History of IPod in Timeline
The iPod was a line of portable media players and multi-purpose mobile devices created and sold by Apple Inc. from 2001 to 2022. It was introduced on November 10, 2001, following the release of iTunes. Apple sold approximately 450 million iPods before discontinuing the product line on May 10, 2022. The iPod brand had a run of over 20 years, making it the longest-running product line to be discontinued by Apple.
1958: Inspiration for iPod's Design
In 1958, the Braun T3 transistor radio designed by Dieter Rams, served as the inspiration for the original iPod's physical appearance.
1991: First Use of iPod Trademark in Commerce
In 1991, Chrysalis Corp. of Sturgis, Michigan, styled "iPOD", used the "iPod" trademark in commerce for office furniture.
March 1998: First iPod Kiosks Demonstrated
In March 1998, the first iPod kiosks were demonstrated to the public in New Jersey.
January 2000: iPod Kiosks Commercial Use Began
In January 2000, commercial use of the iPod kiosks began.
July 2000: iPod Trademark Listed
In July 2000, Joseph N. Grasso of New Jersey listed an "iPod" trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for Internet kiosks.
October 23, 2001: iPod Unveiled
On October 23, 2001, Apple unveiled the iPod, developed in less than a year. Steve Jobs introduced it as a Mac-compatible product with a 5 GB hard drive capable of holding "1,000 songs in your pocket."
November 10, 2001: First iPod Released
On November 10, 2001, Apple released the first version of the iPod, approximately 8 and a half months after the Macintosh version of iTunes was launched.
2001: Fadell Hired by Apple
In 2001, Tony Fadell was hired by Apple as an independent contractor to work on the iPod project, internally code-named project P-68. He built a core iPod development team, including engineers from his startup company, Fuse, and veteran engineers from General Magic and Philips.
2001: iPod Name Proposed
In 2001, the name "iPod" was proposed by Vinnie Chieco, a freelance copywriter. After seeing a prototype, he was reminded of the phrase "Open the pod bay doors, Hal" from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
2001: iPod Kiosk Venture Discontinued
The iPod kiosk venture had apparently been discontinued by 2001.
April 28, 2003: iTunes Store Introduced
On April 28, 2003, Apple introduced the iTunes Store, an online media store accessed through iTunes.
November 14, 2003: Apple Announces iPod Battery Replacement Program
On November 14, 2003, Apple announced a battery replacement program for iPods. The initial cost was US$99, which was later lowered to US$59 in 2005.
November 2003: Trademark Registered by USPTO
In November 2003, the "iPod" trademark was registered by the USPTO.
2003: Class Action Lawsuits Filed Against Apple Over iPod Battery Life
In 2003, class action lawsuits were filed against Apple alleging that iPod batteries did not last as long as advertised and degraded over time. The lawsuits were settled with store credit, free battery replacements, or extended warranties for affected iPod owners.
January 8, 2004: HP to Sell HP-Branded iPods
On January 8, 2004, Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced they would sell HP-branded iPods under a license agreement from Apple. These iPods eventually made up 5% of all iPod sales.
January 2004: iPod U.S. Market Share Increase
From January 2004 to January 2005, the iPod's U.S. market share increased from 31% to 65% due to high sales rates.
October 2004: iPod Dominates Digital Music Player Sales
Since October 2004, the iPod line dominated digital music player sales in the United States, holding over 90% of the market for hard drive-based players and over 70% of the market for all types of players.
November 2004: Creative CEO Declares War on iPod
In November 2004, Creative's CEO publicly "declared war" on the iPod, marking a significant moment in the competition for market share in the digital audio player market.
January 2005: iPod U.S. Market Share Increase
From January 2004 to January 2005, the iPod's U.S. market share increased from 31% to 65% due to high sales rates.
July 2005: HP Stops Selling iPods
In July 2005, HP stopped selling iPods due to unfavorable terms and conditions imposed by Apple.
July 2005: iPod Market Share Reaches 74% in the U.S.
In July 2005, the iPod's market share in the U.S. was measured at 74%, demonstrating its continued dominance in the digital music player market.
August 9, 2005: "Zen Patent" Granted to Creative Technology
On August 9, 2005, Creative Technology, an Apple rival, was granted the "Zen Patent" for part of the music selection interface used by the iPod line.
August 2005: Apple Receives NFR for "Rotational User Inputs" Patent
In August 2005, Apple's application for a patent on "rotational user inputs", as used on the iPod interface, received a third "non-final rejection" (NFR) from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
September 2005: Apple Announces iPod Nano Overheating Issue
In September 2005, Apple acknowledged that the first-generation iPod Nano could overheat and pose a health and safety risk. Affected iPod Nanos, sold between September 2005 and December 2006, were replaced with current generation Nanos free of charge under a product replacement program.
October 12, 2005: iTunes Store Sells Videos
On October 12, 2005, Apple announced the sale of videos through the iTunes Store.
2005: iPod's Low Market Share in South Korea
As of 2005, Apple's iPod held a market share of less than 2% in South Korea, compared to market leaders like iriver, Samsung, and Cowon.
2005: iPod Automobile Interface
In 2005, Apple announced that similar systems for iPod connectivity in cars would be available for other vehicle brands, including Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Nissan, Toyota, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Acura, Audi, Honda, Renault, Infiniti and Volkswagen. Scion offered standard iPod connectivity on all their cars.
2005: Patent Infringement Lawsuits Filed
In 2005, Apple faced two lawsuits claiming patent infringement by the iPod line and its associated technologies. Advanced Audio Devices claimed the iPod line breached its patent on a "music jukebox", while Pat-rights claimed that Apple's FairPlay technology breached a patent.
2005: Apple Reduces Cost of iPod Battery Replacement Program
In 2005, Apple lowered the cost of its iPod battery replacement program from US$99 to US$59.
2005: Trademark Assigned to Apple
In 2005, Joseph N. Grasso assigned the "iPod" trademark to Apple Computer, Inc.
2005: Concerns Raised About iPod Lifespan and Durability
In 2005, the iPod faced criticism regarding its lifespan and fragile hard drives. A survey indicated an average failure rate of 13.7%, with hard drive-based models showing higher failure rates compared to flash memory-based models. Complaints also arose about the first-generation iPod Nano's screen being easily scratched, leading to a class-action lawsuit. Apple eventually began shipping these iPods with protective sleeves.
May 15, 2006: Creative Files Suit Against Apple
On May 15, 2006, Creative filed another suit against Apple with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging patent infringement and requesting investigation into whether Apple was breaching U.S. trade laws by importing iPods into the United States.
June 11, 2006: Report on iPod Manufacturing Labor Conditions
On June 11, 2006, The Mail on Sunday reported that iPods were primarily manufactured by workers earning low wages and working long hours. Apple investigated the claims and found some labor practices did not meet their Code of Conduct, including excessive working hours.
August 24, 2006: Apple and Creative Settle Legal Disputes
On August 24, 2006, Apple and Creative reached a settlement to end their legal disputes. Apple agreed to pay Creative US$100 million for a license to use Creative's patent in all Apple products. As part of the deal, Apple could recoup some of the payment if Creative successfully licensed the patent. Creative also announced plans to produce iPod accessories through the Made for iPod program.
September 12, 2006: Full-Length Movies on iTunes
On September 12, 2006, full-length movies became available on the iTunes Store.
September 2006: Games Added to iTunes Store
In September 2006, the iTunes Store began to offer additional games for purchase with the launch of iTunes 7, compatible with the fifth generation iPod with iPod software 1.2 or later. Initial games included Bejeweled, Cubis 2, Mahjong, Mini Golf, Pac-Man, Tetris, Texas Hold 'Em, Vortex, Asphalt 4: Elite Racing and Zuma.
December 2006: Apple Announces iPod Nano Overheating Issue
In December 2006, Apple acknowledged that the first-generation iPod Nano could overheat and pose a health and safety risk. Affected iPod Nanos, sold between September 2005 and December 2006, were replaced with current generation Nanos free of charge under a product replacement program.
2006: EQ Sound Distortion on iPods
For all iPods released in 2006 and earlier, some equalizer (EQ) sound settings can easily distort the bass sound, even on undemanding tracks. This occurs when using EQ settings such as R&B, Rock, Acoustic, and Bass Booster, because the equalizer amplifies the digital audio level beyond the software's limit, causing distortion (clipping) on bass instruments.
2006: Special Edition U2 iPod
In 2006, Apple partnered with Irish rock band U2 to present a special edition of the 5th-generation iPod. This iPod featured the signatures of the four members of U2 engraved on a black stainless steel back and included an exclusive video.
2006: iPod Production and Employment Statistics in 2006
In 2006, the iPod was produced by approximately 14,000 workers in the U.S. and 27,000 overseas. The salaries related to this product were primarily distributed to highly skilled U.S. professionals, suggesting that U.S. innovation can lead to job creation overseas.
December 31, 2006: Union Formed at Foxconn Factory
On December 31, 2006, workers at the Foxconn factory in Longhua, Shenzhen formed a union affiliated with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, a Chinese government-approved organization.
January 2007: Apple Reports Record Quarterly Revenue with iPod Sales
In January 2007, Apple reported a record quarterly revenue of US$7.1 billion, with 48% attributed to iPod sales. This indicates a significant contribution of the iPod to Apple's overall financial success during that period.
January 2007: iPod Market Share Reaches 72.7% in Japan
In January 2007, the iPod's market share reached 72.7% according to Bloomberg Online, and in the Japanese market, iPod's market share was 36% in 2005.
April 9, 2007: Apple Sells 100 Millionth iPod
On April 9, 2007, Apple announced that it had sold its 100 millionth iPod, making it the best-selling digital music player of all time.
July 3, 2007: Universal Music Group Ends Contract
On July 3, 2007, Universal Music Group decided not to renew their contract with the iTunes Store, and would supply iTunes in an 'at will' capacity.
September 5, 2007: iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store Debuted
On September 5, 2007, Apple debuted the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at its Media Event entitled "The Beat Goes On...". This service allowed users to access the Music Store from either an iPhone or an iPod Touch and download songs directly to the device.
October 17, 2007: iTunes Plus Song Prices Lowered
On October 17, 2007, Apple lowered the cost of individual iTunes Plus songs to US$0.99 per song, the same as DRM encoded tracks.
2007: iPod Seat Connections on Airlines
Beginning in mid-2007, United, Continental, Delta, and Emirates airlines reached agreements to install iPod seat connections. Passengers could power and charge an iPod, and view video and music libraries on individual seat-back displays.
2007: iPod Interface Modified
In 2007, Apple modified the iPod interface with the introduction of the sixth-generation iPod Classic and third-generation iPod Nano by changing the font to Helvetica and splitting the screen to display menus and album artwork.
October 21, 2008: iPod's revenue contribution declines in 2008
On October 21, 2008, Apple reported that iPods accounted for only 14.21% of the total revenue for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2008, marking a decline in its contribution to the company's overall earnings.
2008: iPod sales contribute a significant portion of Apple's revenue in 2008
In 2008, iPod sales accounted for 42% of Apple's revenue for the first fiscal quarter, followed by notebook sales at 21% and desktop sales at 16%.
January 6, 2009: DRM Removed from Music Catalog
On January 6, 2009, Apple announced that DRM had been removed from 80% of the music catalog and that it would be removed from all music by April 2009.
April 2009: DRM Removed From All Music
By April 2009, Apple had removed DRM from all music available on the iTunes store.
June 2009: Apple CFO Predicts Decline of Traditional MP3 Players
In June 2009, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer stated that the company expected its traditional MP3 players to decline as they were being cannibalized by the iPod Touch and the iPhone.
September 9, 2009: Apple Announces Cumulative iPod Sales Exceed 220 Million
At the Apple Event on September 9, 2009, Phil Schiller announced that total cumulative sales of iPods had exceeded 220 million units.
2009: Employee Suicide After Apple Prototype Goes Missing
In 2009, an employee killed himself after an Apple prototype went missing, claiming in messages to friends that he had been beaten and interrogated.
2010: iPhone Sales Overtake iPod Sales
During 2010, iPhone sales surpassed those of the iPod. While the iPhone and iPad share similar media player capabilities with the iPod line, they are generally considered separate products.
2011: iPod Maintains 70% Global MP3 Player Market Share
As of 2011, the iPod held a 70% market share in the global MP3 player market, with the Sansa line from SanDisk being its closest competitor.
September 12, 2012: Lightning Connector Introduced
On September 12, 2012, Apple introduced a new 8-pin dock connector, named Lightning, with the announcement of the iPhone 5, the fifth-generation iPod Touch, and the seventh-generation iPod Nano. The new connector replaces the older 30-pin dock connector.
September 2012: Apple Reports 350 Million iPods Sold Worldwide
As of September 2012, Apple reported that the total number of iPods sold worldwide reached 350 million units, marking a significant milestone in the product's history.
2013: No New iPod Model Introduced in 2013
In 2013, Apple did not introduce a new iPod model, indicating a shift in the company's product strategy and a continued decline in the iPod's importance within Apple's product lineup.
2013: Volume Limit Update
In 2013, users reported that new sixth-generation iPods featured an option to disable the EU volume limit, while older models were unable to update to this software version. The maximum volume output level in EU markets is limited to 100 dB.
2015: New iPod Color Schemes Spotted
In mid-2015, several new color schemes for all of the current iPod models were spotted in the iTunes 12.2 update after being discovered by a Belgian website.
July 27, 2017: iPod Nano and Shuffle Discontinued
On July 27, 2017, Apple removed the iPod Nano and Shuffle from its stores, ending Apple's production of standalone music players.
May 10, 2022: iPod Product Line Discontinued
On May 10, 2022, Apple discontinued the iPod product line. The iPod brand had been running for over 20 years before being discontinued.
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