Apple iPod 1st Generation
The original iPod, who can forget? Surely nobody could have predicted the following the iPod would come to have for years to come. Initially released in 2001 it was the first mp3 player to feature a scroll wheel allowing the user to browse their music collection easily. A simple navigational menu and an even more powerful music library software iTunes allowed for easy music management and transfer between PC and iPod. Originally available as a 5GB model the iPod could hold as much as many as 1000 songs. Understandably in today's terms this is very minimal but at the time this was groundbreaking.
Click here to read the full specs of the iPod 1st Generation
Apple iPod 2nd Generation
The second generation Apple iPod brought a few innovations. The most notable was the scroll wheel which became touch sensitive instead of the traditional click wheel of the first generation iPod. The second generation iPod became available in 5GB, 10GB, and 20GB models. It was also the first iPod model to be compatible with Microsoft Windows.
Click here to read the full specs of the iPod 2nd Generation
Apple iPod 3rd Generation
The third generation iPod featured significant design improvement over the previous two generation iPods. A thinner, lighter, and more rounded housing, the third generation iPod also featured new back light play buttons above the click wheel instead of around. The third generation iPod was the iPod on which subsequent models were based on. Apple introduced several revision of the third generation iPod in 2003, introducing larger hard drives.
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Apple iPod 4th Generation
Apple's fourth generation iPod bared very little distinction with the previous 3rd generation iPod. The housing underwent some minor cosmetic changes making the housing slightly thinner, the click wheel borrowed from the iPod mini also improved the functionality. The greatest improvement was in terms of the battery life. Whereas the third generation iPod suffered with only 8 hours of music playback, the fourth generation iPod was rated for up to 12 hours of continuous playback.
Click here to read the full specs of the iPod 4th Generation
Apple iPod 5th Generation
The 5th generation iPod also dubbed the iPod video, was the first iPod with video playback capability. The iPod video was outfitted with a 2.5 inches, 256k colors, 320x240 resolution screen for watching movies and television shows. Despite the new improvements and added features the iPod video was surprisingly thinner (almost 30%) and lighter than the previous iPod generation.
Click here to read the full specs of the iPod 5th Generation
Apple iPod Classic (iPod 6th Generation)
The latest iPod from Apple now in its sixth generation has been dubbed the iPod Classic. The "Classic" was used to distinguish the iPod from the iPod Touch released around the same time as the iPod Classic. In terms of improvements over the 5th generation iPod there were not too many upgrades. The battery life was increased to approximately 30 hours of playback time, the housing is very slightly thinner. The iPod Classic is the first iPod from Apple not being offered in the traditional iPod White color.