News
Happy Seventh Birthday, iPod
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Thursday, October 23, 2008
News Category: iPod
Seven years ago today, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the original 5GB iPod, a $399 hard drive-based MP3 player with a unique Scroll Wheel and bright white LCD interface, an amazingly pocketable size, and high-speed FireWire for synchronization and charging. The first-generation iPod actually shipped on November 10, 2001, going on to sell 125,000 units by year’s end.
Apple now has sold more than 174 million iPods, spanning five distinct models—iPod/iPod classic, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, iPod nano, and iPod touch, and has seen countless advancements in capacity and features, even while falling in price. It has also played a major part in Apple’s remarkable growth from a struggling computer company to a major consumer electronics manufacturer, inspiring the iPhone and helping boost sales of the company’s Mac computers.
From all of us at iLounge to Apple’s iPod teams, past and present, congratulations on your seventh birthday. We will be here to celebrate many, many more.
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- Enter the CES Exhibits Plus Pass Giveaway today
- Wider distribution boosting iPhone sales in France
- Chinon rolls out AVi portable iPod speaker
- TomTom intros separate Car Kit for iPod touch
- iLounge and MusicSkins announce the Ultimate Design Contest
- Latest edition of iPodweek coming shortly
- Apple planning more iPod touch apps for retail?
- Gameloft, others cutting back on Android development
- Google launches Google News for iPhone, iPod touch
- Magellan releases RoadMate app, Car Kit coming
Recent Reviews
- Electronic Arts Command & Conquer Red Alert
- Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini
- iHome iHM79 Rechargeable Mini Speakers
- Elexa Consumer Products iBlink
- Bose SoundDock 10
- Shure SE115m+ Sound Isolating Headset
- Apple Remote (2009)
- Kensington Travel Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone
- Tapulous Metallica Revenge
- Electronic Arts NBA Live by EA Sports
Recent Articles
- Ask iLounge 11-20-09
- The Complete Guide to Using the iTunes Store
- iPhone Gems: Brain Challenge 2, Impossible Quiz, Jeopardy, Trivia Wars + Wheel of Fortune
- The Complete Guide to Album Tagging, Art and Playlists in iTunes
- Ask iLounge 11-13-09
- The Complete Guide to iTunes Audiobooks, Podcasts + iTunes U
- Ask iLounge 11-6-09
- iPhone Gems: Asphalt 5 and Doom Classic
- Ask iLounge 10-30-09
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of Apple TV 3.0

1
Wow, it’s been that long already? Haven’t owned a nano, shuffle, or mini. Only the 1G/2G/Video/Touch/3G Phone.
Which reminds me, I think I want to get my 1G fixed. It’s sitting on my desk as a paperweight. A very lovely one though.
Posted by werd12 on October 23, 2008 at 12:44 PM (PDT)
2
Wow, who’d of thought that we’d still be here, iPod junkies after all these years. Happy B’day iPod!
Posted by Alicia on October 23, 2008 at 12:54 PM (PDT)
3
Happy birthday Ipod you made Apple cool to the masses and changed the music industry forever. Not bad for seven years worth of work.
Posted by Johnathan on October 23, 2008 at 3:02 PM (PDT)
4
My wife got me a 1G for Christmas 2001.
Which was great except my iMac didn’t have FireWire!
Good excuse to get a G4 tower though…
Posted by tzed on October 23, 2008 at 5:37 PM (PDT)
5
woow,.. congrats
Posted by dennis on October 24, 2008 at 4:21 AM (PDT)