The fourth generation monochrome iPod

iPod with Click Wheel
July 2004 - June 2005
The beginning of the end of the beginning.

* First introduced July 2004
* Available in 20 or 40 GB hard drve models
* White body, monochrome display, click wheel

The third generation iPod

iPod with Dock Connector
April 2003 - July 2004
Educated and worldly.

* First launched April 2003
* White body, 10, 15 or 30 GB hard drive models, monochrome screen
* Introduces the dock connector - previous models had a Firewire port.
* 20 and 40 GB models introduced in September 2003

The second generation iPod

iPod with Touch Wheel
July 2002 - April 2003
Survivor of the lean years.

* First launched July 2002.
* White model, 10 or 20 GB hard drive, monochrome screen, touch wheel
* Wheel doesn’t move - four function buttons located above the wheel

The first generation iPod

iPod with Scroll Wheel
October 2001 - July 2002
The iPod head of the family.

* The one that started the mobile white-ear-bud-wearing digital music craze, launched October 2001.
* White model, monochrome screen, 5 or 10 GB hard drive, scroll wheel
* Scroll wheel moves - four function buttons located around the edge of wheel.

The iPod Family

In 2002, Apple doubled the capacity and added the signature solid-state scrollwheel. A year later, the capacity had increased to as much as 40GB. And 2004 saw the introduction of several new iPods, including the mighty Mini, the pricey Photo, and the black U2 version. In early 2005, we witnessed the splashy arrival of the flash-based Shuffle, the 30GB iPod Photo, and the updated Mini, which added a 6GB version to the series as well as improved battery life.

Then came the 20GB photo-friendly iPod (the Photo part was dropped on this and the 60GB versions) and the colourised iPod U2 Special Edition, plus a fresh new price for the AU$199 1GB iPod Shuffle.

In late 2005, the dynasty continued with the arrival of the latest iPod wunderkind, the 2GB and 4GB Nano in either black or white. And the superthin 5G iPod (30GB and 60GB sizes, white or black) lost some weight but gained a bigger screen and an appetite for video. The ever-changing family bid farewell to mainstays the iPod Mini and the iPod Photo, including the U2 edition.

In early 2006, Apple released a 1GB version of the iPod Nano (not shown) and slashed the price of its first-generation Shuffle range, with the then AU$99 Shuffle 512MB the first iPod to break the AU$100 barrier. Then came that crazy cousin, the Motorola Rokr.

The most recent additions to the iPod family arrived on September 12 this year — the colourful second-generation Nanos, with up to 8GB storage space; version two of the Shuffle (billed as the world’s smallest MP3 player); and enhanced fifth-generation iPods with lower prices, brighter screens and longer battery life.