ipod
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iPod
(1) See also iPad, Apple's tablet computer. (2) Due to the iPod's popularity (definition #3 below), the term is often used to refer to any MP3 player, no matter which brand (see digital music...
Dictionary
Definition: iPod
(1) See also iPad, Apple's tablet computer.
(2) Due to the iPod's popularity (definition #3 below), the term is often used to refer to any MP3 player, no matter which brand (see digital music player).
(3) A family of extremely popular digital media players from Apple. Introduced in 2001, current models comprise the hard disk classic, which holds the most songs, and the flash memory-based shuffle, nano and touch, the latter a full-fledged mobile computer like the iPhone and iPad (see iPod touch).
iTunes Is the Media Manager
Apple's iTunes software for Mac and Windows, which is also widely used to play music in the computer whether people have iPods or not, is used to organize songs and videos and preview, purchase and download content from Apple's online store. iTunes lets users rip CDs to the computer as well as burn CDs with content in their music library. It also keeps the iPod's firmware up-to-date and decodes movies and TV shows that Apple sells with copy protection. See iTunes, ripping and FairPlay.
Music Files and Formats
iPods play MP3 music, but songs downloaded from the iTunes store are in the AAC format. Often touted as having superior sound quality, a major reason was digital rights management (DRM), which AAC supports, and until 2009, Apple's music was copy protected. MP3 and AAC formats are roughly 10% the size of the original CD tracks; however, users may opt to rip their CDs to the Apple Lossless format for better sound quality, although five times the size of MP3 and AAC.
iPods do not support Microsoft's Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. However, numerous utilities convert WMA to MP3, and the Windows version of iTunes converts WMA to all formats that iTunes and the iPod support.
Why So Popular?
The combination of sound quality and unique click wheel control made the iPod one of the most successful consumer electronics (CE) products in history. In five and a half years after its introduction, more than 100 million iPods were sold along with 1.5 billion songs.
Originally for music only with a monochrome screen, color screens, photo and video support were soon added. Touch screens replaced the wheel on the iPod touch and later the nano (see click wheel). However, in 2008, the second generation of the operating system for the iPod touch and the iPhone relaunched both devices as handheld computers. For details of current and previous iPods, see iPod models, iPod classic, iPod touch, iPod nano and iPod shuffle.
Batteries
The rechargeable battery in the iPod is sealed and must be sent to Apple for replacement, which is free under warranty. However, non-Apple sources offer replacement batteries and instructions for opening the case. See iPod compatible, iPod finger, iPod car adapter, car podding and pod slurping.
A/V and Image Formats
Except for the shuffle, which has no screen, iPods display major image formats, including JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF and PNG. The classic and touch both support MPEG-4 and H.264 video with the touch adding Motion JPEG (M-JPEG). Following are the iPod's audio formats.
iPOD AUDIO FORMATS
classic,
nano,
Formats touch shuffle
MP3 X X
MP3 VBR X X
AAC X X
HE-AAC (aacPlus) X
Audible X X
Audible Enhanced (AAX) X X
Apple Lossless X X
AIFF X X
WAV X X
The iPod Line
The \"classic\" iPods are hard disk models (top) with the click wheel interface. Flash-based iPods (bottom) start with the screenless shuffle (left) and the touch screen nano and touch (middle and right). For specifications, see iPod models. (Images courtesy of Apple Inc.)
iPoddery
By 2004, the iPod became the hottest electronic gadget on the market. This rural Vermont family delighted in showing off their \"iPoddery,\" including the Bose table top speaker system (right) and the portable Altec Lansing unit that let our young hero carry his own iPod boom box.
A Girl's Best Friend
What did a 13-year-old crave for her birthday in 2004? An iPod Mini... in powder blue. Of course.
The Click Wheel
The iPod's original control wheel actually rotated. The subsequent click wheel design, which is exposed in this protective rubber case, is stationary and touch sensitive. The wheel is clicked, but rotated by touch; however, the iPod touch introduced an entirely new interface.
THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY
All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
© 1981-2010 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.
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