Which company introduced the iPod?
Quick answer
Apple introduced the first iPod on October 23, 2001. Unveiled by Steve Jobs with the promise of “1,000 songs in your pocket,” it had a 5 GB hard drive, a black-and-white screen and a mechanical scroll wheel, and cost $399. Apple sold hundreds of millions of iPods before discontinuing the line in 2022.
Key facts
- Company
- Apple
- Launched
- October 23, 2001
- First model
- 5 GB, $399, Mac-only at first
- Discontinued
- May 2022 (last iPod touch)
Why the iPod succeeded
MP3 players already existed, but many were clunky, held few songs or were hard to use. The iPod combined:
- A small hard drive with lots of storage
- The easy-to-use scroll wheel
- Fast syncing with Apple’s iTunes software
- Sleek design, with white earbuds that became a status symbol
Key models
| Model | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPod (classic) | 2001 | The original, with a hard drive |
| iPod mini | 2004 | Smaller, in bright colors |
| iPod shuffle | 2005 | No screen; played songs in random order |
| iPod nano | 2005 | Very thin, with flash memory |
| iPod touch | 2007 | Touchscreen, based on iPhone software |
The iTunes Store
In 2003, Apple opened the iTunes Store, selling individual songs legally for 99 cents. It helped the music industry fight piracy and became the world’s largest music retailer for years.
From iPod to iPhone
The iPod’s success gave Apple the money and confidence to build the iPhone, introduced in 2007 as “an iPod, a phone and an internet communicator.” As phones took over music playback, iPod sales declined. The last model, the iPod touch, was discontinued in May 2022.
Apple’s other big launches
| Product | Year |
|---|---|
| Macintosh | 1984; see which company introduced the Macintosh |
| iPod | 2001 |
| iPhone | 2007 |
| iPad | 2010 |
| Apple Watch | 2015 |
Today, most people stream music instead of storing it on devices. For another music milestone, see the first music video on MTV.
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