The history of the iPod in pictures. How to distinguish between generations of iPod touch
In its sixth incarnation, the iPod received a solid Classic prefix. It was deservedly received, because over the years of its existence it has truly become a classic of jukeboxes.
Other models experimented with the form factor; they were at the forefront of the fight for a new audience, a fight that was successful for the company and made it a market leader. But Apple remembers where it all began, what the first iPods were like, the very ones that formed the foundation of today’s prosperity. These were capacious players for those who lovingly collected multi-gigabyte music collections. Nothing extra: just HDD, clear display, high-quality audio path and proprietary control system. From the mechanical wheel in the very first iPod to the ClickWheel, as we see it in the new models from Cupertino.
Naturally, over the years of six generations, the classic iPod has changed quite a lot. But the most important components, listed just above, have not gone away; they have only changed in the spirit of the times. The disk capacity increased from twenty gigabytes to one hundred and sixty, the display first became color and then suitable for watching videos, and the controls received touch elements and evolved to be as convenient as possible. The sound has also improved, although not much, since the player has always had decent sound.
Nevertheless, for all six years, the iPod remained a familiar “to the eye” white (and then black and silver) “brick”, which became an element of a short but era. The player has appeared in countless films and video clips, appeared on the pages of all notable magazines and almost became on a par with cowboys, cars, McDonald's and Coca-Cola as a symbol of the American way of life. True, many people, those who supported the device from the first models, see it as one of the locomotives of the “digital revolution”. The player is initially associated with the Internet generation, those who grew up on the Internet and cannot imagine themselves without it. It’s not for nothing that Apple has already released a model designed to work with the Internet and on the Internet - no other way, soon they will get their hands on the classics.
Today, the sixth generation iPod is still the same recognizable player in the world. It received another “face lift,” thereby closing the theme of white plastic, which has become iconic for the company and is still associated specifically with Apple. Since the beginning of September 2007, two versions have been produced and sold iPod Classic, with 80 and 160 GB disks. In all other respects, both options differ only in dimensions.
Functionally, the devices remained the same; some modern features common to Classic and Nano were added, such as support for Cover Flow and a new, modified menu. In any case, the possibilities and features, both old and new, will not hide from our eyes.
Case and design
With the release of the sixth generation iPod, it became clear that plastic had finally lost its position in the eyes of Apple designers and designers. All currently produced models have metal cases with a minimum of plastic parts. It would seem that what's wrong with this? There is nothing bad, but looking at the metal iPod Classic, you can think and feel a little nostalgic: for five generations in a row, the main color of the iPod was milky white. This color is inextricably linked both with a series of players and with other Apple products: computers, laptops and all kinds of accessories. However, apparently, the company believes that the idea has exhausted itself, and Lately actively move away from boring material. If we talk about the iPod, then about two years ago, with the release of the fifth generation, the player received a black version “officially” for the first time. Before this, there was only a limited edition of U2 edition players with black and red colors. Now the iPod has changed from white to silver, and the black version has replaced plastic with anthracite-colored metal.
New choice company is largely controversial, although, of course, inside Apple, I am sure, there will be a lot of arguments in favor of silver metal; it is unlikely that the company would go for such important step without first thoroughly researching user expectations. Apparently, even today, mass preferences go in circles, and a full revolution is completed, depending on the area, in 5-10 years. There is no other way to explain why the silver color appealed to manufacturers so much, if years ago we already saw and have not yet forgotten silver players, silver phones, silver home audio-video and household appliances, and so on and so forth. The list can be continued almost indefinitely. Any options during the dominance of silver around were received with a bang, including the two most universal colors, black and white. White players, phones and laptops still attract glances and attract attention, but now, apparently, other manufacturers will take up their use while Apple is experimenting with black and silver. Perhaps the silvery color seems secondary only to me, so it would be useful to add a postscript: all of the above is the personal opinion of the author. The following, however, too.
Structurally, the case consists of two panels, both of them are metal, but have differences in the execution technology. The front panel has a slightly rough anodized finish, the back panel is polished to a mirror finish, as is traditional for an iPod. Unfortunately, as practice shows, this coating tends to become covered with a network of small scratches and lose its original shine. Apple has already received complaints about the susceptibility of its players to scratches, but, apparently, a mirror finish is more expensive for its designers. Or making a one-piece structure like the second generation Nano with Classic dimensions is extremely unprofitable.
The arrangement of all elements on the body is the same; fortunately, Apple understands the value of preserving an already streamlined layout in relation to the model with the Classic prefix. On the front panel there is a horizontally oriented display, below it is a ClickWheel. There is quite a lot between the elements free space, but it is traditionally not occupied with anything. Both side panels And back panel left free, at the bottom end there is a proprietary dock connector, at the top there is a lock switch and a headphone jack. As you can see, everything is in its place, where you would expect to find the desired element. Frankly, for the first couple of days after I received samples of the new Nano and Classic, the latter sat in the box. And it was all the more pleasant to discover that the lock switch remained where it was before, and no evil genius began to move it to the bottom end of the case, as was done with the Nano.
There’s not much to say about the player’s design; it’s not for nothing that it’s called classic. The old rectangular shape has not gone away. ClickWheel is already inseparable from the player and almost acts as the main element. Relatively expensive jukeboxes are traditionally aimed at the more solvent and, accordingly, adult segment of the audience, and the iPod Classic is no exception. Therefore, its design is universal and everyday, it will be appropriate everywhere and will not say too much about the owner. However, a similar trend in design today All manufacturers of the top five are actively exploiting them, their products today look much more “mature” and more elegant than just two years ago. Still, portable media players have become established as a product, and today everyone buys them, and not just those same Internet enthusiasts who are talking about. I mentioned at the beginning of the text.
Control
This section can be safely copied from previously written reviews, since the ClickWheel operating scheme remains unchanged in several generations of Apple players. In light of the smaller ClickWheel on the new Nano, it's worth mentioning that the dimensions of the element on the iPod Classic have not changed, they are exactly the same as on previous models. Accordingly, the work scheme remained the same, as well as convenience. There are no complaints about the performance of a single ClickWheel on the tested sample, the element in its socket does not play and works like a clock, although I have already seen references on the Internet about a somewhat careless installation of the ClickWheel in some Nano and Classic batches. Perhaps these are the costs of the first batches, perhaps they are just rumors.
For those who have never held an iPod in their hands, as usual, a description of how ClickWheel works: the “rim” of the wheel is sensitive, it is very convenient to move your finger along it different sides, this way scrolls through lists and menus. The button in the center is used to confirm the selection. In addition to touch functions, the “wheel rim” also contains four buttons. Two of them are used to switch between songs, the rest are for calling up the menu and returning to the previous level, starting and stopping playback. There are other applications, but these are unnecessary details. They are mastered during operation, and no effort is required.
Observation in practice: the surface of the ClickWheel, compared to the iPod 5G, has become rougher and, it seems to me, a little less sensitive. This does not bring a noticeable decrease in convenience, but it would still not be superfluous to indicate this fact.
Display and menu
The Classic is equipped with the same diagonal and resolution display as the previous two generations, the fifth and “fifth and a half”, namely two and a half inches diagonal and 320x240 pixel resolution. In general, compared to the new Nano, where the same resolution is squeezed into two inches, the Classic does not look very advanced, but that’s why it’s a classic, so as not to rush into the avant-garde. In addition, VGA would require a larger (and significantly more expensive) display, and intermediate resolutions are generally better suited for wide format displays. And for those who like higher resolutions, Apple already offers its advanced iPod Touch.
In any case, the Classic display provides a very pleasant “picture” with rich and rich colors, it seems that it is brighter than the displays of its predecessors. This is quite possible, fortunately progress does not stand still, and the official website specifically emphasizes the presence of LED backlighting on the display.
The updated menu looks great too. The signature smooth fonts were complemented by “polished” graphic icons and a background. The list of sections and items now takes up about half of the display. And the second half displays either graphic icons corresponding to an item or section, or, in the case of photos and videos, part of a randomly selected photo or frame from a video. The icons from Apple designers turned out to be very smooth, attractive, and can be appreciated in the screenshots. The backing also looks pretty good, but its appearance depends on the image quality of the album cover or the resolution/compression level of the video. While this is almost imperceptible on a two-inch Nano display, it is noticeable larger display Classic image flaws are proportionally more visible. However, pictures for albums can always be replaced, and videos can be found in best quality. The display and menu will remain the same.
The convenience of the menu remains the same high level, all the elements are in place, and the menu is still easy to master. The ability to customize items and sections of the main menu has not gone away; their list remains the same, with “video” and “podcast” sections added. Additionally, unlike the new Nano, the Classic now has a Cover Flow option in the main menu rather than the Music section.
So, the default composition of the main menu is: Music, Cover Flow, Videos, Photos, Podcasts, Extras, Settings, Shuffle Songs and Now Playing.
Music. From here, playlists are called up, music is sorted by artist name, album title, song title, genre and author of the music. There is also a song search function item, as well as a new “trick”: viewing album covers, familiar from the iPhone called Cover Flow.
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Cover Flow. View all available album covers, select an album to play by cover.
Videos. Watching videos. All files are divided into simple videos, TV programs and video clips (refer to the iTunes store). Here you can also call up video playlists and configure parameters such as video output image format, full-screen playback and subtitle activation.
Photo. Contains all the folders with downloaded images, as well as all the associated settings, from the time between switching slides to the choice of accompanying music, repeat, activation of shuffle and choice of transition type.
Extras. Additional player functions: appearance and settings of the system clock, games, Notebook, organizer, notes, stopwatch, alarm clock and password.
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Settings. The most voluminous section of the menu, it contains settings for all aspects of the player’s functioning. From this section you can view version information firmware, configure the main menu, enable random playback of songs, select repeat playback mode, adjust the backlight operating time and playback speed of audiobooks. In addition, there are settings for the address book, system date and time, and menu language. Individual items allow you to enable or disable trial playback modes, automatic creation compilations and signals from the built-in speaker - by default it emits quiet clicks when working with the touch area.
Power and PC connection
Continuity is observed here too. The Classic has a built-in lithium-ion battery.
It is charged via USB, but if desired, you can purchase network adapter, branded or not. It is unlikely that the battery capacity has increased much, but the operating time has increased significantly - for this alone you can award a lot of prize points to Apple. The numbers speak for themselves; to be honest, I have only one explanation for such a significant increase: the transition to a new, much more cost-effective platform. The fifth-generation iPod with a 30 GB drive lasted 14 hours on a single charge, while the Classic with an 80 GB drive and similar dimensions lasted 30 hours. And the 180 GB version lasted 40 hours. The data is for audio and video, both players play 5 and 7 hours respectively.
Traditionally, for all iPods, files for transportation can be recorded on the player like on any removable media (you need to activate the appropriate mode in iTunes), but you won’t be able to view/listen to them on the player. All media is recorded on Classic via iTunes. As I already complained in the review of the third generation Nano, one version of iTunes replaces another, and the “built-in” video converter for all common types of files never appears in them. Apparently, Apple expects that users will receive all video content from iTunes, and it is 100% reproduced on the company’s players. But in Russia, the new Nano and Classic will come with a disc with iTunes, so as not to cause unnecessary complaints from those who still pay for each megabyte of traffic or do not have constant access to the Network at all. For those who are thinking about how to ultimately convert video for the player, I recommend going to Google with a query like “free video converter for ipod".
Copy speed for devices with hard drive traditionally higher than that of its flash counterparts. For the iPod Classic it is approximately 12-15 MB per second, which is very good.
Video, photo, other functions
Still, the half-inch difference in the display diagonal makes a big difference, and it’s still a little more comfortable to watch video on the Classic than on the Nano. True, some coding artifacts and individual pixels are already becoming visible, although perhaps the impression of the Nano is simply still vivid in memory.
I spoke a little higher about the fact that the videos will have to be recoded, so we will start from the fact that a couple of dozen videos and films have already been recoded and “uploaded” to the player. Loading movies before playback takes minimal time and is almost unnoticeable, but otherwise we have the same good old iPod 5G. You can watch the video on the TV screen, that’s basically all the settings. The navigation interface inside the video is clear and familiar. Those who see it for the first time are unlikely to spend more or less significant time for its development. Like the Nano, the Classic supports video with a resolution of up to 640x480, although I don’t see the point in storing videos at this resolution on the player’s disk; it is still limited by the display resolution. Although they may be useful for showing others on a large display, so it’s up to the owner to decide. The main thing is not to forget to purchase the required cable.
In general, you can watch movies from the player, I personally watched my favorite Human Traffic while lying in bed, but this activity is still not for everyone. I have repeatedly said that relative comfort begins at three and a half inches (a sample of one such player from Apple is already rushing to the editor at full speed, so keep an eye on the site).
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As far as technical aspects are concerned, everything is calm: the video is smooth, the sound is not in a hurry and does not lag, frames do not disappear, “there are no brakes.” It’s unlikely that something like this can be expected from pre-recoded and “tailored” videos for the player.
Photo browsing is traditional for the company's players; if you've seen one, you've seen them all. When you select a folder, fifteen thumbnails are displayed on the display; you can even see some details on them. You can switch between photos by pressing the ClickWheel or using the touch “rim”. If you click play, the slideshow will start. There are quite enough possibilities, no extra “chips” were added to the viewing experience. But, like all new iPods, you can choose the type of transition for a slide show; the effects are well executed and interesting to watch. The value of this little thing increases significantly when viewing photos on a TV or any external monitor.
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As expected, the player does not have a voice recorder or FM tuner, but there are new games Vortex, Klondike and Music Quiz 2. Vortex is a rather interesting game and deserves attention. Its essence can be briefly described as a pseudo-three-dimensional circular arkanoid, when the ball flies “deep” into the display, and the racket moves around the circle, obeying the movements of the finger on the ClickWheel.
Klondike is a classic solitaire game, no less, no more. But Music Quiz now not only asks questions about the music recorded in the player, but also has a separate database of questions dedicated to music and cinema.
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The rest of the additional functions have not gone away; the player still has a fairly decent calendar and a stopwatch, which can suddenly come in handy. There is a function for reading notes, with its help you can read guidebooks or regular books.
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Sound
Regular, classic iPods Apple line have always been standards in sound quality and volume, this also applies to almost any jukeboxes that are traditionally equipped with high-quality audio paths. But with Classic the situation turned out to be difficult. The fact is that the sample that fell into our tenacious hands turned out to be European, intended for sale in Europe, including in France, where, as you know, there are strict restrictions on the output level of portable audio. This is how one single France ruins everyone’s life. No, of course, you can disagree with me. and open my eyes to the fact that in this way the health of citizens is taken care of. To which I will answer no less reasonably: adult citizens have the right to manage their own health at their own discretion, as long as it does not interfere with others. And citizens who have not reached the age of majority have parents. or official guardians who are obliged to instill in children and adolescents a desire for self-preservation. But no, it’s easier to limit the volume, and in one fell swoop, for all countries, instead of selling “cut-down” players in France, and full-fledged ones in all other countries.
What am I talking about? And besides, due to artificial limitations, I cannot reliably tell readers how powerful the sound of the iPod Classic is. There is no doubt, the sample plays quite loudly, it easily pumps up the in-ear headphones, but it lags behind the combat editorial iPod 5G by about a third, if not more. And jukeboxes, which include Classic, are very often bought in order to listen through large over-ear headphones. I don’t know about others, but in the case of the Audio-Technica ATH-A500, on which I listened to it, the result was not impressed.
One thing is good: officially in Russia it is the “loud” versions that are and will be sold, but if the player is “gray”, then you can make a mistake. Therefore, I recommend large and trusted stores. In addition, for those who plan for the iPod Classic to be their first jukebox, I can report that Apple is unlikely to make the new player quieter than the old one, and the aforementioned iPod 5G boasts a very decent output level.
Separately, it is necessary to say about the results of the RMAA test: the fact is that the program has a certain “qualification” for the level of the signal at the input, and quiet players are often simply impossible to test, either an error is displayed or absurd data. Therefore, you have to record the signal into a WAV file and feed it to the program. At the same time in the file software The signal level rises a little so that RMAA can “pick it up”. I don’t think that such simple manipulations make serious changes, but I want to side with the player in one aspect: the measured noise level is actually lower, and the result produced by the program should be perceived a little better than what is reflected in the table.
General results
| Frequency response unevenness (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB: | +0.10, -0.82 | Fine |
| Noise level, dB (A): | -79.3 | Average |
| Dynamic range, dB (A): | 79.4 | Average |
| Harmonic distortion,%: | 0.0034 | Very good |
| Intermodulation distortion + noise, %: | 0.033 | Fine |
| Interpenetration of channels, dB: | -80.2 | Very good |
| Intermodulation at 10 kHz, %: | 0.034 | Fine |
Overall rating: Good
Frequency response
Noise level
Manual settings The Classic did not receive an equalizer, this is quite predictable, but now all the presets, of which there are more than two dozen, are illustrated with an eight-band spectrum analyzer graph, so you can select the one you need simply by eye.
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Headphones remained the last stronghold of branded white plastic, the set includes “second generation” headphones, they are equipped with “iPods”, starting with the second generation Nano and iPod. They sound quite decent, at a good level for a complete model. There is nothing more to say, with higher quality headphones the player “opens up” much more, this is obvious.
Conclusions and impressions
You can hardly expect a range of opinions, opposing points of view, or subsequent heated debates on forums from iPod Classic reviews. This player appeared because it could not help but appear. At one time, it brought fame to Apple players, and not updating it would be simply disgusting. There will always be a layer of people (albeit not too large) who will prefer players to everyone else, where you can upload files for days on end, and there will still be room. Again, the capacity of the disks has practically exceeded the “musical” needs (we are not talking about clinical cases), but then a video appeared, and the carousel began to spin more than ever.
I think that the iPod Classic, despite the ability to watch videos, will still be bought by those for whom it is important, but not too much, those who listen to music, a lot of different music, and would not mind watching a video or two from time to time. In principle, I myself fit this description very well.
The “cavalry charge” does not reveal any flaws in the iPod Classic. Well, unless, of course, you consider the features of the specific sample being tested as such. A couple of times, slight “brakes” of the animated menu were noticeable; on the Nano, surprisingly, it “runs” more quickly. Several times the player refused to play a song from the search list when pressing the central button, starting it only the second time. These rough edges are quite harmless, especially if you remember that the first thing iTunes offers when you connect the player is to download and install the latest, wonderful firmware. I will repeat myself if I say that in the eyes of the overwhelming majority of potential iPod buyers in Russia, its main drawback was and remains iTunes, and everything else is almost pure advantages. With all this, the Classic is still the same long-familiar iPod for those who want to have all their music with them. A sort of old soldier surrounded by new recruits.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 80/160 GB
- File formats: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, Audible, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF, JPEG, M4V, MP4, MOV
- Display: color TFT, 2.5 inches, 320x240 pixels
- Battery: Li-ion, built-in
- Dimensions: 103.5x61.8x10.5 (13.5) mm
- Weight: 140 (162) g
The first iPod appeared in 2001. In six years, he has already changed six generations. I propose to conduct a small historical excursion and see how the iPod has changed and developed.
iPod, first generation
The very first iPod appeared on October 23, 2001 (soon to be 6 years old!). The disk capacity was only 5 GB (compare with modern models:) The player could play music for 12 hours, and the proprietary control wheel was not yet touch-sensitive.
iPod, second generation
The second generation iPod was released on July 17, 2002. Unlike the first generation, the iPod 2G was released in two versions - for working with Windows and for Mac OS. There were modifications with 5, 10 and 20 GB.
iPod, third generation
The third generation of the player appeared on April 28, 2003 and came with 5, 10 or 20 GB, and then 15, 20 and 40 GB of disk space. The player's operating time was even less than that of the first version - only 8 hours.
iPod mini, first generation
The next version of the iPod was the iPod mini, which was released on January 6, 2004. The iPod mini was smaller, had a 4GB drive, and came in several colors. It was in this version that the famous ClickWheel control wheel appeared.
iPod mini, second generation
The second generation of iPod mini was released on February 22, 2004. The most significant improvement was the increase in time battery life until 18 o'clock. In addition, the player has a 6 GB modification.
iPod, fourth generation (iPod Photo)
The iPod was released in July 2004 fourth generation, also known as iPod Photo. At first the player was released with a monochrome display, but since 2005, iPod Photo has had a color display capable of displaying 65 thousand colors. The disk capacity was 20 or 40 GB, later - 20 or 60 GB. The player could work up to 12 hours without recharging.
iPod shuffle, first generation
iPod shuffle is the simplest and cheapest player in the series. The first shuffle appeared on January 11, 2005 and was released with 512 MB or 1 GB of memory on board. Battery life - 12 hours.
iPod nano, first generation
iPod nano was Apple's first flash memory-based player. The player appeared on September 7, 2005. The first generation nano was produced in three versions - with 1, 2 and 4 GB of memory. In addition to music, the iPod nano 1G could display images in JPEG, BMP, GIF and other formats. The battery charge was enough for 14 jobs.
iPod, fifth generation (iPod Video)
On October 12, 2005, the iPod 5G, known as iPod Video, was released. Firstly, this player could play video. Secondly, it could boast impressive amounts of disk space (30, 60 and 80 GB) and for a long time work (up to 20 hours).
The second generation iPod nano was released on September 12, 2006. Compared to the first generation, it had double the amount of memory (2, 4 or 8 GB), an improved case and more bright screen, was produced in several colors and could work up to 24 hours without recharging
iPod shuffle, second generation
The player was released in October 2006. The second generation Shuffle turned out to be completely different from its predecessor. The memory capacity was increased to 1 GB, the battery life remained at the same level - 12 hours.
iPod, sixth generation (iPod classic)
The player was introduced on September 5, 2007. Since the sixth generation, the iPod has been called the iPod classic. Disk capacity is 80 or 160 GB (!). Battery life has also been improved - iPod classic can last 30 hours as an audio player or 5 as a video player. The 160 GB model has even higher figures - 40 and 7 hours, respectively.
iPod nano, third generation
The third generation of iPod nano, also introduced on September 5, 2007, is very different from its predecessor. The memory capacity has traditionally doubled - modifications with 4 and 8 GB are available. The operating time is 24 hours in audio mode and 5 in video mode. Yes, this is the most important thing - iPod nano now supports video too!
iPod shuffle, third generation
The only difference between the new shuffle, released on September 5, 2007, is the presence of a special RED version, the proceeds from the sale of which will go to charity.
Let's finish our review with the most amazing new product, still presented on September 5, 2007 (a surprisingly rich day for iPod releases;) The iPod touch is what many wanted, an iPod with an iPhone interface. In addition to the revolutionary interface for the iPod, the player boasts 8 or 16 GB of memory, 22 hours of audio playback and 5 hours of video playback, and most importantly, Wi-Fi and a built-in Safari browser!
This concludes our chronological review. But it is quite possible that in six months it will have to be supplemented :)
The first iPod was released by Apple in 2001 with the slogan “A thousand songs in your pocket.” At that time, it was the smallest portable player, because it used a 1.8’’ hard drive, while all competing models worked with 2.5’’ drives. Nowadays 2.5-inch drives are used in laptops.
The iPod classic line includes 6 generations of portable media players. Initially, they could only be connected to Mac computers, but already from the second generation they began to work with Windows.
At first glance, the decision to invest money in compatibility with competitors’ operating systems seemed strange, but the positioning of Apple’s new product as mobile devices, convenient for any user, determined the company’s further popularity in the market of portable gadgets. One generation of iPod was almost instantly replaced by another precisely because this media player was convenient and sold well.
In 2002, back during the first generation 10 GB version, Apple added PDA functionality: browsing text files, synchronizing contacts and schedules with your computer. Of all the iPod models, the Touch line stands out in appearance - players with a touch screen are more like a smartphone. The rest of Apple's players have a minimalist, intuitive interface that has changed little since 2001. The body got thinner, the screen and memory got bigger, but the Click Wheel, the visually recognizable circle of buttons under the screen, continues to be associated with Apple.
iPod classic
The entire line received the name classic when its latest, sixth generation was released. Apple stopped production in 2014 classic model, which by that time had already been replaced by players from the touch line. Although the classic also had touch scrolling, the touch line added a multi-touch interface, and these players are not much different from the iPhone. The control wheel - without a screen - is preserved in the players of the shuffle line.
The color screen first appeared in the fourth generation of the Apple iPod classic. Special editions were dedicated to this event - a version in black and red design from U2 with the signatures of all band members and the opportunity free download songs, as well as an option with the Hogwarts crest engraved on the steel lid. The fifth generation of iPod was already capable of playing video. This model was also released in a special edition from the group U2.
Interestingly, classic still has the most large capacity among iPods, the latest generation of players, which is often called the seventh, has 160 GB of disk space. This is due to the use of 1.8'' hard drives, which had a lower cost compared to flash memory. They are not currently produced due to decreased demand.
iPod mini
This line lasted less than two years, from January 2004 to September 2005, and was released in only two generations. Mini players differed from classic ones smaller size, bright colors of the case, designations of buttons on the control wheel, as well as the material of the case - for compactness it was made of anodized aluminum, one-piece, without division into front and back covers.
The display on mini models is monochrome, a little more than 4 cm diagonal, with adjustable contrast levels and fairly bright backlighting. The design was similar to the classic version, but buyers were pleased with the variety of colors - these players were produced in blue, green, pink and silver cases. All these colors had a pronounced metallic tint.
iPod shuffle
The 1st generation iPod shuffle went on sale in January 2005. This model is even smaller than the mini, as Apple is the first to use flash memory in this line. And most importantly, shuffle players do not have a display, only control buttons. The name comes from the English word denoting the mode of playing songs in random order.
Models of the next generations of this line became even smaller, but at the same time they received more memory. Shuffle players also had a richer range of colors compared to the classic version. Already their second generation was released on the market in five colors, and the fourth generation in seven. Red players marked Product Red are produced in limited editions. Some of the money from them Apple sales donates to international charitable organizations.
iPod nano
The first generation of iPod nano was also released in 2005. This line combines the best from the classic and shuffle models. Nano players replaced mini, which were discontinued at the same time. In 2011, the first-generation model could be replaced free of charge with the sixth-generation model. Apple made this decision after learning about the constant overheating of batteries in first-generation players.
The fourth generation of iPod nano, which appeared in 2008, added many functions that were no longer related to music: games, notes, calendar, contacts. The player began to synchronize with the iPhone headset, and now double and triple clicks on the headset's answer button have replaced pressing the player's buttons, and you don't need to take it out of your pocket to stop playback or switch to the next song.
The fifth generation had a video camera. The latest generation, the seventh, went on sale in 2012. This model can synchronize with wireless headphones and headsets using Bluetooth.
iPod touch
The first Apple player model with Wi-Fi support and a multi-touch display. Already the first generation players made it possible to view web pages in Safari browser and watch video files on YouTube, and also listen and download songs in the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. Appeared in second generation players Bluetooth support and built-in speaker.
The fourth generation was equipped with an HD camera. In addition, Apple used its own A4 processor for the first time. By the fifth generation of the line, the Apple processor became dual-core, and by the sixth - quad-core. The fifth and sixth generation models are available in different colors. An accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope appeared.
In 2017, Apple's press service announced the end of support for all iPods except the touch line. The latest models in the touch line perform almost all the functions of the iPhone, with the exception of those that require a SIM card. Cameras, screen quality - in all characteristics, the iPod is not inferior to the iPhone.
But now the Internet has become such a part of the life of any gadget user that Wi-Fi alone is no longer enough. If a person has a smartphone that suits him, there is a chance that the Apple player will no longer be useful, especially considering that the price of the latest model starts at 14,000 rubles. But for now, many music lovers buy a separate device to listen to it, so as not to depend on the battery charge of their phone or tablet.
Lately our readers have been asking a lot of questions about players. iPod touch. Many of them are related to differences in models different generations. Indeed, on this moment Almost all generations of the device can be found on store shelves and flea markets. How to distinguish iPod Touch 1st generation from iPod Touch 2nd generation etc. we will tell you in this article.
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is an evolutionary development of the iPod line. They differ from previous models primarily in their large screen and the presence of wireless Wi-Fi module. Among the technological features of the line, it is worth noting the multi-touch migrated from the iPhone (the screen recognizes more than one touch at a time) and the ability to wirelessly connect to iTunes and App Store. Thus, the first generation of iPod Touch allowed you to download additional paid and free content to the device. At the moment there are five generations of the player.
It was announced on September 5, 2007 first generation iPod Touch(1 gen). Its appearance was due to the great demand for. However, not everyone needed a device with a GSM module to make calls. The iPod became a cheaper copy of the phone with almost identical capabilities. The players went on sale 4 days after the announcement. In general, it is worth noting that iPod players did not lag behind the iPhone in development and always kept pace with them in terms of “stuffing” and the screens of the devices were always almost identical. The differences between players and phones are the dimensions and design of the back panel. All iPod touch had a metal “back”, unlike the iPhone, and the players did not yet have a built-in digital compass and GPS. It's worth noting that Apple's policy applies to all devices. All devices without GSM module do not have GPS. Likewise, iPads with and without 3G differ in the presence and absence of GPS, respectively.
A year later, on September 9, 2008, the world saw second generation iPod Touch(2 gen). The developers made the player more similar to the one released in the same year iPhone 3G. With the exception of the back cover, the iPod remains metal. The player received an external speaker, volume control buttons and a reinforced battery. The player allowed you to enjoy music for up to 36 hours and watch videos for up to 6 hours. The weight of the device increased slightly and became 115 grams. Since this generation, a personal trainer has appeared on the iPod - the Nike+ application. 
On September 9, 2009, the line was updated again. Design third generation iPod touch(3 gen) of the player has not changed, just as the design of the iPhone 3GS has not changed, but the insides of the device have significantly improved. A faster processor with a frequency of 600 MHz, double the amount of RAM, which was 256 MB, and an additional PowerVR SGX535 graphics chip allowed the player's performance to be taken to a new level. Now it was possible to watch high-resolution videos and play the most modern games at that time. The improvement in hardware did not at all affect the autonomy of the gadget. 
Fourth generation iPod Touch(4 gen) appeared on September 8, 2010. The player had many differences from its predecessor and was as close as possible to the iPhone in terms of the hardware installed inside. Like the revolutionary iPhone 4, which appeared in the same 2010, the fourth generation iPod Touch received a magnificent Retina display with a resolution of 960 x 640 pixels. At the same time the player was doubled thinner than a phone. Both devices were equipped with an Apple A4 processor. IN iPod touch 4G appeared, previously implemented in the iPhone, the Voice Control function for controlling voice and external microphone. The iPod has two cameras. For the first time in the line, devices with a white front surface appeared; before that there were only black options. The weight of the device has dropped to 101 grams, and autonomy, as always, remains at the same level. 
In 2011, Apple did not release a new generation of player with the release of the iPhone 4S. The latest one, at the moment, was published on September 12, 2012. The player received a screen enlarged to 4″. The color palette has expanded significantly and players are now available in white, black, red, blue, pink and yellow. The model began to be equipped with a new headset. All innovations (except for color) are dictated. For the first time in the line, the connector for the cable and docking station has changed, it is a new .
For greater clarity, all characteristics are presented in the form of a comparative table:
| Model | 1 GEN | 2 GEN | 3 GEN | 4 GEN | 5 GEN | |
| iOS at the time of release | iOS 1.1 | iOS 2.1.1 | iOS 3.1.1 | iOS 4.1 | iOS 6.0 | |
| Latest supported iOS version | iOS 4.2.1 | iOS 5.1.1 | iOS 6.1 | iOS 6.1 | ||
| Screen | 3.5″ (89 mm), aspect ratio 3:2, resolution 480 × 320 px, 163 dpi | 3.5″ (89 mm), aspect ratio 3:2, resolution 960 × 640 px, 326 dpi | 4.0″ (100 mm), aspect ratio 71:40, resolution 1136 x 640 px, 326 dpi | |||
| CPU | 620 MHz, 32-bit RISC ARM (Samsung S5L8900) | 620 MHz, ARM11 (Samsung S5L8720) | 833 MHz ARM Cortex-A8 (Samsung S5L8920) | 800 MHz, ARM Cortex-A8 (Apple A4) | 1 GHz, ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core (Apple A5) | |
| Graphics chip | PowerVR MBX Lite GPU | PowerVR SGX535 GPU | PowerVR SGX543MP2 | |||
| Additional graphics accelerator | No | Apple A4 | Apple A5 | |||
| Modifications | 8, 16 or 32 GB | 32 or 64 GB | 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB | 32 GB or 64 GB | ||
| Launch price in the USA | $300 (8 GB), $400 (16 GB), $500 (32 GB) | $230 (8 GB), $300 (16 GB), $400 (32 GB) | $300 (32 GB), $400 (64 GB) | $230 (8 GB), $300 (32 GB), $400 (64 GB) | $300 (32 GB), $400 (64 GB) | |
| RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB | 512 MB | |||
| Cable connector | USB 2.0 dock connector | Lightning connector | ||||
| Communications | USB 2.0 | |||||
| Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) | Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz) | Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) | ||||
| No | Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (requires iOS 3.0 and higher to work) | Bluetooth 4.0 | ||||
| No | Voice control | |||||
| No | 3-axis gyroscope | |||||
| No | Siri | |||||
| GPS | No | |||||
| Digital compass | No | |||||
| Camera | No | Rear 0.9 MP + video (720p HD with 30 fps) Front 0.3 MP (VGA) + video with 30 fps. | Rear 5.0 MP, HDR, autofocus, LED flash, Front 1.2 MP + 720p video | |||
| Colors | Black | Black and white | white, black, red (US only), blue, pink and yellow. | |||
| Duration of work | Music: 22 hours | Music: 36 hours | Music: 30 hours | Music:40 hours | Music:40 hours | |
| Video: 5 hours | Video: 6 hours | Video: 6 hours | Video: 7 hours | Video: 8 hours | ||
| Dimensions | 110 mm | 110 mm | 110 mm | 123.4 mm | ||
| 61.8 mm | 61.8 mm | 58 mm | 58.6 mm | |||
| 8 mm | 8.5 mm | 7.1 mm | 6.1 mm | |||
| Weight | 101 g | 115 g | 101 g | 88 g | ||
| Start of sales | September 2009 | September 2008 | September 2009 | Black: September 2010 | October 2012 | |
| White: October 2010 | ||||||
In honor of the recent update to the iPod line, I decided to take a dive into history and remember all the iPod models that came out from 2001 to the present day.
It will be Short story iPod with photos and a brief description, the most important nuances in my opinion. Including, I will touch on the most fresh update iPod Touch.
The players are arranged in order of release.
There were only two iPod models: 5 and 10 gigabytes (and the 10 gigabyte version was not released immediately). The battery could last up to 10 hours. The classic iPod had a mechanical scroll wheel. The player weighed 184 grams. First and latest model, which was supported exclusively by Mac OS.
In the second generation of iPod, the storage capacity was increased: 10 and 20 gigabytes. Touch scroll wheel. Some second-generation models were Windows-compatible through the Musicmatch Jukebox audio player program.
The third generation iPod became thinner and had a completely non-mechanical remote control. Player memory sizes: 10 GB, 20 GB, 30 GB, 40 GB. Due to the reduction in size, the model could only work for 8 hours without recharging.
The iPod Mini is an underwhelming series that only survived two generations. The first one was in production for 2 months. Important characteristics: 4 gigabytes of memory, weight 103 grams, 8 hours of battery life, touch scroll wheel, like in the third generation of the classic iPod, but with the ability to press it ( additional actions- due to this, 4 buttons above the wheel disappeared). The iPod Mini was sold in five colors (including gold).
Initially, the generation did not foretell any surprises. The first models were 20 and 40 gigabytes, had the same monochrome screen, but with an improved scroll wheel from the iPod Mini 1 Gen.
But on October 26, 2004, the Photo model with a color screen (220 by 176 pixels, 65,536 colors) went on sale. This model allowed photographs to be stored and displayed. Versions of 30 and 60 gigabytes appeared. 
A little later, the model was slightly modified and called iPod Color. But the essence has not changed.
This tiny player gave new experience users, forcing them to listen to music completely at random. According to Apple, many users listened to music on their iPod in random order, which is why the first one was created. iPod Shuffle as a reflection of trends.
Models with 512 megabytes or 1 gigabyte were available. The iPod Shuffle weighed a fantastic 22 grams and lasted 12 hours on a single charge.
Visually, it was practically no different from the first generation. A model with 6 GB memory has been added. The gold model has disappeared. Battery life has been improved to 18 hours.
The iPod Nano was designed to replace the iPod Mini and combine the best of the iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle. The model came in only two colors (white and black), weighed 42 grams and ran for 15 hours on battery power. Flash memory: 1, 2, 4 gigabytes. The display was 16 bit, resolution: 176 by 132.
The fifth generation is characterized by a complete redesign of the device, an enlarged screen for watching videos. Screen resolution 320 by 240 (QVGA). In 2006, after updating the model maximum volume memory reached 80 gigabytes. Also, after updating the firmware, it became possible to run some games on the iPod.
The body of the iPod Nano is made of anodized aluminum. iPod Nano received 5 bright colors. Also for the first time, a red iPod appeared, from the sales of which $10 went to charity. The models were 2, 4, 8 gigabytes, and not all volumes were of all colors: for example, the 8 gigabyte model existed only in black and red versions.
October 2006- second generation iPod Shuffle
The miniature player has become even lighter - 15.6 grams. A clip appeared that allowed the player to be attached to clothing. Memory capacity: 1 or 2 gigabytes. 9 color schemes that were added over time.
It was produced in three versions: 80, 120, 160 gigabytes. The player worked from 30 to 40 hours on a single charge (audio), 5-6 hours (video). The front panel of the player was made of aluminum (previously it was made of plastic).
The model lived until 2014, when it was discontinued. This event marked the end of the era of the classic iPod.
September 5, 2007- third generation iPod Nano
The player has received cosmetic improvements. Brighter two-inch color display: 320 by 240. iPod Nano received new interface and support for new iPod games (Tetris, Ms. Pac-Man, Sudoku and others).
The first iPod with Wi-Fi and MultiTouch interface came out a little later than the first iPhone, as its more budget-friendly and stripped-down analogue. The player allowed you to purchase additional applications. The iPod Touch, like the iPhone, worked on iOS.
iPod Touch first three generations had a 3.5-inch touch screen with a resolution of 480 by 320. There was only one left on the front panel Home button. Battery life is 22 hours audio and 5 hours video.
In the fourth generation, the iPod Nano was again heavily redesigned: the player was again stretched and completely changed color scheme. The iPod Nano now has an accelerometer and landscape mode due to vertical screen. Available models: 4 GB (limited in some markets), 8 GB and 16 GB.
Minor redesign. Important innovation: Bluetooth has been added. Battery life has been increased to 36 hours in audio mode and 6 hours in video mode.
The player was the first to use VoiceOver technology, which could voice the names of performers and song titles in 20 languages. For the first time in the series, support for multiple playlists. The player weighs a fantastic 10.7 grams. Memory capacity - 2 or 4 gigabytes.
In design, the fifth generation was very similar to the fourth. The screen was slightly enlarged to 376 by 220. A built-in video camera also appeared. There were models with 8 and 16 gigabytes to choose from.
The design has not changed. Among the important innovations: a microphone has been added to the new headphones that come with the kit. The processor performance and RAM capacity have been increased from 128 megabytes to 256. The VoiceControl voice control function has been added.
The player has become as miniature as possible. At the same time, it had a full-fledged bright touch screen (240x240), on which only one icon was placed. Video playback, camera and speakers have been removed. Weight - 21.1 grams. The same 8 and 16 gigabytes are available. The iPod Nano now has a clip (like the iPod Shuffle) and also adds the ability to attach a strap. Several options for displaying dials have been added to the interface. First signs of Apple Watch?
A triumph of minimalism in the series.
The smallest iPod model to date. It is still produced and sold successfully. It is in demand among athletes due to its size and the presence of a clip.
The player weighs 12.5 grams, the battery lasts for 15 hours of listening to music. Anodized aluminum body. The memory size is exclusively 2 gigabytes. In 2015, the player received a color redesign.
New sophisticated design with two cameras: for Face Time conversations and HD video shooting (720p). The screen, with the same dimensions, has become more contrasty, the resolution has increased to 960 by 640. Exactly the same Retina screen used in iPhone 4.
Apple switched from Samsung processors to its Apple A4. The iPod Touch added an accelerometer and a gyroscope. Ended support in iOS 6.1.6.
Exclusively for 16 gigabytes. The iPod Nano has been pulled out once again. Apparently the single-icon interface of the sixth generation was not a big success. The player weighs 31 grams. On April 15, 2015, the color scheme of the players changed.
The iPod Touch 5Gen received a more contrasting retina screen increased to 4 inches with a resolution of 1136 by 640. RAM was increased to 512 megabytes. Improved cameras. The rear camera allows you to shoot 1080p video and 8 megapixel photos. Finally, the iPod Touch has received several bright colors. Memory sizes: 16, 32, 64 gigabytes. The port for connecting to a computer and charging has changed - now the iPod Touch comes with a USB->Lightning cable.
The iPod Touch 5G has an Apple A5 processor, exactly the same as in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2, which means it is comparable in performance to these devices. Supported by Apple up to iOS 9, released in the fall.
Well Last update The iPod Touch is a recent development. Visually, the model is completely similar to the fifth generation, but there are several important improvements and changes.
- The processor in the iPod Touch 6Gen immediately became A8 (with an M8 coprocessor). It is the A8 and M8 that are installed in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
- A 128 gigabyte variation of the iPod has gone on sale.
- RAM doubled to 1 gigabyte
- 5 updated colors: space gray, blue, pink, gold and silver.
- 8 megapixel iSight camera and improved front HD FaceTime camera. The first question that arises is: is the camera comparable to the iPhone 6 camera? No, it’s a little worse and shoots at about the same level as the iPad Air 2.
- In the 6th generation, the recess for attaching the lace was removed. Now you can’t hang the player on your hand...
Afterword
Here's an excursion into history. I'll dwell on the new iPod Touch for a moment.
The 6th generation of iPod Touch is a significant leap in performance. There is no redesign, because the 5th generation iPod Touch is already close to ideal in this regard. To be honest, the fifth generation player is already starting to slow down on iOS 8.4 and iOS 9 (no surprise, considering weak processor). Therefore, Apple urgently needed to do something about it... They did. The result is a nice gadget with capabilities on par with the top-end iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Should I buy an iPod Touch 6 Gen or not? You decide. The price of the player is 2-3 times less compared to the iPhone (depending on the amount of memory). The iPod Touch has always been a cheap alternative to the iPhone without calling capabilities or a GPS module. Now almost nothing has changed, it’s just that with this update Apple has greatly reduced the gap between the top devices in the lines. If you have an iPhone, I don’t see much point in buying an iPod Touch. If you need a high-quality music player with a good camera and the ability to install applications from the App Store, but finances do not allow you to look towards the iPhone, then the iPod Touch is a good investment.
Readers: What is yours iPod player? How do you use it?