IPod Classic

iPod classic

iPod classic 6th generation.
Manufacturer	Apple Inc.
Type	Portable media player / Digital audio player
Lifespan	October 23 2001–present
Media	Hard disk from 5 to 160 GB (Currently 80 and 160 GB)
Operating system	1.5 (1G, 2G) 2.3 (3G) 3.1.1 (4G) 1.2.1 (4G Color) 1.3 (5G) 1.1.2 (6G)
Display	160×128 2-inch monochrome LCD (1G, 2G, 3G, 4G) 220×176 2-inch color LCD (4G Color) 320×240 2.5-inch color LCD (5G, 6G)
Input	Click wheel (4G, 5G, 6G) Scroll wheel (1G) Touch wheel (2G, 3G)
Connectivity	USB 2.0 (3G, 4G, 5G, 6G) FireWire (1G, 2G, 3G, 4G)
Power	lithium polymer battery lithium ion battery
Related	iPod shuffle iPod nano iPod touch iPhone

The iPod classic is a portable media player marketed by Apple Inc. It is the flagship model in Apple's iPod family. To date, there have been six generations of the iPod classic, as well as a spin-off (the iPod photo) that was later re-integrated into the main classic line. All generations use a 1.8-inch hard drive for storage. The "classic" retronym was introduced with the introduction of the sixth-generation iPod classic on September 5, 2007; prior to this, iPod classics were simply referred to as 'iPods'.

Technical information

User interface

The iPod's signature Click Wheel.

iPods with color displays use anti-aliased graphics and text, with sliding animations. All iPods have five buttons and the later generations (4th and above) have the buttons integrated into the click wheel — a design which gives an uncluttered, minimalist interface. The buttons are:

• Menu: to traverse backwards through the menus, and toggle the backlight on older iPods
• Center: to select a menu item
• Play / Pause: this doubles as an off switch when held
• Skip Forward / Fast Forward
• Skip Backwards / Fast Reverse

Operating system and firmware

iPod's operating system is stored on its dedicated storage medium. An additional NOR flash ROM chip (either 1 MB (1 MiB) or 512 KB (512 KB)) contains a bootloader program that tells the device to load its OS from the storage medium. Each iPod also has 32 MB of RAM, although the 60 and 80 GB fifth generation, and the sixth generation models have 64 MB. A portion of the RAM is used to hold the iPod OS loaded from firmware, but the majority of it serves to cache songs from the storage medium. For example, iPod could spin its hard disk up once and copy approximately 30 MB of upcoming songs into RAM, thus saving power by not requiring the drive to spin up for each song. Rockbox and iPodLinux offer open-source alternatives to the standard firmware and operating system, respectively. However, at the current time these are both unavailable for use with the 6th generation iPod classic due to encryption used on the official firmware.

Additional features

In March 2002, Apple added limited PDA-like functionality: text files can be displayed, while contacts and schedules can be viewed and synchronized with the host computer. Some built-in games are available, including Brick (a clone of Breakout), Parachute, Solitaire, and Music Quiz. A firmware update released in September 2006 brought some extra features to fifth generation iPods including adjustable screen brightness, gapless playback, and downloadable games (available for purchase from the iTunes Store).

Models

Generation	Image	Capacity	Colors	Connection	Release date	Minimum OS to sync	Rated battery life (hours)
first		5 GB	White	FireWire	23 October 2001	Mac: 9, 10.1	audio: 10
		10 GB			20 March 2002
		First model, with mechanical scroll wheel. 10 GB model released later.
second		10 GB	White	FireWire	17 July 2002	Mac: 9, 10.1 Win: 2000	audio: 10
		20 GB
		Touch-sensitive wheel. FireWire port had a cover. Hold switch revised. Windows compatibility through Musicmatch.
third		10 GB	White	FireWire (USB for synching only)	28 April 2003	Mac: 10.1 Win: 2000	audio: 8
		15 GB			6 January 2004
					28 April 2003
		20 GB			8 September 2003
		30 GB			28 April 2003
		40 GB			8 September 2003
		First complete redesign with all-touch interface, dock connector, and slimmer case. Musicmatch support dropped with later release of iTunes 4.1 for Windows.
fourth		20 GB	White	FireWire or USB	19 July 2004	Mac: 10.2 Win: 2000	audio: 12
			Black/Red (U2 edition)		26 October 2004
		40 GB	White		19 July 2004
		Adopted Click Wheel from iPod mini; pack-in accessories reduced along with price drop.
fourth (photo)		30 GB	White	FireWire or USB	23 February 2005	Mac: 10.2 Win: 2000	audio: 15 slideshow: 5
		40 GB			26 October 2004
		60 GB
		Premium spin-off of 4G iPod with color screen and picture viewing. Pack-ins reduced when 40 GB model and price were dropped.
fourth (color)		20 GB	White	FireWire or USB	28 June 2005	Mac: 10.2 Win: 2000	audio: 15 slideshow: 5
			Black/Red (U2 edition)
		60 GB	White
		"iPod with color display"; essentially, the iPod photo model reintegrated with the main iPod classic lineup.
fifth		30 GB	White Black	USB (FireWire for charging only)	12 October 2005	Mac: 10.3 Win: 2000	audio: 14 video: 2 (later 3.5)
			Black/Red (U2 edition)
		60 GB	White Black				audio: 20 video: 3
		80 GB			12 September 2006		audio: 20 video: 6.5
		Second full redesign with a slimmer case, and larger screen with video playback. Offered in black or white.
sixth		80 GB	Silver Black	USB (FireWire for charging only)	5 September 2007	Mac: 10.4 Win: XP SP2	audio: 30 video: 5
		160 GB					audio: 40 video: 7
		Introduced the "classic" suffix. New interface and anodized aluminum front plate. Silver replaces white.

First generation

A first generation iPod (2001)

Apple introduced the first-generation iPod on October 23, 2001. The first iPod featured a 5 GB hard drive capable of storing 1,000 songs encoded using MP3 and was priced at US$399. Among the iPod's innovations were its small size, achieved using a 1.8" hard drive, whereas its competitors were using 2.5" hard drives at the time, and its easy-to-use navigation, which was controlled using a mechanical scroll wheel, a center select button, and 4 auxiliary buttons around the wheel. The iPod had a rated battery life of 12 hours.

On March 20, 2002, Apple introduced a 10 GB model of the iPod classic for US$499. vCard compatibility was added, as well, allowing iPods to display business card information synced from a Mac.

Second generation

A second generation iPod (2002)

The second generation iPod was introduced on July 17, 2002. Using the same body style as the first generation, the hold switch was redesigned, a cover was added to the FireWire port, and the mechanical wheel was replaced with a touch-sensitive wheel. The front plate also had rounded corners and edges. The second-generation class was available in 10 GB for US$399 and 20 GB for US$499. The first-generation 5 GB classic was carried over, but its price was reduced to US$299.

Notably, Apple began selling PC-compatible versions of the iPod starting with the second generation. These versions came with a 4-pin to 6-pin FireWire adapter and were bundled with Musicmatch Jukebox instead of iTunes.

In December 2002, Apple unveiled its first limited edition iPods, with either Madonna’s, Tony Hawk’s, or Beck’s signature or No Doubt's band logo engraved on the back for an extra US$50.

Third generation

3rd Generation iPod (2003)

On April 18, 2003, Apple announced a completely redesigned third-generation iPod. Thinner than the previous models, the third generation models replaced the FireWire port with a new Dock Connector and introduced the Touch Wheel, a completely non-mechanical interface with the four auxiliary buttons located in a row between the screen and the touch wheel. The front plate had rounded edges, and the rear casing was slightly rounded as well. A new wired remote connector was introduced. Whereas first and second generation classics had an auxiliary ring around the headphone port for the remote, the third generation classic had a 4-pin jack adjacent to the headphone port. A 10 GB model was sold for US$299, a 15 GB model for US$399, and a 30 GB model for US$499. All iPods were now compatible with Mac and PC out of the box, simply requiring Windows users to reformat the iPod before use on a PC and both iTunes and Musicmatch were bundled with all iPods. The battery life was reduced to 8 hours, partially due to the use of a lithium-ion battery as opposed to a lithium polymer battery.

The 15 GB model was replaced by a 20 GB model and the 30 GB model was upgraded to 40 GB on September 8, 2003. Support for Musicmatch was also discontinued at this time and only iTunes was included in the box.

Fourth generation

4th Generation iPod photo (2004).

Announced on July 19, 2004, the fourth-generation iPod replaced the touch wheel from the third generation with the Click Wheel from the iPod mini, putting the four auxiliary buttons underneath a touch-sensitive scroll wheel. The casing was also slightly slimmer. Pricing was reduced and the lineup was simplified, as the 20 GB model was sold for US$299 and the 40 GB model for US$399. Notably, Apple began reducing pack-in accessories starting with the fourth generation. While a dock, carrying case, and wired remote were previously included with higher-end iPods, the higher-level 40 GB iPod only came with a dock. In addition to using the iPod mini's Click Wheel, the fourth generation classic used the more energy-efficient components of the mini, allowing the fourth generation iPod to over 12 hours of battery life while using the same battery as its predecessor.

A special U2 edition was announced on October 26, 2004. The plastic front piece was black and the scroll wheel was red. With 20 GB and the signatures of all four members of U2, the special edition iPod was priced at US$349 and also included a US$50 coupon for a US$149 collection of U2's entire back catalog.

A Special Harry Potter Edition was announced on September 7, 2005. It was released with the release of the Harry Potter Audiobooks in iTunes. It had a Hogwarts Logo engraved on the Back, and all 6 Harry Potter Audiobooks which have been available back then preloaded.

iPod photo

Main article: iPod photo

At the same time that the U2 iPod was announced, Apple also unveiled the iPod photo.

Positioned as a premium version of the standard fourth-generation iPod, the iPod photo featured a 220x176 pixel LCD capable of displaying up to 65,536 colors. The photo supported JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG graphic file formats, and could be attached to a television or other external display for slideshows. The battery was rated for 15 hours for music playback and 5 hours for slideshows with music. The photo was available in a 40 GB version for US$499 and a 60 GB version for US$599.

On February 23, 2005, the 40 GB model was replaced with a slimmer and lower-priced (US$349) 30 GB model. The price for the 60 GB model was dropped to US$449, and accessory pack-ins were reduced, making the dock, FireWire cable, and television cable extra-cost options.

iPod (with color display)

On June 28, 2005, the iPod photo was merged into the monochrome iPod line. The 30 GB model was dropped, and the 20 GB monochrome iPod received a color screen. The price for the 60 GB model was also dropped to US$399.

Fifth generation

5th Generation iPod in white (2005).

The fifth generation iPod was introduced on October 12, 2005, shortly after the introduction of the iPod nano. The fifth generation ipod featured a 2.5" 320x240 QVGA screen and a smaller Click Wheel. The fifth generation iPod is the first classic iPod to be available in an alternative color scheme in a non-special edition form, as a black option was added alongside "Signature iPod White", and marked the second full redesign of the iPod's aesthetic with its re-arranged proportions, its return to a fully flat front plate, and its more rounded rear casing. The 4-pin remote port was removed as well, causing backwards accessory compatibility issues. A 30 GB model was offered for US$299 and a 60 GB model was offered for US$399. The 5G iPod was also offered in the U2 special edition for US$349 with 30 GB.

The fifth generation iPod plays video in MP4 (up to 2.5 Mbit/s) and H.264 (up to 1.5 Mbit/s, baseline profile only) formats. Video such as TV shows, podcasts, music videos, and movies may be purchased from online stores such as the iTunes Store, or downloaded from Google Video and other sources, then imported to the iPod via iTunes software.

Videos or photo slideshows may be played from the fifth generation iPod on a television set, projector or monitor with the use of the Apple iPod AV cable or via a dock using an S-Video cable. It is also possible to do this using some camcorder cables with an RCA connection at one end and a three-banded eighth-inch (3.5 mm) A/V plug at the other, however the red and yellow plugs (normally the audio right and video signals respectively) must be swapped around in order to achieve the correct signal.

The fifth generation iPod was updated on September 12, 2006. This update included a brighter screen, a search feature, gapless playback, support for iPod games, and newly designed earphones. The refreshed iPod also had a longer video playback time. Support for iPod games and gapless playback was enabled on original fifth generation classics through a firmware update. An iTunes installation CD was also no longer bundled, requiring users to download iTunes from Apple's website. During this update, the 60 GB model was replaced with an 80 GB model, and prices were cut by US$50 for both the 30 GB (US$249) and the 80 GB (US$349) models.

Sixth generation

Side-by-side view of 6th and 5th generation iPods, respectively, showing interface differences (2007).

During a special iPod-centric event on September 5, 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the sixth generation iPod and the retronym suffix "classic". Featuring slightly thinner bodies, the sixth generation classic also sported dramatically improved battery life, claiming up to 40 hours of music playback and 7 hours of video playback. The front plate of the iPod is now made of anodized aluminum instead of polycarbonate plastic, and "Signature iPod White" has been replaced by silver. The sixth generation classic also introduced a completely overhauled user interface, incorporating more graphics and Cover Flow. The sixth generation classic is offered in an 80 GB (20,000 songs) model for MSRP US$249/GBP£159 and a 160 GB (40,000 songs) model for MSRP US$349/GBP£229. The U2 special edition has been dropped.

Acoustics issues

According to certain tests performed both by hearing and through computer analysis of the sound, the 6th Generation iPods lack sound quality in the mid range, and produces less spatial information (i.e. stereo sound plays 'inside your head' instead of 'outside') due to higher impulse in the treble compared with 5G. Apple has not yet commented on this problem.

A firmware update, 1.1.1, released by Apple for the iPod classic is said to, among other things, improve the sound quality. However, no details on these improvements were given on the Apple website.

Another later update, 1.1.2, is shown to correct bug fixes, but is nonetheless another minor update.

Software issues

The first batch of sixth generation iPod classics have been reported to crash trying to load album art and connecting to iTunes after syncing for the first time. Some people also have reported that browsing through Cover Flow, playlists and navigation is sluggish. Windows Vista users also have to download Windows Updates to fix the syncing problems. iPods of the 6th generation (as well as the iPod nano and the iPod touch) introduced an additional checksum in their song database, making it initially impossible (without reverse engineering) to use the iPod with 3rd party syncing programs. This limitation was soon worked around by Gtkpod, MediaMonkey and Sharepod teams.

Hardware issues

Some users have reported a fault in the design of the click wheel, notably a lack of responsiveness. In particular, some models require two to three full revolutions with a finger to receive a response from the device if the fingers are moist. The hand has to be fully dry when the wheel is being operated. This is because the wheel picks up static responses which are lower on damp fingers. A possible workaround is the use of static gloves or the attachment of a static click wheel protector.

Contrary to the original, September 11, 2007 update of Apple Knowledgebase Article #300233, the iPod classic Video TV Out does not function properly with the iPod AV cable + iPod Universal Dock. The sixth generation iPod requires the new Apple component or Apple composite cables with integrated USB power in order for the TV-out to function. This knowledge base article has later been updated to correct the inaccuracy.

On November 27 2007, Apple released a firmware update (1.0.3) via iTunes, including improved Cover Flow, menu navigation speed and several other bug fixes.

Many users have reported instances of MP3s (and audiobooks) not completely playing (skipping), or not playing at all, which as of firmware 1.1.2 has still not been rectified. In many cases the tracks played without incident on previous (5G) iPods.

On January 15 2008, Apple released a firmware update (1.1) via iTunes. The features and fixes are simply listed as iTunes rentals and bug fixes, although early tests show Cover Flow improvements. The update has also been criticised by users who have reported the volume cap has been decreased so the volume is lower even at full. A small amount of iPods are also said to have bricked since the update. Some users have also complained of hissing noises emanating from the headphones after the iPod is put into sleep mode.

On February 6, 2008, Apple released a firmware update (1.1.1) via iTunes. The features and fixes are again simply listed as bug fixes, although early tests show that Cover Flow is more responsive, and the iPod hissing issue that came with update 1.1 has also been fixed. A small number of users have reported that the volume has been increased. Other fixes are not yet known. This update still does not fix Compilations, bundling those albums such as DJ mixes and "Best Of ___" albums - you can select Compilations in the iTunes software, but it does not take effect, leaving said albums in the Cover Flow and Album lists. A bug that has not yet been fixed is when the volume is at 0, music can still be heard.

On April 29, 2008, Apple released a firmware update (1.1.2) via iTunes. Other than some unspecified bug fixes, this firmware version comes with neither new features nor interface revisions. Many users have reported Cover Flow to be quite faster to load and smoother when switching from one album art to the other. Music quality has increased but according to a few users' reports, battery life has decreased. This is also the first firmware update to stop users of a version of Windows XP before Service Pack 2 from using the iPod on these computers as it needs iTunes 7.6, with 7.5 being the latest working version on any XP before Service Pack 2.

External links

• Official site