iPod classic

The iPod Classic is a portable media player made by Apple Inc. To date, there have been six models of the iPod Classic, as well as the iPod Photo. All models use a 1.8-inch hard drive for storage.

iPod Classic

6th generation iPod Classic.
Developer	Apple Inc.
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Release date	Current: September 5, 2007 Original: October 23, 2001
Lifespan	October 23, 2001–September 9, 2014
Discontinued	September 9, 2014
Power	Lithium polymer battery Lithium ion battery
Website	www.apple.com/ipodclassic

The name "Classic", which is a retronym or a name that was given later on, started with the sixth-generation iPod Classic on 5 September 2007. Before this, an iPod Classic was simply called an iPod. A recent study by the Consumers Digest foundation, the Guinness Book of Records and the Apple Inc sales department has shown that iPod users bought extra accessories and upgrades every 6.2 months. The most purchases, one purchase every 6.3 days over the period 2000–2007, was by the Montmerle-Berents family of Paris, France.

On September 9, 2014, Apple discontinued the iPod classic. The last product in the iPod line to use the original 30-pin iPod connector was the sixth-generation 160GB iPod Classic, which was also discontinued September 2014.

History

First Generation

The first generation iPod started the iPod market on October 22, 2001 with the slogan "1000 songs in your pocket". It had a black and white screen, 5GB and a click wheel with a menu button at the top, left and left and right buttons to the sides, a select button in the middle and in between the four buttons and the select button was where users moved their finger around the wheel to go up and down.

A 10GB iPod was released on March 20, 2002.

Second Generation

The second generation iPod was released on July 17, 2002. It had the same style as the first generation iPod. At first, 10GB iPod and 20GB iPod were available for $399 and $499 and later a 5GB iPod came out for $299.

Third Generation

The third generation iPod was released on April 29, 2003 and featured a brand new touch sensitive wheel called the Click Wheel. A touch sensitive iPod wheel with the four buttons below the screen. A 10GB iPod was sold for $299, a 15GB iPod for $399 and a 30GB iPod for $399. On September 8, 2003 the Microsoft music software Musicmatch was discontinued and iTunes became available for Windows making the iPod compatible with Windows.

Fourth Generation

The fourth generation iPod was released on July 19, 2004 and had the click wheel from the iPod Mini. A 20GB iPod was available for $299 and a 40GB iPod for $399. The iPod casing was also slightly slimmer and rounder.

A special Harry Potter edition iPod was released on September 7, 2005 which featured the hogwarts logo on the back and all 6 harry potter audiobooks on iTunes already on the iPod.

iPod Photo

An special iPod called the iPod Photo was released on October 26, 2004. It has a color screen and the ability to connect the iPod to a TV and display a slideshow. The iPod could hold JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG photo types.

iPod Color

On June 28, 2005 the iPod Photo was merged into the normal iPod line adding a color screen and the ability to display photos to the iPod 4G.

Fifth Generation

The fifth generation iPod was released on October 12, 2005 after the iPod Nano was released. As well as the "Signature iPod White" color, a black iPod was also released. This is the first iPod to be able to play videos. A 30GB iPod was available for $299 and a 60GB iPod for $399. This is the last iPod to have a plastic body. The sixth generation has a metal body.

On September 12, 2006 an upgraded version of the iPod 5G was released. It featured a brighter screen and longer video playback. The 60GB model was replaced with an 80GB model and the prices were dropped by $50 for both models.

Sixth Generation

The sixth generation iPod was renamed iPod Classic and was released on September 5, 2007. A 80GB iPod was available for $249 and a 160GB iPod for $349. The "Signature White iPod" has also been replaced with a silver iPod and the iPod now has a metal body.

An upgraded version of the sixth gen iPod was released on September 9, 2008. The 80 and 160GB iPods were replaced with a thinner 120GB iPod for $249. It introduced Genius and audio recording features.

Another upgraded version of the sixth gen iPod was released on September 9, 2009. The 120GB iPod's price was dropped to $229 and the now thinner 160GB iPod was re-introduced for $249. The 120GB iPod was later discontinued so the only option left is the 160GB iPod.

Models

Generation	Image	Capacity	Colours	Connection	Release date	Minimum OS to sync	Rated battery life (hours)
first		5 GB	White	FireWire	October 23, 2001	Mac: 9.2.1, 10.1	audio: 10
		10 GB			March 21, 2002
		First model, with mechanical scroll wheel. 10 GB model released later. Not compatible with Windows.
first (1st revision)		5 GB	White	FireWire	July 17, 2002	Mac: 9.2.2, 10.1.4 Win: 2000	audio: 10
		Mechanical scroll wheel. Windows-compatible model available. Windows compatibility through Musicmatch.
second		10 GB	White	FireWire	July 17, 2002	Mac: 9.2.2, 10.1.4 Win: 2000	audio: 10
		20 GB
		Touch-sensitive wheel. FireWire port had a cover. Hold switch revised. Windows-compatible models available. Windows compatibility through Musicmatch.
third		10 GB	White	FireWire (USB for data transfer only - no charging)	April 28, 2003	Mac: 10.1.5 Win: 2000	audio: 8
		15 GB
		30 GB
		First complete redesign with all-touch interface, dock connector, and slimmer case. Musicmatch support dropped with later release of iTunes 4.1 for Windows.
third (1st revision)		10 GB	White	FireWire (USB for data transfer only - no charging)	September 8, 2003	Mac: 10.1.5 Win: 2000	audio: 8
		20 GB
		30 GB
third (2nd revision)		15 GB	White	FireWire (USB for data transfer only - no charging)	January 6, 2004	Mac: 10.1.5 Win: 2000	audio: 8
		20 GB
		40 GB
fourth		20 GB	White	FireWire or USB	July 19, 2004	Mac: 10.1.5 Win: 2000	audio: 12
			Black/Red (Special Edition U2)		October 26, 2004
		40 GB	White		July 19, 2004
		Adopted Click Wheel from iPod Mini; pack-in accessories reduced along with price drop.
fourth (photo)		40 GB	White	FireWire or USB	October 26, 2004	Mac: 10.2.8 Win: 2000	audio: 15 slideshow: 5
		60 GB
		Premium spin-off of 4G iPod with color screen and picture viewing.
fourth (photo) (1st revision)		30 GB	White	FireWire or USB	February 23, 2005	Mac: 10.2.8 Win: 2000	audio: 15 slideshow: 5
		60 GB
		Pack-ins and price reduced. Images directly viewable via optional iPod Camera Connector.
fourth (with color display)		20 GB	White Black/Red (Special Edition U2)	FireWire or USB	June 28, 2005	Mac: 10.2.8 Win: 2000	audio: 15 slideshow: 5
			White (Special Edition Harry Potter)		September 7, 2005
		60 GB	White		June 28, 2005
		"iPod with color display"; essentially, the iPod Photo model reintegrated with the main iPod Classic lineup.
fifth		30 GB	White Black White (Special Edition Harry Potter) Black (Special Edition Harry Potter)	USB (FireWire for charging only)	October 12, 2005	Mac: 10.3.9 Win: 2000	audio: 14 slideshow: 3 video: 2
			Black/Red (Special Edition U2)		June 6, 2006
		60 GB	White Black		October 12, 2005		audio: 20 slideshow: 4 video: 3
		Second full redesign with a slimmer case, and larger screen with video playback. Offered in black or white.
fifth (1st revision)		30 GB	White Black Black/Red (Special Edition U2)	USB (FireWire for charging only)	September 12, 2006	Mac: 10.3.9 Win: 2000	audio: 14 slideshow: 4 video: 3.5
		80 GB	White Black				audio: 20 slideshow: 6 video: 6.5
		Battery life improved for slideshow and video playbacks.
sixth (classic)		80 GB	Silver Black	USB (FireWire for charging only)	September 5, 2007	Mac: 10.4.8 Win: XP SP2	audio: 30 video: 5
		160 GB					audio: 40 video: 7
		Introduced the "Classic" retronym. New interface and anodized aluminum front plate. Silver replaces white.
sixth (classic) (1st revision)		120 GB	Silver Black	USB (FireWire for charging only)	September 9, 2008	Mac: 10.4.11 Win: XP SP3	audio: 36 video: 6
		Genius feature added. 160GB model dropped and 80GB model upgraded to 120GB.
sixth (classic) (2nd revision)		160 GB	Silver Black	USB (FireWire for charging only)	September 9, 2009	Mac: 10.4.11 Win: XP SP3	audio: 36 video: 6
		Capacity increased to 160GB using single-platter drive.

Timeline of iPod models and related products

See also: Timeline of full-sized iPod models and Timeline of compact iPod models

Sources: Apple press release library, Mactracker Apple Inc. model database