iPod Photo

IPod Photo
Manufacturer Apple Computer
Retail availability September 26, 2004 — June 28, 2005
Media Hard drive
Operating system 1.2.1
Display 220 x 176 2" color LCD
Input Click wheel
Connectivity USB 2.0
FireWire
Dock connector
Remote connector
Predecessor 4G iPod Classic
Successor 5G iPod Classic (video)

The iPod Photo was a portable media player designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was the top-of-the-line model in Apple's iPod family. It was positioned as a premium higher-end spin-off of the fourth-generation iPod on October 26, 2004.[1] Originally named iPod Photo, with a capital "P", a few months later it was renamed iPod photo, presumably to fit in with the naming of the iPod mini .[2] It was merged back into the standard iPod Classic line within eight months of its introduction on June 28, 2005 as the iPod (with color display).

Contents

Models

Generation Image Capacity Colors Connection Release date Minimum OS to sync Rated battery life (hours)
Original 40 GB White FireWire or USB October 26, 2004 Mac: 10.2.8
Win: 2000
audio: 15
slideshow: 5
60 GB
Premium spin-off of 4G iPod with color screen and picture viewing.
1st revision 30 GB White FireWire or USB February 23, 2005 Mac: 10.2.8
Win: 2000
audio: 15
slideshow: 5
60 GB
Pack-ins and price reduced. Images directly viewable via optional iPod Camera Connector.

Overview

In addition to being a digital audio player, like other iPods, the iPod Photo allowed users to store and display color photographs. On June 28, 2005, the iPod Photo line was merged with the existing iPod line, giving all full-size iPods the same features and color screen as iPod Photo; the iPod Photo line then ceased to exist under that name.

iPod Photo's design was nearly identical to the fourth-generation iPod, storing media on a hard drive and synchronizing with the user's computer over FireWire or USB 2.0.[1] However, unlike earlier models which had monochrome displays, its 220x176-pixel LCD was capable of displaying up to 65,536 colors.[3]

iTunes was used to synchronize music and photos from the computer. Photos were displayable either on the built-in display, or on a TV with an additional TV cable.[1] Using iTunes 4.7, users could sync photos from a folder, or Apple's iPhoto on the Macintosh, or Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 or Photoshop Elements 3.0 on Windows.[1]

Specifications

The iPod Photo supported JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG graphic file formats, and could be attached to a television or other external display for slideshows. Apple's advertised battery life for continuous music playback was fifteen hours, or five hours for a continuous slideshow with music.

The iPod Photo was originally available in 40 GB and 60 GB models, which cost US$499 and US$599 respectively. On February 23, 2005, Apple discontinued the 1.9 cm-thick 40 GB model[4] and introduced a lower-priced (US$349) and slimmer (1.6 cm) 30 GB iPod Photo. Additionally, it dropped the price of the 60 GB model (which had always been 1.9 cm thick) to US$449. However, the iPod dock and the FireWire and television video cables were sold separately.

On February 23, 2005, Apple announced the iPod Camera Connector which promised users of iPod Photo instant transfer of images from a USB-compatible digital camera to the iPod Photo.[4] The main difference between this and Belkin's Digital Camera Link is that Apple's unit supports instant image viewing on the iPod Photo after transfer without having to connect the iPod Photo to a computer first.

iPod (with color display)

On June 28, 2005, the iPod Photo and standard iPod were merged to create only one form of the white iPod. The 30 GB model was dropped, and the 20 GB model received a color screen. The price for the 60 GB model was also dropped to US$399.

Timeline of full-size iPod models


Sources: Apple press release library,[5] Mactracker Apple Inc. model database[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Apple Introduces iPod Photo". Apple Inc.. 2004-10-26. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/oct/26ipodphoto.html. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 
  2. ^ "Bring it into line". TrustedReviews. 2005-03-08. http://www.trustedreviews.com/mp3/review/2005/03/08/Apple-iPod-photo/p1. Retrieved 2008-08-27. 
  3. ^ Ina Fried; John Borland (October 26, 2004). "Apple unveils color iPod, U2 edition". CNET News.com. http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5427237.html. Retrieved 2006-09-27. 
  4. ^ a b "Apple Updates iPod Photo Lineup". Apple Inc.. 2005-02-23. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/feb/23ipodphoto.html. Retrieved 2006-09-27. 
  5. ^ Apple Inc., Apple press release library, Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  6. ^ Mactracker (mactracker.ca), Apple Inc. model database, version as of 26 July 2007.

External links