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Photo: AP During the iPod's short life -- the first one was released less then seven years ago -- it has seen many technical updates and redesigns. Take a look at how the iPod has changed from the first version to the latest incarnation. |
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Photo: Apple Released: Oct. 2001Weight: 6.5 ouncesThe first iPod had a scroll wheel that physically moved when navigating through song lists. The play, next and menu buttons were placed in a circle around the wheel. A revision was released in 2002 that offered more memory space. |
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Photo: jimmac Released: July 2002Weight: 6.5 ounces Although the second version looked like its predecessor, it featured a touch-sensitive wheel instead of the moving scroll wheel, which would be the standard going forward. |
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Photo: Apple Released: April 2003Weight: 5.6 ouncesThis version marks the first full redesign of the device. The play, next and menu buttons were moved above the wheel and below the screen. Besides weighing less, Apple also added new software including games and an alarm clock. |
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Photo: AP Released: Jan. 2004Weight: 3.6 ounces At the time, the mini was the smallest mp3 player on the market. It was also the first iPod to use the click wheel – a combination of the function buttons and the touch wheel. Another first for Apple, the device came in five colors: silver, pink, green, blue, and gold. |
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Photo: AP Released: July 2004Weight: 5.6 ouncesThe major differences between this version and the third generation is the adoption of the click wheel from the iPod and improved battery life. |
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Photo: AP Released: Oct. 2004Weight: 5.9 ounces Apple introduced the color screen with the iPod Photo, letting users upload photos and music cover art onto the device. |
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Photo: AP Released: Jan. 2005Weight: 0.78 ounces Starting at just $99, Apple gave consumers a low-cost alternative to the more sophisticated models. |
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Photo: AP Released: Sept. 2005Weight: 1.5 ouncesDesigned to replace the iPod mini, the nano was the smallest MP3 player on the market when released. The nano was sold in two colors -- white and black. A second generation was released a year later that had aluminum casing and came in five different colors. |
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Photo: AP Released: Oct. 2005Weight: 4.8 ouncesApple's first move into the portable video market came with this device. The larger screen offered higher resolution for viewing videos. Sold in black or white, this version was significantly thinner than the last iPod model. |
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Photo: AP Released: Sept. 2006Weight: 0.55 ouncesApple shrunk the size of the shuffle, as well as the price, which started at $79. In early 2007, the model became available in four colors other than the original silver. |
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Photo: Apple Released: Sept. 2007Weight: 4.9 ouncesThe sixth generation of the iPod, known as the classic, came in silver and black, and brought an end to the white-colored era. |
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Photo: Apple Released: Sept. 2007 Weight: 1.74 ouncesA shorter and wider update of the nano, this version is able to play video on a wider screen. |
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Photo: AP Released: Sept. 2007Weight: 4.2 ouncesSimilar to the iPhone, the Touch is the first iPod to have a multi-touch screen and Wi-Fi capabilities. |
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Photo: Apple Released: Sept. 9, 2008The fourth generation is the thinnest ever, has a curved shape, comes in nine different colors and shuffles songs when users shake it. |
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Photo: Apple Released: Sept. 9, 2008This update to the original version includes a thinner body, curved design, volume controls and a built-in speaker. > Replay Slideshow> Related: History of Wireless Communication |
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