IPod Mini

iPod Mini is a digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Inc.. It was the midrange model in Apple's iPod product line. It was announced on January 6, 2004 and released on February 20 of the same year. A second generation version was announced on February 23, 2005 and released immediately. The iPod Mini was discontinued on September 7, 2005 and was replaced by the iPod Nano.

History

The iPod Mini was introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo in 2004 by Apple's then CEO Steve Jobs. It was marketed as a smaller, cheaper iPod that had less storage capacity than the full-sized iPod but more than the iPod Shuffle. The iPod Mini was available in five colors: silver, gold, pink, blue, and green.

Design

The iPod Mini used the touch-sensitive scroll wheel of the third generation iPod. However, instead of the four auxiliary buttons located above the wheel, the buttons were redesigned as mechanical switches beneath the scroll wheel—hence making it the first click wheel. The casing was made of anodized aluminum.

Technical specifications

The first generation iPod Mini had a monochrome screen and a 4 GB hard drive capable of storing 1,000 songs. The second generation model added a new 6 GB model and brightened the colors of the four existing models. The battery life was extended to 18 hours.

Reception

The iPod Mini was widely successful. It received widespread critical acclaim for its design, features, and size. However, it was criticized for its high price compared to other MP3 players on the market.

Legacy

The iPod Mini was replaced by the iPod Nano in 2005. The iPod Nano was smaller, thinner, and used flash memory instead of a hard drive. Despite its discontinuation, the iPod Mini has a lasting legacy and is considered a significant product in Apple's history.

See also

• IPod
• IPod Nano
• IPod Shuffle
• IPod Classic
• Apple Inc.