The Story of the iPod
Wired pieces together the history of how the iPod came to be.
After licensing SoundJam, which was developed into iTunes, Wired reports that Apple started looking into gadget opportunities, but found that digital cameras and camcorders were pretty well designed and sold well in the marketplace. Music players at the time were a different story.
After Jon Rubenstein was shown prototype of a new 1.8" Toshiba hard drive, the pieces started to come together. As is well known, Apple looked to Pixo for the basic software, but it was Phil Schiller who suggested the use of a scroll wheel interface.
The article details the contributions of other groups in Apple as well as the origin of the name, which was originally intended to be used for an internet kiosk. The iPod was introduced October 23, 2001, almost 5 years ago, and while initial reactions were mixed, its acceptance and sales growth have been remarkable.
After licensing SoundJam, which was developed into iTunes, Wired reports that Apple started looking into gadget opportunities, but found that digital cameras and camcorders were pretty well designed and sold well in the marketplace. Music players at the time were a different story.
After Jon Rubenstein was shown prototype of a new 1.8" Toshiba hard drive, the pieces started to come together. As is well known, Apple looked to Pixo for the basic software, but it was Phil Schiller who suggested the use of a scroll wheel interface.
Schiller also suggested that menus should scroll faster the longer the wheel is turned, a stroke of genius that distinguishes the iPod from the agony of competing players.
The article details the contributions of other groups in Apple as well as the origin of the name, which was originally intended to be used for an internet kiosk. The iPod was introduced October 23, 2001, almost 5 years ago, and while initial reactions were mixed, its acceptance and sales growth have been remarkable.
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70 months ago
Ahh yes. I remember when these were first introduced. I had alot of "tech lust" to say the least. It took me awhile to finally get one (my wife bought it as a gift) but it has been well worth it.
I no longer have 2 or 3 huge books of cd's that I carry around from car to home to other car.
I used to listen to lots and lots of music, but I didn't listen to music as much as I do now and with as much variety.
Thanks for the iPod Apple!
I no longer have 2 or 3 huge books of cd's that I carry around from car to home to other car.
I used to listen to lots and lots of music, but I didn't listen to music as much as I do now and with as much variety.
Thanks for the iPod Apple!
70 months ago
I still love reading those comments after the launch of the iPod...look where it is now! Interesting that Phil came up with one of the best ideas - I always think of marketeers as people who sell, not think :P :o
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70 months ago
Nice to know Schiller was of significant importance as to why the iPod is so great.
I must admit I don't see Schiller as "one of those visionaires". But the scrollwheel coming form him is encouraging!
I must admit I don't see Schiller as "one of those visionaires". But the scrollwheel coming form him is encouraging!
70 months ago
Already read this through iLounge and it is very interesting, however it seems that every anniversary of the iPod we get a new summary of its creation with each being slightly different.
i.e. Haven't we been told before that Fadell meant to have come to Apple with the idea and some sort of preliminary mockup?
i.e. Haven't we been told before that Fadell meant to have come to Apple with the idea and some sort of preliminary mockup?
70 months ago
I love the link to the iPod's initial "mixed" reaction thread on these forums. It wasn't really mixed, so much as it was bashing and predictions of failure. Hilarious.
70 months ago
Yep, it's a great little story! I got into the whole iPod universe long before the masses, and currently my 3G is still meeting my needs. Sometimes people look at it and ask what kind of iPod it is since they assume the iPod always looked like how it currently does. :p ;)
And this also brings back great memories of the infamous Thread 500. Ah, good times... :cool:
And this also brings back great memories of the infamous Thread 500. Ah, good times... :cool:
70 months ago
Yeah, that original Macrumors iPod thread is a good example of why we don't make millions of dollars designing new products...some staggeringly wrong predictions there. Imagine wanting another Newton over the iPod. :eek:
70 months ago
I love the link to the iPod's initial "mixed" reaction thread on these forums. It wasn't really mixed, so much as it was bashing and predictions of failure. Hilarious.
Gotta love the rating too!!
70 months ago
those comments back in 2001 crack me up!
Whats really interesting is how people were crying for a PDA...look at the PDA market now. Palm and HP. Handspring, gone. Sony, gone. The Smartphone is the new PDA. Seems Apple nailed the market. A high quality portable music device, not another PDA that will fade away in 5 years. So now that smartphones are the future of PDA's, Apple plans to release one (maybe). Doing this they seem to have avoided the PDA bubble bursting, and get into a more stable market with the credibility of the iPod and the new momentum of the Mac market.
Whats really interesting is how people were crying for a PDA...look at the PDA market now. Palm and HP. Handspring, gone. Sony, gone. The Smartphone is the new PDA. Seems Apple nailed the market. A high quality portable music device, not another PDA that will fade away in 5 years. So now that smartphones are the future of PDA's, Apple plans to release one (maybe). Doing this they seem to have avoided the PDA bubble bursting, and get into a more stable market with the credibility of the iPod and the new momentum of the Mac market.
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