IPOD Measurement

iPod Measurements
Introduction
To get a rough idea about the sound quality of a device, one can perform some measurements. Measurements only reflect specific characteristics of a device, and don't define the sound quality of a device. A flat response from 20Hz to 20kHz says something about the static response (sweep measured) or average response (white noise measured) of a device. It doesn't for instance tell you anything about the characteristics of a power supply when it instantly needs to deliver a certain amount of charge because of a sound transient. Measurements also don't tell you if a device sounds "nice" or "nasty", e.g. a distorting tube amplifier can sound much nicer than a flat-response cheapo transistor amplifier.
Measurements can be used to find flaws (if severe deviations from expected measurements are found), or to find some characteristics of a device (e.g. noise shaping).
Frequency Response
The German hifi magazine published in their October 2003 issue the following measurements of the iPod 3G.
The line output looks good. As you can see for the headphones output, the iPod has a significant attenuation of bass when using an output impedance of 25 Ohm. We've also conducted this experiments ourselves (thanks to for using his time and measurement equipment), applying a 33Ohm load. We've measured the same characteristics, as shown by the following numbers:
Freq [Hz]
1
3
10
30
100
300
1000
10000
Output Voltage @ 1MOhm
65
88
90
90
90
90
90
90
Output Voltage @ 33Ohm
2
7
22
51
75
80
80
80
As most mobile headphones are in the range of say 16 to 32 Ohm (including the one delivered with the iPod!!!), this results in a poor bass performance overall, which is quite obvious if you
If you study the specs of the Wolfson Microelectronics , the output circuit of the iPod, you can see that Apple (or should I say) followed the Microelectronics to apply a 220uF capacitor at the headphone output stage. I would rather have liked the attenuation to be at least one or 2 decades lower, because an obvious phase shift is induced, which might explain the somewhat "sloppy" bass performance of the iPod.
Applying a higher impedance headphone will give you more bass, but less efficiency, which is a non-issue for EU-based iPods anyway. Apple could easily account for this problem by an equalizer setting that compensates for this phenomenon. Please give them a message on their iPod feedback pages, so that they'll resolve this issue in the next Software Update.
Distortion and jitter
C'T Magazine reports a distortion figure of 0,42% (which is quite some), and 90dBA dynamics. The maximum output voltage is 0,29V (EU version, compared to e.g. 0,86V for the Nomad Jukebox Zen NX...). All measurement concern the headphones output.
Stereophile shows some interesting distortion measurements in their October 2003 issue. These measurements have been performed on the line output, and not on the headphones output.
The first figure (from Stereophile) shows harmonic distortion:
The second figure shows intermodulation distortion:
The last figure shows the jitter performance:
These figures show that the static performance of the digital circuitry is quite good (better than many CD players as reported by Stereophile), and the line output is well defined as well. This shows that it's a pity that the headphones output is not designed with the same care, because intrinsically the iPod shows good potential performance, which might only require one firmware upgrade to reach its headphones output.
Digital Silence measurements
The following two figures show the output signal with a file containing silence. The first one is the headphone output (0-50kHz, 1mV full scale, hence Vout is about 400 uV - 500uV):
The noise increases after 35kHz, indicating some noise shaping techniques (see the digitalbackgrounds page of our DAC pages for details on this, if you're interested).
The second one is the line output (0=50kHz, 2mV full scale, hence Vout is about 800uV - 1mV):
Notice the difference in spectra, showing that the headphone output seems to perform better on this??? We've also measured the iPod in pause mode (so not playing a file, no backlight), input sensitivity 1mV fullscale.
As you can see, a spike pops up at 26kHz??? The noise however is more towards 400uV, and not raising like in the case digital silence is played (which might be the noise shaping characteristics).
Output impedance
The output impedance of the headphone jack is about 5 Ohm (measured using white noise), and the output impedance of the line output is about 100 Ohm.
Square wave response
No pictures of this one (the scope had some difficulties triggering, and the sample on the iPod was only 5 seconds). The square wave shows ringing, which is logical for a band limited signal. It looks fully symmetrical.
Conclusions
These measurements of the iPod, far for complete, at least show that the iPod has a decent ouput signal, free from big artifacts, although the bass response on the headphones outut is flawed.

New IPOD

Apple Unveils New iPods5GB, 10GB and 20GB Versions for Mac & Windows
MACWORLD EXPO, NEW YORK—July 17, 2002—Apple® today extended its lead in the portable digital music market with the introduction of the next generation iPod™, available in three configurations: a 5GB model that now starts at just $299 (US); a 10GB model that is 10 percent thinner for just $399 (US); and a new 20GB model that can hold 4,000 songs for just $499 (US). Both the 10GB and the 20GB models feature the industry’s first solid-state touch wheel for incredible precision, accuracy and durability, and include a new Apple carrying case and wired remote. The new iPods will be available for the first time to both Mac® and Windows customers.
“The award-winning iPod now comes in models that are more affordable, thinner and hold up to 4,000 songs in your pocket,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “But the biggest news is that we’re bringing the iPod to Windows users, so they can join this amazing portable digital music revolution.”
iPod is the only portable digital music player with Auto-sync, an innovative feature that automatically downloads an entire digital music library into an iPod and keeps it up-to-date whenever the iPod is plugged back into a Mac. With iPod’s built-in FireWire® port, a massive 4,000 song library can be downloaded in just over 30 minutes verses the more than 13 hours it would take to transfer 4,000 songs with USB-based devices. The iPod’s battery provides up to 10 hours of continuous music and recharges automatically whenever iPod is connected, using power supplied over the FireWire cable. For Mac users, the new iPod will include the new iTunes™ 3, Apple’s award-winning digital music software.* iTunes 3 adds dozens of new features including Smart Playlists that automatically and dynamically update playlists based on simple rules set by the user, Sound Check for consistent volume playback and support for audio programming from Audible.com. With these new features, Mac users can easily transfer audio programming and sound quality adjustments to their iPod to use wherever they go. Users can now sync information back to iTunes to bookmark where they left off listening to Audible programming, or to update song play-counts or last-played dates for iTunes’ Smart Playlists. iPod’s new digital clock adds the necessary time and date stamp to individual songs.
For Windows users, the iPod now works seamlessly with MUSICMATCH Jukebox, the number one selling music software for PCs. iPod is the only MP3 player to provide Windows customers with Apple’s exclusive Auto-sync technology, to keep their iPod automatically updated every time it is plugged into their PC. Users also have the option to manually transfer individual songs or playlists from their MUSICMATCH library to their iPod. iPod for Windows will ship with MUSICMATCH Jukebox.
iPod for Mac or Windows comes with improved headphones that offer enhanced bass response, smoother transitions and more accurate high-end sound reproduction. iPod also features a redesigned and more portable thin FireWire cable; 20GB and 10GB iPod models include a built-in protective cover for the FireWire port.
Pricing & Availability The new iPod will be available for a suggested retail price of $299 (US) for the 5GB iPod, $399 (US) for the 10GB iPod and $499 (US) for the 20GB iPod through the Apple Store® Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. iPod for Mac will be available in early August and iPod for Windows will be available in late August. Laser engraving is available for $49 (US) and can include two lines of text with up to 27 characters per line.
All iPod models include earbud headphones, Apple iPod Power Adapter and FireWire cable. 10GB and 20GB iPod models include carrying case and wired remote; optional remote and carrying case are available for 5GB iPod models. iPod for Windows also includes a 4-pin-to-6-pin FireWire adapter. iPod for Mac includes iTunes 3; iPod for Windows includes MUSICMATCH Jukebox software.
iPod for Mac requires Mac® OS X version 10.1 or Mac OS 9.2, iTunes 2.0.4 and a Macintosh with built-in FireWire port. iPod for Windows requires a PC with built-in FireWire or a Windows-certified FireWire card and Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP Home or Professional.
*Some iPod features require a Mac and iTunes 3.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings

IPOD Market

100 Million iPods Sold
CUPERTINO, California—April 9, 2007—Apple® today announced that the 100 millionth iPod® has been sold, making the iPod the fastest selling music player in history. The first iPod was sold five and a half years ago, in November 2001, and since then Apple has introduced more than 10 new iPod models, including five generations of iPod, two generations of iPod mini, two generations of iPod nano and two generations of iPod shuffle. Along with iTunes® and the iTunes online music store, the iPod has transformed how tens of millions of music lovers acquire, manage and listen to their music.
“At this historic milestone, we want to thank music lovers everywhere for making iPod such an incredible success,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPod has helped millions of people around the world rekindle their passion for music, and we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”
“It’s hard to remember what I did before the iPod,” said Mary J. Blige, GRAMMY Award-winning singer. “iPod is more than just a music player, it’s an extension of your personality and a great way to take your favorite music with you everywhere you go.”
“Without the iPod, the digital music age would have been defined by files and folders instead of songs and albums,” said John Mayer, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist. “Though the medium of music has changed, the iPod experience has kept the spirit of what it means to be a music lover alive."
The iPod has also sparked an unprecedented ecosystem of over 4,000 accessories made specifically for the iPod that range from fashionable cases to speaker systems, and more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles currently offer iPod connectivity.
“I take my running shoes and my iPod with me everywhere,” said Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France champion. “I listen to music when I run. Having my music with me is really motivating.”
Every iPod features seamless integration with iTunes 7. The iTunes Store features the world’s largest catalog with over five million songs, 350 television shows and over 400 movies. The iTunes Store has sold over 2.5 billion songs, 50 million TV shows and over 1.3 million movies, making it the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store. BULLET LIST HEADER (as needed)

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Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and will enter the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone.

Apple IPOD

Apple & Volvo Announce iPod Connectivity For Entire 2005 US Model Line
MACWORLD EXPO, SAN FRANCISCO —January 11, 2005—Apple® and Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) today announced two iPod® connectivity options for Volvo’s entire 2005 US model line, allowing iPod users to listen to their music collection through their Volvo audio system. The Volvo iPod Adapter will be available for S60, S80 and V70/XC70 models and will connect by simply plugging the iPod into a cable located in the car’s glove compartment, while S40, V50 and XC90 owners can use a dashboard mounted FM transmitter. The Volvo iPod Adapter allows users to control their music through their Volvo sound system and steering wheel controls, and both options charge the iPod when plugged in.
“The year of the iPod and the automobile is off to a tremendous start with Volvo bringing iPod connectivity to their entire line,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The unbeatable combination of iPod and iTunes is a perfect fit for Volvo customers.”
“Our customers have been asking for an integrated iPod offering,” said Vic Doolan, VCNA president and CEO. “We're delivering great iPod connectivity options for our entire line, coupled with unique content providing for the perfect Volvo music experience.”
Additionally, Volvo is creating playlists on the iTunes Music Store to encourage customers to discover music from emerging Scandinavian artists. The Volvo playlists on the iTunes Music Store will include a wide variety of Scandinavian artists and genres, showcasing the creativity coming from Scandinavia. The Volvo playlists will feature unique download opportunities from artists such as Tina Dico, The Tiny, The Concretes and The Perishers.
Pricing & Availability The Volvo iPod Adapter pricing will be announced at program launch in the second quarter of 2005 for all Volvo models. Installation is performed by authorized Volvo dealers only. The Volvo iPod Adapter works with all iPods with a dock connector. The iPod lineup is available in the US through the Apple StoreApple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
Volvo has been building cars with Safety in mind for over 75 years. The 2005 Volvo Cars model line-up includes: the award-winning new S40 sedan; the all-new V50 sportwagon; the award-winning XC90, now including an all new V8 engine; the sporty S60 sedan—including the award-winning performance sedan—S60 R and performance wagon version—V70 R; the flagship S80 premium sedan; versatile V70 wagon and rugged XC70 (Cross Country); and, the C70 convertible.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

About IPOD

iPod (fifth generation) in Apple Universal Dock, iPod nano (secondgeneration) and iPod shuffle (second generation)iPod is a brand ofportable media players designed and marketed by Apple and launched inOctober 2001. Devices in the iPod range are primarily digital audioplayers, designed around a central click wheel — with exception to theiPod Shuffle, which uses buttons because of its size. As of October2005, the line-up consists of the video-capable fifth generation iPod,the smaller iPod nano, and the display-less iPod shuffle. Thefull-sized model stores media on an internal hard drive, while thesmaller iPod nano and iPod shuffle use flash memory. Like many digitalmusic players, iPods can also serve as external data storage devices.In January 2007, Apple announced the iPhone, a device that combinedthe features of the video-capable iPod with mobile phone and mobileInternet capabilities.Apple's iTunes software is used to transfer music to the devices. As afree jukebox application, iTunes stores an entire music library on theuser's computer and can play, burn, and rip music from a CD. It canalso transfer photos, videos, games, and calendars to the models thatsupport them.Apple focused its development on the iPod's unique user interface andits ease of use, rather than on technical capability. As of October2004, the iPod is the world's best-selling range of digital audioplayers and its worldwide mainstream adoption made it one of the mostpopular consumer brands. Some of Apple's design choices andproprietary actions have, however, led to criticism and legal battles.On Monday, April 9, 2007, Apple announced that over 100 million iPodshad been sold worldwide.[1] This makes the iPod the best-selling musicplayer in history.Contents [hide]1 History and design2 Software2.1 User interface2.2 Operating system and firmware2.3 iTunes Store2.4 Additional features2.5 File storage3 Hardware3.1 Chipsets and electronics3.2 Connectivity3.3 Accessories4 Models5 Criticisms5.1 Battery issues5.2 Bass response5.3 Equalizer5.4 Reliability and durability5.5 Allegations of worker exploitation6 Patent disputes7 Sales8 Industry impact9 See also10 References11 External linksHistory and designiPod came from Apple's digital hub strategy,[2] when the company begancreating software for the growing market of digital devices beingpurchased by consumers. Digital cameras, camcorders and organizers hadwell-established mainstream markets, but the company found existingdigital music players "big and clunky or small and useless" with userinterfaces that were "unbelievably awful",[2] so Apple decided todevelop its own. Apple's hardware engineering chief, Jon Rubinstein,assembled a team of engineers to design it, including Tony Fadell,hardware engineer Michael Dhuey, and design engineer Jonathan Ive,with Stan Ng as the marketing manager. The product was developed inless than a year and unveiled on 23 October 2001. CEO Steve Jobsannounced it as a Mac-compatible product with a 5 GB hard drive thatput "1000 songs in your pocket."Uncharacteristically, Apple did not develop iPod's software entirelyin-house. Apple instead used PortalPlayer's reference platform whichwas based on 2 ARM cores. The platform had rudimentary softwarerunning on a commercial microkernel embedded operating system.PortalPlayer had previously been working on an IBM-branded MP3 playerwith Bluetooth headphones.[3] Apple contracted another company, Pixo,to help design and implement the user interface, under the directsupervision of Steve Jobs.[2] Once established, Apple continued torefine the software's look and feel. Starting with the iPod mini, theChicago font was replaced with Espy Sans. Later iPods switched fontsagain to Podium Sans — a font similar to Apple's corporate fontMyriad. iPods with color displays then adopted some Mac OS X themeslike Aqua progress bars, and brushed metal in the lock interface.The name iPod was proposed by Vinnie Chieco, a freelance copywriter,who (with others) was called by Apple to figure out how to introducethe new player to the public. After Chieco saw a prototype, he thoughtof the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and the phrase "Open the pod baydoor, Hal!", which refers to the white EVA Pods of the Discovery Onespaceship. Apple had previously registered the name "iPod" forInternet kiosks, but never put it to use.[2]SoftwareiPod can play MP3, AAC/M4A, Protected AAC, AIFF, WAV, Audibleaudiobook, and Apple Lossless audio file formats. iPod photointroduced the ability to display JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG imagefile formats. Fifth generation iPods can additionally play MPEG-4(H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) and QuickTime video formats, with restrictions onvideo dimensions, encoding techniques and data-rates. Unlike mostother media players, Apple does not support Microsoft's WMA audioformat — but a converter for non-Digital Rights Management (DRM) WMAfiles is provided with the Windows version of iTunes. MIDI files alsocannot be played, but can be converted to audio files using the"Advanced" menu in iTunes. Alternative open-source audio formats suchas Ogg Vorbis and FLAC are not supported. Each time iPod connects toits host computer, iTunes will synchronize entire music libraries ormusic playlists and the user can choose for automatic or manualsynchronization. Song ratings can be set on iPod and synchronizedlater to the iTunes library, however only one host computer isallowed.User interfaceiPods with color displays use anti-aliased graphics and text, withsliding animations. These iPods have five buttons and the latergenerations have the buttons integrated into the click wheel — aninnovation which gives an uncluttered, minimalist interface. Thebuttons are:Menu: to traverse backwards through the menus, and toggle thebacklight on older iPodsCenter: to select a menu itemPlay / Pause: this doubles as an off switch when heldSkip Forward / Fast ForwardSkip Backwards / Fast ReverseOther operations such as scrolling through menu items and controllingthe volume are performed by using the click wheel in a rotationalmanner, while an additional Hold switch helps prevent accidentalbutton presses. iPod shuffle does not have a click wheel and insteadhas five buttons positioned differently to the larger models: It has aPlay / Pause button in the center, surrounded by four buttons: VolumeUp / Down and Skip Forward / Backwards. The later models automaticallypause playback when the headphones are unplugged from the headphonejack, but playback does not resume upon re-insertion. An iPod that hascrashed or frozen can be reset by switching Hold on then off, thenpressing Menu and Center (Menu and Play on the third generation iPod)for 6 seconds.[4]Operating system and firmwareiPod's operating system is stored on its dedicated storage medium. Anadditional NOR flash ROM chip (either 1 MB or 512 KB) contains abootloader program that tells the device to load its OS from thestorage medium. Each iPod also has 32 MB of RAM, although the 60 and80 GB fifth generation have 64 MB. A portion of the RAM is used tohold the iPod OS loaded from firmware, but the majority of it servesto cache songs from the storage medium. For example, iPod could spinits hard disk up once and copy approximately 30 MB of upcoming songsinto RAM, thus save power by not requiring the drive to spin up foreach song. Rockbox and iPodLinux offer open-source alternatives to thestandard firmware and operating system, respectively.iTunes Store This article or section is written like an advertisement.Please help rewrite this article from a neutral point of view perWikipedia policy.Mark blatant advertising for speedy deletion with {{db-spam}}. (help, talk)Main articles: iTunes and iTunes StoreThe iTunes Store is an online media store run by Apple and accessedvia iTunes. It was introduced on 29 April 2003 and it sells individualsongs, with typical prices being US$0.99, AU$1.69 (inc. GST), NZ$1.79(inc. GST), EU€0.99, or GB£0.79 per song. iPods are the only portablemusic players that can play the purchased music. The store became themarket leader soon after its launch[5] and Apple announced the sale ofvideos through the store on 12 October 2005. Full-length movies becameavailable on 12 September 2006.[6]Purchased audio files use the AAC format with added encryption. Theencryption is based on the FairPlay DRM system. Up to five authorizedcomputers and an unlimited number of iPods can play the files. Burningthe files onto an audio CD, then re-compressing to a different lossyformat can create music files without the DRM, although this resultsin reduced quality. The DRM can also be removed using third-partysoftware. In March, 2007, Steve Jobs announced in colaboration withEMI that the iTunes Store would begin to sell DRM-free song beginingin June 2007 at US$ 1.29.iPods cannot play music files from competing music stores that userival-DRM technologies like Microsoft's protected WMA or RealNetworks'Helix DRM. Example stores include Napster and MSN Music. RealNetworksclaims that Apple is creating problems for itself,[7] by usingFairPlay to lock users into using the iTunes Store. Steve Jobs statedthat Apple makes little profit from song sales, although Apple usesthe store to promote iPod sales.[8] iPods can however play music filesfrom online stores that do not use DRM, such as eMusic or Amie Street.Additional featuresIn March 2002, Apple added limited PDA-like functionality: Text filescan be displayed, while contacts and schedules can be viewed andsynchronized with the host computer.[9] Some built-in games areavailable, including Brick (a clone of Breakout), Parachute,Solitaire, and Music Quiz. A firmware update released in September2006 brought some extra features to fifth generation iPods includingadjustable screen brightness, gapless playback, and downloadable games(available for purchase from the iTunes Store).File storageAll iPods can function as mass storage devices to store data files;this function is controlled by the "Enable Disk Use" option in iTunes.If the iPod is formatted on a Mac OS X computer it uses the HFS+ filesystem format, which allows it to serve as a boot disk for a Maccomputer.[citation needed] If it is formatted on Windows, the FAT32format is used. With the advent of the Windows-compatible iPod, iPod'sdefault file system switched from HFS+ to FAT32, although it can bereformatted to either filesystem (excluding the iPod shuffle which isstrictly FAT32). Generally, if a new iPod (excluding the iPod shuffle)is initially plugged into a computer running Windows, it will beformatted with FAT32, and if initially plugged into a Mac running MacOS X it will be formatted with HFS+.Unlike most other MP3 players (including PlaysForSure devices), simplycopying files to the drive with a file management application will notallow iPod to properly access them. The user must use software thathas been specifically designed to transfer media files to iPods, sothat the files are playable and viewable. Aside from iTunes, severalalternative third-party applications are available on a number ofdifferent platforms.iTunes cannot transfer songs or videos from iPod to computer,[citationneeded] although iTunes 7 allows it for music purchased through theiTunes Music Store. Media files are stored on the iPod in a hiddenfolder, together with a proprietary database file. The hidden contentcan be accessed on the host operating system however, by enablinghidden files to be shown.[citation needed] The audio can then berecovered manually by dragging the files or folders onto the iTunesLibrary or by using third-party software.HardwareChipsets and electronicsMicrocontrolleriPod first to third generations — Two ARM 7TDMI-derived CPUs running at 90 MHz.iPod fourth and fifth generations, iPod mini, iPod nano firstgeneration — Variable-speed ARM 7TDMI CPUs, running at a peak of 80MHz to save battery life.iPod nano second generation — Samsung System-On-Chip, based around anARM processor.[10]iPod shuffle first generation — SigmaTel STMP3550 chip that handlesboth the music decoding and the audio circuitry.[11]Audio chipAll iPods (except the shuffle) use audio codecs developed by WolfsonMicroelectronics. Storage mediumiPod first to fifth generation — 1.8 inch hard drives (ATA, 4200 rpmwith proprietary connectors) made by ToshibaiPod mini — 1 inch Microdrives manufactured by Hitachi and SeagateiPod nano — Flash memory from Samsung, Toshiba, and others.iPod shuffle — Flash memoryBatteriesiPod first and second generation, nano, shuffle — Internal lithiumpolymer batteriesiPod third to fifth generation — Internal lithium-ion batteriesConnectivityTwo iPod wall chargers, with FireWire (left) and USB (right)connectors, which allow iPods to charge without a computer.Originally,a FireWire connection to the host computer was used to update songs orrecharge the battery. The battery could also be charged with a poweradapter that was included with the first 4 generations. The thirdgeneration began including a dock connector, allowing for FireWire orUSB connectivity. This provided better compatibility with PCs, as mostof them did not have FireWire ports at the time. However, the devicecould not be charged over USB, so the FireWire cables were nonethelessneeded to connect to the AC adapter. The dock connector also broughtopportunities to exchange data, sound and power with an iPod, whichultimately created a large market of accessories, manufactured bythird parties such as Belkin and Griffin. The second generation iPodshuffle uses a single 3.5 mm jack which acts as both a headphone jackand a data port for the dock.The iPod mini and the fourth generation iPod allowed recharging viaUSB and eventually Apple began shipping iPods with USB cables insteadof FireWire, although the latter was available separately. As of thefifth generation iPod, Apple discontinued using FireWire for datatransfer and made a full transition to USB 2.0, due to its widespreadadoption. FireWire was then usable for recharging only.AccessoriesMany companies, including Apple, produce accessories designed foriPods. This market is sometimes described as the iPod ecosystem.[12]Some accessories add extra features that other music players have,such as sound recorders, FM radio tuners, wired remote controls, andaudio/visual cables for TV connections. Other accessories offer moreunique features like the Nike+iPod pedometer and the iPod CameraConnector. Other notable accessories include external speakers,wireless remote controls, protective cases/films and wirelessearphones.[13] Among the first accessory manufacturers were GriffinTechnology, Belkin, JBL, Bose, Monster Cable, and SendStation.Two designs of iPod earbuds. The revised version is shown on theright.The white earphones (or "earbuds") that ship with all iPods havebecome symbolic of the brand. Advertisements feature them prominently,often contrasting the white earphones (and cords) with people shown asdark silhouettes. The earphones have been revised twice: The firsttype came with the first and second generations, and the second typeappeared on all iPods up to the second generation nanos.In 2005, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority placedadverts on the subways warning passengers that "Earphones are agiveaway. Protect your device",[14] after iPod thefts on the subwayrose from zero in 2004 to 50 in the first three months of 2005.[15]BMW released the first iPod automobile interface,[16] allowing driversof newer BMW vehicles to control their iPod using either the built-insteering wheel controls or the radio head-unit buttons. Appleannounced in 2005 that similar systems would be available for othervehicle brands, including Mercedes-Benz,[17] Volvo,[18] Nissan, AlfaRomeo, Ferrari,[19] Acura, Audi, Honda,[20] Renault andVolkswagen.[21] Scion offers standard iPod connectivity on all theircars.Some independent stereo manufacturers including JVC, Pioneer, Kenwood,Alpine, and Harman Kardon also have iPod-specific integrationsolutions. Alternative connection methods include adaptor kits (thatuse the cassette deck or the CD changer port), audio input jacks, andFM transmitters such as the iTrip — although personal FM transmittersare illegal in some countries. Many car manufacturers have added audioinput jacks as standard.[22]Beginning in mid-2007, four major airlines, United, Continental,Delta, and Emirates reached agreements to install iPod seatconnections. The free service will allow passengers to power andcharge their iPod, and view their video and music libraries onindividual seat-back displays.[23] Originally KLM and Air France werereported to be part of the deal with Apple, but they later releasedstatements explaining that they were only contemplating thepossibility of incorporating such systems.[24]Models This article or section is written like an advertisement.Please help rewrite this article from a neutral point of view perWikipedia policy.Mark blatant advertising for speedy deletion with {{db-spam}}. (help, talk)Model Generation Image Capacity Changes introduced Connection Originalrelease date Launch price (US$)iPod first 5, 10 GB First model, with mechanical scroll wheel.FireWire 23 October 2001 $399, $499second 10, 20 GB Touch-sensitive wheel. FireWire port had a cover.Hold switch revised. FireWire 17 July 2002 $399, $499third 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 GB Central row of touch-sensitive buttons.Dock Connector port introduced. New backlit screen introduced.FireWire (USB for syncing only) 28 April 2003 $299, $399, $499fourth (photo) 20, 30, 40, 60 GB Buttons integrated to form "ClickWheel". Color display with photo viewer introduced in October 2004. Itreplaced the monochrome model in June 2005. FireWire or USB 19 July2004 $299, $349, $399, $449fifth (video) 30, 60, 80 GB Slimmer design, introduced in white andblack variants. Larger screen with video player and lyrics support. NoAC adapter, Universal Dock, or A/V cables included.The September 2006 revision (often called generation 5.5) featured abrighter display, longer video battery life, and a music searchfunction. USB (FireWire for charging only) 12 October 2005 $299, $399 (later $249, $349)iPod mini first 4 GB New model, available in 5 colors. Introduced the"Click Wheel", later adopted by the fourth generation iPod. USB orFireWire 6 January 2004 $249second 4, 6 GB Brighter color variants with longer battery life. ClickWheel lettering matched body color. No AC adapter and discontinuedgold model. USB or FireWire 22 February 2005 $199, $249iPod nano first 1, 2, 4 GB New model as a successor to the iPod mini.Slimmer design with flash memory, color screen and lyrics support. USB(FireWire for charging only) 7 September 2005 $149, $199, $249second 2, 4, 8 GB Anodized aluminium case in 6 colors, similar tominis. Brighter screen, longer battery life and a music searchfunction. USB (FireWire for charging only) 12 September 2006 $149,$199, $249iPod shuffle first 512 MB, 1 GB New model. The iPod without a screenor click wheel. First iPod to use flash memory instead of hard drivestorage. USB 11 January 2005 $99, $149 (later $69, $99)second 1 GB Aluminum case with smaller form factor, plus built-inclip. Multi-colored models later released. USB (via dock only) 12September 2006 $79The iPod nano (PRODUCT)RED.Each new generation usually has morefeatures and refinements while typically being smaller and lighterthan its predecessor. Notable changes include the touch-sensitiveclick wheel replacing the mechanical scroll wheel, use of colordisplays, and flash memory replacing hard disks. Discontinued modelsinclude four generations of the full-sized iPod, two generations ofthe iPod mini and the first generation of both the nano and theshuffle.The software bundled with the first generation iPod wasMacintosh-only, so Windows users had to use third-party software likeephPod or XPlay to manage their music. When Apple introduced thesecond generation of iPods in July 2002, they sold two versions, onethat included iTunes for Macintosh users and another that includedMusicmatch Jukebox for Windows users.[25] In October 2003, Applereleased the Windows version of iTunes,[26] and started selling iPodsthat included both Macintosh and Windows versions of iTunes so thatthey could be used with either platform.In December 2002, Apple unveiled its first limited edition iPods, witheither Madonna's, Tony Hawk's, or Beck's signature or No Doubt's bandlogo engraved on the back for an extra US$49.[27] On 26 October 2004,Apple introduced a special edition of its fourth generation monochromeiPod, designed in the color scheme of the album (How to Dismantle anAtomic Bomb) by Irish rock band U2. It had a black case with a redclick wheel and the back had the engraved signatures of U2's bandmembers. This iPod was updated alongside the iPod photo and fifthgeneration iPod.On 13 October 2006, Apple released a special edition 4 GB red iPodnano as part of the (PRODUCT)RED campaign. An 8 GB version wasreleased three weeks later and both of them sold for the same price asthe standard models. US$10 from each sale is donated to The GlobalFund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria. Apple also releasedSpecial Edition Harry Potter iPods to accompany the iPod photo. Thesewere engraved with the Hogwarts Crest on the back and were onlyavailable to purchasers of the Harry Potter audiobooks. They wereupdated when the fifth generation iPods were released, but were onlyavailable for a limited time.CriticismsBattery issuesThe advertised battery life on most models is different from thereal-world achievable life. For example, the fifth generation 30 GBiPod is advertised as having up to 14 hours of music playback. An report stated that this was virtually unachievable underreal-life usage conditions, with a writer for getting onaverage less than 8 hours from his or her iPod.[28] In 2003, classaction lawsuits were brought against Apple complaining that thebattery charges lasted for shorter lengths of time than stated andthat the battery degraded over time.[29] The lawsuits were settled byoffering individuals either US$50 store credit or a free batteryreplacement.[30] Despite its own criticisms, Apple later complainedthat its competitor, Sony, had misled consumers in its advertising forSony's music player. Apple complained that Sony had not consideredreal-world usage.[31]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 iPodreplacement batteries. Compounding the problem, Apple initially wouldnot replace worn-out batteries. The official policy was that thecustomer should buy a refurbished replacement iPod, at a cost almostequivalent to a brand new one. All lithium-ion batteries eventuallylose capacity during their lifetime[32] (guidelines are available forprolonging life-span) and this situation led to a small market forthird-party battery replacement kits.Apple announced a battery replacement program on 2003-11-14, a weekbefore[33] a high publicity stunt and website by the NeistatBrothers.[34] The initial cost was US$99,[35] and it was lowered toUS$59 in 2005. One week later, Apple offered an extended iPod warrantyfor US$59.[36] Third-party companies offer cheaper battery replacementkits that often use higher capacity batteries. For the iPod nano,soldering tools are needed because the battery is soldered onto themain board. Fifth generation iPods have their battery attached to thebackplate with adhesive.[37][38]Bass responseThe third generation iPod had a weak bass response, as shown in audiotests.[39][40] The combination of the undersized DC-blockingcapacitors and the typical low-impedance of most consumer headphonesfrom a high-pass filter, which attenuates the low-frequency bassoutput by up to 10 dB. Similar capacitors were used in the fourthgeneration iPods.[41] The problem is reduced when using high-impedanceheadphones and is completely masked when driving high-impedance (linelevel) loads. The first generation iPod shuffle uses a dual-transistoroutput stage rather than a single capacitor-coupled output, and doesnot exhibit reduced bass response for any load.EqualizerIf the sound is enhanced with the iPod's software equalizer (EQ), someEQ settings — like R&B, Rock, Acoustic, and Bass Booster — can causebass distortion too easily.[42][43] The equalizer amplifies thedigital audio level beyond the software's limit, causing distortion(clipping) on songs that have a bass drum or use a bassy instrument,even when the amplifier level is low. One possible workaround is toreduce the volume level of the recorded MP3 by modifying the audiofiles. However this cannot be done with DRM-encrypted music, anddifferent tools are needed for each different file format.Reliability and durabilityiPods have been criticized for their short life-span, fragile harddrives, and planned obsolescence.[44][45] A 2005 survey conducted onthe MacInTouch website found that the iPod had an average failure rateof 13.7%. It concluded that some models were more durable thanothers.[46] In particular failure rates for iPods employing harddrives was usually above 20% while flash memory ones below 10%,indicating poor hard drive durability. Some users recommended "holdand slap" technique [47], meaning "Simply hold it in one hand, andsmack it with your other hand", which surprisingly works in a largenumber of cases. In late 2005, many users complained.[48] that thesurface of the 1st generation iPod nano can become scratched easily,rendering the screen unusable.[49] A class action lawsuit was alsofiled.[50] Apple initially considered the issue a minor defect, butlater began shipping these iPods with protective sleeves.Allegations of worker exploitationOn 11 June 2006, the British newspaper Mail on Sunday reported thatiPods are mainly manufactured by workers who earn no more than US$50per month and work 15-hour shifts.[51] Apple investigated the casewith independent auditors and found that, while some of the plant'slabor practices met Apple's Code of Conduct, others did not: Employeesworked over 60 hours a week for 35% of the time, and worked more thansix consecutive days for 25% of the time.[52] Apple's manufacturer —which initially denied the abuses[53] — promised to disallow workingmore hours than the Code allowed. Apple hired a workplace standardsauditing company, Verité, and joined the Electronic Industry Code ofConduct Implementation Group to oversee the measures. On 31 December2006, workers at the Taiwanese factory (owned by Foxconn) formed aunion. The union is affiliated with the All-China Federation of TradeUnions.[54]Patent disputesIn 2005, Apple Computer faced two lawsuits claiming patentinfringement by the iPod and its associated technologies:[55] AdvancedAudio Devices claimed the iPod breached its patent on a "musicjukebox",[56] while a Hong Kong-based IP portfolio company calledPat-rights filed a suit claiming that Apple's FairPlay technologybreached a patent[57] issued to inventor Ho Keung Tse. The latter casealso includes the online music stores of Sony, RealNetworks, Napster,and Musicmatch as defendants.[58]Apple's application to the United States Patent and Trademark Officefor a patent on "rotational user inputs",[59] as used on the iPod'sinterface, received a third "non-final rejection" (NFR) in August2005. Also in August 2005, Creative Technology, one of Apple's mainrivals in the MP3 player market, announced that it held a patent[60]on part of the music selection interface used by the iPod, whichCreative dubbed the "Zen Patent", granted on 2005-08-09.[61] On 15 May2006, Creative filed another suit against Apple with the United StatesDistrict Court for the Northern District of California. Creative alsoasked the United States International Trade Commission to investigatewhether Apple was breaching U.S. trade laws by importing iPods intothe United States.[62]On 24 August 2006, Apple and Creative announced a broad settlement toend their legal disputes. Apple will pay Creative US$100 million for apaid-up license, to use Creative's awarded patent in all Appleproducts. Apple also negotiated a scheme where it can recoup part ofits payment, if Creative is successful in licensing the patent.Creative then announced its intention to produce iPod accessories byjoining the Made for iPod program.[63]SalesiPod quarterly sales. Click for table of data and sources.See also:iPod advertisingSince October 2004, the iPod has dominated digital music player salesin the United States, with over 90% of the market for hard drive-basedplayers and over 70% of the market for all types of players.[64]During the year from January 2004 to January 2005, the high rate ofsales caused its U.S. market share to increase from 31% to 65% and inJuly 2005, this market share was measured at 74%.The release of the iPod mini helped to ensure this success at a timewhen competing flash-based music players were once dominant.[65] On 8January 2004, Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced that they would sellHP-branded iPods under a license agreement from Apple. Several newretail channels were used—including Wal-Mart—and these iPodseventually made up 5% of all iPod sales. In July 2005, HP stoppedselling iPods due to unfavorable terms and conditions imposed byApple.[66]In January 2007, Apple reported record quarterly earnings of US$7.1billion, of which 48% was made from iPod sales.[67]On 9 April 2007 it was announced that Apple had sold its one-hundredmillionth iPod, making the biggest selling digital music player of alltime. In April 2007, Apple reported second quarter earnings of US$5.2billion, of which 32% was made from iPod sales.[68] Apple and severalindustry analysts suggest that iPod users are likely to purchase otherApple products such as Mac computers.[69]Industry impactiPods have won several awards ranging from engineering excellence,[70]to most innovative audio product,[71] to fourth best computer productof 2006.[72] iPods often receive favorable reviews; scoring on looks,clean design and ease of use. PC World says that iPods have "alteredthe landscape for portable audio players".Several industries are modifying their products to work better withboth the iPod and the AAC audio format. Examples include CDcopy-protection schemes,[73] and mobile phones from Sony Ericsson andNokia that play AAC files rather than WMA. Microsoft's Zune devicealso supports AAC and it has adopted a similar closed DRM model usedby iPods and the iTunes Store, despite Microsoft previously marketingthe benefits of choice with their PlaysForSure initiative. Podcastsand download charts have also had mainstream adoption.See alsoComparison of portable media playersComparison of iPod ManagersReferences^ 100 Million iPods Sold. Apple Inc. (2007-04-09). Retrieved on 2007-04-11.^ a b c d Kahney, Leander. Straight Dope on the iPod's Birth, WiredNews, 2006-10-17. Retrieved on 2006-10-30.^ Kahney, Leander. Inside Look at the Birth of the iPod, Wired News,2004-07-21. Retrieved on 2006-10-30.^ Apple (2006-12-26). How to reset iPod. Apple Support. Retrieved on2007-02-18.^ Apple. iTunes Music Store Catalog Tops One Million Songs,2004-08-10. Retrieved on 2006-12-28.^ Scott-Joynt, Jeremy. Apple targets TV and film market, BBC News,2006-09-12. Retrieved on 2006-09-12.^ Kanellos, Michael. Real's Glaser exhorts Apple to open iPod, CNetNews, 2004-03-23. Retrieved on 2006-06-20.^ Orlowski, Andrew. Your 99c belong to the RIAA – Steve Jobs, TheRegister, 2003-11-07. Retrieved on 2006-06-20.^ Apple (2002-03-20). Apple Introduces 10 GB iPod—2,000 Songs in YourPocket. Press release. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.^ Cassell, Jonathan. Apple Delivers More For Less With New iPod Nano,iSuppli Corporation, 2006-09-20. Retrieved on 2006-10-21.^ Williams, Martyn. How Much Should an IPod Shuffle Cost?, PC World,2005-02-24. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.^ Darlin, Damon. The iPod Ecosystem. New York Times, 2006-02-03.Retrieved on 2006-08-14.^ In-The-Ear Bluetooth Earphones. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ Dianner. Earphones are a giveaway, Flickr, 2005-07-21. Retrieved on2007-02-11.^ MacMillan, Robert. Somebody Out There Wants Your iPod, WashingtonPost, 2005-04-28. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.^ iPod Your BMW. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ Apple. Apple & Mercedes-Benz Unveil iPod Integration Kit. Pressrelease, 2005-01-11. Retrieved on 2006-06-20.^ Apple. Apple & Volvo Announce iPod Connectivity For Entire 2005 USModel Line, Press release, 2005-01-11. Retrieved on 2006-06-20.^ Apple. Apple & Leading Car Companies Team Up to Deliver iPodIntegration in 2005. 2005-01-11. Press release. Retrieved on2006-06-20.^ Honda. Honda Music Link for iPods Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ Apple. Apple Teams Up With Acura, Audi, Honda & Volkswagen toDeliver Seamless iPod Experience, Press release, 2005-09-07. Retrievedon 2006-06-20.^ Apple. Car Integration: iPod your car Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ Apple. Apple Teams Up With Continental, Delta, Emirates, & United todeliver iPod Integration. 2006-11-14. Press release. Retrieved on2006-12-07.^ Marsal, Katie. Two of six airlines say there's no ink on iPod deal,2006-11-15, AppleInsider. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.^ Apple (2002-07-17). Apple Unveils New iPods. Press release.Retrieved on 2007-02-19.^ Apple. Apple Launches iTunes for Windows. 2003-10-16. Press release.Retrieved on 2006-11-26.^ Dalrymple, Jim. Limited Edition Madonna, Tony Hawk, Beck iPods.MacWorld, 2002-09-10. Retrieved on 2007-01-07.^. MP3 Insider: The truth about your battery life, 2006-03-13.Retrieved on 2006-07-10.^ Apple investigates iPod batteries. BBC News (2004-02-10). Retrievedon 2007-03-20.^ Horwitz, Jeremy. Apple's iPod Battery Settlement, Explained,iLounge, 2005-06-10. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.^ Dalrymple, Jim. Apple hits back at Sony's 'misleading' Walkmanmarketing, MacWorld, 2004-07-07. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.^ The Curse of Lithium Ion Batteries, MP3 Newswire, 2006-01-06.Retrieved on 2006-11-30.^ iPod Battery FAQ. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.^ Neistat, Casey. A Message From the Neistat Brothers, 2003-11-20.Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ MacMinute. Apple offers iPod battery replacement service,2003-11-14. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.^ MacMinute. AppleCare for iPod now available, 2003-11-21. Retrievedon 2006-11-26.^ Ecker, Clint. Vivisection of the Video iPod, Ars Technica,2005-10-19. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.^ Disassemble Guide for Video iPod. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.^ Machrone, Bill. iPod audio measurements, PC Magazine. Retrieved on2007-02-17.^ Heijligers, Marc. iPod audio measurements. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ Heijligers, Marc. iPod circuit design engineering, May 2006.Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ Kuzmanoski, Brian. Analysis of the iPod's equalizer, DAP review.Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ MacInTouch. MacInTouch reader report of iPod sound distortion, July2002. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ Baca, Ricardo. When iPods go bad, Denver Post, 2006-07-18. Retrievedon 2007-01-17.^ Slade, Giles. 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Apple Reports First Quarter Results, 2007-01-17. Retrieved on2007-02-17.^ Apple. Apple Reports Second Quarter Results. Retrieved on 2007-04-25.^ Orlowski, Andrew. For Apple, Halo effect eclipses Osborne effect,The Register, 2005-10-11. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.^ iPod and Bluetooth lead to prizes. BBC News (2005-06-03). Retrievedon 2007-03-20.^ The 25 Most Innovative Products of the Year. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ Apple wins 5 'World Class' awards. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.^ Apple, iPod, and CD Copy Protection. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to:iPodWikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:iPodApple iPod — Official websiteIdentifying iPod modelsApple's 21st century Walkman — Brent Schlender, Fortune, October 2001iPod Nation — Steven Levy, Newsweek, July 2004Behind the Music — Ken Aaron, Cornell Engineering, 2005The Perfect Thing — Steven Levy, Wired, November 2006Comparison of free alternative iPod managers[hide] v • d • e Apple hardware since 1998Consumer computers: eMac • iBook • iMac (G3, G4, G5, Core Duo, Core 2Duo) • MacBook • Mac miniProfessional computers: MacBook Pro • Mac Pro • PowerBook (G3, G4) •Power Macintosh (G3, G4, Cube, G5) • XserveComputing accessories: AirPort (Express, Extreme) • Cinema Display •iSight • Mighty Mouse • Xserve RAIDConsumer electronics: Apple TV • iPhone • iPod (mini, photo, shuffle, nano, 5G)General accessories: Apple Remote • iPod Hi-Fi • Nike+iPodItalics denote discontinued products, bold italics denote announcedbut not yet released products.Retrieved from ""Categories: Semi-protected Wikipedia articles needing style editing Articles with unsourced statements since March 2007 All articleswith unsourced statements 2000s fashion 2001 introductions Digital audio players IPod Portable hard drives Industrialdesign examplesViewsArticle Discussion View source History Personal toolsSign in /create account NavigationMain pageContentsFeatured content