iPod is a brand of portable media players designed and
marketed by Apple and launched in 2001. Devices in the iPod range are primarily
digital audio players, designed around a central click wheel — although the iPod
shuffle has buttons only. As of October 2005, the line-up consists of the
video-capable fifth generation iPod, the smaller iPod nano, and the display-less
iPod shuffle. The full-sized model stores media on an internal hard drive, while
the smaller iPod nano and iPod shuffle use flash memory. Like many digital music
players, iPods can also serve as external data storage devices. In January 2007,
Apple announced the iPhone, a device that combined the features of the
video-capable iPod with mobile phone and mobile Internet capabilities.
Apple's iTunes software is used to transfer music to the devices. As a free
jukebox application, iTunes stores an entire music library on the user's
computer and can play, burn, and rip music from a CD. It can also transfer
photos, videos, games and calendars to the models that support them.
Apple focused its development on the iPod's unique user interface and its ease
of use, rather than on technical capability. From October 2004, the iPod became
the world's best-selling range of digital audio players and its worldwide
mainstream adoption made it one of the most popular consumer brands. Some of
Apple's design choices and proprietary actions have, however, led to criticism
and legal battles.
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