IPod

The iPod is an apparatus electronic conceived and marketed by Apple. It is the portable reader of digital music (also called Walkman or wrongly Baladeur mp3) more sold with the world: hundred nineteen million specimens was sold since October 2001. The father of the iPod is Tony Fadell, which had proposed before its idea with Philips and Real Networks.

Functionalities

The iPod manages the following numerical formats: MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible AAC, , AIFF, WAV, Apple Lossless. The format Ogg Vorbis is not available unless installing another system on the iPod, GNU/Linux for example. It is conceived to function in.liaison.with the software ITunes under Windows and Mac OS X. Under GNOME, it is usable with Gtkpod or Banshee and under KDE with Amarok. Its operating system, Pixo (published by Sun) is a model of the genre, at the same time in lightness and ergonomics. It fully benefits from the serrated roller placed on the iPod. On the iPod 5G (also called “video iPod”), the screen with Liquid crystals makes 2 ½ inches. It is smaller on the other versions of iPod.

The iPod also is very much used in its function of external Hard drive. Launched with a capacity of 5 Go, the model of sixth generation can from now on contain until 160 Go.

The iPod is very related to ITunes which allows the management of the contents of the iPod: the music (if the words of the pieces and the CD small pockets are stored in ITunes, they are also synchronized), the vidéos, the podcasts (Audio/Vidéo) the photographs, the audio books, but also the contact and diary, can all be stored and read on the iPod. It also contains some summary plays, a clock on several time zones. On the last models (Nano and 5G), the purchase of the remote control Apple iPod Radio Remote makes it possible the iPod to have a tuner allowing the listening of the radio operator FM. The iPod is compatible Mac and PC via a connection Firewire (which does not exist any more on the last models) or USB 2.

This photography shows the internal components of a iPod of third generation:

It should be noted that contrary to certain rumors, all iPod is dismountable, which thus makes it possible to change oneself the battery or another component.

Main developments of the models of iPod

Special editions

iPod special series were sometimes proposed by the firm (of the iPod classic whose back carried the engraved signature of various artists No Doubt, Madonna, Beck, Tony Hawk, Visionary for Michael Jackson). But fine 2004, for the first time, Apple designed an special edition with large scales: the iPod U2 (red and black in frontage, engraved with the back of the signatures of the four members of the group). The iPod U2 version has from now on a color screen, following the example all iPod classic. This special edition disappears in October 2005.

A clone was proposed by HP: manufactured in the factories of Apple, it had delivered one different (logo HP with the back in addition to that of Apple and a different documentation). The models iPod mini and iPod shuffle also existed in version HP. Their marketing ceased in September 2005. The iPod HP reached 8 % of the iPod sold with semi-2005.

In October 2005, Apple gives to the last style the special editions of iPod with walkmans stamps of the logo Harry Potter and sold with inside the audio books of the six Harry Potter left until there.

The iPod of 5th generation (known as “video”) was available in version U2 (30 Go) and the nano iPod of second and third generations and the iPod shuffle are available in version (Product) Red, pouring part of the funds to the fight against the AIDS in Africa. The iPod nano (Product) Red is available in version 8 Go and the iPod shuffle (Product) Red is available in version 1Go like the other colors.

Features of the models of iPod

Experimentation on a iPod

The iPod is equipped with a processor, an hard drive and random access memory. It is thus possible to use this one like a small computer, although it is initially attached by Apple, its head office.

The project iPod Linux is devoted to this prospect and was fixed for objective to develop a stable version of Linux for iPod. Although this project is still in an experimental state, it is right now possible to use this Operating system in the place of the Firmware of Apple. The interest is that with beyond the possibility ad infinitum of personalizing (almost) the iPod, it is from now on possible for example to read vidéos with iPod of fourth generation (not managing nativement it video). This practice remains experimental but possible well that is not recommended within the framework of a normal use.

The project iPod Nano 2G Linux, launched in December 2006, proceeds in parallel of the project IPodLinux. The final objective is the bearing of a core linux in version 2.6 on the nano iPod of 2nd generation. This requires the cryptanalyse encrypted Firmware of Apple to find an entrance point in the iPod and to launch Linux. This international project was initiated by seven students of ENSEIRB. Did not leave yet.

It is as interesting to note as Rockbox, Firmware in an original manner for Archos (then developed then on many other musical apparatuses), allows also the addition of many options the iPods several generations. The additions of this system are generally extremely similar to those of IPodLinux.

To use one of these systems cancels the guarantee of 1 year or 2 of the iPod.

Although developed for several years, these operating systems have not been supported by Apple and can prove to be risky. It is thus purely experimental.

Third country products

A broad number of accessories (cases, covers, Self-adhesive S of personalization…) and of peripherals (enclosures, microphone, transmitting FM, infra-red remote control, unloader of numerical memory card of camera, ear-phones without wire with technology Bluetooth) were conceived for the iPod (all categories). At the end 2004, more than 400 accessories for iPod were listed.

One of the accessories is the fruit of a partnership between Apple and Nike and makes it possible to record data of displacement on the iPod Nano. A whole Nike product range adapted to Ipod Nano was conceived and is called Nike+.

Levi Strauss, celebrates mark of blue jean, was also put at the service of the iPod while launching Levi's Redwire, a Jean integrating a remote control in the shape of serrated roller of iPod placed on the revolver pocket. It is acted in fact of simple a joystick. The name of this Jean comes from the red ribbon which connects the iPod to the serrated roller. At the time of the purchase, a retractable pair of ear-phones is provided with the Jean.

Several concurrent marks of Apple and sound iPod do not hesitate to develop accessories made for iPod , this with an aim of benefitting from gigantic success of this one.

Thus the iPod has the real advantage of being able perfectly to be integrated in our life of the every day, that it is in the car, at the house, in the street, the swimming pool (tight small pockets), can be soon on the aircraft…

iTunes Blind

The iPod belongs to a strategy of Apple Computer aiming at setting up an economy of the digital music. The company opened with the the United States, the Canada, in Europe, with the Japan and more recently in Australia of the stores of sale of online music, the ITunes Music Store. The latter propose pieces with the general format MPEG-4 AAC, but they are supplied with a system anti-copy (FairPlay) which returns their reading on possible walkman only on only the iPod. Moreover, the files WMA with system anti-copy DRM cannot be read on iPod. This type of files is available on the majority of the concurrent platforms of the iTunes Music Store like, in France, fnacmusic, VirginMega, e-Compil or the sites under white Marque OD2.

iTunes Music Store was launched to France on June 15th, 2004, preceded by VirginMega , which opened the May 18th same year, and e-compil , present as of on November 2nd, 2001 on the French Internet. Sony Connect , reserved to the Baladeur S of Sony was launched in July 2004 and fnacmusic in September of the same year.

November 10th, 2004, a study initiated by the SmallDJ site and relayed then deepened by the Observatory of the Music had shown that only 36% of the titles of the SIGNAL 50 were available on iTunes Music Store, against 70% for its VirginMega main competitor. The catalog of iTunes Music Store is since good packed since 91% of the SIGNAL 100 albums were proposed on the platform, at the time of the last wave of investigation carried out by the observatory in 2005.

In September 2006, iTunes appears in version 7 and the blind proposes plays to be installed directly on the iPod.

In July 2007, iTunes appears in version 7.3 and is from now on compatible with the iPhone.

In September 2007, iTunes becomes version 7.4 and is compatible with the new generation of iPod: the IPod shuffle 3G, the IPod nano 3G, the IPod classic as well as the IPod touch.

Market shares

The great success of the design of the iPod holds in a great ease of use for a highly technological product. As of its exit, the iPod reaches market shares very high:

the iPod with hard drive (iPod, iPod Mini, Photo iPod and iPod HP), hold 90,9 % of the Wandering market of the S with Hard drive protected (at the end of 2004);
the iPod Shuffle was granted its exit close to 60 % of the sales of walkmans with memory flash, whereas this market was already well developed on its arrival. In June 2005, its market shares are still of 52 %;

In 2006, the iPod holds 38,6 % of the worldwide market of the walkmen, with 46 432 000 sold specimens. In Europe, the market share of different the iPod in 2007 is of 27,4%.

The iTunes Music Store holds 70 % of the legal downloading of music on the world Internet. In France, the market share of the iTunes is assembled has 40 %: (Source: Challenges - the weekly magazine does not specify if the market share takes into account the remote loading of ringings)

iTunes: 40 %
Virgin Mega : 25 %
SFR : 17 %
Fnac : 15%
Others: 3%

In all, more than 88 million iPod were sold in December 2006, to reach the 119 million in October 2007. Over the period October 2006 - September 2007, a million iPods were sold each week.

Other reasons can be advanced: simplicity and the Ergonomics of the software of synchronization, ITunes; effectiveness of publicities (see low); and finally, the existence of the online store, iTunes Music Store, locked by the system numerical FairPlay of Management of the rights (DRM), which creates Barrières at the entry against its competitors. iTunes Music Store is the most complete site of online music, and only a iPod can read the pieces thus bought. Who wishes to compete with the iPod, must assemble a structure at the same time holding the comparison with the iTunes Music Store, in particular in term of catalog, and cannot simply ensure the assumption of responsibility of the pieces of music bought by its possible new customer. It is all the interest which an actor has dominating to impose his nonopen format.

The strong domination of Apple on this market pushed its competitor Rio to withdraw market in August 2005. Dell also stopped the manufacture of its readers mp3 to Hard drive in February 2006, Apple having sold 14 million iPod to Christmas.

The main competitors of Apple are:

Creative which launched its walkman to hard drive DAP in 1999 and which today markets its walkmans under the name " Zen" (Nano Zen More, Zen Vision, Zen Vision: M,…)
Archos, which launched its Jukebox 6000 the same year and which today specialized in the wandering video with range Gmini 400, Gmini 500 and AV (AV 400, AV 500, AV 700).
To a lesser extent, and according to the countries, one can also quote IRiver, Cowon, Samsung and of course Sony, which was tardily put at the mp3.

Apple is on the other hand less dominating in China, with a market share of 4,29 % (for 28.580 units sold at the month of June 2006). The Chinese market is dominated by local marks, like Newman, DEC or Aigo with respectively 19,6 %, 9,69 % and 7,74 %.

In May 2006, the Swiss Crédit estimates that the iPod should in the long term exceed the sales of Walkman.

Musics of publicities for iPod

October 2001: MUSE - Sunburn
March 2002: Propellerheads to order - Take California
November 2003: The Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama!
November 2003: N.E.R.D - Rock'n'roll Star (Jason Nevins Remix Edict)
November 2003: Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl?
February 2004: Feature Cast - Chanel Surfing
June 2004: The Fortify - Wrinkle
September 2004: Steriogram - Walkie Talkie Man
October 2004: U2 - Vertigo
March 2005: The Caesars - Jerk It Out
June 2005: Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc
June 2005: Daft Punk - Technologic
September 2005: The Resource featuring Jimmy Tablecloths - Gimme That
October 2005: U2 - Original Off The Species
November 2005: Eminem - Roofing stone Yourself
January 2006: Wynton Marsalis - Sparks
April 2006: Rinôçérôse - Cubicle
September 2006: Cut Chemist - The Goes down for hearing Is Listening Theme Song
January 2007: The Fratellis - Flathead
February 2007: The Prototypes - Who' S Gonna Sing?
May 2007: Nickodemus & Quantic - Semi Swing Tropical Es
May 2007: Paul McCartney - Dance Tonight
September 2007: Feist - 1234
October 2007: CS - Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex
November 2007: Mary J. Blige - Work That

See too

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