The iPod nano Generation 2 borrowed a design concept from the iPod mini and added several more available colors: the 2 GB model was available in silver; the 4 GB model in silver, green, blue, and pink; and the 8 GB model was available in black only. It was available with 2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB of flash memory and stored 500, 1000, or 2000 songs.
Hardware enhancements from the original iPod nano included longer battery life of 24 hours, a brighter 1.5-inch display, and a search engine for loaded songs.
The iPod nano replaced the iPod mini as a full-featured alternative to the classic iPod at the time. The iPod nano featured 1, 2, or 4 GB of flash memory in a 3.5-inch tall, 1.6-inch wide, and 0.27-inch thick white or black case. The color screen measured 1.5 inches at 176×132. The iPod nano is navigated by a Click Wheel and supports viewing photos. The design of the case features a jet black or iBook white front and stainless steel back.
Software functions included Screen Lock, a stopwatch, and a world clock. The iPod nano held approximately 240, 500, or 1000 songs and up to 15,000 or 25,000 photos that were downsampled to fit on the 1.5-inch screen.
The iPod Hi-Fi was announced by Steve Jobs on February 28, 2006, in a keynote where he introduced the device as “Home stereo. Reinvented.” The speaker system included a 30-pin iPod connector on top and shipped with inserts for every iPod with a dock connector it has shipped until that time. The back of the iPod Hi-Fi included a 3.5mm stereo input so users with an iPod shuffle (or other device) could connect to the device.
The remote control that shipped with the iPod Hi-Fi, the same remote that shipped with iMac models at the time, could only control volume and skip between tracks within the selected playlist. The menu button switched between the dock and the audio-in port and could not control the functions of the iPod in the dock. Also, the iPod Hi-Fi can be used with all iPods with a dock connector, but will only charge iPods that support Firewire charging.
My example iPod Hi-Fi unfortunately has crushed speaker cones on the two smaller speakers. I’ve attempted a few remedies unsuccessfully.
The iPod Hi-Fi retailed at the Apple Store for $349. This price was higher than similar high-end iPod speaker systems at the time, including a then-popular system from Bose priced at $299. The iPod Hi-Fi was discontinued on September 5, 2007.
The original iPod shuffle featured 512 MB or 1.0 GB of flash memory in a 3.3 by 0.98 by 0.33-inch case with an integrated USB connector. Like all iPod shuffle models, it lacked a display. The name of the iPod refers to its ability to shuffle among the 120 or 240 songs its capable of storing.
Like other iPod models, the shuffle can be used to store files other than music files, a feature that worked particularly well on the original shuffle with its integrated USB port.
The original iPod shuffle shipped with a white lanyard and a cap.
The iPod nano Generation 2 was available in 2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB flash memory capacities, capable of supporting either 500, 1000, or 2000 songs. In addition to songs, it could hold up to 25,000 photos on its 1.5 inch (diagonal) LCD display.
The 2 GB model was only available in silver; the 4 GB model was available in silver, green, blue, and pink; and the 8 GB model was only available in black.
The iPod shuffle Generation 3 was released in two stages. The initial release came in black and silver, and a later release added blue, green, pink, and an all-stainless-steel “Special Edition.”
The design of the iPod shuffle Generation 3 was considered somewhat controversial because it had no external screen or controls. The three controls—volume up, volume down, and “action”—are all on the earphone cable. VoiceOver technology, accessed using the “action” control, spoke song information.
This example is an unopened stainless steel Special Edition. It was only offered in a 4 GB capacity, and was only available at Apple Stores.
The iPod nano Generation 6 was a major design change from previous iPod nano models. This iPod nano came in silver, graphite, blue, green, orange, pink, and (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition. Its design was a square aluminum and glass case with a clip on the back and a 1.54-inch Multitouch screen.
Although its interface looks similar to iOS, it cannot run iOS applications or games compatible with previous iPod models. Its features include a pedometer, FM radio with live pause, Nike+iPod functions, VoiceOver, and Shake to Shuffle.
The iPod Generation 4 shipped with a 20 or 40 GB hard drive and was the first full-size iPod to use the Click Wheel that was introduced with the iPod mini.
This example features a factory-etched Tivo logo. This etching option was offered by Apple for corporate gifts or promotions. In this case, I was a member of Tivo’s “Tivo Rewards” program that included a credit card that accrued points that could be redeemed for various rewards, including this etched iPod.
This version of the iPod shuffle Generation 2 was updated to include five colors: silver (original), orange, green, blue, and pink. Also, this revision switch from the old-style “cap” earbuds to the current, more streamlined design. The case of this iPod shuffle features a clip that allows you to easily attach it to clothing.
This iPod shuffle’s design greatly differs from the original iPod shuffle that looked and functioned similarly to a flash drive. To charge this iPod shuffle and load it with up to 240 songs, it sits in a very small USB base with a protruding 3.5mm jack that uses the audio jack to transfer data and charging power.
The iPod shuffle is the only set of iPod models with no display.
The iPod Generation 3 was available in three sizes: 15 GB, 20 GB, or 40 GB on a 4200 RPM ATA-66 hard drive capable of storing 3700, 5000, or 10,000 songs. It used a 2-inch (diagonal) monochrome LCD display with blue-white LED backlight in a case with an “iBook white” front and a polished stainless steel back.
This iPod was thinner, lighter, had a more rounded case design, and introduced the idea of an iPod dock for easy connection to a computer or stereo. The buttons were changed to solid-state (instead of the earlier physical buttons) and moved from around the click wheel to a row above the click wheel.
