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iPod
CPU
CPU: ARM7TDMI
CPU Speed: dual 90 MHz embedded
Data Path: 32 bit
ROM: 32 MB
Onboard RAM: 32 MB
RAM slots: 0
Maximum RAM: 32 MB
Video
Screen: backlit LCD
Max Resolution: 1-bit 160x128
Storage
Hard Drive: 5/10/20 GB 4200 RPM
ATA Bus: ATA-5
Input/Output
Firewire: 1
Audio Out: stereo 16 bit mini
Speaker: clicker
Miscellaneous
Codename: Dulcimer
Gestalt ID: 0
Dimensions: 4.02" H x 2.43" W x 0.78" D
Weight: 0.41 lbs.
Maximum OS: iPod OS 1.5
Minimum OS: iPod OS 1.0
Introduced: October 2001
Terminated: April 2003
Announced in October 2001, the iPod represented Apple's first strike into
the digital music market. The iPod was a hard disk based digital music
player that was smaller than most portable tape decks. Hard disk MP3
players had been in the marketplace for several years, but Apple
distinguished the iPod from these players in several ways. The iPod could
compete with both flash-based and hard disk based players: By using a 1.8"
hard disk, Apple was able to make the iPod smaller than most other hard
disk MP3 players, small enough to go up against flash-based players, whose
capacity was more than an order of magnitude less than the 5 GB available
on the iPod. Apple believed the iPod represented the perfect compromise
between size and storage capacity.
In addition to its remarkable size and capacity, the iPod also had
impressive industrial design, something which had been distinctly missing
from other hard disk players in the marketplace. Apple took a simple
hardware interface consisting of five buttons and a scroll wheel, and
combined it with a simple user-interface based on OS X's column view. The
iPod used FireWire as its I/O interface, as opposed to the then-prevalent
USB 1.1. FireWire was much faster, and allowed for much faster
transferring from Mac to iPod. The iPod was based on the PortalPlayer
PP5002 System-on-a-chip, which itself had two embedded ARM7TDMI chips,
operating at up to 90 MHz each. It had 32 MB of RAM as well, which was
largely dedicated to "skip protection."
Apple believed that it had a potent product, and priced it as such. The 5
GB iPod was priced at $399, a figure which was lambasted by the press as
too high. If Apple had misjudged the market, it might have had another G4
Cube on its hands. As it turned out, Apple judged the marketplace very
well, and the iPod, in its various incarnations, has sold better than
anyone expected.
In March 2002, Apple added a 10 GB model to its iPod lineup, for $499.
Several months later, in July 2002, Apple replaced the mechanical scroll
wheel with a solid-state touch wheel, added a $499 20 GB model, and
dropped the prices of the 5 and 10 GB models to $299 and $399,
respectively (The 5 GB iPod kept its mechanical scroll wheel). In
Addition, Apple for the first time made iPods available to Windows users.
All models were discontinued in April 2003, with the released of the iPod
(Dock Connector). From Apple website 23/10/2001
Apple Presents iPod
Ultra-Portable MP3 Music Player Puts 1,000 Songs in Your Pocket
CUPERTINO, California—October 23, 2001—Apple® today introduced iPod™, a
breakthrough MP3 music player that packs up to 1,000 CD-quality songs into
an ultra-portable, 6.5 ounce design that fits in your pocket. iPod
combines a major advance in portable music device design with Apple’s
legendary ease of use and Auto-Sync, which automatically downloads all
your iTunes™ songs and playlists into your iPod, and keeps them up to date
whenever you plug your iPod into your Mac®.
“With iPod, Apple has invented a whole new category of digital music
player that lets you put your entire music collection in your pocket and
listen to it wherever you go,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “With iPod,
listening to music will never be the same again.”
Next Generation Player
iPod represents the next generation of portable music players that store
music on an internal hard drive, yet are only 20 percent of the volume of
today’s hard drive-based players. iPod stores up to 1,000 CD-quality songs
on its super-thin 5 GB hard drive, and features up to 20 minutes of shock
protection for nonstop playback when running, biking or other activities.
iPod’s built-in FireWire® port lets you download an entire CD into iPod in
under 10 seconds and 1,000 songs in less than 10 minutes—30 times faster
than USB-based players.
iPod plays up to 10 hours of continuous music, powered by its rechargeable
lithium polymer battery, and recharges automatically whenever iPod is
connected to a Mac, using power supplied over the FireWire cable. Every
iPod comes with a compact, FireWire-based power adapter for traveling.
iPod’s high-capacity 5GB hard drive doubles as a portable FireWire hard
drive for storing presentations, large documents, graphic images and
digital movies.
iPod plays music in the popular MP3, MP3 VBR (variable bit rate), AIFF and
WAV formats and can support MP3 bit rates up to 320-Kbps. Its upgradable
firmware enables support of future audio formats. For CD-quality sound,
iPod is equipped with a high-output 60-mW amplifier that delivers 20 to
20,000 Hz frequency response for deep bass and crystal-clear highs. iPod’s
earbud-style headphones are built with neodymium magnets for enhanced
frequency response and high-fidelity sound.
iPod also features a 160-by-128-pixel high-resolution display, with a
white LED backlight to give clear visibility in daylight as well as
low-light conditions.
Legendary Ease of Use
Apple has applied its legendary expertise in human interface engineering
to make iPod the easiest to use digital device ever. Simply rotate iPod’s
unique scroll-wheel with your thumb or finger to quickly access your
entire music collection by playlists, artists or songs. The scroll-wheel
makes it possible to hold and operate iPod with just one hand and features
automatic acceleration when scrolling through long lists so you can find
your music in seconds. iPod also features customizable settings such as
shuffle, repeat, startup volume, sleep timer and menus in multiple
languages including English, French, German and Japanese. iPod can display
song data in any of these languages, enabling users to mix and match songs
from all over the world.
Auto-Sync
iPod’s revolutionary Auto-Sync feature makes it easy to get your entire
music collection into iPod and update it whenever you connect iPod to your
Mac. Simply plug your new iPod into your Mac with the supplied FireWire
cable, and all of your iTunes songs and playlists are automatically
downloaded into iPod at blazing FireWire speed. Then just unplug and go.
Whenever you plug iPod back into your Mac it will be automatically updated
with your latest iTunes songs and playlists, usually in seconds. There has
never been a faster and easier way to always have your up-to-the-minute
music and playlists with you wherever you go.
Pricing & Availability
iPod will be available beginning on Saturday, November 10, for a suggested
retail price of $399 (US) from The Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s
retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. An iTunes 2 CD, earbud-style
headphones, FireWire cable, and FireWire-based power adapter are all
included. iPod requires iTunes 2.
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.
Press Contacts:
Alicia Awbrey
Apple
(408) 974-0922
awbrey@apple.com
Natalie Sequeira
Apple
(408) 974-6877
nat@apple.com
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac, The Apple Store, FireWire, iPod and
iTunes are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple. Other
company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. |