In one of the first virtual books that iLounge posted, they had a timeline of all the dates where different iPods were introduced. But then they didn’t update it. So I took what they had, plus what I found elsewhere and updated it, current up to the satanic-colored 5G U2 edition iPod introduced Tuesday. I’m trying to analyze the past history to guess when Apple will come out with a new iPod since I will be in the market soon. Looks like I need to wait until September or October.
The price premium for owning an iPod vs. rival MP3 players nearly disappeared in 2006. When I bought the $279 20 GB Archos, all Apple had was a 5 GB 1st generation iPod which was $399 and it only worked with Macs. Two months after I got the Archos, Apple introduced the 10 GB iPod for $499. Still, I had twice the capacity (but none of the cool) for about half the price.
2001
1-9-01
iTunes available for Macs
10-23-01
1G iPod has moving scroll wheel, 5 GB $399
2002
1-18-02
Ted gets 20GB Archos $279
3-20-02
10 GB version of 1G, $499
7-17-02
2G iPod has touch-sensitive scroll wheel: 5GB $299, 10 GB $399, 20 GB, $499. PC versions available.
2003
4-28-03
3G iPod moves button to a row above the wheel: 10 GB $299, 15 GB $399, 30 GB $499. PC or Mac compatible. iTunes music store debuts, but for Mac only.
9-8-03
20 GB $399, 40 GB $499
10-16-03
iTunes for PC’s
11-12-03
Ted gets 3G 20GB
12-25-03
Ted lends Archos to Danny
2004
1-6-04
iPod Mini 4GB $249 (in silver, blue, green, pink, or gold); iPod 3G 15GB $299
7-19-04
4G iPod has buttons incorporated into scroll wheel: 20 GB $299, 40 GB $399
8-27-04
HP iPods
10-28-04
iPod Photo with color screen 40 GB $499, 60 GB $599; U2 iPod 20 GB $349
2005
1-11-05
Shuffle 512MB $99, 1GB $149
1-12-05
Nicole gets U2 edition iPod
2-3-05
Eric gets 4G 20 GB
2-23-05
2G mini 4GB $199, 6GB $249 (silver, blue, green, or pink); 30 GB iPod Photo $349, 60 GB $449, discontinue 40GB photo
6-28-05
Monochrome 4Gs discontinued, color 20GB $299, 60GB $399; U2 iPod color $329; 1GB shuffle $129
7-26-05
Danny gets 1 GB shuffle
9-7-05
Nano 2GB $199, 4GB $249 (both in black or white); mini discontinued
10-12-05
5G video iPod 30GB $299, 60GB $399 (in black or white)
2006
2-7-06
1GB nano $149; Shuffle 512MB $69, 1GB $99
6-1-06
Kelly gets black 1GB nano
6-6-06
U2 edition 30 GB 5G $329
6-8-06
Jeb inherits Archos from Danny
9-12-06
2G shuffle 1GB $79; 2G nano 2GB $149 (silver only), 4GB $199 (green, blue silver, or pink), 8GB $249 (black only); 5.5G iPod 30GB $249, 80GB $349 gets larger, brighter screen
10-13-06
4 GB nano available in red
11-3-06
8 GB nano available in red
11-6-06
Claire gets blue 4GB nano; Jeb inherits Claire’s shuffle
12-25-06
Jeb gets black 80 GB iPod; David gets silver nano
2007
1-30-07
Shuffle gets colors: pink, green, blue, and orange in addition to silver
6-29-07
iPhone introduced with AT&T cellular service only: widescreen, Mac OSX 4GB $499, 8GB $599.
9-5-07
Shuffle gets different colors: cranberry, purple, light green, light blue, silver, and red. 3G nano is wider with larger screen, video; 4GB $149 (silver only), 8GB $199 (black, red, silver, light blue, light green). iPod Classic replaces 5.5G, metal case, 80 GB $249, 160 GB $349. iPod Touch widescreen, wifi, Mac OSX, 8GB $299, 16GB $399. iPhone 8GB $399.
9-5-07
Ted gets black 8 GB 3G nano.
11-24-07
Susan gets blue Shuffle.
12-25-07
Danny gets black 8 GB 3G nano.
2008
1-22-08
8GB 3G nano available in pink
2-5-08
32 GB iPod Touch, $499; 16 GB iPhone, $499
2-19-08
Shuffle 1 GB $49, 2 GB $69
2-20-08
Nicole gets red 1 GB Shuffle and inherits Jeb’s 80 GB 5.5G
5-25-08
Jeb gets red 8 GB 3G nano
7-11-08
3G iPhone supports 3G data network, adds GPS, 8 GB $199, 16 GB $299, in black or white
8-28-08
Kelly gets green 8 GB 3G nano
9-9-08
Shuffle colors revert to silver, blue, green, red, pink. 2G iPod Classic 120 GB $249. 4G nano skinny again with rounded front, can be watched sideways, 8 GB $149 or 16 GB $199 with new colors: silver, black, purple, blue, lime green, yellow, orange, red, pink. 2G Touch has same form as 3G iPhone: 8 GB $229, 16 GB $299, and 32 GB $399.
9-11-08
Ted gets red 16 GB 4G nano; lends 3G nano to Mom
12-12-08
Ted wins light blue 8 GB 3G nano, gives it to Jami
2009
3-11-09
3G shuffle, 4GB $79, in silver or black. Smaller and no buttons (controls moved to heaphone cable). Voiceover navigation speaks song titles to you.
6-19-09
iPhone 3GS, 16 GB $199, 32 GB $299 in black or white. Adds digital compass, video camera. iPhone 3.0 software.
8-7-09
Jeb gets 32 GB 2G iPod Touch
9-9-09
5G nano gets video camera, microphone, speaker, FM radio, taller screen (2.2 in). Same colors but now shiny instead of flat, 8 GB $149, 16 GB $179. Classic now 160 GB, $249. Shuffle gets colors: pink, green, and blue in addition to black and silver, 2 GB $59, 4 GB $79 (polished stainless steel version $99). 3G iPod touch higher end models get faster processor, 8 GB $199, 32 GB $299, 64 GB $399.
2010
4-3-10
iPad has 9.7-inch 1024×768 touch screen, A4 chip, 16 GB $499, 32 GB $599, 64GB $699 for wi-fi only versions.
4-30-10
iPad with 3G cellular 16GB $629, 32 GB $729, and 64 GB $829.
6-24-10
iPhone 4 has flat glass back, 5 megapixel camera with LED “flash,” front-facing camera (640×480) for video calls, a gyroscope for better motion detection, A4 chip, and a higher resolution screen (960×640), in black only, 16GB $199 or 32GB $299.
9-1-10
4G Shuffle returns to 2G form, 5 colors, 2GB $49. 6G nano now just a squarish touchscreen, loses camera. 8GB $149, 16GB $179. 4G Touch gets high resolution 960×640 screen, gyro, front and rear facing lo-res cameras, but maintains aluminum back, 8GB $229, 32GB $299, 64GB $399.
9-3-10
Ted gets 64GB 4G iPod Touch
9-25-10
Danny gets 32GB 4G iPod Touch
11-12-10
Kathy gets blue 16GB 6G nano
2011
2-7-11
Claire gets 32 GB 4G iPod Touch
2-10-11
4G iPhone now available on Verizon network (hardware is slightly different)
3-11-11
iPad 2 is thinner, with faster A5 chip, front and rear facing cameras, gyroscope, and HDMI video out. Available in black or white: 16 GB $499, 32 GB $599, 64GB $699 (with 3G wireless: 16 GB $629, 32 GB $729, 64 GB $829). iOS 4.3.
4-6-11
Danny gets iPhone 4
4-28-11
iPhone 4 available in white
8-15-11
Kathy gets iPhone 4
10-9-11
Jeb gets 64GB iPad2 with 3G
10-12-11
New software interface for nano, 8 GB $129, 16 GB $149. iPod Touch available in white, 8 GB version $199. iOS 5 released.
10-14-11
iPhone 4S has faster A5 processor, 1080p video camera, doesn’t need separate Verizon version. 16 GB $199, 32 GB $299, 64 GB $399.
2012
3-16-12
3G iPad gets retina display, faster A7 chip, 5MP camera, 16 GB $499, 32 GB $599, 64 GB $699 (with 4G LTE wireless: 16 GB $629, 32 GB $729, and 64 GB $829)
3-16-12
Danny gets 3G iPad
5-24-12
Mom gets iPad2
9-12-12
Dock connector replaced by smaller 9-pin “Lightning” connector and iPhone and Touch get EarPod headphones. iPhone 5 gets taller 4-inch screen, thinner, lighter weight and has faster A6 processor. 5G iPod Touch gets 4-inch screen, A5 processor, 5 MP camera; back is anodized aluminum in black, white, red, green, or blue. 32 GB $299, 64 GB $399. 7G iPod nano is taller with a 2.5-inch screen and in 8 colors: black, silver, red, pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple; 16GB $149. Shuffle gets same colors as nano, 2 GB $49.
10-23-12
iPad 4 in black or white, faster A6X processor, with Lightning connector, 16 GB $499, 32 GB $599, 64 GB $699 (cellular adds $130). iPad mini has 8″ screen, old A5 processor, 5MP camera, 16 GB $329, 32 GB $429, 64 GB $529 or with cellular 16 GB $459, 32 GB $559, 64 GB $659.
10-30-12
Ted shuns iPad and gets 32 GB Nexus 7
12-27-12
Kelly gets iPhone 4S
2013
1-5-13
Claire gets yellow 32 GB 5G iPod Touch
1-28-13
Grant gets iPhone 4S
1-28-13
Jami gets iPhone 4S
1-28-13
Mom gets iPhone 4
2-5-13
128 GB iPad available $799, with cellular $929.
4-5-2013
Jeb gets 8GB iPhone 4
5-9-2013
Claire gets 32GB iPhone 5
9-20-13
iPhone 5c budget version keeps most features of iPhone 5 but has plastic case and comes in white, blue, pink, yellow, or green, 16 GB $99, 32 GB $199 with phone plan. iPhone 5s gets A7 processor, Touch ID home button that reads fingerprints, in space gray, silver, or gold, 16 GB $199, 32 GB $299, 64 GB $399. Touch, nano, and shuffle now available in space gray instead of slate.
11-1-13
iPad Air is thinner, has A7 processor, 5MP camera, in space gray or silver; 16 GB $499, 32 GB $599, 64 GB $699, 128 GB $799 (cellular adds $130).
11-12-13
iPad mini 2 gets retina display, A7 processor, in silver or space gray, 16 GB $399, 32 GB $499, 64 GB $599, 128 GB $699 (cellular adds $130).
11-30-13
Carol gets iPad Air
2014
9-19-14
iPhone 6 4.7-inch screen, faster, smaller A8 chip, 16 GB $199, 64 GB $299, 128 GB $399 in space gray, silver, or gold, with phone plan. iPhone 6 plus 5.5-inch screen, 16 GB $299, 64 GB $399, 128 GB $499. 8 GB 5c now free, 16 GB 5s is $99 and 32 GB 5s is $149.
10-16-14
iPad Air 2 gets Touch ID, barometer, faster A8X chip, 16 GB $499, 64 GB $599, $128 GB $699 (cellular adds $130). iPad Mini 3 gets Touch ID, barometer 16 GB $399, 64 GB $499, 128 GB $599 (cellular adds $130).
2015
7-15-15
6G iPod Touch gets faster A8 chip, 8 MP camera, new color lineup includes silver, space gray, gold, blue, pink, and red. 16 GB $199, 32 GB $249, 64 GB $299, 128 GB $399. Nano and shuffle get same colors, no upgrades.
7-15-15
Ted gets blue 64 GB 6G iPod touch.
9-9-15
iPad Pro with 12.9 inch 2732×2048 screen, A9X chip, 32 GB $799, 128 GB $949, 128 GB with data $1079. iPad Mini 4 thinner, gets A8 processor, 8 MP camera, 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2 16 GB $399, 64 GB $499, 128 GB $599 (cellular adds $130). iPhone 6S adds 3-D touch screen, 16 GB $199, 64 GB $299, 128 GB $399 with phone plan. iPhone 6S plus 3-D touch screen, 16 GB $299, 64 GB $399, 128 GB $499. iPad and iPhone add rose gold color.
2016
3-31-16
iPhone SE 4-inch phone with 6S specs, 16 GB $399, 64 GB $499. iPad Pro 9.7 inch 2048×1536 retina display, A9X processor, 12 MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, 32 GB $599, 128 GB $749, 256 GB $899 (cellular adds $130).
9-9-16
iPhone7 loses headphone jack, gets A10 chip, 12 MP rear camera, 7 MP front camera, 32 GB $649, 128 GB $749, 256 GB $849. iPhone7 plus also adds a second rear 12 MP telephoto camera, 32 GB $769, 128 GB $869, 256 GB $969.
12-22-16
Mom gets iPad Air 2, gives iPad 2 to Ted; Don gets iPhone 7.
2017
3-24-17
iPad 5 9.7-inch model replaces iPad Air 2 and gets A9 chip, brighter 2048×1536 screen, and is slightly thicker than Air, 32 GB $329, 128 GB $429 (cellular adds $130). iPhone 7 and 7 plus available in red. iPhone SE now 32 GB or 128 GB at same price points.
4-26-17
Ted gets 32 GB space gray iPad 5
What was the point of all those HPpods?
I think HP had access to certain stores that didn’t carry Apple products. Other than that, I don’t know what they were thinking.
I’ve had a 5.5G 80GB black for about a year now, I believe.
Kathy just loves her blue 6G nano. Hooks it to a pal and it travels around the house. Also uses it on her walks and runs. (Training for Peachtree.)