Does It Matter What Generation iPod You Use?

Since 2001, when Apple first launched the iPod, there have been five major generations of iPods. These include the iPod, the iPod Photo, the iPod Video, the Shuffle, the Mini and the Nano. Each generation has new features or developments that set them apart from the previous one. Apple is currently on its fifth generation iPod and second generation Shuffle and Nano. The iPod Mini made it to its second generation before being discontinued.

One of the major generational differences between the first and second types of iPod included the software that came with it. The first generation was Mac-exclusive and Windows users had to buy third-party software to manage their music. The second generation of iPods included versions for both operating systems and the software for both. This is when iTunes was introduced to Mac users and MusicMatch for Windows users. It was not until 2003 that iTunes was released for Windows, and Apple bundled iPods with both versions of the software.

In 2002, Apple released limited edition iPods that included signatures from the likes of Madonna and Tony Hawk. For the launch of the fourth generation of iPods, U2's album at the time, How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb, was used for the color scheme of limited edition models. In October of 2006, Apple released a red version of the iPod Nano as part of the ProductRED campaign to help fight AIDS in Africa.

There are many differences that set each generation of iPods apart. Most notably, hardware differences are upgraded in the unit and complete overhaul of design components takes place between releases.

The first through third generation of iPods used two ARM-derived CPUs whereas the fourth and fifth generations relied on variable-speed ARMs. This allowed for battery conservation which was a big problem the iPods ran into upon release. The first generation iPod Nanos and Minis also used the ARM-derived CPUs to run; the second generation Nano relied on a Samsung system chip. The first generation Shuffle used a SigmaTel chip.

Storage-wise, all generations of iPods use hard drives developed by Toshiba. They are ATA-based and ran at 4200 revolutions per minute. The iPod Mini used micro drives produced by Seagate and Hitachi whereas the Nano relied on flash memory drives from Samsung and Toshiba. The iPod Shuffle also relies on flash memory drives.

The first and second generation iPods relied on lithium polymer batteries whereas the third through fifth generations use lithium-ion batteries. Throughout the generations, the battery life has been advertised in various ways that have led to a lot of high-profile criticism of Apple. The fifth generation iPod allegedly has roughly 14 hour of playback. However, many users have said this is not the case, that the iPod has a considerably less favorable playback. Some getting as little as seven to eight hours of battery life during what is considered average usage.

Apple introduced a battery replacement plan as well as a battery warranty on all iPods in 2003 after several class action lawsuits were filed against the company revolving around false advertising. Since the batteries are not designed to be replaceable, even though many users have found ways to do just that. Many third party developers have created battery replacement kits and have created better batteries that can be installed in the iPod to lengthen the amount of use.

The first generation iPod was released on October 23, 2001 in five and ten GB models. The second generation was released on July 17, 2007 and included the touch wheel, a new hold switch and continued to utilize the FireWire technology. These came in ten and 20 GB versions. The third generation was released on April 28, 2003 and came in ten, 15, 20, 30 and 40 GB versions. It had a row of buttons on top of the touch wheel as well as a connection port to be docked with other units. The back light feature was also introduced and USB technology was utilized to sync the unit to the computer while continuing to use the FireWire for charging purposes. The fourth generation iPod Photo was released in October of 2004. The row of buttons was integrated into the touch wheel to create what is now known as the click wheel. A color display and photo gallery was also integrated into the design which came in 20, 30, 40 and 60 GB versions. The latest version, the fifth generation iPod Video, was introduced October 12, 2005 in 30, 60 and now 80 GB versions. They also come in two colors: Black or white. They were slimmed down, included a larger display screen and no longer came with a wall charger, dock.

The first generation iPod Mini came in five colors and a four GB model. It was released on January 6, 2004, and it had the click wheel feature and used USB and FireWire technology to sync and charge with a computer. On February 22, 2005, the second generation Mini was released in a six GB version with a better battery and the click wheel matched the color of the unit itself. No power charger was included in this version.

The first generation iPod Nano came in one, two and four GB versions as was meant to replace the iPod Mini. It had a slim design, utilized flash memory hard drive technology and had a color screen. It was released on September 7, 2005 in black and white. The second generation was released on September 12, 2006, and was even smaller than the original release. It came in six different colors cased in aluminum.

The first generation Shuffle was released on January 11, 2005 to meet the demand of users who wanted something smaller. It came in a 512 MB or one GB model. It used flash memory technology before any other unit, and it had no display and used buttons for navigation. The second generation Shuffle came in an aluminum casing as a one GB version that was considerably smaller than its predecessor. Released in September of 2006, it has a built-in clip and comes in multiple colors.

It all depends on your iPod. Most of the first to third generation iPods are well behind their predecessors, and most likely, have seen better days. If your iPod still works, there is no reason why you have to upgrade to the latest generation. Many iPod users who take good care of their unit can use it for years with very little problems. Most notably, the battery will die, but Apple now offers a replacement plan to install a new one for under $70 before shipping. As long as your iPod works, there is no reason to upgrade, unless you want to benefit from newer features.