4th Generation iPod

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By Daniel Dwase...

The 4th generation iPod integrated the four buttons into the scrollwheel and it's considered the model in which sales greatly increased, thus starting the "iPod Craze".

In the most obvious difference from its predecessors, the 4th generation iPod carries over the click-wheel design introduced on the iPod Mini and was introduced in July 2004.

Some users criticized the click wheel because it does not have the backlight that the 3rd generation iPod buttons had, but others noted that having the buttons on the compass points largely removed any need for backlighting.

Apple also claimed that updated software in the new iPod allows it to use the battery more efficiently and increase battery life to 12 hours.

Other minor changes included the addition of a "Shuffle Songs" option on the top-level menu to make it more convenient for users.

After many requests from users asking for these improvements to operate on earlier iPods as well, Apple on February 23, 2005, released a firmware update which brings the new menu items to 1st-3rd generation iPods.

Originally, the 4th generation iPod had a monochrome screen and no photo capabilities, like its predecessors. It came in 20 GB and 40 GB sizes.

In February 2005 Apple discontinued the 40 GB model and began solely selling a monochrome 20 GB version.

The monochrome 4th generation iPod, slightly thinner (about one millimeter less) than the 3rd generation iPod, introduced the ability to charge the battery over a USB connection.

iPod Photo

The iPod photo was released on the 28th of October, 2004. It featured a 220 x 176-pixel (maximum pixel count of 38,720), 16-bit color screen capable of displaying 65,536 colors, and the ability to store and display JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG images.

One millimeter thicker than the standard monochrome fourth-generation iPod, the iPod photo could also play music for up to 15 hours per battery charge. It originally came in 40 GB and 60 GB versions.

Apple discontinued the 40 GB model on February 23, 2005 and introduced a lower-priced 30 GB model which included only a USB cable without a dock, and dropped the price of the 60 GB model.

However, unlike the first iPod photos, the lower-priced 60 GB and the new 30 GB models lacked the dock, FireWire cable, carrying case, and AV cables.

Apple merged the iPod and iPod photo lines, removing all monochrome models from the main iPod line, giving the 20 GB iPod all of the capabilities of the iPod photo line and discontinued the 30 GB iPod photo model.

iPod U2 Special Edition

Apple released a black-and-red edition of the fourth-generation iPod called iPod U2 Special Edition on October 28, 2004.

It had a black front with a red click wheel (the colors of U2's album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), and featured the signatures of U2's band members engraved on the back.

It also included an iTunes Music Store coupon redeemable for a price off "The Complete U2" album, featuring over 400 tracks of U2 music.

At the same time as the announcement of the merger of the iPod and the iPod photo lines, Apple added a color screen and photo capabilities to the iPod U2 Special Edition on June 28, 2005.

Apple discontinued the iPod U2 Special Edition with the introduction of the 5th generation iPod on October 12, 2005.

The U2 iPod was the last iPod to be shipped with Firewire connection cables and firmware, prompting some analysts to speculate about the future inclusion of Firewire interfaces on Apple products.

Harry Potter Collector's iPod

Apple released a limited-edition Harry Potter 4th generation 20 GB iPod that featured a laser engraved Hogwarts crest on the back on September 7, 2005.

This model was superseded on October 12, 2005 with a 5th generation Harry Potter 30 GB Collector's iPod.

The iPod was launched along with Harry Potter audiobooks on the iTunes Music Store. Included on the collector's edition was the first six books of the Harry Potter series.

See Also...

iPod Reviews...

iPod classic Review
• iPod video Review
• iPod nano 3rd generation Review
• iPod nano 2nd generation Review
• iPod nano 1st generation Review
• iPod shuffle 3rd generation Review
• iPod shuffle 2nd generation Review
• iPod shuffle 1st generation Review
• iPhone Review

• 30GB iPod video
• iPod shuffle under $20
• iPod shuffle under $40
• iPod nano under $50
• iPod nano under $100
• iPod mini under $100
• iPod video under $100
• iPod classic under $150
• iPod classic under $200
• iPod video under $200
• iPod touch under $250
• iPod touch under $290

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