IPOD PHOTO

'iPod photo' is a digital media player released as a premium higher-end spin-off of the fourth-generation iPod classic in 2004. Although many mistake this updated version for the fifth-generation iPod, it was actually the refreshed fourth-generation iPod. Still, many also mistake this updated version for a separate brand of iPod altogether, similar to the confusion caused by the "video iPod." Rather, the classic was a premium alternative to the standard monochrome iPod classic until it replaced the monochrome models as the standard iPod within 8 months of its introduction.

Contents

Overview

History and models

References

External link

Overview

In addition to being a digital audio player, like other iPods, the iPod photo allowed users to store and display color photos. Originally named 'iPod Photo', with a capital "P", it was quietly renamed 'iPod photo' in November 2004, with the second word no longer capitalized, apparently to bring it in line with the naming scheme of iPod mini and iPod shuffle.^[1] 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. However, unlike earlier models which had monochrome displays, its 220x176-pixel LCD was capable of displaying up to 65,536 colors.^[2]
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. Before iTunes gained the photo-syncing capability in version 4.8, users would use Apple's iPhoto on the Macintosh, or Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 or Photoshop Elements 3.0 on Windows.

History and models

Four models were available:

★ 20 GB

★ 30 GB, for US$349/GB£249/EU€389 (introduced February 23, 2005)

★ 40 GB, for US$499 (discontinued February 23, 2005)

★ 60 GB, for US$449/GB£309/EU€489 (originally US$599; accessories removed and price reduced 23 February 2005)
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^[3] 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. 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.
On June 28, 2005, the iPod photo and standard iPod were merged to create only one form of the white iPod. (Apple renamed it to the iPod with color display.) The two models in this lineup came in either 20 GB or 60 GB sizes, featured color screens, and natively supported the Podcasting features built into Apple's iTunes 4.9 (released on the same day). The iPod photo name ceased to be official on that day despite the new models being functionally identical to the old models, except for the reduced hard drive capacity of the thinner iPod photo.

References

1. Apple changes iPod Photo to ‘iPod photo’ Larry Angell
2. Apple unveils color iPod, U2 edition Ina Fried
3. Apple Updates iPod photo Lineup Apple Computer

External link

★ iPod support site at Apple