October 23, 2001
Apple CEO, Steve Jobs introduced the first Apple iPod with the tagline: “1,000 songs in your pocket”. It was a 5GB hard disk based portable digital music player (MP3 player). Apple iPod was not the first hard disk based MP3 player, but it was the first to be in a compact form. It was first using 1.8″ hard drive as opposed to 2.5″ and 3.5″ hard drives. Unlike any other models, the iPod utilizes FireWire connectivity for fast data transfer. It is also tighly integrated into Apple iTunes, the experience only Mac users could have at that time.
Shortly after the release of iPod, other manufacturers started releasing compact hard drive based MP3 players. None of thm could compete with the function and the style of iPod. There were two things that made iPod stood out:
- The iConic white color on its faceplate and the earbuds
- The ScrollWheel
The original 5GB iPod (the iPod classic) was priced at $399, a seemingly shocking sticker price. Apple only sold 125,000 units of iPod within the first two months of its introduction.(1) Apple then released a 10GB model which was retailed for $499 a few months after.
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October 23, 2006
I am celebrating iPod fifth birthday by listening to music and Podcasts on the first iPod I bought back in 2001. It is the original iPod – an iPod classic.
See more pictures of the still working iPod classic here:
http://37prime.com/ipodturns5.html