod accessories include a memory-card reader and a voice recording module, both manufactured by Belkin and officially licensed by Apple Computer. The iPod originally interacted only with Macintosh computers, but on July 17 2002, Apple Computer began selling a Windows version with its internal hard drive formatted as FAT32 instead of as HFS+. [1] (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2002/jul/17ipod.html) A Microsoft Windows version of iTunes was released on October 16, 2003 [2] (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2003/oct/16itms.html); previously, Windows users needed third-party software such as Musicmatch Jukebox, ephPod or XPlay to manage the music on their iPods. The most recent generation of dockable iPods removes the Mac/Windows distinction; these iPods ship with their hard drive formatted for use with a Macintosh, and the user can reformat it for Windows use after purchase. An iPod with its hard drive formatted as HFS+ operates only with a Macintosh, because Windows does not recognize HFS+, but since the Macintosh can handle FAT32, an iPod formatted as FAT32 can operate with a Macintosh as well as with a PC. But HFS+ leaves slightly more space available to store data, and it lets the iPod serve as a boot disk for a Macintosh computer. On January 8, 2004, Hewlett-Packard announced that they would license the iPod from Apple to create an HP-branded DAP, dubbed the HPod. The following day, Hewlett-Packard chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina unveiled the new, blue iPod-based device at the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show. While a blue iPod never made it into production, the current HP model, completely identical to the Apple iPod, sells as the "Apple iPod + hp". Retailers of this model include (among others) the retail giant Wal-Mart, which includes a disclaimer explaining that it will not work with its own online music service. The iPodLinux project has expended some effort into getting Linux to run on iPods, with some success. A SourceForge project exists for the effort [3] (http://ipodlinux.sourceforge.net/), and guides exist online. [4] (http://people.csail.mit.edu/people/adonovan/hacks/ipod.html) DesignJeff Robbin headed the iPod firmware team at Apple. His team integrated the core firmware from PortalPlayer with the user interface library developed by Pixo. (The founder of Pixo had worked on the Apple Newton, a personal digital assistant formerly produced by Apple.) The Pixo libraries provide the user interface, though the iPod photo has incorporated some visual elements from Mac OS X, such as the animated "Aqua" style progress bar. Intriguingly, the user interface of all of the iPods' user interfaces (with the exception of the mini and photo models) uses "Chicago", the font used on the original Macintosh computer from 1984. The mini uses the "Espy Sans" font, used for eWorld, the Newton's desktop software, and, for a while, as the system font in Copland. This photograph shows what an iPod looks like inside. Missing image Ipod-internals.jpg iPod internals From left to right:
The unit's case snaps together, with no screws or glue involved. The plastic front of the case has clips which lock under a ridge inside the rim of the metal case back. A servicer can pry the iPod open by carefully inserting a small screwdriver to pull the metal away from the clips. The iPod contains a small internal speaker which generates the scroll-wheel clicks and alarm clock beep sound, but this internal speaker cannot play music. UseiPods feature 5 buttons:
A Hold switch also exists on the top of the unit. Setting this switch so that red is visible will make the buttons unresponsive, so that users do not press them accidentally. The scroll wheel also cannot change the volume in Hold mode. Holding down the iPod's Menu button for two seconds will turn off the display's backlight. Holding down the Play/Pause button for two seconds will turn the unit off. If the iPod becomes unresponsive, the user can force it to reset. On a 3G or earlier iPod, slide the switch on the top of the unit to Hold then back the other way, then hold down the Menu and Play/Pause buttons for six to ten seconds until the Apple logo appears. On a click-wheel iPod, toggle the Hold switch as above, then hold down the Menu and Select buttons. The iPod can be put into Firewire Disk Mode, in which it behaves like a Firewire hard drive without any of the additional iPod functionality. On a 3G or earlier iPod, reset it then hold the Previous and Next buttons until the display reads "Disk Mode". On a click-wheel iPod, hold Select and Play/Pause. Reset the unit again to return it to normal functionality. The iPod's firmware contains a diagnostic menu. On a 3G or earlier iPod, reset it then hold Previous, Next, and Select; on a click-wheel iPod, hold Previous and Select. Release the buttons after a few seconds, and the unit will chirp and briefly show a backwards Apple logo before displaying the diagnostic menu. Navigate through the menu with the Previous and Next buttons (not the scroll wheel), and select items with the Select button. Press Play/Pause to exit a test. Apple has never publically documented the functionality of the diagnostic menu, but users can make a guess as to what each menu item probably does. An iPod unable to start (due to either a firmware or a hardware problem) displays the "sad iPod" image (http://www.peachpit.com/content/images/exr_0819ipod/elementLinks/figure7.8.gif). ModelsMissing image Lightmatter_ipodvsmini.jpg iPod Mini (left), first generation iPod (right) Apples currently markets five kinds of iPod: the original iPod, the iPod mini, the iPod U2 Special Edition, the iPod photo, and the iPod shuffle. Some of these models can come with different capacities (a higher capacity allows the storage of more music) or with different designs. In addition, the original iPod has undergone several revisions, leading to the existence of four distinct generations. iPodWhile all iPods have roughly the same size and the same capabilities, the design has undergone several revisions since its first introduction to the market. Four distinct generations of iPods exist, commonly known as: 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G (these designations do not relate to the Power Macintosh G3, G4, or other Macintosh model designations). Within any generation of iPods, various models with different sizes of hard drives have come onto the market at different price points. During the third and fourth generations, three sizes of iPods have co-existed in the market-place at any given time, priced at 299 USD, 399 USD, and 499 USD. The least expensive comes with earphones, a FireWire cable, and a wall plug to recharge the iPod's internal battery. The other two models include all that along with a belt-clip carrying case, a wired remote control, and a docking cradle. First generationFirst announced on October 23 2001, the original iPod cost 399 USD with a 5 GB hard drive. [5] (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2001/oct/23ipod.html) Critics panned the unit's price, but the iPod proved an instant hit in the marketplace. Apple announced a 10 GB version (499 USD) in March 2002, and a 20 GB version in July (introduced at 499 USD along with a price drop of 100 USD for the other two models). Possibly influenced by the late 1970s-era Intellivision handheld wheel controller, Apple designed a mechanical scroll wheel and outsourced the implementation and development to Synaptics, a firm that also developed the trackpad used by many laptops, including Apple's PowerBooks. The 1G iPod featured four buttons - Menu, Play/Pause, Back, and Forward - arranged around the circumference of the scroll wheel. Although superseded by non-mechanical scroll and click wheels, the circular controller design has become a prominent iPod motif. Second generation The 2G iPods replaced the mechanical scroll wheel with a touch-sensitive, non-moving one (also made by Synaptics) which could detect the motion of the user's finger circling around it. The button in the center of the wheel and the buttons around the wheel remained mechanical. These iPods came with a wired remote control and belt-clip carrying case. Third generationMissing image Ipod3g.jpg A 20 GB 3G iPod with included dock, earphones, and beltclip carrying case. On April 28, 2003, Steve Jobs introduced an "ultrathin" iPod series. These were slightly smaller than their predecessors, and their edges were more bevelled. Over the life of the 3G iPod series, models were available in 10 GB, 15 GB, 20 GB, 30 GB, and 40 GB sizes. These iPods used a new kind of connector, longer and flatter than a typical Firewire plug. This allowed them to fit more easily into a docking cradle (which shipped with all but the least-expensive iPod, and also available separately). The 3G iPod featured touch-sensitive buttons located below the display. They would glow red for a few seconds when touched, allowing more easy use of the iPod in the dark. With the 3G iPods, Apple stopped shipping separate Mac and Windows versions of the unit. Instead, all iPods now shipped with their hard drives formatted for Macintosh use; the included CD-ROM featured a Windows utility which could reformat them for use with a Windows PC. These iPods also introduced USB2 connectivity (with a separately-sold USB adapter cable). When purchased through the online Apple Store, the iPod featured custom engraving: a purchaser could have two lines of text laser-engraved on the back (for an additional charge). Fourth generationIn July 2004 Apple released the fourth generation iPod. In a new publicity route, Steve Jobs announced it by becoming the subject of a Newsweek magazine cover. In the most obvious difference from its predecessors, the 4G iPod introduces the click wheel design from the iPod mini. The 4G iPod has a slightly smaller size, and it introduces the ability to charge the battery over a USB connection. It also offered larger capacities at the same price points; the 20 GB unit costs 299 USD and the 40 GB unit costs 399 USD. Apple claims that updated software in the new iPod allows it to use the battery more efficiently and increase battery life to 12 hours, and minor changes such as the addition of a "Shuffle Songs" item on the top-level menu make it more convenient for users. Users of earlier iPods have suggested that Apple make the software improvements available for previous models as well, but so far Apple has not addressed this issue. The fourth generation iPod comes bundled with cables to connect it to FireWire and USB ports. Both the iPod U2 Special Edition and the iPod photo can class as enhanced versions of the fourth generation iPod. iPod mini Main article: iPod mini. In January 2004, Apple introduced the iPod mini. It had 4 GB of storage and a price of 249 USD (at the time, only 50 USD below the 15 GB third generation iPod): critics panned it as too expensive; but once again it proved overwhelmingly popular, and Apple Stores had difficulty keeping the model in stock. iPod mini introduced the now famous click wheel found on all 4G iPods. The click wheel consists of a circular wheel with a button in the middle. The touch-sensitive wheel means that users can move a finger around the wheel to highlight selections on the screen. The wheel has four buttons: Menu, Rewind/back, Forward and Play/Pause. The centre button acts as a select button. The iPod mini comes in five colours: silver, gold, blue, pink, and green. Silver models have sold best, followed by blue ones. The iPod mini has the same features as the standard iPod.
iPod U2 Special EditionOn October 28, 2004, Apple released the iPod U2 Special Edition. Black on the front with a red click wheel (the colors of U2's latest album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), it features the signatures of U2 band members engraved on the back. Apart from the design, the iPod U2 Special Edition equates to a 20GB 4G iPod. Its 349 USD price tag (50 USD more than a standard 20 GB 4G iPod) includes an iTunes Music Store coupon redeemable for 50 USD off the price of "The Complete U2," a "digital boxed set" featuring 400 tracks of U2 music. [6] (http://www.apple.com/ipod/u2/) iPod photoMain article: iPod photo. The iPod Photo (renamed to iPod photo less than a month after its launch) hit the market on the same day as the iPod U2 Special Edition. It features a color screen and the ability to store and display JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG images (otherwise it closely resembles the standard fourth generation iPod, though slightly thicker). The iPod photo comes in 40 GB and 60 GB versions, costing 499 USD and 599 respectively. [7] (http://www.apple.com/ipodphoto/) iPod shuffleMain article: iPod shuffle. Apple announced the iPod shuffle at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 11, 2005 with the tagline "Life is random." This model introduced flash memory to iPods for the first time (rather than a hard drive). 512 MB (where 1 MB = 1,000,000 B) and 1 GB (where 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 B) versions have come onto the market, with the 1 GB version able to store up to 240 songs (at 128 kbps (kilobits per second) AAC encoding). The iPod shuffle has no screen and therefore limited options for navigating between music tracks (a choice which has been criticized among the public): users can play songs either in the order of loading onto the device or in a random (shuffled) order. The iPod shuffle weighs less than one ounce (four United States quarters) and approximates in size to a pack of chewing gum. Like other iPods, the iPod shuffle features compatibility with iTunes. [8] (http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/) Just like the rest of the family, the iPod shuffle can operate as a USB storage device. The iPod shuffle versions of 512MB and 1GB are priced at $99 and $149, respectively. FutureIf the iPod U2 Special Edition proves successful, one can expect additional custom iPods to appear in the future, with new colors and new laser-engraved designs. Persistent rumors, encouraged by the release of the iPod photo with its color display, suggest that Apple will someday introduce an iPod with video-playing capability. However at the October 26, 2004 event in San Jose, California ,where Apple introduced the iPod photo, Jobs noted the flaws of competitors' video-supporting devices, including size, weight, and that "No one has any video content to put on them." The large amount of hard-drive space that video content takes also militates against the concept of a video-supporting iPod. Battery lifeApple designed the iPod with an internal lithium ion battery that users cannot easily access. Like most lithium-ion batteries, the iPod battery lasts roughly 500 full recharge cycles. In other words, the battery will continue to have a useful life through the equivalent of five hundred complete discharges and recharges; through time and use, the life of the battery will generally decrease until eventually it does not hold a charge for very long. Apple has published guidelines on its web site for maximizing the life of an iPod battery. [9] (http://www.apple.com/batteries/ipods.html) In late November 2003, film-makers and Apple enthusiasts The Neistat Brothers produced a short movie, downloadable online, which expressed anger because the battery on their early-model iPod had failed after eighteen months and because the iPod became unusable. The movie depicted the Brothers vandalizing Apple ads in the New York City area with graffiti proclaiming that "iPod's unreplaceable battery lasts only 18 months." [10] (http://ipodsdirtysecret.com) The movie met with some criticism, with other iPod users pointing out that their iPods had lasted longer than 18 months, and some critics suggesting that the brothers had attacked Apple solely for the sake of publicity. [11] (http://www.billpalmer.net/com000047.html) Shortly before this, Apple Computer had introduced a battery replacement scheme (99 USD) for out-of-warranty iPods [12] (http://www.macminute.com/2003/11/14/ipodbattery), and offered users the option to extend the warranty of their iPods (59 USD). [13] (http://www.macminute.com/2003/11/21/ipodapplecare/) In addition, other companies are offering battery replacements for as little as 50 USD, or users can purchase a battery (at ipodbattery.com, for example) for around 30 and replace it themselves. [14] (http://www.ipodbattery.com/ipodinstall.htm) iTunes Music StoreNo portable music player other than the iPod can play the protected AAC (.m4p) files sold on Apple's iTunes Music Store. Some see this restriction as a way to increase the sale of iPods, and Steve Jobs has said as much: "We would like to break even [or] make a little bit of money [on the iTunes Music Store] but it's not a money maker." Users can circumvent the restriction by burning protected files to an audio CD and then re-importing them as unprotected files; this can become tedious, however. Alternatively, one can circumvent the copy-protection with a third-party software program named Hymn or with Apple's own Compressor software, included with Final Cut Pro. It has just recently sold its 250 millionth song. Third-party accessoriesiPod has created a large and growing after-market accessory industry; in the 2005 Macworld keynote, Steve Jobs referred to it as "the iPod economy".
iPod salesiPod currently dominates the digital audio player market, frequently topping best-seller lists [15] (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/new-for-you/top-sellers/-/electronics/all/ref=e_hp_tn_2/103-3541352-3631820). Apple reported in Q4 of 2003 earnings of 106,000,000 USD, its highest revenue for Q4 in 9 years. Commentators have speculated that revenue for the Apple iPod could hit 1,000,000,000 USD in sales at the end of 2004. [16] (http://news.nasdaq.com/news/newsStory.aspx?&cpath=20040301%5CACQDJON200403011156DOWJONESDJONLINE000696.htm) HP, in contract with Apple for the sale of a HP-branded iPod, has reported sales as 'going extremely well', but did not release figures. Apple has acknowledged HP-iPods making 6% of Q4 sales. [17] (http://www.macobserver.com/article/2004/11/17.4.shtml) CriticismAs the market leader, the iPod has become the subject of criticism from competitors and other detractors. Some see Apple as using the iPod, the iTunes Music Store, and "FairPlay" (Apple's DRM-protected implementation of the AAC open standard) to establish a vertical monopoly to lock iPod users into using iTunes exclusively (and vice versa). Two aspects of this "lock" exist:
In addition, Apple remains the only major music player manufacturer that does not provide support for Microsoft's WMA format, with or without a DRM protection scheme. This inconveniences some iPod users with existing libraries of WMA files (for example, users who also own solid state music players, a market segment Apple did not enter until the January 2005 release of the iPod shuffle). This issue erupted into controversy in July 2004, when RealNetworks debuted an application called Harmony, which used a technological workaround to allow iPod users to purchase music files from RealNetworks' RealRhapsody service and convert them into a FairPlay-compatible format. Apple responded by accusing RealNetworks of "adopt[ing] the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod." [18] (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20040729-4051.html) Apple later released a firmware upgrade that rendered fourth-generation iPods and the iPod Mini incapable of playing files converted with Harmony. RealNetworks has vowed to develop another workaround. Key personnel
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:: About Us This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "IPods". |