iPod classic (Late 2007)

The hard-drive based iPod got a new name in September 2007. Henceforth it would be called the iPod classic. This was the 6th generation of the classic iPod design – and the first with an aluminum front.

5.5G iPod

The 5G iPod was revised on 2006.09.21 with a brighter display, nearly twice as long video playback, search, and redesigned earbuds. It was the first model an 80 GB option. Commonly known as the 5.5G iPod, this model looks identical to the first revision.

5.5G U2 iPod

The 5G iPod was updated with a brighter screen, improved video playback time, and a larger hard drive on 2006.09.12. The U2 Special Edition was updated at the same time, also receiving a $50 price reduction.

5th Generation iPod

The classic iPod moved to a much larger display with the 5G iPod, introduced in October 2005, the first iPod to support video. The 2.5″ color display would be standard on every classic iPod to come.

iPod with Color Display

Apple phased out black-and-white full-sized iPods in June 2005 with the introduction of the iPod with Color Display, which replaced both the 4G iPod and the iPod photo.

iPod photo

The iPod got its first color display in October 2004 with the introduction of the iPod photo. The 2″ 16-bit higher resolution display made the new iPod a great way to share your photos on the go.

iPod U2 Special Edition

On October 26, 2004, Apple released a special edition of the 4G iPod to coincide with U2’s album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The U2 Special Edition is black with a red clickwheel and the signatures of the band members engraved on the back.

4th Generation iPod

The fourth generation (4G) iPod introduced the click wheel that we’re all familiar with today. Rather than 4 buttons surrounding the scrollwheel or a row of buttons above the scrollwheel, these functions are now controlled on the scrollwheel itself, a feature that had arrived with the iPod mini in January 2004.

3rd Generation iPod

With the third generation (3G) iPod, Apple replaced the four buttons surrounding the scrollwheel with a row of round buttons between the scrollwheel and the display. The 3G iPod also introduced the 30-pin dock connector and no longer had separate Mac and PC versions.

2nd Generation iPod

With the second generation (2G) iPod, Apple replaced the rotating scrollwheel with a touch-based one, replaced the 1G 10 GB iPod, and added a 20 GB model capable of storing 4,000 songs. Apple retained the 5 GB 1G iPod as its entry-level model.

Original iPod

Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPod at a special event on October 23, 2001. The new device was a hard-drive based MP3 player with a well thought out menu system and room for 1,000 songs. It would to change Apple Computer forever.