iPod Turns Five... So What's Next?

Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:32AM EDT

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Five years, five major "generations"... it's time to pay our respects to what is, if not the most innovative, the most influential piece of consumer electronics in recent memory: The Apple iPod.

Contrary to common misconception, the iPod was not the first MP3 player—not by a longshot. The original MP3 player dates back to the Eiger Labs MP3Man, released in 1998, a full three years before the iPod came around. While you've probably never heard of Eiger Labs, you may remember the Diamond Rio, the first MP3 player to really catch on. (It was so popular it also has the distinction of being the first electronics company sued by the RIAA over the legality of digital music, a suit which the RIAA eventually lost.)

But Eiger and Diamond came and went, paving the way for the Apple iPod, introduced with a 5GB hard drive on October 23, 2001, with the promise of putting "1,000 songs in your pocket."

1,000 songs almost seems quaint now. Today's iPods bear only a passing resemblance to the original, both in the controls and under the hood: The state of the art 5G iPod holds 80GB of data, or about 16,000 songs. The click-wheel has been honed and refined year after year to the point where it's hard to believe the 1G, 2G, and 3G (pictured) iPods actually had buttons. Today's iPods play video in full color and are smaller and slimmer than ever.

So what's the next act for iPod? Apple famously plays its cards close to the vest, which causes rampant speculation from far too many gossip and rumor sites. But two major innovations are widely expected as "just a matter of time" for the company. TrustedReviews has them both mocked up: A touchscreen iPod with a screen that spans the entire width of the device and has no physical controls at all, and the long-fabled iPhone mashup of cell phone handset and MP3 player. While I agree that the iPhone is probably very likely in the near future (though not likely to look much like the mockup on TrustedReviews), I'm skeptical that a touchscreen iPod would work very well, if for no other reason than you'd get fingerprints all over your gorgeous screen any time you wanted to play your videos. Touchscreen certainly looks elegant on the surface, but I for one would prefer actual, physical buttons (on the sides?) and keep my screen pristine.

What do you want your next iPod to do? Happy birthday, little guy.

Comments on iPod Turns Five... So What's Next?

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  • 46 Posted by ptownzfinest03 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    that would be tight to have a touch screen but i agree, i would love a big screen with tiny buttons on the side, or one button and like a scroll bar or wheel

  • 47 Posted by spin_on_the_wind on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    In response to ddrfreak720, I have a 30gb iPod that is completely full. And yes, I do listen to most if not all of the music on a regular basis. Someone recently gave me a 4gb nano and I simply cannot get used to having access to that few of a number of songs.

  • 48 Posted by soaringmunkymuffins on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just recently bought the new Nano.. the 4GB with the new colors and am VERY pleased with it. I had a Mini and that thing broke so my protoection plan covered the cost and I got a new nano. It's pretty sick, I love it.

  • 49 Posted by katmarq14 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a 1G Nano, and it travels EVERYWHERE with me. It's practically my baby. I remember one that I lost it, and I was absolutely crushed. I couldn't bear the thought of going with out it. I eventually got it back, though, so it's all good. Happy Birthday, iPod.

  • 50 Posted by mystiqx8025 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Happy Birthday Ipod. I would like to see a built in AM/FM turner. I do like listening to my favorate morning shows. My Ipod photo was stolen two months ago, much to my devestation. I plan to treat myself to a new one this christmas. Hey do ipod go on sale during black friday?

  • 51 Posted by saxman0317 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    I actually have a 100 gb player (not ipod) and am constantly rotating music to keep it differnt. i DJ and use it quiet reguarly for smaller gigs. Ill never buy another Ipod though. They dont last at all....way too easy to break and just dont stand up to real usage.

  • 53 Posted by relttekk on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to see an ipod with a "lightsaber" effect to it. Where you hit a button and the screen pops and you can interact with it from there.

  • 54 Posted by carlie_sauer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    hey i love the ipod so much i have the original ipod mini ipod and the nano in pink blue fend and black oh ya and in white. i won alot of them in games oh ya love carlie i love the IPOD

  • 55 Posted by emotion978 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    I cant agree more on where the buttons should be put . I hate getting fingerprints on my iPod screen .!

  • 56 Posted by twitchysumo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    ipod are very convienent because of the lightnes,memory ext.but i am an owner of an ipod nano and i have had it since it came out and still am not half way through the memory it can hold.

  • 57 Posted by maph5 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am the proud owner of a 1st Generation iPod, by today's standarts, my ipod might look bulkier and in black and white!!, but I love it, not only because it still works as good as the first day but because my little one, that made me look cool five yeas ago, now is not only a piece of history, but also vintage... cooler than ever!!

  • 58 Posted by akalley265 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Some of them need 20g+ because you're adding more than songs. Photos and Videos and stuff have all kinds of file sizes so once you add all of your songs you're going to need the space.

  • 59 Posted by darklink94 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    Happy birthday iPod!!!! i own a 30gb ipod and i happy of it i got at least 1000 songs

  • 60 Posted by oceanmusicluvr269 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am personally very mad at the apple company for it's recent choice to not refund the 200$ I spent for my BROKEN ipod. especially when I didn't break it. It was horrible to begin with. When apple stops blaming consumers for their faulty technology, I might wish the ipod a happy birthday. As for now, my ipod has retired to it's death bed.

  • 61 Posted by fallout125 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    I recently bought an Ipod Nano, i'm quite disapointed in it. It isn't what everyone makes it out to be.

  • 62 Posted by mmtrouwloon on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought an I Pod in the beginning of this year, for my son for his birthday.(15th. years) After 8 month it does not work. I went to Omni Curacao where I bought it, and they told me that it have a garanty for one year by Ipod and by them it has no garanty. I would like to know how this could be possible. They also told me that if I want to send they Ipod to the Ipod center I have to paid $5o.== for shipment and no garanty that I will received a new one.Please tell me what I can do. Happy Birthday

  • 63 Posted by michaelharding055 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    happt birthday!!!!!!!!!1 i have one and it is the best thing i have ever had

  • 64 Posted by d_albright_2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    I remember when I had to use my PC at work to download music off Napster. I cursed Apple for not having software to do so at home. They were late to the party, but they certainly made up for it. This time, instead of being the innovative leader, they let others battle it out in court, which paved the way for others then they seized their opportunity. The iPod is certainly the Mercedes of the digital music players and I don't see Apple loosing market share to others any time soon. They are too far ahead in the game. Congrats!

  • 65 Posted by fosterphobic2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you waited for an Ipod to get on board with mp3's you had already missed the bus. The Ipos was Apple's way of jacking money out of the bovine masses.

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