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 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, 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 screen (960×640), gyro, front and rear facing lo-res cameras, but maintains curved 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, faster with 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 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 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
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.)