When did the first ipod come out

On October 23, 2001, Apple released the iPod — a portable media player that promised to overshadow the clunky design and low storage capacity of MP3 players introduced in the mid-1990s.

The iPod boasted the ability to “hold 1,000 songs in your pocket”. Its personalised listening format revolutionised the way we consume music. And with more than 400 million units sold since its release, there’s no doubt it was a success.

Yet, two decades later, the digital music landscape continues to rapidly evolve.

A market success

The iPod expanded listening beyond the constraints of the home stereo system, allowing the user to plug into not only their headphones, but also their car radio, their computer at work, or their hi-fi system at home. It made it easier to entwine these disparate spaces into a single personalised soundtrack throughout the day.

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There were several preconditions that led to the iPod’s success. For one, it contributed to the end of an era in which people listened to relatively fixed music collections, such as mixtapes, or albums in their running order. The iPod (and MP3 players more generally) normalised having random collections of individual tracks.

Then during the 1990s, an MP3 encoding algorithm developed at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany allowed unprecedented audio data compression ratios. In simple terms, this made music files much smaller than before, hugely increasing the quantity of music that could be stored on a device.

Then came peer-to-peer file-sharing services such as Napster, Limewire and BitTorrent, released in 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. These furthered the democratisation of the internet for the end user (with Napster garnering 80 million users in three years). The result was a fast-changing digital landscape where music piracy ran rife.

The accessibility of music significantly changed the relationship between listener and musician. In 2003, Apple responded to the music piracy crisis by launching its iTunes store, creating an attractive model for copyright-protected content.

Meanwhile, the iPod continued to sell, year after year. It was designed to do one thing, and did it well. But this would change around 2007 with the release of the touchscreen iPhone and Android smartphones.

Computer in your pocket

The rise of touchscreen smartphones ultimately led to the iPod’s downfall. Interestingly, the music app on the original iPhone was called “iPod”.

The iPod’s functions were essentially reappropriated and absorbed into the iPhone. The iPhone was a flexible and multifunctional device: an iPod, a phone and an internet communicator all in one — a computer in your pocket.

And by making the development tools for their products freely available, Apple and Google allowed third-party developers to create apps for their new platforms in the thousands.

It was a game-changer for the mobile industry. And the future line of tablets, such as Apple’s iPad released in 2010, continued this trend. In 2011, iPhone sales overtook the iPod, and in 2014 the iPod Classic was discontinued.

Unlike the Apple Watch, which serves as a companion to smartphones, single-purpose devices such as the iPod Classic are now seen as antiquated and obsolete.

Music streaming and the role of the web

As of this year, mobile devices are responsible for 54.8% of web traffic worldwide. And while music piracy still exists, its influence has been significantly reduced by the arrival of streaming services such as Spotify and YouTube.

These platforms have had a profound effect on how we engage with music as active and passive listeners. Spotify supports an online community-based approach to music sharing, with curated playlists.

Based on our listening habits, it uses our activity data and a range of machine-learning techniques to generate automatic recommendations for us. Both Spotify and YouTube have also embraced sponsored content, which boosts the visibility of certain labels and artists.

And while we may want to bypass popular music recommendations — especially to support new generations of musicians who lack visibility — the reality is we’re faced with a quantity of music we can’t possibly contend with. As of February this year, more than 60,000 tracks were being uploaded to Spotify each day.

What’s next?

The experience of listening to music will become increasingly immersive with time, and we’ll only find more ways to seamlessly integrate it into our lives. Some signs of this include:

• Gen Z’s growing obsession with platforms such as TikTok, which is a huge promotional tool for artists lucky enough to have their track attached to a viral trend

• new interactive tools for music exploration, such as Radio Garden (which lets you tune into radio stations from across the globe), the Eternal Jukebox for Spotify and Instrudive

• the use of wearables, such as Bose’s audio sunglasses and bone-conduction headphones, which allow you to listen to music while interacting with the world rather than being closed off, and

• the surge in virtual music performances during the COVID pandemic, which suggests virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality will become increasingly accepted as spaces for experiencing music performances.

The industry is also increasingly adopting immersive audio. Apple has incorporated Dolby Atmos 3D spatial audio into both its Logic Pro music production software and music on the iTunes store. With spatial audio capabilities, the listener can experience surround sound with the convenience of portable headphones.

As for algorithms, we can assume more sophisticated machine learning will emerge. In the future, it may recommend music based on our feelings. For example, MoodPlay is a music recommendation system that lets users explore music through mood-based filtering.

Some advanced listening devices even adapt to our physiology. The Australian-designed Nura headphones can pick up information about how a specific listener’s ears respond to different sound frequencies. They purport to automatically adjust the sound to perfectly suit that listener.

Such technologies are taking “personalised listening” to a whole new level, and advances in this space are set to continue. If the digital music landscape has changed so rapidly within the past 20 years, we can only assume it will continue to change over the next two decades, too.

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Apple's iPod celebrates its 10th birthday this month. Rather than splash out on jelly and ice cream and party hats, we take a look through its past from its humble beginnings in 2001, through to the sharp new iPod touches of 2011.

Our iPod adventure begins in October 2001, when Apple launched its first portable music player.

The first incarnation of the device that was to revolutionise the music industry had a mechanical scroll wheel and launched with 5GB and 10GB capacities, starting at a shade under £300.

The name 'iPod' was coined for use with the Apple music player by copywriter Vinnie Chieco. He was called in by Apple to help market the new product. Curiously, Apple had already registered the trademark 'iPod', but had originally intended it to be used as the name for its Internet kiosks, though these never saw the light of day.

The second-generation iPod waved sayonara to the clunky mechanical scroll wheel and introduced the touch-sensitive version still in use today, albeit in a different form.

Released in July 2002, the new model built on the success of the first incarnation, and came in capacities up to 20GB for £399, with the 5GB model at £259 and 10GB for £329.

With the third-generation iPod, Apple did away with the buttons that surrounded the touch-sensitive wheel, instead setting backlit controls horizontally under the LCD screen.

This edition launched in April 2003 and was the first model to use Apple's 30-pin dock connector. 10GB, 15GB and 30GB models were available, costing £249, £299 and £399 respectively.

The next child in Apple's musical creche wasn't a new version of the existing iPod, but an entirely new model: the iPod mini. The mini launched in January 2004, with 4GB of memory for £199.

The iPod mini came in five snazzy colours and brought with it the first use of the Click Wheel. This iconic and ground-breaking navigation system became ubiquitous within the iPod line until the iPhone was released in 2007, which uses purely gesture-based touch-sensitive control methods.

Mere months later, in July 2004, Apple launched the fourth-generation iPod. Like the mini, the new iPod boasted the Click Wheel -- one of Apple's best interface innovations to date.

The fourth-generation model came in 20GB and 40GB capacities, costing £219 and £299 respectively. This model was seen as something of a blow to the iPod mini, as its price -- just £20 more than its younger brother -- represented much better value for money in terms of storage. Its significantly larger size attracted a different crowd, however, and so both models existed harmoniously.

Later that year, the iPod photo was launched. The date was September 2004 and this was the first model to feature a full-colour screen. As the name suggested, the iPod photo was geared up to store and display your photo albums.

This added extra came at one hell of a price (well, two prices): £359 for the 40GB model; £429 for the 60GB. The iPod had pushed into the same price range as small second-hand cars. But hey, you could look at photos of those cars while you sat on the bus.

The 20GB U2-branded red and black iPod was also unveiled that month, costing £249. It was a monochrome-screen fourth-gen iPod, re-skinned in tribute to rock's most middle of the road Pope-botherers.

January 2004 had been the birth of the iPod mini. January 2005, just one year later, gave birth to a healthy new offspring: the first iPod shuffle.

The shuffle was something of a curiosity: it had no screen, no Click Wheel and no dock connector. At just £69 for 512MB, however, the shuffle instantly stole the hearts of joggers and young teens everywhere.

A 1GB model was also launched at a price of £99. Some naysayers emitted loud nays at the shuffle's launch, but over six years later, the shuffle, albeit in a totally new design, still reigns as king of the miniature MP3 players.

Just one month after the shuffle's launch, Apple unveiled the second-generation iPod mini in February 2005.

The new minis had something of a makeover -- the colours on offer were much brighter, and the coloured lettering on the Click Wheel now matched that of the iPod's body.

Battery life was also significantly improved (the original mini's battery life was often criticised). A 6GB model was offered for £169, while the original 4GB capacity sold for £139 -- a far more reasonable price than the previous version.

When September 2005 arrived, the iPod mini drew the noose around its neck, took one final bow to its patrons and stepped to its death. It was, of course, the iPod nano that cut down the limp body, and it was vastly superior to its predecessor.

The iPod nano launched in black and white, and 2GB and 4GB capacities, costing £139 and £179 respectively. Gone were the mini's micro-drives; replacing them were the holier-than-thou flash memory. Although the nano was generally well received, its easily scratched screen not only caused a consumer outcry, but also sparked a class-action lawsuit against Apple. Apple subsequently shipped protective cases with future models.

In October 2005, Apple unveiled its next full-sized iPod -- a model whose form factor has not changed in two full years.

The fifth-generation iPod was the first model to play video and was very well received. It had a larger, sharper colour screen, slimmer form factor and better battery life.

A 30GB video iPod would set you back £219, while a 60GB version would cost you £299. An 80GB version was later released and included, among other things, a library-search feature, and was accompanied by fifth-generation iPod price cuts across the board.

It was over a year before Apple took the mask off its next iPod. In September 2006, the second-generation nano was launched.

The new nano had a trendy anodised aluminium casing and came in five colours. Two-gig, 4GB and 8GB models were available at £99, £129 and £169 respectively.

The hysteric jubilation for the new iPod nano notwithstanding, Apple undid its trenchcoat again in September 2006 and flashed the world with another titchy member: the second-generation iPod shuffle.

Shuffle 2.0 came in the form of a clip. Some argue the new model had a clip; others claim it was a clip. The other 99.98 per cent of civilisation simply sat back and got on with things.

The new shuffle came only in a 1GB version for a touch over £50. Also present was the nano-esque anodised aluminium casing and the choice of several colours.

Then, in September 2007, we had a plethora of new iPods to choose from. The iPod touch became the 'true' video iPod the world had been sweatily dreaming about. It brought the best mobile browsing experience to palms everywhere, offering the iPhone-like iPod experience many people had been holding out for, and eventually got 32GB of memory.

Its partner in crime, the iPod classic, was also introduced in September. It was essentially a revamped, tripped-out fifth-generation iPod with more go-faster stripes than we care to count, and up to 160GB of storage.

A third-generation iPod nano with "a little video for everyone" was also introduced, complete with a fat form factor to make the chunkiest of us feel slightly better about ourselves.

Spy-shot photographs of this nano leaked before the official announcement was made, leading the blogosphere to worry in advance that the nano was to become all dumpy. No one seemed that bothered once it was released though. A pink 8GB model was released in the following January.

Finally, a new shuffle came out... well, it had new colours. (And a small 's' to match its lower-case siblings, spelling fans.)

The September 2008 line-up vanquished Dumpy McFatnano to the rotting cesspits of silicon hell, introducing a fourth-generation nano with the original tall form factor of earlier models.

It retained video playback and the same screen as the chubby version, but now offered an internal accelerometer, 16GB of memory and the new Genius playlist functionality. It was also the first model to introduce spoken menus for vision-impaired users.

We were disappointed to see the 160GB iPod classic was wiped from existence this year, along with the 80GB model. Instead, Apple brought out a single second-generation classic with 120GB of hard disk space, but in the first-generation classic's thinner form factor. It also included the new Genius feature.

But stealing the show was the new iPod touch, which launched with a new curvy design to match the new iPhone 3G, built-in speakers, a physical volume control (this was a hotly demanded feature), 3D gaming and various other features previously offered as software upgrades, such as Microsoft Exchange email support.

Once again there were new iPod shuffles, but they were just paint jobs -- the players themselves didn't change.

September 2009 brought the arrival of the third-generation iPod shuffle.

It was smaller than ever, but still sporting one massive clip to attach to your polo-shirt sleeve so that everyone knows just how sporty you are.

The lack of a screen still made it difficult to operate but for only £60 for a 4GB model, it was understandably a good seller.

The fifth-generation iPod nano was released in 2009 and packed a larger screen and a video camera.

There wasn't a whole lot of point in the video camera, but it was a fun addition nonetheless, although it oddly didn't take still images as well.

It was available in a rainbow of colours and up to 32GB in size, although the top model would cost a not insignificant £139.

The iPod touch third-generation retained the same look and feel of the previous iteration but boasted improved internal hardware making it much more zippy to use.

Fans of 3D gaming apps were very pleased at the power boost it had received, and the ease of use quickly helped push the touch into the hearts of music-lovers everywhere.

It was available in a 64GB model which was plenty of room for a vast music collection, but you'd have to shell out £300.

2010 saw the advent of the fourth-generation iPod shuffle.

The stretched design of the third-generation had been given an unceremonious boot, to be replaced with the new square version, which naturally still houses a massive clip on the back.

The VoiceOver feature made navigating around your music fairly simple, as did the easy to press buttons on the its colourful face.

If you're feeling particularly geek-chic, you can pop it on a wrist-strap and set it to display up to 16 different clock faces. Lovely.

The 16GB model will set you back £129 and is available in more colours than we knew existed.

The fourth-generation iPod touch was outed in 2010.

This new model packed the gloriously sharp retina display found on the iPhone 4 and also packed a front-facing camera for FaceTime.

It has the same simple operation of previous models and of course full access to the Apple App store. The 64GB model demanded 329 of your hard-earned pounds.

The fifth-generation iPod touch was shown off in October 2011.

It's not a massive upgrade from the previous model, but it's running Apple's iOS 5, which offers various handy extras such as iMessage and a notification centre for message and alerts.

It's also offered in a white variety for those that can't stand dull colours on their gadgets.

It's still as expensive as ever though, coming in at a cool £329.

And there you have it; a full decade of iPod goodness. Do you have a favourite? Was there a model you simply couldn't stand? Let us know in the comments below or over on our official Facebook page.